Feb 03, 02:00


Kotaku Thursday, February 2, 2023 8:40 PM
    

What a week. It was only Tuesday that we wrote about Rumbleverse, a battle royale game that was shutting down less than six months after launch. Now, on Thursday, we've got another, only this time it's Knockout City.

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Kotaku Thursday, February 2, 2023 7:10 PM
    

Earlier today the developer behind co-op shooter Back 4 Blood--released in 2021 on console and PC—announced that, having released multiple updates and three expansions, it was moving on. And the reaction to this was mostly negative, with players calling the game dead and suggesting the team was giving up on it. But…

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PCGamesN Thursday, February 2, 2023 7:11 PM
     New Witcher 3 update, patch 4.01 fixes the dodgy ray-tracing

If you've been struggling to get ray-tracing effects to work without tanking your framerate in The Witcher 3 since the launch of the RPG game's new Enhanced Edition, then the latest update has some potentially good news. The Witcher 3 patch 4.01 includes some stability improvements and performance enhancements, including a new setting for ray-tracing that trades a bit of precision for better framerates.

MORE FROM PCGAMESN: The Witcher 3 mods, The Witcher 4 news, Witcher 3 system requirements

Twinfinite Thursday, February 2, 2023 11:55 PM
     AI + Human.

Twinfinite Thursday, February 2, 2023 9:15 PM
     Down but not out.

Twinfinite Thursday, February 2, 2023 7:10 PM
     The end of an era is upon us.

Siliconera Friday, February 3, 2023 12:00 AM
    

BTS Member Jungkook Sings Chainsaw Man Theme Song 'Kick Back'

A member of BTS performed an impromptu cover of an anime track. During a Weverse stream, Jungkook got to talking about Chainsaw Man, at which point he then performed the opening song "Kick Back." People captured it online, then sharing the impromptu cover. [Thanks,⟭⟬ ⁷!]

Here is the segment in which Jungkook performed a bit of the Chainsaw Man opening song "Kick Back." from the Twitter account ⟭⟬ ⁷.

For reference, here is the credit-less Chainsaw Man opening, featuring Kenshi Yonezu's original version of "Kick Back." It features Denji and other major members of the cast during notable moments in the show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFlDRhvM4L0&ab_channel=MAPPACHANNEL

Following the anime's launch, "Kick Back" proved quite popular. For example, it ended up taking the first place spot on the Oricon Weekly chart in November 2022. While it remained the recurring opening, this adaptation is known for offering a different ending theme and animation for each episode. A soundtrack appeared in Japan in January 2023.

Season one of Chainsaw Man is complete, and people can stream it on Crunchyroll. A second season of the show has yet to be announced. The manga is available physically from Viz Media, with weekly chapters appearing on Manga Plus and Viz.

The post BTS Member Jungkook Sings Chainsaw Man Theme Song 'Kick Back' appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, February 2, 2023 11:00 PM
    

Elden Magicks Won the Eiyuden Chronicle DLC 3 Vote

Back in January 2023, Rabbit & Bear Studios announced an Eiyuden Chronicle add-on vote to determine what DLC 3 for the game would be. Now, the results are in. Elden Magicks took first place.

Here's the official announcement. While the team noted over 10,000 votes came in, it didn't note how many of those were cast for the Elden Magicks storyline.

As a reminder, the three featured characters in the Elden Magicks Eiyuden Chronicle DLC will be Markus, Milana, and Quinn. It will offer an investigation into rune lenses. These seem to be the game's equivalent of the Suikoden series' runes. Like them, they can be used to enable special skills or boost stats, as well as embedded into equipment.

There were five possible add-on options in this vote. Among them were ones that would have added more minigames, like Kings of the Neighborhood, or focused on the magical girl characters like Mellore. There was almost an option involving generals at war.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will come to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2023.

The post Elden Magicks Won the Eiyuden Chronicle DLC 3 Vote appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, February 2, 2023 9:00 PM
    

Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 Miracle Live

Love Live! School Idol Festival is dead, long live Love Live! School Idol Festival 2. Shortly after breaking hearts by announcing the end of service for the original Love Live game, developer KLab  and publisher Bushiroad confirmed its sequel. Formally titled Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 Miracle Live!, the game will launch for iOS and Android devices in Spring 2023.

https://twitter.com/lovelive_SIF/status/1621121696299372544

Though the game is called a sequel, Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 has much in common with its predecessor. The rhythm gameplay will be basically the same, but have visual upgrades to things like skill cut-in visibility. The game will also host every song in the Love Live! series to date, including songs from units like μ's, Nijigasaki High School Idol Club, A-RISE, Liella!, Sunny Passion, Saints Snow, and more. Bushiroad said that over 500 songs will eventually be included in the selection. Idol groups will have short movies that depict the characters' daily lives, and story-based content will allow players to interact with the idols in private and group chat settings. As before, event stories will also add new adventures and encounters for the girls.

Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 Miracle Live is in development for iOS and Android devices, with a release window of Spring 2023. Pre-Registration for the game is open now on the Japanese Google Play Store and Apple App Store. An overseas or English-language release has not yet been announced.

The post Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 Announced for Spring 2023 appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, February 2, 2023 8:10 PM
    

GameStop Gengar and Pikachu Pokemon Squishmallow Pre-orders Open

People get another chance to get the Gengar and Pikachu Pokemon Squishmallow plush, this time at GameStop. The store opened pre-orders for the stuffed animals. It started accepting pre-orders for the 10" and 14" Gengar and Pikachu variants. The 10" variant is $19.99. The 14" one is $29.99. They are expected to ship on May 12, 2023. [Thanks, Wario64!]

These stuffed animals are nearly identical to the ones that appeared at the Pokemon Center. The plush debuted there in November 2022. However, there is one difference. The Pokemon Center ones feature a special patch on the bottom and have a different tag noting their origin there. Otherwise, they are the exact same characters, only with the additional 10" size.

Other retailers are starting to get these two Pokemon Squishmallows as well. In January 2023, people began to see them at Walmart. However, not long after, some reported being unable to purchase them due to a street date limitation. On February 2023, the official Twitter account tweeted that both would be at stores near people. That's also when people began reporting them at Target and Walmart.

The Pokemon Gengar and Pikachu Squishmallow plush will come to GameStop on May 12, 2023.

The post GameStop Gengar and Pikachu Pokemon Squishmallow Pre-orders Open appeared first on Siliconera.


Siliconera Thursday, February 2, 2023 8:00 PM
    

FFVII Cloud

Perhaps the original "one-winged angel" was Cloud Strife all along. The team behind the Final Fantasy VII Remake dropped a bit of trivia about the game's protagonist in a post. It turns out that in the earliest stages development for FFVII, Cloud was quite a different sort of character.

https://twitter.com/FFVIIR_CLOUD/status/1621070921954902016

According to the post, early concepts for the protagonist of FFVII characterized Cloud (or rather, the character that would eventually be Cloud Strife) as a "Berserker." An uncontrollable warrior, this berserker version of Cloud would have their left arm "sealed away" by his bracelet. The story doesn't specify if Cloud would be prevented from even using his left hand, but he would fight exclusively using his sword in his right hand. The sword itself would be held on his back by a powerful magnet. Then, when at some point the bracelet seal was broken, this berserker Cloud would power up, finally able to fight with the strength in both arms.

Even in the finalized version of FFVII and subsequent projects, Cloud does bear hints of that original, abandoned character concept. In his character design for Final Fantasy VII, Cloud bears heavy metal armor on his left shoulder and wears a heavy bracer on his left arm. The bracer and pauldron are both roughly machined and covered in rivets, implying their use as a restraining device rather than as protective armor. And in the Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children film, Cloud does gain a reason to "seal away" his left arm: Geostigma. Suffering from a mysterious disease afflicting people that came in contact with the Lifestream during the closing events of FFVII, Cloud hides the symptoms by wearing a long sleeve over his left arm.

[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="949498,949499" link="file"]

 

Final Fantasy VII Remake is available on PS4, PS5, and PC. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is in development.

The post FFVII Cloud Was Supposed to Be a Berserker appeared first on Siliconera.


PC Invasion - FeedDDD Thursday, February 2, 2023 7:12 PM
     Fire Emblem Engage Seadall Character CloseupOne of the more unique units in Fire Emblem Engage is Seadall, a dancer who maintains morale and helps your best fighters do more damage. He's a useful ally indeed. Here's our guide to the best class and gifts for Seadall in Fire Emblem Engage. Best class and gifts for Seadall in Fire Emblem Engage Seadall joins your group as a Dancer. You should leave him in that class. Helpfully, the class comes with a level cap of 40 instead of the usual 20. When he reaches that cap, simply "change" him to a Dancer yet again to keep improving his stats. To make the most of Seadall, keep him dancing and focus on learning abilities that improve his ability to avoid enemy attacks. He automatically uses his Curious Dance personal skill at the start of each turn to heal nearby allies. You want that to happen as often as possible. Screenshot by PC Invasion Seadall isn't a terrible fighter, but you don't actually need him to do a lot of fighting. He shines in a support r...