The Game Awards 2020: All The Announcements, Trailers, & Winners

The Game Awards 2020 just concluded, and it was probably the biggest iteration of the annual event yet. It featured tons of surprises in the form of new game announcements, trailers, reveals, and a slew of guest appearances.
Here are the winners of The Game Awards 2020 (they’re highlighted in bold):
Game of the Year
Recognizing a game that delivers the absolute best experience across all creative and technical fields.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo)DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Hades (Supergiant Games)The Last of Us Part 2 (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Game Direction
Awarded for outstanding creative vision and innovation in game direction and design.
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Hades (Supergiant Games)Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)The Last of Us Part 2 (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Narrative
For outstanding storytelling and narrative development in a game.
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (written by George Kamitani)Final Fantasy VII Remake (written by Kazushige Nojima, Motomu Toriyama, Hiroaki Iwaki, and Sachie Hirano)Ghost of Tsushima (written by Ian Ryan, Liz Albl, Patrick Downs, and Jordan Lemos)Hades (written by Greg Kasavin)The Last of Us Part 2 (written by Neil Druckmann and Haley Gross)
Best Art Direction
For outstanding creative and/or technical achievement in artistic design and animation.
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Hades (Supergiant Games)Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)The Last of Us Part 2 (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Score and Music
For outstanding music, inclusive of score, original song and/or licensed soundtrack.
DOOM Eternal (composed by Mick Gordon)Final Fantasy VII Remake (composed by Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamazu, and Mitsuto Suzuki)Hades (composed by Darren Korb)Ori and the Will of the Wisps (composed by Garreth Coker)The Last of Us Part 2 (composed by Gustavo Santaolala with additional music by Mac Quayle)
Best Audio Design
Recognizing the best in-game audio and sound design.
DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Resident Evil 3 (Capcom)The Last of Us Part 2 (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Performance
Laura Bailey during the live stream.
Awarded to an individual for voice-over acting, motion and/or performance capture.
Ashley Johnson as Ellie in The Last of Us Part 2Laura Bailey as Abby in The Last of Us Part 2Daisuke Tsuji as Jin Sakai in Ghost of TsushimaLogan Cunningham as Hades in HadesNadji Jeter as Miles Morales in Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Games for Impact
For a thought-provoking game with a pro-social meaning or message.
If Foundâ€¦ (Dreamfeel)Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition (Cardboard Computer)Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)Tell Me Why (Dontnod Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)Through the Darkest of Times (Paintbucket Games)
Best Ongoing
Awarded to a game for outstanding development of ongoing content that evolves the player experience over time.
Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts)Destiny 2 (Bungie)Call of Duty: Warzone (Infinity Ward / Activision)Fortnite (Epic Games)No Manâ€™s Sky (Hello Games)
Best Indie
For outstanding creative and technical achievement in a game made outside the traditional publisher system.
Carrion (Phobia Game Studio / Devolver Digital)Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic / Devolver Digital)Hades (Supergiant Games)Spelunky 2 (Mossmouth)Spiritfarer (Thunder Lotus Games)
Best Mobile Game
For the best game playable on a mobile device.
Among Us (Innersloth)Call of Duty Mobile (Timi Studios / Activision)Genshin Impact (miHoYo)Legends of Runeterra (Riot Games)Pokemon Cafe Mix (Genius Sonority / Nintendo)
Best Community Support
Recognizing a game for outstanding community support, transparency and responsiveness, inclusive of social media activity and game updates/patches.
Apex Legends (Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts)Destiny 2 (Bungie)Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic / Devolver Digital)Fortnite (Epic Games)No Manâ€™s Sky (Hello Games)Valorant (Riot Games)
Best VR / AR
For the best game experience playable in virtual or augmented reality, irrespective of platform.
Dreams (Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)Marvelâ€™s Iron Man VR (Camouflaj / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Star Wars: Squadrons (Motive Studios / Electronic Arts)The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners (Skydance Interactive)
Innovation in Accessibility
Recognizing software and/or hardware that is pushing the medium forward by adding features, technology and content to help games be played and enjoyed by an even wider audience.
Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft)Grounded (Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios)Hyperdot (Tribe Games)The Last of Us Part 2 (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Watch Dogs: Legion (Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft)
Best Action
For the best game in the action genre focused primarily on combat.
DOOM Eternal (id Software / Bethesda Softworks)Hades (Supergiant Games)Half-Life: Alyx (Valve)Nioh 2 (Team Ninja / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Streets of Rage 4 (Dotemu)
Best Action / Adventure
For the best action/adventure game, combining combat with traversal and puzzle solving.
Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla (Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft)Ghost of Tsushima (Sucker Punch / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man: Miles Morales (Insomniac Games / Sony Interactive Entertainment)Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios)Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts)The Last of Us Part 2 (Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment)
Best Role-Playing
For the best game designed with rich player character customization and progression, including massively multiplayer experiences.
Final Fantasy VII Remake (Square Enix)Genshin Impact (miHoYo)Persona 5 Royal (Atlus / P Studio / Sega)Wasteland 3 (inXile Entertainment / Deep Silver)Yakuza: Like a Dragon (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio / Sega)
Best Fighting
For the best game designed primarily around head-to-head combat.
Granblue Fantasy: Versus (Arc System Works / Cygames / XSEED Games)Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (NetherRealm Studios / Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment)Street Fighter V Champion Edition (Dimps / Capcom)One Punch Man: A Hero Nobody Knows (Spike Chunsoft / Bandai Namco) (Lol whut â€“ Mr Toffee)Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] (French-Bread / Arc System Works / Aksys Games)
Best Family
For the best game appropriate for family play, irrespective of genre or platform.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo)Crash Bandicoot 4: Itâ€™s About Time (Toys for Bob / Activision)Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic / Devolver Digital)Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit (Velan Studios / Nintendo)Minecraft Dungeons (Mojang / Double Eleven / Xbox Game Studios)Paper Mario: The Origami King (Intelligent Systems / Nintendo)
Best Sim / Strategy
Best game focused on real time or turn-based simulation or strategy gameplay, irrespective of platform.
Crusader Kings III (Paradox Development Studios / Paradox Interactive)Desperados III (Mimimi Games / THQ Nordic)Gears Tactics (Splash Damage / The Coalition / Xbox Game Studios)Microsoft Flight Simulator (Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios)XCOM: Chimera Squad (Firaxis / 2K Games)
Best Sports / Racing
For the best traditional and non-traditional sports and racing game.
DIRT 5 (Codemasters Cheshire / Codemasters)F1 2020 (Codemasters Birmingham / Codemasters)FIFA 21 (EA Vancouver / EA Sports)NBA 2K21 (Visual Concepts / 2K Games)Tony Hawkâ€™s Pro Skater 1+2 (Vicarious Visions / Activision)
Best Multiplayer
For outstanding online multiplayer gameplay and design, including co-op and massively multiplayer experiences, irrespective of game genre or platform.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo)Among Us (InnerslotH)Call of Duty: Warzone (Infinity Ward / Activision)Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (Mediatonic / Devolver Digital)Valorant (Riot Games)
Content Creator of the Year
Valkyrae
For a streamer or content creator who has made an important and positive impact on the community in 2020.
Alanah PearceJay Ann LopezNickmercstimthetatmanValkyrae
Best Debut Game
For the best debut game created by a new independent studio.
Carrion (Phobia Game Studio / Devolver Digital)Mortal Shell (Cold Symmetry / Playstack)Raji: An Ancient Epic (Nodding Heads Games / Super.com)Roki (Polygon Treehouse / United Label)Phasmophobia (Kinetic Games)
Best Esports Athlete
The esports athlete judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2020, irrespective of game.
Ian â€œCrimsixâ€ Porter (Call of Duty)Heo â€œShowmakerâ€ Su (League of Legends)Kim â€œCanyonâ€ Geon-bu (League of Legends)Anthony â€œShotzzyâ€ Cuevas-Castro (Call of Duty)Matthieu â€œZywOoâ€ Herbaut (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
Best Esports Coach
The esports coach judged to be the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2020.
Danny â€œZonicâ€ Sorensen (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)Dae-Hee â€œCrustyâ€ Park (Overwatch)Fabian â€œGrabbzâ€ Lohmann (League of Legends)Lee â€œZefaâ€ Jae-Min (League of Legends)Raymond â€œRamboâ€ Lussier (Call of Duty)
Best Esports Event
Recognizing an event (across single or multiple days) that delivered a best-of-class experience for participants and the broadcast audience.
BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 European Finals (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)Call of Duty League Championship 2020 (Call of Duty)IEM Katowice 2020 (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)League of Legends World Championship 2020 (League of Legends)Overwatch League Grand Finals 2020 (Overwatch)
Best Esports Game
For the game that has delivered the best overall esports experience to players (inclusive of tournaments, community support and content updates), irrespective of genre or platform.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (Infinity Ward / Raven Software / Activision)Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (Valve)Fortnite (Epic Games)League of Legends (Riot Games)Valorant (Riot Games)
Best Esports Host
The best host or commentator of esports events (both in-venue and/or broadcast) in 2020, irrespective of game or language.
Alex â€œGoldenboyâ€ MendezAlex â€œMachineâ€ RichardsonEffje â€œSjokzâ€ DepoortereJames â€œDashâ€ PattersonJorien â€œSheeverâ€ Van Der Heijden
Best Esports Team
Recognizing a specific esports team (not the full organization) judged the most outstanding for performance and conduct in 2020.
Dawon Gaming (League of Legends)Dallas Empire (Call of Duty)G2 eSports (League of Legends)San Francisco Shock (Overwatch)Team Secret (DOTA 2)

Enough about the awards: how about the game announcements?
Hereâ€™s everything that was revealed and announced at The Game Awards 2020:
New Mass Effect Game

Publisher Electronic Arts and developer BioWare have debuted the official teaser trailer for the next Mass Effect game.
However, it’s currently in the early stages of development.

Among Us New Map

Among Us is getting a new Airship map in early 2021.

