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Mar 27, 18:00


GamersHeroes Wednesday, March 27, 2024 3:39 PM
    

Version 1.10 of Square Enix's Star Ocean The Second Story R brings with it a new difficulty mode, post-game Raid Enemies, new weapons, and more.

The post Star Ocean The Second Story R Version 1.10 Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Wednesday, March 27, 2024 3:22 PM
    

The team at Gearbox Publishing and Blackbird Interactive have released a new Homeworld 3 dev update that highlights some key changes the development team has made based on community feedback.

The post Homeworld 3 Dev Update Released appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:30 PM
    

Cheech and Chong, the comedy pair famous for their albums and movies from the 1970s and '80s, will be added to Call of Duty as part of the upcoming Season 3.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:15 PM
    

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth features a lot of fighting. And while the game's flexible materia system lets you customize your fighting style, you can also adjust the difficulty with three different options at the beginning, plus a fourth once you finish the game.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:45 PM
    

Amazon-owned livestreaming platform Twitch has disciplined content creators again. Just as a new meta began dominating the site earlier this month, in which streamers started playing games like Fortnite on green-screened boobs and butts, Twitch has updated its Terms of Service to strictly prohibit this kind of risque…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:33 PM
    

About halfway through the first mission in South Park: Snow Day, I found myself pausing the game and checking my phone as I desperately looked for entertainment. That's what we professional and very serious critics call: Not a good sign.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:02 PM
    

One of the first quests you undertake in Dragon's Dogma 2, Capcom's new action RPG, has you traveling from the town of Melve to the capital city of Vernworth. It's a slow journey that starts and stops several times along the winding roads leading to your final destination. You need to dispatch goblins making the road…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 3:30 PM
    

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:37 PM
    

The next Overwatch 2 hero is getting a brief trial period for those who want to take them for a spin before launch, just like Blizzard did with tank hero Mauga before his launch. Venture, a non-binary, drill-using damage hero, is set to join the roster in season 10 (which kicks off on April 16), but Blizzard is giving…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:15 PM
    

The upcoming survival MMO Dune Awakening seems neat and all, but if you know the history of its developers, Funcom, you might be wondering: Hey, does this open-world online survival game with custom characters also include a penis-size slider? The answer is no, because apparently, Dune ain't "sexy" and "savage."

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Video game and nerd culture retailer GameStop appears to be floundering once more. According to a Reuters report, the company recently laid off an unspecified number of employees after reporting a decline in earnings in the fourth quarter as physical sales fall and digital purchases rise.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:15 PM
    

Final Fantasy VII has been incorporating exercise mini-games ever since the original 1997 release challenged Cloud to pull off some competitive squats. Those returned in 2020's Final Fantasy VII Remake, with pull-ups tossed in for good measure. Rebirth keeps things going by also introducing a new exercise competition…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:00 PM
    

Nintendo of America is restructuring the small army of contractors that helps test its games and hardware in its Washington state headquarters, the company confirmed to Kotaku. According to four current and former contractors, the result is a massive downsizing that comes amid layoffs across the rest of the video game…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:36 PM
    

The actor who provided the English voice of Yuffie in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth says that while recording her lines, she was asked to pretend that she was puking from motion sickness. Apparently, her fake vomiting was too accurate and gross because Square Enix had to tell her to pull back.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:50 AM
    

After some teases and leaks, Marvel and NetEase Games have officially revealed Marvel Rivals. The game is a free-to-play, 6v6 hero shooter in the style of Overwatch, but it's in third-person and stars superheroes from across Marvel's various comics. While we've only seen one trailer, it looks like it could give Overwat…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:45 AM
    

A free demo for Stellar Blade, developer Shift Up's character-action PS5 exclusive, will go live on March 29. Ahead of its imminent release, some gaming publications got early hands-on time with roughly two hours of the game, which contains the first level and its respective boss. Based on everything that's being said…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Cabel Sasser, co-founder of the company behind whimsical yellow gaming handheld the Playdate, was giving a talk on the crank-sporting device at the Games Developer Conference when he provided a noteworthy factoid and anecdote. Apparently, $400,000 worth of Playdates curiously went missing at a shipping factory in Las…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:15 AM
    

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth pits you against countless enemies, many of which have abilities your characters can deploy against them and other enemies via the Enemy Skill materia. Found in the original 1997 FF7 release, Enemy Skill works a little differently in 2024. You'll need to complete a series of battles in…

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:45 AM
    

Nintendo Switch Online, the subscription service that gives players access to a library of games for consoles and handhelds from the company's past, will receive its latest Game Boy Advance title this week. F-Zero: Maximum Velocity is dropping onto the service this Friday, March 29.

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Kotaku Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:15 AM
    

Overwatch 2's ninth season is nearly over, and when the tenth begins on April 16, the hero shooter is getting a few significant changes.All of its heroes will no longer be locked behind the battle pass and the game will get a new shop dedicated to Mythic Skins only. But Overwatch 2 is also getting a new Damage hero in

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PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:48 PM
     Strategy game legend's sequel discounted to just $3 on Steam right now

It took a long time for classic strategy game Evil Genius to get a sequel. The first game, which drew on anti hero simulators like Dungeon Keeper to craft a light hearted look into the lifestyles and workplaces of nefarious Bond villains, came out all the way back in 2004. It wasn't until 2021 that this premise was iterated and expanded upon through Evil Genius 2, which, you should know, is currently discounted by a massive 95% on Steam right now.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:00 PM
     Get this new building, farming, and RPG mash up on discount right now

Terra Memoria certainly has an eye-catching look. The newly launched game from (the presumably condiment loving) French indie studio La Moutarde combines a detailed pixel-art style that brings Sea of Stars to mind with 3D models to create an effect similar to '90s JRPGs. Luckily, there seems to be substance to go along with this style, Terra Memoria offering up both relaxed, Stardew Valley-style building and crafting with flashy turn-based combat. It's also out now on Steam and, even better, has launched with a limited time discount.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:58 PM
     After more than a year, Denuvo vanishes from The Callisto Protocol

The Callisto Protocol doesn't have Denuvo any more. The late 2022 survival horror game, heavily indebted to Dead Space and Resident Evil 4, originally launched with the DRM software, but this seems to have suddenly changed, as developer Striking Distance drops a new update on Steam, some 18 months after The Callisto Protocol first hit PC.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Callisto Protocol review, Best horror games, Best survival games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:07 PM
     Honkai Star Rail codes March 2024

March 27, 2024: We added new Honkai Star Rail 2.1 codes to our list.

