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Feb 19, 16:00


GamersHeroes Monday, February 19, 2024 10:51 AM
    

The latest trailer for ILCA and Bandai Namco's Sand Land provides an overview of the title.

The post Sand Land Gameplay Overview Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Monday, February 19, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Alongside a worldwide vaccination program, PowerWash Simulator is the only reason humanity survived Covid. The 2022 release, inexplicably published by Square Enix, asked us simply to clean. Clean playgrounds, houses, flying saucers, all caked in a thick layer of mud and grime. It was, and still is, a zen-like source…

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Kotaku Monday, February 19, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Third-person shooter sensation Helldivers 2 reached an extraordinary 409,337 concurrent players over the weekend. That makes it the fifth most popular game on Steam, a fact made all the more impressive when you factor in that three of those five games are free, compared to Helldivers 2's $40 pricetag.

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Kotaku Monday, February 19, 2024 12:30 PM
    

If you, like me, are a child, you'll regularly refresh the new releases on the official Pokémon store to see what madcap paraphernalia its selling today. With almost daily drops, these additions can be anything from a statue of Ditto eating Pewter Crunchies, to an entire range of wildly overpriced Pikachu-themed…

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Kotaku Monday, February 19, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Every week, out of the kindness of its bulging heart, Epic gives a game away for free on its PC games store it desperately wishes you'd use instead of Steam. Pure altruism, no doubt. At the time of writing, for instance, you can pick up Dakar Desert Rally gratis. From February 22, it'll be Super Meat Boy Forever…

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Kotaku Monday, February 19, 2024 10:30 AM
    

As 2024's big bad—Late Stage Capitalism—continues its grim rampage, some developers are looking to more innovative approaches to avoid the publishing industry's self-sabotaging need for impossibly endless growth. Stormgate creator Frost Giant—a studio created by former StarCraft 2 devs—is following up on its recent…

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PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 2:39 PM
     Baldur's Gate 3's romance patch has ruined act 2 for some players

Baldur's Gate 3's romance patch was met with joy when it was released right after Valentine's Day. Players quickly got to work talking to Shadowheart at camp, winning over the lovable barbarian Karlach, and requesting newly animated smooches from the swoon-worthy sorcerer Gale. All's fair in love and war with the Elder brain, though; sadly, lots of players have run into game-ruining bugs after installing patch 6.

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

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 2:40 PM
     Helldivers 2 server status and error codes

Is Helldivers 2 down? If you're here searching for an answer, it could very well be obvious. Like any popular live service title, Helldivers 2 is prone to the odd blip from time to time. If you're struggling to log into the co-op horde shooter to smash big bugs and dangerous droids, you might want to know the Helldivers 2 server status, what the error codes mean, and how to fix them.

New to Helldivers 2? We've all been there. We're learning as go, and there's always more to discover. To make your first group sessions run smoothly, check out how Helldivers 2 crossplay works. And if you're yet to jump in, you'll want to know whether or not you can get Helldivers 2 on Game Pass. For performance-related issues, read up on how the Helldivers 2 AMD and Nvidia FPS gap might affect you.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 system requirements, Steam Deck compatability

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 1:00 PM
     This classic XCOM like has just had its biggest Steam update yet

If you've been looking for something with that classic XCOM flavor, the Steam Early Access game Xenonauts 2 has just had its biggest update to date, alongside a 30% off Steam sale. With new weapons for both you and your alien opponents, new vehicles, and a series of AI improvements, the game is better than ever.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best strategy games on PC, The best turn-based strategy games, The best space games on PC

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 12:46 PM
     You won't have to worry about Helldivers 2 server campers for long

Helldivers 2's server issues continue to rile up third-person shooter fans, as savvy players seemingly find ways to camp out for days, blocking others from grabbing a spot. Unsurprisingly, people aren't happy about it, and are asking for changes to be made to prevent it from happening - and thankfully, Arrowhead is listening.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Helldivers 2 system requirements, Steam Deck compatability

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 12:31 PM
     Diablo 4 rival Last Epoch reveals its mammoth 1.0 patch notes

We finally have a look at Last Epoch patch 1.0, as the Diablo 4 and Path of Exile 2 rival finally launches out of Steam Early Access this week. With the two new mastery classes, multiple guilds, player-to-player trading, and a whole suite of visual improvements, Last Epoch is coming out swinging.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best games like Diablo, System requirements

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 12:31 PM
     MSI confirms OLED gaming monitor pricing and we're very pleased

MSI has just confirmed the suggested prices for its upcoming 2024 QD-OLED gaming monitor range. The MSI OLED gaming monitor prices were originally set to start at a lower point with an initial promotion but the company has now decided to stick with these prices permanently.

We've been impressed with the handful of OLED gaming monitors we've reviewed so far, with the likes of the LG 27GR95QE and Samsung Odyssey G9 G95SC offering stunning ultra-fast gaming performance and, in the case of the Samsung, stunning overall image quality too. That's why they both make it onto our best gaming monitor guide. However, 2024 is set to have an even broader, more capable range of more affordable OLED panels, such as those we first saw at CES 2024, and now we're starting to see those exciting new panels get prices and release dates.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review, MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Trio review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 12:11 PM
     Atomic Heart's new DLC is a pastel

Atomic Heart's Trapped in Limbo DLC is a pastel pink acid trip that features a hammer, sickle, and a heck of a lot of fur. It's bestial, it's beautiful, and it's downright bonkers, so when I was offered the chance to speak to Mundfish's art director, Artem Galeev, I only had one question in mind - what happened here?

