GamersHeroes Monday, June 24, 2024 11:08 AM The team at Knights Peak Interactive, together with MY.GAMES, has announced that Blast Brigade vs. The Evil Legion of Dr. Cread s now available on Prime Gaming for all those that subscribe to Amazon Prime. The post Blast Brigade vs. The Evil Legion of Dr. Cread Now Available on Prime Gaming appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 24, 2024 10:15 AM Still Wakes the Deep is a truly immersive tale, but its linearity ultimately prevents it from reaching new heights. The post Still Wakes the Deep Review appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Monday, June 24, 2024 10:14 AM Players will be able to set out to uncover the truth with today's release of ReLU Games' immersive mystery adventure Uncover the Smoking Gun on Steam. The post Immersive Mystery Adventure Uncover the Smoking Gun Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 11:49 AM  The Smithscript Greathammer is a Greathammer found in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and it features a fantastic moveset that is guaranteed to make it one of the game's most sought-after weapons. This unique Greathammer can be thrown by using your heavy attack, giving it some limited ranged capabilities… |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 11:35 AM  The Smithscript Axe is an Axe weapon that can only be found in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. While it seems like a pretty standard weapon at first glance, it sets itself apart from other axes with its ability to be thrown via a heavy attack. This makes it a killer choice for anyone looking to add a bit… |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 11:15 AM  The Smithscript Spear is a Spear weapon that can only be found in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. While it requires that you invest a few points in multiple stats, this weapon may be worth it for anyone looking to add long-range capabilities to their spear loadout, as its strong attack can be used to… |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 11:05 AM  As it turns out, Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is in fact brutally difficult. However, for the countless players that have gotten stumped by the DLC's immense difficulty spike, there's actually a pretty simple solution to your troubles: stop whatever it is you're doing and go collect Scadutree fragments. |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 10:55 AM  Lego Fortnite plays in a persistent world, meaning not only does your avatar get hungry and run out of stamina, but will also get too hot when in places like lava caves or the desert. If left untreated, you will take damage! But cast your worries aside, because we've got the ultimate tips for what to craft to keep you… |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 10:45 AM  If you've ever thought that the idyllic farming fantasy of Stardew Valley was too easy, there is a mod just for you. "Hardcore mode," as it's called, changes nothing about the game itself but will delete your save file if you use the Stardew Valley Wiki, the most useful community resource on the game. |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 10:35 AM  Perrikaryal (or Perri) is already known and celebrated for streaming games like Elden Ring and Halo using a hands-free "mind control" setup, involving motion sensors to track her head and eye movements, as well as an electroencephalogram (EEG) device to record her brain's electrical activity to use for inputs. Now,… |
Kotaku Monday, June 24, 2024 10:00 AM  I play the original 2001 Super Monkey Ball almost every day, and if you'll allow me one brag, I'm pretty good at it. Sometimes I play to jumpstart my brain in the morning, sometimes to unwind during my lunch break, sometimes to fill some time in the evening. Usually, I choose the fifty-stage-long Expert difficulty,… |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 11:38 AM  When is the next DBD chapter release date? New chapters seem to be arriving in Dead by Daylight all the time, with new characters, maps, perks, and more coming to the horror game. Thanks to regular communication from the developer, we can use the roadmap to determine when the next content update arrives. With around four new chapters a year, it's a wonder the team at Behaviour are able to come up with new perks and powers for the new DBD killers and survivors. Somehow they do, and the year nine Dead by Daylight roadmap confirms a total of nine new characters once again. We've had Vecna as part of the Dungeons and Dragons chapter, and the next is up in July - here's what we know about the next DBD chapter so far. Continue reading Next DBD chapter release time, new survivor, and news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 11:24 AM  How do you complete Jolan's quest in Elden Ring? Tied closely to Count Ymir, Jolan's quest differs in key areas that you're likely going to want to know about if you want great loot. It also requires defeating a couple of difficult bosses and reaching some hard-to-find areas, but never fear – we've gone ahead and compiled everything you need to know. Jolan isn't the only NPC that requires a quest guide in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. Other guides, such as the Elden Ring Leda quest guide, require far more steps than Jolan's to reach the end. As both quests involve defeating more than one difficult boss, the best thing you can do is to read up on all Scadutree Fragment locations to make sure you're as powerful as can be. Continue reading Elden Ring Jolan quest guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, Elden Ring weapons |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 11:23 AM  How do you complete Count Ymir's quest in Elden Ring? There are far more NPCs to meet and run errands for than the followers of Miquella in the Lands of Shadow. One of these is Count Ymir, the proprietor of the Cathedral of Manus Metyr. When you first meet him, he'll give you a strange bell and a map, and it's up to you to find out where to go after that. Do you have more questions about quests in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree? You should definitely read our Leda quest guide to learn all there is to know about the Needle Knight and her love of Miquella. Otherwise, making sure you know all Scadutree Fragment locations will ensure you're strong enough to finish Ymir's quest, as it ends with one of the most challenging bosses in the DLC. Continue reading Elden Ring Count