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Week in Review: The top stories in phones, AI, computing, and more
Dec 20, 12:00
Kotaku Friday, December 20, 2024 11:47 AM  It's hard to say what's more of a bummer, folks. Was it the dark days where every single big blockbuster movie got a shitty tie-in video game crunched out by some poor dev team in six months to launch alongside the film? Or is it the present, where new movies rarely get tie-in games at all outside of the occasional… |
Kotaku Friday, December 20, 2024 11:10 AM  The biggest pop-culture convention isn't San Diego Comic Con, nor New York Comic Con—it is in fact CCXP, an international event that mostly takes place in Brazil, but sometimes pops up in Germany too! This year's was in its main home of the São Paulo Expo, with a raft of big-name celebs and hundreds of thousands of… |
Kotaku Friday, December 20, 2024 10:47 AM  Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is out in theaters now, and like the first two films, it has a post-credits stinger that gives us an idea of what's to come in the next movie, which, it seems, is coming in 2027. However, Sonic 3's isn't quite as self-explanatory as those in the first two movies if you're not already familiar with… |
Kotaku Friday, December 20, 2024 10:20 AM Sony's PlayStation Portal began its life with a lot of limitations and skepticism. But after a much-appreciated update added the ability to stream PS5 games directly from the cloud, Sony's PS5 companion has finally secured itself as a worthwhile accessory Sony's current gen console. It still isn't a perfect device,… |
Kotaku Friday, December 20, 2024 9:40 AM  Remember NFTs? They were this hilariously stupid and obvious scam from 2021, where people—and you'll laugh—sold the "rights" to jpegs! Yeah, I know, those things you can right-click and make an infinite number of. So silly. Anyway, three years after that all collapsed, Ubisoft has launched a game featuring the grift. |
Kotaku Friday, December 20, 2024 9:00 AM  There are more amazing games coming out every week than ever before. Some of them instantly become breakout hits. Others slowly accrue cult status over months and years. Some are finally released and quickly overlooked, cherished by a small coterie of early players and completely unknown to everyone else who might… |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:56 AM  Looking for the full Indiana Jones and the Great Circle voice actors and cast list? If, like us, Indiana Jones sounds so much like Harrison Ford's character that you're wondering if it is the famous actor, here's who voices Indiana Jones in the upcoming game. The Indiana Jones and the Great Circle release date has come and gone, and we absolutely loved stepping into Indy's shoes. The story occurs between Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Last Crusade in 1937. Playing as the legendary archaeologist, this action-adventure game takes us across the globe, discovering secrets and hunting precious relics. Continue reading Indiana Jones and the Great Circle voice actors and cast list MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle release date, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle length, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Game Pass |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:47 AM  What are the best Stalker 2 mods? Surviving in The Zone can be quite an ordeal, and the difference between difficulty levels can be a huge leap. Thankfully, with Stalker 2 mods, you can tweak your playthrough exactly to your liking. Whether that's making things a bit easier on yourself or dialing up the difficulty, that's up to you. Stalker 2 is an FPS game that doesn't shy away from brutality - as you can see from our Stalker 2 review - with even the most minor mistakes often rewarded with a grim death. For some, that's the balance they want in a survival game, for others, a small change is needed, and that's where these Stalker 2 mods come in. Whether they're for your Stalker 2 weapons, or even a change to how the Stalker 2 artifacts work, here are some of the best options to tweak your next run. Continue reading Best Stalker 2 mods MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Stalker 2 weapons, Stalker 2 review, Stalker 2 artifacts |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:43 AM  December 20, 2024: We added a new NBA 2K25 code. What are the active NBA 2K25 codes? It's another year in the NBA 2K calendar, and as is tradition there are plenty of freebies to collect. Over the lifetime of each game in the storied basketball series, 2K dishes out a slew of locker codes that can be punched in, rewarding you with everything from free packs to top-rated stars as the season progresses. In NBA 2K25, you can expect a similar slurry of goodies to come your way, helping you make the most of your time in the sports game. Of course, NBA 2K25 locker codes don't last forever, so you'll have to act fast when a new code does pop