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Jul 24, 22:00


GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:09 PM
    

Throughout July 2024, those that dive into Square Enix's suite of mobile titles will be able to experience new crossovers, exclusive rewards, and a number of different celebrations.

The post SQUARE ENIX Mobile Updates for July 2024 Revealed appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 24, 2024 3:14 PM
    

Starting July 25 (tomorrow!), an invite-only, cross-play Closed Beta test for Amazon Games' New World: Aeternum will occur in North America and Europe.

The post New World: Aeternum Closed Beta Console Test Beginning This Week appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 4:00 PM
    

Last week, EA College Football 25 launched and people went wild, with the game already becoming one of the biggest titles of 2024. But some fans on Xbox, perhaps not as familiar with video games, are frustrated after buying the new college football simulator and discovering that it doesn't play on their console. Let…

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Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 3:30 PM
    

As you wander the wasteland of Appalachia, you may notice what looks like an oddly dressed ghoul stumbling down the cracked pavement toward you. It's actually a Scorched, which isn't anything special, but lately you might've seen them dressed in holiday attire. The bright red and white frock of a Scorched Wanderer…

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Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:45 PM
    

I love to get a look at cosplay from across the world, and DoKomi Germany never disappoints. The three-day anime convention and cosplay competition took place over the last weekend in June in Düsseldorf, Germany, and gave us some absolute beauties.

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Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:30 PM
    

If you've been waiting for the ambitious Fallout: London mod to release, then I have good news for you—it's out tomorrow. The mod, which tells an entirely original story set across the pond, has been in development since 2019 and has been through plenty of ups and downs. Thankfully, the wait to see what the developers…

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Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:20 PM
    

Earlier this month, Apex Legends announced it would overhaul its battle pass system, resulting in a price hike for players and them no longer being able to use in-game currency to earn the pass for free. After a weeks-long backlash resulting in over 70,000 negative reviews on Steam, Respawn Entertainment says it won't…

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Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:17 PM
    

EA is very good at consistently adding player-requested content to The Sims 4 with free updates to the base game. Unfortunately, EA is also very good at breaking The Sims 4 with those updates, as evidenced in the latest debacle.

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PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:53 PM
     XCOM style robot tactics game Grit and Valor 1949 now free to try

There are plenty of strategy games set during the Second World War, but few that reimagine the era through fictional technology or other explorations of alternate history. The recent Wolfenstein FPS games do so, but there are only a handful of strategy entries, like the Valkyria Chronicles and Command and Conquer series, that take the same approach from a different genre. This makes the upcoming Grit and Valor 1949, a mech tactics game in the vein of XCOM 2, Into the Breach, and the First World War inspired Iron Brigade, stand out. And it also makes today's launch of the game's demo well worth looking into.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RTS games, Best war games, Best robot games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:01 PM
     The big new Ready or Not DLC is actually free, kind of

Ready or Not left Early Access on Steam late last year, providing a spiritual successor to the kind of tactical FPS design previously seen in games like the Rainbow Six and SWAT series, Arma 3, Insurgency, and Squad. Although it's been complete for more than six months now, creator Void Interactive has continued to work on the project, issuing an update to the base game and launching the Home Invasion DLC, which, surprisingly, will be largely available for free to all players, with a few caveats.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ready Or Not system requirements, Best FPS games on PC, Best Co-Op games on PC

Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:30 PM
    

Digital Devil Saga 20th Anniversary Online Shop Opening

A new 20th anniversary store for the Digital Devil Saga duology of games will be available in Japan between July 25 and August 19, 2024 from the Chasmic online store. The merchandise line featured at the shop includes acrylic character stands, anniversary t-shirts, and pin badges. [Thanks, PR Times!]

The shipping cost for the merchandise items is 1,000 yen (or approximately $6.50,) and they are expected to release during October 2024. The goods sold feature the main cast of the Digital Devil Saga duology as well as their Atma Avatars. The characters featured are Serph, Sera, Argilla, Cielo, Gale, Heat, and Roland, as well as their respective avatars, Varuna, Varnani, Prithivi, Dyaus, Vayu, Agni, and Indra.

Here is the full lineup of merchandise items available at the Digital Devil Saga 20th Anniversary shop alongside their prices:

  • 20th Anniversary T-shirt (2 available) – 5,500 yen (~$35.73)
  • Character Acrylic Stands (7 available) – 2,750 yen (~$17.86)
  • Set of 5 Random Pin Badges (25 available) – 2,500 yen (~$16.24)
  • Box of Random Pin Badges (25 available) – 12,500 yen (~$81.20)

And here is how the items look like:

As a reminder, the eeo Store announced a new Persona 3 Reload merchandise collection featuring new designs of the main cast in the store's signature GraffArt or "Graffiti Art" style.

The Digital Devil Saga 20th Anniversary shop will be available between July 25 and August 19, 2024 from the Chasmic online store.

The post Digital Devil Saga 20th Anniversary Online Shop Opening appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:15 PM
    

psycho-pass 10th anniversary dominator re-run

Cerevo will re-run the 10th anniversary edition of the Dominator from Psycho-Pass. Pre-orders opened on July 23, 2024 and the gun will cost 148,500 JPY ($955.15) or $1229. [Thanks, Famitsu!]

Like the original version, there are over a hundred voice variations from Noriko Hidaka (who voices the Dominator in the show) that'll play when you hold the grip or point the gun at someone. However, the 10th anniversary model has a slightly modified interior. Everything else is the same, so it's unlikely that you'll notice anything different. It'll also come with a protector case that has a serial number.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Geyo56N1ic8

This is a 1/1 replica of the Dominator from Psycho-Pass, with Production I.G. (the animation studio that created the show) helping to supervise the recreation. Aside from the voice lines from Hidaka, the Dominator also has over 200 LED lights on it and is capable of transforming. You can connect it to a smartphone app to measure your Criminal Coefficient store, as well as your friend's. The app is available via the Google Play Store or App Store. As well, you can charge it via USB so you don't need to worry about replacement batteries.

In the show itself, the Dominator is a weapon that the PSB uses when subduing criminals and latent criminals. Inspectors and Enforcers can only fire Dominators with approval from the Sibyl System (a Big Brother-like program that people use for everything, including calculating an individual's criminal potential). Depending on the situation, the Dominator can fire paralyzing shots to non-lethally contain a criminal, or a more dangerous one that can reduce them to a bloody goop.

Psycho-Pass is readily available on streaming services like Crunchyroll. Pre-orders for the Psycho-Pass 10th Anniversary Edition Dominator model are open right now and they'll ship out in Winter 2024 in Japan. The global store lists the shipping window as August 2024. There's only a limited number in supply so pre-orders will close as soon as Cerevo runs out.

The post Psycho-Pass 10th Anniversary Dominator Still Available For Pre-Order appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 8:00 PM
    

Castlevania Nocturne Season 1 Blu-ray Debuts in October

Viz Media confirmed that it is planning a Castlevania: Nocturne season 1 Blu-ray release. Physical copies of the show, which consists of eight episodes so far, will be available on October 8, 2024.

Here's Viz Media's official announcement, which featured a look at the cover art of Richter Belmont:

https://twitter.com/VIZMedia/status/1815945020312096794

This isn't the only piece of Castlevania: Nocturne merchandise expected around that time of year. The worldwide release of the Richter Belmont Nendoroid falls in Q3 2024. It is based entirely on his appearance in the show. It consists of his classic whip and other weapons, as well as an outfit that calls back to his original game appearances.

We may be in for even more Castlevania: Nocturne news in addition to the season 1 physical release, as season 2 is in development. Netflix confirmed it was in production back on October 6, 2024. Aside from a teaser trailer involving Alucard, however, there hasn't been much of an update on that. As a reminder, the original Castlevania series on Netflix had seasons air in July 2017, October 2018, March 2020, and May 2021, so it isn't uncommon for there to be gaps of a year or more between seasons.

