Haven launches in December for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC

The Game Bakers have confirmed that the RPG Haven will be available from December 3rd on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One via Game Pass. Haven is the polar opposite of The Game Bakers last game Furi. Instead of a focus on violence Haven instead is about love and follows the story of Kay and Yu as they traverse across an alien planet after escaping from their own home. On this planet the couple work together to survive. A new story trailer was released today to mark the Haven release date.

You play as both Yu and Kay at the same time, exploring together, fighting in real time, and conversing with one another. Alternatively, you can play with another person with drop in, drop out co-op. One thing that isn't different to Furi are the musical collaborations. Furi won our Best Soundtrack award in 2016, pulling together several different artists. Danger featured on that soundtrack and features here once more.

Source: Twitter

Temtem will be a PS5 early access title and it will be available in December

Earlier this year, the monster battling game Temtem was confirmed for PS5 with the full release edition expected to launch on Sony's new console in 2021. Well, things have changed slightly. While the full release is likely happen in 2021 Temtem will now be released as an early access title on December 8th on PS5, and it will be a console exclusive early access title. Pre-orders for the PS5 version of Temtem are live now and you catch that here.

The early access version of Temtem will feature four of the six islands from the game, and you will be able to experience the story as you traverse the islands. The story is not the only part available. With Temtem being an online title players will be able to battle their Tems against each other in ranked battles. Or you can create your own home in a neighbourhood with other players, and explore each house with no load times as you visit each.

Miguel previewed Temtem for us in January, discussing its potential for greatness:

Temtem has some promising ideas at its core, with a uniquely challenging combat system and a beautiful world to explore. Unfortunately, so many other elements of the game fall flat for this initial release. A harsh economy, a lack of multiplayer content, underwhelming character and monster designs and more plague the title, while minor issues like server caps and constant maintenance add another layer of frustration to the experience. With a projected final release date of Q3 2021, there's plenty of time for Crema to evolve and grow their game, and I only hope Temtem manages to become the ambitious, multiplayer monster-catching adventure it so desperately wants to be.

Source: PS Blog

The Ascent will launch in 2021 for PC and Xbox Series X|S, coming to Game Pass

Curve Digital and Neon Giant have announced that the action RPG The Ascent will be released in 2021 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, with the game also coming to Game Pass on launch day. The Ascent will also be available on Xbox One. To mark the announcement Neon Giant has released a new developer walkthrough of The Descent which focuses on two player co-op. The Ascent will allow up to four player co-op when it is released.

Tor Frick, Art Director and co-founder of Neon Giant, said:

"Xbox Game Pass is an amazing proposition for us as a small indie developer with a team of only 11 people, because it allows more players around the world to experience our game. To celebrate this exciting news, we wanted to cement the game's place in 2021's next-gen line-up by casting light on what players can expect to experience at launch.

A list of features for The Ascent was also given:

  • A free-roam play style in a cyberpunk inspired dystopian world
  • Classic RPG mechanics to enable players to build up their character including cyberwear, augmentations and looting
  • An unprecedented sense of verticality within its world, with different levels and platforms discernible within play
  • Double-aim mechanic enables players to utilise the full screen and choose between multiple targets anywhere in the environment
  • A narrative-led adventure playable in single and up to four-player co-op modes

The Ascent was revealed earlier this year during the Xbox Series X Game Showcase. The story of The Ascent is set in the aftermath of the collapse of mega corporation The Ascent Group which controlled the aspects of everyone's lives. In that new vacuum new organisations and criminal syndicates are vying for power. Players are fighting for the survival of their district and will also try and discover what led to the downfall of The Ascent.

Source: Press Release

No Man's Sky Next Generation update will bring enhancements for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

Hello Games has announced the next update for No Man's Sky and that update is called the Next Generation. No prizes for guessing what the entails. Yep, No Man's Sky will be getting a free update that will bring enhancements for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Current players will be able to move their current gen saves to the next consoles. On Xbox consoles those saves will be compatible automatically while on PlayStation players will have to upload save data for the PS5 version.

The full patch notes for the Next Generation update can be seen below.

NEXT GENERATION CONSOLE SUPPORT

  • No Man's Sky is now compatible with PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
  • Save games can be transferred from previous console generations to their next generation equivalent.
  • PSVR owners can continue to experience No Man's Sky in Virtual Reality on PlayStation 5 via the backwards compatibility functionality.
  • PlayStation 5 users can use the Activities feature to track and manage their Journey Milestones.
  • PlayStation 5 users now experience feedback directly through the triggers of their pad.
  • Added support for Tempest 3D AudioTech on PlayStation 5.

VISUAL ENHANCEMENTS

  • Rendering quality has been significantly increased for next generation consoles.
  • Base complexity rendering limits have been removed for next generation consoles.
  • For next generation consoles and PCs running on "Ultra" settings, the distance at which detailed grass, plants, rocks and other objects are shown has increased.
  • For next generation consoles and PCs running on "Ultra" settings, the density of terrain details such as foliage, fungi and rocks has been increased.
  • Texture and geometric detail on a large number of objects such as foliage, fungi and rocks has been significantly increased.
  • Improved the visual effect of grass being pushed aside when walking through it.
  • Fixed an issue that caused the water horizon to appear bumpy.
  • Fixed an issue that could occasionally cause grass to fail to render.
  • Fixed an issue that caused butterfly bellies to be unintentionally always white.
  • Fixed an issue that caused planetary lighting to change after opening and closing Photo Mode.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause foliage to disappear when moving the camera in Photo Mode.
  • Refreshed the set of community images on the Mode Select screen.
  • Updated the style of the hazard protection icons on the HUD.
  • Updated the style of the icons displayed by mission notifications and markers.

PERFORMANCE & STABILITY

  • Fixed a number of rendering-related crashes on PS4.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause very large saves to fail to load on PC.
  • Optimised terrain generation on Xbox One.
  • Introduced a significant number of performance optimisations for all platforms.

QUALITY OF LIFE

  • Improved the feel of space combat. Target locking has been improved, and enemy ships are now more visible with cleaner UI.
  • The camera shake caused by gassy hazardous flora has been reduced.
  • The camera shake when shooting nearby objects has been reduced.
  • Hover text has been added to banner emblems in the Appearance Customiser.
  • On PS4 and Xbox One, when adding a No Man's Sky friend who is playing on on the same platform, players are now also presented with the option to add them as a PSN or Xbox friend.

MISC BUGFIXES

  • Fixed a rare blocker where some players on older saves would be unable to progress in the Atlas Path.
  • Fixed some rare cases where multiplayer sessions could fail to resume correctly after suspending the game on Xbox One.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause a blank Galactic Map when joining a multiplayer game while the host was mid-warp.
  • Fixed an issue where NPC pilots landing on planets could disappear for some players in a multiplayer game.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause players to load into the wrong system when joining a multiplayer game while the host was on the other side of a portal.
  • Fixed an issue that could prevent players from redeeming the pre-order bonus if it was installed while the game was running in the background.
  • Improved the alignment of the camera when interacting with damaged containers.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause ships docking in a Space Station to have incorrect collision.
  • Improved the collision of doors on bases, making them easier to walk through.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented base decals from being deletable after placement.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause multiple mission notifications to display simultaneously and overlap.
  • Fixed a rare case where the tutorial notifications would constantly flicker when starting a new game.
  • Fixed a rare issue that could cause inactive missions to progress when using the Multi-Tool Scanner.
  • Fixed a number of incorrect text responses in NPC interactions.

Source: Hello Games

Bravely Default II is going to be released in February, confirms Nintendo

Nintendo has announced that Bravely Default II will be released on February 26th  for Switch, Nintendo has announced. The announcement came by Nintendo's Mini-Direct earlier today.  Nintendo also stated that while it had previously said that Bravely Default II would be released in 2020 the slight delay into 2021 was needed. A small statement was released.

We originally announced that #BravelyDefault II would release in 2020, but more development time is necessary to ensure this RPG experience is the best it can be. Thank you for your patience, and we hope you look forward to setting out on your search for the crystals on 2/26.

Some more details about Bravely Default II were released as well, and the store description reads:

Balance risk and reward in turn-based battles. Characters can make multiple moves in one turn, but then they may be unable perform actions for a while. Balance is key.

