[Updated] VCT 2023: LOCK//IN São Paulo – Teams, Schedule & Results

Riot Games has unveiled the schedule and details for the LOCK//IN tournament, which will be the biggest event in the VALORANT Champions Tour.
The tournament is set to take place from 13 February to 4 March and will feature 32 of the top teams from around the world. The competition will be held at the Ginásio do Ibirapuera in São Paulo and will last for three weeks.
The LOCK//IN tournament will feature teams from the Americas, Pacific, and EMEA leagues and two teams from China that have been invited to participate.
NOTE: All Times & Dates will be in (UTC+8)

Details

Date: 13 February – 4 March / 14 February – 5 March (UTC+8)
Venue: Ginásio do Ibirapuera, R. Manuel da Nóbrega, 1361 – Ibirapuera, São Paulo – SP, 04001-909, Brazil

Schedule & Details

Alpha Matches

Date: 14 – 20 February
Start Time: 1:00 AM (UTC+8)

Omega Matches

Date: 7 – 15 January
Start Time: 1:00 AM (UTC+8)

RESULTS

PLACE
TEAM

1st
Fnatic

2nd
LOUD

3rd-4th

DRX

TBD

5th-8th

NRG

Talon Esports

Leviatán

100 Thieves

9th-16th

Giants

Karmine Corp

Cloud9

Evil Geniuses

Team Secret

Team Vitality

FUT Esports

FURIA Esports

17th-32nd

KOI

DetonatioN FocusMe

Gen.G Esports

FunPlus Phoenix

BBL Esports

Paper Rex

Team Heretics

MIBR

Team Liquid

KRÜ Esports

ZETA DIVISION

Global Esports

Rex Regum Qeon

EDward Gaming

Sentinels

T1

Teams
Americas

100 Thieves
Cloud9
Evil Geniuses
FURIA Esports
KRÜ Esports
Leviatán
LOUD
MIBR
NRG
Sentinels

Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)

BBL Esports
Fnatic
FUT Esports
Giants
Karmine Corp
KOI
Natus Vincere
Team Heretics
Team Liquid
Team Vitality

Pacific

DetonatioN FocusMe
DRX
Gen.G
Global Esports
Paper Rex
Rex Regum Qeon
T1
Talon Esports
Team Secret
ZETA DIVISION

China

EDward Gaming
FunPlus Phoenix

TOURNAMENT FORMAT

To accommodate the largest number of teams Riot Games has hosted at a single event, the tournament will use a single elimination format. Subsequent events will return to a double-elimination format.
To maximize the number of inter-regional matches at LOCK//IN, a random draw process was implemented that paired teams from different regions in the first round, while also maximizing the possibility of inter-regional matches for the second round.
First, regions were paired into 16 first-round match-ups, with each match-up consisting of two team slots.

EMEA vs PACIFIC – 5 match-ups
AMERICAS vs PACIFIC – 5 match-ups
AMERICAS vs EMEA – 4 match-ups
CHINA vs AMERICAS – 1 match-up
CHINA vs EMEA – 1 match-up

Each team slot was assigned a random number from 1-10 to account for the 32 teams in attendance. (Americas 1-10, EMEA 1-10, PACIFIC 1-10, China 1-2). In line with our goal to maximize geographically diverse competition, teams from China were paired with team slots from the AMERICAS and EMEA.
Second, the 16 match-ups were distributed across two sides of the single elimination bracket to maximize inter-regional matches for the first two rounds. For this event, the two sides of the bracket will be referenced as Alpha & Omega:

Alpha Matches
Omega Matches

AMERICAS vs PACIFIC – 3
AMERICAS vs PACIFIC – 2

EMEA vs PACIFIC – 2
EMEA vs PACIFIC – 3

EMEA vs AMERICAS – 2
EMEA vs AMERICAS – 2

CHINA vs EMEA -1
CHINA vs AMERICAS – 1

Finally, a random draw assigned each of the 32 teams a number from 1-10 that corresponded to their region and an already placed team slot, giving us our final bracket.

Matches
14 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – KOI [0] vs [2] NRG (Alpha – Round 1)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – DetonatioN FocusMe [0] vs [2] Giants (Alpha – Round 1)
15 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – FunPlus Phoenix [1] vs [2] Karmine Corp (Alpha – Round 1)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – BBL Esports [1] vs [2] DRX (Alpha – Round 1)
7:00 AM (UTC+8) – Cloud9 [2] vs [0] Paper Rex (Alpha – Round 1)
16 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Evil Geniuses [2] vs [0] Team Heretics (Alpha – Round 1)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – MIBR [0] vs [2] Talon Esports (Alpha – Round 1)
7:00 AM (UTC+8) – Gen.G [0] vs [2] LOUD (Alpha – Round 1)
18 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – NRG [2] vs [1] Giants (Alpha – Round 2)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – LOUD [2] vs [0] Karmine Corp (Alpha – Round 2)
19 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – DRX [2] vs [1] Cloud9 (Alpha – Round 2)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – Evil Genuises [0] vs [2] Talon Esports (Alpha – Round 2)
20 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – NRG [1] vs [2] LOUD (Alpha – Quaterfinal)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – DRX [2] vs [1] Talon Esports (Alpha – Quaterfinal)
23 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Team Liquid [0] vs [2] Team Secret (Omega – Round 1)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – Natus Vincere [2] vs [0] KRÜ Esports (Omega – Round 1)
7:00 AM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [0] vs [2] Leviatán (Omega – Round 1)
24 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Team Vitality [2] vs [1] Global Esports (Omega – Round 1)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – FUT Esports [2] vs [0] Rex Regum Qeon (Omega – Round 1)
7:00 AM (UTC+8) – 100 Thieves [2] vs [1] EDward Gaming (Omega – Round 1)
25 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Sentinels [2] vs [0] Fnatic (Omega – Round 1)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – T1 [0] vs [2] FURIA Esports (Omega – Round 1)
26 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [0] vs [2] Natus Vincere (Omega – Round 2)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – Leviatán [2] vs [0] Team Vitality (Omega – Round 2)
27 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – FUT Esports [1] vs [2] 100 Thieves (Omega – Round 2)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – Fnatic [2] vs [0] FURIA Esports (Omega – Round 2)
28 February

