May 04, 16:00


Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:48 PM
    

The entirety of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom recently leaked online over a week ahead of the game's May 12 release date. Now some players are making their way through it and streaming their journey for all to see while hackers comb through the game's files for more clues. As a result, we've already…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:20 PM
    

Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa, one of Twitch's top-performing and most popular female streamers, has been yeeted off the platform. She was hit with what appears to be a temporary ban on May 4, though the reason is unknown.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:50 PM
    

Discord is a pretty good product. It's an easy way to communicate with friends, find realtime communities around topics of mutual interest, and it's crucial for making use of voice chat across most online multiplayer games. And now Discord's decided to muck it all up by forcing everyone to switch to a new username in…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:40 PM
    

In 2023, digital sales account for the majority of video games sold. But this wasn't always the case. In fact, this really didn't start until the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 era of gaming. And according to Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, losing to Sony in that generation has put Xbox at a disadvantage, as owners of…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:30 PM
    

If you were a teenage girl in the early aughts, prone to lurking amongst the towering shelves of Hot Topic tchotchkes and flat-ironing your fringe until it was crispier than Darth Vader's body, then you always understood the Star Wars prequels, and more specifically, Anakin Skywalker.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:05 PM
    

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:58 PM
    

Escape rooms have gotten massively popular, and they're a unique experience, standing out from outings at the movies or museums. They can be an amazing time, but the expectation that you'll have to solve some puzzles can make them intimidating if you've never tried one before. And because the puzzles are meant to be…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:20 PM
    

The tumultuous digital age we find ourselves in has become a modern horror story for professional voice actors and artists witnessing "AI" machine-learning technologies go from being harmless-seeming fun to capitalist tools of extraction that copy and sell their voices and art without permission or compensation.…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:10 PM
    

This June's animated sequel Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will clock in at a substantial two hours and 16 minutes, its listing on AMC Theatres indicates. That is 136 minutes. That's approximately how long it takes to escape a bad conversation. It's 10 minutes longer than Disney's 1940 epic Fantasia, and a little…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:05 PM
    

Hollywood writers have been on strike ever since media executives and the Writer's Guild of America failed to come to an agreement at the bargaining table. Now, multiple video game writers are currently having public discussions about how their craft is undervalued by those looking in from the outside. One of them is…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:00 PM
    

I'm really captivated by Don't Nod's new mystery visual novel Harmony: The Fall of Reverie, but I can't help feeling like it keeps getting in its own way. I've put about three hours into the game, and while it brings the Life Is Strange studio's signature emotional, human dialogue, diversity, and a compelling story…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:55 AM
    

The three main Call of Duty games available right now—Modern Warfare 2, Warzone 2.0, and Mobile—are gearing up for a new season of content, which will include all the usual additions: blueprints, skins, weapons, and the like. Tucked in this May 10 content drop, however, is a rather unique operator skin for the Phoenix…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer was contrite following the overwhelmingly negative response to Redfall this week. In a new interview with the Xbox podcast Xcast, the executive confessed to being disappointed with some quality issues and the critical reception of Arkane's vampire shooter this week.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:17 AM
    

The PlayStation 5 has another special edition bundle thanks to the impending release of Kaiju battle simulator Final Fantasy XVI. The good news is it'll save you $10. The bad news is the limited-edition design cover and DualSense controller are only coming to Japan.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:00 AM
    

The Star Wars universe is massive, filled with hundreds of books, games, TV shows, and more. And let's not forget the movies, which started all of this wild nonsense back in 1978 with A New Hope. Throughout all of Star Wars, from all the fan fighting over Last Jedi to people going wild over Grogu, one thing has…

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PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:49 PM
     Torchlight Infinite codes May 2023

Want some Torchlight Infinite codes? It may still be in early access, but the latest game in the action RPG series is now close to its official launch day. As it is a free game, it does offer ways to earn in-game premium currency without spending a penny.

So if you want some Torchlight Infinite codes to redeem in the free PC game, you've come to the right place. Unfortunately, no codes have arrived during the early access period, but there are other ways to obtain some free stuff. We will add new Torchlight Infinite codes in due course, but for now, here's everything you need to know in order to get some starting Jagged Primocrysts.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best PC RPGs, Best free PC games, Best ARPG games

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:42 PM
     Pancake Empire Tower Tycoon codes May 2023

May 4, 2023: We added a new Pancake Empire Tower Tycoon code to our list.

What are the new Pancake Empire Tower Tycoon codes? If you're just making a start in this fantastical, strategic, and colourful Roblox tycoon game, you may be on the hunt for some freebies to expedite the growth of your pancake empire. Luckily for you, we've compiled a list of the latest rewards and the codes you'll need to redeem to earn them, and we'll keep our list updated to ensure you never miss out.

We also have lists of the new Project Mugetsu codes and Shinobi Life 2 codes, if you're a bit of a Roblox anime fan, as well as all the Punch Wall codes you could ever possibly need. Now, let's take a look at every active Pancake Empire Tower Tycoon redeem code.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:00 PM
     Get Genshin Impact Primogems just by talking about Baizhu

This new Genshin Impact web event is asking players to start discussions relating to the current banner characters, Baizhu and Ganyu. In exchange for responding to two given prompts, HoYoverse will be giving out free Primogems. It's a small amount of Primos, but every little bit counts if you're planning to pull for the five-star characters along with the new four-star, Kaveh.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:04 PM
     Victoria 3's coups let you partake in delightfully devilish conspiracy

Victoria 3 update 1.3 and upcoming Victoria 3 DLC Voice of the People are all about stirring unrest, and the team at Paradox explains how you'll have the option to overthrow governments and institute a new ruling force as part of the upcoming expansion. The latest Victoria 3 developer blog also digs into the France overhaul coming to the grand strategy game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Victoria 3 review, Victoria 3 beginner's guide, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:37 PM
     Best RPG games on PC 2023

Looking for the best RPG games on PC? As one of the oldest game genres out there, the diversity of these beloved games is hard to express. You can have everything from interplanetary exploration, lightsaber duels, and bloodthirsty vampires to irradiated mutants who need to be beaten with golf clubs, lizards who can talk to cats, and a whole lot of dice rolling if that's your jam.

The scale and scope of RPG games are like never before, with tech finally catching up to developers' ambitions, enabling vast, open worlds previously unseen. As a result, some of these adventures are among the best PC games ever made. So, dear traveller, gather your party and head out. We're about to bear witness to the best RPGs available on PC.

Continue reading Best RPG games on PC 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 3 mods, The Witcher 4 news, Witcher 3 system requirements

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:34 PM
     Best Hogwarts Legacy house to choose

Unsure which is the best Hogwarts Legacy house? While there are plenty of notable characters in each of the Hogwarts Legacy houses, it always seems like the Gryffindor students are always destined to become the heroes of the story. Fortunately, we're here to assure you that your house doesn't determine your fate.