Ymir quest guide MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, Elden Ring weapons |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 11:18 AM  What are the best Minecraft seeds for 1.21? In essence, seeds are codes that Minecraft uses to generate worlds for you. With the right seed, you can live your every fantasy in this amazing game, like easy-access strongholds for speedrunning, beautiful landscapes for building, or rare structures for looting. Given the infinite nature of Minecraft seeds, we've scoured the internet and tested out own to find the coolest and most demanded seeds. You can leave your world generation completely up to fate, but if you're unlucky, you could spend hours looking for a Minecraft village, an ancient city, desert temples, or whatever else you want to experience in the sandbox game. So that you don't waste time exploring a bad seed, keep reading our comprehensive list of 40 cool Minecraft seeds, or use the handy jumplinks to find the specific experience you're looking for. Unless otherwise stated, these seeds work for Minecraft Java version 1.21, the latest version of the game, so make sure your Minecraft launcher is set up for version 1.21 before heading into the game, or you may get different results. You will use these seeds in Bedrock edition thanks to parity, but some structures may differ. Continue reading The 42 best Minecraft seeds for 1.21 June 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 11:47 AM  The best gaming projectors can give you a huge and immersive picture without having to invest in a TV or monitor. Unlike home cinema projectors, projectors for gaming need to have a low input lag (we recommend under 30 milliseconds) to keep gameplay smooth and your responses fast with the best PC games. Getting a projector is an investment in immersive HD, with dynamic color and contrast that brings a whole new dimension to your play, so that you can see every detail with absolute clarity. Some projectors also have the benefit of being portable, and as long as you have a large enough wall to project onto, you can take the big-screen experience with you. Start with budget – how much have you got to spend? Then look at resolution – 4K projectors like the BenQ X3100i are optimum, while a portable 1080p option like the XGIMI Halo+ lets you game and watch for less. With the contrast ratio, the higher the better for deeper blacks and increased grayscale detail. Then there's the refresh rate for smooth play, connectivity options, and, depending on the space you have available, the throw ratio. Most gaming projectors also feature auto keystone correction, autofocus, and obstacle avoidance, so they more or less set themselves up, leaving you free to focus your attention on whatever console or PC game you're in the massive display mood for. Continue reading Best gaming projectors 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:48 AM  What are the upcoming Game Pass games on PC? New titles constantly appear on the platform, and as more developers jump on board with Microsoft's subscription service, it can be easy to lose track of the best of the bunch. Thankfully, our complete list of games coming to Game Pass charts new releases in 2024, so you can play your most anticipated PC games on day one without spending a cent more than your subscription fee. Game Pass on PC presents an excellent opportunity to take the best PC games for a spin without worrying about triple-A price tags. Equally, you can take a chance on the most experimental and unorthodox indie games that might otherwise go overlooked on other platforms. Whether you're a fan of fast-paced FPS games, spine-chilling horror games, or immersive RPGs, the best way to keep up to date with all your favorite upcoming PC Game Pass games is right here on PCGamesN. Continue reading Games coming to Game Pass in June 2024 and beyond MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Hellblade 2 review, Hellblade 2 lore stone locations, Hellblade 2 face locations |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:40 AM  What are the Skyrim console commands and cheats? A lot is going on under the hood of Bethesda's seminal game, and if you're feeling a bit technical you can start messing around with what you find. Using only a few commands, you can instantly complete quests, teleport across the world, or even access spells that never made it into the final version of the game. Whether you want to skip through some of the acclaimed RPG's busywork, drastically alter your character build, or nerf the living daylights out of a giant, we've got the Skyrim console commands and cheats for you. Our list is broken down into a few key categories, starting with basic cheats and working down toward granular tweaks you can employ in the open-world game. Just be sure to check out what each console command does before popping it into the developer console - you know what they say: with great Skyrim console commands comes great responsibility. Continue reading A list of all Skyrim console commands and cheats MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Skyrim mods, Elder Scrolls 6 release date, Games like Skyrim |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:32 AM  Who are the Apex Legends characters? Our handy breakdown of each legend in Apex Legends and their abilities will be just the ticket. Whether you're considering who to try first, or who you would like to mix things up by playing as next, each of Apex Legends' heroes boasts a unique personality and playstyle to make every round feel fresh. There's an Apex Legends character for every play style: Wraith and Mirage's stealthy and deceptive characteristics will appeal to the seasoned flanker who is out to deal serious damage to one key target, then there's the medic, Lifeline, who plays a crucial role of maintaining the health of her squad. You'll need to think carefully about how characters complement each other if you want to win games consistently in the free PC game. Here's what you can expect from each of the Apex Legends heroes. Continue reading Apex Legends characters and abilities list MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:24 AM  When is The Rogue Prince of Persia release date? Two Prince of Persia games in one year — yes, that's the world we're living in. After years of silence, the legendary side-scrolling series appears to be back in a big way. Unlike Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown which is a traditional Metroidvania, this game has been designed as a