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Natus Vincere [2] vs [0] Leviatán (Omega – Quarterfinal)
4:00 AM (UTC+8) – 100 Thieves [0] vs [2] Fnatic (Omega – Quarterfinal)
March 3

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – LOUD [3] vs [2] DRX (Semifinal)
March 4

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – Natus Vincere [0] vs [0] Fnatic (Semifinal)
March 5

1:00 AM (UTC+8) – LOUD [2] vs [3] Fnatic (Grand Final)

Where To Watch?
YouTube / Twitch


Microsoft In the Running to Acquire Discord for Over US$10 Billion

Microsoft Corp. is in talks to acquire Discord Inc in a deal which may be worth US$10 billion, according to some folks who are deep in the development. Via a brief piece on Bloomberg, no deal is imminent according to the source who asked not to be identified. Another source said that Discord is more likely to go public than sell itself.

Still fresh off their acquisition of Bethesda recently, Microsoft appears to be one of the several parties who are in the running after Discord reached out to potential buyers. Regardless of how legit this news is, it is definitely great news for Xbox gamers in general who have been receiving a string of awesome news since the release of their next-gen Series X & S home consoles.
We consider this news is still in development and will update you with more info as we receive them. Meanwhile, check out what we thought of the next-gen Microsoft home consoles, and whether the Xbox Series S is worth your while.


This Real-Life Rurouni Kenshin Reverse-Blade Katana Is Manga/Anime Perfect

If binging the 90s anime feudal classic Rurouni Kenshin on Netflix isn’t enough for you, then maybe going to Japan and checking out Kenshin Himura’s sakabato recreated in real life may sate your sword-based shonen bloodlust.
The most iconic sword in the series, which is basically a reverse-blade katana that doesn’t kill, is carried around by Kenshin himself so that he can fight just as effectively but without taking a life since the cutting edge is on the inside of the curve. Now you get to see it in real life at the Meijimura complex in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture.

According to Soranews 24, you can visit the Meijimura museum that hosts a special Rurouni Kenshin exhibition from now until 15th December. And of course, see the sakabato in all its glory.

So who made the sword? A swordsmith named Kanekuni Ogawa; he won multiple special awards from the Society for Preservation of Japanese Art Swords for his craftsmanship. And even for a master swordsmith, making the sakabato was not easy. Since the sword in the manga/anime fluctuates depending on the scene, he only had to work with visual impressions of the sword’s weight, sharpness, and speed. Here’s what he came up with:

The sword’s hamon (that wavey bit between the blunt and sharp edge of a katana) is based on a gunome pattern; irregular waves with gentle transitions. Seems to fit Kenshin’s struggle between being “Hitokiri Battousai” and being an actually kind human being.
The sword has a large quantity of nie, which are crystals that form as part of the smithing’s quenching process that gives it a bright sheen and moistened metal visual effect.
The mark at the blade’s metal base not only contains the mark of Ogawa, but also the death poem of Arai Shakku, the swordsmith in the manga who forged the blade. Talk about keeping true to the series!

In case you’re wondering what it says, it reads:

Slashing myself, I have trained countless blades. My son reviles, but for my grandson, I bleed.

The museum opening hours vary daily; check out the times and address here.Â


Japanese Pros & Tourney Winners Forfeit More Than US$80,000 In Prize Money

Those in the Fighting Game Community, especially fans of Street Fighter V, must already know by now about the legendary SFV player Yusuke Momochi and his stance of opposing Japan’s strict laws in esports.
Momochi recently won first place at the Capcom Pro Tour Street Fighter V Asia Premier which had its final matches played at Tokyo Game Show 2019. Unfortunately, he only got Â¥60,200 out of the Â¥5,000,000 grand prize. In rough calculations, he only brought home US$570 out of US$46,000. God, just typing that hurts.
Just a few days ago, the young champion of a Puzzle & Dragons tournament also had to forfeit his grand prize of the same amount. Junior high school student Yuwa only brought home a trophy, a gaming headset, a year’s supply of chocolate almonds, and a year’s supply of Real Gold Dragon Boost energy drink.
Yuwa getting his champion’s trophy. Image was taken from Yuwa’s Twitter account.
So why didn’t these two skilled players get what they deserve?
Basically the same reason why kids can’t drive. No license.
You see, the Japanese eSports Union (JeSU) sees competitive gaming as a form of gambling. So a system was established to keep track of competitors who wanted to make a career out of esports. Only those who hold a pro gamer license would be able to get the full prize money that they deserve. If you don’t have the license, you’re only eligible to earn only Â¥100,000 (roughly US$900).
Momochi has always been vocal on his criticism towards the system while Yuwa was simply restricted due to age. Players between the age of 13 to 15 are only allowed to compete under a junior license which actually takes away their right to win any prize money.
I don’t want to make any biased statements against the JeSU because I honestly don’t know what kind of research they’ve done to back up their decision-making. However, I still believe it’s super unfair that these two don’t get their prize money despite showing great skill and talent.
Thank you to Kotaku for bringing up the story of Momochi and Yuwa.


