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Jul 22, 12:00


Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 11:45 AM
    

Reports have been circulating about a PlayStation 5 Pro for a while now, including specs and release timing. Despite Sony staying silent on the mid-generation refresh, more information is continuing to trickle out, this time from the latest update for No Man's Sky.

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 11:35 AM
    

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree is proving to be a bit of a tough nut to crack, and chief among the problems players are facing is the DLC's final fight. Since launch, even the most seasoned Elden Ring vets have found it immensely difficult, but that hasn't stopped players from rising to the occasion by crafting the…

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 11:28 AM
    

One of the most important means of survival in soulslike Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is having plenty of points invested in skills. Not only does each skill provide you with a helpful new active or passive ability, but each also improves your damage with one of the game's three main attack types, Powder, Magic, and…

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 11:10 AM
    

The Acolyte is done, and now we are left to ask: In the sea of content that we are flooded with, does the finale achieve something deeper than just continuing to sell us the Star Wars brand? Partially, yes. It gives us reveals that could have been delivered episodes earlier, action that would have been cooler a…

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Fortnite's next crossover isn't with a cool new movie or a beloved comic book franchise. No, instead Epic is adding Tesla's silly and ugly Cybertruck to the F2P game in a move that might be one of the worst and cringiest things yet.

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 10:50 AM
    

Stardew Valley has received years of major updates with thousands of tweaks and additions since it came out in 2016. The pixel-art farming sim just keeps growing, and all for a one-time price of $15. Creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone says that's never changing.

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 9:40 AM
    

Bethesda Game Studios is known for making some of the biggest open-world RPGs in gaming like Fallout 3 and Skyrim. Now it will also be known for being the first major studio in the U.S. to unionize across all of its teams.

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 9:15 AM
    

Netflix is for films and TV, and Game Pass is for video games, right? It's simple. I don't expect to get to read eBooks via my Spotify subscription, any more than I would think Hello Fresh would send out movies. This is why I constantly forget that Netflix already has a bunch of games available—96 of them!—and the…

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Kotaku Monday, July 22, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure by developer Furniture & Mattress is the kind of delightful, genre-blending game that words can feel inadequate to describe when it's much more easily understood in motion. Yes, telling you that it's an adventure game which you navigate via a grid that moves the environment with you…

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PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:52 AM
     AMD's new GPU can't even outperform Radeon RX 7900 XTX, says leak

More rumors about the next big AMD Radeon GPU launch are circling, and they're again pointing to AMD abandoning the top end of the gaming graphics card market with its forthcoming RDNA 4 architecture. In fact, according to this latest leak, not only is AMD's new GPU not coming out until 2025, but it also won't be as fast as AMD's current flagship, the Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

That's not necessarily a massive problem for AMD, if it can get the pricing right. Assuming this card is priced at around the $500 mark, and it improves on AMD's currently lagging ray tracing performance, while beating whatever GPU Nvidia has in this price range at launch, this could be one of the best graphics cards, but it will be a delicate balance.

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

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:50 AM
     Call of Duty MW3 Game Pass debut heavily rumored for this week

Various sources are now claiming that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3's inevitable addition to the Game Pass library will take place later this week. While the upcoming Black Ops 6 will be hitting the service on day one, CoD fans are still waiting on the MW3 Game Pass announcement that we all know is coming. Well, it sounds like that wait is almost over.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MW3 review, MW3 zombies, MW3 guns

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:52 AM
     DBD cross progression and crossplay explained

Does Dead by Daylight have cross progression? There are two main questions players ask when a game is available on multiple platforms: "Can I play with friends on other platforms?" and "Can I access my save data on multiple platforms?" Known as crossplay and cross progression, these are two of the most important online features, especially in multiplayer games.

Dead by Daylight is one such game, and if you have ever seen a single post or livestream from the devs, you'll surely know that the many of the comments, even with no relation to the original post, are about the availability of these features in the horror game. So, we take a look right here at the availability of both DBD cross progression and crossplay.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:34 AM
     Asus drops huge software update to celebrate ROG Ally X launch

The ROG Ally X is out now, and in order to support the release, Asus is rolling out a brand new version of the handheld's Armoury Crate software to improve the user experience and add some highly requested features.