  • A new world, a new story, and all-new Heroes of Light ready to save Excillant! Engage in turn-based RPG combat with a risk/reward system in the next entry of Square Enix's Bravely series.
  • The saga begins when our hero Seth, a young sailor, washes up on the shore of one of Excillant's five kingdoms. Here, he meets Gloria of Musa, a princess who fled her kingdom when it was destroyed by evil forces bent on stealing its Crystals. He also encounters Elvis and Adelle, two travelers determined to decipher a mysterious and magical book. It's up to you to stop the forces that threaten these heroes and all of Excillant. 
  • Select from many different jobs, skills, and abilities to customize each party member to fit your strategy. The more you learn, the more tactics you'll wield. Find and defeat one of the powerful bosses who holds an Asterisk to take on even more jobs—take down Orpheus for the Bard job or fell Dag to become a Vanguard!

Source: Nintendo

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity demo out now on Switch

Nintendo has confirmed that a demo for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is now available on Switch, following a mini direct the company released earlier today. The demo for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity allows players to experience the first chapter of the game, with Link, Zelda and Impa being the playable characters. Players have the choice of experiencing the opening chapter alone or play the demo with someone else through local two player co-op.

Nintendo has also confirmed that the progress made in the demo for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will carry over to the full release, giving players a bit of a head start. The demo link is below.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a follow up to Hyrule Warriors, is set 100 years before the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It's coming out for Nintendo Switch on 20th November. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity builds on the hack and slash action of the first Hyrule Warriors game, but adopts some of the visual stylings of Breath of the Wild. You'll be able to play as many characters from that game, You battle swarms of enemies to defend Hyrule, while also solving environmental puzzles, unlocking weapons, crafting, and even using the Sheikah Slate.

The first Hyrule Warriors came out for Wii U all the way back in 2014, then as a swansong release for the 3DS that also introduced Linkle, the first female Link. It was an unlikely marriage of genre and game series, but one that worked, with Koei Tecmo able to explore the breadth of the Zelda game series and incorporate numerous characters. By contrast, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity shifts from the broader franchise to tying in with one of the series' most successful games to date.

In our original Hyrule Warriors review for Wii U, we said:

"This might not be The Legend of Zelda we know, but it's a faithful marriage between the Zelda series and the incredibly fun gameplay of the Warriors series. It's not the next step in the Zelda timeline, but rather an off-kilter non-canon entry which effectively acts as a party with all of your favourite people present. It's a hell of a lot more niche – only really appealing to Zelda fans who don't mind a big change in the gameplay style – but Hyrule Warriors is to Zelda what Mario Kart is to the Super Mario series, and that's brilliant news for dedicated fans."

Hyrule Warriors was then one of the first Wii U games to be given a fresh release on Nintendo Switch, the newer console able to handle the big battles much better, combining the merits of the Wii U game with some of the additions made for the 3DS version. It's still a solid shout for fans of the Warriors style hack and slash, and fans of Zelda in general. Might help while away some of the time as we wait for Age of Calamity.

Source: YouTube

The new PlayStation App which includes PS Messages rolls out today, details here

The new updated PlayStation App has been unveiled by Sony and will be rolled out globally today via and update, but you must be running iOS 12.2 or later or Android 6.0 or later. "The PS App introduces fresh features such as voice chat, native PS Store integration, and a smoother experience delivered in an all-new design," say Sony.

Alternatively the new PS App can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

The old PS Messages app will be retired in a couple of days so make sure you update to the new app!

Here's a list of the key features for PS App:

  • Updated user interface – The first thing you'll notice is the sleek new user interface of the redesigned PS App. The new home screen lets you quickly see what your friends are playing and access details about your recently played games, including your Trophy List.
  • Messages integration – For a unified experience, the PS Messages app feature will now be integrated in the updated PS App so you can seamlessly message your friends all in one place. As part of this integration, PS Messages will no longer be available as a standalone app. Your existing messages and threads in PS Messages will be carried over to the updated PS App.
  • Voice Chat and Party Groups – You can now create party groups from PS App, and voice chat with up to 15 other friends though your mobile phone. Also, a note to fans: the PlayStation team is looking into your feedback around the Parties changes introduced in the PS4 system software update 8.00. There are no updates to share today, but thanks for speaking up about your concerns – we're listening and evaluating.
  • Natively integrated PlayStation Store and remote downloads – The new native PS Store experience enables fast and smooth shopping and browsing, with the ability to remotely download games and add-ons directly to your PS4 and PS5.
  • New features for PS5 – When PS5 arrives, you'll be able to remotely launch games, manage storage on your console if you run out of space while downloading a game, and quickly sign in to PS5 straight from the PS App.
  • All the latest PlayStation news – The Explore tab surfaces Official News from game developers and PS Blog content to help you stay up to date with the world of PlayStation.

ALERT: The PS4 PSVR camera adaptor is not included in the PS5 box, you need to request one separately

Well this is utterly rubbish. Sony have previously stated that the PlayStation 5 camera won't work with PlayStation 4 VR games and that you will need to use an adapter to plug in your old PS4 camera in to your PS5. Annoying as hell, but that's progress for you.

However, it has now been revealed the adaptor will not be in the PS5 box, you need to request one from Sony using the link below.

Request a PS5 camera adaptor

Just to be extra annoying the Captcha on the link seems to be broken and we cannot get past the "I am not a robot" check at present. It's been fixed, but now when you type in the serial number (which by the way is INCREDIBLY SMALL) and enter your details it kicks you back to the start.

Here's more from Sony's FAQ.

Who qualifies for the PlayStation Camera adaptor?

Anyone who owns a PS VR headset qualifies to receive a PlayStation Camera adaptor with a limit of one per household.

What details do I need to provide to make a request?

It will vary by region, however you should be prepared to provide your PS VR processor unit serial number, first name, last name, email address, shipping address, and phone number. Check the rear panel of the PS VR processor unit to find the serial number, which begins with the letter C, M, or P depending on your region.

Why was my serial number not accepted on the webform?

Make sure you've provided the serial number from your PS VR processor unit, which begins with the letter C, M or P. If you are still unable to use your serial number please contact PlayStation Support for additional troubleshooting.

What should I do if I cannot find my country in the drop-down list on the webform?

If you cannot find your country in the drop-down list please contact your local distributor or retailer for support. Contact details are listed in the support information section of your PS VR manual.

What is the warranty for the PlayStation Camera adaptor?

This product is covered by the manufacturer's warranty for 12 months from the date of delivery. Please refer to the warranty included with the PlayStation Camera adaptor if you requested it separately, or the warranty statement included with your PS VR for full details.

How do I connect the PlayStation Camera to my PS5 console using the PlayStation Camera adaptor?

Connect the PlayStation Camera adaptor to a USB Type-A port on the back of your PS5™console. The PlayStation Camera adaptor cannot be used with the PS4™console.
Connect the PlayStation Camera to the AUX port on the PlayStation Camera adaptor.
For further guidance on setting up your PS VR, camera, and console, refer to the instructions included with each product.

Source: Sony

PS5 launch title Bugsnax will be free to PlayStation Plus owners until January!

Sony have dropped the news that Bugsnax will available for free on PlayStation 5 to PlayStation Plus subscribers at no extra cost until January 4th, 2021. This will be an addition to the month's PS4 games, Shadow of Mordor and Hollow Knight.

The team recently revealed the pretty great cast of voice actors that will play the many Grumpuses and the Bugsnax themselves in the game. Here's hoping they don't change Chandlo's face between now and launch, or there will be uproar.

Full cast for the Grumpuses:
Wambus Troubleham – Fred Tatasciore (Overwatch)
Wiggle Bigglebottom – Kenna Ramsey (Background Vocals – David Foster's live band)
Chandlo Funkbun – Yuri Lowenthal (Spider-Man PS4)
Filbo Fiddlepie – Max Mittelman (Saitama in One-Punch man)
Gramble Gigglefunny – Sam Riegel (Critical Role)
Shelda Smellywag – Debra Wilson (Jedi: Fallen Order)
Floofty Fizzlebean – Casey Mongillo (Evangelion)
Eggabell Batternugget – Fryda Wolff (Loba in Apex Legends)
Beffica Winklesnoot – Cassandra Lee Morris (Persona 5)
Snorpy Fizzlebean – Roger Craig Smith (Sonic the Hedgehog)
Cromdo Face – Rick Zieff (Terminator 3)
Clumby Clumbernut – Barbara Goodson (Rita Repulsa)
Elizabert Megafig- Helen Sadler (Battlefront)
Triffany Lottablog- Haviland Stillwell (Devil May Cry 5)

AND the many Bugsnax voice actors:
Abby Trott (Hunnabee & more)
Michael Schwalbe (Scoopy Banoopy & more)
Cristina Vee (Cheezer & more)
Todd Haberkorn (Shishkabug & more)
Jeannie Tirado (Razzby & more)
Julie Nathanson (Banopper & more)
Robbie Daymond (Buffalocust & more)
Courtenay Taylor (Cheepoof & more)

Bugsnax was the real breakout surprise from the PlayStation 5 reveal event back in June, capturing the imaginations of many viewers with its maddeningly catchy music – provided by Kero Kero Bonito – not to mention its weird and wonderful world, in which you are what you eat, and what you eat are the living food items known as Bugsnax, which can only be found on Snacktooth Island.

