May 11, 16:00


Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Disney CEO Bob Iger verbally pushed back against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his ongoing war against Disney World and the company, pointing out all the taxes his corporation pays the state and rhetorically asking if Florida still wants its business and all the money that entails.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:56 PM
    

When Guerrilla Games debuted the new trailer for its Horizon Forbidden West DLC a few weeks back, it sent developers into a frenzy. Those in the know were astounded by the briefly glimpsed hug that Aloy shares with her friend Gildun. The rest of us were in the dark about why any of this was a big deal. Wonder no more.…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:48 PM
    

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:42 PM
    

Since its release, The Super Mario Movie Bros. Movie broke box office records, earning more than one billion dollars at the global box office making it the most successful video game movie in history, according to Rotten Tomatoes. It's such a breakout success that even the CEO of Disney is giving it props.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:40 PM
    

Steam's online code of conduct just got an update and, for the most part, it's filled with the expected language prohibiting explicitly illegal activity, harassment, use of cheat programs, and manipulation of the Steam client. But a fresh addition to the code of conduct is a strict ban on "commercial activity," which…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:20 PM
    

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, the follow-up to 2017's hit Breath of the Wild, drops on May 12 for the Switch. Reviews are publishing online and, as you'd expect, they're overwhelmingly glowing—and for good reason. Nintendo has crafted a sequel that's reportedly even better than its predecessor,…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:18 AM
    

There have been a lot of buggy blockbuster launches recently, but it doesn't sound like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be one of them. Nintento's latest big exclusive for the Switch has impressed many reviewers so far with how it runs on the six-year-old hardware, with even Digital Foundry's experts…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:45 AM
    

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a really good game! We've said so a few times now already. So you got the hint, you've played it, and you've finished it. Well done. Now you're probably looking for more games similar to Survivor.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:34 AM
    

Tank players are having a rough time in Overwatch 2 after the latest patch broke a couple of key heroes for the role. If you're a Sigma or Doomfist main, you'll need to switch to another hero or role for a bit, as one is broken and the other has been yoinked from competitive play entirely.

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:05 AM
    

Diablo IV's campaign promises dozens of hours of button-mashing chill time across multiple character classes, but the real longevity of the action-RPG looter will be based around its seasonal content updates. Blizzard shared a bit more about how those will work in a new blog post, and the whole post-launch experience…

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Kotaku Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:05 AM
    

Reviews for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are finally here and they're as glowing as you'd expect. A sequel to one of the most beloved games ever, it sounds like Nintendo's biggest game of the year does everything it needs to and more, even if it can't quite rekindle the magic of experiencing Breath of

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PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:34 PM
     Celebrate Steam's finest strategy games as TactiCon 2023 begins

TactiCon 2023 has begun. This warm-hearted celebration of the best strategy games features over 100 recent games, spreading from long-established names in the genre all the way to solo indie newcomers. TactiCon functions as both a Steam sale offering some great deals on all manner of tactical delights, and a loving ode to the breadth of the genre with a series of developer panels, community streams, and announcements.


PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:08 PM
     WoW 10.1 tries to

It only feels like yesterday that we got our hands on a new World of Warcraft Dragonflight patch, flying around the Forbidden Reach and delving into forbidden vaults. But already we're heading into the depths of the earth, unlocking new secrets under the Dragon Isles in WoW 10.1 Embers of Neltharion.

Dragonflight's patch cadence is a refreshing change of pace, especially after the barren wasteland of content updates in Shadowlands, and contributes to WoW feeling the best it has in years. But how is Blizzard keeping pace with all these updates, and is it sustainable? Check out our WoW Dragonflight review for a full rundown of the game's latest expansion.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:37 PM
     The Witcher spinoff is back in business, CDPR confirms

The Witcher spinoff Project Sirius has found its footing again, roughly a month after the new Witcher game was shelved while CDPR aimed to reevaluate its direction. Initially pitched as a multiplayer take on The Witcher series that might be approachable to fans of the Netflix series, it seems likely that we'll be waiting beyond The Witcher 4 release date to explore this alternate vision for one of the best RPG games.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher is still hugely atmospheric, The making of The Witcher

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:20 PM
     Diablo 4 Server Slam release date and time

Want to know when the Diablo 4 Server Slam release date is? Much like the recent Diablo 4 beta, the Server Slam will see would-be demon hunters journey through the Fractured Peaks, slaying monsters and completing both the prologue and Act 1, with your character's level maxing out at level 20. If that sounds good and you have a weekend free, you don't have to wait long until the Server Slam begins.

While this new test weekend forces players to start again, it will also include all the fixes and updates to all Diablo 4 classes. In addition, the Diablo 4 World Boss Ashava will be encounterable, with a new Cry of Ashava Mount Trophy earnable for the first time as a reward for defeating her. To help you get enough time with the game and a chance at getting that trophy, here are the Diablo 4 Server time release date and times.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:13 PM
     Genshin Impact might finally bring back Eula

A Genshin Impact Eula rerun might be on the way, with the possibility that the long-absent five-star Cryo character will return to the anime game in Genshin Impact 3.8. Eula has been missing for so long that the community has started a running joke about the character not existing at all, but according to recent leaks, a Eula rerun is on the horizon alongside a Klee banner, for double the Mondstadt representation.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:32 PM
     Honkai Star Rail next banner and current banner

What is the current and next Honkai Star Rail banner? If you want to acquire the best five-star characters for your team, then wishing on banners is your best bet. Banners rotate on a regular basis, so it can be difficult to decide whether to go all-in on the current banner or wait for the next one. Thankfully, our banner schedule will help keep you on the right track, ensuring that no currency goes to waste.

The Honkai Star Rail banner system almost entirely relies upon the luck of the draw, where you can trade in your hard-earned Star Rail passes for the opportunity to redeem the best Honkai Star Rail characters and Light Cones. If you're new to Hoyoverse's gacha-driven free PC games, our crash course to Honkai Star Rail Warps is invaluable for understanding banners and how they work, including the pity system. Now that we've got you up to speed, here's the lowdown for the current and next banner in Honkai Star Rail.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:24 PM
     Tekken 8 release date speculation, trailers, gameplay, and story

Want to know more about the Tekken 8 release date? As one of the biggest fighting games in the world, Tekken 7 was the most impressive game in the series to date, so it's no surprise that fans are excited to see what the developers have in store for the next entry.

