Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:55 AM  Remember in the 1990s and early 2000s when video game accessories and consoles came in transparent plastic shells? That stuff was so rad. And now, Xbox's newest controller—launching in August—is bringing back this classic transparent look and I'm very excited. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:45 AM  Over the weekend, it was announced that Robert Downey Jr. would return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, arguably comics' greatest villain. While folks are still debating exactly how the actor behind the MCU's most iconic hero will come back as its most iconic bad guy—an alternate universe Tony Stark… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:34 AM  Bungie is about to undergo major changes. The Destiny 2 maker is laying off hundreds more employees, integrating more deeply with its parent company Sony, and spinning off one of its in-development games into a separate PlayStation Studio. CEO Pete Parsons called it a "difficult and painful day" for the team. |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:05 AM  Thanks to Star Wars Outlaws, it's time for the Great Yellow Paint Debate, Part 471! For a long while now, third-person games have been decorating their worlds in yellow (or white) paint to indicate to players a doorway they can pass through, a rocky outcrop that can be climbed, or an area worth exploring. While some… |
Kotaku Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:50 AM  Last year, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson said AI would help the publisher unlock the "holy grail" of game development. Now he's confirmed the company has already used it to make its latest sports blockbuster, EA College Football 25. |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:59 AM  Is Roblox shutting down? There always seems to be a rumor that Roblox is going to shut down. Let's get one thing clear early on: anyone who tells you that Roblox is shutting down is incorrect. Roblox Corporation has tweeted confirmation that the game isn't going anywhere, so you can relax and get back to playing your favorite games. However, if you are curious to know where this rumor originated and how it got so big, we've done a little digging to uncover one of the sources of the speculation. With Roblox achieving a lifetime revenue of over $1 billion and over $70 million in payouts to creators, it would seem utterly ludicrous for the game to shut down. While the game is still up and running, check out some of the best Roblox games and our Anime Champions codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Project Slayers codes guides to snag yourself some freebies. Continue reading Is Roblox shutting down in 2024? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:55 AM  Does Star Wars Outlaws have ship customization? If you're looking forward to diving into the upcoming Star Wars game and want to learn about your ship, here's everything we know about the EML 850 light freighter, named the Trailblazer, including ship customization and upgrade options. There's not long to go until the Star Wars Outlaws release date and we've already played four hours of the game, so you can check out what we thought in our Star Wars Outlaws preview. We also got a chance to try out space combat and explore some of the Star Wars Outlaws planets and locations, so we can see the full potential of the Trailblazer as we battle pirates in space. Continue reading Star Wars Outlaws Trailblazer upgrades and ship customization MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws release date, Best open world games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:53 AM  What are the new YBA codes? Your Bizarre Adventure is an MMORPG that lets Roblox players use unique powers to brawl to their heart's content, and the rewards from using free codes only add to the fun. Inspired by the hit JoJo's Bizarre Adventure manga and anime series, YBA lets Roblox fans live out their Stand-wielding dreams. Like when using the latest Type Soul codes or Fruit Battleground codes, free rewards in YBA can include epic items and power-ups to give you an edge as you play. Continue reading YBA codes July 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:39 AM  What are the best FPS games on PC? From the classic physics chaos of Half-Life 2 to Halo Infinite's beautifully rendered worlds, these are the finest FPS games. For more than two decades, FPS games have been the driving force of the PC games industry. They've let us travel from the depths of Hell in Doom to the outer reaches of space in Titanfall 2. Others have taken us on a detour through the likes of Half-Life 2's zombie-infested Ravenholm, while some have embraced futuristic cities. Some of these games are old, others are new, and all are great. Warhammer 40K: Boltgun and its '90s-boomer-shooter-inspired graphics; Rainbow Six Siege's tight tactical multiplayer; Overwatch 2 and its vast array of amazing heroes. No matter what sort of virtual gunplay you're after, whether you want multiplayer games, war games, or something altogether