We spoke to Young Horses shortly after the game's announcement, diving into the music partnership, the iterative process that led to the game's form, and more. Check out the full interview here.

Source: PS Blog

November's PlayStation Plus Games have been revealed!

UPDATE: Middle-earth: Shadow of War and Hollow Knight: Voidheart Edition are your PS Plus games for November and PlayStation 5 owners will also get Bugsnax!

Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth: Shadow of War beckons you once more into JRR Tolkien's iconic world of wizards, orcs and elves. Go behind enemy lines to forge your army, conquer Fortresses and dominate Mordor from within. Experience how the Nemesis System creates unique personal stories with every enemy and follower, and confront the full power of the Dark Lord Sauron and his Ringwraiths in this epic new story of Middle-earth.

In Team Cherry's engrossing 2D explorative platformer, descend into a sprawling underground world of Hollownest to battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs. Unlock new skills and tailor your power sets to fit your playstyle to help you explore twisting caverns, ancient cities and deadly wastes. Uncover a kingdom's ancient history, taking on epic bosses that'll challenge your combat and platforming skills as you strive to solve the mysteries buried at its heart.

Both PS4 games will be available from Tuesday, November 3 to Monday, November 30th. Also you are LL rubbish for not spotting my cunning hints below.. SHADOW of a doubt.. HOLLOW words…

Original story below…

It's time for our monthly guessing game of 'What's on PlayStation Plus this month?'. However, that has been spoiled somewhat as we already know but we can't tell you else Sony will put us in the naughty corner. Hopefully someone else will spot the same leak as us and then we can source them and they get the blame.

Until then I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that it won't be Spider-Man, don't believe those silly tabloids who insist it's going to be Spidey or God of War every single month, ignore their hollow words. We will update this post as Sony officially announce the games at 4.30pm / notice they've leaked the games and hastily try to cover it up.

The store links for the October PS Plus games are below, you have a week to grab them.

Earlier this week it was revealed that PS5 launch title Destruction AllStars would be removed from sale and will now be part of the February 2021 PS Plus line up.

Hi everyone – we wanted to share a quick update on our plans for Destruction AllStars. We've decided to move the game's release from November 2020 to February 2021, where it will be included for two months in PlayStation Plus at no additional cost.

Destruction AllStars is a multiplayer game that's at its best when you're competing with gamers online from all around the world. We want as many people as possible to experience the mayhem on PS5, and what better way to do that than to provide the game to our PlayStation Plus members?

Next week, we'll return with a brand-new trailer and more details on the game, so you'll know exactly what to expect when you download it in February.

This may be disappointing news for some of you who were looking to play the game at launch, but we hope you understand the decision. For those of you that have already pre-ordered the game, be it via PlayStation Store, PlayStation.com, or at retail, your purchase will be refunded.

Thank you for your continued support, we look forward to seeing you in the arena in February!

This explains why we have seen so little of the game, it was less than a month away from launch and all that has been released to the public is a trailer. The game is being developed by Liverpool-based Lucid Games and leaves the PlayStation 5 launch window looking very sparse.

Golf With Your Friends free The Deep course and update out now

The crazy golf carnage of Golf With Your Friends is getting just that little bit crazier with a game update now available that adds a free new 18-hole course entitled The Deep.

The underwater setting sees players take to the depths of the see to find 18 holes of minigolf – what else? The scenery features everything from fully-functional cannons (somehow), sunken ships and even a few Krakens.

As with the rest of the game, up to 12 players can play at once with a variety of game presets and modifiers that turn ball collisions on or off, modify gravity, oddly shaped balls (arf), as well as funky powerups to mix things up even further.

Golf With Your Friends spent a fair bit of time in Steam Early Access before hitting 1.0 and launching in May for across PS4, Xbox One (with Xbox Game Pass), Switch and PC.

While it feels rough around the edges, there's plenty of enjoyment to be had when actually playing with your friends. In our Golf With Your Friends review, I wrote:

Golf With Your Friends has all the rage-inducing charms of minigolf to savour while playing with your chums. With plenty of varied courses to play through and some good variations, there's a lot of fun to be had, even if the game often feels inconsistent and unpolished.

To celebrate the new update, and with a bit of spooking in mind, Golf With Your Friends will be a part of the upcoming Steam Halloween Sale that's due to kick off this week.

Source: press release

Watch Dogs Legion Review

When Ubisoft set out to start crafting their vision of a near-future London fueled by invasive cyber-security and a harsh imbalance of political power, it probably didn't seem like it would be as immediately relateable of a setting as it is. The truth is that this game is releasing in a political climate where so many of the grim challenges this virtual version of London faces are perfectly mirrored by society today. Across the globe, protests fill the streets and police brutalise their own citizens in broad daylight – sights you'll come across all too often as you navigate the open world of Watch Dogs Legion.

The latest entry in Ubisoft's open world hacker adventure isn't squarely focused on these shockingly true-to-life themes, though. While part of your focus in the game is aiming to fight back against the authoritarian regime that has risen to power in London, you'll also be diving into a variety of other cyber-crime adventures that all circle back to a coordinated terrorist bombing in London that caused immeasurable damage and, by all public accounts, was coordinated entirely by nonviolent hacktivist group DedSec. Most of the group winds up being taken down in the aftermath, but they've been framed and soon start rebuilding in order to tackle organised crime family, a mind-hacking tech mogul, spy conspiracies, and the true organisers of the bombing that set everything in motion.

The reborn DedSec is coordinated by veteran member Sabine and hyper-intelligent AI assistant Bagsley, but there's no one particular protagonist for you to step into the shoes of. Instead, anyone and everyone in London is a potential DedSec recruit and prospective leader of the story-driven uprising. It's the kind of game mechanic that feels like something you and your pals would gush about wanting back in middle school; what if there was a huge open-world game with a bunch of robots and cars and you can play as anyone you want?! Well, Watch Dogs Legion is that.

You'll kick things off as a potential recruit chosen from a list of candidates, but recruitment after that is up to you. You can profile anyone you come across in the world, tapping a button to see their name, occupation, skills, negative traits, and their current opinion on DedSec. If you want to recruit them, some people will happily join you if you just perform a quick favor for them – rescue them from cruel Albion officers, or even assist a friend or relative somewhere else in the city – but other will have a negative view of DedSec. For them, you'll have to work a bit harder, digging into their profile to see what they've been up to and then inserting yourself into their business to do them a few favors and turn their opinions on the group.

It's a fascinating system that feels like a sort of expansive offshoot of the Nemesis system in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, and from a gameplay perspective, it works flawlessly. Early in the game, I wanted to recruit a construction worker because they typically have access to a summonable construction drone that you can ride to reach high-places or scope out scenes. I drove around until I found a construction yard full of workers, but before getting there I profiled someone in plain-clothes who seemed very cool and… oh hey, a construction worker! I tried talking to her, but she was in the middle of being harassed by a bookie. I promptly beat the piss out of her harasser and she happily joined up with me to repay the favour. Just like that, my team expanded.

For as naturally as the system of making anyone a playable character works out in terms of gameplay, it doesn't quite gel as nicely with the narrative of the game. Sure, all of these characters have names and jobs, and there are purportedly over a dozen different voices and personality types to make them feel and act differently through dialogue and cutscenes, and yet they end up coming across as ideas of characters more than fully fledged heroes. Even worse, their dialogue in cutscenes sometimes doesn't quite match with what was being said to them. On more than one occasion I saw two recruitable characters talk to each other in a cutscene and basically sound like they were having entirely different conversations. I loved Watch Dogs 2 because it had a core cast of characters with incredibly unique personalities who you saw grow and change throughout the game. Watch Dogs Legion, by comparison, makes you do a lot of that work and growth in your own head.

It was sometimes fun imagining what would cause a secret agent to join DedSec or how my shy and meek hacker character felt confronting huge military goons, but without a strong lead to attach myself to like the previous games had, it was a lot harder to get emotionally invested in any of the story beats presented to me. That said, the story missions flow together a lot better than they previously did, pacing things out at a much more engaging rate than Watch Dogs 2.

