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Dec 26, 18:00


Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 4:20 PM
    

Earlier this month, an anonymous Reddit user popped up with claims of having seen a Switch 2 model firsthand. The Verge and others found him to be a potentially credible source, but fans eager for morsels of information about Nintendo's long-awaited next console had to settle for mere written descriptions. Now that…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 4:10 PM
    

My life changed when I first played Final Fantasy VII in the late '90s. The narrative-focused RPG chronicling the struggle of misfit adventurers on a quest to save the world held my attention like little else. Its slow-burn story told through text boxes on pre-rendered backgrounds, all backed by a soaring melodic…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 3:50 PM
    

After more than three years of waiting, today the new season of Squid Game is finally on Netflix for our masochistic viewing pleasure. After season one ended with Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae), also known as Player 456, choosing to search for the people behind the game instead of boarding a flight to Los Angeles to reconnect…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 2:05 PM
    

If you're a fan of the Indiana Jones films, you won't want to miss "Father and Son," a well-hidden optional objective in Great Circle's Vatican City. It does require you to go a little out of your way, but you'll be rewarded with an exclusive Adventure Book, a couple of Field Notes, and a small callback to the third In…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 1:55 PM
    

Over the last few years, we've seen a lot of live-action remakes of popular animated movies. Will Wallace & Gromit ever get a Disney-like live-action remake movie? The duo's creator has a simple answer: "NOOOOO."

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Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 1:20 PM
    

Teamwork in Marvel Rivals is essential. Coordinating with your teammates to devise a strategy for the perfect Ace kill is a great way to play, and both voice and text chat make that easier. Of course, sometimes you don't want to listen to the occasional toxic jerk or someone unaware their microphone is on. Muting…

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Kotaku Thursday, December 26, 2024 1:00 PM
    

The LittleBigPlanet franchise effectively died earlier this year when Sony took down the servers for and later delisted LBP3. But a group of self-described "hobbyists" are working on Restitched, a game that will likely be just what some sad LBP fans are missing. And a new trailer for it arrived as a last-minute…

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PCGamesN Thursday, December 26, 2024 1:00 PM
     This rustic AMD gaming PC build blends perfectly with nature

Do you feel at home with nature? This rustic gaming PC build might be for you. Using a custom Lian Li Dan A3 PC case, this particular build looks like it's been plucked straight from the woods, with twig-like etchings to the chassis and a copper-themed colorway that sits perfectly among the soil and leaves.

This nature-themed PC build shows what you can do if you water cool your PC with a custom loop, enabling you to have full control over the tubing, fittings, and components. It's an all AMD affair too, albeit using components that are a few years old now, with a Ryzen 5 5600X CPU and Radeon RX 5700 XT GPU, along with 32GB of G.Skill DDR4 RAM.

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

PCGamesN Thursday, December 26, 2024 12:12 PM
     Stunning parkour FPS Ghostrunner 2 is free to keep if you're fast

Ghostrunner 2 proves that parkour is the future and, thanks to the Epic Games Store's daily giveaway, you can get this mind-blowing cyberpunk FPS absolutely free. You'll have to be fast, though, it'll be gone in less than 24 hours!

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Ghostrunner 2 review, Best parkour games, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Thursday, December 26, 2024 11:22 AM
     Free Monopoly Go dice links December 2024

December 26, 2024: We've added the latest Monopoly Go dice links for free dice rolls and tokens.

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

Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 4:30 PM
    

Frieren in Phantasy Star Online 2 PSO2 New Genesis

Sega has published details on more external IP crossover content for Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis at the December 2024 NGS Headline program. It included details on the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End crossover in PSO2: New Genesis, which Sega had teased previously.

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End crossover content will be available to obtain in PSO2: New Genesis for roughly a month starting from January 8, 2025. The "Frieren the Slayer Style" scratch ticket will appear for the duration of the event. It will let players obtain avatar parts, voice sets, and weapon camos modeled after Frieren, Fern, and Stark by spending paid currency. All players can also obtain free character acrylic stands as Build Parts for their Creative Space by logging in daily during the event.

Near the end of the Headline program, Sega revealed that it will add another batch of crossover content from A Certain Magical Index III in February 2025. This title will fill the "Anime based on light novel" crossover slot for February-March 2025 in the newly published roadmap for the first half of 2025. The company will publish more details on this crossover event on January 28, 2025.

The same roadmap also teases new crossover content from yet another anime based on a light novel between April and May 2025, an internal Sega title crossover in June 2025, and a sci-fi fantasy toy line in July 2025.

