Kotaku Saturday, May 11, 2024 1:00 PM  People had strong feelings, to put it mildly, after Xbox shuttered Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and other studios, and we share some of our own. Also,PlayStation finally relented on a requirement that PC players maintain a PSN account, but not before colossal fan uproar, and as the dust started to settle, we had… |
Kotaku Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:45 AM  This past week started with a shock, as Microsoft announced it was closing a number of studios including Tango Gameworks, responsible for the very well-liked Hi-Fi Rush, leading many to wonder just what a studio has to achieve in this day and age to be deemed successful enough to exist. Also, one of the most… |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 12:44 PM  The Fallout 4 next gen update was a disaster. We knew it was likely to break mods upon release, but a spate of other issues immediately cropped up on all platforms, not just PC. While Fallout 4 enjoyed its best player count in years thanks to the success of the show, we were all met with a mess of a patch that Bethesda has finally promised to fix, and we don't have to wait long. Continue reading Underwhelming Fallout 4 next gen update finally getting fixed MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Fallout 4 console commands, Fallout 4 mods, Fallout 4 System Requirements |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 12:44 PM  Few things are quite as satisfying as smashing objects together and reveling in the destruction, and the best sandbox simulation games are a great way to enjoy that without all the mess and loss of property caused by doing it in real life. Besiege, Wreckfest, and Teardown are fantastic, and I'll always have a penchant for classics like Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction and Red Faction Guerrilla that let me rip giant buildings to shreds. Now, spiritual successor Instruments of Destruction has arrived in version 1.0, and offers some of the most delicious devastation going. Continue reading Ultra satisfying destruction simulator launches version 1.0 on Steam MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best simulation games, Best indie games |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:24 AM  Hero shooters are everywhere these days. Overwatch 2. Apex Legends. Valorant. Rainbow Six Siege. You can't move without stubbing your toe on one. This is why the upcoming Marvel Rivals, which leverages decades of comic lore and successful films for its characters, has a herculean task ahead of it. Even with that though, the shooter has just detailed a destruction system that could be a piece of the puzzle that helps it find a dedicated audience. Continue reading Marvel Rivals details the mechanic setting it apart from Overwatch MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Best co-op games |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:02 AM  From Minecraft and Terraria to Rimworld and Oxygen Not Included, the creative freedom offered by the best sandbox games is tough to match. While there's plenty of big names to choose from, perhaps the most important among them is Dwarf Fortress. Its deep, intricate simulation has been spoken about in hushed, reverent tones, and now a big Steam sale lets you snag its updated and polished version, complete with the newly overhauled roguelike adventure game mode, at its lowest price yet. Continue reading The most detailed sandbox game ever hits its lowest price on Steam MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best games like RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress, The best city-building games, The best survival games on PC |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 10:05 AM  The Helldivers 2 mission statement of bringing players along for the constantly evolving narrative has just hit a new objective: eliminate two billion Automatons. The only issue is, that after we did the same to the Terminid swarm in less than a day, the exploit we accidentally used has been removed. So it's going to be a lot harder this time, and there's a returning stratagem on the line. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 weapons, Helldivers 2 servers, Helldivers 2 system requirements |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 9:58 AM  The discussion around the best space games is an ever-changing one, with the launch of Homeworld 3 bringing it into competition alongside heavy hitters like Outer Wilds, Elite Dangerous, Stellaris, No Man's Sky, Everspace 2, and Bethesda's Starfield. Of them all, however, few can claim to be as ambitious - or notorious - as Star Citizen. The mammoth project from Roberts Space Industries continues to grow, and developer Cloud Imperium says that the new Star Citizen Alpha 3.23 update is "one of our most expansive and game-changing releases to date." Continue reading Star Citizen 3.23 is one of its most "game-changing" updates yet MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best simulation games, Best multiplayer games, Best space games |
PCGamesN Saturday, May 11, 2024 8:22 AM  May 11, 2024: Checked list and it is now up 22 working, tested codes, with new code added to the list, to give 29 minutes of 2X experience. What are the new Blox Fruits codes? We've compiled a regularly updated list of all Blox Fruits codes to redeem in-game freebies like XP boosts, free Beli, and stat resets for your pirate adventures. Need a boost to take on the increasingly tricky competition? We've got you covered. Blox Fruits is one of the biggest Roblox games ever, thanks to its fun, anime-inspired pirate action. That said, it can be challenging to find new free codes, so we've done the hard work and listed all the active Blox Fruits codes in 2024, including Update 23 in one place below. Continue reading Blox Fruits codes May 2024 – free XP and money MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
Twinfinite Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:39 AM  |
Siliconera Saturday, May 11, 2024 3:00 PM
It's that time once again to revisit U.A. High School and see what Class 1-A is up to in the grand fight against Tomura Shigaraki and All for One. My Hero Academia season 7 finally arrived, and while it doesn't appear to be the final season of the long-running anime series, it certainly doesn't need to be.