The first season of Castlevania: Nocturne is streaming on Netflix, and people can pick up the season 1 Blu-ray on October 8, 2024. 

The post Castlevania: Nocturne Season 1 Blu-ray Debuts in October appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 7:30 PM
    

Hololive Startend gaming chairs

Hololive Production revealed that Startend will produce new gaming chairs inspired by the Cover Vtubers. Pre-orders for the chairs have also opened at the Hololive Production Official Shop.

The chairs will be available in three different designs; each of them will be modeled after Hoshimachi Suisei, Minato Aqua, and Tokoyami Towa. All three chairs will have the same price tag of $425. The chairs will support a maximum load of 150 kg (~330 lbs) with the backrest height ranging around 43.5-51cm (~17-20 in). The owner will also be able to recline the chair up to a 175-degree angle.

The Hololive Production Official Shop usually supports international shipping to countries and territories in Asia Pacific and the Americas. However, the fine print for each gaming chair notes that the shipping area for these products will be limited to Japan. The final decision may change in the future though, as the Hololive Nanoblocks revealed earlier in July 2024 also had a similar fine print, but Cover added that it can actually ship the products to addresses outside Japan in up to seven extra business days.

Startend's Hololive gaming chairs will be available to ship inside Japan around mid-December 2024 to mid-January 2025. Hololive Production will close the order period on August 26, 2024.

The post Hololive Startend Gaming Chairs Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 7:00 PM
    

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Costs Over $450

Akihabara Premium Collection announced the release of an ukiyo-e woodblock print based on the Puella Magi Madoka Magica anime series. The woodprint costs 71,500 yen (approximately $466) and will be limited to 300 units worldwide.

The woodblock print is titled The Law of Cycles and is named after a concept from the anime series. The ukiyo-e print will be available from the Akihabara Premium Collection online store and it will go on sale on July 27, 2024. In addition, the print will be available in Japan, North America, and other territories. The print will include a certificate of authenticity signed by the manufacturers.

The Puella Magi Madoka Magica woodblock print features Ultimate Madoka, and it seems like the print will include a pink Swarovski crystal. The crystal will be placed on Madoka's Soul Gem pendant, which is located around her neck. However, some images of the print found on the Akihabara Premium Collection website show the print without the crystal.

You can take a better look at The Law of Cycles ukiyo-e woodblock print of Ultimate Madoka here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNUU2jElxBw

Back on February 2023, Akihabara Premium Collection released another collaboration ukiyo-e print based the Attack on Titan anime series. The company has released other prints based on popular anime series, like a One Piece print and various Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045 items.

The Puella Magi Madoka Magica ukiyo-e woodblock print costs 71,500 yen (~$466,) and it will be available for purchase from July 27, 2024.

The post Puella Magi Madoka Magica Ukiyo-e Woodblock Print Costs Over $450 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:30 PM
    

Final Fantasy XI Return to Absolute Virtue Campaign Comes Back

Square Enix announced a Final Fantasy XI Return to Absolute Virtue campaignwill begin on July 25, 2024. This is a revival of a recurring event that involves fighting monsters inspired by the seven virtues to potentially get some of ten different Aern weapons. 

For those of us who have been playing Final Fantasy XI for a while, you may recognize the Return to Absolute Virtue campaign from its 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 appearances. While there are seven virtues, there are eight Notorious Monsters who appear as part of this event. These appear in certain spots, and you only have a chance of getting certain Aern weapons from specific ones.

Here's the list of Notorious Monsters that are a part of the Final Fantasy XI Return to Absolute Virtue campaign, where you can find them, and which weapons they may drop when defeated. 

  • Absolute Virtue - Al'Taieu - Aern Axe, Aern Axe II, Aern Dagger, Aern Dagger II, Aern Spear, Aern Spear II, Aern Staff, Aern Staff II, Aern Sword, Aern Sword II
  • Jailer of Faith - The Garden of Ru'Hmet - Aern Staff, Aern Staff II, Aern Sword, and Aern Sword II
  • Jailer of Fortitude - The Garden of Ru'Hmet - Aern Staff, Aern Staff II, Aern Sword, and Aern Sword II
  • Jailer of Hope - Al'Taieu - Aern Axe, Aern Axe II, Aern Dagger, and Aern Dagger II
  • Jailer of Justice - Al'Taieu - Aern Axe, Aern Axe II, Aern Dagger, and Aern Dagger II
  • Jailer of Love - Al'Taieu - Aern Axe, Aern Axe II, Aern Dagger, Aern Dagger II, Aern Spear, Aern Spear II, Aern Staff, Aern Staff II, Aern Sword, Aern Sword II
  • Jailer of Prudence - Al'Taieu - Aern Axe, Aern Axe II, Aern Dagger, and Aern Dagger II
  • Jailer of Temperance - The Grand Palace of Hu'Xzoi - Aern Staff, Aern Staff II, Aern Sword, and Aern Sword II

Final Fantasy XI is available for PCs. The July version update is live, with Ambuscade and Record of Eminence additions. Its Return to Absolute Virtue campaign runs July 25, 2024 through August 8, 2024.

The post Final Fantasy XI Return to Absolute Virtue Campaign Comes Back appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:00 PM
    

Shadows of the Damned Remaster Release Date

The remaster of Shadows of the Damned has a release date, confirmed platforms, and a full official title. Now subtitled Hella Remastered, the game will release on October 31, 2024 for all major platforms.

Grasshopper Manufacture revealed the release date in a new trailer for Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered. In addition, the trailer revealed a number of new features for the remaster, including a New Game+ mode, plus 60fps and 4K support.

The trailer also showed off four new costumes for protagonist Garcia Hotspur, including shirtless skin Placia Garcia and demonic skin Demonio Garcia, plus two deep cut references to other Grasshopper properties connected to the original game. Ocha Corazones is based on a character from a fictional sequel referenced in Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. The final costume, Kamikaze Garcia, is based on a character from the manga Kurayami Dance, which was based on early concepts of Shadows of the Damned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwpT42plQiI

Shadows of the Damned originally released in 2011 for PS3 and Xbox 360. As the latest trailer makes repeatedly clear, it was a collaboration between Suda51 and Shinji Mikami, and featured concept art by Tadayuki Nomaru and enemy designs by Q Hayashida. It also featured music from Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka.

A remaster for Shadows of the Damned was announced at a Grasshopper presentation in June 2023, although the release date is the first we've heard more about it since. However, it shouldn't be long until we hear more. Among the many titles given to Suda and Mikami in the trailer was "Gamescom 2024 Attendee", suggesting we'll see more of the game in Germany in August 2024.

Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered will release on October 31, 2024, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.

The post Shadows of the Damned Remaster Release Date Set appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 5:30 PM
    

blue lock season 2 opening

The Blue Lock X (Twitter) account has teased the opening song for season 2 of the anime. The opening is "Boujaku no Charisma," with Unison Square Garden performing the song.

You can watch the trailer for Blue Lock season 2 and listen to the opening here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khg1fg2XH2o

In the video, we can see both old and new character alike. It also shows some of the upcoming stages the Blue Lock characters will have to participate in. Some new characters include Shido and Aiku. Shido technically made a brief appearance at the very end of the first season. A scene from the opening suggests that the show will get to the U-20 Arc, which takes place right after the Third Selection Arc.

Blue Lock is an anime and manga series that started serialization in 2018. It is a hit manga, with over 30 million copies in circulation in November 2023. The show may have increased in popularity as a result of the memes surrounding Japan's national soccer team's insane performance during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Group Stage. Blue Lock focuses on the titular Blue Lock program, which is a training regime that focuses on finding and creating the best striker in Japan. This ideal striker is an "egoist" who rejects all notions of traditional teamwork.

You can watch Blue Lock on Crunchyroll and Kodansha has licensed the manga for an English release. A film based on the Episode Nagi spin-off appeared in Japanese theaters on April 19, 2024 and Crunchyroll has licensed it for international release.

