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Jul 18, 14:00


Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:40 PM
    

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:10 PM
    

What do you do when a Twitch streamer you're watching needs a bio break? Chat, of course! Well, one streamer has implemented something even better than that: A playable ocarina from The Legend of Zelda that can be accessed via stream chat.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:35 PM
    

Xbox just announced a bunch of picturesque action, adventure, and puzzle games coming to its subscription service Game Pass, including a couple of day-one releases that are likely stun you with their charming art styles and captivating stories for hours on end, or until Microsoft announces the next wave of Xbox Game…

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:45 AM
    

While we still have yet to see this year's Call of Duty game, it sounds like Activision is implementing something new to the shooter series when it launches in the fall: cosmetic carryover between the last game and the next.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:40 AM
    

News that Diablo IV's new seasonal model will require a brand new character for each battle pass may have been a little sour for some. But there's good news: changed to level prerequisites for some of the game's most powerful items mean that your characters will get stronger a little bit faster.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:30 AM
    

This story is part of our new Hip-Hop: '73 Till Infinity series, a celebration of the genre's 50th anniversary.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:15 AM
    

Viewfinder is a teetering pile of good ideas, falling just shy of a coherent final experience. This, as much as anything else, makes it fascinating to play.

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PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:53 PM
     Diablo 4 is getting competitive play, but it'll take a while

Diablo 4 is one of those RPG game gifts that just keeps on giving. With the Season of the Malignant almost underway and new gameplay features galore incoming, Blizzard is showing no signs of slowing down its work. One Diablo 4 system we've been pondering is competitive play, similar to Diablo 2's familiar ladder system. During an exclusive roundtable event attended by PCGamesN revolving around the game's first season, we got to hear a bit more about one such upcoming feature.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:32 PM
     Diablo 4 maintenance schedule

What is the Diablo 4 maintenance schedule? All live service games need a bit of a breather, and a little downtime now and then prevents bigger problems later down the line. This can be super frustrating as a player, as you need the game to be online even if you're adventuring solo, so we've put together a Diablo 4 maintenance schedule for you to plan your sessions around.

It won't make a difference how good your Diablo 4 character is if the game isn't playable, so make sure you're prepared for the worst. If the game is down, why not pass the time with our Diablo 4 classes guide, and create the perfect Diablo 4 build to take Lilith down? Here is the Diablo 4 maintenance schedule so you aren't caught short on one of your marathon sessions.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:42 PM
     The best webcams in 2023

Looking for the best webcam? There are plenty of options for your gaming PC that'll run circles around the built-in offerings found in the best gaming laptop. Cameras from big-name brands like Elgato, Razer, and Logitech will typically offer the best specs such as high resolution and frame rates, but there are great value picks from lesser-known boutique manufacturers you might never have heard of.

If you've money to spare, a DSLR camera will offer the highest quality experience, but for everyone else, the best webcam will do wonderfully with 1080p video capture at 60 frames per second - not to mention they're significantly cheaper. Some devices even support HDR, but it's worth mentioning that the only streaming service that currently supports high-dynamic range is YouTube Gaming, so keep that in mind if you're looking for something for Twitch or Zoom calls.

Continue reading The best webcams in 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:29 PM
     CSGO ranks 2023 – CS:GO MM ranking explained

Are you trying to wrap your head around CSGO ranks? There is little in the way of in-game explanations to help you figure out how to get started with CSGO rankings. It doesn't help that earning your stripes will take a lot longer than in other competitive first-person shooters like Rainbow Six Siege and Overwatch, either.

Counter-Strike Global Offensive has continued to grow, now touting a concurrent player count of over 1.8 million during peak hours. That means there are a lot of new players learning the ropes and trying to adjust to one of the best PC games of all time. However, with 18 CSGO ranks and no progress bar, it can be tricky to climb the ladder. So we thought you could use a helping hand in the unforgiving multiplayer game – here is a breakdown of CSGO's ranking system.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:26 PM
     Can you play Diablo 4 solo?

Can you play Diablo 4 solo? While the game is geared towards multiplayer, there's always the option of going it mostly alone without partying up, but if you're hoping to play solely in single-player, you might be left disappointed. Here's what you need to know about Diablo 4 single-player.

Diablo 4 is here, so while you're pondering which of the Diablo 4 classes to choose from and the Diablo 4 builds to make, you might be wondering whether you can play the game alone. With plenty of online and multiplayer features, it raises the question of whether Diablo 4 has a solo mode you can play in single-player without the help of a party.

Continue reading Can you play Diablo 4 solo?
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:23 PM
     Is Diablo 4 crossplay?

Does Diablo 4 have crossplay? While running through ARPGs on your own can be a rewarding experience, there's nothing like getting a band of your friends together and taking on the toughest challenges Lilith can dish out. Can you play with your PlayStation and Xbox brethren in Diablo 4, however?

We've got a crypt's worth of fresh Diablo 4 guides for the RPG game, including all the info on Diablo 4 classes and the best Diablo 4 builds. We also explain whether you can play Diablo 4 solo and serve up some of the best Diablo 4 settings to adjust on PC. Now, let's look at how Diablo 4 crossplay works.

