Aug 05, 12:00


PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 11:58 AM
     Baldur's Gate 3 mod lets you play the whole game as a skeleton

Baldur's Gate 3 has already peaked, because you can now play as a skeleton cutting about the Forgotten Realms. With our Baldur's Gate 3 review outlining it as one of the best RPG games ever made, you might think Baldur's Gate 3 can't get any better. Wrong. Baldur's Gate 3 mods prove it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 review in progress, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 11:42 AM
     Exoprimal's new suits and modules promise different ways to play

New Exoprimal Alpha Variant Exosuits are coming soon as Exoprimal title update 1 prepares to launch, so Capcom gives us a look at some more of what we can expect from the dinosaur horde-blasting multiplayer game. With ten new suits and 34 new modules included in the free update arriving in August, there's plenty of reason to come back for another round if you've dropped off since launch to focus on other priorities like completing all those Baldur's Gate 3 quests.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Exoprimal review, Exoprimal system requirements, Best dinosaur games

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 10:33 AM
     Steam's best space game is on sale ahead of Starfield

One of the greatest space games ever made is having a very brief Steam sale right now, and it is absolutely an essential pick-up if you're waiting eagerly for the Starfield release date. Outer Wilds is a very difficult game to talk about without spoiling even just the core concept, so if you want to go in completely blind and have somehow missed the core conceit, we recommend it while the Outer Wilds sale is still on.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best space games, Best action-adventure games

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 10:01 AM
     Overwatch 2 support changes lead with Mercy damage boost nerf

Overwatch 2 support changes are at the forefront of Overwatch 2 Season 6, and they'll see one of the game's original and most popular heroes hit with a key nerf to her signature ability. Blizzard's Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller shares details of what balance changes to expect in the next set of Overwatch 2 patch notes and, ahead of the new support hero coming to the FPS game, the tweaks include a key Mercy damage boost nerf.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 7:50 AM
     Arcane season 2 will see a favorite League of Legends character return

The League of Legends Netflix show Arcane is absolutely fantastic, and now, as we all wait for the MOBA game adaptation's second season, one of the actors behind a key character has confirmed they do in fact return for the next season, despite their character meeting an untimely demise in the League of Legends show.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: League of Legends Arena tier list, League of Legends patch 13.15, League of Legends tier list

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 7:29 AM
     Naraka Bladepoint's new hero Tessa is here to steal your soul

New Naraka Bladepoint hero Tessa, the Vixen is about to be unleashed on Steam's coolest battle royale game, just after its free-to-play transition, and she's a beautiful but terrifying fox girl with the ability to overpower her enemies with tail-based attacks. She's even capable of stealing the soul of her opponents, luring them in against their will to deliver a devastating bite attack. Arriving in Naraka Bladepoint very soon, Tessa looks like a lot of fun.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best fantasy games, Best battle royale games, Free PC games

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 6:47 AM
     Remnant 2 now gives you much more

The latest round of Remnant 2 patch notes are here, as Gunfire Games focuses on some player-orientated changes that should make it easier to play around with builds and other players in the RPG game. With easier archetype choices, a trait cap increase, and less damage dealt to you in multiplayer, Remnant 2 just got a whole load of wins.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Remnant 2 archetypes, Remnant 2 review, Remnant 2 bosses

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 5:29 AM
     You need to turn on this hidden Baldur's Gate 3 feature right now

Baldur's Gate is here, and the incredibly intricate and deep Larian RPG game can be difficult to parse at the best of times, so it's vital to be prepared. While our Baldur's Gate 3 review is certainly worth a read, you'll also want to be caught up on Baldur's Gate 3 reactions too, as the feature is a little hidden, but an absolute game changer if you enable it properly.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 review in progress, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 5:21 AM
     Byf reflects on Destiny 2 Lightfall story as a

YouTuber and lore enthusiast James 'Byf' Byford now sees the Destiny 2 Lightfall story and campaign content as a "formatting error," providing a thoughtful reflection on a highly-circulated video he released soon after the DLC's launch in which he heavily criticized its narrative. With the addition of nearly two seasons' worth of content in the FPS game since then, Byf has had significant time to ponder the lore further while also digesting Bungie's feedback on its approach. He shared his thoughts as part of a Destiny 2 lore panel on August 4 as part of the weekend's Gaming Community Expo content creator-focused conference, which PCGamesN attended in person.

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

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 5:15 AM
     Is Baldur's Gate 3 Steam Deck compatible?

Is Baldur's Gate 3 Steam Deck compatible? Those of us wanting to take our Baldur's Gate 3 adventures on the go for a portable D&D experience will be pleased to hear the RPG plays well on the Steam Deck. However, Larian Studios has rolled just shy of a natural 20 in managing the handheld experience, and there are a few things that hold it back from being a critical hit.