One of the most highly anticipated fighting games got its big reveal during September's Sony State of Play, pleasantly surprising Tekken fans with the shock reveal that Tekken 8 was in development, with a trailer premiering showcasing gameplay in the new game engine. Given the critical and commercial success of Tekken 7, there's a strong possibility Tekken 8 ends up on our best PC games list in the future. Now we know the game exists, here's everything we know about the Tekken 8 release date, trailers, gameplay, story, and more so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best fighting games on PC, Tekken 8 release date, The best PC games

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:36 AM
     Disney Dreamlight Valley animals – Feed critters their favourite food

Want to know about how to turn Dreamlight Valley animals into your own companions? To surround yourself with cute critters, you don't have to have a singing voice like Snow White. Instead, the way to their hearts - like with most people - is through their bellies. We've spent hours in the valley learning how to befriend these creatures and their favourite foods, and feeding critters enough times even encourages them to join you as your valley companion.

Like pets in your favourite MMO games, companions are an avatar customisation option that lets you can choose an adorable animal to follow you around Dreamlight Valley. There's lots you can do with these critters, so we'll tell you how to feed them their favourite food, unlock them as companions, craft them their own home, and even take selfies with them. So dive into one of the best PC games of the last year, and get acquainted with all those adorable Dreamlight Valley animals.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:21 PM
     Hades 2 release date speculation, early access, trailers, and story

Looking forward to the Hades 2 release date? After the runaway success of Hades, fans are excited to see what Supergiant Games has in store for the follow-up to this huge indie hit.

The mythological roguelike game was revealed during The Game Awards 2022. Despite receiving critical praise for their previous titles, Hades 2 is the first sequel Supergiant Games has ever made. We're expecting big things from the devs - the original Hades was so good that it made our best PC games list. So with all of the fluff out of the way, it's time to take a look at everything we know so far about Hades 2, including trailers, story, and gameplay.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Best fantasy games on PC

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:19 AM
     All Disney Dreamlight Valley codes May 2023

After the latest Disney Dreamlight Valley codes to redeem for goodies in game? We've done some digging to make sure we've got the latest codes available from Gameloft. Codes weren't available in the Dreamlight Valley during its first few months, but we've now had a couple, with one quest item and one avatar item presumably confirming there's lots more to come from Dreamlight Valley codes.

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

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:16 AM
     Get The Division 2 right now for 85% off

The Division 2, Ubisoft's long-running multiplayer game, which drops you into a post-apocalyptic US to battle bandits and rivals, is 85% off right now for PC players. This hefty Division 2 discount arrives as the shooter's roguelike mode Descent hits the new, year 5 update, and we gear up for more Ubisoft goodness in the form of Assassin's Creed Mirage.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Division 2 PC review, The best multiplayer games, The best MMOs in 2023

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:07 AM
     All Elden Ring endings and how to get the best ending

Want to unlock the Elden Ring endings? If you can't wait to get to the end of Elden Ring and want a sneak peek of what's to come, or you want to make sure you choose the right options to unlock the best ending, here's what to expect from all of Elden Ring's six endings, including the secret ending.

Elden Ring takes a while to complete, so it's worth hitting up all the best Elden Ring quests in this open-world game. There are a few ways to unlock the other Elden Ring endings - several of them require you to find a specific type of Great Rune called a 'Mending Rune'. You get these runes from various quests, so it's worth noting which ones you need to finish.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:54 PM
     Diablo 4 battle pass season details, pricing, and more

11-5-2023 The original version of this Diablo 4 battle pass season details guide shared that the Wings of the Creator emote would be included with the Accelerated Battle Pass. However, Blizzard Entertainment has released a statement clarifying that the emote is included only with the Ultimate Edition of the game, and that the Accelerated battle pass will instead grant "a special cosmetic." We've updated the guide accordingly.

Searching for all there is to know about the Diablo 4 battle pass? A Diablo 4 battle pass is coming with the game's launch, giving people many reasons to play this awesome-looking, long-awaited sequel. On a recent Blizzard livestream, a team of developers shared what players could expect when the battle pass comes to the game after its launch. Fans of the series have been deeply curious about developer Blizzard Entertainment's plans for monetisation.

Here's everything we learned about the forthcoming Diablo 4 battle pass, including its various tiers, costs, cosmetics info, opportunities for paid progression, and more in Blizzard's action RPG.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:56 AM
     Best MW2 Kastov 762 loadout

Do you want the best MW2 Kastov 762 loadout? If so, then you've come to the right place. You probably recognise this as the stalwart AK assault rifle that's cropped up in practically every post-WW2 Call of Duty campaign and multiplayer from time immemorial. We've taken this classic and found the perfect build for capitalising on its speed and power.

Call of Duty games are among the best PC games ever, but you need the best MW2 guns if you're going to succeed. If you're familiar with the Kastov 762 already, then you'll know that it as one of the best assault rifles in Modern Warfare 2, so the best setup will give you a decent shot in the FPS game.  It's versatile, hits like a truck, and kicks like a mule - other clichéd similies are available. Following a recent update in Modern Warfare 2, this Kastov 762 loadout has an incredibly fast TTK, and will mow down enemies with ease.

Continue reading Best MW2 Kastov 762 loadout
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Modern Warfare 2 guns, Best loadouts in Modern Warfare 2, Modern Warfare 2 maps

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:05 AM
     Honkai Star Rail free Stellar Jade farming guide

Need help earning free Honkai Star Rail Stellar Jade? The game's premium currency comes in handy when you're looking to acquire some Warps to pull for your dream characters. Sadly, it can be a bit of a grind when you're trying to build up some Stellar Jade without spending a penny, so we've compiled the quickest methods to farm it.

While Honkai Star Rail codes are the easiest way to get free Stellar Jade, there are several other methods to earn more of the game's premium currency for the low price of nothing, from completing missions to doing the daily check-in. If you're looking for extra help with picking Honkai Star Rail's finest characters, be sure to check out our Honkai Star Rail tier list, or give our Honkai Star Rail review a read for an expert rundown of Hoyoverse's latest.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:56 AM
     The best Elden Ring quests

Want to know more about the best Elden Ring quests? Like any good RPG game, Elden Ring is filled with quests, but there's no in-game journal to keep track of all your conversations with NPCs. Unless you keep track of every NPC you interact with, there's a chance you're going to miss out on lengthy quest lines featuring interesting stories and high-quality rewards.

