Inside Samsung's Galaxy machine – we see how the S23 Ultra is made

New Meta Quest 3 teaser, a major iPhone 15 milestone, and more
Created for techradar.com@quicklydone.com |  Web Version
August 2, 2023
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Phones
We've seen how Samsung makes phones, and it's amazing
There are a multitude of steps involved in the production of a Samsung phone (Samsung)
Samsung recently treated TechRadar US Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff to a private tour of the Gumi Smart City where its flagship Galaxy phones are put together – and it's fair to say the process is stunning in its complexity and its meticulousness.
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Virtual Reality
The Meta Quest 3 gets a new launch teaser
We've had a brief glimpse of the Meta Quest 3 (Meta)
Ready for the next virtual reality headset from Meta? Ahead of the Meta Connect event happening on September 27 the company has teased the arrival of the Meta Quest 3, and we're hoping it offers an appealing balance of power and affordability.
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Cameras
The DJI Osmo Action 4 delivers a key improvement
The new Osmo Action 4 (DJI)
The DJI Osmo Action 4 action camera has landed, ready to take on the GoPro Hero 11 Black. Photo and video quality have been given a significant boost this time around, adding to the rugged build and versatile mount options offered by the existing model.
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Phones
The iPhone 15 has just hit a major milestone
The iPhone 14 line, including the iPhone 14 Plus, will soon no longer be Apple's top dogs (Future)
It feels like we've been waiting for the iPhone 15 for longer than 11 months, but the wait is nearly over. Apple's new flagships are set to launch in September, and a new report that says the displays have gone into mass production suggests the phones are on schedule.
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TVs
LG's most popular OLED TVs just got a free upgrade
The LG G2 is one of the TVs getting a brightness upgrade (LG)
A firmware fix is heading to some of the most popular LG TVs from 2022, which means that if you've got an LG C2 or LG G2 set at home you should see the picture getting noticeably brighter in the near future – a welcome, and free, upgrade.
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Aug 02, 12:00


Kotaku Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:25 AM
    

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum, one of this year's worst games, received a massive update on July 27 that addressed multiple issues across all platforms.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:10 AM
    

When Wizards of the Coast adapted Lord of the Rings into a Magic: The Gathering set, it decided to create a special variant of Sauron's Ring that would be one of a kind. The hyper-rare card was first found back in June and now the owner has sold it to rapper Post Malone. The amount hasn't been confirmed yet, but…

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, August 2, 2023 9:15 AM
    

Street Fighter 6 characterizes its fighters in odder, more specific ways than prior games in the franchise. The broad strokes—the character archetypes—are still the same. Ryu is a stoic warrior. Dhalsim is a serene yoga master. E. Honda is a prideful sumo fighter. But Street Fighter 6 grounds these iconic characters…

Read more...


PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:49 AM
     Best Baldur's Gate 3 Paladin build

What is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Paladin build? Our guide discusses the Oath of the Ancients subclass, as well as the ideal race, background, and spell options for the Paladin class.

The Baldur's Gate 3 Paladin looks set to become one of the favored classes when the BG3 release time rolls around in your area. The Paladin has two subclasses that you can choose from during character creation: Oath of Devotion and Oath of the Ancients. There's also a hidden subclass called the Oathbreaker. We've chosen the Oath of the Ancients for the best BG3 Paladin build, so here's what you need to know about using this subclass, whichever of the Baldur's Gate 3 races you combine it with.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:44 AM
     Best Baldur's Gate 3 Ranger build

What is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Ranger build? There are few classes who are as attuned to nature as the Ranger - they take to the wilderness like a fish to water and can use all of the wild's advantages to strike fear in the heart of their enemies. Some BG3 Rangers exclusively hunt the most dangerous prey, and others skulk in the shadows, waiting for their target - which will you be?

As the Baldur's Gate 3 release time in your area is right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about which BG3 class you'll be going and how you're going to build them. For this Ranger build, we have a mixture of ranged damage, animal companions, and powerful magic. Here is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Ranger build.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:35 AM
     Best Baldur's Gate 3 Rogue build

What is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Rogue build? Sometimes, you just need stuff. Sometimes, that stuff belongs to someone else. Well, not with a BG3 Rogue - the master of larceny, the menace that skulks in the shadows, the Robin Hood who steals from everyone and gives to themselves.