The post Listen to the Blue Lock Season 2 Opening Here appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 5:00 PM
    

star rail yunli kit

HoYoVerse has revealed more details on the kit and biography of Yunli, who'll be a new 5-star Physical Destruction character in Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.4. She'll be available in the first phase of the new update.

Yunli's sword is Old Mettle and it's a "severely overweight" sword. She can apparently talk to this sword, though it's hard to tell if this is because she's a huge sword otaku or if her sword can legitimately communicate with her. Yunli's hobby includes collecting swords, though part of this is due to her duty to retrieve "cursed swords" and cast them into the forge. As we know from March 7th's character description in her Imaginary Hunt form, Yunli is skilled enough at swordsmanship that she's able to teach others how to use one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fw39wVjKwY

In battle, Yunli has a parry-focused kit in which she regenerates additional energy and launches a Counter after an enemy attacks her. She can restore HP with her Skill and then deal Physical DMG to up to three enemies at once. Her main bread and butter seems to come from her Ultimate. It'll let her taunt all enemies and increases a special Counter to up to three enemies. Her passive Traces focus on increasing her ATK and increasing her ability to resist Crowd Control debuffs after she uses her Ultimate.

Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. You'll be able to pull for Yunli when Honkai: Star Rail Version 2.4 goes live on July 31, 2024. Her signature Light Cone will also be in the banner for a limited time alongside her.

The post Yunli Gameplay Explained in Honkai: Star Rail appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 4:30 PM
    

Tribe Nine Beta Test Date

The Deadly Playtest Global Beta Test for Tribe Nine has a new start date. Spots are still open for signups until the end of July 2024, and the event will take place on August 9-15, 2024.

Too Kyo Games, the developers of Tribe Nine, previously put the call out for participants in the Closed Beta in June 2024. While the studio had stated those successfully chosen to participate and take part in the beta in July, the official global beta test period will be August 9-15, 2024. It is possible to still sign up to participate up until July 31, 2024. Participants will be informed in early August if they are successful. While the game is set for release on PC and mobile platforms, the test will only take place via Steam.

Tribe Nine is the latest game from Too Kyo Games, the studio founded by Danganronpa creator Kazukata Kodaka, in collaboration with Akatsuki Games. Frequent collaborators Rui Komatsuzaki and Masafumi Takada are also involved in character design and music respectively. This free-to-play Extreme Action RPG was first announced in 2020, although news has been limited until now. An anime based on the game's premise aired in 2022.

In addition to Tribe Nine, Too Kyo Games recently announced the development of another game, Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. This was revealed during the June 2024 Nintendo Direct and is set for release in 2025.

Tribe Nine does not yet have a release date, although its global beta test will take place on August 9-15, 2024. The game will be released for PC and mobile devices.

The post Tribe Nine Global Beta Test Confirmed for August 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 3:30 PM
    

Capcom Pixel All Stars Wood Badge Collection - featuring wood badges from the company games characters

Capcom revealed new wood badges modeled after characters from its game series. The company has opened orders for the merchandise on the Online Parco web store. It is also working on gradually releasing the items physically in Japan.

The full title for this new merchandise line is Capcom Pixel All Stars Wood Badge Collection. As the title implies, these badges will depict the games' characters in pixel art. While Mega Man and Ghosts 'n Goblins characters already have established pixel character sprites, Capcom's staff members also created new chibi pixel art for characters from other series.

This set will feature a total of twenty character badges. The franchises that Capcom features in this collection include Ace Attorney, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Street Fighter, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, Mega Man, Monster Hunter, Okami, and Sengoku Basara.

The badges are available in two different listings. The first one will have Capcom send a random character badge at 990 yen (~$6.65) apiece. The second one is a complete set that will let people get all twenty badges at 19,800 yen (~$133). People residing outside Japan can also place orders for these items via the Buyee widget.

The Capcom Pixel All Stars Wood Badge Collection is immediately available for purchase online. The items will also be available physically at Capcom Stores in Tokyo and Osaka from Friday, July 26, 2024. Capcom added that it may also sell the badges in other stores and events in the future.

The post Capcom Character Wood Badges Feature Characters' Pixel Art appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 3:00 PM
    

Flock Review 1

There aren't many games out there like Flock. It's a flight sim. It's a creature collector. It's a mystery game. It's a puzzle game. All of these descriptions apply, but not exactly. Flock is a strange beast, which is appropriate when it's a game all about finding strange beasts.

You play as a bird rider heading to visit their zoology professor aunt Jane, who has a task for you. She wants you to document the creatures of the land around her home and lower the cloud level in the process. You achieve this through observation, documentation and a system of whistles.

Gameplay in Flock is simple. You fly around a small open world, on the lookout for creatures hopping around the land. You fly close to them, observe them and use Jane's notes to determine which creature you're looking at, gradually filling up a creature book with details. In addition, you can find whistles for different types of creature, allowing you to charm them and get them to follow you around, which is the flock of the game's title.

That's it. That's the game. It's the most basic of mechanics and yet Flock manages to be delightfully compelling. Flying around the world feels good, for a start. The lack of friction to the movement makes it feel playful. This is enhanced by ring structures that can be dashed through and chained together for a satisfying drift through the skies. You'll be swooping, drifting and coasting around to your heart's content and loving every minute of it.

Screenshot by Siliconera

Seeking out creatures is also a joy. Flock doesn't openly point them out to you. Instead, you have to listen out for any noises they might be making while staying vigilant for movement in the grass or in the trees. A glow in the woods at night could be something, while careful examination of a lakebed might reveal a pair of eyes peering out of the sand. Flock wants you to stop and carefully examine your surroundings, leave no stone unturned and keep making new discoveries.

This is the main draw of Flock, in fact. Because you have to make all these discoveries yourself, using only single line clues in the guide along with your own intuition, it's extremely rewarding to find new creatures. You'll see something wiggle in a rock formation and immediately work out out the correct distance to observe without spooking it. You'll hear persistently loud chirping from tall grass and delight to find a weird duck in there. You'll peer into a rock and be surprised to see something peering back.

The vagueness of these clues may be maddening to more impatient completionists, however. Some creatures require some meticulous searching, while the hints can sometimes be too vague for their own good. It's a huge appeal for someone like me, with my love of slowly figuring out puzzles, but it may not be to everyone's taste.

Screenshot by Siliconera

The vibes are immaculate for this gentle kind of experience though. The visual style is all bold colors and pastel shades, which means every part of this game is gorgeous to look at. The character designs are charming too. The creatures are all bizarre little hybrids based on various fish and birds, all marked by big eyes and pronounced features. Some have goofy little beaks, some are tiny beans that are mostly all eye, and some are whale-like beasts with huge maws. One creature, the Gormless Skyfish, is a happily clueless, bug-eyed fish identified by it being "no thoughts head empty", and I love it so much.

These adorable designs even extend to the few human characters, including your own avatar. They remind me of Muppets, all big faces and noodly limbs. You can even get very silly with your characters, dressing them in a poncho and wading trousers, among other things. The silliness of these character designs is enhanced by the writing, which fills the dialogue with a ton of charm and humor. Your uncle Reg, for instance, is single-mindedly into sheep, where he'll dismiss any earth-shattering natural discoveries you make simply because he can't shear them for wool.

Screenshot by Siliconera

Sheep are also a mechanic in Flock, but they're one of the parts that don't feel fully realized. You can collect a flock of sheep in addition to the regular beasties, and their role is to graze on overgrown meadows. This reveals Burgling Bewls that have stolen the various whistles you need to charm creatures, as well as new clothes and space for more creatures. But they can't be used for anything else and you can't spread multiple sheep onto multiple meadows at once. They feel like they were added simply to have a collectible system on top of the standard creature collecting, and it doesn't feel fully fleshed out as an idea.

