Nov 13, 14:00


GamersHeroes Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:42 AM
    

Players will be able to take on the Forsaken Lands with the physical edition of Skydance's BEHEMOTH on February 6, 2025.

The post Skydance's BEHEMOTH Physical Edition Launching February 6 appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 1:45 PM
    

Blizzard has announced that the original Warcraft and Warcraft 2, as well as its expansions, are being remastered and re-released as part of a new Battle Chest. This new package also includes Warcraft 3 Reforged, which has received a new update improving its visuals. And all of this is available today.

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:45 PM
    

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is a game about choice and consequence. One of the decisions that has the most immediate impact happens at the beginning of the game's final quest. The effect this decision has on the remainder of the game and, presumably, any future Dragon Age games, has devastated fans in the kind of "hurts…

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:35 PM
    

Earlier this year, Xbox brought some of its games to PlayStation 5 and Switch. Apparently that worked pretty well, as Microsoft's CEO of gaming Phil Spencer says more of its games are coming to other platforms, and that might even include the Xbox's crown jewels, like the next Halo game.

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:15 PM
    

The last few months of PlayStation Plus' subscription catalog have been a rollercoaster ride of great new additions and some big departures. November continues the whiplash with a bunch of big names joining the paid service including Grand Theft Auto V and Dying Light 2. If you've somehow managed to go 11 years…

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:12 PM
    

Rockstar Games has released updates for each of the remastered Grand Theft Auto games included in the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition collection that make these maligned versions play better, as well as making them look more like the original games released on PS2 back in the early 2000s.

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Atlanta's Dragon Con draws vast crowds to Georgia every year, for the big ol' mix of all geek culture and celebrity spotting. It also draws in crowds of fantastic cosplayers, and with them, Kotaku's favorite photographer, Mineralblu.

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Secret Level continues to look like a sizzle reel for a new console launch lineup, but in a good way. The Prime Video series featuring over a dozen stories set in the fantasy and sci-fi worlds of actual video (and tabletop) games has one last trailer before its premiere, and it's packing in a lot, including the…

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:25 AM
    

No! Stop! It turns out your shouldn't let your dog piss all over your Switch. This is the radical new advice coming from Nintendo Japan's customer service, where a statement posted on X explains that pet urine will, in fact, cause your electronic devices some manner of harm.

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:50 AM
    

Rumors have been flying all year that Xbox is working on a PC gaming handheld. On Wednesday, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer confirmed that plans are underway, though it sounds like an actual portable device is still a few years out.

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Kotaku Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:00 AM
    

In 2008, when GOG.com was launched, it was called Good Old Games. As Steam was on the rise and digital distribution was clearly to become the future of gaming, a Polish company that had just released its first game—a relatively obscure RPG called The Witcher—wanted to get in on the act. The goal was updating and…

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PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 1:33 PM
     World of Warcraft Classic to set sail for Pandaria as its best expansion returns

Everyone has their favorite expansion in World of Warcraft. For some it's the first step into the unknown in The Burning Crusade, for others it's the grand frozen narrative of Wrath of the Lich King. There's probably even some who would point to Shadowlands as the series' high point, though they may not number in the thousands. Mists of Pandaria, however, is an odd one that dealt mostly with smaller stories in a land filled with talking pandas. If it's your favorite, however, then rejoice - as it's coming to World of Warcraft Classic soon.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, WoW The War Within review, The best WoW addons

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 1:30 PM
     Surprise, Warcraft Orcs and Humans and Warcraft 2 remasters are out now

Blizzard is a game developer that likes to pull things out of the bag and surprise people. As part of the Warcraft 30th Anniversary Direct stream held on Wednesday November 13, the WoW dev revealed that not only is Warcraft 2 getting remastered, but the original Warcraft Orcs and Humans is too. What's more, both are available right now, so it's time to rewind the clock and head back into the original genre-defining RTS games. Now you can see where StarCraft, Command and Conquer, and many others got some of their inspiration from.


PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:24 PM
     Save a massive $119 on this bargain Intel Core i5 gaming CPU, if you're quick

Here's a fantastic chance to bag yourself a new Intel CPU for a bargain price, as you can currently save a huge amount of money on this 14-core chip. This gaming CPU deal enables you to get an Intel Core i5 13600KF for just $175, saving you a massive $119 on the $294 MSRP, and costing nearly a third of the price of the new AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D.

Of course, the Core i5 13600KF isn't as fast as the latter in games, as we found in our Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, but this Intel chip is still a great all-rounder, especially at this price. It has 14 cores, including six P-Cores, which are the important ones for gaming, and they can boost to a clock speed of 5.1GHz. What's more, if you follow our guide on how to overclock the Core i5 13600K, you can easily get it running at 5.5GHz, as long as you have a decent CPU cooler.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:26 PM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links November 2024

November 13, 2024: We've added two new links to the latest 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.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:09 PM
     Grimdark ARPG Warhammer 40k Inquisitor unleashes new Hierophant class

Warhammer 40k Inquisitor: Martyr layers Games Workshop's grim industrial-fantasy future over a Diablo style ARPG packed with plenty of Chaos hordes to blast your way through and loot to earn. It's a rewarding romp that's fun solo and a delight in co-op, but the introduction of its newest class means you'll always have a squad watching your back regardless of how you play. As the Hierophant arrives, you can grab the base game and all previous DLC at a big discount if it's been sitting on your wishlist but you're yet to give it a try.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Warhammer 40k games, Best games like Diablo, Best co-op games