No matter where the Hogwarts Legacy sorting hat ends up placing you, you won't need to run four saves at once to see how differently the RPG game plays out in each house. Don't worry if you've created a Wizarding World account to import your house and wand, you have the option of overriding these choices, including the best wand. While there are a few differences depending on which house you end up in, they aren't significant enough to warrant choosing one over the other.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:29 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Ghost of our Love floating candles map location

The Hogwarts Legacy Ghost of Our Love quest can be incredibly confusing, especially if you aren't keeping track of your side quests. The treasure map with the floating candles can be acquired after 'The Hunt for the Missing Pages' quest without the player realising what they've just picked up. Fortunately, we're going to explain exactly what's going on, show you what you're looking for, and how to solve this mystery.

Once you have the Hogwarts Legacy treasure map in your inventory, you will unlock the Ghost of Our Love quest. The map shows a drawing of the Forbidden Forest with an additional drawing of a bridge and some floating candles. You do need access to Lumos - one of the Hogwarts Legacy spells - to continue the quest, but there's a good chance you have it by the time you've reached this point in the RPG game.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:20 PM
     Best Honkai Star Rail Bronya build

Want to know what the best Honkai Star Rail Bronya build is? If you somehow win at the gacha and get this five-star character, you will have the current best support character in Honkai Star Rail at launch. She is a Wind/Harmony type with access to some skills worth putting on any team as an enabler for DPS characters to do what they do best: kill things.

We recommend using the best Honkai Star Rail Bronya build, which pivots this Honkai Star Rail character as pure support. This is because her abilities can dispel debuffs from allies while granting them an extra turn. She can also increase attack and critical damage for all allies by a significant amount with her ultimate skill. If you pull Bronya from the Honkai Star Rail warps, you will have one of the best characters in the Honkai Star Rail tier list, so here's how you can fully take advantage of her power.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:27 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Cache in the Castle quest guide

Trying to complete the Hogwarts Legacy Cache in the Castle quest? Just outside of Professor Fig's classroom in the Astronomy Tower, you will find Arthur Plummly, a Hufflepuff student seeking treasure hidden within the castle walls. This side quest may not be much on the surface, but it teaches you a valuable lesson when exploring the school halls: nothing is as it seems.

To complete the Hogwarts Legacy Cache in the Castle quest and find the hidden treasure, you will need access to one of the most basic Hogwarts Legacy spells, Accio. Luckily, by the time this side quest appears in the open-world game, you should already have learned this spell by attending your first Charms class. This task will take you far away from the quest-giver, so keep your Hogwarts Legacy map handy and take advantage of Floo Flames for fast travel if you lose your bearings.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:13 PM
     The Sims 4 gets a free DLC bundle for the adventurous next week

Now that The Sims 4 is a free PC game, you may be wondering what the best Sims 4 expansion packs and other add-ons are to spice up your time with the life sim. Helpfully, then, you'll be able to pick up a three-part bundle of free Sims 4 DLC next week - although the deal does come with one particular caveat.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:15 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Revelio pages explained

Hogwarts Legacy Revelio pages are one of many collectables in the Harry Potter RPG, and they can be quite confusing. You'll probably find a few as soon as you're let loose around Hogwarts after the intro, and as expected, you need to use Revelio to find them, but how exactly do they work?

Revelio pages in Hogwarts Legacy are in the same category as field guide pages and flying pages, but they're also slightly different. You may notice that Revelio pages specifically are tracked in-game, as each one provides a tiny bit of lore about the subject in question, whether it's something like the Great Hall which every Potter fan knows and recognises in the open-world game, or a collection of beehives in a hamlet miles away from the castle. Here's what you need to know about the Hogwarts Legacy Revelio pages.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:14 PM
     Best Hogwarts Legacy broom and upgrades

Want to know what the best Hogwarts Legacy brooms and upgrades are? You're likely to get tired of moving around on foot rather quickly in an open-world game with a region as big as this one is. If you are longing to take to the skies, chances are that you still have a fair bit of the story to go before the game allows you to hop onto one of these contraptions, as the proprietor of Spintwitches Sporting Needs, Albie Weekes, is out of town when you first visit Hogsmeade.

Even though the Hogwarts Legacy Quidditch season has been unceremoniously cancelled by Hogwarts headmaster Professor Black, one of the many colourful Hogwarts Legacy characters you'll meet in the RPG game, you can still, eventually, buy a decent broom in Hogsmeade. The shop that sells Hogwarts Legacy brooms and upgrades will open after you complete the brooms class with Madam Kogawa, which comes after your first Ancient Magic trial. You'll need a fair bit of cash to afford one, so make sure you're looking through Hogwarts Legacy eyeball chests, selling useless items, and gathering coins on your journey.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:01 PM
     Hogwarts Legacy Transmog system explained

With the Hogwarts Legacy transmog system, you can always turn up to class looking like the best-dressed person at school. Fortunately, that awful-looking beret you found in the Forbidden Forest with incredible stats doesn't have to go to waste. Any piece of gear you find can be altered to take on the appearance of another item.

The RPG game features a range of clothing to make your avatar stand out from the rest of the Hogwarts Legacy characters. Any piece of clothing you find in Hogwarts Legacy will appear as a transmog option. This means you don't need to hold onto your favourite clothes just because they look good. As long as the item has appeared in your inventory, you automatically unlock the ability to transmog into that piece of clothing.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:54 AM
     How to learn Hogwarts Legacy unforgivable curses

Want to know how to learn the Hogwarts Legacy unforgivable curses? You can go through the entirety of your wizarding adventure without learning how to cast any of these special curses, so you need to know which quest line to prioritise if you want to become a dark witch or wizard.

Unlike some RPG games, you don't have to worry about anyone judging you for using unforgivable curses because Hogwarts Legacy doesn't have a morality meter. This means you're able to cast these Hogwarts Legacy spells without being called out by your fellow students, but you have to live with the knowledge that you're using dangerous and evil magic. If that doesn't bother you, here's what you need to do to unlock Crucio, Imperio, and Avada Kedavra.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:49 AM
     Honkai Star Rail codes May 2023

May 4, 2023: We checked for new Honkai Star Rail codes and flagged which of the launch codes have now expired.

Looking for all the active Honkai Star Rail codes? If you're just starting your adventure through developer Hoyoverse's latest anime epic, you might be wondering if there are any codes at launch for freebies to give you the edge in battle. Thankfully, Hoyoverse has delivered, and we've gathered all the active HSR codes in our list down below.

