Mar 26, 12:00


Kotaku Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Season 2 of HBO's The Last of Us is currently filming in the Canadian province of British Columbia and Pedro Pascal, who plays post-apocalypse dad Joel Miller, has reportedly finished all of his parts just one month after filming began. If you've played Naughty Dog's TLOU Part II, then you probably know why he's…

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Kotaku Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:45 AM
    

As the one-year anniversary of Final Fantasy XVI's release approaches, the game seems to be approaching the end of support. The Rising Tide, the second and final piece of DLC for the game, releases in April, and the PC port is in the final stages of optimization. The assumption would be that after both of those are…

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Kotaku Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:15 AM
    

I remember watching the February 20, 2013, PlayStation 4 announcement live stream, eager to learn what the new console would bring me. It was a lengthy affair and looking back I barely remember what was announced—Except for one title that etched itself onto my mind: a Capcom dungeon crawler called Deep Down. I got a…

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PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:49 AM
     Stardew Valley dev

Stardew Valley developer Eric 'ConcernedApe' Barone has provided another sparse update on their next game, Haunted Chocolatier. As the farming sim master trades out crops for confectionary and humans for spirits, it looks like Stardew Valley 1.6 is the last big roadblock before Barone gets back to their next game in earnest.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:42 AM
     AFK Journey tier list – best characters for launch

Who are the best AFK Journey characters? Paying close attention to the shifts in character meta and team-building tactics can keep you from wasting valuable pulls on units that just don't cut the cake. Resources are scarce the further you go into this adventure. By pouring them into sub-par units, you risk digging yourself a hole that could be difficult to escape.

Our growing list of AFK Journey codes goes hand-in-hand with the tier list below, potentially giving you enough premium currency to get the units most likely to make a difference to your team. And if you're just getting started, be sure to use the quickest AFK Journey reroll method to grab top-tier AFK Journey characters right from the start.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: AFK Journey tier list, AFK Journey codes, AFK Journey reroll

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:30 AM
     This mini-ITX wood PC is making waves

This outlandish wood gaming PC build takes inspiration from all sorts of places, from the famous Japanese Great Wave off Kanagawa painting to a dinosaur skeleton that PC modder Alessandro Zaiti saw displayed in a museum. This build, which its creator calls ODNA, is a stunning example of design and craftsmanship - we've never seen a PC quite like it.

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 PC builds. You can even submit yours for consideration right here. Here Alessandro Zaiti explains how he made this fabulous mini-ITX wooden PC build.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming mouse, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:46 AM
     AFK Journey codes March 2024

What are the new and working AFK Journcy codes? Making good use of limited-time freebies is the best way to stay ahead of the curve without upsetting your wallet. Stay competitive with the best team compositions, clear the story without issue, and keep reaping the rewards of the PVP leaderboards by keeping up with these generous giveaways.

If you're new to AFK Journey, you'll want to check out our in-depth AFK Journey tier list and AFK Journey reroll guide. Codes are great for progression, but starting with the best character early is always the more time-efficient method of gunning through a gacha game.

Continue reading AFK Journey codes March 2024
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: AFK Journey tier list, AFK Journey codes, AFK Journey reroll

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:45 AM
     AFK Journey reroll guide

How do you reroll in AFK Journey? To keep yourself from struggling with a poor character pool later down the line, it helps to reset your mobile gacha game accounts early on, making the most of the generous pulls while they last to form top-tier teams that can stand the test of time.

For more on AFK Journey, we have an expert AFK Journey tier list and a list of the latest AFK Journey codes to give you the edge and help you race through the story with as little friction as possible. No need to rely on your wallet and Lady Luck.

Continue reading AFK Journey reroll guide
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: AFK Journey tier list, AFK Journey codes, AFK Journey reroll

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:00 AM
     New Dark Souls rival taking a

Later this year Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn wants to bring some new ideas to the soulslike genre, namely a blend of 'Gods versus guns.' The genre is now brimming with FromSoftware rivals, and developer A44 hopes that this concept can elevate what it's actively working on. To see how the team's getting on we spoke with creative director Simon Dasan at GDC in San Francisco, and learned about the game alongside a nine-minute gameplay deep dive that you can watch below.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: New PC games, Upcoming PC games, Best PC games

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:00 AM
     Groundbreaking new sandbox game feels like a hyper realistic Fallout

It's a promise that games and game developers make all the time - here is a world that truly reacts to what you do, and where every action has a consequence. But I walk around RPGs like Fallout and Skyrim, or maybe the vast sandbox worlds of GTA 5 and Assassin's Creed, and I always feel like the NPCs and the various virtual people around me are in fact entirely robotic. They have their little routines - they'll come out of their houses in the morning hours, stand by their stalls and shops all day, and then go to bed - but aside from a few stock responses and programmed behaviors, they're essentially automatons. Imagine Whiterun, Megaton, or Night City, but every single NPC has a unique personality, and reacts organically both to you the player and every other character around them. Discussed exclusively with PCGamesN at GDC, a new sandbox game is pioneering this dream.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best sandbox games, Best life games

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:46 AM
     Genshin Impact outfits – available skins and costumes

Want to know what Genshin Impact outfits are available? The outfits system was introduced in the Genshin Impact 1.6 update, following months of pleading from the community. These outfits give you the chance to dress your favourite characters in brand-new clothes.

