Jan 03, 18:00


Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 5:05 PM
    

As December 2023 was underway, some streamers cleverly thought to play around with Twitch's restrictions around nudity, broadcasting in such a fashion that implied they were completely naked on camera. Twitch, in response, began banning folks before shifting gears to allow various forms of "artistic nudity" to…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:15 PM
    

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:00 PM
    

After the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, studio release schedules got a little hectic. Major films that were expected last year, like Dune: Part 2, got pushed back to 2024 instead. Which means that this year, the film calendar is actually pretty packed. We've got classic January horror movies like Night Swim,…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:30 PM
    

I wasn't sure this day would ever come: Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, the once wildly popular mobile RPG in which players had to climb the Tinseltown ranks from the E-list to A-list, is shutting down. 10 years ago, this Android and iOS title dominated each store's download charts, made gamers out of regular ol' people,…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:45 PM
    

Pokémon Concierge is concentrated delight and whimsy cutting through Netflix's rancid vibes. While the streaming service has been more than willing to cut jobs within its animation branch and has opted to use AI to fill in the gaps it's created while raising its subscription price, Concierge is such an entertaining…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:01 PM
    

2023 felt off. Something was wrong with the vibes. And now I know what cursed the year to be so awful: Nintendo forgot about Waluigi.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Just two months after the third-person action-horror game Stray Souls came out, developer Jukai Studio abruptly shuttered its doors, citing myriad issues including poor game sales and multiple cyberattacks from an unknown perpetrator.The developer took to X/Twitter on December 22 to announce the sudden closure. Part…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:15 PM
    

Before Starfield, before Skyrim, before Fallout 3 and Oblivion, before your parents even knew how to make you, there was The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. It was, and remains, Bethesda's biggest-ever game, and now a fan-made rebuilding of the entire vast world in Unity has reached its 1.0 release. Oh, and it's…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:00 PM
    

The days of walking into a store and spending hours slowly exploring aisles of movies new and old are ending, as Best Buy's previously reported plans to stop selling physical media begin in 2024.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:45 PM
    

We all have our favorite franchises and one-and-done games, be it classics like Super Mario Bros., Final Fantasy, Tetris, or more modern series like The Last of Us, Halo, or Uncharted Others we happily play, but they don't become go-to favorites. And then there are those games that we're just so definitely, clearly,…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:15 PM
    

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:00 PM
    

We're now in the fourth year of the latest console generation, which means more new games are finally coming out and development on older Xbox One versions has all but wrapped up. So what's the best that Microsoft's current hardware has to offer?

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:00 PM
    

As the games industry continues to consolidate itself through a combination of developer acquisitions and studio closures, CD Projekt Red, the beloved studio behind Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher, wants to keep the independence it has had for almost 30 years now.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:45 AM
    

It rather beggars belief that there hasn't been a Minecraft movie already. The Microsoft-owned behemoth is one of the highest-grossing media franchises of all time, and seems ripe for a guaranteed $1 billion+ box office. However, despite rumors dating back as far as 2014, it wasn't until 2022 that details seemed to…

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:15 AM
    

If you've been playing Grand Theft Auto V or GTA Online via Game Pass lately, you might need to pony up and buy a copy to sustain your criminal enterprise. Rockstar's crime saga is expected to leave Xbox Game Pass in about two weeks.

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PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:30 PM
     Baldur's Gate 3 mod trades tired old lines for hidden companion quotes

Is anyone else really tired of Tav and your Baldur's Gate 3 companions saying the same few things on a loop? I'm personally sick of hearing Tav taking back wishing they lived in more interesting times or saying that everything didn't end as bad as it could have, so lucky for me an impressively popular BG3 mod has a great fix.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:53 PM
     Lost Ark finally gets much-requested balance update, and new content

Lost Ark updates are something most big fans of Smilegate's stunning MMO look forward to, and they always spark conversation. Players have feedback to share regarding patches, whether they bring new content or highly requested balance changes, and the game's upcoming January patch is no exception as fans have waited to see it come to fruition for a while now. The developer now says the update is just about ready, and it'll push the global edition of Lost Ark closer to its Korean counterpart.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPG – top MMOs you should play, Lost Ark class tier list, All Lost Ark Mokoko Seeds locations

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:59 PM
     As Lethal Company reigns, an old co-op horror king prepares a big 2024

Before Lethal Company took over Steam, and before the likes of Labyrinthine, Escape the Backrooms, The Outlast Trials, Demonologist, GTFO, and Devour, Phasmophobia helped to define a new wave of co-op horror games on PC. Tense, frantic, and making impeccable use of positional audio to enhance the terror, the ghost-hunting game boasts a 96% Steam rating across over half a million user reviews. Now, developer Kinetic Games gives us another look at the next map coming, along with everything else lined up ahead of the game's full 1.0 launch.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games on PC, Best VR games, Best ghost games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:52 PM
     This 9/10 stealth survival horror is free to keep if you're fast