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:21 PM
     Space sandbox game Astroneer drops planet-sized DLC and free update

While No Man's Sky has the biggest universe and Starfield has the most charming characters, Astroneer is by far the best-looking space game around. Every planet you step foot on is filled with diverse fauna and boldly colored biomes, while the simple act of exploring brings a sense of joy unlike anything else. That land quickly becomes an automated haven, as you build your base and manage resources like in Factorio and Satisfactory, and now your opportunities have grown. The Astroneer Glitchwalkers DLC is here, and it expands the open-world survival crafter for new and old players alike.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sandbox games, Best co-op games, Best space games

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:47 AM
     Xbox chief confirms Steam Deck rival is in the works, but there's a catch

A new interview with Xbox head, Phil Spencer, has revealed that the long-rumored Xbox handheld is a very real possibility. However, there's a catch, with the Microsoft gaming chief saying that the new Steam Deck competitor wouldn't be with players for a few years yet.

Since the launch of the Steam Deck and Xbox's partnership with the Logitech G Cloud, as well as Asus on the ROG Ally, the Microsoft entry into the handheld space has been a constant talking point. It's clear there's an idea in the works, but it looks like it's going to take a while before it sees the light of day.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Microsoft DirectX Raytracing, Microsoft Hololens hands-on, Windows Game Mode preview

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:48 AM
     Monster Hunter Wilds release date, trailers, and latest news

When is the Monster Hunter Wilds release date? With the recent resurgence of Monster Hunter World and Rise in late 2023, there's naturally a bit of a buzz regarding the first sixth-generation Monster Hunter.

We've already seen some of the big changes coming to the RPG game series with Monster Hunter Wilds, including unprecedented mount mobility and all-new mechanics. Thanks to the power of next-gen consoles, Wilds is shaping up to be a stunning open-world game, as Ken's Monster Hunter Wilds Gamescom preview can attest. Now you're suitably buzzing, here is everything we know about the Monster Hunter Wilds release date and all the new features shown off in the latest trailers.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Monster Hunter Wilds monsters, Monster Hunter Wilds system requirements, Monster Hunter Wilds release date

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:21 AM
     Brutal and brash, Rising Storm 2 is the perfect FPS for 2024, and it costs $2

After ten years of patches, updates, roadmaps, and seasons, I don't want FPS games to be 'balanced' anymore. This constant adjusting - nudging a few values one way, then nudging them back again - drains the joy from shooters. Asymmetry is fun. Imbalance is fun. The reason Dust was so good in classic Counter-Strike was because it favored the CT side, and Terrorists had to get creative. Operation Metro is a blast in Battlefield 3 because no-one cares about the number of doors or choke points - it's flat out anarchy. This is why we need games like Rising Storm 2, which is thankfully having a comeback on Steam, and now costs less than two dollars.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:20 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, November 13, 2024 11:26 AM
     Indiana Jones and the Great Circle voice actors and cast list

Looking for the full Indiana Jones and the Great Circle voice actors and cast list? If, like us, Indiana Jones sounds so much like Harrison Ford's character that you're wondering if it is the famous actor, here's who voices Indiana Jones in the upcoming game.

The Indiana Jones and the Great Circle release date isn't far off, and now we have new details on what to expect from the gameplay and story. The story takes place between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Last Crusade in 1937. Playing as the legendary archaeologist, this action-adventure game takes us across the globe, discovering secrets and hunting precious relics.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:05 AM
     Warframe update unlocks Xaku Prime, as beloved relay makes a return

The latest Prime Warframe makes its debut in Digital Extremes' stylish free-to-play co-op game, but there's even more good news for players this week. Alongside the launch of Xaku Prime access comes the return of the much-loved Höllvania social hub. Originally introduced as a teaser for the upcoming Warframe 1999 questline, the fanbase quickly fell in love with this limited-time Relay, and has begged the developer to bring it back. Now, those prayers have been answered.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:38 AM
     Fallout, XCOM, and dozens of PC classics will run smoothly forever, GOG says

It feels like every day another videogame is gone forever. In the age of digital storefronts, old versions of games are delisted for remasters, struggling live-service releases are pulled offline, and it's increasingly difficult to play myriad classics in the way that was originally intended. The history of games continues to slip through our fingers, and as technology marches on it gets harder and harder to keep hold of what we once had. This problem is exactly why GOG, the storefront owned by The Witcher and Cyberpunk 2077 studio CD Projekt, has launched the Preservation Program. Now, classic PC games like Fallout, XCOM UFO Defense, Warcraft, Resident Evil, and more will run smoothly forever, and more are on the way.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best old games, Fallout 5 release date

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:35 AM
     Get Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for free, thanks to Nvidia

Nvidia is back with another free game bundle for those looking to upgrade their PCs and laptops this holiday season. This time round, there's a free copy of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle from MachineGames, which you can now get for free with certain Nvidia GeForce GPUs.

