GamersHeroes Thursday, February 6, 2025 7:43 PM A dieselpunk real-time tactics roguelite (quite the pitch!), players can experience with Milky Tea Studios and Megabit Publishing's Grit and Valor - 1949 with a free demo ahead of its full release on March 26. The post Real-time Tactics Roguelike Grit and Valor – 1949 Demo Now Available appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 6, 2025 7:20 PM Courtesy of IGN, the latest gameplay trailer for Visual Concepts and 2K Games' WWE 2K25 shows off its new additions. The post WWE 2K25 Gameplay Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
GamersHeroes Thursday, February 6, 2025 7:06 PM The latest trailer for SEGA and Ryu ga Gotoku's Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes a deep dive into this scallywag's story. The post Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Story Trailer Released appeared first on GamersHeroes. |
Kotaku Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:45 PM  Smite and Realm Royale developer and publisher HiRez is shifting most of its remaining staff and resources away from some of its current games in order to support 2024's Smite 2. This means the original Smite, Rogue Company, and class-based shooter Paladins will no longer receive large content updates in the future. |
Kotaku Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:40 PM  Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) and Invincible are the same in flesh, but not always in action. After the world found out how much of a genocidal maniac his father Omni-Man (J.K. Simmons) is, the young superhero had to deal with civilians being afraid of him when he was trying to help, Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins) being… |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 6, 2025 7:17 PM  After a decade of anticipation, Dragon Age: The Veilguard arrived in late 2024. Sadly, it was a little underwhelming, the product of a troubled development cycle where EA attempted to make it live-service before it became purely single-player. In a post-mortem response to the publisher, original Draogn Age writer David Gaider had some choice words on the state of the industry at the moment. Continue reading EA should "follow Larian's lead", says original Dragon Age writer MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Dragon Age The Veilguard class, Dragon Age The Veilguard review, Dragon Age The Veilguard builds |
PCGamesN Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:19 PM  In terms of major releases for 2025, Grand Theft Auto 6 is likely to be the biggest of the year. Previosly, the release window was slated for the back half of the year, but now publisher Take Two has said the next installment in the hugely popular open-world series will arrive sometime in fall 2025. Continue reading Take-Two confirms Grand Theft Auto 6 is still coming fall 2025 MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 6 release date, Best open-world games, GTA 5 cheats |
Siliconera Thursday, February 6, 2025 10:00 PM
McDonald's Japan is teasing upcoming collaborations with Pokemon Frienda and the PokePeace collection of goods. More information on them will appear later.
For the Pokemon Frienda post, McDonald's Japan posted a fake screenshot of a text conversation with a name full of kanji that can read like "Frienda." They sent a picture of a card, stating that a "legend" is on its way. Though you can't see the full image of the card, the color and shape of the Pokemon are obviously that of a Rayquaza. As a note, Pokemon Frienda is an arcade game that came out in Japan in July 2024.
The other post shows an image that depicts snow falling against a light blue background. You can see the top parts of multiple Pokemon, such as Scorbunny, Pikachu, Piplup, Espurr, and Rowlet. The art style, as well as the line-up of Pokemon, make it look like McDonald's Japan is teasing a collaboration with PokePeace. PokePeace, or Pokemon Peaceful Place, focuses on a group of Pokemon who live together with humans in the same house. A pop-up shop for the collection appeared in October 2024, and it also has its own website where you can read a comic about the group.
More information on the two Pokemon collaborations at McDonald's Japan will come out in the future.
The post McDonald's Japan Teases Pokemon Frienda, PokePeace Collaborations appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 6, 2025 9:30 PM
JA Tsugaru Hirosaki, an agricultural cooperative in Japan, has started shipping out its Hatsune Miku gift boxes of Sun Fuji apples, which cost 3,600 JPY ($23.80) per box. It will only deliver to addresses within Japan.
The gift box, which contains nine to ten apples each, depicts Hatsune Miku standing in front of an orchard of apples. In the background, you can see Mount Iwaki. She's holding an apple and smiling at you, with the phrase "Enjoy the delicious taste of Tsugaru!" above her. Asagao Minoru, an illustrator who worked on music videos for multiple Vocaloid songs, provided the artwork.
According to an additional note on the website, the artwork imagines you as a citizen of Hirosaki, or a tourist visiting the area. It places you in the Hirosaki Apple Park, as well as in a location where you can see Mount Iwaki. This is so the illustration feels familiar to those who've been to the area, or who live around there.