A Plague Tale: Innocence is one of those survival horror games that, unless you suffer from a fear of rodents, might seem a little silly. Being chased by vast waves of rats, watching the ground collapse into their tunnels? But from the inside, it's one of the most unsettling games you're likely to play, at least in the first half. And now, thanks to the Epic Games Store's ongoing seasonal giveaway, you can get it absolutely free.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: A Plague Tale: Innocence review, A Plague Tale: Innocence gameplay, Best horror games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:39 PM
     Steam's 2023 sleeper hit FPS game gets highly requested update

RoboCop Rogue City stands as one of 2023's greatest Steam shooters, with a solid 9/10 on Valve's platform and thousands of stellar reviews. If you're a longtime fan of the iconic part man, part machine cop, or even a casual FPS enjoyer, Teyon's single-player game is definitely one you can't miss. Rogue City is about to get even bigger too, as the developer reveals the coming addition of a highly requested New Game Plus mode.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Robocop Rogue City review, Robocop Rogue City system requirements, Robocop Rogue City settings

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:21 PM
     Zenless Zone Zero system requirements

What are the Zenless Zone Zero system requirements? From the talented individuals who brought us Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, Zenless Zone Zero looks to be the next big gacha experience from Hoyoverse, but what demands will it have for your gaming PC?

Thankfully, like other Hoyoverse titles, Zenless Zone Zero appears to be quite a light game to run, so you won't need the best graphics card on the market to get started.

 

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:20 PM
     Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 release date window, trailers, and story

What is the Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 release date? Chapter 2: Fly in a Web was the last instalment of Poppy Playtime, and left us both relieved to have avoided Mommy Long Legs and excited for what might come next.

The Poppy Playtime games are an interesting mix of horror micro-scenarios, with the overall narrative being punctuated by several terrifying mini-games. The second chapter of Poppy Playtime tasked the player with a few rounds of whack-a-mole, red light green light, and a really twisted game of Simon Says. What will the next chapter of the indie game involve, and more importantly, what is the Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 release date?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Horror games, Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 release date, Puzzle games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:04 PM
     This Baldur's Gate 3 gear combination makes you virtually invincible

Baldur's Gate 3 is a fantastic RPG, one which has rightly been sweeping the game of the year awards. Aside from its story and characters, it also offers a huge amount of flexibility, letting you do pretty much anything. However, as has been revealed, that includes piling on so much armor that you become unkillable.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:12 PM
     The best Fallout New Vegas mods

What are the best Fallout New Vegas mods? Despite being over a decade old, Fallout New Vegas enjoys a thriving modding scene that has stood the test of time. In the 12 or so years since we first took our first step in the Mojave Wasteland, some talented people have been tinkering with it until it becomes an entirely different beast.

There are years of mods to sift through, but we've managed to round up our favorites; the best mods that Fallout New Vegas has to offer, and popped them into this useful little list. Some add new textures to the RPG game, while others add new quests or even entirely new campaigns.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Fallout New Vegas mods, Fallout 5 release date, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:57 AM
     Your new Intel Core Ultra laptop could be slower than older models

Intel's new Meteor Lake CPU architecture has just recently come to market in the shape of the Intel Core Ultra lineup of CPUs, and while they offer impressive performance and power consumption figures in some ways, in one particular instance they fall behind previous designs. Specifically, the number of instructions that the chips can process per clock cycle - the instructions per clock (IPC) - is lower than the older Raptor Lake design.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:37 AM
     One of the most important strategy games ever is 95% off, but be quick

XCOM 2 isn't just one of the best strategy games around, it's probably one of the most influential modern games in the genre. Since its launch in 2016 its inspiration can be felt in games like Mutant Road Zero, Xenonauts 2, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, King Arthur: Knight's Tale, and developer Firaxis Games' own Marvel's Midnight Suns. Ubisoft even put their own spin on the format with the Mario and Rabbids games. Now, if you're looking for that next turn-based hit after Baldur's Gate 3, this classic can be yours for an almost unreasonably cheap $3.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: XCOM 2 tips, XCOM 2 DLC guide, XCOM 2 system requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:50 AM
     The best Elden Ring builds

What are the best Elden Ring builds? The first 20 levels shape your entire class, so selecting your stats carefully is essential. While placing some stat points into faith as an Astrologer may be tempting, you're probably better off committing to the full sorcery build to maximize your damage in the late game.

But what are the best Elden Ring builds? Well, some loadouts - such as the Hoarfrost Stomp build - aren't as powerful as they used to be, but new ones rose to take their place, such as Swarm of Flies. If you've found that your build has been nerfed, never fear - grab a specific Elden Ring Great Rune, and you'll be able to unlock character respec, and you can simply create a new one!