The Harry Potter Cast Will Reunite In A 20th Anniversary Special On HBO GO

Daniel Radcliffe,Â Rupert Grint and Emma Watson join filmmakerÂ Chris Columbus and other esteemed cast members across all eightÂ Harry PotterÂ films as theyÂ travel back to Hogwarts for the first time to celebrate the anniversary of the franchiseâ€™s first film,Â Harry Potter and the Sorcererâ€™s Stone, which premiered exactly 20 years ago.
The retrospective specialÂ Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return To HogwartsÂ will tell an enchanting making-of story through all-new in-depth interviews and cast conversations, inviting fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time.
It will premiere on 1 JanuaryÂ 2022Â onÂ HBO GO.
Alumni of the film franchise will join the memorable tribute, includingÂ Helena Bonham Carter,Â Robbie Coltrane,Â Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs,Â Gary Oldman,Â Imelda Staunton,Â Tom Felton,Â James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams,Â Bonnie Wright,Â Alfred Enoch,Â Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, and Ian Hart, among others.
Tom Ascheim, President, Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics, said:

â€œIt has been an incredible journey since the debut of theÂ Harry Potter and the Sorcererâ€™s StoneÂ film, and witnessing how it has evolved into this remarkable interconnected universe has been magical to say the least.
This retrospective is a tribute to everyone whose lives were touched by this cultural phenomenonâ€”from the talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into this extraordinary film franchise to the passionate fans who continue to keep the Wizarding World spirit alive 20 years later.â€

Fans can jumpstart their Wizarding World celebration and gear up for the retrospective by checking out the 20th-anniversary hub content on WizardingWorld.com. For more from the Wizarding World, you can also watch a brand-new four-part competition event, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Tournament Of Houses, whichÂ streams weekly from Monday, 29 November 2021 on HBO GO.
The bracket-style quiz competition, hosted by Helen Mirren, will feature fans competing to take home the Tournament of Houses championship trophy and will feature magical cameos byÂ Harry PotterÂ film alumni Tom Felton, Simon Fisher-Becker, Shirley Henderson and Luke Youngblood, as well as superfans Pete Davidson and Jay Leno.

In addition, you can stream all eight Harry Potter movies on HBO GO, and the first four of the Harry Potter 8-movie seriesÂ on Cartoon Network on Saturdays at 8pm in November and December 2021. The final four titles will debut on Cartoon Network in early 2022.
Subscribe toÂ HBOÂ GOÂ onlineÂ atÂ https://www.hbogoasia.my/Â or the mobile appÂ via theÂ App StoreÂ orÂ Play Store forÂ as low as RM23.30/month. HBOÂ GOÂ is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
Check out the teaser for the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary Return To Hogwarts below:


Overwatch League Transfers: Shanghai Dragons Confirm Geguri Capture

It’s official folks. After weeks of speculation, Shanghai Dragons have confirmed the signing of the Overwatch League’s first ever female player, former ROX Orcas tank main and Zarya specialist, KimÂ “Geguri”Â Se-yeon. Having teased about her move to the Overwatch League a few weeks back, Kim’s addition to the Dragons will definitely help them in trying to not only secure that first win, but also moving out of the bottom of the league standings.
Along with her are three other new additions to the Dragons lineup including two Koreans – former ex-SURGE tank,Â Eui-SeokÂ “Fearless”Â Lee and ex-MVP Space Genji main,Â Ki-hyunÂ “Ado”Â Cheon. However, the most notable addition is ex-Miraculous Youngster support main, HeÂ “Sky”Â Junjian who formally went by the gamertag ‘zhufanjun’.Â The highest-profiled player among the four, He was also part of the Chinese team who competed in the Overwatch World Cup.

Weâ€™re excited to welcome He “Sky” Junjian, Kim “Geguri” Seyeon, Lee “Fearless” Euiseok and Chon “Ado” Gihyeon to our #OverwatchLeague roster. #FightingForGlory #OWL2018 pic.twitter.com/ErP88CmDS6
â€” Shanghai Dragons (@ShanghaiDragons) February 14, 2018
The transfer window is now open for Overwatch League teams following the completion of Stage 1 last weekend. Players signed within the transfer period will be eligible to compete in the league once Stage 2 starts this 23rd February.
To keep track of all the Overwatch League transfer news, make sure to follow our news trail here.Â

Main pic credit: @kenzi131


NBA 2K22 Season 4 Kicks Off Tomorrow With The Hunt For Glory

2K has revealed an in-depth look at Season 4 coming to NBA 2K22 this Saturday, 15 January 2022. Experience the first double Signature Challenges with Candace Parker and Dwyane Wade, along with new music added to the soundtrack in partnership with Warner Records and lots of new content and updates across MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and The W modes.
NBA 2K22 Season 4: â€˜Hunt 4 Gloryâ€™ focuses on a playerâ€™s killer instinct, showcasing Dwyane Wade and Candace Parkerâ€™s fearless demeanour and ability to harness the eye of the tiger and unleash it on the courts. Just because the holidays are over doesnâ€™t mean the gifts have to stop.
MyCAREER introduces new Level 40 rewards including Jumpshot Animation, an artfully crafted Victor Solomon Kintsugi ball, Hunt 4 Glory Varsity Jacket, Artcamo Go-Kart, and a special Hunt 4 Glory Suit, along with the first opportunity to claim Legend status for players who have reached Level 40 in four different Seasons. Additionally, check out the redesigned Affiliation courts, new quests, and more.

