Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 1:15 PM  Greetings, fellow solitary gamer. If you're thinking of giving the third-person co-op shooter Helldivers 2 a shot on your own, well, you'll have your work cut out for you. Helldivers 2 is not only typically more fun with friends, much of the game's challenges and mission structures are designed with multiple players… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 12:30 PM  In the spirit of the season of love we asked you, dear readers, to share with us your biggest video game crushes. The answers are in, and they are varied. Turns out there are a lot of characters to love across countless video games. Heroes, villains, sidekicks, you name it, somebody is crushing on them. While there… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 12:15 PM  If you've been looking to pick up a new-gen console on the cheap, then today's your lucky day. Target's got the Xbox Series S on sale at an eye-popping discount—$219.99, or $80 off. Sure, it kinda looks like a hot plate. But it's still a lot less fugly than the PlayStation 5, and we're big fans of the small-but-mighty… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 11:45 AM  Madame Web, the new Sony film about the titular Marvel comics character starring 50 Shades of Grey's Dakota Johnson, just released on Valentine's Day. As if Johnson's press tour (where it seemed very clear that she does not like the movie) wasn't enough, the reviews are pouring in—and according to them, the film is… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 11:15 AM  February is here. Let's watch some movies. Welcome to io9's latest edition of the Nerd's Watch, where we pare down the enormous lists of new films and television shows arriving on all your favorite streaming services into the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror titles we think you'll like most. (And sometimes, just the ones… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 10:30 AM  One of the best things about video games is that they can act as a form of wish fulfillment for the player. Save the world, go to space, or harness the power of dragons. But one of the newest additions to Game Pass offers one of my personal favorite bits of wish fulfillment: having a clean apartment. A Little to the… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 10:15 AM  Dune: Part 2, the long-awaited follow-up to January's erotic popcorn bucket, is less than two weeks from release. Among the most anticipated films of the year, Dune missed its original October bow because studios were trying to bankrupt writers and actors, forcing the film to compete in the shadow of Madame Web. But… |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 9:37 AM  After days of basically edging the community with videos of new kiss animations, Larian Studios has finally released Baldur's Gate 3's patch six. The roughly 21GB update brings new kisses for your lovers, quality-of-life improvements, and a slew of bug fixes. Here are a few of the highlights: |
Kotaku Friday, February 16, 2024 9:15 AM  It's been a whirlwind week or so for Xbox. The weekend of February 3, rumors began swirling that major console exclusives like Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones game would head to other platforms, and Xbox fans' reactions were intense, to say the least. The backlash prompted head honcho Phil Spencer to announce… |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 1:18 PM  Helldivers 2 has made a huge, bug-crushing impact on videogames since it launched last week. The multiplayer sequel from Arrowhead Game Studios, makers of the first Helldivers, the 2014 Gauntlet Reboot, and Magicka, has won players over with its high-stakes shooting. The game's launch hasn't been entirely without flaws, though, and Arrowhead's been working hard to address the numerous glitches currently interfering with the experience. In compensation for one of these, which has cost players in-game rewards, the studio has just announced that it will temporarily hand out a whole lot of bonus XP. Continue reading Helldivers 2 is about to hand out tons of free XP MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 system requirements, Steam Deck compatability |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 12:35 PM  House clearance company Just Clear has gone public with one of its findings, a Q1 microchip computer, identified as the earliest example of a desktop PC. Better still, it found not one, but two of these historic examples of technology, and they're believed to be the first ever desktop PC made available to the public and of course, they were powered by Intel. We've come a long way from these Q1 microcomputers to the best gaming PCs that we use in daily life today. Resembling something more akin to a typewriter, the all-in-one design is something that would become very popular again but it was the only option back in the 1970's. Continue reading World's first desktop PC randomly discovered during house clearance MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 12:32 PM  The frantic action of Hades, dashing from room to room and clearing out hordes of demons and monsters with all manner of deadly weapons and combos. The effortless style of nailing that perfect Tony Hawk's Pro Skater line - the nosegrind down the stairs, the heelflip into wallride as you rack up that high score. Unquestionably two of the most satisfying feelings in gaming. But what if you could take one of those ideas and pop shove-it into the other? Thanks to Helskate, now you can, and the new skateboarding action roguelike just hit early access with a Steam sale to celebrate. Continue reading Stylish new roguelike mixing Tony Hawk with Hades grinds onto Steam MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelikes, Best sports games, Best indie games |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 12:17 PM  How do treasure maps work in Skull and Bones? Like you'd expect from a pirate-themed adventure, treasure maps feature two pieces of information that will lead you to riches: a location and a clue. However, it's not quite that straightforward, as you'll also need to find the maps first, which can seem a bit confusing as you begin plundering the Red Isles. Do you have more questions about Skull and Bones? As a huge live service game, we don't blame you – there's a ton of mechanics at play. From all you need to know about Skull and Bones infamy to a Skull and Bones pet list to make your pirate ship a little bit more pleasant, we've got you well covered. Otherwise, read on to find out all you need to know about treasure maps, including answers as to where to find the treasure. Continue reading All Skull and Bones treasure map answers and locations MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Skull and Bones review, Best pirate games, Skull and Bones system requirements |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 12:19 PM  Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League hasn't quite been the return to open-world superhero form that fans of Rocksteady Studios, the creator of Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City, and Batman: Arham Knight, were hoping for. Though it's only been out for two weeks - and despite positive reviews from players - the latest game set in the DC comics universe is struggling to maintain a healthy player count. Earlier today, in fact, it dipped below 1,000 concurrent players. Continue reading Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League has less than 1,000 players MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League system