Those looking to jump on this Nvidia deal will need to grab an RTX 4070 or above graphics card, or a laptop with the same specs. While the RTX 5000 lineup, including the anticipated RTX 5090, is just beyond the horizon, we're coming into the holiday sale season making it an excellent time to treat yourself.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:31 AM
     New Diablo Immortal World of Warcraft collab adds its greatest threat yet

On November 23, 2024, the World of Warcraft turns 20 years old. For two decades our heroes have fought off myriad evils like The Lich King and Sylvanas Windrunner, and seen Azeroth torn asunder - both literally and figuratively. Looking forward, we have two new expansions on the horizon with Midnight and The Last Titan, with The War Within paving the way for the next ten years of WoW. To celebrate its twentieth birthday, Diablo Immortal is hosting a WoW-themed crossover event, and I sat down with lead content designer Scott Burgess and senior game designer Nan Jiang to chat about what horrors lurk in the shadows.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo Immortal tier list, Diablo Immortal system requirements, Best Diablo Immortal builds

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:18 AM
     Best BO6 loadouts for the current meta

What are the best Black Ops 6 loadouts? In theory, you're on a level playing field with everyone you come across in Call of Duty Black Ops 6; you all have access to the same weapons, attachments, and perks. It might not always feel that way, though, with weapons flowing in and out of the meta with each new patch. We've done the research, put in the hard yards, and figured out the best Black Ops 6 loadouts.

A new entry in the Call of Duty series brings with it new Black Ops 6 weapons and also a revamped movement system in Black Ops 6 Omnimovement. Skill expression has never been more prevalent in the FPS game, and while movement can be king, the best loadouts will put you in great stead to dominate every match you enter.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 missions, Black Ops 6 loadouts

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:07 AM
     Amnesia The Bunker, 2023's finest horror game, is now under $10

While Halloween may have come and gone, there's never a bad time to enjoy a horror game - especially when it's Amnesia: The Bunker, one of our all-time favorites. The horror series is already one of the genre's staples, but this installment is easily one of the most gripping.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:44 AM
     Is Stellar Blade coming to PC?

When is Stellar Blade coming to PC? Developer Shift Up originally planned to bring Stellar Blade (previously known as Project Eve) to PC when it was revealed back in 2019, but Sony's involvement saw the game become a PlayStation 5 exclusive title in 2021. With the overwhelming success of Sony's multiplatform strategy, the future is bright for PC users as Sony continues to bring its library of console-exclusive titles over to the platform.

Like the best action-adventure games out there, Stellar Blade is incredibly stylish and flashy, equipping players with an arsenal of weapons to crush Earth's alien invaders. If slaying horrible creatures doesn't come naturally to you, we've got you covered with the best Stellar Blades skills to get the most out of Eve's abilities. Read on to find out when you can expect to play Stellar Blade on PC in the future.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stellar Blade PC, Best soulslike games, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:01 AM
     33 Minecraft build ideas for 1.21

What are some cool Minecraft build ideas? The sandbox game remains one of the best of all time over a decade on from its release, but such a long time in one game means you might be running out of ideas. We've been there: you've already built a city, a castle, or even a Wild West outpost, so what's next?

Luckily, there are plenty of unique builds, farms, and creations out there to inspire your next Minecraft project. Unlike our favorite Minecraft house ideas or Minecraft castles, for example, this list is more varied, and contains plenty of inspiration. From a stylish Minecraft Nether Portal to automated farms, from massive decorative builds to homely aquariums, these ideas can be copied directly or simply used to inspire your future Minecraft builds.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:36 AM
     The 65 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 65 best Starfield mods
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield mods, Best RPGs, Best space games

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:56 AM
     Throne and Liberty server status and maintenance times

November 13, 2024: We updated the Throne and Liberty server status.

What's the Throne and Liberty server status? Launching a new MMO is always a challenge, and Throne and Liberty has had to overcome its fair share of them server side. Fortunately, developer NCSoft and publisher Amazon Games have been quick to act, making great strides in improving the player experience.

If you can't currently log into the game, there's a good chance Throne and Liberty maintenance is currently underway. Typically, this process takes several hours, meaning you'll just have to find another great MMO game to play until Throne and Liberty is back online. The T&L team usually announces maintenance ahead of time, so we'll be sure to keep this guide updated with the latest developments.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Throne and Liberty codes, Throne and Liberty weapons

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:00 AM
     13 best Minecraft tower designs in 1.21

What are the best Minecraft tower designs? While houses may seem like the ideal way to showcase your Minecraft skills, and a Minecraft treehouse is a wonderful accomplishment, there's something to be said about putting together a tower that reaches into the heavens. It's going to take a lot of time and energy, but boy, are the results worth it when you're quite literally towering over your world.

The freedom to make whatever you want makes Minecraft one of the best PC games. These juggernauts are intricately detailed, fully climbable, and sure to keep you safe from the most dangerous Minecraft mobs - unless, of course, they start chipping away at the base. Between massive gothic spires, fantasy turrets, and everything in between, we've put together a list of some of our favorite Minecraft towers - which should be just enough to send your imagination sky-high in the survival game.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:38 AM
     This gaming handheld just stomped on the Asus ROG Ally X, thanks to new AMD GPU

The latest AMD Ryzen gaming CPUs have begun to hit the gaming handheld market, and OneXPlayer's latest hardware has been demonstrated showing definitive improvements, with its frame rates firmly beating those of the Asus ROG Ally X.