up. Fortunately, we're keeping our eagle eyes eagerly on the latest codes, which you can find below. Continue reading NBA 2K25 codes December 2024 - all locker codes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best sports games, Best multiplayer games, New PC games |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:19 AM  CES 2025 is quickly approaching and Geekom is not letting a few weeks stand between it and announcing its latest wares. The mini gaming PC maker will be bringing a trio of new machines to the table, and its new AMD Ryzen machine looks like a fantastic budget gaming option, with a surprisingly powerful GPU. The best gaming mini PC designs have sort of followed the best handhelds, in that AMD reigns supreme in the space. While Intel's offerings haven't been a total disaster, AMD's integrated graphics have been game changers, with the integrated Radeon 780M GPU proving its worth in our recent Geekom AX8 Pro review. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ryzen 7 7800X3D review, Best gaming CPU, Radeon RX 7800 XT review |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:16 AM  December 20, 2024: We have found and added three new Car Dealership Tycoon codes to add to this list. What are the new Car Dealership Tycoon codes? Alongside the obbies, murder mysteries, and shooters, Roblox is filled with every life simulator you could imagine, allowing you to live out your wildest dreams. If you've always wanted to run your own car dealership, test drive the fastest sports cars, and rake in that cash, then Foxzie's Car Dealership Tycoon is for you. As with any new business, you need money to get off the ground. Sure, Car Dealership Tycoon hands out easy money, as you can earn it by simply driving around the Roblox experience, but you'll be driving for a while before you can add that new floor to the showroom. If you're a little light on customers, why not take a break from running your business with Anime Champions Simulator codes, Southwest Florida codes, and Blox Fruits codes instead? Continue reading Car Dealership Tycoon codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:12 AM  December 20, 2024: We have checked for new Brookhaven codes to add to this list. What are the new Brookhaven codes? Brookhaven is one of the most popular sandbox games on the Roblox platform, allowing you to meet up with friends and explore the town's bustling streets and sleepy suburbs. Our Brookhaven codes can put a little pep in your step as you act out different scenarios with some free music for your portable speakers. Brookhaven offers a ton of freedom, so there are no pesky limitations to sidestep – you can snap up new houses and tear up the tarmac with various cars and bikes. Our Brookhaven codes grant you access to a whole playlist of popular tunes to serve as your soundtrack while you're at it. We've also got Doors codes, King Legacy codes, and Anime Adventures codes if you're searching for all the best goodies available across the Roblox platform. Continue reading Brookhaven codes MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:11 AM  December 20, 2024: We've checked for new Blade Ball codes. What are the new Blade Ball codes? Those who want to stand out while playing this dodgeball game can splash out on new weapons, skills, and even explosive effects. To get them, though, you need coins, and there are ways to instantly get a small amount of coins to roll the dice while getting a chance to open crates and maybe pull a rare sword skin. There are other similar games on the Roblox platform, so be sure to get all the latest Arm Wrestle Simulator codes to get yourself ripped or learn the secret of Berry Avenue codes if you'd rather live a calmer virtual life. Here are all the latest Blade Ball codes, how to enter them, and where to find more. Continue reading Blade Ball codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:21 AM  How long is Path of Exile 2? Though you can put hundreds of hours into Path of Exile 2's endgame and upcoming leagues of content, it does have a main story split into six acts, here's how long you can expect it to take you to finish. The Path of Exile 2 release date first launches in early access, arriving with six Path of Exile 2 classes to choose from, with six more classes arriving with the 1.0 release. Though early access doesn't arrive with the full campaign story, you will be able to play a fair chunk of the game, here's what to expect and how long Path of Exile 2 takes to beat. Continue reading How long is Path of Exile 2? MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Path of Exile 2 builds, Path of Exile 2 classes, Path of Exile 2 quests |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:09 AM  December 20, 2024: We have checked for new Berry Avenue codes to add to this list. What are the new Berry Avenue codes? Rather than being a conventional Roblox game that uses tower defense, RPG, or shooting game-style mechanics, Berry Avenue is a playground where you can buy a