Jul 18, 20:00


Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:20 PM
    

Baldur's Gate 3's character creator is incredibly expansive. Larian Studios has described it as a tool for players to build their ideal fantasy protagonist, but before it could be that, the Belgian studio needed it to serve a different purpose: filling the RPG's world with unique, believable civilians.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:10 PM
    

EA FC 24, the first post-FIFA soccer game from the sports mega-publisher, isn't out until September 23, but the team behind it is already putting out fires lit by giant adult babies.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:45 PM
    

A developer on the third-person stealth-action game Grey Skies: A War of the Worlds Story has come forward to comment on the game's abysmal Steam ratings, saying the team will address the concerns and release a free remaster.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:50 PM
    

Neopets, the beloved virtual pet game from the 2000s that featured Flash games and a giant omelette, is under new management—and they're looking to reinvigorate the world of Neopia. On July 18, the newly formed World of Neopia, Inc. published a lengthy blog post under the byline "The Neopets Team" (TNT) detailing the…

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:40 PM
    

Recently, a couple of Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom players experienced an unexpected but funny jump scare. And no, the jumpscare had nothing to do with the game's imposing villain, Ganon. It was apparently the jiggle physics of the hero of Hyrule's crown jewels. Or at least what looks like it. Yeah, it's…

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Fans of pixel-art farming simulator Stardew Valley just got another tease about what to expect from the upcoming 1.6 update. While we still don't know when it will release, developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone tweeted on July 17 that the patch will include another festival and more dialogue.

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:55 PM
    

Two unofficial pop-up restaurants based on fast food chains that have appeared in past Grand Theft Auto games were planned to open next weekend in San Diego, just in time for Comic-Con. However, that reportedly won't be happening anymore after Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, sent the…

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:40 PM
    

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:10 PM
    

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

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Kotaku Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:35 PM
    

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

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PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 7:09 PM
     Stardew Valley 1.6 update adds more new content than I expected

Stardew Valley is still one of my favorite farming games ever, years after its release. It sits upon a throne beside other iconic titles like Harvest Moon and its subsequent Story of Seasons entries. What is there to not love in Stardew Valley, from the charming pixel art to the cozy gameplay loop? ConcernedApe recently confirmed that he is taking a break from his work on Haunted Chocolatier to work on a 1.6 update for Stardew Valley. The developer cited the coming patch as small, stating that it would have "much less" content than the previous update, but it looks like it's going to be anything but little.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:37 PM
     One of 2023's best indie games is now on sale

Dredge is not just any fishing game, no. It's an incredibly eerie yet atmospheric Lovecraftian experience that thrusts you into the role of a fisher exploring some seriously mysterious depths. The indie game stands as one of this year's best releases, thanks to its unique gameplay and creepy setting. If you have not yet played Dredge, then this is the perfect time to grab it as it is discounted during a limited Fanatical sale along with other great Team17 games.


PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:41 PM
     One of the best LGBT games is free, and you need to play it

If you've ever considered playing Celeste, then this is the perfect opportunity for you to do so. The incredible LGBT game is not only a rewardingly difficult platformer, but also an emotional narrative-driven experience with a powerful message to offer. You will be able to grab it for free thanks to Game Pass, along with other indie gems such as The Wandering Village and Venba. The Game Pass rotation offers a good variety of free titles, meaning that there is much more available to download than just Celeste if you have already played through it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Celeste: a platformer about anxiety, The best PC games of 2018: Celeste, PCGN Awards 2018

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:33 PM
     Destiny 2 Solstice guide: Start time, rewards, quest and title

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

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

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:18 PM
     Diablo 4 patch notes – 1.1.0 update details all season one changes

Diablo 4 is receiving its biggest update yet in the wake of the RPG game's first season, the Season of the Malignant, and boy is it a huge one.  The Diablo 4 1.1.0 update is hefty, with a variety of new gameplay features for season one, class adjustments, and balance changes. Aside from the season's highly anticipated additions, this patch also sees fixes and tweaks like the Hammer of Ancients bug resolution and the smoothing out of bonus XP for higher-level content.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:00 PM
     League of Legends patch notes – 13.14 finally adds Naafiri and Arena

League of Legends patch 13.14 is a big one, my friends - trust me, I got the update in a Word document and that's a lot of pages. The MOBA's newest champion, Naafiri, will finally be unleashed on the public domain, as well as Arena, League of Legends' new 2v2v2v2 mode.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends Mythic shop sales, League of Legends patch 13.12, League of Legends tier list

PCGamesN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:24 PM
     Diablo 4 is getting competitive play, but it'll take a while