Ark II

Studio Wildcare announced ARK II. Platforms and release date were not announced.
ARK II stars Vin Diesel as Santiago.
ARK: The Animated Series, which explores Helenaâ€™s story, was also announced.
It will arrive in 2022, with the following voice cast:

Back 4 Blood

Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developer Turtle Rock Studios have announced that Back 4 Blood will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on 22 June 2021.
Check out the gameplay trailer below:

Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold War Warzone Season 1

Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold War Warzone Season 1 will begin for all platforms on 16 December 2020.

Crimson Desert

Pearl Abyss premiered the debut gameplay trailer Crimson Desert, confirming a winter release for the open-world fantasy massively multiplayer online RPG for PC and consoles.
Crimson Desert is an upcoming open-world action-adventure being developed by Pearl Abyss. A story of survival, it follows a group of struggling mercenaries and the many characters who cross their paths in the vast continent of Pywel. This is a world where heroes are made, but not without incredible hardship, pain and perseverance.

Century Age Of Ashes

Playwing has announced free-to-play multiplayer dragon battle game Century Age Of Ashes. It will launch in Early Access for PC via Steam in February 2021.

Dragon Age

Publisher Electronic Arts and developer BioWare debuted the official teaser trailer for the next Dragon Age game.
The synopsis reads:
The world of Dragon Age needs a new heroâ€”someone who can take on the evil forces threatening Thedas.Get a first look at some of the new locations youâ€™ll discover and the factions fighting by your side in the next chapter of Dragon Age.

Disco Elysium The Final Cut

Open-world RPG Disco Elysium: Final Cut will launch for PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, and Stadia in March 2021, followed by Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch in summer 2021.
Existing owners of Disco Elysium will receive the Final Cut as a free upgrade.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Publisher Bethesda Softworks and developer ZeniMax Online Studios debuted the teaser trailer for The Elder Scrolls Online: Gates of Oblivion.
Gates of Oblivion is the next big year-long adventure for The Elder Scrolls Online.
Bethesda Softworks will host a global reveal event on Twitch at 6pm GMT+8 on 22 January 2021, which will feature a first look at the gameâ€™s upcoming chapter, downloadable content, and a new storyline â€œthat will take you and your companions to the very edge of oblivion.â€

Evil Dead The Game

Boss Team Games and Saber Interactive have announced Evil Dead: The Game for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
It will launch in 2021.

Evil West

Publisher Focus Home Interactive and developer Flying Wild Hog have announced action game Evil West for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam). It will launch in 2021.

Elite Dangerous Odyssey

Endless Dungeon

Publisher Sega and developer Amplitude Studios have announced rogue-lite tactical action game Endless Dungeon for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam). No release date was announced.

Fall Guys Ultimate Knockout Season 3

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Season 3 will launch on 15 December 2020.
Season 3 features seven new winter-themed levels and over 30 new costumes.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LL1x_04Yefw

F.I.S.T. Forged In Shadow Torch

Dieselpunk Metroidvania game F.I.S.T.: Forged in Shadow Torch will launch for PS5 in addition to its previously announced PS4 and PC (Steam) versions in spring 2021.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ikWxYB5SX2c

Fortnite Master Chief

Master Chief and the Halo Blood Gulch map is now available in Fortnite.
Meanwhile, Daryl Nixon and Michonne from The Walking Dead are arriving on 16 December 2020.

Forza Horizon 4 Cyberpunk 2077

Forza Horizon 4 is getting a Cyberpunk 2077 car for free on 11 December 2020.
Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection

Capcom announced Ghosts â€˜n Goblins Resurrection for Nintendo Switch. It will launch on 25 February 2021.

Hood Outlaws & Legends

Publisher Focus Home Interactive and developer Sumo Digital have announced Hood: Outlaws & Legends will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam on 10 May 2021.
Pre-orders include exclusive bonuses and early access to the game starting 7 May 2021.

It Takes Two

Developer Hazelight has announced that cooperative 3D action-adventure platformer It Takes Two will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Origin on 26 March 2021.

Loop Hero

Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Four Quarters announced Loop Hero for PC (Steam).
The Lich has thrown the world into a timeless loop and plunged its inhabitants into never-ending chaos.
Wield an expanding deck of mystical cards to place enemies, buildings, and terrain along each unique expedition loop for the brave hero.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Xbox

The Xbox Series X/S version of Microsoft Flight Simulator will launch in summer 2021.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GdGB0cv6i8I

Monster Hunter Rise

Capcom premiered a new trailer for Monster Hunter Rise. The demo will arrive in January 2021.

Myst VR

Developer Cyan releases Myst for the modern era, recreated from the ground up for VR on the Oculus Quest Platform.

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…

Square Enix has revealed a new gameplay trailer for NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139â€¦ (also known as the NieR Replicant remaster)
It will release for the following regions on the following dates:
Japan: PS4, Xbox One (22 April 2020), PC (24 April 2020)North America/Europe: PS4, Xbox One, PC (23 April 2020)Asia: PS4, Xbox One (22 April 2020), PC (24 April 2020)

Open Roads

Publisher Annapurna Interactive and developer The Fullbright Company have announced Open Roads for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam).
It will launch in 2021.

Oddworld Soulstorm

Oddworld Inhabitants has delayed Oddworld: Soulstorm from its previously planned 2020 release window to spring 2021. It will launch for PS5, PS4, and PC via the Epic Games Store.

Overcooked Swedish Chef

Swedish Chef is now available in Overcooked All You Can Eat.
Perfect Dark

Publisher Microsoft and developer The Initiative have announced Perfect Dark for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
Players will assume the role of a secret agent thriller set in a near-future world.

Just Cause Mobile

Just Cause: Mobile is a free-to-play action shooter set in the Just Cause universe.

Scavengers

Closed beta for Scavengers is now available on PC.
Scavengers is a free-to-play strategic shooter where players form squads of three and fight for survival and dominance in a hybrid of sandbox-style PVE and class-based PVP.

Sea Of Solitude The Director’s Cut

Publisher Quantic Dream and developer Jo-Mei Games have announced Sea of Solitude: The Directorâ€™s Cut for Nintendo Switch, which will launch on 4 March 2021.

Shady Part Of Me

Focus Home Interactive and Douze-DixiÃ¨mes have announced Shady Part of Me, an emotional and dream-like journey, with breathtaking artistic direction and the enthralling voice of Hannah Murray (Game of Thrones, Skins).
Shady Part of Me is now available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate Sephiroth DLC

Sephiroth is joining Super Smash Bros Ultimate in December 2020 as part of the Fighters Pass Vol. 2.

Season

Scavengers Studio has announced third-person atmospheric adventure bicycle road trip game Season for PS5 and PC (Steam). A release date was not announced.

Scarlet Nexus

Scarlet Nexus will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in summer 2021.
Check out the new trailer below:

Tchia

Awaceb announced open-world adventure game Tchia for PC (Steam) and Stadia. Players can climb, glide, swim, and sail their boat around a beautiful archipelago in this physics-driven sandbox, as well as use Tchia’s special ability to take control of any animal or object they can find, and jam on their fully playable Ukulele.

Returnal

Publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment and developer Housemarque have announced third-person roguelike shooter Returnal will launch for PS5 on 19 March 2021.

Road 96

Players can hitchhike your way to freedom in this crazy procedurally generated road trip made by renowned indie creators.
It’s coming to PC sometime in 2021.

The Callisto Protocol

Krafton subsidiary Striking Distance Studios, which is led by Dead Space creator Glen Schofield, has announced story-driven single-player survival horror game The Callisto Protocol for consoles and PC.
It will launch sometime in 2022.
The synopsis reads:
Set on Jupiterâ€™s moon Callisto in the year 2320, The Callisto Protocol is a next-generation take on survival horror. The game challenges players to escape the maximum-security Black Iron Prison and uncover its terrifying secrets.A blend of horror, action, and immersive storytelling, the game aims to set a new bar for horror in interactive entertainment.

Warhammer 40,000 Darktide

Fatshark premiered the debut gameplay trailer for four-player cooperative action game Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.

Yakuza On Xbox Game Pass

The entire mainline Kiryu Yakuza saga will soon be available on Xbox Game Pass for Xbox and PC.
The Yakuza Remastered Collection (Yakuza 3, 4, and 5 also available separately) â€“ 28 January 2021
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life â€“ 25 March 2021

Ruined King A League Of Legends Story

Check out the official first look at gameplay for Ruined King: A League of Legends Story. It’s coming to consoles and PC in 2021.

Humankind

In Humankind, you’ll combine cultures across six different eras of human history to build a civilization as unique as you are. The journey matters more than the destination, and no great deed goes unnoticed.
Check out the new trailer below:


Ubisoft Singapore-Made Skull & Bones Is Now Dubbed A “Multiplayer-First” Game

Ubisoft Singapore’s Skull & Bones has been in development hell for quite some time; eight years if we’re counting. But at the very least there’s a goalpost of sorts for the project: the next fiscal year.
Ubisoft has reiterated that the game will be out between April 2022 and April 2023 and the game is now “multiplayer first”, according to a recent Ubisoft earnings call this week. CFO Frederick Duguet said the game is in a new direction since its internal reboot in 2020; a live service model to be exact.
“Itâ€™s a very promising new IP focusing on multiplayer first, so very consistent with our strategy to bring multiplayer competition and co-op first in a big open world, with a great, attractive fantasy. Thatâ€™s of course a longer development time that weâ€™ve had on that game, but weâ€™re very happy with the artistic direction and the progress of the game so far.”
Previously, the game was a single-player campaign experience where players could explore the Indian Ocean (solo or with online friends) and had characters and storylines evolve over time in a persistent game world with oodles of quests. The game originally had survival game elements and had to build their own ship.
On a related note, Ubisoft Singapore has joined the Singapore Games Association as a gold member. Here’s what Ubisoft Singapore managing director Darryl Long has to say about this development:
“The SGGA has done some remarkable work to promote the local video game industry.Â Ubisoft Singapore is proud to be a member of the SGGA and be a part of its journey to build and support a sustainable game ecosystem. Our team of talented and passionate individuals has produced many amazing games over the years, and we are honoured to partner the SGGA in showing how video game development is a fun and exciting career choice!”
Hopefully, this improved ecosystem means getting certain governments off of Ubisoft Singapore’s back and finally releasing Skull & Bones. And also means less sexual harassment and discrimination going on.Â


Hot Toys Mando Is Ready With Full Beskar Armour & Baby Yoda By His Side

The Hot Toys 1/6th scale The Mandalorian Collectible Figure was actually announced last year before the first season of The Mandalorian even made its debut. Now, the company has revealed more about the figure and it’s coming with its own adorable little Baby Yoda.
The Hot Toys Mandalorian comes fully equipped with a detailed recreation of his iconic Beskar armour, alongside an attachable jetpack, a blaster rifle and pistol, a dagger, a wired grappling hook, flamethrower effect, a tracking fob, and a desert-themed figure base.

