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Oct 16, 18:00


GamersHeroes Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:41 PM
    

Inspired by classic JRPGs and action titles, Sandfall Interactive has revealed the cast that will lend their talents to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Cast Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:40 PM
    

Disney has announced a new way to skip the lines at its parks. But depending on where you go and when, you might have to spend over $400 a day per person to take advantage of the new Lightning Lane Premier Pass.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:55 PM
    

A space ship flying through a beautiful but menacing nebula. Cosmic horrors that feast on dreams and memories. That's our latest look at Exodus, the sci-fi action RPG helmed by two ex-BioWare devs starring Matthew McConaughey, and it could very well be the most alluring and exciting this game is.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:30 PM
    

After numerous delays, Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is set to arrive in November on Xbox, Game Pass, and PC. And for all you Xbox Series S owners worried about how the big open-world shooter will play on the less powerful machine, Ukraine-based developers GSC Game World have good news.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:08 PM
    

Yesterday, Twitch suspended an account that belonged to streamer and famous YouTuber Zack "Asmongold" Hoyt after he made racist comments about the death of Palestinians in Gaza. Now, the YouTuber has responded to the temporary ban with a surprisingly clear-eyed assessment of the controversy and what led up to it.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 3:40 PM
    

With its reveal buried in the middle of Microsoft's mammoth Xbox showcase over the summer, you could be forgiven for not being aware of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a fantasy RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive that looks like a mashup of Dragon Age and Final Fantasy. The turn-based adventure continues to look…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 2:50 PM
    

If you hadn't heard, there was a massive data leak out of Game Freak, the team that makes the Pokémon RPGs and has its hands in most of the multimedia franchise in one way or another. As files and information gradually surface, most of what we've seen so far has been early assets and concept art for old games over the…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 2:30 PM
    

If you've been spending time in Throne and Liberty, Amazon's newest venture into the rediscovered land of MMOs, you've probably noticed an abundance of different currencies and item types to collect if you want to purchase or upgrade items. Perhaps you've realized that gathering them all can be an overwhelming task.…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 2:20 PM
    

If you shelled out enough money for Early Access, you can now play the first two episodes of Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, the direct sequel to the 2015 Dontnod adventure game that kicked off the series. There's already a lot of discourse over how Double Exposure handles its role as a follow-up to the original,…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:40 PM
    

A new futuristic sports game has been revealed by 2K Games. And weirdly, this new game, Gravity Ball, will be playable in NBA 2K25 later this month as paid DLC.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to town after taking out Zorba, the bastard uses his last breath to resurrect the Human corpse in the square, and, just… Look, I'm sure there's a perfectly rational explanation for why the Humans are the way they are in Metaphor: ReFantazio, but this guy looks like Old…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:20 PM
    

MindsEye, the next "AAA" game from former GTA and Red Dead producer Leslie Benzies, will be published by Hitman developers IO Interactive as the studio's first foray into third-party publishing.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Analogue 3D is the retro console maker's take on the Nintendo 64. For $250 it will play your old The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Banjo-Kazooie cartridges in 4K. It was supposed to arrive this year but has unfortunately been delayed until 2025.

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:50 AM
    

You can't be a proper Discord kitten without cat ears on your gaming headset. But what if instead of cat ears, you had Pokemon ears, wouldn't that be cute? That's the idea behind Razer's new gaming headset based on Gengar, the original ghost-type ghoul from Pokemon Red and Green. Unfortunately, the headset and the…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:15 AM
    

The greatest strengths of Metaphor: ReFantazio, the latest roleplaying game from the minds behind Persona, come from the freedom the developers have exerted to pick and choose what they carry over from that beloved series. Unburdened by all the traditions and expectations attached to a name like Persona, Metaphor innov…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:05 AM
    

Back in 2006, Bethesda released its first piece of downloadable content on console for The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It was armor for horses and it cost $2.50. Players were outraged, but Bethesda made bank. "That was kind of a head shaker for us: you're all making fun of it and yet you buy it," the game's quest…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:40 AM
    

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure's expensive "early access" period began yesterday, October 15, which allows folks to play the first two episodes of the game before the full launch on October 29. However, a revelation in those early episodes has sent shockwaves through the series' fandom, especially those who were…

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Kotaku Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Can you ever satisfy the Diablo community? Does anything other than madness lie in wait for those who try? With the recent release of expansion pack Vessel of Hatred, squillions of people returned to the ARPG, but are they happy? Are they capable of happiness?

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PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:14 PM
     After a year of waiting, a Warframe 1999 demo is finally playable right now

Ready your AX-52 and set On-Lyne's Party of Your Lifetime to play on repeat because it's time to jump into the demo for Warframe's '90s-inspired winter expansion. Ahead of Warframe: 1999's release later this year, developer Digital Extremes has released the first-ever demo for the much-hyped expansion, allowing every player, no matter where they are in the broader story, to try it out.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Warframe on Steam Deck, Warframe builds, Warframe codes

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:51 PM
     All Infinite Craft recipes and combos list

What are all the Infinite Craft recipes and combos? We've been addictively playing this since we learned about it, and as a result, there are hundreds of combinations and recipes now known. Here's our guide on all of them, including some of the most obscure suggestions.

Infinite Craft is a browser game that's recently been taking the web by storm, with endless possibilities and some that'll give you quite a giggle. Think of it as a puzzle game by ways of god; it's a great game to open if you want to while away an hour or two figuring out all of the combinations.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Browser games, Puzzle games, Upcoming games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:48 PM
     Troubled FPS Hunt Showdown 1896 gets brand-new game mode, surges on Steam

The recent Hunt Showdown 1896 relaunch didn't go well. New bugs and a lackluster UI overshadowed the updated version of Crytek's extraction shooter, and a very severe Steam review bombing followed. Crytek did address plenty of the community pain points pretty quickly, and even committed to ongoing updates to bring Hunt Showdown to where it once was. While that journey is ongoing, a new game mode and seasonal event have just dropped, and the initial response seems hugely positive.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best survival games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:22 PM
     Move over Hitman and Thief, this fantastic indie stealth game is 75% off

We're accustomed in videogames to taking challenges head on, charging into the fray with sword, staff, or sub machine gun and obliterating enemies en masse. Stealth games upend that dynamic. From the original Metal Gear through the superlative Thief and Deus Ex series, and modern classics like IO's Hitman World of Assassination, sneaking can be just as rewarding as outright combat. Combining the best elements of the stealth genre with visuals from indie darling Hotline Miami, Intravenous is one of the greatest stealth shooters of the last five years, and well worth your time now it's on sale via the Humble Bundle HypeTrain Publisher Sale.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Check out the latest Humble Bundles, Browse the latest Humble sales, Get Humble Choice

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:15 PM
     Civilization 7 looks great, but new strategy game Realpolitiks 3 could be bigger

Whether it's Civilization 6 or Millennia, Stellaris or Europa Universalis 4, grand strategy games are big - the clue is in the name. But Civ 7 rapidly on its way to PC and Firaxis set to reclaim the genre throne, there's an underrated contender that, just in terms of sheer scale, might be the biggest grand strategy game of them all. This is Realpolitiks 3, and after you've conquered Earth, it lets you take over the entire Solar System.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best grand strategy games, Best strategy games, Best 4X games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:54 AM
     One of the best AMD gaming CPU upgrades ever could be about to disappear

Stock of the hugely popular AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is all but dried up in retailers worldwide, hinting that one of AMD's most impactful processors ever is finally on its way out. So if you are looking to finally upgrade your AMD AM4 system to the best gaming CPU you can buy for that platform, now is the time.

With its revolutionary 3D V-Cache tech, the 5800X3D - and other X3D processors - transformed AMD's gaming CPU performance, with the 5800X3D being the best gaming CPU around when it launched. However, that was two years ago and the PC landscape has moved on rapidly with AMD's even more dominant AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D having stolen the 5800X3D's crown while ushering in a new era of the AMD AM5 platform using DDR5 memory.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:54 AM
     How big is Black Ops 6?