requirements, Suicide Squad Kill the Justice review, Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League builds |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 11:29 AM  Ubisoft's Skull and Bones has been in the works for 11 years. Reportedly starting life as an expansion for the beloved Assassin's Creed: Black Flag before shifting into an MMO, then gradually turning into the multiplayer action game we see today, it's fair to say such a protracted development is seldom a good sign. Yet I held out hope that this could be the seafaring simulator of my dreams. I'd envisaged venturing the seven seas, meeting and recruiting memorable crewmates, maybe even participating in pirate politics, and growing attached to - and immersed in - this time period. Sadly, the result of all these efforts is a frustrating and often boring sailing game that is devoid of personality. By the time I reached the endgame, I'd forgotten I was meant to be a pirate at all. Continue reading Skull and Bones review – a bad pirate game 11 years in the making MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Skull and Bones review, Best pirate games, Skull and Bones system requirements |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 11:16 AM  What is the Dune Awakening release date? They who control the Spice, control the universe. Anyone who has even briefly rubbed shoulders with the blockbuster book-and-now-profitable-movie series Dune will know that spice, and the desert planet of Arrakis, are central to many stories in that universe. And now, with Dune Awakening, it'll be central to yours, too. Dune Awakening is an open-world, crafting, survival MMO. That is a lot of descriptors, but Dune Awakening plans on merging them all, creating an experience for players to rival that of any established character in the sandy franchise. You'll fight, harvest, craft, survive, and thrive on Arrakis. When is the Dune Awakening release date? Continue reading Dune Awakening release date estimate, news, and trailers |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 11:24 AM  February 16, 2024: We've added new codes to our list of free dice links. How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The classic board game has made its way to a free-to-play format, and you'll be doing laps of the board collecting houses and hotels and completing a variety of multiplayer minigames along the way. You can't get far in Monopoly Go without dice rolls, which you'll have a limited amount of to begin with. To earn more dice rolls, you'll need to log in daily to collect bonuses, invite your friends to the game, or progress further. If you don't want to spend your hard-earned money on more dice, you can use dice links for the board game instead. Now, let's run down all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today. Continue reading Free Monopoly Go dice links February 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Free PC games, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 11:00 AM  Give this PC a sword and invite it to feast at the table with Odin. We love the work that's gone into this Viking PC build, which incorporates 3D clay modeling, spray painting, and vinyl cutting techniques to create a case mod that's covered in knotwork designs, and also features a superbly-modeled 3D face. Thanks to our Thanks to our rapidly growing PC building Facebook page, we've seen many custom gaming PCs, from mods based on existing case designs to scratch builds. You can even submit yours for consideration right here. Let's explore Pavel Virozub's incredible Viking PC case mod, though, shall we? Continue reading This incredible custom PC case belongs in Assassin's Creed Valhalla MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 11:08 AM  What are the best Minecraft mods in 2024? Every game of vanilla Minecraft might already be very different, but the best Minecraft mods go one step further to provide an entirely new experience over a decade into the game's lifespan. Whether you love creative building, terrifying survival, or speedrunning the story, there's sure to be a mod for you. There are interface changes, tools to aid your hours of exploration, and even new mobs to fight. You always have the option to make Mojang's classic even better on PC. The following list compiles some of the best Minecraft mods out there right now. All are divided into sections, depending on what you want to do with the sandbox game – from simple utility changes to deep, intricate Minecraft mods you can get lost in for months. If you like to browse, the Minecraft CurseForge game mods hub has a whole section dedicated to the best Minecraft mods and add-ons - as well as equivalents for many of the other best PC games right now. Continue reading The 40 best Minecraft mods 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:57 AM  If Palworld cheats are ruining your day, you aren't alone. As cheating and hackers prevent some players from logging onto official servers, developer Pocketpair says it's ramping up its countermeasures against such troublemakers, which are now set to include an "external anti-cheat solution." The open-world survival crafting RPG that's packed with Pokemon style Pals remains the third most played game on Steam following an incredible initial surge that saw it top Counter-Strike 2 and reach the second highest ever peak on the Valve platform. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses, Palworld map, Palworld settings |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:56 AM  What are some cool Minecraft build ideas? The sandbox game remains one of the best of all time over a decade on from its release, but such a long time in one game means you might be running out of ideas. We've been there: you've already built a city, a castle, or even a Wild West outpost, so what's next? Luckily, there are plenty of unique builds, farms, and creations out there to inspire your next Minecraft project. Unlike our favorite Minecraft house ideas or Minecraft castles, for example, this list is more varied, and contains plenty of inspiration. From a stylish Minecraft Nether Portal to automated farms, from massive decorative builds to homely aquariums, these ideas can be copied directly or simply used to inspire your next Minecraft build. Continue reading 15 Minecraft ideas – inspiration for your next Minecraft build MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 11:10 AM  When is the Physint release date? Hideo Kojima announced during a State of Play broadcast in early 2024 that Kojima Productions is working on a brand-new action-espionage title with PlayStation which promises to take players on "an exciting new adventure". The original IP hasn't yet entered development, so details are scarce, but here's when we think we'll see Physint as well as information on the development process, gameplay, and more of the latest news on Hideo Kojima's contender for one of the best PC games ever, following the release of Death Stranding 2. Continue reading Physint release date estimate, gameplay, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Action-adventure games, Upcoming PC games, Physint release date |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:38 AM  MSI Claw benchmarks have popped up on the video-sharing site BilliBilli, and they don't shine a great light on the A1M. It is essential not to get carried away by early benchmarks for a new piece of tech, though, especially when there appear to be anomalies in the benchmark results that the Claw is producing. The MSI Claw release date is still unknown, but with this sample making it out into the wild, we have to assume