Dec 07, 18:00

GamersHeroes Saturday, December 7, 2024 5:47 PM
    

Featuring a distinguished career at top gaming companies like SEGA and Capcom, Sac Gamers Expo 2024 welcomes Darin Johnston to the event as a Special Guest.

The post Sac Gamers Expo 2024 Welcomes Special Guest Darin Johnston appeared first on GamersHeroes.

GamersHeroes Saturday, December 7, 2024 12:27 PM
    

A sci-fi action/adventure packed with exploration, combat, character progression, puzzle solving and obstacle clearing (phew!), Andrew "VAGRIENT" Bray announced that VAGRIENT is set to release on March 21 next year.

The post Sci-Fi Adventure VAGRIENT Launching March 21 appeared first on GamersHeroes.

PCGamesN Saturday, December 7, 2024 2:03 PM
     Blox Fruits codes December 2024 - free XP and money

December 7, 2024: We have checked for new Blox Fruits codes.

What are the new Blox Fruits codes? We've compiled a regularly updated list of all Roblox Blox Fruits codes to redeem in-game freebies like XP boosts, free Beli, and stat resets for your pirate adventures. Need a boost to take on the increasingly tricky competition? We've got you covered.

Blox Fruits is one of the biggest Roblox games ever, thanks to its fun, anime-inspired pirate action. That said, it can be challenging to find new free codes, so we've done the hard work and listed all the active Blox Fruits codes in 2024, including for Update 23, in one handy place below. Once you're up to date on the new Blox Fruits codes, consider checking out our ultimate Blox Fruits guide or our in-depth Blox Fruits tier list for the current meta.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes
PCGamesN Saturday, December 7, 2024 12:29 PM
     Overwatch 2 6v6 made Blizzard

Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller says Blizzard is "really happy" with how the first run of the shooter's 6v6 mode turned out. To commemorate the occasion, Keller has shared a load of player statistics for the game mode, revealing just how popular it's already been. With Season 14 looming, the 6v6 mode is also going to return in multiple forms, as it looks like Blizzard is considering whether or not to make the game mode a permanent addition to Overwatch 2 sometime in the future.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: All Overwatch 2 characters, Best Overwatch 2 settings, Overwatch 2 tier list
PCGamesN Saturday, December 7, 2024 11:12 AM
     Throne and Liberty Arch Bosses will appear more often to make up for server woes

After players encountered plenty of issues with the first few Throne and Liberty Arch Bosses, Amazon is finally making up for it. For a limited time, you'll be able to encounter even more Arch Bosses and be in with more of a chance of grabbing their loot. Since launch both the Arch Bosses have been spoiled by server disconnects, broken loot drops, and a plethora of problems. That's why Amazon is increasing how often you can fight the Arch Bosses for a limited time. But don't worry, they won't be leaving for a short while yet.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMORPGs, Throne and Liberty codes, Throne and Liberty weapons
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, December 7, 2024 5:27 PM
    

I had a few merry evenings playing Escape Simulator back in 2022. Of the co-op escape room games I've played, it was the best, both in terms of its relatively neutral framing (with little heavyhanded storytelling) and its pretty solid puzzle design. The game was expanded in the time since with a versus mode and several crossover DLC, and now there comes a sequel.

Escape Simulator 2 will explore "darker escape room themes", looks visually more detailed, and comes with a new editor for those who wish to design their own escape rooms.

Read more

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, December 7, 2024 3:47 PM
    

This happened on Thursday, but we were busy with other, less interesting news. Late or not, I can't let it pass unremarked upon: Caves Of Qud, the vast, weird roguelike which has been in development for 17 years, hit version 1.0. It brings multiple endings to the game, a revised UI, improved tutorials and much more.

Read more

Siliconera Saturday, December 7, 2024 3:00 PM
    

Tokyo Babylon Manga Volume 5 Keeps Hitting Timeless Chords

Not long after Yen Press started rereleasing the Tokyo Babylon manga as part of the CLAMP Premium Collection, I brought up how the series still feels fresh despite its age due to the timeless nature of its scenarios. The thing is, this isn't just a fleeting thing where, after reading volume 1 again, you realize how spot-on CLAMP was when incorporating societal concerns into the story. With volume 5, it once again hammers home from the very start that history repeats, we're always going to experience certain concerns like debt and fleeting dreams of home ownership, and we need to be extremely careful when handling those sorts of stressors.