That said, this minor use is a step-up from how limited the actual flock of the title feels. As you find creatures, you can use the various whistles to initiate a mini-game where you must blow the whistle at the appropriate distance to charm them into following you. As the game progresses, you become a full-fledged Pied Piper, with everything you've charmed following you in a big group.

However, they do nothing. They don't help search for more creatures, they can't be sent into crevices to pull out other friends and they can't help chase down the faster beasts. They just sit there behind your bird, looking pretty and making noises if you press the right button to squawk at them. I feel it would add so much to the game if different creatures had different uses that aided in your search for the final entries. Despite the game being named after it, this flock doesn't do much of anything, and that's disappointing.

Screenshot by Siliconera

This feeling of ideas not being fully realized adds to a general feeling of repetition that runs through the game. The gameplay loop is very much swooping around, marking creatures in your book and heading off to do the next one. As a low-stakes game for short chillout gameplay sessions, this is perfect, but it does make the game feel a little tedious if you play for too long in one sitting.

However, most of these criticisms are nitpicks. If you're willing to approach Flock on its own terms, most of this washes away. It lulls you into its atmosphere with ease. It's also designed to be played co-op, as you and your fellow bird riders can soar around together. I never got to experience this aspect of the game, but I imagine it adds a lot.

Flock is a comfort blanket of a game. Its simplicity isn't for everyone but it's hard to deny its charm. If you're looking for something cozy to kick back with at the end of a long day, Flock is exactly what you need.

Flock is available now for the PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

The post Review: Flock Is a Delightful and Cozy Flight appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Zenless Zone Zero Update Makes Other Characters Your Avatar

HoYoVerse announced that the 1.1 Zenless Zone Zero update will cast other Agent characters as our avatars during Story Commissions, and it is working to allow us to use people other than Belle or Wise outside of missions as well. The additional character option doesn't have an expected launch option, however,

The option to step into the shoes of other characters in Zenless Zone Zero was the first 1.1 change brought up. This will only apply to campaign quests, however. When this goes on, you will not only have access to the character during Hollow stages like we did with Nekomata in the 1.0 questline. It will involve an opportunity to go through the neighborhoods as well. Many of the other 1.1 changes will involve adding Inter-Knot avatars for Agents acquired through the gacha or events, Chain Attack options to help with entering one in manual mode or canceling one. There will also be mobile UI customization.

With 1.2, a number of additional Zenless Zone Zero updates are planned. People can get missed rewards from completed Commissions without replaying via Fairy Assistance. There will also be quality of life changes regarding changing the time of day, Agent Training, and preset lineups.

It's in the "later versions" section of the update that HoYoVerse brought up how Belle and Wise will be able to be swapped as our avatar in the world with other characters we picked up in Zenless Zone Zero. Said characters might also look better, as there will be model adjustments.

Here is the full statement regarding changes:

https://twitter.com/ZZZ_EN/status/1815960335876243493

Zenless Zone Zero is available for the PS5, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Zenless Zone Zero Update Makes Other Characters Your Avatar appeared first on Siliconera.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 24, 2024 5:24 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 24, 2024 5:06 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 24, 2024 4:26 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Wednesday, July 24, 2024 4:10 PM
    

According to several former staff members.

The post Humble Games Has Reportedly Laid off All Staff appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Jul 24, 14:00


GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:04 PM
    

SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos might not be the match of the millennium, but it still promises a good time. The team at Code Mystics has set out to make sure this crossover is the definitive version of the title. 

The post SNK vs. Capcom: SVC Chaos Review appeared first on GamersHeroes.


GamersHeroes Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:30 AM
    

A title by Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Shinji MIkami, and Q Hayashida, Grasshopper Manufacture and NetEase's Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is set to release on October 31 for both PC and consoles.

The post Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered Launching October 31 appeared first on GamersHeroes.


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:50 PM
    

At a time when it feels like not a whole lot sets Concord apart from other hero-based online shooters, the developers behind the sci-fi live service game just revealed one big difference: Concord won't have a battle pass.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:00 PM
    

The pirates of the Caribbean have officially invaded Fortnite. In addition to bringing new skins you can buy, there's also a limited-time quest players can complete that will reward them with various Pirates of the Caribbean cosmetics.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:50 PM
    

Skibidi Toilet, the massively popular YouTube series featuring singing heads popping out of toilet bowls, is being developed into a TV and film franchise by Transformers director Michael Bay, and former Paramount president Adam Goodman.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:36 PM
    

Fortnite's Chapter 5 Season 3 Battle Pass has various quests you can finish each week for some sweet XP to unlock new cosmetics with. Week 9's batch of quests introduces five new challenges for players to complete, each worth 15,000 XP. Those who complete all five quests will be rewarded with 75,000 XP, which can be…

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:20 PM
    

Modders of The Witcher 3 have only had official tools from developer CD Projekt Red for two months, but they've already made great use of them. One ambitious modder was able to recreate some of the first game's map with the new tools only a day after they were released. More recently, a new mod has given the already…

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:10 PM
    

This winter the sci-fi MMO Warframe will be receiving its huge 1999 update, and over the weekend it was revealed that the update would include the introduction of a romance system. To make things even better, one of the characters you will be able to romance in 1999 is Arthur, voiced by Final Fantasy XVI star and…

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:50 AM
    

The opening moments of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim have become famous online, leading to plenty of memes and jokes. And now, someone has remixed the iconic intro and added a bunch of Gen Alpha and internet slang, leading to a video that might make you feel really old.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:20 AM
    

When jumping into Final Fantasy XIV for the first time, you will probably come across words like Roles, Classes, and Jobs. You might not have much of an idea of what they mean. But their differences are important to understanding and thriving in this game.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:50 AM
    

MultiVersus, the platform fighter that brings characters from Warner Bros. properties together in the field of combat, just got a big update, and dataminers have used it to learn even more about what's to come. The latest datamine has unearthed stages based on Barbie and Harry Potter, and even some unannounced…

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:40 AM
    

As the PlayStation 5 nears its four-year anniversary, the platform team at Sony is continuing to cook up small new improvements to help players get the most out of the console. The latest batch of changes we'll soon get to test are hyper-niche, but still pretty cool.

Read more...


Kotaku Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:15 AM
    

Live-service games face an extraordinarily tough time battling to maintain their player-base, competing against a dozen similar games, and trying to constantly satisfy impossibly disparate audience—but one benefit that's all too rarely utilized is the ability to be incredibly topical and reactive. Helldivers 2 is…

Read more...


PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:28 PM
     All confirmed Star Wars Outlaws characters

Who are all the confirmed Star Wars Outlaws characters? The story takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so expect cameos from Jabba the Hutt, Lando Calrissian, and even Han Solo frozen in carbonite.

There's not long to go now until the Star Wars Outlaws release date and we know plenty more about what to expect from Ubisoft's latest venture in the Star Wars universe, including some of the missions you can expect, and what its open world looks like. We've also been scouring trailers for old and new characters that could appear in the space game and when we could be interacting with them throughout the story.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Star Wars games, Star Wars Outlaws release date, Best open world games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:50 PM
     Half-Life 2 coming to the big screen in the worst way imaginable

Half-Life 2 is a beloved FPS that absolutely does not need a film or TV adaptation. Though games like Halo, Fallout, The Last of Us, and even League of Legends have had varying levels of success moving from game to screen, Half-Life 2 doesn't have the kind of story that makes sense for cinema. As it turns out, that doesn't matter at all, as Valve's 2004 classic may now be taking a roundabout path to the big screen through a Michael Bay-directed version of the viral Skibidi Toilet web series, a wildly successful internet hit created and featuring characters from Half-Life 2.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best old games, Best FPS games, Best VR games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:33 PM
     PDP Riffmaster Guitar Controller review

Introducing the PDP Riffmaster wireless guitar! A groundbreaking release after almost a decade, enabling you to unleash your inner rock star in Fortnite Festival, Rock Band 4, and Clone Hero. Officially licensed by Xbox, it's your key to rocking out with unparalleled freedom and style. If you want a controller that makes you feel like a musician, this is the one. It enhances the playing experience and looks the part.