While the 1/6th scale The Mandalorian Collectible Figure is 30cm in height, the Baby Yoda that comes with him is 6cm tall, which means that it’s pretty accurate to the size proportions from the series.

According to the official website, Hot Toys 1/6th scale The Mandalorian Collectible Figure is slated to release sometime in Q1 or Q2 2021. By then, we’ll probably have already seen Season 2 of The Mandalorian, if the Covid-19 Coronavirus doesn’t delay it, that is.


The Last Of Us TV Series In The Works At HBO

HBO has announced that they will be adapting a The Last Of Us TV series, which will be helmed by Naughty Dog vice president and the writer/creative director of both The Last Of Us and The Last Of Us Part II, Neil Druckmann, and Chernobyl creator Craig Mazin.
In addition, HBO’s Carolyn Strauss will also executive produce The Last Of Us TV series along with Naughty Dog president Evan Wells. As a co-production with Sony Pictures Television, it will be the first TV series from PlayStation Productions.
Mazin said (via The Hollywood Reporter):

“Neil Druckmann is without question the finest storyteller working in the video game medium, and The Last of Us is his magnum opus.
Getting a chance to adapt this breathtaking work of art has been a dream of mine for years, and I’m so honored to do it in partnership with Neil.”

Look for the light. @clmazin and @Neil_Druckmann to develop the series adaptation of #TheLastOfUs, coming soon to HBO: https://t.co/z9c2h86EYw pic.twitter.com/AkT6fET4Im
â€” HBO (@HBO) March 5, 2020
The official HBO Twitter account tweeted a clip of the symbol of the Fireflies (see above), a brutal militia from 2013’s The Last of Us, stating that the TV series is â€œcoming soon.â€
Druckmann said:

“From the first time I sat down to talk with Craig I was equally blown away by his approach to narrative and his love and deep understanding of The Last of Us.
With Chernobyl, Craig and HBO created a tense, harrowing, emotional masterpiece.
I couldn’t think of better partners to bring the story of The Last of Us to life as a television show.”

The Last Of Us HBO TV series will cover the events of the original 2013 game, but there will also be a possibility of including additional content from the upcoming sequel, The Last Of Us Part II, which is slated to release on 29 May 2020.
2013’s The Last of Us has sold more than 17 million copies across both its original release on the PS3 and a remastered version on PS4 to date. It’s one of the most iconic PlayStation exclusives of all time, which is no surprise why they decided to make an adaptation of it.
At the time of writing, HBO has yet to announce the casting for The Last Of Us TV series. From the looks of it, Game Of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau could portray a convincing and gruff Joel, while Kaitlyn Dever of Netflix’s Unbelievable fame might be a good choice for Ellie.
I know that fans used to say that Ellie looked like Ellen Page back then, but she’s probably too old to play the role now. Check out the fan-made image below, and think of the possibilities (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau on the left, Kaitlyn Dever on the right).


FIFA 21 or PES 2021? Kakuchopurei’s Ultimate Football Game Showdown Returns

Hello, sports fans! If you’re reading this & got enticed by the headline, you’re either or all of the below:

a FIFA or PES die-hard looking to justify their next annual football franchise purchase;
a FIFA or PES die-hard considering on switching camps; or
a parent/spouse unsure what to get their kid/ significant other

In any case, we’re here to help you decide between two of this year’s major football offerings: FIFA 21 and eFootball PES 2021 (PES 2021).
To help you make that decision or help reaffirm your thoughts on either game’s 2021 versions, we have decided to pit both of them against one another against several criteria as we’ve done before for FIFA 18 and PES 2018: Gameplay, Graphics, Presentation and Longevity. However, due to a unique feature which Konami’s game carries, we will lump several categories together.
Let’s begin!
Gameplay & Graphics
A few months back, Konami clarified the status of PES 2021, saying “despite the use of the phrase â€œseason updateâ€, PES 2021 will “still be a standalone game.” But here’s the thing. It is essentially, a roster update … save for Paul Pogba’s new hairdo.
If you played PES 2020, you’re getting all the same experience with this latest version. The fluid animations? Same as last year. Realistic ball physics and travel? Same as last year. Menu? Still a mess to look at. Same as how it’s been for the past ten years or so. Horrendous commentary? Yep, you guessed it. All at half the price.
[videopress 10SGRDZa]
While many sports fans scoff at the annual releases of sports games, labelling them nothing more than glorified roster updates and kits with little to no improvements whatsoever, at least Konami’s being upfront about it. With the realism modern gaming machines are able to achieve, and with developers seemingly having hit the glass ceiling when it comes to novel and innovative improvements to their sports games, Konami’s approach with PES 2021 is easily the smallest AND biggest innovation seen in years.
Whether this move was deliberate or not, remains to be seen. But assuming that Konami wasn’t able to fully utilize their developers to deliver a meaningful game no thanks to having a bulk of their team working from home, Konami’s decision to offer what appears to be a filler, rather than repackaging the whole thing as a whole new product is an admirable business practice.
As a consumer, I this is the way forward; our wallets and significant others would agree. Hope you are reading this, respective publishers of the Madden, NBA2K, and F1 series.
Meanwhile, for FIFA 21, it’s almost the same case as PES 2021, but you’ll have to fork out the usual amount of dough. In this economic climate of 2020.
If your significant other go “It’s the same game every year!” – believe me, my friend: you have nothing to counter this with. My gripe about FIFA over the years – as also mentioned in my review of FIFA 21- that the players’ movements are super odd. It’s like they are playing on ice. They skate and glide on the pitch, with each turn of the direction feeling laboured.
I know it was EA Sports’ attempt to create a true-to-life look. But when the attempt at realistic animation is paired with a very arcade-y gameplay; immersion is the first thing flung out of the window.

Winner: PES 2021. This is worth two goals.

Presentation

I’ll say it straight up: FIFA 21 crushes it here. New – albeit familiar looking – menu, soundtrack, and the whole experience as if you’re watching a live match: it’s all here.
Your favourite grounds are fleshed out to the max with iconic chants and banners makes each game a sight to behold. They changed the commentary team this year which also means fresh new commentary lines. I like the fact that they immediately cut it to Jurgen Klopp grimacing when Mo Salah shoots just a bit over the bar. Or how the Anfield crowd roars when Mane scores a screamer from outside the box.
In a world where we have not watched a football match with fans packed into a stadium since last February, seeing realistic-looking fans waving around scarves and singing are the closest thing to normalcy a football fan could ever ask for right now.
As for PES 2021, without the additional third-party option files, the game looks bland with plain shirts which takes away any sense of realism. However, once you load them up, man does take PES to the levels of FIFA. Shame it stops there, as the commentary is as horrendous as before. Seriously: PES commentaries are the worst.

Winner: FIFA 21.

Longevity
[videopress Wa2soCt6]
The moment FIFA 22 or PES 2022 releases, people would drop the older version faster than a fantasy football player taking out Harry Maguire after last week’s performance. The last sentence stays true to this day.
Anyway, the question pertaining to longevity when it comes to these two titles is this: would you still be invested in them by December or even next February? In my opinion, once the joy of FIFA 21’s Football Ultimate Team (FUT) dries up due to either you not getting that streamer luck when opening packs, or you just lose interest in football due to your club’s poor form, EA’s latestÂ have very little pull to make one linger about.
The career mode offers very little variety in progression – I realized they had the same player agent features every time you enter a negotiation with a player you’re interested in. Yes, the real-time updates which reflect the clubs and players’ real-life form do offer some pull to jump in for a round or two at weekends, but the buck stops there for me.
As for PES 2021, the modding community offers so much that one may never run out of scenarios or challenges to test out. If you, unlike me, is a fan of Malaysian football league, for example, you may find a challenge in getting Selangor to the tippy top of Asian football simply by installing the corresponding mod. Or just spend the entire life-cycle of PES 2021 playing as M-League clubs.
The Master League is definitely more enjoyable than its FIFA counterpart in my books and while isn’t as fleshed out as FUT, PES 2021’s MyTeam offers enough variety and is much more forgiving when rewarding you with top-tier players.

Winner: PES 2021.

Final Score: 3-1 in favour of PES 2021

While there’s very little to separate the two on paper, PES 2021 gets a comfortable win for several irrefutable reasons. It has better gameplay, a more realistic feel to how a football game ought to be and best of all, cheaper overall to own.
FIFA 21, whilst an improvement of last year’s iteration, does not carry enough weight to justify its purchase. Like United going for Cavani. Yeah, he’s good; but are you missing out much if you skipped it?
In the past, these comparison pieces between FIFA and PES would have been close. Like how Liverpool lost the title by just one point to Man City in the 2018/19 season. But just like the subsequent year, Liverpool not only overtook City, they blew their rivals en route to winning the league. Just like what PES 2021 has done for FIFA 21.
Anyways, hope the comparisons above help in your decision making. If you have any comments, both good and bad, about this feature, do let us know either here or on our Facebook pages.Â


Death Stranding’s PC Release Date Announced, Headcrabs Included

Updated 3/3/2020:
The PC version of Death Stranding will launch precisely at 12am GMT+8 on 3 June 2020 in Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia.