If you're deliberating on your BG3 character class and race, you may have begun to theorycraft your perfect build for one of the more devious classes; a deadly Rogue who has a penchant for robbing folk blind, and a razor-sharp blade waiting for a home in some poor soul's back. If you are, here is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Rogue build for all your dodgy needs.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:26 AM
     Is Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart Steam Deck compatible?

Is Ratchet and Clank Steam Deck compatible? Playing Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart on the Steam Deck is as easy as blasting through a slew of rifts and dimensions in space. Valve has given the brand-new PlayStation port its coveted seal of approval, leaving owners of the handheld having nothing to worry about.

As stated in the Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart system requirements, you will need 75GB storage space before you take on the evil Dr. Nefarious. Check out our guide to the best microSD card for Steam Deck if you're sporting the 64GB model and need that little extra bit of space.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:25 AM
     Dave the Diver leaves Elden Ring in the deep end on Steam Deck

Dave the Diver has continued to garner success since the management hybrid RPG splashed onto Steam, becoming something of a Steam Deck darling in the process. The indie-hit is continuing to make waves, leaving hugely popular games like Elden Ring in the dust as it swims to first place to become the most played game on the Steam Deck in July 2023.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:24 AM
     Best Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build

What is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build? The Fighter in BG3 is a person of action, a master of violence, and a solid addition to any party if you think you'll get into a scrape or two during your adventures. The Fighter is proficient with a range of weapons and can be an excellent damage dealer if you build them correctly.

Make sure you know the Baldur's Gate 3 release time in your area and start thinking about which BG3 class to choose when you begin your journey. If you're considering the Fighter, we've done a deep dive into the class' skillset to craft the best build for taking the fight to the mind flayers. Here is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Fighter build.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:10 AM
     Best Baldur's Gate 3 Cleric build

What is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Cleric build? Traditionally seen as the group's healer and a rather selfless spellcaster, the Cleric class in BG3 can do more than keep your companions alive if you so choose - there are darker paths to wander down in the life of worship if that's what you're drawn to. While your allies will thank you for your support, your enemies will cower when they see the power your gods have bestowed upon you.

Ahead of the Baldur's Gate 3 release time in your area, you should start putting some thought into your BG3 class. There are a dizzying amount of options, so we've gone and put together the best Baldur's Gate 3 Cleric build, utilizing some of the more sinister options available so that you'll be able to more than pull your weight in a fight.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:05 AM
     Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart system requirements

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

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:55 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 multiplayer and co-op explained

Does Baldur's Gate 3 have multiplayer? Dungeons and Dragons is better played with friends - well, the TTRPG can pretty much only be played with others - and while you can spend your time in BG3 adventuring with and romancing NPCs, multiplayer would let you travel with your most trusted buds.

There's loads to consider by the time the Baldur's Gate 3 release time hits your area, like which of the BG3 classes and races to choose for your character, and which companions you want to keep an eye out for. Despite the fact that DnD is played in a group, Larian's DnD game has been made for a single-player experience, so is there a Baldur's Gate 3 multiplayer option and, if so, just how does it work?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:52 AM
     Genshin Impact 4.0 will save you from the endless Emblem grind

Genshin Impact has always been a major grind for those who care about their artifact sets and stats, but version 4.0 is about to save us from that endless loop. Emblem of Severed Fate - one of the anime game's most popular artifact sets - will be added to the Strongbox in Genshin Impact version 4.0 along with several other sets to help alleviate the seemingly endless grind.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:39 AM
     Huge GTA 5 mod adds new story where you can literally talk to NPCs

A GTA 5 mod where you play as a police officer. Okay, sounds normal. Well how about new, fully designed story missions, where you can actually talk, through a microphone, with your real voice, to the NPCs? This is Rockstar's sandbox game as you've never experienced it before, as a whole-new GTA 5 mod campaign allows you to hold actual, dynamic conversations with in-game characters, crossing the borders between LA Noire's police officer back-and-forth, Red Dead Redemption 2's organic social encounters, and, well, what feels like the future. If you're waiting on the GTA 6 release date, and want to experience something that already seems like the next generation, this GTA 5 mod is for you.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best GTA 5 RP servers, GTA 6 release date speculation, GTA 5 system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:39 AM
     Best Baldur's Gate 3 Warlock build

What is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Warlock build? Magic-wielders who have long since sold their soul, the Warlock worships all-powerful beings, serving their nefarious purposes, and in return, being granted pure, unbridled power. While your patron's motives may be questionable, the abilities you receive from them aren't.