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Atomic Heart weapons, Atomic Heart bosses, Atomic Heart review

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 12:47 PM
     Last Epoch review – a worthy challenger to the ARPG throne

After five years in early access, Last Epoch is finally here. Arriving squarely between the launches of Blizzard behemoth Diablo 4 and the upcoming Path of Exile 2 from Grinding Gear Games, this ARPG has long been heralded as the ideal middle ground between D4's beginner-friendly systems and Path of Exile's unrelenting depth and complexity. Built by Eleventh Hour Games, originally formed as a passion project by developers who met through Reddit, Last Epoch certainly bears the mark of that scrappy upstart origin. Yet it's also clear that this is a game built by people who love the genre and have spent a lot of time playing it, and the result is one of the most delightfully player-friendly and welcoming RPGs I've ever played - one that pushes the genre forward in some ways its bigger-name rivals would do well to take note of.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best games like Diablo, System requirements

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 12:00 PM
     Last Epoch crafting – affixes, glyphs, and runes explained

How does Last Epoch crafting work? Making builds is at the core of this ARPG, as not only can your character level up and gain unique buffs, but each skill you equip can get points you spend to make it more potent. But having decent killing techniques is only part of the puzzle, as your equipment truly dictates precisely how powerful you really are. Luckily, you can mitigate the sheer random nature of this by taking advantage of crafting.

It may be tempting to just leave this whole mechanic until the endgame, but you should explore the Last Epoch crafting system as early as possible in the RPG game. Just be very careful about what you spend, as there are some glyphs and runes that are a little more complex, and that's not even getting started on legendary items that require you to complete an endgame dungeon just for the privilege of using the Eternity Cache within. Here is everything you could possibly want to know about Last Epoch crafting.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPG games, Best games like Diablo, System requirements

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:43 AM
     AMD Zen 5 leak reveals potential launch window

It may seem hard to believe that AMD debuted its first Zen 4 CPUs almost two years ago now, but it should soon be time for Zen 5 to take center stage. As expected, it shouldn't be long now until new desktop processors emerge according to a new leak.

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

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:38 AM
     Lian Li just changed PC power supply designs for the better

Lian Li has just unveiled the Lian Li Edge power supply, an ingenious new shape of PSU that is designed to be much easier for owners of dual chamber cases to use. The secret to the design is that instead of the main internal power cables connecting to the flat front face of the power supply, they instead plug into a new L-shaped section - the power supply plug porch as I've taken to calling it - that turns the sockets 90 degrees to face the outside of your case.

While not a guarantee that this new shape of PSU will immediately be the best power supply choice for owners of any of the best PC cases in the world, it should ensure that users of dual-chamber design such as Lian Li's own O11D will have a much easier time installing and upgrading their system.

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

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:31 AM
     Save $100 on this 27-inch Dell gaming monitor if you act fast

There's a fantastic Dell gaming monitor deal available right now on Amazon, with the Dell G2724D currently discounted by 33%. That equates to a $100 saving on this display's normal $299 cost.

This isn't just any old cheap display either, even if it isn't a panel that currently features on our best gaming monitor guide. It includes a 2,560 x 1,440 resolution - not the lower 1,920 x 1,080 resolution of some cheaper 27-inch monitors - and goes up to 165Hz refresh rate.


PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:03 AM
     Monopoly Go President's Trail rewards

What are the Monopoly Go President's Trail rewards? The newest Monopoly Go event is a fairly simple one but should give you plenty of scope to earn rewards like Peg-e Tokens, Dice Frenzy, and of course, dice rolls. No Prize Drop machine this time around, but it means that the rewards are clear, and you know what you're playing for.

If you're new to all things Monopoly Go, make sure you take our Monopoly Go events page a look so you can learn about all the goings on, both past and present. There's a pattern to these events, so learning them can help you with knowing when to spend your spins. To get the most out of these events, check out our Monopoly Go dice links, where you can gain access to a ton of free spins. We also have the best online board games if you want something slightly different to play.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Free PC games, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:05 AM
     All Monopoly Go events, tournaments, dates, and rewards

What is the next Monopoly Go event? With so many limited-time events in Monopoly Go, it can be hard to keep track of the rewards you can get your hands on. Monopoly Go events can last anywhere from a few hours to a week, so bookmark this page as we'll keep it regularly updated with the next events and their start and end dates.

Monopoly Go is the latest online board game sweeping the globe, but completing all of these events won't be easy without some Monopoly Go free dice links, so check out our daily updated guide for some freebies and rewards before you get started on the next Monopoly Go tournament.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Free PC games, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:00 AM
     This Stan Lee Marvel comic book gaming PC is incredible

This stunning Marvel PC build wouldn't look out of place in the pages of a Captain America comic book. Built by PC modding hobbyist Marios Dalainos, it's covered in comic panels, while its paintwork looks like it's been sketched by a comic artist. Made as a tribute to Stan Lee, creator of some of the most iconic superheroes, it makes for a brilliant spectacle.

Thanks to our rapidly growing PC building Facebook page, we've seen many custom gaming PCs, from mods based on existing case designs to scratch PC builds. You can even submit yours for consideration right here. Here we chat to Marios about how he made this Stan Lee tribute PC build.

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

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 11:12 AM
     Everywhere and Mindseye developer Build a Rocket Boy announces layoffs

A PCGamesN source has confirmed that Build a Rocket Boy, the developer founded by former Rockstar North president and long-time Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies, has laid off a currently unknown number of staff globally. Benzies founded Build a Rocket Boy in 2018 following a break from Rockstar in 2016.


PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 10:03 AM
     10/10 Obsidian RPG game with 97% Steam rating on sale for dirt cheap

South Park The Stick of Truth, a 10/10 RPG game from the studio behind Pentiment and New Vegas, is currently on sale. Obsidian's 2014 game was the start of South Park's massive videogame revival, as next month's Snow Day brings the series back into 3D with four-player co-op.


PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 9:54 AM
     AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE spotted in UK, could be coming to the US

A few months ago, AMD introduced the AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE (Golden Rabbit Edition) as a China-exclusive GPU that also then found its way to system integrators in a few regions too. However, the likes of the US and UK have resolutely not had access to the card, until now.

The AMD Radeon RX 7900 GRE recently appeared for sale as an individual card on UK retailer AWD-it. The company mostly makes gaming PCs and laptops but also sells components too, and the GRE was briefly available to buy there for £659.99 inc VAT, which is around $832 after tax. That doesn't immediately make the 7900 GRE standout as a best graphics card contender, when compared to prices for the RX 7800 and RX 7900 XT, but there is potential for this to be a card that would suit some buyers.

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

PCGamesN Monday, February 19, 2024 9:07 AM
     Intel Core i9 14900KS price leak shows eye-watering cost

Intel Core i9-14900KS rumors are swirling with what's expected to be the last and fastest-ever Intel Core i9 CPU due to arrive in March. However, a new Intel Core i914900KS price leak has just revealed quite how expensive the chip is likely to be.

Coming via a French online retailer, the price of Intel's latest best gaming CPU contender is set to be a massive €752 including VAT - €640 without VAT. That makes the 24-core chip €146 higher than the cost of the company's current flagship CPU, the 14900K, based on average pricing for that chip at other French retailers.

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

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 2:58 PM
    

It's been eight years since Street Fighter V hit PC. As you might recall, the fighting game landed with the poise of someone shattering both kneecaps on impact, as complaints about a small roster of characters and barebones story mode - to be filled in later with DLC - were made more egregious by a number of technical issues, including bugs and online issues caused by its wobbly servers.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 2:19 PM
    

Despite plenty of rumours, we still don't know when Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree will arrive - it could be later this month, this year or maybe beyond even that. While we're waiting on the official expansion, though, modders have beaten FromSoftware to offering a substantial new experience to those who've cleared every corner of the Lands Between.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 1:42 PM
    

Sega's upcoming reboot of '90s arcade classic Crazy Taxi will be a "triple-A" game, according to the head of one of the Japanese studios working on the driving game's return.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 12:59 PM
    

New arcade shoot 'em up Nidus first caught my eye with its psychedelic bug blast on Screenshot Saturday Monday. Three months later, it has now launched, and for a mere £6 we can all fill our eyes with so many colourful insects. You'd have to pay at least £57 for that sort of fun down the pet shop.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 12:53 PM
    

I've been completely hooked on Helldivers 2 since diving into its exceptional Starship Troopers-y bug-blastathon last week, and I'm far from alone - so many people are playing the co-op shooter that developers Arrowhead capped the game's servers at 450,000 simultaneous players over the weekend to try and alleviate connection and login problems caused by its enormous popularity.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 12:01 PM
    

There's a particular boss encounter in Balatro that always feels like it's cheating a bit. In this mesmerising poker roguelike, each stage is made up of three blinds - small, big and boss - with the blind essentially being a high score you have to hit by playing different kinds of poker hands - your traditional flushes, straights, pairs and so on. Each hand has its own number of chips and multiplier bonuses associated with it, and Balatro's whole deal is about shuffling closer to victory by making the most of the cards you're dealt. While some blinds are tiny, stretching to just 300 or 450 early on in a run, they quickly start ramping up into the tens of thousands as each successfully defeated boss blind ups the ante and the accompanying stakes. Reach an ante of eight, and bingo, you've won a run of Balatro.

The boss blind I keep coming a cropper with, though, is The Flint. This sucker not only halves a hand's chip score, but it also cuts its multiplier in two as well, and I've yet to figure out exactly how to defeat it. Sometimes it appears with a blind of just 600, but other times it's been an enormous 22,000. In fairness, all bosses have little tricks like this. Some will debuff certain card suites, making them useless in your overall score count. Others may only let you play one hand type the entire match, while the cheeky Tooth will deduct you $1 for every card used. But Balatro isn't simply about beating the odds with smart and intelligent card plays. It's about bending, twisting and abusing those odds to your will - also through smart and intelligent card plays. Cheating isn't just encouraged in Balatro. It's damn near mandatory, and it's all thanks to the brilliantly conceived joker cards that give the game its Latin-based name.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 11:48 AM
    

As time-travelling fantasy APRG Last Epoch gears up for its 1.0 release this week, developers Eleventh Hour Games have revealed the final crop of character classes that will be arriving in the game on February 21st. Technically, they're the final pair of the 15 mastery classes that you'll be able to unlock after working through one of Last Epoch's five base classes, but listen, I don't even need to look at the other 14 masteries to know what I'm going to be aiming for come release. The Falconer specialisation of Last Epoch's Rogue class just sounds too good to pass up.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 11:32 AM
    

Ore-poaching co-op shooter Deep Rock Galactic was updated today, primarily to address a series of longstanding technical issues but also to encourage you to get sozzled and turn into a filing cabinet. The patch adds a new Hidden Dwarf Double IPA bevvy to the space rig hub's bar, and duly necking it will initiate a prop hunt minigame among your squad of dwarven miners.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 10:33 AM
    

Every weekend, indie devs show off current work on Twitter's #screenshotsaturday tag. And every Monday, I bring you a selection of these snaps and clips. This week, my eye has been caught by handcrafted art, intense fighting game violence, cosy management, and heaps more attractive and interesting indie games. Check these out!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 9:58 AM
    

Helldivers 2 is turning out to be an absolute laugh riot of a co-op shooter; it may even have the potential to rival Deep Rock Galactic on good vibes and teammate deaths as accidental comedy masterstrokes. Even ongoing server connectivity issues haven't done much to spoil the sense of fun, which incidentally, can also be shared on the Steam Deck.