As Genshin Impact characters are locked behind gacha mechanics in the free PC game, players were initially worried that skins may be sold using the same system. However, there are actually two methods to unlock skins: purchase the skin for 1,680 Genesis Crystals, or complete specific Genshin Impact events to unlock the skin for free. If you're unlucky enough to miss the event, free skins will make their way to the Character Outfit Shop in the future. Here's a list of every outfit available in Genshin Impact right now and how to get them all for yourself.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:27 AM
     New OLED research could solve gaming monitor burn-in forever

As the adoption of OLED technology increases in gaming monitors, so too do concerns over burn-in. Display manufacturers are continuing to invent new methods to prolong the longevity of panels, but the issue can never be resolved unless the way in which OLED screens are manufactured undergoes significant change. As luck would have it, a group of researchers may have discovered the breakthrough we've all been waiting for.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB review, Best SSD for gaming, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:00 AM
     Bulwark Falconeer Chronicles review – a beautiful new city builder

Any time I fire up a city builder, I'm always most excited about watching something organic play out. I love watching a community bloom from nothing, how it pops up from the bare earth and starts to sprawl outwards. Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is built on this idea, and while it lacks much mechanical depth and can feel clunky to play at times, it's a relaxing and satisfying journey across the wind-swept Ursea.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best city building games, Best strategy games, Best building games

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:12 AM
     Dragon's Dogma 2 Nameless Village quest walkthrough

How do you complete the Nameless Village quest in Dragon's Dogma 2? Fairly early in the main quest, you'll learn of a suspicious individual hailing from a hidden village, far to the northeast of Vernworth. Here, you can discover the origins of one of the villains in the game – but doing so requires solving a rather obtuse puzzle that the game doesn't go out of its way to explain. Here's how to navigate it.

If you have more questions about the obtuse systems in Dragon's Dogma 2, you should read up on whether or not Dragon's Dogma 2 multiple save files exist, and whether you can play Dragon's Dogma 2 offline or not.

Please note that this guide contains spoilers for all of the Nameless Village including its quest.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dragon's Dogma 2 review, Dragon's Dogma 2 vocations, Dragon's Dogma 2 map

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:38 AM
     Manor Lords has a secret strategy game rival, coming soon to Steam

In any strategy game and city builder, there is a level of disconnect between the player and their virtual populace. From a commanding top-down view, you carefully design and manufacture a flourishing little civilization, but the intricacies and the daily lives of your townspeople constantly remain a mystery. Likewise, in RPGs, you're often the chosen one, saving the world solo thanks to your unique magical powers and superlative martial prowess. With Frostpunk 2 and Manor Lords, two of the most anticipated new games of 2024, on the horizon, another, less-known medieval game is putting a unique spin on a bold combination of genres. Coming soon to Steam Early Access, the game's director speaks with PCGamesN at GDC in San Francisco, and shares some exclusive new images of what could be this year's PC sleeper hit.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best survival games, Best open-world games

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:27 AM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links March 2024

March 26, 2024: We've added the latest new free dice to our list of Monopoly Go 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.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Free PC games, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 8:44 AM
     Best Dragon's Dogma 2 armor

What is the best Dragon's Dogma 2 armor? While grabbing buffed-up armor isn't quite as exciting as acquiring a shiny and new weapon, protecting yourself is vital in Dragon's Dogma 2; there are many things wishing to relieve you of your limbs, and if you don't put some thought into your defense, you won't be able to mount much of an offense.

Each of the Dragon's Dogma 2 vocations has its own style of armor, which generally reflects how you play that particular class. This can range from the Dragon's Dogma 2 Fighter wearing heavy chainmail to tank the heavy hits, to the Dragon's Dogma 2 Thief, who prefers lighter protection to stay nimble on the battlefield. Here is how you can get the best Dragon's Dogma 2 armor.

Continue reading Best Dragon's Dogma 2 armor
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dragon's Dogma 2 review, Dragon's Dogma 2 vocations, Dragon's Dogma 2 map

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 8:02 AM
     These new AMD Ryzen 5000XT CPUs will run on your old AM4 motherboard

There's still plenty of life left in AMD's veteran AM4 platform, as the company has seemingly just announced a new line up of CPUs based on the Zen 3 microarchitecture. The AMD Ryzen 5000XT range appeared in a presentation given by AMD in China, and it looks as though these new AM4 CPUs will be priced keenly.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:05 AM
     Ark 2 release date window, trailers, gameplay, and more

When is the Ark 2 release date? Ever since the Ark 2 announcement at The Game Awards 2020, we've been looking forward to learning more about the upcoming dinosaur-themed survival game. Based on the two cinematic trailers and the additional info from the Studio Wildcard development team, it's clear that Ark 2 will feature a unique story, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and (of course) a T-Rex.