that it's not too far away. In this direct comparison to the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme, it comes out second best in every test, but there's more to this video than meets the eye. Continue reading MSI Claw benchmark leaks aren't great, but there's still hope MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review, MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Trio review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:31 AM  Starfield, Skyrim, New Vegas. These are some of the definitive RPGs of the past 15 years. But without some early frontrunners, some visionary pioneers, they might never have been so good. Thanks to the Epic Games Store, two of the greatest and most influential RPGs in history are about to become free games. Almost 25 years after they were first released, it's time to go back to the isometric, pre-Fallout 3 world of Black Isle and Interplay, and experience the secrets of Vault 13 all over again. Continue reading Two of the best RPGs ever made will soon be completely free MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best old games, Fallout 5 release date |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:26 AM  What are the best Black Desert Online beginner's tips? You're ready to dive into Black Desert, an oasis, a refreshing panacea for a genre that's increasingly conservative and mostly free-to-play. Still very much an MMORPG, though, Black Desert Online is complete with the pretty fantasy lands and tonnes of grinding that you'd expect from a Korean MMO. Underneath that, however, is a slew of complex, interlocking systems that breath new life into aspects like trade and conversation. The game's unconventional approach means that there's a lot to learn in Black Desert Online, even for seasoned MMO adventurers, and the necessary information needed to wrap one's head around the systems is often hidden away or not offered when needed. Understanding how trade, diplomacy and the other resources in this fantasy game work, as well as how each feature is connected to the next, will make your journey from a burlap-wearing nobody to an affluent merchant or ass-kicking wizard smoother, so fill your brain with nutritious information by taking a gander at this here Black Desert Online beginner's guide. Continue reading Black Desert Online beginner's guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Desert Online guide |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:07 AM  Cities Skylines 2 mods, where would I be without you? Between buildings, roads, the economy, land values, traffic, and more, the CS2 modding community has so far overhauled and improved almost every aspect of Colossal Order's city building sequel. I remain hopeful - Cities Skylines 2 will get better - but in the meantime, these player-made tweaks are essential. If CS2 has one huge advantage over Cities Skylines 1, it's the sheer number of assets, options, and general stuff you have to work with and build. Providing you can navigate some of Cities Skylines 2's tricky simulation quirks, you can construct basically anything you want. The problem, though, is actually finding it all. This is where a new Cities Skylines 2 mod, available right now, comes to the rescue. Continue reading Superb New Cities Skylines 2 mod makes every part of the game better MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 review, Cities Skylines 2 roads, Cities Skylines 2 maps |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 9:56 AM  Diablo 4 Season 3 is well underway, and with the demon-blasting Blizzard RPG set to arrive on Xbox and PC Game Pass in March there's likely to be a big influx of new players hunting down Lilith's minions and grinding for the best Diablo 4 gear. With the launch of Diablo 4 patch 1.3.2, the rarest and most powerful D4 items, its elusive uber uniques, have been made a lot easier to find, and now it looks like we have an estimate of exactly how unlucky you must have been to not find them. Continue reading Diablo 4 uber uniques are now 1,000 times easier to get, in theory MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 9:42 AM  The 8BitDo Retro mechanical gaming keyboard is a must-have for fans of old-school Nintendo game consoles. Its eye-catching design is proudly inspired by the NES, with a Famicom version also available. You can save $10 on it right now via Amazon, which may not seem like much, but for a gaming keyboard that has an MSRP of under $100, it's still a meaningful saving. You're not just getting a keyboard here, either. The 8BitDo Retro comes with an additional wired unit with two large, round, programmable buttons, mimicking the look of the old NES controller. Packed with features, the 8BitDo Retro could make a case for being among the best gaming keyboards, and at $89.99 in this limited-time deal, it's a steal. Continue reading Grab a Nintendo-inspired retro gaming keyboard in limited time deal MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 9:29 AM  Where is the Kaa Mangrove in Skull and Bones? Kaa Mangrove is just one of many outposts in Skull and Bones, but this one contains an incredible amount of loot. We've taken a trip to Sultani Island to check it out, and even dug up some buried treasure while we were there. Among the myriad Skull and Bones treasure maps to be found in the pirate game, a handful all lead you to Sultani Island - more specifically, Kaa Mangrove. This large outpost has two camps with cookery areas, three traders - one selling the Firebrand Barge ship blueprint, and a bunch of loot just lying around for the taking. And that's before you get to the Skull and Bones treasure buried under the island's golden sand. Continue reading Skull and Bones Kaa Mangrove location, treasure maps, and blueprints MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Skull and Bones review, Best pirate games, Skull and Bones system requirements |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 9:28 AM  Should you pick pirates or marines in Blox Fruits? Wanting to get stuck into one of the biggest Roblox games around? Even if you're not necessarily a One Piece fan, our ultimate Blox Fruits guide can help you make quick sense of an open-world adventure that boasts more concurrent users than even some of the biggest MMOs. Centered around power-imbuing snacks known as devil fruits, the core gameplay loop revolves around grinding levels via various quests, earning cash for your efforts, and using your spoils and expertise to venture further across the sea, fighting more challenging targets to power up even further. Before we get into the weeds of Blox Fruits 101, there's no better time to draw attention to other top-tier Roblox games worthy of your attention. If you're getting a kick out of Blox Fruits, we can only assume you'll like other anime-inspired Roblox adventures, too. And to get you firing on all cylinders with those, we have the latest lists of Anime Champions Simulator codes, Anime Adventures codes, and Project Slayers codes for you to use. We also have an in-depth Blox Fruits tier list for the current meta. Continue reading The ultimate Blox Fruits guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:56 AM  We saw dozens of impressive new OLED gaming monitors at the recent CES 2024 tech trade show, with the likes of Acer, Asus, Lenovo, MSI, and more all showing off a wide range of new models. However, perhaps the most enticing of all the variants were the ones that combined a 32-inch screen size with a 4K resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate, such as the Asus ROG Swift PG32UCDM that's just officially been marked as 'available' from today. What makes the combination of specs on Asus' latest contender for our best gaming monitor guide is that it has such a high resolution and high pixel density. When I reviewed the likes of the Samsung Odyssey G9 G95SC and particularly the LG Ultragear 27GR95QE, I found the pixel density a touch low, so much so that text could look a little fuzzy (it was a major problem on the LG panel). However, with a much higher resolution, these 32-inch 4K displays look lovely. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Raikiri review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 10:50 AM  Picking up the best Steam Deck accessories is a great way to help Valve's handheld gaming PC shine. From microSD cards that will expand your on-the-go Steam library to docks that'll provide the mini rig with Switch-inspired docking station capabilities, there are plenty of ways to protect your Deck and add additional functionality. To assist you in creating the perfect handheld PC setup, we've put together a list of the best Steam Deck accessories available right now. Some of our picks, like the best Steam Deck dock and best Steam Deck case serve a practical purpose, but we've made sure to include a few unique add-ons that will make your portable device stand out from the crowd. Also, be sure to check out our best Steam Deck games guide to ensure you're never left wanting for entertainment on the go. Continue reading Best Steam Deck accessories in 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 8:02 AM  What's the latest Blox Fruit stock? If you're hoping to buy a new fruit to try out a fresh fighting style, you're bound to be at the mercy of the Blox Fruit Dealer. Though you'll find him all around the three seas at any one time, his stock remains the same even across multiple servers. There's a trick to getting what you want. You'll have to be quick, and we'll walk you through the whole process from start to finish. While you're here, you can check out some of our other guides on this particular nautical Roblox experience. The latest Blox Fruits codes can get you the cash you need to buy your next fruit. Our tips on how to grind levels in Blox Fruits go over the best fruits for the job, and our ultimate guide to Blox Fruits is simple enough to get anybody into this otherwise daunting game. Continue reading Blox Fruits stock – Restock times, fruits, and how stock works MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, February 16, 2024 8:54 AM  Looking for an Apex Legends tier list? Each Legend has its own set of skills, playstyle, and personality, with plenty of choice for every type of player. With 25 characters to pick from, you have options to pick between aggressive, defensive, or offensive Legends to build the perfect team. Your ideal Apex Legends choice could depend on your strengths and weaknesses; experience, game sense, movement skills, and aim all factor in, as does your squad composition and whether you're playing with friends or a team of strangers. That said, although all the characters are relatively balanced, some Legends have pulled away from the pack due to their powerful abilities, and some are more niche, as you can see if you look at the pick rates. Our Apex Legends tier list aims to give you a quick look at the current Legend meta in one of the best free PC games out there. Continue reading Apex Legends tier list – best Legends for Season 20 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends season 17 release date |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 16, 2024 1:52 PM  Flashlights and grubby gas masks at the ready: there will be a sequel to Metro Exodus, the developers of the follow-up to Metro 2033 and Last Light have confirmed. Don't expect it soon, though, as 4A Games say it'll arrive "when it's ready". |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 16, 2024 1:22 PM  Palworld is stepping up its efforts against cheats and hackers in the coming weeks, with the developers of the hugely popular Pokémon-a-like survival game saying they are focusing on stamping out ne'er-do-wells on its official servers. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 16, 2024 12:52 PM  Alan Wake 2, last year's best horror game, best game overall or best-game-featuring-an-unexpected-but-extremely-welcome-musical-dance-number depending on who you ask, has shifted over a million copies. Musical dance numbers don't come cheap, though, so it's still yet to turn a profit - despite outpacing the momentum of any of Remedy's previous games, including Control. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 16, 2024 11:30 AM  I promise I'm not trying to turn RPS into a Soggins the Frog fansite, but... If you have a) been enjoying Cobalt Core as part of RPS Game Club this month, and b) especially like it when Soggins turns up with his ship of malfunctioning missile launchers, then I implore you to make Sunshine Heavy Industries your next port of call in your Steam library. It's what the Cobalt Core devs Rocket Rat Games made first, and you can immediately see a lot of shared DNA between the two games - not least its chunky, charming pixel visuals and some crossover between its cast of characters - including our pal Soggins. It is, I should stress, a very different game to Cobalt Core - it's a sandboxy spaceship builder with zero combat involved, for starters - but I've been playing it again this week ahead of some other Game Club-themed articles I've got cooking, and I've been having a lovely time with it. Not least because I get to spend more time with Soggins the very smug frog, all while listening to even more excellent chill tunes from Cobalt Core composer Aaron Cherof. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 16, 2024 9:41 AM  Baldur's Gate 3's latest update has, as per most of their updates, a colossal number of improvements. Notably, there are new animations for folks who hunker down in your camp and a speedier way to dismiss unwanted companions. But most importantly of all, the smooching has been improved tenfold for fans of romance, or voyeurs who relish virtual characters trading saliva. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, February 16, 2024 9:27 AM  I'm kind of fascinated by what happened to Hello Neighbor. The original, a stealth horror game against a creepy AI that learned your likely movements, was hugely popular in alpha in 2016. The series was acquired by TinyBuild in 2020, and since then there has been a heroic number of spin-offs. There's one set in an amusement park, a multiplayer game called Secret Neighbor in which one small child is actually a large adult man in disguise, a direct sequel called Hello Neighbor 2, and a VR game called Search And Rescue. I think everyone got a bit of Neighbor fatigue there, lads. This might include the original creator Nikita Kolesnikov, as (still under the auspices of TinyBuild) he's made a new thing. Currently on Steam for playtesting, the project currently known as RBO isn't falling far from the home invasion tree, as players will either be a home-owning Protector - a McCallister, if you will - or an Intruder, or Wet Bandit. |
Twinfinite Friday, February 16, 2024 12:45 PM  |
Twinfinite Friday, February 16, 2024 11:57 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, February 16, 2024 11:47 AM  |
Twinfinite Friday, February 16, 2024 11:43 AM  |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 2:00 PM
Pokemon Center Online Japan is celebrating its eighth anniversary by holding numerous promotions. One of them is a sweepstake that rewards a Pikachu tail pillow. The large pillow will have an overall length of 110cm (~43.3 inches).