How big is Call of Duty: Black Ops 6? Despite initial rumors that it would take up over 300GB, the actual Black Ops 6 file size thankfully comes in way under this number and is far more reasonable by modern game standards. You'll still need an SSD rather than a traditional hard drive, but this is quite common in 2024.

The Black Ops 6 system requirements have been finalized following the closed beta for PC and details the file size alongside the type of storage you will need to get the best out of the game. While recent Call of Duty games have been rather chunky, Black Ops 6 is actually rather moderate with its storage demands compared to many other modern triple-A releases.

Continue reading How big is Black Ops 6?
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:45 AM
     Party Animals codes list and how to redeem

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.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Party Animals release date, Best multiplayer games, Best indie games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:40 AM
     Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 and 5060 could launch sooner than expected, says leak

We could be getting the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 as soon as March 2025, while the RTX 5070 will arrive in February 2025, according to a new rumor. If this leak is to be believed, then Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 graphics cards could be here far sooner after the RTX 5090 and 5080 launch than we would normally expect.

The next generation of Nvidia graphics cards have long been rumored to be publicly announced during the CES 2025 tech trade show in Las Vegas in January 2025. Based on everything we've seen so far, we'd strongly expect these new GPUs to be among the best graphics cards you can buy, with the RTX 5090 in particular replacing the Nvidia RTX 4090 at the very top of the performance pack. However, realistically it will be cards like the RTX 5070 and RTX 5060 that most gamers will be buying, so news of a sooner than expected arrival is cause for celebration, if it turns out to be true.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4070 Super review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:38 AM
     CS2 ranks and rating system explained

How does the CS2 ranks and rating system work? Competitive Counter-Strike is drastically changing in CS2 to create a more streamlined experience depending on how you prefer to play the game. There are now two forms of ranked play in CS2: Competitive and Premier.

Unlike CSGO, your rank is split depending on the mode you're playing in Counter-Strike 2. Don't worry if you're a Global Elite-level player; as long as you continue to play well on the CS2 maps you should end up exactly where you deserve to be in the FPS game. Valve has removed the option to pick short or long games, instead, they've settled on MM24 to get directly to the action. Here's what you need to know about the rank and ratings system in CS2.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: CS2 crosshair, CS2 review, CS2 skins

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:27 AM
     CoD Black Ops 6 system requirements confirmed, includes 4K ultra specs

What are the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 system requirements? The final Black Ops 6 system requirements are now available, and there have been a few changes since the beta period ended. While the components are mostly the same, we now have a 4K ultra tier and some RAM changes.

The Call of Duty Black Ops 6 release date is very close, with the early access beta having proven popular with fans, and we finally know that you won't need the best graphics card to run this latest installment. Rumors of a huge download size have also been debunked, as the final storage size is smaller than what was needed during the beta period.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:18 AM
     Indiana Jones and the Great Circle release date, trailers, latest news

What is the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle release date? Announced back in January 2021, not much was known about the upcoming Indiana Jones game apart from Machine Games, the developers of the modern Wolfenstein games, was handling it. Given Machine Games's affinity for blasting up Nazis, this pairing feels like a natural fit for cinema's greatest archaeologist.

We finally got a glimpse of the action-adventure game at Xbox Developer Direct 2024, showing off one of the most anticipated upcoming games set to launch later this year. There's quite a lot to unpack in the presentation, including information about the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle release date, gameplay, and what to expect from the story.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best action-adventure games, Best puzzle games, Best single-player games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:07 AM
     Best Skyrim mods 2024

What are the best Skyrim mods? They can be tough to find because there's a lot of them. They're the work of a thriving and diverse scene; an army of fans and bedroom coders determined to make the game a photorealistic fantasy. Or they're just out to transform farmyard animals into deadly explosives. Whatever floats. But when you're looking for the best Skyrim mods, where do you start?

Installing mods is quite simple for one of the best PC games and arguably the most popular RPG game there. This is due mainly to how Steam Workshop makes it easy to install and activate them, but also that you can add the more advanced ones to a special folder within your Skyrim files. You can also check out our guide to Skyrim console commands for more tips on changing up the open-world game or just making it utterly chaotic. The choice is yours.

Continue reading Best Skyrim mods 2024
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Skyrim mods, Elder Scrolls 6 release date, Games like Skyrim

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:00 AM
     Game-changing Payday 3 update fixes servers, UI, and some of the worst problems

Payday 2 was such a gigantic success, the sequel was always going to suffer by comparison. In the sophomore entry, Starbreeze got it everything right - Payday 2 was precisely what fans of the original heist FPS wanted, and over a decade of incremental updates, community sentiment only became more glowing. Payday 3, as Starbreeze told us directly, was a disaster at launch. But more than a year down the road, and with recent Steam reviews now 'mostly positive' on aggregate, the opportunity for redemption is bigger than ever. Enter the latest Payday 3 update. Marking the shooter's anniversary, it fixes some of the most severe problems players have encountered so far and adds features like server browsing, cross-platform voice chat, and a reimagined interface.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best co-op games on PC, The best crime games on PC, The best FPS games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 3:13 PM
     Dwarven roguelike Below the Stone adds new biomes, quests, and NPCs

I play a lot of exciting new roguelikes as part of this job, but one that particularly caught my attention when I first tried its early access launch almost a year ago is Below the Stone. A mix of Deep Rock Galactic's cave-delving mining and extraction gameplay with inventory, combat, and gearing reminiscent of Terraria, this dwarf game won my heart on day one. Developer Strollart has been busy working on its next major update, which I got a chance to try out exclusively ahead of its release, and now it's finally here, bringing big upgrades as the team continues to build towards a full release.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelikes, Best indie games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:54 AM
     Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will have 500 PC settings, gets AMD FSR 3.1 at launch

As hype builds for Black Ops 6, Activision has released a new PC-specific feature trailer revealing that AMD FSR 3.1 will be in the game at launch. This new trailer also confirms Ricochet Anti-Cheat is still being used and that there are over 500 customization options in the settings menu.

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 release date is right around the corner, so it makes sense that Activision is finding ways to push the new game to players across all platforms. This latest update focuses on the addition of AMD FSR 3.1, which means gamers on a wide range of the top graphics cards - not only those made by Nvidia - can now enjoy better quality resolution upscaling and performance-boosting Frame Generation.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:49 AM
     The 64 best Starfield mods

What are the best Starfield mods? Mod support is an important part of many PC games, especially RPG games. Skyrim has endured all these years partly because it's a great game, partly because Bethesda keeps releasing it on hitherto unknown gaming platforms, but also because it's powered by a vibrant and creative modding community.

In June 2024, Bethesda revealed the Starfield Creation Kit, giving creators the tools needed to expand the game to new heights. If you're playing Starfield Game Pass, you may experience some difficulty installing all the mods we've listed below. For maximum compatibility, you're going to want the Steam version of the game.

Continue reading The 64 best Starfield mods
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield mods, Best RPGs, Best space games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:25 AM
     Enormous Once Human update makes the survival game feel fresh again

Open-world survival MMO Once Human gets a huge update on October 17 that completely reinvigorates its world. Players can expect a new scenario, a colossal new region, dynamic weather, a new wonder, and a temperature system (just to make sure you don't get too comfortable.) One of the most ambitious games of 2024, this new update, The Way of Winter, makes Once Human feel practically new again.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:22 AM
     How to unlock every character in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Want to unlock every character in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero? You're going to need to put in some work if you want to get your hands on every character on the Sparking Zero roster. While you instantly gain access to over one hundred fighters when you first boot up the game, there are fan favorites like Bardock, Janemba, and Ultra Instinct Goku who you won't have access to right away.