Ark 1 established itself as one of the best survival games, but only time will tell whether Ark 2 can break into our list of the best PC games. From the Ark 2 release date to its platform, souls-like combat, and mod support, here's everything we know about the Ark sequel.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Ark mods, Best survival games , Ark 2 release date

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 7:49 AM
     New Intel Arc Battlemage GPU specs leak with benchmarks

There's still no official word on what shape Intel Arc Battlemage will take, nor when they will arrive, despite the two-year anniversary of Alchemist fast approaching. The troubled launch of its A-Series GPUs has likely, and understandably, caused Intel to take a cautious approach with any future graphics card announcements, but a benchmark leak has given us our first glimpse at the company's B-Series.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 7:24 AM
     Obscure Ubisoft strategy game suddenly launches on Steam

Well, here's a nice slice of news out of nowhere. Between Millennia, Civilization 6, the upcoming Frostpunk 2, and wishlist chart topper Manor Lords, you're probably feeling spoiled for choice when it comes to strategy games right now. But there's another obscure, overlooked, and underplayed city builder and quasi RTS that you should definitely try out. Created by Ubisoft, seemingly as a little side project next to Far Cry, Assassin's Creed, and Rainbow Six, it's quietly just shuffled over to Steam, where you can get it today.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games, Old games, Best 4x games

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:06 AM
     Best battle royale games on PC 2024

What are the best battle royale games? Each one of these multiplayer games revolves around one core idea: lots of players go in, and only one leaves. Battle royale is a violent, unpredictable, and frenzied multiplayer mode where the only goal is to endure until you're the sole survivor. All tactics and styles of play are equally viable in the best battle royale games. You can win by hiding in bushes and waiting for the herd to thin out, or scavenge a weapon and start reducing the numbers yourself.

With the explosion of free PC games like Fortnite, Warzone, and Apex Legends, you would be forgiven for thinking there are only three battle royales out there, but there are now numerous other contenders to challenge them, each with its own spin on the established formula. Whether you're after a battle royale FPS game or an inventive new twist on the formula, there's something out there for everyone. So, to help you broaden your horizons, we have assembled this handy guide to the best battle royale games on PC.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 8:00 AM
     Best gaming CPU 2024

The best gaming CPU plays a large part in determining the capabilities of your system. This bit of silicon can make all the difference in hitting your target average frame rates, particularly if you play on a high refresh rate display or enjoy gaming with ray tracing enabled. 

The two main players are AMD and Intel, and competition has never been more fierce, with the 14th Gen Core and Ryzen 7000 series each offering high levels of performance. You're spoiled for choice when it comes to picking the perfect processor for your PC, which is why we're here to make your search easier.

The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D rules the roost according to our testing. However, the Intel Core i9 14900K can pull ahead in some benchmarks, providing you have a strong enough cooler and power supply to tame that particular beast.

When looking for a new CPU, we'd generally suggest looking at options with at least six cores. Hexacore chips are now the standard among gamers, and a growing number of AAA PC games expect as much. There are great current generation options that fit this bill, like the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, but don't feel sheepish about opting for a 12th Gen Core or Ryzen 5000 series model, as they'll be fine for years to come too.

Continue reading Best gaming CPU 2024
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:45 AM
     Cities Skylines 2 mods and DLC are not going well so far

Cities Skylines 2 mods are supposed to be the savior of the beleaguered city building sequel. After a troubled launch in October, marked by performance problems, Colossal Order and Paradox's municipal opus is due to begin its comeback arc - we're all awaiting a Cyberpunk 2077-style tale of redemption. But as official support for CS2 mods finally arrives, alongside the first Cities Skylines 2 DLC, it seems the strategy game's woes are not yet over, as players complain of new technical issues and a variety of fresh negative responses land on the Cities Skylines 2 Steam page. I love the original Cities Skylines. The sequel has the potential to be the best city builder ever. For now, though, it seems there is more trouble ahead.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines 2 review, Cities Skylines 2 roads, Cities Skylines 2 maps

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 7:38 AM
     Minecraft commands and cheats

What are the best Minecraft commands? There are many ways to play Minecraft, from the pure survival aspect of reaching the end to building mind-blowing projects in creative mode. Using console commands in a survival world is somewhere between the two, and we've been testing out all the best Minecraft cheats to help you along the way.