You don't have long until the Baldur's Gate 3 release time hit your area, so if you do have a BG3 class in mind, it really is time to nail down the specifics of your build. We've gone through and mastered the Warlock, so you know which spells to unlock, which Baldur's Gate 3 race suits the class best, and which subclass gives you the most power. Here is the best Baldur's Gate 3 Warlock build.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:49 AM
     Best Chrome VPN 2023

The best Chrome VPN is one that'll keep your search history as private as possible, while also giving you an easy-to-use Chrome extension to control it with. Once you have one of these installed, you'll be able to connect to the internet via servers in other regions, meaning that nobody can track your internet data, and you'll be able to access content that is usually geo-restricted.

The list includes many of the best VPN services and all of them have a Chrome extension that you allows you to easily control your VPN through the browser directly. All you need to do is head to the VPN provider's website, sign up, install the extension, and log in again through it, and you're all set. Some even have a VPN free trial, if you want to take them for a spin.

Continue reading Best Chrome VPN 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:57 AM
     Best Steam Deck games 2023

What are the best Steam Deck games? Narrowing down the list of the best Steam Deck games is no easy task, as the device is capable of playing a myriad of genres and titles from across the decades. Yet whether you play your Steam Deck in small bursts, have it hooked up to an external display, or use it as your official travel buddy, there are perfect games for every occasion.

Continue reading Best Steam Deck games 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:22 AM
     Stalker 2 and Payday 3 playable demos lead Xbox Gamescom lineup

The first public playable demos of Stalker 2 and Payday 3 are among the highlights visitors to the Xbox Gamescom booth can look forward to, with many of the biggest upcoming games for the rest of 2023 lined up to appear at the show. Along with the hands-on Stalker 2 demo and other playable games including Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty and Armored Core 6, there'll also be new looks at Starfield and Forza Motorsport at the show.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 review, Best Cyberpunk 2077 mods, Buy Cyberpunk 2077

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:14 AM
     Forget bear sex, Baldur's Gate 3 is

One thing Baldur's Gate 3 really wants to get right is love, with plenty of opportunities for you and other characters to get flirty and dirty in the RPG game. Larian's been pushing the Baldur's Gate 3 romances hard up to the Baldur's Gate 3 release date, and now it appears that the infamous (or famous, depending on your disposition) bear sex scene might not be the horniest Baldur's Gate 3 gets. We can only dream.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:12 AM
     How to revive characters in Baldur's Gate 3

How do I revive characters in Baldur's Gate 3? Death is a constant hazard in Baldur's Gate 3, and we don't need to tell you that it should be avoided at all costs. You can perform a Death Saving Throw up to three times after your character is downed in order to revive them. A successful roll stabilizes them with one hit point, though they remain unconscious, while three failed rolls result in their death.

However, you don't just have to rely entirely on luck to revive characters in BG3. Of course, choosing the best Baldur's Gate 3 builds, including the best races and classes, can certainly help to limit the chances of a crippling defeat in combat. However, there are also several options to pull them from the brink of death – from in-game items and turn-based actions to an unlikely NPC that can patch up your party once the battle is over. Here's how you can resurrect your companions in Baldur's Gate 3.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 8:29 AM
     AMD confirms plans to launch new

Dr. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, just confirmed that the company plans to launch new graphics cards (yes, plural).  Better still, these AMD Radeon GPUs will be "enthusiast-class" pixel pushers that'll hopefully provide some much-needed proper competition to Nvidia's midrange offerings.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7000 CPUs - everything we know, RDNA 3 GPUs - everything we know, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:55 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 cast and voice actors

Who are the Baldur's Gate 3 voice actors? It's fair to say Larian Studios has cemented its status as masters of their craft, and it looks like Baldur's Gate 3 is going to live up to the studios' high standards. A big part of what makes Larian's games so immersive is their cinematic cutscenes, complete with expert voice actors in each role.