Editor's Note: There are spoilers for the the story "Old" in volume 5 of the Tokyo Babylon manga.

So right away, Tokyo Babylon's "Old" story hit me like a ton of bricks when I started it. Keep in mind, I did read this CLAMP manga years ago. But certain situations when Subaru is dealing with essentially a "monster of the week" can sometimes blend together or fade away when remembering the more broad plot points. But upon revisiting it, there's so much going on when it comes to issues in society caused by things like housing bubbles, inflation, and other economic issues.

Like many Tokyo Babylon stories that focus on Subaru meeting and assisting people with a situation, he takes more of a backseat and often feels more like a supporting cast member than the star. Instead, the focus is on a struggling family. They're living in the city in a small, cramped house. Though the husband works full-time and the wife has a part-time job, they're barely getting by. Their two children are getting older, which means both are more expensive. The couple are also supporting the wife's father, who is retired and doesn't have any income of his own. There's constant shouting. Money is tight. It's something that, given the struggles after the COVID-19 pandemic started in late 2019, any of us could be experiencing now. 

Tokyo Babylon Manga Volume 5 Keeps Hitting Timeless Chords
Image via Yen Press

We even hear about the consequences of other people dealing with that kind of debt and pressure. Subaru's introduction involves him being called by a real estate company to come in and cleanse a house. A family referenced in the introduction committed suicide due to mounting debts, with a couple and their young daughter being the victims. The head of the company even brings up how he can't understand how unaffordable things became, and cites how it's just impossible for people to own homes in Tokyo. That places that do end up being found are overcrowded and overpriced, and many are driven out to equally expensive suburbs and forced to commute.

Now, keep in mind, at this point Tokyo Babylon is over 20 years old. The situations CLAMP reference in the manga are still so applicable, and even more true. Leading into the story of Subaru's encounter with the grandfather of the family in the introduction, a former Ueno zookeeper, and learning about his life becomes even more poignant. We're experiencing this still, 20 years later. Things haven't changed. They aren't getting better. Stress is still driving people to abuse ones they love, to illness, and to death. 

I'm not going to spoil what happens in "Old" in Tokyo Babylon, but it continues to be a storyline that leaves a strong impression. Especially given how we're seeing history repeat 20 years later and people now, in 2024, in similar situations. Again, I don't know how many times I can say it, but CLAMP really crafted a manga that sticks with you and keeps remaining topical with Tokyo Babylon, and it makes it a joy to reread.

Volume 5 of Tokyo Babylon is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 6 of the CLAMP Premium Collection version of the manga on February 18, 2025. 

The post Tokyo Babylon Manga Volume 5 Keeps Hitting Timeless Chords appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Saturday, December 7, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Monster Hunter Wilds NPC SOS Flare Changes the Game in a Great Way

When Monster Hunter World came out, the SOS Flare ended up being a helpful means of quickly connecting with fellow hunters to request help in the must of a hunt. With Monster Hunter Wilds, Capcom kicked the concept up a notch by also allowing NPC hunters to be called in for an assist when you send up an SOS Flare. During my preview session at Capcom headquarters in Osaka playing the upcoming game, only NPCs were available as allies, and I found them to be much more valuable and capable than I expected in this early, not-final build.

From my experience, SOS Flares were available at any time. This meant I could banish my Palico, an all-black fellow with white fur pattern that resembled a mustache around his mouth, in favor of some NPC hunters joining the fray. The implementation of the SOS Flare in Monster Hunter Wilds was quite familiar to Monster Hunter World, with players able to pull up the option in the wheel in the midst of exploration, sending up a flare, dismissing their Palico, and then waiting for the cavalry to arrive. I did this both during story hunts, as well as during more general ones outside the campaign. 

A thing I found fun about this is that it doesn't mean the NPCs immediately show up. Rather, it feels more natural. First, you need to send up the flare. This means finding a few seconds of peace, as monster attacks can and will interrupt it. (However, in this build I did find that the animation period during which the flare shoots up did let me "dodge" some attacks.) While your Palico will immediately bounce, it takes some time for the other characters to arrive. It feels like they're actually trying to find their way to your location and show up, and then they'll take a second to prepare and get in position. It isn't a major gap. I never needed to wait more than a minute or so for these NPCs to arrive. But it does still force you to stay alive, keep cool, and continue all on your own for a bit.