People who want to get this pillow will have to undergo numerous steps to enter the sweepstake. First, they must register an account on the Japanese Pokemon Center Online website and opt to receive mail magazines. They can then receive an email that will contain a link to enter the sweepstake.
Users who have applied must also provide a valid and contactable Japanese address for the store to send the item physically. They must not delete the account until the store starts determining the winners on March 1, 2024, and informs the winners a few days later.
The Pikachu tail pillow sweepstake is not the only promotion that Pokemon Center Online Japan is running for its eighth anniversary. The store is holding repost sweepstakes on its official X account that will reward canvas boards and large acrylic stands. It will also hold lottery sales for popular plushes, such as the life-sized Lucario and Altaria. And people who place orders on the web store from mid-March 2024 will receive a bonus acrylic keychain for every 5,000 yen made in the same receipt while stocks last.
Pokemon Center Online Japan will close the Pikachu tail pillow sweepstake on February 29, 2024. It will start delivering the items to the winners in late March 2024.
The post Pikachu Tail Pillow Marks Pokemon Center Online Japan 8th Anniversary appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 1:30 PM
Capcom launched new apparel designs inspired by Resident Evil 4 Remake, Street Fighter 6, and Monster Hunter for Amazon Merch on Demand. These new designs are now available to order via the U.S. and Japanese Amazon sites. Each design is available in four different apparel types: regular T-shirt, long-sleeved T-shirt, sweatshirt, and pullover hoodie.
The Street Fighter 6 design features the aged series protagonist Ryu. Meanwhile, the Resident Evil 4 Remake apparel design includes Ada Wong who starred in the Separate Ways DLC. Capcom also added two new Monster Hunter designs based on Deviljho and the Capcom Town booth.
Here are some of the sample images of Capcom's new apparel designs:
While the U.S.-based web store primarily ships within the country, Amazon's website also indicates that it may support shipments to several other nations. Some of the countries listed with available deliveries include Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
As a side note, the Japanese storefront has its own versions of the Resident Evil 4 Remake shirts that use the Japanese title Biohazard RE:4. However, Amazon Japan will only ship these items domestically inside the country.
Capcom's new Resident Evil 4 Remake, Street Fighter 6, and Monster Hunter apparel designs are now available for purchase via Amazon Merch on Demand.
The post New Resident Evil 4 and Street Fighter 6 Apparel Appear on Amazon appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 1:00 PM
Sushiro revealed more information on its upcoming collaboration with Genshin Impact and the merchandise that will appear. You'll be able to enjoy exclusive menu items, as well as have the chance to get some limited items, between February 21, 2024 and March 24, 2024.
There will be four different kinds of items on the collaboration menu. The first one is a platter of three nigiri sushi (tamago, maguro, ebi), and the second one is a platter of tuna nigiri (with takuan pickle). You'll also be able to order shoyu ramen and a soda milk parfait from the menu. The ramen will come with a little Gorou picture and the parfait will come with a Kokomi one. Meanwhile, if you order the sushi, you'll have a random chance of getting either a Yae Miko, Ayato, Ayaka, or Thoma pick.
You'll also be able to get in-game rewards like Mora and a sushi recipe when you scan a serial code. This serial code will be valid no matter what server you play on. In order to scan the serial code, you'll need to keep one of the above picks, since it's on the back. There are also real-world items you can collect too. Three hundred people will get a chance to obtain a set of six sushi plates, with the six Inazuma characters on them. Finally, if you put in an online order for a take-out set (containing 12 nigiri sushi), you'll be able to choose between either a Gorou or a Kokomi acrylic stand.
Here's a gallery showing some of the Genshin Impact menu items and merchandise.
Genshin Impact is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. The Genshin Impact collaboration event at Sushiro in Japan will run from February 21 to March 24, 2024.