Minecraft console commands are wonderfully simple to use, and you can use them to give yourself Minecraft diamonds and other items, summon Minecraft mobs, locate rare structures like Minecraft ancient cities, and so much more. Remember that you won't earn achievements with cheats turned on, and turning them back off won't help, but if you want all the fun of survival Minecraft without the struggle, then this guide to Minecraft console commands and cheats is for you.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:58 AM
     The best fight sticks in 2024

The best fight sticks give you better control, more directional accuracy, and greater tactile feedback in arcade-style games. They're more comfortable, natural, and satisfying to operate for fighting games and their design is inspired by the controls found in traditional arcade uprights.

The button and stick inputs are spread across your arms and hands rather than relying primarily on your thumbs. Trust us, when you're spamming Hadoukens on Street Fighter, your thumbs will be thankful for a fight stick.

For our money, we'd plump for the Nacon Daija, a premium fight stick that exudes quality and craftsmanship. Its Sanwa quality parts also offer that unmistakable arcade feel. If you're on a budget, the 8Bitdo Arcade Stick or Hori Fight Stick Alpha will serve you well. Then there's the Qanba Drone, which allows you to swap out the parts for better components. We've tried and tested the best arcade fight sticks to help you find one at the right size and price.

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

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:28 AM
     Dragon's Dogma 2 forgery and scrap store location guide

How do you create a Dragon's Dogma 2 forgery? While venturing across Vermund en route to the Battahl region, you'll pass through the Checkpoint Rest Town, where you'll come across several new quests and the suspicious scrap store. The store's primary function is to forge duplicates of items you already own, which will be familiar to anyone who visited the original game's Black Cat shop.

The many Dragon's Dogma 2 quests and mechanics can be fairly obtuse, so I'd recommend checking out our breakdown of every Dragon's Dogma 2 vocation, plus our guide to the DD2 map and various explorable regions therein. Now, let's delve into the nefarious world of Dragon's Dogma 2 counterfeits.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dragon's Dogma 2 review, Dragon's Dogma 2 vocations, Dragon's Dogma 2 map

PCGamesN Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:41 AM
     The 20 best Minecraft texture packs 2024

What are the best Minecraft texture packs? These colorful and game-altering texture packs can make your world a completely new experience. Of course, Minecraft's low-fi charm is part of the draw, but texture packs range from subtle changes to an all-over reskin, so you can choose just how much you want to leave vanilla Minecraft behind.

Just like the best Minecraft mods and shaders, texture packs can help give an entirely new feel to one of the best PC games of the last decade, and it's just one of many ways of keeping the sandbox game feeling fresh after all these years. While some mods can alter Minecraft gameplay, and shaders change the quality and style of the graphics, texture packs allow you to add a new skin to existing blocks. Included in our list of the best Minecraft texture packs are realistic blocks, cartoonish overhauls, and cute changes to the way Minecraft mobs look.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 12:00 PM
    

If you've read my duology on spending far too long queuing in Hitman, you'll know I've a predilection for the virtual people watching of NPCs in games that have some sort of schedule system. "It's a wholesome pursuit of game design knowledge!" I stammer, as the guards approach. "It gives me a greater appreciation for the obscure details lurking in the hidden corners of virtual cities!" I protest, as I'm clapped in chains after being caught staring through a blacksmiths window for four hours watching him eat the same heel of bread, rubbing my hands together and grinning manically. Imagine my glee, then, when an early quest in action RPG Dragon's Dogma 2 not only condoned my weird hobby, but actively encouraged it.

Alfred is bardic beggar you'll likely first encounter in Vernworth's city square water feature. He's doing a spot of medieval busking, spinning some brilliantly localized rhyming yarns to whoever will listen. He also periodically asks for beer money, even if you think he's shit, which is a great pitch. Onlookers come and go, but after listening to him gas up the nobility with tall tales for a spell, you'll likely spot a particularly enthusiastic permanent fixture off to the side. Have a chat, and he'll tell you he reckons there's something fishy about Alfred. He never sees much patronage from busking, but he never seems short of coin. Follow him around for a bit and see how he makes his money, won't you? My annoyance that I'd just given Alfred several hundred gold immediately dissipated at the prospect of some quest journal-sanctioned stalking.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:59 AM
    

While the PC release of Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition has effectively made my PS5 ownership pointless, I can't stay mad at it. Besides being a sumptuous, endlessly satisfying sci-fi romp with one of the prettiest open worlds in gaming, it's also a very respectable porting job, with stable performance that scales well on aged PC hardware all the way up to glistening 4K rigs.

There are some imperfections, but generally, this shouldn't be a repeat of Horizon Zero Dawn's need for a post-launch patch regimen. On all the hardware I've tested, Forbidden West looks good to go, especially when choosing the right settings can smooth out performance even more.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Swashbuckling third-person action-RPG Flintlock: The Siege Of Dawn is, amongst other things, a gentle homage to New Zealand, developer A44 Games's country of origin. You do have to look for it, mind you. The game's art direction at large is an elegant hodgepodge of inspirations that deserves to be unpicked carefully after release.