Given the length of Baldur's Gate 3, you're going to be spending a lot of time listening to the dialogue in the RPG game. Before you settle in ahead of the Baldur's Gate 3 release time, you might want to read over our guide to the best Baldur's Gate 3 class and see which voice actors could join you on your adventure. There may be more voice actors joining the cast after act one, but we won't know until the full game launches.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:53 AM
     PowerWash Simulator literally blasts Elon Musk's Twitter name change

PowerWash Simulator has very literally blasted the recent Twitter name change implemented by Elon Musk. As you've likely seen, on Saturday, July 22, Musk announced that Twitter would be rebranded to simply X. Indeed, the Twitter logo has now been changed and the domain 'X.com' now also directs to Twitter. A new, short video however, posted by PowerWash Simulator developer Futurlab, reflects how some social media users may have felt about the rebranding. This may be one of the most relaxing games, but it has no chill.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best simulation games, Best co-op games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:32 AM
     New Steam update from Valve lets you trace your entire backlog

A new Steam update has rolled out from Valve, updating the Steam client with some new features and fixing a number of common bugs. This Steam patch changes quite a few small things, but probably the most welcome news for many players is that you can now sort your Steam library by date added, giving you a quick and easy way to check in on all the best PC games in your backlog and see the full history of your account.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:38 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 companions guide

Who are the Baldur's Gate 3 companions? If you're new to Baldur's Gate or Larian RPGs in general, companions are unique characters who can join your party and accompany you throughout the game. They'll help you out in combat, but they also have their own skills and story. Several of them can also be selected as Origins at character select, allowing you to play through Baldur's Gate 3 from that character's perspective.

Companions scale to your level and gain experience with you, even if you'll still need to select the best Baldur's Gate 3 class to secure victory. We'll update this guide once the Baldur's Gate 3 release time rolls around with even more information on the BG3 companions. Until then, here's what we know about Baldur's Gate 3's companions so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:31 AM
     Slide Down A Hill codes August 2023

What are the new Slide Down A Hill codes? We completely understand if you've found yourself addicted to Slide Down A Hill, after all, it's basically a playable version of those mesmerizing split-screen TikToks that the youths of today love so much.

Depending on how much money you acquire in the Roblox game, you can find yourself rolling down a hill in a school bus, cyber truck, or even the Statue of Liberty. If you're after more Roblox codes, check out our guides on Race Clicker codes, Fire Force Online codes, and Anime Adventures codes to get an advantage in all of your favorite games.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:28 AM
     These hilarious Baldur's Gate 3 outtakes need to be made into a mod

Baldur's Gate 3 is, in a lot of ways, going to be a very silly game. You can talk to territorial squirrels, throw your shoes at an annoying child, and do just about anything your D&D-loving heart desires in Baldur's Gate 3, Larian's new RPG game. All of this, from picking your Baldur's Gate 3 classes to diving into the story, will be scored by a narrator, and we now know what it would sound like if they just went off kilter for the Baldur's Gate 3 release date, and it's as brilliant as you'd expect.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Wednesday, August 2, 2023 8:38 AM
     Is Armored Core 6 Steam Deck compatible?

Is Armored Core 6 Steam Deck compatible? Whether you're a hardened fan of the series or brand new to the world of Armored Core 6, you shouldn't have any issues when this FromSoftware title blasts its way on the Steam Deck.

As stated in the Amored Core 6 system requirements, you'll only need 60GB of storage, which shouldn't make you blow a circuit. However, check out the best microSD cards for the Steam Deck if you're sporting the 64GB model and require that extra bit of space ahead of the game's release.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 12:00 PM
    

"We don't go to Ravenholm…" Half-Life 2's sixth chapter heading warns, and when you arrive at the outskirts of this abandoned mining town, you immediately see why. This headcrab and zombie-infested cess pit is an absolute horror show right from the off. Moans and screeches assault your ears from every nook and cranny of this dark murder hole, and if the hoarse crow calls and suspiciously high number of propane barrels weren't enough to put you off, the bloodied torsos lodged against its log cabin walls by deep set saw blades certainly will. Every fibre of your being is telling you to get the hell out of this place, and that surely, the Combine forces chasing you down here can't be worse than what's in front of you.

But I'd also add an addendum to that heading that goes something like this: "We don't go to Ravenholm, and definitely not with just a gravity gun." This is a place that demands you to have as much firepower as you can possibly muster, such are the monstrosities that lie in wait here. But what did baby Katharine decide to do when she was playing it alone on her terrible university laptop in the dead of night back in 2010? She decided to have a go at that old Zombie Chopper achievement for no good reason whatsoever. And what followed was even more horrifying than Ravenholm had any right to be.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:54 AM
    