What are the new Honkai Star Rail codes? If you're just starting your adventure through developer HoYoverse's anime epic, you might be wondering if there are any freebies to give you a headstart. Thankfully, HoYoverse has delivered, and we've got the complete list of active Honkai Star Rail codes for you to redeem.

Honkai Star Rail codes are released periodically and typically appear in promotional livestreams ahead of major updates. These codes can net you some high-value currency, including Honkai Star Rail Stellar Jade, which you can use to pull the best characters from Honkai Star Rail banners. To save you time, we've collated all the latest HSR codes and how to redeem them in Honkai Star Rail, so be sure to check back regularly before they expire.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Honkai Star Rail review, Honkai Star Rail codes, Honkai Star Rail tier list

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:00 PM
     Best AFK Journey team comps for each mode

What is the best AFK Journey team? With tactical, team-based combat split across multiple varied modes, the gacha elements of this cross-platform RPG will ultimately decide the party you're able to piece together. That's where this guide comes in.

If you're just getting started, be sure to make use of our AFK Journey reroll guide to get the best characters possible without spending a buck. You can also use AFK Journey codes to help there. Lastly, our expert AFK Journey tier list can ensure you're not blowing valuable resources on low-tier units.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: AFK Journey tier list, AFK Journey codes, AFK Journey reroll

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:42 PM
     Genshin Impact rival brings the HoYoverse charm but with better combat

The fight for the title of everyone's favorite anime gacha game is set to get a new contender in 2024, with the arrival of Wuthering Waves, a more combat-focused open-world RPG with an emphasis on player-driven action. PCGamesN got hands-on with Wuthering Waves at GDC 2024 and spoke to PR director Anthony Chau along with members of the development team at Kuro Games about how it's hoping to stand out from the crowd.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best anime games, Free PC games, Best open-world games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:27 PM
     Hunt: Showdown gets new rival in Western-themed Steam FPS

Hunt: Showdown has kept a tight grip on its player base for a long time now. The multiplayer FPS' creators at Crytek have done an excellent job of refining the game's design and adding in fresh material since it first hit Steam all the way back in 2018. Fans of its late 19th-century setting and tense shooting may be interested in a new game that looks like a solid accompaniment to Hunt, though: the newly announced Western-themed A Twisted Path to Renown, an online FPS that blends Rust-style survival with Red Dead Redemption 2's multiplayer sim elements.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:26 PM
     CPU prices could rise as Apple takes 50% of next gen manufacturing

Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturing colossus, TSMC looks set to dominate chip production for the foreseeable future, as a report claims the company already has huge demand for its upcoming 3nm manufacturing process. However, that same report also suggests Apple has already claimed up to 50% of capacity, potentially limiting space, which could result in a stock shortage of chips made by Intel, Nvidia, and AMD, as well as higher prices.

This could mean that both AMD and Nvidia find themselves scrapping for production capacity to try to make future best graphics card contenders, fending off equally significant demand from car manufacturers and other mobile chip makers. Not only that, but AMD and Intel are also using the process to produce their next gen CPUs.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:14 PM
     Cooler Master's new PC case doesn't need a CPU cooler or PSU

Cooler Master has just unveiled the Cooler Master TD500 MAX, a unique PC case that includes a 360mm AIO CPU cooler built into its front panel, and it has a preinstalled power supply too. This not only saves you from having to buy a separate cooler and PSU, but means you don't have the hassle of fitting them either.

As this product has only just been announced, we're yet to determine whether Cooler Master's latest chassis is worthy of a spot on our best PC case list, but it certainly has some noteworthy features.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:14 PM
     If Cities Skylines 2 let you down, this new strategy game is the cure

It's just a little thing, but in Cities Skylines 2, I miss connecting the water and electrical supplies. Making the whole thing automated is a smart move, game design wise. It frees you up to focus on the bigger picture, and removes some of the busywork when it comes to building streets and infrastructure. But there's something satisfying about that low-level, granular construction work. Performance problems and, more recently, criticisms regarding the official Cities Skylines 2 mod support have dogged Colossal Order's sequel since it launched. If you were looking for an alternative, a new city builder and industrial strategy game, which PCGamesN got to see and discuss exclusively at GDC, could be what you need.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games, Best management games, Best city building games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:12 PM
     AMD Ryzen 9 7950X review

Unbelievably, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X costs well over $100 less than it did at the time of launch a few months ago, dropping from $699 to a much more palatable price of around $579. This brings it in line with the Intel Core i9 13900K, so both CPUs are ready for the big flagship showdown.

This really is the battle for the best gaming CPU title, with these processors offering the very best that AMD and Intel can currently offer. While CPUs with a huge number of cores aren't for everyone, and you very rarely need more than six for gaming, these multi-core monsters are ideal for video encoding, streaming, rendering, and all sorts of tasks that can take full advantage of lots of CPU cores.

Continue reading AMD Ryzen 9 7950X review
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:11 PM
     Intel Core i5 13400F review

While the Intel Core i5 13400F clearly has a '13' in its name, this budget gaming CPU has more in common with Intel's last gen Alder Lake CPUs than the current Raptor Lake chips. For a start, this CPU hasn't received the doubling of L2 cache found in some other 13th gen CPUs, languishing at the same 9.5MB as the Core i5 12600K.

The Intel Core i5 13400F also has the same number of P-Cores and E-Cores as the 12600K, sitting at six and four respectively, while the new Core i5 13600K has eight E-Cores. Specs aside, however, with a surprisingly cheap price on its side, the Core i5 13400F is a prime contender for our best gaming CPU guide.

Continue reading Intel Core i5 13400F review
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:05 PM
     Intel Core i5 12400F review

After the barnstorming performance of Intel's K-series Alder Lake CPUs, we were pretty excited to see whether the Intel Core i5 12400F could still deliver decent gaming performance, especially with its wallet-friendly price of just $179.

Let's start with the bad news, which is that Intel's 10nm hybrid core architecture sees huge variations in core counts and types across the 12th gen range, and the Intel Core i5 12400F differs significantly to the Core i5 12600K. The question is whether that super low price can still make the 12400F the best gaming CPU options for those on a budget, despite the change in specs.