There are a lot of key items on the map like Golden Seeds and cookbooks which can be collected at any point, however, some of the best quests are only active for a short period of time. You have to be careful not to skip through important parts in each quest chain accidentally. For example, if you start a quest and end up fighting against one of the Elden Ring bosses without completing a step in the chain, you may automatically fail the quest in one of the best PC games.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:50 AM
     Best Warzone 2 Kastov 762 loadout

On the lookout for the best Warzone 2 Kastov 762 loadout? The Kastov 762 is an exceptionally powerful assault rifle that's become a mainstay of the Call of Duty series. Its overall performance is marred somewhat by its infamous kickback, so our loadout focuses on managing its recoil control and accuracy. We've also sourced attachments that provide additional range and bullet velocity. The result is great for both long-range and mid-range situations.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warzone 2 guns, Best Warzone 2 loadout, Warzone 2 map

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:44 AM
     Diablo 4 Necromancer class, skills, and summons explained

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

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

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:42 AM
     The best superhero games on PC

Looking for the best superhero games on PC? After all, the world has comic book fever. Look around and you'll see it: everyone's BIFF-ing and POW-ing each other out of the way to find the best superhero games. People with towels pegged to their shoulders dive into stores, searching with non-X-ray-vision for the best DC games, while those swinging a red, white, and blue painted bin lid peruse the internet for lists of the best Marvel games.

Before this feature spirals off into an inescapable whole of comic references, here is our list of the best superhero games you can play on PC, including two of the best Batman games. That should be enough super-powered goodness to keep you happy until the next blockbuster lands. And the best PC games are super in their own right, too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Arkham Knight System Requirements, Best Batman games

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:18 AM
     The best Minecraft server list 2023

Looking for a list of the best Minecraft servers to join in 2023? We've jumped into some of the best Minecraft servers around to find the very best, friendliest, and most fun of them all. Joining any one of the varied Minecraft servers in this list will invite you into a magical world full of like-minded fans, builders, redstone masters, and survival experts. Minecraft worlds are infinite, so what better than sharing one with others?

While vanilla, single-player Minecraft itself is still one of the best games around right now, there's nothing better than jumping into a world with friends and creating a world together. The servers below aren't just for builders though, as we've got worlds for TV fans, parkour experts, PVP pros, and more, so dive into the expansive world of multiplayer with these incredible Minecraft servers. Also, head to the bottom of the list if you need to know about hosting your own Minecraft server.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:36 AM
     Minecraft Warden – drops, biome, and how to spawn

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

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

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:41 AM
     Asus ROG Ally review: an imperfect Steam Deck rival

It feels weird writing up an Asus ROG Ally review given its April Fool's reveal date shenanigans. Yet, here I am, about to delve into why the handheld is a worthy Steam Deck rival that challenges Valve on both price and specs. That's not to say this particular portable powerhouse is perfect, and some of its strengths double up as weaknesses. However, I firmly believe the device will disrupt the portable PC scene as we know it, as using the ROG Ally provokes the same excitement I had for the Deck when it launched last year.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:55 AM
     Valorant ranks order, distribution, and ranking system explained

Want to know about Valorant ranks and how the ranking system works? We've taken a deep dive into the Valorant ranking system, to show you how they work, and what the current distribution is. Looking at these figures, we can glean all kinds of information, like where you sit against the average player, as well as time and energy is being put into the FPS at the moment.

Like all competitive FPS games, Valorant has a couple of different ways it measures ranking progress and the overall rating of players against each other. Each player has an overall Valorant rank, but there's also a dedicated 'Act rank' for each act. On top of that, there's also a concept called 'rank rating', which is connected to MMR. Here is everything you need to know about Valorant ranks, the current rank distribution, and competitive play.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Valorant Night Market dates, Valorant ranks, Valorant crosshair codes

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:50 AM
     New Resident Evil-style horror game on the way, and you can try it now

A new Resident Evil-inspired horror game is making its way to Steam, with a demo now live and available to play. Starting life as an unofficial remake of Resident Evil 2, Daymare 1998 launched back in 2019. Now its prequel, Daymare 1994, is expected for August of this year, but if you can't wait for the full thing and want to sample some of its over-the-shoulder, classic RE-inflected scares immediately, you're in luck.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:49 AM
     Destiny 2's Starfire Warlocks mourn as top exotics are nerfed

Destiny 2 Warlocks are waving goodbye to Starfire Protocol as the iconic gear piece, long among the best Destiny 2 Exotics, feels the full force of Bungie's nerf hammer. In a hefty update that's also hitting some other fan favourites such as the Hunter's ST0MP-EE5, the FPS game is being heavily shaken up - but it's good news for some Destiny 2 gear that's had new life breathed into it.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:30 PM
    

The worst part about strategy games is the shuffling. I give up on most 4Xs in the midgame, because shuffling more icons around is too wearying. No Total War since Medieval has truly enraptured me, because pathfinding for every army added nothing but hassle.

It's why I love the model of Imperialism, where everywhere is one turn, no shuffling away. It's also why I'm a little surprised how engrossing Foxhole is as a strategy game. As most players (including Brendy) will tell you, it's a game all about shuffling, ie. logistics. But after finally making time for it, I've realised that most of them, even some of the "logi" focused players, don't know what that actually means.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:14 PM
    

Gaming monitor makers are slowly getting on board with OLED as a viable panel type, something I've been perfectly happy about – even when the monitors themselves initially look, let's be honest, a bit much. That's likely going to be a common reaction to the Philips Evnia 42M2N8900, the OLED-powered headliner of Philips' all-new gaming monitor range.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:48 AM
    

The tactical deck-building and chaotic shooting of Friends Vs Friends launches on May 30th, developers Brainwash Gang have announced. Think Neon White, but your handful of cards can blast pals away across beautifully stylish and dynamic maps. The RPS Treehouse has been excited about its multiplayer mayhem for a while, as Friends Vs Friends' demo at PAX West was a heart-thumping good time. Treat yourself to the newest vibrant trailer below:

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Fans of Monument Valley's Escher-like staircases and Carto's level rearrangement, allow me to introduce you to an indie that unites both of those pleasures under one small roof. Solo developer Atlas Imaginal released Little Postman last week as a "personal exercise" to test their game-making knowledge and communicate with players in non-verbal ways. The results are a series of nine down-tempo headscratchers that are out now, for free.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:29 AM
    

This week, the Electronic Wireless Show podcast – minus Alice, who's away – goes faster, higher, and maybe even stronger as we discuss the upcoming Olympic Esport Series 2023. Yes, those Olympics. Battle royale megahit Fortnite recently joined the events list, but are the Olympics folk really making the best use of games if they're just recreating real-life competitions? And which games would we choose for our own hypothetical esports event, which may or may not involve the unleashing of big cats? Listen in to find out, though you probably already know Nate is going to say Age of Empires. Also, we attempt to crack the case of a mysterious graphics card/lobster smuggling operation, chat about what we've been playing this week, and make some zesty recommendations.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:07 AM
    

It's a beautiful spring day, so what better time to close your shutters, put on your headphones, and tether your sled dogs to head out into frozen wastes? I've had a wonderfully unnerving time playing That Which Gave Chase, an hour-long indie horror game where you play as a musher in charge of a sled dog team taking a scientist back to an abandoned expedition. It's a good'un, with clever fast cuts between scenes and a strong sense of growing dread.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:00 AM
    

The final Asus ROG Ally details slipped into place today, as Asus confirmed the price and June 13th release date of its Steam Deck-bothering handheld Windows gaming PC. And it's honestly not as expensive as I was expecting, given the premium positioning of ROG-branded monitors and keyboards: £699 in the UK and $699 in the US. That's more than the topmost Steam Deck model, but the ROG Ally is promising generally higher specs.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:46 AM
    

The hack-and-slashing world of Diablo 4 is already set to be massive, but next month's launch is only the beginning. Blizzard have detailed the action RPG's post-launch plans which include quarterly seasons, rotating cosmetics via an in-game shop, and of course, a battle pass - all of which was revealed during last night's developer livestream and a blog post.