Continue reading Is Diablo 4 crossplay?
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:21 PM
     How to upgrade the Diablo 4 healing potion

Want to know how to upgrade your Diablo 4 healing potion? Chances are that you will take some hits as you're butchering the demons of hell with your axe or obliterating them with magic. As veterans of the series will find all too familiar, this can bring on quite the thirst, so you'll be chugging your healing potions to stave off a horrible case of death.

But while the healing potion is a universal item in Diablo 4, it is a little weaker initially. Thankfully, with the help of valuable herbs growing throughout Sanctuary and an Alchemist's pot, you can increase how much it heals you per use, no matter which one of the five Diablo 4 classes you are fighting demons as. Now that the Diablo 4 release date is here, you may wish to familiarise yourself with the ingredients you need to upgrade the Diablo 4 healing potion.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:14 PM
     Exoprimal roadmap explained

What is in the Exoprimal roadmap? If you've dipped your toes into Leviathan's wargames, slaughtered the dinosaurs, and somehow managed to gather all of the data to escape Bikitoa Island, chances are you're looking for a greater challenge. After all, there are only so many times you can face off against a thousand raptors on a bridge or a massive T-Rex before these simulations become stale. Thankfully, Capcom plans to support the multiplayer shooter with additional content appearing in new seasons.

Some of the features on the Exoprimal roadmap will expand on the game's mission offerings, while others will introduce new rigs and modules that could potentially affect the Exoprimal tier list rankings. We also know of at least two collaborations with other Capcom titles, so if you want to know what's next for the dinosaur game, allow us to guide you through everything Exoprimal will offer in the next year or so.

Continue reading Exoprimal roadmap explained
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Exoprimal release date, Exoprimal system requirements, Best dinosaur games

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:27 PM
     The best FPS games on PC 2023

What are the best FPS games on PC? From the classic physics chaos of Half-Life 2 to Halo Infinite's beautifully rendered worlds, these are the finest FPS games. For more than two decades, FPS games have been the driving force of the PC games industry. They've let us travel from the depths of Hell in Doom to the outer reaches of space in Titanfall 2. Others have taken us on a detour through the likes of Half-Life 2's zombie-infested Ravenholm, while some have embraced futuristic cities.

Some of these games are old, others are new, and all are great. Wolfenstein 2's amazing campaign; Rainbow Six Siege's tight tactical multiplayer; Overwatch 2 and its vast array of amazing heroes. No matter what sort of virtual gunplay you're after, the following titles will satisfy your itchy trigger finger. So crack those knuckles, and get ready to make every shot count. These aren't only just the best FPS games, some of these entries are included in our best PC games too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Titanfall 2 class guide, Titanfall 2 PC port review, Titanfall 2 campaign review

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:13 PM
     The best PC games 2023

What are the best PC games available today? From triple-A world-beaters like GTA V to enchanting indie releases such as Rocket League, these classics are the biggest games across Steam, Epic Games Store and more.

Finding the top PC games is no easy task. There are, you may have noticed, quite a lot of them. From the 50,000 plus Steam games to… all those other platforms you love so much, there has never been more choice available to the discerning PC gamer.

Continue reading The best PC games 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, The best Elden Ring classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:09 PM
     Cities Skylines 2 is going to give you a lot of money, kind of

Cities Skylines 2 money will apparently function quite differently from its city-building game predecessor. We've already seen new CS2 services in the form of the internet and enhanced police and health buildings, and the new Cities Skylines 2 landfill tools. But with the Paradox and Colossal Order strategy sim shortly on its way, and the Cities Skylines 2 release date drawing closer, it seems the sequel's economy will be balanced very, very differently compared to CS1.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 release date, Cities Skylines 2 system requirements, Cities Skylines 2 maps

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:15 PM
     Diablo 4 Varshan the Consumed explained

Who is Varshan the Consumed in Diablo 4? The theme for the first season is now in the open, spreading like an infectious plague. The Season of the Malignant will see Sanctuary covered in corruption, turning enemy demons into their corrupted forms. From what we

As one of the new bosses of Diablo 4 Season 1, you must overcome the challenges ahead, making a desperate stand against the spreading corruption and getting the new, exclusive Unique items and legendary Aspects. You will need to complete the Diablo 4 campaign before you can start any seasonal content, but once you do, you'll have a limited time to face off against Varshan the Consumed, as they'll only stick around for Season of the Malignant.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:53 AM
     Starfield outposts explained

What are Starfield outposts? The outposts system in Starfield allows you to create your own base camp wherever you desire on almost every planet. Depending on what you're building your outpost for, these buildings can range from miniature homes to full-blown resource generators.

There are over 1,000 Starfield planets to explore, many of which are resource-heavy and have been left uninhabited by any other species. Utilize these planets by building extractors and assigning your Starfield companions to help mine resources, giving you the materials you need for Starfield research projects to improve your equipment. Here's what you need to know about Starfield outposts, including what it costs to build them and why they're so important.

Continue reading Starfield outposts explained
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield release date, Starfield companions, Starfield system requirements

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:49 AM
     Starfield procedural generation explained

Does Starfield use procedural generation? It's a good question considering the sheer scale of the galactic game with over 1000 planets and 100 star systems, it makes sense that procedural generation elements will be used in parts of the RPG game.