Main character Nor Vanek - who is on a mission to massacre various escaped underworld gods - is kind of a Napoleonic superhero. Rakishly attired in braided frock coats and knee-high boots, she can use sparking "blackpowder" pistols both to inflict damage and to double-jump or dodge while performing snappily choreographed, one-handed sword and axe combos, straight out of God of War. As regards locations, there are pale medieval citadels with stained-glass windows, coffee shops run by eerie, many-armed "Hosts" that glean from the ambience of Turkish bazaars, and certain other fantastical areas and characters - including Nor's spectral fox sidekick Enki - that are influenced by ancient Mesopotamian mythology.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:43 AM
    

Troubled city building game Cities: Skylines 2 is getting a little less troubled, as new patch 1.1.0f1 adds various performance and bug fixes alongside the main event: much requested mod support and tools in the form a nifty editor. We got a first look at the new editor tools last October, which looks to simplify the process by combining what was previously several different separate editors into a single application. It was later available only to some closed beta testers, but is now released for everyone. Emphasis on everyone, actually, since the tool looks refreshingly approachable, even for those with basically no modding experience.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Maintaining the thrum of a finely-tuned citybuilder has to be one of the most satisfying acts of video game plate-spinning around. Nursing that constant flow of foot traffic, produce and profits, all of them teetering on a carefully honed knife-edge, that's the good stuff right there. Of course, it's not always the threat of imminent and total collapse that fuels these mighty engines of urban planning. Sometimes it's the simple pleasure of building itself, watching a scrub of dirt track rise up into an advanced superhighway of architectural wonder. The best of these more relaxed kinds of citybuilders - your Dorfromantiks and your SteamWorld Builds et al - still involve plenty of plate-spinning; it's just that they won't ever fall over if you take your eye off the ball for a moment.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles sits at the citybuilding crossroads of 'relaxed' and 'something more'. It wants to be an easy-going kind of builder, as nothing fundamentally bad happens when the wheels stop turning for a moment. For the most part, you're free to build where and however you please, constructing imposing fortresses jutting out into the ocean from mere scraps of rock. But it also gets more bogged down in the minutiae of resource flow, worker management and conquest and expansion via muddy, ill-defined combat procedures than it probably should. It always feels on the precipice of becoming something bigger, bolder and more boisterous than it ever really achieves, dipping its toes into the murky waters of its lonely Ursee without truly ever getting its feet wet.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:27 AM
     Yesterday I posted a story about Helldivers 2 game master Joel, which showed him delivering an unreleased vehicle to a random group of players before vanishing into the ether. But this morning came a thunderous plot twist. Someone on team RPS was contacted by a verified source with first hand knowledge of Joel's shady activities. The source has confirmed that APC-deliverer Joel isn't anything but an imposter, a fake, a generous fraud. The Real Joel, it seems, isn't so brazen with his actions.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 8:43 AM
    

Journey developer thatgamecompany have announced the PC early access release date for their social MMO Sky: Children Of The Light. Having already built up a substantial community on both mobile and consoles, PC players will now be able to join in on April 10th on Steam. There will be some special PC-themed goodies available to celebrate the occasion, too, including a Companion Cube prop from Portal, a Journey cosmetic pack, and double rewards for sending Heart gifts to other players.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 7:39 AM
    

Palia, a cute-looking life sim MMO inspired by e.g. Stardew Valley, has been in beta since last year, but now it's officially out on Steam, where many more people can download and play it. With this launch comes a pretty substantial update - Patch 0.178, full notes here - which adds a new questline and Temple to explore, new furniture, and a bunch of new spring flowers and trees to grow in your garden. There is also a giant plushi frog, listed under 'Adjustments'. The patch notes say simply "What does he want? Does he come in peace?" which makes him sound way more sinister than I think he is, but as you can see from the screenshot, he isn't not sinister.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Tuesday, March 26, 2024 7:34 AM
    

Look up to the skyline, and tell me what you see. It is me, standing on a hill, uttering firmly with my dying breath: Mass Effect: Andromeda was pretty good. For anyone currently gathered around the hill, searching the pockets of their N7 hoodies for more heavy objects to fling at me, however, here's some good news: the as-yet unnamed Mass Effect 5 is in the capable hands of "trilogy vets", according to project director Michael Gamble, via Le Epic Musk Zone (OP didn't steal), formerly Twitter. The team heading up the space game franchise's next entry comprises of veterans of the first three games in various leading roles, namely: Art Director, Game Director, Creative Director, and Executive Producer.

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Twinfinite Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:08 AM
    
Better free up some storage space!

Twinfinite Tuesday, March 26, 2024 6:03 AM
    
Let's take RNG out of the equation.

Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Gawr Gura new merchandise by SuperGroupies

SuperGroupies revealed a new lineup of merchandise inspired by the Hololive English Vtuber Gawr Gura. The brand also opened pre-orders for the new products on both its Japanese and American web stores.