Now that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is here, it's time to find out what needs to be done to unlock the entire roster. Take a look at the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roster to see which fighters you can use to construct the perfect team, and check out our Sparking Zero tier list to include some of the fighting game's strongest warriors.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dragon Ball Sparking Zero roster, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero release date, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:18 AM
     Permafrost is a chilling twist on the survival genre, and it just got a new demo

Survival games love forests. There's something about hiding between the trees, hunting for supplies, and setting up your base amid lush wildlife that the genre can't step away from. Between Don't Starve, DayZ, Rust, and The Forest (naturally), the titans of survival love a good thicket. Permafrost is different. Rather than the woodland, you're fighting for your life amid the frozen ruins of what were once sprawling cities. Make sure you've wrapped up warm, because the Steam Next Fest demo is available now.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Upcoming PC games, Best sandbox games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:13 AM
     Infinity Nikki events - all current and upcoming events

What are the Infinity Nikki events? Infold's dress-up game is packed with optional activities to complete, but few can offer as much value as events. A staple of live-service games, events often introduce exclusive gameplay mechanics and typically bestow a hefty bounty for your participation.

Infinity Nikki events are only available for a limited time, so it's important to keep up to date with their start and end times if you plan to reap their rewards in the gacha game. These rewards include Infinity Nikki banner currency and exclusive outfits – so rest assured they're well worth your time. While it's still a little while until the Infinity Nikki release date, the beta has already given us an indication of the events we have to look forward to at launch.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best relaxing games, Best anime games, Best life games

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:13 AM
     Apex Legends characters and abilities list

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.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Apex Legends characters guide, Apex Legends skins, Apex Legends tier list

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:11 AM
     The 59 best GTA 5 mods

What are the best GTA 5 mods? There's no need to trundle through mod databases for dodgy links and unclear mod descriptions as we've done the legwork for you, hunting down the most popular GTA 5 mods for your enjoyment.

After a decade as one of the best PC games, the Grand Theft Auto 5 mod scene is more than just a few cheats and trainers - it's rife with incredible additions, useful tweaks, and big transformations. GTA 5 mods are guaranteed to keep you entertained during the long wait for the GTA 6 release date, but there's almost too many to choose from. If you're stuck on which ones to install, take your pick from our list of the best mods, scripts, and addons for Rockstar's landmark sandbox game.

Continue reading The 59 best GTA 5 mods
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 5 RP servers, GTA 6 release date estimate, GTA 5 cheats

PCGamesN Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:40 AM
     The 14 best games like Stardew Valley in 2024

What are the best games like Stardew Valley? We can't think of anything more enticing than the idea of leaving the fast-paced corporate world behind and moving out to the country for a simple but rewarding life. This escapism is one of the things that makes Stardew Valley such an extraordinarily enjoyable game, so we've found some alternatives that are equally as indulgent.

Possibly one of the best PC games of recent years for it's cute combination of romance, relaxation, and retail, you'd be forgiven for wanting more games like Stardew Valley. There are different aspects to the games below, so none are direct clones. Some are among the best management games, while others might be more focused on farming. They all have something in common with Stardew Valley, though, so you'll enjoy at least one or two.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:45 PM
    

Archetype Entertainment and Blur Studio's space RPG Exodus was announced back in December, and was broadly notable for a couple of things: 1) Matthew McConaughey plays a character, and 2) the game's story is woven around time dilation during faster than light travel, with star-hopping adventurers prosecuting a fight against evil Celestials over hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.

Now, it is notable for three things, the third thing being a cosmic blubber-spire of gurning faces who want to eat your ship and soul. Say hello to the Mara Yama, the ickiest Celestial faction so far. Here's a trailer, in which McConaughey does that thing where he lingers on the sibilants and makes you want to lean in and vigorously mess up his hair.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:01 PM
    

The existence of Knights In Tight Spaces, sequel to Fights In Tight Spaces, implies the existence of an unknown quantity or perhaps, an infinity of follow-up games that rhyme with both of those. Frights In Tight Spaces is the obvious horror spin-off. Sleights In Tight Spaces would be an urban pick-pocketing sim. Fights In Trite Spaces is about arguing with people on social media. Ah, you could spend a whole article, indeed, a series of articles, just fleshing out the iterations. Fortunately, Knights In Tight Spaces has a new demo to distract me.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Ah, what a pickle I've gotten myself into. I need to climb down from this table if I'm ever going to meet up with my teammates and finish the game, but the stupid zombies cannot get me if I stay up here. It's an absolute gherkin, I tell you. A real cornichonundrum.

The steel pipe in my right hand is doing a decent job of whittling them down, and the torch in my left lets me see the expressions of impotent rage on their flaky faces. Still, the pipe won't last forever - this is videogame steel, the crumbliest steel there is. Thank god No More Room In Hell 2 doesn't bother with the hunger or rest parts of the survival equation. I can, in theory, stay on this table forever.

Read more


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:00 PM
    

Hades 2 Update Patch Adds Region and Ben Starr as Prometheus

Supergiant just dropped The Olympic Update patch for Hades 2, marking the first major update for the early access game, and it involves the addition of a new region and Ben Starr joining the cast as Prometheus. The full patch notes go over all of the additions, which also include a new kind of weapon, two familiars, and more interactions with established characters. 

Editor's Note: There will be some spoilers for new content in the Hades 2 The Olympic Update patch news below.

First off, the new area you'll visit is Olympus. Which we could sort of gather from the name of the update. As you fight your way toward reaching it, you'll also be able to pick up the Xinth, the Black Coat weapon for the first time.

Lots of character updates and changes appear. For example, there is new portrait art for a number of existing folks like Charon, Circe, and Echo. We can try and wake Hypnos in a new way. Dora gets more subplots and Ambrosia events. Naturally, Prometheus making his Hades 2 debut, with Ben Starr confirming he's the voice actor on social media, is a big reveal. The trailer also depicts a fight against him.

There are two new familiars to find. One is Hecuba the Hound, and the other is Raki the Raven. There are also adjustments to Frinos and Toula, related to where you find and train them.

As usual, Supergiant also included some requested changes based on player feedback in the Hades 2 Olympic Update patch. The Cherished Heirloom Boon now affects all Keepsakes.Infernal Trove, Nemesis, and Heracles Special Encounters were adjusted. 

Here's the full Hades 2 Olympic Update announcement with trailer showing the new region, familiars, and debut of Ben Starr as Prometheus. 

https://twitter.com/SupergiantGames

Here are the full patch notes for the Hades 2 Olympic Update. Note that there are unmarked spoilers below:

Highlights

  • New Region: Can you reach Olympus, the mountain of the gods? And if so... can you save it?
  • New Weapon: Wield the otherworldly might of Xinth, the Black Coat — last of the Nocturnal Arms
  • New Characters: Track down two new allies on their home turf and earn their favor
  • New Familiars: You now can bond with two new animal companions... once you find them!
  • Crossroads Renewal: Unlock dozens of new cosmetic items to liven up the Crossroads your way
  • Expanded Story: Discover hours of new dialogue, as the plot thickens once you reach the new Region
  • World Map: Look for this new presentation when moving from one Region of the world to another
  • Mac Support: The game now runs natively on Macs on Apple M1 or later

Nocturnal Arms & Abilities

  • Witch's Staff: reworked Special is faster and bounces between foes
  • Sister Blades: reworked Special pierces foes and returns to you, potentially hitting foes more than once
  • Umbral Flames: Special projectiles spin left or right depending on your movement
  • Moonstone Axe: reworked Special is a rising slash that strikes several times, but no longer blocks foes
  • Black Coatnew! Guard and retaliate with mighty Attacks, letting none escape with seeking Specials
  • Your Dash is innately faster and more responsive
  • You now can more reliably Dash out of hit-stun effects from certain foes' strikes
  • It should be easier to aim certain abilities using gamepad

Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms

  • Umbral Flames (Moros): re-scaled upgrades; slightly reduced fully-upgraded blast damage
  • Argent Skull (Medea): increased Attack & Special damage; improved upgrades; Shells now load faster
  • Black Coat: added its own three different unlockable, upgradeable Aspects