If you're a fan of rhythm games, then this is one of the best PC controllers you'll find. It does for musical games what PC steering wheels do for driving games - adding a whole new level of realism and immersion. This is really the first guitar controller of the modern age.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:46 PM
     Our favorite gaming SSD just hit 8TB, and it's cheaper than most

WD has just announced a new version of its popular PCIe 4 SSD, making it one of the cheapest yet fastest 8TB M.2 SSDs around. The new 8TB WD Black SN850X is still a pricey option, but could save you as much as $220 compared to some other 8TB drives.

The 2TB version of this WD drive has the top spot on our best gaming SSD guide, thanks to its great balance of performance and value. However, for most gamers, we wouldn't recommend paying so much money for the 8TB version, especially when most motherboards these days can accommodate two or even three M.2 SSDs.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:35 PM
     AMD is going to love this Intel Arrow Lake CPU benchmark leak

It looks as though there are already a few samples of Arrow Lake CPUs in the hands of tech leakers right now, as a series of Intel Core Ultra 9 285K benchmarks have seemingly just been leaked. The leaked Intel Arrow Lake benchmark results are better than those from any CPU you can buy now, but it looks as though Intel is going to have a hard time beating AMD in the forthcoming CPU battle.

Both Intel and AMD will be competing to make the best gaming CPU in 2024, but AMD has a head start, with the Ryzen 9000 release date fast approaching. Intel's competing Arrow Lake CPUs aren't expected to come out until at least October 2024, and if that's what happens, it looks as though Intel is going to have a serious fight on its hands.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:21 PM
     Marvel Rivals voice actors and cast

Who are the Marvel Rivals voice actors? Those lucky enough to get access to the Marvel Rivals closed beta test will have no doubt heard some familiar voices, especially if you've played other Marvel games. While some have reprised their roles, some are voicing completely different characters. Of course, there's also a bunch of new talent joining the cast.

With so many Marvel Rivals characters already, the cast list is stacked. Plus, with post-launch support promising new heroes in the Marvel Rivals roster, it's only going to grow after the Marvel Rivals release date arrives.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals release date, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals System Requirements

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:04 PM
     Best Marvel Rivals settings for max fps

What are the best Marvel Rivals settings for PC? Getting great performance out of Marvel Rivals on PC is a simple task thanks to clear graphical settings menus and an art style that lends itself well to performing on older gaming PCs.

The Marvel Rivals system requirements paint the picture of a game that is still in beta, with a considerable gap between the minimum and recommended hardware. That being said, you won't need the best graphics card to get the game running at a solid 60fps at 1080p or 1440p.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:04 PM
     Is Marvel Rivals Steam Deck compatible?

Is Marvel Rivals Steam Deck compatible? Despite having high hopes for this new hero shooter, NetEase is yet to secure Steam Deck compatibility, with the issue being related to the Linux-based SteamOS.

Despite being the best handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck still struggles to run certain games. Most of these issues arise when a game is always online, and requires the presence of an anti-cheat solution that doesn't work with Linux. Even if the Marvel Rivals system requirements suggest the game should run just fine, its multiplayer focus is the downfall, for now.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:04 PM
     Marvel Rivals system requirements

What are the Marvel Rivals system requirements? Hero shooters are often quite simple games to run, and despite still being in its closed beta phase, Marvel Rivals appears to follow this trend.

You won't need the best graphics card to play the game and nothing about the Marvel Rivals system requirements suggests good performance will be hard to come by. That being said, the game is still in its early beta phase, meaning these requirements are subject to change and performance may be unstable during the beta window.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:01 PM
     Serious WoW The War Within pre-patch problem causes currency to vanish

The World of Warcraft The War Within pre-patch has finally arrived, but it's already come with one massive caveat. Blizzard has rapidly disabled its newest feature, the Warbanks that allow you to quickly transfer gold and other currencies between all characters on your account, due to a "critical issue" causing some players' hard-earned resources to vanish.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: WoW The War Within beta sign up, WoW The War Within release date, The best WoW addons

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:01 PM
     New action roguelike Hollow Survivors is now completely free to try

Hollow Survivors immediately caught our attention with its visual style. Its retro pixel aesthetic calls to mind arcade classics like Double Dragon and Golden Axe, but has the higher fidelity of more modern takes on the art style as seen in Rogue Legacy, Moonlighter, or Sea of Stars. There also appears to be a lot of substance beneath this pleasant exterior, which interested players can now check out for themselves as the upcoming game has just made a free demo available through its Prologue's launch.


PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:58 AM
     Best cross platform games 2024

What are the best cross platform games? Crossplay games really are the holy grail of gaming, and they weren't particularly all that common until a few years ago. Nowadays, there are plenty of online experiences you can jump into with friends, regardless of what platform you're playing on.

The great thing about the best PC games featuring crossplay is that there's a lot less organization involved. We've all experienced how difficult it can be to wrangle a group of friends together to try out a new game, so this way, you won't have to worry about who's playing on what platform. Here are our picks for the best crossplay games on PC in 2024. We've included horror gamesFPS games, and other genres for the definitive list of the very best games that you can play with your friends on other platforms.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:56 AM
     Excellent farming game Coral Island gets huge, free underwater update

While there's no shortage of contenders when it comes to farming games in the Stardew Valley style, Coral Island has proven one of the strongest. Launched out of early access in November 2023, its first major update since has just arrived, and it completely revolutionizes the underwater elements. There are lots of new NPCS, updates to the savannah, tons more decor and clothing, and a hangout system to spend quality time with your partner.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best farming games, Best simulation games, Upcoming PC games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:51 AM
     Tactical FPS Delta Force Hawk Ops sets new date for delayed alpha

There seems to be a flurry of realistic, tactical extraction shooters in the pipeline at the minute, and Delta Force Hawk Ops is one of the most intriguing. There's been a lot of buzz about it, and prospective players were disappointed to hear a few weeks ago that its closed alpha had been delayed. Well, the good news is that a new Delta Force Hawk Ops alpha date has been revealed, and you haven't got much longer to wait. If you want an alternative to Escape From Tarkov, Gray Zone Warfare, and Arena Breakout Infintie, this could be the one.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best upcoming PC games, Best multiplayer games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:47 AM
     These new AMD Radeon cards just copied Nvidia in the worst way

AMD has so far managed to avoid the horrors of smoking power sockets and melting plastic that have plagued Nvidia's latest GPUs, but a new lineup of graphics cards with AMD GPUs are now sporting the infamous 12VHPWR socket. ASRock's new range of Creator cards are based on the latest AMD Radeon gaming GPUs and sport the 16-pin power socket on the right hand edge.

Two cards have been released, based on the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT and 7900 XTX, neither of which are among the best graphics card options we generally recommend right now, but sit right at the top of AMD's current gaming GPU lineup. The cards also have a design feature we don't often see on gaming graphics cards these days, which is the old-school blower cooler.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:23 AM
     New World Aeternum release date and changes explained

When is the New World Aeternum release date? It wasn't long ago we were playing the new MMO from Amazon Games, New World, now a second game is already on the horizon.

For those that are just hearing about New World Aeternum and are planning to jump into the game without knowing or having played New World, you're in luck, as Aeternum so far looks like a more polished version of New World, and it's still going to include all the New World content. You'll play as a pirate, whose ship went down on the coast of the strange island of Aeternum, here's what to expect from the upcoming game.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: New World server list, Best MMORPGs, New World review

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:23 AM
     Genshin Impact tier list July 2024 - the best characters in 4.8

Looking for a Genshin Impact tier list? There are currently 88 Genshin Impact characters available, providing you with a wide variety of candidates to construct your dream team. But with so many weapons, elementals, talents, ascension bonuses, and constellation upgrades, finding your favorites can be challenging.