Each Starfield planet has outposts you can build for characters to harvest resources from, and there will be points of interest on each planet too. Though some planets host Starfield factions and are quite barren, used for resources or exploring, there are also Starfield cities, which aren't procedurally generated and are hand-crafted with characters and missions. So what features in Starfield are procedurally generated?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield release date, Starfield companions, Starfield system requirements

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:58 AM
     The best Baldur's Gate 3 mods

What are the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods? The BG3 community has already created a whole host of additional content for the RPG game, but when does full mod support arrive, and what can we expect from the full release?

Larian Studios confirmed there is mod support coming for Baldur's Gate 3. They included this in an update on their website saying they loved the modding community for Divinity Original Sin 2, and are excited to see what comes out of BG3 mods. Modding will be supported after the Baldur's Gate 3 release date, and not during early access.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 release date, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:37 AM
     Apex Legends' invincible Tridents aren't actually invincible

Apex Legends Season 17 Ranked is currently going through its fair share of issues, from overly-simple progression to glaring bugs. Unfortunately, players who have been using the flat-rate match entry to camp up into Apex Legends Master rank now have another crutch to make their experience even easier - invincible Tridents that can't be damaged by any guns. Thankfully, there are several ways to deal with the exploit in the battle royale game, but it's still annoying nonetheless.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends season 17 release date

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:03 AM
     Starfield is suddenly cheaper, but only if you live in the right place

Starfield sales are already underway - and the game isn't even out yet. With the successor to Fallout and Skyrim making its final approach, and the Starfield release date almost upon us, if you want to get the next Bethesda RPG game opus for cheap, well, look no further. We've done the digging. We've crunched the data. We've scoured the galaxy looking for the best Starfield deal. So, whether you want the Starfield standard edition or the chunky Starfield premium edition, follow us into the cosmos.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield release date, Starfield companions, Starfield system requirements

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:18 PM
     Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart system requirements

What are the Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart system requirements? The PlayStation 5 console exclusive is due to arrive imminently on PC, and we now know what hardware we'll need to join the titular lombax and robotic sidekick on their latest adventure. Surprisingly, you won't need an SSD after all.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:15 AM
     Best Honkai Star Rail Yukong build

What's the best Honkai Star Rail Yukong build? The former star skiff racer turned Helm Master of the Xianzhou fleet known as Yukong is the second Foxian character to be added to the roster and one of the valuable few Imaginary damage characters. Yukong's place on the path of Harmony sees her act as not only a valuable support unit but also a decent damage dealer too with a solid Attack% inclined build.

With Honkai Star Rail 1.2 upon us, a free Yukong will be placed in the hands of every player that completes Stage 1 of Forgotten Hall: Memory of Xianzhou, making her a powerful freebie amongst the current list of Honkai Star Rail characters. You'll also want to pull extra Yukong or more for her powerful eidolons, which our monthly Honkai Star Rail codes list can certainly help with, and do be sure to check out where she lands on our Honkai Star Rail tier list to assure yourself of her overall usefulness.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:10 AM
     Destiny 2 Solstice guide: Start time, rewards, quest and title

What is Destiny 2 Solstice? Solstice returns this week with some absolutely fire rewards, including an all-new machine gun, a sick armor set, and a brag-worthy title.

But like everything else in Destiny 2, there's no gain without some pain, and in this case, you're going to need to jump through a few hoops to get your Guardian gloves on these spicy new items. Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Destiny 2 Solstice event, which is bringing the heat in Bungie's popular FPS game.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:10 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 release date, trailers, and story

What is the Baldur's Gate 3 release date? The latest installment in the classic D&D adaptation has been sitting in early access for a few years now, and at this point, you might be wondering when we can expect the full launch. Well, wonder no more, because we've compiled everything we know into one handy guide, which contains all the latest updates you need ahead of launch.

It's been a whopping two decades since Baldur's Gate 2 was released, and we're more than ready to step back into the Forgotten Realms. Baldur's Gate 3 launched in early access back in 2020 – and with Divinity: Original Sin developer Larian Studios at the helm, it's already considered by many to be one of the best traditional RPG games around. Here's everything you need to know about the BG3 release date, including its story, the Baldur's Gate 3 romance options, and launch editions.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 release date, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 classes

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:12 AM
     Portal prequel mod brings stunning RTX visuals to Valve's classic

A full Portal prequel, detailing the story of GLaDOS and the inner workings of Aperture Science in the lead up to the events of the Valve puzzle game, has launched on Steam with full ray tracing and Nvidia DLSS 3 support. Originally created in 2008, just after the release of the original Portal, Portal Prelude is a full-length, fan-made campaign, containing 19 new test chambers, whole-new voice-acted characters, and a bespoke origin story for GLaDOS. And now, as a showcase for Nvidia's RTX Remix, it's back and looking better than ever, with totally overhauled visuals and some of the best-looking, well, portals we've ever seen.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Portal system requirements, Portal RTX system requirements, Portal movie announced by J.J. Abrams

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:16 AM
     The 12 best Minecraft texture packs to download in 2023

Looking for the best Minecraft texture packs for 1.20? These colorful and game-altering texture packs can turn your world into an entirely new experience. Of course, Minecraft's low-fi charm is part of the draw, but texture packs range from subtle changes to an all-over reskin, so you can choose just how much you want to leave vanilla Minecraft behind.