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Twinfinite Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:30 PM
     Take a trip down memory lane and see how many of these moments from the Zelda series you remember.

Twinfinite Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:56 AM
     Hyrule rules, apparently.

Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:30 PM
    

fate/grand order event servants evocation leaf

Lasengle announced the second batch of event Servants who are permanently available in Fate/Grand Order. Using Evocation Leaves, you can get previously-limited Servants, as well as materials to upgrade them, their skills, and their Noble Phantasm. This time, the Servants are Elisabeth Bathory (Halloween), Elisabeth Bathory (Brave), Mysterious Idol X (Alter), and Nobunaga.

Though Nobunaga has been a very prominent character in virtually every GUDAGUDA event, it was impossible for new players to get her. This is because she was the welfare Servant from the 2015 Honnouji event. Lasengle very rarely re-runs events after a certain time frame outside of extenuating factors. Nobunaga is an Archer in her vanilla form.

Both versions of Elisabeth are from different Halloween events. The Halloween version is a Caster whereas the Brave version is a Saber. Finally, Mysterious Idol X (Alter) is an Alter Ego who debuted during the Moonlight/Lostroom collaboration event.

Every day until May 24, 2023, we will see a login bonus that gives players Saint Quartz and Evocation Leaves. You can get more Evocation Leaves and even Crystallized Lores through Master Missions. As a reminder, Evocation Leaves never expire. The event Servants coming back will also remain permanently in the Fate/Grand Order in-game shop so you can purchase them whenever you want.

Fate/Grand Order is readily available on mobile devices. So far, the Evocation Leaves system is exclusive to the Japan server.

The post More Event Servants Return to Fate/Grand Order appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Final Fantasy XVI Square Enix RPGs

Final Fantasy XVI is on the horizon, set to release in June 2023. However, while players wait for the next major installment in the Final Fantasy series, there are plenty of other RPGs the developer and publisher has released to sink some time into. This naturally includes some Final Fantasy titles, but also other Square Enix games from the PlayStation one and Xbox 360 era that has shared some members of the development team for XVI or provided inspiration for the upcoming mainline game.

Tactics Ogre

Tactics Ogre is a given for those that want to experience what inspired Final Fantasy XVI. Naoki Yoshida, Producer of Final Fantasy XVI has stated in previous interviews that Tactics Ogre (and Final Fantasy Tactics) writer Yasumi Matsuno has been something of an inspiration to him. Tactics Ogre itself is a story-driven strategy RPG that focuses on the conflict between two nations currently at war. Featuring a highly nuanced story, it begs the question as to what sacrifices must be made in order to strive towards peace. It received a remaster, and was made available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. For those that want a glimpse into what Final Fantasy XVI could be, it's worth checking out.

Final Fantasy XII

A mainline title set in the world of Ivalice, this politics driven Final Fantasy game has a lot more in common with Final Fantasy XVI than you might think. It features its own version of Rosaria, and has an incredible localization and some great English voice work to boot. What makes Final Fantasy XII worth playing is it's commentary on colonialism and occupation, and you can see the throughline to what makes it potentially similar to XVI. Overall, it's a fairly solid mainline game that has similar medieval aesthetics, but has a more diverse cast. It's on the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PC.

The Last Remnant

You might be wondering why The Last Remant is in this list of recommended Square Enix RPGs. Well, this is where the Torgal reference comes from. Additionally, Final Fantasy XVI Director Hiroshi Takai also served the same role on The Last Remnant. While not as serious in nature as Final Fantasy XII or Tactics Ogre, it is another hard fantasy title. It boasts a fairly unique system which involves boosting morale and commanding squadrons on the battlefield. Fairly predictable in terms of it's narrative, it's still intriguing all the same and has one of the more interesting worlds a Square Enix RPG has to offer. It's on the PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, and PC.

Final Fantasy Tactics

Perhaps one of the most well regarded spin-off games within the entire Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy Tactics is set in the Ivalice universe, similar to XII, and shares some DNA with XVI as a result. Tactics is a game mired in politics, discussing class and war in interesting and meaningful ways. With another masterful localization, similar to Final Fantasy XII, it's a game with an incredible story that is absolutely worth spending time playing. Not as ambiguous as Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics is definitely more clean cut in terms of the morality of its narrative, but just as effective. It's on the PlayStation, PSP, and mobile devices.

Vagrant Story

Another Matsuno title, this game features a more "action" focused combat system. Players assume the role of Ashley Riot, a member of the Riskbreakers, who confronts a religious cult bent on seizing control of Valendia. While smaller in scale in terms of the environments players can explore, Vagrant Story feels more grounded in terms of its presentation. The combat system may be a bit clunky by comparison to newer RPGs, but is worth visiting for its gorgeous visual presentation and incredible localization. It's only on the PlayStation.

Final Fantasy XVI will come out on June 22, 2023 for the PS5, with a demo to appear roughly two weeks before official release.

The post Quite a Few Square Enix RPGs Capture the FFXVI Vibe appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Gundam Dragon Ball Bandai Namco Finances

Gundam and Dragon Ball proved to be among the most lucrative IPs for Bandai Namco in the last financial year. In the Consolidated Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2023, Bandai Namco revealed moderate success in the past year. Net sales saw a decent increase, but operating profits were slightly down compared to the previous year.

According to the report, Bandai Namco saw net sales increase 11.3% from last year, from 889 billion yen to 990 billion yen. However, operating profits fell 7.2%.

In the financial breakdown, video games proved to be a smaller segment in the past year, despite the ongoing success of Elden Ring. Net sales only increased by 2%, while operating profit was down 29.1% from the previous year. The bulk of Bandai Namco's success in the past year came from its Toys and Hobby (merchandise) and Amusement (arcade) businesses.