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:01 PM
    

Diablo 4's latest patch is out now and it's a doozy, introducing new unique items, fixing dozens of bugs, and re-balancing every class with stat increases and decreases. These changes come just a couple of days before the launch of the action-RPGs first season and battle pass.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:27 PM
    

I previously complained that EA Sports FC 24's "gameplay reveal" trailer didn't seem to contain much more "gameplay" than the announcement trailer released a few days prior. Well, now here comes the "gameplay deep dive" trailer to hopefully satisfy my appetite.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:01 PM
    

Counter-Strike 2 is in closed beta while Valve test its new features, revised maps and upgraded engine. That limited test has just been updated to swap out two maps, Nuke and Office, with two others, Vertigo and a hugely overhauled Overpass, as well as to add the two-on-two Wingman mode.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:29 PM
    

Ukie, the organisation which represents the UK games industry, have published 11 new "industry principles" regarding the implementation of loot boxes. These principles come as a response to the UK government, who last year called for greater protection for under-18s and vulnerable people from the potential harmful effects of loot boxes.

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

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

Read more


Twinfinite Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:54 PM
    
Look up!

Twinfinite Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:16 PM
    
The perfect soundtrack for your next party.

Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:00 PM
    

Blue Protocol experience bug

Bandai Namco confirmed the existence of a bug in Blue Protocol that allowed players to gain experience points without actively participating in the game. The experience bug is known in Japanese as "stealth PT." Using said bug would infringe on the Terms of Service for the game. Bandai Namco issued a warning to players that are caught intentionally utilizing, and the company confirmed that they may be subject to an in-game warning or even the suspension of service.

The stealth PT bug would activate after a player joins a party and undertakes a series of unspecified steps to activate it. Once active, players enter a state in which they are not members of the party, but would still obtain experience and other benefits from the party they previously joined.

Bandai Namco reminded players that while idling after joining a party to receive its benefits is not a bug, this still infringes on the Terms of Service of the game, and players that do this might be subject to in-game warnings or suspension of service as well. The company also asked players to participate in online environments responsibly, and ensure that other's experiences are not impacted negatively.

Blue Protocol is currently available to play on Windows PC in Japan. PS4 and PS5 versions will appear at a later date. The game will release worldwide in 2024 after a delay. As a reminder, the new Blitz Lancer class will appear in Blue Protocol on August 2023.

The post Bandai Namco Confirms Experience Gain Bug in Blue Protocol appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:00 PM
    

sword art online minato aqua last recollection

Bandai Namco named Hololive VTuber Minato Aqua the official ambassador for Sword Art Online Last Recollection. More information on what she'll do in the role will come up in the near future. However, we do know she plans to stream the game when it comes out. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

There is a short video of Minato Aqua announcing her ambassador status on the official YouTube channel for the upcomingSword Art Online games. She stated that she wants to hype up the game along with other fans, and, as mentioned earlier, will be streaming the game. It's unclear if she'll stream parts of the game before its official release date or if she'll stream it after it comes out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q14mrz6BbgU

This is not the first time in recent history that a Hololive VTuber became the official ambassador for a game. Lasengle recently revealed Usada Pekora as the ambassador for Fate/Grand Order—more specifically, for FGO Fes 2023. Her job will be to stream portions of the live event and make announcements about the source material.

Sword Art Online Last Recollection will be the newest entry in the long-running Sword Art Online video game series. It will adapt the War of Underworld arc, along with game-original characters and story threads. All of the previous playable game-original characters will return in this one to aid Kirito in his quest. You can read our preview of it here.

Sword Art Online Last Recollection will come out on October 5, 2023 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.

The post Minato Aqua Is the Official SAO Last Recollection Ambassador appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:00 PM
    

XIV Featured

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of A Realm Reborn, Final Fantasy XIV is adding new sticker and frame options to the Group Pose feature. The options were added with Patch 6.45 and will remain available until January 2024.

Group Pose is a feature designed to aid in taking screenshots in Final Fantasy XIV, including altering lighting and pausing the animations of you and your party members. You can also customize your photos with stickers and frames, including the new ones released for the anniversary. There are 10 new options for frames and 9 for stickers, each featuring moogle and/or meteorite iconography, which can be placed over your photos. For more help, you can check out the official UI guide website.

You can get a look at some of the examples shared by Square Enix in the gallery below:

[gallery columns="4" ids="973382,973383,973384,973385" link="file"]

Patch 6.45 also brought new variant dungeons, Manderville weapons and changes to several Blue Mage questlines. You can also check out our guide on how to earn some easy mounts.