different, the following titles will satisfy your itchy trigger finger. So crack those knuckles, and make every shot count. These aren't only the best FPS games, some of these entries are included in our best PC games too. Continue reading The best FPS games on PC 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Titanfall 2 class guide, Titanfall 2 PC port review, Titanfall 2 campaign review |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:26 AM  What are the best sports games on PC? For the longest time, publishers were reluctant to bring their best-selling sports games to PC. Besides EA's annual EA Sports FC release and Sports Interactive's Football Manager series, the sports genre on PC has been pretty sparse up until recently. Nowadays, no matter what sport you're into, you should find something to scratch that competitive itch. There used to be a time when console versions of sports games used to be superior in terms of the player base, graphics, and more. Fortunately, crossplay has drastically changed everything for PC players, putting them on the same footing as their console brethren. The PC versions of sports games have much to offer, including support for high refresh rates and resolutions beyond 4K. Ever wanted a view of the entire pitch in a soccer game? That's entirely possible on PC. Continue reading The best sports games on PC 2024 |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:22 AM  The AMD Ryzen 9000 prices have apparently just been revealed by US retailer Best Buy, which has listed all four of the new Zen 5 CPUs on its website, complete with pricing. AMD hasn't made any official announcements about the prices yet, but the costs on Best Buy are in line with expectations, and actually a little cheaper than some were expecting. These new AMD CPUs go all the way from the six-core Ryzen 5 9600X to the 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X, and are prime contenders for our guide to the best gaming CPU, especially with all the reports about Intel CPU instability right now. If these prices from Best Buy are right, AMD is following the pricing strategy of its Ryzen 7000 CPU launch pretty closely. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:17 AM  What are the best open-world games on PC? From the early days of gaming, with Ultima and Lords of Midnight, open-world games have always been right at home on PC - indeed, those pesky consoles often couldn't handle it. Compare the ambitious early version of Halo to the final, more confined result, for example - and only the PC could hold sprawling regions in the very first Elder Scrolls games. Nevertheless, the leap into full 3D with Grand Theft Auto 3 and The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind really brought the idea of open-world gaming to the masses. These days, open-world games are their own genre separate from single-player MMOs. You can find accurate depictions of real-life cities or countries, huge fictional expanses with their own landmarks, complete worlds to check out - or even entire galaxies, depending on where you want to go on your next adventure. Not only are these the best open-world games, but a lot of them show up in our best PC games list, too. Continue reading The 20 best open-world games on PC to play right now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 5 RP servers, GTA 6 release date estimate, GTA 5 cheats |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:04 AM  When is the Black Myth Wukong release date? Journey to the West is a classic 16th-century Chinese novel that has been adapted into many video games over the years. This soulslike is the latest one, and while the monkey, known only as the "Destined One", certainly resembles Sun Wukong from the book, this trickster warrior has some transformation abilities up his sleeve. While many other soulslike games are now available, Black Myth Wukong has been in active development for quite some time, but we only saw a significant update appear annually. This RPG game has a few hidden details in the gameplay footage, so we'll go over the story and characters, techniques that the Destined One can use, and more. Continue reading Black Myth Wukong release date, trailers, gameplay, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Upcoming PC games, Best RPG games on PC, Best new PC games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:03 AM  Missed out on Prime Day? Amazon has just lowered the price of the MSI Aegis ZS gaming PC, making it a compelling option for gamers seeking a mid-range upgrade or their first "proper" PC. We haven't yet tested the Aegis ZS on the team, but its system specs make it a great everyday performer. If like me, you're looking for a budget gaming PC that can be used for both work and play, it could be a solid choice. You get reasonable components at a reasonable price, and although the Aegis ZS isn't the most cutting-edge rig, it's a versatile machine capable of handling the best PC games and work tasks. With Amazon's current 11% discount, the Aegis ZS is a more attractive proposition for gamers wanting the best gaming PC below $1200. Find