Indeed, following a quick Proton update on Valve's part, its previously SteamOS-incompatible anti-cheat will no longer put the kibosh on you dropping into Helldivers 2 via your Deck. I've been testing on both an original 512GB model and the newer Steam Deck OLED, and as long as you don't mind dropping the quality settings, it can usually run tidily above 30fps.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 9:51 AM
    

Modern art puzzler Please, Touch The Artwork was a bit of a surprise hit when it came out in 2022. It not only poked fun at the reverential distance enforced on us by stuffy old art galleries, but it also invited us to recreate abstract modern masterworks by clicking, tracing and generally getting up close and personal with them with our big, colourful in-game fingers. Now, solo developer Thomas Waterzooi is back with Please, Touch The Artwork 2, which takes us on a slightly different journey through the art world as a hidden object point and click game. It's out today, is completely free, and was made to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the death of the Belgian expressionist and surrealist painter James Ensor.

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Twinfinite Monday, February 19, 2024 4:00 PM
    
Too bad the manhwa is finished.

Twinfinite Monday, February 19, 2024 3:00 PM
    
Which genre suits your personality best?

Twinfinite Monday, February 19, 2024 12:00 PM
    
A better Diablo at half the price.

Twinfinite Monday, February 19, 2024 10:37 AM
    
Old pirates or new pirates?

Twinfinite Monday, February 19, 2024 10:00 AM
    
Ever wondered which element you'd have control of? Take this quiz to find out what ATLA bender you'd be!

Twinfinite Monday, February 19, 2024 9:48 AM
    
The wait is agonizing!

Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 4:00 PM
    

Fire Emblem Heroes Gets Engage Characters Ivy, Hortensia, Mauvier

More Fire Emblem Engage characters are joining Fire Emblem Heroes, with Ivy, her sister Hortensia, their retainers Kagetsu and Rosado, and Mauvier being added to the game. While four are part of a new banner available on February 19, 2024, Mauvier will be a Grand Hero Battle reward on February 20, 2024.

New characters from the Switch game have trickled out in the mobile game since its launch. Most notable are Hortensia and Ivy. Hortensia's Arcane Charmer staff can be inherited by another unit, while still keeping her, due to her being a Rearmed unit. Meanwhile, Ivy is the new Attuned character, which means she has a Soaring Echo x skill another unit can inherit without losing her that allows infantry and flying units to move near her. 

Here's the trailer showing off all four new units appearing on the banner. While all four characters are available at five-stars, Kagetsu is also available as a four-star.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq8VlqJ3U1M&ab_channel=NintendoMobile

As Mauvier is a Grand Hero Battle unit, we don't know much about his fight yet. However, it will be available for a limited time starting on February 20, 2024. Winning it will give people three-star and four-star versions of the character.

Fire Emblem Heroes is available for mobile devices, and the new Engage characters banner is live now. Fire Emblem Engage is available on the Nintendo Switch.

The post Fire Emblem Heroes Gets Engage Characters Ivy, Hortensia, Mauvier appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 3:30 PM
    

Inugami Korone Designed a Mini Boss in Lords of Exile

Hololive Vtuber Inugami Korone revealed that she helped design an enemy boss for the indie action platforming game Lords of Exile. The Vtuber shared the news on through her official social media account, and then revealed she "secretly backed" the title on Kickstarter.

Korone was able to design a Lords of Exile boss thanks to the Boss Designer reward tier in the game's Kickstarter campaign, which was available for 1,400€ (or approximately $1,509). The Vtuber encouraged fans to try and find the boss. Additionally, Inugami Korone shared a hint in a follow-up post about the boss that she designed for Lords of Exile, saying that it is a "small boss."

Here is the original post:

https://twitter.com/inugamikorone/status/1759486962375995589

Lords of Exile is a retro-inspired 8-bit action platforming indie game in the style of classic titles like the original Castlevania games, as well as more recent ones like the two Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon games. The game was developed by solo developer SquidBit Works.

In other Korone related news, the Vtuber shared on December 2023 a Sonic the Hedgehog comic that she drew as Sonic Ambassador titled "Fast Friends Forever."

Lords of Exile is immediately available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

The post Inugami Korone Designed a Mini Boss in Lords of Exile appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 3:00 PM
    

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash - a sorcerer stands before a purple maelstrom.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is interesting in how it allows you to effortlessly do cool things. If you're only looking for an arena fighter where you can just mash buttons and beat up on weird spirits, this game will have you covered for a little while. Even then, though, little nuisances will keep popping up throughout your play time. The characters all kinda look the same. The enemies aren't all that challenging. Your partners get in your way instead of helping you. If you really love the anime and just want to brainlessly smack things then you'll enjoy this to an extent. If you're looking for anything more than that, you'll want to look elsewhere.

Having only watched a few episodes of the anime, I looked forward to playing through its wild battles through the game's Story Mode. While I did fight some interesting spirits while playing this mode, most of my time was spent reading. The game lays out most of the storyline through text and still images, only stopping for a battle every few minutes. If you've seen the anime, I feel like these recaps would be incredibly dull as you waited for something to happen. If you haven't, you're ALSO going to find these a dull, lifeless version of a story that's far better when it doesn't feel like it's being relayed second hand. I felt like I was just reading an episode breakdown on Wikipedia. It tells the story, but so in-brief that I can't see it appealing to any audience.