Final Fantasy XIV is immediately available on PS4, PS5, and PC, where patch 6.45 and the new Group Pose options are live now.

The post Final Fantasy XIV Adds New Group Pose Options for ARR Anniversary appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Jagged 3 Feature

Jagged Alliance 3 is the latest in a series of tactical RPGs that originally released in the mid 1990s on DOS. Developed this time around by Bulgarian studio Haemimont Games, this installment aims to put a fresh coat of paint to a classic series. For the most part, it succeeds.

The story puts you in charge of a mercenary group hired by the daughter of the president of Grand Chien. Her father has been kidnapped by a rebel army known as the Legion and their shadowy leader, the Major. Your tasks are to take him out and save the president, but if you happen to liberate a bunch of lucrative diamond mines along the way, well, the corporate sponsors funding you wouldn't object. As mercenaries, you have fairly free rein to go about this, at least once off the starting island. You can even get the location of the Major himself by then too, though I didn't test whether it was possible to pull a The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and beeline my way to the boss straight out of the tutorial.

The battles are turn-based tactical affairs on a grid, as you might imagine. However outside of combat, the game plays more like a classic RPG with levels to explore in real time. I admit to being a bit surprised going in. Having not played the previous games, I had expected an XCOM-style mission-based campaign, but what I got was closer to a Divinity: Original Sin 2 or perhaps a Fallout: Tactics. Rather than simply engage in battle after battle, there's a surprising amount to explore in the levels and a lot of secrets and side quests to find. The battles themselves have a pleasing amount of tactical crunch to them, with lots of options for changing stances, targeting particular body parts, and finding advantages in the environment. There's a good range of options to specialize your mercs too, from run-and-gun flankers and hunker-down heavies to more utility-based characters designed to capitalize on out-of-combat actions or to aid in exploring.

[caption id="attachment_972841" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Jagged Alliance 3 map Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

While the battles are the meat of Jagged Alliance 3, the exploration segments are by no means insubstantial. There's a multitude of ways to influence the battle even before it shifts to turn-based mode. Stealthily taking down dangerous targets that stray from the group, setting up flanking maneuvers and overwatch traps, or sometimes talking half the enemy force into leaving are all possibilities. My only gripe is that, without a pause button to issue orders, I found it difficult to set up takedowns or other more fiddly techniques before being spotted.

Managing downtime is also extremely important. As well as repairing weapons, treating injuries, and training local militias to defend themselves, you also have to manage your mercenaries' contracts. It puts some time pressure on the map layer as you balance preparation for the next fight with earning enough to keep your best mercs on the payroll, but it was never too oppressive. Especially once you unlock the passive income from diamond mines.

[caption id="attachment_973091" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Jagged 3 Character Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

The two most uneven aspects, though, are the writing and the UI. A lot of the strategic menus and mercenary management is done through a cute, if sometimes unclear, facsimile of 1990s internet menus and websites, to the point where recruitment is done by personally messaging your chosen merc through a chat client. It honestly adds quite a bit to the tone, but at the same time it can obfuscate some areas. For example, there is actually a character creator if you want to make your own mercenaries, but it is in one of the browser tabs without a particularly intuitive name. Similarly, in combat you aren't given a hard percentage for whether your shot will hit or not, just a list of bonuses and a crosshair that changes size. Again, it fits the slapdash nature of the entire venture, but that doesn't mean it won't be frustrating to some that your chance for success has to be judged by the vibe.

And the writing... oh boy. Jagged Alliance 3's set up and main story invoke a more serious tone, to say nothing of the real world implications of mercenary intervention in mineral-rich destabilized nations. But then your characters start talking and you're reminded that the fate of this country is in the hands of a whiny hacktivist, a good-vibes guru and some guy doing an entirely unconvincing impression of a east-coast gangster. If you're familiar with Haemimont's work on Tropico, you have a good idea what to expect from the humor. There are some winners and some groaners, but all of them are common enough to become grating very quickly, especially the combat barks.

[caption id="attachment_973088" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Jagged Alliance 3 UI Screenshot via Siliconera[/caption]

It's kind of a shame, because there are touches that actually work quite well for how small they are. One mercenary remarks about how mopey her husband gets when she's away, and suggests you hire him too. They have complementary perks, you see. Another early story about a man's son joining the Legion surprised me with actually decent motivation for all involved. You understood the father's desire to shelter his only son, why the son himself was drawn to a brutal strongman like the Major, and why the rest of the villagers are maybe less keen to welcome back someone who raided their home and killed their friend. It was only a small morsel of story, but it did the job of investing me in this tiny village on the tutorial island.