out more about the savings below. Continue reading This big box gaming PC is at its lowest price since Black Friday MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review, MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Trio review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:59 AM  Not every MMORPG needs the high-chaos battles of World of Warcraft or the soul-searching stories of Final Fantasy 14. One of the coziest multiplayer games in recent years, Palia combines the relaxing farming vibes of Stardew Valley, the base-building and crafting of games like Valheim and Palworld, and a grand open world to explore as you build a community with your friends and others alike. Now, in its grand summer update, you'll be able to open your lovingly designed home to the public and earn rewards for doing so. Continue reading Free MMORPG Palia lets you open your home to all in new update MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palia fishing locations, Best Palia mods, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:57 AM  How does Star Wars Outlaws lockpicking work? While Massive Entertainment is bringing us a huge open world to explore in Star Wars Outlaws, that's not to say every door and entryway will be open to Kay and Nix. Sometimes you'll have to sneak into areas you're definitely not supposed to be in, and lockpicking is a huge part of that process. While lockpicking can be tricky to get to grips with at first in Star Wars Outlaws, it won't take long before you're jamming open anything and everything you can in the new PC game. Unlike some of the best RPG games like Skyrim, you won't be trying to feel your way around a lock. Instead, you'll be relying on audio and other visual cues to get the job done. We recently got hands-on with the game in our Star Wars Outlaws preview, so we're here to impart our hard-learned technique to you. Continue reading Star Wars Outlaws lockpicking explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws release date, Best open world games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:55 AM  How does Star Wars Outlaws Slicing work? During your rootin', tootin' intergalactic adventure alongside Kay and Nix there'll be plenty of computers to hack into to learn all sorts of top-secret information - something tells us not even the mighty Microsoft Security Essentials will be able to keep our loveable rogues out. However, whatever PC security they use in a galaxy far, far away still needs to be bypassed. This is where Slicing comes in. As one of the various Star Wars Outlaws mini-games, you'll have to get to grips with Slicing if you're going to unlock everything the vast open-world game has to offer. Though it may seem like a complex task on the surface, it's deceptively simple once you get to grips with it - a trial we had to undertake during our recent Star Wars Outlaws preview. So, without further ado, let's get into the nitty-gritty of what Slicing is and how to get it down to a fine art. Continue reading Star Wars Outlaws Slicing explained MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws release date, Best open world games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:41 AM  As a devoted Steam shopper, there's nothing I love more than a solid bargain, even if I have an intimidating backlog already. Today feels like my lucky day, as the incredible indie roguelike Loop Hero as well as strategy icon Frostpunk go on sale for record-low prices. Continue reading Incredible, 9/10 roguelike game Loop Hero is now less than $4 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:24 AM  Killer7 is one of the most frightening, intense, original, and visionary games I've ever played. A co-production between Goichi 'Suda 51' Suda, of Grasshopper Manufacture, Lollipop Chainsaw, and Shadows of the Damned fame, and Shinji Mikami, one of the original masterminds behind the entire Resident Evil series, Killer7 originally arrived back in 2005. Now, almost two decades later, its creators discuss the possibility of both a relaunched "complete edition" and a full sequel. They even suggest some possible titles. Continue reading One of the best games ever made, Killer7 might actually get a sequel |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:19 AM  July 31st 2024 The Herman Miller summer gaming sale is officially over. PC gamers, the Herman Miller gaming sale is one you absolutely won't want to miss, especially if - like me - you've been looking for the perfect gaming chair. Herman Miller makes some of the most premium chairs and desks on the market, and its current summer sale offers 20% off the recommended price on its gaming chairs, and sit-to-stand desks, with free delivery on everything. Herman Miller rarely offers deals like this, and I wish I'd seen this sale before taking the plunge. It ends today, so I wouldn't recommend waiting. One of the best bargains is the refreshed version of the Vantum Gaming Chair that launched earlier this year. It's one of the best gaming chairs I've ever tried. I'd even go as far as to say I'm a little obsessed with it, thanks to its wonderfully bright and bold