Just like the best Minecraft mods and shaders, texture packs can help give an entirely new feel to one of the best PC games of the last decade, and it is just one of many ways of keeping the sandbox game feeling fresh after all these years. While some mods can alter gameplay, and shaders change the quality and style of the graphics, texture packs allow you to add a new skin to existing blocks. Included in our list of the best texture packs, you'll find realistic blocks, cartoonish overhauls, and cute changes to the way Minecraft mobs look.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:27 AM
     HyperX Cloud 3 review

I'm sure many of us still look on the HyperX Cloud 3's predecessor, the Cloud 2, with fondness. After all, why not? It's a good, honest headset; a real crowd-pleaser at the price bracket. I'm pleased to say the Cloud 3 occupies a similar place in the headset hierarchy: as a jack-of-all-trades that nails the basics without costing the earth.

My month or so spent with the Cloud 3 makes me think the gaming brand firmly believes the age-old adage: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. That's often a good thing, and it'll be music to the ears of Cloud 2 fans, if you'll pardon the pun. It does all the same things right, but falls just short of being a truly top tier bit of kit.

Continue reading HyperX Cloud 3 review
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: HyperX Cloud Alpha review, Best Gaming Headset, Best Gaming Keyboard

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:08 AM
     Vampire Survivors weapon evolution guide

What are all the Vampire Survivors weapon evolution combinations? The roguelike indie game is still going strong with new updates, as players discover the sheer joy of walking around a forest or library, slaying an ever-growing encroaching horde of monsters that just want to be very close to you.

It's a relatively simple yet viral indie game. It's also one of the best PC games of the past year. However, mastering it and unlocking Vampire Survivors characters can get tricky if you don't spec into the correct build. Unfortunately, you only have a few slots for weapons and items, so you must choose carefully. With the 1.5 update and release of the new Tides of Foscari DLC, it's worth reminding yourself how Vampire Survivors weapon evolutions work and what you need to do to discover the new ones.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best survival games on PC in 2022, Vampire Survivors weapon evolution guide, The best Vampire Survivors build

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:07 PM
    

We've just passed the middle of the month (and the year?), which means it's time for another wave of Game Pass games to come. For starters, we have a tasty indie trio coming to the service today. Then to cap off July, one of the best platformers in recent memory Celeste rejoins the fun, while Marvel's Avengers waves goodbye.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:00 PM
    

I never thought I'd hear the words 'roguelite' and 'Minesweeper' together in the same sentence but here we are. Let's! Revolution! is a joyous mix of both Minesweeper and a roguelite, tasking players with hunting down a deliciously repugnant king through a series of increasingly complex tile maps to enact their titular coup. With all tiles facing down on arrival, you'll need to hop from square to square to flip them over and reveal the king's hiding place before progressing to the next level. But with several of his royal agents stalking the roads and highways, you'll need to choose your route carefully, making good use of your character's unique set of skills to arrive at your final destination of Beebom City. That, and employing a bit of the old Minesweeper noggin, of course.

You see, tiles come in two types in Let's! Revolution! The aforementioned road tiles, and surrounding landscape tiles. The latter all have numbers denoting how many road tiles surround it, giving you just enough information to build up a picture of where the road (and the king's lackeys) might be lurking. Take care, though. This lot are a tricksy bunch, and can quite quickly overwhelm if they're revealed too soon and all at once. That's Let's! Revolution! in a nutshell, at least, but the real joy of this run-based rogue comes from its gorgeous presentation and its brilliantly conceived character classes that twist and mould its basic building blocks into fresh new forms each and every time. It's great fun, and I can't get enough of it.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:08 AM
    

Good news, everyone! Newegg is doing a heck of a deal on an Acer Nitro 5 gaming laptop, which packs in some impressive components for a price some distance below $1000. Right now, you can pick up this configuration with an RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, Ryzen 7 6800H CPU, 16GB of DDR5 memory and 1TB NVMe SSD for $969.99, a solid $130 below its usual price.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:51 AM
    

HP's Omen 27q gaming monitor sits right at the sweet spot for price/performance, with a 27-inch 1440p display at a 165Hz refresh rate now discounted to $209.99.

That's $80 below its normal price and a great deal for a well-reviewed name-brand monitor with these specs. For context, we saw a deal price of only $10 lower during Prime Day, making this a great choice if you missed it the first time around.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:40 AM
    

Strategy game Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters is getting a second chunky expansion pack on July 25th, developers Complex Games have announced. Deep inhale - it's called Warhammer 40K: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters: Execution Force and it adds four new snazzy Assassin classes, new mission types, new map and more. Here's our first look at the covert assassins.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Unpacking is, for the most part, a laid-back puzzle game. I've had a cosy ol' time taking out all the protagonist's items one by one and placing them in the various places around her rooms. From her childhood bedroom right up until her first house, I love how relaxing and gratifying it is to decorate each room. But after replaying it for this month's RPS Game Club, there's one section that gave me quite the opposite reaction.