Baldur's Gate 3 is right around the corner - comes out tomorrow, August 3rd - and everything we've learned about the mammoth RPG makes it sounds like an awfully horny romp. Of course, there's the recently revealed hot villainess that had an entire corner of the internet making the same joke: "I can fix her." There's the fact that you can seduce a druid who's in bear form - as in an actual bear, not the gay slang version of the word. And now, the voice actor behind Baldur's Gate 3's narrator has posted several outtakes, giving us gems such as "I'm a bard, I can fuck my way through any problem." Have a listen here.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:00 AM
    

I don't know about you, but I've been immensely enjoying the seeming renaissance of tower defence citybuilding games recently. The grimdark horrors of Age Of Darkness: Final Stand might be a bit too hard as nails for my personal liking, but there's something about the act of building up my little settlements and defending them against ever-larger nightly hordes that just unlocks something in my brain that says, 'Yes, more of this, please'. It's the same feeling I got from the blocky delights of Diplomacy Is Not An Option and the deckbuilding, comic-book stylings of ORX, too, but now there's a new kid that's ridden into town who I think might be the king of the lot.

Thronefall is a more minimalist take on the citybuilder tower defender, but while its bright colours might look like the distant cousin of a Townscaper toybox (it is, after all, made by the same dev wot did the equally charming Islanders), this deadly little thing is absolutely genius. It's only just come out in early access today, but I've been having a great time with a pre-release build of it, and can feel it sinking its claws into me with every attempt at its final level.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:29 AM
    

Multiplayer peekaboo game Dead By Daylight has added countless horror movie icons to its roster of playable villains and survivors in recent months. Behaviour Interactive have already steamrolled through recognisable faces such as Ghostface, Freddy Kreuger, Leatherface, Micheal Myers, and, err, Nic Cage. But the next collaboration takes the scares to outer space since the Xenomorph (the Alien from Alien) is coming to the game. Here's a brief teaser.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:24 AM
    

Upcoming tactical CRPG Dark Envoy caught my attention when it was announced last year, mainly because it has the undeniably cool combo of high fantasy magic and steampunk firearms. Casting you as a refugee adventurer, you'll be shooting and/or spell-flinging across the war-ravaged world of Jäan, and you can even bring a friend along for the ride in co-op. We already knew all that good stuff, but the developers have now released a new video that delves deeper into the game's classes and specialisations. Take a look below.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Civil Protection officers are shorter than I thought they'd be. Don't get me wrong, I'm very much a Short King myself, but I assumed the gas mask-wearing enforcers of City 17 would be more vertically intimidating. As I defiantly refuse to pick up litter in Half-Life 2's opening sequence, I find the approaching officer and his raised electric baton to be weirdly adorable. Until he hits me, of course. The resulting crack gives me such a fright that I fling my arms out and smack my hand against the corner of a bookcase.

This has been my experience of playing the first few hours of Half-Life 2's excellent fan-made VR mod, a completely free add-on that transforms Valve's 2004 masterpiece into a full virtual reality experience. Under my direct control, Gordon Freeman is less a time-displaced MIT graduate with a penchant for murder and instead a gawking tourist who's more interested in staring at canal architecture than liberating humanity. I spend the majority of my time leaning in really close to walls and muttering, "That's interesting," before a leaping headcrab shocks me so severely that I damage some more furniture and scare the cat.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 8:00 AM
    

If you own Half-Life 2 but never bothered with its freebie tech demo, Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, do give it a whirl. Its showcase of HDR lighting might have lost the "Huh, nice" factor it had in 2005, but it's still a satisfying slice of punchy HL2 combat, with a nod to the original Half-Life that Valve regretted not making in the main game. I know this because Valve told me, via Lost Coast's other innovation: its developer commentary.

I love these things, these spinning speech bubbles inflated with knowledge straight from the FPS coalface. So do Valve, judging by how dev commentary has appeared (in identical, node-activatable form) in most of their games since. They're interesting and illuminating, don't interfere with the game unless the player wants them to, and help build design literacy. Why, then, don't more games offer commentary as well?

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 8:00 AM
    

Developers Alkemi Games made quite the impression with their lush card-battler Foretales, but they're now pivoting into the roguelike action realm with An Ankou. The game's explore-a-craft-y-slasher mix gives it some flavour from Hades and V Rising, only this time with a shadowy French-folklore skin attached. An Ankou hits early access on August 17th, and I'm very excited to juggle it alongside the zillion other games dropping this month.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 7:11 AM
    

With the month of Unpacking concluded and its rude boyfriend symbolically vanquished, I've been put in charge of choosing the next RPS Game Club game. And seeing how about 40% of what I write about is related to the Steam Deck, I thought it'd be nice if we took a break from that and chatted about something completely - ahaha no, just kidding it's totally gonna be Aperture Desk Job.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, August 2, 2023 6:18 AM
    

The Saints Row reboot received quite a cold reception when it came out last year, with our Alice Bee calling it fun but ultimately confused in her review. Now, developers Volition are closing out their post-launch plans for the game with an extensive update, a third paid expansion, and a Steam release. All coming this month.