MyTEAM delivers the first double Signature Challenges with Candace Parker and Dwyane Wade, new MyTEAM Diamond Coach Candace Parker, Galaxy Opal Yao Ming Level 40 reward, the return Heat Check collection, and much more.

The W* offers four tiers of awards, with the Hall of Fame tier featuring coaches Becky Hammon and Dawn Staley that give players a chance to improve the fundamentals of their game.
â€˜First Fridaysâ€™ this season features a number of top tracks from Warner Records artists, including “WATCH ME” by Bktherula, “Black Illuminati (feat. Jadakiss)” by Freddie Gibbs, “Draft Kings” by Fresco Trey, “Santa Monica Blvd” by IDK, “Jumpin (feat. Polo G)” by NLE Choppa, “Fast (Motion)” by Saweetie, and more. Check out the latest music in-game on the soundtrack and at Club 2K.


When Will We Get The Official Price Of The PS5? Our Thoughts & Predictions

Article originally published on 12 June.
Following the massive reveal of PlayStation 5 launch games and its sleek, oh-so-sexy form earlier this morning, the following questions are popping up in everyone’s minds right now:

What’s the retail price?
What about official retail prices for Asian markets?
When will the PS5 be available in the market?

The biggest clue we’ve received so far is the release window of the PS5 which is “Holiday 2020“. To predict the future, we decided to look into the past.
So armed with the intel we have gathered so far coupled with the experience related to the release of the PlayStation 4 in 2013, here’s our best guesswork when it comes to answering these three major queries.
#1. How Much Will It Cost?
The biggest and most important question in everyone’s minds which is still unanswered. As witnessed in the past three console generations, Sony was rarely the one to jump the gun in revealing the retail price of their console. Save for the disastrous price reveal of the PS3, the retail price reveals for the PS2 and PS4 were key moments when the blue brand took lead in the console wars.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExaAYIKsDBI&w=560&h=315]

So with the PS5, expect the same strategy. We firmly believe Sony are playing the wait and see approach before responding with their official pricing.
Our guess is as good as yours, but after seeing the two versions available at launch, we estimate the Digital Edition to be the more affordable option at US$449 while the “thick”‘ version retailing slightly higher perhaps closing in on the US$499 mark.
#2. How Much Will It Retail In Asian Markets?
In 2013, Sony revealed the PS4 price on 11th June. The official prices and release dates for Asian markets were only released five months later in November.Â  While COVID-19 have all but denied a one-to-one mirror of it in 2020 – with E3 and TGS both being cancelled – a few key takeaways should help us predict when we should get the official news of these prices.

If E3 2020 happened as scheduled, we have no doubts that we would already have the retail prices for not just the PlayStation 5, but the Xbox Series X as well. At present, we do not know exactly when will Microsoft unveil the price of the Xbox Series X but we are confident that they won’t hold back for too long.
As opposed to 2013 when Microsoft and Sony were neck-to-neck in the console war, now Microsoft are the clear underdogs heading into next-gen. They have to throw the first punch this time around.
Our best guess is that Microsoft will reveal their prices before the end of August. Sony would swiftly respond with the official retail prices for the PlayStation 5. And since TGS 2020 isn’t going to happen, we will not be surprised if Sony decides to release the recommended retail price for the PlayStation 5 in all regions in one fell swoop.
Still, it would not be out of the ordinary if they decided to withhold the information related to the Asian markets for a bit longer.
#3. When Will The PS5 Be Available?
Before we go full-blown theorist mode, here’s a quick recap of the company’s previous console & its launch:
The PS4 in 2013

Console and price reveal – 11th June; release date 15th Nov (NA); 29th Nov (PAL).
Note: 15th November was two weeks before Black Friday sales in the United States that year.

Asian Markets

Release date announcement: 18th SeptÂ
Price reveal: 7th Nov; release dates – 17th Dec (HK); 19th Dec (SG); 20th Dec (MY); 22nd Feb 2014 (JP)

Now let’s break down our predictions for the PS5:
The PS5 in 2020

Console reveal: 12th June.
Price reveal – We predict this will happen late August.
Release date – We predict this will be on 13th November 2020 (NA); 30th Nov (PAL).
Note: Black Friday for 2020 falls on 27th November.

Asian Markets

Release date announcement: We predict this will happen late August to early September.
Price reveal: We predict this will happen earlyÂ November.
Release dates: We predict this will be either the second to the third week of December. Our best guess is 14th December onward for Asian markets.Â

The Gist Of It
These predictions are mainly based on the assumption that Sony will utilize the same strategy and time frame of stymieing the information in regards to the release of their console.Â  And it all checks out. We have a solid six months prior to its expected release in ‘Holiday 2020’.
The bulk of information concerning PlayStation 5’s release in the Asian market will gather full steam by late October, allowing room for present-gen games to remain in focus until September.
Do you agree with our predictions or do you think it should be released a little earlier or later? Since we are at it, have you decided which version of the PlayStation 5 you will be getting? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.