While being brief, Story Mode still manages to be tedious in Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash just because of how long it rambles on for. You play through small snippets of the story in individual missions, but most of these just consist of text walls for a bit that end with a fight. Some of them are JUST the text walls. And given that it's not doing the story any favors, it just feels like the game is wasting your time for much of the time you spend in Story Mode. Thankfully you can just skip the story if you're tired of reading through all this stuff.

Things get marginally better when you finally get to fight something. The game is fairly basic with its combat. Square, Triangle, and Circle all let you slap your foes around with different attacks, and holding down while hitting those buttons changes the attack. However, in Story Mode, you're just going to want to hit Square all the time. Mashing Square leads to a combo that ends with a Cursed Energy Technique (a Super, basically, and where all of your damage will come from). There is literally no downside to hammering this button the entire time you play this mode.

jujutsu kaisen cursed clash - Yuji Itadori and Nobara Kugisaki lunge forward
Image Courtesy of Bandai Namco

You CAN try to put together something fancier in Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash, but the janky movement and combat make it hard to make that stuff work. I've tried to put the other moves into practice, playing around with different strings or making use of the Cursed Energy level (basically a Super bar, except it charges absurdly fast as it's necessary to do actual damage) in more intricate ways, but it feels like enemies are always right on top of you or flitting around someplace far away (and are flinging projectiles). Your best bet is to always be in their face launching your fastest attack, which means you're mashing square.

So yes, you need to land a Cursed Energy Technique to do any damage. Regular strikes don't hurt your enemies. So, having an auto-combo that leads into those techniques is kinda necessary. Anything else feels like you're needlessly overcomplicating your life because you have to find some place to add one of those Cursed Energy Techniques yourself by hitting R1. If you get fancy with your combo, it might look slightly cooler, but you're adding some risk without any real extra reward as that final Cursed Energy Technique seems to be the only strike that matters.

I've tried to see if the other combos will do more damage in the long term in Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash, but a bunch of them I tried tended to knock the enemy so far away that the Cursed Energy Technique whiffed. I ended up losing patience and just stuck to the square button, and the game largely couldn't touch me after that point. Any time I tried to branch out, I swear the enemies would just blast me from afar, teleport right into my face out of nowhere and combo me instead, or I'd miss with the only attack that would actually hurt the enemy. So, I hope you like the square button.

As brainless fun, it sort of works, but I still had more problems with it. The game touted being able to bring in a second character, but in Story Mode, you just give this character directions with the D-Pad. I was hoping for the ability to swap between characters to link moves together in intricate ways, but you just tell them to fight aggressively, defensively, or to try to coordinate with you. What I've found largely happens is that the pair of you constantly interrupt each other's combos, knocking foes away before either of you land your Cursed Energy Technique. I ended up wasting ages on the tutorial stage of this paired battle because we were incapable of landing the big special co-op technique because one of us kept knocking the enemy away. So, having a partner usually meant doing no damage and getting beat up way more often.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash - Nobara Kugisaki faces the camera while a monster is cut in half behind her.
Image Courtesy of Bandai Namco

I am genuinely struggling to find something positive to say about Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash and its combat other than that it is functional. The environments can be broken down for something that feels like a dynamic battle, but it just means stuff disappearing after it gets hit or breaking into a few pieces with no impressive effects, most of the time. Your character's various Cursed Energy Techniques are fairly unimpressive as well, with only a handful of high level techniques doing anything interesting if you do. And even then, you need to charge it to full to do so, but you're just better off landing smaller attacks and overwhelming your foe with basic strikes to do your low level attacks. This also tends to trigger special Joint Attacks with your partner that do solid damage (unless you or them knocked your opponent too far away) and look pretty cool. So, again, smashing square is the best thing you can do in the basic Story Mode.

The game has a few other modes if Story Mode is sounding deeply underwhelming at this point. An online co-op mode lets you and a friend fight several spirits in a row, with varying levels of challenge if you're playing Rush Battle or Survival Battle. It's more fun to have another person working together to fight intelligently, but only a little better. You can also do online battles against other players, and here, it would probably help to learn those combos. However, those fights lagged and chugged along so hard that I'm not sure how much the combos would help you. And that's when I could even find a match.

If all you wanna do is smash buttons and beat up spirits from the anime, Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is serviceable. That's about it. If you're looking for any more depth in any way, the game simply does not have it. Combat is overly simple, and when you try to make it anything more, you just get thumped for your efforts. The support characters actively hinder you. The story is doled out in the worst way I can think of. The online is barren when it's not lagging horribly. It's just a flat, tiresome game that is only good for some mindless action for those absolutely itching for anything to do with the anime.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash is available for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Review: Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash Is a Mindless Arena Fighter appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Suika Game Exercise Version Has Motion Controls

In collaboration with the Smart 5min free exercise app, Suika Game (Watermelon Game) got an exercise version that features motion controls. The exercise version is currently available for free in the Smart 5min app. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The Suika Game exercise version utilizes the camera on a smart device to control and play Suika Game while maintaining the same design and look of the original version. This exercise version creates a full-body exercise for players. issin, the developer of Smart 5min, promises to expand content for the game in the future in collaboration with Aladdin X.