house, work a job, or drive around without a care in the world looking fabulous. However, you may have noticed that everyone else looks much more stylish than most Roblox experiences. Is this because of the time they spent playing the roleplay sandbox game or perhaps linked to how much they paid in real-world money? While you're here, you should know that we also keep lists of Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and Anime Adventures codes to get you some free items and rolls for those games. Continue reading Berry Avenue codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:04 AM  December 20, 2024: We have checked for new Bee Swarm Simulator codes. What are the active Bee Swarm Simulator codes? Whether you're in the market for some free items to help you get started farming honey, or you need that extra boost to your bee's effectiveness at collecting pollen, there's no quicker way to get your hive started than to redeem a whole bunch of codes. However, it's not always easy to know where to find ones that work. So, if you want to give your little pollinators a helping hand, we have many tried and tested active Bee Swarm Simulator codes to redeem that give you valuable free items and boosts. We also have freebies for other popular Roblox games, including Blade Ball codes, Blox Fruits codes, and Murder Mystery 2 codes to help you get ahead. Continue reading Bee Swarm Simulator codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:01 AM  December 20, 2024: We have checked for new AUT codes to add to our list. What are the new AUT codes? If you're trying to get ahead of the competition in A Universal Time, we've collated all the latest codes for free skin crates. We'll also run you through exactly how to redeem all the active A Universal Time codes and where you can find more for the action-packed, anime-themed hit. A Universal Time has been around for a while, but it's erupted in popularity recently following a major update. If you're searching high and low for further Roblox freebies, we also keep regularly updated lists of Blox Fruits codes, Project Slayers codes, and even Anime Adventures codes. Now, let's run through all the A Universal Time codes and the rewards they'll net you. Continue reading AUT codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 10:57 AM  December 20, 2024: We've checked for new Arsenal codes. How do you get Arsenal codes? The Roblox-based shooter has proven itself to be quite the popular experience, with teams taking shots at each other with machine guns, bazookas, and even flinging magic spells from books. Take your gaming experience to the next level by redeeming Arsenal codes to gain exclusive skins and announcer voices. There are other Roblox shooting games out there, all with their own unlocks, so make sure you check out the best Da Hood codes for more. If you want to try something completely different like racing motorbikes, there are also Motorcycle Mayhem codes to redeem. Continue reading Arsenal codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 10:55 AM  December 20, 2024: We've searched, tested, and added three new Arm Wrestle Simulator codes. What are the new Arm Wrestle Simulator codes? This popular Roblox experience channels the simulator games of the past few years, rewarding your strenuous clicks with rapidly multiplying strength. Arm Wrestle codes can speed up the process exponentially, earning you the gains you need to bend everyone's elbows and slam even the beefiest of opponent's forearms onto the table. As we've already alluded to, Arm Wrestle Simulator takes the ideas of many other popular Roblox games to create one centered around a less violent form of settling your differences, without resorting to a boring game of rock, paper, scissors. For further freebies in other action-packed Roblox releases, be sure to grab the latest Blox Fruits codes, King Legacy codes, and Fruit Battlegrounds codes before they're gone. Continue reading Arm Wrestle Simulator codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 10:45 AM  December 20, 2024: We have checked for new Anime Souls X codes. What are the new Anime Souls X codes? Anime Souls X, a sequel to the game without the X, tasks you with building your own army of powerful heroes and imbuing their weapons with souls to take on fearsome bosses. If the road to greatness is a little too long when first starting, you'll be happy to hear that we've tracked down the latest Anime Souls X codes to help you grow in power faster than ever. Our list of up-to-date Anime Souls X codes delivers a treasure trove of free items straight to your inventory and various rolls and spins to help you swap out your weaker heroes. If you're partial to anime and manga-inspired games across the Roblox platform, we've also got the latest Anime Adventure codes, Slayers Unleashed codes, and even Ro Ghoul codes to help you stay one step ahead of your fellow Robloxians. Continue reading Anime Souls X codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 