Continue reading Intel Core i5 12400F review
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:51 PM
     Headbanging rhythm game, rated 96% on Steam, is coming to VR soon

Few games feel like entirely obvious candidates to port over to virtual reality, but Metal: Hellsinger is one of these games, and we now have confirmation that a VR version is coming in 2024. At the time of writing it still holds a colossal 96% positive rating overall having released in September 2022.

We see Metal: Hellsinger as one of the best rhythm games on PC, and provided that this port lives up to expectations, it should debut as one of the best VR games in recent memory. Virtual reality is already having a great year, following on from the success of the Meta Quest 3 last year, and big titles making the leap will only help strengthen its appeal.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Steam FAQ, Steam family sharing, Steam in-home streaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:04 PM
     Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 is finally at the price it should have been

If you've been patiently waiting for the price of current gen Nvidia GPUs to drop to a more affordable level, then now is a great time to snap up a graphics card bargain. This latest Nvidia GPU deal enables you to get a Zotac TwinEdge OC GeForce RTX 4060 card for just $279.99, saving you a good $40 on the MSRP of this card, and it's a pretty white model as well.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:04 PM
     Stardew Valley meets Cuphead in this high-octane farming game

Stardew Valley is perhaps the pinnacle of farming games. Building on the likes of Rune Factory, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing, it transforms the hard graft of working the land, growing crops, and raising livestock into one of the most relaxing, cozy games on PC. While it retains a similarly charming aesthetic, Super Farming Boy is perhaps the complete antithesis of the Stardew vibe. This fast-paced puzzle action game infuses the farming genre with all the speed and style of games like Cuphead and Super Meat Boy, and it's coming to Steam soon.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best farming games, Best action games, Best puzzle games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:30 AM
     Feast your eyes on this water-cooled Joker gaming PC

Cutting and bending hard tubing for a water-cooled gaming PC isn't a job for the faint-hearted, but it can achieve amazing results, as shown by the tight bends in this Joker build. Created by PC modder Tom Keen, this colorful rig takes design cues from various guises of Batman's flamboyant nemesis, and it features loads of custom parts too.

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 builds. You can even submit yours for consideration right here. Here we talk to Tom about how he made this Joker PC build.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:27 AM
     BenQ Zowie XL2566K review – the ultimate CS2 gaming monitor?

BenQ's Zowie brand has long held favor in the competitive gaming scene for its focus on no-frills gaming performance, with its mice and monitors often seen as the best in their class. Several of its past gaming screens have been go-to options for major tournaments for all manner of games and its latest top-tier FPS screen, the BenQ Zowie XL2566K has been chosen for the PGL CS2 Major. Is this screen worthy of its tournament placement? Let's take a look.

In line for a place on our best gaming monitor list as the best gaming monitor for CS2, the BenQ Zowie XL2566K has some stiff competition from the latest OLED panels when it comes to pure responsiveness. The likes of the MSI MPG 271QRK offer super fast response times, a higher resolution, and much better image quality overall. But, even though this panel is expensive, OLEDs cost even more, so this should still be a top choice for those seeking a pure gaming screen.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:20 AM
     Marvel Rivals release date estimate, trailers, and latest news

When is the Marvel Rivals release date? This 6-vs-6 shooter, developed by Netease and Marvel Games, looks set to be a contender to rival Overwatch 2 with Valorant art style, and varied gameplay. The game has now been officially announced and, despite leaks, there were still some surprises.

Marvel Rivals is being worked on by ex-Battlefield and Call of Duty developer, Netease, and aims to blend all the cool things from your favorite superhero games with the frantic fun of 6v6 FPS games. Here's all we know so far on Marvel Rivals and when you can expect to get your hands on it.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Best co-op games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:01 AM
     Overwatch 2 has a new rival in Marvel hero shooter from ex CoD devs

It's a conversation you've probably had dozens of times - if you set the Guardians of the Galaxy, The Avengers, and the X-Men against one another in a big battle, who would win? With Iron Man on the team, you'd expect The Avengers to have a good shot. But then again, the X-Men side could bring Magneto along, and the Guardians would likely show up with Groot. Until now, it's been impossible to know. But a new 6v6 hero shooter, created by former Call of Duty and Battlefield devs, and mixing Overwatch 2 with superpowers, will finally deliver our answer. Co-created by Netease, if you want to give it a shot, the good news is you won't need to wait long.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Best co-op games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
     Dune Awakening fixes the worst survival game mechanic, at a cost

If there's one thing I'm bad at in both my real life and videogames, it's staying hydrated. While water is, indeed, the font of life, it's also my arch nemesis despite how many tracker bottles I buy. In survival games, I'm equally as bad at remembering to hydrate, oftentimes scrabbling to find the nearest puddle to quench that seemingly never-ending thirst. It's one of my least favorite mechanics to manage - especially because it doesn't feel like anyone's really innovated upon it in recent years. Enter Dune Awakening - the first survival game that makes drinking water exciting.


PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:54 AM
     This new Steam roguelike is FTL with pirates, free demo available now

FTL Faster Than Light remains one of my favorite roguelike games of all time, so any time a new game appears in that mold I'm curious to try it out. Joining the likes of Breachway and Space Cats Tactics is new pirate strategy game Reclaim the Sea, which transports the satisfying ship management and combat of FTL into a steampunk fantasy world. Coming from French developer 1 Last Game Studio and available to try right now thanks to a free Steam demo, this is certainly one I'm keeping an eye on.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best strategy games, Best pirate games, Best roguelike games

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:19 AM
     Save a huge 34% on this 240Hz Samsung gaming monitor deal

You can get a 240Hz Samsung gaming monitor for just $230 right now, as there's a 34% discount on the price of the Samsung Odyssey G4 Series panel. That's an incredible price for a screen with such a fast refresh rate.

The Samsung Odyssey range already has a solid reputation for making good quality gaming monitors, with the Samsung Odyssey G9 G95SC getting a place on our best gaming monitor guide, and this Odyssey G4 screen offers a fantastic spec for very little money in this latest deal.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Samsung 970 EVO 1TB review, Best SSD for gaming, Best gaming monitor

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:11 AM
     Best Helldivers 2 settings for max fps

What are the best Helldivers 2 settings? Democracy is the flavor of the month, and taking on hordes of  Terminids is much easier with a buttery smooth frame rate. With that in mind, we've put Helldivers 2 to the test to figure out the best video and gameplay settings that will bring you the best performance.