In my Asus ROG Ally X review, I praise this new portable as one of the best handheld gaming PCs, even though its Windows OS is still a considerable drawback. Armoury Crate Special Edition 1.5 (ACSE 1.5) was pre-installed on the Ally X, meaning I've had some time to test it already, and the improvements over the previous version are a big boost.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Raikiri review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:11 AM
     Warframe 1999 secret pays tribute to Half-Life and Gordon Freeman

Half-Life's influence on FPS games is hard to measure. You can look at Dishonored, Titanfall 2, and 4A's Metro series, and find direct comparisons with Valve's debut shooter, but more broadly, Half-Life inspired a generation of players to become game-makers. Like Doom before it, Half-Life feels like an inflection point in PC history, and so it's only fitting that Warframe 1999, the new questline in Digital Extreme's ongoing free FPS, pay homage. Buried within the Warframe 1999 playable preview that was launched during Tennocon there is a neat nod to Gordon Freeman, Valve, and the world of Black Mesa. This is one of the most-loved modern shooters paying tribute to the past.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warframe on Steam Deck, Warframe builds, Warframe system requirements

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:05 AM
     Warzone Season 5 release date, WWE collab, and more

What is the Warzone Season 5 release date? Both Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone are constantly changing, and whether you're a fan of the free-to-play battle royale, the many MW3 multiplayer modes, or all of the above, there's something new to enjoy with the arrival of each new season. For Warzone Season 5, you best get ready to rumble in the squared circle.

Whether it's in battle royale game Warzone, or Modern Warfare 3 in general, the CoD devs are always looking to go above and beyond with each new content drop. This can lead to some wild collabs - Season 4's mech-filled Gundam crossover being a prime example. In Season 5, however, we'll get to embody a different type of combat machine in the form of some of WWE's finest. To find out more about the new Warzone season, read on.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warzone loadouts, Best Warzone AR, Best Warzone guns

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:47 AM
     WoW The War Within release date, beta, pre-patch, and gameplay

When is the WoW The War Within release date? The tenth World of Warcraft expansion takes us deep beneath the earth, to a subterranean world that harbors the mysteries of Azeroth's creation. This expansion is more ambitious than any other, and that's before we get into all the new content we've come to expect from a WoW expansion. Suffice it to say, there's a lot to cover.

WoW The War Within charts the first installment ofthe Worldsoul Saga, a multi-expansion storyline celebrating twenty years of World of Warcraft by tying off loose plot threads in the MMORPG and setting the stage for a bold new era. Dragonflight's dynamic flying returns, offering a fresh alternative to exploration on foot as we venture down into the new zones of Khaz Algar. There's also a gamut of new dungeons and raids to clear, unique story-driven endgame activities, and a new titan-forged Allied Race.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: WoW The War Within beta sign up, WoW The War Within release date, The best WoW addons

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:29 AM
     Best gaming keyboard 2024: Full size, TKL or mini?

Arming your setup with the best gaming keyboard will make a difference, whether you're into first-person shooters or epic RPG adventures. Sure, you can technically get by using WASD keys on any old keyboard, but your fingers will thank you if you arm them with high-quality mechanical switches and gorgeous keycaps.

PCGamesN's peripherals experts have tested a wide range of wireless keyboards, mechanical keyboards, wired keyboards, and optical-mechanical keyboards to bring you a list of the very best. No matter what your budget or preference is, you will find the right gaming keyboard to meet your needs.

Great gaming keyboards will pair well with the best gaming mouse, and will ultimately help bolster your desktop experience. If you're specifically looking for the best wireless mechanical keyboard, rather than wireless or membrane ones, then check out that guide for a full range of options.