Gundam was a leading IP within the Toys and Hobby division, making 60 billion yen for the division and a total of 131 billion yen across all divisions. Dragon Ball is another prominent IP listed in the reports, bringing in 144 billion yen across all divisions.

Bandai Namco offered modest predictions for the next year. The company expects most divisions to remain steady, only bringing in an extra 1-2% profit over the past year.

Bandai Namco's next major video game release will be Armored Core VI, which launches on August 25, 2023, for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. Tekken 8 is also set to release at some point after this for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

The post Gundam and Dragon Ball Lead the Charge in Latest Bandai Namco Financial Report appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:00 PM
    

How to Take Part in the Genshin Impact Glittering Elixirs Web Event

Yet another Genshin Impact web event is here, and this time it is a Glittering Elixirs one. The goal this time is to put together potions. After doing so, you earn in-game rewards like Primogems. HoYoVerse noted that as long as someone hit Adventure Rank 10, they can head to the event page to get started.

How does Genshin Impact Glittering Elixirs work?

The general gameplay for the event is fairly easy. Your goal is to figure out recipes for the 16 elixirs. Each one involves three ingredients, and one of the three will always either be water or oil. Once you select the three items you want to try, you stir them in the cauldron. If you get a combination correct, you unlock the recipe. If you don't get it, then you get to keep the ingredients you used and try again.

Once a recipe is unlocked, you get 1,000 Mora for it. It also shows what the potion would "do" once used. When you hit the 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 potions obtained milestones, you unlock event rewards. You also get additional rewards from getting crafting materials from Cyno and Nahida twice while participating as well. If you manage to complete all of the objectives, then you can get 4 Mystic Enhancement Ores, 5 Sanctifying Unctions, 8 Hero's Wits, 120 Primogems, and 110,000 Mora.

How to get Genshin Impact Glittering Elixirs crafting materials

Part of this event is tied to actually playing Genshin Impact. The other is connected to the event itself. When you head to the event page, there will be four missions to net you two ingredients. Three will always be there. These appear to be "log into the web event daily, log in to Genshin Impact daily," and "use 40 Original Resin daily." The four one can change from day to day. The other option involves Cyno or Nahida showing up to visit, after which you can get extra ingredients for your potions.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Glittering Elixirs web event runs until May 20, 2023. The Special Program for the 3.7 update will appear on May 13, 2023.

The post Make Potions for Primogems in the Genshin Impact Glittering Elixirs Web Event appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:30 PM
    

fate/grand order mysterious alter ego figure header

Good Smile Company opened up pre-orders for a scale figure of Mysterious Alter Ego Lambda from Fate/Grand Order. She is actually the Swimsuit version of Meltlilith, who is a Lancer in this form. The figure is available for pre-order until June 22, 2023, and she'll arrive in 2024.

The Mysterious Alter Ego Lambda Fate/Grand Order figure costs 24,900 JPY, or $178.99. Japanese customers will get her around March 2024. Meanwhile, she will ship out in Q2 2024 for those in North America. That could mean anywhere between April and June 2024.

This figure uses her First Ascension for the design, and it comes with two penguins—actually, they're Leviathans—as well. She is wearing a parka that may look like a penguin but is actually a Leviathan. Her bikini is also visible underneath the parka if you tilt it. Her long hair reaches the floor and border the Leviathans by her feet.

[gallery columns="4" link="file" ids="962488,962487,962486,962485"]

In Fate/Grand Order, Mysterious Alter Ego Lambda debuted as part of the Las Vegas Championship Match Summer event. Separate from her normal Alter Ego self, she's also played an important part in event stories such as Sea Monster Crisis and Imaginary Scramble. Canonically, the reason why she insists on calling herself the Mysterious Alter Ego rather than use her actual name is because she's a star and she has to hide her private life.

Fate/Grand Order is readily available on mobile devices, and the scale figure of Mysterious Alter Ego Lambda is open for pre-order until June 22, 2023.

The post Fate/Grand Order Mysterious Alter Ego Figure Comes with Leviathans appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Baki Hanma season 2

Netflix uploaded a new promotional trailer for Baki Hanma season 2. As well, there is a new key visual and information on new cast members. The Tale of Pickle Saga will start airing on July 26, 2023, and the The Father VS Son Saga will air from August 24, 2023. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

To start with, Wagakki Band will perform the opening, "The Beast." Upstart will be the singer or "Wilder," which will be the ending. The key visual for the second season, which is available on the official Baki website and other social media accounts related to the show, features the titular Baki. He's posing in front of Pickle with Kaiou Retsu, Jack Hammer, and Katsumi Orochi around him.

[gallery columns="1" ids="962500" link="file"]

Speaking of Pickle, Takeshi Kusao will voice him. Some of Kusao's more prominent roles include Cless from Tales of Phantasia and Bankotsu from Inyasha. The other new voice actor to join the cast is Nobuo Tobita, who will voice Albert Payne. Tobita is the voice actor for Kamille Bidan in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and appears more recently as Kazami in Detective Conan.

You can watch the promotional trailer for Baki Hanma season 2 here:

https://twitter.com/netflixanime/status/1656464139013718017

In the trailer, you can hear an excerpt of both the opening and the ending. It also only focuses on The Tale of Pickle Saga. There might be another trailer in the future promoting The Father VS Son Saga.

Baki Hanma is exclusively on Netflix. It will air The Tale of Pickle Saga from July 26, 2023. The Father VS Son Saga will air from August 24, 2023.

The post Baki Hanma Season 2 Trailer Promotes Pickle Saga appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:30 PM
    

koyanskaya of light figure

Good Smile Company revealed a scale figure of Koyanskaya of Light, who is a five-star Assassin in Fate/Grand Order (FGO). The figure is a 1/4 scale and it draws inspiration from her Final Ascension card art. Pre-orders will close on July 6, 2023.

The figure costs $392.99, or 54,780 JPY. For those in Japan, she'll ship out  in January 2024. Meanwhile, North American customers will get her some time in Q1 2024. That could range from January to March.

The Koyanskaya figure stands at around 350 millimeters in height and Koyanskaya looks like she is sitting backwards on a chair. She has her rifle out and is holding it with one hand while propping the gun against her leg. With her other hand, she is holding up a Joker playing card in between two fingers. This figure replicates the Final Ascension art for Koyanskaya of Light, which her character designer, Wada Arco, drew.

[gallery link="file" size="full" columns="1" ids="962481"]

The Final Ascension artwork actually uses her look in her Second Ascension. She's just missing her white cape in the picture. Her Third Ascension looks more like a goddess rather than the familiar aesthetic Koyanskaya has sported in the story. As a unit, Koyanskaya of Light debuted as part of the sixth anniversary of FGO on the Japan server.