Read more


Twinfinite Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:12 AM
    
A blissful fix.

Twinfinite Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:10 AM
    
You're in for a wild ride.

Twinfinite Wednesday, August 2, 2023 9:00 AM
    
I'm an agent of chaos.

Twinfinite Wednesday, August 2, 2023 6:36 AM
    
Yam seng!

Twinfinite Wednesday, August 2, 2023 4:23 AM
    
Get these codes before they're gone!

Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:41 AM
    

Piplup and Winking Pikachu Squishmallow Pre-orders Open

The Pokemon Center started accepting pre-orders for the new Piplup and Winking Pikachu Squishmallows. They are both 12 inch versions of the characters. Each one costs $29.99. They are expected to ship in "early September 2023," but there's no exact release date for either one.

Here's the official announcement.

As these are the Pokemon Center versions of the plush, it means both will feature a special patch on the back. These note that they came from this store. Other releases, which will likely show up at places like Walmart and Target, won't feature this additional marking.

We already learned about another new variant recently. In November 2023, a holiday Pikachu Squishmallow will appear. It is wearing a Santa hat. They join characters like standard Pikachu, Gengar, Togepi, and Snorlax. All four of those are already available and, while not available at the Pokemon Center, show up in other stores sometimes.

The Pokemon Piplup and Winking Pikachu Squishmallow plush will ship in September 2023. Pre-orders are available while supplies last.

The post Piplup and Winking Pikachu Squishmallow Pre-orders Open appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:30 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Character Guinafen Teased

HoYoVerse subtly introduced the new Honkai: Star Rail character Guinaifen in a new Pom-Pom's Intel promotional note. The point of the "feature" is to discus the performance arts we see when visiting the Xianzhou Luofu. However, the character reveal ended up snuck into a section about acrobatic performances.

There are no details about who Guinafen is in Honkai: Star Rail or what the new character will be like. "Pom-Pom" only offered a brief quote discussing her alongside a piece of official art showing her taking a selfie. This means we don't officially know if she is a four or five-star unit, what her element is, or which Path she follows.

The official description said:

I heard that there's an acrobatics expert by the name of Guinaifen. Maybe Trailblazers will have the chance to meet her!

And here's a closer look at the image HoYoVerse shared:
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="975760" link="file"]

Guinaifen is the second new character to be teased for a future Honkai: Star Rail update. We previously learned about Imbibitor Lunae in a similar way. However, HoYoVerse noted he's a five-star Imaginary character ahead of his official debut, while we don't know that about this one. We've also already seen Imbibitor Lunae in-game, as he showed up during the latest Xianzhou Luofu storyline.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for PCs and mobile devices. It will also come to the PS5 before 2023 ends.

The post New Honkai: Star Rail Character Guinaifen Teased appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:00 AM
    

yuna sword art online

Risae Matsuda will take over for Sayaka Kanda as Yuna in Sword Art Online properties. This is because Kanda died in 2021. Kanda originally voiced Yuna in Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale. On her Twitter account, Matsuda said that she will continue to move forward as Yuna along with the songs that Kanda sang.

On the official site for Sword Art Online: Beater's Cafe, Bandai Namco stated that Sayaka Kanda did an amazing role portraying Yuna, as well as singing songs as the character. It wanted Yuna to continue being a part of the franchise as it continues on. As well, it acknowledged that no one can ever fully replace Kanda as Yuna. While Matsuda will voice her as a character in new stories, she will not cover any of Kanda's previous songs.

Risae Matsuda is a voice actress who debuted in 2013. Some of her more prominent roles include Chika Sawada in Kageki Shojo and Lucifer in Lapis Re:Lights. She'd also voiced some background characters in Sword Art Online in 2014. As for Sayaka Kanda, she was a Japanese actress and singer. Aside from voicing Yuna in Sword Art Online, she was a live-action actress who portrayed roles like Junko Enoshima on stage. She passed away on December 18, 2021 after apparently falling from a hotel window.