Continue reading The best Elden Ring builds
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best Elden Ring builds, Elden Ring bosses, The best Elden Ring classes

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:34 AM
     The best Minecraft servers list 2024

What are the best Minecraft servers? We've jumped into some of the many multiplayer servers around to find the best, friendliest, and most fun of them all. Joining any one of the varied Minecraft servers in this list will invite you into a magical world full of like-minded fans, builders, redstone masters, and survival experts. Minecraft worlds are infinite, so what better than sharing one with others?

While vanilla, single-player Minecraft is still one of the best games ever, there's nothing better than jumping into a world with friends and creating a world together. The servers below aren't just for builders, though, and there's something for you whether you want Minecraft mods, parkour, PVP, or a number of other things. So, dive into the expansive world of multiplayer with these incredible Minecraft servers, or head to the bottom of the list if you need to know about hosting your own Minecraft server.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:17 AM
     Nvidia is flying close to the sun with these RTX 40 Super teasers

Nvidia has teased the imminent arrival of its RTX 40 Super series of graphics cards via its own GeForce X (Twitter) account. With the latest generation of GeForce GPUs having long been rumored to arrive this January, Nvidia has finally itself hinted at just how short a time we'll have to wait.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GeForce RTX 4060 review, DLSS explained, Best graphics cards

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:59 PM
    

NZXT's AiOs are some of the best liquid coolers in the business, whether considered in terms of performance or aesthetics, and their new Kraken Elite RGB release is now on sale at Newegg in the US. The 280mm size AiO in white is now down to $200 after a $70 discount, and highly recommended by this writer at that price.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:42 PM
    

German peripherals manufacturer Roccat has made some great keyboards and mice over the years, although they're not as well known in the US as they are in their native Europe. Today that could change in a small way, as Roccat's excellent Pyro mechanical keyboard is down to $40 at Amazon US. That's 50% off its original price and a solid $10 off its usual going price, making it well worth picking up.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:26 PM
    

Electric standing desks continue to drop in price, with this deal on the Sanodesk EP1 offering a 110x60cm maple desk and matching white frame for £76. This is an awesome price for a standing desk, even a relatively compact one like this.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:21 PM
    

Definitely-not-an-indie-game Dave the Diver has reeled in an impressive sales milestone, just six months after the mix of fishing sim, restaurant management game and slice-of-life RPG exited Early Access.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:13 PM
    

Montech's King 95 Pro was chosen as TechPowerUp's runner-up PC case of the year, and now it's discounted to a historic low in the UK: £114, a solid price for a full-size dual-chamber design with six RGB fans included, tonnes of useful features and excellent thermal performance.

That deal price is for the blue version, but the white version (shown below) is also relatively affordable at £125 if you'd prefer a trendy gleaming design.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:56 PM
    

Xbox have revealed their first haul of games headed to PC Game Pass in 2024, and there are some corkers. Among the selection is one of - if not the - best horror games ever made, a whopping Assassin's Creed that ranks as one of the better entries in the series and some other interesting picks, too. Let's get stuck in.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:11 PM
    

Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt makers CD Projekt Red have said in no uncertain terms that they "are not interested" in being acquired by another company, while still leaving the door open for the studio to potentially acquire others in the future.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:34 PM
    

Gloriously grim stealth game A Plague Tale: Innocence - you know, that game with the rats - is currently free to keep over on the Epic Games Store. If you've somehow missed it before now, it's well worth playing in my opinion - especially for the low price of nothing.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:35 AM
    

Last year (wahey), you narrowly decided that giving items to other players is better than throwing grenades back. I feel glad for your family and friends, who doubtless received wonderful gifts for Christmas rather than regifted junk. You're a little sweetie. Well, 55% of you are little sweeties. The rest... best not to dwell. Let's open this new year with a question of beginnings. What's better: a fresh new MMO server, or Viscera Cleanup Detail's Sniffer tool?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:28 AM
    

Den Of Wolves developers 10 Chambers have Thoughts about open betas, and whether they are genuinely designed to test for technical difficulties or are simply there to boost pre-orders. That's in addition to a grab bag of new details about the forthcoming meatpunk shooter's missions and possible map fixtures such as in-game augmented reality devices.

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Twinfinite Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:30 PM
    
Don't let these Kantonian 'Mons be forgotten!

Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 6:00 PM
    

Final Fantasy XIV Sale

Square Enix announced that the Final Fantasy XIV complete edition and Endwalker expansion are both on sale for 50% off in the Square Enix and Playstation stores. The sale also extends to the collector's editions of both items.