roguelike. Developed by Evil Empire, one of the studios responsible for the critically acclaimed Dead Cells DLC, The Rogue Prince of Persia utilizes the series' key elements, while tying in roguelike game mechanics to make the game infinitely replayable. Here's everything you need to know about The Rogue Prince of Persia, including its estimated release date, the early access launch, and more. Continue reading The Rogue Prince of Persia release date estimate and the latest news |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:20 AM  Who are the Marvel Rivals characters? With any new Marvel game comes playable Marvel characters, and in Netease and Marvel Games' new 6-vs-6 shooter, there are plenty to choose from. There have been rumors and leaks flying around in the lead-up to the game's announcement, but we have the confirmed Marvel Rivals roster right here. When the Marvel Rivals release date rolls around, you could end up being spoiled for choice, as the starting roster will be expanded upon with the game's seasonal model. Who will you be deciding to play as in Marvel Rivals when the multiplayer game lands? Continue reading All Marvel Rivals characters, leaks, and full roster MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals release date, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals System Requirements |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:06 AM  There are far too many excellent turn-based strategy games to play them all these days, and with even more coming to PC everyday, going back to the landmark releases gets harder and harder. But if you missed it, Invisble, Inc from Don't Starve developer Klei Entertainment is worth a return, particularly if you miss XCOM 2, and need something to fill the gap before (hopefully) XCOM 3. Oh, and if it helps, you can get it for just $3 right now. |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:06 AM  What are the best multiplayer games on PC? Intricate gameplay and glistening visuals only go so far; humans often provide the biggest surprises with schemes that transform even the most average game into an unforgettable experience you'll be talking about until the end of time. Fast and frantic or tense and calculated, the best multiplayer games come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it's vying for control of the payload in an FPS game or fighting for survival in a co-op game with your friends, these experiences wouldn't be the same without a bunch of real people. We've curated a list of the best PC games with multiplayer functionality so you can go around killing, maiming, or, occasionally, helping random people on the internet. Continue reading 29 of the best multiplayer games to play in 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends tier list |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:40 AM  Of the hundreds of games and years of gameplay we squeeze into our limited stay on Earth, some of us are lucky enough to find a game or series that just won't let go. However many other adventures we take on, characters we build, or objectives we complete, the mere mention of this game is enough to get us misty-eyed, lore-dumping on the nearest passer-by, whether they like it or not. For me, it was the Myst series, with Riven being my favorite of the bunch. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best old games, Best puzzle games, Best PC games |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 10:00 AM  Despite recently, albeit temporarily, becoming the most valuable company on the planet, Nvidia failed to make enough of an impact to become one of the top 100 most recognizable brands, according to Interbrand's 2023 report. While it may make the best graphics cards, it appears as though Nvidia still has a lot more work to do in order to become a household name. Based on the latest results from Interbrand, it fails to register on the list of most recognizable brands from last year, but this could change over the coming 12 months. Continue reading Nvidia fails to make list of top 100 most recognizable brands MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4070 Super review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:50 AM  What are the best Stardew Valley mods? The mod scene for ConcernedApe's acclaimed life sim has been thriving on PC despite having no official Steam Workshop support. Dedicated modders have been working to alter almost everything available in the game, from adding game-breaking cheats like god mode to texture overhauls that turn Stardew Valley into a pixelated fairytale. Despite thousands of daily concurrent players enjoying the base indie game, Stardew Valley is getting on a bit, so we can't blame you for wanting to shake things up. Thankfully, the modding community is here to help bring other IPs to the life game, along with new maps and improvements to married life. We've compiled our favorite Stardew Valley mods that celebrate the creativity of the modding scene. Here are our top picks that provide visual overhauls, gameplay changes, and, yes, even some cheats, making one of the best PC games even better. Continue reading The 22 best Stardew Valley mods June 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stardew Valley multiplayer, Stardew Valley realism, The best Stardew Valley mods |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:49 AM  When is the next Steam sale? It feels like one Steam sale has just ended when the next one begins, but with some events offering better discounts than others and genre-specific sales, it's a good idea to keep these dates to hand. Fortunately, we've got a complete list of all the Steam sale dates coming up, so you can make a dent in your wishlist without breaking the bank. Whether you're looking for new PC games to sink your teeth into or simply the best PC games of all time, there's something for everyone on Steam. Smaller publisher sales can introduce you to new favorites if you get to the bargains in time, while seasonal sales can weeks, with more games, DLC, and bundles available at chunkier discounts. Continue reading When is the next Steam sale? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:43 AM  What are the best dating sims? These games all feature carousels of cute, courtable characters ready for romance. Whether you're moving into a sleepy seaside town searching for love or ready to find that spark with a kick-flipping dinosaur schoolmate, players have more options now than ever to date around. While dating is at the forefront of these simulators, great examples of the genre are feature-rich, captivating settings, underlying intrigue, and unique art direction, some of which could even be considered the best PC games overall. The top dating simulators tend to twist the traditional visual novel style and fork it into a new genre, such as adventure games or dungeon crawling - and, believe it or not, one or two even take inspiration from horror games. Regardless of where you want to look for love, this list has you covered with the best dating sims to play in 2024. Continue reading The 14 best dating sims on PC 2024 |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:44 AM  What are the current Party Animals redeem codes? Take Fall Guys and add puppies, and you've got yourself a hit party game. Party Animals is full of hilarious shenanigans as you go head to head with strangers or friends, online or offline. With so many exhilarating games like these, we have come to expect codes for currencies and costumes. If you're jumping (or kicking, flopping, or rolling) into Party Animals, one of the first things you need to consider is which of the cute pets to choose as your avatar. It's like walking into a pet store and only picking one pet to take home… it's nearly impossible. Well, once you have chosen who to play in the multiplayer game, you're going to want the coolest outfits for them, and in-game currency to kit them out. That is where Party Animals codes come in, so here's every current code and how to redeem them in the game. Continue reading Party Animals codes list June 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Party Animals release date, Best multiplayer games, Best indie games |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:40 AM  There's no shortage of content available via Humble Bundle in 2024, and this latest showcase is one for fans of virtual reality. Devolver Digital is offering eight of its top VR titles in one simple package, with the proceeds being donated to Special Effect. Many of the best VR games are available on a variety of platforms, but all these titles must be redeemed on Steam. If you have a Meta Quest 3, or any other PCVR-compatible headset, all these games will work great if you're either tethered to your gaming PC, or using it wirelessly via Steam Link. Continue reading Grab eight VR games worth $189 for just $10, if you're quick MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:30 AM  What are the best auto battlers? The auto chess and auto battler genre may have been a flash in the pan, but it's been a fascinating one to watch. It all started with Dota Auto Chess, a custom game mode for Dota 2 which then spun off to do its own thing, simply called Auto Chess. Valve took notice, and decided to create the ill-fated Dota Underlords. If you're interested in auto chess games, our list of the best auto battlers available to play will steer you in the right direction. Underlords sadly stopped receiving support at the end of 2020. However, while there aren't too many decent contenders for the crown of 'best' auto battler, the entries on this list all do something a little different, representing the best PC games the scene can offer. Continue reading The best auto battlers and auto chess games 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: LoL tier list, Best auto battlers, LoL ranking system explained |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:31 AM  If you're tired of WoW, FF14, or Guild Wars 2 and are looking for another longstanding MMO to try, Aion Classic is for you. A relaunch of the original 2009 version, in a similar vein to World of Warcraft Classic and Old School Runescape, Aion's new 2.8 update 'Conquest' has just been revealed. With a higher level cap, more skills for all classes, and new activities like a dungeon to sink your teeth into, Aion Classic is about to get way better. Continue reading Overlooked MMORPG Aion Classic gets way better with big new update MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best old games, New MMOs, Best MMORPGs |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:38 AM  Are the Diablo 4 servers down? The latest iteration of Blizzard's critically acclaimed dungeon crawler is always online, which can often cause its own set of problems. Between unreliable internet connections, scheduled maintenance, and malicious attacks, it can be tough to troubleshoot exactly what's keeping you from logging in. With our help, you should be back in Sanctuary and tearing through demons in no time. Blizzard has confirmed that a Diablo 4 offline mode won't be arriving in the ARPG any time soon – if ever. Consequently, knowing how to check the Diablo 4 server status is of vital importance if you ever find yourself unable to log in, and we recommend keeping our list of Diablo 4 error codes on hand for some quick troubleshooting whenever connectivity issues strike. Here are your next steps when Diablo 4 is down. Continue reading Is Diablo 4 down? Current server status MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:17 AM  What are the best Cities Skylines mods? Colossal Order's city builder is a prospective civil engineer's dream come true. It's been a staple of the genre for many years, and the modding community has flourished in that time. Today, thousands of Cities Skylines mods are available on the game's Steam Workshop page, making it understandably daunting to find the best ones. Luckily, you have us. We've handpicked a suite of the best Cities Skylines mods that are guaranteed to breathe new life into the building game. Whether you're a casual builder or a hardcore city planner, you're sure to find something to tickle your fancy, so without further ado, here are the best mods for Cities Skylines. Continue reading Cities Skylines mods - the 20 best mods and maps MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cities Skylines mods, Cities Skylines 2 release date, The best city-building games |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 8:24 AM  What are the Elden Ring bosses in order? The most defining moments in any of the Souls-like games are the tough boss fights. They can be tricky for several reasons: some are hard to hit consistently, and others can squash you with just one attack. Despite having hundreds of monsters, you only need to beat 12 Elden Ring bosses in this order to finish the game. In addition to a list of mandatory boss encounters, our list of the Elden Ring bosses in order includes where you can find them, and what rewards they drop. We've also collated the top five Elden Ring bosses in order of difficulty, as well as some handy tips on how to beat them. Generally speaking, dungeon bosses are not as hard to kill as the major bosses. However, there are exceptions, so equipping the best Elden Ring summons and upgrading the Flask of Wondrous Physick with Elden Ring crystal tears can make all the difference in one of the best PC games ever. Continue reading All Elden Ring bosses in order MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, Elden Ring weapons |