colorways - a far cry from the gray and black options of the past, or tacky, themed designs often aimed at gamers. Available in Nightfall Blue, Mystic Purple, Helio Yellow, and Abyss Green, the new and improved Vantum chair features an updated headrest for added comfort, allowing it to work just as well as one of the best office chairs. But what else is on sale? Well, the whole of the Herman Miller gaming range, in the US and the UK. I've picked out some of my favorites below. Continue reading I missed this rare Herman Miller gaming sale, but you don't have to MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:43 AM  As a big StarCraft aficionado, Stormgate is a game I've had my eyes on for quite some time. The team behind the free-to-play RTS boasts several big names formerly known for their work at Blizzard on Warcraft 3 and StarCraft 2 in particular, and developer Frost Giant Studios has been very up-front about wearing its influences from those games, as well as other classics such as Command and Conquer. As it arrives via Steam Early Access, however, early opinion on Stormgate is divided. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RTS games on PC, Best strategy games on PC |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:27 AM  Combining the horde-slaying ARPG gameplay of Diablo with strategic MOBA-like defense, Wardens Rising is hard to put in any one box. It's gained a lot of traction recently for its unique gameplay, and you can finally play it for yourself thanks to a new Wardens Rising demo that is available on Steam. Continue reading Wardens Rising is like Helldivers 2 remade as an ARPG, playable now MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MOBAs, Games like Diablo, Best multiplayer games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:11 AM  Never underestimate the ability of tech companies to find a new way to differentiate their products from one another. In the latest chapter of "What about this?" Asus has announced a new laptop range that lets you change its smell. The Asus Adol Book 14 comes with a fragrance holder that can hold different scent-releasing patches, with perfumes designed by scent specialist Anna Sui. This new, fragranced Asus laptop isn't all about nasal novelty, though. It also packs plenty of promising specs, including a 240Hz OLED display and an AMD Ryzen 8945H CPU, meaning it shares some specs in common with the machines on our best gaming laptop guide. Continue reading Asus' new laptop lets you upgrade its smell MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ review, Asus ROG Raikiri review, Best gaming motherboard |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:09 AM  July 31, 2024: We've added the latest new Monopoly Go dice links 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. Continue reading Free Monopoly Go dice links July 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:06 AM  What is the next Monopoly Go event? With so many limited-time events in Monopoly Go, it can be hard to keep track of the rewards you can get your hands on. Monopoly Go events can last anywhere from a few hours to a week, so bookmark this page as we'll keep it regularly updated with the next events and their start and end dates. Monopoly Go is the latest online board game sweeping the globe, but completing all of these events won't be easy without some free Monopoly Go dice links, so check out our daily updated guide for some freebies and rewards before you get started on the next Monopoly Go tournament. Continue reading All Monopoly Go events, tournaments, dates, and rewards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:03 AM  When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz? This special, limited-time event allows players to trade the usually locked golden stickers up to five times a day. This is an ideal solution for grabbing elusive missing stickers and completing albums quickly. While you can trade these up to five times a day, each event is limited to two specific stickers, set by Scopely. There's no official schedule for Monopoly Go's Golden Blitz event, so a lot of sites that confirm dates are actually speculating based on the current Monopoly Go events. While you're waiting for the next Golden Blitz, make sure to keep on top of other freebies with our free Monopoly Go dice links guide, which is updated several times a day with the newest links. Continue reading When is the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:08 AM  The best back to school laptop deals are here for 2024. We're scouring our favorite retailers and using years of experience to bring you the well-priced laptops and PC accessories you need to start your new term with a bang. Back to school deals are aimed at students, and at some manufacturer websites, you'll have to verify your education status before being able to access their biggest discounts. However, some take this time of year as an opportunity for a general sale, meaning you can find a bargain even if you're not going back to school yourself. We've curated a selection of good deals below and included quick links to the back-to-school