Don't let the placement of the characters on our Genshin Impact tier list deter you from pulling on the next character banner. While base stats and elemental abilities are important, the value of a character also depends on personal playstyle, available weapons and artifacts, and team composition. It doesn't matter if your favorite Genshin Impact character is on one of the lower tiers; you can still make it work with our recommended Genshin Impact builds. Being on a lower tier in the free PC game means that there are better alternatives, or the character needs a very specific build or team to shine. We've spent hundreds of hours trying different variations of teams in Spiral Abyss to establish who the best characters are in Genshin Impact.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:17 AM
     Stellar Blade PC could be close as Shift Up shares mystery job listing

While I'm here to tell you to not get too excited, you should still get a little excited. When it comes to games making the jump from consoles to computers, the Stellar Blade PC port is one of the most anticipated right now, and a new job listing indicates that developer Shift Up potentially - finally - starting to work on the new version in earnest. Even though Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and the elusive Final Fantasy 16 are my most anticipated PC ports right now, Stellar Blade is certainly up there, and it seems we may be getting nearer.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:11 AM
     What is the current and next Genshin Impact banner?

Genshin Impact banners rotate every few weeks on a precise schedule, and we always know what to expect thanks to regular updates from Hoyoverse. The developer of the anime game always keeps its fans in the loop with regular livestreams and social media updates, so you can plan where you want to spend your hard-earned primogems.

With a two to three-week turnaround for banners, the roster of Genshin Impact characters is constantly changing, and the free PC game regularly introduces two new characters to wish for. Every limited-time character banner, or event wish, contains a five-star character and three four-star characters with increased drop rates. There's also a Genshin Impact weapon banner, which runs alongside each character banner and changes weapons every update.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:02 AM
     City builder meets ARPG in new medieval game Dungeons and Kingdoms

I love it when an indie game takes elements from multiple genres and mashes them up into something new - admittedly, it doesn't always stick the landing, but sometimes it absolutely nails it. Newly-announced Dungeons and Kingdoms is the latest to partake in this genre-blending, and I'm immediately getting good vibes from it. Taking elements from RPGs, dungeon crawlers, city builders, and management sims and throwing them into a medieval setting, this is definitely one to keep an eye out for, especially if you're a fan of Dark and Darker or Manor Lords.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best medieval games, Best city building games, Best indie games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:44 PM
     Ascendant's 'adapt or die' mantra sets this promising new FPS apart

It's hard being a Mr. Olympia candidate out in the fields of Harmony. Instead of tending to my multitude of muscle children or getting my bi-daily mullet perm, I'm instead engaging with the devil's work - cardio - to keep us all alive. Yes, I know what you're thinking: 'how does he get that lower ab definition?' As they say, abs are made in the kitchen, and only my patented blend of ground Gorlizard scales, loot snail slime, and atomized Tina Turner mixtapes can get you there - it's simply the best. Of course, being an Ascendant isn't just protein shakes and muscle-ups, and PlayFusion's new 80s-fueled, team-based adaptation shooter is pushing to prove it has the juice to make serious player gains. After getting hands-on during a recent playtest, I can vouch for its potential.

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

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:24 AM
     Is Assassin's Creed Shadows on Steam?

Is AC Shadows on Steam? The acclaimed stealth RPG series returns with a vengeance, and this time, Ubisoft is pulling out all the stops. The only question is whether this iteration is available on Valve's platform, either now or in the future.

Assassin's Creed Shadows finally takes the franchise to feudal Japan, the most requested period in the action-adventure game series' lifetime. Not only that, we'll also be assuming the role of a real historical figure for the first time: Yasuke, the legendary Black samurai, as he strikes an alliance with ninja shinobi Naoe during the unification of Japan. This latest installment is sure to have fans flocking back to the series, and you might be curious if an Assassin's Creed Shadows Steam version is available. Well, wonder no more – we've got the definitive answer.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best RPGs on PC, Best stealth games, Best sandbox games

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:14 AM
     If you've avoided Dead By Daylight, now is the perfect time to try it

Dead by Daylight has attracted an enormous audience since its original 2016 launch. Next to horror multiplayer games like Left 4 Dead 2, Hunt Showdown, and GTFO, DBD stands out for the sheer wealth of licensed characters and new maps it's added in over the years. Now, despite already enjoying a consistently healthy player count, DBD is providing a free weekend on Steam to grab even more attention alongside the introduction of its new, limited time 2v8 game mode.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: DBD killer tier list, Best horror games, DBD codes

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:56 AM
     The 61 best Starfield mods

What are the best Starfield mods? Mod support is an important part of many PC games, especially RPG games. Skyrim has endured all these years partly because it's a great game, partly because Bethesda keeps releasing it on hitherto unknown gaming platforms, but also because it's powered by a vibrant and creative modding community.

In June 2024, Bethesda revealed the Starfield Creation Kit, giving creators the tools needed to expand the game to new heights. If you're playing Starfield Game Pass, you may experience some difficulty installing all the mods we've listed below. For maximum compatibility, you're going to want the Steam version of the game.

Continue reading The 61 best Starfield mods
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield mods, Starfield outposts, Starfield traits

PCGamesN Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:59 AM
     All Minecraft biomes in 1.21

What are all the Minecraft biomes? Biomes are the different areas of Minecraft, across the overworld, Nether, and The End. Each is vast, varied, and full of things you need to survive, from the buried treasures found in the oceans to the exotic loot found in the Deep Dark. As you randomly generate each world, there are never any guarantees about where you'll find the Minecraft biome you're looking for, but there are clues to follow if you pay close enough attention.

Each Minecraft biome offers different resources that you may require in your journey, whether that's to beat the Ender Dragon, or simply to create the best Minecraft house in the land. They also house different creatures, building blocks and materials, NPCs, and even loot. This means that, while finding all of them is rarely essential to your progress, it can make things a bit easier.

Continue reading All Minecraft biomes in 1.21
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:03 AM
    

Capcom's turned back the clock with Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess, bringing to us an action RPG tower defence hybrid that's very 2000s and very welcome in this age of open world, live service-ness. And for some, it'll deliver what's needed: a fairly good time. A time marked by a loop that does hack 'n slash, management, and a dash of base repairs to an average degree. For me, though, and possibly many others, I simply don't think this mix ever truly captures what makes even the simplest of tower defence games so captivating.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:48 AM
    

All 36 employees of Humble Games publishing have reportedly been laid off. According to business developer Nicola Kwan, staff were informed at 9am this morning, and told that "the company is shutting down." Humble dispute this in a statement made to Game Developer, claiming that the publishing label is "undergoing restructuring," as opposed to a full shutdown.

Humble's statement - which you can read in full here - attributes the events to "challenging economic times for indie game publishing," saying that "Humble Games has made the difficult but necessary decision to restructure our operations."

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, July 24, 2024 6:08 AM
    

The latest free update to The Sims 4 will let you "define the conditions under which your Sims become jealous". That's handy. The new feature, called "Romantic Boundaries", will give you some settings to tweak that determine whether a Sim will be bothered when they see their partner flirting with the neighbour, or kissing the neighbour, or getting into bed with the neighbour, or becoming a blur of obscene pixels with the neighb- okay Cindy, stop! I'm not comfortable with this. When I said we could open up I didn't mean with Nigel.

Read more


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Kirby Cafe third permanent branch at Daimaru Shinsaibashi Osaka

Benelic announced that it will open the third permanent branch for the Kirby Cafe in Osaka in Fall 2024. The new cafe will be available at the Daimaru Shinsaibashi department store. The company will also set up a Kirby-related item store near the cafe.

The company has so far established two permanent Kirby Cafe outlets in Japan. The first one appeared at Tokyo Sky Tree Solamachi in late 2019. Benelic then opened the second outlet at Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka City on Kyushu island. The company also opened a temporary branch in Nagoya in 2022, although it has still yet to establish a permanent outlet in the city as of July 2024.

