Aug 23, 22:00


Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 5:00 PM
    

Apocalypse Now director Francis Ford Coppola's sci-fi passion project Megalopolis continues to be one of Hollywood's biggest train wrecks. The latest derailment was a trailer that had to be pulled for fabricating quotes. It's now being reported that, surprise, the trailer quotes were generated by AI.

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 4:00 PM
    

The summer is winding down, the days are starting to grow shorter, and there's a new chill in the air at night. It's the perfect time to catch up on some older games ahead of the September onslaught that kicks off with Star Wars Outlaws' launch next week.

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 3:50 PM
    

Monster Hunter Wilds is looking like it's going to be one of the biggest games of 2025 already, and its showing at Gamescom is going incredibly well. The game is playable for the first time to the public, and the amount of information coming out of just that preview build is insane. We've learned a lot just from three…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 3:25 PM
    

The Vessel of Hatred, the first expansion to Diablo IV, is set to release on October 8 and Blizzard dropped a ton of new information about it at Gamescom. That includes more details on the game's new class, new region, and a few surprise announcements to get players even more excited.

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 2:20 PM
    

Concord is a hero-based multiplayer shooter where you run around sci-fi maps on distant planets using pistols, cannons, fireballs and knives to obliterate opponents in familiar modes like "capture the point" and "kill stuff." There's nothing in it that's surprised me or blown my mind, but it's pretty and, more…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 2:01 PM
    

Diablo IV's first big expansion, Vessel of Hatred, is just a few weeks away. The add-on will bring new stories, quests, and the Spiritborn class on October 8. If you've been sleeping on it since it launched last year, the RPG is on sale until September 2. However, if you're looking for something to do this weekend,…

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PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:19 PM
     Arena Breakout Infinite criticisms

In a period where multiple new extraction shooters are all opening their doors, the one that's arguably drummed up the most conversation is Arena Breakout Infinite. While there is plenty of praise for its tactical gameplay, the FPS has also received its fair share of criticism, mostly regarding the inclusion of paid items that give an in-game advantage. Speaking to Enzo Zhang, the game's producer and studio head at developer MoreFun, he says that it is "quite normal" for early access games to receive such feedback and is in many respects glad that there isn't just unanimous praise for ABI.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Best simulation games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:08 PM
     Valve finally confirms new game, shares first details on Deadlock

If you had asked me a few months ago what I thought Valve would be working on next, I wouldn't say it would be anything like Deadlock. With everyone still hoping for a Half-Life 3 appearance at some point, it feels like a bit of a swerve for the developer's next project to be a multiplayer hero shooter. Yet, here we are, and finally after weeks of rumors and secret playtests, Deadlock has been officially confirmed.

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

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 6:46 PM
     Starfield fans waste no time launching mods for the RPG's space car

One of the weirdest moments in Star Trek history is that bit in the tenth film where Picard and Worf drive about a desert planet in a buggy. Now you can recreate that moment to your heart's content in Starfield, with the Rev-8 vehicle giving you all the fun of four wheels. It's safe to say that it's a hit, with fans loving being able to pootle about on mysterious worlds or downtown in New Atlantis. This is a Bethesda game, however, so modders are already hard at work making this cool car even cooler.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Starfield mods, Starfield outposts, Starfield traits

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 6:30 PM
     Dune Awakening has GTA style radio stations full of propaganda

Survival games are all the rage right now, and there aren't many IP more popular than Dune at present. Naturally, a Dune survival game sounds like a pretty good bet. Dune Awakening is the benefactor of that killer combo, and it's recently unveiled loads of new gameplay footage and details at Gamescom. Down on the show floor, we caught up with the game's creative director Joel Bylos to learn more about a small but intriguing feature that briefly appeared in its new gameplay trailer - GTA style radio stations.


PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 5:19 PM
     Mafia Definitive Edition flying on Steam thanks to huge 80% off sale

For years I had heard of the original Mafia. People would speak of it in hushed tones, and much like my beloved Morrowind they would say that it's actually quite a rough game, but if you look past that you'll get one of the best experiences in gaming. Thankfully with the 2020 release of the Mafia Definitive Edition, those rough edges have been sanded off, allowing the good stuff to shine. Following the reveal of the fourth title in the series, a massive sale is bringing people to the 1930s to enjoy this near perfect slice of Mafia life.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Mafia: Definitive Edition review, Best open-world games, Best sandbox games on PC

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 4:18 PM
     Japanese survival sim Sengoku Dynasty overhauls combat, gets soulslike

The world is becoming ablaze with games that dip from the disparate wells of survival, RPG, life sim, and city builder. Titles like Manor Lords, Bellwright, Lost Legions, and Dawn of Defiance all blur these lines as you not only have to survive but you'll build up your own settlements too, complete with production chains and villagers to look after. Sengoku Dynasty is a game that does a few things differently, such as uprooting the action to Japan, and now adding soulslike combat.


PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 3:46 PM
     Black Ops 6 Liberty Falls cinematic is pure Zombies cinema

Call of Duty Zombies fans have already established that they will be eating good in Black Ops 6. Not only is round-based gameplay back on the menu, but there will be two epic maps to enjoy from day one. We've already learned a lot about one of them, Terminus, and during CoD Next it'll be the turn of Liberty Falls. However, Treyarch has just dropped a teaser cinematic for the second map, and it's pure Call of Duty cinema.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, New Warzone season

Twinfinite Friday, August 23, 2024 2:19 PM
    
Don't miss out on this new Star Wars TCG experience!

Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 7:00 PM
    

Haruhi Suzumiya Bunny Suit Girl Figure Arrives Next Year

FuRyu announced its next Haruhi Suzumiya figure, and it is a part of the BiCute Bunnies line that will take a famous character and put her in a bunny girl suit. It will be a prize figure found in Japanese arcades, and it will debut in January 2025. 

This figure of Haruhi features her shorter hairstyle with the familiar yellow ribbons. She has a black rabbit ear headband on and matching swimsuit. Like other figures in the line, it is expected to be about 10 inches tall (265mm). It is identical to the outfit she wore in the anime.

Here is the official social media announcement, which shows two photos of the in-progress figure.

https://twitter.com/FURYU_prize/status/1826831734161162625

While there's no word about a worldwide release of the Haruhi bunny suit figure, we've seen other versions of the character appear worldwide. For example, there are figmas and Nendoroids of her, and Good Smile Company recently released a scale figure of her based on her light novel appearances.

A few new Haruhi Suzumiya light novels have appeared over the years. One is The Intuition of Haruhi Suzumiya. That was released by Yen Press outside Japan in 2021. The next one is The Theater of Haruhi Suzumiya, though there's no release date for it just yet.

The Haruhi Suzumiya BiCute Bunnies figure of her as bunny girl arrives in Japan in January 2025. 

The post Haruhi Suzumiya Bunny Suit Figure Arrives Next Year appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 6:00 PM
    

Next SAO Fractured Daydream Character Is Sinon

Bandai Namco keeps sharing new Sword Art Online characters who will be playable in SAO Fractured Daydream, and Sinon will be back. The new trailer released during Anime NYC 2024 showed how she'll work in a fight.

Sinon first appeared in the Sword Art Online series for the SAO Phantom Bullet Arc set in Gun Gale Online, though she also appeared in ALfheim Online and Project Alicization. In keeping in line with her often using guns or playing as an archer, she'll be a Ranger type of unit in the game. She'll also be voiced by Miyuki Sawashiro, who's played the character in other adaptations.