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

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 10:41 AM
     Runescape adds its first-ever boss dungeon, with loads of rewards

After two decades of any online game, brand-new content and rewards are incredibly welcome. The best MMORPGs keep evolving, listening to player feedback, and introducing reasons to keep your subscription ticking over. The new Runescape Sanctum of Rebirth does exactly that. This new content is jam-packed with challenges, rewards, and ways to play alone or with friends - just be ready for a true gauntlet.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, The making of RuneScape, Runescape system requirements

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 10:38 AM
     Surfpunk is a Diablo style ARPG but with hot anime surfers

There's no denying that when it comes to isometric co-op RPG action, the Diablo series is hard to beat. But if you've ever wanted something similar with an aesthetic that's a little less dark and gloomy, then Surfpunk could be for you. Despite the vibrant anime art style, this upcoming Steam ARPG offers intense co-op combat, procedurally-generated raids, loot, and of course, surfboards.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best co-op games, Best anime games

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 10:04 AM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links July 2024

July 22, 2024: We've added a new Monopoly Go dice link for free dice rolls.

How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.

You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 10:03 AM
     Amnesia The Bunker is one of the best games ever, and now super cheap

We've had a few future classics arrive in recent years. Baldur's Gate 3 will jump first to most PC players' minds. Elden Ring will also be up there, and maybe Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty. But rising above all of these games is Frictional's Amnesia The Bunker. It's a better horror experience than Resident Evil or Silent Hill, with writing that is superior to triple-A sacred cows like The Last of Us and God of War. Frightening, punchy, and unique, it's one of the best games I've played in years and potentially one of the high points of the last decade. If you haven't tried it yourself, now is the perfect time as it's available for a historically low price on Steam.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games, Best indie games, Best war games

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 10:47 AM
     The Operator review - a fun puzzle game that gets too conspiratorial

I'm sure there are people whose career dream is to invade the privacy of citizens under the auspices of government crime-fighting. Hopefully not many, but in any case: The Operator is for them. Being less facetious, it's for people who like puzzles of the fiddly logic-y data comparison kind. Think Sam Barlow by way of one of the more lurid episodes of CSI, complete with the ability to enhance! Zoom! stills taken from '90s security camera footage. In that way, even though it's set in the '90s, The Operator feels like a product of the early '00s. Sometimes for the worse, but we'll get to that.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best puzzle games, Best story games, Best PC games

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 11:03 AM
     Palworld map - all locations, regions, and points of interest

What are the Palworld map locations? Pocketpair's peculiar Poké-like takes place on Palpagos Island, a tropical paradise full of critters just waiting to be caught and put to work. If you're looking to survive the wilds, then you need a strong sense of direction – or a good map of all the locations and areas in the region. Thankfully, we can help you with the latter.

Pocketpair has confirmed the Palworld map size is approximately 16 square kilometers, but Palpagos Island has already begun to expand further now that the Sakurajima update has arrived. Our quest to catch all Palworld Pals is set to take us through active volcanoes, mystical ice caves, and expansive woodland areas in the open-world game. Here are all the map locations in Palworld, so you can keep your sense of direction as you explore.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses, Palworld map, Palworld settings

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 9:54 AM
     The 49 best Minecraft mods July 2024

What are the best Minecraft mods in 2024? Every game of vanilla Minecraft can vary quite dramatically, and the best Minecraft mods go one step further to provide an entirely new experience. Whether you love creative building, terrifying survival, or speedrunning the story, we've got the mod for you below. We've included interface mods and tools to make things easier, too.

All the Minecraft mods below are divided into sections, depending on what you want to do with the sandbox game – from simple utility changes to deep world mods you can get lost in for months. If you like to browse, the CurseForge Minecraft game mods hub has a whole section dedicated to the best Minecraft mods and add-ons - as well as equivalents for many of the other best PC games right now.

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

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 9:40 AM
     Best sci-fi games on PC 2024

What are the best sci-fi games on PC? From the mind-bending visuals of Psychroma to the bustling Night City streets, these games take all different shapes and forms. There's the cozy aesthetic and cerebral puzzles of Outer Wilds and the tense, tactical shootouts in XCOM 2 — sci-fi games encompass many different genres, so you'll likely never get bored.