11:07 AM  December 20, 2024: We added one new AFK Journey code. Looking for new AFK Journey codes? Redeeming free items is the best way to stay ahead of the curve without upsetting your wallet, especially in gacha-driven fantasy RPGs like AFK Journey. These redeem codes can help you stay competitive with the best team compositions, clear the story without issue, and reap the rewards of the PvP leaderboards. We've found and tested every code released by developer Farlight to find out which ones are active or expired. The AFK Journey redeem codes often reward you with valuable in-game currency like AFK Journey Diamonds and Gold, which are required to pull on gacha banners and build the best characters in the AFK Journey roster. We also recommend checking out our in-depth AFK Journey tier list to ensure you're spending your freebies wisely in the anime game. Now that you're all set, here are the AFK Journey codes waiting to be redeemed. Continue reading AFK Journey codes December 2024 and how to redeem MORE FROM PCGAMESN: AFK Journey tier list, AFK Journey codes, AFK Journey reroll |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 10:40 AM  December 20, 2024: We've checked and added seven new Anime Last Stand codes to this list. What are the newest Anime Last Stand codes? Plenty of anime-inspired tower defense games are available on the Roblox platform, and Anime Last Stand is the latest to emerge from its testing phase. You can now collect your favorite anime heroes and villains to guard your base, but you'll need a stash of emeralds to afford them. Luckily, even if you're starting this Roblox experience, there are plenty of Anime Last Stand codes to grab tons of free emeralds and rerolls. While you're here, other tower defense games are available, and you can get free stuff for them with Tower Defense X codes and All Star Tower Defense codes, or perhaps Blox Fruits codes or Project Slayers codes for something different. Continue reading Anime Last Stand codes December 2024 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 10:27 AM  What's better than getting a great discount on a few games? Getting a major sale on almost 50 games with Humble Choice. Whether you want to battle mythical creatures in games like Atlas Fallen or you hope to enjoy the cel-shaded vibes of the Jet Set Radio-inspired Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, there are plenty of games to take for a spin each month. Continue reading Grab the most underrated heist FPS plus 47 top PC games for just $49 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best crime games, Best FPS games |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 10:07 AM  What are the best free PC games? Whether you're broke or just frugal, free is a price point that appeals to everybody's purse. No matter your genre of choice, it turns out that zero can buy you quite a lot in the F2P game world, and even beloved classics are available at the steepest possible discount. We've collated the top free games on PC that are guaranteed to deliver a near-endless stream of complementary entertainment. All you need to spend is your time. From cultural landmarks like Fortnite to all-time greats like Team Fortress 2, some entries on this list can easily make our list of the best PC games of all time. In no particular order, here are the best free games on PC. Continue reading The best free PC games MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Genshin Impact codes, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 9:52 AM  A new Intel graphics card has been spotted running two M.2 SSDs from the same PCB as the GPU. With the launch of the Intel Arc B580, the rise of partner cards is coming, and a card made by Chinese manufacturer MaxSun has been spotted with two M.2 SSD slots. The Intel Arc B580 has carved out a niche for itself recently, offering a 12GB graphics card for $249, unlike any other GPU in this price range. It's not the very best graphics card in terms of frame rates, but it offers a lot for your money. Bang per buck isn't the only benefit of this Intel GPU using the 8x PCIe 5.0 interface, though, as Maxsun has also shown another trick you can achieve on one of these cards. Continue reading This new Intel Arc gaming graphics card can also run two M.2 SSDs MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review, Best gaming CPU, Core i9 14900K review |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 9:47 AM  What are the Black Ops 6 events? If you're on the hunt for even more cosmetic goodies and unlockable weapons in BO6, you're in luck. Black Ops 6 has brought back limited-time, seasonal events that reward you handsomely for completing various challenges. Some Black Ops 6 Season 1 events so far include Hit List and Gobblegum Mania, each with individual and community rewards up for grabs, and we're sure there'll be plenty more Black Ops 6 events to come in future seasons of the FPS game. So, polish off your best BO6 loadouts, get out onto the latest BO6 