A big part of Unpacking is learning about the character's personalities through their objects: what clothes they have in their wardrobes, what items fill their bookshelves, which kitchen utensils make it from move to move, and so on. These contextual clues act as a subtle but incredibly effective story-telling device. There is one level, however, where it's not all laid-back fun times and it's when the protagonist moves in with her first partner, who I will henceforth be referring to as 'finance bro boyfriend' - and wow, he is the absolute worst. Spoilers ahead for those who have not played Unpacking.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:39 AM
    

Following the dizzying superhero speeds of Megaton Rainfall, developers Pentadimensional Games are now making something even weirder. In Tenebris Pictura, you play as a psychic investigator (both the psychic-powered and psychic-investigating type) who's searching for a missing person in the Victorian era. The investigation soon takes you to a remote island engulfed in paranormal goings-on and, well, things take a strange turn. You better look for yourself below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:56 AM
    

How many Stardew Valley farms is too much for one person? Well, developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone is daring me to start yet another one as he recently teased some of the new additions coming in the game's 1.6 update. Barone tweeted today that a new festival, new items, more dialogue, more secrets, and an even more nebulous "???" are coming with Stardew Valley's next major update. Yep, that'll do it - my new farm is already watered and I'm ready to fight/fish/romance whatever "???" is.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:40 AM
    

Xenonauts was a great spiritual successor to the old-school strategy machinations of X-COM (or UFO: Enemy Unknown), back when the genre was more hyphenated. That unofficial spiritual successor now has an actual successor with Xenonauts 2, which is out in early access now.

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Twinfinite Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:07 AM
    
A new Football Club for us all.

Twinfinite Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:00 AM
    
Ultimate Edition... not so Ultimate cover.

Twinfinite Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:00 AM
    
EA said there was "no better time" for women's football.

Twinfinite Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:00 AM
    
Doppelganger, I've got you in my sights!

Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Fire Emblem Heroes Gets Male Alear, Diamant, Alcryst, and Citrinne

More Fire Emblem Engage characters are in Fire Emblem Heroes, as Alcryst, Diamant, Citrinne, Lapis, and the male version of Alear joined the cast. This Alear is a free five-star unit for everyone. However, the other four appear on a new banner starting on July 18, 2023 alongside Rearmed Eitr. These Brodian characters are the latest to show up after Firene ones debuted in January 2023.

Both Alcryst and Eitr are the Rearmed units this time around. This means you can have another unit inherit their weapons and from them once without losing the character. Alcryst is a colorless infantry archer with an Arcane Darkbow. Eitr is a blue cavalry unit equipped with Arcane Nihility. Citrinne is a green tome-carrying infantry unit, while Diamant is a red sword infantry character. All of them are available as five-star units.

As for Lapis, she's a bit of an outlier. She's a red sword-wielding infantry unit like Diamant. However, she's only available as a three or four-star unit.

Here's the trailer for the new Fire Emblem Heroes banner that shows Alcryst, Citrinne, Diamant, Eitr, and Lapis. It also confirms you can spark on this banner up to two times, thus picking one of the four five-star units each time as a free unit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc64VWzbDpw&ab_channel=NintendoMobile

As for the male version of Alear, he's a red, sword-carrying infantry unit in Fire Emblem Heroes. Everyone gets one five-star version of him for free. They can pull for doubles of him starting with the Mythic Hero banner at the end of July 2023.

Fire Emblem Heroes is available for mobile devices.

The post Fire Emblem Heroes Gets Male Alear, Diamant, Alcryst, and Citrinne appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Digimon Adventure 02 Episodes

To celebrate the release of the new Digimon movie, several episodes of Digimon Adventure 02 will release periodically for free on YouTube. Episodes 22 to 50 of the series will be available on Fridays from the Toei Animation Museum YouTube channel starting from July 21, 2023. However, the episodes will only be available in Japanese. Creditless versions of one of the Digimon Adventure 02 openings are also available. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

Episode 22 is set to release online on July 21, 2023. Starting on July 28, 2023, two more episodes will be available on the Toei Animation Museum YouTube channel. You can check out the release of episode 22 here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3mUUP2HaqU

 

And here is a list of episodes 22-50 and their English titles:

  1. Davis Cries Wolfmon
  2. Genesis of Evil
  3. If I had a Tail Hammer
  4. Spirit Needle
  5. United We Stand
  6. Fusion Confusion
  7. The Insect Master's Trap
  8. Arukenimon's Tangled Web
  9. Ultimate Anti-Hero
  10. Opposites Attract
  11. If I Only had a Heart
  12. A Chance Encounter
  13. Destiny in Doubt
  14. Cody Takes a Stand
  15. Stone Soup
  16. Kyoto Dragon
  17. A Very Digi-Christmas
  18. Dramon Power
  19. Digimon World Tour, Part 1
  20. Digimon World Tour, Part 2
  21. Digimon World Tour, Part 3
  22. Invasion of the Daemon Corps
  23. Dark Sun, Dark Spore
  24. The Dark Gate
  25. Duel of the WarGreymon
  26. BlackWarGreymon's Destiny
  27. Oikawa's Shame
  28. The Last Temptation of the DigiDestined
  29. A Million Points of Light

Additionally, a creditless version of the Digimon Adventure 02 opening theme song "Target ~Akai Shougeki~" by Koji Wada is now available on YouTube, and you can check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DheL6SCaKjs

 

Episodes 22 to 50 of Digimon Adventure 02 will start rolling out on the Toei Animation Museum YouTube channel from July 21, 2023. Digimon Adventure 02: The Beginning will air in theaters in Japan on October 27, 2023.