PCGamesN Monday, June 24, 2024 9:00 AM  When was the Still Wakes the Deep release date? The Chinese Room returns to its horror roots, and this time around, we're stranded aboard an off-shore oil rig in the middle of the North Sea – and we're not alone. According to associate art director Laura Dodds, Still Wakes the Deep is what would happen if "Stanley Kubrick lost his mind shooting a documentary aboard an oil rig." Sold yet? So are we. Given The Chinese Room's track record with cult classics like Dear Esther and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture, Still Wakes the Deep has garnered a reputation as 2024's sleeper hit horror game. PCGamesN's Nat Smith says it "hits many of the same notes of capitalist horror as Ridley Scott's Alien" in our Still Wakes the Deep review, which plumbs the depths of this "authentic Scottish drama". That said, if you'd prefer a surface level appraisal before you take the plunge, we've got all the story and gameplay details following the Still Wakes the Deep release date below. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games, Best survival games, Best RPG games |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 24, 2024 9:47 AM Days Gone creative director: "Never say never" about a sequel, after game director says exactly that  Open-world zombie adventure Days Gone might not technically feature any zombies, but at least the discourse around a potential sequel is constantly reanimating. Via Xitter, the original game's creative director John Garvin has encouraged fans to "never say never" about a Days Gone 2, while reminding us that a full outline for the game had already been completed prior to his departure from developers Bend Studio in 2020. Even with the caveat of "I'm not holding my breath", Garvin's take is an altogether more hopeful one that that of fellow Bend alumni and Days Gone game director Jeff Ross, who in May tweeXed a collage of popular PlayStation characters – sans his own post-apocalyptic motorcycling hero, Deacon St. John. "A lot of people still ask me if there will ever be a Days Gone sequel, so I submit this poster as evidence it will never happen", Ross wrote, along with an apparent pop at Sony Interactive execs (including Hermen Hulst, co-CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment) for never being "fans" of the game. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 24, 2024 9:34 AM  A former developer at Total War studio Creative Assembly has written a lengthy personal account of his time at the studio, in which he details development troubles on strategy game Total War: Rome 2 and Total War: Attila, and alleges that these issues were exacerbated by an inflexible and counterproductive leadership structure and "chronic mismanagement," sometimes resulting in what he calls a "toxic work environment." |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 24, 2024 8:24 AM  I have recently moved to an area that's surrounded by forest, or at least, by swathes of greenery that feel like forests when you're far enough inside them, even if they don't meet whatever quantifiable definition is currently in vogue. My dreams are ablaze with scenes of sunlight percolating through shifting layers of beech and oak, with visions of dirt paths winding through bramble. Now, here comes Engraving to transform all those dreams into nightmares. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 24, 2024 6:51 AM  Among Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree's more fearsome bosses is the Dancing Lion, a festive prancing terror inspired by Chinese Lion dances. Looking at it, you might expect this costumed nuisance to be another grafted abomination, its layers of papier-mache, binbags and repurposed carpets hiding a rippling quilt of flesh and bone, perhaps a real lion that has been shaved and stitched to its theatrical double. The truth is more appalling still: it's just two guys in a lion suit. They aren't even sewn together mouth to backside, like in the Human Centipede. Way to bait-and-switch, From! |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 24, 2024 5:51 AM  Despite an overwhelmingly strong reception with critics, Shadow Of The Erdtree is currently sitting at a 'mixed' review rating on Steam, with nay-sayers citing performance issues and overbearing enemy design. The Elden Ring DLC is currently metacritic's highest rated expansion of all time at 95, beating out the The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt's Blood And Wine's 92. However, roughly a third of the 41,000 user reviews on Steam are negative. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, June 24, 2024 5:38 AM  Happy Monday all! Yes, I wrote that with total sincerity. We all deserve a happy Monday - perhaps video games can help with that. As you'd expect, Elden Ring's recently released Shadow Of The Erdtree DLC remains this week's Big Kahuna, with no obvious mega releases in the offing to break its chokehold on the discourse, but I have dipped my latex-gloved hand into the gestation pools and fished out a few promising oddities. |
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Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 12:00 PM
The Bokeh Game Studio developers revealed they drew inspiration from seinen manga like Tokyo Ghoul when working on Slitterhead. This information comes from an interview with Game Watch. [Thanks, Game Watch!]
The three Bokeh Game Studio members who participated in the interview are Keiichiro Toyama (CEO and founder), Akira Yamaoka (composer, sound director, and game designer), and Tatsuya Yoshikawa (character designer). During the interview, they reveal that they used seinen manga to try and bridge the gap between horror fans and players who avoid a game because of its horror elements. Some seinen manga series show the characters facing off against a powerful foe, which has the same entertainment value as an action series. However, seinen manga also tend not to shy away from killing off its characters, which raises the tensions and stakes.