Monster Hunter Wilds NPC SOS Flare Changes the Game in a Great Way
Image via Capcom

Once they are there and start fighting, I feel like the SOS Flare experience with Monster Hunter Wilds NPC hunters honestly didn't feel all that different from taking on an SOS Flare request with actual people in Monster Hunter World. Yes, with real folks you can engage in some coordination and see certain sorts of combos and moves that indicate their awareness and expertise. But in this early, preview build of Monster Hunter Wilds, my virtual allies held their own! They made good choices! I'd sometimes even find myself healed, at a point when I'd probably have considered doing so myself, because one of them saw I was getting low on health.

What I also loved is how it also wasn't just about getting extra, immediate assistance during a quest. Summoning NPC allies in Monster Hunter Wilds with the SOS Flare also helped these characters sort of flesh out the story. They were known individuals! The Ace Team members Olivia and Rosso would appear! These people would interject comments as they'd fight alongside me. Sometimes, if it happened during a story quest, it seemed like it actually pertained to what was going on during the campaign. 

Basically, I really liked what I saw when it came to summoning NPC hunters to the fight with an SOS Flare in Monster Hunter Wilds. Sure, it might change and be adjusted at launch. And yes, I do think I would turn to actual humans when I could, because I like that diversity and experience. But I think this could be a great and very viable option for people who can't call upon others online or want to go solo with an occasional hand sometimes if the early build is any indication.

Monster Hunter Wilds will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on February 28, 2025. People who pre-order get the Guild Knight Set layered armor and Hope Charm.

The post Monster Hunter Wilds NPC SOS Flare Changes the Game in a Great Way appeared first on Siliconera.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, December 7, 2024 3:42 PM
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, December 7, 2024 2:52 PM
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Saturday, December 7, 2024 2:23 PM

Dec 07, 10:00

GamersHeroes Saturday, December 7, 2024 9:28 AM
    

Rightfully dubbed "The Viking Of Voice," Sac Gamers Expo 2024 welcomes Special Guest Erik Braa to the upcoming event.

The post Sac Gamers Expo 2024 Welcomes Special Guest Erik Braa appeared first on GamersHeroes.

GamersHeroes Saturday, December 7, 2024 9:28 AM
    

The team behind Sac Gamers Expo 2024 announced that professional actor, singer, comic, and voice over artist Dave Rivas will be a Special Guest at the event.

The post Sac Gamers Expo 2024 Welcomes Special Guest Dave Rivas appeared first on GamersHeroes.

Kotaku Saturday, December 7, 2024 9:00 AM
    

This week, a low-quality video may have given us our first look at the Joy-Con that will be used by the successor to the Nintendo Switch. Also, Sony celebrated the 30th anniversary of PlayStation by putting the original console's boot-up sound on PS5, along with customization options that let people apply the familiar…

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Kotaku Saturday, December 7, 2024 8:00 AM
    

One of 2024's biggest disappointments in movie theaters will soon be able to try and redeem itself in your homes. Before you and yours get into the holiday spirit on Christmas Day, Joker: Folie à Deux will be available to stream on Max on December 13.

Read more...

PCGamesN Saturday, December 7, 2024 9:57 AM
     Path of Exile 2 dev details all the high-priority issues you need to be aware of

If you've been encountering some problems during the Path of Exile 2 launch, you're not alone. The Diablo 4 and Last Epoch rival has been highly anticipated for some time, and now that it's finally here it unfortunately hasn't launched without issues. Between crashes, queues, and errors when claiming Steam keys, the ARPG's first day was anything but smooth. That appears to have eased off, though, so developer Grinding Gear Games has outlined the biggest obstacles it is now overcoming.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Saturday, December 7, 2024 8:00 AM
     Free RPG Dauntless comes to Steam with a huge system revamp, and players hate it

Free-to-play Monster Hunter rival Dauntless has finally launched on Steam after years on Epic's storefront, and it hasn't gone down well with players. The trip to Valve's store was accompanied by a brand-new update, which completely changes how Dauntless is played. There are now loot boxes, quests and weapon progress has been changed, and some mechanics have even been removed. Players across the Steam page, subreddit, and other online communities have voiced their concerns, and now developer Phoenix Labs has responded. The trouble is, this response hasn't gone down too well either.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Dauntless guide, Dauntless Behemoths, Best games like Monster Hunter
PCGamesN Saturday, December 7, 2024 5:56 AM
     The Marvel Rivals community desperately wants a role queue, and so do I