Players with a high passive perception will note that the Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements demand 150GB of your storage before you can start exploring the Forgotten Realms. With how expansive the Dungeons and Dragons universe is, that hefty storage demand should come to no surprise. Nevertheless, you can always check out our guide to the best microSD card for Steam Deck if you find yourself struggling to make space.

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

Twinfinite Saturday, August 5, 2023 9:10 AM
    
Get these codes before they're gone!

Siliconera Saturday, August 5, 2023 11:40 AM
    

Street Fighter 3 Costumes Put Juri in Pajamas and Marisa in a Wedding Dress

At Evo 2023, Capcom teased the upcoming Street Fighter 6 Outfit 3 costumes for Dee Jay, Guile, Juri, and Marisa. Concept art for all four appeared. Each one looks very different than their normal attire. For example, Juri is wearing a one-piece pajama in hers, while Marisa is wearing a wedding dress. There's no release date for any of them yet, however.

First, here's Dee Jay's Outfit 3. It's a shiny gold suit that he wears with no shirt. He also has matching sunglasses and a smartwatch that is playing his own music.
[caption id="attachment_976588" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Image via Capcom Image via Capcom[/caption]

Next, here's Guile's Street Fighter 6 Outfit 3 costume. While it is more casual, there's still an American flag on his left and right shoulders and a plane on the back of his vest and belt buckle, signifying his ties to the Air Force.
[caption id="attachment_976589" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Image via Capcom Image via Capcom[/caption]

With the Street Fighter 6 Juri pajamas, she'll wear an oversized onesie in shades of pink. The detailed images in the concept art show that the spider with a yin-yang symbol on her back actually appears to be an attached stuffed animal, rather than part of the design. There are also holes in the hood for her pigtails to come out.
[caption id="attachment_976590" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Street Fighter 6 Costumes Put Juri in Pajamas and Marisa in a Wedding Dress Image via Capcom[/caption]

Finally, the Marisa Street Fighter 6 Outfit 3 costume is a wedding dress. Due to the hair accessories, her hair looks like a different kind of Grecian helmet with a fringe.
[caption id="attachment_976591" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Street Fighter 6 Costumes Put Juri in Pajamas and Marisa in a Wedding Dress Image via Capcom[/caption]

As a reminder, Capcom showed us Outfit 2 for characters back in May 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNKO77QDCN4&ab_channel=StreetFighter

Street Fighter 6 is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Street Fighter 6 Costumes Put Juri in Pajamas and Marisa in a Wedding Dress appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Saturday, August 5, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Pikmin 1 Playtest

When I first played Pikmin in 2001, it ended up becoming the surprise hit from the Nintendo GameCube launch window for my family. As a 13-year-old, admittedly, I didn't actually know a lot about the real-time strategy game when I brought it home alongside Luigi's Mansion and Wave Race: Blue Storm. However, it only took me an hour of diving into Shigeru Miyamoto's new puzzle adventure before I immediately became hooked. Whether you are a nostalgic fan or a newcomer who has always wanted to play the popular GameCube series' origins, Nintendo has given us the chance to experience the classic once again with the HD Switch re-release of Pikmin in 2023.

The Nintendo Switch port gives the space adventure a fresh coat of paint with high-definition resolution visuals and a new wide-screen aspect ratio. Unfortunately, Pikmin is outshined by Nintendo's recent Switch re-release outings, such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl remakes.

Pikmin offers no extra frills and is as straightforward as a port can be in comparison. Making its shortcomings even more noticeable is the recent release of the excellent Pikmin 4, which saw the franchise reach new heights with massively improved gameplay and features. Because of this, new players who started with Pikmin 3 or Pikmin 4 may experience whiplash when jumping into the HD re-release. Despite the missed opportunity to do more with the beloved GameCube title, though, Pikmin still holds up today.

[caption id="attachment_975466" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Defeating an enemy in Pikmin 1. Screenshot by Siliconera[/caption]

While its features are scaled back substantially compared to later entries, Pikmin is held together by its incredibly fun gameplay that made the franchise a hit back in 2001. After crash-landing on an unknown planet, you take control of Captain Olimar, who discovers a new plant-like species called Pikmin. Within minutes, the accessible gameplay will have you guiding an army of the adorable creatures around like a conductor leading a symphony. The more Pikmin you collect, the more items scattered around the map you can interact with, which leads to new areas.

Pikmin's gameplay loop creates a snowball effect that is extremely rewarding. Although not as advanced as its sequels, the GameCube classic still adds complexity to the title's main mechanic by having three different Pikmin colors. Red Pikmin are more durable for fighting and can survive fire, whereas Yellow use bombs and can be thrown high into the air. Finally, Blue Pikmin can interact with water-based environments. The goal is to find the missing parts of Olimar's broken ship within 30 days, and building up the right team of Pikmin is essential to doing this.