Those looking for a solid tactical RPG to dig their teeth into will find it with Jagged Alliance 3. But while you may acclimate to the slightly unhelpful UI, the combat barks and general writing can be more difficult to ignore. There's going to be a good amount of replay value in different builds, trying different options and choices, and of course different combinations of the 36-odd mercenary characters. But whether you want to spend more time in this setting will depend entirely on how much you can listen to a Ice Williams talk about popping caps in people.

Jagged Alliance 3 is immediately available on Windows PCs.

The post Review: Jagged Alliance 3 Is a Solid Game Held Back by Its Humor appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:30 PM
    

Street Fighter 6 Rashid

Capcom released a new video guide showcasing the moves of upcoming Street Fighter 6 DLC character Rashid. Launching on July 24, 2023, Rashid will be the first character added to the game post-launch and is also the focus of the July 2023 Fighter Pass.

The video breaks down his moves and their variants, as well as the situations they tend to find use in. Even if you aren't planning on playing Rashid yourself, knowing when to expect a Spinning Mixer or Arabian Skyhigh could prove handy when you meet someone who is.

You can watch the full video via Youtube below:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2U3nex-8C4[/embed]

 

Earlier this month, Capcom announced Rashid's release date, and that the July Fight Pass would be themed around him too. When released, Rashid will be available as part of the Year 1 character pass for $29.99 or the Ultimate pass for $49.99.

As well as achieving 2 million units sold worldwide, Street Fighter 6 has also been part of several collaborations. PUBG: Battlegrounds has a raft of skins based on Street Fightr characters heading to its shop, and Spy x Family author Tatsuya Endo shared a drawing of Anya dressed as Chun Li to commemorate the upcoming collab.

Street Fighter 6 is available on the Xbox Series X, PC, PS4, and PS5, with Rashid becoming available to play on July 24, 2023.

The post Latest Street Fighter 6 Character Guide Covers Rashid appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Uniqlo Chainsaw Man

Uniqlo revealed that new Chainsaw Man shirts will be coming out soon in Japan. The announcement was also shared through the official Chainsaw Man Twitter account with an animated teaser. The same teaser can be seen on the Japanese Uniqlo UT website for the collaboration, which shows the caption "coming soon…" after playing the video. The t-shirts will be part of the Uniqlo UT line of pop culture and anime collaborations.

The lineup for this new collaboration hasn't been revealed yet. While the new Chainsaw Man shirts have only been announced for Japan, the Uniqlo UT anime collections often come out worldwide shortly after their Japanese release.

You can check out the animated teaser for the new Chainsaw Man Uniqlo UT clothes here:

https://twitter.com/CHAINSAWMAN_PR/status/1681272609219170309

Some other recent Uniqlo UT anime collaboration t-shirts we've seen include the recent My Hero Academia T-shirts that will be releasing worldwide on July 24, 2023, The World of CLAMP T-shirts featuring Cardcaptor Sakura, Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, xxxHolic, and Magic Knight Rayearth, as well as Naruto and Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War T-shirts.

The new Uniqlo UT Chainsaw Man shirts will appear in Japan sometime soon. More details about this collection, such as details about the designs, will come out soon.

The post Uniqlo Announces Its Chainsaw Man Shirts appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:30 PM
    

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fire Emblem Heroes is available for mobile devices.

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


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Digimon Adventure 02 Episodes

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

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

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


Siliconera Tuesday, July 18, 2023 12:30 PM
    

New Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Drops Campaign Starts Tomorrow