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

The post Risae Matsuda Will Be New Voice of Yuna in Sword Art Online appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Best Klee Artifacts in Genshin Impact.

HoYoVerse announced three Artifact updates for Genshin Impact, with the biggest being an increase in the inventory limit. It will go up to 1,800 after the 4.0 update debuts. It also announced it will be easier to quickly destroy Artifacts to turn them into Mora. You'll also have eight more Artifact Sets under the Genshin Impact Crafting Bench's Mystic Offering "exchange."

At this moment, you can only have up to 1,500 Artifacts in Genshin Impact, which means that inventory limit is going up by 300. If you are currently at that limit, you can only automatically add one, two, and three-star Artifacts when trying to quickly destroy them for Mora. Once 4.0 appears, the limit will immediately jump to 1,800 and four-star Artifacts will be included in the auto add section. If you've never destroyed them before, doing so is possible for ones you haven't improved and nets you Mora.

As for the Genshin Impact Mystic Offering Artifact sets being added, you'll be able to exchange what you have for the following in 4.0.

  • Echoes of an Offering
  • Emblem of Severed Fate
  • Husk of Opulent Dreams
  • Ocean-Hued Clam
  • Pale Flame
  • Shimenawa's Reminiscence
  • Tenacity of the Millelith
  • Vermillion Hereafter

Genshin Impact is available on the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Fontaine Special Program going over the 4.0 update airs on August 4, 2023 at 4:30am PT/7:30am ET/1:30pm CEST.

The post Genshin Impact Artifact Inventory Limit Increase Among 4.0 Updates appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Pikachu Cup Noodles Museum Yokohama

To celebrate the Pokemon World Championship 2023, Pikachu will be featured at the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama. A special Cup Noodles 3D photo spot with Pikachu as the lid will be available for a limited time. The photo spot and decoration will be on display at the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama throughout August 2-28, 2023.

Other designs featuring the character will also appear at the museum. Aside from the photo spot, there will be Pikachu decorations on the stairs leading up to the second floor of the building.

You can check out the special Pikachu photo spot and stair decoration here:

https://twitter.com/cupnoodle_jp/status/1686542330906435584

The promotion with the Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum is one of the many events and crossovers happening to celebrate the Pokemon World Championship 2023, which will be held in Yokohama between August 8-14, 2023.

With Pikachu being the mascot of the Pokemon franchise, the electric mouse is often featured in plenty of events and merchandise. Some of these include multiple Pikachu Squishmallows and plushies available. We will also see the upcoming Detective Pikachu Returns sequel coming to the Nintendo Switch.

The Pikachu Cup Noodle photo spot and decoration will be on display at the Yokohama Cup Noodles Museum in Japan between August 2-28, 2023.

The post Pikachu Will Appear at Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 9:30 AM
    

FFVII Remake Red XIII Cait Sith glass

Square Enix opened pre-orders for two new FFVII Remake rocks glasses inspired by characters Red XIII and Cait Sith. Each glass costs 1,518 JPY (or about $10), and they are scheduled to release on September 30, 2023. Pre-orders are now open from the Square Enix online eStore in Japan. Given how Square Enix works, we could see pre-orders open in its worldwide storefronts eventually as well.

The glasses have curved walls and are transparent, but each has colored engravings of Red XIII and Cait Sith. Their faces are engraved on one side, with Red XIII's tail and Cait Sith's cape and tail on the other side of the glass.

You can check out the FFVII Remake Red XIII and Cait Sith glasses in more detail here:
[gallery size="medium" ids="975699,975700,975701,975702,975703,975704" link="file"]

In the original FFVII, Red XIII and Cait Sith are party members that join Cloud and the rest in their world search for Sephiroth. In the FFVII Remake, Red XIII only appears an AI-controlled guest party member due to him only appearing near the end of the game. Meanwhile, Cait Sith has a brief cameo, since in the original FFVII the character joins the party at the Gold Saucer, well after the end of the Remake.

Other recently revealed Final Fantasy VII Remake merchandise includes a necklace based on the logo of the Seventh Heaven bar.

The FFVII Remake Red XIII and Cait Sith rocks glasses cost 1,518 JPY (~$10) each, and they will ship in Japan on September 30, 2023.

The post FFVII Remake Red XIII and Cait Sith Glasses Heading to Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Baldurs Gate 3 Early Access save files

Ahead of the 1.0 release of Baldur's Gate 3 on PC, Larian Studios recommended players delete all their Early Access save files. Furthermore, removing any mods and making sure they don't re-download is also recommended. This is to help avoid any complications for the 1.0 release of the game. Larian Studios will share more information regarding the Early Access save files and mods before the game launches on August 3, 2023.