505 Games have announced that Hideo Kojima’s delivery simulator Death Stranding will be hitting Steam and the Epic Games Store on June 2. It was predicted earlier on last year, FYI.Â

Kojima Productions’ #DeathStranding launches on Steam & Epic Games Store on June 2, 2020.
The PC edition features Photo Mode, high frame rate, ultra-wide monitor support & content from Valve’s Half-Life!
Pre-purchase for in-game items & HD wallpapers: https://t.co/0Za43eMigd pic.twitter.com/0nyJIypwXR
— 505 Games (@505_Games) March 2, 2020

The PC version of the game will boast a photo mode, high frame rates, ultra-wide monitor support, and… Half-Life’s headcrab. Yes, you can fix a headcrab on top of Norman Reedus’ head. PC master race indeed.
If you pre-purchase Death Stranding, you’ll also get some in-game items & HD wallpapers. These include the expanded edition of the game’s score, “digital selections” from the official art book, and cosmetics like a gold and silver power skeleton. No crowbar or HEV suit included, sadly.
Check out the website here.


Shadow Of The Colossus Remaster Dev Director Teases The Legend Of Dragoon Remake

The Legend Of Dragoon is a cult classic JRPG game which was originally released for the original PlayStation back in 1999 in Japan and 2000 in the US. It combined traditional turn-based gameplay with a quick-time event mechanic and the ability for the player’s characters to transform into Dragoon forms.
Recently, Bluepoint Games Technical Director Peter Dalton teased the possibility of a The Legend Of Dragoon remake as a future project. The developer is best known for the Shadow Of The Colossus remaster and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection on the PS4.
On Twitter, when asked about The Legend Of Dragoon, here’s what Dalton replied with:

It is amazing seeing everyoneâ€™s passion. It is humbling and reminds me why we remake games. It is motivational and makes me want to push even harder to bring memories and greatness back to life!
â€” Peter Dalton (@peter_dalton) August 24, 2019

While these tweets are far from the confirmation that fans of the game would have wanted, it offers them a bit of hope that a remake could be coming in the near future. The original game has never received a sequel, but a remake is entirely possible due to the already-close relationship between Bluepoint Games and PlayStation.
More and more game remakes are announced every so often. Fingers crossed that the next one is a The Legend Of Dragoon remake.


Soccer Story Is A One-Of-A-Kind Sports RPG That Is Definitely Worth Playing

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre: Sports Adventure RPG
Developed by Panic Barn and published by No More Robots, Soccer Story aims to change how we see adventure RPGs by implementing a sports element to its storytelling and puzzle-solving. I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t actually looking forward to reviewing this game. After seeing the trailer and some gameplay, I still wasn’t really interested. The general concept seemed a bit odd but it was once I began playing the beta, it was then that I found that the game is intentionally ironic in a pretty hilarious way.
The game takes place a year after The Calamity tore apart the very foundations of soccer—I’m only calling it this instead of football for the sake of the game. Since then, Soccer Inc. has taken full control of the sport and has banned anyone from even kicking a ball around. Luckily, a magical football has descended from the heavens and has chosen you, The Savior of Soccer, and have been tasked with saving the future of the sport and bringing harmony to the world once more.
Football’s Coming Home!

Straight off the bat, you can tell that the gameplay really does cater more towards controller players, just the precision and movement feel so much smoother when compared to mouse and keyboard. As I do with most RPGs, I found myself trying to complete every side quest possible, before I continued the main story. And that’s something I really like about the game, you really feel like you have the time and freedom to do whatever you want, in no particular order. I can’t help but compare it to Skyrim in that sense. There are challenges and quests spread across the map which when completed, will reward you with upgrade tokens which will just help you traverse the main story.
Now it does differ from your bog-standard RPGs. When you begin the game, you get to select one of two characters, a boy called Leo or a girl called Kai. You later find out that the one you don’t pick will be your twin sibling. Where it differs is in customizability, you can’t really customise your character or even change their name (at least in beta). I feel that this is a missed opportunity as I feel that customizability is what draws in most players. Even with your club, you can’t really customise the kits and colours which I did find a shame.
The overall aesthetic of the game is pretty damn cute. Although it has a mixture of 2D and 3D aspects, it all has been implemented so seamlessly that nothing really feels out of place and it overall just reminds me of the now old-school top-down view that Pokémon used to do. The colours are vibrant and overall just pleasing to the eye.
As for the soundtrack and sound effects, everything just fits. It’s by no means perfect or revolutionary. But I’d say that it does the job.
Definitely Not FIFA

Although the game is very much an adventure, you do play some soccer. In the story you only get to play once against toddlers—no I’m not joking, literal toddlers… Who almost beat me…
Going into the match I was thinking that it would play a lot like FIFA as Electronic Arts set the standard for controls and general gameplay in soccer games. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Although the controls do feel somewhat familiar, it’s not all that intuitive. Not all the controls are displayed in the menu and it took me a couple of minutes just to figure out how to switch players when I didn’t have possession of the ball. As for the gameplay itself, I found that it was extremely fast-paced and chaotic, but not in a bad way. I felt that the face-paced nature and the chaos of the match were intentional by the devs to add a bit of difficulty to what looks like a cute and easy game, and if that is the case then they did a good job as I had four-year-olds lobbing balls over my keeper.
I did run into a couple of bugs here and there. One was that if I had summoned the ball to my feet and ran into a thin obstacle like a post or a sign, I would find that my character would just freeze for a solid five. I could open my menu, and the environment around me seemed fine, just my character would just stand frozen against the obstacle as the ball rolled away. After five seconds the ball would teleport back to the character’s feet and the character itself would be pushed back from the obstacle. This happened a few times, and although not game-breaking, it was frustrating as it brought me out of the immersion of the game.
Another problem I found was in the beta’s playable map, you headed towards the most Southeastern part of the map, all audio except for the music would cut out entirely, with static segments of the audio chiming in and out depending on how close you were to the border of the area.
The last bug that I found was just above the area where I found the audio issue. I found that sprinting with the ball in certain areas would reveal a Talking prompt which was just random as there was no one there. I initially thought it may have been a hidden interaction but as I attempted to interact with the Talking prompt, it never showed up again.
Obviously, the beta was pretty limited in terms of map size along with limiting the functions and available abilities. I feel that if the devs had implemented more of the other skill metrics and introduced the other puzzles that are inaccessible in the beta, I feel that it would probably convince me to want to buy it even more.

Like I said before, I was reluctant to play this game but by the end of the beta, the game had me so enthralled that I was genuinely sad that I had finished the beta. It puts a new spin on the boring RPG aspects that we’ve gotten so used to and is extremely reminiscent of the older top-down view Pokémon games we all played while growing up.

I feel that Soccer Story is one-of-a-kind and is definitely worth playing as it really isn’t what you expect it to be. And it makes perfect sense that this game is coming to Game Pass as it’s the perfect game to sit back, relax and just play for hours upon end.
Final Score: 80/100


Tier One Entertainment Expands To Japan With New Idol Group

Tier One Entertainment, the gaming and esports entertainment pioneer and leader in Southeast Asia, announced its first foray outside the region by expanding its footprint to Japan. The expansion is part of Tier One Entertainmentâ€™s strategic move when it signed an investment deal with its investors, KAYAC, a Japan-based internet firm, and Warner Music Group, a global media company that has a strong market presence in Japan.
Along with its plans to discover the hottest up-and-coming local talents to sign and develop, Tier One Entertainment is debuting its first idol group in Japan to delight Japanese and global fans.Â
These four multi-talented individuals are set to redefine what it means to be an influencer and content creator who challenges the status quo. The idol group will be a new breed of Tier One talents who will elevate the level of content creation to new heights, delighting fans across the globe. The first member was announced by the company, with details shared by its Chief Executive Officer, Tryke Gutierrez, during the official launch live stream on 8 October 2021.
Multi-talented model and cosplayer Harry “har_fie” Field will be the first member of â€œProject 4,â€ the unofficial name of the idol group. The rest of the members will be revealed in a series of promotions that Tier One Entertainment will launch in the next couple of months.
With the company strategically positioned at the intersection of content creation, media properties, and esports, the launch of the new idol group comes along with its vision of bringing gaming to the mainstream.Â
Tryke Gutierrez, CEO & Co-founder, Tier One Entertainment, said:
â€œJapan is a country with a long history both in gaming and innovation in multimedia. With over 57% of its population being gamers, thereâ€™s a big opportunity for us to grow our brand. Tier One is bringing our brand of entertainment to the Japanese gaming industry. Our goal is to gather a core team and build an initial roster of content creators that will elevate esports and video games in Japan in ways the country has never experienced before.
Japan has always been my second home and is a country that’s really close to my heart. As gaming, esports, anime and toys become more and more part of a gamerâ€™s day-to-day life, I truly believe that Tier One has to set foot in Tokyo, the mecca of geek culture. This is an exciting time for us and we can’t wait to see what we can do in Japan and the esports and gaming space there for the years to come.â€œ
Alodia Gosiengfiao, Co-founder, Tier One Entertainment, added:
â€œThrough Tier One I was able to further share my passion for video games. Now with our Japan expansion, I get to work closely with another one of my great loves: Japanese culture. Not only are we signing new talents for the Japanese market, but we’re also going to debut our idol group, which will be Tier One’s greatest expression of cutting-edge style to date. That makes me very excited.â€
Moreover, the gaming and esports company also looks to find those who are willing to join its mission in bringing esports and gaming to the mainstream as it opens its office in Japan this year.
Daisuke Yanasawa, Chief Executive Officer, KAYAC said:
“We are thrilled that Tier One Entertainment is bringing the enormous momentum of the SEA gaming scene to Japan as its first foray outside its territory. Our collaboration will allow us to forge unique kinds of gaming entertainment to audiences in Japan and other key markets in Asia,â€
Founded in 2017, Tier One Entertainment is one of the largest gaming and esports entertainment companies in Southeast Asia, housing 1000+ talents with a combined following of 120+ Million on Facebook, 23.5 Million on Youtube, 11.8 Million on Instagram, and 9.1 Million on Tiktok.
It aims to revolutionize the esports landscape in Asia by developing truly talented, top-calibre personalities and connecting them to brands and the gaming audience. Tier One Entertainment is a Singapore-registered entity and is currently operational in the Philippines, Myanmar, Malaysia, Vietnam and Japan.