The post Digimon Adventure 02 Episodes 22-50 Releasing for Free in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:30 PM
    

New Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Drops Campaign Starts Tomorrow

HoYoVerse offered details about the next Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Drops event. As usual, it's kicking off when the version update appears. Between July 19, 2023 and August 16, 2023, people will be able to watch streams on Twitch and get in-game items as a bonus for doing so. As usual, this means Stellar Jades.

To take part, you first need to link your Honkai: Star Rail and Twitch account to get the drops via the official site. All streams of the game on the service qualify. The Twitch Drops page lets you check and see how you're doing. As long as you already got past "A Moment of Peace" in-game, you'll see the items show up in your in-game mailbox.

As for rewards, the image for this latest campaign showed icons listing what you can get. It didn't show quantities, however. Still, you can expect to earn the following via drops:

  • Condensed Aethers
  • Credits
  • Lost Gold Fragments
  • Stellar Jades
  • Traveler's Guides

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices. A PS5 version will arrive in 2023. The next Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Drops will run July 19, 2023 through August 16, 2023. July 19, 2023 is also when the 1.2 update arrives and brings a playable version of Blade and other features.

The post New Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Drops Campaign Starts Tomorrow appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:00 PM
    

KOF XV Najd

The latest DLC character to arrive in KOF XV is Najd, the Saudi Arabian vigilante. She will be released some time in Summer 2023, a release window that was previously announced at Evo Japan 2023. SNK also announced that she will be playable early at the SNK booth at EVO 2023 in Las Vegas.

You can catch her trailer below:
[embed]https://youtu.be/HuAa28r7z5w[/embed]

Originally introduced in KOF XIV, Najd is a college student who patrols the streets at night using her power to manipulate darkness. While carrying out her vigilante work, she disguises herself with a scarlet Abaya, which is a form of traditional garment in Saudi Arabia. As seen in the trailer, her particularly retributive brand of justice causes her to clash with characters like Kim Kaphwan.

SNK recently added KOF XV cross-play support in an update that also featured free DLC character Goenitz. Back in May 2023, Sylvie Paula Paula was also added as part of the Fighter Pass DLC, which also includes Najd.

KOF XV is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, with Najd becoming available in Summer, 2023. She can be bought separately for $5.99 or as part of the Fighter Pass for $29.99, which comes with Sylvie Paula Paula, Shingo Yabuki, Kim and two currently unannounced characters.

The post KOF XV's Najd Gets New Trailer, Will Be Playable at EVO appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:30 AM
    

Pikmin 4 Ice cube maker

Takarajimasha recently released a new Pikmin 4 glass and ice cube maker set that lets you make ice cubes in the shape of the new Ice Pikmin. The new ice cube maker and glass set costs 3,949 JPY (or about $28.50) and is available from the Takarajimasha online store. However, at the time of writing the product is sold out from Takarajimasha. The set will also be available to buy at the Tokyo and Osaka Nintendo Stores and select Family Mart convenience stores.

The ice cube maker is a mold made out of silicon. Water or other liquids can be poured from the back of the mold, and when frozen it will be in the shape of the Ice Pikmin.

You can check out the new Ice Pikmin cube maker and glass set in the gallery below.

[gallery size="medium" ids="973322,973323,973325,973326,973327,973328" link="file"]

The Ice Pikmin is a new addition to the series introduced in the upcoming Pikmin 4. The game is coming out worldwide for the Nintendo Switch on July 21, 2023.

The new Pikmin 4 ice cube maker and glass set costs 3,949 JPY (~$28.50 USD) and is now available from the Takarajimasha online store. The set will also be available at the Tokyo and Osaka Nintendo Stores, and select Family Mart convenience stores.

The post Ice Pikmin Turn into Ice Cubes in New Pikmin 4 Glass Set appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Star Ocean: The Second Story R voice acting

Square Enix offered new details about the Star Ocean: The Second Story R English and Japanese voice acting. The new version of the game will offer three options. Two pull from Star Ocean: Second Evolution on the PSP. The third is an entirely new recording from the Japanese cast.

Here's the official announcement. It confirmed that you aren't locked into a voice acting option in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. You can go into the settings and switch if you'd prefer a different one.

Ahead of this, we'd already gotten a chance to hear some of the English Star Ocean: The Second Story R voice acting. Claude and Rena teaser trailers appeared. Each one showed them in and out of battles.

We've also gotten a chance to see some other characters. Official art for Ashton, Celine, and Dias showed up. These images let us see the official portraits alongside their sprites.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R will come to the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC on November 2, 2023. A collector's edition will be available, but it already sold out online.

The post Star Ocean The Second Story R Voice Acting Options Detailed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Blue Mage Changes Detailed in FFXIV 6.45 Patch Notes

The FFXIV Lodestone website now features the full 6.45 patch notes. While some specific details for certain quests are left vague to avoid spoilers, exact information about questlines, dungeons, characters, and new items appeared. However, one of the most notable FFXIV updates have to do with the Blue Mage, as job additions for it were announced back in March 2023.

To start, six Blue Mage job quests appeared in the FFXIV 6.45 patch notes. The first one is "And the Crowd Goes Mild" and appears when you have a Blue Mage at level 70 and beat "Reflections in Crystal"  and "A Future in Blue." You can then talk to Martyn at Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (X:12.5 Y:13.0) to kick off the new series of quests. Following that, you'll periodically return to that location and speak to either Martyn or P'yandih to continue the quest line. While exact names for ensuing quests didn't appear in the patch notes, each one notes you will need to be at levels 73, 75, 78, and 80, as well as know certain spells or finish a Masked Carnivale to keep going. The level 80 level cap is also new for the job.