The post Genshin Impact Menu Items at Sushiro Includes Ramen appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 12:30 PM
A new official Ai Fairouz song featuring the Pokemon Snorlax has appeared on YouTube. It is titled "Kabigon neterunkaai" in Japanese, and the song also has an official English title, which is "You're sleeping soundly, Snorlax." The Pokemon Company revealed that it worked with Minto to produce the music video.
The Japanese-Egyptian voice actress Ai Fairouz is the singer of "You're sleeping soundly, Snorlax!". Prior to this Snorlax song, she has also been involved in the Pokemon franchise by providing Japanese voiceovers for the Levincia Gym Leader Iono in the mobile game Pokemon Masters EX and the anime show Pokemon: Paldean Winds, as well as Alisa in Pokemon Concierge.
Tokyo Logic's Karasuya Sabou composed the song, while itami worked on the music video's animation with Studio Alble's Mizuki Watanabe acting as the latter's producer.
The music video for the Ai Fairouz song is available to watch via the Japanese official Pokemon YouTube channel:
The new song and music video are part of Project Snorlax, which has been promoting the Pokemon since as early as July 2023. The same project also launched a series of illustrations featuring the Pokemon in late January 2024.
Snorlax is a large Normal-type Pokemon that has appeared since the series' inaugural Game Boy entries Pokemon Red and Blue. The Pokemon is alternatively known in Japan as Kabigon. While it was initially unavailable in the latest ninth-generation entries Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Game Freak added Snorlax and its pre-evolution Munchlax into the games' roster via The Teal Mask DLC.
The post New Pokemon Music Video Features Ai Fairouz Snorlax Song appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 12:00 PM
The Suika Game (Watermelon Game) social media account warned users that in late February 2024, it will reset players' online scores. This only applies to the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
According to Aladdin X, this is due to how the system works on the Nintendo Switch. It did not provide any specific details or further explanations on the matter. It apologizes for the trouble this will cause players, especially those who have very high scores on the online leaderboards. While the online scores will disappear from late February 2024, you will still be able to look at your own personal high scores, since the game saves that data locally.
Suika Game, also known as Watermelon Game, was a viral success in late 2023, accumulating over 2 million downloads within Japan in October 2023. It even topped the Download Ranking for the Switch in December 2023, overtaking Tears of the Kingdom and Pikmin 4. The game's popularity stems not only from the wide number of streamers playing it, but also due to its fairly easy and addictive gameplay loop. The game was originally a Switch exclusive, though Aladdin X later released an iOS version.
Suika Game is readily available on the Nintendo Switch and iOS devices. The resetting of online high scores will only apply to the Nintendo Switch version of the game.
The post Suika Game on Switch Will Reset Online High Scores appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 11:30 AM
The ESRB issued its rating for the upcoming action game Stellar Blade and dubbed it "Mature." This comes after the Game Rating and Administration Committee (GRAC) in Korea rated it for players ages 19 and up.
The description shared by the board offered explanations for Stellar Blade being suggested for players ages 17 and up. Some of it involved the way women are depicted in the title. It specifically mentioned the physics for bodies and "revealing costumes." The degree of violence, which involves various guns and swords and involve blood, also ended up cited. It did note only one swear, with that being the word "shit."
Here is the full ESRB description as taken from the official site:
This is an action-adventure RPG in which players assume the role of a super soldier battling an invading alien force. From a third-person perspective, players explore apocalyptic environments and complete mission objectives while battling enemies (e.g., alien creatures, humanoid) in melee-style combat. Players use blades, machine guns, and laser blasters to kill enemies. Battles are fast paced, highlighted by sword slashes, large explosions, and realistic gunfire. Blood-splatter effects occur frequently as enemy creatures are slashed and dismembered. Some cutscenes and battle sequences depict close-up images of impalement, dismemberment, and decapitation. The game depicts some female characters in revealing costumes (e.g., deep cleavage; skintight, flesh-toned body suits), with breasts that jiggle during combat. The word "sh*t" appears in the game.
This ESRB rating also falls in line with a game that inspired Stellar Blade, NieR Automata. That was also dubbed Mature by the board. Director Kim Hyung-tae said the Yoko Taro title influenced this one.
Stellar Blade will come to the PS5 on April 26, 2024.
The post Stellar Blade ESRB Rating in Line With Korean GRAC One appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 11:00 AM
McDonald's Japan announced that the next Happy Meal collaborations toys include Kirby plush and Sanrio's Pompompurin. The first round of Kirby plushies and Pompompurin toys will appear on February 23, 2024, and the second one on March 1.
The company's X (formerly Twitter) official account shared two posts showcasing the new plushies and toys. When it comes to the new McDonald's Japan Kirby plush, there will be eight available, with four appearing in each round. The plushies feature Kirby in different poses. The first round also includes a Waddle Dee plush, with the second one including a special yellow Kirby plush.
Meanwhile, the first round of Pompompurin Happy Meal items includes a ball maze toy, a jumping Pompompurin, and a picture matching game. The second round a fridge-shaped mini container with a magnet, a Pompompurin sofa stamp, and a tissue case.
McDonald's Japan often offers collaborations with popular anime and video game franchises. Some recent ones includes the last Pokemon Happy Meal toy collaboration that appeared on February 9, 2024, a collaboration with Sanrio's Hello Kitty released in celebration of the character's 50th anniversary, and a Happy Meal collaboration with the Spy x Family series that released in September 2023.
The first round of the new McDonald's Japan Kirby plushies and Pompompurin toys will appear on February 23, 2024, with the second one releasing on March 1.