Nier Automata Anime Will Return End Of July

The anime adaptation of Square Enix action game Nier Automata will resume broadcasting after a break since 19th March.
Nier Automata Ver 1.1a will be back on air in Japan on 23rd July. The four episodes (9,10,11,12) will air all at once starting at 7pm JST on Tokyo MX(thanks @aitakimochi). The show will also be on Amazon Prime (via Malaysia) with English subtitles on roughly the same day, albeit an hour later.
We enjoyed watching the Nier Automata anime adaptation as it mixes story bits from the 2017 game but also adds in new elements and perspectives; case in point A2 before she grew long hair and was incredibly anti-android and machines.


The Game Awards 2019: All The Announcements, Trailers, & Winners

The Game Awards 2019 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.
The “so-called biggest night in gaming” (as creator and host Geoff Keighly calls it) is certainly on its way to living up to its name. Here’s everything that was revealed and announced at The Game Awards 2019:
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Wins GOTY 2019

Many gamers were accusing Geoff Keighly of being biased towards Death Stranding since it’s made by friend Hideo Kojima. The odds for Game Of The Year was realistically either that divisive game or Remedy Entertainment’s Control. However. neither turned out to be the winner of the biggest award of the night.
Instead, it was From Software’s Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice who ultimately emerged as the recipient of the GOTY award. For the complete list of winners at The Game Awards 2019, head on over here, or check out our review of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice here.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 Rise Of The Phoenix DLC
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbJ7PHxkTe4&w=560&h=315]
The second paid DLC, as part of the Expansion Pass, for Nintendo Switch’s Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is slated to release on 23 December 2019. It will add new playable characters including Cable, Iceman, Gambit and Phoenix.
Salaam
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPV5ZOdzPKE&w=560&h=315]
From South Sudan developer Lual Mayen, Salaam is a high tension runner game that puts the player in the shoes of a refugee forced to flee a war-torn region.
Maneater
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR1TUfheC68&w=560&h=315]
If you’ve always wanted to be the shark from Jaws, then this is the game for you. It’s due to launch on PS4, Xbox One and PC (via Epic Games Store) on 22 May 2020.
New Final Fantasy VII Remake Trailer
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHdaWMP7D2s&w=560&h=315]
This new Final Fantasy VII Remake trailer focuses on protagonist Cloud Strife, who isÂ hired by the resistance group Avalanche in their fight against the sinister Shinra Corporation.
It is slated to release for the PS4 on 3 March 2020.
Project Scarlett Is Officially The Xbox Series X
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tUqIHwHDEc&w=560&h=315]
Microsoft finally revealed the official name for Project Scarlett. Dubbed the Xbox Series X, the upcoming next-gen console has powerful specs and several new features. Learn about the Xbox Series X in our article here.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJWI4bkD9ZM&w=560&h=315]
Alongside the Xbox Series X, Microsoft also announced Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the sequel to Ninja Theory’s award-winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice from 2017. We’ll probably learn more about the game next year at E3 2020.
Godfall
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HhUpLqHyv4&w=560&h=315]
Godfall is a third-person fantasy looter-slasher focused on melee combat, coming to PS5 & PC (via Epic Games Store) in Holiday 2020. It is developed by Counterplay Games and published by Gearbox Publishing.
Humankind
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfsBAPFpMU4&w=560&h=315]
Published by Sega and developed by Amplitude, Humankind is a 4X grand strategy game coming to the PC sometime in 2020.
No More Heroes 3
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2nPg42xsXg&w=560&h=315]
No More Heroes 3 is slated to release for the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2020. It features a score by lead composer Nobuaki Kaneko, with Robin Atkin Downes reprising his role from the previous titles in the series as Travis Touchdown, and original series lead character designer Yusuke Kozaki returning as well.
Bravely Default 2
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsjTKIt3z8A&w=560&h=315]
A true sequel to 2012’s Bravely Default is finally coming from the team behind the Bravely series and Octopath Traveler. It features music from Revo, acclaimed composer of the original Bravely Default soundtrack, a brand new world, story and Heroes of Light.
Learn more about the game in our article here.
Warframe Empyrean Update
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2f8Hhczjd8&w=560&h=315]
The Warframe: Empyrean update is now live on PC. Players can take command of their Railjack and engage in epic space combat alongside their crew, hijacking enemy vessels and scavenging for upgrades.
Magic: The Gathering – Theros Beyond Death
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzNb5Bqzwg&w=560&h=315]
Magic The Gathering players can now preview of the new Theros Beyond Death set alongside iconic Magic cards, including Black Lotus, starting now on MTG Arena.
Prologue
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xOcW8Cysj0&w=560&h=315]
Prologue is a mysterious new game from PUBG developers PUBG Corporation.
Ruined King: A League Of Legends Story
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcRUgHYS3q4&w=560&h=315]
Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is a story-driven, turn-based RPG being developed by Airship Syndicate. Set after the events of Burning Tides, players will take control of LoL champions and explore the bustling city of Bilgewater and the mysterious Shadow Isles in a game for the first time.