With the game now out in the wild, players are digging into the characters, world, and tactical turn-based combat. We've got a handy Honkai Star Rail tier list and information on the latest Honkai Star Rail banner, too. Here's what to expect from Honkai Star Rail codes, as well as info on how to redeem them, what free rewards they'll provide, and where to find them in future.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:46 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy potions explained

Want to know how Hogwarts Legacy potions work? Brewing Hogwarts Legacy potions is an integral part of the school curriculum and a vital tool in your fight against darkness. Potions are small bottles of liquid that imbue the user with various effects when ingested. From Harry Potter lore, these effects vary wildly and are only limited by the creativity of the brewer - growing back broken bones, physical transformations, and even falling in love are not out of the realms of possibility.

During your time in Hogwarts Legacy, you'll have the chance to attend potions class and whip up a few concoctions of your own. You also have the opportunity to steal the Hogwarts Legacy Fwooper feather, so give our guide a read to find out whether you should help out your fellow student. Thankfully, there's no Professor Snape in sight, but you're still going to have to keep your concentration levels up.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:55 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy clock tower puzzle solution

Looking for the Hogwarts Legacy clock tower puzzle solution? You can gain access to four small rooms, each connected to the main clock tower room. These rooms contain chests full of goodies - and solving the puzzle's solution itself is its own reward.

Four doors stand between you and this hidden Hogwarts Legacy loot, each covered by a grate - so no spell or potion is going to get you access. Well, actually, you do need some Hogwarts Legacy spells to solve this puzzle, but you won't be targeting the doors in this Hogwarts Legacy mystery. Heck, you don't even need to use Alohomora to unlock any Hogwarts Legacy doors to get to the loot inside. Here's what you need to know about solving the clock tower puzzle.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:40 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy mounts and how to unlock them

Knowing how to unlock Hogwarts Legacy mounts is valuable information if you're tired of sprinting everywhere or fancy something a bit more thrilling than your broomstick. A few different beasts are available to you as mounts, but they're locked away behind a certain story mission until you can ride them.

There are lots of Hogwarts Legacy beasts in the open-world game that you can keep within the vivarium in your Room of Requirement. However, there are a few different types of beasts in Hogwarts Legacy that you can ride, including flying mounts, which are especially helpful for getting around the Hogwarts Legacy map. This is everything you need to know about the Hogwarts Legacy mounts and how to unlock them.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:42 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy door puzzles and how to solve them

Want to know how to solve the Hogwarts Legacy door puzzles? As Hogwarts' newest fifth-year student, you've got a lot of work to catch up on. Not only will you need to learn as much as you can to pass your OWLs, but there's also the pesky matter of a brewing goblin uprising that needs to be dealt with.

Once you've been assigned to your house using the Hogwarts Legacy sorting hat, you can explore the castle in the RPG game. There are plenty of door puzzles to solve in Hogwarts Legacy, a series of tests designed to evaluate your arithmancy skills. Arithmancy teaches wizards and wizards how to assign numbers to words in order to predict the future. Fortunately, these puzzles are simple enough that you won't need to break out a calculator any time soon. Behind Hogwarts Legacy door puzzles are usually collection chests, but how do you open them?

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:30 AM
     Best Honkai Star Rail Yanqing build

Looking for the best Honkai Star Rail Yanqing build? When it comes to single-target DPS dealers, nobody does it better than Yanqing. His Ice abilities activate huge critical rate buffs, turning Yanqing into a real threat if you can strategically keep him out of danger. Described by Jing Yuan as "a gifted swordsman who hasn't even come of age," it's clear the future is bright for Yanqing.

To get the most out of Yanqing in Honkai Star Rail, you're going to need the right set of Relics that synergise well with his damage-boosting abilities. Judging by our Honkai Star Rail tier list, Yanqing lands in the middle of the A tier, making him a solid pick for anyone looking to create the best Honkai Star Rail team comp. Here's what you need to create the best Honkai Star Rail Yanqing build.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:36 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy cast and voice actors

Looking for the Hogwarts Legacy cast? It includes some big names in acting, and there'll no doubt be a few professors, students, or even dark wizards whose voices you recognise as you explore the wizarding world.

Perhaps the most well-known name is Simon Pegg, who appears in Hogwarts Legacy as Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black. Pegg is joined by an already exciting list of names, as even more Hogwarts Legacy characters have been announced with them, such as a Weasley Professor, and more students with which you can befriend as you go exploring the massive open-world Hogwarts Legacy map for Floo Flames locations and other magical mechanics.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:33 AM
     How to make money in Hogwarts Legacy

Want to know how to make money in Hogwarts Legacy? If you explore every nook and cranny of a dungeon, you may find a few gold coins scattered around, but it's not really the most efficient way to make galleons, the currency of the wizarding world.

Money is handy for many things in Hogwarts Legacy, but you'll need a tidy sum to buy every possible upgrade. In addition, you can purchase recipes for items to conjure up in the Room of Requirement, brew new Hogwarts Legacy potions, or seeds to grow plants such as the Mandrake. These are a few get-rich schemes to make Hogwarts Legacy money in no time at all.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:17 AM
     New Shadowman game coming, after more than 20 years

A new Shadowman game was seriously not on my bingo card for this year, but let it never be said that the videogaming world can't surprise you. More than 20 years since the console-only Shadowman Second Coming, and almost 25 since the original game, Shadowman Darque Legacy will mark the return of the classic horror game series for Steam and the Epic Games Store. For the uninitiated, this is a good time to try Nightdive's Shadowman Remastered. For the veterans, it's time to get hype.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best old games, Best horror games, Best upcoming games

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:14 AM
     Hogwarts Legacy romance options explained

Is Hogwarts Legacy romance in the game? We all know that there was some flirting in the Harry Potter books before the titular wizard himself started dating Ginny Weasley towards the end of his time at Hogwarts. But whether there are any Hogwarts Legacy romance options is another question entirely.

There are plenty of Hogwarts Legacy characters to get to know during your journey through the fifth year at the School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There are lots of dialogue options to get to know your fellow students and professors further in this RPG game. This is what you need to know about romance in Hogwarts Legacy.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:43 AM
     Honkai Star Rail tier list May 2023 – best characters

Looking for a Honkai Star Rail tier list? Judging the best Star Rail characters is tricky. After all, the game's only just launched, and balancing will likely differ between recent beta tests and the first public version. In addition, its gacha mechanics make it challenging to circle in on getting the characters you want in your party. However, there are already some clear front runners to watch at launch.

The real point of a Honkai Star Rail tier list is to rank your pulls against the consensus from the free PC game's already burgeoning community. Players have already begun speculating who will be the top characters overall, who will excel against bosses, and who's great when farming for materials. Of course, with more banners set to arrive in future, similar to Genshin Impact, we'll see new Honkai Star Rail characters appear in the tier list. You can also redeem Honkai Star Rail codes to get some free pulls, but for now, here are the initial tier list rankings for the best Honkai Star Rail characters at present.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:30 PM
    

Take one look at Luna Abyss and you'll probably go, 'Wait a minute, this looks like first-person Returnal!' And having played the first mission of the game at GDC, I can confirm that yes, this is very much in the vein of first-person Returnal. It's a fast-paced, bullet hell shooter set on a strange alien moon where everything's out to get you, but the shift in perspective makes everything in its titular abyss feel closer and more intimate, calling to mind the frantic, confined gun fights of Doom and Quake more than Housemarque's seminal roguelike - games that creative director Benni Hill tells me were formative experiences for him growing up.