maps, and start racking up those rewards. Continue reading Current Black Ops 6 events and rewards MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Black Ops 6 guns, Black Ops 6 missions, Black Ops 6 loadouts |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 9:23 AM  Factorio, RimWorld, and Satisfactory - and to a similar extent Cities Skylines 2 - are all about the hardships of logistics. The joy of these games is getting everything to click finally into place, to create a beautiful closed system that hums along without needing your further input. But let's take the stresses of industry and building games and transplant them to the brutal, survivalistic world of Fallout New Vegas. On the barren frontline of the apocalypse, your job is to keep the final remnants of humanity stocked with food, ammunition, and everything else, all the while fighting to defend yourself from the myriad horrors that stalk the wasteland. A mix of FTL Faster Than Light and Bethesda's dystopian RPG, this is Dustland Delivery, and it just got better than ever. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best survival games, Best strategy games, Best simulation games |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 9:01 AM  Don't miss this chance to upgrade your gaming setup in time for the holidays, as this Acer gaming monitor deal will let you snag a 27-inch display with a huge 38% saving. This Acer Nitro monitor is now priced at just $178.94 on Amazon, which is a great deal for the specs on offer. Indeed, the Acer Nitro XV271U M3bmiiprx has specs that easily rival the best gaming monitors out there. This Acer display is packed with goodies to please any gamer, from the hugely impressive 180Hz refresh rate to the crystal-clear 1440p resolution that makes it ideal for modern gameplay. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best gaming monitor |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 8:51 AM  When is the Civilization 7 release date? For over 30 years, the Civilization series has captivated PC gamers with its intricate strategy, forcing players to think about more than just conquering their neighbors. Sometimes, the best victory is by being diplomatically savvy while secretly building massive cultural wonders and hoping nobody notices - especially the nuke-hungry Gandhi. We had early confirmation from Firaxis that Civilization 7 was officially in development back in early 2023, but we didn't get word of an official Civilization 7 release date until Gamescom this year. It's been a long road of anticipation for Civ 7 fans, but there's no doubt the strategy game series is worth the wait, and we've got all the latest news and gameplay details following its announcement. Continue reading Civilization 7 release date, trailers, gameplay, and latest news MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Civilization 7 release date, Best strategy games, Best 4X games |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 8:40 AM  When did the Monster Hunter Wilds beta end? The Monster Hunter Wilds open beta included a limited portion of the game for players to test, including spending time in the character creator to put together the perfect main character and Palico. Ahead of the Monster Hunter Wilds release date, Capcom held an open beta for a hands on with the RPG game for the first time. The beta included a trial of the story and opening cutscene, taking you through the Chatacabra hunt to learn the basic tutorials, as well as trying out some of the weapons on offer. Players were also able to take on the Doshaguma Hunt, one of the many Monster Hunter Wild monsters, and explore this area on your Seikret. Continue reading Monster Hunter Wilds beta start and end times MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Monster Hunter Wilds monsters, Monster Hunter Wilds weapons, Monster Hunter Wilds release date |
PCGamesN Friday, December 20, 2024 8:23 AM  Baldur's Gate 3 patch 8 is the next installment from Larian Studios, and as 2024 comes to a close, 2023's best game has a big update on the cards. With the developer gradually winding up its masterful Dungeons and Dragons RPG to look ahead to new projects, one of the most-requested features is finally set to make its appearance. The introduction of crossplay between PC and consoles is just one of many additions, but with how major a change it is, Larian wants to ensure that it rolls out as smoothly as possible, and it needs your help. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 builds, BG3 mods, Baldur's Gate 3 classes |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 11:46 AM  I'm hoping you'll forgive a spot of mission-bending here, given Should You Bother With? Is usually intended to test out the new and the strange of gaming hardware. Instead, I want to talk about mini PCs – not just small-form-factor desktops, but properly tiny, box o' chocolates-sized computers – which have, of course, been around for decades. Recently, however, I've been wondering if mini PCs are finally on the cusp of having their moment as serious games machines. Between rising desktop component prices and ever-ballooning electricity bills, it would make sense that a smaller, cheaper system would take on a new appeal, and the success of handhelds like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally show that convenience still trumps out-and-out performance for a lot of PC players. There have even been hints that Valve are resurrecting their Steam Machine mini PC concept, years after a flopping first attempt. Should you be interested? |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 11:00 AM  Clambering deep out of the Contemplation Pit, where reading reviews or opinions or, god help you, Takes, is forbidden, I am curious to learn how people have been categorising Songs of Silence. Its structure most resembles Songs of Conquest or Heroes of Might and/or Magic, but with little RPG emphasis or base building, and minimal tactical fighting. Taxonomy is arbitrary and often unimportant at the end of the day, but I am very glad to firmly rule it out of one category: It's not a bloody card game. It looks like one, sure. You do most things with cards, and characters acquire more cards over time. But even if you absolutely, utterly, and correctly loathe card-based systems, this game has none. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 10:16 AM  Early on in Terry Pratchett's novel The Light Fantastic, a spell is cast to map the world. It begins as a "fireball of occult potentiality," dangling in the Great Hall of the Unseen University, which evolves into a ghostly "embryo universe." The embryo expands "lightly as a thought," with spectral continents "sleeting" through walls and people. It surges across the landscape until the entire population and geography of the Disc is exactly duplicated and enclosed by a shimmering shadow-self of "shining threads that followed every movement." |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 8:33 AM  Two men on the board of directors for Epic Games have stepped down from their positions after the US Department of Justice investigated the board under antitrust laws. The pair of directors were originally appointed to Epic's board by Tencent (who slurp upon a minority stake in the Unreal Engine company) but the United States government took a look at this and said: ah-ah-ah, you're not allowed to have a director in your boardroom if they're already fingers-deep in the pie of a competing company. Naughty Tencent! Naughty Epic! And, yes, naughty Riot Games! |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 7:00 AM  Ahhh, the lap of the ocean is calming isn't it? And it's really warm here, too. What's interesting is that the sounds of the sea are occasionally masked by the sounds of multiple segways. Weird. |
Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 6:54 AM  Steam sales aren't the drop-everything-and-grab-yer-wallet events they used to be, according to you lot. The Winter sale that began yesterday is almost identical to the Autumn sale that ended just two weeks ago, for example. But you can still find one or two gifts if you bore deep enough into the ice. Me? I'm only interested in one thing. How many of these games are snowy and chilly enough to induce wonderful hypothermia? I'm on a frostbitten quest to find out. Here are the most winter-iest games you can pick up for cheap. |
Siliconera Friday, December 20, 2024 11:30 AM
Koei Tecmo has updated the official website for Venus Vacation Prism – Dead or Alive Xtreme with details on the upcoming title's gameplay systems and minigames. The new romance-focused game will have more than just dates with the six appearing heroines.
The player will help manage a Venus Festival that also doubles as a popularity contest for the participants. The festival office will task the player to take pictures of the heroines in order to increase their public visibility and number of fans. They can take pictures anytime—including during conversations. They can also change the heroine's outfit, toggle environment lights, and apply additional filters like Vivid or Sepia to further improve the resulting photos.
When a heroine has gathered an ample number of fans, her relationship with the player may not be the only thing that improves. She can also gradually obtain new outfits as the player progresses further in the game. Most of the outfits will be available as in-game content unlockable with this method, as there are no gacha features or DLC—apart from the digital deluxe edition and pre-order bonuses.
In addition, Koei Tecmo has revealed some of the minigames that will be available in Venus Vacation Prism. One of them will have the player play a Hand Sumo in first-person view with one of the heroines. In another example, the player will get into a Water Splashing fight with two heroines. Splashing water on a heroine will eventually soak her outfit, and the event progression will depend on which heroine gets splashed on more.