The game will advance the stories of many champions in the LoL Universe, offering an exciting new way to experience the World of Runeterra.
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yal-dguDygo&w=560&h=315]
Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance is the spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance from Wizards of the Coast. Developer Tuque Games will offer cooperative hacking and slashing as players assume the roles of some of D&D’s most iconic heroes.
Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuDYRZijXws&w=560&h=315]
From 2015’s Ori and the Blind Forest developer Moon Studios comes the highly anticipated sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. It is slated to release for the Xbox One and PC on 11 March 2020.
Weird West
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rQzjVlQUYQ&w=560&h=315]
From the co-creators of Dishonored and Prey comes a new immersive sim where players will discover a dark fantasy reimagining of the Wild West where lawmen and gunslingers share the frontier with fantastical creatures.
Each journey is unique and tailored to the actions taken as the world reacts to the choices you make.
Magic: Legends
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNi4Gp-D5mU&w=560&h=315]
Magic: Legends is a new thrilling MMO action RPG set across the iconic planes of Magic: The Gathering, where players will become immersed in the acclaimed fictional Magic multiverse as a powerful, spell-wielding Planeswalker.
It is available for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
Apex Legends Holo-Day Bash
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsncIyRKS40&w=560&h=315]
The Apex Legends Holo-Day Bash is available now, as players can drop onto the Mirage Voyage party boat and come aboard the Winter Express, a brand-new mode where Legends battle it out to capture a special holiday train.
Ghost Of Tsushima
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbq7BnsQhrw&w=560&h=315]
We’ve finally received our first look at gameplay footage from Sucker Punch’s highly-anticipated PS4 exclusive Ghost Of Tsushima, as well as a clearer release window. It is slated to release in summer 2020.
Learn more about the game in our article here.
Gears Tactics
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oziTQgMdXi4&w=560&h=315]
Gears Tactics is a fast-paced turn-based strategy game ala XCOM from iconic video game franchise Gears of War. Outnumbered and fighting for survival, players can recruit and command their squad to hunt down an evil mastermind who makes monsters.
It is slated to release for the Xbox One, PC and Xbox Game Pass on 28 April 2020.
Naraka: Bladepoint
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX1ulx9Dnug&w=560&h=315]
This new game from Chinese developer/publisher NetEase looks like a Chinese Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Nine To Five
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpTeUSyOx38&w=560&h=315]
From developer Redhill Games comes a new 3v3 competitive shooter with a heavy focus on changing tactics on a round to round basis.
Green Day In Beat Saber
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmlGhpogb4w&w=560&h=315]
American alternative rock band Green Day wasn’t only at The Game Awards 2019 to perform live, but also to announce the addition of six of their songs into the VR game.
New World
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJXuWi5H6b4&w=560&h=315]
Amazon Studios’ MMO New World is coming in May 2020.
Convergence: A League of Legends Story
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BohXpNlLH74&w=560&h=315]
Convergence: A League of Legends Story, is a single-player, action-platformer game being developed by Double Stallion Games. Players will explore the spectacular world of Zaun as Ekko, a young inventor with an ingenious device to manipulate time. The game will follow the journey of Ekko, a fan-favourite LoL Champion, as he discovers that the power to change time comes with many consequences.
Surgeon Simulator 2
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sPiwzPPtu8&w=560&h=315]
2013’s Surgeon Simulator is finally getting a sequel in 2020.
The Wolf Among Us 2
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3895B2dk0IY&w=560&h=315]
Bigby and Snow are finally back for the long-awaited second season of Telltale’s The Wolf Among Us, based on the popular Vertigo Comics’ Fables comic series. However, no release date or platforms have been announced as of yet, though the game will be running on Unreal Engine instead of the older Telltale engine.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Elsweyr
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LJ7swWeKi8&w=560&h=315]
The Season of the Dragon comes to its thrilling conclusion as Tamriel’s heroes band together to put an end to the Dragon threat that has plagued the land of Elsweyr. More information will be revealed on 16 January 2020.
Fast & Furious: Crossroads
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N9BYxPOhcM&w=560&h=315]
The popular movie franchise is getting a video game spin-off of its own from Slightly Mad Studios, the developers behind the Project CARS games (which was recently acquired by Codemasters).
It is slated to release in May 2020, though no platforms were confirmed as of yet.
Cyberpunk 2077 Music
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ_ARLDWK9Y&w=560&h=315]
Developer CD Projekt Red revealed the artists that will be contributing to the soundtrack of Cyberpunk 2077, which includes the likes of Grimes and Run the Jewels.
Sons Of The Forest
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lNTw-xyYXw&w=560&h=315]
Developer Endnight Games announced a sequel to 2014’s survival horror game The Forest. However, no release date or platforms were revealed.
That GOTY Orchestra
If there’s one constant, is that the Game Awards orchestra always nails the nominees’ themes and transitions between them smoothly.