As a healer in Marvel Rivals, I think the game is crying out for some sort of role queue. I love playing as Rocket Raccoon, but being forced into the Strategist role because everyone else keeps picking DPS does take the fun out of it sometimes. Marvel Rivals team composition doesn't need to be as rigid as a game like Overwatch, but I can't shake the feeling that a squad with a more balanced group of heroes is going to win every time. It turns out that a lot of the community agrees, so hopefully NetEase Games is listening.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Marvel Rivals codes, Marvel Rivals characters, Marvel Rivals tier list
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Saturday, December 7, 2024 7:00 AM
    

You could open today's door, sure. You could also blow it up with an explosive, though. Or shoulder-barge your way through the wall beside it. Or plant some C4 on the ceiling and go up and over. Or I think that's a load-bearing pillar over there - may as well just bring down the entire advent calendar to find out what's behind today's door.

Read more

Siliconera Saturday, December 7, 2024 9:00 AM
    

Review: Everholm Is Rough Around The Edges

I've spent an absurd amount of time playing farming sims. There is something therapeutic about switching off your brain for several hours and either helping local villagers find irrelevant items or growing some carrots, only to sell them for a pittance later. Everholm has a lot of potential, but many unpolished elements make it a rough experience, almost like the jagged ends of a precious stone.

The plot is intentionally vague, contributing to a paranormal mystery. You take control of a young girl called Lilly, who chases after her sister who's passed through a magical gate. Afterwards, Lilly wakes up on a farm without any memories of the island's inhabitants. But the townsfolk know her very well and often reference conversations and activities they experienced together. It almost feels like an out-of-body experience. As you live out your days on the island of Everholm, part of your goal is try to figure out what has happened to you and find your sister.

Review: Everholm Is Rough Around The Edges
Image via Chonky Loaf

Although your "supposed mission" is to find your missing sister, Everholm allows you to spend your days as you wish. If you're interested in the agricultural side of things, you can focus on planting and harvesting crops for your farm. The process is very similar to other farming games. You plant seeds and water them every day until they are ready to be harvested. You can grow a good selection of vegetables and fruits that each take a different amount of time to ripen. Looking after the farm is a relaxing affair that will encourage a sense of cathartic repetition.

But this wasn't always the case, as playing on a controller was problematic at launch. In the same vein as other farming games, energy is used whenever you use an action. If you run out, you will collapse from exhaustion and a new day will start. However, the cursor would be finicky when trying to aim at a specific spot, and performing an action would eat up energy regardless of whether it was successful. This made watering crops a nightmare. Luckily, this problem has been massively addressed with the latest patch, where not only has the cursor dramatically improved, but energy will only be used on successful actions.

Review: Everholm Is Rough Around The Edges
Image via Chonky Loaf

Everholm encourages creativity, as you can buy and expand your farm and add decorative objects like fences around the area. Later down the line, you can also get blueprints to build new items and buildings, like a barn to look after animals or a scarecrow to intimidate birds so they will stay away from your crops. There is plenty to get into, and you can easily spend hours on these optional activities. I often found myself fishing, as selling what you catch is a great way to make money. 

Although, I believe I encountered a bug in one of the major building facilities. You receive the blueprints for the furnace in your mailbox after entering the dungeon for the first time. When you read the mail, you have two options: accept or back out. Usually, it doesn't matter what you select—you still get the contents from the letter. In a rush, I picked back out and didn't receive the furnace blueprints. Luckily, I realized this before I started the new day (which is when the game saves) and reloaded my file. But I still haven't come across any other way of getting the blueprints for the furnace. If this is the only way to get it, this is a big deal, as you need it to make items to progress with the main story.

Image via Chonky Loaf

You can also socialize with the residents of the island. The townsfolk often assign you tasks, and completing these quests will increase your closeness with them. These tasks are usually very straightforward, but they are enjoyable to complete. There is a big emphasis on these interactions in Everholm, as the characters connect to the island's magic and play a part in the overarching story. They know information about your past and your missing sister. The problem is that I found the characters rather forgettable and not too interesting, which is not great from a title where the plot is a big focal point.

The island of Everholm also hosts local festivals with distinctive themes and pop-up shops. These events enhance the sense of community and create the feeling of passing through the seasons. There is a good selection of activities, with my favorite event being the egg and spoon race. You must input button commands at the right time to boost your running speed. It feels so whimsical and silly that it's hard not to smile. I wish there were more seasonal events, but the activities are on par with Ova Magica.

