Jan 19, 11:00


Kotaku Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:30 AM
    

As you probably already heard, Microsoft is looking to purchase Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 billion. But why Activision CEO Bobby Kotick suddenly decided to give up control of the company and where that leaves the beleaguered executive after the ink dries changes depending on who you ask.

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Kotaku Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Apparently if you want to be a pro speedrunner in Deltarune, it's imperative that you utilize a technique called "Lesbian Skip." What's the deal with that? It's very straightforward actually.

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PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:48 AM
     Total War: Warhammer 3 system requirements devour 120GB of your SSD

Total War: Warhammer 3's release date will soon be upon us, so it'd be wise to ensure your gaming PC is capable of meeting the game's system requirements. Creative Assembly's confirmed it's going all-in on story with its final Total War title set in the Warhammer universe, and it's safe to say we can expect some graphical improvements and optimisations too.

While Creative Assembly is keeping the Total War: Warhammer 3 system requirements under lock and key for now, the developer has a history of introducing new graphical updates between Total War releases. For example, the second game in the Warhammer trilogy introduced DirectX 12 support, as well as volumetric fog and god rays. New anti-aliasing methods have also appeared in other recent Total War titles, so there's every possibility we could see Nvidia DLSS or AMD FSR debut in the series.

For now, it's probably best to prepare your rig for Creative Assembly's last Warhammer hurrah by equipping your system with the best gaming CPU and best SSD for gaming that you can afford.

RELATED LINKS: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:30 AM
     The Great Maw is in Total War: Warhammer 3, for the

The Great Maw is the deity of the Ogres in Warhammer lore - a giant, gaping mouth in the ground that's understood to look a bit like the sarlacc pit from Star Wars. I say 'understood' because outside of things like Ogre symbols and cave paintings, it's never actually been depicted in Warhammer media before. That is, not until Total War: Warhammer III.

You will find the Great Maw in the Ogre Kingdoms on the Warhammer III campaign map, and as you can see in the image above, it's quite robustly detailed. "It's actually the first time the Great Maw has been depicted in Warhammer lore," as principal writer Andy Hall confirms for us in an interview. "So have a good look at it. There were lots of discussions."

A blurb that appears when hovering over the Maw confirms that "the Ogres' ever-hungry chief deity is in fact an enormous crater caused by a meteorite so huge it almost wiped their entire race from the face of the world."

RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:21 AM
     Total Warhammer 3's co-op campaign supports eight players and simultaneous turns

Creative Assembly is stepping up its multiplayer offering in Total War: Warhammer III. While the upcoming strategy game's predecessor Total War: Warhammer II allowed for a maximum of two players in its campaign multiplayer mode, this time around the studio has quadrupled that number.

Total Warhammer III's campaign multiplayer has received a bunch of improvements and changes over the previous two in the series, as game director Ian Roxburgh tells us in an interview. "We'll evolve, we'll get all the things that fans wanted, but then we're going to throw some curveballs and put things in they'd never have expected," he says. "Real innovative Total War stuff as well, like eight-player simultaneous campaign multiplayer. No one would dream of that happening. It's so much fun; we've had a blast developing that, having battles with eight of you playing a party in it and controlling a few units each, and the way that works."

Roxburgh says the studio has even created some "mini" multiplayer campaigns, which will allow you to essentially "start and finish an eight-player multiplayer campaign in one evening with friends, where you get straight into the action and the armies fighting each other within the first turn or so".

RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:10 AM
     Total Warhammer 3's ninth legendary lord is a daemonic Mr Potato Head

The Total War: Warhammer III release date is less than a month away now, and Creative Assembly has revealed the ninth legendary lord you'll be able to pick in the strategy game's campaign. It's the Daemon Prince, the leader of a surprise eighth launch faction, the Daemons of Chaos. With no set affiliation to any specific Chaos god, the Daemon Prince can take powers and equipment from all four, and is as a result the most customisable lord Total War has ever seen.

The Daemons of Chaos, like their tabletop namesake, represent 'Chaos Undivided' - an army that has access to units from all four Chaos gods' rosters. That on its own is enough to guarantee some interesting buildcrafting with the Daemons of Chaos, but as it turns out, it's their leader who provides the broadest canvas for player creativity.

The Daemon Prince is a fallen prince of Kislev, as we learned in our hands-on campaign preview. Game director Ian Roxburgh tells us that Warhammer III's prologue "tells you about how that particular Daemon Prince came about", and confirms that he is the same Yuri named in the letter Tzarina Katarin is studying in the announcement trailer (this is not the same Yuri as Yuri Kovalenko, however - "there's more than one Yuri in Kislev," says principal writer Andy Hall).

RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:31 AM
     Total Warhammer 3's final boss is Be'lakor, and he's voiced by Richard Armitage

Creative Assembly has revealed that the big bad of Total War: Warhammer III is none other than the daemon prince Be'lakor. What's more, he's being voiced by Richard Armitage, whose gravelly tones you might recognise as belonging to the actor behind Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit trilogy.

"We wanted him as a villain because that's his role in Warhammer," Creative Assembly principal writer Andy Hall says. "Whether it's from Mordheim or even The End Times, he plays this role as a villain, and why he's so ideal for that role is that the Chaos Gods hate him, and the goodies certainly aren't friends with him either. He can do stuff that will affect everyone, and everyone's going to try and stop him."

Hall goes on to say that the team knew they wanted to use Be'lakor reasonably early into the design process, particularly praising his suitability for a climatic boss battle. "He's a classic villain full of plots and machinations, but he's also a big, hulking daemon creature as well," he tells us. "So he could fulfil that role as being a bit of muscle, but being very intelligent with it as well."

RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
     50 turns as Cathay in Total War: Warhammer 3's campaign

I wouldn't say it's the best feeling, to watch a dozen portals to hell burst into existence across the green pastures of Grand Cathay, the site of my steadily growing empire in Total War: Warhammer III.

Not that it's supposed to be, but I'm especially sensitive to this sort of thing. I like to build and beautify; I've been known to build unnecessary parade grounds in Command & Conquer rather than finish missions just because I thought them thematic. My biggest gripe with Total War: Warhammer II was that it would drop hostile armies into my territory as soon as I started a Vortex ritual; they always seemed to appear whenever my own troops were absent, so that no matter how I prepared, I was powerless to prevent the destruction of several carefully tended cities.

So you can imagine how I felt when these rifts into the Realm of Chaos burst upon my territory like acne before a first date. Warhammer's infamously grimdark lore is all about the fact that even the most redoubtable city is only a Skaven orgy away from drowning in a tide of rats, but look, it's not just me: "It felt a bit contrived that you can't control the fact there's going to be a few stacks coming in and attacking you," game director Ian Roxburgh tells us, reflecting on player feedback from Warhammer II.

RELATED LINKS: Total War: Warhammer 3 release date, Total War: Warhammer 3 races, The best strategy games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:56 AM
     Building a gaming PC could make your wallet weep in 2022

PC gaming is undeniably expensive, and ongoing component shortages are making the hobby even more costly. Sadly, it looks like the situation is about to get a lot worse, as the best graphics cards and CPUs from AMD, Intel, and Nvidia could suffer a 20% price hike in 2022.

According to a report by Digitimes, GPU and processor pricing could increase due to high shipping and foundry costs. Chip wafter manufacturer TSMC already bumped its prices up by 10% last year, which saw AMD raise its product prices by $20-40 USD, so it's even more disheartening to hear this could increase further.

The report suggests that AMD will be hit the hardest, as its CPUs rely on the 7nm and 5nm tech. This includes the red team's upcoming Ryzen Zen 4 lineup, which is expected to arrive this year. Of course, the company's RDNA 2 graphics card could also end up more expensive, as they also use TSMC's 7nm foundries.

RELATED LINKS: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X review, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT review, Best CPU for gaming

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:51 AM
     Minecraft farms: the best ideas and layouts for farming in Minecraft

Looking for some superb Minecraft farm ideas? No, we don't mean just a regular set of paddocks, we mean resource generation farms. Farms in Minecraft are an efficient, relaxing way to get your blocky hands on some much needed resources that you can use to craft Minecraft potions or grow produce to keep you fed and watered. No wonder it makes our list of the best farm games on PC.

You can set up your Minecraft farm close by to your Minecraft house to make a little harvesting haven, from ferrying veggies to your Minecraft kitchen, to raising your little piglets for some tasty stew - sorry piggies. As well as crops and food, Minecraft farms can be set up to harvest blocks and resources such as iron and redstone, especially useful for crafting new items using a Minecraft anvil or for smelting in your Minecraft blast furnace.

If you're stuck for Minecraft farm designs, here are some ideas for how to lay your farm out, taking inspiration from the latest Minecraft bees update and the Minecraft Nether update. These designs are great for beginners new to Minecraft farms, but also if you need to inject a little creativity into your functional and pretty farm.

RELATED LINKS: Minecraft console commands, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:29 AM
     Genshin Impact Yelan banner release date

Looking for more information about Yelan in Genshin Impact? Yelan has appeared in the game files since the 2.0 update, but not much else has been revealed about her until recently. A cutscene during the Moonchase Festival Genshin Impact event gave us a look at a brand new character which many believe to be Yelan. Her datamined profile has her listed under the 'tall woman' model, lining up perfectly with the character in the cutscene.

There's conflicting information about whether this truly is Yelan, as the game files also have her down as a bow user. The woman in the cutscene appears to have a polearm strapped to her back, however, that doesn't necessarily mean she can't use both weapons. Raiden Shogun fights using a polearm as her primary weapon, but she switches to an Electro sword when performing her elemental burst.