The race to make the best handheld gaming PC has heated up over the last few years, particularly after the release of Valve's Steam Deck in 2022. OneXPlayer, which appeared on the scene before Valve, provides premium end systems that cram in as much power as possible. Its latest, the OneXFly F1 Pro is no different. With an OLED screen, up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and a new AMD processor, it's already squishing the competition.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:38 AM
     Elder Scrolls 6 release date estimate, trailers, and latest news

When is the Elder Scrolls 6 release date? The next installment of Bethesda's critically acclaimed RPG series has been a long time coming. Over half a decade ago, we had our first official look at the game courtesy of a short teaser trailer, and we've been keeping a close eye on the latest developments at Bethesda ever since.

We might have been spoilt by the likes of Skyrim and Oblivion already, but we're more than ready to get stuck into a new iteration of the Elder Scrolls universe. The series has produced some of the best PC games ever made, and we hope Elder Scrolls 6 will follow suit. Bethesda director Todd Howard says we'll be sinking our teeth in the Elder Scrolls 6's gameplay "for a decade at least." Here's everything we know about when Elder Scrolls 6 is coming out, including its potential setting, gameplay features, and expectations for when it'll arrive.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Elder Scrolls 6 setting, Elder Scrolls 6 release date, Elder Scrolls 6 development

PCGamesN Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:30 AM
     The best Sims 4 sex mods for PC

What are the best Sims 4 sex mods? Sex mods are a huge market among fans of the life sim - we all want a little more action when our Sims get... close. Thankfully, the fantastic mod community knows it, and there are hundreds of Sims 4 mods that let you tailor your experience in countless ways, from just canoodling in bed, to buying a strip club, and then the altogether more risqué. And of course, getting rid of that pesky mosaic blur.

Unsurprisingly, most of the best PC games don't include much hanky panky. Well, some do, and you'll find them in our list of the best sex games. We all know, meanwhile, that The Sims has always featured relatively subtle WooHoo, but what if you could make it all a little less... vanilla? Well, while some of the best The Sims 4 sex mods are still relatively PG, you'll find features listed here that wouldn't fly on Stardew Valley. There are even naughtier mods for the life sim out there if you want to find them, but here's our list of the best Sims 4 sex mods.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Sims 4 mods, Best Sims 4 sex mods, The Sims 4 cheats

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:06 PM
    

Over the years, game retailers GOG have drifted from almost purely offering classic oldies to welcoming more and more modern blockbusters onto their storefront. In one sense, they've turned from a game preservation champion into a slightly dustier, DRM-less Steam. Now, though, GOG have declared a renewed focus on not just selling aged games, but on tweaking more of them to work on non-aged hardware. And you'll be able to tell which games have got this restoration treatment from a fancy badge plastered on top of them.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Theme park management sim Planet Coaster was all about making roller coasters that would push your park guests to the edge of puking up their overpriced burgers while making sure the excitement levels of your twisting rides remained high. Planet Coaster 2 wants to do that again, but this time adds water parks into the mix, with slides to design, pools to plop down, and raft rides that you can click together to form ambitiously speedy spirals. You can feel some creative pride when you look down on the watery wonderland you've made with these tools. But you may also wonder if it was worth the effort. As a newcomer to Planet management games, I've found this slippy sequel fiddly, cumbersome, and poorly explained.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake's premise is bluntly, delightfully simple. The Archfiend Baramos, as evil as he is mysterious, is up and about. He's got ill designs on the world. Your Dad tried to stop him, and he died. He fell into a volcano. We absolutely can't be having that.

This is, more than anything else, a game about Going On An Adventure. Well walked ground, of course, but it's rare to see it embarked upon with such barefaced delight, or such a wholehearted commitment to going the distance. It is a very big and a very simple RPG that is as wide as an ocean and as deep as a pond; a game to curl up with and play lazily and—with some sour caveats—enjoyably, for an entire winter.

Read more


Twinfinite Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:21 AM
    
Let's get you levelling up in a base class of your choice in no time in Hollowed.

Twinfinite Wednesday, November 13, 2024 8:05 AM
    
The perfect way to start your Hollowed Roblox adventure.

Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Xbox Head to IHOP

Microsoft announced that IHOP will feature an Indiana Jones and the Great Circle themed menu and Xbox Stack Market app rewards for International Bank of Pancakes members. This all starts on November 18, 2024.

We don't know too much about the Xbox rewards that will be in the IHOP app for members. We do know you need to actually eat at the restaurant to earn PanCoins, which you exchange for rewards weekly. Two initial photos showed an IHOP Xbox Series X and glasses with game art from Matt Taylor. However, more will be announced on Twitch and YouTube at 12:30pm PT/3:30pm ET on November 18, 2024.

Here are how the Xbox and glasses will look:

As for the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle IHOP menu, a photo showed some of the meals. It also highlighted three specific items being introduced. In the far back right, next to Jones' hat, there is a Caramel Apple Butter Hot Chocolate with whipped cream on top in a mug and a tall glass with the Long-Lost Cookie Butter Milkshake. 

Here's the menu photo IHOP and Microsoft shared with us:

Earlier this year, another video game appeared at IHOP. Sega teamed up with the restaurant for a Sonic the Hedgehog one. That themed menu included Sonic's Blue Blur Special blueberry pancakes and copies of games and DLC in the Stack Market.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will come to the Xbox Series X and PC on December 9, 2024, and the IHOP special menu and Stack Market update will arrive on November 18, 2024. 