Here's the Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailer of Sinon in her SAO Gun Gale Online attire.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA

As a reminder, having a large cast will be beneficial in the final game. While some titles are more like RPGs designed to mimic an MMO sort of experience, this is a multiplayer title where you go on raids against major monsters with other people. Up to 20 people can play together at once.

Here's the list of other confirmed characters for SAO Fractured Daydream so far:

Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream will come to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on October 4, 2024. Pre-orders are open.

The post Next SAO Fractured Daydream Character Is Sinon appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 5:00 PM
    

New Genshin Impact Amazon Merchandise Stars Hu Tao

HoYoVerse announced yet another Genshin Impact merchandise update for the official Amazon storefront, with general Dress-Up Dreams character figures and multiple Hu Tao items headlining the additions. There are also a handful of sales on certain items to commemorate the latest event, with those running until August 31, 2024.

The three major pieces of Genshin Impact merchandise now in the shop are Hu Tao figures, accessories, and peripherals. The 1/7th scale figure is up for pre-order on Amazon ahead of its September 2024 debut for $199.99. The keyboard features 87 themed keys with art of her and her ghost, and it matches her color scheme. That costs $125.99 on Amazon, whether you get it with red or white switches. Finally, there is a messenger bag based on her style. It is more subtle, with the only immediately recognizable element being a figure of her ghost. That costs $69.99 on Amazon.

Here's how all those items look:

Hu Tao also part of the other major addition to the shop, which is the Dress-Up Dreams chibi series figures of characters. This is a series of blind box collectibles. There are 12 characters in the set. A single box is $16.99 on Amazon. However, people can also buy a full box for $203.88. All the characters wear casual clothing in this line. The people included are Albedo, Barbara, Childe, Ganyu, Gorou, Hu Tao, Jeane, Thoma, Venti, Xiangling, Xingqiu, and Yoimiya. 

Here's a list of some of the notable Genshin Impact merchandise sales currently available on HoYoverse's Amazon storefront. Most of the new items are included. 10% discounts are available on all products.

  • Finger Puppet Keychains of Freminet, Furina, Lynette, Lyney, Nahida, Neuvillette, Raiden Shogun, Venti, Wriothesley, and Zhongli - $16.99 (Amazon) each
  • Hu Tao Fragrance in Thaw Figure - $199.99 (Amazon)
  • Hu Tao Fragrance in Thaw Mechanic Keyboard - $125.99 (Amazon)
  • Hu Tao Impression Apparel Series Messenger Bag - $69.99 (Amazon)
  • Xiao Impression Apparel Series Messenger Bag - $45.99 (Amazon)
  • Waterborne Poetry Series Badges of Hu Tao and Venti - $6.59 (Amazon) each
  • Waterborne Poetry Series Cards of Hu Tao with Diona and Hu Tao with Venti - $7.99 (Amazon) each
  • Waterborne Poetry Series Keychains of Hu Tao and Venti - $7.99 (Amazon) each
  • Windblume's Breath Flowing Glitter Albedo, Eula, Tighnari, and Venti Coasters - $14.99 (Amazon) each

HoYoVerse updates this storefront fairly regularly. The March 2024 update included Keqing and Raiden Shogun items. Then in May 2024, the update included the Teyvat Nature Discovery Tour collection.

Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Xbox Series X version will launch on November 10, 2024. 

The post New Genshin Impact Amazon Merchandise Stars Hu Tao appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 4:10 PM
    

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker PS4 Maintenance Is Ongoing

On August 22, 2024, Bandai Namco announced that after Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker PS4 maintenance, major issues occurred that resulted in it not ending when the Xbox One and PC versions went back online. Now on August 23, 2024, the company said on social media that it doesn't know when it will return. 

Here is Bandai Namco's official statement. In the original announcement, players expressed concern that the Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker PS4 maintenance would run into the 6th Anniversary Campaign and make it impossible for those of us playing on that console to claim the rewards. In the notice, the company promised that the campaign period dates could change depending on how long this issue persists. It didn't promise any details about new dates.

https://twitter.com/Narutovideogame/status/1827068715034407265

Alongside the 2.56 Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker update maintenance that has taken the PS4 version down, Bandai Namco shared details about the various campaigns. The first part of the login bonus runs August 22, 2024 through September 5, 2024. That included free Esoteric and Valuable Scrolls and 100,00 Ryo. A free Free Ninjutsu Trial runs during that same period and involves the Masters Obito Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha (Last Battle). There is a Ninja World Hero Festival going on until August 29, 2024, with a Mission tied to it that gives three Esoteric Scrolls for taking part five times. The Ninja Tool and Weapon Trial Campaign Part 1 ends September 5, 2024, and it involves the Scientific Ninja Tools Double Fire Cannon (Prototype) and Frost Hawk (Prototype). 

The update also added new DLC. Shisui Uchiha (Perfect Susano'o) is available in-game now. A new trailer appeared that showed him off and discussed the new update and events.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JkEZuTAh44

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker and its Ultimate Edition are available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows PC, and there's no word on when maintenance will end for the PS4 version.

The post Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker PS4 Maintenance Is Ongoing appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 4:00 PM
    

SYNDUALITY Echo of Ada closed network test

Bandai Namco has opened applications for a new closed network test for Synduality: Echo of Ada. The company will hold the test for the PvPvE mech survival action game on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC in mid-September 2024.

The closed network test will feature a newer game build that Bandai Namco had improved after receiving feedback from the closed beta test held in March 2024. Other than gameplay balances, the company will also add tutorials that let players understand the features better. There will also be more hairstyles and a better color palette visibility to help players perform customization for their Magus companions.

The new test will also be available for PC users. However, Bandai Namco will only accept applications from those whose PC specs meet the minimum requirements. People who want to apply must make sure that they have a RAM of at least 8GB with an Intel Core i5-10400 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti graphics card.

Bandai Namco has also uploaded a new trailer for Synduality: Echo of Ada at the same time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Usyj4tex8

Bandai Namco will close the application period for the Synduality: Echo of Ada closed network test on September 3, 2024. The test will take place on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on September 13-16, 2024.

Bandai Namco has still yet to announce the Synduality: Echo of Ada release window, following its delay from 2023.

The post Synduality: Echo of Ada Closed Network Test Set in September appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 3:00 PM
    

the crush house review

Reality TV is a guilty pleasure of mine, with it and sitcoms being the two genres I watched as a kid to pick up English soon after I immigrated to Canada. While The Crush House does not exactly satisfy the reality TV itch, it provides a pretty interesting commentary on the nature of these shows. The gameplay loop becomes more fun the more used to it you get, but as a game, it never quite became strong on its own, thus relying heavily on its subversion of the genre it's parodying.

The Crush House seems like a messier version of Terrace House when it comes to the in-game reality TV show. You are the producer of the show, and you start the season by choosing four cast members to live together under the same roof for a week. There's an element of strategy here after you become accustomed to the game. Certain cast members make it easier to make audiences happy. For example, activists love seeing Priscilla, who's prone to bursting into tears. Meanwhile, people with foot fetishes love Charlie, who walks around in sandals all the time.

the crush house review camera on fire
I never figured out what film students meant by "feel locked in," to be honest. Screenshot by Siliconera.

You then broadcast the lives and dramas of these four people to an audience that's thirsting for a variety of content. Sometimes, they'll want you to film fights and arguments. Other times, all they care about is the landscaping of the Barbie-esque Malibu mansion. That's not even getting into the simps, the suburban moms, the plumbers, the conspiracy theorists, and so on and so forth. Your goal is to make sure the show stays on air for an entire season (a week) by meeting your audience's expectations.