There's also a greater emphasis on story-telling in Luna Abyss, with Hill also citing Nier: Automata and Bioshock as other key influences. It's a compelling mix, based on the first chunk I played, and arguably one of my surprise GDC favourite demos alongside The Thaumaturge and The Lamplighters League. Indeed, Hill tells me they started working on Luna Abyss a year before Returnal was even announced, and when they first saw it during Sony's PlayStation 5 reveal stream in the summer of 2020, he and his team did a collective double-take.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:23 PM
    

Perennial favourite The Sims 4 is about to get some much-needed competition in the life sim arena. Not only have we got upcoming games Life By You and Paralives offering more customisation options, more features, and more polish than The Sims, but now there's Tiny Life as well, a new entrant that asks the question: what if The Sims was simply smaller? Tiny Life has just released into early access, and it's aiming to scratch that Sim-itch in a leaner, pixelated package.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:11 PM
    

For the past while, I've been playing a closed beta build of Park Beyond, and let me tell you, I am very bad at it. I can just about (by the skin of my teeth) make a profitable park, but my god, that park will have the worst layout you've ever seen in your cursed, vomiting in the bins at a Disneyland life. But look, if the park works, it works, right? The shareholders can't complain!

Thing is, much like with the internet or your mum's relationship with the binman, theme park simulators can really change while you're not paying attention. While part of Park Beyond's selling point is making literally impossible rides via the aptly-named method of Impossification (an upgrade to rides you buy by spending units of amazement gleaned from your slack-jawed guests, in order to strap a canon to a rollercoaster), I really was not prepared for how simulation-y the simulation bits are.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Frictional Games are releasing the next entry in their hit horror series later this month - May 16th - with Amnesia: The Bunker, taking their signature stalks through the dark into a World War One setting. That date's creeping up very soon, and we now have our first extended look at gameplay down below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:02 AM
    

You've probably head by now that Redfall is a few virgins short of a vampy picnic, mainly by un-virtue of its undercooked co-operative cryptid blasting. But there are plenty of PC performance problems to contend with as well, despite it getting a helping hand from DLSS and FSR 2.1.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:00 AM
    

On account of not loads happening in the last week apart from the Actiblizz acquisition news, which I do not want to talk about under any circumstances, the Electronic Wireless Show podcast talks this week about DLC, because a couple of good games got some DLCs - good, but different games getting different kinds of DLC expansions. Thus we discuss DLCs in general and what the difference is between a live service game and a game that is supported with DLC for years. As usual, we all talk about what we've been playing - what's up with Redfall, y'all? - and have some recommendations. The mini-game this week is to imagine feeding beans to Quentin Tarantino.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:05 AM
    

Digital festival LudoNarraCon is back for its fifth year, showcasing games that are all about story-telling and narrative. It kicks off today, May 4th, at 10am PT/6pm BST and runs until next Monday, May 8th. The event is being hosted on Steam where you can sample 36 demos, enjoy discounts on over 140 games, and watch 15 panels through a livestream. Highlights this year include three 'fireside chats' with Ron Gilbert of Monkey Island fame, the designer of the OPUS series Scott Chen, and Life Is Strange: True Color's staff writer Felice Tzehuei, who's sitting down to chat with our lovely reviews editor Rachel.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 9:55 AM
    

Hello folks. I meant to kick off this list last month, but I accidentally put it in the wrong airlock in the RPS Treehouse and poof. Off it went. (I also ran out of time to put our voting form together - apologies!). But as we all continue zhoooming our lightsabers around in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor or jumping aboard the stellar space train in Honkai: Star Rail, it still feels like an appropriate time to ask you this all-important question: what are your favourite space games of all time?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 4, 2023 8:15 AM
    

When Nintendo first released their level-building game Super Mario Maker, many fans hoped for a similar set of tools based on The Legend Of Zelda series. The Big N haven't gotten around to it yet, but indie developers Rokaplay and Firechick have beaten them to the punch with Super Dungeon Maker, which just released out of early access. It's what the name implies: a game where you can build your own classic Zelda-like dungeons, share them online, and then play through other people's whacky creations.

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Twinfinite Thursday, May 4, 2023 4:00 PM
     Please, shinobi gods, let these ninja be included.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:57 PM
     Here's a ranking of every boss in Elden Ring, from easiest to hardest.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 4, 2023 9:00 AM
     You underestimate the power of the Dark Side.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 4, 2023 8:13 AM
     Get these codes before they're gone!

Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:30 PM
    

final fantasy xvi saudi arabia ffxvi

One country will not be getting Final Fantasy XVI (FFXVI) when it launches later this year, as it is banned in Saudi Arabia. The Public Authority for Media has made an official statement. No reason was offered. [Thanks, Resetera and Glitched!]

The ESRB listed why Final Fantasy XVI received a "Mature" rating, as opposed to the series's usual "Teen." Reasons include sex scenes, torture scenes, drug use, prostitution, hate crimes, and sexual content. The Public Authority for Media did not pointed out what scene Square Enix refuses to compromise on. However, scenes for the game contain lots of violence, blood splatter, references to prostitution, partial nudity, and "a character caressing and straddling a man in bed." Though the announcement was vague, only citing that Square Enix refuses to make necessary modifications to Final Fantasy XVI, we have seen Saudi Arabia ban other games for similar situations.

The large number of banned games include BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, Dragon Age: Inquisition, God of War, Heavy Rain and The Last of Us II, While a Final Fantasy XVI ban in Saudi Arabia might not affect gamers outside the country today, similar censorship may become more noticeable in the future. In April 2023, Saudi Arabia put $38 billion into game development and publishing. The gaming industry also received $488 million in funding in February 2023.

We will see Final Fantasy XVI come out on the PS5 on June 22, 2023. There will be a six-month exclusivity period. Unless something changes on Square Enix's end, the game will not be available in Saudi Arabia.

The post Saudi Arabia Bans Final Fantasy XVI appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Harmony The Fall of Reverie playtest review header

In its earliest hours, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie seems like a very well-constructed narrative adventure that places the flow of the story in the hands of the player. It offers a deeply interesting world, and combines sci-fi and fantasy in its dystopian tale. However, for such a narrative-heavy game, its characters and plot do not live up to its system and lore in an early build.

Editor's Note: The previewer played a portion of a pre-release beta build of the game and things might be different in the final version.