Smart 5min allows users to exercise for 5 minutes while watching their heart rate increase while completing different workout videos. It can be played with the camera on or off, allowing users to adjust their workout the way they want to. While the app is free and does not require special equipment to use it, in order for people to fully utilize the Smart 5min app, they can purchase the Smart 5min heart rate monitor band from the official website for ¥9,800 (~$65 USD).

issin released a trailer promoting the Suika Game exercise version coming to Smart 5min, which can be viewed below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6J5FkLV_Mg[/embed]

The exercise version is based on the original Suika Game which gain a massive following in late 2023 after receiving over 2 million downloads in Japan. The game now has over 6 million downloads as of February 2024. Suika Game is a puzzle game that allows players to combine the same kinds of fruits together to evolve them into larger fruits. The simplistic gameplay made it friendly for both children and adults to play.

Suika Game is available to play on the Nintendo Switch and iOS devices. The exercise version is currently available to play for free in the Smart 5min app on iOS and Android.

The post Suika Game Exercise Version Offers Motion Controls appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 2:00 PM
    

Dear Anemone Manga Begins Its Shonen Jump Run

There's yet another new Shonen Jump manga now running in the magazine and on the website. The first chapter of Dear Anemone is live, and the manga can be read in English via MangaPlus and Viz Media.

 Rin Matsui is the mangaka behind the new series. It suggests that evolution isn't as straightforward as people may think. A young man named Gaku Hachiue is a part of a government volunteer trip to the Galapagos Islands with an array of other individuals from various backgrounds. Ten years ago, there was a toxic explosion there. People sent to investigate a year later never returned. So now a ragtag group is being sent to investigate and rescue any possible survivors over the next month for a life-changing amount of money. However, they soon learn just how dangerous the trip will be.

This now marks the third new Shonen Jump manga to debut in February 2024. The first was Astro Babyat the beginning of the month. Super Psychic Policeman Chojofollowed that. Also, prior to those two new releases, 2024 started off with the Kaiju No 8: B-Sidespin-off starting its run and showing Soshiro Hoshina's background. 

The next new chapter ofthe Dear Anemone manga will appear on February 25, 2024. 

The post Dear Anemone Manga Begins Its Shonen Jump Run appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 1:00 PM
    

Mother Earthbound G-Shock watch

Hobonichi revealed that it is working with Casio to produce a new Earthbound G-Shock watch model. The watch will be priced at 23,980 yen (~$160), but it will only be available in limited numbers. The only way to purchase this watch will be to join a lottery that Hobonichi will hold on March 14-25, 2024.

In its press release, Hobonichi noted that this watch will have more improvements and more Earthbound references compared to the original 2022 release. Being based on the GW-6900 model, it will support the Multiband 6 technology that lets users in North America, Europe, and East Asia sync the watch's time automatically.

While the first release only featured black color, this model will come in red, which suits Earthbound better. The new watch will also show a "SMAAAASH!!" text when the display is lit up. It will also contain more references to the game, such as the Japanese Mother logo on the top, the "POTENTIAL" text on the bottom, and the phone icon on the backside.

Hobonichi is also showcasing a physical sample of the new collaboration watch at its storefronts. The sample is immediately viewable at Tobichi Tokyo until February 27, 2024. The company will then move it to Shinsaibashi Parco in Osaka on March 1-17, 2024. The watch will return to Tobichi Tokyo for a final showing on March 20-24, 2024.

The GW-6900MOT24-4JR Earthbound G-Shock watch will be available for purchase via lottery on March 14-25, 2024. The item will also be a part of Earthbound's 30th anniversary celebrations, following its original release for Super Famicom (SNES) in 1994 in Japan as Mother 2.

The post A New Earthbound G-Shock Watch Will Appear in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Sand Land Gameplay Detailed In Latest Overview

Bandai Namco Entertainment shared new gameplay details in its latest overview trailer for Sand Land. The latest video details the party, combat, vehicles, and more in the Sand Land game.

In the Sand Land game, the party will primarily consist of Beelzebub, Thief, Rao, and Ann. While Beelzebub is the main playable character, the other party members each contribute during combat and in exploration in some way. Thief is able to assist with getting additional items from enemies or finding rare loot while exploring the world of Sand Land. Rao can ride on tanks and attack enemies temporarily during combat. Ann is able to increase the performance and efficiency of vehicles. Many different skills for the party can be unlocked by using skill points on their individual skill tree.

In combat, Beelzebub can utilize light and heavy attacks on ground and in the there. Dodging can also be done in midair or sideways on land. Beelzebub can also sneak behind enemies and scare them into unconsciousness.

Some of Beelzebub's special abilities include turning his body to metal, or activating his Dark Release, an area-of-effect attack that blows enemies away with a dark blast of energy from his body. While in combat, items can be utilized to power up his attack, defense, or power of darkness. Water can also be used to heal HP, and it can be restocked at water supply points.

There are plenty of vehicles available in the game, including a jump bot that bounces over high cliffs, hover cars that glide over water, and heavy armor that can clear pathways by lifting or blowing away obstacles. Only five vehicles can be carried at a time, so players must plan ahead over which ones to bring while exploring the world of Sand Land. Also, if a vehicle is destroyed in combat, then it is an automatic game over.

Vehicles can be customized by Ann in her garage. Players will be able to build, upgrade, and equip vehicles while in the garage. Some upgrades that can be made to vehicles include adding rocket launchers, lasers, machine guns, and shotguns. Engines and suspension can be upgraded to boost the performance of a vehicle, and optional parts can unlock special performance skills for vehicles. The back room of the garage is customizable with a variety of different pieces of furniture.

Spino City is also the home base for Beelzebub and his party which contains the garage as well as various merchants. As side quests are completed, items are recovered from across the world map of the Sand Land game, and enemies are defeated, Spino City will grow and upgrade with new NPCs and merchants.