Image via Chonky Loaf

After a week has passed, the first dungeon will become available to you. If you've played Fae Farm, the dungeon set-up is very similar. Every dungeon is procedurally generated, meaning the environmental layout will change every time. There will also be different enemies and resources on each level. To proceed to the dungeon's next floor, you must axe down the rocks to find a button underneath.

You will initially be given a bat, which is a very standard, close-combat weapon, but later you will acquire more long-ranged weapons that are better to take on the dungeons. For example, one is a bee cannon that shoots out a swarm of angry bees, and another is a bazooka that fires explosive bamboo. I really liked tackling the dungeons, as they were highly engaging, but also matched the tempo of the rest of the experience. In a strange way, it was pretty relaxing. Leaving the dungeon is also easy if you want to retreat at any point. My only minor complaint is sometimes you will die with the health bar still displaying you had some health left, so you might want to heal anytime the bar is on the lower side.

Image via Chonky Loaf

Visually, Everholm looks flat-out adorable. The beautiful coat of pixelated graphics adds a cozy vibe to the entire game, whether you're on your farm, traversing the beautiful prairie grasslands or exploring the spooky dungeons. You can tell a lot of time and attention was poured into the presentation, which is hard not to admire. The soundtrack is lovely, too, which adds to the laid-back atmosphere.

I've spent over twenty hours with Everholm, and I know I've only scratched the surface of what there is to see. I like the aesthetic vibe of Everholm, and the gameplay has an enticing daily routine cycle that will be a hit with fans of Stardew Valley. The supernatural mystery failed to hook me in, but the tasks were so enjoyable that it wasn't as big of a deal as it should have been. But there are quite a few issues that sometimes break the immersion. That said, the developers are already addressing some of these issues, which is great to see, as Everholm definitely has the fundamental ingredients of an excellent farming sim.

Everholm is now available on PCs.

The post Review: Everholm Is Rough Around the Edges appeared first on Siliconera.

Dec 07, 00:00

PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 6:54 PM
     New Deadlock character Raven is a slick Soviet spy that just hit Hero Labs

For a game that's not technically out yet, Deadlock feels pretty well accomplished. Valve's dynamic MOBA attracts tens of thousands of players each day, is regularly being served with updates, and already has a roster of 22 heroes to master. Speaking of heroes, Deadlock already has several waiting in the wings, and now another newcomer is heading into Valve's test realm to be put through their paces. The next new Deadlock hero to be revealed is Raven, and he's dressed to impress.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Deadlock release date , Deadlock crosshair, Deadlock characters
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 5:21 PM
     Medieval storefront simulator Potion Craft gets massive free update

Potion Craft: Alchemy Simulator has a great premise. Rather than focus on the medieval battles or town and country management seen in games like Manor Lords, Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, or Crusader Kings 3, Potion Craft takes a more intimate — and slightly fanciful — look at one particular aspect of the past: Managing an alchemy shop. And now, despite having launched almost two years ago, it's just received a massive free update that adds in new modes and features meant to provide even more expansive options for making and selling potions.

PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 5:31 PM
     Is Path of Exile 2 down? Current server status

Is Path of Exile 2 down? Dungeon crawling is the spice of life, but PoE 2's servers crawling to a halt certainly isn't. Troubleshooting network issues is a pain at the best of times, but it's even worse when you and the homies are trying to jump back into Wraeclast for another loot-hunting session.

Considering just how massive a release Path of Exile 2 is, there's every chance that Grinding Gears' latest and greatest RPG might run into server issues from time to time. Fortunately, we're here to update you on the latest PoE 2 server status. While you're twiddling your thumbs waiting for PoE 2 to come back to life, read up on the best Path of Exile 2 classes - our comprehensive guides for each one are packed with all the tips and tricks you'll need to master your craft.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 7:09 PM
     Path of Exile 2 Warrior build and class guide

What is the best Path of Exile 2 Warrior build? The Warrior may appear at first glance to be a fairly straightforward class in Path of Exile 2, but with a few new tricks up their sleeve this time around, they are surprisingly effective at both defense and offense. We take a look at the best build and skills for this heavy brawler.

We already have Path of Exile 2 builds for Sorceress, Mercenary, and Ranger, but those PoE 2 classes are generally ranged damage dealers, never quite getting their hands dirty. With the PoE 2 Warrior, however, you'll be in the mix at all times - whether defending or maiming, however, is up to you. You can also check out our dedicated PoE 2 builds guide for even more tips

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 7:09 PM
     Path of Exile 2 Sorceress build and class guide

What is the best Path of Exile 2 Sorceress build? The Sorceress is one of six new classes in Path of Exile 2 and focuses on elemental damage by weakening enemies to inflict elemental magic: fire, ice, and lightning.