With the sale applied, the FFXIV complete edition base version is available for $29.99. It is $69.99 for the collector's complete edition. This includes the base game, as well as the Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker expansions and 30 days of game time. The collector's edition includes all of that, as well as the various bonus items from each edition. The Endwalker expansion, meanwhile, is on sale for $19.99 for the base version. It costs $29.99 for the collector's edition, which includes bonus items like the Arion mount and Porum minion.

You can find the official announcement tweet below:

https://twitter.com/FF_XIV_EN/status/1742616920782970998

Just before the New Year, Square Enix announced that the Heavensturn items from 2023 would become available again via the FFXIV online store. Game director Naoki Yoshida also shared a New Year's message wherein he discussed the game's future and the ongoing preparations for the 2024 Fan Festival in Tokyo.

Final Fantasy XIV is currently on sale for 50% off in the Square Enix and Playstation online stores. The game is also available on Steam and will come to Xbox Series X in Spring, 2024.

The post Final Fantasy XIV 50% Off Sale Begins appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 5:15 PM
    

Rebuild of Evangelion Asuka Arcade Prize Figures to Be Re-Released

Sega will re-release two Asuka figures from the Rebuild of Evangelion series as crane game prizes at select arcade and entertainment centers throughout Japan. The figures feature Asuka standing on the shore, and Asuka holding the Spear of Cassius. [Thanks, Dengeki Hobby!]

The figure of Asuka on the shore is inspired by her appearance during a specific scene from Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time. It will be available as a prize on various arcade crane games from the third week of January 2024. You can check it out here:

Meanwhile, the figure of Asuka holding the Spear of Cassius will appear as a crane game prize from the fourth week of January 2024. While Asuka never appears holding the spear herself in the anime movies, as it is a giant artifact used by the Eva units, the figure is inspired by Asuka's appearance in the second and third Rebuild of Evangelion movies. Take a better look at it here:

As a reminder, Sega recently revealed a new Evangelion prize figure of Rei Ayanami wearing an outfit based on racing pit lane aesthetics.

The Rebuild of Evangelion Asuka shore and Spear of Cassius figures will be available as crane game prizes in Japan from the third and fourth week of January 2024 respectively.

The post Rebuild of Evangelion Asuka Arcade Prize Figures Will Be Re-Released appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:00 PM
    

Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Volume 25 Preview

The official Shonen Jump YouTube channel uploaded a new Jujutsu Kaisen "Strongest vs Strongest" Satoru Gojo and Ryomen Sukuna video previewing events contained in volume 25 of the manga. This comes ahead of the installment's January 4, 2024 release date in Japan.

You can watch the full "Strongest vs Strongest" video below. While there are no spoilers for what happens between Gojo and Sukuna during events in Jujutsu Kaisen volume 25, it does hint at the conflicts coming up. As a reminder, that volume begins with chapter 218. The last chapter to appear was 246 on December 24, 2024.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ur8Cd-_Rls

The popular Jujutsu Kaisen manga by Gege Akutama could come to a conclusion soon. At the Jump Festa 2024 event, the mangaka implied that it could reach an end in 2024. Before that, though, there's more in store for the series.

The second season of Jujutsu Kaisen wrapped up late last year in December 2023. Studio MAPPA has already promised a sequel anime adaptation of the Culling Game arc, which will include the scenes featured in the preview video.

The Jujutsu Kaisen anime series can be streamed on Crunchyroll. The English version of the manga is distributed by VIZ. While volume 25 of Jujutsu Kaisen will debut in Japan on January 4, 2024, while the English version of the manga's next volume is 22 on April 16, 2024.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Gojo and Sukuna Video Appears Ahead of Manga Volume 25 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:00 PM
    

Pokemon Concierge Is a Perfect Example of Life with Pokemon

Given how relaxing Netflix and Dwarf Studios' Rilakkuma and Kaoru was, it seemed like Pokemon Concierge could be ready to also fill a cozy spot showing what life could be like with Pokemon. Now that it's streaming on Netflix, it is truly an example of what everyday situations would be like in a world where Pokemon are all around us.

Editor's Note: There will be no Pokemon Concierge spoilers below.

Things start out in a very relatable way. Following a string of bad luck in her personal and professional life, Haru decides to start over as a concierge at a Pokemon Resort. It is a place where we see people visiting and trainers dropping of their Pokemon to relax. 

Image via Netflix

In a way, it's even made easier to self-insert into it due to the execution of the four-episode series. Haru is coming from the city. She's used to a job that involves a lot of checking in, graphs, outlines, and deadlines. She's also all alone, due to a break-up. So she's going in completely unfamiliar with the resort and lifestyle, just as the viewer is. While it is an all-ages show, it also almost feels like it is geared toward an older audience because of this protagonist. Haru is probably about the age people would be if they started with Pokemon Red, Blue, and Green, after all. She's also at a point where she's been at a day job enough years for burnout to sink in too.