Crossroads Cauldron

  • Eyes of Night and Darknessnew! Makes Moon Monuments and Unseen Sigils sometimes appear in Locations, further described below
  • Earthly Fortunenew! Lets you recycle unneeded resources at the Wretched Broker, in exchange for Prestige, used for decorative items
  • Summoning of Musical Rhapsodynew! Required to summon the Music Maker, who lets you unlock different music to play in the Crossroads
  • Spreading of Ashesnew! Lets you save multiple Arcana arrangements in the Altar of Ashes
  • Favored of All Keepsakesnew! Lets you designate a Keepsake to auto-equip in the Training Grounds
  • Abyssal Reflectionsnew! Lets you re-attempt cleared Chaos Trials, and tracks your fastest times
  • Bravery of Familiar Spiritsnew! Now required to upgrade your Animal Familiars
  • Arisen Trovesnew! Makes Infernal Troves sometimes appear in Surface Locations
  • Surge of Desecrating Poolsnew! Makes Pools of Purging appear between Underworld Regions
  • Frozen Lifespringnew! Makes a Fountain Chamber sometimes appear in the new Region
  • Adjusted requirements and costs of several Incantations
  • Melinoë and Hecate now will sometimes conclude Incantations in unison

Altar of Ashes

  • The Sorceress: reworked — makes Omega moves faster; prior effect now on Silver Wheel (Hecate)
  • The Swift Runner: no longer makes your Dash faster, since this effect now is innate
  • Death: added a new UI indicator for the effect
  • Strength: reworked; now provides a global damage boost, if you have no Death Defiance effects
  • Adjusted upgrade costs of various Cards
  • Improved contextual hints for upgrading Grasp
  • Clarified descriptive text for various Cards

Keepsakes

  • Each of the two new allies you can meet has a unique Keepsake you can gain in the customary way
  • Silver Wheel (Hecate): reworked — now slows everything around you while you channel Omega moves
  • Gold Purse (Charon): now affected by Gold-boosting Boons such as Affluence (Chaos)
  • Improved feedback and fixes for when certain Keepsakes expire for the night
  • Adjusted placements of some Keepsakes in the Display Case (to make room for the new ones!)
  • Clarified descriptive text for several Keepsakes

Boons & Blessings

  • Each of the two new allies you can meet has their own blessings to aid in your task
  • All Together (Hera): renamed from Elementary Particles; now her Legendary, no longer a Hestia Duo
  • Cherished Heirloom (Hera x Demeter): now also improves your current Keepsake, not just later ones
  • Spiteful Strength (Hera x Hephaestus): cut from game, though the effect can now be found in Wells of Charon in the new item Danaid Dagger
  • Brave Face (Hera x Hephaestus): this is now a Duo and no longer offered by Hera alone
  • Incandescent Aura (Hera x Hestia)new! Whenever you restore Magick, damage surrounding foes
  • Frosty Veneer: reduced effectiveness (the minimum damage you can take is now increased)
  • Ocean's Bounty (Poseidon): Ash and Psyche rewards now are guaranteed; updated presentation
  • Plentiful Forage (Demeter): reduced Life gain
  • Snow Queen (Demeter): no longer blocks damage from Vow of Time (Oath)
  • Love Handles (Aphrodite x Hephaestus): raised effectiveness
  • Heart Breaker (Aphrodite)Heartthrobs now deal reduced damage and require more Magick to appear
  • Smithy Sprint (Hephaestus): cut from game; replaced with...
  • Stamp Rush (Hephaestus)new! After you Dash, occasionally create a blast around a nearby foe
  • Mint Condition (Hephaestus): reduced invulnerability duration
  • Grand Caldera (Hephaestus): fixed Heroic Rarity, which previously was not stronger than Epic
  • Crispy Coating (Hestia): cut from game; replaced with...
  • Hot Pot (Hestia)new! You have a chance to Dodge damage; this is doubled vs. Scorch-afflicted foes
  • Cinerary Circle (Hades)new! Whenever you use enough Magick, summon Soul Urns around you that deal area damage when destroyed
  • Last Gasp (Hades): bonus damage slightly reduced though now scales with number of Death Defiance effects used that night, not just how many you have missing
  • Pom Pom Pom (Echo)new! Double the Pom Lv. of your Boon with the highest Pom Lv.
  • Boon Boon Boon (Echo): now lets you choose one of three random Boons from the previous night
  • Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Boons
  • Other minor fixes and adjustments

Daedalus Hammer Upgrades

  • Added all-new upgrades for the new weapon
  • Hook Knives (Blades): cut from game, since this effect now is innate; replaced with...
  • Reaper Knives (Blades)new! Your Specials have bonus Power and deal damage in a wider area
  • Empowering Guard (Axe): cut from game; replaced with...
  • Siege Shredder (Axe)new! Your Special strikes farther ahead and deals bonus damage
  • Advancing Whirlwind (Axe): cut from game; replaced with...
  • Seething Marauder (Axe)new! Each of your Attacks also deals damage to surrounding foes
  • Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Daedalus Hammer upgrades

Hexes & Path of Stars

  • Overflownew! While using Lunar Ray, deal damage in an area around you
  • Impactnew! Lunar Ray has bonus Power when it first deals damage each Encounter
  • Saturationnew! Using Moon Water also fires your Omega Cast immediately
  • Consequencenew! Whenever Total Eclipse strikes a guardian, your next use of it is partially charged
  • Eminence: now a Sublime-quality upgrade for Total Eclipse, and incurs a Magick cost increase
  • Tenacity: now a Sublime-quality upgrade for Wolf Howl, and incurs a Magick cost increase
  • Frenzy: now a Bright-quality upgrade for Wolf Howl, and no longer incurs a Magick cost increase
  • Adjusted several upgrades to use the condition After using your Hex this Encounter, instead of While your Hex is not ready
  • Clarified descriptive text for various Path of Stars upgrades

Well of Charon

  • Danaid Daggernew! Your Attacks and Specials are stronger while not empowered by Boons; previously this effect was on the Boon Spiteful Strength (Hera x Hephaestus)
  • Sacrificial Hymnnew! Sacrifice Boons will be offered as soon as possible, and your next is stronger; previously this effect was on the Boon Family Trade (Hera)
  • Mist Veilnew! After you use Magick, restore it rapidly up to a limit; previously this effect was on the Keepsake Silver Wheel (Hecate)
  • Splintered Shieldnew! Gain some Armor

Shrine of Hermes

  • Fresh Sustenancenew! Restores some Life
  • Fresh Sustenance MAXnew! Restores even more Life
  • Shield Charmnew! Gain some Armor
  • Aegis Charmnew! Gain even more Armor
  • Kiss of Styx: now also offered from the Shrine of Hermes (when you can use it)
  • Now more likely to offer a restorative item of some sort
  • Adjusted costs of various items

Foes & Dangers

  • Added a variety of foes to go with the all-new Region, including new Wardens and a new Guardian
  • Made various adjustments to foes on the Surface route now that it has a third Region
  • Chronos: reduced downtime between phases; other minor adjustments
  • Eris: various adjustments; in a surprisingly rational turn, she no longer is as prone to standing in flames
  • Infernal Beast: resurfaces sooner after the battle's first phase; various minor adjustments
  • Polyphemus: no longer summons Elite foes; other minor adjustments
  • Charybdis: reduced number of phases; flails with increased intensity and reduced downtime
  • Headmistress Hecate: now loses invulnerability sooner after her Sisters of the Dead are vanquished
  • For certain ranged-attacking foes, fewer of them will fire at you all at once
  • Various other minor changes to foes and combat encounters

Special Encounters

  • Moon Monumentsnew! These can appear after the Incantation Eyes of Night and Darkness, challenging you to vanquish a powerful Elite foe for a special reward
  • Unseen Sigilsnew! These can appear after the Incantation Eyes of Night and Darkness, challenging you to vanquish a group of foes without taking a hit for a special reward
  • Reduced duration before Infernal Trove rewards may be collected
  • Nemesis will no longer appear in place of Echo after the first time; she is less quick about gruffly running through exits; she is less quick to purchase items from Charon
  • Adjusted Heracles combat encounter intensity; his first victim no longer appears as often near Location entrances; he now exits sooner afterwards; he now can sometimes appear in the new Region
  • Icarus is more effective against your common foes; he now can sometimes appear in the new Region
  • Boons of Hermes now may be offered among the options when you set forth each night
  • Chaos Gates may appear sooner than before on the Surface route after a certain point
  • Adjusted intensity of Trial of the Gods encounters on the Surface; no longer occur in smaller Locations