Toyama noted that shonen manga is more popular in foreign countries, so a seinen-inspired work may feel novel. Like our coverage of the SGF 2024 trailer, the Game Watch interviewer noted that the character designs feel like they're from Parasyte. Toyama acknowledges that Parasyte was an inspiration, but Slitterhead actually takes more cues from Tokyo Ghoul. To be more specific, he drew reference from the uncertainty of when characters would die—calling it a "thrilling" survival horror experience—and the charm of battles in which the characters use superpowers.
Slitterhead will come out on November 8, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC.
The post Slitterhead Inspired by Seinen Manga appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 11:30 AM
A new series of Final Fantasy XIV commercials starring Hikakin will start playing on TV in Japan until July 7, 2024. It'll feature real footage of Hikakin and his friend Hajime Syacho playing the MMORPG. [Thanks, PR Times!]
For reference, Hikakin is one of the top YouTubers in Japan. Hikakin is also a businessman, releasing products such as the Misokin instant ramen, which was a collaboration product with Nissin. He has multiple channels and his main channel HikakinTV has over 18.8 million subscribers. As for Hajime Syacho, he is also a very popular YouTuber. Like Hikakin, he has multiple YouTube channels, and his main one has over 14.2 million subscribers. Both of them are part of the UUUM network.
You can check out the Hikakin Final Fantasy XIV commercials here:
As a note, the Japanese version of Warrior of Light is "Hikari no Senshi," or "Hikasen" for short. It sounds quite similar to Hikakin. So the title of this series is "Hikakin Becomes a Hikasen," aka "Hikakin Becomes a WoL."
Hikakin commented that he and Hajime Syacho had so much time playing for the commercials that recorded ended really quickly. He's also amazed and emotional about how he's able to do something for Final Fantasy as part of his job as a YouTuber, since he's been a fan of the series since he was a student. As for Hajime Syacho, he said that he felt like a parent and cried when his cute avatar appeared in the commercials. This is the avatar he actually uses in game, which he started playing this year. He adds that he wants people to play Final Fantasy XIV, which he likes so much that he prioritizes it over sleep.
Final Fantasy XIV is readily available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. Dawntrail, the newest expansion for the game, will come out on July 2, 2024.
The post Hikakin Stars in New Final Fantasy XIV Commercials appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 11:00 AM
Square Enix has revealed that it will release a new orchestra album based on tracks from FFVII Rebirth in late August 2024. The company has also opened pre-orders for the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestral Arrangement Album on the Japanese Square Enix e-Store.
The company has yet to publish the track list for this album. However, it did note that the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra—which had performed the game's track in prior actual concerts—will produce the new arrangements for this album. There will still be some differences though, as Masafumi Kurita will act as the conductor in place of Arnie Roth.
The new FFVII Rebirth orchestra album will be available on its own at 4,070 yen (~$25.50). Square Enix will also offer a set that bundles the album with a multipurpose acrylic stand at 6,820 yen (~$42.80). The stand will have the same key visual as the album, which features the complete original group of nine party members from Final Fantasy VII. The owner will be able to use this stand to store various items, ranging from the album itself to the physical game package.
The Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Orchestral Arrangement Album will be available on August 28, 2024.
The post FFVII Rebirth Orchestra Album Will Appear in August 2024 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 10:55 AM
Eastasiasoft confirmed people will be playing Hakuoki on the Switch this summer, as the release date is set for August 1, 2024. That's when the digital version will appear and physical copies will start appearing.
Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom is based on the Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms releases. Those appeared outside Japan in 2017 and 2018 and split up the story of Chizuru and her possible romances with the supernatural Furies members of the Shinsengumi into two parts based on the time spent in Kyoto and Edo. It also included additional love interests, such as Keisuke Sanan and Susumu Yamazaki. This version also includes an adjusted localization.
Here's the latest Hakuoki gameplay and release date trailer:
The physical copies of the game, which are only available through Play-Asia, will ship the same week as the digital copies debut. There's a $49.99 standard version and $59.99 limited edition. The collector's edition comes with an art book, CD soundtrack, and stickers.
The Hakuoki: Chronicles of Wind and Blossom Nintendo Switch release date is August 1, 2024. It is also available on the PSP, 3DS, PS3, Vita, PC, and mobile devices worldwide and PS2 in Japan. The physical copies will begin to appear that same week. The anime adaptation is streaming on Crunchyroll.
The post Hakuoki Switch Version Release Date Falls in August appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 10:30 AM
On June 21, 2024, X (Twitter) user nightshademagia released a Hardcore Mode mod for Stardew Valley that'll delete your save file if you open up the Wiki for the game. This was based off a joke article from Hard Drive.
You can find the source code via Github here. There's also a clip showing how it works. In the clip, they load up their file as per usual. Then, in another window, they open up the Stardew Valley Wiki. As soon as they do so, the game forces them back to the title screen and when they try to load up a game, their save file is gone.
The original article was from satire website Hard Drive, stating that the new default Hardcore Mode erases your save file if you open the official wiki. The article includes false quotes from players expressing their outrage, including a fake quote from ConcernedApe, the creator of Stardew Valley. Some players tend to use the Wiki to help them optimize their farm or game. For example, you can look up what gifts certain characters prefer or how to catch certain fish.