Which is why it is also great to see Pokemon Concierge embrace a slower pace. The first task is for Haru to just… be. She's told to go through her first day as though she's a guest, rather than an employee. Everyone else does their best to encourage that, be they human coworkers like Alisa and Tyler or Pokemon ones like Pansage, Pansear, and Panpour. The Pokemon she encounters in her first day of life at the resort can be cute and a little mischievous, like the elemental monkeys or Mudkip. They can be helpful, like the Dragonite she sees flying other characters around. They also might just… act like ordinary animals, such as the Furret playing with the Rattata. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1zmhHLVrq0&ab_channel=Netflix

What's more is it gets better from the second episode on, when we get to see Haru interact and work with Pokemon more in her duties. Her second day illustrates that she doesn't even really know what daily life with Pokemon should and would be like in Pokemon Concierge. She's constantly trying to do research online while she works or check with her coworkers for advice or directions. Until she really gets into it and… finds there are no directions. You just pay attention to the Pokemon around you and take cues from their own actions. 

Plus, we get to enjoy a bit of personal growth on Haru and Psyduck's parts, even though Pokemon Concierge is criminally short. The third and fourth episodes really show Haru starting to settle into the community. She gets to see Pokemon evolve. She finds a niche for herself. She starts to develop a rapport with the human and Pokemon characters. It's so reassuring, but developing at this natural pace as she settles down.

Image via Netflix

Pokemon Concierge is unabashedly pleasant. It's a relaxed look at how people and Pokemon might interact in that idealized world, outside of battling or training. The whole goal is for the humans and Pokemon in the series to relax, be happy, and help others feel the same way, and the show's existence means anyone who watches it also comes away with those same feelings. I can only hope it gets a second, perhaps even longer, season.

Pokemon Concierge is available via Netflix. Some of the anime adaptation series are also present on the streaming service. The most recent Pokemon games are Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and those are available worldwide on the Nintendo Switch.

The post Pokemon Concierge Is a Perfect Example of Life with Pokemon appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Shigeru Miyamoto Said He "Couldn't Do Anything" so He Became a Producer

In a recent conversation with Hobonichi's Shigesato Itoi, Shigeru Miyamoto said that he feels like he "couldn't do anything anymore" when working in games and recalled the process which led him to him becoming a producer at Nintendo.

When Itoi asked Miyamoto for the tentative title of this talk, Miyamoto submitted the title of "I couldn't do anything, so I became a producer." Both Itoi and Miyamoto recalled their work days during the Famicom and Super Famicom era, when developing games required fewer people and smaller teams.

The developer said that it was during his late 30s and early 40s that he felt like he was unable to do any game work without a team anymore, and at the age of 60 he became a producer. However, since projects require high-level experts nowadays, Miyamoto feels like he can't replace or provide support at the same level, even as a producer. Miyamoto said his way of leaving his mark on a project is to help and make people think "I'm glad he was there" or "I'd like to work with him next time."

The developer mentions that his position as producer requires him to provide whatever might be missing in a team, and that he wouldn't know which role he'd need to fill until the team starts to work on a project. Miyamoto clarified that the best teams to produce for would be those that didn't need his input, and that if a team needed his help that would mean the team had problems that needed solving.

Shigeru Miyamoto is a renowned game developer and producer behind the creation of the Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pikmin series, among others. The recent conversation appeared in the second of a series of talks between Itoi and Miyamoto. There are 12 conversations scheduled to appear daily between January 1-12, 2024 on the Hobonichi website.

The post Shigeru Miyamoto Said He 'Couldn't Do Anything,' so He Became a Producer appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:00 PM
    

Honkai Star Rail Revelation Cards

HoYoVerse released the artwork of characters for each of the Revelation Cards from the Honkai: Star Rail Fable of the Stars web event. These were shared through a series of posts on social media featuring all the images.

The 14 Fable of the Stars Revelation Cards each contain an image of different Honkai: Star Rail characters and resemble tarot cards. March 7th, Himeko, Bronya, Kafka, Jing Yuan, Jingliu, Dan Heng: Inhibitor Lunae, Luocha, Topaz, Argenti, Ruan Mei, Dr Ratio are all featured. Upcoming characters Black Swan and Sparkle are also part of the set. The social media posts also imply that players will be receiving a complete set of these cards, although it's unclear when or how this complete set will be distributed.

Here is the full gallery of cards shared on social media.

The Revelation Cards are part of the Fable of the Stars web event. Played in a web browser, the event features Black Swan reading a player's fortune, using these cards like a tarot deck. The cards are picked randomly to offer players a reading on how well they'll do in 2024. Some of the questions players can ask include whether they'll find love, improve their career prospects or simply get good pulls in-game.