Animal Familiars

  • Raki the Ravennew! Pecks at foes and makes them vulnerable to Critical damage
  • Hecuba the Houndnew! Grants more Magick, stuns foes, and digs up useful items
  • You are no longer prevented from upgrading Familiars more than once a night if you have the resources
  • Improved presentation for various Familiar interactions
  • Toula no longer appears in Erebus before you bond with her, only somewhere farther away...
  • You can no longer upgrade Frinos in the area behind the tent, only in the Training Grounds
  • Adjusted names and descriptive text for various Familiar upgrades

Level Design & Environments

  • Added an all-new Region and the various new Locations within it
  • Added new Locations to several other Regions
  • Pool of Purging now appears in the space before Tartarus
  • Fishing Points in various Locations are now easier to reach
  • Various minor fixes and improvements to various locations

Fated List of Minor Prophecies

  • Mistress of Battlenew! Rewards you for choosing various Boons of its namesake
  • Master of Revelrynew! Rewards you for choosing various Boons of its namesake
  • Mistress of the Huntnew! Rewards you for choosing various Boons of Artemis
  • The Black Coatnew! Rewards you for choosing various Hammer upgrades for the new weapon
  • Home in the Crossroadsnew! Rewards you for using Prestige to redecorate the Crossroads
  • Bared Fangsnew! Rewards you for vanquishing foes with each of the various Vow of Fangs perks from the Oath of the Unseen
  • Adjusted requirements and rewards for fulfilling certain Prophecies

Resources & Reagents

  • Added several new collectable resources, especially around the newly added Region
  • Darkness appears more frequently in Chaos; it now is offered sooner than before
  • Adjusted how much Gold can be found in Ephyra and the Rift of Thessaly
  • Additional minor adjustments to some resource appearance rates
  • Updated inventory hints and details for some resources

Oath of the Unseen

  • Vow of Panic: cut from game; replaced with...
  • Vow of Fangsnew! Elite foes also gain a variety of nasty perks
  • Vow of Suffering: cut from game; replaced with...
  • Vow of Shadowsnew! Wardens also have shadow copies to make things tougher for you
  • Vow of Void (formerly Denial): now has multiple ranks, each reducing your Grasp limit
  • Vow of Hubris (formerly Arrogance): reduced Fear of second rank; reduced Magick primed per rank
  • Added new Testaments for the new weapon and Region
  • Updated menu layout with improved feedback and more contextual hints
  • Adjusted names and descriptive text for several Vows

Art & Visual FX

  • Added World Map presentation when moving between Regions in the Underworld or on the Surface
  • Added lots of new environment art, 3D models, animation, visual FX, and more for the new Region
  • Added dozens of decorative cosmetic options to the Crossroads, unlocked through a new system
  • Updated visual FX for Boons of Hephaestus
  • Updated portrait art for Charon
  • Updated portrait art for Echo, though Narcissus will have to wait; their 3D models are still placeholders
  • Updated portrait art for Medea
  • Updated portrait art for Circe; her 3D model and piggies are still placeholders
  • Updated portrait art for Hades
  • Updated portrait art, 3D model, and animations for Icarus
  • Updated 3D model for Hermes (though if you already saw him, you won't see him again for now...)
  • Updated environment art outside the House of Hades
  • Updated visual FX for various foes in the Rift of Thessaly
  • Added icons for all the many different fish and fishlike things you can drag from the depths
  • Updated most remaining placeholder UI icons
  • Added new background artwork for dialogue scenes in Oceanus
  • Added more unique visual FX for some Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms
  • Some of the panoramic vista scenes near the entrance to each Region now are easier to spot
  • Updated look of Fountains in various Locations
  • Improved look of using Spectral Gates between ships in the Rift of Thessaly
  • Improved look of captain's wheels falling apart on ships in the Rift of Thessaly
  • Added more animations for Odysseus
  • Various other minor visual improvements

Voice & Narrative

  • Added nearly 2,500 new voice lines, including new dialogue events for most characters
  • Added more narrated Homer outcomes after a successful clear
  • You can make a new attempt to rouse Hypnos from his endless slumber, after a certain point...
  • Expanded subplots about Narcissus & Echo, Arachne's curse, and Dora's past
  • Added Ambrosia gifting events for Dora and Hecate
  • Updated names and descriptions of various fish and other water-dwelling creatures you can catch
  • Melinoë now will identify nearby foes more often
  • Melinoë now no longer takes credit when Toula catches a fish or fishlike thing
  • More characters have more responses to resource interactions in their vicinity, such as fishing
  • You can no longer gift Nemesis or Heracles while they are shopping (they're busy...)
  • Various fixes and improvements to various events

Music & SFX

  • Added several new music pieces to accompany the newly-added Region and all its splendors
  • You now can play most of the game's instrumental music tracks in the Crossroads, once you unlock them after the Incantation Summoning of Musical Rhapsody
  • Added all-new sound effects for the new weapon, some Boons of Hephaestus, and more
  • Improved audio feedback for various other Boons, Aspects, interactions, and abilities
  • Updated sound effects for using Spectral Gates between ships in the Rift of Thessaly
  • Adjusted effect on Melinoë's voice after choosing Circe's Word of Smaller Stature or Greater Girth
  • Updated sound effect for picking up after Eris
  • Improvements to audio mix and other minor changes

Menus & UI

  • Updated Main Menu to reflect this Major Update
  • Updated how the contents of the Silver Pool are organized
  • Updated each weapon's Aspects menu, splitting progress between Underworld and Surface routes
  • Updated Archived Trivia screen with more at-a-glance data and other improvements
  • Updated Past Deeds screen in various ways; Chaos Trials no longer count as losses; all Keepsakes used each night now are listed
  • As part of the above changes, clear times for the Surface route are reset now that it is extended
  • Longer subtitles now scroll automatically, leaving room for another subtitle when needed
  • Improved handling of cases when you have unusually many Boons and upgrades in the Boon Info menu
  • Rearranged Seeds and Plants in the Inventory menu
  • Added alternate icon for when you have sufficient resources tracked with a Forget-Me-Not
  • Added Location Reward preview icons when Vow of Forfeit (formerly Bitterness) will take effect
  • Added contextual tutorial about upgrading Animal Familiars and reviewing their upgrades
  • Improved feedback on some menus whose listings extend to additional pages
  • Reduced flashing when selling resources at the Wretched Broker
  • Removed extraneous Familiar UI from the right-hand side of the in-game HUD
  • Improved usability of Settings menu and its sub-menus
  • Reorganized some settings in the Gameplay and Accessibility menus
  • Improved scrolling in Recent Remarks and Credits menus
  • Various other fixes and improvements

Settings

  • Dash At Cursornew! Alternate way to Dash using mouse-and-keyboard input
  • Auto-Sprintnew! Maintain your Sprint without having to press-and-hold
  • Reticle Magnetismnew! Fine-tune the degree to which aimed abilities stick to foes