The anime game's community also believes Yelan is linked to Dendro, an element that the devs haven't addressed yet, but which has appeared in leaks. Here's everything we know about Yelan in Genshin Impact, including her backstory and banner release date.

RELATED LINKS: Play Genshin Impact for free, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:01 AM
     XCOM and Civilization devs form a new studio focused on turn-based strategy games

A group of former Firaxis developers has just announced a new studio. Called Bit Reactor, the studio will focus on the same sort of "turn-based tactics" games its founders are known for, with a focus on "high-end production values, riveting storytelling, and innovative design". Bit Reactor already has unannounced games in development.

In a press release, co-founder and CEO Greg Foertsch says that Bit Reactor has "assembled an amazing group of talented, experienced and dedicated game developers to inject rich storytelling, immersive presentation and rock solid game mechanics to give this genre it's rightful time to shine - a golden age of turn-based games is upon us."

Bit Reactor's announcement materials focus heavily on the team's experience on XCOM, but members of the studio have also worked on the likes of Civilization and Elder Scrolls Online. Foertsch himself worked at Firaxis for over two decades, and served as art director from 2005 to 2019 on everything from XCOM and XCOM 2 to numerous games in the Civilization series.

RELATED LINKS: The best Civ 6 mods, The best Civ 6 civs, Play Civilization VI

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:04 AM
     Genshin Impact codes – January 2022

Looking for Genshin Impact codes? MiHoYo's charming open-world game is notoriously addictive, and if you're anything like us, you're constantly on the lookout for more Genshin Impact primogems and other goodies.

Gathering currency in Genshin Impact can be quite the grind - while you can earn mora and primogems by completing quests such as daily commissions, an injection of extra funds will always be gratefully received. Fortunately, the developers MiHoYo occasionally send out free gifts in the form of Genshin Impact codes that can be redeemed online.

These Genshin Impact codes are released periodically. They frequently appear in MiHoYo's special programs that reveal information about future updates coming to the game soon, but are also released to celebrate milestones or to coincide with Genshin Impact events. Most codes also only work for a limited time - so it's a good idea to redeem them as soon as possible in case you miss out. Codes can only be redeemed once per account. Here are all the current Genshin Impact codes for January 2022, and how to redeem them.

RELATED LINKS: Play Genshin Impact for free, Genshin Impact character tier list, Genshin Impact leveling guide

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:06 AM
     Free TCG Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel is out on Steam now

Surprise! Konami has released Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel on Steam. While the free trading card game was pencilled in for a winter launch, we didn't hear anything specific about a release date so it's a pleasant surprise to see that it's just, like, launched.

Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel features more than 10,000 cards that you may recognise from over two decades of the show's existence. It's worth keeping in mind, though, that getting some of these cards may require you to participate in an event or purchase something in-game.

If you fancy playing by yourself, the solo mode features campaigns based around deck types that feature story sequences based on the lore of the cards. There are also tutorial and duel strategy modes to help you learn how to play the game before jumping online to duel someone else. Yu-Gi-Oh: Master Duel features cross-play and cross-save, too, so you can battle your friends regardless of what platform any of you are currently on.

RELATED LINKS: Upcoming PC Games, The best card games on PC

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:15 AM
     The best FPS games on PC in 2022

What are the best FPS games on PC? From the classic physics chaos of Half-Life 2 to Overwatch's incredible guns, these are the finest FPS games.

For more than two decades, the best FPS games have been the driving force of the PC games industry. They've let us travel from the depths of Hell in Doom to the outer reaches of space in Titanfall 2. Others have taken us on a detour through the likes of Half-Life 2's zombie-infested Ravenholm, while some have embraced futuristic cities.

Some of these FPS games are old, others are new, all are great. Wolfenstein 2's amazing campaign; Rainbow Six Siege and its tight tactical multiplayer; Overwatch and its vast array of amazing heroes. No matter what sort of virtual gunplay you're after, the following FPS games will satisfy your itchy trigger finger.

So crack those knuckles, get ready to make all the headshots, and keep in mind that guns will solve all your problems in the following shooty gems. These are the best FPS games on PC. We hope your aim isn't off...

RELATED LINKS: Titanfall 2 class guide, Titanfall 2 PC port review, Titanfall 2 campaign review

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:03 AM
     Rainbow Six Extraction release time confirmed

Now that the Rainbow Six Extraction release date is drawing near, you'll likely be wondering when you'll be able to pre-download the upcoming PC game and what time you'll actually get to play it. Long gone are the days of a release time being when your local shop opened, after all.

If you've already purchased Ubisoft's latest game on PC through Ubisoft Connect or the Epic Games Store, the good news is that you'll be able to pre-load the game now, as Ubisoft enabled downloads on January 17. Simply head to your chosen storefront and the option should be right there.