The premiere episode of My Hero Academia Season 7, Episode 139 "In the Nick of Time! A Big-Time Maverick From the West," wastes no time in getting back into the thick of everything. Following Deku's return to U.A., it appears the final war with Tomura Shigaraki and All for One is gearing up. The episode gave a little bit of screen time to Deku and some of his classmates, but considering everything happening it wasn't much at all. This actually worked in the episode's favor, as it meant it didn't take too much time recapping everything like past season premieres.
Instead, it dove into the newly introduced number one hero from the US, Star and Stripe. As the apprentice to All Might, she has both the unbelievable power and ridiculous costume taste of the lovable hero. Her journey to Japan brings her face-to-face with the series' main villain Tomura Shigaraki alongside her own fighter jets. Much of the episode features the initial part of the two supes duking it out with one another in terrific fashion.
This battle between Star and Stripe and Shigaraki/All for One makes for an excellent way to start Season 7. It focuses less on the character development and story, and more on action. I actually don't mind this, as we are so far into the series at this point, it feels great to see high-stakes battles like this one. Much like some of the best fights in the series, this one is almost like a turn-based puzzle, in a way. We see Star and Stripe use her fascinating superpowers against Shigaraki. It looks like she is going to win. He counters it, she counters back, and it continues. All the while, we get to learn more about Star and Stripe's exceptionally overpowered quirk.
Though much of the episode and action takes place in the sky, this doesn't detract from the animation. If anything, this blank canvas allowed for some striking visual effects and facial animations. Shigaraki, as always, is as terrifying as ever. Meanwhile, Star and Stripe has all the blonde hopefulness of All Might 2.0.
While the episode ends on a cliffhanger, it becomes clear this fight is only getting started. As such, this premiere did its job right. It teased the final war and themes of this season well. And at the same time, it offered its own set of meaningful action that stands out well among the already great fights in the series.
I also can't fail to mention the new opening theme from TK. If you love some of his classic anime openings in the past, you'll probably enjoy this one, too. Overall, the My Hero Academia Season 7 first episode does just about everything right. It sets the stakes high again for the final war between the heroes and villains. In addition, the premiere wastes no time in diving headfirst into the beginning of the end. As such, I can't wait to continue watching the latest season of this long-running anime.
My Hero Academia Season 7 is now streaming as part of the Spring 2024 anime season on Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the manga outside Japan.
The post My Hero Academia Season 7 Dives Headfirst Into the Final War appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, May 11, 2024 1:30 PM
The next Hololive Valkyrie Connect event begins on May 17, 2024, and we now know all four Vtubers who will be a part of it. People will be able to collect playable versions of Hakui Koyori, Ookami Mio, Sakura Miko, and Yukihana Lamy.
Koyori and Lamy were the first two characters revealed worldwide. You can see that announcement from May 8, 2024, as well as their official in-game art, below.
Brief videos appeared from both after that happened. Here's the Koyori one:
And here's the Lamy introduction:
Miko and Mio's art and appearance showed up on May 10, 2024. Here is how their designs will look in-game.
Additional videos introducing them also appeared. Here's the one starring Miko:
And here is the one starring Mio:
There were two Hololive Valkyrie Connect crossover events prior to this one, each with four Vtubers from the company involved. The first one from 2022 included Kiara Takanashi, Ninomae Ina'nis, Laplus Darkness, and Usada Pekora. A second one appeared in 2023. In that event, Nanashi Mumei, Ouro Kronii, Sakamata Chloe, and Houshou Marine appeared in the game.
Valkyrie Connect is available for PCs and mobile devices, and the next Hololive event with playable Vtubers begins on May 17, 2024.
The post New Valkyrie Connect Hololive Vtubers Are Koyori, Lamy, Miko, and Mio appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, May 11, 2024 12:00 PM
Plantabi: Little Garden is one of those simulation and management games that feels like it has an awkward start before blooming into something bigger. This means it might take a bit before it blossoms on the Switch, but it can be satisfying if you take the time to play with it.
Things start in Plantabi: Little Garden with a brief tutorial teaching you how to buy and sell a simple aloe plant. There are no lavish backgrounds. You don't even get a room. You only have a blue background and a number of UI elements that, on the Switch, note the hotkeys for faster Plantabi: Little Garden actions. Your goal is to take care of the plants (which costs coins) to ensure they flourish (which grants you coins). After an amount of time passes, a request will come in on your "phone" that explains one plant someone needs. You can then drag and drop it at the store to sell it. Continuing the process nets you more money and unlocks more plants and customization items in the store, which lets you start really building things up.
The thing about it is that your first hour of playing Plantabi: Little Garden on the Switch is probably going to be a bit boring. This is because given the costs of the plants you need to grow and customization items like tables, shelves, walls, windows, floors, and decorations mean you need to wait a while to even get enough money to splurge. Not to mention the time it takes to get them to the heart levels for requests.
Said requests also seem to come in randomly, so you need to have a wealth of plants available at all times at various levels of development, to ensure you can quickly fill one to gain new unlocks and improve the area. Honestly, this was the most frustrating part of the process for me. Even though you can greatly speed up the passage of time in-game, it means that you're then frantically clicking to keep up with criteria.