The main lineup will consist of three items. The watch and pullover jacket will have the same price tags of ¥25,300 / $230. Meanwhile, the backpack bag will cost slightly less at ¥20,900 / $190.

SuperGroupies also shared images that show how it used elements from Gawr Gura's attire on each item:

In addition, SuperGroupies will also sell acrylic stands with Gawr Gura's autograph and a new illustration of the character by the illustrator Sakura for ¥2,750 / $25. The illustration will also appear on clear files that SuperGroupies will hand out for free with every purchase of the watch, jacket, or backpack.

Gawr Gura is the most popular Vtuber in the world, with over 4.45 million subscribers registered on her YouTube channel as of late March 2024. Even though she comes from the Hololive English branch, Gura has also been involved in tourism promotions in Japan. A recent example took place at the Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium in early 2024.

SuperGroupies will close the pre-order window for its Gawr Gura-themed merchandise on April 14, 2024, at 8 PM PT / 11 PM ET. The company will ship the finished products in Japan between August and October 2024, and in North America in early December 2024.

The post SuperGroupies Revealed New Gawr Gura Merchandise appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Concerned Ape 'Eager to Get Back to Work' on Haunted Chocolatier

Eric "Concerned Ape" Barone noted on social media that work will begin on Haunted Chocolatier again once the Stardew Valley 1.6 patch is available on consoles and mobile devices. The developer also mentioned being "eager to get back to work on it."

Here is the exact statement, which mentioned the reason for the current pause in work on the next title.

https://twitter.com/ConcernedApe/status/1771573562840678751?s=20

Haunted Chocolatier was first announced back in October 2021. Barone announced a break in its development in April 2023 to prepare 1.6 for Stardew Valley.

Barone also explained why there is a delay between the Stardew Valley 1.6 patch showing up on consoles, PCs, and mobile devices in another reply. The developer cited how quickly PC patches can be released compared to ones for consoles, due to certification and verification processes. Finishing and perfecting the patch for that platform can make subsequent ones' roll out stronger.

https://twitter.com/ConcernedApe/status/1771630300889514328

Said quick patches are coming out rather frequently for the PC. For example, 1.6.2 is already available for PCs, and Barone has been discussing 1.6.3 on social media.

Stardew Valley is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PCs, mobile devices, and the PlayStation Vita. Haunted Chocolatier is in development for PCs.

The post Concerned Ape 'Eager to Get Back to Work' on Haunted Chocolatier appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:00 AM
    

honkai star rail acheron

Ahead of her playable debut, HoYoVerse released yet another trailer for Acheron, who will be a new character in Honkai: Star Rail. The trailer, which is almost three minutes long, alternates between different styles of animation.

You can watch the Honkai: Star Rail Acheron trailer "Your Color" here:

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

It is also available in Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean.

The trailer shows Acheron fighting off against multiple illusions of the Stellaron Hunters, courtesy of Sparkle. Scenes of the fight (in 3D animation) are interspersed with 2D animations of what looks like Raiden Mei putting on her make-up. Like in her Myriad Celestia trailer, the "Your Color" trailer seems to reference Honkai Impact 3rd.

Acheron will debut in the first phase of the upcoming Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.1 banner. Luocha will also make his re-run then. As a reminder, Acheron will be a 5-star Lightning Nihility who will act as your DPS, while Luocha is a 5-star Imaginary Abundance character who is one of the best sustain units in the game. Other characters who will have rate-ups during these banners are Dan Heng, Pela, and Gallagher. Gallagher will also be one of the new characters, and he'll be a 4-star Fire Abundance.

Honkai: Star Rail is readily available for the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Acheron Trailer Pits Her Against Sparkle appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:30 AM
    

final fantasy vii rebirth acrylic stands

Square Enix will rerelease acrylic stands of the characters from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. They cost 1,430 JPY ($9.45) each, and will come out again on April 20, 2024.

Each of the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth acrylic stands there cost $14.99. In total, there are eleven variations. You can get acrylic stands of:

  • Aerith Gainsborough
  • Barrett Wallace
  • Cait Sith & Fat Moogle
  • Cid Highwind
  • Cloud Strife
  • Red XIII
  • Sephiroth
  • Tifa Lockhart
  • Vincent Valentine
  • Yuffie Kisaragi
  • Zack Fair

In other words, you can get acrylic stands of all the major characters. Each stand will come with the character standing, as well as a portrait of them behind them. The North American Square Enix store suggests that you can place these in your room or your office so that you can always have your favorite character with you.

These items are also available in the North American Square Enix store. However, many of them are immediately available and don't involve any wait.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the direct sequel of Final Fantasy VII Remake. Like the first game of the trilogy, it is not a completely faithful retelling of the original game. For example, some optional characters are now part of the main story, as well as new additions to the story, such as the addition of Whispers.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is readily available for the PS5. The console exclusivity arrangement will end on May 29, 2024. These acrylic stands of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth characters will come out again on April 20, 2024.