It's worth keeping in mind, though, that Ubisoft is holding Rainbow Six Extraction's Buddy Pass system back for a short period to "ensure a smooth rollout" for all players. If you've been out of the loop, the system lets you invite two pals to play 14 days of Rainbow Six Extraction with you for free. "Removing barriers so you can play with friends is very important to us," the team says on Twitter. "Rest assured, we are dedicated to launching your two friend invites very soon. We will update you further within a few days of the game release on when the free buddy program will be available."

RELATED LINKS: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Upcoming PC games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:57 AM
     Rainbow Six Extraction review in progress – dead ringer

Rainbow Six Extraction is a square peg in a round hole. It shares most of its DNA with one of the last decade's best multiplayer games, the asymmetric tactical shooter Rainbow Six Siege. All of Extraction's playable characters come directly from Siege's roster, with similar loadouts and only minor revisions to the functionality of each operator's gadget. It also adopts Siege's destructible environments, so you can shred most walls back to their studs with the right gadgets or enough bullets. Extraction even continues the sci-fi narrative that Siege started back in 2018 with the limited-time PvE event, Outbreak.

All of those ingredients are present in Extraction, but they've been mixed in such a way that they fail to impart any flavour. Destruction works exactly as it does in Siege, but there's no benefit to opening new pathways, and no way to exploit breachable surfaces thanks to the predominantly horizontal map design. Some operators have been creatively reworked to suit the new horde threat, but others seem out of place and ill-equipped. With so many of its components carried over verbatim from Siege, Extraction feels as much like a limited-time game mode as Outbreak did.

The story picks up shortly after the events of Outbreak, with its alien parasite - dubbed Archæans - springing up all over North America and evolving to pose team Rainbow a greater challenge. You start on Liberty Island in New York City, travel west to San Francisco, north to Alaska, and finally south to New Mexico. There are three maps to choose from in each location, but it doesn't really matter which one you're playing on as the objectives you'll need to complete are randomly assigned when you start a match.

RELATED LINKS: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Upcoming PC games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:53 AM
     Minecraft hosting: how to host a server on Java edition

Want to know about Minecraft hosting? You can set up your own server on Minecraft Java edition to invite your online buddies or create a multiplayer experience to share with even more players, but the initial process can take some time to get going. Here's how to set up and host your own Minecraft servers.

Mojang has free of charge server software that you can download to manage your server. You can download the Java Edition server on the Minecraft website. Before you do this, though, you'll want to make sure you have the latest version of Java installed - this is an important step for security. You can check this by accessing Java through your control panel. If you need to install Java or update the file, download the latest version of Java.

Once you have both the latest version of Java and have downloaded Mojang's server software, here's what you need to do next to set up Minecraft hosting and get your Minecraft server up and running.

RELATED LINKS: Minecraft console commands, Minecraft skins, Minecraft mods

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:29 AM
     Upcoming PC games 2022 and beyond

What are the best upcoming games to keep an eye on this year and the next? Hope, anticipation, agony, and elation - it's the endless cycle of emotions we go through during the annual PC release schedule.

Year in, year out, games - via Steam and otherwise - are produced in such varying degrees of quality that not a single one of them is destined for certain success. Masterpieces are released alongside utter disasters, series are born while others dwindle and, occasionally, a game actually lives up to our expectations.

So how can we possibly navigate the dizzying number of announcements, trailers, and teases to find which of the upcoming PC games we should devote our finite supply of hype to? Us old PCGamesN sages have been round the videogame block plenty of times already, so we're perfectly placed to tell you about the titles you should be saving your pennies up for. Below you'll find the upcoming PC games you should keep on your radar, as well as their expected release dates.


PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:27 AM
     Rainbow Six Extraction release times – everything you need to know

Want to know the Rainbow Six Extraction release times? Previously known as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Quarantine, Ubisoft puts cooperative play first in this PvE shooter. In teams of three, Extraction pits players against a deadly parasite that takes the form of a sticky black mould. This parasite is known as the Sprawl - if left unchecked, it can infect and kill humans.

Extraction borrows a number of core elements from Rainbow Six Siege, including the operators Ela and Vigil, who appeared in the first trailer back in 2019. The gameplay should feel familiar to anyone who has dabbled in Siege's multiplayer, and we fully expect to see more Rainbow Six Siege operators become part of the game.

When describing the game for the first time, Ubisoft made it clear that you don't have to be a Siege player to enjoy Extraction. This game may be a good way for new players to get to grips with a few of Siege's mechanics, as players will use some of the same weapons, gadgets, and operators. Here's everything we know about Rainbow Six Extraction so far.