When JA Tsugaru Hirosaki first opened up pre-orders for the Hatsune Miku apple gift boxes in November 2024, it stated that it wants to encourage more people, especially those in the younger generation, to eat apples. It's also a made-to-order online exclusive gift box, which means you can't buy it in physical stores.
The Hatsune Miku gift box of Sun Fuji apples is available for purchase via the JA Tsugaru Hirosaki website. Other collaborations for the virtual singer include one with Sanrio (Cinnamoroll) and one with Fortnite.
The post Hatsune Miku Being Used to Sell Apples appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:00 PM
GBO Days, a limited time event that gives players special bonuses when playing Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operations 2, returned. Bandai Namco Entertainment announced on social media that every first weekend of the month, we can claim rewards like free pulls for mobile suits in the game. Each GBO Day will begin on the first Thursday of a month, then run until the following Sunday. So this month it would run Febuary 6-9, 2025.
This is the second GBO Days celebration since April 2024. During this event, players are able to pull from the game's gacha system and get any of the Mobile Suits released in the game since July 2021. This includes powerful suits like the special Nu Gundam FF, the Xi Gundam from the Hathaway's Flash movie, and the Freedom Gundam. As a reminder, Freedom Gundam is the first AU suit to be playable in the game, which primarily consists of suits from the Universal Century timeline.
As part of the GBO Days celebration, players will also get a free Mobile Suit Supply Drop gacha pull every day. Players will also get increased points and experience with regular players receiving a 2x boost to all the points they earn and new and returning players will receive a 5x boost.
A lot is happening in the world of Gundam in 2025. In addition to Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operations 2 event now, another mobile suit centric board game is on the way. Gundam Assemble is a tabletop take on the series. The newest Mobile Suit Gundam anime, Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuux will premiere in movie theaters in the US on February 28, 2025.
Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operations 2 is available now on PCs via Steam, PS4s and PS5s. GBO Days will be the first Thursday through Sunday of every month.
The post Gundam Battle Operation 2 GBO Days Begins Again appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 10:02 PM
Destiny 2's economy of resources and collectibles is never-ending, changing in an instant with the release of new content. That's proven the case for Episode: Heresy, with many new resources added for Guardians to balance. Essence of Desire is one of those newcomers, but it requires some effort to earn lots.
With each new Episode (or Season), Destiny 2 often adds novel gameplay mechanics and progression systems to keep the game feeling fresh. With Heresy, that comes in the form of the Tome of Want and forrays into an activity players seem to like, The Nether. However, to use the Tome of Want and to open those locked chests in The Nether, Guardians will need plenty of Essence of Desire.
Where does Essence of Desire come from?
Thankfully, Essence of Desire isn't too hard to come by on its own. Players can earn Essence of Desire while participating in activities on The Nether, but the drip feed can be painfully slow. That said, there is another way to earn Essence of Desire, and you'll get a lot more for your troubles.
In Eris' Flat in The Last City, Guardians will find a Taken Altar just to the left of the entryway. You can only interact with the Altar if you hold ten or more Metastasized Essentia, and doing so will consume the resources. In return, players will get a bunch of loot, including 10 Essence of Desire.
The Taken Altar is the most lucrative way to earn Essence of Desire, but that also means you'll have to spend a lot of time in The Nether to accrue the 10 Metastasized Essentia needed per interaction. At least, in addition to the Essence of Desire, you'll also get some reprised Season of Arrivals weapons and some upgrade materials with each pull.
What is Essence of Desire used for?
As mentioned earlier, Essence of Desire is the key to several rewards in Episode: Heresy. Most notably, each time Guardians activate a ritual using the Tome of Want, it costs two Essence of Desire. The Tome helps you narrow potential rewards down, allowing the ability to focus specific weapons, armor, or resources.
In addition to the Tome, Essence also comes up whenever players find locked chests while exploring The Nether. Each of these locked chests similarly costs two Essence of Desire to unlock. Inside, Guardians will be rewarded with Sigil Shards and a guaranteed weapon drop.
While there's no requirement for players to stock up on Essence of Desire, they certainly help make The Nether all the more rewarding. Plus, if you're already engaging with Episode: Heresy anyway, you'll undoubtedly end up with some Essence of Desire to spend.
The post How to get Essence of Desire in Destiny 2 appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:54 PM
With the launch of Sid Meier's Civilization 7, players have 21 unique leaders to choose from, five of which have two unique personas with different playstyles, giving you 26 total options. Each leader has their own unique abilities that cater to certain playstyles. Here is our Civilization 7 leader tier list ranking all 26 leaders in the game.