There are the remastered classics, like System Shock, the dystopian blueprint for the immersive sim, and the unappreciated masterpieces like Arkane Austin's Prey, an unsung gem that never got its flowers. And, of course, there are all-time classics like Mass Effect games, a series that needs no introduction. Sci-fi games encompass RPGs, FPS games, and, of course, space games where you fly and fight among the stars. These are some of the best PC games out there.

Continue reading Best sci-fi games on PC 2024
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty review, Best Cyberpunk 2077 mods, Buy Cyberpunk 2077

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 9:28 AM
     2XKO release date estimate, playtest, characters, and more

When is the 2XKO release date? If you ever wondered what a League of Legends 2D fighting game would look like, you're about to find out. Formerly known as Project L, 2XKO was confirmed as the game's official name in early 2024, featuring the likes of Yasuo, Darius, and Braum.

In the developer's words, you'll be able to "walk, run, dash, chain dash, jump, long jump, and super jump," your way to victory. This means you can expect the gameplay in 2XKO to be similar to Marvel vs Capcom, rather than a slower game like Street Fighter. If you can't wait to learn more about this League of Legends fighting game, here's everything we know about the 2XKO release date so far. From trailers and gameplay to the champion roster, assist and tag system, netcode, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best fighting games, LoL tier list , 2XKO characters

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 9:13 AM
     Intel's new CPUs would be great for gaming, if we were allowed them

Intel has quietly released a whole range of new 14th-gen Raptor Lake CPUs that do away completely with the company's low-power E-Cores, and instead house only high-power P-Cores. This focus on raw power means the new range, which is topped by the Intel Core i9 14901KE, would be ideal for use in high-end gaming PCs, but Intel doesn't seem keen on that idea.

Instead, these new best gaming CPU contenders are being sold only as for embedded systems - hence the E on the end of the product name - so they won't be purchasable separately. It's possible these new Intel CPUs will find their way to retailers as well, but it's not a route Intel is encouraging.

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

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 9:02 AM
     New RTS Cataclismo fuses physics and strategy, and it's out now

There's nothing like the joy of creation, and the flood of pain when that's taken away. You can spend hours on a Minecraft build only for your friends to rig it with TNT and pressure plates, and while this was painful at the time, these are the memories I treasure most. You look back on these hardships with glee, and it's something this brand-new physics-based strategy game perfectly understands. Inspired by RTS royalty Warcraft 3 and the thrill of building with Lego, this is Cataclismo, and it's out now.

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

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 9:51 AM
     Honkai Star Rail characters - all new and upcoming characters

Who are the new Honkai Star Rail characters? Following in the footsteps of Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail includes an ever-expanding roster of characters. From bubbly extroverts to brooders with a dark past, there's no end to the number of fan favorites we can expect to encounter on our Trailblazing expedition. Thankfully, we've collated them all into one handy guide, so you can keep track of who they are and how they appear in the story.

Most of the characters in Honkai Star Rail are available to pull from HSR banners, though the free PC game also has various upcoming characters scheduled to appear as well. Some of them will achieve greatness at the top of our Honkai Star Rail tier list, while others will still win plenty of fans thanks to their glowing personality. Either way, we highly recommend picking up free Honkai Star Rail Stellar Jade and redeeming the latest Honkai Star Rail codes if you plan to pull them all.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 8:07 AM
     The 20 best Baldur's Gate 3 mods

What are the best Baldur's Gate 3 mods? The modding community working on Larian games has a storied history when it comes to DOS and Baldur's Gate, and the BG3 community is no different thanks to official mod support for the DnD game. We've delved into the BG3 mods that are available to add even more to the already massively entertaining game to find the very best ones.