There are other Blue Mage additions in FFXIV too. For example, the DPS Quests now includes Blue Mage Part 4. There are new log entries, for people who want lore. There will be more information about recast timers for blue magic.

Also, the following new Blue Mage spells appeared in the patch notes:

  • Aetheric Mimicry: Aetheric Mimicry: Healer now increases the potency of all healing effects.
  • Ice Spikes: Veil of the Whorl and Schiltron cannot be applied simultaneously.
  • Veil of the Whorl: Ice Spikes and Schiltron cannot be applied simultaneously.

Other major additions came up in the FFXIV 6.45 patch notes as well. Mount Rokkon, Another Mount Rokkon, and Another Mount Rokkon (Savage) can be challenged. There are two more Manderville Weapons, two new Somehow Further Hildibrand Adventures quests, four Splendorous Tools quests, and two extra Variant Dungeons. Lots of new items are there, as you can get Furnishing Design Contest 2019 furniture, Weapon Design Contest equipment, new recipes, more Orchestrion Rolls, a new mount, a new minion, new fashion items, extra Triple Triad cards, a new hairstyle, more emotes, and splendorous tools enhancements.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC. 6.45 is live now and the full patch notes are at the Lodestone.

The post Blue Mage Changes Detailed in FFXIV 6.45 Patch Notes appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Gets 'Eye Comfort Mode' for Seele's Ultimate

Back in May 2023, HoYoVerse noted it would release an option to turn down the flashing elements in Seele's Ultimate in Honkai: Star Rail. There was no launch date for the feature at the time. Now the company confirmed Eye Comfort Mode will appear alongside other adjustments in the Honkai: Star Rail 1.2 update on July 19, 2023.

The option to adjust the flashing lights in Seele's Ultimate in Honkai: Star Rail will be in the Settings section. Once you update the game to 1.2 and log in, you can go there via the phone. The example screenshot makes it seem like it tones down the brightness of the attack. The announcement didn't mention if any other Honkai: Star Rail characters' abilities are affected by turning Eye Comfort Mode.

The other additions adjust events and the messaging system. The Simulated Universe Planar Fissure event will now offer 12 double rewards. Chat Box and Messages can be customized if you get items like the Where's the Rabbit Message and Chat Box item from events. When you are in a fight, you can see which objectives you need to complete for bonuses in a UI update. That appears in the upper right corner. Finally, people can go through Joint Forces Stages for Bailu, Bronya, Clara, Gepard, Himeko, and Welt to test them out.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices, and a PS5 version will arrive in 2023. The 1.2 update arrives on July 19, 2023.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Gets 'Eye Comfort Mode' for Seele's Ultimate appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:30 AM
    

Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak Tomtoc bags

Tech accessory brand tomtoc released a new line of protective bags in collaboration with Capcom featuring characters and items from Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak. The new line includes bags inspired by Well-Done Steaks, Palico and Palamute buddies, and the Royal Order from the Sunbreak expansion. The new Monster Hunter tomtoc bag collection is now available from the Amazon tomtoc store and Amazon Japan, which ships worldwide. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

At the time of writing, the Well-Done Steak coin pouch is only available on Amazon Japan, and it ships worldwide. It costs 3,990 JPY, or about $29, and you can check it out in more detail here:

[gallery columns="4" size="medium" ids="973293,973294,973295,973296" link="file"]

The Palico and Palamute bags are available in 8 inch size sling bags, and each one costs $49.99. You can check out the MHR Buddies series tomtoc bags in more detail here:

[gallery size="medium" ids="973297,973298,973299,973300,973301,973302" link="file"]

Meanwhile, the Royal Order bags are crossbody bags, and they are available in three sizes of 8, 11, and 14 inches. The 14-inch Royal Order bag costs $79.99 and is the only one currently available on the North American Amazon website, with the 8-inch and 11-inch bags available once again from Amazon Japan. They each cost 5,690 JPY (~$41) and 8,290 JPY (~$60) respectively.

You can check out the Royal Order bags here:

[gallery columns="4" size="medium" ids="973303,973304,973305,973306" link="file"]

Additionally, tomtoc also offers Monster Hunter Rise and MHR Sunbreak cloth stickers, both for $15.99 USD. You can check out how they look here:

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="973307,973308" link="file"]

The new Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak tomtoc bag collection is now available the Amazon tomtoc store, and Amazon Japan, which ships worldwide. Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak is available on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the final update for the game appeared on June 8, 2023 for Switch and PC.

The post Monster Hunter Rise Tomtoc Bags Look Like Well-Done Steaks appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Season 2

Season 2 of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online has been announced with a new teaser trailer. Alongside the teaser, a new key visual of LLENN (also known as the Pink Devil and Karen Kohiruimaki in the real world) was revealed. The teaser confirmed that the second season has now started production. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

The first season of the SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online anime released in Japan between April 8, 2018 and June 30, 2018, and it featured 12 episodes. There is no information on how many episodes the second season will have. The anime is based on a series of SAO spin-off light novels written by author Keiichi Sigsawa.