Miscellaneous

  • A certain companion now helps you redecorate the Crossroads after a certain point
  • Ever-merciful Chronos no longer forcibly un-pauses the game during your fight, though will still let you know what he thinks in such situations
  • The Victory Screen now appears if you successfully clear the Surface route, not just the Underworld
  • Added Book of Shadows entries for new characters, foes, and more
  • Adjusted Book of Shadows relationship gauges and hints from Empath's Intuition (Cauldron)
  • Improved presentation for starting, failing, and clearing Chaos Trials
  • At the Wretched Broker, you now can press-and-hold to rapidly sell or recycle
  • Adjusted placements of emotive animations on various character portraits
  • While brooding over the family portrait in the Crossroads, you may now snap out of it even sooner
  • Improved presentation when Nemesis and Heracles suddenly exit after their Encounters
  • If a Fishing Point is present, you now can fish prior to talking to Arachne or other characters
  • Adjusted presentation when Heracles or Icarus make an appearance
  • Schelemeus now can withstand more punishment before falling to pieces
  • Hecate now teaches how to access Aspects of the Nocturnal Arms in the Crossroads, not just the edge of Erebus, if you've been focused on the Surface route
  • Improved tutorials for some Hexes
  • Adjusted small visual continuity details in the Hades Flashback
  • Minor adjustments to default settings for Dead Zone and similar
  • Added compatibility and bookmarking for Steam's Game Recording feature
  • Updated Credits, including dozens of musicians who contributed to our music for the new Region
  • Updated Development Roadmap to reflect our progress and plans for the next Major Update
  • Updates and fixes to translations in all languages
  • Improved error messaging we hope no one will ever see
  • Made further optimizations to save files

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed Glamour Gain (Aphrodite) continuing to apply its effect even after it was replaced
  • Fixed Argent Skull Shells sometimes flying out of bounds in the battle against Charybdis
  • Fixed Witch's Staff (Momus) follow-up Omega moves firing without corresponding sound effects
  • Fixed Umbral Flames (Moros) interactions with Warmth Gain (Hestia) and The Huntress (Arcana)
  • Fixed Poms of Power unexpectedly removing the effect of Vow of Hubris (Oath) from Boons
  • Fixed Deep Serpent not surfacing as expected if afflicted by Charm
  • Fixed name of King Vermin not appearing correctly after a certain point
  • Fixed wheat in the Mourning Fields making no sound when you pass through it
  • Fixed various odd interactions between assorted Boons
  • Fixed certain Boon effects not activating correctly in the Mourning Fields or Rift of Thessaly
  • Fixed Rod of Fishing bobber not being visible while fishing in some Locations
  • Fixed Pom Slice sometimes applying its • 1 Lv. to Boons that do not benefit
  • Fixed various text and voiceover errors
  • Many other minor fixes

Hades 2 is in early access on Windows PCs and Mac, with the Mac support being added in The Olympic Update patch.

The post Hades 2 Update Patch Adds Region and Ben Starr as Prometheus appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 3:30 PM
    

Dragon Quest 3 Graphics Compared to HD-2D in New Video

Square Enix shared a new side-by-side video comparing the graphics in the original Dragon Quest 3 release on the Famicom and the upcoming Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. The short video showcases the party entering into the Dreamer's Tower early in the game.

First, you can check out the comparison video here:

https://twitter.com/DQ_PR/status/1846476177025782211

In the new video comparing graphics and environments, both parties in the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake version and the original Famicom version of the game include the Hero, a female Warrior, a male Priest, and a female Mage.

Despite the size and scale of the environments in the new remake being much bigger than in the original version of Dragon Quest 3, the time it takes for characters to traverse the entrance of the Dreamer's Tower is roughly the same. To accommodate for the larger maps, the walking speed of characters in the new remake seems to have increased.

Ahead of the release of the game, Square Enix offered new details about the brand-new Monster Wrangler vocation and the Monster Arena, as well as released new screenshots of the game.

Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake will come out on November 14, 2024 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam.

The post Dragon Quest 3 Graphics Compared to HD-2D in New Video appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 3:00 PM
    

I wasn't a fan of Silent Hill in 2014. To be honest, I had never even touched one of the games in the series. But once I booted up P.T. on my PS4, long before I knew it had anything to do with the series, I was hooked. From its haunting first-person perspective to its cryptic narrative, it delivered a terrifying experience that kept me thinking about it for the past ten years.

For many, P.T. was more than a game—it was an event. Its mysterious release on the PlayStation Store as a free "playable teaser" offered no hints about what it was beyond the title. A complete mystery ready for a community of eager players to unravel. That collective discovery process was part of what made the experience so impactful.

Players quickly realized that they were not just playing through a demo they were solving something larger, one piece at a time. It was almost as if everyone online was working together to figure out each step. From cryptic puzzles to whispered rumors about hidden mechanics. The immersion of discussing theories, piecing together clues, and hearing rumors about solving the teaser's intricate puzzles was such a unique aspect of gaming at the time.

The environment of P.T. was one of its greatest strengths. Despite the entire game confining you to a single looping hallway, the tension never lets up. Every loop introduced subtle changes, making the world feel unstable and unpredictable. From flickering lights to the eerie sounds of a crying baby or the sudden appearance of Lisa, the game's hostile ghost, P.T. mastered the art of suspense. Even when nothing was happening, the atmosphere made it terrifying. I remember walking through that first hallway, sweating before anything even occurred. The game's ability to instill fear without relying on constant jump scares was a testament to its brilliant design.

One of the most engaging aspects of P.T. was its unconventional mechanics. There was no clear guide or objective, no overt explanations, which made each playthrough a puzzle in itself. I still question to this day whether we ever truly figured out all its secrets.

Did speaking into the PlayStation's microphone really solve a puzzle? The idea that your voice, an external input, could affect the game was unique. It's a shame we never got to see how that idea could have been developed in a full game.

Image via Konami

And that's where the real tragedy of P.T. lies. It wasn't just a teaser for any game—it was a teaser for Silent Hills. A collaboration between Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro, starring Norman Reedus. The revelation at the end of P.T. was shocking and the prospect of this dream team working together on a full Silent Hill entry was beyond exciting.

But then Kojima and Konami publicly and dramatically parted ways. Not only did Silent Hills not survive the fallout, but P.T. was completely wiped from the PlayStation Store. You can't even redownload it if you had it before. To a game preservationist like me, it's our worst nightmare. To this day there's no way to play the original teaser. It was heartbreaking when the project was canceled, especially since P.T. had built such a fervent fanbase in such a short amount of time.

Even though we never got Silent Hills, P.T. left an indelible mark on gaming. Its influence can still be felt today, particularly in how it inspired Resident Evil 7 to take a first-person approach. Norman Reedus also carried on his collaboration with Kojima in Death Stranding, ensuring that the creative partnership didn't entirely go to waste.

Still, after a decade, I can't help but feel cheated. We were so close to getting something truly special. P.T. wasn't just another horror game; it was an experience that transcended the genre and reshaped the way we think about fear in games. It opened the door to countless possibilities and, in a way, changed the horror gaming landscape. But we'll never know what Silent Hills could have been, and that's a regret that will linger for years to come. Even though P.T. was ultimately just a demo, it left an impression far greater than many full-length games ever could. Ten years later, I'm still thinking about it, and I probably won't stop anytime soon.

P.T. was available on the PlayStation 4.

The post I've Been Thinking About P.T. for 10 Years appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Ado and Sanrio Collaboration Mascot Character Is Adorozatorumary

Sanrio released an introduction video for Adorozatorumary, the mascot character created in collaboration with Japanese singer Ado. The collaboration character originally made its debut on 2022.

Adorozatorumary is a navy blue, cat-like character with light blue eyes. She wears a black and white ribbon around her neck, has one single white fang peeking on the left side of her mouth, and a beauty mark under her right eye. Her birthday falls on March 8, and her favorite foods are candy and sushi.

Her most prized possession is the matching ribbon that she wears around her neck, which she received from singer Ado. Adorozatorumary also loves to sing and is full of curiosity. Her dream is being able to sing songs that makes everyone smile.

You can check out the introduction video for the Sanrio x Ado collaboration character Adorozatorumary here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLYwdXWlT2k

Ado is a popular Japanese singer also known for providing the singing voice for Uta in the One Piece Film: Red movie, as well as performing the film's theme song "New Genesis." Additionally, Ado performed the opening theme song "Kura Kura" for the second season of the Spy x Family anime series. Ado also held her first world tour "Wish" in various countries throughout Asia, Europe, and North America between February and April 2024.

The post Ado and Sanrio Collaboration Mascot Character Is Adorozatorumary appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 2:00 PM
    

Pokemon x Kogei art exhibit

A Pokemon-themed traditional Japanese craft exhibit will appear in Tokyo, Japan. The event is known in English as "Pokemon x Kogei - Playful Encounters of Pokemon and Japanese Craft." People will be able to visit the exhibition at the Azabudai Hills Gallery starting in November 2024, and it will run through January 2025.