Fate/Grand Order is readily available on mobile devices. The Koyanskaya of Light scale figure from Good Smile Company is open for pre-order and it will come out in January 2024 in Japan and Q1 2024 in North America.

The post FGO Koyanskaya of Light Figure Uses Final Ascension Art appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Tears of the Kingdom Shows What Can and Can't Be Moved or Broken

Nintendo's fifth and final The Legend of Zelda Ask the Developer interview with Producer Eiji Aonuma, Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Technical Director Takuhiro Dohta, and Art Director Satoru Takizawa, and Sound Director Hajime Wakai is now live. Each one's gone over different elements of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. While this installment mainly wraps things up and explains the freedom in the game, it also touched on two topics. One is how the team used visual cues to show what people can and can't move or break in the game. The other is that Aonuma already beat the "about 20 times."

Due to Link's abilities in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild allowing him to do things like lift with Ultrahand or Fuse things, the team decided to make it clear what could and couldn't be done. Director Fujibayashi explained, "Since then, for any objects we don't want players to move, our designers have put ropes around them or covered them with a cloth to symbolize that they can't be moved. A lot of attention has been given to details like these." An image also showed how the platform with wooden planks, wheels, and pieces of wood was open, while a rock next to it had a sheet on top.

Technical Director Dohta also explained how these sorts of visual cues came up for the traditional breakable items. In all The Legend of Zelda games, Link can break pots to get items inside. Dohta noted that unbreakable ones feature lids as a cue to let people know they can avoid them.

Dohta also explained these design decisions in the Nintendo interview:

The more you play a game, the faster your brain processes it, so after a while, your brain starts to automatically sort out what's an enemy, what not to touch, and what to take. For parts of the game that require players to look and make decisions, our designers did a good job creating rules and signs, so I think players will understand what they should do intuitively, even without any explanation.

As for Producer Aonuma's clear rate, that came up at the very end as a "final message." He said that he "played this game from start to finish about 20 times." He also noted that this happened during the debugging process to ensure it was ready to go.

Some of the past interviews went over the dungeons and sound design.

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

The post Tears of the Kingdom Visual Cues Show What Can and Can't Be Moved or Broken appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:30 AM
    

when is what time is the 3.7 genshin impact special program

As usual, HoYoVerse confirmed a 3.7 Genshin Impact Special Program is about to air ahead of the update. On May 13, 2023 at 4am PT/7am ET/1pm CET, the presentation will air on Twitch. As usual, it will show up on the official YouTube channel after the fact.

Here's the full list of when and at what time you can watch the Genshin Impact Special Program 3.7 in major time zones:

  • Australian Eastern Time: 10pm
  • Central European Time: 1pm
  • Central Time: 6am
  • Greenwich Mean Time: 12pm
  • Eastern Time: 7am
  • Japan Standard Time: 8pm
  • Pacific Time: 4am

Typically, these announcements also include a hint as to which characters will appear on the new banners. However, this time the English and Japanese Twitter account banners don't feature any art showing the "hosts" for the presentation. Typically, a voice actor for Aether or Lumine may show up alongside one or two of the featured five-star or four-star characters.

In the meantime, there are still the Baizhu and Ganyu character event wish banners available. Both will be around until May 23, 2023. Kaveh joined as a new four-star in this update as well, and he'll appear in the general pool of characters going forward. People also can take part in the A Parade of Providence Sumeru festival until May 15, 2023. The Recollector's Path event takes place in the game until May 22, 2023.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Special Program for 3.7 appears at 4am PT/7am ET/1pm CET on May 13, 2023.

The post 3.7 Genshin Impact Special Program Appears This Weekend appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 11:00 AM
    

Tails Nendoroid header

A Nendoroid of Tails from the Sonic the Hedgehog series is open for pre-orders via Good Smile Company. There are multiple eye, mouth, and optional parts for you to pose him around displays as you like. The Tails Nendoroid is available to pre-order until July 6, 2023. He'll arrive in Japan before 2023 ends, but won't come to North America until next year.

Normally, Nendoroids have face plates that you can snap on or off to change a character's look. But with the Tails Nendoroid, there is a further level of customization. Because you can mix and match his eye parts and mouth parts, you can make the expression you want him to have versus choosing from plates that come in the box. You can make him look to the right or left, or just have a generic happy expression with his eyes. His mouth parts are a closed-mouth smile and an open-mouthed smile. As for optional parts, he comes with googles, a wrench, and a Chaos Emerald.

Here are some more pictures of the Tails Nendoroid:

[gallery columns="5" ids="962497,962496,962495,962494,962493" link="file"]

He costs 6,900 JPY, or $49.99. Those who purchase him via the Good Smile Company website in Japan can expect to see him in December 2023. Meanwhile, those in North America will get him in Q1 2024.

The Sonic the Hedgehog Tails Nendoroid is open for pre-order on Good Smile Company's website until July 6, 2023.

The post Sonic the Hedgehog Tails Nendoroid Includes Customizable Expressions appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:30 AM
    

New Tears of the Kingdom Ask the Developer Discusses Building and Fusing

Leading up to the new The Legend of Zelda debut, Nintendo shared details about the game in a series of Ask the Developer interviews. Producer Eiji Aonuma, Director Hidemaro Fujibayashi, Technical Director Takuhiro Dohta, and Art Director Satoru Takizawa, and Sound Director Hajime Wakai weighed in on development in each installment. In the fourth entry, the focus was on The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom building and fusing. That meant showing off a scythe people could craft, how glue peeks up at areas to show it is a customized item, and Takizawa explaining how "'magic' ultimately became...ahem, an electric fan."

Things began with Producer Aonuma explaining Director Fujibayashi was the one who wanted to add The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom building and fusing elements for custom creations. Fujibayashi then explained how he made his case for that element:

Back then, I tried creating vehicles using only the mechanisms and parts available in the previous game and presented them. For instance, I used spinning cog wheels as tyres and attached four of them to a board to create a car. I also made a paddle steamer by attaching boards to those self-rotating cog wheels. By assembling stone slabs into a gun barrel and using a Remote Bomb, I also created a cannon that shoots Ancient Spheres. I attached it to a car to create a tank. (Laughs) By showing these ideas, I proposed that if Link had the ability to attach things together, we could create this new kind of gameplay using materials we already had available. This was how we came up with the idea of creating vehicles with the Ultrahand ability in this title.

After that, members of the team discussed some of the things people could accomplish when building or fusing in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with Fuse and Ultrahand. Takizawa noted Fuse could be used to make a scythe weapon. He also noted the visually apparent glue would be present to show it was a new creation and fused item. Sound Director Wakai also noted distinctive sound effects were used to convey the connections.