In the beginning, it was a little tough to stop thinking of the game as an actual TV show. I focused a lot on conversations, kisses, and fights. This is the stuff you'd want to see, right? But, of course, real people don't make up the in-game audience. Half the time I wasn't even capturing the drama between the cast members. I was recording things like the pool, the art, the fish, the fire, and butts. The audience I had to worry about didn't seem to care at all about the actual substance of the show, which was a bizarre mechanic. But once I knew what the game wanted from me, it was a lot easier. Lining up shots to make sure I could get as much as I needed was really fun, but I became so focused on pleasing the audience that the actual show itself became a non-priority.

crush house cast
Screenshot by Siliconera

A lot of my initial complaints faded once I realized what the game was trying to do. One of my main criticisms was that I don't really care about anyone. No one was really unique and they all felt interchangeable. It says a lot that I can't remember their names half the time considering how quickly I become attached to characters. While they do have unique backstories and personalities on paper, in practice, they're virtually the same outside of some special interactions. Emile the suave Frenchman does the same ridiculous "Hearken!" speech that Alex the himbo does. Veer the band geek strips to his swimsuit before going down the Success Slide, which is something Ayo the drama queen did. Charlie the sweet girl goes nuts over "margarita time" just like the self-assured mean girl Joyumi. No one felt interesting in their own way.

Another complaint I had was that the audience's needs were illogical. This isn't to do with them wanting to see certain things, but more that I had some difficulty at first figuring out what demographics meant by their requests. While you can look up your audience to see the types of requests they'll leave in the comments, I wish the game would provide a small descriptor as to what each group is like. I never really figured out how to deal with cynics or people with shoddy Internet, for example. Cynics seemed to satisfy themselves. Meanwhile, no matter what I did, the people with bad Internet still complained so I just used other audience groups' hype levels to satisfy them.

crush house argument
Screenshot by Siliconera

As I continued to stream episode after episode to an audience that can't get enough of the ridiculous antics of The Crush House, I found myself becoming more and more apathetic towards it all. I didn't care anymore that I've seen the same argument about filler words, like, five times, nor did I care about the affairs I stumbled across while trying to record some perky bottoms for the butt-lovers in the audience. Outside of their requests, I stopped caring about the contestants beyond what they could do for me when it comes to raking in audience approval. It made the game's reveal of the dark secret laying underneath the vaporware veneer of the show's set so much more intriguing, because I had fallen into the way of thinking that some corrupt TV executive probably has too.

Most of the game's fun comes from the learning curve. It felt great to master new ways of meeting audience goals or filming the cast, as well as rushing from room to room while letting advertisements rake in cash so that I could get the perfect shot of something. If I wasn't meeting my quota literally at the last second though, I was hitting it halfway through the day. This wasn't great, since there's no benefit in continuing to film them and as mentioned earlier, they're not exactly interesting to spy on. That meant that I usually messed around on my phone while letting advertisements play in-game for a while every game day. The difficulty balance felt off. However, it could have been my luck when it comes to the combination of audience types.

crush house downtime
Making money to buy props is more important than filming the fifth break-up of the season. Screenshot by Siliconera.

Because the odd difficulty balance gives a surprising amount of downtime in a game that's supposed to catch the rush of the cutthroat reality TV business, the game can feel slower than it should. The story seems interesting, as are the little tidbits about who they are as people rather than props. But I personally could not bring myself to care about the characters' well-being outside of morbid curiosity. This was, again, due to their lack of any individuality and chemistry with each other. Was the apathy towards the cast members something the developers intended? Or was I just a bad person while playing it? I honestly have no clue. I think if I'd watched someone's video essay on the topic, though, the distance (and not having to read their inane conversations over and over) might have helped me to care a bit more about the cast.

The Crush House is an interesting game that combines FPS elements with exploration, time management, and strategy, all with a narrative that makes you want to marathon the game all the way to the season finale. It's a game that can only ever be a game, as the impact of the story wouldn't be the same in another format. While enjoyable, I do suggest having something else to do on hand. Once the audience gets what they want, the drama of reality TV loses its luster, leaving nothing but vapid and repetitive content behind.

The Crush House is readily available on Windows PCs.

The post Review: The Crush House Is the Perfect Microcosm for Reality TV appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Honkai: Star Rail Aventurine Nendoroid Can Roll the Dice

Good Smile Company opened pre-orders for its Honkai: Star Rail Aventurine Nendoroid, following the figure being teased at multiple events. It will cost ¥7,500 when it comes to Japan in February 2025, and it will cost $45.99 when it arrives worldwide in Q3 2025.

As usual, Aventurine comes with multiple accessories. He has face plates with a small smile, a bigger grin, and a winking expression. He comes with three dice. He can hold a bottle of perfume. His stand looks like a roulette wheel, if you'd like, to reference his nature as a gambler. You can also pose him with his sunglasses on or off. 

Here's how this Honkai: Star Rail figure looks:

In addition, there's a bonus for buying Aventurine directly from Good Smile Company. Orders at the Japanese or US shop include an acrylic stand. It figures a bust of the character wearing his hat and glasses. It also has his name on a placard in front of it. 

Here's how that will look:

We already have an idea of who the next Nendoroid will be. At the last Good Smile Company event, we saw a prototype figure of the Stellaron Hunter Blade from Honkai: Star Rail.

The Honkai: Star Rail Aventurine Nendoroid will come to Japan in February 2025 and debut worldwide in Q3 2025, and the figure can be pre-ordered until October 2, 2024 from Good Smile Company direct. The game is available on the PS5, PC, and mobile devices.

The post Honkai: Star Rail Aventurine Nendoroid Can Roll the Dice appeared first on Siliconera.


WGB Friday, August 23, 2024 4:02 PM
     Black Myth: Wukong has sailed past another important milestone, and is fast becoming one of the most successful game launches ever.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, August 23, 2024 6:03 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, August 23, 2024 5:02 PM

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, August 23, 2024 4:29 PM
    

Developer Yellow Brick Games has announced that Eternal Strands will launch in early 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam. A new 101 gameplay trailer was also released showing "the ability to climb everything and interact with almost every facet of the world through temperature and forces." Additionally, the game's voice […]

The post Eternal Strands Gets New Gameplay Trailer, Release Window Announced appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, August 23, 2024 3:56 PM
    

The First Berserker: Khazan will launch early 2025.

The post The First Berserker: Khazan Gets New Combat Deep Dive Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


iDev Games Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 2:50 PM
     Clash Royale 2 est un jeu de stratégie en temps réel où s'affrontent des chevaliers, des archers et des dragons dans des duels épiques. Chaque joueur constr...

MonsterVine Friday, August 23, 2024 8:00 PM
     Bakeru is a creative and fun action platformer that serves as an enormous celebration of Japanese culture and legends. It's got a pleasant story, stellar visual style, and unique gameplay, and I recommend it to anyone who's intrigued. BAKERU Developer: Good-Feel Price: $40 Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed) and PC MonsterVine was provided with a Switch […]

Aug 23, 14:00


Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 12:35 PM
    

Dune: Awakening, the survival MMO set in Frank Herbert's iconic sci-fi world, looks huge. Developer Funcom, the team behind Conan Exiles, showed up at Gamescom with a hefty amount of new gameplay footage to pour over. In addition to giving a release window of early 2025, the footage highlights seemingly every major…

Read more...


Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 12:30 PM
    

As an open-world survival crafting game, 7 Days to Die thrusts so many different resources and materials in your face. It's hard for any new player to sift through the baggage to find what's most valuable, and often hard to actually find the most valuable. For example, Legendary Parts. They're a crucial crafting…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 12:25 PM
    

Madden needs a year off.

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 12:15 PM
    

To say professional wrestling is a rousing form of entertainment is an understatement. This year alone, fans of World Wrestling Entertainment and All Elite Wrestling have witnessed a Samoan family mafia civil war, a spooky horror villain faction uprising, a gothic cuckoldry revenge drama, and a toxic yuri…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 11:50 AM
    

In its first few hours, Red Thread Games' Dustborn flaunts so many of the qualities I look for in a story-driven adventure game. It's full of relationship-building with complex characters, has stakes that are just high enough to draw me into the weight of each dialogue choice I make, and its supernatural elements…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 11:40 AM
    

For years fans have been saying things like, "Why aren't there any Sims games on Switch?" and "Will we ever see a Sims game on Switch?" Well, now their desperate pleas have been answered with a port of a a Sims spin-off from 2007. Kotaku understands that a remaster of MySims of sorts is headed to Switch later this…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 11:30 AM
    

When you load into your first world, there's a chance you could spawn already infected. It's a kick straight in the butt, as you're now forced to trudge onward in search of medication. Otherwise, you risk your survival run not featuring an enormous amount of surviving. 7 Days to Die is an unforgiving game, despite its…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 11:00 AM
    

BioWare changed the name of Dragon Age: The Veilguard from Dreadwolf in order to better reflect that the RPG is about its cast of heroes, rather than about Solas, the elven trickster god at its center. But even so, we still don't know a ton about the party we'll journey alongside when the game launches on October 31.…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 10:35 AM
    

Black Myth: Wukong isn't a Souls-like but it is full of boss fights. Some of them are really tough and will beat you to a pulp, so it's extra cool that there's at least one secret encounter where you get to watch the bosses beat the crap out of each other instead.

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 10:30 AM
    

The Tooth Whip is a whip that can only be discovered in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. Since it's the only new whip weapon added in the DLC, it's worth finding and adding to your collection if you're a fan of this weapon type—especially if building up the Poison status effect on your enemies sounds like…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Amazon's massive fantasy series, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is set to kick off its second season on the streaming service on August 29. The prequel takes place thousands of years before the events of the J. R. R. Tolkien novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, though there are some familiar faces,…

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Kotaku Friday, August 23, 2024 9:30 AM
    

The Ailment Talisman is a Talisman added in Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree expansion. This helpful little accessory can be a real lifesaver in areas where you're likely to become infected with deadly status effects, such as poison, scarlet rot, frostbite, and so forth.

Read more...


PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 1:31 PM
     Stalker 2 is all about realism, but it won't be

There are many wonderful things that are synonymous with Stalker, from the series' making you feel like you're inhabiting a world full of events that don't revolve around you, to how it embraces realism - while at the same time featuring some serious supernatural shit. Stalker 2 is a game that's walking a tightrope with realism, trying to make sure that it's fun while at the same time fine-tuning the rhythm of its gameplay.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best apocalypse games, Stalker 2 release date, Best survival games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 12:37 PM
     Dell's Alienware gaming chair just got an awesome price cut

There's a sale at Dell right now and it includes the coveted Alienware S5000 gaming chair. So if you've been on the lookout for a new gaming chair to upgrade your setup, now could be the perfect time to splurge.

With a sturdy steel frame and aluminum alloy 5-star base, this has a build quality that can rival the best gaming chairs. It's also been designed to be as comfortable as any of the best office chairs, and only requires minimal assembly. I like that the Alienware S5000, ticks all these boxes.


PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 12:32 PM
     Help, my Steam Deck is turning into a PlayStation Portal

I love my Steam Deck, but recently I downloaded an app that's effectively stopped me from playing games in my Steam library. Chiaki4Deck is a piece of software that allows you to remote play from your PS5 to your Steam Deck, and I just can't pull myself away from it.

Despite being the best handheld gaming PC, I'm not playing any PC games on my Steam Deck OLED right now. Instead, I'm working my way through my PS5 backlog, a task that until recently seemed too daunting given that my only option to play the games was via my TV.

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

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 12:24 PM
     The First Descendant is overhauling Season 1 a day after full reveal

With so many updates already added to The First Descendant, it's amazing that Season 1 hasn't even dropped yet. Promising heaps of new content, TFD Season 1 is shaping up strong, though it was very quickly met with criticism over its significant timegating of content. In reaction, developer Nexon has already announced a complete overhaul to its update schedule. Bringing some content forward and pushing some back, prepare to forget almost all of yesterday's announcements.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The First Descendant system requirements, The First Descendant characters, The First Descendant crossplay

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 12:10 PM
     The Lenovo Legion Go is getting some new official accessories soon

The Lenovo Legion Go has made a name for itself as one of the big three gaming handhelds alongside the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally. However, unlike its closest competition, official accessory support was poor, but that's all set to change at this year's IFA conference in September.

Despite being one of the best handheld gaming PCs, the Lenovo Legion Go lacks the same level of accessory support as its rivals. Third parties can be turned to for docks, carry cases, and screen protectors, but now Lenovo looks set to release its own range of accessories.

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

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 12:05 PM
     Upcoming 4X Ara History Untold might be bigger than Civilization 6

Big and small is how I would describe Ara History Untold. It's got the biggest of grand strategy ambitions combined with incredible granular detail, so you've got macro and micro all going on at once. During Gamescom 2024 the developer shared some more details about the game, showing off just how ambitious and large it really is.


PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 11:58 AM
     Techland is pulling the Dying Light 2 ultimate edition from Steam

In the wake of Techland's Dying Light: The Beast reveal, the studio announced that you'd get the spinoff for free if you own the ultimate edition of Dying Light 2: Stay Human - The Beast started out as the mysterious 'DLC 2' that was included in the edition's perks. In a follow up tweet, however, the devs have also confirmed they're pulling the ultimate edition from Steam at the end of September, so if you're hoping to get The Beast for free, act now.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best zombie games, Best open-world games, Best co-op games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 11:40 AM
     Nvidia's new slower RTX 4070 arriving without a price drop, says leak

Nvidia is set to introduce a new version of its RTX 4070 that uses slower GDDR6, rather than GDDR6X memory, and the first of those cards has been spotted revealing that despite having slightly slower memory, the new card won't be any cheaper than existing models. The new Nvidia RTX 4070 V2 GDDR6 cards are listed as having the same $549 MSRP as other RTX 4070 cards.

With the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 being one of the best graphics card options out there in its price range, the fact that users might suddenly be getting a downgraded version could seriously dent its appeal.