You can check out the teaser trailer for Season 2 of SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrGa1Vr7-5M

And here is the new key visual of LLENN/Karen:

[gallery ids="973287" link="file"]

Additionally, the final promotional video celebrating the 10th anniversary of the SAO anime series has been released. The first season of the SAO anime released in Japan on July 8, 2012, and it is based on the series of light novels written by Reki Kawahara.

You can check out the new promotional video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6n70UItc80

As a reminder, the next SAO game is Sword Art Online: Last Recollection, and it releases on October 5, 2023. The SAO games franchise is also celebrating 10 years of game projects on 2023.

Season 2 of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online is currently under production. Season 1 is readily available on streaming services.

The post SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online Season 2 Announced appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:46 PM
     Exoprimal Review Featured ImageWhen you smoosh things together, the result can be a great concept as long as it's done in a tasteful manner. You can create many cool things when you borrow ideas from others and bring your flair. In the present for Capcom's third-person shooter, Exoprimal this is mostly true. By taking gameplay elements from the likes of games such as Anthem and Capcom's very own Monster Hunter, you get a really interesting experience. Capcom isn't setting out to make a genre-defying dino shooter game, it doesn't need to. Exoprimal does have its issues, but it takes what other games have used, and made its own. In doing so, Exoprimal should be able to stand on its own two or four dinosaur legs. Before diving into the game, consider reading this review on Exoprimal, it could make your decision easier to make. On this island, there's no such thing as safe The story of Exoprimal is fairly easy to follow and uses a lot of tropes from other movies and various games. In the year 2040, myste...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:34 PM
     Pikmin 4 Co-op Blowhog EncounterDespite its tendency to include multiple controllable captains, the Pikmin series has typically only allowed players to experience the games together in various co-op and competitive side modes rather than the main campaign. That all changed in the recent Pikmin 3 Deluxe rerelease, which boasted full-blown cooperative play in the main story mode for the first time. With Pikmin 4's release coming at the end of the week, many fans will likely want to know ahead of time whether or not the game includes similar co-op functionality. At the very least, some may just be curious about the specific multiplayer features Pikmin 4 has. Is co-op play in Pikmin 4? Although Pikmin 4 does technically allow for co-op play in the main story, it does not come in the form you might expect. Rather than controlling a separate captain, the second player operated an on-screen cursor that can toss pebbles to stun foes and interact with objects as well as throw items to aid Player 1. As others ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:20 PM
     Destiny 2 Servers Being Throttled FixIf you are logging on to Destiny 2, but are met with an infinite loading screen that states that the servers are "currently being throttled," then you've come to the right place to find the fix. Though the Destiny 2 servers "currently being throttled" message isn't an error you need to worry about, it is something that will keep you from entering Destiny 2 and enjoying the game. Because of that, here is how to fix the servers are "currently being throttled" error in Destiny 2. Note: If you're experiencing any Destiny 2 error codes like the chicken error, check out PC Invasion for guides to fix them. 3 ways to fix Destiny 2 servers "currently being throttled" error There are three things you can do if you are stuck on a Destiny 2 servers are "currently being throttled" screen. While this screen isn't an error and is simply a message telling you that there are too many players trying to...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:45 PM
     Does Baldurs Gate 3 Have Multiplayer Co Op AnsweredLarian Studios' Baldur's Gate 3 brings players into the world of Dungeons & Dragons and sets the RPG genre to a whole other level. Choose from a selection of Origin characters, make game-altering decisions, and engage in tactical combat. But can you bring friends along? You may want to know whether or not Baldur's Gate 3 has multiplayer co-op, so we'll provide an answer below. Can you play Baldur's Gate 3 with friends? The answer to if Baldur's Gate 3 has multiplayer co-op is a resounding yes! Of course, you can play all of this Baldur's Gate game alone, but there's also an option to play cooperatively. Not only can you play with a friend online, but split-screen co-op as well. This also applies to the console versions of the game. You can play Baldur's Gate 3 multiplayer with two to four players at a time. From the main menu, you can jump right into a multiplayer game that's open for anyone. If you're n...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:16 PM
     Exoprimal Unlock Exosuits FeaturedExoprimal is a game all about kicking some dinosaur butt in exosuits, and it's pretty fun at that. The gameplay revolves around killing dinosaurs as you progress and hopefully beat the other team. To do that, you need to select yourself an Exosuit that has unique combat capabilities that you can harness to get the best results. You start off with quite a few different Exosuits for you to choose from, but there are a few that you have to unlock as you progress through the game. Here's our guide on how to unlock all Exosuits in Exoprimal. How to unlock all Exosuits in Exoprimal Unlocking Exosuits in Exoprimal is pretty simple and can be done completely during gameplay progression. When you clear the tutorial and a bunch of the Exosuits unlock for you, you'll see that there are 3 suits that you can't access as of the time of writing. These suits are the Murasame, Nimbus, and Vigilant Exosuits, and you can unlock these suits in the Hangar by doing one of a couple things. ...

WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Tuesday, July 18, 2023 9:56 AM
     Microsoft have announced what games will be arriving on their Game Pass subscription service in the next couple of weeks. While there are no huge triple-A titles or surprise shadow drops, there are some very cool indie games to check out.

WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:41 AM
     As more and more games are sold digitally, UK Supermarket giant Tesco has announced that is going to stop selling boxed videogames in its 2,800 stores.