[caption id="attachment_975467" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Yellow and red Pikmin. Screenshot by Siliconera[/caption]

So outside of a higher resolution, you may be wondering what Pikmin on the Switch actually offers. Unlike some of Nintendo's other re-release projects, the HD title has rock-solid frame rates that rarely drop. Even at 30 FPS, there is no better feeling than controlling an army of 100 Pikmin on screen. The most noticeable change, however, is the game's new widescreen visuals. With the improved aspect ratio in Pikmin, it's actually easier to use your Pikmin as you get a fuller view of your environment and the enemies that inhabit it.

For those feeling nostalgic about the 2001 GameCube launch title, there is no better way to play it than Pikmin. Those returning already know what to expect, and the HD visuals are likely more than enough for most fans. For newcomers looking to dive back into the series' origin for the first time, know that the re-release is a basic port with no extra features. So while it still has that addicting gameplay the franchise is known for, its features and story are largely scaled back. You may be better off jumping into the Pikmin 2 HD re-release instead, which already showed pretty substantial improvements from its predecessor.

As far as this fan goes, I couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear while playing the re-release. Pikmin 1 may not be as refined or as fun as the latest Pikmin 4, but the HD port allowed me to re-experience the magic of the game that my 13-year-old self originally fell in love with. I just can't help but wonder what could have been had the Miyamato classic been given a proper remake treatment with modern features instead.

Pikmin is available now on the Nintendo Switch.

The post The First Pikmin Game Is Filled With Nostalgia on the Switch appeared first on Siliconera.

Aug 05, 06:00


PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 5:29 AM
     You need to turn on this hidden Baldur's Gate 3 feature right now

Baldur's Gate is here, and the incredibly intricate and deep Larian RPG game can be difficult to parse at the best of times, so it's vital to be prepared. While our Baldur's Gate 3 review is certainly worth a read, you'll also want to be caught up on Baldur's Gate 3 reactions too, as the feature is a little hidden, but an absolute game changer if you enable it properly.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 quests, Baldur's Gate 3 review in progress, Baldur's Gate 3 class

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 5:21 AM
     Byf reflects on Destiny 2 Lightfall story as a

YouTuber and lore enthusiast James 'Byf' Byford now sees the Destiny 2 Lightfall story and campaign content as a "formatting error," providing a thoughtful reflection on a highly-circulated video he released soon after the DLC's launch in which he heavily criticized its narrative. With the addition of nearly two seasons' worth of content in the FPS game since then, Byf has had significant time to ponder the lore further while also digesting Bungie's feedback on its approach. He shared his thoughts as part of a Destiny 2 lore panel on August 4 as part of the weekend's Gaming Community Expo content creator-focused conference, which PCGamesN attended in person.

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

PCGamesN Saturday, August 5, 2023 5:15 AM
     Is Baldur's Gate 3 Steam Deck compatible?

Is Baldur's Gate 3 Steam Deck compatible? Those of us wanting to take our Baldur's Gate 3 adventures on the go for a portable D&D experience will be pleased to hear the RPG plays well on the Steam Deck. However, Larian Studios has rolled just shy of a natural 20 in managing the handheld experience, and there are a few things that hold it back from being a critical hit.

Players with a high passive perception will note that the Baldur's Gate 3 system requirements demand 150GB of your storage before you can start exploring the Forgotten Realms. With how expansive the Dungeons and Dragons universe is, that hefty storage demand should come to no surprise. Nevertheless, you can always check out our guide to the best microSD card for Steam Deck if you find yourself struggling to make space.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, August 5, 2023 4:00 AM
    

I'm going to be up front with you, readers: this week's What Are We All Playing is going to make for some monotonous reading. I haven't read any of the submissions this week, but I predict this to be the case because a) a lot of people have snuck in some holiday this week and b) everyone who is here is likely to be playing the same thing. You can guess what it is before the jump...

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PC Invasion - FeedDDD Saturday, August 5, 2023 1:31 AM
     Baldurs Gate 3 Withers Location In CampBaldur's Gate 3 features a bunch of secrets, along with a cast of memorable characters you can add to your squad. However, you might miss some of them, or you might wish to explore additional classes. In those cases, it is possible to bring malleable team members known as Hirelings on board. This guide tells you how to recruit Hirelings in Baldur's Gate 3. Baldur's Gate 3 – how to recruit Hirelings Hirelings are available with a variety of starting classes. You can pay gold to add them to your group, assuming you have an available character slot. However, there is one very big requirement besides the cost in gold. To recruit Hirelings, you must pay Withers to generate them in your camp. Screenshot by PC Invasion Withers is a special NPC that joins you at some point in the adventure. If you have read our guide on how to respec in Baldur's Gate 3, you know he eventually appears in your camp even if you don't go out of your way to find him....