Goat Simulator 3 Is Open World County-Wrecking Fun, Even Without The Eye Lasers

Platform(s): PC (Epic Games Store), Xbox Series, PlayStation 5
Genre: Open-world action adventure starring a goat with no fail state (that we know of)
There I was, at the Fairsmeadow Ranch Green Thumb exhibition where I stumbled upon some seedlings that needed growing. I galloped headbutted my way through the bystanders, grabbed the bag of magical fertilizer nearby and started pouring it over the fledging plants. As my goat eyes stared at the chalkboard with simple-but-crudely-drawn plant-growing instructions, I followed the last step of communicating with them.
Goats cannot form human words or sentences, so the only sounds that came out of my goat mouth are yelps and bleats. That was enough to make the plants grow to dastardly heights, enough to make the giant in Jack’s beanstalk tale get a hard-on. And with that, my goately stature has earned a few merit points for the Goat Illuminati, just a few more to help unlock what’s behind the mysterious door in the Goat Castle.
I still have a laundry list of tasks to appease to the hidden Goat gods: a triple front flip, build a house of garbage for a homeless man who may be a wizard, carry giant batteries to power up windmills that may be hiding the house of an Elon Musk parody… it just goes on.
I am the goat god Pilgor, and there is indeed no rest for the truly wicked.

Bleating Edge

Terrible novelization aside, you do play as an immortal and indestructible goat in the new Coffee Stain North-developed action-adventure sandbox title Goat Simulator 3. You run, jump, use your horns to ram things and people down, cause mischief, and complete random quests with purposefully vague objectives -usually to set up a punchline- while making goat noises as a form of speech. Unlike other goats, Pilgor himself can do the following:

Grind on rails and electric powerlines ala Tony Hawk.
Do a triple jump that sends himself up in the air really high ala Mario from them Nintendo games.
Lick things and grab onto them like a makeshift grappling hook, dragging them to where he wants them to be.
Wear costumes that bestow him the power of flight, the ability to change vehicle colour, and shoot lasers from his goat eyes.

No, none of this makes a goddamn lick of sense. But that’s what Coffee Stain is going for with its freeform action-adventure title for the month of November: an absurd sandbox game with an unlikely protagonist with little to no consequence as to who you headbutt off a cliff or what you can lick and drag.

The world is your plaything, at the mercy of the immortal goat, and it also features great and smooth responsive controls be it for keyboard plus mouse or controller – my default choice in sandbox games, by the by.
As mentioned above, you do have a huge laundry checklist of activities to do and quests to gain Goat Illuminati points for. Complete them, and you’ll get closer to unlocking a magic door in your titular Goat Castle, while also getting rewards like VR goggles for a first-person view. I wouldn’t recommend that unless you have a strong stomach though. I play a good amount of boomer first-person shooters, and just a few minutes of Goat Simulator 3 first-person mode had me feeling queasy.
Speaking of jank, there is quite a bit in Goat Simulator 3, though when you’re stuck in certain areas, you can just use the Respawn option just to teleport out of trouble. The lick-and-grapple mechanic can get finicky, especially when carrying giant objects while climbing ladders. It can take a while for you to align a grappled object to go your way as you’re wrestling with the game’s off-kilter physics.

Goat, See

I’m only 6 hours into this, and I haven’t even played multiplayer mode yet, which lets you play with three other online goats to wreak havoc and play multiplayer-exclusive minigames. I’ll be sure to update this review when I convince my like-minded associates to join me in goat merriment via the Epic Games Store version. But as it stands right now, the standalone bovidae experience is fun and has enough for you to sink your mammal teeth into.
In a sea filled with serious triple-A or so experiences featuring ex-Greek gods and rats, I’d recommend Goat Simulator 3 if you need a goofy laugh playing as a goat in an open-world setting filled with secrets, goofy quests, and easter eggs. And a ton of gear parts to uncover so that you can dress up your Billy Goat with ballet frocks, a spacesuit, or even toilet paper roll hoofwear. Yep, truly no rest for the wicked.

Final Score: 80/100
Review code provided by PLAION.


Deathloop Is Delayed To Mid-2021

Bad news for fans of sexy 60s-style duelling assassin combat. Arkane Studio will be delaying its upcoming game Deathloop from its Holiday 2020 release date to the second quarter of 2021.
Thanks to the difficulties of developing a game during the pandemic, the studio is forced to delay the game further so that it’s ready. Official statement from Arkane Lyon is below:

“As we’ve adjusted to work-from-home, we found that delivering this new and exciting experience, at the polish and quality level that defines both an Arkane game and a true next-gen experience, is taking longer than normal.
This extra time will allow our team to bring Deathloop’s world to life with as much character and fun as you’ve come to expect from our team. While we know this is the right decision for Deathloop, we share your disappointment, and apologize for making you wait even longer.”

To the community, an update on DEATHLOOP: pic.twitter.com/XveoG6AgoT
— DEATHLOOP (@deathloop) August 18, 2020

While it’s best that a game doesn’t get released undercooked and underdeveloped, it does mean that the upcoming next-gen PlayStation 5 will be short of one game. For those who don’t know, Deathloop is a first-person shooter about two assassins: one who wants to get out of the island he’s stuck in due to a time loop and another who is having the time of her life and doesn’t want the first guy to ruin it.