sales of some of the biggest retailers. We'd also recommend reading our expert guides on the best gaming laptops where we go into more detail about how to choose a laptop. Continue reading The best back to school laptop deals 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 8:03 AM  When is the Visions of Mana release date? The first game in the Mana series in over 15 years was finally announced at The Game Awards 2023 by Square Enix, with more details about the game arriving during a surprise guest spot in the Xbox Developer Direct 2024 in January. Visions of Mana will return to its action-RPG roots for what has been described as "an expansive, vibrant adventure across a semi-open field." We'll be taking on the role of Val, "a curious and carefree young man who lives in the Fire Village of Tianeea." Here's everything we know about the anime game so far. Continue reading Visions of Mana release date, trailers, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best RPG games, The best action-adventure games, The best anime games |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 7:42 AM  What are the Zenless Zone Zero banners? If you're looking to expand your roster of playable agents, then wishing on banners is your best bet. These digital gacha machines form the basis of developer HoYoverse's monetization strategy, and they should be instantly familiar to anyone who's dipped into Genshin Impact or Honkai Star Rail. Zenless Zone Zero includes several event banners that offer the chance to pull characters, weapons, and Bangboo. Banners rotate regularly, so it's important to think strategically about whether to spend your ZZZ Polychrome on the current banner, or hold off until the next one. The ZZZ 1.1 banners include brand-new agents that can shake-up your Zenless Zone Zero team comps, so get set to start spending in HoYoverse's urban gacha game. Here's who you can pull in Zenless Zone Zero banners. Continue reading Zenless Zone Zero banners - next, current, and 1.1 banners MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners |
PCGamesN Wednesday, July 31, 2024 7:40 AM  A combination between old-school dungeon crawler, Escape From Tarkov-esque extraction shooter, and fantasy RPG, Dungeonborne is one of the most compelling new co-op games on Steam right now. Grounded and tough like Dark and Darker, it's also a little lighter, a little friendlier, and a little closer to Skyrim as compared to Ironmace's flagship. Well worth a try, Mithril, the creator of Dungeonborne nevertheless warns of latency issues and connection problems as the game faces DDoS attacks "every day." The announcement comes alongside a new Dungeonborne update which balances classes and introduces a fresh in-game event. Continue reading Hardcore Steam RPG Dungeonborne is getting DDoS attacks "every day" MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs, Best survival games, Best multiplayer games |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:34 AM  I don't think I'm capable of rivalling Nic's enthusiasm for Promise Mascot Agency, the new open world game from Paradise Killer devs Kaizen Game Works, so I'll settle for saying "EEEEE". The developers have just released a nine-minute explainer video, which teems with scenes of gimp suits, winged vans, rocket-propelled pinkies, vicious card battles against small excited dogs, and a surprisingly in-depth management component. There are bits that make me think of Batman: Arkham City, and bits that make me think of Pathologic, and bits that make me think of Yakuza - a combination fit to burst the brain. Quick, before your brain bursts, watch the video for yourself below. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:48 AM  Every time I step out of an elevator, I accelerate wildly in case the elevator falls without warning and chops me in half, leaving the frontal and, all things considered, inferior portion of my body swaying in place for a second before collapsing in a cloud of bisected bone and organ. Don't laugh: I know you do this too. Kletka isn't helping: created by in404, it's a horror scavenging game reminiscent of Lethal Company and Golden Light, in which you ponderously plummet through the layers of an "endless" post-Soviet Gigastructure, scrounging fuel, parts and provender for an elevator that wants to eat you. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 7:18 AM  While he's "blown away" by the beach scenes in the first GTA 6 trailer, former Rockstar North technical director Obbe Vermeij thinks the forthcoming open worlder might underwhelm players hoping for a palpable technological update on GTA 5, which has been reworked and re-released extensively since its 2013 launch. This has less to do with GTA in itself, Vermeij says, than with the fact that changes in computing capacity today simply aren't as dramatic as in the days of the very first PlayStation. It's becoming rare, he suggests, that you see a "jump" akin to GTA going 3D. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 6:25 AM  Katharine (RPS in peace) thought Dome Keeper's blend of tower defence and mining was both "meditative" and "perfectly formed" in her review. So it comes as great news, then, that the devs have somehow taken that perfect dome, expanded it and polished it to an even greater sheen. We're talking about new guild assignments, new gadgets, better world generation, a new world, new monsters. The list is enormous and designed expressly around improved replayability - take that, Las Vegas Dome. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:47 AM  In case you skipped the headline, I'll repeat myself. Among the wonderful sights contained in space-poking adventure game The Great Fluctus are: beans, slug milk, alien volleyball, egg arguments, and massive frog. Additional screenshots suggest this frog later acquires wings. Like a captive Generation Game host, I am helpless but to shout out more incredible sights as they flutter past on the conveyor belt of pure flippin' videogame before me. It's got dance parties with horrible gorilla aliens. It's got building, namely the Statue Of Liberty out of goop, just as George Washington's goop clone intended. It's also got just sitting on a bench, enjoying some lovely serene space scenery. Feast your famished face on the trailer. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 5:44 AM  Once upon a time, my favourite place to write was on trains. Specifically, laidback intercity services with nobody else in the quiet car and certainly, none of those screeching smaller bipeds, or "children" as they are scientifically known. That idyll is now lost to me thanks to Covid: I have vulnerable family members and continue to be careful about social distancing. As such I spend most train journeys these days lurking between carriages, trolling the door sensors and scowling furiously at anybody who visits the loo. But now, thanks to the obscene magic of video games, I can get my fill of authorial locomotivation once again. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 31, 2024 4:59 AM  Few acts in games feel quite as gleefully gratifying as removing a knight's shiny dome with a halberd swing in medieval multiplayer melee Chivalry 2. In a pastime that's had several decades to perfect the art of hitting men with sharp objects, that's quite the accomplishment. Since releasing in 2022, Torn Banner have lavished the player base with free horses, angry peasants, and most recently, the Regicide update - hosting a climatic tete-a-tete between two angry crownmen. With work on No More Room In Hell 2 well underway though, Torn Banner have decided to call it on Chiv 2, which they now consider "feature complete." |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:30 AM
In the Skullgirls Mobile game, some folks who aren't normally playable and tend to be NPCs are being made into Guest Star characters who can pop in to aid in a fight, and Roxie is the next one. She'll be played by Anairis Quiñones in the game, and there's no release window for her yet.
Roxie is a background character who is a part of Parasoul's Black Egrets. She's never been playable, but she's often appeared as a background character during parts of the game. She was also one of the potential fighter options during the Indiegogo campaign alongside fellow team members Adam, Molly, and Panzerfaust.
As for Quiñones, her voice may sound familiar. She's Lynette, the four-star character from Fontaine, in Genshin Impact. She also played Kimberly in Street Fighter 6, Mirko in My Hero Academia, and Yelena in Attack on Titan.
We already know about a few other Skullgirls Mobile Guest Star characters who will eventually join the game. Minette and Brain Drain are confirmed. Minette seems to be the furthest along in development. Both were also, at one point, considered as possible playable characters in the main game during crowdfunding endeavors that included fighter votes.
Skullgirls Mobile is available on Android and Apple iOS devices, and there's no release window for Roxie yet.
The post Skullgirls Mobile Gets Roxie as a Guest Star Character, VA Revealed appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 11:00 AM
Aerith and Vincent are the latest characters on the new FFVII Ever Crisis weapon banner, which means new formal gear costumes for both of them. This marks the second outfit already for the former Turk, who debuted earlier in July 2024.
The two new weapons are the Citric Wand for Aerith and the Hugin & Munin gun for Vincent. Her new wand has the Fruitful Energy C. Ability that increases ice damage, restores her healing potency, and can increase her MATK if her health is over 50%. It also has the R. Abilities Boost MATK and Buff/Debuff Extension. The Hugin & Mugin gun has the Pentaburst C. Ability that deals non-elemental Mag Dmg to one enemy and increases his Limit Gauge. Its R. Abilities are Boost MATK and Boost Mag. Ability Pot.
As for the two new pieces of gear in FFVII Ever Crisis, the Aerith and Vincent R Abilities were revealed as well. Her Citric Dress comes with the Magic Ability Mastery to boost her Magic Ability's damage when her Attack Stance Command Gauge is maxed out and Magic Ward one that boosts HP and Mag Def. His Formal Attire also features Magic Ability Mastery and Magic Ward.