We've got all the info you need on every class, including the Path of Exile 2 Mercenary and Ranger, but what about a spell-slinger? The PoE 2 Sorceress is one of the PoE 2 classes available now at launch. Let's take a look at her abilities, ascendancies, and what her best PoE 2 build looks like.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 7:11 PM
     Path of Exile 2 Mercenary build and class guide

What is the best Path of Exile 2 Mercenary build? The Mercenary takes advantage of the new moving while attacking combat mechanic and leans into a range of powerful skills that make this class feel more like a shooter, and less like a ranger.

If you're just starting out in Path of Exile 2 but are having trouble choosing which class to pick, you might want to consider the Mercenary. They use a crossbow, and unlike the Ranger's bow, crossbows fire instantly instead of needing to be drawn back. We've gone through all the weapons and ammo types we've seen to create a promising PoE 2 build for the Mercenary.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 7:12 PM
     Path of Exile 2 Ranger build and class guide

What is the best Path of Exile 2 Ranger build? The Ranger returns in Path of Exile 2, but this time with an emphasis on speed and agility. We'll be able to move while shooting and also build out in either long or short-range combat, depending on what suits your playstyle.

Sometimes it's chaotic to play a ranger with hordes of fast-moving enemies in an RPG like Path of Exile 2, but seeing as the devs are aiming to have this ranger feel like Legolas, expect swift movement, high jumps, and quick getaways. Now that the Path of Exile 2 release date is here, we've gone through all the skills and gems we've seen to determine the best PoE 2 build for this ranged expert.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 7:12 PM
     Path of Exile 2 Witch build and class guide

What is the best Path of Exile 2 Witch build? The Witch makes her return in Path of Exile 2, but this time her summoner abilities have been simplified without lowering the classes' skill ceiling. You're now able to automatically summon most minions, so it's a lot easier to keep the battlefield stocked up with your legion of monsters.

Controlling an army filled with minions is a difficult task in the original RPG game, but it's easier to get up and running in Path of Exile 2. With the Path of Exile 2 release date finally here, we're going to break down the PoE 2 Witch build to see what abilities are worth using, in addition to what minions you can pick from when deciding how to structure your army. We've also got more tips over in our dedicated PoE 2 builds guide.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests
PCGamesN Friday, December 6, 2024 7:23 PM
     New Soulframe update adds the wolf from the trailer, but you can't mount it yet

I remember sitting in the press room during TennoCon 2023 when Digital Extremes gave fans a first look at its upcoming fantasy RPG, Soulframe. I'd seen the gameplay the day before, and knew that as soon as the Envoy summoned Orengall, the gorgeous, hulking winter wolf, people would lose their minds. Turns out I was right, as the thunderous applause that greeted the towering creature reverberated through the exhibition hall floor down to where we were sitting. It was certainly quite the moment. Since then, however, we haven't seen Orengall in the Soulframe Preludes - but don't worry, she's coming.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best MMOs, Best RPG games , Best fantasy games
Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 9:00 PM
    

sanrio gachapon toys running late

A new line of Sanrio gachapon toys features the mascots running late while holding bread in their mouth. The items will appear in early December 2024, and you'll need to spend 300 JPY ($2) per spin. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

There are four variations to collect: Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, and My Melody. All of them are doing the classic anime trope of a student running late for school while they're holding a slice of bread in their mouth to serve as their breakfast. Hello Kitty and My Melody look like they're genuinely worried about being late for school. Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin, on the other hand, look the same as usual. They do not seem to care.

Takara Tomy is a frequent collaborator with Sanrio when it comes to making toys. For the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty, it opened up pre-orders for a special commemorative version of Licca-chan, which is the Barbie of Japan. It also made toys for a line of McDonald's Happy Meals back in April 2024. Even more recently, in November 2024, it released gachapon toys of mascots holding and cuddling little plushie versions of themselves.

The "running late" series of Sanrio mascots will appear in gachapon machines in Japan some time soon.

The post Sanrio Gachapon Toys Look Like They're Running Late appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 8:30 PM
    

the game awards 2024 hideo kojima

Geoff Knighley confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that his pal Hideo Kojima will be present at The Game Awards 2024. He stated that he wouldn't miss it, since Kojima was present at the first awards ten years ago in 2014.