The story of Harmony: The Fall of Reverie focuses on Polly, who returns to her hometown of Atina following the mysterious disappearance of her mother. At the same time, she discovers that she has the power of clairvoyance. She accomplishes this through the Augural. She also gains access to another world called Reverie. In Reverie, personified Aspirations like Bliss, Power, and Truth reside. They give her advice on how to act in Brittle--the human world--in order to find her mother. At the same time, there is an ongoing conspiracy surrounding the mega-corporation MK and its plans to control the population of Atina, and it might be behind the disappearance of her mother.

[gallery ids="961785,961784,961783" link="file"]

All of the above information is just the lore behind the basic setting. There are background details about Polly's family and the people she meets along the way. There are a lot of bases the game needs to cover before it gets into the thick of it. Each Story Node on the Augural feels woefully short for how much information the game needs to give you though. While it does do a remarkable job of conveying everything solely through text and not having me rifle through the Codex to catch up, it leaves little room for everything and everyone. As a result, the story feels like it moves at a breakneck pace in its introduction. As a result, I do not actually feel a connection to anyone, including Polly, nor do I care about the world or its plight.

The story moves very fast at the start, and it throws lots of terms and twists at you. It got to the point where I forgot basic information like Polly's relationship with her mother Ursula, because I was trying to remember what egregore is. Such a narrative-heavy game is most effective when the player actively cares about the outcome, but I found it difficult to do so. The pacing really needed to be slower to allow for more organic conversations. Polly didn't say anything of substance to Laszlo, but she managed to convince him to open up to Nora? Those scenes felt like they were missing lines or conversations. There is so much telling, rather than showing, that the characters barely feel like people. Granted, this is a preview, so the final product might let us spend more time with them.

[caption id="attachment_961786" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Harmony: The Fall of Reverie dialog Image via Don't Nod[/caption]

I found an initial issue with inconsistency that added to the apathy-inducing vibe. It is hard to believe Polly cares much about her family, and I don't think it was intentional. When you first meet Bond, her sister Nora is in the middle of telling you something. But Bond sweeps Polly away to Reverie. He asks if he interrupted something and she said he didn't. After, ironically enough, insisting to Polly that relationships are important, he plops her back into Brittle. When you see Nora again, she's wrapping up the story that Polly completely missed. A later scene shows Nora crying because she's scared for everyone (including Ursula). However, Polly's immediate emotion was relief that Nora didn't say anything about Reverie. It really didn't feel like she cared much for her sister or her missing mother at all.

Minor narrative inconsistencies crop up as well. An example is when Jade tells the group that the community of Alma notices when people go missing. But when Polly asks if there've been other disappearances, Jade says she doesn't know because people go missing all the time. So which is it? Though I really enjoy the worldbuilding, it initially doesn't match the quality of the actual plot. It's too much, because the writers seem to have a hard time balancing and remembering everything. The much more contained and focused narrative, such what was in the previous Don't Nod game Life is Strange, felt a lot stronger.

[caption id="attachment_961787" align="aligncenter" width="768"]Harmony: The Fall of Reverie cutscene Image via Don't Nod[/caption]

It's a little unfortunate that the writing is all over the place in this early build, because the game looks really good. The Augural system is super easy to navigate, and it's a neat concept with a clean execution. I like how there are so many future consequences depending on your choices. The UI is very clean, though I think that it doesn't need separate tabs on the side to open up your Notifications. They all lead to the same menu, so it's redundant. The Codex is also very well-organized, with lots of interesting tidbits about the world and characters. The sprites and animations are all amazing to behold as well. From a technical standpoint,

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie seems like it will be an exciting title to watch. But in this early build, its many moving parts from a narrative-standpoint might be too much for even the strongest of foundations.

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie will come out in June 8, 2023 for the Switch and PC and on June 22, 2023 for the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

The post Preview: Harmony: The Fall of Reverie Needs Time to Breathe appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Scan that Wubbaboo, then turn around to scan the one floating near the bridge to get these two in Honkai: Star Rail

For some reason, I found the Honkai: Star Rail "Signs of Fragmentum," Difficulty III stage's Wubbaboo to be the easiest ones to find. Like the second stage, there are five hidden around. The only real trial here is that some of the monsters are rather difficult, due to this being a recommended level 38 map. So even though you can't access the overall map, the light panel puzzles and hidden Wubbaboo locations are pretty obvious.

The first Wubbaboo is right in the elevator shaft you step out of when the challenge begins. Just run around and look down. You should see the little buddy floating like in the screenshot below.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="961844" link="file"]

The next two Wubbaboo are near the strong enemy across the bridge. One is hiding under the bridge, while the other is just past the light panel puzzle. However, because of the positioning, you can only get the one floating near the bridge after you finish that puzzle. Here's that light panel solution:

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="961845" link="file"]

Scan that Wubbaboo, then turn around to scan the one floating near the bridge to get these two in Honkai: Star Rail "Signs of Fragmentum," Difficulty III.

[gallery columns="2" size="full" link="file" ids="961848,961853"]

To get the next Wubbaboo and reach more enemies, you need to complete another light bridge. Again, this is a simple one.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="961849" link="file"]

Right after you pass over the bridge and enter the room, look to your right. The Wubbaboo is right there.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="961851" link="file"]

Finally, walk out of that room. Head to the series of rooms at the other end of this extension. The last Wubbaboo in Honkai: Star Rail "Signs of Fragmentum," Difficulty III is at the end of the dead-end hallway in the series of rooms ahead of you. After you defeat the enemy, you'll see it floating above the window.

[caption id="attachment_961852" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Screenshot via Siliconera Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

As a reward for meeting all objectives, you can get a three-star Guard's Shining Gauntlets Relic, a three-star Guard's Silver Greaves Relic, 5 Adventure Logs, 5 Condensed Aethers, 60 Stellar Jades, and 10,000 Credits.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices, and PS4 and PS5 versions are in development.

The post Where Are the Wubbaboo in Honkai: Star Rail Signs of Fragmentum III appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari Season 2 Trailer Appears

There's a new Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari trailer ahead of the season 2 debut. Crunchyroll shared a version with subtitles alongside the Japanese release of it. Its announcement referred to it as a cour 2 of this Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari anime adaptation. t features major characters like Hyoma Kunato and Botan Nagatsuki, as well as hints at things to come. The show will air in Japan and stream on Crunchyroll in July 2023.

In addition to showing the characters and Botan's realization, it also highlights some new music. For example, just after the 50 second mark, the new opening theme for the Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari cour 2/season 2 episodes appear. It is Megatera Zero's "Daregatame." At the end, after the 1:35 mark, a sample of the ending theme song "Private Room" by Azusa Tadokoro appears.

People can already catch up with the episodes already available on Crunchyroll. There are 12 available to watch. There's no dub available for it. However, subtitles in multiple languages are present.

Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari's second cour/season 2 will begin airing in July 2023. We can see the first season worldwide now via Crunchyroll. The manga is also ongoing, with Seven Seas Entertainment handling the English localization.