RELATED LINKS: Best FPS games, Best multiplayer games, Upcoming PC games

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:44 AM
     New World server transfer guide – how to change servers

Wondering how the New World server transfer system works? When Amazon's MMO first launched, servers were quickly overwhelmed with players eager to start adventuring on the island of Aeturnum. This led to immense queue times in several regions, and Amazon added hundreds of new servers to allow players to get started as soon as possible.

To encourage players to begin their quest on one of these newer servers, Amazon Game Studios decided to grant each player a free server transfer token when the server transfer service becomes available. This token allows players to join their friends and reassess their server choice once things calm down a little.

When New World server transfers initially went live, the process resulted in a few unintended glitches, including a gold duplication bug that led to the transfers being closed down again. Transfers were later re-enabled and are currently live. There are a few things you need to know before packing your bags and leaving for a new server - here's how to transfer your New World character.

RELATED LINKS: New World system requirements, New World beginner's guide, New World review

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:26 AM
     Call of Duty: Warzone system requirements

The Call of Duty: Warzone system requirements aren't too different from the latest mainline game in the series, Call of Duty: Vanguard, but the free-to-play CoD is a touch more forgiving when it comes to the kind of graphics card you'll need. However, you'll want an Nvidia GeForce GTX 900 series card in your gaming PC to make use of Nvidia Reflex, which should help to reduce any unwanted input lag.

Maintaining a high frame rate is absolutely crucial in competitive FPS games like Call of Duty: Warzone, so turning on Nvidia DLSS is an easy way to boost fps. Unfortunately, you'll need an Nvidia GeForce RTX card to use the feature, but those with Nvidia GeForce GTX or AMD Radeon cards can still make use of the game's dynamic resolution setting to increase performance.

Pairing your GPU with the best gaming CPU you can afford will help to avoid any processor bottlenecks at higher frame rates, and maintain consistent 1% lows for a more consistent fps count.

RELATED LINKS: Best SSD for gaming, How to build a gaming PC, Best gaming CPU

PCGamesN Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:52 AM
     The best new PC games 2022

What are the best new PC games 2022? Perhaps you have just been paid, bank account fat with virtual dosh, or you simply want to get caught up with the latest PC games because they are, well, new and shiny.

It is all well and good starting another daring round of PUBG, taking on a new 100-hour Football Manager save, or yet another The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim adventure but, as much as we love setting mammoths ablaze, there are plenty of the latest PC games that will more than supply your gaming fix. You don't want to be the person who isn't In The Know now, do you?

These days, new PC games pour onto Steam at a frankly dizzying rate, making it impossible to keep up with them all. Thankfully, us kind folk at PCGamesN have separated the wheat from the chaff when it comes to recent PC releases. So, below you will find every new PC games for which you should be saving up your pennies. This list is updated regularly to include the latest releases.

RELATED LINKS: Valheim system requirements, Valheim building tips, Valheim progression guide

Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:45 AM
    

Sometimes you have no choice but to admire hard graft, even if it's illegal graft. In this case, it's a Russian bootleg copy of The Simpsons Hit & Run which we're admiring, mainly because the bootlegger has dubbed every character in every cutscene. The result is magnificent and just really funny, to be honest.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:15 AM
    

When I held that monkey's paw and wished for more games to appear on Game Pass, I didn't mean like this! I don't know if anyone has been brave enough to come out and say this, but Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard is... problematic. Even before you consider the serious and unresolved allegations of workplace misconduct at ActiBlizz, there's no easy "this is good, actually" point of view to have here.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:05 AM
    

Of all the uncertainty, rumour, speculation, claims, hopes, and business fanfic surrounding Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, here's my favourite bit. The Wall Street Journal claim someone told them that Actiblizz CEO Bobby Kotick wanted to 'change the narrative' around the company following many allegations of discrimination and harassment, and he thought that one way to do that was buying some of the video games media, such as Kotaku or cheery RPS fanzine PC Gamer. Oh that would change the narrative alright!

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

The first time I wrote about Total War: Warhammer, Ed Milliband had just lost a general election because of a sandwich. There's a joke there about him stepping down but the Chaos having remained, but I can't figure it out. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is this: it's been almost seven years since then. SEVEN! And I'm still head over heels in love with these games even now. Somehow, impossibly, that seems to be holding true for Warhammer 3 as well.