Watch Dogs Legion leans far more into the gameplay, presenting a huge toy-box for you to create your own fun in. The game isn't shy on activities. There are loads of side-quests, parcel delivery missions, boatloads of clothing customization, borough liberation challenges, and more. The amount of depth in the recruitment system is staggering too. You'll rarely encounter the same kind of task being given to you twice by potential recruits. Plus, the cascade of relationships that begins to build up the more you play is wild. I turned the game on once and found that one of my favourite characters had been kidnapped, only to find that the ringleader was a Clan Kelley goon that I smacked up during a previous mission.

All of these activities and seamless recruitment mechanics would be for naught if the game wasn't fun, and trust me, it's fun. The same snappy gunplay and fluid car controls of the previous game return, alongside even more hacking-related tools to bust out. You had a summonable drone and RC car in Watch Dogs 2, but in Legion, drones of all types are flying around everywhere. You can hack a news drone to scope out buildings and stun enemies, or you can hack an anti-terror drone to lay supressing fire on baddies while you pilot your character's spider-bot into the building to hack a terminal or download an encryption key. Every mission, challenge, and activity in the game has multiple ways to approach it, building on the emergent and creative gameplay opportunities of the last game.

I imagine that there's a version of Watch Dogs Legion where you have skill-trees presenting you with all of the possible abilities and traits in the game, and I'm so happy that I'm not playing that version. The inundation of modern triple-A games with RPG mechanics like skill trees and levelling numbs my brain, so it's refreshing to see Watch Dogs Legion take a different approach to things.

Plus, it makes gameplay way more challenging and interesting when I have to constantly consider which limited toolkit to bring into the field. Do I play as an ex-Albion officer to sneak into their HQ in uniform? Or do I bust out my hacker who will have to sneak in much more carefully, but has a way easier time downloading encryption keys and disabling security drones? It's a fun and engaging back and forth that, above all else, manages to keep every mission of the game just as engaging from the beginning to the end.

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Raid release date and requirements confirmed

Sucker Punch are getting ready to unleash their toughest challenge yet for Ghost of Tsushima: Legends. Later this week, the co-op multiplayer mode will introduce a three-part Raid to the celebrated PlayStation exclusive title.

The Tale of Iyo has a confirmed release date of Friday October 30th – Sucker Punch are likely to provide an exact time at a later date though we'd hazard a guess that it will go live at the same time as the upcoming Ghost of Tsushima: Legends weekly challenges. That would be 08:00AM PT (or 15:00 GMT for the UK crowd).

Before you can even attempt The Tale of Iyo you need to meet a couple of entry requirements. Players must have a Ki (combine gear score) of 100 – if you're struggling, then we have a super easy gear farming guide to help you out.

You will also need to have a full party of four players. The Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Raid demands co-operation and teamwork so matchmaking has been disabled. We'd strongly advise finding other Ghosts in-game and shooting them friend requests ahead of the Raid or scout online for others looking for a group.

In order to fully prepare yourself for The Tale of Iyo, make sure you have unlocked all the techniques for your chosen class, configuring their loadout to suit the scenario. Each class has their own combat role so it's best to have at least one tank player drawing aggro, one solely focused on damage, and one laying down support/healing. Ghost of Tsushima: Legends has a selection of Legendary Items which can be a major help, each one slotted with its own unique ability.

We'll have more on the Raid when it goes live over the weekend!

Ghost of Tsushima: Legends Guides & more from TheSixthAxis

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord update improves ranged weapons and more

An upcoming Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord update will focus on improving each of the game's ranged weapon classes to help them feel more unique. This is one of the big changes highlighted in studio TaleWorlds Entertainment's latest development update.

Released back in March, Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is still in early access with new features and fixes being constantly rolled out for both its medieval sandbox campaign and online multiplayers modes. Last time, we talked about Bannerlord mods as well as new settlements and maps for players to explore.

This newest update hones in on several systems including the aforementioned ranged weapons as well as an education mechanic for training young NPCs, siege weapon projectiles, prisoner recruitment, and more realistic horses (they can now incur injuries and fall in later battles). On top of that we also have the radial command menu which will hopefully make selecting units and issuing orders much more fluid than the existing system.

For a more in-depth overview of what the new update includes, here's a handy breakdown:

RANGED COMBAT UPDATE
A substantial change to ranged combat is in the works that aims to present you with a more meaningful choice when selecting a ranged weapon by making each of them more distinct from one another.

Currently, all ranged weapons share the same aiming system, with the initial crosshair and accuracy timings being the same across the board. With this update, each weapon will have its own unique aiming curve. For example, short bows will reach their maximum accuracy faster and be able to hold their aim for longer, while longbows will take more time to reach their maximum accuracy and have a shorter window for aiming, but will deal higher single-shot damage.

This change applies to all ranged weapons, including bows, crossbows and throwing weapons, giving each weapon a unique feeling in this subtle but impactful update to ranged gameplay.

EDUCATION
Education is a feature that will allow you to interact with and shape your offspring and other young clan members as they reach certain ages throughout their childhood. This will present you with a number of choices similar to your own character creation for each progression stage, giving you much more control over how your clan develops over time.

MANGONEL PROJECTILES
An update to mangonels is on its way that will bring them closer to their historical anti-infantry routes by giving you the option to fling multiple smaller projectiles towards the enemy instead of a single boulder.

LAME HORSES
A horse! A horse! my kingdom for a horse!

Horses that fall in combat can now be crippled or even killed outright, with lame horses that go on to fall in future battles being permanently downed. So be sure to look after your four-legged friend or be prepared to meet the same fate as King Richard III.

RADIAL ORDER MENU
A new radial order menu is being worked on to make the game more accessible for those of you who are playing with game controllers. This menu is still a work in progress and we are very much open to feedback on it so please make sure to let us know what you think!

PRISONER RECRUITMENT
A change to prisoner recruitment is on the horizon that aims to bring some balance to the feature and add a little depth by making recruitment slightly more difficult. With the change, recruiting prisoners will incur a morale penalty for your party. However, we do also plan to add perks that will make recruitment easier and that will reduce the morale penalty.

FOLLOW COMMAND
We recently added a new way to follow parties on the world map to make things a little less tedious when performing certain tasks. To do this, you simply need to hold down the Left Alt key and click on the party that you want to follow.

BATTANIAN CHAINMAIL
Finally, we have a new Battanian armour on its way. This armour features a decorative bronze disk and tartan shawl over a sturdy chainmail vest.

Source: Steam

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Guides from TheSixthAxis

For more on Mount & Blade II, check in with our Bannerlord early access review.

An Xbox Series X unboxing

Oh yes, we're some of those people. Microsoft have provided us with an Xbox Series X to review, and as we can finally get stuck in with reviewing the company's next-gen obelisk*, the first step we're allowed to do is to unbox the console.

So here it is. An Xbox Series X unboxing.

*other next-gen obelisks will also be available.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe Review

With the Wii U further slipping into the annals of history, Nintendo have been quickening the process of plucking the divisive system's best first party titles and sprucing them up for their incomparably successful hybrid console.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was honestly a no-brainer for the gaming giants, and it's been followed by Donkey Kong, New Super Mario Bros. U and plenty more, but now we're a few years into the Nintendo Switch's life cycle, it's less obvious titles that are undergoing the same glow-up, the latest being Pikmin 3.

Having launched almost a decade after Pikmin 2 on the GameCube, Pikmin 3 was widely celebrated by critics though wasn't exactly the kind of system seller Nintendo desperately needed at the time. Several years later again, there's a good chance this might be your first foray into the bizarre world of Pikmin, but don't worry, you needn't have played those previous two games in the series. Although you'll cross paths with established Pikmin characters such as Captain Olimar, there's little in the way of story and any kind of plot quickly gives way to a sense of exploration.

As strange as it looks and feels, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is relatively easy to get your head around. With your home planet Koppai suffering from famine, brave explorers are sent into space in search of food to bring back home. After landing on the world of PNF-404 you soon discover a bounty of fruit as well as plant-like aliens known as Pikmin.

It's your job to go from level to level, collecting as much fruit as you can and learning more about the biosphere of this strange planet. This is done by navigating with your assigned characters, lobbing Pikmin at enemies, fruits, and other points on the map to interact with them.

Pikmin come in several colours, each with their own unique traits, though there's a fair amount of overlap. For example, Red Pikmin are your primary attackers and can withstand fire, while Yellow Pikmin can resist electricity, linking together to form a conduit. It's only once you've discovered all types of Pikmin that you can fully explore a level.

In the game's story mode you'll have set objectives which often culminate in a major discovery or a boss battle. However, there's plenty of freedom to explore too, harvesting more Pikmin and adding fruit to your finite reserves. While missions aren't timed, you can only remain on an expedition for so long –once the sun goes down you'll consume a unit of fuel and any roaming Pikmin will be gobbled up.