The last Vincent gear was called Stray Dog. One of Aerith's last pieces of gear was inspired by the Monster Hunter series.
Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is available for PCs and mobile devices, and the new Aerith and Vincent banner with weapons and gear costumes is around until August 25, 2024.
The post Aerith and Vincent Get All Dressed Up in New FFVII Ever Crisis Costumes appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 10:21 AM
Netflix shared a new trailer and release window update for the Sakamoto Days anime adaptation. It will come to the streaming service in January 2025.
We first learned about the Sakamoto Days anime back in May 2024. Back then, a January 2025 air date was confirmed for Japan. However, a worldwide release and home wasn't noted at the time.
Here's the latest trailer. English subtitles are available if closed captions are turned on. It goes over the general premise of the series. That is, Taro Sakamoto used to be a legendary hitman. When he met his future wife, he retired and started a family. Now he runs a store. However, his past catches up with him, so Sakamoto needs to rely his skills and the help of some other allies he works with and knows to protect his family and new life.
While the manga series has been running in Japan since 2020, it took a few years for it to show up worldwide. Viz Media began releasing volumes of it in English in April 2022.
The anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days will air on Netflix in January 2025, and the manga is handled by Viz Media outside Japan.
The post Sakamoto Days Anime Airs on Netflix in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:40 AM
The latest Deltarune Chapter 3, 4, and 5 update is live, and it primarily focuses on how work on Chapter 4 is going and the road to the release of Chapter 3 & 4. Toby Fox noted in the July 2024 newsletter that three people completed the "unfinished Chapter 4" and some of the development tasks involve adjusting four battles, working on two cutscenes, and polishing a bit.
In the update, Fox noted that the goal is to have a simultaneous worldwide release on both consoles and PCs for the third and fourth parts. He also noted those two together are longer than the first and second ones. As for Chapter 5 of Deltarune, Fox noted initial work on bullet patterns and maps started.
Toby Fox also released a "Quests to Release Chapter 3 & 4" page that offers a more detailed explanation of the current Deltarune progress as the team works toward getting to Chapter 5. It goes over how YoYoGames made a new Gamemaker function just for this title called game_change and the challenges of being the test case first. Then it talks about getting the console versions of the game prepared. (The first two chapters appeared on the Switch and PS4.) The Japanese localization work will start after that. Finally, they'll deal with bugs, getting a rating, and the last bits of preparation for release.
Deltarune Chapter 3 & 4 are in development for consoles and the PC.
The post Toby Fox Shooting for Deltarune Chapter 3 & 4 Simultaneous Console, PC Launch appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:00 AM
Earth Defense Force is a series known for its campy, B-movie vibe. It's known for being far from the greatest in its genre, but a perfect game for when you want to turn your brain off and blast some bugs. Earth Defense Force 6 is no different, but maybe we should be asking for more at this point.
Earth Defense Force 6 begins with you being brought in as a new recruit for the titular military group. However, you're the hero of Earth Defense Force 5 who has somehow been mistaken for a rookie that now has to undergo basic training again. Along the way, you and your fellow new recruits take on a series of missions to eradicate the remaining alien threat that's been wrecking Earth.
It's a silly opening, and one that set a tone right out the gate. The story here is poorly written, melodramatic, B-movie grade schlock, by which I mean it's amazing. Aside from heroes being somehow recruited for basic training, the opening missions feature a lot of ham-fisted dialogue clearly meant to impart an important message about humanity and war but stumbling over itself at every turn.
For instance, after fighting off your first batch of giant bipedal frog monsters who shoot you on sight, your squadmates will openly discuss the possibility of them simply being refugees from their home planet that we're misunderstanding. This is naturally peppered with some awkward, entirely out-of-place "what if we're the real monsters" comments while you're being chased by giant ants that have no qualms about devouring you. This is then replaced in a later mission by every squad member reminding you that the aliens killed their entire family at every opportunity, completely ignoring the attempts to humanize them moments ago.