Helldivers 2 doesn't demand the best graphics card, but a lack of upscaling tech like Nvidia DLSS or AMD FSR will make stable frames harder to come by for older gaming PCs. Our best settings will try and navigate this shortfall as much as possible, but upscaling tech arriving in the future isn't off the table just yet.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:17 AM
     Palworld Pal list – all Pals in the Paldeck

Who is on the list of all Palworld Pals? These friendly, or often unfriendly, little pals are pocket-sized monsters that can work alongside you to fight, gather food, construct, and more. Sound familiar?

Now that we know a bunch about Palworld Pals, we've collated them into this Palworld Paldeck as a resource of where to find them, what their partner skill is, their Palworld job suitability, and their Palworld item drops. This is all of the essential information you need about the open-world game's inhabitants, but if you want to know more about how to play in general, we have a dedicated Palworld guide with everything you need to know.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses, Palworld map, Palworld settings

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:52 PM
    

More than three years after former Dragon Age lead designer Mike Laidlaw was revealed to have joined forces with fellow games industry veterans behind the likes of Assassin's Creed under newfounded studio Yellow Brick Games, the developers are finally teasing their first game. And yup, it's definitely a fantasy game!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:21 PM
    

You can now explore one of Ukraine's most iconic natural landmarks - and the largest salt mine in Europe - in Minecraft. The virtual replica of the Soledar salt mines and their surrounding town, occupied by Russia troops for the past year in real life, has been led by the wartorn country's government in an effort to help rebuild a school destroyed during the conflict.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:05 PM
    

After delaying the launch of Homeworld 3 by two months to address criticism of the spacefleet shoot-o-strategy game's demo, developers Blackbird Interactive have now laid out what they're changing. Improved controls, tougher ships, more useful formations, better Attack Move command, more HUD options, and more types of War Games mode objectives are among the tweaks and improvements detailed by game director Lance Mueller in a 3000-word blogblast. "This past month, everyone was heads down discussing every post we saw from Steam, social, Reddit, Discord and beyond," he explained. They have plans.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:54 PM
    

Last time you decided—by a margin of a mere three votes—that drawing Frog Detective's magnifying glass is better than drawing Blade Runner's gun. That might be the closest result yet. Now if only Frog Detective could become a Blade Runner charged with helping attend a big dance party. Onwards! This week, I ask you to pick between a thing that skips frustration and a thing that is always, always there for you. What's better: a button to unlock all unlocks or the spell Fireball?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:42 PM
    

Overwatch 2's next damage hero Venture is tunnelling into the free-to-play shooter a little early - for a while anyway. Before the new drillin' DPS makes their official arrival next month, they'll be available to take for a spin from tomorrow through the weekend.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:10 PM
    

Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft's game-streaming platform, finally lets you actually use a keyboard and mouse to play on PC. There's a bit of a catch for now, though, in that it's only a beta test for now with a small selection of games supported. Still, it's something!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:09 PM
    

I've not played Hellgate: London, but I'm sure I must've passed it on the shelves in Gamestation (I'll never forget you, friend) way back when. Apparently, the original was a dark fantasy action RPG with roguelike elements and MMO subscription models before developer Flagship Studios shut down. Then it was re-released a bunch of times, with London giving way to Tokyo in one expansion. Now, Hellgate's original creator Bill Roper has announced he's working on a brand new Hellgate game under his new studio Lunacy Games.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:46 PM
    

Not every March-released, fantastical action-RPG will fall to bits on the Steam Deck. Horizon Forbidden West: Complete Edition succeeds where Dragon's Dogma 2 spluttered, quietly yet capably adapting to handheld hardware. Keeping performance up requires a fair bit of fine-tuning the graphics settings, and a girthsome install size might trouble the internal drives of smaller models, but otherwise, Forbidden West is just as portable-friendly as Horizon Zero Dawn. And that's still one of the best Steam Deck games around.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:00 PM
    

I went into Open Roads pretty cold, knowing only that it was a story-driven road trip game with some element of mystery to it. The mystery is really just a backdrop, though - a device to better bring forth the themes of family and secrets. Most specifically it's about mother-daughter relationships, as we join single mum Opal and her sixteen-year-old daughter Tess on a short (from our point of view) but bittersweet road trip when, going through Opal's mother's home post-funeral, they discover she may have had an affair decades before. Can you ever really know the people you love? Does it matter? If you left your daughter's early-00s flip phone back at the motel, would you turn around and lose four hours, or hope it's still there on the way back?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:53 AM
    

I approve of the recent trend towards making building games as relaxing as possible (e.g. Summerhouse). Today sees the release of a new one on Steam, this one a teeny medieval city builder called Le Château that gives you strict limitations for building a castle. You can have a go of the demo for free - I like it a bunch.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:33 AM
    

A couple of decades ago there was a period when all videogames and especially all Unreal Engine videogames had to be brown and grey and dingy. "The Gears of Warrification of graphics," we used to call it, huddled up in the chest-high trenches with our Xbox 360 controllers. Survival MMO Dune: Awakening threatens to bring that back in a big way: the novel and films on which it's based take place, after all, on an entire planet made of sand.

Developers Funcom have various plans for sprucing up the aesthetic, however. For one thing, parts of Awakening are set underground, where there's actual, canonical vegetation and thus, a wider range of colours. For another, it's possible Dune: Awakening will ultimately leave the dunes behind and whisk us away on a journey to another planet.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:25 AM
    

Is there a developer more fiendishly dedicated to giving fans endless returns on their initial investment than No Man's Sky studio Hello Games? It's not a competition, mind, but they'd surely be a strong contender if it were. Despite dropping the Omega update just last month, and unveiling fantasy survival game Light No Fire at last year's Geoffies, the team are back once more with the Orbital update. It looks to be a sizeable one too, with ship customisation and a "complete space station overhaul" among the new features. You can read the full patch notes here. I hope it includes a note about how much sleep they're all getting, because I'm starting to worry.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Like the good works of Calvin Klein, these genes come pre-distressed. Geneforge 2 - Infestation is fresh from the rack, yet looks and functions like the CRPGs of the late 1990s. Where most isometric throwbacks these days offer a forced perspective over 3D scenes, Geneforge 2 is the real deal - its flat character sprites gliding across tiled backgrounds, with the elegant shuffle of Shōgun-era ladies-in-waiting.