This adds a sense of urgency and forces you to be more efficient in how you play Pikmin 3 Deluxe. After all, if we were to categorise this Nintendo Switch exclusive it would be as a strategy game first and foremost. Spliced with action set pieces and environmental puzzles, there's an overriding focus on Pikmin management and it isn't long before you're given multiple characters to control, allowing you to spread out and cover a wider area.

It takes a few missions to get to grips with how the game flows, but once it snaps you'll enjoy peeling back the layers. The only thing that stands in the way of this is how Pikmin 3 Deluxe plays. Corralling, then cycling between different Pikmin squads feels tricky and imprecise. Without the luxury of a keyboard and mouse, console strategy titles have struggled and while Nintendo's attempt at gamepad controls is serviceable it's not the most fun to get your head around, especially when there's a lot happening on-screen.

Thankfully Pikmin 3 Deluxe has made some quality of life improvements for its Nintendo Switch reincarnation. There's an easier difficulty story mode for a start as well as the option to bring a co-op buddy along for the ride. This comes in hand with better target locking (replacing the Wii U's touchpad aiming) and a hint system always ready to point you in the right direction.

For those returning to Pikmin 3 since its original release, there's new content too. Deluxe packs from all the post-launch DLC as well as new missions featuring Olimar and Louie have been thrown into the bundle. There's also a competitive Bingo Battle mode which pits two players against each other as they scour maps for resources needed to complete lines on their card. Nintendo have also bolstered Pikmin 3 with achievement-like badges for those wanting to wring even more playtime from the game via tracked challenges.

This all comes in a delightfully designed package that has Nintendo slapped all over it. Pikmin's wild worlds are teeming with monstrous minibeasts and other creepy crawlies. You'll find pieces of fruit and other human objects scattered around the game, many times bigger than you and your Pikmin companions. This sense of scale is enhanced with a subtle tilt shift visual effect, as if you're peering into your own garden down the lens of a powerful microscope.

DayZ opens Halloween servers as update 1.10 enters testing

With a growing number of video games celebrating Halloween this week, DayZ is also getting in on the action. Developer Bohemia Interactive have confirmed that their zombie infested survival sandbox shooter will host a number of time limited Halloween servers full of spooky surprises.

This DayZ news comes in tow with details of the next game patch. Bohemia are rolling out DayZ experimental update 1.10 which includes a number of fixes and changes you can review below. Note that this early version of the update will only be available to PC players – there's no confirmation as to when the full release date is or how long console players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will have to wait.

Anyway, going back to DayZ's Halloween event, servers will be going live today across all platforms (going offline on November 2nd) and will include the following festive tweaks:

  • Pumpkin (plant) spawns in farm areas
  • There is an increased amount of light sources spawning
  • Infected have a random chance to spawn with the Pumpkin Helmet or the red Headtorch
  • Player spawns with an additional item (roadflare)
  • It is always sunset. Fog increased as well.
  • There is "dark" night for everyone
  • Cows, Deers, Pigs, Roedeers and Boars don't spawn.
  • There are a lot more wolves pack in the map. They also hunt in a larger area of the map.

DayZ was recently added to Xbox Game Pass which has led to a surge of new players. The game is currently on sale across all platforms, including its Livonia expansion DLC.

DayZ Experimental Update 1.10 Patch Notes

FIXED

  • Dryed raw meat would still trigger diseases
  • It was not possible to skin an animal using a hatchet
  • The M4A1 could load flare ammunition
  • The wetness badge is now showing up again (as soon as the first item can be wrung out)
  • An incorrect amount of sticks was returned after building a shelter of a different type while having wooden sticks attached to it
  • It was possible to destroy the placed Shelter Kit
  • It was not possible to choose in between different shelter types when more than one material set was attached to the shelter site
  • The action to build a shelter did not complete when holding a tool
  • It was possible to over-stack Wooden Sticks using a fireplace
  • It was not possible to unload a flare from the Signal Pistol when in standing or crouched position
  • The shock hit effect was appearing delayed

CHANGED

  • Lifetimes of items were lowered across the board (2 days have become 8 hours, 1 day has become 4 hours). This change may take up to 3 days to be in effect on the official Experimental servers
  • Removed skinning from the shovel, as it was causing a conflict with the bury action
  • Lowered the heat insulation of the Rain Coat
  • Lowered the heat insulation of the Patrol gear
  • Updated the tourist map for chernarus to include the latest coastline changes
  • Flare light should illuminate its surroundings much better (using linear brightness falloff)
  • Lowered the temperature loss of items when on the player
  • Reduced the overall damage applied to tools
  • Reduced the damage done to tools by burying ashes and players bodies by 60%
  • Increased the health of the Stone Knife, Steak Knife and Kitchen Knife
  • The Leather Shelter now requires 8 Tanned Leather to build
  • The Tarp Shelter now requires 4 pieces of Tarp to build
  • Increased the cargo space of Shelters to 10×10
  • Lowered the character's comfort temperature (making the character more resistant against cold)
  • Increased the impact of altitude on the environmental temperature
  • The regeneration speed of broken legs is now fixed to 30 minutes
  • In case of broken/splinted legs, the health of your legs now defines the character injury animation (slower with lower HP)
  • Walking does not trigger shock damage when having a broken leg and not having a splint
  • Painkillers and morphine reduce shock, dealt by broken legs, more (making them lot more useful in cases, where a player does not have enough time to craft/apply a splint)
  • Crossing waters (by walking or swimming) now makes the player freeze more

LAUNCHER

  • The launcher was not showing the country of the language in the language selection

SERVER

  • Added admin log information on the Shelters

Source: DayZ Forums

Little Witch Academia VR Broom Racing Review

With Halloween just around the corner, it's the perfect time to pretend you're a witch. But wait! There's no need to start constructing houses out of confectionary to entrap small people or hang around on Scottish moors giving predictions to future kings, you can simply grab an Oculus Quest – or Oculus Quest 2 if you're feeling swish – and jump into Little Witch Academia VR Broom Racing, a game bursting with anime witches who want to befriend you and take you broom racing.

Trigger's Little Witch Academia is their most mainstream anime, starring Akko, a student witch who's not particularly good at being a witch, but who is good at trying her absolute best. It's light, it's silly, and it has all the storytelling hallmarks of a Trigger show, though with far fewer severed limbs than Kill la Kill.

Little Witch Academia VR Broom Racing puts you right into the world of the anime. The visuals are just as you'd expect; bright green grass and lurid flowers play home to 3D versions of the well-known cast, while the Luna Nova school building looms large over everything. They are simplistic – there's very little in the way of extra detail if you look around during conversations or mid-flight – but they're effective enough.

Fans of the show will be pleased to discover that the full voice cast have worked on Broom Racing VR, so everyone here sounds exactly like they do in the anime. Akko is unnecessarily hopeful, Susy sounds like she's eaten one too many mushrooms, and Diana carries the weight of upbringing and ability with every single syllable. If you wanted to feel like you're one of the gang, Broom Racing certainly fulfils the fantasy, and as the audio is available in both English and Japanese, you're covered either way.

It's just a shame that the central broomstick flying is about as challenging as Velcro shoe straps. You don't even fly on your own, but are inexplicably involved in some dual stick tethering with one of the cast, though it is you that largely dictates the direction and speed that you fly at. Races involve finding your way through a series of glowing rings, interspersed with magical portals that transport you to different areas to fly through.

No matter what environment you're in, it's as simple as pointing your broom in the right direction. It's rare, even when using a magical power-up or flying through a speed-up, that you'll feel remotely out of control, and as long as you're capable of aiming a stick at a large hoop you'll be able to finish in the top three of every single race.

There's a sprinkling of other witch-y behaviour, as you can collect spells mid-race that you then cast with your free hand. Clutching your wand, it's as easy as waving it in the air as you speed along, unleashing a speed boost or an ensnaring web that slows your opponents down. It adds a modicum of difficulty to what you're doing, but it's not

You assume that this is because they're expecting Broom Racing VR to attract younger gamers, and fans will likely find enough to amuse themselves through an afternoon of Quest-ing, but there's little reason to return. There will be an online component, which is "comming soon" [sic] and might add a little more replay value, but I can't imagine it will have a hugely competitive online scene to sink into.

There is an element of upgrading as you progress, with both more powerful brooms and a small host of crystals that you can equip to further enhance your broom's performance. It's not exactly the Gran Turismo of brooms and the difference between one broom and the next are virtually indistinguishable, but it's nice to have something extra to tinker with as you work your way through the short campaign.

Broom Racing VR at least manages not to make you sick, thanks to being well-optimised and not too wild on the VR racing front. There's a constant leyline that runs beneath the course, so there's always a physical path for you to latch onto, as well as the steady flow of gates, both of which help to keep you, and your brain, grounded.