The exhibition will feature around 70 Pokemon-related craft works. They will range from simple reproductions of the creatures with materials like copper to artistic expressions, such as jars blended with the Pokemon's shapes. The Pokemon featured will come from not only the first-generation entries Red, Blue, and Yellow, but also from subsequent generations, such as Seedot, Goomy, and Shaymin.

The craft exhibits will not be the only things people can enjoy at the venue. They will be able to participate in a stamp rally that rewards one of the three holographic stickers featuring the Japanese craft Pokemon. In addition, several cafes located in the same building will also sell exclusive snacks and drinks with Pokemon-themed packages.

Pokemon x Kogei art exhibit - snacks and drinks at the venue
Image courtesy of The Pokemon Company

This will not be the first time this exhibition appeared, though. Japan House Los Angeles held an event with the same title and displayed works from late July 2023 until early January 2024. The Pokemon Company had also previously held the event in the Japanese prefectures of Ishikawa, Shiga, and Shizuoka.

The "Pokemon x Kogei - Playful Encounters of Pokemon and Japanese Craft" event will take place at the Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo, Japan. It will run from Friday, November 1, 2024, until Sunday, February 2, 2025.

The post Pokemon x Kogei Craft Exhibit Will Come to Tokyo in Late 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:30 PM
    

The latest Fathom event is a Dragon Ball Daima English dub debut that will take place in movie theaters in November 2024.

Crunchyroll and Bandai Namco announced that the Dragon Ball Daima English dub will appear in movie theaters. People will be able to watch the first three episodes for the first time at select locations in Canada and the United States between November 10-12, 2024. 

Tickets for the event are being sold through Fathom. It seems showings begin at about 2pm local time on November 10, 2024. The last showings seem to be around 7pm local time on November 12, 2024, while tickets seem to cost around $15-16 per person. Times and prices will vary depending on the showing and location, however.

People who attend the Dragon Ball Daima English dub showings in movie theaters will get to see the first three episodes of the new anime adaptation. Currently, only the first one is available to stream online via Crunchyroll. That is only available via a subtitled version at the moment and lasts 32 minutes. The full Fathom event lasts for 74 minutes, and a part of that will feature a brief introduction from Masako Nozawa. Nozawa has played Goku in Japan since 1986.

By the time this English dub premiere for Dragon Ball Daima appears in movie theaters, five episodes of the show will be available with subtitles on Crunchyroll. The second episode is expected to air worldwide on October 18, 2024, and additional ones appear every Friday during the Fall 2024 anime season.

Dragon Ball Daima is streaming on Crunchyroll now. The English dub theatrical debut will happen in North American theaters in Canada and the US between November 10-12, 2024.

The post Dragon Ball Daima English Dub Heading to Movie Theaters appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 1:00 PM
    

Analogue announced that it will soon start taking pre-orders for the Analogue 3D console capable of playing all N64 games.

Analogue announced that it will finally begin taking pre-orders for its Analogue 3D console designed to play all N64 games ever made. People can place an order starting at 9am PT/12pm ET on October 21, 2024, with black and white versions of the system available for $249.99 each.

The Analogue 3D console is designed to be an updated version of the Nintendo console, and it will play N64 games from any region. It will also feature WiFi and Bluetooth compatibility. People can use their original N64 controllers with it, the 8BitDo ones designed to match this system, or other compatible ones. Button-mapping is available for additional controllers, such as Xbox models. The company noted it took four years to make in FPGA to ensure full compatibility, and it said it outputs in 4K. Save states can be made and screenshots can be taken and shared. 

If someone gets the $249.99 model, that gets them the system in either black or white, its power supply, and HDMI and USB cables. The black and white matching 8BitDo 64 bluetooth controllers are sold separately for $39.99 each. 

The last major device from Analogue was the Pocket, which was designed to play all Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. People could also pick up adapters for additional handheld systems like the Game Gear, Lynx, and Neo Geo Pocket Color. The black and white versions of that handheld are available for $219.99 each.

Pre-orders for the Analogue 3D console that plays every N64 game ever made will open at 9am PT/12pm ET on October 21, 2024.

The post Analogue Announces Pre-orders for 3D Console That Plays N64 Games appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Crunchyroll free 60-day mega fan subscription trial

Crunchyroll announced a new, free 60-day subscription trial for the Mega Fan tier of its service. The deal is a PlayStation-related offer, and people can only claim it until October 24, 2024. This comes as the Fall 2024 anime season begins.

As expected from the promotion, there are a number of conditions attached to it. The big one is that you must be entirely new to Crunchyroll to take part in the 60-day Mega Fan free trial subscription. Even if you had the lowest Fan tier one in the past, you're disqualified. This window lasts five years, so you can only take advantage if you haven't subscribed since October 11, 2019. 

The second stipulation is that the dates and regions are limited. The trial can only be started between now and October 24, 2024. The rules also noted it needs to be redeemed through PlayStation platform links like the one before. So people in China, Crimea, Cuba, Donetska, Iran, Luhanksa, North Korea, Sudan, and Russia can't take part. If someone is in Quebec, they can only get the first 30 days of a membership for free. 

When you sign up, you also must attach a credit card or payment method to the account to take part as well. This is because it will automatically charge you at the end of the free trial for your first month of Mega Fan if you don't cancel it before the 60 days are up. 

The Crunchyroll Mega Fan subscription tier being highlighted in the 60-day free trial is the mid-tier plan from the streaming service. It is normally $11.99 per month before taxes. That lets you have four devices on the same account streaming at once and let you download shows for offline viewing. There are no ads. It also lets you play the mobile Crunchyroll Game Vault titles. There are Crunchyroll Store promotions and sales as well, with a 10% discount in effect on some items as long as you subscribe.

There are two other tiers at the company, as a reminder. The $7.99 Fan option gives you 5% off at the Crunchyroll Store and lets you stream ad-free on one device. The $15.99 Ultimate Fan tier of the service ups the device count to six, gets you 15% off at the store on some items, and means you get a "swag bag" after you've been a member for a year.

The Crunchyroll 60-day free trial via PlayStation links is available to claim until October 24, 2024. 

The post Crunchyroll Starts 60-Day Mega Fan Subscription Free Trial appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Kingdom Hearts SuperGroupies merchandise wave 5

SuperGroupies has revealed a new collection of merchandise inspired by Square Enix and Disney's Kingdom Hearts series, which it will release in 2025. The brand has also opened pre-orders for the items on its Japanese website.

This batch will generally consist of three item types. The multipurpose shoulder pouches will cost 13,200 yen (~$88.25) apiece, and the shoes will be available in seven sizes with the same price tag of 15,400 yen (~$103). SuperGroupies will also sell stoles with attached charm keychains at 14,300 yen (~$95.60).

This new collection will be modeled after six Kingdom Hearts characters, which are Sora, Riku, Kairi, Roxas, Axel, and Xion. The items will have mostly unique designs themed after each character, but the insides may have a similar design for characters in the same group (Sora-Riku-Kairi, or Roxas-Axel-Xion).

Here are the sample images showing the individual character-inspired items in each category:

Meanwhile, the following sample image shows how the items will look like when worn as complete sets:

Supergroupies
Image courtesy of SuperGroupies

While SuperGroupies also has a separate web store dedicated to the U.S., the official X account noted that these new Kingdom Hearts items are only available for pre-orders on the original Japanese site. However, the Japanese web store has been supporting worldwide shipments via the WorldShopping proxy service. In addition, WorldShopping is also offering peak season surcharge-free costs for orders placed by October 31, 2024.

This will be the fifth time SuperGroupies is producing Kingdom Hearts merchandise. The brand previously released items to mark the series' 20th anniversary in 2022. It also produced fashion items themed after Kingdom Hearts III in 2020 and 2018.