Osaka also already has a Kirby Cafe Petit outlet that sells items like puddings. However, this outlet is situated at the Tennoji MIO shopping center. The new permanent cafe in Osaka will add an entry to the list of facilities Kirby fans can visit in the country. In addition, Benelic also teased that it will occasionally release exclusive meals in the new Osaka branch that people would not see in the existing Tokyo and Hakata branches.

The third Kirby Cafe permanent branch will appear on the ninth floor of Daimaru Shinsaibashi in Fall 2024.

The post Kirby Cafe Third Permanent Branch Will Appear in Osaka appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 1:00 PM
    

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection - Missile the dog sprite comparison

Capcom has published a new tweet that shows sprite updates for the police dog Missile in Ace Attorney Investigations Collection. People can check the dog's sprites in classic pixel art and refined modern styles, both of which will be available to choose from in the upcoming compilation.

Missile is a K-9 police dog that first appeared in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the series' inaugural entry. Capcom later added the dog with a full-body sprite representation in both Ace Attorney Investigations entries that originally appeared on the Nintendo DS in 2009 and 2011.

Here is the official Japanese tweet showing an animated GIF of Missile's sprites in Ace Attorney Investigations Collection:

https://twitter.com/Gyakuten_capcom/status/1816020496573509675

The same account launched a new project to publish new sprite comparisons every day for a week starting from July 22, 2024. Missile is the third character that Capcom has featured on the list. The first two characters were Kay Faraday and Verity Gavelle. The latter is an Ace Attorney Investigations 2 debutant who is also known as Hakari Mikagami in the Japanese version and Justine Courtney in the game's long-standing English fan-translation patch.

Ace Attorney Investigations Collection will be available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 6, 2024.

The post See Missile the Dog's Sprite Update in Ace Attorney Investigations appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Bleach Rebirth of Souls Ichigo and Byakuya Gameplay Shared

The promised Bleach Rebirth of Souls gameplay trailer is here and, as expected, it features Ichigo Kurosaki and Byakuya Kuchiki. It walks us through what a fight will look like, even showing how both character's Bankai will appear in-game.

The gameplay trailer begins with Zangetsu asking Ichigo if he wants to fight and win or live. Ichigo then brings up how fighting for its own sake and survival are meaningless, stating he wants to win. From there, a narrator akin to the one in the Soulcalibur series sets the stage as Ichigo and Byakuya speak before a fight. 

From there, a narrator describes what's happening in the Bleach Rebirth of Souls fight between Ichigo and Byakuya. It notes that instead of health bars, there are Reishi Gauges to wear down. If one gauge is worn down, the enemy Konpaku goes down. Each player comes in with nine Konpaku, which their enemy must wear down to win a match. The Spiritual Power Gauge at the bottom of the screen allows for the use of Spiritual Pressure Moves. In the video, Byakuya's displayed options are Seal: Senbonzakura and That Won't Touch Me. Ichigo's were All-Out Slash and Wielding. In addition, a Reverse Gauge allows for moves like Flash Step and Reverse Action when someone attacks or defends. As the battle goes on, someone can go into an Awaken state and use an Evolution to unleash their Bankai.

Here's the full Bleach Rebirth of Souls Ichigo and Byakuya gameplay footage:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Sdss7AXask&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica

Bleach Rebirth of Souls is in development for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The Bleach anime, including Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, is streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Viz Media handles the manga.

The post Bleach Rebirth of Souls Ichigo and Byakuya Gameplay Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Baskin Robbins Japan Teases Pokemon Ice Cream Campaign

Baskin Robbins teased an upcoming collaboration with the Pokemon series in Japan. A recent social media post featured an image of Pikachu surrounded by various fruits.

The original post appeared in Japanese, and it roughly translates to "Oh!? Looks like Pikachu. Looking happy with a fully belly" in English. Additionally, the hashtag #31PokeSummer (#31ポケ夏) appears next to the image and the caption. The Pokemon logo can be seen in both Japanese and English on the top right corner of the image, and the English logo appears to be ice cream themed.

At the time of writing there are no details on what the campaign will be or when it will start. However, the image and post suggest that the collaboration will focus on summer flavors, with lemons and oranges appearing in the image, as well as strawberries.

You can check out the original post here:

https://twitter.com/BR31_Icecream/status/1815952811286491426

As a reminder, the Japanese branch of Baskin Robins is currently holding a Super Mario campaign that started on June 28 and will last until July 31, 2024. The collaboration features Mario-themed ice cream flavors, cups, and other items.

Baskin Robbins teased an upcoming Pokemon ice cream campaign coming to Japan. However, there is no information on when it will come.

The post Baskin Robbins Japan Teases Pokemon Ice Cream Campaign appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Mahjong Soul Steam Release

Mahjong Soul is now available worldwide on the PC through Steam. The game launched alongside a new event, Daydream Paradise, which is running from now until August 6, 2024.

Mahjong Soul has previously been available for PC via browser and a Windows app, but this release now allows players to make use of Steam features. This includes a new beginner's guide to riichi mahjong included within the game's Steam Guides page.

Players will be able to link their existing account to the new release via their Yostar account. Facebook, Apple and Google logins can also be linked. The game will also make use of crossplay features. However, the Steam version will not work with MacOS, and paid items can only be shared between the browser and Windows client versions. Free items can be shared across all versions, however, including those on mobile.

As well as the Steam launch, a new event has started within Mahjong Soul. Daydream Paradise will run until August 6, 2024, featuring a selection of event missions. In addition, there will be a higher summon rate for the characters Yuan Feng and Kutsuji, while other characters will be available for more limited time periods. There will also be limited time availability of outfits for Hinata Takanashi, Haruma Igarashi and Nadeshiko.

This is not the only recent news from Yostar. The publisher also confirmed it would be handling the English translation of Heaven Burns Red, the latest work from Clannad creator Jun Maeda.

Mahjong Soul is available now for Steam, browsers and mobile devices.

The post Mahjong Soul Heads to PC via Steam Worldwide appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:00 AM
    

apothecary diaries manga artist sentenced to jail for tax evasion

Nekokurage, the artist for the manga adaptation of The Apothecary Diaries, has been found guilty of tax evasion. The Fukuoka District Court sentenced her to ten months in prison and three years' suspension, as well as fined her 11 million JPY (close to $71.1k). [Thanks, KaroshiMyriad and Mainichi!]

As a note, she will only have to serve her ten months' jail sentence if she commits a crime within the suspension period of three years. During the court proceedings, the prosecution stated Nekokurage (whose real name is Erika Ikeda) prioritized her work and was too lazy to prepare the documentation necessary to declare her taxes. This is despite the fact that Ikeda clearly understood the need to declare and file her taxes. They added that her motive leaves no room for sympathy.

In June 2024, Nekokurage pleaded guilty to tax evasion worth 47 million JPY, which (at the time) is about $298,754. Ikeda claimed that she'd planned on declaring several years' worth of taxes in one go and this is something she'd done in the past. The people around her (including an acquaintance, her editor, and even the author of The Apothecary Diaries) urged Ikeda to file her taxes or at least consult an accountant. Ikeda has accepted full responsibility for her actions and states that her failures do not reflect on the property she works on. She has not made a public comment about her sentencing and her last Tweet was in April 2024.

There is no information on how the manga for The Apothecary Diaries will proceed.

The post The Apothecary Diaries Manga Artist Found Guilty of Tax Evasion appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:30 AM
    

zoids 25th anniversary project

Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions has announced a project for the 25th anniversary of the Zoids anime. This is a separate project from the 40th anniversary one, which was in 2023 and focused on the toys. [Thanks, Game Watch!]

The first Zoids anime will also be available on streaming services. You'll be able to watch it via sites like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu from August 15, 2024. There's no information on whether or not it'll be available outside of Japan. This will be specifically the first Zoids anime, which was Chaotic Century in the west. As a note, this was the first anime series to air in Japan but the second for those in English territories. The west had New Century first. New Century was the second anime for Japan.