Unfortunately, that's all there is to it. Anyone hoping to re-enact scenes from the anime, or a cheeky cartoon Harry Potter homage, will find that these brooms are resolutely stuck in more-or-less one place, and you can forget any hopes of simply flying off to check out the top of Luna Nova's impressive tower.

WRC 9 will be a PS5 launch title, but Xbox Series X|S players will have to wait for their upgrade

Nacon have confirmed that WRC 9 will be a PlayStation 5 launch title, with the PS5 release of the game and free upgrades from the PlayStation 4 release available on 12th and 19th November, depending on when the PS5 is launching in your region.

A new trailer has dropped, showcasing the PS5 is 4K and 60fps.

WRC 9 will arrive on PlayStation 5 with a number of improvements, but the biggest one on a technical level is that the console lets KT Racing target 60fps with a dynamic 4k resolution to improve visual clarity as you're racing through each of the real world rallies it recreates. It will also feel different, thanks to the DualSense controller and its new haptic features. KT Racing note that the vibrations the DualSense is able to emit is able to give a different feel to asphalt, gravel and snow, as well as directional impacts, while the adaptive triggers can, for example, make acceleration harder when the car is damaged.

Benoit Clerc, Head of Publishing at Nacon said, "Like all gamers around the world, we couldn't wait to try out the next generation of consoles. After many months of work, it's an honour to be there on day one with one of our flagship titles. The possibilities offered by the new consoles have allowed us to take WRC 9 to a new and incredible level of performance and smooth gameplay, further demonstrating KT Racing's expertise in racing simulations."

One thing that hasn't yet been cleared up is the what will happen to any career and player progression made in the jump from PS4 to PS5. Several games, such as Dirt 5 and Maneater, are not able to offer cross-gen save transfers on PlayStation, while offering that function via Xbox Smart Delivery. Sony have described this as "a developer decision." We've asked Nacon for clarity on this matter.

We also don't know when the Xbox Series X|S next-gen update will be released. This will arrive by way of Xbox Smart Delivery, though, again offering free upgrades.

Yesterday saw Nacon release the 'Blind Jumps' update for WRC 9 on current platforms, adding six new special stated to Neste Rally Finland, a new driver and a photo mode to the game. Further updates will bring additional stages for Rally Portugal, the co-op Co-driver mode, and more.

We rather enjoyed the game at its release in September. Tom said in our WRC 9 review:

With driving that is now on par with the competition, WRC 9 will keep sucking rally fans back in for more. Elements around the core rallying action could still do with some added finesse, but when the basic premise is so solid, those issues fade into the background. At last, Kylotonn has delivered on the promise of authentic driving experience, and for a rallying game, I think that is the single most important element.

Source: press release

PS5 pre-order sales beat first three months of PS4 sales in 12 hours, says Sony

Sony has stated that the pre-order sales for the PS5 have been higher than the numbers for the PS4, and by a considerable amount. According to Jim Ryan, the first 12 hours of PS5 pre-order sales outstripped the sales of the PS4 in its first 12 weeks on sale. These figures are limited to the United States but with how pre-orders were performing across the world with retailers selling out stock quickly that could be the picture everywhere.

In an interview with Reuters, Jim Ryan said:

"The demand as expressed by the level of pre-order has been has been very, very considerable. It may well be that not everybody who wants to buy a PS5 on launch day will be able to find one." 

The PS5 was made available to pre-order in mid September following Sony's PS5 showcase. However, the company was criticised due to how it handled the pre-order process with little warning to consumers despite stating people would be given plenty of notice. Sony apologised but then did similar with the second wave of pre-orders. Sony has stated it will be upping production for the PS5 to try and meet demand for the Christmas rush to meet demand and compete with Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S.

We have a PS5 to test and today Jim wrote about his first experience with the DualSense and Astro's Playroom, which will be a free title for all PS5 owners. In the article, Jim wrote:

As a first experience of PlayStation 5, it's a great one, the nods to the past adding to the joy of getting to finally go hands on and experience what Sony's grand vision for the next generation is. It's just a taster so far, having received and unboxed our PlayStation 5 review unit today, but we can't wait to get stuck in to experience and share more over the coming days and weeks.

You can read the full Astro's Playroom hands on here.
Source: Reuters

Apex Legends Season 7 is called Ascension, new hero and map announced

Respawn has announced the details for Apex Legends Season 7, and it is called Ascension. The new season will add a brand new hero called Horizon and she will be able to manipulate gravity after a run in with a black hole. Alongside Horizon there will be a new map and that map is Olympus. Olympus is a city in the clouds floating above the planet so one misstep will see you falling from the city right down to the planet surface, and you likely will not survive that.

The description for the new Stories from the Outlands short reads:

"Nearly a century ago, Dr. Mary Somers was hired to solve a cataclysmic energy crisis. Her search for answers would take her to the edge of the universe. Before Mary left Olympus, she promised her son she'd return. But was it a promise she'd be able to keep?"

The new character and the new map are just two of the things that will be added. The third item will be the vehicle called the Trident. The Trident will be able to transport a full squad quickly across Olympus, cutting down that travel time. Respawn will also be adding a Club system so player can group together to build their own communities. There will be a new battle pass for Ascension with 100 items, a new season of Ranked, and the release on Steam too.

Source: EA

The Season of the Hunt announced to kick off Destiny 2: Beyond Light

Bungie have revealed the next season for Destiny 2 and it all kicks off on November 10th when the next expansion, Beyond Light, launches. However, the is Season's story mission and new Wrathborn Hunts activity will commence the week after on November 17th.

They have also revealed the roadmap for the rest of the year which you can see below.

"Starting with Season of the Hunt, most of the Seasonal content and all of the sweet gear will be sticking around for all of year 4," say Bungie. "We hope this alleviates some of the FOMO that has been present with past Seasons. Now you can jump back in and experience past Seasons' story, activities, and loot anytime during year 4."

Bungie have been hinting that the Darkness (not the pop rock band with Justin Hawkins on lead vocals) is going to disrupt everything we have thought about the game, which has always suggested that Light is the only way to go. Is the Traveller as benevolent as we have always thought?

There are also rumours of a live event to begin the expansion, and that Guardians may be returning to the original Tower from Destiny 2.

Bungie have previously explained some of the new technical improvements that will be coming in the forthcoming expansion, Beyond Light. When that launches on November 10th a fair chunk of content will be vaulted including Strikes, Raids, and entire planets including Mars and Mercury, and to facility the huge change you are going to have to redownload the entire game again.

"We know this will be painful for those with slower or metered internet connections, and we're sorry about that. To help mitigate this, we're planning to enable Beyond Light preloads sometime in the evening of November 9, Pacific Time, which should give everyone at least 10 hours to download before the gates open," say Bungie.

The good news is the new version of the game should be 30-40% smaller, clocking in at around 59GB to 71GB depending on the platform you play on. The rebuild of the game also means that Bungie should be bale to patch bugs quicker and also gives them more development time per season.

The game will also be changing to a "Physics Host" rather than a "Mission Host" which means new raids, strikes and other missions can be more complex than they are now. "The Physics Host knows exactly where enemy combatants are and what actions they recently performed – while the Mission Host only knew how many combatants were alive in a squad and what that squad was generally trying to accomplish," say Bungie. This also means you will be able to meet your Fireteam in the Tower much faster, but they do warn there may be one or two bugs in the old missions that are left in the game after Beyond Light launches.

Source: Bungie

Xbox Game Pass November line up includes Double Fine remastered titles

Microsoft has confirmed the line up for the games that are being added to Xbox Game Pass over the next few weeks across console, PC, and mobile. Helping to lead this charge is Double Fine's catalogue of remastered titles including Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, and Day of the Tentacle. If you fancy a bit space mining then you can play Deep Rock Galactic across all three platforms. Or, there is Ark Survival Evolved. In fact there are quite a few games and you can view the full list below.