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis is available worldwide on PC and PlayStation 4. The game is also available on Nintendo Switch via a cloud version in Japan, as well as Xbox One for the rest of the world.

The post See Frieren Character Avatars in PSO2: New Genesis appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 2:30 PM
    

Pokemon Horizons Anime Ichiban Kuji prize lineup

Bandai Spirits has revealed the full prize lineup for its upcoming Pokemon Anime Ichiban Kuji lottery, which will be based on Pokemon Horizons: The Series. The company will launch the lottery in numerous physical stores across Japan on January 25, 2025. A ticket for the lottery will cost 700 yen.

The primary highlight of this lottery will be the huggable plush of Black Rayquaza as the highest A-tier prize. It will also have some differences from the one that Takara Tomy released in January 2024. Takara Tomy's Rayquaza plush has an open mouth, but it only measured the 35cm (~13.78in) height from the grounded bottom to its horn tip. Bandai Spirits, meanwhile, measured its shiny Rayquaza plush from both tips to get around 120cm (~47.72in) in total length.

Here is the complete prize list for the Pokemon Horizons Ichiban Kuji:

  • A Prize: Huggable plush of Black Rayquaza
  • B Prize: Terapagos figure lamp
  • C Prize: Big towel (3 designs)
  • D Prize: Drink cup with Captain Pikachu figure cover
  • E Prize: Gurumin / Nidothing multipurpose case, Poke Ball card case, or Captain Pikachu keychain
  • F Prize: Flake stickers (6 different sets)
  • G Prize: Stationery item (choose from 3 different designs of notebooks or memo blocks)
  • H Prize: Hand towel (6 designs)
  • Last Prize: Captain Pikachu plush

The Pokemon Anime Ichiban Kuji lottery, which is based on Pokemon Horizons: The Series, will be available on Saturday, January 25, 2025.

The post Pokemon Horizons Ichiban Kuji Full Lineup Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 1:30 PM
    

Super Spacefortress Macross for PS4 and Switch via Arcade Archives

Hamster has released Super Spacefortress Macross as part of the Arcade Archives series. People can find the 1992 arcade shoot 'em up game based on the Macross: Do You Remember Love? movie on the Japanese PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop at 1,500 yen (~$9.65).

The arcade game supports up to two players controlling VF-1 Valkyries piloted by Hikaru Ichijo and Maximillian Jenius as they try to fend off an invasion by the Zentradi aliens. Just like the original show, the Variable Fighters can transform between the Fighter, Gerwalk, and Battroid modes, with a fourth secret Armored Battroid mode also available rarely.

The player can also opt to boot the "international original mode" with the English Super Spacefortress Macross logo beside the original Japanese version. While the store pages mention language support for French, Italian, German, and Spanish, this mostly applies to the manual and the emulator's options menu.

An official gameplay trailer for the Arcade Archives version of Super Spacefortress Macross is also available on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/WSUIi5V32cU

The arcade game appeared first in Japan in September 1992 courtesy of Banpresto with the same title as the original anime show: Super Dimension Fortress Macross. One month later in October 1992, Fabtek released the same game in English in North America as Super Spacefortress Macross. It has thus become one of the very rare games based on Macross: Do You Remember Love? to receive a faithful English localization.

The historic deal between Big West and Harmony Gold signed in 2021, while finally unlocking the worldwide releases of subsequent Macross entries, also has a specific clause for the first entry and its movie adaptation Do You Remember Love? which Harmony Gold had adapted into Robotech. This is further evidenced by Bushiroad's 2024 game Macross -Shooting Insight-. Even though the newer shoot 'em up game is available worldwide, the company had to restrict content from Do You Remember Love? via Japan-exclusive DLC in order to comply with the clause.

The Arcade Archives release of Super Spacefortress Macross is now available digitally on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch via their respective Japanese storefronts.

The post Super Spacefortress Macross Joins Arcade Archives appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 1:00 PM
    

Gudetama Plush Appears in Build-a-Bear Sanrio Collection

On December 26, 2024, Build-a-Bear announced we can now buy a plush of the Sanrio mascot Gudetama. It is available online via two methods. One is a $36 one that only includes the stuffed animal. The other option is a $51 version that includes the plush and a themed hoodie. That top can also be purchased alone for $15

You can only find it in the online storefront, as it isn't sold in retail store, but you can have it arrive unstuffed and stuff it at a store near you.

The Gudetama stuffed animal features the lazy egg sitting on an egg white. It features the character's typical "meh" expression. On the right hand, there is the Build-a-Bear paw logo. You can also remove it from the cushion to place it elsewhere. If you get it with the outfit, the hoodie is yellow with small Gudetama mascots all over it.