As we explore in our Baldur's Gate 3 review, the RPG game is filled with interesting and unique experiences, including hours of content that most players will likely never see, which includes most of the Baldur's Gate 3 endings. Somehow, though, the modding community has still found gaps worth filling to improve your Baldur's Gate 3 experience.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 builds, BG3 mods, Baldur's Gate 3 classes

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 8:03 AM
     Medieval kingdom building sim Norland off to strong player count start

Last week, Hooded Horse launched yet another new title, medieval simulation game Norland, into Steam Early Access. While it's not quite blown up to the same levels as its enormous hit Manor Lords, the publisher will be pleased to see that Norland has enjoyed a decent opening weekend when it comes to player counts and Steam reviews - although, some fans of close cousins like Rimworld are finding some pain points.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best medieval games, Best simulation games, Best farming games

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 7:52 AM
     The best games on Game Pass July 2024

What are the best games on Game Pass right now? Trawling through more than 450 games in your Game Pass subscription can feel overwhelming. Game Pass is a great deal, with hundreds of games at your fingertips for a fairly low monthly cost, but, if you're anything like us, you might get lost in the choice and wind up not playing anything. Thankfully, we're here to help you discover some of the shiniest Game Pass gems.

If you're unsure and want to try something new, we've picked some of the best Game Pass games the subscription service has to offer. Whether you're looking for horror games, farming games, or short, easy-to-complete story games, we've got them all here.

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

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 7:54 AM
     The First Descendant codes July 2024

July 22, 2024: We checked for new The First Descendant codes.

What are the new The First Descendant codes? The looter shooter is officially here, and though it's free to play, you'll still need to work hard for the best gear if you hope to survive the alien invasion.

Nexon's co-op RPG has plenty of The First Descendant characters, but you're going to need to jump through a lot of hoops to get them. That combined with getting the best weapons and gear, there's a lot to grind in The First Descendant, and though there are ways to get more The First Descendant Caliber, fortunately, it looks like codes are on the way.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The First Descendant system requirements, The First Descendant characters, The First Descendant crossplay

PCGamesN Monday, July 22, 2024 7:49 AM
     Grab a Lenovo Legion Go for its lowest ever price while you can

We may be coming off the back of Amazon's Prime Day, but that doesn't mean the great deals are slowing down. As such, you can save big in this Lenovo Legion Go deal, which lowers the price of both storage options with the 512GB model falling to its lowest price yet.

The Lenovo Legion Go takes a slightly different approach to its design compared to devices from Valve and Asus. Lenovo's take has a larger screen and detachable controllers, leading it to become one of the best handheld gaming PCs for multiplayer games.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 22, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Arranger is a puzzle game about moving, in both metaphorical and literal senses. Movement is the entire basis for the puzzles in Arranger, and is hard to explain without showing you (if you're able to watch the trailer that will be helpful). The world of Arranger is divided into a grid, and you don't move the main character, feisty misfit kid Gemma, across the squares. Rather, imagine that the row or column Gemma is on becomes a travelator, and you control the direction and speed of it. Gemma stands still and you move the ground, and anything on it left, right, up or down - like How To Say Goodbye but with more squares. It's one of those things that makes sense when you're doing it, trust me.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 22, 2024 5:59 AM
    

Heihachi Mishima, the mustachioed malevolence of the Tekken series, is going to be the next DLC character for Tekken 8. He was last seen with his loving son Kazuya, who threw him into a volcano. Of course, to be fully submerged in impossibly hot liquid rock is merely a long-running family prank for the cast of this 3D fighting game, sort of like forcing your granddad to do the ice bucket challenge, but with lava. Nobody truly expected the horn-haired headbutter to be fully removed from the series. But I am a little surprised to see him back so soon.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 22, 2024 4:49 AM
    

Fish! Tea! Time! Space! An 'immersive horror sim'! Stopping the sun from not burning anymore but also not getting burnt in the process! Locally Sourced Anthology I: A Space Atlas does not, somewhat disappointingly, offer the infinite possible game concepts that space allows for. It's got eight though, which I must say is a good start. Eight experimental indies from different developers, each equally taking part in space as the last.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 22, 2024 4:37 AM
    

Late last week, 241 developers from Fallout, Starfield, and The Elder Scrolls developers Bethesda Game Studios announced a "wall-to-wall" union under the Communication Workers of America (CWA). Alongside Bethesda Montreal's unionisation last month, and the union of Zenimax QA workers last year, this marks a historic moment in the US game industry labour movement.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 22, 2024 4:33 AM
    

Steve Sinclair, CEO of Warframe studio Digital Extremes, reckons publishers should give live service games more time to find their footing, and not see dodgy release periods as a "make or break" indicator of a game's success. "It comes out, doesn't work and they throw it away," Sinclair told VGC.