Ex-Bungie & Destiny Composer Marty O’Donnell Ordered To Pay Studio US$100,000 For Contempt Of Court

Veteran music maker and Halo/Destiny composer Marty O’Donnell has been ordered to pay Bungie US$100,000 in legal fees after being found in contempt of court.
According to a Eurogamer report, the ex-Bungie employee has been sharing musical sketches, variations, and full compositions on YouTube and Bandcamp; the latter can have its listeners donate money towards the releases since 2019. However, he was previously ordered to return all assets relating to his work on Destiny and its concept album Music of the Spheres back to the studio, and was prohibited from sharing or performing music from those scores way back in 2014. He was fired from the company back then.
Bungie filed a contempt of court papers against the composer.
“Mr. O’Donnell’s very possession of such materials proves he did not comply with the order to return ‘all material’ to Bungie.”
Not only was O’Donnell asked to remove all Destiny and Music of the Spheres audio from the internet, but he was also ordered to pay Bungie the aforementioned US$100,000 legal fees, any income earned through sale of the music on Bandcamp, and the cost of third-party examination of his equipment to ensure the assets are removed.
Guess it’s hard to let go after being in deep with a franchise or two for so long, huh?


Pirate Gold: 6 Reasons Why Ubisoft’s Skull & Bones Is Shaping Up Just Fine

To say that the world is currently lacking in pirate games, or games set during the Golden Age of Piracy, is an understatement. We have like, what, a couple of them that are worth our time & investment? Sid Meier’s Pirates!, the 2004 reboot of the previous game, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, the Monkey Island titles, and Sea of Thieves this year. The latter is still on its way to being a full game, mind you, so let’s hope the latter half is kind to Microsoft and Rare on that front.
The alternative method to getting your swashbuckling fix is to wait until 2019 when Skull & Bones comes out. But it’s not really a be-all-end-all simulation or a sequel to Black Flag with a new title. Well, it’s half of the latter: Skull & Bones is a naval warfare game where you pilot a pirate ship, steal treasure, destroy other ships and forts, and get away rich. You have to take down AIs and online players in the game’s dedicated server-powered Hunting Grounds mode, or even team up with the latter to take down bigger ships with bigger loot for score-keeping and leveling up. And then shoot them down to keep the spoils for yourself if you’re not the sharing sort. In other words, an action RPG multiplayer hybrid involving pirate ships.
After a thorough Ubisoft Singapore Studio visit and gaming session, I’m pleased to report that this isn’t turning out to be a half-baked experiment borne out of the Assassin’s Creed cloth. I’m dishing out a bunch of key reasons why this ship-faring guns-ablazing adventure might be 2019’s most-anticipated title.
At least until Ubisoft shoots themselves in the foot with some corporate money-grubbing nonsense. Pray that doesn’t happen.

#1. The Ship-Sailing Plays Like A Dream
If you’ve played the aforementioned Black Flag and its naval combat bits a lot, you will love Skull & Bones because it’s basically all of that. Only this time you have a few more indicators and extra user interface tidbits to highlight where you’re going and whether you’re sailing right. If you sail against the wind (jet propulsion wasn’t invented yet), you’ll know by the huge wind-splashing aesthetic indicator. The arrows that show where you’re shooting starport or broadside are a bit more obvious yet do not get in the way.
The devs were smart in cutting out the walking bits and go straight to the heart of the game: the sailing, the shooting, and the strategy that comes with such fights and skirmishes. The tedious act of repairing, hiding treasure, boarding, and other miscellaneous bits are all really, REALLY short jump cuts that last a second and a half. Skull & Bones want you to just worry about your ship and your skills in navigation and cannoneering.
Is that even a word; “cannonneering”?
Speaking of which, the game has an action RPG hook to it. You still level up via looting, pillaging, and stuff. You gain active and passive skills that you carry with your acquired ships. You get different kinds of ships to pick from based on the situation. There are three types we played with: the all-rounder Black Ram, the front cannon-focused Jaeger, and my personal favourite, the big and slow Royal Fortune. In RPG terms, these are your all-rounders, DPS, and Tanks respectively.
#2. Your Ships Have Supers
Each ship has its own Super Skill that is triggered by clicking the right analog stick. The Black Horn will go full-speed ahead and ram whatever’s in front it, regardless of wind speed.Â  The Jaeger fires eight cannonballs simultaneously from the front, making it the equivalent of Quad Damage in naval battle form. The Royal Fortune parks itself onto a spot and rapid fires unlimited cannons. Basically, like a video game tank’s siege mode.
There were a few skirmishes where I just parked myself while waylaying onto enemy ships, AI and players, while they’re duking it out until another player (a Ubisoft Singapore dev team member) used the much-faster Jaeger to skirt around and sink my battleship.
If you’re fighting as a team, you need to plan when to pull off these Supers when dealing with a freighter 10 levels higher than you. Or you could save it and just backstab the crew you’re temporarily teaming up with. Either way, your ship loadouts and your Supers determine your playstyle and sort out what kind of class you’re attuned to.

#3. We’re Getting At Least 5 Regions To Plunder In
You will have a plethora of regions to play pirate ship Player vs. Player vs. Enemy in. Eventually. When the game comes out, pirates and corsairs will be kicking booty (and stealing/burying it) in the African coast -specifically the Mozambique and Madagascar coastline.
Post-game content will then include other areas like the Arabian Coast, the Indian Coast, the Melaka Straits, and the Lagos Coast. Each of them will have different kinds of Fortunes (Skull & Bones’ versions of modifiers when you start a session), different terrain & map design, and distinct tropical flavour. These areas will open up on a seasonal basis, along with new game modes.
Whether they’ll be free or paid DLC is uncertain at this point in time, but at the very least players will be assured that Skull & Bones is in it for the long haul.

#4. Skull & Bones Might Be Going Competitive
Speaking of the long haul, there is a chance that Skull & Bones might be going the competitive and, of course, esports route. Based on the competitive PvP mode from last year’s E3, that might be a given.Â But that is up to the community and not Ubisoft, according to Ubisoft Singapore creative director Justin Farren. But having said that, Skull & Bones will still be competitive and skill-based in nature.
“You’re never alone in our world,” Justin said, “and we want those [online] interactions to be possible when you’re sailing. Whether you want to fight or ally is up to you. But our game is competitive in nature. You’re competing in seasons, trying to earn the best treasure. At the end of the day, you only determine the outcome through skill. That’s super-important to us as developers. When two pirates are fighting each other, it boils down to the better navigator and better combatant, and that’s giving deep rich systems for players.”

“That’s the long-term investment we want our players to experience with our game. And when the game becomes esports, it’s only because people are telling us that it’s esports. The community will tell us eventually whether that’s what they want out of our game. We will just respond and adapt to it.”

#5. Justin Farren & His Team Love Their Pirates
A few minutes in the Ubisoft Singapore Skull & Bones’ development side, and you can already feel the aura of hard work and dedication within. Justin and his team seem to run a tight ship with their water physics, game design, and the overall game. Heck, the Ubisoft engine team and level designers are making darn sure the terrain and trees and tropical bits on the islands are accurate and shows the sense of scale whenever a new player starts the region for the first time.

And then they have the whole Keepers of the Code team, a voluntary group whose sole purpose is to spread the word far and wide about Skull & Bones from a community perspective. They also provide feedback from the community and player’s perspective so that the game grows beyond its launch and hopefully its shelf life.
Livestreams, workshops, community forums-maintenance & placating: a multiplayer game like Skull & Bones lives and dies by its community, and it’s good that Ubisoft is putting community first.
Just don’t go springing random pirate trivia onto Justin Farren. I heard he’s pretty bad at it.

#6. They’re Not Pulling Off A Launch Like For Honor
Maybe. I don’t know. After playing through a few sessions and an hour’s worth of the seafaring game, I feel pretty confident that this might be the unorthodox multiplayer hit that will dominate the gaming seas next year.
However, I did presume the same thing to happen with For Honor, a fun multiplayer game from Ubisoft that unfortunately flubbed its launch and first few months. For a game mimicking fighting game mechanics but with swords, non-dedicated servers and lag issues are the last things that should be popping up to win new players into the fray.
For Honor did make a turnaround lately, since it has that new expansion coming out subtitled Marching Fire.Â I do wonder if Skull & Bones might suffer the same fate or even get that windfall a year later after its 2019 release. In any case, the small serving I got was at least a good indicator that this pirate game knew its charted course better than what Rare did with its triple-A full price beta this year.


Transformers War For Cybertron Kingdom Trailer Teases The Beast Wars

In July 2020, Netflix released the first part of the new CG animated series Transformers War For Cybertron with the six-episode first chapter; Siege. They followed this up with the second chapter, Earthrise, on 30 December 2020. Now, the third and final instalment, Kingdom, will arrive later this month on 29 July 2021, and the first full trailer has been unveiled.
At the end of the last chapter, Megatronâ€™s forces had finally caught up with the fleeing Autobot remnants, as the Decepticon leader and Optimus Prime fought over the Matrix of Leadership, only for their ships to crash land on the surface of an alien world, which turns out to be an ancient Earth. The big twist was that there were already Transformers there, as Earthrise ended with a velociraptor that was actually a Dinobot from the iconic Beast Wars animated series.
While the original Beast Wars animated series was actually set 300 years after the events of the original G1 Transformers, the big twist in Transformers War For Cybertron Kingdom is that the Autobots are now fighting side by side with the Maximals against the Decepticons and Predacons. The trailer also features several returning familiar faces, including Galvatron and Nemesis Prime.
Polygon Pictures (Star Wars Resistance, Knights Of Sidonia) is the animation studio behind the series. Transformers veteran F.J. DeSanto (Transformers: Titans Return, Transformers: Power Of The Primes) serves as showrunner on the series with several contributing writers, including George Krstic (Megas XLR), Gavin Hignight (Transformers: Cyberverse), and Brandon Easton (Marvel’s Agent Carter, Transformers: Rescue Bots).
Given that the next live-action Transformers movie will also be adapting Beast Wars, it looks like the beloved series from the 90s is staging a comeback into pop culture consciousness a few decades later. You can also check the rest of my Netflix July 2021 picks and highlights by heading over here.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Microsoft Announces New Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core

Microsoft has announced the new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core today, and it’s priced at US$50 less than the existing Xbox Elite 2. The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core is available for preorder today for US$129.99, but it doesn’t include the usual interchangeable components because you’ll have to purchase those separately.
The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core offers the usual adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wraparound rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks, and it now comes in white.
However, if you want the rear paddles, variety of thumbsticks, and carrying case, you’ll need to purchase a separate “Complete Component Pack” for US$59.99. The pack includes the following:

Carrying case
Charging dock
Classic thumbsticks (2)
Tall thumbstick (1)
Dome thumbstick (1)
Cross-shaped D-pad (1)
Set of four paddles: medium (2), mini (2)
USB-C cable

The Xbox Elite 2 Core with the separate component pack.  Image: Microsoft
Pre-orders for the new white Xbox Elite 2 Core controller have begun, and it will begin shipping on 21 September 2022.