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

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 11:02 AM
     Ubisoft hands people in-game cash to play its forgotten arena shooter

Have you ever heard of BattleCore Arena? I hadn't - and I was even more surprised to find out it's one of Ubisoft's latest multiplayer games. In an apparent attempt to publicize the game a little more, Ubisoft is trying to tempt you to give it a go by offering you $4.99 worth of premium currency for free.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best multiplayer games, Best free games, Best FPS games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 10:46 AM
     Avowed's most vital feature is

You look at Avowed, which has this incredibly vibrant art and production design, a big open world, myriad quests and branching narratives, and, of course, all the development pedigree of Obsidian, and naturally, you'd assume it's an expensive game to build. From The Outer Worlds to Pillars of Eternity, Fallout New Vegas and beyond, Obsidian has always committed its efforts towards facilitating player agency and making worlds replete with possibility. But speaking to PCGamesN at this year's Gamescom, the team reveals that, when it comes to Avowed, one of the toughest, priciest aspects of development comes from something that most players take for granted.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Avowed release date, Best RPG games, Best story games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 10:24 AM
     Altered Alma is a new Metroidvania with a dating sim twist

Metroidvanias, while enjoyable, can sometimes feel a little linear. You smack often adorable bosses around the head, upgrade your gear, master your combat, then do it all again. All of that's by no means a bad thing - I want Hollow Knight: Silksong as much as the rest of you - but there's certainly scope for adding some cool new mechanics into that tried and tested formula. That's exactly what Altered Alma does, and it's a twist that I'm sort of obsessed with.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Metroidvania games, Upcoming PC games, Best platform games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 9:33 AM
     AMD Ryzen 9000X3D CPU launch delayed until CES 2025, says leak

It's so well established now that AMD's 3D V-Cache X3D CPUs are the best in the business regarding gaming performance that the arrival of the company's new Zen 5 Ryzen 9000 CPUs earlier this month was almost an afterthought. However, those hoping for an imminent AMD Ryzen 9000X3D release date look set to be disappointed as the latest rumors suggest they won't launch until early next year.

Specifically, the expected arrival - or at least announcement by AMD - of what look set to be the best gaming CPUs of their time has been earmarked for CES 2025.

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

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 9:24 AM
     How to beat Black Bear Guai in Black Myth Wukong

How do you beat Black Bear Guai in Black Myth Wukong? In a game filled with daunting enemies, Black Bear Guai is most likely going to be your first big roadblock. This black grizzly bear may start off slow, but things really start to heat up once you enter the second phase of the fight.

Black Bear Guai is just one of the Black Myth Wukong bosses you'll encounter in the action game, and trust us when we tell you that these boss fights at the end of each chapter will give you some trouble. Black Myth Wukong gives you the opportunity to farm for experience points ahead of each boss fight, but no matter what level you are, you shouldn't have any issues if you follow our guide.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Myth Wukong bosses, Black Myth Wukong abilities, Black Myth Wukong weapons

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 9:18 AM
     Cozy sim Ale and Tale Tavern has already been wishlisted 250,000 times

Minecraft, Stardew Valley, Potion Permit - there's something irresistible about games where you can craft, cook, and maybe even serve your creations to eager, often fantastical customers. The cozy management sim is an increasingly popular genre on PC and it can be tough to choose your next game. But Ale and Tale Tavern, which now has a release date, also comes with some serious bragging rights, having already been wishlisted on Steam more than 250,000 times.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best management games, Best co-op games, Best sandbox games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 9:08 AM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links August 2024

August 23, 2024: We've added a new Monopoly Go dice link for free dice rolls.

How can I get Monopoly Go free dice links? The household favorite board game has been reimagined as a free-to-play app on smartphones, allowing everyone to experience the thrills of Monopoly on practically any device. Everything that makes the board game special is here in Monopoly Go, so you'll be collecting properties and building hotels as you go around the board, and there are a variety of multiplayer minigames to get through along the way.

You're going to need to get your hands on Monopoly dice rolls, but they are difficult to come by no matter how far you are into the board game. There are ways to earn additional dice rolls, including logging into the game every day to collect daily bonuses, progressing further in the game, and inviting friends to try Monopoly Go. While you can also spend real money to unlock more dice rolls, you may want to give our list of Monopoly Go dice links a try instead, especially if you're waiting for the next Monopoly Go Golden Blitz event. Take a look at all the currently active Monopoly Go free dice links for today.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best board games, Monopoly Go events, Monopoly Go dice

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 8:03 AM
     How to beat Tiger Vanguard in Black Myth Wukong

How do you beat Tiger Vanguard in Black Myth Wukong? We're not going to lie to you, we really struggled against Tiger Vanguard, but that struggle has only made us stronger. Through hours of repetition, we've learned the way of the Tiger, providing us with all the information needed to slay this beast in a matter of minutes.

You're going to be spending a lot of time taking on Black Myth Wukong bosses, but there aren't too many as tough as Tiger Vanguard. It's clear from the outset that this boss isn't to be messed with, just look at the arena, it's literally a pool of blood. Black Myth Wukong features several skill trees that you can respec at any time for free, so you may need to make some changes to follow our advice.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Myth Wukong bosses, Black Myth Wukong abilities, Black Myth Wukong weapons

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:53 AM
     Zenless Zone Zero tier list - the best characters in ZZZ

Who is at the top of the Zenless Zone Zero tier list? HoYoverse's latest gacha comes with a full roster of playable agents that sport unique abilities, attributes, and combat specialties. With so many characters to choose from, it can be difficult to decide who to add to your team. We've tested each one to bring you a complete and reliable tier list that ensures you're investing your time and level-up materials into the right units.

Our expert ZZZ tier list is based on the current stats and performance in the latest Zenless Zone Zero update, so be aware these rankings may be subject to change. However, we plan to regularly update this tier list as new characters are introduced in Zenless Zone Zero banners, so check back regularly for the latest developments in the gacha game. All that being said, let's get into the best (and worst) characters in Zenless Zone Zero 1.0.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Zenless Zone Zero review, Zenless Zone Zero codes, Zenless Zone Zero banners

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:42 AM
     Blox Fruits leveling guide - Best fruit for grinding and zone levels

How do you level up fast in Blox Fruits? We've sailed the seas to test our strength against pirates, marines, gorillas, and ghouls, all to outline the best Blox Fruits level grinding spots. We've even tested various community recommendations to work out the best race for leveling, the best fruit for leveling, and the best weapon for leveling. With a level cap of 2,550 that's only set to increase, you'll want all the help you can get.

If this is your first sea rodeo, you might want to check out our ultimate guide to Blox Fruits and the Blox Fruits tier list before you attempt the grand grind. Another way you can help yourself along the way is by using Blox Fruits codes, too. And for word on the next Blox Fruits update, just click that link to see when it's coming, what it's bringing, and a rundown of past updates and the fruits they introduced.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:39 AM
     Black Ops 6 Zombies maps list

What are the Black Ops 6 Zombies maps? Treyarch has confirmed that we're getting two BO6 Zombies maps at launch. There's also the suggestion that there are more to come, so it looks like round-based Zombies is back with a bang - and we can't wait.

The two BO6 Zombies maps arriving with the Black Ops 6 release date are Terminus and Liberty Falls, and the zombie game stars operators from Black Ops Cold War as their story continues six years later. While we wait for Black Ops 6 and more details on all three modes, here's everything we know about the wave-based Black Ops 6 Zombies maps so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 release date, Best FPS games, New Warzone season

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:30 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've encountered all the Palworld Pals, we've collated them into this Palworld Paldeck so you can figure out exactly 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 get started.