The special talk show will take place on September 14, 2024. Daisuke Kishio (Van), Makiko Ohmoto (Elisi), and Mitsuki Saiga (Raven) will be the voice actors present. Director Takao Kato and character designer Tadashi Sakazaki will be there as well. Tickets for this event will become available from September 1, 2024.

The pop-up tour will run from August 29 to September 18, 2024 in Ikebukuro. You'll be able to get exclusive goods like acrylic stands and keychains. As well, if you purchase over 5500 JPY worth of items, you can get a commemoration card that combines the 25th anniversary of the Zoids anime with the 10th anniversary of TCG Wixoss.

Wendy's First Kitchen in Japan will also feature a Zoids collaboration menu from August 22 to September 18, 2024. New versions of Blade Lighter and Geno Saurer will be on display in Ikebukuro by the pop-up tour store and Wendy's First Kitchen as well.

The Zoids anime project for the 25th anniversary of the series will start in Japan from August 15, 2024.

The post Zoids 25th Anniversary Project Announced appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 10:00 AM
    

5.0 Genshin Impact Special Program Is Earlier Than Usual

HoYoVerse announced the date and time for the 5.0 Genshin Impact Special Program, and it is happening earlier (or later) than usual for time zones. It will be held at 9pm PT on August 15, 2024, which is 12am ET/6am CET/1pm JST on August 16, 2024. Normally, they tend to air at 5am PT/8am ET/2pm CET/9pm JST when held. 

As usual, people will be able to watch the Genshin Impact Special Program for 5.0 on Twitch and YouTube. The Twitch stream tends to appear first, with the YouTube archive following. The company didn't note how long the presentation will be.

We do know exactly what it will cover, however. The 5.0 update will bring with it the new Natlan region, three new characters, the start of an additional Archon Quest, and additional events. Kachina, Kinich, and Mualani will apparently be the first playable characters introduced in that update.

Before that, there are things to do in 4.8. People can earn an outfit for Kirara during a new event. Emilie will also join as a new five-star, Dendro heroine using a polearm when new banners appear on August 6, 2024.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Special Program for 5.0 airs on August 16, 2024.

The post 5.0 Genshin Impact Special Program Is Earlier Than Usual appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:30 AM
    

kunai nakasoto hiatus

Nijisanji EN talent Kunai Nakasoto announced on her YouTube channel that she will be on an indefinite streaming hiatus and a pausing of memberships. She apologized that it took her so long to get the message out.

The announcement is quite short, at only two paragraphs. After she announced her break, she stated that she would repay her members with two watch-a-longs, which is something she owed them in the past. Then, she thanked everyone for their kindness and understanding before apologizing. Kunai has not yet made a tweet announcing her hiatus on her Twitter account. Her last note was on July 15, 2024, which was an apology for being away. All of the replies to this announcement are very positive and supportive, telling her to take as much time as she needs and to come back safe.

Kunai's last stream was two months ago when she streamed A Way Out with her generation mate Victoria Brightshield. Victoria, Kunai, and Claude Clawmark all debuted together at the end of October 2023. As of the time of writing, Kunai has around 76.5k subscribers on her YouTube channel.

Nijisanji EN VTuber Kunai Nakasoto will go on an indefinite hiatus. She will likely announce her return either on her Twitter account or via her YouTube community page.

The post Nijisanji EN VTuber Kunai Nakasoto to Go on Indefinite Hiatus appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:15 AM
    

star rail yunli ascension materials

Yunli is a 5-star Physical Destruction character in Honkai: Star Rail whose counter-focused kit can make her a good attacker or tank for the party so long as you have enough Ascension Materials to build her. In order to fully ascend your Yunli, you'll need to go between Penacony (the newest world when Yunli debuted in the game) and the Xianzhou Luofu (as she's a resident of a Xianzhou ship).

You'll need these Ascension Materials for Yunli in Honkai: Star Rail

yunli star rail ascension materials
Image via HoYoVerse

Ascension 1:

  • 5 Artifex's Modules
  • 4000 Credits

Ascension 2:

  • 10 Artifex's Modules
  • 8000 Credits

Ascension 3:

  • 6 Artifex's Cogwheels
  • 3 IPC Work Permits
  • 16,000 Credits

Ascension 4:

  • 9 Artifex's Cogwheels
  • 7 IPC Work Permits
  • 40,000 Credits

Ascension 5:

  • 6 Artifex's Gyrehearts
  • 20 IPC Work Permits
  • 80,000 Credits

Ascension 6:

  • 9 Artifex's Gyrehearts
  • 35 IPC Work Permits
  • 160,000 Credits

In order to fully ascend Yunli, you'll need to farm: 15 Artifex's Modules, 15 Artifex's Cogwheels, 15 Artifex's Gyrehearts, 65 IPC Work Permits, and 308,000 Credits. You can get IPC Work Permits from the Shape of Duty Stagnant Shadow in Penacony. As for the Artifex materials, you'll need to visit the Xianzhou Luofu for them. These items are drops from enemies like Aurumaton Gatekeepers, Entranced Ingenium: Golden Cloud Toads, and Entranced Ingenium: Obedient Dracolions.

Here's how to level up Yunli's Traces

star rail yunli traces
Image via HoYoVerse

In order to level up a single non-Basic Attack Trace for Yunli in Honkai: Star Rail, you'll need to farm the following Ascension Materials:

  • 9 Artifex's Modules
  • 13 Artifex's Cogwheels
  • 7 Artifex's Gyrehearts
  • 3 Borisin Teeth
  • 15 Lupitoxin Sawteeth
  • 30 Moon Rage Fangs
  • 3 Regrets of Infinite Ochema
  • 2 Tracks of Destiny
  • 652,500 Credits

Aside from Penacony, you'll need to go back to the XIanzhou Luofu again if you want to fully level up some of Yunli's Traces. You can get the Regret of Infinite Ochema Ascension Material from the Echo of War: Phantylia the Undying boss. This Echo of War is available in the Scalegorge Waterscape on the Xianzhou Luofu.

When leveling up her Traces, you'll want to prioritize her Talent and her Ultimate first. These are the more important ones to her kit. Afterwards, you can spend some resources on her Skill.

Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices.

The post Here Are the Ascension Materials for Yunli in Honkai: Star Rail appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:00 AM
    

final fantasy vii remake buster sword necklace header

A necklace resembling the Buster Sword as it appears in Final Fantasy VII Remake is now open for pre-order via the Square Enix online storefronts. It's available in both the Japanese and North American stores.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake Buster Sword necklace costs 19,580 JPY in the Japanese store. Meanwhile, it costs $177.99 in the North American one. They also have a different release date. Japan's store will ship from September 7, 2024. Meanwhile, North America's will ship some time in November 2024 and there's no concrete release date.

Here are some more pictures of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Buster Sword necklace:

This necklace will come with two materia stones. One is blue and one is red, so it looks like you've given Cloud an Assist-type and a Summon-type materia. The material is genuine sterling silver, which means that there's a chance of discoloration if you wear it while exercising or bathing. This is due to how water and moisture in general affects the metal. The blue "materia" is zircon and the red "material" is synthetic spinel.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is readily available on the PS4 and Intergrade is available on the Windows PC and PS5. The sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, is available on the PS5.

The post Final Fantasy VII Remake Buster Sword Necklace Has Materia appeared first on Siliconera.


WGB Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:10 PM
     Crash Bandicoot looks set to join Game Pass as part of the N Sane Trilogy on August 8.

MonsterVine Wednesday, July 24, 2024 9:00 AM
     Warframe was released a little over 10 years ago. Since then, the game has seen drastic changes in gameplay, characters, and even the story. Although it's unclear when the game takes place, its in the far future, where space travel is common. With its ever-growing expansions, Digital Extremes decided to take a step back and […]