In a recent hands-on event, I was able to play something like eight hours worth of this final game in the trilogy from the comfort of my own spare room. Having not done a "digital preview" before now, this was something of a revelation to me. Wearing my comfortable clothes and with a steady supply of big mugs of tea, I booted up the game, hit 'New Campaign' and was greeted with the following screen.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:55 AM
    

Microsoft yesterday announced plans to buy Activision Blizzard for $69 billion (£50 billion), a staggering and un-nice quantity of money for the video games company behind Call Of Duty and Warcraft. They're buying the company at a troubled time, with multiple lawsuits alleging widespread sexual discrimination and harassment, an ongoing strike over QA layoffs, and employees publicly calling for the removal of the CEO, Bobby Kotick. A campaign group of employees known as the ABK Workers Alliance say the acquisition doesn't change their goals and there's still work to do.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:43 AM
    

It turns out Rainbow Six Extraction is more cerebral and stealthy than the co-op shooters I'm used to; the other day I accompanied Hayden and Ed on a few missions for the latter's review, and spent most of them either accidentally summoning hordes of parasite monsters or being hauled to medevac while encased in protective foam. Between my cocoon-muffled cries for help, however, I did manage to get a good look into how Extraction runs on PC, as well as the best settings to tweak if you want better performance.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:11 AM
    

Rainbow Six Extraction is a spin-off from Rainbow Six Siege's popular Outbreak mode, which saw Tom Clancy's operators fending off aliens instead of each other. Well, Extraction is a tactical FPS that builds on what made Outbreak great by repurposing Siege's PvP prowess into a moreish Left 4 Dead-like. Unpicking an alien hivemind with your mates is a real thrill, as is simply coming back from a mission alive. While it doesn't do anything to blow you away, it does more than enough to keep you coming back for a quick alien-busting session here and there.

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Rock Paper Shotgun Latest Articles Feed Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:15 AM
    

I just think the whole situation sucks ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Total War: Warhammer III is finally getting close to its release, the likely crowning jewel to the trilogy that debuted in 2016.

The post Total War: Warhammer III Shows That The Old Warhammer World Is Alive and Well (Hands-On Preview) appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Sega and Creative Assembly released another brand new trailer and details of the upcoming Warhammer strategy game Total War: Warhammer III.

The post Total War: Warhammer III Reveals Daemons of Chaos Undivided Faction With New Trailer appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:45 AM
    

It's no great secret that EA Games' FIFA franchise is among the best-selling of all time. And in Europe, where football (soccer) reigns king as the most popular sport by far, FIFA has found incredible success amongst video game players across all platforms. The extent of that success, though, is still remarkable to behold when […]

The post FIFA 22 Is the Best-Selling Game in 17 of 19 EU Nations appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:42 AM
    

Blue Lock has been making waves in the manga scene in the past year or so. Especially with the Haikyuu manga coming to a close, there's a huge competitive sports-shaped hole in the manga and anime world just waiting to be filled. Enter Blue Lock, an intense soccer-based story that centers around the most promising […]

The post New Blue Lock PV Offers a First Look at its Stunning Animation appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:41 AM
    

Today the western arms of Koei Tecmo released two English trailers of their upcoming Musou game Touken Ranbu Warriors.

The post Touken Ranbu Warriors for Nintendo Switch Gets New English Trailers Focusing on Gameplay & First Team appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:24 AM
    

Today Sony and Guerrilla Games released a new trailer and a gallery of images of the upcoming open-world game Horizon Forbidden West.

The post Horizon Forbidden West Gets New Trailer, Key Art, & Screenshots Showing Story & Characters appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 8:00 AM
    

Continuing Twinfinite's awards season, it's time to look back and reflect on the highlights from last year. And today, we're here to celebrate the best console exclusive of 2021. Voted on by all our staff and editors, these are the best games that were exclusive to a specific console. Indeed, thanks to their exclusivity to just […]

The post Best Console Exclusive of 2021 appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:57 AM
    

Developer Farm51 has released the latest update for its survival-sandbox game Chernobylite, called Monster Hunt. Unsurprisingly, the patch introduces new creatures across the eerie sandbox, including the Chernohost, Overgrown Duster, and Ancient Shadow. Players are tasked with defeating said monsters as part of a new side quest of the same name as the update. In […]

The post Chernobylite Monster Hunt Update Adds Terrifying New Creatures & Side Quest appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:14 AM
    

Following its original YouTube Premium launch back in 2018, the Karate Kid follow-up that nobody asked for has fast become one of the biggest runaway hits on Netflix, and it's easy to see why. Blending nostalgic '80s action with some well-written lighthearted humor, with a dash of genuinely warm emotional poignancy thrown in for good measure, […]

The post Sensei John Kreese Set To Launch His Own Cobra Kai Podcast 'Cobra Koves' appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:00 AM
    

Rainbow Six Extraction on Xbox Series X Rainbow Six Extraction started life as an incredibly popular limited-time game mode for its PvP predecessor, Rainbow Six Siege. Following the positive reception, Ubisoft opted to turn the mode into its own full-fledged game, giving players a chance to step into the boots of their favorite Operator once […]

The post Rainbow Six Extraction Review – Successful Siege Spin-Off appeared first on Twinfinite.