Sid Meier's Civilization 7 Tier List for All Leaders
Even though your strengths and weaknesses in Civilization 7 will also depend on the civilization you choose, some leaders overall are stronger options right out of the gate compared to others. We've put together this Civilization 7 Leader Tier List to highlight the strongest overall leaders who don't require certain civilizations to be useful and have strong leader bonuses alone. Here is our Civilization 7 Tier List for All Leaders:
S Tier
All of the leaders in the S Tier have strong unique abilities that stay strong throughout all Ages in Civilization 7, making them strong options for all players.
A Tier
In the A Tier, leaders have strengths that make them very viable in a specific Age or two that gives them the potential to flourish and dominate that Age.
B Tier
Our leaders in the B Tier have some strong leader abilities but they fall short of being complete game changers like those in the S and A Tiers.
C Tier
Those leaders in our C Tier might have specific situations in which they shine but overall are weaker options compared to the rest.
D Tier
Unfortunately, our D Tier leaders are a bit underpowered at the moment, and don't really have too useful of exclusive abilities to make them worth playing.
The post Civilization 7 Leader tier list: All Leaders ranked appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 6:49 PM
There are many ways you can play Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, from working hard to get every item, Groschen, and perk point through hard work or cheating your way to the end. If you want money, unlimited Saviour Schnapps, or a particular weapon, console commands will be your best friend.
How to use console commands and cheats in KCD2
Before you start spawning in random items or teleporting around Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's map, you'll need to turn on cheat codes through Steam. You can turn them on using the steps below:
Now that you have access to KCD2's console, you can use any console command you wish at any time.
All cheat commands in KCD2
KCD2 Item codes list
If you're familiar with the first Kingdom Come Deliverance and its item IDs, you can rest assured that many of its commands work in the second game. While most weapons and armor won't work, items like alchemy ingredients, food, and potions work. That said, here's a list of some of KCD2's most essential item IDs:
We'll continue to update this list as we discover more item codes.
The post Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 console commands guide appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:58 PM
Using different DNS servers for gaming is something you should look into for a fully optimized experience. If you're looking to find the best one for security or speed purposes, our list is below.
Best DNS servers for gaming
Here are five reliable DNS servers to use for your gaming needs.
Google has been the most consistent over the years, good for fixing some latency issues, having solid security, and being more widely available.
On top of that, it has one of the simpler inputs, especially when putting this into your console's DNS settings.
The only glaring issue for many is the matter of privacy.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare and Google are sort of on the same playing field here. They're fast, reliable, basically do the same thing, and have little to no differences in quality. This one is just more straightforward if you want to get into the nitty gritty options.
The big difference between Cloudflare and Google is that the former does not have privacy concerns regarding monitoring and storing data.
Nord VPN
Nord VPN has more privacy options compared to the other two while still providing good latency and speed options.
This is more of a pick for people playing on PC, as it'll allow you to have more unblocked access to things unavailable in your region.
Open DNS
Open DNS is more customizable in terms of what you want to block or access. It's the better choice if you have privacy concerns when you're gaming or using gaming-related media on the internet.
Quad 9
Quad 9 is a bit slower compared to its other competitors, but what it does boast is its safety. This one is more for protection and safety over performance if that's what you're looking for.
Overall, these are all great choices. However, if your primary form of online gaming is on console, you should just stick to using Cloudflare or Google since they're the most streamlined with little need for customization.
The post Best DNS servers for gaming appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:52 PM
Marvel Rivals' new update gave Captain America and Luna Snow some fantastic new costumes, but it also snuck in some bug fixes that ironed out a few hero-specific glitches. Among these was a fix to a pair of crippling issues plaguing everyone's goopy alien antihero, Venom.
Marvel Rivals' new patch fixes crippling glitches affecting Venom
Since launch, Venom has sat comfortably at or near the top of Marvel Rivals' meta, and as a Venom main, I agree with the consensus on this one. Recently, though, I and other Venom players have had issues with Spider-Man's perennial rivals' signature abilities.
The first of these glitches affects Venom's... well, Venom Swing, one of the essential tools in the Symbiote-suited warrior's move set. If you use this in tandem with his wall-climbing ability and his Frenzied Arrival attack, Venom stops being a pretty standard Vanguard and becomes a terrifying ambush hunter. Trust me; dropping on an unsuspecting enemy team like a Xenomorph fresh off a hunger strike is one of Marvel Rivals' greatest pleasures.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long for Marvel Rivals players to notice that Venom Swing doesn't always work how it should. Sometimes, Venom's wing doesn't stop when he hits a wall, which is supposed to end the swing and give him a chance to cling to the wall. This can lead to catastrophic physics failures like the one you see below.