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

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:29 AM
     Dying Light The Beast is

As someone who has watched far too many zombie movies and played far too many zombie games, I can tell you that nailing the setting and aesthetic is key. Netflix's K-drama Kingdom, for example, takes zombies back to feudal Korea, while All of Us Are Dead fantastically reinvents the classic 'undead high school' tropes. Of all the zombie games out there, however, the original Dying Light's fictional Middle Eastern city of Harran ranks among the genre's best settings. Tight streets ran red with blood; it's oppressive, lived-in, dangerous, yet compulsively explorable. With Dying Light: The Beast, Techland is bringing back the OG game's focus on survival horror and a seemingly grimmer, more down-to-earth setting.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best zombie games, Best open-world games, Best co-op games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:15 AM
     Skull and Bones sinks on Steam, has fewer players than AC Black Flag

Ubisoft's premier pirate adventure Skull and Bones has faced stormy seas since its original launch six months ago, following on from an already troubled 11-year development cycle. Finally making its way to Steam as of Thursday August 22, alongside numerous PC-focused improvements there was hope it would catch some wind in its sails. However, only a few hundred players have shown up so far.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Skull and Bones review, Best pirate games, Skull and Bones system requirements

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:14 AM
     Fallout and The Long Dark inspire savage new survival Permafrost

Apart from all the nods and visual references to Half-Life, one thing that really caught my attention about Abiotic Factor, the co-op survival game that launched in full earlier this year, was the fact it was mostly set indoors. For the majority of the genre, you're outside, scavenging roots, berries, and timber to guard yourself against the elements. But I like this twist, a survival game set inside a more confined, man-made environment. Taking cues from The Long Dark and the Fallout series, Permafrost relocates your battle to stay alive away from the forests and the flora, and to the ruins of cities.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Upcoming PC games, Best sandbox games

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:12 AM
     Razer drops new Kraken V4 gaming headset, now with more RGB!

The Razer Kraken is one of the company's biggest-selling headsets, with over 20 million units sold, and now there's a brand new version, the Razer Kraken V4. Featuring wireless, Bluetooth, and USB connections, changing to smaller 40mm drivers, and now incorporating nine-zone RGB on the sides of the earcups, the new gaming headset is a surprisingly complete overhaul of its stalwart headset.

Looking to battle for a spot on our best gaming headset guide, the new Razer Kraken V4 comes in two variants, with a wired USB-only option providing an affordable entry while the wireless version gets you USB, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth for a much more versatile setup.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Razer Viper V2 Pro review, Razer BlackShark V2 Pro (2023) review, Best gaming mouse

PCGamesN Friday, August 23, 2024 7:05 AM
     Blox Fruits tier list - best fruits August 2024

What are the best fruits in Blox Fruits? We've put together the ultimate guide to the best fruits in Blox Fruits for both PvE and PvP. Whether you're looking to get the most powerful fruits, buy or sell the most popular ones, or practice a top-tier PvP build, we've put together a Blox Fruits best fruits tier list that's ripe for the picking.

Now many years into service, Blox Fruits is still one of the most consistently popular Roblox games out there, frequently rivaling other classics like Adopt Me. While you're here, get a load of these Anime Champions Simulator codes, Project Slayers codesShinobi Life 2 codes, and - of course - Blox Fruits codes to get up to speed in record time.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 1:07 PM
    

If you like jumping on enveloping pixelly architecture while basking in an atmosphere of pathological sadness, set aside some time on 20th September, because that's when Rubeki's first-person spelunker Lorn's Lure launches on Steam. Ah, I've been waiting a while for this one. Catch a new trailer below.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 11:01 AM
    

Everything I know about the French Revolution has hitherto come from two literary works: Hilary Mantel's excellent doorstopper A Place Of Greater Safety, and Kate Beaton's webcomics. Neither Mantel nor Beaton mention mechs, which are a core feature of Studio Imugi's new "ideology driven" turn-based strategy game Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution. I, for one, feel like I've been grossly ill-informed. Kate, Hilary - I've been quoting you for years at parties and it seems like all this time, people have been silently judging me for my ignorance of the role giant clockwork soldiers played in the fall of the Bastille.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 11:00 AM
    

"Age of Empires with dinosaurs" is, the developers of the Dinolords recently told me in a cramped Gamescom booth, a flattering description for their upcoming England vs. Vikingsaurus RTS. It's also not a terribly accurate one. From what I saw of the game, Dinolords is more about the lords than the dinos, having as much in common with Diablo-style ARPGs as it does with classic strategy. And that's a distinction which might just elevate it out of novelty status.

Read more


Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 9:36 AM
    

Take the ballroom scene from Disney's Beauty And The Beast, swap the wailing utensils for an army of chibi cats, endow Belle with low-key Doctor Manhattan-grade powers of matter transformation, and you're perhaps beginning to approximate the experience of Infinity Nikki - an open world dress-up adventure from Singapore-based Infold and former Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild developer Kentaro Tominaga.

Trailered this week at Gamescom 2024, it's the fifth installment in the hitherto mobile-focussed Nikki series and it's seemingly going down a storm, with over 12 million pre-registrations so far (albeit, many of them motivated by the prospect of collectively unlocked in-game bonuses). It's also a free-to-play game, and I have the usual unanswered questions about currencies and gacha, but I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt for the minute, because I have not spent nearly enough of my life considering the tactical applications of ballgowns. Here's that trailer.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 9:10 AM
    

A few months back, I enjoyed lurking a conversation on the RPS Discord about the proliferation of cyberpunk/steampunk/atompunk/what-have-you-punk variants and how most of them in fact lack the rebelliousness and counter-counter elements that punk actually entails. That discussion was back on my mind as I sat down to play Reignbreaker, a new action-roguelike from Studio Fizbin, at Gamescom 2024 – slightly wary of its self-described medievalpunk styling. However! Turns out you're trying to kill the queen. Yep, that's, uh, that's pretty punk.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 7:13 AM
    

I can guarantee you that a zombie survival game called God Save Birmingham wasn't on your "2024 Video Game Announcements" bingo card. It takes place in 14th century England, and tasks you with fending off the rampant zombie hordes of a populace who've succumbed to a mysterious case of reanimation. Perhaps the cause is that there's no Maccies or TK Maxx at the local Bull Ring yet.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 7:04 AM
    

I'm still a little giddy over how much I enjoyed lucarne-lobbing puzzler Tactical Breach Wizards. So much so that I mentioned in my review how I'm well up for another run of its fifteen hour campaign. I'd already got a few missions into hard mode. There's no more starting mana points! It's a real...pane.

Now, I might have to start again, even if going out of my way to grab the tapes added in its developer's commentary mode is going to be extra tricky. Ah, but will being able to chuck the recorders at my enemies for a point of knockback afterwards make up for it?

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 7:00 AM
    

Earlier this year, Bungie's 1990s sci-fi shooter, Marathon, came to Steam for free. And Marathon 2 followed in July. But this series is a trilogy. Where's the third one? I want the thir-- oh, it's here now. Yesterday, the final game, Marathon Infinity trickled onto the storefront, offering a neat little bundle for fans of retro shooters. But it's also a reminder that we've yet to see more of Bungie's upcoming reboot.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, August 23, 2024 6:41 AM
    

One of my formative video game moments is the final mission of Psygnosis cyberpunk flight sim G-Police. (It came out in 1997, and as such, I think the statute of limitations on spoilers has passed, but if you still intend to play, stop reading now.) The mission completes the long arc of foreshadowing begun by the intro's mention that capital-class spacecraft have been outlawed, following a ruinous war. It turns out that one particular evil corpo has been sneakily building one of these megaships - not only that, but you get to fly inside it, cannons ablazing. It was while doing so that teenage me realised the true exceptionality of the Video Game Artform. You can't fly inside capital ships in, like, symbolist poems or baroque symphonies, can you? You can't fly in poems or symphonies at all, unless you do so metaphorically - "metaphor" being a kind of poor man's graphics card.