Earn Free Loot From The Borderlands 3 Vault Insider Program

2K Games and Gearbox Software have announced the Borderlands 3 VIP Vault Insiders Program; a new rewards system for gamers. It looks like the developer is going the extra mile to celebrate not only the upcoming release of the highly-anticipated Borderlands 3 but also the fact that this year is the franchise’s 10-year anniversary.
With the Vault Insider Program, players can earn points and rewards for completing tasks like watching videos (including trailers), reading articles, and other activities that are related to Borderlands. Racking up those points will enable players to redeem in-game items and exclusive content.
In fact, just the simple act of signing up for the Borderlands Vault Insider Program will net players a Borderlands 3 Welcome Pack containing high-rarity grenade, shield mods, and a VIP weapon trinket at launch. They can also look forward to other rewards like wallpapers and Gold Keys that are already redeemable in current Borderlands games.
Here’s how you can become aÂ Borderlands 3 VIP as part of the Vault Insider Program:

You must create a SHiFT account if you don’t already have one.
Even if you don’t have a SHiFT account, youâ€™ll have an opportunity to create one during the sign-up process.
Head to this link to sign up now.
It’s open to all PS4, Xbox One, and PC users.

More ways to earn points in the Borderlands 3 VIP Vault Insider Program will be added in the future. Besides that, more rewards will be revealed as we get closer to the eventual release date of Borderlands 3 on 13 September 2019.

Become a VIP in the Vault Insiders Program! Get rewarded with awesome in-game loot for the things you already do as a Borderlands fan!
Sign up âžœ https://t.co/wo2g6ExvCr pic.twitter.com/Auw7mCYEwg
â€” Borderlands 3 (@Borderlands) April 5, 2019
In the meantime, check out how the Internet responded to the news that Borderlands 3 will be an Epic Games Store exclusive here.


Lost Ark Is Being Played By 20 Million People Worldwide

Lost Ark, the free-to-play MMORPG from South Korea that’s recently in English thanks to publisher Amazon, is the hotness right now.
The game has topped 20 million players worldwide following its highly successful English language release. Within three days or so, the game had 4.7 million new players joining its community, mostly from North America, Europe, South America, and Australia. Probably; half of them are probably VPN users from Southeast Asia.
It’s right now the most popular game on Steam via SteamDB numbers. Its current player numbers are 558,023 at this moment of writing, with a 24-hour peak of 822,383. Here’s an official humblebrag post from Amazon about the game’s Western success:
“Overall, the excitement surrounding Lost Ark from around the world is quickly gaining steam, as evidenced by the growing number of global players. Together with Smilegate, we are committed to supporting the growing community with a robust roadmap of updates in the years to come.”
Lost Ark has new endgame content up right now. To get in on the action in Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines, and the rest of Southeast Asia, check out our guide.


The Amazon Fallout Series Features Giant Power Armours

The set for Amazon’s upcoming Fallout TV series has leaked, and it seems that the show will take some cues from Fallout 4.
One of them includes the construction of the power armour from the series. And it looks huge! Folks from Reddit mention that the power armour design resembles the big T-60 suit you see in Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. In other words, the setting for this show will be based on the East Coast Fallout rather than the West Coast (parts 1, 2, 3, New Vegas).
Fallout TV series

There were also other set leaks, including the show’s designs for vault interiors and vault suits. So far, they’re looking very accurate to the source material.

Some behind the scenes pics I got sent?#Fallout #fallouttvshow pic.twitter.com/jbpBNVoBBB
— Hunter (@HunterWorldv2) July 22, 2022

The Amazon Fallout show will star Walton Goggins and Ella “Jinx” Purnell. No release date has been announced yet, though it may be out within 2024. After all, the props here are not close to being finished. Game-wise, Bethesda lead Todd Howard said that Fallout 5 will arrive one day, but only after Starfield and Elder Scrolls 6 have been released.


Vincent D’Onofrio On Whether Hawkeye’s Kingpin Is The Same As Netflix’s Daredevil

It’s no secret that Vincent D’Onofrio recently reprised his role as Wilson Fisk AKA the Kingpin in the season 1 finale of the Disney+ Hotstar series Hawkeye. He originally played the role in three seasons of Daredevil on Netflix, and he finally returned to his iconic role.
I won’t spoil what happens in Hawkeye (for that, you can head on over here for my breakdown of the Hawkeye finale). However, fans have been wondering if the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of the Kingpin is the same as the one from Netflix’s Daredevil.
In an interview with ScreenRant, the actor clarified by confirming that yes, his Kingpin in Hawkeye is the same as the one in Netflix’s Daredevil. This Kingpin suffered from the effects of the Thanos Snap/the Blip, and he had lost some of his initial control of the New York criminal underworld.
He said:
Well, it was going to be the same Kingpin â€“ that it was after the blip, that he had lost some of his power, and he needed to get his city back. That’s the way I approached it. That was the storyline.
And as far as the character himself, I used everything that I used when I did it for Daredevil. It’s the same emotional life. The same character. Everything is based, whether it’s joy that’s happening, or sadness, or frustration, or anger, whatever is going on with Kingpin, it’s all through his emotional life as a child.
Yeah they don’t exist sep– they’re the same person.
Yeah. I think from my point of view, like a lot of the Avengers stuff, a lot of the MCU stuff, they tried to connect as many dots to the original canon as they can, and some dots are just not possible to connect. And that’s what we’ve done with connecting to Daredevil and vice versa.
There’s some dots [that] are connected. Like in the Hawkeye show, Fisk is obviously physically stronger and can take more physical abuse. But the key to his being an interesting character, in my mind, will always be the fact that he has this emotional life that grounds him, that makes everything work, as far as I’m concerned. We can sell that character in so many facets.
Story-wise we can sell it, if we keep him based in that emotional life. And I know that the writers, and the producers, and me, and everybody involved in the Hawkeye show, we were all on the same page about that.
I have to say that they’re very collaborative people and â€“ not only to mention awesome people, very nice â€“ but the producers, like I said, the writers and the directors were all just thrilled to work with so we kept along those lines. And I think that’s what will continue to make the character interesting if there’s anything next for me to do.
There you have it, folks. However, it’s better not to take his words as fact. Whether or not anything from the Marvel Netflix series is canon to the MCU is ultimately up to Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios. It’s likely that just like Disney’s approach to Star Wars‘ Expanded Universe content (or Star Wars Legends), Feige and the studio will just cherry-pick whatever they deem fit.
All six episodes of Hawkeye Season 1 are now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.


Gal Gun Returns Is Cancelled On Xbox One

It’s a sad day for fans of pheromone-injecting rail shooters.
Gal Gun Returns, the remaster/remake of the original Gal Gun, will not be showing up on Xbox One. The reason? Due to an inability to “ensure consistency” on the Xbox platform following a discussion with Microsoft.

“As a remaster of the original Gal Gun, we wanted to strive to ensure that we stayed true to the spirit of the first entry in theÂ Gal Gun series,â€ Inti Creates said in a statement, â€œand while development of the Xbox version was complete and the master ROM under review, it became apparent, after productive discussion with Microsoft, that we would be unable to ensure consistency of experience across all platforms.”

This may be an issue of censorship on Xbox’s side, since the game deals with risque content, but that’s just hearsay and speculation. This sucks, but at least the game will be out on PC and Nintendo Switch on 12th February 2021.


Monochrome Mobius: Rights & Wrongs Forgotten Coming To PS5 & PS4 This Fall

NIS America just announced that Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten will be released for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 in North America, Europe, and Oceania. The game was initially launched in Japan for these consoles and on PC via Steam worldwide on November 17, 2022.
And guess what? You can pre-order a limited edition of the game right now on NIS America Online Store for US$99.99. It includes a lot of cool stuff like a hardcover visual art book, an original soundtrack CD called “Prelude”, a huge cloth poster, acrylic displays of Shunya and Halu, a set of art cards, and a collector’s box. But if you don’t feel like spending that much, you can still get the “Deluxe Edition” of the game, which will come with a mini art book and a digital soundtrack.
Now, let’s talk about the game itself. Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten is the latest addition to the Utawarerumono series. It follows the story of Oshtor, a young fighter who lives a simple life with his family. But everything changes when he meets a mysterious girl named Shunya, who claims his father is still alive. Who is she? Where did she come from? Join Oshtor on his quest to unravel the secrets surrounding his father and the mysterious girl. You might even become a legend one day!

Key Features

Noteworthy Narrative – The deep, engaging story brings the world to life through a detailed and thoughtful narrative.
Alluring Animation – A combination of 2D anime-style illustrations and detailed 3D models will draw you deeper into the story.
Classic RPG Charm – Enjoy classic turn-based RPG gameplay and systems with modern quality-of-life features.
Utawarerumono Legacy – Celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Utawarerumono series with this thrilling new instalment!