Venom Swing wasn't the only trick in Venom's arsenal that came out of the oven undercooked. Venom's ultimate ability, Feast of the Abyss, can be one of the most devastating in the game. By diving below the earth and re-emerging with a mouth the size of an elephant, Venom can deal massive damage to a group of enemy players AND punch them into the air, leaving them stunned. But if you used the ability as soon as you submerged, you wouldn't inflict any damage or knock anyone off their feet. Which can turn what could have been a glorious group kill into an embarrassing death.
Luckily for Venom lovers, Marvel Rivals' newest patch has fixed both issues. Now that we know he won't end up like Wile E. Coyote after a nasty Acme shopping spree, we can put any fears that Venom might lose his throne at the summit of Marvel Rivals' tier list to bed.
The post Marvel Rivals' February patch cures Venom glitches appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:34 PM
Who doesn't love a good roadmap? Rabbit & Bear Studios, the folks behind Suikoden spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, just laid out one of their own with dates for three upcoming story expansions.
Players won't have to wait too long for the updates, each focusing on one of three main characters. It all starts on February 27 with The Chapter of Marisa, a Marisa-centric expansion that spins a yarn about the character's encounter with an enchanted girl. What happens when the pair set out to dig through the secrets of the "Child of the Rune," and what sinister forces are at work behind the scenes?
After that, we have The Chapter of Seign to look forward to on March 13, tasking Seign with handling an issue within the Galdean empire. The Chapter of Markus closes things out on April 3, as Markus, Carrie, and Nowa investigate the strange realm beyond a newly unlocked teleportation gateway.
All three chapters will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. If you fancy continuing your adventure over the next few months, the story expansions will be priced at $7.99 each.
It's also worth noting that, according to the latest Kickstarter update, these scenarios are the last parts of the game that Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicles creator Yoshitaka Murayama worked on directly. The industry veteran passed away on February 6, 2024, after dealing with "complications with an ongoing illness." Maruyama was very enthusiastic about the project, so it will no doubt be worth seeing how his final pieces of input shaped the DLC to come.
The post Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes sets dates for trio of story expansions appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:06 PM
Getting all the potions can be pricey in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, as most recipes cost over 100 Groschen. That's why it's essential to choose the right ones, or else you may end up with something that isn't too beneficial. To avoid this, here's a list of the best potions.
Marigold Decoction
The Marigold Decoction should be your very first priority due to its highly valuable healing remedies. A standard version of this recipe restores 25 health for about a minute and helps you get over any woozy hangovers. It may even provide you with even more buffs if you manage to produce a potent brew.
Thankfully, you can get your hands on the Marigold Decoction early on at the starter town, Troskowitz. The recipe is also available there, saving you from spending a fortune at an apothecary or trader shop.
Digestive Potion
Out of all the potions in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, the Digestive Potion is the one I wish I had carried with me early on. I made the mistake of food poisoning Henry quite a few times, resulting in restrictions on fast travel and his unfortunate death. Since you're basically left for dead in the food poison state, it's crucial to carry a Digestive Potion to cure this debuff.
Digestive Potions also decrease nourishment by 20 percent and increase the Vitality skill by one point for 10 minutes. Like Marigold Decoction and the others on this list, you can get the potion or the recipe at Troskowitz.
Nighthawk
If you're a night owl, you should set your sights on Nighthawk, which allows you to see in the dark for 15 minutes. The potion is perfect for sneaky missions, where torches often give your position away to the enemy. Plus, you won't have to worry about your Energy, as this concoction temporarily slows it down by 25 percent.
You can visit Aranka at the Nomad Camp to discover the Nighthawk, which you may have encountered when on the Find Mutt quest. The second map, Kuttenburg, has this potion, too, if you've progressed far enough in the main quest.
Cockerel
While you're out and about, you may have difficulty finding a place to sleep, primarily when you're deep in the woods. That's where the Cockerel potion comes into play, replenishing around 20 Energy to wake Henry up. Plus, a strong brew can make him less sleepy for at least half a day.
If you're just starting out in KCD2, you can seemingly only purchase Cockerels from Aranka and the apothecary merchants. You'll have to wait for the recipe until you reach the second map.
Saviour Schnapps
Player techniques like savescumming won't really work in the world of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, as the game forces you to live with certain decisions you've made. However, you can take advantage of the Savior Schnapps potion to save the game at specific intervals. It also offers buffs for Strength, Agility, and general healing for a minute or so.