The technology of flight simming has advanced mightily since G-Police's day. For instance: in Everspace 2's just-announced Titans DLC, you get to fly inside not just regular old spaceships, but massive space kaiju with procedurally generated digestive systems. Here's the trailer.

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Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Beetlejuice Bishoujo Figure Turns Him Into a Girl Again

Kotobukiya announced that its Beetlejuice Bishoujo figure, which depicts the titular character as a cute girl, is back again. It first joined the collection in June 2020, and it is expected to show up in Japan in March 2025 and worldwide via Sideshow between April and June 2025. 

This time around, Beetlejuice will cost 17,600円 in Japan and $145 globally. There are no exclusive bonuses accompanying a pre-order or order. When she first debuted back in 2020, she cost 13,200円 (~$91). 

As this is a rerelease of an existing item, everything about the original still applies. The Bishoujo figure is based on a Shunya Yamashita design that depicts Beetlejuice as a beautiful girl. She's wearing a black and white striped dress with black tie based upon his original suit from the 1988 movie. The character is posed on top of the grave of Barbara Maitland, one of the ghosts from the first film. She is also using a nail file to sharpen her nails. The 1/7 scale figure also still stands at over eight inches (215mm) tall. 

Here's a closer look at the figure, for a reminder of how she looks.

Note that only the original Beetlejuice is back. In December 2020, a variant also appeared. It still featured Beetlejuice as a girl, but put her in a red tuxedo-style dress with white boots, a black bow-tie, and copy of The Handbook for the Recently Deceased in her hand.

This is the second recent horror Bishoujo figure to appear. Sadako from The Ring is coming too. Sideshow says that will also appear outside Japan between April and June 2025. 

The Beetlejuice Bishoujo figure will come to Japan in March 2025 and launch worldwide between April and June 2025. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice will be in movie theaters on September 6, 2024.

The post Beetlejuice Bishoujo Figure Turns Him Into a Girl Again appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 1:00 PM
    

New Netflix Anime Teased in New Netflix Animation Trailer

Now that Anime NYC 2024 began, Netflix kicked it off with a Netflix Animation trailer going over all the new shows and projects coming to the service. It includes ones available now, like Kengan Ashura season 2, as well as things we won't see until next year like Sakamoto Days

The first part of the Netflix Animation video focuses on clear examples of the new anime headed to the streaming service. So we see clips of the in-progress series. This includes some animated segments from shows we don't see until Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, like Arcane and Sakamoto Days. However, of those Beastars gets the smallest amount of air-time.

In the second half of the Netflix Animation trailer, we get to see when the new anime series will debut on the service. Here's the full list:

Here's the full video of upcoming series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzDHe-gC-W4

Kengan Ashura seasons 1 and 2 are available now on Netflix, and the next show to appear will be Terminator Zero on August 29, 2024.

The post New Netflix Anime Teased in New Netflix Animation Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Danganronpa 2 characters in Crash Fever

WonderPlanet has announced that it will add crossover characters from Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair to the mobile game Crash Fever in late August 2024. Players will be able to recruit characters from Spike Chunsoft's game for a limited time until mid-September 2024.

A total of ten character units will be available in this collaboration event. Hiyoko Saionji will be the easiest one to obtain, as players only need to log into the game daily to eventually get her.

Danganronpa 2 characters in Crash Fever - Hiyoko
Image via Spike Chunsoft and WonderPlanet

Players can recruit some of the other characters by clearing event quests. Peko Pekoyama, Monokuma, and Monomi will be available as event quest rewards. WonderPlanet will group the latter two mascots into a single character unit.

The following two characters will not be obtainable simultaneously. A ranking quest that lets players recruit Hajime Hinata will appear first until September 6, 2024. Afterward, WonderPlanet will replace it with a union quest that rewards Ibuki Mioda.

The remaining five characters will only be available via gacha. There will be two exclusive gacha banners that separately feature Chiaki Nanami and Nagito Komaeda. The banners will guarantee a Danganronpa 2 crossover character every ten pulls. The gacha may also result in Mikan Tsumiki, Gundham Tanaka, and Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu in addition to the above two.

Crash Fever is a mobile puzzle RPG available on Android and iOS mobile devices in Japan. The game used to be also available globally. However, the global server was shut down in late December 2023, so only the Japanese release is still actively ongoing.

The Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair crossover characters will be available to obtain in Crash Fever from August 30, 2024, until September 13, 2024.

The post Danganronpa 2 Characters Will Appear in Crash Fever appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Ace Attorney Collection Demo

Those looking to try out the upcoming Ace Attorney Investigations Collection are in luck, as Capcom has released a demo ahead of the game's launch on September 6, 2024. The demo is available on the PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch.

The demo will allow players to try the opening chapters of both Ace Attorney Investigations games, with save data able to be transferred over to the full release. You'll be able to get a taste of the new graphical updates and the autoplay and story mode features to help decide if you want to commit to the full package. The full game will also contain a gallery mode full of music, concept art, and character animations, on top of a chapter select option.

You can watch the game's reveal trailer via YouTube below:

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

Back in July 2024, Capcom began releasing side-by-side comparisons of the old and new character sprites, including for Missile the Dog. The company also ran a Cap Kuji online lottery back in June 2024, with merchandise featuring Miles Edgeworth as prizes.

The Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Demo is now available for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. The full game is scheduled to launch on September 6, 2024.

The post Ace Attorney Investigations Collection Demo Live Everywhere appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Masahiro Ito Said Silent Hill 2 Influenced by David Lynch Movies

Masahiro Ito, an artist known for his work on the Silent Hill series, took to social media to confirm David Lynch movies ended up having an influence on Silent Hill 2. During the series of tweets he specifically referenced Lost Highway, as well as noted his affection for Mulholland Drive

When discussing the potential influence of David Lynch movies on Silent Hill 2, Ito specifically mentioned during development that they considered multiple protagonists. He noted this was in reference to Lost Highway, but then said it was dismissed as "the story would have become too complicated." He then also commented on possible responses from people who might criticize him speaking about the development process.

Here's the full series of tweets discussing the influences:

https://twitter.com/adsk4/status/1826971450093265003

https://twitter.com/adsk4/status/1826982239759909303

Masahiro Ito often takes to social media to discuss projects he worked on, including the Silent Hill series. For example in February 2024, he confirmed he designed monsters for Silent Hill: The Short Message. He also noted he didn't contribute to the Return to Silent Hill movie. However, we will see his work again soon. The artist did return for the remake handled by Bloober Team and Konami.

The Silent Hill 2 remake will come to the PS5 and Windows PC worldwide on October 8, 2024. You can play the original game on the PS2, Xbox, and PC, as well as in Silent Hill HD Collection on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

The post Masahiro Ito Said Silent Hill 2 Influenced by David Lynch Movies appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 11:00 AM
    

Live A Live Steel Titan and Akira appearing in Super Robot Wars DD

Bandai Namco announced that it will add new crossover content from the Near Future chapter of Square Enix's Live A Live into Super Robot Wars DD in September 2024. The company made the reveal at the mobile game's 5th anniversary live stream, which it exclusively held in late August 2024.

Super Robot Wars DD players will be able to recruit Akira Tadokoro and his Steel Titan by clearing the upcoming limited-time event story when Bandai Namco adds it in September 2024. While the main unit and most of its attacks are obtainable by clearing missions, the Babylon Stomp will be an SSR-tier attack that players can only get via gacha.