Aonuma and Technical Director Dohta also talked about how the "magic gauge" this time around is a Zonai Devices, which looks like a battery. Dohta noted, "Using this power, for example, you can even create something absurd, such as an "omni-directional flamethrower". There are many moments where you can cheat in a good way." It was after that when Takizawa explained how something "supernatural" was transformed into something perhaps easier to understand:

The initial concept of this game was to use the "supernatural power" of an unknown civilisation, as opposed to the Sheikah civilisation's "super ancient technology" in the previous game, so we decided to create lots of handy items with magical properties. However, even if we describe these items as "supernatural", players won't use them unless they know what they are. So, this thing we were calling "magic" ultimately became...ahem, an electric fan.

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

The post New Tears of the Kingdom Ask the Developer Discusses Building and Fusing appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 10:00 AM
    

SAO Last Recollection gameplay

The Sword Art Online games Twitter account shared a new short clip comparing the gameplay and graphics of the upcoming Sword Art Online Last Recollection with the most recent entry in the SAO game series, Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris. The caption of the tweet says that combat speed has increased, and animations are 1.2 times faster in Last Recollection. Additionally, the clip shows footage of both games running on PS4 Pro and PS5.

Not only the speed and animations of the game have become faster, and the graphics become sharper, but the framerate in Last Recollection has also received an upgrade from Alicization Lycoris. The new Sword Art Online Last Recollection gameplay video was also made available on the SAO games YouTube channel.

You can take a better look at the new Sword Art Online Last Recollection gameplay footage in the video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXn35UlGxw

Sword Art Online Last Recollection will adapt the events of the War of Underworld arc. However, it will also include some original events and game characters. For example, Philia and Strea will make an appearance in the game.

Sword Art Online Last Recollection will come out on October 6, 2023 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC via Steam.

The post SAO Last Recollection Gameplay Video Compared to Alicization Lycoris appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:30 AM
    

Ishikawa Kaito surgery

Voice actor Kaito Ishikawa will take a month's leave from late May 2023 for surgery. He has vocal polyps, which are growths that can affect the quality of one's voice. While this will not affect any of his current or upcoming video game roles, there may be a need for replacement voice actors for his ongoing anime characters. [Thanks, Comic Natalie!]

According to his agency, he's had polyps for a while now but they've gotten worse since the previous year. So Ishikawa decided to get surgery on the recommendation of his doctors. At the moment, the agency has stated that he will be on break for about a month. But that will depend on how well his recovery goes. Ishikawa apologizes for the worry and trouble he has caused everyone, but states that he will still work as usual until late May 2023.

Kaito Ishikawa has an illustrious career and has appeared in many anime and video game series. Some of his prominent anime roles include Kageyama in Haikyuu!!, Tenya Iida in My Hero Academia, and Genos in One Punch Man. For video games, he has portrayed Dimitri in the Fire Emblem series, Arrow in Soul Hackers 2, and Thorns in Arknights.

Kaito Ishikawa will undergo surgery for his vocal polyps in late May 2023 and will go on hiatus for a month at minimum after that.

The post Fire Emblem Voice Actor Kaito Ishikawa to Undergo Surgery appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Square Enix playlist

Square Enix released a new monthly playlist on streaming services with the theme of "Road Trip." It includes many popular songs from some of their most popular IPs. Some of the game series featured in "Road Trip" include the Final Fantasy series, Chocobo's Dungeon, Octopath Traveler, NieR Automata, Romancing SaGa, Star Ocean, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross and the Mana series, among others.

On April 2023, the Square Enix Music Twitter account started a new trend of releasing a monthly playlist with a particular theme for the next 12 months. The playlist for April featured the theme of "Commute." "Road Trip" is the latest playlist in this new trend, and it features 61 different songs from a variety of popular SE franchises.

As an interesting side-note, despite the theme for May 2023 being "Road Trip," the playlist only includes one song from Final Fantasy XV. FFXV is notorious for its narrative focusing on the road trip adventure that Noctis and his closest friends and royal guard experience across the world of Eos.

As a reminder, on February 2023 Square Enix released a playlist with over 350 songs from the Kingdom Hearts franchise.

Square Enix's latest monthly playlist, Road Trip, is immediately available on select streaming services, including Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Spotify.

The post Monthly Square Enix May 2023 Playlist Focuses on Road Trips appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, May 11, 2023 8:30 AM
    

Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 opening and ending

The official Jujutsu Kaisen Twitter account has revealed who the artists for the opening and ending of season 2 will be. Kitani Tatsuya will sing the opening, and the title of the song is "Blue  House." Soushi Sakiyama will be the singer of the ending, which has the title "Lantern." [Thanks, ryokutya2089!]

MAPPA will play a snippet of the opening during MAPPA STAGE on May 21, 2023. It will be a part of the new trailer, which will debut on that date as well. Both Kitani and Sakiyama have commented (directly and indirectly) that their songs are about Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo. The second season looks like it will start with a flashback to Gojo's school days when he and Geto were friends.

Sakiyama straight up explained that his song is about how Geto's experiences and pain changed his philosophy on the world, and how the characters around him react to that. He also stated that he is very honored to have his song featured in a work as great as Jujutsu Kaisen. Kitani's comment is much more poetic and abstract. However, it's clearly referencing the day when Gojo and Geto had their split, but from Gojo's perspective.

Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 will start airing in July 2023. While part of the opening will be in the new trailer of Jujutsu Kaisen 2 (which will come out on May 21, 2023), we might have to wait a bit longer to hear the ending.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Opening and Ending Songs Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:46 PM
     Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Cancel An Arrow ShotArrows are a dwindling commodity in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, especially if you don't know how to cancel an arrow shot. Since the game doesn't ever tell you how to do this, knowing how to cancel an arrow shot in Tears of the Kingdom can be complicated. Luckily, you have us to walk you through it. Tears of the Kingdom: How to cancel an arrow shot After you get a bow and some arrows in Tears of the Kingdom, you can equip the bow and aim your shot by pressing ZR. However, if you tap ZR, you'll fire an arrow and if you hold it down, you'll aim an arrow. If you don't want to shoot your arrow, you can cancel the shot by pressing B. Note: If you need help with the Ukouh Shrine, check out our guide. While simple, this is an extremely useful trick if you intend on using bows and arrows a lot in Tears of the Kingdom. Especially when you get more advanced arrows that are less expendable than Iron Arrows, you'll want to us...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:39 PM
     Honkai Star Rail Best Build For PelaWhen it comes to fighting enemies with annoying buffs, Pela is your girl. In Honkai: Star Rail, Pela is an Ice Combat type, with the Path of Nihility. Although she's one of the few free characters you can get, she comes in handy when debuffing enemies. If you're looking for the right Relics, Light Cones, Eidolons and Abilities for Pela's best build, keep reading this Honkai: Star Rail guide. How to build the best Pela in Honkai: Star Rail Light Cones Pela's best move is her ability to take away enemy buffs, as well as lower their Ice defence. That's why early on you should choose 'Void' as a 3-star Light Cone. It increases her Effect Hit Rate for three turns at the start of the battle. This is important because you want Pela to be able to hit enemies with debuffs effectively. Screenshot by PC Invasion If you're reading for a 4-star Light Cone, try 'Good Night and Sleep Well'. This Light Cone makes enemies ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:07 PM
     Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom DifficultyUpon booting up The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you may be wondering where the difficulty settings are. Since the Zelda franchise pulls an audience of old, experienced gamers, young, new gamers, and everything in between, you'd think there would be difficulty settings in Tears of the Kingdom, right? Well, the answer might surprise you. Here's whether there are difficulty settings in Tears of the Kingdom. Does Tears of the Kingdom have difficulty options? Explained Much like its predecessor Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom doesn't have difficulty settings. In fact, most Zelda games don't have difficulty options, which, similar to the FromSoftware games, requires the player to master the mechanics and enemy patterns. While FromSoftware games like Elden Ring and Dark Souls don't have difficulty options and are known for being extremely hard and unforgiving, Tears of the Kingdom also doesn't have difficulty o...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:54 PM
     How To Build Relationships And Affinity In Darkest Dungeon 2 Featured ImageDarkest Dungeon 2 brings a host of new features to the already-stacked table of the original, most notable among them being the Affinity system. This is a new mechanic that governs the relationships between each character in your party, and it's one that can have very real consequences in combat, both positive and negative. For this reason, it's important to wrap your head around just how you can build Relationships and Affinity in Darkest Dungeon 2, so that you'll be able to make the best possible choice at every point in your run. Read on to learn how to do just that. The mechanics of friendship: A guide to Relationships and Affinity in Darkest Dungeon 2 What are Affinity and Relationships? Screenshot by PC Invasion Before we delve any deeper into the system, it's best that we define the terms associated with it first. Affinity is the value that determines the nature of each pair of characters' Relationship within your party. There's an Affini...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:35 PM
     Honkai Star Rail Aeons And Stellaron Explained NanookThe lore behind the world of Honkai: Star Rail is rich, yet sometimes confusing. In this sci-fi strategy RPG, there are other-worldly beings called Aeons, as well as the mysterious Stellaron. Throughout playing, you can begin to learn about them, but not everything makes sense. So to clear up your confusion, we'll explain everything about Aeons and Stellaron in Honkai: Star Rail. Who are the Aeons? You have to think of the Aeons like gods. If you're an avid Genshin Impact player, you'll probably relate Aeons to Archons, who are also gods. There are plenty of different Aeons in Honkai: Star Rail, but there are seven main ones that you should understand first. Each Aeon is connected to a Path, which each playable character uses during combat. Nanook the Destruction Qlipoth the Preservation Yaoshi the Abundance Lan the Hunt Xipe the Harmony Nous the Erudition IX the Nihility Nanook the Destruction Nanook is all about destruction and war. The Antima...

Gamer Empire Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:15 PM
     As you explore the large island in Rust, you might find a vehicle or two that would be very useful. They will help you reach further places faster and will allow you to get more loot using the storage they usually have in the back. However, there might be little things here, and there that […]

Gamer Empire Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:53 PM
     Rockets are one of the best tools to destroy other players' bases. They deal a lot of damage and also splash onto nearby structures. You can also shoot from a long range, allowing you to avoid getting killed by the people inside the base. Unfortunately, most players can't make an endless supply of Rockets since […]

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 11, 2023 4:00 PM
     Sanctuary: Dungeon Tales, a captivating 5E compatible role-playing game set in a dark and mystic natural fantasy world. Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, this immersive gaming experience includes a comprehensive rulebook, a 3D modular dungeon set, and over 200 highly detailed plastic miniatures. With 19 days left in the campaign, Sanctuary: Dungeon Tales has already …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:00 PM
     Fantasy Flight Games has just announced the upcoming release of the Angel Hero Pack for Marvel Champions: The Card Game. This expansion pack brings the iconic mutant hero Angel to the game, allowing players to harness his powers as both Angel and the formidable Archangel of Death. With a set of unique cards and abilities, …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:00 PM
     Today marks the exclusive launch of The Pilot, a one-of-a-kind limited edition miniature designed by the legendary artist Bob Naismith, renowned for his iconic Space Marines designs. With only 1,000 pieces ever created, this stunning masterpiece is set to become an essential addition to any collector's treasure trove. The Pilot is available in three distinct …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:37 PM
     We're getting through the week, everyone. I hope yours is going well. Mine is. I'm feeling alright. I got a delivery yesterday of some stuff I'd been waiting on. The weekend is coming up. It's all good. Speaking of good, we need to make your tabletops look good. So, let's do that. Today in the …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:04 PM
     Never Going Home, the ENNIE Nominated RPG of Eldritch Horror in the Trenches of World War One, is back with a thrilling new expansion. Wet Ink Games has launched a Kickstarter campaign for "Never Going Home: The Beginning and the End," a series of sourcebooks that will take players deeper into the realms of eldritch …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:18 PM
     Horrible Guild, a renowned publisher of tabletop games, has officially announced their latest creation, Wilderfeast™. This exciting new tabletop roleplaying game invites players to immerse themselves in a world where they become part of the natural order by making it a part of them. In Wilderfeast™, players assume the roles of "wilders," a unique blend …

WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Thursday, May 11, 2023 12:02 PM
     The embargo for reviews of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been lifted, unleashing a torrent of reviews threatening to overflow your Youtube subscription page. Considering the game's predecessor, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, is widely viewed as one of the greatest games ever and was Opencritic's second-highest-reviewed game, I've been eager to see what Tears of the Kingdom can do. With so much pressure, could Nintendo deliver something even better?

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 11, 2023 3:45 PM
    

Goodbye Volcano High has been delayed from its previous June 15 release date to August 29

The post Goodbye Volcano High Delayed (Again) to August 29 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:58 PM
    

The publisher announced that a PC demo for the game will also launch on Steam

The post Layers of Fear Gets New Cinematic Intro Video, PC Demo Launches May 15 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, May 11, 2023 2:26 PM
    

The leaker claims that the game will be released for Next-Gen Consoles

The post Mortal Kombat 1 Details Seemingly Leaked appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Level Up Thursday, May 11, 2023 1:10 PM
     The Tribeca Film Festival has announced its official selection of video games nominated for the…