The post Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Acrylic Stands Return to Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Gun Gale Characters Coming to SAO Fractured Daydream

Bandai Namco announced that LLENN and Fukaziroh from SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online will appear in the upcoming Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream. A new gameplay trailer showcased both characters in combat.

The trailer also revealed that LLENN is a high mobility shooter that specializes in close and medium-range combat. She will be of the Rogue class. Meanwhile, Fukaziroh is a grenadier with great adaptability that can offer carpet bombing and support fire, and she will be a Ranger.

You can check out the new SAO: Fractured Daydream trailer featuring Gun Gale Online characters LLENN and Fukaziroh here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFfmcKuc3TY

Additionally, Bandai Namco shared a new key visual art featuring LLENN and Fukaziroh drawn by Studio 3Hz, the studio responsible behind the SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online anime series. You can check out the new art and character renders here:

Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream was announced during the February 2024 Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. Additionally, a second season of the SAO Alternative: Gun Gale Online anime series was announced back in July 2023 with a 2024 release date, and a new character key visual art recently appeared.

Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream is currently in development for the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC via Steam and will appear sometime on 2024.

The post Gun Gale Characters Coming to SAO Fractured Daydream appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:45 AM
    

rosemi lovelock 3d

The archive for the Rosemi Lovelock 3D debut is now available on YouTube again. This stream originally happened on March 22, 2024.

Shortly after the original stream on March 22, 2024, some people noticed that many countries had blocked the debut, making it impossible to watch. Even those living in Japan could not watch it. In a Reddit post about this, many people joked about having to wait months on end for Anycolor to do anything about it. According to Rosemi's tweet on March 22, 2024, this was due to automatic song copyrights in the stream, which caused the ban.

You can check out the stream here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gPWbPFFink

The stream is close to an hour long. Other Nijisanji VTubers who appeared in her 3D debut stream include Petra Gurin, Meloco Kyoran, and Elira Pendora, as well as Ange Viera from the JP side of things. Aside from a concert, Rosemi also showed off her model by racing her fellow VTubers, as well as playing Twister.

According to comments from the CEO of Anycolor, there will be changes to how the company runs the EN side of Nijisanji. This includes more content that involves multiple streamers, as well as more 3D debuts. We may be seeing other Nijisanji EN livers hold 3D debut streams later on in the year.

You can watch the archive of the Rosemi Lovelock 3D debut on her YouTube channel.

The post Rosemi Lovelock 3D Debut Stream is Back on YouTube appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:30 AM
    

sanrio uniqlo hello kitty

For the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, Sanrio will collaborate with Uniqlo to release retro pieces of clothing based off popular mascots. Aside from Hello Kitty, you'll be able to get items featuring My Melody, Cinnamoroll, and Kuromi.

The non-Hello Kitty Sanrio mascots all dress up like her in the Uniqlo shirts and pants. They have all her signature red ribbon, as well as a pair of blue overalls. Even their pose takes from Hello Kitty, in which she's sitting down and turning her head to the side to face the audience. The T-shirts and the pants cost 1500 JPY ($9.90) each. Like most Uniqlo collaborations, the Hello Kitty 50th anniversary collection is available in stores outside of Japan as well. The shirts cost $24.90. Stores outside of Japan do not seem to have the pants, though.

These clothing items are not the first pieces of merchandise that you can purchase for the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty. Lotte will release an apple pie flavored Koala's March, as part of its own celebration of the snack's 40th anniversary. Kurotani announced a pure gold figure of Hello Kitty, and Crocs offered several different styles of shoes that take after the cat's design. Sanrio itself started releasing items such as purses and dolls in November 2023.

The Uniqlo 50th anniversary collection of Hello Kitty clothing items are available in physical and online stores.

The post Sanrio Mascots Cosplay as Hello Kitty in New Uniqlo Collection appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Tuesday, March 26, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Monster Hunter Khezu figure - featuring Kelbi

Capcom has opened pre-orders for its upcoming Monster Hunter figure of Khezu. It will be part of the Capcom Figure Builder Creators' Model series. The figure will be available in Japan in mid-October 2024 with a price tag of 16,500 yen (~$109).

The figure set will have an overall height and depth of 195mm (~7.68in), as well as an overall width of 175mm (~6.89in). It will also feature a Kelbi that will appear as prey attempting to flee Khezu's attack. The static figure will have no movable parts. But depending on the view angle, Khezu's mouth may appear to reach the Kelbi.

Here are some of the sample images for the Khezu figure taken from four sides:

Capcom has also published a new trailer promoting the upcoming figure, which also lets people view it from more angles:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn7eirYSPhE

Khezu is a series recurring monster that has appeared since the first-ever Monster Hunter game came out on PlayStation 2 in 2004. Capcom has also been releasing plushes based on the same monster, ranging from round chibi plushes to the Tsum Tsum-like Capcorom.

The Capcom Figure Builder Creators' Model figure of Khezu from the Monster Hunter series will be formally available on October 17, 2024.