Here's how it looks:

Lots of Sanrio plush appeared at Build-a-Bear before Gudetama debuted. Toward the beginning of 2024, we saw characters like Tuxedosam and Keroppi. Badtz-maru and Chococat showed up in the second half. There were also special variants of existing character. A giant Pompompurin launched at the end of October 2024. There were also Halloween and Christmas variants of some mascots.

The Gudetama plush is at Build-a-Bear now, and people can buy it either alone or in a bundle with an outfit. 

The post Gudetama Plush Appears in Build-a-Bear Sanrio Collection appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 12:30 PM
    

Elite Exorcist Miko on Steam Early Access - Miko vs Suisei

tian nya has published an Early Access version of Elite Exorcist Miko on Steam. People worldwide can now purchase the Touhou Project-inspired bullet hell shooting game featuring Hololive Vtubers starting from $9.99 in the US.

As the title implies, this shoot 'em up game stars the elite Vtuber Sakura Miko. In a similar fashion to Reimu in the Touhou series, the player will control the shrine maiden Vtuber to traverse various stages while grazing through a bullet hell. The end of each stage will feature a boss fight against another Hololive Vtuber, each of whom will also have special attacks with exquisite bullet patterns akin to Touhou's spell cards.

The initial Early Access release features seven stages, six regular stages spread across three stage tiers and an extra stage. The upcoming full release is slated to have twelve regular stages in five stage tiers, and more extra stages are also being planned.

The indie developer has also placed 23 bosses who will appear randomly in each stage tier as of the Early Access launch. The boss roster includes not only Japanese Vtubers from the group but also Hololive English members like Amelia Watson, Ceres Fauna, and Nanashi Mumei, as well as Indonesian Vtubers like Airani Iofifteen, Kureiji Ollie, and Kaela Kovalskia.

tian nya has also published a new trailer for Elite Exorcist Miko on X:

https://twitter.com/tiannya_/status/1872115116805640698

This is not the first Hololive game tian nya has released for the holo indie brand. The Canadian game developer has previously released Wowowow Korone Box for free in April 2024. The latter is a top-down shooting starring Inugami Korone.

Elite Exorcist Miko is now available on PC via Steam Early Access. tian nya plans to complete the game's full release in 2026.

The post Hololive Bullet Hell Game Elite Exorcist Miko Up on Early Access appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 12:00 PM
    

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is nearing the end of its legendary anime run from Ufotable. To celebrate the conclusion of the series, the grand finale will be a three-part movie trilogy. While this sounds epic, there is part of me that wishes the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy was just a new season of the anime series.

For starters, there is the fact that this franchise has already dabbled in movies in the past, including the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time in Mugen Train. So, from a financial perspective, I completely get it. But Ufotable still turned around and converted that film into a TV series version. As such, I presume they will eventually do the same with this new trilogy.

Since that is likely to be the case, I would prefer to see the TV version first. In fact, it makes more sense to me to release the TV version first and then a compilation of movies that sum up and perhaps add a bit more at the end in terms of an epilogue in theaters after that. My main reasoning behind this is I just enjoy this franchise as a series more.

Image via Aniplex

Sure, the epic grand conclusion of this series includes some of the likely best battles in anime history, but if anything needed a movie version, it was the recent Hashira Training Arc. That one dragged on way too long and had little going for it, so shortening it into a lightning fast movie would've at least trimmed the fat.

Then there is the fact that a movie trilogy is likely to lose some of the context and detail that a TV series would have. For instance, let's imagine that it takes 24 episodes for a final season of Demon Slayer Infinity Castle. That would equal to roughly 480 minutes of the series, and that is if they are only 20 minute episodes each. Presumably, one or two of them would go longer.

Alternatively, even if all three movies are two hours long, that is only 360 minutes of content. Sure, I think the end of the manga can work this way. But that is a whole lot of time that a TV series version would be able to adapt better. This would allow for the proper time for some of the fights between the Hashira and the demons that non-manga fans are not ready for.

Not to mention, there is something generally special about waiting each week with the community. Everyone waits impatiently to find out what happens next. And I can already predict some of the great cliffhangers they might leave us on.

Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy
Image via Aniplex

Sure, this can and will happen with the movie trilogy, but there is a problem here. We have no idea when the movies will release. We only know at this time that the first movie is coming in 2025. There is no guarantee that all three will release in 2025. In fact, I think it is a bit delusional to expect that. At best, we get two films in 2025 and a third in 2026.