The post Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Xbox Head to IHOP appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 1:00 PM
    

Hestia Happiness May Be Joining VShojo as a Vtuber

People online analyzing VShojo teasers and hints about the new Vtubers found information that suggests Hestia Happiness may be joining the company. User Marleli on the Virtual YouTubers subreddit shared a compilation of images from Michi Mochievee and Projekt Melody streams that includes a "plush" and "ghost" that resembles the character, and the silhouette shared in the November 11, 2024 teaser features her distinctive halo. [Thanks, Marleli and Virtual YouTubers!]

As a reminder, the teaser images for the new performers have always appeared on both the English and Japanese branch social media accounts. The Japanese auditions also opened before the English ones.

Hestia Happiness is an independent Vtuber who speaks Japanese and English. She's been active with a 2D model since April 2024. She can be found on both Twitch and YouTube. In addition to general gaming streams, she's also performed covers prior to her 2D debut. One was her take on an English version of the Chainsaw Man theme song "Kick Back."

Here is Hestia's 2D debut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4murcpheDnI&ab_channel=%E3%83%98%E3%82%B9%E3%83%86%E3%82%A3%E3%82%A2%E3%83%8F%E3%83%94%E3%83%8D%E3%82%B9

To compare, here's the latest version of the VShojo new Vtubers teaser, with the silhouette that looks like Hestia Happiness appearing on the far left.

Hestia announced on social media that she would be taking a break from streaming on November 8, 2024. This happened before the VShojo teases started appearing. Her last stream prior to that was an Earth Defense Force 6 collab.

The post Hestia Happiness May Be Joining VShojo as a Vtuber appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Pop Team Epic Artist Drew New Persona 3 Reload Merchandise

Empty announced a new line of Persona 3 Reload merchandise featuring the protagonist drawn by Pop Team Epic author Bkub Okawa. Pre-orders for the new merchandise are now open from various retailers such as AmiAmi and the Kotobukiya online shop, and the goods are set to release in mid-March 2025.

The new Persona 3 Reload merchandise lineup include stickers, hairclips, acrylic keychains, pin-back button badges, and acrylic character stands. The items are available in several versions, each depicting the P3R protagonist with his academics, charm, and courage Social Stats at its minimum Rank 1 and maxed out Rank 6. There are a total of 16 items in the new collection.

You can check out the list of Persona 3 Reload items drawn by Pop Team Epic author Bkub Okawa and each item's price here:

  • 4 Panel Stickers (2 types available) – 550 yen (~$3.54)
  • Social Stats Hair Clips (4 types available) – 1,100 yen (~$7.09)
  • Social Stats Big Acrylic Keychain (8 types available) – 880 yen (~$5.67)
  • Pin-back Button Badges (8 units box) – 4,400 yen (~$28.36)
  • Small Acrylic Character Stand (8 units box) – 6,160 yen (~$39.70)

You can also check out the items here:

Ever since the release of Persona 3 Reload earlier this year, the game has seen several different merchandise items announced. The most recent ones include a Pop-Up Parade figure of the P3R protagonist, as well as a line of merchandise featuring Aigis and Metis to mark the release of the Episode Aigis DLC.

The Persona 3 Reload merchandise line drawn by Pop Team Epic author Bkub Okawa is now available for pre-order from various Japanese retailers, and it will release in mid-March 2025. Persona 3 Reload is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC worldwide.

The post Pop Team Epic Artist Drew New Persona 3 Reload Merchandise appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:00 PM
    

FFXIV Eastern Thanalan Fishing Broken Until Patch 7.11

Square Enix announced that people visiting Eastern Thanalan in FFXIV who decide to go fishing or walking on water will experience some issues after patch 7.1. A known problem came up after the update, and it won't be fixed until the 7.11 patch is released. There's no set release date for it yet, however.

After the 7.1 FFXIV patch dropped, players reported issues when fishing in Eastern Thanalan. Basically, that it was impossible to do so. Square Enix came back with an explanation on November 13, 2024. A collision detection issue is keeping people from fishing or walking on water in that region. As the team is aware of the problem and the cause, the graphics data update will remedy the issue and restore access to those fishing spots in the next patch.

There are four places where we can go fishing in Eastern Thanalan in FFXIV. These are The Burning Wall, North Drybone, South Drybone, and Yugr'am River. They are all freshwater locations. The two Drybone locations are lower level ones for those at 15 or higher. Some of them are home to certain types of fish you can't get anywhere else in FFXIV, such as the Sundisc or Trader Eel, and you can only get the Gigantpole Minion from The Burning Wall location.

Final Fantasy XIV is available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and patch 7.1 is live

The post FFXIV Eastern Thanalan Fishing Broken Until Patch 7.11 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Fantasian Neo Dimension Switch Reversible Cover Shown

We'll be able to choose how our Fantasian Neo Dimension physical copies look on shelves, as Mistwalker and Square Enix showed the reversible cover on the Switch version of the game. While one side shows the general art with the main cast, the other option is more artistic.

The primary cover art for Fantasian Neo Dimension focuses on Leo and his allies. He appears at the bottom, and we see Zinikr, Kina, Cheryl, Ez, Valrika, Tan, and even Prickle posed above him. The interior option has Leo with Kina and Cheryl on either side of them as they pose on a staircase, while something of a spoiler character appears on the opposing side.

Here is the official social media post showing the default cover art for the Switch version of Fantasian Neo Dimension, as well as the reversible option that initially is hidden on the other side.

https://twitter.com/Fantasian_JP/status/1856275755665179057

It isn't just the new version of the game that's about to debut. There will also be a detailed book from Mistwalker and Square Enix going over the title and its development. However, so far the companies only confirmed that Fantasian Neo Dimension Official Setting will launch in Japan in December 2024.

Fantasian Neo Dimension will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC on December 5, 2024. Fantasian is also readily available on Apple Arcade.

The post Fantasian Neo Dimension Switch Reversible Cover Shown appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Cloud Polygon Figure Based on Original Final Fantasy VII Model

Square Enix announced that it will sell a Final Fantasy VII Cloud polygon soft vinyl figure with a design based on the polygonal character model used in the original FFVII PlayStation game. The Square Enix Store notes it will ship in June 2025, and people can pre-order it for $29.99.

There are a few points of articulation on this figure, so it isn't entirely static. The initial photos of it show his arms can move. You can also twist him at the waist or change the position of his feet by turning them at the ankle. It is a non-standard scale figure, so it stands at just under six inches tall. 

Here's a closer look at this version of Cloud.

This isn't the only time Square Enix released a polygon version of Cloud based on his Final Fantasy VII model. There were sets of smaller ones too. These will be returning in June 2025, and the volume 1 set of about 2" tall figures features a similar take on Cloud. FFVII The First Soldier featured skins based on those designs, and the Fort Condor minigame in FFVII Rebirth featured those models too.

The Final Fantasy VII Cloud polygon soft vinyl figure will launch in June 2025, and the original FFVII is available on the PlayStation, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Cloud Polygon Figure Based on Original Final Fantasy VII Model appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:30 AM
    

New Timi Studio Mobile Game is Monster Hunter Outlanders

Capcom and Timi Studio announced they are teaming up for te mobile game Monster Hunter Outlanders. It is in development for mobile devices, though there's no release date yet. 

This entry is going to be an open-world type of title, much like Monster Hunter World or the upcoming Wilds. People will be able to go on hunts alone or with three other players. Before launch, Capcom and Timi already confirmed there will be betas held.

Here is the first trailer for Monster Hunter Outlanders:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvnqpQy-oZw&ab_channel=MonsterHunterOutlanders

Timi Studio worked on multiple mobile games based on popular IP over the last few years. It was responsible for Pokemon Unite, Contra Returns, Call of Duty Mobile, and most recently Metal Slug: Awakening. 

This is the second recent Monster Hunter mobile game. Capcom previously worked with Niantic on Monster Hunter Now. That is a Pokemon GO type of title that involves people downloading the game to their phone and walking to real world locations to face monsters from the series. In the time since its launch, more characters from the series have been added and special events have been held in notable locations.

Monster Hunter Outlanders is in development for mobile devices worldwide, with betas planned.

The post New Timi Studio Mobile Game is Monster Hunter Outlanders appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest is at a challenging turning point as Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake debuts, and it one that few gaming franchises will ever have to weather. It is exceptionally rare for a series this old to have retained so much of the same core creative staff from its inception to the present day. From Dragon Quest to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, three individuals have driven the mainline entries. Yuji Horii, the designer and scenario writer. Akira Toriyama, the character and monster designer. Koichi Sugiyama, the music composer. In an industry where change seems to be a constant, it's unusual to have a creative team stick with a series for their entire lives.

That trio of talents was stable core that led to perhaps one of the most consistent franchises around. Sadly, the march of time has broken up that band, and Dragon Quest will now have to get by without the direct contributions of Toriyama and and Sugiyama. A series long steeped in its traditions now has no choice but to turn to a new page. While we wait to see what that new direction looks like, it's as good a time as any to celebrate the games that made Dragon Quest so special to begin with. The original Dragon Quest trilogy of games has rarely out of circulation for long. With remakes for a wide array of platforms over the years, these three games have almost constantly been available.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Forest
Screenshot by Siliconera

Unfortunately, the quality of those remakes hasn't always been ideal. The most recent versions have their roots in feature phone releases, and it shows. Much of the combat animation found in previous releases was cut, perhaps to reduce the size of the download for data-conscious customers. For Dragon Quest III, some content was also removed. The end result was a version that took a step back in many ways from its predecessors. That would be fine had it not ended up so ubiquitous, but that was the version that ended up serving as the basis for the most recent console releases on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

Dragon Quest III deserves better. Luckily, "better" has arrived. Putting that fancy HD-2D tech to spectacular use, Square Enix has done a complete remake of Dragon Quest III with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. It just rolls off the tongue. This fresh take on the 36-year-old game aims to put a lot more meat on these old bones, and not only in terms of its presentation. But, you know, also in terms of its presentation.

This isn't the first time Square Enix performed this trick, with the HD-2D reissue of Live-a-Live showing already how a classic game can be juiced up via these means. This one feels a little different, though. Where that game was a late-era 16-bit release hailing from 1994, Dragon Quest III sits squarely in the middle of the 8-bit era. Its original February 1988 release puts it scant months after the debut of Final Fantasy, when JRPG developers were very much still figuring things out. Is a new coat of paint enough to entice modern audiences?

Screenshot by Siliconera

Time will ultimately have its say on that one, but whatever the outcome no one can accuse Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake of putting in a half-effort. Beyond the candy for your eyes and ears, there are a lot of new things to explore here. Every area is bigger, there are new things to discover in just about every location, and the story has been expanded upon. There are some new enemies to fight, a new character class to play with, and a significantly expanded Monster Arena that provides further incentive to poke around every nook and cranny of the world.