The post Monster Hunter Khezu Figure Pre-Orders Open in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:21 AM
     Palia Tips And Tricks For BeginnersLike any new game, even with tutorials, it's going to take a while to get used to things and learn everything. Let's go over some tips and tricks for beginners starting Palia, the cozy farming sim and MMO. Beginners tips and tricks for Palia Screenshot: PC Invasion Choosing your appearance As soon as you jump into Palia, you're going to be making your character. If you don't know already, you should know that once you leave character creation, you won't be able to change certain things. You won't be able to change your body, face, skin tone, eyes, or voice once inside the game. But luckily, there will be ways to change your hair and clothes later on. So make sure you're okay with how you look besides the changeable features. Screenshot: PC Invasion Swapping and unequipping tools Throughout the introduction of Palia, you'll quickly receive all of your tools. You can access these tools by holding the "R" ke...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:09 AM
     Lego Fortnite IlluminatorThe Illuminator is a passive item in LEGO Fortnite that can be equipped to keep a constant glow around you. It's a difficult item to know how to create, so here is every step to crafting an Illuminator in LEGO Fortnite. All steps to unlock and build Illuminator in LEGO Fortnite Unlike how a Torch requires you to use your off-hand, the Illuminator is equipped to you and stays on you. It doesn't run out and stays on you day and night. It appears as glowing dots above your head which is a nice visual — and you'll have nice visuals at night since you'll radiate a constant glow. Screenshot: PC Invasion To craft an Illuminator in LEGO Fortnite, you need to go to the Charm section in your Crafting Bench. The crafting requirements for an Illuminator are high, but thankfully, you only need to craft it once. From there, you need the following items: Three Wool Thread Five Purple Thermal Fish Ten Glass Ten Brightcore How to get Wool Thread in...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:09 AM
     Horizon Forbidden West 1If there is a video game franchise that I have close to my heart that's the Horizon franchise. When I bought my PlayStation 5 after things began to come back to normal after a traumatic period during the pandemic – and its impact on our daily lives – Horizon Zero Dawn was – alongside God of War 2018 – one of the few games in the PlayStation Plus Collection – may it rest in peace – that accompanied through a period of silence, shutdowns, and end of the world vibes. No wonder it captivated me. After all, the game touches on subjects such as AI and its dangers, the apocalypse, and the worst of human nature which are my favorite themes in movies and media in general. Horizon Forbidden West was one of the first games in a while that I pre-ordered and enjoyed on launch date and it took what made Aloy's first adventure and expanded it in a way I couldn't believe was possible. From the story's stakes to the graphics, the animations, the characters' a...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:08 AM
     How To Craft A Power Cell In Lego FortniteWith the new Mechanical Mayhem update out for LEGO Fortnite, players will inevitably want to figure out how to craft a Power Cell. Without Power Cells, you won't be able to run your vehicles. LEGO Fortnite: How to craft a Power Cell You won't automatically have this recipe ready to craft from the get-go. You can craft a Power Cell in LEGO Fortnite using six Glass and 50 Biomass at a Crafting Bench. But how do you get these items in the first place? Screenshot: PC Invasion How to get Biomass in LEGO Fortnite Biomass is a byproduct of a Compost Bin, which is a station you can build using five Planks, one Sand, two Soil, and three Fertilizers. Once you create this station you can create Fertilizer, Soil, and also Biomass. You have to first throw items into the Compost Bin and wait for them to process. Image: Epic Games Putting Food and Bones into a Compost Bin can make Biomass. You'll have to make 50 Biomass just to create one Power Cell, so throw al...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Tuesday, March 26, 2024 11:05 AM
     How to get Seeker Tokens fast in Dragon's Dogma 2If you're a video game completionist, you're probably looking for all the collectibles in Dragon's Dogma 2. This guide will explain the fastest way to find and collect Seeker's Tokens in Dragon's Dogma 2. How to find Seeker's Tokens quick in Dragon's Dogma 2 Screenshot: PC Invasion Seeker's Tokens are small coin collectibles scattered across Dragon's Dogma 2's massive open-world map. Finding them is especially difficult because they are hidden and in places, you usually wouldn't think to look. The good news is that you can find Seeker's Tokens fast by unlocking the Detection augment from the Trickster Vocation. The Trickster's Detection augment in-game description is: "alert you to the presence of any Seeker's Tokens or Wakestone shards in the vicinity with sound and blinking light." In other words, equipping the Detection augment will let you know whenever you are near a Seeker&...

Pivotal Gamers Tuesday, March 26, 2024 4:22 AM
     What's up folks? Giveaway Of The Day is giving everyone the chance to win on Don't Stop. Let's hear them out. Don't Stop is available as a Giveaway of the day!You have limited time to download, install and register it. A few words about Don't Stop Dont Stop is an arcade racing game on a busy highway where you have to drive and earn points until you run out of gas or c...