This look is less a nostalgic affectation than it is simply practical. Geneforge 2, like all of Jeff Vogel's games, was made in the spare bedroom of his Seattle home with the help of his wife, Mariann Krizsan - plus a handful of artists spread more broadly. It's the latest in a long line of low-budget Spiderweb Software RPGs to achieve sprawling scale and reactivity by leaning on cost-effective and old-fashioned production values. Here there is no voice acting, nor any ambient noise that cannot be sourced from royalty-free soundbanks. In pastoral areas of the map, the impression of grazing livestock is conveyed entirely through a free sound effect called 'Eating a rusk.wav'.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
    

In case Amy Hennig's Captain America and Black Panther game 1943: Rise Of Hydra wasn't going to be quite enough to satisfy your Marvel hunger, Netease have just announced they've got another comic book bun in the oven for you. Marvel Rivals is a free-to-play, third-person team shooter where two teams of six heroes and villains go head to head with each other in destructible arenas. I can't say its reveal trailer has me particularly pumped - the game looks and feels a bit like it's ten years too late. Still, why not come and have a gander at it below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
    

When Herbert Spencer coined the phrase "survival of the fittest" to describe Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory, I'm pretty sure he didn't envisage the rise of a species of videogame, the survival sim, which would one day itself suffer an unsustainable population explosion during the layoff-ridden years of 2023 and 2024. What does it take to survive as a survival sim, in these days when every other game seems to be a survival sim? What separates the fit from the extinct? If you're Palworld, the answer is gleefully borrowing and travestying monster concepts from a celebrated Nintendo series. If you're Enshrouded, it's all about having a really neat building system. And if you're Dune: Awakening, the next game from Conan Exiles developer Funcom, the trick may lie with sandworms.

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Twinfinite Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:00 PM
    
A short journey.

Twinfinite Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:07 AM
    
A worthy competitor for Overwatch or just another clone?

Twinfinite Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:13 AM
    
Role-playing fans rejoice!

Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:00 PM
    

Honkai Twitch Stream Program

HoYoverse launched its Twitch Stream Incentive Program for Honkai: Star Rail, which will allow streamers to earn rewards including Stellar Jades and potentially even cash. The streaming portion of the event will last until April 17, 2024, with leaderboard rewards set to be sent out in May 2024.

The program, which requires linking your Twitch and HoYoverse accounts, provides rewards for reaching certain milestones while streaming the game. These rewards include experience items and credits for meeting daily milestones, or Stellar Jades for streaming for a certain number of days. A leaderboard contest will also be held, with a streamer's score being calculated based on their total stream duration and a percentage of their total watch duration. The prizes for this section begin at $100 and 800 Stelar Jades for places 51-100, and they peak at $6,000 and 6,000 Stellar Jades for first place.

There are also bonus rewards for streaming on weekends, but the rules of the program forbid actions such as streaming other games under the Star Rail Twitch category, cheating or sharing unreleased information, and extending stream time while away from your computer.

After the live stream phase ends on April 17, 2024, an announcements and information collecting period will take place from April 24, 2024 until May 5, 2024, with results and rewards from the leaderboards being released over May 15, 2024 to June 28, 2024.

HoYoverse also recently released a trailer featuring the Lightning and Nihility character Acheron, ahead of her debut in Honkai: Star Rail version 2.1. Meanwhile, Star Rail writer David Jiang was joined in conversation by Kinoko Nasu of the Fate franchise in an interview on Denfaminico.

The Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Stream Incentive Program is now live and will last until April 17, 2024, with leaderboard rewards set to be released in May, 2024. The game itself was just updated to version 2.1 and is available now on PS5, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Twitch Stream Incentive Program Starts appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:00 PM
    

Eiyuden Chronicle Theme Song

The theme song for Rabbit and Bear Studios' upcoming RPG Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is set to be premiered at the Polymanga convention in Switzerland. The song 'Flags of Brave', which has appeared briefly in trailers before, is to be performed by musician Sarah Alainn at 13:15 on March 19, 2024.

Polymanga is a Swiss anime and video games convention set to be held at the Beaulieu Lausanne convention centre from March 29 - April 1, 2024. Sarah Alainn, who will perform the song in the convention's theatre space, is an Australian singer who previously provided vocals for the ending theme of Xenoblade Chronicles, as well as for Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak and The Promised Neverland. She will also be having two signing sessions at the venue.

You can see the official announcement from Sarah Alainn's media team below:

https://twitter.com/AlainnSarah/status/1772402902629318956

Yoshitaka Murayama, creator of the Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicle series, sadly passed away back in early February, 2024. Before that, Rabbit and Bear Studios announced that the game had entered the bug-fixing stage of development.

The Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes theme song 'Flags of Brave' will premier at the Polymanga convention in Switzerland, at 13:15 on March 19, 2024. The game itself is set to release on April 23, 2024, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

The post Eiyuden Chronicle Theme Song Will Be Revealed This Week appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 3:00 PM
    

Review: Minami Lane Feels Neighborly

Have you ever wondered how it might feel to be part of a smaller town? One where individuals' voices actually affect things and maybe make things better? Minami Lane encourages that and embraces the idea. It's a management sim that won't stress you out as you go about making decisions, though that does mean sacrificing challenge and replayability.

The goal of Minami Lane is to manage a community to help it grow into the sort of place its residents will love. It's incredibly relaxed. So for example, initially it asked that I build a Boba Shop for bubble tea, manage to get 15 villagers to live in the area, and ensure a 75% satisfaction rate from residents with the shops. I had five people already there and $280. Additional optional challenges might be there too, with the first one suggesting I try to get those first goals all accomplished in 10 days. 