I'd say Plantabi: Little Garden really clicked with me about three hours in, as that's when I'd invested enough time into the Switch game to really make the experience worth it. I had a good amount of money by that point. I was able to really build up and decorate the room. I'd set the passage of time to 1x speed, so I could really appreciate my set-up and adjust things as needed.
As long as you are willing to give Plantabi: Little Garden time to grow, I think it's worth giving it a try on the Switch. Especially since this is a small project from a single indie developer. Considering it's also a $6.99 budget game, it's something to keep on the back burner, tend to maybe fifteen minutes a day, and appreciate as you see your little room and selection of plants grow.
Plantabi: Little Garden is available on both the Nintendo Switch and PC.
The post Plantabi: Little Garden Eventually Builds Into a Lush Nursery appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, May 11, 2024 10:30 AM
Toho Animation announced the release of a new Jujutsu Kaisen special showcase focused on bringing new information about the anime series and the video games based on the show. The broadcast will air on the official Toho Animation YouTube Channel on May 19, 2024 at 8pm JST.
Aside from talking about the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series, the other focus of the special showcase will be the recently released Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash fighting game, as well as the Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade mobile game, which also released on PC in April 2024. Cursed Clash Producer Misaki Kai will appear as one of the guests, alongside anime Season 2 and Phantom Parade producer Tatsuya Oomori.
Neki Matsuzawa will be the host of the broadcast, and Yuichi Nakamura and Takahiro Sakurai, the Japanese voice actors for Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto respectively, will appear as part of the special program to talk about the second season of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime series as well as the aforementioned console and mobile video games.
The Jujutsu Kaisen special broadcast will only be available in Japanese, and you will be able to watch it here:
As a reminder, the Guinness World Records recently revealed that the Jujutsu Kaisen anime is the most popular animation series in the world as of April 17, 2024.
The Jujutsu Kaisen anime series is readily available to stream on Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the English localization and publishing of the manga. Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash is available for Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. Jujutsu Kaisen: Phantom Parade is available on mobile devices and PC via DMM Games.
The post Jujutsu Kaisen Anime and Game Showcase Announced appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Saturday, May 11, 2024 9:00 AM
I'll admit I have the tendency to be a crybaby, or at least that was the case when watching anime in the past. These days, it is hard for a series to make me emotional. Or at least it was until this Spring 2024 anime season began. Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again might hold the record for the show to make me tear up the fastest.
As the name implies, this series is about an old grandpa and grandma who are likely in their 80s at the least. The pair suddenly turn young again within the first few minutes of the initial episode's start. Before that, though, it starts with a gut-wrenching short conversation between the two about how poor they were early in their marriage. As a result, they weren't able to go on a honeymoon.
Instantly, I was struck with a lump in my throat. This hit too close to home. I got married earlier in 2024 and am only a couple of months married myself. Because of some family issues, we had to move up our wedding to a much sooner date than planned. As such, we didn't get to go on a honeymoon, much like this elderly couple.
Though we will rectify that situation with a honeymoon, hopefully later this year, this statement immediately hit me in the feels. It felt like the series was there to help me reflect on my past, my future, and where my family is heading. Thankfully for myself and my Kleenex box, the show moved into a more comedic tone from there.
After the grandpa and grandma become young, the series enters in its more hilarious and sitcom-like antics. The first episode wastes no time in seeing how this change in their age affects their children, grandchild, and even community members. There are countless funny moments in the opening episode alone. One involves the various women fawning over the now young again grandpa. Another is the ridiculous recreation of a memorable monologue from the grandma's past. It all works so well, introducing a slew of fascinating characters within the opening episode.
And it doesn't stop from there. The next couple of episodes I watched only continued the hilarity and breakneck pace. Moments like participating in an old people sports festival or dealing with a mysterious hourglass keep the fun going. This is the type of show to watch for both a good laugh and also a chance to reflect on life at the same time. Not many anime series balance this as well as Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again.
Sure, I won't deny Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again feels as thought it has a bit of a lower budget than most other anime series out there. The art style has its issues, especially when it comes to some of the more awkward and less detailed animations. However, it doesn't need to look great to have a riveting story. Its goofy, off-kilter writing and unforgettable leads carry this series. For that reason, I highly recommend everyone to check Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again out. (Even if you aren't a newlywed like myself.)
Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again is available to stream right now on Crunchyroll.
The post Grandpa and Grandma Turn Young Again Broke This Newlywed appeared first on Siliconera. |
WGB Saturday, May 11, 2024 11:03 AM Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is set for release by Microsoft, but concerns arise due to the lack of marketing and Xbox's mismanagement. The fate of Ninja Theory, the developer, is uncertain given recent studio closures. Despite its potential, Hellblade 2's future under Xbox remains unclear. |
WGB Saturday, May 11, 2024 9:12 AM Sony's PSN account linking controversy in Helldivers 2 affects Ghost of Tsushima Director's Edition launch on Steam. Players in non-PSN regions face refund and access issues, leading to frustration and potential review bombing. |