There is plenty of side content in the game including races to test vehicle speed, bounty hunts against strong enemies, and the battle arena which allows Beelzebub to fight against strong bosses.

The gameplay overview trailer for the Sand Land game can be viewed below:

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtuVeC8Uxjw[/embed]

The Sand Land game is based on the original manga created by Akira Toriyama and ran in Weekly Shonen Jump. The game will focus on the storyline of the manga, but features a brand new story elements and characters.

The Sand Land game will release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on April 26, 2024.

The post Sand Land Gameplay Detailed In Latest Overview appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Indie Vtuber Dokibird Mental Health America Charity Fundraising Passes $25k

On February 18, 2024, independent Vtuber Dokibird announced a charity stream and set up a fundraiser on YouTube for Mental Health America. However, before even setting any charity streams, she's already passed $25,000 in donations as of 10am ET on February 19, 2024, toward her $30,000 goal.

Mental Health America is a 115-year-old charity that helps with screenings for conditions, educating about conditions, and raising money through fundraisers for various programs to help individuals. It also helps with youth programs and with warmlines to help people in bad situations or experiencing problems find someone to talk to. 

Dokibird also released a statement on social media about her charity stream on February 18, 2024. At the time, her fundraiser only had about $6,000 raised before any announcement. She confirmed that when the charity stream happens, there will be donor incentives and stretch goals. However, given that she might pass her initial $30,000 goal before said stream even airs, it is possible we may even see that goal raised before it happens.

https://twitter.com/dokibird/status/1759217195362455681

The indie Vtuber hasn't released a schedule for the week of February 19, 2024 yet. One of the performer's last streams involved playing Inside the Backroomswith fellow liver Unnamed. 

The post Vtuber Dokibird Mental Health America Charity Fundraising Passes $25k appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Life-sized Sheikah Slate from Zelda Breath of the Wild

A life-sized replica of the Sheikah Slate from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will appear in the real world, and First 4 Figures will soon open its pre-orders. The company has also shared several sample images of its upcoming replica.

The images show how First 4 Figures will produce the Sheikah Slate replica along with its pedestal. The owner will be able to pull the slate out of the pedestal and view it from all sides, including the screen side. However, as this replica is a static statue, the device screen will not have any functionalities other than just showing the logo.

First 4 Figures has yet to announce the pricing for this replica. However, it will give away 10% discount coupons to people who have registered their interests before it opens the pre-orders on February 20, 2024.

The Sheikah Slate replica will add another entry to First 4 Figures' merchandise for Breath of the Wild. The company had previously released static figures of Link, Zelda, and Mipha in 2022.

First 4 Figures will open pre-orders for the life-sized Sheikah Slate resin statue on its website on February 20, 2024. The replica will be based on the same device that Link used in the 2017 Nintendo Switch worldwide launch title The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. There will be regular and exclusive editions of the statue, the latter of which will come with more bonuses.

The post Legend of Zelda Life-Sized Sheikah Slate Statue Pre-Orders Open Soon appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, February 19, 2024 10:00 AM
    

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Insomnia Cookies Promotion Begins

Square Enix and Insomnia Cookies kicked off a Final Fantasy VII Rebirth cookie promotion. People's boxes of cookies with certain orders from the official site will have art from the game on it.

There are three options available. One is the 12-pack of standard size cookies for $27.75. The other two are Dipper options. One is a Lil' Dipper box with Mini Chocolate Chunk Classic cookie options with buttercream or cream cheese icing. That is $11.75. There is also a $13.75 Big Dipper box with four classic cookie flavors and either buttercream or cream cheese icing. Both of those have Cloud box sleeves. Note that you will need to select a location near you on the official site to get an idea of which collaboration items are available and if you can order them.

Note that while there is this special promotion, your Insomnia Cookies box will include the standard Insomnia Cookies flavors if you place an order. Here are the options available:

  • Classic with M&Ms
  • Chocolate Chunk
  • Double Chocolate Chunk
  • Double Chocolate Mint
  • Gluten-free Chocolate Chip
  • Oatmeal Raisin
  • Peanut Butter Chip
  • Snickerdoodle
  • Sugar
  • Vegan Birthday Cake
  • Vegan Chocolate Chunk
  • Vegan Double Chocolate Chunk
  • White Chocolate Macadamia 

Here is how those boxes look:

As for official merchandise direct from Square Enix, the company recently announced new waves of magnets and pins inspired by this installment. Those will begin appearing worldwide in June 2024.

The Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Insomnia Cookies promotion is now available where the retailer is found in the US. FFVII Rebirth will come to the PS5 on February 29, 2024. Its demo is live now and will update with Junon content on February 21, 2024. The game's PS5 exclusivity arrangement expires on May 29, 2024.