Stardew Valley is readily available for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC, macOS, and mobile devices. It is one of the best-selling games of all time, selling over 30 million copies by February 2024.
The post Stardew Valley Hardcore Mode Mod Is Real appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 10:00 AM
It's been so long since an original Super Monkey Ball game! It's true, Banana Blitz HD and Banana Mania did feel like they were leading to a truly new release, but still: we're happy to see it. This time, it's clear that the development team saw Fall Guys and said, "hey, we can make one of those." Still, there's a lot Monkey Ball can bring to the idea, and Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble combines it with a fresh new Adventure mode for AiAi traditionalists.
First: the single-player! Or, rather, Adventure mode generally, since the game adds the ability to play through these levels with friends. It's more of a social thing that doesn't affect the gameplay very much, but nevertheless, it's a nice bonus! And hey, maybe split-screen with friends and family will lessen the frustration of the harder levels just a bit. The Adventure mode comprises the traditional Super Monkey Ball experience: tilting a board to move your ball to the goal in 200 stages broken up into themed worlds. You can do this with tilt controls, if you want! Which is great. But the game defaults to analog stick control, and you'll need to dig into the settings to use motion.
The new mechanic — you knew they had to add one, whether you wanted one or not — is the Spin Dash, allowing a burst of speed and momentum that doesn't necessarily align with your active roll. It's a bit tricky to pull off a change of direction (with the default control mapping), but we're sure the trick shots with this new mechanic are going to be ludicrous.
The boards are designed to be generally clearable by most, with special collectibles and time-chasing serving to provide higher difficulty. That's a good game balance to target, and though perpetual franchise scrubs like us will still hit a snag occasionally just clearing a level, it mostly does its job on that front. To help newcomers, there are a suite of welcome helper functions. You can rewind stages! There are mid-level checkpoints sometimes! There are tutorial-like ghosts you can enable, too. If your goal is simply to get through the level, these should help.
There's also a story to this mode? We aren't going to talk about it. It's bad, which is fine, because it also doesn't matter. Skip the cinematics and get back to tilting.
It's multiplayer that brings the most new ideas to the ever-tilting table. Up to 16 players match up in varied modes: Race, Banana Hunt, Ba-Boom!, Goal Rush, and Robot Smash. In Race, you unsurprisingly roll through a checkpoint-laden course and try to reach the end as close to first as you can manage. This mode's courses are designed to get easier as time goes on, keeping players in the hunt. It does mean that you don't necessarily want to be first for most of the race, and also even the "easy" form of the tracks can be profoundly annoying when hit with multiple items or when the segment that troubles you the most just happens to not be a segment that gets easier with time.
Somewhat ironically, given both the inspiration and the franchise's history, but a lot of the multiplayer segments would benefit from less falling. There are a ton of checkpoints in the races, and these mitigate the effects, but Monkey Ball's more momentum-based approach makes falling that much more punishing and discouraging.
Banana Hunt and Ba-Boom! Are Mario Kart-like battle modes, with the former focused on banana collection and the latter on either bumping into or avoiding other players to make sure you aren't holding a bomb when time expires. All the games are relatively fast, though we wish it were more playlist-based instead of kicking you out to the lobby between events. Perhaps this pacing will change with a full player server?
Goal Rush is trying something, for sure, as it's a slalom-like event that has you claiming gates for your team and trying to target ones worth more points. Each time you enter a goal, you're placed back at the top, and size, movement and distance all result in goals of varied value. Robot Smash feels like the "let's make sure slow characters have an advantage in at least one challenge" mode. You slam into robots to deal damage and destroy them, and doing so earns team points.
There's a robust customization suite here! And that is nice for a multiplayer game, especially with its lack of microtransactions and adherence to earned in-game currency. However, we here believe that GonGon should have his G shirt and it's not an option, so that's a real strike against the aesthetic offerings. In all seriousness, it's nice to be able to have different looks for online play. That said, if you're opting out of the free-to-play microtransaction hellscape in which the industry largely now finds itself, maybe you don't have to still use the same unlock schemes and menus? Maybe this game doesn't need gacha mechanics and login bonuses? Something to consider, perhaps?
We were hoping that the Switch exclusivity of the game's initial release would mean that the Switch version is, technically speaking, nice and smooth. Instead, the hitching and other hiccups suggest to us that an eventual port might be the ideal experience. It's already a given that the Switch's online play heavily benefits from a wired connection, but in terms of surviving the inevitable wi-fi players in the group, Banana Rumble honestly does okay.
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble is a welcome return to new ideas for the franchise, and does manage to avoid inferior minigame replication disappointment by… not replicating the old minigames at all! The choice to ape (pun intended, pun always intended, you know us) Fall Guys' multiplayer formula isn't the best, but there's some fun here. And the main mode is enjoyable too!
Developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble launches on Nintendo Switch on June 25, 2024. It is, at least for the moment, exclusive to the console.
The post Review: Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble Means Monkey Business appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 9:45 AM
Back in March 2023 at Google for Games Developer Summit, a video hinted at an Umamusume: Pretty Derby English global release. Now Cygames confirmed it is happening with an official social media account, website, and teaser trailer.