The Revelation Cards earned through these fortunes will earn players Stellar Jades. Sharing duplicate cards with other players will offer players the chance to win a range of prizes including iPhones and mini fridges.

Honkai: Star Rail is available now on the PC, PS5 and mobile devices. The Fable of the Stars event is running now until January 5, 2024.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Revelation Cards of Characters Released appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 1:00 PM
    

LiSA Returns for The Irregular at Magic High School Sequel

Aniplex uploaded a promotional YouTube video from Aniplex promoting the sequel to the anime series The Irregular at Magic High School, and towards the end of the video, it reveals that the popular Japanese artist LiSA has been chosen to sing the opening theme song.

Back in January 2014, LiSA was announced as the artist to sing the first opening theme song of The Irregular at Magic High School. That song was her fifth single "Rising Hope." A preview of this song is played for most of the promotional video.

Now, she has once again been chosen to sing for the anime's second opening. A brief preview of the new song plays at the end of the video. It only comes in at about the 1:38 second mark, if you want to skip ahead and hear the new track.

Watch the video teasing the new LiSA song for the The Irregular at Magic High School sequel below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR6tWAL98Qo

The Irregular at Magic High School sequel is expected to premiere sometime in 2024. At the end of the video, it is teased that more news is expected to be revealed on January 4, 2024 in Japan.

The original anime series The Irregular at Magic High School can be streamed now on Hulu, Crunchyroll, and Funimation. Yen Press distributes the light novel overseas.

The post LiSA Sings The Irregular at Magic High School Anime Sequel Opening appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 12:00 PM
    

I Hate How Much I Love Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail

It isn't uncommon for HoYoVerse to offer Honkai: Star Rail players morally dubious characters as allies. I mean, consider Kafka, Silver Wolf, Blade, Jingliu, and Luocha. There's even a hint that Duke Inferno, who is head of the villainous Annihilation Gang and appears in recent 1.6 missions, could be playable after 2.0. But with Ruan Mei we have a new playable person in Honkai: Star Rail who is constantly questionable and doing things that are wrong, which I hate, but also became my favorite and most beloved support.

Editor's Note: There will be Honkai: Star Rail spoilers for the 1.6 Trailblaze Continuance Missions storylines.

I suppose it's easier to explain why exactly I like Ruan Mei. Mainly, because it's also the more obvious. Yes, a small part of it is because there's some amazing character design here. HoYoVerse has a habit of "same-ness" that can come up for characters of certain body types. It happens in Genshin Impact too! Characters can "always" have some sort of scarf trailing behind them. Even if they're supposed to be "buff" in-game, someone like Alhaitham can look really similar to Itto. The company's been getting better about that in Honkai: Star Rail, like with characters like Dr. Ratio definitely having more of a muscled appearance than other adult male body type characters like Luocha or Welt. With Ruan Mei, the additional sashes and scarves help set her apart a but more, which is nice. (Also, in general, her outfit is adorable.) The elegant style that also doesn't make her look exactly like any other character is appreciated.

Screenshot by Siliconera

But the main reason I love Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail is because she's one of the most versatile characters in the game. As one of my coworkers pointed out, she works on any team. Using one skill point every three turns to make sure Overtone is consistently active, via her Skill, means everyone in the party's damage and weakness break efficiency increases. Her Ultimate generates a field that makes their RES penetration increase and lets everyone's attacks inflict a temporary status effect that makes Weakness Break last longer on affected enemies. Her Talent increases her allies' speed and has her deal damage when allies cause a Weakness Break. 

Prior to her appearance, I'd usually never stray from my E1 Bronya as my default supporter, due to her Skill's ability to cleanse, buff DMG, and make another character immediately act and her Ultimate's ATK and CRIT DMG party buff. Maybe, in certain specialized instances, I'd go with Tingyun for the Energy and DMG buffs. But now having someone with the Freeze ailment potential I love and all these buffs that affect everyone in the group and impair enemies further… I can't refuse her. She's too good, and she's on every team.

The problem is, Ruan Mei is a monster.

I Hate How Much I Love Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail
Screenshot by Siliconera

HoYoVerse wastes no time in establishing this. When you start the Honkai: Star Rail Trailblaze Continuance Mission "When the Stars of Ingenuity Shine and find Ruan Mei, she seems congenial and pleasant. It's a bit weird that she touches the player character's face. However, she also offers some of the dessert she's eating. It's only after this initial meeting, that seems like a pleasant conversation, that you realize you've been drugged. When Ruan Mei asks you about her own field of research, no matter what you select, you say, "No. My research area is short stories about toilets." She then admits that she not only touched you without your consent, she drugged you ahead of forcing you along as her research assistant.