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Twinfinite Monday, July 22, 2024 11:55 AM
    
Bring back Lotus and win the WCC; that's the plan.

Twinfinite Monday, July 22, 2024 10:00 AM
    
An incredibly immersive experience with mountains of potential. Read our Spoiler free review

Twinfinite Monday, July 22, 2024 5:53 AM
    
Always tip your landlord.

Twinfinite Monday, July 22, 2024 4:40 AM
    
Freebies? Don't mind if I do.

Twinfinite Monday, July 22, 2024 4:34 AM
    
Free summons? Count me in!

Twinfinite Monday, July 22, 2024 4:33 AM
    
BangBang Survivor or Survivor.io - which is better?

Siliconera Monday, July 22, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Relics Character Recommendations, Filtering Added in 2.4

HoYoVerse shared its latest Voice of the Galaxy update radio details, and it confirmed enhanced Honkai: Star Rail Relics filtering and character recommendations options. This is designed to make it easier to find equipment both in the standard Relics menu and in the Caverns of Corrosion and Simulated Universe areas. 

With Relic filtering, Honkai: Star Rail will now let people search and save up to 30 schemes based on character recommendations. When this happens, you can search for a character, possibly select a set and rarity, mention main and subsidiary stats, and then create the filter scheme and save it. It is also possible to set quick lock or quick discard when doing so. This will allow people to go back and quickly check to see if newly acquired Relics earned from Caverns of Corrosion or other means would better suit people based on predetermined criteria. 

Being able to go through this type of equipment based on subsidiary stats in general is new to 2.4 as well. It is one of the new sorting options. The game will also highlight in gold when the main and sub stats in a Relic are ones recommended for the character. For example, in a sample screenshot HoYoVerse showed how the CRIT Rate and CRIT DMG subsidiary stats were highlighted.

Finally, there are now three areas in Honkai: Star Rail in which checking details about the Relics lets you see character recommendations. So say someone selects the Caverns of Corrosion section, then taps on the Relics icons to see more information. It will also show recommended characters for those sets. In the example screenshot HoYoVerse shared with us, we see the Path of Dreamdive Cavern of Corrosion, which has the Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters and Watchmaker Master of Dream Machinations sets, and the game recommends Acheron, Aventurine, and Dr. Ration.

Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and 2.4 will debut on July 31, 2024.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Relics Character Recommendations, Filtering Added in 2.4 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 22, 2024 11:00 AM
    

naruto teenage mutant ninja turtles Naruto TMNT Comic Miniseries Release Date Set

Earlier in July 2024, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto ended up leaking, and now IDW revealed the release date for the first TMNT crossover issue via IGN. The first issue will debut on November 13, 2024. 

Now that the crossover is officially revealed, we also know more about who is behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto and how many issues of this TMNT spin-off will appear. There will be four issues total, though there is no release schedule for the second, third, or fourth comics. We already knew Jorge Jimenez did the cover from the initial leak. It's now confirmed Hendry Prasetya did too, as well as provided the art for the comics themselves. The whole series is written by Caleb Goellner. 

The initial reveal also confirmed more of the crossover characters who will appear in the Naruto TMNT miniseries. In addition to Naruto, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, the announcement confirmed Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, Tsunade, and April. The impetus for the whole series will involve April meeting with Tsunade, and the Foot Clan getting involved. As a result, the turtles and ninjas will need to come together to potentially fight a common enemy.

 The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto issue 1 release date is November 13, 2024. The Naruto and Borutoanime are on Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the manga. IDW handles TMNT.