Hideo Kojima is a famous video game designer, best known for his work on Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid. While at Konami, he established Kojima Productions. Following his departure from Konami due to a falling-out with the company, he founded Kojima Productions as an independent studio and then released Death Stranding in 2019.

This is not the first time that Kojima made a guest appearance at The Game Awards. In 2023, Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele announced OD, which is a new project they're working on together. While Kojima is a popular and influential figure in the gaming sphere, some aren't too happy with the time he receives at The Game Awards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0tmk5lJOSs

The show usually runs for three to four hours. While it's The Game Awards, it also doubles as a place for companies to show off trailers for new and upcoming titles. Due to the tight schedule of the program, winners of awards don't get a lot of time to speak on stage, usually resulting in the staff or orchestra waving them off after a few words of thanks. However, during the 2023 presentation of OD, Peele and Kojima received almost six minutes of stage time simply discussing each other. Replies to Geoff's Tweet announcing Kojima's presence at The Game Awards 2024 also reference this moment, as well as Geoff's own bias towards Kojima.

The Game Awards will stream on December 12, 2024 from 4:30 PM/7:30 PM ET.

The post Hideo Kojima Will Appear at The Game Awards 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 8:00 PM
    

don quijote hatsune miku royal fair header

Don Quijote is once again collaborating with Piapro, and the Akihabara store will start stocking merchandise of Hatsune Miku and her fellow Vocaloid friends. The goods, which depict everyone looking like members of royalty, will appear from December 28, 2024.

So far, we don't know what specific merchandise Don Qujiote will stock for this campaign. More information on that will appear later. As mentioned earlier, the characters look like they're royalty or nobles in some old European kingdom. There are two versions of each character, though their general aesthetics remain the same. For example, Meiko's outfit makes her feel older than the others, while Kaito looks like a very traditional prince. Len, on the other hand, resembles a younger and more mischievous one, whereas Luka's fashion makes her look more like a knight.

Image via Piapro, Don Quijote

The previous Hatsune Miku fair at Don Qujiote Akihabara took place in May 2024. This one featured the characters wearing jirai-kei clothing. Jirai-kei is a Japanese fashion subculture that recreates the look of a "jirai-kei girl," who are emotionally volatile pick-mes who put on a cutesy front to hide their nasty personality. As part of their disguise, jirai-kei girls tend to wear very cute and feminine outfits. Their hairstyles and make-up also make them look younger or vulnerable so that others want to protect them, even though they should be protecting others from them.

More information on the new Don Qujiote Hatsune Miku fair will come out in the near future. Other recent Vocaloid collaboration merchandise include a figure of Hatsune Miku holding Cinnamoroll and Milk.

The post Don Quijote Will Hold Second Hatsune Miku Fair appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 7:30 PM
    

familymart zenless zone zero

FamilyMart in Japan will have a collaboration with HoYoVerse's Zenless Zone Zero. It'll start from December 17, 2024, and FamilyMart locations all around Japan will have the items.

The key visual for the collaboration shows the members of the Hollow Special Operations Section 6. Yanagi, Soukaku, Harumasa, and Miyabi are all standing outside of a FamilyMart holding various food items and drinks that you can purchase from the store. More information on the goods will come out later. But based on the Version 1.4 special program, it's likely that items will include acrylics and special packaging. HoYoVerse will also release a commemorative code you can claim in-game.

In Zenless Zone Zero, Hollow Special Operations Section 6 is one of the many factions in the game. They are the ones who take on the most dangerous missions when it comes to dealing with Hollow disasters. Of the four, Soukaku was playable from the start while Yanagi debuted in Version 1.3. The other two members will come out in Version 1.4, which will go live on December 18, 2024.

Zenless Zone Zero is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. The Zenless Zone Zero collaboration campaign will start in FamilyMart in Japan from December 17, 2024, a day before the Version 1.4 patch drops.

The post FamilyMart in Japan Will Have Zenless Zone Zero Collaboration appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 7:00 PM
    

Movie Shadow Added to Sonic X Shadow Generations as DLC

The new Sonic x Shadow Generations DLC pack introducing playable Shadow from the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie will come out on December 12, 2024. Sega recently shared more details about how the new DLC pack will work.