At worst, though? We could see a new Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie every year until 2027. That would be an excruciating wait. This is doubly so since we'd presumably get the full final season in 2025. Even if the series did half of the season in 2025 and the other half in early 2026, it would still likely beat out the movie trilogy version.

This is also because movies have a stigma with them. An anime studio needs to go all out with even higher quality animation and details. You basically have to have the "finished product" so to speak in a theater. On the other hand, sometimes TV series have a bit of a roughness to them that can be addressed in a future Blu-Ray or movie release.

Furthermore, Ufotable arguably has the best overall animation quality in the industry. They don't need to go any bigger or better than they already do. That just unnecessarily puts more strain and stress on the artists who are already overworked and underpaid enough.

Image via Aniplex

Having the Demon Slayer Infinity Castle movie trilogy be a TV series instead is just the better option. It would allow everything to come out slightly sooner without the quality expectations a movie would require. In addition, a movie trilogy compilation release could still happen after the fact with extra content for fans. Regardless, I still look forward to watching the first movie in theaters in 2025.

The Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie trilogy will release the first film in 2025. You can watch the main series on Crunchyroll right now.

The post Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Movie Trilogy Should've Been a Series Instead appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, December 26, 2024 11:30 AM
    

Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge Kasumi will get Revoltech action figure

Kaiyodo has announced that it will produce and release a new Revoltech figure based on Kasumi from Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge. This action figure will be part of the company's Revoltech Amazing Yamaguchi line.

Even though Kasumi also appeared in the Dead or Alive series, this action figure will feature her appearance in the latest mainline Ninja Gaiden entry released as of 2024. Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge is an upgrade to the 2012 PS3 and Xbox 360 title Ninja Gaiden 3. It appeared first on Wii U in late 2012, and Koei Tecmo then ported it back to the former two consoles in 2013. Razor's Edge is also included in Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, which has been available worldwide on the PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC since 2021.

The announcement tweet from Kaiyodo's official X account is also available to view right below:

https://twitter.com/kaiyodo_PR/status/1872084922497634337

Kaiyodo has been on a roll with numerous reveals of figures based on characters from Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja's Ninja Gaiden series. The company started the wave by revealing the Revoltech action figure of the series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa in May 2024. However, it also revealed a newer action figure modeled after his appearance in Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge on the 2024 Christmas Day. In September 2024, the company also announced a Revoltech of Ayane from the same title.

Kaiyodo will announce the pre-order and release windows for its upcoming Revoltech Amazing Yamaguchi action figure of Kasumi from Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge at a later time.

The post Ninja Gaiden 3 Kasumi Revoltech Action Figure Announced appeared first on Siliconera.

Galaxy Ring 2 may show up in January

9 essential apps for your new phone, your next movie streaming service, Galaxy S25 leaks, and more
Created for techradar.com@quicklydone.com |  Web Version
December 26, 2024
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Wearables
The Galaxy Ring 2 could be unveiled in January
The original Galaxy Ring went on sale in July 2024 (Future)
We're already expecting Samsung to hold an Unpacked event in January to show off the new Galaxy S25 phones, but it seems we might also get a bonus with the unveiling of the Galaxy Ring 2 – even if it doesn't go on sale immediately.
Read the full story
Apps
The best unsung apps for phones and tablets
See how many of these apps you already have (Gentler Streak / Headway / The Way)
'Tis the season to be unwrapping new phones and tablets – and if that's something you're doing over the holidays, we can recommend some lesser-known but genuinely great apps for Apple and Android devices that are well worth installing on your devices.
Read the full story
Streaming
Why Mubi could be the best movie streaming service
Mubi has lots to offer movie fans (Mubi)
As the start of the new year approaches, it might be time to reassess which streaming services you want to be signed up for – and we've got four great reasons why Mubi should be considered the best of the lot when it comes to streaming movies.
Read the full story
The best after-Christmas deals, chosen by TechRadar's experts
Cameras
Point-and-shoot cameras deserve a big 2025
The Canon Powershot G7X (Future)
We're now all very used to taking photos and videos on our smartphones, but there is a case to be made for the humble point-and-shoot digital camera to make a comeback in 2025. Check out our reasons why it should happen, and see if you agree.
Read the full story
Phones
This may be our first look at a new Galaxy S25 color
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in Titanium Blue (Samsung)
We've heard rumors of what the Galaxy S25 colors might be, but a new leak claims to show us for the first time one of the actual shades – and it seems to be either the Titanium Blue or the Titanium Gray color that's apparently heading to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Read the full story
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