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

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

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

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

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

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


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 6:59 PM
     Totk Spirit Temple Boss Closeup Before BattleNormally, when you encounter the Seized Construct inside the Spirit Temple in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you have to take it down using Mineru's construct. But interestingly, the developers designed the fight to be beatable using Link's standard moveset. Doing so in the Spirit Temple arena will prove quite impractical, though, as the gloom-coated floor forces players to either use Mineru or stock up on food items that can heal gloom damage. However, if you skip the Spirit Temple quest and head straight to Ganondorf's lair, the game will force you to face the Seized Construct without Mineru's aid. Read further to learn how to overcome this limitation to defeat the Seized Construct. Fighting the Seized Construct without Mineru General Strategies Whether you have Mineru's construct or not, your goal in the Seized Construct fight involves hitting the boss with melee attacks to knock it into the electric fence for a big chunk of damage. But whe...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:55 PM
     Ffxiv1Patch 6.45 introduces Majestic Mandeville Weapons into Final Fantasy XIV. These are the latest additions to the Relic Weapons tree; they look incredible and do decent damage to boot. Unless you're rocking Raid gear, Majestic Mandeville Weapons could offer a decent stat boost to your character. Even if they aren't as good as your current loadout, they are begging for a slot on your Glamour Plate. Let me show you how to get all Majestic Mandeville Weapons in FF XIV 6.45. How to get all Majestic Mandeville Weapons in FF XIV 6.45 Plenty of amazing gear in FF XIV is locked behind layers of grinding. Fortunately, Mandeville Weapons are easy to get as they only require Tomes of Causality. For the more casual players, let's start at the beginning.  Before you can get Majestic Mandeville Weapons, you need a level 90 Character that's finished the Endwalker Expansion. You also need to complete the Hildibrand Quest Line. You can start these quests in Southern ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:41 PM
     Diablo Iv Launch Necromancer GameplayNecromancers are an extremely fun class in Diablo 4, but Season of the Malignant just made them even better. While Necromancers were in a great spot before the Season of the Malignant changes, the buffs they receive are welcomed and the nerfs aren't too bad. Here are all the changes, including buffs and nerfs, made to Necromancers in Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant Note: While there are definitely a lot of great Necromancer builds to try, I really loved playing the best early game Blood Necromancer build and continued to see a high level of success with it even at level 50. All Necromancer changes and bug fixes in Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant The good news about Necromancers in Diablo 4 is that they were arguably the most balanced class before Diablo 4 Season of the Malignant. However, Season of the Malignant gives some awesome buffs to Necromancers as well as fixes a few broken bugs and errors that plagued the class. Fixed an issue where Necromancers...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:50 PM
     Lisa Definitive Edition Review Featured ImageThe post-apocalypse is one of the cornerstone concepts in modern media, be it books, films, or video games. From The Last of Us to Bioshock, from Mad Max to Snowpiercer, our collective appetite for worlds that have fallen into ruin speaks volumes of the exhaustion many feel at the current state of global affairs. When societal collapse becomes a tempting escape, there's something truly, deeply wrong. Lisa falls squarely into the post-apocalypse category, but it predates much of the modern mania with the genre, releasing originally in 2014. It also offers a unique spin on the tried-and-tested post-apocalypse concept: rather than having a cataclysmic disaster or deadly virus be the instigator for its world's woes, Lisa instead imagines a freak incident called 'The Flash', wherein every woman on earth mysteriously disappears. From this simple conceit, it manages to weave a rich narrative tapestry that interrogates some of the darkest aspects of human nature; a tapestry in which th...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:37 PM
     All 6 Diablo Season of the Malignant Unique Items and how to get themUniques are among the rarest, most coveted items in Diablo 4. Some Uniques are so game-changing they are widely considered the 'best in slot' equipment for multiple classes. If you've seen players with a pool of ice around their feet, you've got the Unique Penitent Greaves boots to thank for that. With the arrival of Season 1, six additional Uniques have entered the loot pool. If the thought of new toys has awakened the loot goblin inside you, let me show you all 6 Diablo Season of the Malignant Unique Items and how to get them. All 6 Diablo Season of the Malignant Unique Items and how to get them The Season of the Malignant has added several new Uniques into the game. There's a Unique for each class, but let's start with the one that every player can shoot for. Ahavarian Spear of Lycander (Unique Staff) This Staff is the rarest new Unique Item, limited to World Tier 4 only. The Ahavarian Spear of Lycander grants a random Shrine Buff for...

Gamer Empire Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:49 PM
     If you think dealing with the heated temperature and keeping your base intact in Summer is tough enough, you may not live long enough to see the destruction of the Antlion – one of the giant bosses in Don't Starve Together. Within a blink of an eye, a portion of your base can be destroyed […]

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Tuesday, July 18, 2023 3:10 PM
     The realms of sword and sorcery just got more thrilling with the release of Fantasy AGE 2nd Edition, announced today by Green Ronin Publishing. The eagerly awaited second edition of the popular role-playing game (RPG) will be available in game stores this week and can also be ordered from the company's online store in both …

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, July 18, 2023 5:16 PM
    

The upcoming titles include Celeste, Venba, Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem, and more.

The post Xbox Game Pass Adds Celeste, Venba, Serious Sam: Siberian Mayhem and More appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:55 PM
    

"Focuses on long range, precision-based gameplay"

The post Remnant 2 Gets New 'Hunter Archetype' Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:37 PM
    

The character will launch sometime this summer

The post The King of Fighters XV Gets New Najd DLC Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Tuesday, July 18, 2023 4:17 PM
    

Includes The Borderlands Compilation: Pandora's Box, Origination, Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster, and more

The post The Borderlands Compilation: Pandora's Box, Origination Leaked appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.