The post Naruto Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Comic Miniseries Release Date Set appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 22, 2024 10:30 AM
    

One Piece Video Shows Eiichiro Oda Drawing Nami in a Swimsuit

The official One Piece social media account shared a time-lapse video of Eiichiro Oda drawing a picture of Nami in a swimsuit for Weekly Shonen Jump 34. The teaser image doesn't show the final version picture that appears in the issue debuting July 22, 2024. However, it does give a clear idea of how it will look. 

The video begins with Oda drawing a One Piece picture digitally that shows the wider cast. So at one piece, we see Luffy with a Going Merry replica, with Usopp and Chopper at his sides. Nami is also looking over them, and Sanji is coming with food from behind. At the 36 second mark, we get to see the initial planning work for the One Piece color pages of Nami wearing a swimsuit. Initially, there's an outline set up. 

At the 49 second mark of the Eiichiro Oda video, it goes from a digital drawing to one made with pen and paper. The words with the title of the series appear on the left. There are also other Straw Hat characters nearby. For example, Luffy is clinging on to the ice cream cone Nami is holding in her right hand, while she's holding Chopper in her left hand.

Here's the full time-lapse video:

https://twitter.com/Eiichiro_Staff/status/1814857928064835870

The One Piece anime is streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix. Viz Media handles the manga outside Japan. The live-action show is on Netflix, with season 2 in production.

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Siliconera Monday, July 22, 2024 10:00 AM
    

1.6 Stardew Valley Console and Mobile Update 'Still in Progress'

Back on March 19, 2024, the 1.6 Stardew Valley update appeared for PCs, and now Eric "Concerned Ape" Barone confirmed the Switch, PS4, and Xbox One console and mobile ports of the patch are "still in progress." He also noted that the PC 1.6.9 version is still in the works and he will never charge for updates or DLC. 

Here's the official announcement from Concerned Ape. In it, he first discussed the 1.6 Stardew Valley console update, before then noting he's working firsthand on the mobile one. He also said he will share a release date when one is available. 

https://twitter.com/ConcernedApe/status/1815272546130161821

In a reply to a Switch player, Concerned Ape confirmed console Stardew Valley players will be able to use their saves with 1.6.

Following that update on the status of the patch, Concerned Ape also affirmed every Stardew Valley addition will be free. 

https://twitter.com/ConcernedApe/status/1815278461269000401

In follow-up comments, Concerned Ape also discussed some confirmed fixes. He noted that he's aware of issues with shed wallpapers and garden pots and will handle them.

Stardew Valley is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PCs, mobile devices, and the PlayStation Vita. The 1.6 update is available now on PCs, and it is in the works for the Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices.

The post 1.6 Stardew Valley Console and Mobile Update 'Still in Progress' appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 22, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Deadpool and Wolverine Contest Controllers Have Cheeky Butts

Microsoft announced that its Cheeky Sweepstakes for the Deadpool & Wolverine movie now includes controllers with butts inspired by both characters. The Wolverine contest will apparently appear via an official post on the Microsoft Instagram account with the #MicrosoftCheekySweepstakes hashtag, though there is no post present as of time of writing. 

This series of contests first kicked off on July 17, 2024. The first post appeared on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. That Cheeky Sweepstakes one featured only an Xbox Series X and two controllers inspired by Deadpool with butts on the back. The console looks like the Marvel superhero's chest and has his two swords on the back. Both of the controllers match his suit and have the "cheeky" attachment on the back.

Here's where that contest post was. To enter, people would need to follow the account and retweet the post to enter.

https://twitter.com/Xbox/status/1813559436818227580

Entering to win the Wolverine one that matches the Deadpool controllers with butts will feature a similar entry process. People will need to find the post once it appears on Instagram, like it, and reply with a comment that includes the #MicrosoftCheekySweepstakes hashtag.

The X contest will end on August 11, 2024. The Deadpool & Wolverine movie will appear in theaters in North America on July 26, 2024. 

The post Deadpool and Wolverine Contest Controllers Have Cheeky Butts appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 22, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Review: Arranger Makes You Consider Every Action

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure is a game where I love the vibes and concepts, but felt rushed through things. It doesn't fully explain or explore some of the interesting mechanical features introduced by the protagonist's unique skill. This means even though the vibes are great and concept is cool, it can feel unsatisfying due to the execution.