To emphasize how stress-free Minami Lane is, your starting funds are enough to really help get settled. For example, a Ramen Shop or Modern House with five more people costs $100. If an objective involves making the area prettier, you can buy a $150 park if you have five people around and get +5 beauty. I couldn't immediately jump into establishing a Boba Shop, since it would need the area to have +2 beauty, 10 people, and 60% satisfaction rate with the community, even though I did have the $200 needed to build one right away. However, this initial mission showed how the game clearly establishes what you need to do, the paths to get there, and how different elements of the neighborhood work together in order to really form a community. 

Speaking of that Boba Shop, it's a good way to emphasize how customizing products can affect things. You'll be able to manage what shops sell and upgrade buildings. So if I go into that store, I can influence the bubble tea. I could determine how much tea, sugar, cream, and tapioca go into a drink. The price can be adjusted as well. This can influence the profits and satisfaction of people on the street. So if you watch someone while they are walking around, they may say they want the boba tea to have more tea in the drinks, and you could adjust the recipe accordingly to meet your goals. 

As you go on, different missions involve different challenges. So while the first one with the Boba Shop was more of a tutorial to explain how things work, one involving getting younger villagers to a street with mainly elderly residents, a daily income goal, and a higher satisfaction rate is designed to start test you a bit more. However, again, I found it wasn't very difficult and achieved that while also meeting the optional goal of only using eight buildings due to upgrades. Especially since the upgrade paths for buildings can do something like, in the case of a house, adding more villagers or increasing the beauty of a neighborhood without needing to place a park. 

Of course, the fact that Minami Lane is a smaller game does mean that some elements will feel a bit repetitive or as though they aren't fully fleshed out. For example, I was done in just over three hours, and even then it seemed like the missions weren't too taxing. It's a management sim that does involve directing things like how ramen is made, but it also didn't always feel like I needed to do too much to ensure I hit my goals. Missions were more directives than actual challenges. The customization options can feel a bit limiting, since you're limited to certain colors. For the sake of the review, I did go through some of the sandbox mode, but I felt like I did it all in the campaign.

Minami Lane is the sort of game that is perfect for people-watchers. It's leisurely. Meeting criteria for missions is never taxing. There are no penalties for taking your time. It's just a short, relaxing experience that lets you feel like you're helping to make a small town better.

Minami Lane is available on PCs via Steam.

The post Review: Minami Lane Feels Neighborly appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:00 PM
    

Final Fantasy XIV Growing Light Original Soundtrack Released

Square Enix announced that people can now get the Final Fantasy XIV Growing Light Original Soundtrack filled with more music from the game. It costs $49.99, though the Square Enix Store is still showing the April 2024 shipment window.

As a reminder, this is a 93-track soundtrack. It only consists of Final Fantasy XIV music found in patches 6.1 through 6.5. People can also see the movies of the "Flow" and "Scream" performances from Fan Fest 2023. As a reminder, everyone who buys a copy also gets a Hydaelyn Idol Minion code included with their copy. There will also be a decorative sleeve case included while supplies last.

Earlier in March 2024, Square Enix shared a preview trailer showcasing some of the Final Fantasy XIV Growing Light Original Soundtrack music. It highlighted a few of the notable songs, while also including memorable screenshots of events and battles from 6.1 through 6.5 patches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRd_Y_9Iuh8&ab_channel=%E3%82%B9%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A6%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BB%E3%82%A8%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B9

There's another big event involving the MMORPG soon. It will get a Final Fantasy XVI crossover in March 2024. People who participate can get Clive armor and be accompanied by a Torgal mount and minion. 

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Dawntrail expansion will arrive on July 2, 2024.

The post Final Fantasy XIV Growing Light Original Soundtrack Released appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:00 PM
    

There are two F-Zero games updates this week, with F-Zero 99 getting new content and F-Zero Maximum Velocity coming to the Switch.

Nintendo offered news on two F-Zero games for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. F-Zero 99 will end up getting new features for those with the base version of the service in 1.3.0 on March 27, 2024, and people with the Expansion Pass will get to play F-Zero Maximum Velocity in the GBA library on March 29, 2024. 

The official support page for F-Zero 99 doesn't have the patch notes yet, but the Japanese page updated with screenshots, videos, and details. Mirror Grand Prix is on the way, which will also eventually mean 15 Mirror Tracks. Knight League's will be first. These tracks will include new elements that could help or hurt your performance. 

Some walls will have an elastic property. If hit, the vehicle will bounce off of it. Nintendo's trailer for that shows how this could be used as a shortcut, with the second part of the video showing the action in slow motion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPLVuIKXld0&ab_channel=%E4%BB%BB%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8

For example, one trailer showed a plate in the road that a player will bounce off of. They'll have no control when this type of plate is hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hWYx4-OzGM&ab_channel=%E4%BB%BB%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8

Finally, there will be bumps that allow people to speed up when they drive over that plate. Like the video of the wall people will be able to bounce off of, this one also had a slow motion portion to make it easier to see the effect in action.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0tcrjNTvPo&t=7s&ab_channel=%E4%BB%BB%E5%A4%A9%E5%A0%82%E3%83%9B%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%83%9A%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B8

There will be some other accessibility additions. For example, Smart Steering will be an option to help people who are getting started. The Practice Mode will get the Classic and Mirror tracks. Classic Mini Grand Prix is coming too.

As for F-Zero Maximum Velocity, it is the third game in the series. It originally debuted on the GBA in 2001 worldwide. It can be played alone or with up to four players. It's also appeared digitally before this latest release. Aside from the original cart debut, it was a Nintendo 3DS Ambassador title and Wii U Virtual Console game.

Here's a trailer showing how it will run on the Switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF1niV0rW3c&ab_channel=NintendoofAmerica

Both F-Zero games are playable on the Nintendo Switch, though F-Zero 99 requires Nintendo Switch Online and F-Zero Maximum Velocity  requires the NSO Expansion Pack. 

The post Nintendo F-Zero 99 and Maximum Velocity Updates Appear appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Kaai Yuki Plush Based on Kyoufuu All Back and Neoki Yashi no Ki Yukopi Songs Revealed

Bandai Namco's Namco Online Crane account revealed new Kaai Yuki Vocaloid plush inspired by the Yukopi songs "Kyoufuu All Back" and "Neoki Yashi no Ki." These are now appearing in arcades and online crane games in Japan. 