Twinfinite Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:15 AM
    

Earlier today, developers Re-Logic and DR Studios officially confirmed that one of its final major updates for 2D mine-'em-up sensation, Terraria, is available to download on Nintendo Switch now. The latest patch is titled Journey's End and is free to all owners of the base game. Essentially, it adds a bunch of new content to […]

The post Terraria's Journey's End Update Is Now Available to Download on Switch appeared first on Twinfinite.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:30 AM
    

The new Horizon Forbidden West story trailer and key art show off characters.

The post Horizon Forbidden West Story Details and New Key Art Shared appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Other servers will continue service.

The post MMORPG TERA to End Service in Japan appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:30 AM
    

Bandai Namco, Square Enix, and SIE will host live streams for their upcoming games.

The post Taipei Game Show 2022 Will Feature Elden Ring and Triangle Strategy appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:00 AM
    

The Dido-class cruiser shipgirl will be available in a time-limited construction pool.

The post Azur Lane HMS Charybdis Will Appear on 2022 Lunar New Year appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 8:30 AM
    

The calendar can also function as a wallpaper for mobile devices.

The post Genshin Impact February Calendar Features Beidou appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 8:00 AM
    

This trailer provides a look at Hisui from the air and by the sea.

The post Get a 360 Look of Hisui in New Pokemon Legends Arceus Video appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:30 AM
    

Kairi will also receive a fragrance.

The post Kingdom Hearts Perfumes Inspired by Sora and Riku Are Available to Pre-Order appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:00 AM
    

Dolls you can get include Ninja, Black Mage, Warrior, and Scholar.

The post Final Fantasy XIV Job Dolls Will Appear in Crane Games appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:30 AM
    

Owners of the Expansion Pack upgrade will get to play the N64 classic starting tomorrow.

The post Banjo-Kazooie Nintendo Switch Online Release Date Confirmed appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:00 AM
    

Despite missing its Winter 2021 window of release, the title is immediately available now.

The post Yu-Gi-Oh Master Duel is Now Available appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:30 AM
    

The latest USJ collaboration will add flashy Japanese-style attire, weapons, and buddy armor.

The post Monster Hunter Rise Azure Armor and Weapons Arriving Soon appeared first on Siliconera.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

This place used to justify its own announcements The Tilted Towers Fortnite update is out: and no it's not a misnomer....

The post Tilted Towers is back in Fortnite appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:00 AM
    

So, we all gotta buy an Xbox now or..? In the wake of yesterday's industry-shaking news concerning the acquisition of...

The post Phil Spencer comments on Xbox exclusivity following Activision purchase appeared first on Destructoid.


Destructoid Wednesday, January 19, 2022 6:01 AM
    

I've accidentally called it 'Quarantine' like a million times I'm at the point where some classic franchises are utterly unrecognizable....

The post Review: Rainbow Six Extraction appeared first on Destructoid.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:15 AM
     Total War Warhammer Iii Interview Creative Assembly Realms Of Chaos Daemon Prince Be'lakorTotal War: Warhammer III allows you to defend the world against the encroaching daemon tide. Alternatively, you can burn everything to the ground as Chaos. There's a lot in store, and an even bigger vision for Creative Assembly considering that this is the culmination of the trilogy. As such, I interviewed Jim Whitson (Lead Battle Designer) and Mark Sinclair (Lead Campaign Designer) regarding the development and future plans for Total War: Warhammer III's development. Note: This article is part of our Total War: Warhammer III preview series. You can also take a look at the Daemon Prince/Legion of Chaos, Realm of Chaos mechanics/campaign structure, and Grand Cathay/Miao Ying.   Total War Warhammer III — An interview with Jim Whitson and Mark Sinclair of Creative Assembly The Daemon Prince PCI: The introduction of the Daemon Prince leading a Chaos Undivided faction was quite a surprise. Can you tell me about the brainstorming process behind that? Mark: It was always s...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:10 AM
     Total War Warhammer 3 Grand Cathay Miao Ying PreviewBoth Kislev and Grand Cathay were huge surprises when Total War: Warhammer III was revealed last year. Neither nation has had an official army book and their rosters were never fully fleshed out. In Kislev's case, there was, at the very least, some lore owing to the nation's proximity to the Empire. Grand Cathay, however, was more of a mystery due to its location in the far east. That was then. Soon, Total War: Warhammer III players will be able to choose Grand Cathay led by Miao Ying and Zhao Ming, its two legendary lords. Note: This article is part of our Total War: Warhammer III preview series. You can also take a look at the Daemon Prince/Legion of Chaos and Realm of Chaos mechanics/campaign structure, as well as our interview with Jim Whitson and Mark Sinclair of Creative Assembly.   Total War: Warhammer III preview – Meet Miao Ying and Grand Cathay In Total War: Warhammer III, Miao Ying is the eldest daughter of Grand Cathay's Celestial Dragon Empe...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:05 AM
     Total War Warhammer 3 Chaos Realms Survival Battles PreviewTotal War: Warhammer III's Survival Battles in Khorne's Realm were revealed back in May 2021. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation as to how this feature would work or how armies could actually make it out unscathed. Recently, however, I was able to join a preview event that showcased a lot of what's in store. This time, we'll talk about the campaign structure, Realms of Chaos objectives, Survival Battles, and Be'lakor's involvement in Total War: Warhammer III. Note: This article is part of our Total War: Warhammer III preview series. You can also take a look at the Daemon Prince/Legion of Chaos and Grand Cathay systems, as well as our interview with Jim Whitson and Mark Sinclair of Creative Assembly.   Total War: Warhammer III preview – Campaign structure and the Realms of Chaos Total War: Warhammer III's campaign narrative concerns the reemergence of Be'lakor, the Dark Master, and first among Daemon Princes. In ...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
     Total War Warhammer 3 Daemon Prince Legion Of Chaos PreviewA lot of players, myself included, have been wondering about Creative Assembly's plans for Total War: Warhammer III. Over on the game's subreddit, I'd guess which legendary lords would lead each faction's armies. Naturally, there was talk of a possible Chaos Undivided faction. I, for one, thought that there's a good chance that Be'lakor would be playable. Still, Creative Assembly managed to surprise me. Indeed, the last legendary lord to enter the fray in Total War: Warhammer III is the Daemon Prince, the commander of the Legion of Chaos. Note: This article is part of our Total War: Warhammer III preview series. You can also take a look at the Realm of Chaos mechanics/campaign structure and Grand Cathay's systems, as well as our interview with Jim Whitson and Mark Sinclair of Creative Assembly.   Total War: Warhammer III preview – Meet the Daemon Prince and the Legion of Chaos The first big surprise is that the Daemon Prince in To...