For starters, Movie Shadow will only have English voiceover provided by Keanu Reeves, the same actor that voices the character in the Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie. Additionally, Movie Shadow will only be playable as part of the stages included in the Movie DLC and Challenge Acts.

The stages included in the DLC will take place in Tokyo and will be inspired by scenes from the upcoming movie. Furthermore, these stages will not be compatible with the online ranking mode. The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie 3 DLC pack was first revealed during the September 2024 Sony State of Play, and it will be available to owners of the Sonic x Shadow Generations Digital Deluxe Edition.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is readily available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The Movie DLC pack coming out on December 12, 2024. The Sonic the Hedgehog 3 movie will be coming to movie theaters on December 20, 2024.

The post Movie Shadow Added to Sonic X Shadow Generations as DLC appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 6:30 PM
    

pokemon cheerleader items

From December 14, 2024, the Pokemon Centers in Japan will start stocking cheerleader themed goods, including a Focus Stash that you can wear. These are part of a new line encouraging people to work or study hard.

The key visual for the new Pokemon line features Pikachu looking like a traditional Japanese rallying team member (an ouendan), while Plusle and Minun hold the pom-poms that you might see a more American cheerleader holding. Pikachu is wearing a Focus Stash while holding two differently-colored fans. While the physical stores will stock the following items from December 14, 2024, you'll be able to get them two days earlier via the online shop.

The Pokemon cheerleading goods include:

  • Fan: 2750 JPY

  • Focus sash: 1100 JPY

  • Lucky underwear: 1430 JPY

  • Message card: 1430 JPY

  • Pikachu plush - 3080 JPY

  • Sarasa pen (Pokemon) and check sheet: 660 JPY

  • Sticker: 330 JPY

  • Vitamin keychains: 990 JPY (8 variations, can't choose)

  • Weakness Policy & Blunder Policy memo pads: 550 JPY

There are two different kinds of Sarasa pens and fans to purchase. One features Rayquaza and the other one depicts Victini. The stickers also come in two kinds. You can get a Pikachu one or a Plusle and Minun one.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the latest mainline entry in the Pokemon franchise, are readily available on the Nintendo Switch.

The post New Pokemon Cheerleader Goods Line Includes Wearable Focus Sash appeared first on Siliconera.

Siliconera Friday, December 6, 2024 6:00 PM
    

Star Wars Japan Instagram Starts Grogu Cutest in the Galaxy Anime Shorts

Disney Japan will release new original anime shorts based on Grogu from The Mandalorian, to commemorate the release of the "Grogu Cutest In The Galaxy" merchandise line. The merchandise goods are now available at Tokyo Comic Con 2024, which is being held between December 6-8, 2024.

From December 6, 2024, the official Star Wars Instagram account will share 1 to 2 shorts every month featuring the popular character also known as Baby Yoda, in his new design made for the "Grogu Cutest In The Galaxy" collection.

The first short is out now and it features Grogu following the titular Mandalorian, despite his insistence of staying behind, getting distracted by some butterflies, and then being scared by an alien creature and finally hugging the Mandalorian.

You can watch the first short here:

https://www.instagram.com/starwarsjapan/reel/DDO4Ng7yHra/

Additionally, the "Grogu Cutest In The Galaxy" merchandise will appear at an upcoming Star Wars Pop Up Store that will be available between December 18, 2024 and January 19, 2025 at Tokyu Plaza Ginza, as well as Isetan Shinjuku between January 5-15, 2025. Finally, the "Disney THE MARKET" store located at Matsuzakaya Nagoya will offer the items between December 11-24, 2024.

As a reminder, Studio Ghibli released an original short based on the popular character from The Mandalorian titled Zen – Grogu and Dust Bunnies. The short released on November 12, 2022 for Disney Plus.

The first "Grogu Cutest In The Galaxy" anime short is now out and more will appear on the Star Wars Instagram account. The Mandalorian is available on Disney Plus.

The post Star Wars Japan Instagram Starts Grogu Cutest in the Galaxy Anime Shorts appeared first on Siliconera.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 6, 2024 8:00 PM
    

Street Fighter 6 is available now.

The post Street Fighter 6 Gets New Mai DLC Teaser Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 6, 2024 7:25 PM
    

Showcases a glimpse of a narrative.

The post Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gets New Story Trailer appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 6, 2024 6:50 PM
    

According to two anonymous sources cited in a recent Reuters report.

The post Ubisoft Shareholders Are Considering Buyout Terms appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, December 6, 2024 6:12 PM
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