As a result of all of these changes, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is a much longer game than its previous incarnations. A person could easily spend twice as many hours making their way through this version, perhaps even more if they seek to do and see everything. There is a slight cost to all of this, with the brisk pacing of the original game taking a modest hit. Some of the dungeons in particular can feel a little too big, since most of them haven't become any more complex in the process. The distances between locations of interest are much bigger, too. It's not a huge issue, but those familiar with previous versions are probably going to notice.

Screenshot by Siliconera

Those new to Dragon Quest III are going to have to keep the original game's age in mind as they play. While it has been expanded upon, the narrative of this game is fairly lean. You're the child of the brave knight Ortega, who disappeared while on a quest to put a stop to the villainous Baramos. Upon reaching your 16th birthday, you set out on your own quest to finish what Ortega started and perhaps find some clues as to what happened to him. You'll have to travel the entire world on this journey, and we can see the eventual Dragon Quest custom of each stop having its own problem forming here in a prototypical fashion.

I think Square Enix did its best to flesh out the story of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake as much as it could. We get some cinematic angles, fully voice-acted cutscenes, and additional dialog to make the NPCs feel less like props. There are some new story beats in here as well. The original game didn't give the main character much more than a basic quest and an ending, so having some additional narrative reinforcement along the way is nice. Nevertheless, this remains mostly true to the source material when it comes to the main plot and your party's place in it.

Screenshot by Siliconera

Your companions on this journey are characters you roll up yourself, more or less. You choose their vocation and appearance, and can then distribute a few stat boosters to customize them. Each comes with a pre-assigned personality that will affect their stat growth, but that's all it affects. They will almost never speak any dialog, and mostly serve as extra bodies in combat. You can choose whether you want to directly command them when the time comes or have the AI handle things via one of a few different routines. Basically, you shouldn't expect any narrative development for your team members. It isn't that kind of game.

One thing going for this remake is that for an 8-bit JRPG, Dragon Quest III's world has always felt lively and connected. The remake builds on that nicely. There are lot of NPCs milling about in every town or city, and the layout of the world makes a fair amount of sense for a game of this vintage. There's a reason for that, of course, and those who have played a version of this game before will know what I'm talking about. I'll leave that as something fun for the new players to pick up on, though. The presence of a day and night cycle adds further to this sense of place, and the ability to rest at any inn until the time of day of your choosing helps avoid some of the irritations that system originally caused.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Town at Dusk
Screenshot by Siliconera

Dragon Quest III HD-2D has a lot of new features like that to make the play experience more comfortable. You can choose between three different difficulty settings. Veterans will probably want to go with the Draconian Quest option, which more closely mirrors the original game, while those who simply want to enjoy the story can pick Dracky Quest, where you literally cannot die. There's a new system that will point you towards your next goal should you want to make use of it, but you don't have to use that if you don't want to. Another pleasant change is that you don't need to talk to royalty to make a hard save anymore, as any person of the cloth will be able to handle that. With both a frequent auto-save and a quick-save option on top of that, you can pretty much stop and resume your quest whenever needed.

A lot of the additions to the game take the form of more information at your fingertips. Full area maps, quick references to how many Mini Medals you've collected, and so on. You have more traversal options, too. You can Zoom to another location even if you're indoors now, and Zoom points extend to almost every location you've visited instead of just the towns. If you Zoom from a location and then use Zoom again, it will take you right back to the original point. This helps cut down on a lot of trekking around, and I think it's a good way to offset the larger size of the areas you're exploring.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Dungeon
Screenshot by Siliconera

There are other incentives to keep you exploring those spaces. First of all, you'll find a lot more random loot laying around in just about every space via jars and barrels. For the most part you'll find basic consumable items, but they can be welcome relief if an outing goes longer than planned. The overworld map offers even more thrills. As you journey, you'll see sparkling spots strewn about. Searching them will give you caches of items and gear, and you can sometimes find really nice things this way. They appear to be random, and new spots will appear as you play.

Less random are the new Secret Spots. These places tend to stand out on the map. Maybe it's a bigger tree of a different color in a forest, or an oasis in the desert. Whatever the case, visiting them will take you to a separate screen. You'll sometimes find NPCs with helpful advice, some goodies in jars or barrels, treasure chests, or even stray monsters. Don't worry, they won't attack. Instead, they tie in with the new Monster Wrangler vocation and the reimagined Monster Arenas. The time of day you visit is important, as certain things will only appear if you come at the right time. You'll come across stray monsters in other locations as well, such as towns, and again it's all about that timing.

Screenshot by Siliconera

The Monster Wrangler vocation is an interesting new element. In their basic form, they're strong fighters who can make use of a decent array of gear. They aren't quite as good at this as the other combat-focused classes, but they make up for it with their abilities. As you find stray monsters and take them in, your Monster Wranglers will get access to some seriously powerful moves. We're talking group heals in the early game, strong multi-hit attacks, and more. How well they keep up with the other classes depends on how much work you put into finding those stray monsters, though. They're helpful to that end, at least. Some monsters are skittish but if you approach them with a Monster Wrangler in your party, they'll easily come with you.