Additionally, the developers recommended fully uninstalling the game after deleting the Early Access save files. Doing this will reduce the possibility of file conflicts once the 1.0 version of the game starts downloading. It should also mean a reduced chance of needing to troubleshoot.

Larian Studios will provide a full guide to complete this process before the game launches on August 3, 2023.

You can read the post by Larian Studios regarding the Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access save files here:

https://twitter.com/baldursgate3/status/1686386511414169600

As a reminder, prolific actor Jason Isaacs will lend his voice to new character and antagonist Lord Enver Gortash in Baldur's Gate 3.

The Baldur's Gate 3 PC release date is August 3, 2023, and the PS5 one is September 6, 2023. PC players can immediately begin playing via Early Access, but are recommended to delete their save files before launch.

The post Baldur's Gate 3 Developer Recommends Deleting Early Access Save Files appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, August 2, 2023 8:32 AM
    

Genshin Impact Fontaine Special Program 4.0 Airs This Week when

HoYoVerse announced when we can watch the the Genshin Impact Special Program going over all the new Fontaine additions in 4.0. The presentation will air at 4:30am PT/7:30am ET/1:30pm CEST on August 4, 2023. As usual, it will first air on the official Twitch channel. An hour after that at 5:30am PT/8:30pm ET/2:30pm CET, it will show up on the official YouTube account. These presentations tend to be about a half hour long.

As this is the big 4.0 update for Genshin Impact, it will focus entirely on the new characters, map, and features present when Fontaine is added to the game. A Final Feast trailer already offered a quick overview of new folks heading to the game. Also, HoYoVerse's "drip" marketing on social media also confirmed that the siblings Freminet, Lyney, and Lynette will probably be the first three characters from the region we'll see on a banner in the game.

At the moment, people have a chance to pick up two five-star characters from a rerun banner. Wanderer and Kokomi are both still around until August 15, 2023.

Genshin Impact is available on the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Fontaine Special Program going over the 4.0 update airs on August 4, 2023 at 4:30am PT/7:30am ET/1:30pm CEST.

The post Genshin Impact Fontaine Special Program 4.0 Airs This Week appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, August 2, 2023 11:37 AM
     The Lament Plinth Puzzle Remnant 2Are you wondering how to solve The Lament Dial Puzzle in Remnant 2? Plinths are important building components in architecture. They are often used to support pillars or columns but can also serve as a base for statues, busts, or decorative vases. In this particular instance, you are tasked with solving a puzzle that involves spinning four dials and matching each dial with its corresponding symbol. Unfortunately, with how randomized Remnant 2 is, the solution for this puzzle will vary from person to person. Still, we have all the steps to find the four symbols you need to solve The Lament Plinth Puzzle in Remnant 2. How to solve The Lament Plinth Puzzle in Remnant 2 Image: Gunfire Games To solve The Lament Dial Puzzle in Remnant 2, you need to find the book, check the color of the symbol inside the book, then match the color of the symbol in the book to the color of blankets on each sarcophagus to find the correct symbols to enter into the dial. I have verified with other...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, August 2, 2023 9:54 AM
     Diablo 4 Traveler's SuperstitionAre you wondering how to complete Traveller's Superstition quest in Diablo 4? Diablo 4 has numerous side quests, some requiring solving riddles to progress. However, the game provides minimal hints beyond the riddle, necessitating the use of in-game mechanics to decipher them. For instance, in the Traveller's Superstition quest, paying homage to the statue is required to avoid consequences. Continue reading to learn how to pay respect and complete Traveller's Superstition quest in Diablo 4. Related: 10 best things to do after beating Diablo 4 campaign Diablo 4 Traveller's Superstition side quest walkthrough Image: PC Invasion To start the Traveller's Superstition quest, you must find the Hastily Scrawled Note beside a giant statue and a shell of a crashed wooden ship. This statue, called Traveller's Superstition, is located at Bosun's Woe in the Rotspill Delta area, which is in the Hawezar region. This location has been marked on ...

WGB, Home of AWESOME Reviews Wednesday, August 2, 2023 8:47 AM
     The other day, I posted a story about a Hasbro representative saying that Activision had misplaced the old Transformers games' hard drives. However, it seems like that isn't the case.