The post Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari Season 2 Trailer Appears appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom gacha

It looks like there will be a gacha mini-game in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. In an image that Nintendo shared on the The Legend of Zelda Twitter account, Link is standing in front of a gacha machine on top of a sky island. It's unclear what purpose this gacha machine will serve.

Considering the game will cost $70 at launch, it is highly unlikely that there will be any real-life micro-transactions to spin the gacha. Link will likely need to use in-game items in order to play it. However, what kinds of items are available from the gacha machine are still unclear. The mini-map in the corner of the screen also shows Link's position, which might give players an idea as to where they can access it in-game.

Previous information on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom focused on the gameplay that Link will be able to pull off in post-apocalyptic Hyrule. You'll be able to use Fuse monster materials as weapons in combat, as well as synthesize them to his weapons. You'll also be able to use portable pots to cook wherever and whenever you please. The gacha machine in Tears of the Kingdom might offer materials and ingredients for Link to utilize his wide repertoire of skills.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will come out on the Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023.

The post Gacha Exists in Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Jolyne Medicos Crystal Edition Figure

Medicos will unveil its Crystal Edition action figure of Jolyne Cujo Third from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean at Anime Expo 2023. A limited supply of the figures will be available at the con, which will run from July 1-4, 2023. It will also be available via lottery during WonFes Summer 2023.

In the past, Medicos released Crystal Edition figures of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure characters such as Cars. The Crystal Edition physically looks like a normal action figure, but there is an extremely limited amount. There were only eighty figure total for Cars, and they each had a serial number. The Cars figure ran for 40,000 JPY (around $295.60). While we do not yet know the price for the Jolyne Cujo Third Crystal Edition figure from Medicos, more information on the Stone Ocean item should come out closer to WonFes 2023 and Anime Expo.

As the main character of Stone Ocean, it stands to reason that there is a lot of merchandise out there for Jolyne. Medicos will release another figure of her, though it isn't posable, in November 2023. Including taxes, it will cost 12,980 JPY, which is around $95.90. In the past, you could also buy Jolyne shoes, lingerie, and Look Up figures.

The Jolyne Cujo Third Crystal Edition figure will be available while supplies last. You'll be able to purchase them during WonFes Summer 2023 and at Anime Expo 2023.

The post Jolyne Cujo Third Crystal Edition Figure Will Be at Anime Expo 2023 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:30 PM
    

Eiichiro Oda Says One Piece Netflix Live Action 'Won't Launch Until I'm Satisfied'

Since the Netflix One Piece live action adaptation was announced, series creator Eiichiro Oda's periodically released messages to fans about the show and its progress. We now saw a new one released at the start of May 2023. While the note reminded people about the 2023 release window, Oda also said, "[Netflix] promised that we won't launch it until I'm satisfied."

Here's the full statement on the One Piece live-action show's progress, which appeared on the Netflix official Twitter account. Oda noted that "it could be frustrating" for Tomorrow Studios, Netflix, and him to work together, but that they're currently "finishing all 8 episodes." He also noted that he agreed to this show in 2016, because "If we're going to do it, I want to be able to supervise things while I'm still active." After that, Oda mentioned that the show will only appear when he is "satisfied."


As a reminder, filming for the show began in February 2022.

The One Piece live-action show is expected to appear on Netflix in 2023. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll, and Viz Media handles the manga.

The post Eiichiro Oda Says One Piece Netflix Live-Action 'Won't Launch Until I'm Satisfied' appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:00 PM
    

See Cammy Beat Up a Truck in Street Fighter 6

Capcom offered another glimpse at what to expect from Street Fighter 6's Arcade mode, and the latest teaser showed Cammy taking on a truck. As people go through the mode, there will apparently be minigames akin to the ones in past Street Fighter games. Among them are ones beating up cars and hitting back at basketballs. There will also be changes to earn scores, then share them to place on a leaderboard.

Here's Capcom's latest Street Fighter 6 Arcade mode teaser starring Cammy and Guile. For the first part, Cammy is beating up a semi-trailer truck. After a point, she causes the hood and parts to fall off. After that, Guile is shown hitting basketballs being thrown at them to "counter" the attack. In his segment, he already countered 9 and is dealing with a remaining nine.

This is the second Street Fighter 6 Arcade mode tease we saw Capcom share in May 2023. The previous one looked at how the story will be told. This entry will once again involve special illustrations at certain points of each character's tale. The three images shown appeared to look at parts from Guile, Jamie, and Manon's routes.

Street Fighter 6 will appear on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on June 2, 2023. It will also show up in arcades.

The post See Cammy Beat Up a Truck in Street Fighter 6 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:30 AM
    

Genshin Impact Trailer Explains Changsheng and Baizhu's Contract

Ever since Baizhu was introduced in Genshin Impact, he's always been seen with the talking snake Changsheng around his neck. Now that he's a playable character, his Lagenaria Act 1 Story Quest is also live. Part of it explains the connection between the two, and HoYoVerse shared the cinematic going over their relationship and past online.

Editor's Note: The Genshin Impact Changsheng teaser features spoilers for the Baizhu Story Quest.

The video explains Changsheng's full history. Apparently, years ago, a doctor dealing with a plague headed to Chenyu Vale to find an "herblord." That is Changsheng, who was apparently ill and dying. Any doctor who made a contract with the snake would be able to use extraordinary healing abilities at the cost of tying their life to hers and dying young as a result. Since that first meeting, each doctor's passed the contract on to one of their apprentices. As a result, Baizhu formed a contract with Changsheng in Genshin Impact, which involves him accepting a shorter lifespan and illness in exchange for being able to heal people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFZcl2vTtm8&ab_channel=GenshinImpact
This is reflected in Baizhu's moveset. He acts as a healer in Genshin Impact, with snake imagery when he attacks or uses abilities.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Baizhu banner is available until May 23, 2023.

The post Genshin Impact Trailer Explains Changsheng and Baizhu's Contract appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Jarilo-VI Soundtrack and Behind-the-Scenes Video Shared

HoYoVerse released two looks at music from Honkai: Star Rail, with one being a soundtrack and another a video with insights from the composers. Honkai: Star Rail - Of Snow and Ember is actually the second album. It only features music from the planet Jarilo-VI's locations. Meanwhile, "Song of Distant Planet" Vol.1 features HoYo-Mix composers talking about making music for that area.

We can hear the Honkai: Star Rail - Of Snow and Ember soundtrack on Apple Music and Spotify. There are 31 songs on the album.