The post Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Insomnia Cookies Promotion Begins appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, February 19, 2024 3:59 PM
     Best Baldurs Gate 3 Sorcerer BuildThis D&D RPG has an abundance of incredible classes, such as the Sorcerer class. But what is the best Sorcerer build in Baldur's Gate 3? If you're looking to respec your Sorcerer or create one from the ground up with the best subclass, Ability Scores, weapons, armor, and more, you're in the right place. Baldur's Gate 3: Best Sorcerer build Sorcerers are innate spellcasters who can use Metamagic to enhance their spells. Although they have pretty low health, they make up for it with their incredible spellcasting. Let's go over the best Sorcerer build you can create in Baldur's Gate 3. Best Sorcerer Ability Scores Sorcerers need high Charisma since it's their spellcasting modifier. After that, you should focus on the Constitution to make sure you can succeed Concentration checks easier, then Dexterity for your Armor Class. The other three Ability Scores don't matter too much. AbilityScoreStrength8Dexterity14Constitution...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, February 19, 2024 3:47 PM
     How To Make New York In Infinite Craft Featured ImageCreating a city is a momentous occasion, even if you're not the first to discover it. And with the help of an endless source of elements, let's find out how to make New York in Infinite Craft. How to make the Statue of Liberty in Infinite Craft Screenshot: PC Invasion Once you dive into Infinite Craft, you'll learn there are a plethora of possibilities when it comes to creating elements. The way we will show you how to make New York in Infinite Craft might not be how someone else goes about it. To me, that speaks to the enjoyment and variability of the game, as well as people's unique train of thought. But in order to get to the city that never sleeps, we'll need to borrow something from France. Related: How to make King Kong and Godzilla in Infinite Craft Making the Statue of Liberty is the most important step toward New York, and here's how to do it: Water + Water = Lake Earth + Fire = Lava Lava + Water = Stone Lake + St...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, February 19, 2024 3:30 PM
     Making War in Infinite CraftOne must take many steps to make War in the crafting sandbox game. We have you covered with this guide, which will explain step-by-step how to make War in Infinite Craft. Making War in Infinite Craft Players can make War in Infinite Craft by combining Japan and China. These two items are tricky to create, time-consuming, and require many steps. Let's go over how to make Japan and China in Infinite Craft. How to make Japan in Infinite Craft The best way to create Japan in Infinite Craft is by combining Asia and Island. Follow the combinations we have laid out below to make Japan and get one step closer to making War in Infinite Craft. Earth + Earth = Mountain Mountain + Mountain = Mountain Range Water + Water = Lake Lake + Water = Ocean Ocean + Earth = Island Island + Island = Continent Continent + Mountain Range = Himalayas Himalayas + Continent = Asia Asia + Island = Japan Good job, you are one step closer to creating War in Infinite C...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, February 19, 2024 3:25 PM
     World Of Warcraft DragonflightWe cover a little bit of everything here at PC Invasion, from cracking indie games to AAA titles. That said, PC gaming is a big part of our identity, and the platform offers experiences you can't find anywhere else. Let me show you our picks for the top 15 Best PC Exclusives of All Time. The top 15 games you can only play on PC These titles are in no particular order, as they include a broad selection of genres. While many games are multi-platform, every game on this list can only be played on PC at the time of writing. Half-Life 2 VR Image: Valve I know Half-Life 2 was technically released on consoles as part of the superb Orange Box back in 2007, but that was back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Half-Life 2 is still one of the greatest first-person shooters, and it can even be enjoyed in VR. The crazy thing about this entry is the Source VR Mod Team released this addition completely free if you own the base game. It's a phenomenal experience and a delec...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, February 19, 2024 3:13 PM
     15 best shiny Pokemon, rankedShiny Pokemon hunting is like an addiction, as once you start, you won't be able to stop. However, Shiny Pokemon aren't created equally, and for every stunning variant, there are a dozen where you can hardly tell the difference. With this in mind, here are the 15 best shiny Pokemon, ranked. With such a massive Pokedex, it's impossible for me to list every notable shiny Pokemon. That said, these are my picks for the top 15. Any list like this is purely subjective, but I hope my choices encourage intrepid Trainers to start shiny hunting. 15. Lucario Screenshot: PC Invasion Lucario is one of my favorite Pokemon, so I'm thrilled it has an eye-catching Shiny variant. This Fighting/Steel type drops its drab blue and grey color scheme and adds a striking yellow to the mix.  Shiny Lucario could pass as an Electric-type. While its typing doesn't change, you could always teach it Thunder Punch to suit the color scheme.  14. Kyogre Scre...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, February 19, 2024 3:08 PM
     Games Workshop has announced a new lineup of products set to launch for pre-order next week, featuring enhancements for the Dark Angels in Warhammer 40,000, a new addition to the Horus Heresy series, and a selection of Black Library publications. Dark Angels Codex Supplement At the forefront of the new releases is the Codex Supplement: …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, February 19, 2024 2:59 PM
     Gale Force Nine (GF9) has revealed a strategic partnership with crowdfunding platform Gamefound to launch three new projects over the next two years. This collaboration builds on the success of their previous joint venture, Firefly The Game: 10th Anniversary Collector's Edition, which garnered over $3.5 million from enthusiastic backers. The partnership aims to further explore …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, February 19, 2024 2:49 PM
     In a unique collaboration between FuturLab and Square Enix, the PowerWash Simulator's latest DLC, themed around the Warhammer 40,000 universe, is slated for release across multiple platforms including PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch on February 27, 2024. This announcement was made at IGN Fest, an event that draws fans from around the world to celebrate …

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, February 19, 2024 2:37 PM
    

The trailer highlights the upcoming DLC fighter 2B from Nier Automata.

The post Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Gets New 2B Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, February 19, 2024 2:26 PM
    

Shin Megami Tensei V launched on November 11, 2021

The post Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Seemingly Rated in Korea appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, February 19, 2024 1:57 PM
    

The game will launch April 26.

The post Stellar Blade Graphical Modes Detailed appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, February 19, 2024 1:35 PM
    

The edition will launch alongside the upcoming Firearms Update

The post Dying Light 2 Stay Human Reloaded Edition Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


iDev Games Feed Monday, February 19, 2024 2:55 PM
     Help these 2 amebas to reach the finish line while making friends You can play alone or with a friend...

Level Up Monday, February 19, 2024 12:25 PM
     Respawn's work creating the Star Wars Jedi series is a hit among gamers and Star…