Not Even Cyberpunk 2077 Is Safe From Funko Pops

There’s a Funko Pop figure of literally anything pop culture-related now, and nothing is safe, be they characters from movies or video games. If you think that Cyberpunk 2077 being delayed is bad news, now you have their Funko Pops, or (as I’d like to call it) Cyberfunkos, to look forward to.
As reported by GameInformer at London Toy Fair 2020, Funko is creating both male and female figures of Cyberpunk 2077 main protagonist V, along with not one but two different versions of Keanu Reeves’ Johnny Silverhand; including one wielding dual pistols while wearing sunglasses, and the other calmly sitting on one knee (without sunglasses).
They are expected to release on 16 April 2020 and will cost about US$11 each. They were highly likely supposed to accompany the release of Cyberpunk 2077, but it looks like gamers can drown their sorrows with these horrible Cyberfunkos for now.
You can actually pre-order these Cyberpunk 2077 Funko Pops on Amazon right now. Check them out below.
Funko Pop! Games: Cyberpunk 2077 – V-Male

Funko Pop! Games: Cyberpunk 2077 – V-Female

Funko Pop! Games: Cyberpunk 2077 – Johnny Silverhand 2

Funko Pop! Games: Cyberpunk 2077 – Johnny Silverhand

Cyberpunk 2077 is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One and PC on 17 September 2020.


You Can Buy The House That Sierra Founders Roberta & Ken Williams Built….

Adventure gaming fans and King’s Quest apologists should be familiar with the names Roberta and Ken Williams, the founders of Sierra Entertainment/Sierra Online. Turns out the home they built with their own two hands is up for sale.
According to Real Living, a real estate website (via Laine Nooney), the dream home of the adventure game-making pioneers can be yours for the asking price of US$2,310,000. It sure as hell isn’t cheap, but check out what’s in store:

Yes, that is a stained glass window tailored after the Sierra Entertainment logo. According to the listing, the place was built around 1982 and these details have been in the house for 40 years. Talk about ever-lasting memorabilia.
So if you happen to know a friend in America who loved all the King’s Quest games and want to live in a legendary place built by the Williams, do let them know.


Amazon Singapore’s First Dedicated Gaming Store Is Now Open

Amazon Singapore has opened its very first dedicated gaming stores It’s a great place to get great deals on video games, everything from hardware to peripherals and games. The new Amazon SingaporeÂ Gaming StoreÂ is now open.
Basically, it featured a special page with a massive selection of gaming products and accessories. In addition, all Amazon Singapore customers get to enjoy free delivery on eligible orders over S$40 within two to three days while Amazon Prime members get to enjoy free one-day domestic delivery on eligible with no minimum spend and free international shipping for eligible orders over S$60.
Plus, Prime members can also arrange for convenient two-hour, ultra-fast delivery with Amazon Fresh, gain unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video, and unlimited access to video game benefits with Prime Gaming. Customers can try Amazon Prime by signing up for a 30-day free trial here.

ot gaming gadgets/deals â€“Â keep your eyes peeled with these gadgets and deals that are available for a limited period of timeÂ
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Get yourself anÂ Xbox Series SÂ andÂ get 20% off*Â anÂ Xbox Wireless Controller (Robot White)while youâ€™re at it
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Expanding your Playstation collection? Buy anyÂ two Playstation hitsÂ andÂ get 15% off*

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BuyÂ anyÂ Nintendo Switch ConsolesÂ andÂ get 15% off games*Â like RingFit Adventure, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigiâ€™s Mansion 3 & More!
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Latest video game releases â€“Â youâ€™ll be glad to know that these latest gaming titles will all be available on the Gaming Store for purchase or pre-order!
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FOR PRE-ORDER:Â Mortal ShellÂ (Releasing 9 April 2021)

FOR PRE-ORDER:Â Returnal, PS5(Releasing on 30th April 2021)

FOR PRE-ORDER:Â Pokemon Snap, SwitchÂ (Releasing on 30th April 2021)

Monster Hunter Rise

Dirt 5, PS5

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Nintendo Switch Console with RingFit

*T&Cs apply


Gears 5’s Rod Fergusson Leaves The Coalition For Blizzard’s Diablo

Sad news for Gears of War fans: series producer and overseer Rod Fergusson will be leaving The Coalition and the franchise after 15 years.
But good news for Diablo fans: he will be joining Blizzard starting March to oversee the Diablo franchise.

I began working on Gears of War over 15 years ago and since then, it has been the joy of my life. But now it’s time for a new adventure. I leave Gears in the great hands of The Coalition and can’t wait for everyone to play Gears Tactics on April 28. pic.twitter.com/Az5w0B631i
— Rod Fergusson (@RodFergusson) February 5, 2020

Starting in March, I will join Blizzard to oversee the Diablo franchise. Leaving is bittersweet as I love our Gears family, the fans, and everyone at The Coalition and Xbox. Thank you, it has been an honor and a privilege to work with you all. pic.twitter.com/0FuO3RFYSQ
— Rod Fergusson (@RodFergusson) February 5, 2020

It’ll be interesting to see how Diablo Immortal and Diablo IV will shape up with him around. There’s only so much you can do with a franchise for 15+ years, especially if your name is closely associated to it as Cliff Bleszinski’s.
In related news, Gears Tactics will be out 28th April.


FIFA 20 Loses Rights To Juventus, Will Be Called Different Name

Looks like the war between EA’s FIFA and Konami’s PES franchise continues to rage on, as they both scramble to secure as many exclusives with football clubs as possible. The latest one involves Italian Serie A football club Juventus, as it signs with Konami for PES 2020.
What this means is that EA will no longer be able to use Juventus’ original name in their upcoming game (via BBC). The Italian football club will be known as Piemonte Calcio in FIFA 20, which includes a change in uniform and team colours as well.
However, FIFA 20 will still retain the rights to feature the Juventus players, including their likeness and real names. Juventus star players like Christiano Ronaldo and Paolo Dybala will be playable in all FIFA 20 game modes.

We are delighted to reveal our brand new EXCLUSIVE Partnership with #eFootballPES2020 and @officialpes!
Create some magic moments with the stars of our team in the ONLY football video game you can this year ðŸ™Œ#JUVxPES https://t.co/l4TZC41oEp pic.twitter.com/98UApa5iNg
â€” JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) July 16, 2019
Fans of Juventus will probably opt for PES 2020 now that their favourite club has signed with Konami. This marks the first time in 25 years that FIFA doesn’t have the rights to Juventus. This also ultimately means that EA won’t be able to feature Christiano Ronaldo on their FIFA 20 cover.
I personally recommend Liverpool’s Mo Salah, though maybe that’s just the Liverpool fan in me talking.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVbt92wviFc&w=560&h=315]


The PokÃ©mon Sword & Shield Malaysia Launch Party Is Happening This Weekend

After lots of trailers, announcements, and leaks, we’re finally just a few days away from the release of PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield. For PokÃ©mon fans in Malaysia, I’ve got some great info to share with you guys.
The official PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield Malaysia launch party will be happening this weekend. Entry is free and PokÃ©mon fans of all ages are invited. The event is jointly organised by The Magic Rain and Team Pika.
Here are the details:

Date: 16 November 2019 (Saturday)
Time: 10AM – 10PM
Venue: The LINC KL, 2nd Floor, in front of Hauntu
Seeing as how Maxsoft and The PokÃ©mon Company are both supporting the event, those of you who haven’t bought the game could probably get yourselves a copy at the event. You can also expect a bunch of fun PokÃ©mon-centric activities and games that you can join.
For more information and to show your support, check out the event’s official Facebook page here.


The Season-Long Valorant Champions Tour Kicks Off In 2021

Riot Games has announced the Valorant ChampionsÂ  Tour, a season-long competition tour set to take place throughout 2021.
The global tour will featureÂ competitions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, and willÂ crown a single global Champion at the end of the year.

Riot Games Esports Director Whalen Rozelle said:
â€œThe Champions Tour is our next step to grow VALORANT into a global esport worthy of the passion of our fans. We’ve spent a couple of years now talking to players, teams, fans, prospective partners, and other stakeholders, and we’re extremely excited to launch our first official season. Our focus will be on elevating and showcasing the creative and talented players who are shaping this game across the globe. Fans and players both wanted high stakes competition, and that’s what the VALORANT Champions Tour is designed to do.â€Â
The Valorant Champions Tour will feature three levels of competition: Challengers, Masters,Â  and Champions. Teams begin their journey by first playing in regional Challenger events, before advancing to international Masters events.

At the three Masters events set to take place in 2021, top-performing teams will accumulate points which will count towards qualification for theÂ  Champions event. This final stage will feature the top sixteen teams in the world and will crown a single global champion.Â
Throughout the course of 2021, three stages consisting of Challengers and Masters events will provide teams with multiple chances to earn points and qualify into Champions. After each Masters event, there will be an event break, allowing our pros and teams the opportunity to recharge and prevent burnout.
The season will kick off in late January with regional Challenger events across the globe. Each Challenger stage will consist of three tournaments and a final taking place over six weeks. Each tournament will feature eight teams who will earn their spots through open qualifiers. Teams that do well in Challenger tournaments will then qualify into Challenger Finals.
The Challenger Final tournament will feature the best eight teams and will award prizing and qualification slots into the next Masters event. While COVID-19 continues to impact international travel, Masters will be limited to regional events, similar to First Strike. During the stages where Masters tournaments remain regional, they will use the eight-team format of Challenger Finals.
International Masters events will feature global competition, and will include teams from all over the world. A total of 16 teams will battle for prizes and points that will count towards qualification into Champions, our end of year world championship.
Additionally, the team who wins the last Masters event of the year will automatically earn qualification into Champions and an additional team slot at the event for their region. Specific details regarding the point distribution and prizing for Masters events will be shared at a later date.
After the third Masters event, a series of Last Chance Qualifiers will provide teams with one final chance to qualify into Champions. Four LCQ tournaments will take place, creating a gauntlet from which one team per continent will qualify into Champions.
The season will conclude with Champions, Valorant’s version of Worlds. A massive two-week-long event which will feature the best 16 teams from around the globe.

The initial founding partners committing to the Valorant Champions Tour and the First StrikeÂ tournament will be Red Bull and Secretlab. More partners for the Valorant Champions Tour will be announced throughout 2021.


