Jul 24, 16:00


Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 2:22 PM
    

Is that delivery? No, it's an Xbox Series X/S controller designed in a lab to smell like pizza. In the leadup to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem's August 2023 release, Microsoft is giving away a certain number of TMNT-themed, slice-infused controllers.

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 1:52 PM
    

In a new video from Ubisoft about its upcoming Star Wars game, the publisher talked about creating an authentic Star Wars experience. As part of this, Outlaws will feature Tatooine, the galaxy's most famous (and overused) desert planet.

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 1:45 PM
    

Anime fans ate well at this past weekend's San Diego Comic-Con. The four-day event saw both major series announcements and world premiere trailers for a variety of upcoming shows, sure to bolster your anime watchlist for the rest of the year and beyond. So, here's a quick roundup of some of the biggest anime…

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 12:55 PM
    

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 12:40 PM
    

Mech game Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon seems to include a robust multiplayer system, potentially building on the limited co-op and PvP present in developer FromSoftware's usually solo journeys through Hell. Fans took photos of physical Japanese copies of the game (which is due August 25) and noted that the back…

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 12:20 PM
    

Season 1 of Diablo IV is officially underway with tons of new content like an extensive battle pass, more enemy types, a unique questline, and more. But the threat of server disconnects, which can wipe out your whole character if you're playing on hardcore mode, looms. And Twitch streamer wudijo was reminded of that…

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 12:00 PM
    

I started regularly playing competitive online games in 2007, with the launch of Halo 3. Back then, participating in in-game voice chat was harrowing for a 17-year-old girl whose voice betrayed her gender and her youth. I was subjected to such frequent and horrific hostility (rape threats, misogynistic remarks,…

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 11:16 AM
    

Halo has always been something of a playground, one in which players could find all manner of wild tricks and unintended uses for game mechanics. With Halo Infinite's latest season introducing some new maps, one of which features a deadly waterfall, new, death-defying shenanigans have surfaced courtesy of legendary Halo

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 11:10 AM
    

The PlayStation 5 is absolutely killing it right now. Record-breaking hardware sales? Check. A steady stream of popular and critically praised exclusives? Check. Customizable faceplates? Check, check, check. So of course it's gearing up to release one of the most absurd handhelds ever to reach the manufacturing…

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 10:16 AM
    

Diablo IV's first season got off to a rocky start following a disastrous patch that nerfed a bunch of characters and builds, but some other, much smaller issues have drawn fan criticism as well, including a battle pass layout that has tricked some players into accidentally buying the premium version. Blizzard's now…

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Kotaku Monday, July 24, 2023 9:21 AM
    

For a few years now, unbeknownst to many of us, a subscription service called Antstream Arcade has offered users legal streaming of hundreds of classic games, from arcade hits to gems for home platforms like Amiga, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum, among others. Growing over time, its total offerings now number over…

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PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 3:56 PM
     Modern Warfare 3 has leaked in the weirdest way possible

Call of Duty is one of those long-standing FPS game series that will never quite die down in hype, whether it be due to an upcoming title or the most recent entry's fanbase. Players have been speculating what Activision has in store for the series next for a good while now, and we may have just received the weirdest Call of Duty reveal yet thanks to a social media post containing leaked Modern Warfare 3 ads for none other than Monster Energy drinks. Yes, you read that right.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Call of Duty 2023, Modern Warfare 2 system requirements, Best FPS games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:50 PM
     Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB prices are already falling

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is here, but you'd be forgiven for not realizing, given Nvidia's decision to not send out any review copies or near non-existent marketing for the GPU. Now, less than a week from launch, the graphics card is available at a discount.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: MSI Z370 Gaming Pro Carbon AC review, MSI GTX 1080 Ti Gaming X Trio review, Best gaming motherboard

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:41 PM
     These pizza-scented TMNT Xbox controllers look good enough to eat

There are plenty of cool PC peripherals on the market today, but these Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Xbox controllers take the cake (or, in this case, pizza) for being the tastiest controllers we've ever set our eyes on. Advertising the launch of a brand-new animated TMNT movie, the set of four brand-new controllers look good enough to eat, and apparently they smell great too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Microsoft DirectX Raytracing, Microsoft Hololens hands-on, Windows Game Mode preview

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:37 PM
     New FFXIV mount lets you ride with beloved character

Final Fantasy XIV has been my favorite MMORPG since I first played it back in 2017. Many fans have been around even longer, with some active in-game since Square Enix first launched it over a decade ago. A core Final Fantasy XIV memory for me is my first Fan Festival and the opportunity it gave me to meet my Free Company friends in real life. Not only does FFXIV's global event offer a chance for players to come together, but it also generally includes fun new optional items such as emotes, glamour pieces, minions, mounts, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best MMOs, FFXIV Island Sanctuary guide, FFXIV Island Sanctuary animals list

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:35 PM
     Football Manager 2024 release date speculation, early access, and more

When is the Football Manager 2024 release date? It's fair to say that Football Manager 2023 wasn't exactly what fans wanted from Sports Interactive. While FM23 has been touted by the devs as their most played game of all time, the Football Manager community was disappointed by the lack of communication from the developers. In a surprising turn of events, SI has announced its plans for FM24 and FM25 to keep the game's biggest fans in the loop.

While we're still months away from the Football Manager 2024 release date, SI has revealed important information regarding the upcoming game. FM24 is said to be the "last of its kind", with the studio manager of SI referring to the strategy game as "the most complete version of Football Manager to date". The developer was careful not to give too many details ahead of time, but here's what we need to know about the Football Manager 2024 release date, including early access, transferable saves, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best management games, Best strategy games, The best football games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:30 PM
     Brookhaven codes July 2023

July 24, 2023: We checked for new Brookhaven codes to add to our list.

What are the new Brookhaven codes? Brookhaven is one of the most popular sandbox games on the Roblox platform, allowing you to meet up with friends and explore the town's bustling streets and sleepy suburbs. Our Brookhaven codes can put a little pep in your step as you act out different scenarios with some free music for your portable speakers.

Brookhaven offers a ton of freedom, so there are no pesky limitations to sidestep – you can snap up new houses and tear up the tarmac with various cars and bikes. Our Brookhaven codes grant you access to a whole playlist of popular tunes to serve as your soundtrack while you're at it. We've also got Doors codes, King Legacy codes, and Anime Adventures codes if you're searching for all the best goodies available across the Roblox platform.

Continue reading Brookhaven codes July 2023
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best Roblox games, Roblox promo codes, Roblox music codes

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:18 PM
     BattleBit patch adds fan-favorite game mode, custom servers to follow

A new BattleBit patch brings a whole new game mode to the immensely successful FPS game, as the team behind the blocky Battlefield competitor also outlines what's next for the shooter in terms of community content, changes, maps, and more. If you're big on BattleBit and want to know about the future, then we've got all you need.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: BattleBit guns, BattleBit codes, BattleBit servers

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:08 PM
     The best Minecraft survival servers on Curseforge

The vanilla version of Minecraft might offer almost everything you could possibly ask for, but sometimes it's much more enjoyable to mix up your game with wacky game modes and other multiplayer options like Minecraft servers. If surviving feels like it's become muscle memory, then it might be worth having a go at these spectacular survival servers available via Curseforge. Whether you want to rise through the wealth rankings or simply survive on your humble farm, here are some Minecraft survival servers available on Curseforge that we think you should try:

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Minecraft seeds, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:08 PM
     All Baldur's Gate 3 actions

What actions are in Baldur's Gate 3? In Dungeons & Dragons, players have an action and a bonus action to use each combat round – sometimes more, depending on the class. These actions makeup pretty much everything you can imagine, from swinging swords, casting spells, and shoving enemies. As Baldur's Gate 3 is based heavily off of the 5th edition of the classic tabletop RPG, these actions have been translated into video game form.

There will be lot of systems to get a handle on in Baldur's Gate 3 when the release date comes around. From the myriad races you can make your character and interact with throughout your adventure, to the dozen classes with their dozens of subclasses, actions aren't the only thing you'll want a solid grasp on before you jump into Larian Studios latest grand adventure. However, if you do have a handle on those basics, read on to see what actions you can perform as you explore the expansive world of Faerun. Do note that spells are separate from actions, though they generally take an action to cast.

Continue reading All Baldur's Gate 3 actions
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Baldur's Gate 3 release date, Baldur's Gate 3 races, Baldur's Gate 3 classes

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:15 PM
     Diablo 4 maintenance schedule

What is the Diablo 4 maintenance schedule? All live service games need a bit of a breather, and a little downtime now and then prevents bigger problems later down the line. This can be super frustrating as a player, as you need the game to be online even if you're adventuring solo, so we've put together a Diablo 4 maintenance schedule for you to plan your sessions around.

It won't make a difference how good your Diablo 4 character is if the game isn't playable, so make sure you're prepared for the worst. If the game is down, why not pass the time with our Diablo 4 classes guide, and create the perfect Diablo 4 build to take Lilith down? Here is the Diablo 4 maintenance schedule so you aren't caught short on one of your marathon sessions.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Diablo 4 builds, Diablo 4 review, Diablo 4 classes

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:29 PM
     Remnant 2 bosses

What are the Remnant 2 bosses? Whether you're hot-footing it to the next objective or getting lost in an elaborate side dungeon, sooner or later you're bound to stumble upon a boss in Remnant 2. But just how many are there, and what rewards can you expect for defeating them? We've got the answers.

Remnant 2 bosses are indisputably tough, but their rewards are also plentiful. Each boss is guaranteed to reward you with unique crafting materials, which you can take to Ava McCabe in Ward 13 in exchange for powerful Remnant 2 weapons and mods. Certain bosses even have the chance to bestow unlockable traits, allowing you to refine your build even further. If all those goodies appeal to your thirst for rare loot, here are all the bosses in Remnant 2 and where to find them.

Continue reading Remnant 2 bosses
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:13 PM
     How to change difficulty in Remnant 2

How do you change difficulty in Remnant 2? Just like its notoriously difficult predecessor, Remnant 2 is a challenging game, so it's unlikely you'll be considering a step up in difficulty. If you are just that good though, or are after the more realistic step down, it's not all that straightforward to do, so we've delved into the worlds of Remnant II to find out how it's done.

There are four Remnant 2 difficulty levels, and given the challenging nature of the game series, 'easy mode' is actually recommended for most - that is to say, the lowest difficulty. None are "easy". As such, if you want the best chance of surviving the terrifying Remnant 2 bosses ahead, be it alone or in co-op, you're better off starting low. If it's too late, or you want to take it up a notch and really challenge yourself, here's how to increase or decrease your difficulty level in Remnant 2.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:32 PM
     How to solve the Remnant 2 Water Harp puzzle

How do I solve the Remnant 2 Water Harp puzzle? Plenty of obstacles stand between you and your quest to slay the Corrupted Ravager, though few are as likely to give you pause as the Great Water Harp. This elaborate musical instrument controls the bridge leading to Yaesha's formidable world boss, though it's currently inoperable. To proceed, you must solve the Water Harp puzzle and restore it to its former glory.

The Remnant 2 Water Harp puzzle is located in The Forbidden Grove of Yaesha, one of the many realms that you must visit in the action-adventure game. According to legend, this enormous feat of musical engineering was constructed by the Pan to soothe the Ravager and put a stop to its rampage. Here's how to solve the Water Harp puzzle and descend into the Ravager's Lair in Remnant 2.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:22 PM
     Best no-logs VPN services 2023

The best no-logs VPN service allows you to connect to the internet via a remote server without recording or noting down what you do while connected through it. This is ideal if you want to be sure that you don't have an evil corporation/villainous government/creepy hacker leering over your shoulder while you explore the internet realms.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best graphics card, Best gaming PC, Best SSD for gaming

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:33 PM
     How to get the Remnant 2 Shielded Heart relic

How do you get the Remnant 2 Shielded Heart relic? The Shielded Heart is an alternative relic to your starting one, the Dragon Heart, and provides a shield for 100% of your maximum health. It lasts 20 seconds or until the shield is broken by enemy damage.

If you're wondering how to unlock the Shielded Heart in Remnant 2, we've figured out the complex puzzle leading to its location. We've also put together a Remnant 2 archetypes to help you decide as to which class to take on the Root. You can also unlock dual archetypes, so be sure to brush up on how.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:12 PM
     Remnant 2 co-op explained – how to join friends

How do you join friends in Remnant 2? If you're in the early stages of the tough adventure game, you might be wondering how to grant your friends access to Ward 13. Unfortunately, co-op isn't available from the moment you load up the game for the first time, so we've battled through the early stages of Remnant II to find out just when you invite your fellow paxulteks to join you.

Like its predecessor, Remnant: From the Ashes, Remnant 2 is better played with friends thanks to its notoriously challenging gameplay and bosses. With a range of archetypes to choose from as well, you can craft the perfect rounded team with healers, tanks, and shooters, so before you and your friends create your characters, you might want to take a look at our Remnant 2 archetype tier list. Once your dream team is ready to step through the world stone, here's how to unlock co-op in Remnant 2.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:27 PM
     Reset trait points in Remnant 2 – how to get the Orb of Undoing

How do you reset trait points in Remnant 2? The ability to respec is important in any game that encourages you to spend limited in-game points to level up. It's nice to know whether you can allocate your Remnant II trait points and change your mind down the road. We've been playing the tough adventure game, and we've put our trait points in all the wrong places to find out how to reset them.

There are a range of Remnant 2 traits that you can choose from and level up to flesh out your individual character. As you go, you're limited to how many trait points you can allocate though, so what if you put them in the wrong place? It's natural not to get along with certain skills depending on your personal playstyle in Remnant 2, so if you'd like to try an all new character build, here's how to reset your trait points, but you might also be interested in finding out how to unlock dual archetypes, too.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:27 PM
     Remnant 2 traits

What are Remnant 2 traits? While the best weapons, mods, and relics form the core of your character build, their overall effectiveness is determined by your character's stat values. That's where traits come in, offering incremental stat bonuses that can vastly improve your build performance.

To help you choose which Remnant 2 traits to invest in long-term, we've collated them all into one handy list, along with their effects and how to unlock them. The value of each trait depends on which of the archetypes you've chosen, as well as your preferred playstyle in Remnant 2 - for example, you won't get much out of a ranged boost if you're opting for a melee-focused build. You might also wish to synergize your traits with your partner in co-op, as we did in our Remnant 2 review. That said, here are all the Remnant 2 traits, their effects, and how to locate them.

Continue reading Remnant 2 traits
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:32 PM
     How to solve the Remnant 2 plinth puzzle

How do I solve the Remnant 2 plinth puzzle? This fiendishly difficult puzzle can be found in The Lament, an optional area that branches off from the Faithless Thicket in Yaesha. This aptly named side dungeon is filled with deadly traps, ceremonial sarcophagi, and plenty of loot for you and your co-op partners to kit yourselves out with along the way.

However, your progress through to The Lament's inner sanctum is barred by the Remnant 2 plinth puzzle. This mechanical cypher consists of four concentric circles adorned with various symbols. These symbols correspond to those that appear above the mummified remains of the Pan, laid to rest on the rows of stone altars that appear on both the upper and lower floor. Your Remnant 2 weapons and mods won't be of much use here, but never fear  we've got the solution to this tricky puzzle.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:10 PM
     Best Steam Deck games 2023

What are the best Steam Deck games? Narrowing down the list of the best Steam Deck games is no easy task, as the device is capable of playing a myriad of genres and titles from across the decades. Yet whether you play your Steam Deck in small bursts, have it hooked up to an external display, or use it as your official travel buddy, there are perfect games for every occasion.

Continue reading Best Steam Deck games 2023
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PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:33 PM
     How to unlock Remnant 2 dual archetypes

How do you unlock dual archetypes in Remnant 2? As you discover trait points via defeating bosses and discovering tomes of knowledge throughout the world, you can soon unlock the ability to dual archetype.

After doing so, you'll still need to unlock your second archetype. Which one will you choose? Will you storm around Remnant 2 with your loyal canine companion as a Handler, or do you prefer to help your teammates as a Medic? When the Remnant 2 release date rolls around, you'll get a better idea of your preferred playstyle, but for now we'll cover how to unlock a secondary archetype.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:31 PM
     The best Remnant 2 weapons

What are the best Remnant 2 weapons? The realms of the World Stone are perilous, filled with all manner of foul aberrations. Without a solid arsenal of weapons at your disposal, you won't last long in your quest to destroy the world-corrupting Root.

Each Remnant 2 archetype comes equipped with its own basic loadout, and while you can purchase alternative guns and melee weapons from Brabus the Arms Dealer in Ward 13, these rudimentary weapons are by far and away the least interesting in Remnant 2. Thankfully, we've drawn up a list of all the best Remnant 2 weapons and their unique mods, along with where to find them and their material cost, so you can kit yourself out with the coolest loadout in record time. Let's go.

Continue reading The best Remnant 2 weapons
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:10 PM
     Remnant 2 release date, gameplay, trailers

What is the Remnant 2 release date? The Souls genre has seen a lot of experimentation over the past decade, but no title has pushed the envelope as much as Remnant: From the Ashes. Gunfire Games, the developers of the Remnant series, took the third-person shooter genre and introduced Souls-like and RPG-looter shooter elements to create something unique.

Remnant 2 features an improved archetype system that gives players a distinct set of weapons and abilities to take into combat. The action RPG game's procedural level generator has been revamped to ensure players won't experience the same landscape during each playthrough. Find out more about what's coming to the follow-up to one of the best fantasy games, including the Remnant 2 release date, new gameplay mechanics, trailers, and more.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:30 PM
     The best Remnant 2 mods

What are the best Remnant 2 mods? Raw firepower is all well and good, but if you're looking to really take the fight to the Root, then mods should be your first port of call. These unique components can be socketed into your weapons, imbuing them with special abilities that can drastically change your combat style.

The majority of crafting materials for the best Remnant 2 mods are dropped from Remnant 2 bosses, though it's probably that some rare mods can appear as rewards for reaching secret areas, much like relics such as the Shielded Heart. Of course, you might find that your favorite mod on this list is related to a boss or area that you haven't encountered on your first Remnant 2 playthrough. In that case, Adventure Mode should be your first port of call – or a campaign reroll, if you're in need of a Remnant 2 difficulty change without starting your character from scratch.

Continue reading The best Remnant 2 mods
MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

PCGamesN Monday, July 24, 2023 12:34 PM
     Remnant 2 Relic upgrade – how to get more relic charges

How do you upgrade the Relic in Remnant 2? If you've played the prequel to Remnant 2, From the Ashes, you'll be familiar with the vitality of the Dragon Heart, Shield Heart, or other Relic variants to your playthrough and, more importantly, your survival. This useful tool can be the difference between life and death, so learning how to upgrade it brings with it a myriad of possibilities and gives you a fighting chance to take on the Root.

Learning how to unlock it is reasonably simple, albeit not immediately obvious. After perusing the Remnant 2 classes tier list to decide which archetype to play as, you might also want to double check which mods are in Remnant 2 to elevate your build even further.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best co-op games, Best fantasy games on PC, Best RPG games

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 3:29 PM
    

Invincible, the comic book-turned-animated TV series from Walking Dead co-creator Robert Kirkman, is being turned into a fully-fledged visual novel. Attached to Invincible Presents: Atom Eve are Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Mothergunship and Assassin's Creed devs, who will centre the single-player game around the superhero from the original series.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 2:53 PM
    

Steam has snuck out its latest week-long sales event. This time, it's a celebration of all things silent and potentially deadly worth making some noise about in the Steam Stealth Fest. Among the highlights are some pretty steep savings on Hitman, Assassin's Creed, A Plague Tale and Sniper Elite, along with some indie stealth game gems to boot.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 2:07 PM
    

Final Fantasy 14 has dozens of mounts, ranging from familiar Final Fantasy chocobos and monsters to some incredible elemental horses, birds and robots. Then there's the even wilder rides available, from space whales, sentient vegetables and flying beds to witches' brooms, ghosts and a literal disembodied head. Even so, its latest mount might somehow be one of its best yet.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 1:32 PM
    

Mortal Kombat 1 is lining up quite the star-studded kast for its DLC, with JK Simmons set to reprise his role as Omni-Man from animated series Invincible. Simmons' on-screen depiction of the komic-book character joins John Cena's DC Komics anti-hero Peacemaker and Antony Starr as The Boys' Homelander, alongside some returning Mortal Kombat faces, in the fighting game's komic-heavy Kombat Pack.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Media conglomerate Tencent are throwing more money at game studios as part of their never-ending shopping spree. Today the studio behind zombie-smasher Dying Light, Techland, announced that Tencent will become the developer's majority shareholder.

"Whenever I think about the future of Techland, I want the best for our games, the team, and you," said Techland's CEO Paweł Marchewka in today's blog post. "And while I am very proud of our achievements as an independent studio over all these years, I believe the best is yet to come."

Marchewka continued to say that "teaming up with Tencent" would allow the team to "move full speed ahead" with future plans for the Dying Light series and their in-development fantasy RPG. Marchewka emphasised that the studio will retain "full ownership" of their intellectual property and "maintain creative freedom." Marchewka will also continue to serve as Techland's CEO.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 11:08 AM
    

Three decades have gone by since the original Myst graced the world, providing endless online debates about whether it's smart or just pretentious. Magical or plain bad. Some indie developers chose the latter with a Myst FPS remix that spoofed the senior adventure game. The RPS readership seemed split on the subject when we asked "Have You Played Myst?" years ago. But Humble Games leans toward the former as it's choosing to celebrate the classic's whopping 30th birthday with a returning charity bundle, available now until August 3rd.

The Humble Myst & More Bundle packages the titular point-and-clicker, alongside several other sequels, spiritual successors, and odd offshoots from developer Cyan Worlds. You can pay anything over £7.80/$10 for the 11-game bundle, or you can pay at least £15.60/$20 to also grab the Myst remake from 2021.

Cyan Worlds loves a good re-release, and this latest bundle is a reminder of how many Mysts have Mysted over the years. There's Myst: Masterpiece Edition which remasters the music and imagery, and is otherwise as close to the original as you can get. Then there's realMyst: Masterpiece Edition which added changing weather, day-night cycles, free roam movement, and a bonus epilogue. And finally, there's the most recent pretty remake that's also compatible with VR.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 10:30 AM
    

This month's Game Club Pick is the wonderfully cosy puzzler Unpacking, so as is Game Club tradition we'll be doing another liveblog chat with you lovely lot Friday 28th at 4pm BST / 8am PDT. If you have opinions about Unpacking, we wanna hear them.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 10:13 AM
    

King Of Dragon Pass' spiritual successor Six Ages: Ride Like The Wind is about to get an actual successor with Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out. The storybook sequel follows the strategy-RPG formula from its ancestors as you lead a clan through political disputes, a world-ending crisis, and disagreements about who owns sheep or a magical baby. And best of all, developer A Sharp have announced that the game will come out on August 21st.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Monday, July 24, 2023 8:30 AM
    

Set before the science fiction Amazon Prime series, The Expanse: A Telltale Series will debut its first episode this Thursday - July 27th - with four more episodes rolling out every two weeks. That won't be the end, though. During San Diego ComicCon, developers Telltale announced that a bonus episode called Archangel would release sometime after the other episodes wrap up.

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Twinfinite Monday, July 24, 2023 12:07 PM
    
Could we be seeing these majestic beings in the future?

Twinfinite Monday, July 24, 2023 11:05 AM
    
Who said it? Chandler Bing? Or Barney Stinson? You decide.

Twinfinite Monday, July 24, 2023 9:30 AM
    
These criminals are hardly smooth.

Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 3:30 PM
    

Harada Says They'll Consider Tekken 8 Guest Characters 'After the Release'

Tekken 8 Producer Katsuhiro Harada brought up the possibility of guest characters in the game today. However, it seems we'll need to wait a while before we hear if any could appear. When asked how many might appear, Harada noted the priority is the "early" roster. He also said, "Even if we think about guest characters, it will be after the release."

Here's Harada's full statement about potential Tekken 8 guest characters. On July 23, 2023, he also said "We plan to increase the number of Rosters for release (other characters are currently in development)."

As a reminder, Tekken 7 featured a number of guest characters, so that could happen in 8 as well. Noctis from Final Fantasy XV, Akuma from Street Fighter, Geese from Fatal Fury and KOF, and Negan from The Walking Dead showed up.

Tekken 8 will come to the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The PS5 Closed Network Test will run until July 24, 2023. The Tekken 8 PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC Closed Network Test will be held July 28-31, 2023.

The post Harada Says They'll Consider Tekken 8 Guest Characters 'After the Release' appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 3:00 PM
    

Best First Final Fantasy Game to Start with

Square Enix's official site recently shared an article suggesting Final Fantasy XVI is the perfect "first" Final Fantasy game for someone. Well, as somebody who's played every mainline entry, not to mention spin-offs like Final Fantasy Type-0 and Agito, I would like to refute that. As I pointed out in my review, Final Fantasy XVI is a more-than-fine game. However, it's not a great example of a Final Fantasy game and there are better places to start.
[caption id="attachment_973815" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Best First Final Fantasy Game to Start with Screenshot by Siliconera[/caption]

Why isn't Final Fantasy XVI the best first Final Fantasy game for newcomers to start their journeys?

I mean, since part of this is a rebuttal to what Square Enix directly said, it's best I match it point for point. The first argument is that Final Fantasy XVI is a standalone adventure. However, that holds true for every mainline entry. (As long as you don't pick up something like Final Fantasy IV: The After Years or Final Fantasy X-2.) Each one is an entirely new story, so there's no sense of going with that, and they're all designed to be approachable with many tutorials and introductions to all entries' worlds.

The other argument noting that it is a mature story is a bit flawed, as the only real "mature" parts are that it throws around the word "fuck" a lot and is incredibly gory compared to other installments. Given the depth of some other entries' statements, I'd say their storylines could be considered more mature, if that's what you're looking for.

There's also the battle system. While Final Fantasy XVI is a fine action game, that isn't what the series as a whole is known for. It's a line of RPGs, and this is the only installment that shoves that element basically into the gutter on the side of the road. You can still see some of it! Clive levels up and occasionally gets some rare new equipment! There are side quests, but they're all fetch quests! It's completely different than other entries in the series. As such, that makes it a poor place to start, because none of the other mainline games are anything like it.

The only point where the assertion makes a good argument is that there's a free trial. However, you can also take part in a free trial for Final Fantasy XIV, and the MMORPG is probably just as good as an example as Final Fantasy XVI.

So what should be your first Final Fantasy game to start diving into the series?

This is a complicated answer, because the ideal first Final Fantasy game to start someone off varies based on what you might want most from the experience. I'd say there are four pretty good possible responses.
[caption id="attachment_973817" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Final Fantasy XVI Shouldn't Be Your First Final Fantasy FFIX Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy IX

This is the all-purpose one! Final Fantasy XI perfectly captures that "magical" feeling about the series. The crystals are there. We have characters representing traditional classes present throughout most installments. The story is fantastic. The battle system follows the traditional ATB format, but is just handled very well. It's just a great entry.
[caption id="attachment_973818" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Final Fantasy XVI Shouldn't Be Your First Final Fantasy FFVI Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy VI

I'd say start with Final Fantasy VI if you want one of the most ambitious and surprising installments in the series and care about seeing a large cast of characters. While Final Fantasy XVI touts a "mature" storyline, I'd say this is better act actually telling a deep and dark tale. Many characters feature incredibly detailed and in some cases horrifying backstories, and Square Enix perfectly showed growth for all of them throughout the course of this incredibly serious adventure about a group of rebels facing off against a corrupt empire and the madman it fostered. Considering there are 14 of them, that's a pretty big deal!

[caption id="attachment_973819" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Final Fantasy XVI Shouldn't Be Your First Final Fantasy FFVII Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy VII

I mean, I have to say Final Fantasy VII is one of the best entries to start with as your first foray, because it's the "big" one. It's arguably the most famous in general and is the one best known to mainstream players. It also takes place in a more modern setting, which some might favor compared to the more fantasy-world ones. (It and Final Fantasy VIII are the main two that offer that. Also, while Cloud is the "star," the game doesn't solely focus on him the way Final Fantasy XVI does and allows all of its characters to have their moments.

Also, you could stick Final Fantasy VII Remake under this umbrella, as it fits as a good introduction to what "modern" entries in the series are like. This is due to it abandoning turn-based combat for action and being more streamlined.

[caption id="attachment_973820" align="alignnone" width="1200"]Final Fantasy XVI Shouldn't Be Your First Final Fantasy Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy XII

Speaking of "modern" entries, most of them abandon turn-based battles and controlling party members while focusing on political storylines with all sorts of intrigue. Final Fantasy XII is the entry in which Square Enix first started to do that! And it did it really well. The character building elements are great. The story is solid. Also, out of all the modern battle systems for Final Fantasy games, I like this one the best as it still offers control over allies.

Final Fantasy XVI is available for the PlayStation 5 alongside a free demo. There is a six-month exclusivity period.

The post Final Fantasy XVI Shouldn't Be Your First Final Fantasy appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 2:30 PM
    

FFXIV Hairstyle Design Contest 2023 Begins

Square Enix announced the FFXIV Hairstyle Design Contest 2023, with winning styles once again possibly being added to the MMORPG. Until August 21, 2023, active subscribers can enter ideas. The theme this time is any hairstyle someone wants to see as an option in the MMORPG. 30 people will win and get a pair of earrings. However, there's no guarantee the designs will show up in-game.

To enter, people need to submit their design via the official site. You also nee dto give your character and their home world name, their Lodestone profile URL, your nickname, and the name of your entry. You need to submit photos or images of your designs from the front, sides, and back. That needs to be a 1920x1080 jpg or png that's under 5MB. While there will be 30 winners, more or less could be chosen.

The in-game prize for winners appeared in the announcement as well. The 30 winners will all get a pair of cosmetic Fat Cat Earrings for their avatar.
[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="974282" link="file"]

In the meantime, the 6.45 update for FFXIV included some new hairstyles.

Final Fantasy XIV is available for the PS4, PS5, and PC. The FFXIV Hairstyle Design Contest 2023 will run until August 21, 2023, with prizes doled out in November 2023.

The post FFXIV Hairstyle Design Contest 2023 Begins appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 2:00 PM
    

Nier Automata Event

NieR series Producer Yosuke Saito teased on his Twitter account that a new event to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the release of NieR Automata is currently being planned. The event is aimed to appear on Fall 2023 in Japan. The announcement included a picture specifying that the event was still under consideration, and it could be a public live broadcast with spectators. More information will appear in the future.

You can check out the original announcement by Yosuke Saito here:

https://twitter.com/SaitoYosuke_Z/status/1683091442552705025

The picture attached to the tweet included the NieR Automata logo, and it translates to:

"A live broadcast to commemorate the 6th anniversary [of the game] will be held.

A public broadcast (with spectators) is currently under consideration.

Please wait for further announcement."

Additionally, Yosuke Saito said that he briefly mentioned the new NieR Automata event in the past, and that it will receive a proper announcement somewhere else in the future. The producer also mentioned that if the event goes through, it will probably be held in Fall 2023.

Since the event has not been formally announced, the details regarding it might differ once more information comes in the future.

As a reminder, the Nier Automata Ver1.1a anime adaptation received episodes 9 through 12 on July 23, 2023, and the anime will have a second cour.

NieR Automata is available for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

The post Yosuke Saito Teases Nier Automata 6th Anniversary Event appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 1:30 PM
    

Vtuber Kiara Takanashi Alter Costume Designed by Tales of Arise Artist

It turns out Hololive Vtuber Kiara Takanashi's new alter outfit's style may look familiar, as it was designed by SWAV. Most recently, the artist also created two DLC costumes for Tales of Arise. As indicated by the "alter," it is an alternate reality suit of fantasy armor, with the stream revealing the model can be shown with or without a long-haired ponytail.

Here's the official tweet showing different examples of the outfit.

During the stream, Kiara Takanashi shared SWAV concept art for her new outfit. Three designs appeared in the image, showing the course of its development.
[caption id="attachment_974272" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via SWAV, Kiara Takanashi, and Hololive[/caption]

Here's the full stream for her new outfit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8YclZZihpI&ab_channel=TakanashiKiaraCh.hololive-EN

And there's also a special animation revealing the Kiara Takanashi new alter outfit as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK4yqpzFF2A&ab_channel=TakanashiKiaraCh.hololive-EN

As for SWAV, the artist created the Tales of Arise Alphen SW-EQ01M costume and Shionne SW-EQ02F costume. Bandai Namco and Spiritale even made a figure of the Shionne one. You can see a screenshot of both costumes below.
[caption id="attachment_974270" align="alignnone" width="1200"]swav tales of arise Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

The post Kiara Takanashi New Alter Outfit Designed by Tales of Arise Artist appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 1:00 PM
    

Star Ocean The Second Story R Bowman and Precis Teasers Appear

Bowman Jean and Precis Neumann are the latest Star Ocean The Second Story R characters to get their own teaser trailers. Both are potential party party members for both Claude and Rena stories. Precis is an inventor who works with machines, while Bowman is a pharmacist who uses Qigong martial arts. Both characters are from the town of Linga, and you can only recruit one or the other in the game. So if you pick Precis, Bowman will stay in Linga running the pharmacy.

First, here's the Bowman Star Ocean The Second Story R trailer. It begins with the party meeting him at a clinic. In the second one, he's talking to Rena about his wife Ninay. After that, we see him in-battle using the Neck Snap, Phoenix Talons, and Metal Fury.

Next, here's the Precis Star Ocean The Second Story R trailer. It begins with her asking Rena if Claude has a girlfriend. After that, we get to see her official introduction. For the battle gameplay portion, we first get to see her robot Robbie use Robbie's Superbeam. Then, she hops inside of it to perform Frankenrobbie. From there, she uses Parabola Beam and Rocket Punch.

In case you missed some of the past Star Ocean The Second Story R character teasers, here's a list of ones Square Enix shared:

Star Ocean: The Second Story R will come to the Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC on November 2, 2023. The game can also immediately be found on the PlayStation and PSP worldwide and the PS3, PS4, and Vita in Japan.

The post Star Ocean The Second Story R Bowman and Precis Teasers Appear appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 12:30 PM
    

Naruto FLOW

Four new episodes of the Naruto anime will appear in September 2023, and FLOW will perform the opening and ending theme songs. The new episodes will be based on the original series, and they will be released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the release of the show. Author Masashi Kishimoto is in charge of writing the script for the new episodes. [Thanks, Comic Natalie!]

The opening theme for the new Naruto anime episodes will be a 20th anniversary version of FLOW's classic opening song "GO!!!," and the ending song will be a cover of Orange Range's "Viva Rock." Additionally, a teaser visual depicting Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi was shared through the Naruto official website.

You can check out the teaser visual here:
[gallery size="full" columns="1" ids="974263" link="file"]

The original Naruto anime debuted on October 2002 in Japan, and the four new episodes are celebrating the anime's 20th anniversary. The new episodes will focus on the pre-Shippuden events of the series, and they will air weekly for four consecutive weeks starting on September 3, 2023. We don't know if Crunchyroll will simulcast them worldwide yet, as it is the current source for Boruto and the original Naruto.

As part of the 20th anniversary celebration, two new figures of Naruto and Sasuke wearing 20th Anniversary special costumes will appear as prizes amusement facilities throughout Japan. Additionally, the Minato Namikaze one-shot manga is now available to read worldwide.

The Naruto and Boruto anime can be found on Crunchyroll, and Viz Media handles the manga localizations.

The post Flow Performs Opening, Ending Themes for New Naruto Episodes appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 12:00 PM
    

Hololive Akai Haato health

Four months after going on hiatus due to health concerns, Hololive Vtuber Akai Haato (also known as Haachama) released a statement through her Twitter account addressing her health and the hiatus. In the statement, the Vtuber confirmed that her condition is not life-threatening. She was recently discharged from the hospital and is now recovering at home.

Akai Haato revealed through her Twitter account that she has not been feeling well since February 2023. Furthermore, she confirmed that she was hospitalized immediately after the Hololive 4th Fes concert, which was held back on March 18, 2023. The Vtuber decided to not disclose her hospitalization publicly while she had no other positive information to share in order to avoid worrying people.

After consulting with her family and manager, and due to being discharged from the hospital recently, Akai Haato decided to reach out and share the news about her health publicly. Haato also shared that, since stopping her Hololive activities and partly due to the side effects of her medication, she has experienced some strain on her mental health as well. She also noted that, while she still has to stay in bed to recover, she was recently able to relax a little bit.

Akai Haato will continue to focus on her recovery for the time being, and assured her fans and fellow Hololive Vtubers that she will return in good health.

The post Hololive's Akai Haato Shares Update About Her Health appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 11:30 AM
    

Armored Core VI Gameplay Briefing Appears Tomorrow

We'll get to see more Armored Core VI gameplay this week. Bandai Namco announced a briefing for the new Armored Core game. It will air at 7am PT/10am ET/4pm CET on July 25, 2023. The company confirmed it will be 12 minutes long and aired on both the official Twitch channel and YouTube.

Here's the official video embed for the new Armored Core game segment. Aside from knowing the length, there are no other details about what the Armored Core VI gameplay briefing will entail. For example, we don't know if it will focus on the single or multiplayer experience. Bandai Namco also didn't notice if any members of the FromSoftware team will appear to offer additional context and insight into what we'll see.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcDjyestr4Y&ab_channel=BandaiNamcoEntertainmentAmerica

This isn't the first time we've seen Armored Core VI gameplay. Back in June 2023, footage came up after preview event sessions. Those segments looked at the single-player story. In July 2023, Bandai Namco shared a new story trailer. It hinted that our avatar is being called in after multiple people fell in battle and featured Handler Walter waking up pilot 621.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon will come to the PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC on August 25, 2023. There will be standard, collector's, and premium editions of the game available.

The post New Armored Core VI Gameplay Briefing Appears Tomorrow appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 11:00 AM
    

NieR Automata Anime Second Cour

Production on a second cour of the NieR Automata Ver1.1a anime started. The reveal came through the official NieR Automata anime Twitter account, and it was accompanied by a teaser trailer for the new episodes of the show. As a reminder, the trailer might include spoilers for both the anime series and the video game.

The trailer lasts 43 seconds, and it opens with a speech by the YoRHa Commander encouraging the troops ahead of a final offensive against the machine lifeforms. The speech is intertwined with previously unseen scenes of 2B, 9S, and A2 alongside other androids and machine lifeforms.

You can check out the trailer for the second cour of the NieR Automata Ver1.1a anime series here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvKp-2KLSa8

You can also read an English translation of the YoRHa Commander speech here:

"Remember, we will not give up on the pain of having our homeland taken from us.

We will reclaim the oceans, the sky, the land, and the earth that has been stolen by the horrific machine lifeforms.

With the success of this operation, we will end this war here and now.

Glory to mankind!"

After a four-month long hiatus, episodes 9 through 12 of the NieR Automata anime aired in Japan on July 23, 2023. We can see them worldwide on Crunchyroll.

The 12 first episodes of NieR Automata Ver1.1a are now available on streaming services such as Crunchyroll and Netflix. We can find the NieR Automata game on various platforms like the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

The post NieR Automata Anime Second Cour Announced appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 10:30 AM
    

Chainsaw Man Uniqlo T-Shirts Arrive in Japan in August

Earlier in July 2023, Uniqlo teased a line of Chainsaw Man shirts and t-shirts with a trailer of Denji destroying the store's logo. Now details about the full collection appeared. The official site is open. The shirts will appear in Japan on August 4, 2023, with their Denji, Makima, Power, Aki, and Pochita designs drawn by artist Kosuke Kawamura. We'll see it worldwide on August 24, 2023.

The four characters with designs dedicated to just them are Denji, Makima, Power, and Pochita, Aki only appears on the sole Devil Hunters design shirt, which also features Denji, Power, and Makima. All of the items are unisex designs available in sizes XS through 4XL. The short-sleeved shirts are ¥1,990 (~$14), while the long-sleeved ones are ¥2,990 (~$21).

All of the Denji short and long-sleeved shirts show him in his Chainsaw Devil form. Two are long-sleeved ones, while one is a t-shirt. Makima only appears on a single black t-shirt. Pochita appears on a white t-shirt and black long-sleeved shirt. Finally, Power appears on a black t-shirt and white long-sleeved shirt.

Here's a gallery showing all of the Chainsaw Man Uniqlo t-shirt and shirt designs:
[gallery columns="9" size="full" ids="974225,974226,974227,974228,974230,974231,974233,974234,974235" link="file"]

The Chainsaw Man shirts and t-shirts will appear at Uniqlo in Japan on August 4, 2023 and worldwide on August 24, 2023. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll, and the manga is available via Viz Media.

The post Chainsaw Man Uniqlo T-Shirts Arrive in August appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 10:00 AM
    

Uzumaki Anime Trailer Features Kirie and Shuichi

At the 2023 San Diego Comic Con, a new trailer for the Uzumaki anime featuring leads Kirie Goshima and Shuichi Saito appeared. It showed off the distinctive black and white design and animation direction for the upcoming show. It also offered a chance to hear their Japanese voice actors.

Here's the trailer showing Uzumaki's Kirie and Shuichi walking through the streets of Kurozu-cho. He suggests the two of them leave town, citing the recent widespread appearances of spirals and discussing what's happening to his father. Kirie doesn't seem to take it all seriously. It ends with the town's siren going off and Shuichi expressing his discomfort with it all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRrqvjjKlOs&ab_channel=AdultSwim

However, there's still no exact release window for the Uzumaki anime. It was supposed to appear in 2021. It was delayed to 2022 after that. We may get to eventually see it in 2023. The one thing we do know is that Junji Ito will make a cameo appearace in it.

This is one of two Adult Swim SDCC 2023 reveals. A preview for Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo creator Shinichirō Watanabe's Lazarus showed up too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0QUbIzu8ek&ab_channel=AdultSwim

The Uzumaki anime will eventually air on Adult Swim's Toonami block of shows. The manga is available in English via Viz Media.

The post Uzumaki Anime Trailer Features Kirie and Shuichi appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 9:30 AM
    

New Hololive English Vtuber Generation Teased

Cover teased the announcement of a new Hololive English Vtuber generation with a trailer. More information is coming this week. While the video doesn't offer a clear view of any of the five new people or hint at their identities, it does set the stage for the "theme" for this new wave. More details will come at 8pm PT/11pm ET on July 25, 2023.

Here's the full teaser. The video is titled, "Breach." It seems to suggest the people are attempting to escape a dungeon of some sort. As this is Hololive, rather than Holostars, it's a new generation of female characters. Two of them seem to be twins with light-color or blonde hair, with both having animal ears and fluffy tails resembling dogs or foxes. Another has long, black hair and a dress with wings as a skirt. The fourth member seems to be wearing a white dress and have long grey or lavender hair. A fifth character, who has shorter, white hair and a black coat, appears at the end.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5-VtyLYb2Y&ab_channel=hololiveEnglish

This would be the new generation of Hololive English Vtubers. First there was Myth in 2020, which included Amelia Watson, Calliope Mori, Gura Gawr, Ina'nis Ninomae, and Kiara Takanashi. That was followed by Project: HOPE, which only consisted of IRyS. Council followed in 2021 and is the proper second generation. It features Baelz Hakos, Fauna Ceres, Kronii Ouro, Mumei Nanashi, and Sana Tsukumo. However, Sana graduated in July 2022.

We'll learn more about the new Hololive English Vtuber generation on July 25, 2023 at 8pm PT/11pm ET.

The post New Hololive English Vtuber Generation Teased appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Monday, July 24, 2023 9:00 AM
    

Dragon Quest the Adventure of Dai

With its worldwide release just around the corner, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai is a bite-sized adventure that is for both those familiar and unfamiliar with the story of Dai and his companions. Relegated to short mission segments that mostly contain battles, with a few extra features tacked on for engagement outside of its narrative, it looks to encapsulate the experience of the anime in a playable format.

Players will assume the role of Dai, the titular hero of this adventure, perhaps to the surprise of no one given the title of the game. Following the story of the anime, he is on a quest to avenge his mentor. During the preview, I was given the opportunity to experience a good hour of what the game had to offer. While The Adventure of Dai does feature some cutscenes, the story is also told through sepia-toned anime stills with voice acting to accompany these static images. Those familiar with the anime will no doubt recognize these more pivotal moments, specifically Dia's encounter against antagonist Hyunckel. (This was the small segment of the game I played.) However, previous knowledge wasn't required to appreciate what story beats this preview had to offer, which should make these little bite-sized adventure segments feel approachable to those unfamiliar with the story or characters.

The combat system in this build felt decent enough and relied on players balancing and managing cooldowns to create an ebb and flow in battle. You control one of three characters, Dai, Maam, or Popp, and can freely switch between any at all time. Characters you are not playing as are controlled by a mostly competent AI. For example, Maam is the healer of the group and can cast restorative spells. Playing as Maam myself was a nightmare, so I let the AI handled it and found no issue there. I spent most of my time alternating between Popp and Dai, focusing on dealing physical damage with Dai (who is also an all-rounder character, that deals in swift sword strikes and magic) and flinging spells with Popp. Encounters themselves are relatively easy, but the fight against Hyunckel was more challenging than fighting the handful of skeletons that were thrown at me before the story really started to get going.

[caption id="attachment_974201" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Dragon Quest the Adventure of Dai Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Each character has a total of three attacks that can be assigned. There of course is a standard attack that can be used while you wait for your skills to cooldown and an ultimate ability of sorts that either deals an incredible amount of damage or buffs your natural attack. Using these as soon as they became available seemed to be the way to go, since they fill up relatively quickly. But what makes The Adventures of Dai's combat system more engaging is the ability to increase the passive stats of your characters through equipping Bond Memories. These can increase your attack, defense, healing, and so forth. However, certain cards that have the most beneficial increases to attack, for example, may also decrease defense considerably. This means players can make true glass canon builds to suit the way they want to play the game. (Or at least control the flow of battle.) With battles themselves being relatively short, it gives some room for experimentation, since you're never locked into any one thing. As these can be changed before any mission starts, as The Adventure of Dai is split into missions.

Outside of these missions, players can engage in a tower mode. This game mode is a roguelite of sorts where players can collect rewards to use for future ventures into the temple by leaving on designated floors. Each floor has their own challenge. This is generally just defeating enemies or bosses, and sometimes within time limits the deeper you get. Upon completing the objective of each floor, players can pick a door to buff specific stats that will carry on through their run. These kinds of game modes are common these days, but it was still fun and I wish I had more time to properly explore it and see if the difficulty would ramp up. Because as it stands, The Adventure of Dai is easy. Very easy. That isn't a problem, but I was curious to see if the game would force me to be more strategic in the Bond Memories I would affix to certain characters, or what skills I'd need to balance to make it to the end.

[caption id="attachment_974202" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Dragon Quest the Adventure of Dai Image provided by Square Enix[/caption]

That said, because of how compact everything feels, it seems like a game that could be good to pick up and put down, and could be great for fans of the anime and even those looking to jump into Dragon Quest for the first time. The environments are great, and the score by Yuki Hayashi is honestly quite lovely and a great change of pace from previous soundtracks. I'm eager to see what the game will give, even if it may not be all that much.

Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai will release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC on September 28, 2023.

The post Preview: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai Has Bite-Sized Adventures appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, July 24, 2023 3:54 PM
     Where To Find Selgio In Dave The DiverThere are a ton of side quests to embark on during Dave the Diver's multiple chapters. Once you unlock the Sea People Village, there are even more missions to take on. One of these quests is 'Pet Squid Selgio', where Linchen asks Dave to find her pet squid. You only get one clue as to where you can find Selgio, so keep reading this Dave the Diver guide to find out where he is. Where is the shining jellyfish: Dave the Diver 'Pet Squid Selgio' quest The only thing that Linchen says about her jellyfish's whereabouts is that he followed a Shining Jellyfish before he disappeared. Where you can find Selgio in Dave the Diver is right outside the gates to the Sea People Village. If you leave the village and keep swimming west in The Depths, you'll quickly come across a glowing jellyfish. Dave will notice that its probably the jellyfish he's looking for, and it'll begin to lead you to Selgio. Swim after it, and you'll keep...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, July 24, 2023 3:17 PM
     Diablo 4 What Carries Over Between CharactersWith each new Season of Diablo 4, players must create a new character to participate in seasonal activities. This means you'll probably be picking a new class and playstyle every three months. If leaving behind your beloved character upsets you, don't worry, because certain things carry over. We'll explain what exactly carries over between characters in Diablo 4. Which things carry over between characters in Diablo 4? As soon as you create your fresh character for a new Season, you're probably wondering what you'll bring over from past characters. What things carry over between characters in Diablo 4 is campaign completion, map exploration, challenges, certain Renown, and transmogs. Confusingly, there have been some information online that says your Stash and Gold will carry over. Sadly, this doesn't seem to be true, unless some players are getting those carried over while others aren't. But from what I have seen, and what my fello...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, July 24, 2023 3:15 PM
     Remnant 2 is a game all about kicking some butt and dying quite a few times before you beat that particular boss. The game can be brutal at times, and this leads to you wanting to experiment with different builds, different worlds, or even different campaigns. Luckily a lot of this is easily done thanks to Remnant 2's very random nature, where a lot of the game is randomly generated. This makes each run feel brand new and you potentially never run out of content. One thing that players might be wondering however, with the random nature of the game, is how to obtain weapons and armor? Because they seem rather hard to get a hold of a few hours in. Here's our guide on how to get weapons and armor in Remnant 2. How to get weapons and armor in Remnant 2 Getting yourself some new weapons and armor in Remnant 2 might be a bit trickier than you'd think. But there are a couple of ways you can get them. First though, it's important to say that as of right now weapons and armor do not dro...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, July 24, 2023 2:54 PM
     Remnant 2 Cass Simulacrum FeaturedRemnant 2 is a game that features a lot of randomly generated aspects to it. Whether that be the world you inhabit, or the effects of relics you obtain by doing various tasks in the world of Remnant 2. One of the things you're going to want to be doing during the run time of Remnant 2 is upgrading your arsenal to be the best you can be, which requires certain materials. Simulacrum is one of the materials that you will need as you progress through Remnant 2, as it's used for upgrading your Dragon Hearts capacity. Here's our guide on how to find and use Simulacrum in Remnant 2. How to find and use Simulacrum in Remnant 2 You can find yourself some Simulacrum by doing one of two things. The first way of obtaining Simulacrum in Remnant 2 is to head to Cass, a vendor in the hub area Ward 13, and she will sell you a single Simulacrum for a pretty hefty price early on. She'll be selling it to you for 1,500 scrap, which at the beginning is a lot of currency to spend on one thing, espec...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Monday, July 24, 2023 2:51 PM
     Remnant 2 Dragon Heart FeaturedRemnant 2 is a difficult game, with its boss fights and even regular encounters being able to knock you down in just a few hits. You can circumvent this by trying out new weapons, upgrading your weapons, or simply just not going there for a while to come back way later and absolutely destroy that enemy. One thing you might not be noticing that may be making the game more difficult is your amount of Dragon Hearts, which are what you use to heal yourself. You start off with a pretty low number, and the more you have, the longer you can last in fights. Here's our guide on how to increase Dragon Heart capacity in Remnant 2. How to increase Dragon Heart capacity in Remnant 2 The first step to increasing your Dragon Heart capacity in Remnant 2 is to know where to do so. To be able to do this, you're going to want to head to Wallace in the docks of Ward 13. You can find this location in the map below, but if you want a written location you can find him past the Mutator Merchant and then u...

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, July 24, 2023 4:00 PM
     CJ Leung, known for his award-winning "Don't Stop Thinking" YouTube channel, is gearing up to launch his latest project, a tabletop RPG called "Cloudbreaker Alliance," on Kickstarter on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. "Cloudbreaker Alliance" (CBA) is an anime-inspired fantasy RPG that fuses elements of Eastern and Western media, creating an immersive gameplay experience reminiscent of …

Tabletop Gaming News – TGN Monday, July 24, 2023 3:35 PM
     Paizo has announced a partnership with Mirrorscape, an all-new extended reality (XR) tabletop gaming platform. This partnership will bring Paizo's fan-favorite Pathfinder and Starfinder games into an authentic three-dimensional and augmented reality setting. It's an exciting step forward that promises to add new layers of immersion and interactivity to the tabletop roleplaying experience. Set to …

Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Monday, July 24, 2023 4:00 PM
    

Alongside the previously announced Wolverine game and the upcoming Spider-Man 2.

The post Insomniac Games Seemingly Working on a Third Game appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.


Pivotal Gamers Monday, July 24, 2023 9:15 AM
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Level Up Monday, July 24, 2023 1:35 PM
     Those awaiting the release of Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon with bated breath can…

Level Up Monday, July 24, 2023 10:39 AM
     Dying Light developer, Techland has announced a partnership with Tencent that will see the massive Chinese…

Level Up Monday, July 24, 2023 9:00 AM
     Join Wesley LeBlanc and Brian Shea as the two discuss Mr. Run and Jump, a…