GamersHeroes Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:46 AM The world of Bohemia Interactive's immersive military simulator Arma Reforger is now available for the PlayStation 5. The post Immersive Military Sim Arma Reforger Now Available for PS5 appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:54 AM  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 doesn't seem to be a Christmas movie, but that hasn't stopped Paramount from leaning into the fact that the movie is launching less than a week before the holiday. Jim Carrey has at least one scene in the film dressed as Santa Claus, and now Paramount has released several parody posters… |
Kotaku Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:45 AM  The vibes in the Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero community have been absolutely rancid lately, but a huge free update has just changed that. The 3D arena fighter's latest patch fixes a ton of broken mechanics and OP abilities that were ruining the game's ranked mode. Even more importantly, local multiplayer can finally be… |
Kotaku Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:55 AM  Pokémon TCG Pocket seems to be going rather well for The Pokémon Company. With rumors that the game has netted over $200 million in its first month, it's now been officially announced that the mobile app has been downloaded over 60 million times since its October 30 launch. To accompany this news, the Pocket devs have… |
Kotaku Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:40 AM  The fourth entry in 2K's gangster series isn't far away. A new leaked ad for Mafia: The Old Country ahead of The Game Awards 2024 reveals a summer 2025 release window and our first real look at the upcoming prequel. |
Kotaku Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:30 AM  Ubisoft is an strange ol' publisher, closing down teams and killing off so many projects—but the games that do reach us tend to be the most extraordinarily accessible, replete with groundbreaking options to make the games playable for the widest numbers of people, in the most specific ways possible. With next year's As… |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:47 AM  Monitor manufacturer AOC has revealed its latest 4K OLED gaming monitor. The new AOC AG326UD might not have the catchiest name, but it sports a decent set of specs with a $799 price tag. AOC takes up two spots on our best gaming monitor guide, thanks to their affordability and performance. The new AOC AGON Pro monitor appears to be following suit, as it undercuts some QD-OLED and regular OLED monitors by a fair margin in the 4K space. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: AOC AGON Pro AG274QXM review, AOC AGON AG275QXL review, Best gaming monitor |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:28 AM  It's hard for a roguelike to truly stand out these days. Many follow the footsteps of Dark Souls, Hades or Hollow Knight pretty closely. TankHead eschews these comparisons by placing you in control of a drone crossing a barren landscape, crossing War Thunder with Ghost in the Shell, and it's out now. |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:26 AM  Stop-motion animation is having a small moment in videogames. There was the brilliant Scottish folklore-inspired Judero earlier this year, colorful schmup Feltopia is on the way, and now we have The Spirit of the Samurai, a stunning but brutally hard Metroidvania you can get right now. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best action-adventure games, Best indie games, Best platform games |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:00 AM  In storytelling, hauntings are often literal and metaphorical. A character spooked by spirits often has something upsetting in their psyche that they must face at the same time. This is exactly what's going on in The Haunting of Joni Evers, a narrative-rich walking simulator that's due to release on January 13, 2025. Its titular character must face her fraught relationship with her estranged family while also solving the mystery of the supernatural happenings in her home. Developer Causeway Studios promises plenty of tense moments and emotional gut punches. In fact, creative director Greg Rogers says players will be surprised by "the emotional places the story takes them. The depth of the characters and the twists in the plot create a 'page-turner' we think players will love. There are so many details to discover and connections to make beyond the core plot; it's a game that stays with you long after you put it down." |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:37 AM  Having one of the best gaming mouse pads is essential if you want pixel-precise mouse movements and a comfortable gaming setup. Mouse mats have come a long way from the boring, floppy foam things they once were. Nowadays, they're customizable and come in a range of designs and colors. Drawing on years of gaming experience and hours of testing, we've picked out the best mouse pads for gaming from Razer, Logitech, and even Amazon basics – so you'll find one to suit your needs and budget. All the products we've