As the questline and subsequent  stories go on, as well as the Critter Pick event, Ruan Mei's sins keep adding up. She's obsessed with creating life forms, which she then just abandons. However, they still love and adore her, from the dumpling-dog like characters or the cat-mochi critters. They lament being far from her, dumped in a storage area of Herta Space Station, and often beg people who interact with them to help them get in contact with their creator. She obscures her actions from other Genius Society members. 

Screenshot by Siliconera

It all culminates in her absolutely horrifying resurrection of the Emanator of Propagation Starcrusher Swarm King: Skaracabaz. Her pursuit into "the true essence of life" resulted in her bringing back one of the most devastating members of Tayzzyronth's Swarm. For those unaware, the Swarm Disaster led to relentless reproduction that threatened the safety of the whole universe. It was only after multiple Aeons intervened that Tayzzyronth was defeated. While Argenti's Companion Quest did confirm the Swarm still exists in the universe, we are faced with the knowledge that Ruan Mei willingly created a biological weapon that could have killed everyone not only on Herta Space Station, but done massive harm to the universe. 

Worse is the conversation with Ruan Mei after the fact is ambiguous. She does say "I regret my actions. There's no defending what I've done." However, in the same breath she also says, "Time and again, my experiments have fallen short, and they've always yielded predictable results." My take away is that she doesn't regret creating that abominable, dangerous weapon-in-bug-form, but rather regrets that it died and was an "incomplete attempt." At the very least, the conversation with her comes to a close with her saying, "Do I seem irresponsible? I'm sorry. I am often at a loss as to how to face my own creations."

Screenshot by Siliconera

Which, as much as I hate to say it, I almost sort of appreciate in a way. I hate who Ruan Mei is as a person and what she represents in Honkai: Star Rail. I love how she functions as a unit, think her character design is great, and also in a way appreciate that not every playable person in the game is going to be "good" and "nice." 

Honkai: Star Rail is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the featured characters banner with Ruan Mei will be around until January 17, 2024. 

The post I Hate How Much I Love Ruan Mei in Honkai: Star Rail appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Resident Evil 2 Game Pass

Microsoft announced the first round of new Xbox Game Pass games for January 2024, which includes Resident Evil 2 Remake. It's one of eight games joining the service in the first half of January, including one game releasing via the EA Play service.

Here are all the initial Game Pass releases for January 2024:

  • January 3, 2024: Close to the Sun (cloud, console and PC)
  • January 4, 2024: Hell Let Loose (cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S)
  • January 9, 2024: Assassin's Creed Valhalla (cloud, console and PC)
  • January 9, 2024: Figment (cloud, console and PC)
  • January 11, 2024: Super Mega Baseball 4 (cloud, console and PC – via EA Play)
  • January 11, 2024: We Happy Few (cloud, console and PC – returning)
  • January 16, 2024: Resident Evil 2 Remake (cloud, console and PC)
  • January 16, 2024: Those Who Remain (cloud, console and PC)

The remake of Resident Evil 2 originally released in 2019 for the PC, Xbox One and PS4. It was a remake of the 1998 PlayStation game which featured the debut of Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield. The RE2 remake has since been followed by remakes of Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 4. While neither of these has been included in the Xbox Game Pass library, Resident Evil 7 was temporarily available through the service in 2022.

As well as the new additions, a few games will be leaving Xbox Game Pass this month. Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden were already confirmed to be leaving on January 15, 2024. Garden Story and Moto GP 22 will also be removed on the same date. Grand Theft Auto V will also be removed from the console library again on January 5, 2024.

More games are likely to be announced for Xbox Game Pass in the second half of January 2024.