Venus Vacation Prism will be available in not only Japan but also in Asia—with an English localization option dedicated to Southeast Asia. The game will mostly support multiple subtitle options in Japanese, English, Korean, and Chinese (Traditional and Simplified). However, those who purchase the Japanese PlayStation releases will only be able to play the game with Japanese subtitles.
Venus Vacation Prism – Dead or Alive Xtreme will be available for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC on March 6, 2025.
The post Venus Vacation Prism DOA Xtreme Will Also Have Minigames appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 20, 2024 11:00 AM
Genshin Impact gets new character outfits with every recent Lantern Rite, and the 2025 installment adds costumes for Hu Tao and Xiangling. As usual, the four-star character's new skin can be earned by playing during the event period before joining the shop, while we'll need to pay for the five-star look.
The Hu Tao Lantern Rite outfit in Genshin Impact is called Cherries Snow-Laden. It features her in a red and white outfit with matching hat. Her hairstyle is also different, though pigtails are still present. Her ghostly friend does not get any new attire with this look. As she is a five-star, this will be a paid outfit you can only get with Genesis Crystals. These sometimes are on sale for the patch they launch, but eventually end up being 2,480 as the standard price for the look.
The Genshin Impact Xiangling Lantern Rite costume is called New Year's Cheer. In her case, she has a red and white coat over a black bodysuit. She has a Guoba hat and matching purse for this outfit too. If you complete the Lantern Rite event's minigames, you can earn this attire. After the event is over, it will be added to the in-game shop like other four-star character outfits and cost 1,680 Genesis Crystals.
Here's how both of those outfits look:
You can also see them in the trailer for the update:
As a reminder, Genshin Impact Genesis Crystals are only sold in certain quantities. So 300 of them are $4.99, you get 980 for $14.99, and 1,980 of them costs $29.99.
Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, and the Hu Tao and Xiangling outfits will join the line of costumes on January 1, 2025.
The post New Genshin Impact Outfits Are Hu Tao and Xiangling Costumes appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 20, 2024 10:30 AM
The 5.3 Genshin Impact update arrives on January 1, 2025, and when it does it will bring the Lantern Rite event for the year, new characters Mauvika, Citlali, and Lan Yan, a new story update, and a number of other activities. As usual, the Lantern Rite means two new costumes, one paid and one we can earn, and the chance to pick one free Liyue four-star character for playing.
The focus of the Genshin Impact "Incandescent Ode of Resurrection" focuses both on the Lantern Rite and new characters like Lan Yan. We see familiar Liyue characters like Zhongli, Xiao, Qiqi, Xiangling and Yun Jin, before newcomer Lan Yan appears. She's confirmed to be a four-star unit. Xiangling and Hu Tao will also get new costumes as part of the event. From there, we see new characters Mauvika and Citlali. Both of them will be five-stars.
This is that official trailer:
To help clarify things, HoYoVerse also shared an events overview trailer with us that goes over the Genshin Impact Lantern Rite for 2025. It begins by confirming Xiangling's New Year's Cheer outfit is a costume we earn by participating. Then, it shows the Immortal Combat, Drills by Lamplight, andCustom Gift Envelope for it. The On the Trail of Behemoths, Shuyu's Baffling Beetle Battle Bowl, Emblem of Steadfast Valor, and Repertoire of Myriad Melodies come up after that. We also see the Liyue free four-stars we can choose from during the Lantern-Lit Gathering.
Here's the full Genshin Impact Special Program livestream for 5.3 that covers all new additions:
Finally, there'll be a new Genshin Impact anime short set in Natlan. It will feature Mauvika as its main character. A brief teaser for it appeared ahead of its December 23, 2024 release.
Genshin Impact is available for the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, and mobile devices, and 5.3 arrives on January 1, 2025.
The post 5.3 of Genshin Impact Adds Mauvika and 2025 Lantern Rite appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 20, 2024 10:00 AM
Bushiroad has confirmed that it will release Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact in the Summer of 2025. It has started narrowing down the release window for the new fighting game after delaying it from 2024.