PC Invasion - FeedDDD Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
     Blackwind GameplayBlackwind is a top-down, sci-fi action brawler and shooter that has you piloting a cutting-edge mech with some sharp-edged laser blades. That's ticking a lot of the right boxes for me. I love top-down games, fast-paced action combat, and battling mechs. I was optimistic about jumping in, and Blackwind wasted no time throwing me into the action. The game begins with you, a young James Hawkins, riding in a spaceship with your father to deliver new mechs to the military on a far-off planet. Just as your good ol' dad is telling you about the incredible prototype mech he's been working on, which includes a built-in AI, your ship is shot down. To save your life, your dad sticks you in the prototype and ejects you to the planet below.   Down on the planet, you try to pop the hatch on the mech to get out. However, only your dad's voice can override the mech's command to keep you inside. I really liked this immediate problem you're faced with. It gives the narrative two excellent ...

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:00 AM
    

Tabletop Gaming News Wednesday, January 19, 2022 9:00 AM
    

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 19, 2022 10:21 AM
     In Pokemon Sword and Shield, a hidden stat called Friendship boosts Pokemon with a high friendship level. Additionally, some Pokemon require a high friendship level to evolve. Raising Pokemon's Friendship levels boosts Pokemon like higher chances to evade, higher opportunities to land critical hits, opportunity to cure status conditions dealt with them, chance to endure […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 19, 2022 8:50 AM
     Runescape has stood the test of time as one of the longest-lasting MMORPGs. With frequent updates and a dedicated player base, it continues to attract new players and bring back old ones. If you're new to the game, the sprawling map can be a bit challenging to learn at first. Catherby is one of the […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 19, 2022 7:40 AM
     A new patch generally means a new Agent tier list. Valorant's newest patch welcomes the newest Duelist to enter the Valorant Protocol: Neon. Along with Neon's release came a few important gameplay and map changes that will most likely dictate how games are played going forward. VALORANT: New Year 2022 Agent Tier List (Patch 3.12) We […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 19, 2022 5:04 AM
     From the creators of Guacamelee! comes a new action RPG called Nobody Saves the World. The game looks just as gothic as the title, and developer Drinkbox Studios has released a new launch trailer for their latest title. The Calamity's power is growing, and nobody can save the world now. Good thing you're a nobody! […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 19, 2022 4:38 AM
     The pandemic came with a lot of surprise hits, and one of them is InnerSloth's sci-fi sabotage game, Among Us. Though the game has gotten pretty far from its peak popularity, the developers have shared a new roadmap to showcase how they plan to keep the game alive through the course of the new year. […]

Player Assist | Game Guides & Walkthroughs Wednesday, January 19, 2022 4:10 AM
     Xbox has just landed another massive feather in their cap. After they announced that they acquired Bethesda last March, it looks like Microsoft has just absorbed another massive studio for their Xbox Family. In an official statement from Phil Spencer, it has been revealed that Microsoft has agreed to acquire Activision Blizzard for a whopping […]