The post January 2024 Xbox Game Pass Additions Include Resident Evil 2 Remake appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 3, 2024 5:00 PM
     Minecraft Authetification ServersWhen a game is as big as Minecraft, its servers are bound to have issues every now and then. While you can enjoy Minecraft offline by yourself or with friends, the online multiplayer experience is the real heart of the game. Some players are having issues connecting to Minecraft servers and realms, however, being faced with an error that reads "Failed to login: The authentication servers are currently down for maintenance." It's a rare message since Minecraft very rarely closes its servers for maintenance, but it can pop up for other reasons outside of scheduled maintenance. Here's what you can do if you get an authentication error in Minecraft. What to Do if the Minecraft Authentication Servers are Down When you see this error, it means that the Minecraft servers cannot verify your account. Don't worry, there's nothing wrong with your account. It just means that there's a communication error between your network and Mojan...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:57 PM
     Apex Predator Destiny 2 Featured ImageYou might not rely on RNG, but your skill will be what determines whether you carry a new legendary weapon in your backpack. Here is how to get the Apex Predator in Destiny 2. Destiny 2: How to get Apex Predator The Apex Predator is a legendary Solar rocket launcher that was introduced during Season 21 of Destiny 2, also known as the Season of the Deep. It is an adaptive frame weapon, meaning that it is particularly reliable and sturdy, and it has a great collection of perks that make it usable in both PVE and PVP. It is also a craftable weapon, meaning that you can manually get to choose the best perks of the pool. However, getting the Apex Predator – let alone the Deepsight version – is quite complicated due to difficulty and timing. The Apex Predator is a Last Wish raid weapon, meaning that it only drops whenever said raid is under rotation, making it a rare drop, although the advantage of it dropping from the first encounter makes it a bit better. ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:35 PM
     Theme park robloxIs there any limit to the reach of what Roblox can do? The community is testing just how far the open-source engine can be pushed with thousands of worlds, game types, and mechanics created. If you want to play horror games, Roblox has you covered. If you're looking to get your teeth into a first-person shooter, it's there, and maybe you just want to punch a wall repeatedly, no worries. In this article, we will delve into the world of the best Roblox tycoon games of 2024. Who needs the new Cities Skylines? The Best Roblox Tycoon Games of 2024 Tycoon games are great; who doesn't like simulating the power of a capitalist overlord? Become the number one pizza flipper, rule the world with a city the size of a nation, or repeatedly send theme park fans to their fiery deaths. Whatever you want to become a business guru in, Roblox has it. Here are my favorite Roblox Tycoon games. Lumber Tycoon 2 Screenshot by PC Invasion Lumber Tycoon 2 now com...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:04 PM
     Honkai Star Rail CharactersThere are 40 playable characters in Honkai: Star Rail currently, and here are the ages and heights of each character of Honkai Star Rail. Related: How to complete Sojourners' Ghastly Reverie Mission in Honkai Star Rail (HSR) Honkai Star Rail: All character's ages and heights The lore and character backstory of all HoYoverse games have always attracted fans like me. While learning the details about each character's life, we often get a question about their personal details in our minds. Although this information is not provided precisely in the game, we have made a list of the estimated ages and heights of all Honkai Star Rail characters according to their lore or backstory. Character NamePathAgeHeightCombat TypeArgentiErudition23-256'2″PhysicalArlanDestruction19-215'3″LightningAstaHarmony20-235'5″Fire BailuAbundance18-214'6″LightningBladeDestruction39-416'2″WindBronyaHarmony23-255'6″WindClaraDestruction10-125...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:53 PM
     Baldur's Gate 3 GaleWizards have the most spells and cantrips in Baldur's Gate 3, more than any other class. Because of that, ensuring you pick the best spells and cantrips for your Wizard can be difficult. But don't worry — in this guide, I'll break down what the best Wizard spells and cantrips in Baldur's Gate 3. Note: If you want to learn the best subclass and race for Wizards in Baldur's Gate 3, then visit our full class tier list breakdown for more information on Wizards. What are the Best Wizard Wpells in BG3? Best Wizard subclasses Evocation Conjuration Necromancy Abjuration Enchantment Divination Illusion Transmutation Best Wizard race High Elf Best Wizard background Sage Best Wizard abilities Intelligence Wisdom Constitution Dexterity Charisma Strength Unlike Warlocks and Sorcerers who have their own special class options, Wizards get spells, spells, and then more spe...

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     If Old School RuneScape players were to rank the most infamous skills in the game, Slayer would arguably be towards the top. Being assigned a slayer task to gear up and take on Old School RuneScape's toughest creatures for the opportunity to gain incredible gp per hour is some of the most exciting content in […]

Gamer Empire Wednesday, January 3, 2024 2:00 PM
     In the Second World War, tanks were a huge part that decided who won most battles. In Hearts of Iron 4, players have the ability to edit every little bit of the tanks they want to use to build the most efficient war machine in the 1940s. Unfortunately, there are a lot of stats that […]

Gamer Empire Wednesday, January 3, 2024 11:58 AM
     If you've come across the Strange Key in Destiny 2 and don't know what to do with it, then this guide is for you. We will quickly cover how to use your Strange Key as well as how to obtain one if you don't have it yet. Recommended Read: How to Farm Exotics in Destiny […]

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 3, 2024 4:10 PM
    

The upcoming titles include Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The post Xbox Game Pass Adds Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Resident Evil 2, And More appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:51 PM
    

A demo for the game will also launch on January 11.

The post Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Gets New World Gameplay Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:34 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:05 PM
    

Starfield launched in early access on September 1

The post Starfield's Recent Steam Reviews Drop to "Mostly Negative" appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


iDev Games Feed Wednesday, January 3, 2024 3:27 PM
     2D shmup where you control a tank or a helicopter...