  • Carto (Console & PC) – October 27th
  • Day of the Tentacle Remastered (Console & PC) – October 29th
  • Five Nights At Freddy's (Android, Console, PC) – October 29th
  • Full Throttle Remastered (Console & PC) – October 29th
  • Grim Fandango Remastered (Console & PC) – October 29th
  • PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (Android) – October 29th
  • ScourgeBringer (Android) – October 29th
  • Unruly Heroes (Android, Console, PC) – October 29th
  • Celeste (Android, Console, PC) – November 5th
  • Comanche (PC) – November 5th
  • Deep Rock Galactic (Android, Console, PC) – November 5th
  • Eastshade (Android, Console, PC) – November 5th
  • Knights & Bikes (Console & PC) – November 5th
  • Ark: Survival Evolved: Explorer's Edition (Android, Console, PC) – November 17th

As some games are added to the Xbox Game Pass service, others are removed. Leaving on October 30th are:

  • After Party (Console)
  • LEGO Star Wars III (Console)
  • Rise & Shine (Console)
  • Tacoma (Console & PC)
  • The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game (Console & PC)
  • The Red Strings Club (PC)

Microsoft added new Xbox Touch Controls to more games on the service as well. Those games were Dead Cells, Gucamelee! 2, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, Hotshot Racing, Killer Instinct, New Super Lucky's Tale, Slay The Spire, Streets of Rage 4, Tell Me Why, and UnderMine.

Source: Microsoft

Astro's Playroom is more than a PS5 and DualSense demo, it's a PlayStation celebration

We couldn't think of a better way to start your PlayStation 5 adventures than with Astro's Playroom. This pack-in platformer comes pre-installed and ready to play for everyone who owns a PS5, flexing the next-gen system's key features and being an absolute nostalgic blast in the process.

Compared to Crash Bandicoot or Kratos, Astro Bot may not have the same calibre as a PlayStation mascot yet, thanks to this Asobi-developed demo, makes a perfect ambassador for the PlayStation 5 and the DualSense controller.

Firing up our PS5 console for the very first time, we dove straight into Astro's Playroom and the first of the four stages it offers – Cooling Springs. Now, for those who played the superb Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, expect a pang of deja vu here. This is basically a non-PlayStation VR follow-up, albeit one that has been deliberately shrunk to show off some DualSense features.

Before being introduced to our robotic friend you'll get to see just how Sony's gamepad has evolved since the DualShock 4. The combination of audio and haptic feedback combined with those adaptive triggers will come as a genuine surprise, really helping to boost that sense of immersion.

Just about every action in Astro's Playroom will trigger a cascade of sound and haptic effects, the controller's rumble having far more finesse than before, vibrating certain parts of the pad instead of making the whole unit shake in your palms. It's an impressive advancement.

In one section you'll suit up as an android amphibian, using the touchpad to yank the zip on Astro's new costume. From there, Playroom briefly turns into a side-scrolling platform in which you tilt your DualSense, pulling down on the right trigger then releasing to jump. The subtle vibrations and mechanical noises – paired with the slight resistance from the adaptive trigger – give this action far more impact than a simple button press. We're excited to see how other developers implement the controller's new features as they look to dial up the atmosphere.

This is more than just a simple controller demo and tutorial though. It might be small, but it has the hallmarks of a full production with coins, collectibles and some surprisingly nostalgic easter eggs to be found here.

Astro's Playroom serves two purposes – easing you into the PS5 ecosystem while celebrating the PlayStation's long legacy. Instead of gathering useless gubbins, the items you unlock are actual pieces of PlayStation hardware, Cooling Springs reminding us of the PSP camera, the PS3 Sharpshooter and more, appearing almost lifelike as they float in suspense.

As a first experience of PlayStation 5, it's a great one, the nods to the past adding to the joy of getting to finally go hands on and experience what Sony's grand vision for the next generation is. It's just a taster so far, having received and unboxed our PlayStation 5 review unit today, but we can't wait to get stuck in to experience and share more over the coming days and weeks.

Cyberpunk 2077 delayed again, now out in December

Guess what? Cyberpunk 2077 has been delayed yet again, this time being pushed back by 21 days to a new 10th December release date.

Their twitter explanation from Adam Badowski and Marcin Iwinski cites the huge challenge of preparing the ambitious game for so many consoles.

"The biggest challenge for us right now is shipping the game on current-gen, next-gen and PC at the same time, which requires us to prepare and test 9 versions of it (Xbox One/X, compatibility on Xbox Series S|X, PS4/Pro, compatibility on PS5, PC, Stadia)… while working from home."

They also address the fact that the game recently went "gold"

"Some of you might also be wondering what these words mean in light of us saying we achieved gold master some time ago. Passing certification, or 'going gold', means the game is ready, can be completed, an has all content in it. But it doesn't mean we stop working on it and raising the quality bar. On the contrary, this is the time where many improvements are being made which will then be distributed via a Day 0 patch. This is the time period we undercalculated."

Of course, all of this means that we can slap another three weeks of mandatory overtime onto what CD Projekt Red's staff have already been pushed into at the end of September.

Originally, Cyberpunk 2077 was planned for an April 2020 launch before being pushed back to September, then November and now December. For those keeping track, the game was formerly announced way back in 2012 before the first cinematic teaser was shown in January 2013.

So, Cyberpunk 2077 will now be out for Xbox One, PS4 and PC on 10th Decmeber. It will be playable on Xbox Series X | S at that point – the consoles coming out on 10th November – and on PlayStation 5 on November 11th/19th, but next-gen enhancements will not be there on day one. The game could take some advantages next-gen beyond simple backward compatibility, but for ray tracing and other more integral enhancements, we'll have to wait.

Source: Twitter

Ubisoft and Netflix are teaming up for a live-action Assassin's Creed show

Ubisoft have turned to Netflix as a partner for a new live-action Assassin's Creed series, hoping to make the jump out of the bubble of video games somewhat more successfully than their last attempt.

It's actually multiple projects, though, with the main live-action show to be joined by an animated and an anime adaptation. They're looking for some showrunners to manage these, but Ubisoft Film & Television's Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will be executive producers.

"For more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape the Assassin's Creed brand into an iconic franchise," said Jason Altman, Head of Ubisoft Film & Television – Los Angeles. "We're thrilled to create an Assassin's Creed series with Netflix, and we look forward to developing the next saga in the Assassin's Creed universe."

As alluded to, this hasn't been Ubisoft's first attempt at branching out from video games. There was the Assassin's Creed movie which came out in 2016, starring Michael Fassbender in an original story designed to compliment and expand the series' mythology.

It didn't exactly set the box office alight, underperforming at its opening and only grossing $240 million worldwide off a $125 million budget to turn a small profit. It also didn't capture the imaginations of reviewers, getting an 18% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and an average rating of 3.9/10. It might be better than many video game adaptations, but not exactly a smash.

Here's hoping Netflix can do better.

Source: Ubisoft

FIFA 21 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S will launch in December

If you're picking up a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S with the expectation that FIFA 21's next-gen upgrade would be there on day one, you've got another thing coming. EA have announced that FIFA 21's next-gen version will be out for both PS5 and Xbox Series on 4th December.

However, that doesn't mean you can't still play FIFA 21 on those systems. If you buy the current generation PlayStation 4 or Xbox One versions of the game, you'll be able to play those versions via backward compatibility until 4th December, and the download an upgraded version of the game on 4th December via EA's Dual Entitlement scheme.

Whther you buy the physical copy or digital copy, you'll be able to download a separate version of the game simply by visiting the respective storefront. Physical purchasers will still need to have the disc in the drive in order to play. EA will also allow you to upgrade from a disc version to a purely digital version if you've bought a PlayStation 5 Digital Edition or Xbox Series S. In those cases, you'll need to contact EA support at help.ea.com to validate your purchase using your account information.

There is a divide between the two generations of the game in terms of player progression. Progress that you make in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team and Volta Football are tied to your EA account that is associated with your PSN or Microsoft account. You can take this back and forth between generations and console. However, progress made in all other modes, including Online Seasons, Co-Op Seasons, Career Mode, Pro Clubs, will be locked to the platform and generation you're playing on.

Compared to Microsoft's Smart Delivery, EA's Dual Entitlement is a time-limited upgrade offer, that in the case of FIFA 21 will start on 4th December and run through to the launch of FIFA 22. Obviously that game's release date has not been confirmed, but would be expected to arrive in the usual late-September launch window that FIFA games have traditionally targeted.

In our current gen FIFA 21 review, Aran wrote:

On the pitch, FIFA 21 is an incremental improvement over FIFA 20, but doesn't address some of the biggest issues with defending and the high-scoring matches this leads to. With Volta still missing a certain spark and Ultimate Team not really changing much, it's the Football Manager-inspired Career mode that takes the biggest step forward. It's still a good football game, but it feels like the real focus is on next-gen.

Source: EA

Show off your Flesh Helmet in the No Man's Sky Halloween event – Update 3.05 patch notes inside

I don't think anyone had "flesh helmets" on their No Man's Sky update bingo card, and yet here we are. The Halloween Update for Hello Games' interstellar features flesh helmets, space jellyfish, and more spooky things, just in time for Halloween.

OK, so flesh helmets might have put one very particular image in your mind's eye, but set that aside, because what Hello Games really means is that you can pop a flesh-hungry parasite on your head. You can stop clutching your pearls now.