The post McDonald's Japan Next Happy Meal Toys Feature Kirby, Pompompurin appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 10:30 AM
Larian Studios released the Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 6 notes and, as someone might expect, they are huge. The biggest new additions involve some additional animations that add ambiance to the world when romancing characters or hanging around camp, but there are also new fixes to improve the overall experience.
The actual notes went into more detail about how these animations will look when you are at camp and around your companions. With the kisses, it is random which one you will see or get when you kiss a character you are in a relationship with. However, there are different ones and character heights will be taken into account. As for the new idle animations, there are six total. Halsin, Jaheira, Lae'zel, Minsc, Minthara, and Shadowheart will all do different things than before when they're relaxing.
Here are the full Baldur's Gate 3 patch notes, as taken from Steam. Note that they do contain spoilers if you haven't beaten the game.
HIGHLIGHTS
Gameplay
Combat
Flow and Scripting
UI
Writing
Cinematics
Sound
Baldur's Gate 3 is available for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and Patch 6 is live now.
The post Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 6 Notes Detail New Kissing Options, Idle Animations appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 10:01 AM
Atlus and Vanillaware revealed six new Unicorn Overlord allies and one enemy. Dinah, Morard, Nigel, Ramona, Sanatio, and Yunifi will be on Alain's side, while Elgor will be another foe.
Three of the new Unicorn Overlord allies are bestrals, which means they belong to humanoid species with animal traits. Dinah leads a group of soldiers called the Snowpetals and is voiced by Sayaka Senbongi. Both Ramona and Morard are part of the Bastorias Frostblooms. She's the group's leader and is voiced by Nanako Mori. He's one of its most valuable warriors and is voiced by Tomoyuki Shimura. Ramona's adopted (human) daughter Yunifi is an archer with the group. She's played by Hisako Kanemoto. Sanatio isn't a beastral, but he is a Heavenswing Knight with the wings of an angel. Mutsumi Tamura is the voice actor for him. Finally, the last new ally revealed is the Knights of the Sacred Heart leader Nigel. Takayuki Ishii provides his voice.
Here's how all of those characters look in and out of battle.
As for the new Unicorn Overlord enemy, that's Elgor. The character is completely clad in Zenoiran armor, with no clue at his identity. He is a commander in the infantry.
These are the two screenshots showing him off.
There are also an array of new screenshots showing off Unicorn Overlord gameplay. Some of them focus on battle, showing how you can deploy troops, swap between ones adjacent to each other to make strategically advantageous choices, resting for a turn to regain stamina so an ally can once again attack, and how you can unleash a First Strike if you hit a prone, "waiting" enemy. Some also show different things you can take advantage of in a fight, like a Valor Skill against an enemy, a siege weapon or trap, or Hallowed Corne Ash to revive if you fail a battle.
Unicorn Overlord will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X on March 8, 2024.
The post More Unicorn Overlord Allies and Enemy Revealed appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 9:30 AM
Square Enix Music is streaming the FFVII Remake soundtrack on its YouTube channel. The stream will run until 11am JST on February 17, 2024.
Here's the stream now for folks to watch:
The stream will play the original FFVII Remake soundtrack, the Plus version of the soundtrack, and the soundtrack for Intergrade. As of the time of writing, the stream is playing "Let the Battles Begin! Break Through" from FFVII Remake. According to the chat, this is a very sudden atmospheric change from the previous song, and that the stream is going through the soundtrack in the order it is on the CD.
The art for the stream shows two people, as well as a cat, sitting in 7th Heaven. On occasion, the cat's tail flicks and the neon sign over the dartboard flickers. The visual aesthetic of the stream is very similar to lo-fi streams, such as ones featuring Lofi Girl.
Square Enix is also advertising the soundtrack for FFVII Rebirth. It'll go on sale from April 10, 2024 and will consist of seven CDs. The first-print limited edition of the soundtrack will cost 8000 JPY ($53.25). Otherwise, it's 7000 JPY ($46.60).
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will come out on February 29, 2024 for the PS5. The console exclusivity arrangement will end on May 29, 2024.
The post Square Enix is Streaming FFVII Remake Soundtrack appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 16, 2024 9:00 AM
Square Enix announced that it will sell its Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories playing cards again. They will come out on April 27, 2024.
You can pre-order the cards from the Japanese Square Enix store. They cost 3,080 JPY, which would be around $20.50. During their initial run in 2023, pre-orders opened up in June 2023 and the cards shipped out on September 30, 2023. These cards are still not available in the North American store, which means that if you want to purchase them but you live outside of Japan, you'll need to use a proxy service.
These playing cards look exactly like the ones that are in the Kingdom Hearts game. They have a jagged top to emulate a crown, and the numbers are at the bottom right of the image. Instead of sorting the colors based on the suits, the colors change depending on what kind of card it is. For example, the weapons are red and the worlds are blue. Because of the design, it is unlikely that Square Enix intended for people to actually use these as playing cards. If you do wish to play normal card games, the Square Enix store offers an actual Kingdom Hearts deck.
The Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories playing cards re-release will come out on April 27, 2024. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories appeared on the GBA, while Re: Chain of Memories appeared on the PS2. It is also in Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix on the PS3, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
The post Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories Cards Are Back appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 16, 2024 1:57 PM  One of the easiest ways to acquire Pal materials is to butcher a Pal that drops what you need. The issue is the Pal in question dies, or at least it should. If you're curious about a workaround, let me show you a glitch that lets you infinitely farm Pal materials in Palworld. How to infinitely farm Pal materials in Palworld Before we begin, I want to preface this guide by saying this is a glitch, which means it could have permanent consequences. I've used this trick several times, but I've never seen Palworld bug out this bad with anything else. With this in mind, try the glitch at your own risk. I didn't find this trick myself, and full credit goes to u/yashpwnz on Reddit. You need three things to make this glitch work: a Butcher's Knife, a rideable Pal, and the matching Saddle. You can only farm Pal materials using this method if they are rideable. Screenshot: PC Invasion Now for the sadistic part. Summon your Pal and Butcher it. If yo... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 16, 2024 1:46 PM  Fog is a natural element that works well with others to create fascinating combinations in Infinite Craft. It's really easy to make — let's make Fog in Infinite Craft. Infinite Craft: How to get Fog Making Fog is relatively simple. It is a four-step process that uses Water, Fire, Steam, Smoke, and Cloud. Ultimately, the easiest combination for Fog in Infinite Craft is Cloud and Smoke. Cloud + Smoke = Fog Related: How to make Sun in Infinite Craft Screenshot: PC Invasion To make Fog, the three beginning elements we use are Fire, Wind, and Water. Sorry, Earth, not this time. You can use the image above to quickly understand how to make Fog. How to make Cloud and Smoke in Infinite Craft Cloud and Smoke are essential to making Fog in Infinite Craft. Once you permanently unlock Cloud and Smoke, you can experiment with even more combinations, but first, let's make Fog. Cloud Water + Fire = Steam Steam + Water = Cloud Smoke Wind + Fi... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 16, 2024 1:35 PM  I feel a disturbance in the Force. Or maybe two. Here is how to make Darth Vader and Yoda in Infinite Craft. Infinite Craft: How to make Darth Vader and Yoda Let's be honest, you have discovered some random and disturbing things in Infinite Craft. However, what appears to be the hardest for the uninitiated is to make specific characters that are beloved or hated by the collective imagination. That is the case with what are arguably two of the most famous and recognizable characters in the Star Wars universe: Darth Vader and Yoda. Well, thankfully, these craft recipes aren't that difficult to make. Take a look at the roadmap for both Darth Vader and Yoda in Infinite Craft: Image: PC Invasion As you can see, there isn't much you need to do to get both extremes of the Force spectrum, but some of the elements above do require some explanation. For that reason, here is a detailed step-by-step guide on how to craft elements such as Human, War, and Darth Vader an... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 16, 2024 1:32 PM  We might just have one teaser trailer, but that doesn't mean we can craft our favorite superheroes, right? Here is how to make Deadpool and Wolverine in Infinite Craft. Infinite Craft: How to make Deadpool and Wolverine I'm going to be honest with you, making Deadpool and Wolverine in Infinite Craft might be as difficult as the idea of having a Deadpool, X-Men, and MCU crossover film when the original Iron Man dropped in 2008. Since you start with the basics of elements such as Fire and Water, you are correct to assume that the Merc with a Mouth and Logan might not appear in one or two cycles. But since we are all hyped with the Deadpool and Wolverine movie, here is a step-by-step guide on how to make them both in Infinite Craft. Image: PC Invasion Of course, just by looking at the image above, you will notice some elements that appear without their proper recipe. That is because including those would make the graph gigantic, so instead I opted to list out all t... |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Friday, February 16, 2024 1:12 PM  Skull and Bones has been in development hell for 10 years, but we finally have a finished game. We were promised a gritty and realistic pirate adventure. Yet this gets undermined at every opportunity. Even though the game isn't what most expected or wanted from a pirate game, does it mean that Skull and Bones is objectively a bad game? After playing many hours, I believe I can finally answer this question that's been bugging me since the Open Beta. A decade for a disappointment It is no secret that Skull and Bones has had a troubled development. The game initially began as Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag DLC. For 10 long years, the game has been scrapped and redone over and over again, and the developers decided to land on Skull and Bones. As the development has been going on for a decade, many people expected so much more than what we got. Ten years is a long time, and what we got feels like it's been in the works for maybe a couple of years at best.... |
Gamer Empire Friday, February 16, 2024 9:11 AM One of the most important components of many machines in Raft is batteries. Since batteries have durability points and will deplete after a short amount of time, many players will wonder if there is a way to recharge them. In the first chapter, which includes the first three story islands, there is no way to […] |
WGB Friday, February 16, 2024 12:27 PM Despite being Remedy's fastest-selling game to date, Alan Wake 2 has not made back its development costs, according to Remedy themselves. |
WGB Friday, February 16, 2024 10:00 AM Helldivers 2 has become far more successful than either developer Arrowhead or publisher Sony was expecting, and it just keeps getting bigger. A few days back I posted a story discussing how the game had broken 200,000 concurrent players on Steam, but now Helldivers 2 has managed to get over 250,000 people playing at once. We have no idea how many are enlisting on PlayStation 5. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 16, 2024 1:58 PM This makes it the company's fastest-selling game to date. The post Alan Wake 2 Sales Have Surpassed 1.3 Million Copies Worldwide appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 16, 2024 1:30 PM The game's sales recently surpassed 20 million units worldwide. The post FromSoftware Now Fully Owns the Elden Ring Trademark appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 16, 2024 12:59 PM It may take some time. The post Respawn Reportedly Working on a Highly Anticipated Star Wars Game appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Level Up Friday, February 16, 2024 9:58 AM <p><img loading="lazy" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/10/13/5d193a58/msm2_launch_sandman_4k_legal_2023.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Winners" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>The 27th… |