There are five different kinds of plush, which are split into two different styles. Two are larger versions of the Vocaloid. In this case, there's one showing how Kaai Yuki looked when braced against the wind in "Kyoufuu All Back," and another showing her with her palm tree hair as seen in "Neoki Yashi no Ki." In the case of the smaller options, these are keychains. There are two based on "Kyoufuu All Back," and one based on "Neoki Yashi no Ki." All of these plush toys have a sound chip in them, much like the Build-a-Bear stuffed animals, so they play music when pressed.

Here's how those all look:

For those unfamiliar, Kaai Yuki is a Vocaloid along the lines of Hatsune Miku. However, that software is made by AH Software, while Crypton Future Media makes Miku. "Kyoufuu All Back" released first in March 2023, and it was followed by "Neoki Yashi no Ki" in July 2023. Both deal with "hardships." In the first, it describes someone going out in winds so strong it pushes them back. In the other, the person has bed head that looks like a palm tree and can't be tamed. Both songs are often covered by other Vocaloids and singers like Gawr Gura.

Here's "Kyoufuu All Back" on YouTube, which currently passed 86.4 million views.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6DVTLvOupE&ab_channel=Yukopi

And here's "Neoki Yashi no Ki" on YouTube. That hit 21.8 million views so far.

All five of the Kaai Yuki plush are available in Japanese arcades as prizes now.

The post Kaai Yuki Plush Based on 'Kyoufuu All Back' and 'Neoki Yashi no Ki' Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Isshiki Otsutsuki DLC, Ninja Battle Appear

Bandai Namco released the Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Isshiki Otsutsuki DLC, as well as announced the first Ninja Battle event is on the way. While the new character is out now, the event won't start until March 28, 2024. 

You can get Isshiki in the $24.99 Season Pass or alone for $5.99. His DLC Pack, like the Hagoromo Otsutsuki one, doesn't just include him. It also adds other items. People get the Time Travel costumes for both Sasuke and Boruto. There are also five Ninja Info Card images you can use and 12 Matching Voices. 

Here's the trailer showing how Isshiki Otsutsuki will work in the game. In it, he faces characters like Naruto and Sasuke. At the 55 second mark, the Time Travel costumes are shown for Boruto and Sasuke. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpLIx6gMG00&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica

There will be five total DLC packs in the season pass. We don't know who the next three characters will be yet, though.

As for the Ninja Battle, it is something of a community event not unlike Splatoon Splatfests. You choose a side when it begins, then fight for it to determine which one "wins." As you take part, you earn items. The first one's question is, ""Which ninjutsu would you use to deliver the final blow, Rasengan or Chidori?" So each player chooses either Naruto's Rasengan or Sasuke's Chidori.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections and its Isshiki Otsutsuki DLC are avaialble on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC. The game's first Ninja Battle will start on March 28, 2024, then end on April 2, 2024. 

The post Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Isshiki Otsutsuki DLC, Ninja Battle Appear appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
    

13 sentinels aegis rim orchestral album

Atlus and Vanillaware Works revealed the album art for the 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim orchestral album CD. The jacket art features all the main characters of 13 Sentinels, while the inside art includes characters from other Vanillaware works. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

In total, there will be 25 tracks. Aside from 13 Sentinels tracks, the CDs will feature music from Odin's Sphere and Dragon's Crown as well. The picture in the back, featuring art from Vanillaware's Yukiko Hirai and characters from games other than 13 Sentinels, uses the key visual for the orchestral concert that took place in February 2024. A booklet filled with pictures from that concert will come with the CD. This will let you experience what it was like to be at the concert while listening to the music.

Here is the track list for the CDs:

Disc 1

  1. KAIJU
  2. In the Doldrums
  3. Halcyon Days
  4. Mornin', Sunshine!
  5. Good Times
  6. -(LEUCINE)-
  7. -(ISOLEUCINE)-
  8. (VALINE)-
  9. Seaside Vacation
  10. STAGNATION
  11. Heated Debate
  12. Bright Days Ahead
  13. Staring Into the Void
  14. Living in the Moment
  15. Go Sentinels, Go!

Disc 2

  1. -(TRYPTOPHAN)-
  2. -[RIBOSE]-
  3. To the Final Battle
  4. -[DEOXYRIBOSE]-
  5. -{EDGE OF THE FUTURE}-
  6. The Ones Who Were Plugged In/Inherit Humanity
  7. The Only Neat Life to Live
  8. Brat Overflow
  9. Odin Sphere Medley - Odin Sphere's Theme
  10. Dragon's Crown Medley

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim initially came out in 2019, and a Nintendo Switch version came out in 2022. Vanillaware presented the story in a nonlinear fashion and from the eyes of thirteen protagonists. It combines a side-scrolling adventure story segment, as well as RTS battles. As for the story itself, it follows a group of high schoolers who find themselves wrapped up in a bizarre plot about time travel, aliens, and giant robots. Or so they believe.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is readily available on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim orchestral album CD will come out on May 10, 2024. It costs 3520 JPY ($23.25).

The post 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Orchestral Album CD Art Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, March 27, 2024 10:30 AM
    

There's a free Star Ocean: The Second Story R update, and it adds an endings viewer, a new difficulty, and new equipment.

Square Enix released a new Star Ocean: The Second Story R free game update that, among other things, adds a Chaos difficulty and endings gallery. There are also a number of features added related to endgame elements. All of them are showcased in a new trailer.

Editor's Note: There are some spoilers regarding Star Ocean: The Second Story R enemies below.

Some of the new elements don't involve spoilers. For example, the hardest Chaos difficulty level will be present in Star Ocean: The Second Story R. That is more difficult than Universe, the previous highest level. The Character Graphics Collection lets you see facial expressions that might have otherwise passed by too quickly during story segments. There will be new weapons for each character, and new armor and accessories. The portion of the trailer introducing the equipment showed crafting segments, so it is possible you may need to make them. Also, important NPCs like Allen and Regis now have character portraits during story segments.

Some of the additions are postgame elements. For example, you'll only see the Star Ocean: The Second Story R Endings Collection gallery, the Ten Wise Men Raid enemies, and Ten Wise Men Assault Actions after you beat the game. The Ten Wise Men will also have different Leader Skills. 

Here's the trailer showing the additions. Note that some of the Ten Wise Men raid fights are shown.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFwBI7iALhA&ab_channel=SquareEnix

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. 