The pre-order period for the new Kingdom Hearts merchandise lineup will close on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. SuperGroupies will ship the Kingdom Hearts shoulder pouches and stoles first in late February 2025, with the shoes following suit two months later in late April 2025.

The post New Kingdom Hearts SuperGroupies Items Will Appear in 2025 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase Airs in October

Capcom announced a new Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase, with people able to tune in at 7am PT/10am ET/3pm BST/4pm CET on October 23, 2024. While the company noted Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto will appear, it didn't hint at anything we'll get to see. 

We'll only be able to see the presentation on Twitch. Which isn't too uncommon. After all, the 2024 Tokyo Game Show showcases also showed up on the service. The first was a general presentation looking at details about the game. The second of the two ended up being a dedicated peek at the new Scarlet Forest area. Capcom also aired a stream from TwitchCon 2024

Here's the announcement for the October 2024 Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase. It was accompanied by a brief trailer showing hunters, NPCs, monsters, and Palicos.

https://twitter.com/monsterhunter/status/1846476675980144662

Prior to this reveal, the game ended up getting honored at an event. Monster Hunter Wilds was named a Future Division award winner at TGS 2024.

Monster Hunter Wilds will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 28, 2025. People who pre-order get the Guild Knight Set layered armor and Hope Charm. We'll be able to learn more about Monster Hunter Wilds during a new showcase at 7am PT/10am ET/3pm BST/4pm CET on October 23, 2024.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds Showcase Airs in October 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Astro Bot DLC schedule

Sony and Team Asobi released a schedule for the free DLC speedrun levels set to come to Astro Bot. The first of these levels is set to release on October 17, 2024, while the final one will release on November 14, 2024. It is unknown if more will appear after that.

Nicolas Doucet, studio director at Team Asobi, discussed the announcement in a post on the Playstation Blog. The free DLC will be a pack of challenge levels designed to be speedrun, with leaderboards available too. The first of these is titled Building Speed, which will feature a robot dog named Barkster who functions like a jetpack. Additionally, each new level will add two new bot characters based on other franchises, for a total of 10 more cameos.

The full DLC Schedule is as follows:

  • Building Speed releases on October 17, 2024.
  • Let it Slide releases on October 24, 2024.
  • Spring-loaded Run releases on October 31, 2024.
  • Helium Heights releases on November 7, 2024.
  • Rising Heat releases on November 14, 2024.

Back in September 2024, Doucet confirmed several new bot characters would be added to the game in a free update. Good Smile Company also recently re-ran the Astro Bot Nendoroid from Astro's Playroom.

Astro Bot is available now for PS5, with the first of the free DLC levels arriving on October 17, 2024.

The post Astro Bot Speedrun DLC Schedule With More Cameos Teased appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:40 AM
    

Cup Noodles New Flavor References FFVII Advent Children Sephiroth

Cup Noodles released a new flavor of Tonkotsu Genova basil ramen noodles and the reveal post referenced one of Sephiroth's most famous lines from FFVII Advent Children. While there seems to be no official collaboration between Square Enix and Cup Noodles this time around, the game studio playfully acknowledged the new product.

The original announcement post shows the new Genovese Basil flavor of Cup Noodles on an image with a starry background. The Japanese post translates to the following:

It is finally on sale, Mother.

Shall I give you a rich flavor?

With its memorable basil flavor the new Tonkotsu Genova is now available for sale.

The first line of the post references Sephiroth talking to his mother Jenova, and the second one is very similar to his "Shall I give you despair?" line from FFVII Advent Children. This same line was previously referenced in an official Nissin Donbei collaboration with FFVII Rebirth ahead of the game's February 29, 2024 release. The day after the Cup Noodle announcement post, the FFVII Remake project X (formerly Twitter) official account quoted the post with a single thinking face emoji.

You can check out the original post here:

https://twitter.com/FFVIIR_CLOUD/status/1846394830358040600

The reason Cup Noodles used the famous Sephiroth lines from FFVII Advent Children as a pun in their new Tonkotsu Genova ramen lies in the Japanese pronunciation of the Italian city of Genoa or Genova, famous for its basil. In Japanese, the word for Genoa (ジェノバ) could be read as either Genova (an alternate spelling) or Jenova, the name of Sephiroth's "mother" in Final Fantasy VII.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second entry in the remake project, and it is readily available for the PlayStation 5.

The post Cup Noodles New Flavor References FFVII Advent Children Sephiroth appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Square Enix Piano Cover Collection album

Square Enix released a compilation album featuring piano covers of fifteen songs from its games worldwide. While the album originally appeared in Japan, the company is also making it available on its North American and European stores via imports from the former. The album is available for purchase at ¥2,750 / $20.99 / €17.99.

This album contains piano renditions of tracks from various mainline Final Fantasy entries, but it also includes music from Square Enix's other game franchises. Chrono Trigger and NieR Gestalt / Replicant also have two tracks each. Single tracks from Xenogears, Live A Live, Secret of Mana, and SaGa Frontier 2 complete the lineup.

Here is the complete track list for this album filled with Square Enix songs from games:

  1. "Eternal Wind" from Final Fantasy III
  2. "Battle at the Big Bridge" from Final Fantasy V
  3. "The Man with the Machine Gun" from Final Fantasy VIII
  4. "Melodies Of Life ~Final Fantasy" from Final Fantasy IX
  5. "Fight With Seymour" from Final Fantasy X
  6. "Blinded By Light" from Final Fantasy XIII
  7. "Heartless" from Final Fantasy XVI
  8. "Soaring" from Xenogears
  9. "Corridors of Time" from Chrono Trigger
  10. "Chrono Trigger" from Chrono Trigger
  11. "Megalomania" from Live A Live
  12. "Roman" from SaGa Frontier 2
  13. "Meridian Dance" from Secret of Mana
  14. "Song of the Ancients" from NieR Gestalt and Replicant 
  15. "The Dark Colossus Destroys All" from NieR Gestalt and Replicant 

The Piano Cover Collection from Square Enix Music Channel album is now available for purchase worldwide.

The post Square Enix Piano Cover Collection Album Appears Worldwide appeared first on Siliconera.


TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:55 PM
     Roll for Combat has announced the upcoming launch of its new series, "Year of Titans," set to begin in January 2025. This project follows previous releases in the "Year of" series, including "Year of Monsters" and "Year of Legends," and will introduce larger ancestries with additional player options and features for both 5th Edition and...

TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:33 PM
     Double Proficiency has introduced Mycologist's Primer, a new system-agnostic guide focused on magical mushrooms, lichens, and slime molds for tabletop role-playing games. The book is designed to blend science, folklore, and magic, providing detailed information on 100 species of fungi. It draws inspiration from 19th-century field guides and myths from various cultures. Each entry in...

TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:10 PM
     The cooperative Print-and-Play game Tide & Tangle is set to hit to Kickstarter on October 29. In this game, players take on the roles of Californian sea otters, diving for treasures, navigating ocean waves, and working together to create a safer environment in the Pacific Ocean. The game features artwork by Claire Lin and includes...

TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:55 PM
     Pelgrane Press has launched the second edition of Trail of Cthulhu, a roleplaying game set in the 1930s, where players investigate mysteries tied to the cosmic horrors of the Cthulhu Mythos. Built on the GUMSHOE system, the game emphasizes uncovering clues and piecing together information to confront terrifying truths. The second edition incorporates two decades...

TGN – Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:16 PM
     The Ars Magica sourcebook Finis Terrae: El Tribunal de Iberia will be released under the CC-BY-SA 4.0 Open License following a successful crowdfunding campaign. This marks the first significant third-party release for Ars Magica under its new open license, which launched on October 15th. The release is the result of a collaboration between Atlas Games,...

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, October 16, 2024 5:10 PM
    

It Takes Two first launched on March 26, 2021.

The post It Takes Two Has Sold Over 20 Million Units Worldwide appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:37 PM
    

A teaser trailer was also released.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds Gets New Showcase for October 23 appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:19 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, October 16, 2024 4:02 PM
    

A trailer was also released.

The post Hades 2: The Olympus Update Available Now appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.