There's no English release window for Umamusume: Pretty Derby yet. The accounts note it is on the way. We do know it will be on both Android and iOS devices worldwide in English. It will remain free-to-play.
Here's the teaser trailer. Rather than hinting at gameplay, it's a "Girls' Legend U" opening movie for the game. It introduces many of the horse girls who appear in the game. This is an animated segment with ones like Special Week, Gold Ship, Silence Suzuka, and Meijiro McQueen appearing. It also highlights the fact that characters are racers, students, and idols.
Umamusume is a horse racing game by Cygames, however all of the horses are actually horse girls. In addition to the game that launched in February 2021 after being delayed out of 2018, there are manga and anime adaptations. It is quite popular in Japan, and it passed 21 million downloads in June 2024.
Another game based on the series is also coming up soon. Umamusume: Pretty Derby Party Dash will show up on the Switch, PS4, and PC. That's a minigame collection starring the characters. It's also set for a worldwide release at launch.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is on mobile devices in Japan now, and an English global release is coming. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.
The post Umamusume: Pretty Derby English Release Teased With Trailer appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 9:30 AM
The official Sonic the Hedgehog X (Twitter) account has revealed the Shadow the Hedgehog collaboration outfit for Korone. There will be merchandise of her, including an A4 clear folder of her posing with Shadow.
Like Korone's past Sonic outfit where she's wearing a hoodie that resembles the blue hedgehog, the Shadow the Hedgehog outfit puts Korone in a black hooded jacket and red sneakers. Her hair is black as well, and she has red eyes. She's wearing asymmetrical socks in the Shadow outfit, but that doesn't seem to have anything to do with Shadow and is more a fashion choice from her designer.
If you pre-order Sonic X Shadow Generations from certain vendors, you'll be able to get exclusive goods of Korone in her Shadow the Hedgehog outfit. Amazon will offer an acrylic keyholder. Hanekoto, who was the main artist for Minato Aqua's game Aquarium, drew this Korone. Meanwhile, if you purchase from Geo, you'll be able to get a clear folder of her posing with Shadow. The Sonic Team from Sega drew this one.
Inugami Korone is one of the top Hololive VTubers, debuting in 2019 as part of GAMERS. As of the time of writing, she has over 2.1 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. As an official Sonic the Hedgehog ambassador, she has often appeared in events or collaborations with Sega to celebrate or market the blue hedgehog.
Sonic X Shadow Generations will come out on October 25, 2024 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and Windows PC via Steam.
The post VTuber Inugami Korone Sports New Shadow the Hedgehog Look appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Monday, June 24, 2024 9:00 AM
Square Enix has revealed new acrylic dioramas inspired by all six titles featured in the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series. The company has also opened pre-orders for these Cubic Memory dioramas on its Japanese e-Store.
The dioramas will contain acrylic stands of pixel-based characters and creatures, and Square Enix will line them up to reproduce cutscenes and gameplay moments from the Japanese releases of the titles. The Final Fantasy III, IV, and VI dioramas will be based on cutscenes, while the first and fifth game dioramas will feature battle scenes. The Final Fantasy II diorama will feature a unique gameplay scene where the player had to memorize a password.
All six dioramas will have the same price tag and release date. Each item will be available for 3,300 yen (~$20.69), and Square Enix will release all of them simultaneously on October 19, 2024.
Here are the sample images for each diorama:
Square Enix has been occasionally releasing merchandise based on the first six mainline Final Fantasy entries. The company has previously released music boxes featuring a track from each entry in 2022. It is also working with Uniqlo to release T-shirts based on some of the pixel-era entries worldwide throughout Summer 2024.
The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Cubic Memory dioramas will be available in Japan on October 19, 2024.
The post Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster Cubic Memory Dioramas Revealed appeared first on Siliconera. |
PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, June 24, 2024 11:27 AM  If you're looking for the best spots to farm Runes in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, you've come to the right place. Fans online have already been sharing new rune-farming locations in the Land of Shadow. Elden Ring: Best Rune farm locations in Shadow of the Erdtree As a reminder, while farming for Runes it's best to increase your Rune acquisition with items such as the Golden Scarab Talisman (Rune acquisition +20%) or the Gold-Pickled Fowl Foot (+30% Runes for three minutes). This way, you can get the most bang for your buck. Here are the best spots to farm Runes in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree. The Sunken Chapel Screenshot: PC Invasion The number one rune-farming spot that has been discovered in the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC has to be the Sunken Chapel. Once you discover this Site of Grace at Shadow Keep, head to the church just nearby it and you should be able to find a ton of glowing-red creatures stumbling around. Screenshot: PC Invasion... |
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WGB Monday, June 24, 2024 11:49 AM Sly Cooper looks to be stealing hearts and minds with its PS Plus Premium debut, becoming the most successful game on that tier. |
WGB Monday, June 24, 2024 11:16 AM UK retailer GAME is denying reports that will cease sales of physical videogames. |
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