Gemma is weird! She was left abandoned outside a walled village as a baby. Raised by the folks within, it was soon discovered that when she would move, people and select items would as well. She'd also be able to essentially teleport by walking into walls, emerging on the path on the other side. This happens on a sort of tile-based system. She's convinced answers lie outside. So, in search of answers about herself and her path, as well as hoping for a way to find a place she belongs, she sets out on an adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr1qn6g-aPg&ab_channel=NintendoofAmerica

It's best to think of Arranger's world as being similar to a giant sliding puzzle, only you aren't trying to move tiles into place to create a picture. The simplest parts involve just getting Jemma from point A to point B, as there will sometimes be immovable objects or ones that can't phase through walls blocking your way. More challenging ones can involve moving a person to a certain place, pushing a sword against a Static enemy to dispatch them, getting an item to sit on a switch, or moving multiple items adjacent to one another so they'll combine. Things gradually ramp up and build upon each other, with different concepts coming together to help clear situations in certain cities. 

Arranger can get frustrating sometimes! It isn't because the puzzles are challenging. Rather, it is due to abilities not always being well explained, if discussed at all. Furniture & Mattress never tells you that Jemma's ability to shift and move the world mean you can move items from inside buildings into major areas or to other locations. It first comes up within the first 15-30 minutes, when needing to get into the Mayor's house. There's a switch in an empty room. Unless you realize that the tiles inside the house will change and gradually pull in tiles Gemma walked on from outside, you may not realize you could bring in the broken ladder parts from Caretaker Foffy or other furniture from other places and shift them inside to flip the switch and progress.

This problem of not explaining "Jemma can do this too" goes on to become a recurring issue. Sometimes, it's fun and narratively interesting! Once Jemma finds a place for her stuff in the introduction, you actually need to "move" it to an empty house out of the flophouse where she's staying. It can involve new ways to move certain types of objects, which can factor into crucial situations. I learned that you can fuse certain adjacent items together by, well, having the arrows option enabled for quests on in the menu and pushing things together. When it came time to fishing, I had no idea how I made it happen for the trial since I was just moving around, and I had to relearn by doing for a quest. 

While that is frustrating, and also led to a few situations in which I thought maybe I'd messed things up so badly in a boss "fight" that I'd need to save and quit, it can be satisfying when you get it right. Or, at the very least, satisfying to know you'll never need to go through that particular type challenge again. Arranger, due to its length and design, typically only uses a new type of mechanics for a few rooms. One of my favorites involved portals being introduced. I wished it had been used more! It introduced some fun concepts, especially in terms of reaching new spaces, but it only appeared extremely briefly in a single section.

Admittedly, there were a few times in Arranger when getting things right involved my happening upon a solution without even preparing for it or learning how mechanics worked. Likewise, there were also at least three situations that involved my brute-forcing my way into an eventual solution. I suppose that may be reassuring for some! Especially since people can also use an assist feature in the menu to "solve" any problem in a space that's getting to be a problem. However, I was also a bit disappointed when I completed an area without doing so by my own merits.

The fact that the Arranger speeds through Jemma's adventure, even if you do go off the beaten path for some minor side quests (some of which aren't well explained or tracked by the tracker), is a shame because the concept is so fun. Jemma is a cool character! The situations she happens upon are interesting. Some touch on political or societal issues we deal with in our own world, but in a clever way that isn't overbearing. However, we just don't get enough time with many of the situations. I especially felt this way about everything past the second town. It seemed like there should have been more opportunities to explore a bit or taken in the area.

I really appreciate Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure and everything it sets out to do, as the concept is great, the story fun, and some puzzles thought-provoking. I just wish that it wasn't so rushed, concepts were better explained, and that new puzzle elements weren't abandoned as swiftly as they are introduced. You don't get time to appreciate all that Jemma can do or the situations around her, and you're left to stumble into new abilities or possibilities. If there had been a few more puzzles and framework, it'd been a stronger game.

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure will come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC on July 25, 2024.  

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