Here's the full tracklist:

  1. "Embers"
  2. "Hearthfire"
  3. "Streets Abuzz"
  4. "Faded Sun"
  5. "Frosty Trail"
  6. "Order"
  7. "Braving the Cold"
  8. "Warm Sun"
  9. "Sleep Tight"
  10. "Silent"
  11. "Cutting Mistral"
  12. "Tempered Cord"
  13. "Dense Floe"
  14. "Traceless Drift"
  15. "Ghost from the Past"
  16. "Sinking Hoarfrost"
  17. "Kindling"
  18. "Underground"
  19. "Blaze"
  20. "Conflict Undraped"
  21. "Crystal Tears"
  22. "Lingering Heat"
  23. "Thick Haze"
  24. "Godfather"
  25. "Eternal Freeze"
  26. "Everwinter"
  27. "Frozen March"
  28. "Fate"
  29. "A Trap with No Return"
  30. "Wildfire"
  31. "Wildfire - Instrumental"

Next, here's the full "Song of Distant Planet" Vol.1 video going over the making of the Honkai: Star Rail soundtrack with HoYo-Mix team members like Gon, Fan, Vinchi, . (Turn on closed captions for subtitles in other language like English.) This episode focuses on Belobog on Jarilo-VI. It begins with Gon noting work on its music began right at the start of the game's development. All staff members explain where they get their inspiration, both for this soundtrack and composing in general, and also cite the European inspirations for Belobog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5-cpIPT58I&ab_channel=Honkai%3AStarRail

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices, and PS4 and PS5 versions are in development.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Jarilo-VI Soundtrack and Behind-the-Scenes Video Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Hear Some Songs from the Crymachina Soundtrack

People get a chance to hear some songs from the Crymachina soundtrack. NIS America shared an eleven minute video going over 10 songs from the soundtrack. The last time NIS America showed off Crymachina, it involved a look at the game's opening movie.

Here's the Crymachina soundtrack sampler. It kicks things off with the opening theme song, "NotToNotice();" by Hikaru Tono. All songs on the soundtrack were composed by Sakuzyo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwnPW4YR7kw&ab_channel=NISAmerica

Notably, the description for the Crymachina soundtrack noted an October 24, 2023 release date. However, NIS America only mentioned a Fall 2023 release prior to this video's debut and the end of the video reiterates that window.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="961809" link="file"]

As a reminder, people can get the full soundtrack with one of the physical options when Crymachina releases. NIS America announced a Limited Edition. This PS4, PS5, and Switch option costs $99.99. That comes with the Crymachina Hanamaru soundtrack CD. However, we don't know exactly how many songs will be on the album. People also get an Eden Database art book, an acrylic display, a cloth poster, and an art print in this edition of the game.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="961808" link="file"]

People will find Crymachina on the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 24, 2023. It launches in Japan on July 27, 2023.

The post Hear Some Songs from the Crymachina Soundtrack appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:00 AM
    

VShojo VTuber Ironmouse Passes 1.5 Million Twitch Subscribers

Ironmouse, VShojo's most recognizable VTuber, passed a Twitch milestone in May 2023. She officially has over 1.5 million subscribers on her channel. She has over 816,400 on Twitter and over 909,000 subscribers on YouTube. Her content consists of various sorts of streams, in addition to reaction ones and the "Speak of the Devil" talk show.

Ironmouse herself shared a message thanking her fans for their support.

She will be hosting a notable episode of "Speak of the Devil" on at 1pm PT/4pm ET on May 4, 2023. This show regularly features other VTubers, and the latest episode also stars Hololive's Kiara Takanashi. We can submit questions for her to ask during it via a designated Google Form. In the past, she's also featured people who aren't VTubers as guests, such as Ladybeard.

Ironmouse debuted as a VTuber back in April 2017, and she's been with VShojo since November 2020. The performer is quite famous. For example, she is one of the few VShojo VTubers to inspire her own Nendoroid. She also held a birthday concert in January 2023. More recently, she won Best VTuber at The Streamer Awards 2023.

The post VShojo VTuber Ironmouse Passes 1.5 Million Twitch Subscribers appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 9:30 AM
    

The Super Mario bros Movie Ichiban Kuji header

Bandai Spirits revealed the prizes that will be in the The Super Mario Bros Movie Ichiban Kuji. The lottery will be available in Japan from May 13, 2023. Prizes will include cups, towels, and cushions. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The prizes that you will be able to pull for from the The Super Mario Bros Movie Ichiban Kuji are:

  • A Prize: Question Mark Block Cushion
  • B Prize: Super Mushroom Cushion
  • C Prize: Tumbler cups
  • D Prize: Towels
  • E Prize: Small melamine plates
  • Last One Prize: Super Star Cushion
  • Double Chance Campaign: Pipe Long Pillow

[gallery columns="7" link="file" ids="961795,961794,961797,961796,961798,961793,961792"]

Everyone who purchases a lottery ticket will be eligible for the Double Chance Campaign. We will simply need to match the campaign number to see if you can get it. The tumbler cups, towels, and plates all feature different designs. Characters are on the cups, items are on the towels, and the plates have more variety.

As of April 28, 2023, The Super Mario Bros Movie is in theaters worldwide. Japan did not get it in theaters until that date, likely due to the fact that the script had to be rewritten to get rid of some Westerner-specific jokes and references. The movie has been a financial success, and it has earned over 1.9 billion JPY in the Japanese box office in just three days. Prior to its Japanese debut, it made $377 million globally in about five days.

The Super Mario Bros Movie is available in theaters, and the Ichiban Kuji for it will appear in Japanese stores from May 13, 2023.

The post Super Mario Bros Movie Ichiban Kuji Features Iconic Items appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Junji Ito Magic the gathering cards ai art

In a recent interview with 4Gamer, popular horror manga artist Junji Ito talked about his experience working with Wizards of the Coast designing illustration for Magic: The Gathering cards, and the fear of art created through AI technology. Wizards of the Coast directly contacted Junji Ito, and the artist didn't know about MTG prior. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

Junji Ito said that after researching Magic: The Gathering, he was impressed by the fantasy worlds and beautiful illustrations used for the cards, and felt that he wanted to work with Wizards of the Coast.

Drawing the final illustration for Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines took Ito about three days of work. In addition to that, there was a previous period of trial and error creating rough sketches that the artist and Wizards of the Coast went through until a final design was decided. Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines had three different initial sketches before the final one was chosen.

Ito said that the only rejection to a first draft was for the Carrion Feeder card, which initially depicted a gravestone in the form of a cross with an English name. In the final card, the gravestone is a normal slab, and the name is blurred. In addition, Ito said that if he were to receive another offer to work on Magic: The Gathering he would love to do it again. He also said that designing individual illustrations is a very rewarding job, as the deadlines and load of work for creating manga are tighter.

Junji Ito also talked against the use of AI-created art. The artist said that he feels threatened by it as a professional, and worries that manga will eventually be drawn using AI technology. He also said that he would like to continue to create stories where the unexpected becomes terrifying, before AI can learn to imitate that.