Every line of dialogue feels like something out of an Ed Wood movie or The Room. The clumsy attempts at gravitas. The characters who openly discuss their backstories in stilted, inhuman ways. And a story that often feels meandering and full of cliches. However, every part of it feels deliberate, as each terrible line is comedy genius. One exchange in a mission about the appearance of humanoid aliens legitimately caught me off guard in how silly it was, especially when the eventual punchline was revealed.
In terms of gameplay, this is a standard third-person shooter. You pick one of four classes of soldier, with different abilities and play styles. There's the Ranger, a basic grunt with an assault rifle and various other weapons. The Wing Diver is a flying unit who swoops around with a jet pack. The Air Raider specializes in throwing drones and traps around for maximum damage. And finally, the Fencer is a big stompy suit of power armor that can tank through most trouble.
Or at least in theory, these are the things that differentiate them. However, one thing that becomes abundantly clear after a few hours of playing Earth Defense Force 6 is that none of them are particularly great to play. Each class has strengths and weaknesses, but at times the weaknesses can become such a hassle to deal with it can be frustrating. The Wing Diver is best swooping around in the air, and yet is given a ton of weapons that only work from short range. The Air Raider is capable of causing a ton of damage but is awkward to use. The Fencer is slow and unwieldy to control, and sometimes doesn't feel as resistent to damage as it should be. And the Ranger is just…kind of boring.
These problems are often exacerbated by the bland mission design. Every mission feels the same. You move to one portion of the city overrun by monsters that mostly resemble bugs, kill them all, then repeat the process roughly three or four times until the game feels you've had enough. Sometimes you might get to blow up a spaceship or some wasp nests, as a treat, but most of the time the level design repeats this same formula over and over.
Even the enemies begin to feel samey. Sure, they're all different species of bug or weird alien beings and spacecrafts, but the attack patterns are consistent across the board. The only real changes are later missions when your alien foes get endlessly firing automatic weapons that are next to impossible to dodge. Usually while also gaining the ability to fly into a position you don't see them. Which turns the tedium into frustration very quickly.
It doesn't help that Earth Defence Force 6 is not a good-looking game. Every mission map feels like a bunch of ruined city assets thrown together without much rhyme or reason. There is some mild entertainment to be had from the generic ants and spiders being presented as horrific Eldritch beings, but the joke does wear out its welcome fast.
On top of this, the visuals have all the fidelity of a game from 2006. It certainly doesn't try to make up for its dated, low budget visuals with a coherent art design either, as nothing was visually interesting enough to pay much attention to. There is a point where the visuals do get an upgrade, but even after this the game feels at least a decade out of date.
I get that this is part of the charm of this series. Earth Defense Force has always been intentionally bad. But while the b-movie grade writing feels purposeful and fun, the gameplay and visual design feels sloppy. It's a tough tightrope to walk between making a game deliberately bad in a fun way and making a game that's just bad. Unfortunately, EDF6 lands firmly in the latter category, as its tedious mechanics and limited strategy simply don't feel good to play.
Fans of the Earth Defense Force series probably don't care about any of this. If that's you, you're probably here for everything I just described. Feel free to add a couple of points to the score in your head if that's the case. However, I did come into the game fully aware of its reputation and perfectly ready to mindlessly blast away some bugs, but even I felt disappointed with the end result.
Earth Defense Force 6 is a joke that outstays its welcome. The writing definitely has its moments of brilliance, but it tries so hard to be "so bad it's good" that it just ends up bad.
Earth Defense Force 6 is out now for the PC, PS4 and PS5.
The post Review: Earth Defense Force 6 Is Funny, But Tedious appeared first on Siliconera. |
WGB Wednesday, July 31, 2024 9:15 AM Braid Anniversary Edition has not sold well, according to its creator Jonathan Blow. |
WGB Wednesday, July 31, 2024 8:35 AM Xbox hardware revenue continues to drop at a high rate. However, gaming revenue is up, largely thanks to Activision-Blizzard |