The company had previously stated that it would release Nen x Impact in 2024. However, in late September 2024, Bushiroad announced that it delayed the game's release to 2025. The wait will be worth it for fighting game enthusiasts though, as the company noted the implementation of the highly-requested rollback netcode as the primary reason for the delay.
In the same press release, Bushiroad published more details about the fighting game's upcoming demo booth at Jump Festa 2025, which will take place in Makuhari Messe on December 21-22, 2025. While the demo will only have ten playable characters, all sixteen launch characters will appear via memorabilia badges that players can get after playing it. The booth's staff will let players choose from between the two boxes to pick one of the badges with ten different designs at random.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact will be available for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC in the Summer of 2025. The game will appear worldwide with Japanese voiceovers and subtitles in Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.
The post Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact Will Hit Summer 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 20, 2024 9:30 AM
Square Enix has published a teaser for its upcoming 1/4 scale Masterline figure of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Cloud Strife. The company will start accepting pre-orders for the large figure on December 24, 2024.
Square Enix will base the new figure on the character's appearance in the second Final Fantasy VII remake entry, which is readily available on PlayStation 5. The company will also release a PC port of the game on January 23, 2025.
The teaser tweet on the Japanese official X account for Square Enix's goods includes a trailer showcasing the new large figure. It also shows that the figure set will have an alternate part for Cloud's right hand, which will also change the position of his Buster Sword.
Square Enix has been working on numerous new figures, many of them are being based on the Final Fantasy VII remake series. Earlier in December 2024, it opened pre-orders for a new action figure of Vincent Valentine that will be available worldwide in late 2025. Vincent's action figure will also be the first one in the brand-new Play Arts Shin line of action figures.
The pre-order window for the 1/4 scale Masterline figure of Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth will open on December 24, 2024, at 11 AM JST.
The post FFVII Rebirth Cloud Strife 1/4 Scale Masterline Figure Teased appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, December 20, 2024 9:00 AM
Nexon has announced that it will shut down Dynasty Warriors M on February 20, 2025. The end of service for the mobile game will happen simultaneously worldwide, including in Japan.
Dynasty Warriors M is Nexon's second attempt at a mobile game based on Koei Tecmo's hack-and-slash action game series. While the first title Dynasty Warriors Unleashed was based on Dynasty Warriors 8, the company used Dynasty Warriors 9 as the basis for Dynasty Warriors M.
Following the initial reveal in late October 2023, Nexon launched Dynasty Warriors M worldwide a month later on November 22, 2023. With the mobile game slated to sunset in February 2025, it will last for only around a year and three months. That lifespan would be much shorter than Dynasty Warriors Unleashed, which lasted three years globally from 2017 to 2020 and four years in Japan from 2018 to 2022.
Dynasty Warriors M is not the only recent mobile game in the franchise to be shut down. The Chinese-made Dynasty Warriors 7-based title Dynasty Warriors Overlords had also disappeared in July 2024.
Koei Tecmo's self-developed Dynasty Warriors 9-based entry, launched exclusively in Japan in March 2021, will thus become the only known mobile game still alive as of the end of 2024. The Dynasty Warriors series producer Akihiro Suzuki is still managing the mobile game, as Tomohiko Sho takes up the producer spot for the new console entry Dynasty Warriors Origins, which is slated for release on the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on January 17, 2025.
Dynasty Warriors M is available worldwide on Android and iOS mobile devices until February 20, 2025.
The post Dynasty Warriors M Will Shut Down Worldwide in February 2025 appeared first on Siliconera. |
iDev Games Feed Friday, December 20, 2024 8:52 AM collect coins... |
MonsterVine Friday, December 20, 2024 9:00 AM When last we left Grit and Valor 1949, I said it left me wanting more and, well, wouldn't you know it? A just-closed Beta period gave me a little bit more, including some new mechs, a new Scandinavia campaign, and revamped rewards and upgrade systems. Okay, guys, twist my arm to play with giant stompy […] |
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