EA Sports FC: All The Confirmed Football Leagues

EA has confirmed which football leagues will be featured in the upcoming EA Sports FC.
Over the coming days, the EA Sports FC brand will debut in more than 100 matches across the biggest leagues in the world. Football fans will see the new brand identity in the wild for the first time through EA SPORTS partners, including the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, WSL, NWSL, CONMEBOL and more. Voices from across the world of global football are joining EA SPORTS to begin a new era for the game, with hundreds of leagues, teams, brands and athletes sharing the EA Sports FC logo through their platforms today.
Nick Wlodyka, SVP & GM, EA Sports FC, said:
“This is where the story of EA SPORTS FC begins. We’re building on 30 years of leadership and history creating experiences that bring the global football community together, and continuing to take it into a fan-first future. EA SPORTS FC will be a symbol for the sport, a symbol of innovation and change, and we’re energized to show our fans more about the future in July.”
EA SPORTS has defined interactive football for 30 years and built a global football community of more than 150 million across multiple platforms – a community that EA SPORTS FC will now continue to grow alongside partners who share a common goal of a fan-first future of football. Built on a foundation of inclusivity and innovation, fans will experience unrivaled authenticity with access to more than 19,000 fully licensed players, 700 teams and 30 leagues, with the support of over 300 global football partners that will allow further expansion into areas including both women’s and grassroots football.
Fans can sign up at easports.com/fc to Join the Club and be one of the first to learn more, ahead of detailed product updates coming this July.
Here are the confirmed football leagues in EA Sports FC:
Premier League
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive said:
“Through our long-standing partnership with EA SPORTS, we are able to bring fans around the world closer to the Premier League and we recognise the importance of the next generation in growing the future of football. We look forward to the relationship evolving through the launch of EA SPORTS FC, whether that’s bringing in developments in the ePremier League, opening new football pitches to benefit communities in the UK, or providing fans with exciting in-game experiences.”
LaLiga
Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga, said:
“We pride ourselves on driving innovation in football, and our partnership with EA SPORTS FC exemplifies that mission. EA SPORTS FC will be a hub for positive growth in football, and we will continue striving for new and innovative ways for fans to authentically engage with LaLiga matches.”
NWSL
Jessica Berman, Commissioner for the NWSL, said:
“The NWSL’s 2022 partnership agreement with EA SPORTS was not only a monumental moment for women’s soccer, but also a long-term vision and investment. The next chapter of The World’s Game is reliant on recognition of the amazing talent and impact that leagues like the NWSL offer to every type of football fan, and EA SPORTS FC will do just that and more.”
Bundesliga
Peer Naubert, Chief Marketing Officer, Bundesliga International, said:
“Fans around the world can discover and make life-long connections with clubs and players through video games, and it is crucial that top football leagues such as the Bundesliga are utilizing the best platforms to engage with this group of supporters. Our ongoing partnership with EA SPORTS allows us to do exactly this through EA SPORTS FC, and we hope our fans are as excited as we are for the future of football.”
CONMEBOL
Juan Emilio Roa, Marketing and Commercial Director for CONMEBOL, said:
“Fans are the backbone of global football, and a win for them is a win for the sport as a whole. By partnering with EA SPORTS FC, we are presenting fans with the best way to experience CONMEBOL football off the field and the ability to join a club that prides itself on inclusivity and advancement of the game we all love.”
Barclays Women’s Super League
Navin Singh, Commercial Director at The Football Association, said:
“For football to advance, the elevation and equality of women’s football needs to be a focus. EA SPORTS FC will provide fans with an unmatched women’s gaming experience that highlights the importance and impact of women’s football. We know that fans have been asking for more opportunities to engage with the Barclays WSL, and EA SPORTS FC provides an answer.”


Starkiller: EA Cancels Open-World Star Wars Game

Remember that 2017 Star Wars game that was in development at EA’s Vancouver office that was announced around the same time Dead Space devs Visceral Games got the sack? Yeah, that’s apparently cancelled according to sources close to Kotaku.
The game was apparently an open-world title that was in production since October 2017. Right after Visceral Games was shut down while they were making the linear action adventure Star Wars game directed by Uncharted’s Amy Hennig, codenamed Ragtag, the Vancouver studio took over the project. From there on, they repurposed it, reused its assets, and made it an open-world game instead.
Here’s a breakdown of the game and why it was cancelled:

The project, codenamed Orca, was about a bounty hunter who could explore various open-world planets and worked with different factions across the Star Wars universe.
While the project looked admirable and ambitious, EA’s top brass decided that the company needed something earlier than the planned release date for Orca, right after looking at the company road map for the next few years.
Because of this, they cancelled Orca and decided to task the team to work on a smaller-scale Star Wars project aimed for late 2020 or earlier.
Coincidentally, this is the same time next-generation consoles from Xbox and PlayStation may come out.
Thankfully, the publisher did not lay off anyone after the project was cancelled. In fact, some folks were hopeful that Orca might be restarted after the new project was finished.

That is sad news, but at least we may be getting a new Star Wars action game made out of different parts of a previous in-concept game later in 2020. A Frankenstein’s monster of a Star Wars game, if you will.


Capcom Trademarks Monster Hunter Puzzles Felyne Isles Game Name

Today, Capcom has filed trademarks for Monster Hunter Puzzles Felyne Isles in the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand on 27 April 2023. However, the Japanese company has yet to announce a new game in the Monster Hunter franchise at the time of writing.
That being said, the title is quite similar to Airu De Puzzle, a Monster Hunter spinoff game released for PSP exclusively in Japan in July 2012. “Airu” is the Japanese name for the Felyne or Palico cat-like creatures in the franchise and the word “Airu” can also be romanized as “Isle” in English.
It’s best to take all this with a grain of salt for now. Monster Hunter Puzzles Felyne Isles is likely the title of a remastered or brand new Monster Hunter spinoff game in the vein of Airu De Puzzle. Basically, it was a simple puzzle game involving blocks. Check it out in the trailer below.


Meet Seattle Surge, The Latest Team Confirmed In Call Of Duty League

The Call of Duty League (CDL) roster is nearly complete. As we near the start of November, only two teams remain to be officially confirmed. The latest one to join the franchise league is the Seattle Surge.

Jointly owned and operated by Enthusiast Gaming and Canucks Sports & Entertainment, the Seattle Surge is a successor to Luminosity Gaming, another team owned by Enthusiast Gaming that has been in the Call of Duty esports scene since 2015. Two of the Surge’s team members are former Luminosity players.
Here’s their full roster:

Damon “Karma” Barlow
Ian “Enable” Wyatt
Sam “Octane” Larew
Josiah “Slacked” Berry
Bryan “Apathy” Zhelyazkov
Joey “Nubzy” DiGiacomo – Head Coach

Surge’s logo is obviously a trident but look closer and you’ll notice a few clever details. At the bottom of the logo are a pair of turquoise eyes that acts as a nod towards Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Look properly at the middle prong of the trident and you’re actually seeing the iconic Space Needle located in the Seattle Center.
For more information on the Call of Duty League, check out the official CDL website here and to get to know the Seattle Surge better, here’s their official website.


Wild Hearts April Update To Introduce New Kemono & Karakuri

Electronic Arts and Koei Tecmo developer Omega Force have announced the “Lethal Blossoms” update for Wild Hearts, set to be released on 6 April. The update will bring exciting additions such as the new Kemono species Murakumo, a new Karakuri “Spinning Top,” new weapons and armour, and more.

Murakumo

Let’s talk about the new Kemono species – Murakumo. Rumours say that strange winds swirl the sakura blossoms long after spring has passed, and parents warn their children to keep their distance. Apparently, it’s not wind, but a Murakumo, a vulpine fiend that appears out of nowhere and spirits you away.
This Kemono has a range of petal-manipulating attacks that could be a real menace. It moves around on platforms made of sakura blossoms, making counterattacking a bit tricky. Watch out for the thunderous tornado it unleashes when enraged. To defeat the Murakumo, you would be wise to use a Spinning Top Karakuri.

Spinning Top

Another exciting addition is the new Karakuri – Spinning Top. It’s a stubborn assault that closes in on prey and gains speed and power whenever it hits Kemono or other obstacles. It can even stagger the Kemono when it connects.
Hunters, get ready to enhance your weapons and armour! You can use Core Orbs to enhance them even further. But, remember, the number of times you can carry out such enhancements, and the effects they have, differ for each piece of equipment. To get Core Orbs, you have to hunt Volatile Kemono successfully, and the type of Core Orb dropped will depend on where you’re hunting.
The team is still working hard to pack as many fixes, improvements, and adjustments as possible. Check out the full update notes on 6 April, and keep supporting Wild Hearts.
The end of April will be ferocious with the introduction of Deathhaze Gloombeak, a new Talisman Skill, new Special Quests: Serial Hunts, and new Chat Stamps and Emotes.


TGV Cinemas Malaysia Will Stream The Game Awards On IMAX Live (Update: Tickets On Sale Now)

Update (2/12/2022): Tickets are on sale right now. Head to this link to get it; they cost RM33 per seat and the show starts at 9am, 9 December.

TGV and #IMAXLive is excited to present #TheGameAwards. ??
Join us to celebrate the best of gaming on December 9. Get your tickets now! ?? https://t.co/1Kj5zsuVP2 pic.twitter.com/tvHitxiCiP
— TGV Cinemas | #TontondiTGV #WakandaForever ?? (@TGVCinemas) December 3, 2022

Original story (25 November 2022)
TGV Cinemas Malaysia will be holding a special fan event to stream The Game Awards 2022 in cinemas via IMAX Live on 9 December 2022. No further details have been announced, but tickets will likely be sold in the near future (edit: it’s on sale right now).
The Game Awards will showcase the best of video games, new game announcements, world premieres of upcoming game and film footage, surprise appearances, musical performances, and much more. The Game Awards 2022 is taking place on 9 December 2022 from 8.30 am GMT+8.
You can vote now on the official website here. You can also head on over here for last year’s winners and announcements.
God Of War Ragnarok received the most nominations with 10, followed by Elden Ring with 7 nominations. You can check out the full list of nominations here.

#TGVCinemas and #IMAXLive are excited to present #TheGameAwards.
Join us in celebrating the best of gaming this December 9. Stay tuned for the ticket sales announcement. pic.twitter.com/1kFd70Z3Mf
— TGV Cinemas | #TontondiTGV #WakandaForever ?? (@TGVCinemas) November 25, 2022