The official trailer showing the Live A Live crossover in Super Robot Wars DD is temporarily available to watch right below. Bandai Namco has been known for un-publishing the game's official crossover trailers after a short period had passed, as evidenced by the Evangelion - Getter Robo crossover event in late 2023.

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

The Live A Live crossover is not the only new content Bandai Namco revealed at Super Robot Wars DD's 5th anniversary stream. The company also announced more upcoming additional units from the staple mecha anime titles.

Bandai Namco will add the ARX-8 Laevatein from Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory via the main story's Chapter 3 Part 15 update in late August 2024 and the RX-78GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory through the new 3rd Super Robot Wars ANOTHER storyline around Fall 2024.

Super Robot Wars DD is available for Android and iOS mobile devices in Japanese and Traditional Chinese languages in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. The Live A Live crossover content will be obtainable for a limited time in September 2024.

The post Super Robot Wars DD Will Add Live A Live's Steel Titan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 10:30 AM
    

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Quest Navigation Demon Poll Starts

In Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, we can select a quest navigator to help us around Da'at, and now Atlus announced an Additional Quest Navigation Demon Poll to add an additional character to the available options. People can pick from 31 options and are tasked with commenting with their pick on social media by September 1, 2024.

There are three requirements to vote. First, you must have an X account. Next, you need to reply to the official post with the name of the demon and the hashtag #TrueVVNaviDevilPoll. Finally, this must be done by 7:59am PT/10:59am ET/4:59pm CET on September 1, 2024. 

Here's the full list of possible Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance demons to select:

  • Angel
  • Black Frost
  • Cerberus
  • Cleopatra
  • Cu Chulainn
  • Demeter
  • Dominion
  • Fionn mac Cumhaill
  • Hell Biker
  • Idun
  • Jack Frost
  • Karasu Tengu
  • Kaya-no-Hime
  • Kresnik
  • Lilim
  • Loup-garou
  • Makami
  • Mara
  • Mephisto
  • Mokoi
  • Mothman
  • Neko Shogun
  • Nekomata
  • Nue
  • Nyami Nyami
  • Oni
  • Onyankopon
  • Principality
  • Titania
  • Vouivre
  • Yoshitsune

Here is the official announcement and poll on social media where people can vote. Atlus didn't note when the selected demon will be added to the game.

https://twitter.com/Atlus_West/status/1826793633573384409

At the moment, there are only six Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance demon navigators who can help you with quest navigation. The first one you meet is Amanozako, who is one of the first friendly demons the Nahobino meets upon arriving in Da'at. The other five are Aitvaras, Decarabia, Hua Po, Jack-o'-Lantern, and Yatagarasu. You typically need to clear certain quests, either sidequests or mainline ones, to unlock them.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and the Additional Quest Navigation Demon Poll ends on September 1, 2024.

The post Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Quest Navigator Demon Poll Starts appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 10:00 AM
    

One Piece Vivi, aka Miss Wednesday, Actress Announced

Back when Eiichiro Oda teased more One Piece live-action actors would be announced, he suggested Miss All Sunday and Nefertari Vivi would appear, and now Netflix revealed Charithra Chandran is Miss Wednesday. 

For those familiar with One Piece, Vivi plays a major role for the Arabasta Saga in the series, though when we first meet her she's going by the name Miss Wednesday. She's affiliate with Baroque Works, which is already confirmed to play a major role in the latest episodes in the adaptation. The initial announcement doesn't show Chandran with Vivi's trademark blue hair, however.

Here is the One Piece live-action Nefertari Vivi, aka Miss Wednesday, reveal from social media:

https://twitter.com/onepiecenetflix/status/1826967658908041473

Another trailer featured the actress introducing herself and expressing her thoughts about the role.

https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1826971108949577748

This is Charithra Chandran's second role in a Netflix series. She played Edwina Sharma in Bridgerton. She also appeared in the Amazon Original Alex Rider as Sabina Pleasance.

We also know who will play the partner of Miss Wednesday in the One Piece live-action adaptation, which is Mr. 9. Daniel Lasker is in that role. He was revealed alongside the other Baroque Works agents Mr. 3, Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine.

The first season of the One Piece live-action adaptation is on Netflix now, with season 2 on the way. The anime is on both Netflix and Crunchyroll. Viz Media handles the manga outside of Japan. 

The post One Piece Live-Action Vivi, aka Miss Wednesday, Actress Announced appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 9:30 AM
    

Capcom title lineup at Tokyo Game Show TGS 2024

Capcom has published details about its upcoming booth at Tokyo Game Show 2024. The company will set up numerous demos of its upcoming games, with a specific focus on Monster Hunter Wilds. Capcom will also hold an online stream simultaneously worldwide on September 26, 2024.

Monster Hunter Wilds will appear as the booth's primary highlight. Even though the game already had playable demos at PAX West and gamescom 2024, Capcom will also give opportunities for people residing in Japan to try out the new game.

The company will set up 112 demo units of the game at its own booth. With an additional 40 units at Sony's PlayStation booth, there will be a total of 152 demo units of Monster Hunter Wilds accessible at TGS 2024.

Monster Hunter Wilds will not be the only title Capcom features at TGS 2024. The company will also showcase more upcoming titles like Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, and Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics.

Capcom will also broadcast a TGS 2024 online program simultaneously worldwide on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 11 PM JST / 10 AM EDT / 7 AM PDT. In addition to the above upcoming titles, the company will also publish new information for several already-released titles like Street Fighter 6, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, and Monster Hunter Now.

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will take place at Makuhari Messe on September 26-29, 2024.

The post Capcom TGS 2024 Booth Will Have Many MH Wilds Demos appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Friday, August 23, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Sony PlayStation Booth at Tokyo Game Show TGS 2024 to feature Monster Hunter Wilds and Astro Bot

The PlayStation booth will make its grand return at Tokyo Game Show 2024 after a five-year absence. Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced via the Japanese PlayStation.Blog that it will set up a new booth at TGS 2024 after having its last direct appearance in 2019. The company will place numerous PS5 demo units while hosting a Death Stranding 2 talk show.

While Sony has mentioned that the booth will contain multiple PS5 game demos, there will be specific spotlights for two titles: Team Asobi's Astro Bot and Capcom's Monster Hunter Wilds. The latter third-party company added that the PlayStation booth will host 40 demo units of Monster Hunter Wilds on the PS5. People who have played either demo will be able to get a bonus merchandise item themed after each game.

In addition, the TGS 2024 Sony PlayStation booth will host a special Death Stranding 2 talk show stage on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 10:30 AM JST. Hideo Kojima will appear in the show with the Japanese voice actors Kenjiro Tsuda, Nana Mizuki, Tomokazu Sugita, and Shion Wakayama. The singer-songwriter Daichi Miura and the Danish film director Nicolas Winding Refn will complete the stage's roster. With its latest trailer published at the January 2024 State of Play, Death Stranding 2 is set for a worldwide release on the PS5 in 2025.

Sony PlayStation Booth at Tokyo Game Show TGS 2024 will host Death Stranding 2 talkshow stage
Image courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment and Kojima Productions

Tokyo Game Show 2024 will be held at Makuhari Messe on September 26-29, 2024.

The post Sony Will Return to TGS 2024 With PS5 Game Demos appeared first on Siliconera.


WGB Friday, August 23, 2024 8:42 AM
     A few changes to the terms and conditions has made PS Stars worse. What has Sony altered?