The post Star Ocean: The Second Story R Update Ups Difficulty, Adds Endings Gallery appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:48 PM
     Honkai Star Rail Version 2.1 Cosmodyssey Anniversary EventHonkai Star Rail's first anniversary is here and the new Cosmodyssey event is where Trailblazers can earn all of their free anniversary rewards like Stellar Jades and enhancement materials. Hoyoverse is giving out a ton of free stuff, so make sure you log in and participate in the event while you can. Honkai Star Rail Anniversary Event Schedule The Cosmodyssey anniversary event kicked off with the launch of Honkai Star Rail version 2.1 "Into the Yawning Chasm." It'll last until the next big Honkai Star Rail update, so you have until Monday, May 6 to earn all of the rewards. The event is time-gated since you only get a certain number of dice per day that allow you to move around the game board, so log in often to make the most of your daily refreshes. How to Earn Stellar Jades in Cosmodyssey Screenshot: PC Invasion The main way to earn Stellar Jades in the Cosmodyssey event is to gain Trailblaze Funds by moving around the board and completing encou...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:35 PM
     How to build Dante in Warframe - best abilities and ModsDante is a deadly Warframe and part of the Dante Unbound update. It's been a while since I've seen the community so excited about a new Warframe, and it's not hard to see why. Let me show you how to build Dante in Warframe – best abilities and Mods. How to get Dante in Warframe There are several ways to get Dante, but most Tenno will run the Disruption mission at the Armatus node on Deimos. Dante's parts are all obtainable from the Round 4 loot pool, albeit with a low drop rate. You can also buy Dante outright from the Market for 350 Platinum or as part of the Dante Chronicles Bundle. To access the Armatus node, you must first complete the Whispers in the Wall main quest. How to play Dante in Warframe Those numbers are enemies dying all over the map! – Screenshot: PC Invasion It will take theory crafters a while to figure out a 'meta' playstyle for Dante, but he already works as a fantastic Nuker. We&...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, March 27, 2024 5:11 PM
     How to find Gautstafr if he goes missing in Dragon's Dogma 2During the quest "Put a Spring in Thy Step," you are tasked with escorting Gautstafr to the hot springs for his aching back. Gautstafr may go missing during this escort mission, and the game gives you zero indication of where he went. That's where this guide comes in. Read further to learn how to find Gautstafr if he goes missing in Dragon's Dogma 2. Where does Gautstafr go in Dragon's Dogma 2? Screenshot: PC Invasion If Gautstafr goes missing during your quest to bring him to the hot springs, there is a very good chance that he was killed in combat. To find Gautstafr's body, head to the morgue in Bakbattahl and speak with the woman at the front desk. Give her 5000 coins to search for a body, and select Gautstafr. Screenshot: PC Invasion After selecting Gautstafr at the front desk, the woman will light a candle for you on one of the nearby coffins. The candle represents where Gautstafr was laid to rest, so interact with the coffin a...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:58 PM
     Dragon's Dogma 2 New Game Plus: What carries over and what you loseThe more I play Dragon's Dogma 2, the more I'm starting to get you can't just use normal attacks to bring down the larger creatures. If you've played games like Shadow of the Colossus, you can probably see those rules apply to Dragon's Dogma 2. You can take down beasts in a few ways like climbing. Griffins and Drakes are climable, but they can fly away while you're riding them and throw you off. It will help if you read this to learn how to avoid fall damage from Drakes and Griffins in Dragon's Dogma 2. Dragon's Dogma 2: How to avoid fall damage from Drakes and Griffins I struggled with this because as I would damage the Griffen to stop it from flying away, it would take me with along for a ride. Even after realizing fire is its weakness, I still had issues. At a certain point, the creature would throw me off forcing me to die upon hitting the ground. However, I did manage to soften the blow by landing on goblins — but that was pure luck.  Screenshot: C...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, March 27, 2024 4:58 PM
     Phasmophobia Forest SpiritThere is a spirit haunting your game in celebration of Easter. Seems appropriate. Here is how to summon the Forest Spirit in Phasmophobia. Phasmophobia: What is the Forest Spirit? Summoning the Forest Spirit is the very last step during the Easter Event 2024 in Phasmophobia. The whole purpose of summoning this spirit is to gather intel on it and report what exactly we are dealing with. However, the Forest Spirit is a little shy, so it won't spawn immediately. First, you will need to take pictures of five Forest Spirit minions, also known as Jackalopes. These are spread across five different maps in Phasmophobia, and you will need to follow some clues to get a picture of otherwise invisible ghosts. Image: SirPoppss Forest Spirit Minion Locations and how to catch them The trick during the Easter Event 2024 regarding the Forest Spirit Minions is that you will need to find the starting location where you will see a set of footsteps moving across the map. Using your UV...

WGB Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:26 PM
     Marvel Rivals is an upcoming free-to-play PC game from NetEase that will be developed by a team composed of former Battlefield and Call of Duty developers. Two teams of 6 players each will pick from a roster of classic Marvel superheroes and villains and then duke it out across numerous iconic Marvel locations.

WGB Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:13 PM
     Marvel has announced its second new game in as many weeks. Marvel Rivals is an Overwatch-inspired free-to-play game coming to PC, with two teams of 6 players each duking it out as a host of classic Marvel characters.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:28 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, March 27, 2024 2:03 PM
    

Subscribers will also receive the Overwatch 2 Mega Bundle

The post PlayStation Plus April 2024 Games Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:30 PM
    

An announcement trailer was also released.

The post Team-based PvP Shooter Marvel Rivals Announced for PC appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, March 27, 2024 1:00 PM

MonsterVine Wednesday, March 27, 2024 12:00 PM
     I think for the most part, the walking simulator genre of games can be split into two distinct categories. The first category is games that really should have just been any other medium other than gaming. A game that doesn't use the interactive functionality of games to even a middling extent and, as someone playing […]

MonsterVine Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
     Funcom's upcoming open-world survival MMO, Dune: Awakening, aims to provide a unique social sandbox and an immersive individual character story on a massive scale. During the recent GDC presentation, the developers gave an in-depth view of the game's opening hours, player progression, and social cooperation in Arrakis.  As soon as you customize and select your […]

Level Up Wednesday, March 27, 2024 11:00 AM
     The Marvel Universe is expansive and chockful of some of pop culture's greatest heroes. NetEase…