The post Junji Ito Talks Magic: The Gathering and the Fear of AI Art appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 4, 2023 8:00 AM
    

Best Honkai: Star Rail March 7th Relic and Light Cone Build Guide

A good thing about HoYoVerse gacha games is that the free or four-star characters you find can often be fantastic allies. Even if they aren't as potentially broken as other members of the roster, they can work out rather well. When you start out Honkai: Star Rail, your first ally is the game is March 7th, and there's so much potential to make this best buddy into a character with a great build even with common Light Cone and Relic options.

What are the best Light Cones for a March 7th build in Honkai: Star Rail?

Basically, your options will be cards that support March 7th, increase her defense, and keep her alive due to her being a The Preservation character. The three-star Defense is good! It restores her health whenever she uses her Ultimate. Given how many enemies weak to ice are around, the three-star Pioneering might be great too. If she Breaks an enemy when it is equipped, she'll be healed.

I currently have the four-star We are Wildfire equipped on March 7th. It's a handy support card that decreases everyone's damage intake for a few turns, while also restoring everyone's health a bit when a battle starts. Though as you'd expect, the four-star This is Me! one featuring her and Himeko on it is also ideal for her. When equipped, it increases her defense and increases damage dealt with her Ultimate based on her overall defense.

As for a five-star Light Cone, maybe consider Trend of the Universal Market? It increases her defense, burns enemies, and it ensures the damage over time is based on the characters' defense.

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What is the best Relic set for a March 7th build in Honkai: Star Rail?

I've found two Relic sets really work best for March 7th in Honkai: Star Rail, and the one you pick depends on the build you're considering. If you want to prioritize her ice damage, which isn't a bad idea given her follow-up attacks, then pick Hunter of Glacial Forest. That's at the Herta Space Station Storage Zone Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Gelid Wind. That increases her ice damage by 10% with two pieces. If you equip four, her critical damage goes up by 25% for two turns after her Ultimate.

Given how many enemies are weak to ice in the early parts of Honkai: Star Rail though, you may want to pick Thief of Shooting Meteor. An easy way to get it is via the Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Jabbing Punch at Jarilo-VI's Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone. Two pieces of it will "increase Break Effect by 20%." If you get four pieces, it regenerates three energy when the character causes a Weakness Break. Which will be easier to do, as the Break Effect goes up by 20% again.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices, and PS4 and PS5 versions are in development.

The post March 7th Gets Even Better with the Right Honkai: Star Rail Relics and Light Cones appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 4, 2023 3:33 PM
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PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 4, 2023 2:06 PM
     Honkai Star Rail Stagnant Shadow Great Mine PortalHonkai: Star Rail locks some of its most useful mechanics behind level progression or plot advancement. To build up your characters, you have to explore all sorts of portals and farming techniques. Here is our guide on how to unlock Stagnant Shadow in Honkai: Star Rail. Note: We'll have a Honkai: Star Rail guides and features hub soon, so stay tuned. Honkai: Star Rail – how to unlock Stagnant Shadow Stagnant Shadow is an important game mechanic. Besides counting toward your Daily Training activity, it allows you to gather uncommon character ascension materials such as Storm Eye, Lightning Crown of the Past Shadow, and numerous others. You will spend 30 Trailblaze Power for each attempt. To unlock Stagnant Shadow, you must increase your Equilibrium Level to 2. Doing so requires you to reach Trailblaze level 30, which grants access to a mission called Trial of Equilibrium: Part 2. For a more in-depth look at the process, check our guide on how to raise you...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:45 AM
     Electronic ArtsAre you wondering if EA servers are down or how to check server status? There's nothing worse than booting up your favorite game only to find that you can't play it because it is experiencing server issues. Many players like you report similar issues with their favorite EA games, so you aren't alone. Unfortunately, EA doesn't have a webpage with the status of their servers, similar to other companies like Microsoft or Sony. This is because different EA games run on different servers. While this provides a bit of redundancy for server issues, it does make it challenging to check for any issues. However, there are a few ways to check the status of EA servers to see if your game currently has server issues. Here's how to tell if EA servers are down and how to check the server status of your favorite game. How to Check if EA's Servers Are Down To check an EA game's server status, you must follow these steps: Navigate to the EA...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 4, 2023 11:35 AM
     Best Kastov 762 Loadout in Warzone 2: Best Attachments and Class SetupThe Kastov 762 is a powerhouse in Warzone 2 and can drop foes at mid-range in an instant. Fans of the AK47 in previous Call of Duty games will feel right at home wielding this powerful Assault Rifle, but with so many Attachment choices, what should you pick? This is the best Kastov 762 Loadout in Warzone 2 as well as the best Attachments and Class setup. Related: Best Tempus Torrent build in MW2 and Warzone 2 Best Kastov 762 Loadout in Warzone 2: Best Attachments and Class Setup Kastov 762 Attachments Optic – SZ Mini Underbarrel – FTAC Ripper 56 Magazine – 40-Round Mag Muzzle – ZLR Talon 5 Barrel – KAS-10 584MM Barrel Equipment Lethal – Throwing Knife Tactical – Smoke Grenade Suggested Perks Overkill Tracker Fast Hands Ghost/High Alert There's a lot to unpack here, so let me explain what this loadout does for the Kastov 762 and why these are the best Attachments and class setup. The Attachments with this build ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:42 AM
     Redfall Fast Travel Marker GuideRedfall, the newest title from Arkane Austin, is pretty different from the studio's other titles. It lets you explore an open world and take things at your own pace. But as it usually goes in open-world titles, you probably don't want to constantly walk back and forth around the place. Luckily, there are plenty of fast travel markers you can find to make traversing the map a little easier. Here's a quick guide to finding all the fast travel markers in Redfall's first area. Redfall: How to find each fast travel marker The first area of Redfall has a total of eight fast travel markers dotted around the place. You can also use Safehouses like the ones found in Basswood and Shadetree Heights to fast travel. But it's worth grabbing them all anyway since it's so quick to do. Check out the map below for a quick rundown of each fast travel marker location. This will also be the order in which we'll go through each one. Screenshot b...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 4, 2023 4:00 PM
     PaizoCon Online 2023, the annual celebration of all things Pathfinder and Starfinder, has just released its Twitch stream schedule, promising three full days of exciting panels, product announcements, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the creation of some of the most popular tabletop RPGs on the market. Starting on Friday, May 26th, attendees will be able to …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:35 PM
     A new stand-alone expansion of the popular deck-building game Astro Knights has been announced on Kickstarter, and it's already a huge success. The new game, called Astro Knights: Eternity, has exceeded its initial funding goal of US$20,000, raising an impressive US$90,446 from 1,277 backers in just a few days. Astro Knights: Eternity is set in …

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:00 PM
    

What Nintendo film is should be made next?

The post 5 Nintendo Animated Films We'd Like To See appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Level Up Thursday, May 4, 2023 1:00 PM
     Don't Nod, makers of Life is Strange and Tell Me Why, has announced that its…

Level Up Thursday, May 4, 2023 12:35 PM
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