There's another benefit to finding these critters. Square Enix adjusted how it handles the Monster Arena in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Once a place where you could scare up some cash by betting on monster battles, these are now places where you take a more direct hand in the action. All the stray monsters you've collected find their way here, and you can pick a team of three to go into the arena. Each rank offers a nice reward for winning while also giving you access to the next rank up. The battles themselves are fully operated by the AI, but you can give them the same guidance each turn that you would give your normal companions. It's typically good enough to get them to do essentially what you want them to.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Battle Scene
Screenshot by Siliconera

You can only have one of each monster type in your party, but finding more monsters of the same type will strengthen that first one you picked up. This is the only way to power them up, so make sure to look around every corner. You can find monsters in Secret Spots, in towns and dungeons, and even in castles. Since some of them only appear at certain times of the day, you'll want to scour every spot at every time of the day if you want to fully fill out your collection. It's not necessary to complete the game, instead serving as a treat for those who want to get as much out of the game as possible.

The main quest is essentially as it always was, when you dig down to the core. It starts off relatively linear, but once it's confident the player has their sea legs, it opens up dramatically in more ways than one. You can choose the order in which you get things done to a great degree, but it all needs to be done. You'll also eventually get access to the Alltrades Abbey, allowing you to change your companions' vocations for some sweet multiclassing power. This has always been one of my favorite elements in Dragon Quest III, because you can absolutely create some broken characters that will tear through your enemies.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Story Scene
Screenshot by Siliconera

With that core intact, it means that newcomers are going to have to brace for what is in many ways still that 1988 game. You're going to be fighting a ton of random battles, and even the hyper-fast-forward option can't help that fiftieth fight with an assorted bunch of monsters feel fresh. Sure, they're gorgeously animated, but even that shine can fade when you're deep in a dungeon. The inventory management's UI has seen some improvements to cut down on the busy work, but characters still have their own inventories with limited space. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, but it's something some might not be used to.

The sense of adventure that drove the original Dragon Quest III is as powerful as ever, even with the wrinkles from its age. You've never staying too long in one place, and there's a surprising amount of variety in the tasks you're given in each. There's a good balance between guiding the player and letting them find the way forward themselves. The vocation system gives you a lot of customizability in setting up your party members, and this remake gives you plenty of options in terms of how they look and sound. I think the case could be made that Dragon Quest III is where the series finally got all of its pieces in place, which makes it perfect for a modern reimagining.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Cave
Screenshot by Siliconera

Beyond all of the nuts-and-bolts gameplay adjustments, the impressive new visuals and excellent new orchestral recordings of the soundtrack bring this quest alive in a whole new way. Seeing your next destination peek up over the horizon as the water glistens in the morning sunlight and the triumphant score swells up is truly something else. The cities are beautiful, the caves are extra-creepy, and every structure feels carefully hand-built. Even the battle backgrounds look great. The lighting effects in all of these scenes help everything pop just that little bit more.

While there is no denying that the heart of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake comes from another era, the level of quality across every aspect of this redo cannot be denied. If you love the original game, taking a trip through this version of its world is simply a must. If you've never played it, I can't imagine a better way to experience one of the genre's all-time classics. Its intentional adherence to the source might make some aspects of it hard for newcomers to swallow, but everything that could be done to make it palatable without changing it too much has been. It's a true celebration, both of the game and the series.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on November 14, 2024.

The post Review: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Does a Classic JRPG Justice appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, November 13, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Build-a-Bear Riolu Pokemon Plush Is an Online Exclusive

Build-a-Bear released a new Pokemon plush, and this time it is an online-exclusive Riolu. It is only available in a bundle, which costs $57. This also means you can only get it with all of its clothing and a sound chip stuffed into it.

When you buy this Riolu, you get the early version of Lucario with a five-in-one sound chip inserted. This makes cries from the character from the game when pressed. It also comes with a Pokemon Riolu Hoodie, which is white with a Poke Ball-themed stripe down the center. It sort of makes the outfit resemble a Premier Ball.

As this is an online exclusive, there are certain limitations in place. For example, the product page doesn't mention being able to have it shipped unstuffed, so you can take it to a store to have it stuffed. However, you can opt to have it arrive either with or without wearing its hoodie. If you don't have it wear the hoodie when it arrives, that top will be available separately in the box.

Here's how the character looks:

We've been seeing new characters in the Pokemon line show up on a monthly basis lately. In September 2024, Build-a-Bear brought back Mimikyu ahead of Halloween. In October 2024, Cubone joined the collection for the first time. Now we have Riolu as the November 2024 release.

The Build-a-Bear Riolu Pokemon plush is now available on the official site.

The post Build-a-Bear Riolu Pokemon Plush Is an Online Exclusive appeared first on Siliconera.


WGB Wednesday, November 13, 2024 12:27 PM
     Here's what's being added to Premium this November!

WGB Wednesday, November 13, 2024 11:54 AM
     It looks like Sony might have finally figured out how to emulate PS3 games on PS4 and PS5, as Resistance arrives on PlayStation Premium

WGB Wednesday, November 13, 2024 8:37 AM
     An Xbox handheld console is in the works at Microsoft, but it's at least a few years away.

MonsterVine Wednesday, November 13, 2024 10:00 AM
     Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings a classic title to modern standards with its stunning HD-2D art. While the art doesn't have the fancy animation other HD-2D titles have, it's still gorgeous and preserves the original art direction. The combat offers tons of tactical choices thanks to a variety of classes and an abundance of […]