You obtain this by mining for a new strange material called Tainted Metal, which can be found in the corroded hulls of derelict freighters. These have been given a bump up in difficulty, filling them with stronger, faster and deadlier versions of the aliens that typically roam them, as well as seeing the security systems going into overdrive.

Get enough Tainted Metal and you can take it to scrap dealers to trade for Orange Pustules and Detoxified Slime to dress up your bases, Wriggling Companions to take with you on your journeys, as well as the Horrific Flesh Helmet.

Here's the full No Man's Sky Update 3.05 patch notes:

  • Derelict freighters have been rebalanced for increased challenge.
  • Low temperatures are more extreme, security systems are tougher and more efficient at locating intruders, aliens are more aggressive, and all hostile lifeforms are more difficult to defeat.
  • Added the possibility of looting Quicksilver to derelict freighters. This will be available for the next few weeks.
  • The scrap dealer on Space Stations now stocks a range of base parts, decals, banners and a Horrific Flesh-Helmet.
  • The scrap dealer now trades in a new black market currency, Tainted Metal, which can be salvaged from derelict freighters.
  • The scrap dealer also now stocks Repair Kits.
  • Added two new player titles, which may be earned via in-game achievements and selected at the Appearance Modifier.
  • Improved the notification icons shown when entering freighters and derelict freighters.
  • Fixed an issue that caused hostile creatures to fall through the floor of derelict freighters.
  • Fixed an issue that caused derelict freighter doors to take too long to open.
  • Fixed an issue which could cause derelict freighter messages to linger after leaving the freighter without fully exploring it.
  • Fixed an issue which caused the Lost in Space mission to linger after leaving a derelict freighter.
  • Fixed an issue that could occasionally cause the guild envoy and scrap dealer rewards for completing a derelict freighter to be the wrong way around in Korvax systems.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause derelict freighters to despawn if the player attempted to fix or install technology on their ship while at a distance.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause aquatic fauna to be listed as "extinct" when discovered.
  • Fixed an issue that could occasionally prevent creatures from spawning where or as often they should.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause teleporters to display the wrong galaxy name for some early galaxies.
  • Fixed an issue that prevented the Exocraft mining laser from harvesting resources from terrain deposits.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause freighter base parts to be unpowered when constructed in specific locations within the freighter.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause weather effects to occur beyond the planetary atmosphere.
  • Fixed an issue that could cause frigate expeditions to reward deprecated products.
  • Introduced a memory-management optimisation and fixed a number of memory-related crashes on console.
  • Fixed some rare crash issues.

Source: No Man's Sky

God of War can run at 60fps on PS5, but at what resolution?

Santa Monica Studio have revealed that their critically acclaimed God of War reboot will be able to shoot for 60fps gaming through the PlayStation 5's Boost Mode, and that you'll be able to carry on exactly where you left off by copying your save files over from PlayStation 4.

That's great to see confirmed, but… it's not exactly surprising and does come with some standard caveats to consider.

First off the point about save transfers. Carrying your progression from current to next-gen has been fumbled by Sony, with cross-gen titles such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla seeing Ubisoft and others have to create a bespoke cloud storage with which they can let you transfer your progress across. Meanwhile, the developers of other games such as Dirt 5 and Yakuza Like a Dragon do not have such an infrastructure behind them on PlayStation, leaning on standard Smart Delivery on Xbox to allow you to take all your progression with you from one version of the game to the next. Unless you want to start over, it's a bit of a minefield for cross-gen games.

God of War is not a cross-gen game though, and the standard backward compatibility rules apply. You can copy all your PlayStation 4 save files over to PlayStation 5 via USB storage, the system data transfer tool or the PS+ cloud storage. A good reminder, but that's the default behaviour

And so too is what Santa Monica Studio tout the game's performance. They not "up to" 60fps performance for one thing, and also state that you need to be using the 'Favor Performance' mode in the video options. In other words, this isn't an update to the game, but rather applying the PS5 Boost Mode to the existing performance mode found on PlayStation 4 Pro.

The PS4 Pro has two options available, with a checkerboarded 4K resolution that targets 30fps, and the 'Favor Performance' mode that drops the game resolution to 1080p and unlocks the frame rate. On PS4 Pro, as per Digital Foundry's God of War analysis, this typically saw the frame rate in the "mid to upper 40s" during battles. The expectation is that the PS5 can power through to a solid 60fps in the vast majority of situations while playing at 1080p. Honestly, we'd expect the PS5 to be able to do much more than this.

By contrast, Ghost of Tsushima has a PS5-specific performance mode that will let it target 60fps, going beyond what the PS4 Pro is able to offer. The PS4 Pro still has a performance mode, but this drops the resolution from 1800p to 1080p while maintaining the same 30fps target. We'll have to wait and see what the PS5 mode is able to offer in terms of resolution, but again, we'd hope

So, all in all, good to have confirmed, and good for those who'd like to play this game at a high and steady frame rate, but this is what we can expect as the minimum across all backward compatible titles on PS5.

Source: Twitter

Double Pug Switch Review

Cats suck. Despite what Tuffcub might tell you, dogs are empirically better than cats. It's just a fact*. So much so that it forms the entire premise of the game Double Pug Switch.

You play Otis, a sleepy, dim-witted pug who's snoozing in the professor's lab on day. As you lie there, your blood nemesis, the cat Whiskers, decides to tear a hole in space. More specifically, Whiskers sees two vials of portal fluid on the desk and decides that they'd look better on the floor. You know, because cats are evil.

After smashing the vials and sucking you both into a new dimension, your owner, the professor, somehow manages to call you and explain what's happened. You're occupying not only this new dimension, which is inexplicably a platformer, but also a third, parallel dimension. Not only this, but you seem to have acquired the ability to move between the two, which will come in extremely useful.

Lord Sker, as the maniacal Whiskers is now known, has somehow already taken over these two dimensions and strewn the world with deadly spikes. You, being a pug — sadly one of nature's least intelligent doggos — sees this as an opportunity to hurtle forward, towards this gauntlet of death traps, at breakneck speed.

It's a truly bizarre premise with which we find ourselves. I love dogs, I love platformers and I even love dimension-shifting platformers. Unfortunately, Double Pug Switch, a dimension-shifting platformer based on the premise that cats are little balls of evil and doggos are the saviour of all mankind, is not particularly good.

I first came across this game at a convention in 2018. Having played it, I asked the dev what they were going for. A game which is hard as nails but featuring a cute as heck doggo is pretty much what I was told. This, in and of itself, is a fine premise, but that alone does not make a game good.

Challenging games can be great, but what something like Dark Souls has that this game lacks is the ability to adapt, improve and overcome. Double Pug Switch is controlled entirely by two buttons: one to jump and the other to swap. The game is a side-scroller and Otis runs at a defined speed, stopping for nothing, meaning that your control comes down to three basic options: a hop, a jump and a switch. Much like Sonic the Hedgehog back in the day, you need to make split-second decisions — the difference is that Otis doesn't drop rings if he hits something detrimental to his health, he simply dies and respawns.

This happens a lot in Dog Murder Simulator. As mentioned, the game is meant to be hard, but the severity of the challenge just feels obnoxious. One level, fairly early on, has no checkpoints and is lined with spikes just to ratchet up the difficulty. The difficulty is only made worse by sticky feeling controls that throw off your split-second timing, causing you to jump too late or switch dimensions too slowly, killing yourself in the process. The result is that ultimately, Double Pug Switch is not fun to play.

That's not to say that the game isn't without its merit. Otis is ostensibly cute. As you run around, trying not to die, you pick up gold and purple coins which can be spent on a selection of dandy hats (because gamers and dog owners love hats). Hunting out the rarer purple coins and picking them up is genuinely challenging and something that fans of the game will no doubt love doing. The problem is the level select screen doesn't tell you which levels you've found all of the coins in, only if you've had a perfect run.

Some of the early levels are fairly well designed, and when you come across something new — like the portals which change dimension for you or the thing that makes you tiny for no reason — there is both intrigue and challenge to be found. No doubt, it would be fun to collect all the purple coins in a speed run without dying, but if you're the galaxy brain capable of working around everything that is against you here, you clearly have better things to do with your time than playing this game. Go solve global warming or something.

Finally, there is the ultimate deal-breaking bug to contend with. After completing a particularly difficult level in the second of the game's five worlds, I returned to the level-select screen to spend my hard-earned cash. I was horrified to see that the game had deleted my progress. I played through the section again, utterly furious, but I would not fault anyone who instead deleted the game and asked for a full refund.

*Not a fact.

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