chosen look great too, so they'll be a welcome addition to the best gaming desk. Generally speaking, mouse pads aren't expensive. Basic, budget options start at around $15 (£15), but if you can stretch to $50 (£50) you'll get a larger pad that can house your gaming keyboard too – plus stunning RGB lighting. Start by working out which mouse pad size will best fit on your desk, then look at whether you want a hard vs soft mouse pad to play the best PC games. A decent mouse mat offers a smooth surface for your gaming mouse to glide around on, and gives you more control when it counts, especially if you regularly delve into the best FPS games. Continue reading Best gaming mouse pad in 2024: hard, soft and RGB mats tested |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:36 AM  For many of us, the memory of excitedly diving head-first into a new game on Christmas morning is among our very happiest moments. Like snow, videogames are just better on Christmas day. This holiday season, why not give the gift of games so that you're loved ones can capture that same magical gaming experience? Continue reading Give the gift of games this holiday season MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Check out the latest Humble Bundles, Browse the latest Humble sales, Get Humble Choice |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:35 AM  The day has arrived, and reviews for the first desktop Battlemage graphics card, the Intel Arc B580 have begun to drop. There's a common trend throughout all the reviews we've seen, and it appears Intel has struck gold with an incredible sub-$250 option. Intel's Alchemist cards were not met with the best reception. While they came into their own after a few updates, they haven't made our best graphics card list for a reason. Now as Nvidia and AMD's aims and audience have evolved, a massive gap for a low-priced competitor was sorely needed, and Intel has picked up the gauntlet. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:07 AM  When looking for the best PC joysticks, there are countless options to choose from, all designed to give you a greater level of control and precision in flight sims, fighting games, and other genres. Not only can they help to make your gaming experiences more immersive, but they can even offer a competitive edge. You'll still want the best gaming mouse and best gaming keyboard for navigating menus, but the experience and immersion of flying are truly elevated when paired with a good joystick or HOTAS (hands-on throttle-and-stick) setup. Of course, commercial flights are just one use - you could use a joystick for shooting down hostiles from your starfighter in Star Wars Squadrons, so picking up a dedicated joystick rather than using the best PC controller is a great way to improve your accuracy and immersion. A simple all-in-one HOTAS controller combines both the throttle and the flight stick, while a dedicated flight wheel with multiple instrument panels and a triplet of the best gaming monitors can create the ultimate flight simulator setup. The amount of cash you're spending on a flight sim setup can vary massively, so to ensure you've got all of the options we've rounded up the best pick for every price point and use. Continue reading Best PC joysticks in 2024: fly high with our top picks MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:00 AM  A new report claims that Qualcomm, maker of the Snapdragon CPU range, could be testing its next-generation chip, and this time it looks as though the company is properly aiming to take on Intel and AMD in the desktop PC market. One of the best mini PC makers, Geekom, has already announced desktop Arm PC, but Qualcomm could now be eyeing up an official desktop CPU launch. Apparently dubbed "Project Glymur", the new hardware potentially shows an Arm-based future for the desktop PC as we know it. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:00 AM  New Total War Warhammer 3 DLC Omens of Destruction is out today, and it marks the conclusion of a rollercoaster year for Creative Assembly. The studio came into 2024 recoiling from negative feedback around the price and value of its Shadows of Change DLC. Since then, it's spent the year winning back player sentiment with free updates and its Thrones of Decay expansion. Now it's looking to continue that resurgence in Omens of Destruction, which delivers three paid legendary lords alongside a free one. Ahead of its release, I sat down with senior game director Rich Aldridge to ask how the team picks its next factions to update, and what lies ahead for the series. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Total War: Warhammer 3 DLC, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, Total War: Warhammer 3 review |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:06 AM  The best computer speakers can fill your gaming space with great audio. Knowing your budget, what features to prioritize, what music and sound profile you like - big bass or an accurate, flat sound - and what volume you want are all crucial ways to narrow down the choices. After testing, we've recommended the Razer Nommo V2 Pro as the best PC speaker set for gaming, while the Edifier R1280DB is our top all-around choice for music and general listening. If you're on a really tight budget, meanwhile, check out the Creative Pebble V3, as they cost less than $35. Speakers aren't strictly necessary for every gaming PC setup, as the best gaming headsets give you more of an edge in FPS games and often provide more immersion than speakers. However, while the best wireless gaming headsets can give you more freedom, there's nothing like filling your office or gaming cave with high-fidelity audio. Discover the best computer speakers and crank up the volume. [site_jumplinks] Continue reading Best computer speakers 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming mouse, Best gaming monitor |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:44 AM  December 12, 2024: We checked for new Marvel Rivals codes. Marvel Rivals is a hit hero shooter featuring a cast of iconic heroes and villains, from Iron Man and Captain America to slightly more obscure characters like Cloak and Dagger. It's most regularly compared to Blizzard's Overwatch thanks to its team-focused tactics and its cast's unique abilities. Like many free multiplayer games these days, Marvel Rivals includes a code redemption system that lets you unlock freebies such as skins. We fully expect developer NetEase will continue to drop more codes post-launch, and given they only stay active for a set amount of time, we felt it'd be helpful to compile the lot, let you know what they get you, and flag when they're set to become inactive. Continue reading Marvel Rivals codes December 2024 - free Iron Man Model 42 skin MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals codes, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals tier list |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:19 AM  December 12, 2024: We have checked and added one new limited-time Dress to Impress code that drops during the Winter Update. What are the new Dress to Impress codes? Look no further if you want to strut your stuff on the catwalk with all the latest fashion accessories. The latest DTI codes grant you the hottest cosmetics to add to your ensemble and create a stunning new look, and it's as simple as entering a code or two. As the name suggests, Dress to Impress is all about fashion, collecting new clothes, and trying out different styles. Unlike most Roblox games, these DTI codes permanently unlock a set of items to add to your wardrobe. If you're looking for extra freebies, we also have codes for some of the other best Roblox games such as Blox Fruits codes to help you get an edge on the competition. Alternatively, you can check out our list of Dress to Impress outfit ideas. Continue reading Dress to Impress codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:02 AM  What are the best offline games? If you're disconnected from the internet for any time, you'll need the best offline PC games to help tide you over. Not every game lets you play offline, though. Some games require a license check before launching for anti-piracy reasons - and although this doesn't take long to perform, it means you can't access the game without an internet connection. There's a lot to consider when preparing a stockpile of the best PC games, but luckily for you, there's no shortage of fun offline games to choose from when your internet cuts out. Whether you're a fan of classic RPG games or the biggest modern open-world games, we've got something to suit nearly every need. Continue reading The best offline games for PC 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best story games on PC, Best western games, Best sandbox games |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:02 AM  If, like many of us, LocalThunk's Balatro devoured your life this year, Humble's latest bundle is well worth checking out. The Devious Deckbuilders Encore game bundle packs in seven deck-building games, including Dungeons Drafters and Book of Hours, for a minimum donation of $19/£15.02 - and is sure to scratch your Balatro itch. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best roguelike games, Best card games, Best new PC games |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:04 AM  December 12, 2024: We've checked for new Doors codes. What are the new Doors codes? Doors is a horror game on the Roblox platform that's not for the faint of heart – especially if you're sensitive to jump scares. Your goal is to advance through a series of doors while avoiding the terrifying entities that give chase. Thankfully, our list of the latest Doors codes is here to help you reach Door 100 in one piece. The latest Doors codes unlock a trove of additional supplies in the Roblox game - including Knobs, Revives, and Boosts - so be sure to redeem them before they expire. We've also included a step-by-step guide on how to redeem Doors codes. Bring some levity to the spooky escape room by tuning your radio to the best Roblox song IDs. If you're a Roblox enthusiast, our Shinobi Life 2 codes and Project Mugetsu codes are sure to be of value. Continue reading Doors codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:59 AM  December 12, 2024: We have checked for new Brookhaven codes to add to this list. What are the new Brookhaven codes? Brookhaven is one of the most popular sandbox games on the Roblox platform, allowing you to meet up with friends and explore the town's bustling streets and sleepy suburbs. Our Brookhaven codes can put a little pep in your step as you act out different scenarios with some free music for your portable speakers. Brookhaven offers a ton of freedom, so there are no pesky limitations to sidestep – you can snap up new houses and tear up the tarmac with various cars and bikes. Our Brookhaven codes grant you access to a whole playlist of popular tunes to serve as your soundtrack while you're at it. We've also got Doors codes, King Legacy codes, and Anime Adventures codes if you're searching for all the best goodies available across the Roblox platform. Continue reading Brookhaven codes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:56 AM  December 12, 2024: We've checked for new Blade Ball codes. What are the new Blade Ball codes? Those who want to stand out while playing this dodgeball game can splash out on new weapons, skills, and even explosive effects. To get them, though, you need coins, and there are ways to instantly get a small amount of coins to roll the dice while getting a chance to open crates and maybe pull a rare sword skin. There are other similar games on the Roblox platform, so be sure to get all the latest Arm Wrestle Simulator codes to get yourself ripped or learn the secret of Berry Avenue codes if you'd rather live a calmer virtual life. Here are all the latest Blade Ball codes, how to enter them, and where to find more. Continue reading Blade Ball codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:51 AM  December 12, 2024: We have checked and added four new Berry Avenue codes. What are the new Berry Avenue codes? Rather than being a conventional Roblox game that uses tower defense, RPG, or shooting game-style mechanics, Berry Avenue is a playground where you can buy a house, work a job, or drive around without a care in the world looking fabulous. However, you may have noticed that everyone else looks much more stylish than most Roblox experiences. Is this because of the time they spent playing the roleplay sandbox game or perhaps linked to how much they paid in real-world money? While you're here, you should know that we also keep lists of Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and Anime Adventures codes to get you some free items and rolls for those games. Continue reading Berry Avenue codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:32 AM  Is Path of Exile 2 a couch co-op game? If you're planning to jump in with friends to play the next Path of Exile game, here's exactly what to expect from couch co-op and multiplayer options across console and PC. The Path of Exile 2 release date has arrived and fortunately, the RPG game features crossplay and has cross-platform functionality across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. If, however, you'd rather play with friends at home on either console or PC, here's whether the option is available, and what couch co-op looks like for character progression in Path of Exile 2. Continue reading Is Path of Exile 2 co-op? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:15 AM  December 12, 2024: We checked the latest 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. Continue reading Throne and Liberty server status and maintenance times MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Throne and Liberty codes, Throne and Liberty weapons |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:12 AM  VR enthusiast and Valve watcher Brad Lynch has popped a few balloons as rumors swirl around the company, saying that 2025 will be a "wild year" for Valve hardware. Social media has spread the rumor that the long-awaited Half-Life 3 is expected to appear at The Game Awards, but it also looks as though we'll soon be getting a new Steam Controller and Valve VR headset. Valve's virtual reality headset, the Index, is still one of the best VR headsets to get, but it's aging rapidly. Between leaks of its controllers and more updates on Steam's backend, it appears that Valve is gearing up for its not-so-secret follow-up, Deckard. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:09 AM  What are the latest Roblox music codes? Thousands of popular songs are available to listen to in Roblox simply by entering music ID codes into your boombox or the radio. You can even play your favorite TikTok songs in games with your friends using song IDs. So, how do you play music in Roblox? The method varies depending on which game you want to blast your tunes in. Some games allow free access to the boombox — equip and press it to bring up a text box to enter a song ID code. Catalog Heaven is a great place to test the Roblox music codes you find, as it allows you to equip any boombox in the shop and try it out. Continue reading Roblox music codes December 2024 - the best song IDs MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:03 AM  A new Barbie videogame came out this year, not that you'll have heard. Billed as the "ultimate Barbie adventure," Barbie Project Friendship should be riding high off the critical and cultural success of Greta Gerwig's love letter. Not quite. At the time of writing, it has eight reviews on Steam; one user maintains they "wouldn't recommend this game for most people, even for most kids." It's a crushing indictment that games for girls are undermarketed, and the audience is underserved. Infold Games is here to change that with Infinity Nikki – and after smashing through its 30 million pre-registration milestone, the girls have certainly shown up. Continue reading Infinity Nikki review - "Hi, I'm videogame Barbie!" MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Infinity Nikki codes, Infinity Nikki banners, Infinity Nikki events |
PCGamesN Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:02 AM  What are the new Genshin Impact codes? Gathering Primogems and Mora in Genshin Impact can be quite the grind. Fortunately, developer Hoyoverse occasionally sends out gifts in the form of Genshin redeem codes. Most codes only work for a limited time, so it's best to redeem them as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Genshin Impact codes are released periodically, frequently appearing in Hoyoverse special programs: regular video updates detailing future updates to the free PC game. Redeem codes can also drop to celebrate milestones or to coincide with new Genshin Impact events. You can find all the active Genshin codes for November 2024 below, and we also detail what they get you, how to redeem them, and where you can look for more. Continue reading Genshin Impact codes December 2024 and how to redeem MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:52 AM  Tonight is The Game Awards 2024, the first since Geoff Keighley killed E3 and consumed its heart in front of a group of screaming schoolchildren. Just saying, this had better be good, Geoff, especially after the 2023 show's "embarrassing" shooing-off of developers whose acceptance speeches cut into that valuable trailer showcase time. Who will need to please wrap it up this time? Which games will be revealed? Will there be a musical number to top last year's Herald of Darkness performance? (That was fun, actually, fair play on that one.) You can find out right along with us, as we once again fire up the RPS liveblog-o-tron to report all the developments as they happen. Even the ones that happen at 3:45am, when I'll be desperately trying not to collapse into my keyboard like a felled tree. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:53 AM  At first I thought Marvel Rivals was basically rebranded Overwatch, in the way it's a free-to-play PVP hero shooter. And in some ways, it is. Fights are like if you took a MOBA and forced both teams to bash heads constantly. Success lies in picking off Spider-Man or Squirrel Girl or Marcus Fenix so as they wait to respawn, you hop on the big area that needs capturing. Or you push the cart while tanky Hulk absorbs bullets with his biceps and John Marvel snipes from afar. The more I played Rivals, though, the more it hit me that it's specifically a messier, more complex Overwatch. A hero shooter with a surprising amount of polish and charm, sure, but also one that slides off my brain like water off Birdman's back. I understand why it's supremely popular at the moment and yet, I really don't. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:32 AM  After a failure-riddled start, my attempt to turn S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2's mutants into beasts of war is finally bearing fruit. I've engineered a Bloodsucker attack that wiped out the worst of villains – someone who was mean to me – and I've progressed far enough to really open up the map, and with it, access to more of the Zone's fiercest fleshwarps. Also, rats. Buoyed by the successful Bloodsucker siccing, I'm back on the trail of some mysterious anomaly scanners, and word is I might find a lead inside a local maze of wrecked cars. It's heavily guarded by some gangster types, but for once, I won't have to dash off in search of some far-off muties and coax them back here using my neck as bait. Mercifully, a gaggle of overgrown rodents are already hopping around right outside the labyrinth's entrance. I beckon them in like a bouncer on his last day, then sprint past the stunned gunmen, who can barely shoulder their rifles before being set upon by a pack of giant carnivorous hamsters. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:00 AM  In more ways than one, today's Total War: Warhammer 3 expansion marks a milestone for game director Rich Aldridge and his team at Creative Assembly. Omens Of Destruction's three headline legendary lords each bring new campaigns and units for their respective factions, but it's the fourth lord - a Khorne champion free to all players - that I imagine Aldridge will end up remembering the most fondly. When Total War: Warhammer released back in 2016, it shipped with eight legendary lords - famous characters from Games Workshop's fantasy setting that here act as faction leaders. The number grew steadily and, in terms of announcement order at least, today's addition of Arbaal The Undefeated marks the series' 100th. That's a hundred campaigns, a hundred joint efforts of game design, animation, art, writing and voice work. Aldridge has never been shy about the team's ambition for the series to eventually offer up each unit from every Fantasy Battle 6th edition army book ("The goal is to do everything, right?"). But ambition is one thing, and considering the fraught conditions at Creative Assembly and parent company Sega over the past few years, it's not just the addition of the 100th lord that feels like something to celebrate. It's taken time, effort, and a siesmic shift in update frequency, but Total War: Warhammer III is in the best place it's ever been. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:06 AM  If Space Marine 2's wanton devil-mulching left you hungry for more fantastical depictions of medieval zealotry, maybe take a look at Band Of Crusaders, an open-world party-based RPG in which you are the Grandmaster of a knightly order, trying to keep a bunch of wily Archdemons out of Europe. It seems to play a bit like XCOM, with an oppressive world map that is slowly encroached upon as you travel around recruiting soldiers, interacting with settlements, and picking real-time fights with hellfiends "inspired by biblical descriptions and European folklore". Naturally, parallels with real-life xenophobia and sectarian hatred abound. Here's the trailer. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 7:00 AM  Today's advent calendar game is already inside your head, for this is not a game you stop playing, merely one you step away from between rounds. Even after you quit, it lingers on the edge of your awareness like a muffled bassline. It glitters in the air around you like a cloud of spores. It cannot be denied. It can only be… |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Thursday, December 12, 2024 5:56 AM  If your PC has ever started randomly roaring, and you check Steam only to find Space Marine 2 is panic-installing a 9 billion gigabyte update, then perhaps Valve's new upcoming feature is for you. For most of us, Steam simply slurps down fresh gigs of installed games automatically when a new update is released (and sometimes schedules the updates according to its own capricious whims). But the platform is testing a new option in the beta client, which lets you set download behaviour to git new gigs only when you actually launch a game. This would be a terrible curse, for reasons I will explain, but it's only going to be an option - not the new default. |
Siliconera Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:30 AM
We're going to learn a lot more about new and existing Dragon Ball games once 2025 begins, as Bandai Namco announced the next Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2025 event and showcase will be held on January 18-19, 2025. The two-day event will be held physically at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, with announcements, events, and tournaments, and there will be streams on YouTube for those who can't be there in-person to watch. Ticket registration will be on Eventbrite.
There will be booths and tournaments for multiple existing games and series. For example, the Dragon Ball Daima anime will have one that will feature new merchandise based on the series. The Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero booth will include a Producer Custom Battle Challenge, demo (with a lanyard giveaway), and tournament. If you stop by the Dragon Ball Z: Dokkan Battle booth, you can take part in a Dokkan Ultimate Speed Battle and get a keychain. The Dragon Ball FighterZ Last Chance Qualifier and World Tour Finals tournament will be at that booth. Dragon Ball Legends' booth will feature a PvP Corner and Guess the Winner points competition for prizes. As for the TCGs, you can also watch or take part in the Dragon Ball Super Card Game Masters North American Finals and World Championship and Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World Grand Finals.
There will also be a drawstring bag giveaway. People who get a Limited Ticket will get one of those. Only 7,000 will be available. However, if you are going to take part in one of the tournaments at the two-day event, you will automatically be guaranteed one of those. A small picture of it appears on the official site.
The Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2025 event and showcase will be held January 18-19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California, with tournaments and elements streamed online.
The post Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2025 Showcase Set for January appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, December 12, 2024 11:00 AM
Bushiroad has announced that it will release new Weiss Schwarz Booster Packs and Trial Decks featuring cards from Goddess of Victory: Nikke on December 13, 2024. Shift Up's mobile game will soon join the ever-growing list of franchises featured in the massive crossover TCG, which range from anime and game series to Vtuber groups like Hololive Production.
The trial deck will cost 1,650 yen, while a single booster pack containing eight cards will be purchasable at 440 yen. The Nikke collection will comprise a total of 115 normal cards and 174 parallel cards. Some of the character cards will have new illustrations and/or autographs by their respective Japanese voice actresses.
In the same press release, Bushiroad confirmed that it will also release the new cards internationally. The Weiss Schwarz Nikke cards will appear in not only Japanese but also Korean, English, and Simplified Chinese.
The Korean version in particular will launch simultaneously with the original Japanese release. This is partially due to Nikke's development team at Shift Up being based in South Korea. It will also mark the first time ever Bushiroad is releasing Weiss Schwarz TCG in Korean.
The new Weiss Schwarz Trial Deck and Booster Packs featuring Goddess of Victory: Nikke will be available first in Japan and South Korea on Friday, December 13, 2024. The English and Simplified Chinese versions of the cards will also appear at a later time.
The post Goddess of Victory: Nikke Weiss Schwarz Cards Will Appear Soon appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:30 AM
Good Smile Company opened global pre-orders for FREEing's upcoming 1/4 scale figure of A2 from the NieR: Automata anime adaptation. People in the U.S. and Canada can order the figure on Good Smile Online Shop US at $309.99. Those residing elsewhere worldwide can instead head to the Japanese international web store, where the figure is available at ¥44,000.
The figure will stand at around 44 cm (17.32 inches) tall. A2's figure will also directly complement 2B's figure of the same 1/4 scale, which has been available for pre-orders earlier in December 2024. But while 2B's figure set will come with an alternate head part to show her unmasked face, A2's static figure package will not have any alternate parts as her face is already unveiled to begin with.
Here are the sample images showing the upcoming A2 figure from multiple angles:
If someone would normally use the Good Smile Company US storefront, it might be wise to wait until it appears at another retailer. On subreddits like r/GoodSmileCompany, r/Nendoroid, and r/AnimeFigures, some shoppers there reported fradulent charges on their cards and suggested it happened after shopping at that store.
The pre-order window for FREEing's 1/4 scale figure of A2 from the NieR: Automata Ver1.1a anime will close on February 5, 2025. Good Smile Company will start shipping the finished figures from Japan in July 2025 and North America in Q4 2025. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll now.
The post NieR: Automata Anime A2 1/4 Figure Wields Cruel Arrogance appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, December 12, 2024 10:00 AM
Bandai Namco has announced that it will re-release Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown "soon." The SAO mobile game will make its return after a long-term maintenance period that has lasted for over a year.
For the record, Bandai Namco originally launched Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown in late November 2022. However, it enacted a long-term maintenance that started on September 28, 2023, to address numerous issues that plagued the mobile game. The company initially promised to re-release Variant Showdown by ending the maintenance in Summer 2024, but it ended up taking more time than originally planned.
The re-release will come with numerous new content and improvements. The additions of Mito and Agil as new playable characters will headline the major update. Bandai Namco will also add a new Multiplayer Battle mode while employing the recurring characters' Japanese voice actors to provide full voiceovers for the main story.
An English version of the re-release promotional video is available to watch via the official YouTube channel dedicated to the Sword Art Online game series:
Bandai Namco has also published an alternative announcement video that features direct messages and in-depth feature explanations by the SAO mobile game producer Takeuchi. An English-subtitled version of this video is also available to view right below:
Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown will be available again on Android and iOS mobile devices worldwide.
The post Sword Art Online: Variant Showdown Will Re-Release After Maintenance appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:30 AM
Fujiya and Sanrio announced a new line of merchandise featuring Sanrio characters holding various chocolate candy Fujiya's sold. The goods will be available in stores in Japan between December 18-24, 2024. [Thanks, Game Watch!]
The merchandise line features 6 Sanrio characters, with each one holding a chocolate lollipop of their face, as well as the actual candy. Hello Kitty, My Melody, Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, and Pochacco all star in the collection. The items are limited to one per person at the Sanrio stores that will sell the goods.
Here is the full list of merchandise available in the upcoming Fujiya and Sanrio chocolate collaboration, alongside their prices:
And here's how the merchandise goods and chocolates look like if you happen to find them:
Other recent pieces of Sanrio merchandise feature a new line of gachapon toys that look like they're running late and holding their breakfast in their mouths, as well as a new line of Sanrio characters dressed up like Yu-Gi-Oh creatures and monsters.
The Fujiya and Sanrio Characters collaboration chocolate goods will be available for a limited time in Japan between December 18-24, 2024.
The post Sanrio Characters Hold Fujiya Chocolate in New Toys appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:00 AM
RIKI 8Bit Game Collection is one of those releases that puts a lot of the information right there in the title: it's a Famicom compilation — a Famicompilation, if you will — and it's spearheaded by manga artist RIKI. These are recent releases rather than original licensed titles, and some of them are more music than game. We've enjoyed a lot of these in their original forms, and we've been spending time with this new collection to let you know what to expect!
Included are five games — "games" — Kira Kira Star Night, Astro Ninja Man DX, 8Bit Music Power, 8Bit Music Power Final, and 8Bit Music Power Encore. We use the quotes there because the last three are essentially albums with visualizers rather than something with gameplay, but they're very cool versions of the things they are for sure.
The 8Bit Music Power releases, which have launched sporadically since 2017, contain too many composers to list. The general idea is that it's a compilation album from all the chiptune artists RIKI could get to join in. Accompanying these is a suite of cute animations, as well as an interface for manipulating the NES' sound channels in real time. The first one has a few more interactive elements, but the last two smartly focus on the tunes themselves.
At a certain point, bringing these releases back into modernity would defeat the purpose. After all, much of the impressive appeal of the cartridges is what they get decades-old hardware to do! That said, the crucial thing here is accurate audio emulation, and in our time with the collection, it seems faithful enough to our ears. It's admittedly not quite as cool a way to experience it as booting up an old Famicom, but that's not really an option most have.
Since the games have a native 4-by-3 aspect ratio, the game shows bits of RIKI's art from each title by default in the vertical letterboxing. You can change or remove these, and even stretch the display if you're a monster, but we don't mind the initial configuration. One option we wish were there is a zoom crop, since a lot of time the bottom of the 8Bit Music Power screens are just the game title and the top could have some room for truncation. The result could look nice, we think?
Kira Kira Star Night and Astro Ninja Man DX are indeed games, but as games go, they're pretty close to visualizers too. In Kira Kira Star Night, you collect star icons as they fall from the sky in various formations. The appeal of the game is letting the soundtrack wash over you and watching the elaborate backgrounds and animations.
Astro Ninja Man DX, the latest release of the bunch, is a single-screen shooter in the vein of early-'80s arcade classics. You gain more and more… ninja astronaut silhouettes?... and shoot more projectiles at once to take down enemies. This again feels more like a way to enjoy the music, though the formula is closer to a familiar score-chasing arcade game than Kira Kira Star Night.
While the games themselves won't hold your attention for too long, RIKI 8Bit Game Collection is a handy little app to keep on your Switch for its unbeatable soundtrack. And hey, it's also a lot cheaper than buying cartridge versions, so it's an accessible way for those who've been interested for a while.
RIKI 8Bit Game Collection launches December 12, 2024 on the Nintendo Switch for $19.99. It was developed by RIKI and City Connection and published in the West by Embracer subsidiary Clear River Games.
The post RIKI 8Bit Game Collection Is a Rockin' Compilation Album Compilation appeared first on Siliconera. |
WGB Thursday, December 12, 2024 8:20 AM A leaked teaser for Mafia: The Old Country reveals a summer 2025 release, showcasing knife fights and horseback chases set in early 1900s Sicily. |