You should get a few Savior Schnapps from NPCs initially, but you'll undoubtedly need more as you progress. I recommend saving them for any major battles or heavy choice-related content. Avoid using them if you're participating in minor tasks by sleeping or exiting the game.
Hair o' the Dog
After a long day's work of vanquishing enemies and rescuing helpless villages, it's always nice to end it off with a nice cold sip of beer. However, on some occasions, Henry can get a little too tipsy, which isn't exactly the best state to be in if you're on the way to a battle. Even though his drunken state can lead to bad things, it shouldn't stop you from having a good time, especially when you can rely on the Hair o' the Dog.
This potion comes in handy when you've drunk too much alcohol, possibly triggering the Drunkenness debuff. It may also help with hangovers, another debuff that negatively impacts Henry's performance.
Buck's Blood
Besides the complex combat mechanics, I frequently ran into trouble with Henry's stamina. Not only does it affect how long you run, but it also makes it challenging to land a move in a fight. So, if you're struggling to catch a breath, you should prioritize the Buck's Blood recipe.
Those successful in brewing a high-quality Buck's Blood can boost stamina levels and regeneration. What's more, you can use the Embrocation potion for more stamina increases and an additional Agility enhancement.
Quickfinger Potion
The Quickfinger Potion caters to players who enjoy crafting and sneaking. Consume it to earn a four-point boost for the Craftmanship and Thievery skills for roughly 20 minutes. It works great for the times when you're about to make a new tool or on a mission to rob someone.
During the early stages of the game, these particular skills can be pretty low, even if you did choose the best playstyle in the Easy Riders quest. Since it takes a while to increase their levels, the Quickfinger Potion can make you feel like you're an expert in these abilities, at least temporarily.
Aesop
For the hunters, you can prioritize the Aesop potion recipe in Kuttenburg to reduce the risk of animals noticing you. Dogs, in particular, won't be able to detect you, which works well when you're trying to sneak around.
Once you've bought or found a horse, this potion increases your Horsemanship level by five for half the day. It also provides a boost for the Houndmaster skill for those who completed the Find Mutt quest.
Aqua Vitalis
In addition to the Marigold Decoction, you can get the Aqua Vitalis potion to reduce loss of health temporarily. Henry can go down rather quickly, so a resource like this will certainly help you out of a pinch.
A powerful Aqua Vitalis can slow down bleeding, allowing you to save some bandages for later. However, you'll likely need to sleep it off or use the Marigold Decoction to get Henry back to tip-top shape.
The post Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: 10 Best potions to prioritize appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:02 PM
Some of World of Warcraft's seasonal events have been going on for most, if not all, of its 20-year reign. Most years, nothing changes. This year's "Love is in the Air" event has some fancy new items to grab!
The majority of the content is found in the Gala of Gifts. It's located outside Orgrimmar and Stormwind, depending on your faction. If you're in Dornogal, there's a portal directly to the Gala near the bank.
Sweep them off their feet with a new mount
Most collectors will be happy to see a new mount available: the Love Witch's Sweeper. It's a stylish little getup that combines the speed and sleekness of a motorcycle with the sophistication of a witch's broom. Getting a handle on this sweet ride requires a bit of luck, as it's only available from the Heart-Shaped Box dropped by Apothecary Hummel.
To take a swing for the mount, use Group Finder to queue up for the Crown Chemical Co. mini-dungeon. By default, you can hit Ctrl+I to pull up that menu, and find the dungeon in the drop-down. It's just the one fight inside with three different enemies. Beat them, claim your loot, and open the box that's put into your inventory. Best of luck to you!
Give 'em the gold shoulder
The next new item is purchasable from a holiday vendor in the Gala of Gifts. It's an ensemble featuring the Truly Heartfelt Spaulders and Truly Heartfelt Shoulder Cape. They're perfect accents for anyone with a lovely pink and gold outfit in need of some accompanying shoulders.
The ensemble sells for 40 Love Tokens. These are special event currency that can be collected by doing the Chemical Crown Co. story questline, Gala dailies, and beating Apothecary Hummel in the mini-dungeon.
A rose by any other name
The final new item is for all the pet collectors out there. The Living Rose is an elemental type pet that looks like it crawled straight out of the Emerald Dream. It's only 40 Love Tokens, so you won't be breaking the bank or your heart to collect it.
The post What's new in the Love is in the Air event in World of Warcraft 2025 appeared first on Destructoid. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Thursday, February 6, 2025 5:07 PM The game launched on January 16. The post Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Demo Now Available appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |