Kotaku Friday, February 7, 2025 8:00 PM  The PlayStation Network is suffering what appears to be a massive outage heading into the weekend. PlayStation 5 and PS4 Players across social media, including X and Reddit, are reporting being unable to connect to Sony's online services, including multiplayer matches and the PlayStation Store. |
Kotaku Friday, February 7, 2025 5:50 PM  Since 2004, Electronic Arts has used its Madden NFL series of sports sims to play out each year's Super Bowl match-up, and the results of this year's prediction have just been announced: According to EA, the winner of Super Bowl 49 will be the Philadelphia Eagles. Madden 25 says the team will defeat the Kansas City… |
Kotaku Friday, February 7, 2025 5:20 PM  Yo! We've arrived at yet another weekend in the year that just keeps on giving. And by giving, yeah, I'm referring to all the horrors of the modern era that you might be looking to escape from with some video games. This week we've got a promising entry to the point-and-click genre, the return of a certain platformer… |
Kotaku Friday, February 7, 2025 5:10 PM  After a controversial victory involving an incorrect rule call by a judge, a professional Disney Lorcana player has seemingly been disqualified from an upcoming world tournament while his opponent has received a rare trading card worth an estimated $10,000. |
Kotaku Friday, February 7, 2025 4:40 PM  The Resistance games were never among Sony's most popular franchises but they still have a special place in some players' hearts, especially those who remained ride-or-die through the tough early days of the PlayStation 3. And while 2011's Resistance 3 capped off the alternate sci-fi history about a WWII-style fight… |
PCGamesN Friday, February 7, 2025 7:58 PM  Beyond the crushing difficulty, Cuphead served as a tacit reminder of just how creepy early animation could be. All those exaggerated features and lanky limbs, it's truly the stuff of nightmares. Bad Cheese returns to that well, this time using a pastiche of Disney's early years for a tale of terror, and there's a demo you can try out for yourself. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best horror games, Best zombie games, Best puzzle games |
PCGamesN Friday, February 7, 2025 7:53 PM  Although each installment of The Sims offers an expansion with magic, the options available have always been relatively limited. Even exploring Glimmerbrook and The Magic Realm in The Sims 4, it all feels like an amusement park experience rather than something more fleshed out. The Fool's Apprentice offers people management within a magic school in the middle of a mythic realm, so you can fully embrace the dream of becoming Gandalf and running a wizard academy (or maybe that's just me). MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best fantasy games, Best dragon games |
PCGamesN Friday, February 7, 2025 4:57 PM  While the movie adaptation may have been regrettable, the videogame version of World War Z is a genuine credit to the excellent novel by Max Brooks. The experience pits groups of up to four players against hordes of zombies in a gruesome, explosive maelstrom. It's a lot more fun than the film, and at a historically low price, easily worth a purchase if you're into the walking dead. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Best zombie games, Best co-op games, Best action-adventure games |
PCGamesN Friday, February 7, 2025 3:20 PM  There are two camps when it comes to XCOM: those who prefer the modern games from Firaxis, and those who long for the '90s charm of the original X-COM releases by MicroProse. If you're of the latter - we do not acknowledge fence-sitters - Xenonauts 2 is something that should be on your radar, especially with the chunky new update. MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The best strategy games on PC, The best turn-based strategy games, The best space games on PC |
Siliconera Friday, February 7, 2025 8:31 PM
The PlayStation Network is now completely down, with the PS4 and PS5 store inaccessible and an outage keeping people off of PSN. The official support network website shows that every aspect is experiencing issues. Sony's official social media account offered no update or confirmation of any problem.
The official site noted that PSN account management, gaming and social elements on the PS5, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Video, and PlayStation Direct are all down as part of this unexpected outage. This also affects other platforms, such as the PS4, and accessing elements of Sony's systems online. All notifications on the support site noted the problem having started at about 6pm ET.
This means that if you have a game that is exclusively online, it can not be accessed. So a game such as Fortnite or Honkai: Star Rail would be inaccessible. Also, as licenses can not be verified during an outage, it might be impossible to play other games without proper verification. The best course of action while waiting for service to resume is to check in on the official site. If you have a system capable of playing physical discs or media, then it is possible to use and experience them during an outage such as this.
The PlayStation Network is currently down on systems like the PS4 and PS5, with the outage also affecting the store online and on web browsers. Sony has yet to comment on when service will resume.
The post PlayStation Network Outage Knocks Down PS5 Store, PSN appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 7, 2025 5:00 PM
Good Smile Company confirmed that the Sword Art Online Nendoroid of Asuna that is a 2.0 take on one from 2013 will be back in the second half of 2025. It'll show up first in Japan in July 2025, and it will cost ￥7,500 when it appears. The North American release is planned for Q4 2025, and it will cost $45.99 when it appears then. Orders placed directly through Good Smile Company get an additional Lambent Light sword part.
Since this is an updated take on an older Nendoroid, as well as an established anime and game character, it should look pretty familiar. Asuna has a neutral smiling expression, one that looks like she's shouting, and a third in which she in incredibly angry. She can be armed with her Lambent Light sword, thanks to additional hand parts. That can also be displayed in its scabbard. The additional part makes it look like it is glowing and she's performing a special attack like Linear. She can also hold a bowl of Rabbit Ragout.
Here's a closer look at the figure and its accessories, as well as the Good Smile Company Online Shop bonus sword part:
This means we will likely see the 2.0 Kirito Nendoroid too. Both he and Asuna showed up in the Nendoroids Funs Winter 2025 showcase this past week. Each showed up as painted prototypes in the video, so its likely his pre-orders will open in the next week or so.
The 2.0 Sword Art Online Asuna Nendoroid will come to Japan in July 2025 and North America in Q4 2025. Pre-orders are open until March 19, 2025. The anime is on Crunchyroll. Yen Press handles the light novels and manga series outside of Japan.
The post 2.0 Sword Art Online Asuna Nendoroid Returns This Year appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 7, 2025 4:00 PM
Nintendo revealed Wario Land 4 as the latest game coming to Nintendo Switch Online. It will be added to the Game Boy Advance library as part of the Expansion Pack subscription on February 14, 2025.
In Wario Land 4, players take Wario through a pyramid in the jungle in search of treasure. Wario travels through the pyramid's four passages in search of jewels, hoping to uncover the Golden Diva at the heart of it all. The game is mainly a 2D platformer where you use Wario's various abilities to bash through walls and roll through small spaces. Wario can also transform into other forms, such as a bat or a snowball, or he can inflate when stung by a bee, allowing him to float around. There are also minigames such as a baseball game and an endless runner.
Wario Land 4 first released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001 and is the fourth of Wario's adventures since his debut in Super Mario Land 2 on the original Game Boy. Developers of the indie games Pizza Tower and Antonblast have both cited the game as a major inspiration. Prior to the Nintendo Switch Online release, Wario Land 4 had also appeared on the 3DS and Wii U Virtual Consoles. Its predecessor, Wario Land 3, was one of the first Game Boy game released for Nintendo Switch Online.
The previous games added to the GBA library on Nintendo Switch Online were the F-Zero spin-off games, F-Zero: GP Legend and F-Zero Climax, which both released in October 2024.
Wario Land 4 will be available to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers on February 14, 2025.
The post Wario Land 4 is the Latest GBA Game for Nintendo Switch Online appeared first on Siliconera. |
Siliconera Friday, February 7, 2025 3:30 PM
Good Smile Company started taking orders for the Pop Up Parade L figure of Morgana from Persona 5 Tactica. It is going to appear in Japan in July 2025, and it is expected to appear in North America in Q4 2025. It will cost ￥8,800/$57.99, which is more than the typical $40 Pop Up Parade collectible due to its increased size.
This version of the Morgana figure is 175mm, which is just under seven inches. However, the Persona 5 mascot himself is much smaller, with the majority of the size stemming from the stand with game logo on the bottom. While this is a Persona 5 Tactica item, Morgana looks exactly like he does in other games like Persona 5 Royal and Persona 5 Strikers. The base also has the Latin phrase "Si vis pacem, te ipsum vince" from Erina's polearm on it.
Here's a closer look at ow the Persona 5 Tactica Morgana Pop Up Parade L figure turned out:
We actually saw another Persona 5 Tactica figure of the character pop up not long ago. However, Good Smile Company wasn't behind it. Youtooz created ones of Morgana, Joker, and Erina. Those launched in September 2024. Morgana's pose is more active there, as he's wielding his slingshot.
The Persona 5 Tactica Pop Up Parade L figure will launch in July 2025 in Japan and Q4 2025 worldwide, and pre-orders close on March 5, 2025. The game is on the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
The post Persona 5 Tactica Morgana Pop Up Parade L Figure Is One Big Kitty appeared first on Siliconera. |
Destructoid Friday, February 7, 2025 7:33 PM
From Whom the Bells Tolls mission has to be one of the most chore-heavy questlines as you complete one mundane task after another. Hauling the sack to the charcoal shed will be the first objective, and we're here to show you how to complete it in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.
Table of contents
KCD2 Haul sacks to the charcoal shed quest guide
When it's time to haul the sacks to Trosky Castle, the guard will tell you to put them into a mysterious charcoal shed. Unfortunately, the game doesn't really tell you where this location is, so you may end up walking around aimlessly like I did. If you aren't sure where to go, pick up the sack and walk to the entrance to the wagon's right.
Travel up this hill until you reach the shed on the left side. Due to Henry's slow walking speed, it'll be slightly tedious to perform. I definitely know the struggle, and I almost fell asleep with the sluggish movements.
Once you've reached the shed, place the sack on the wooden board inside. You must deliver three sacks in total to complete this optional quest in From Whom the Bells Tolls. Even though it's considered optional, it's pretty crucial to do it for the main objective of saving Sir Hans. It'll unlock the blacksmith in Trosky Castle, paving the way for the rest of the mission. You'll have to complete many more chores after this, but luckily, there is a way to make the process go by faster. Read below to find out how.
How to save Sir Hans quickly in From Whom the Bells Tolls quest
You can complete the remainder of the From the Bells Tolls mission in a few different ways. I've seen some players use the route with the Chamberlain, but others (including myself) have trouble persuading him. The only one that worked for me was the pathway that Reddit user XxBluesShadowxX used, which seems to be the quickest method. Here are the steps you can take to complete the From the Bells Tolls quest quickly in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2:
Getting the lockpick from the red pot should be one of your first steps. Since you can get caught robbing it, I suggest talking to the Cook Fanka and then the blacksmith to get free access to it.
Save the lockpick for later, and then work your way to Jarek through Kabat's rosemary mini-quest. You can complete the sub-task of helping Cook Fanka and Kabat if you want, but remember that this quest has a time limit. The main focus here will be Jarek, who will be kneeling near the Smithy.
Once you get Father Nicodemus to confess about the stolen rosemary, you can tell Jarek about it to get you to Thomas. Keep note of Thomas' location since you'll need to return here shortly. This part will let you roam this particular building without the guard's watchful eyes, but you'll need to do a bit of sneaking when stealing the food.
Use this food to trick a guard in the upstairs room near the Smithy. Take the stairs to find him.
Now, sneak up the stairs where the guard used to be and go up to the top. You'll eventually find a door there with Katherine inside. Ask her for help to get her out of the room. I failed to persuade her, but she didn't bother to tell any guards about Henry's whereabouts. Now, you can finally take the Physician's Journal from the bookcase and loot the chest for Thomas' Fever Tonic potion.
From Whom the Bells Fever Tonic recipe
If you aren't sure how to make the Fever Tonic recipe in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, follow these steps:
Even if you happen to mess up a few times with the potion, the From the Bells Tolls quest doesn't penalize you for it. I made two mistakes of boiling it for too long and forgetting to distill, and it still worked. Then, you can finally give the potion to Thomas to trigger a cutscene, thus concluding this Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 quest. Once it's over, ensure to get one of the best horses from Hired Hand Kabat. The Lion's Crest is also near Trosky Castle if you want a new gear set.
The post How to haul sacks to the charcoal shed in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, February 7, 2025 5:52 PM
What studio doesn't dream of the type of success and longevity that Minecraft has? Not only is it the second-biggest game ever in terms of sales, its rise from a solo indie project to world domination is one of the most noteworthy in all of gaming.
But is this popularity starting to wane a little? I must admit, even as a fan who recently got back into the game (again), I wonder how much life is left in the old girl. However, according to a study conducted back in December 2024, more than a few players think Minecraft's juggernaut is unlikely to slow down any time soon.
The study was conducted by Liquid Web (login required, unfortunately), which asked 1,000 users about their playing habits. Admittedly, that might not seem like many people to survey in the grand scheme of things, but the results are pretty interesting.
A small percentage play the game daily, at least
Perhaps one of my favorite statistics is that around 30% of Minecraft players still have their first-ever save file. Now, I can't imagine how they've managed to keep hold of their maiden world unless they've been playing recently. Do any of you still have your first save? I don't even have my first car, and I only passed my driving test a few years ago.
The study from Liquid Web also shows that players still feel Minecraft has a strong future. For example, four out of five players who are classed as Gen Z think the game will still be popular in a decade's time, while 25% said they would be willing to pay to access new features.
Additionally, around half feel that "player creativity and user-generated content" is the reason they keep playing, while two out of five players say Minecraft mods and/or customer servers are "essential to their enjoyment."
It should be reiterated that this is based on 1,000 users surveyed, so take from that what you will. But if we learn anything from this data, it's that we probably won't be seeing a Minecraft 2 any time soon.
The post New study shows 30% of Minecraft players still have their first save appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, February 7, 2025 5:49 PM
During the process of The Hermit side quest in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you'll come across some Cumans at a local tavern.
To get some much-needed help from the innkeeper, you need to serve the Cumans some sausages. However, Cumans aren't much-liked in Bohemia, so serving them raises the ire of local citizens at the tavern. This eventually leads to a decision that forces you to kill or spare the Cumans.
Choosing to kill the Cumans in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
The quest involving the Cumans is called "Invaders," and it begins after you try and ask the innkeeper at Troskowitz about The Hermit. The innkeeper won't tell you anything about The Hermit until you help serve the Cumans, but she also doesn't want any ruckus to come out of the situation, given how your last visit to the tavern went.
When you serve the Cumans their sausages, nearby tavern-goers make a huge fuss about you even giving them the time of day. At various points during the dialogue between the citizens at the tavern and the Cumans, you have the chance to interject and take one side or simply stay out of it.
Of course, if you played the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance, you might be inclined to join in on the dogpiling of the Cumans. If you continue to take the side of your fellow citizens, you'll eventually have to kill all four of the Cumans who were sitting at the tavern. Other NPCs at the tavern join you in this fight, but it can still be fairly difficult, as multiple Cumans can target you at once, and they're wearing impressive armor while wielding decent swords.
However, if you manage to escape the situation alive, the Invaders quest will simply end, no other objectives. You can return to the innkeeper to learn about the Hermit and go on with other quests in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. No one truly cares about dead Cumans, so there are no real repercussions for your actions at the tavern.
Choosing to spare the Cumans in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Alternatively, you can side with the Cumans against the tavern-goers who want them to leave. You might find yourself leaning toward this decision, as the Cumans are simply trying to enjoy a meal in peace and not harming anyone around them.
If you want to spare the Cumans, then tell the tavern-goers to leave them alone, which starts a brawl with the NPCs. The Cumans join you in the fight, and you can pretty easily defeat all of the citizens, including the leader, Vuytek. After the fight is over, Vuytek and the other NPCs will walk off their wounds, but the Invaders quest isn't yet done.
If you check your journal in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, you'll see a few new options under the Invaders section. You can now ask about the Cumans in Semine and try to find the Cumans' camp so they don't return to the tavern and cause more trouble. You can also speak to Vasko, the leader of the four Cumans, to learn more about them and where they're headed.
Speaking to Vasko allows you to see the location of the Cumans' camp, which is right near the Nomads' Camp on your map. If you haven't discovered that location yet, Vasko gives you a description of what to look for, and the quest area is marked on the map. By visiting the camp, you can talk to Vasko more and start an entirely different storyline that involves multiple other characters and several new objectives.
I won't spoil the rest of the quest, but it takes you down a route you likely didn't think would happen just by sticking up for the Cumans at the tavern.
Which option should you pick with the Cumans?
If you're not looking for another long side quest in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, then you can simply kill the Cumans and be done with them.
However, if you want to go on a decently long quest that leads you to some different locations, defend the Cumans and head to their camp. The Invaders quest with the Cumans is one of the better side quests you can go on in the early part of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, so I would say it's worth it even if you don't want to complete it right away.
The post Should you kill or spare the Cumans in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2? appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, February 7, 2025 5:01 PM
The dangers of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's world poses a huge threat to Henry, especially if you're walking on foot. That's why it's crucial to have trusty steed at your side to ease the stress of travel. We'll show you the best horse in KCD2 to set you up for success.
KCD2's best horse and location
Since every steed has advantages and disadvantages, it's hard to pick one choice for the best horse in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. While some excel in stamina, others cater more towards capacity, so it all depends on what you prefer. To cover both the Trosky and Kuttenberg regions, here's a list of the best horses and what they excel in:
The best horses in the game primarily reside in the second map, the Kuttenberg region, which can take a while to unlock. Luckily, there are still a few steeds in the starter Trosky region, with the old reliable Pebbles and the mysterious Herring. Although Pebbles' stats aren't that great initially, you'll see her worth the more you upgrade her over time. Plus, this horse is a nice callback to the first Kingdom Come: Deliverance story as one of the free steeds.
Unlike the other horses on this list, the Herring is one of the only free horses in KCD2. It'll be a part of the From Whom the Bells Tolls quest after you find a way to get into the wedding. If you're looking for another horse in Trosky, you can steal Bronka in Von Bergow's ambushed men POI to the right of Semine.
Considering that it'll be a stolen horse, you must go to the Nomad Camp, towards the left side of Semine. Speak to Horse handler Mikolai to claim ownership of Herring.
Use any of these horses to work your way to the second map. Then, you can buy the speedster Kincsem in the heart of Kuttenberg or high capacity Erdel in Maleshov. Keep in mind that there isn't an exact price for each steed since you can haggle the traders for a lower purchase. Depending on how the haggling goes, they usually go for 2,000 to 4,000 Groschen. Affording those prices will certainly be difficult, and you can check out our guide on how to make Groschen fast for money tips.
All best horse stats in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
If you're curious about the stats of these best horses, here's a list of what you can expect (shout to YouTuber NorZZa for compiling an extensive list of horse stats):
As you can see, the horses with superb stats in one category can take a hit with others. For instance, Kincsem does well in speed and stamina but not in capacity and courage. However, stats can improve, primarily if you unlock the Red Herring perk for the free horse. There may also be more horses out there that have yet to be discovered, giving you a ton more options for your traveling companion.
The post How and where to get the best horse in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 appeared first on Destructoid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Destructoid Friday, February 7, 2025 4:37 PM
There are a lot of Cooking Stations to unlock in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, each of which has a number of dedicated recipes that can be cooked. The Egg Pan Station is a Cooking Station that's unlocked towards the later stages of a playthrough, and it's definitely worth working towards.
The Egg Pan Station in Island Adventure is specifically dedicated to sweet Crepes and Omelets, which shouldn't come as a surprise when you consider what this station actually is. If you want to know how to unlock, upgrade, or use the Egg Pan Station, here's everything you need to know.
How to unlock the Egg Pan Station in Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Unlocking the Egg Pan Station is mostly done through Pekkle and a frustrating search for Rockadoodles. To unlock it, you'll need to complete the following objectives:
Once you've done that, a new Around the Island quest will appear called "An Egg-cellent Plan." Completing this quest will unlock the Egg Pan Station, which you'll find located close to the Rockadoodler Corral in Gemstone Mountain.
How to upgrade the Egg Pan Station in Hello Kitty Island Adventure
The Egg Pan Station uses Eggs as its main ingredient. Once you unlock the Station itself, you'll be able to add one additional ingredient to cook various recipes. However, you'll want to work towards upgrading the Egg Pan Station, because this unlocks the ability to add a second additional ingredient, so you can make even more recipes.
Unfortunately, upgrading the Egg Pan Station can end up being pretty frustrating. While upgrading the other Cooking Stations in Island Adventure is almost completely done through leveling up friendships with villagers, the Egg Pan Station is different.
To level up the Egg Pan Station, you'll need to find and photograph 102 individual Gudetamas. The lazy egg can be found in various locations across the map, with 96 to find in the early-game areas and further ones to discover in the late-game, like Merry Meadow and Cloud Islands. Even if you find Tophat Gudetama each week, he doesn't count towards your total.
Once you've taken 102 Gudetama photos, interact with the Gudetama Board in Seaside Resort to upgrade the Egg Pan Station and unlock that precious second additional ingredient.
All Egg Pan Recipes in Hello Kitty Island Adventure
To make this easier to navigate, let's split this into one-ingredient and two-ingredient recipes. Two ingredient recipes will only become available to make once you've upgraded the Egg Pan Station.
All recipes require one egg alongside the noted ingredient(s).
One ingredient Egg Pan Station recipes
Two ingredient Egg Pan Station recipes
The post All Egg Pan recipes in Hello Kitty Island Adventure appeared first on Destructoid. |
WGB Friday, February 7, 2025 8:58 PM The PlayStation Network is facing a global outage affecting many users, though some can still log in. PlayStation Japan acknowledged the problem and urges patience while investigating the issue. |
WGB Friday, February 7, 2025 8:48 PM The Resistance series, significant during the PS3 era, was pitched for a fourth installment but was ultimately rejected by Sony. Insomniac's Ted Price confirmed the concept but cited market timing as a reason for its decline. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 7, 2025 6:37 PM Breaks down the game's lore. The post WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Gets New Lore Trailer and Dev Diary appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 7, 2025 6:17 PM The game was previously set to launch in March. The post Football Manager 25 Has Officially Been Cancelled appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 7, 2025 6:03 PM According to Take-Two. The post Grand Theft Auto 6 Will Still Launch This Fall appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |
Gaming Instincts – Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism Friday, February 7, 2025 5:42 PM According to a recent Bloomberg report. The post Rocksteady is Reportedly Working on A Batman Game appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism. |