Company Of Heroes 3 Physical Edition Pre-Orders Are Now Available

Sega and Relic Entertainment have announced that pre-orders for the physical edition of Company Of Heroes 3 are now available ahead of the game’s launch on 18 November 2022.
Company Of Heroes 3 will bring fans and newcomers to the series with the biggest and deepest single-player experience in the franchise’s history. It will offer four playable factions at launch and two unique single-player experiences, with the Italian Dynamic Campaign and the North African Operation.
Players can pre-order Company Of Heroes 3 at select local outlets and receive some awesome bonus items. In addition to the previously announced digital editions, Physical Editions of the game will also be available in select outlets across Asia. The Physical Edition includes the Devil’s Brigade DLC, Collector’s Book, Double-sided Map, and much more.
In the meantime, check out my hands-on preview of Company Of Heroes 3 by heading over here and check out our gameplay footage of the game below:


Halo Infinite Features The Series’ Best Grunts: Here’s Why

Halo Infinite may not be revered for its plot -it’s just another goddamn spaceman vs. lots of sci-fi aliens type joint- but will be cherished for the fun stuff developer 343 Industries put in. Like the game’s combat which is basically Far Cry 3-6 mixed with the Halos. And for its talkative Grunts.
Grunts are the cannon fodder for the Banished army, which are essentially the stand-in for the Covenant. They spout off a lot of one-liners ranging from casual conversations to going in a panic. Whether they’re specific to the combat situation, or from the Propaganda Towers you have to destroy, or some form of confession before their inevitable deaths, they’re all comedy goldmines.
Don’t believe me? Check out this collection of clips from Twitter and TikTok:

Halo infinite by far has the best grunt dialogue pic.twitter.com/Zd322vuJiv
— Zack (@Animetiddyy) December 11, 2021

The combat dialogue in Halo infinite is so amazing. pic.twitter.com/KW3ScZNRfx
— Willy B. (@WillyBthe3rd) December 13, 2021

This grunt…#HaloInfinite pic.twitter.com/GHkH62btZd
— Mathias (@xXIMathiasIXx) December 12, 2021

I vibe with this grunt lol#HaloInfinite pic.twitter.com/6lz5VR31m6
— D20Wolf? (@D20Wolf0w0) December 13, 2021

Halo Infinite's Grunt Propaganda Towers just love making jokes. pic.twitter.com/8MvAwwI1Xq
— The Photoshop Guy (@Photoshop_Gy) December 12, 2021

Grunts have no chill in Halo Infinite ? pic.twitter.com/1rHyH9A0Q3
— Leo (@Enclaw_) December 11, 2021

This one is my favorite so far ?#Halo #Haloinfinite pic.twitter.com/pesD03pppP
— Monica Lowry (@monicalowry) December 10, 2021

That is a funny poem, by the by.
Of course, the devs are keeping it consistent with how Grunts behave since Halo: Combat Evolved, which is always a good tradition. Heck, 343 Industries took it one step further and made some of its other enemies like the Elites in on the quip action, almost straight out of an 80s action flick ala Commando if it were set on a space donut.

Best line delivery I've heard in a game all year pic.twitter.com/kh88Jz5DRK
— Dan Pearce (@GameDesignDan) December 9, 2021

Best enemy dialogue in general imo pic.twitter.com/FWI7sN3GPk
— Warmaster Jade (@aquxur) December 12, 2021

Halo Infinite is out now for PC and Xbox consoles. It’s a shooter-filled good time that’s free on Xbox Game Pass.


Naughty Dog Reveals New Concept Art For The Last Of Us Multiplayer Game

In their first blog update in 2023, Naughty Dog unveiled new concept art for the upcoming The Last Of Us multiplayer game.
The Last Of Us will celebrate its 10th anniversary in June 2023, and Naughty Dog is promising more updates on The Last Of Us multiplayer game later this year. The development team is led by Vinit Agarwal, Joe Pettinati, and Anthony Newman.
They also revealed that the entire The Last Of Us franchise has sold more than 37 million units as of December 2022.
Check out the new concept art below:


Final Fantasy VII, Man Of Medan & More Land On Xbox Game Pass In August

The Xbox Game Pass gets yet another month of great games in August 2020, as more awesome games get added into its already massive library. This month, the first wave of games coming to the service includes classics like Final Fantasy VII HD and even newer titles like The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan.
Here are the games for the Xbox Game Pass August 2020 lineup and when the games will start being playable:
Darksiders: Genesis (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) â€“ 6 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nIgYjJt2mI&w=560&h=315]
An action/adventure game that tears its way through hordes of demons, angels, and everything in-between on its way to Hell and back with guns blazing and swords swinging.
Darksiders GenesisÂ gives players their first look at the world of Darksiders before the events of the original game. Furthermore, it introduces the fourth and last horseman Strife, as well as co-op gameplay for the first time in the franchise.
It Lurks BelowÂ (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) ID@Xbox â€“ 6 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieb5Vj7VA_4&w=560&h=315]
The world is being slowly corrupted, and you have awoken from a terrible dream. Create a customized character and choose from several different classes to delve deep into the mysteries of what evil lurks below.
Dig down and explore the randomly generated levels, find random items, and combat deadly monsters to get the answers in this retro-styled, 2D, action-oriented, survival RPG by David Brevik.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of MedanÂ (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) â€“ 6 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmnxB1OvQjE&w=560&h=315]
Five friends set sail on a holiday diving trip and as the day unfolds, a storm rolls in and their trip soon changes into something much more sinister. Who will live? Who will die? Itâ€™s up to you and the choices you make.
You can also share your terrifying story with a friend online or go for safety in numbers with the up-to-five-players offline â€œmovie nightâ€ mode.
TrailmakersÂ (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) ID@Xbox â€“ 6 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5imoirM2ek&w=560&h=315]
Build an amazing vehicle out of blocks and explore an alien planet in Trailmakers. This physics-based action game lets you build anything from hypercars and helicopters to hovercrafts and hydrofoils.
Play solo or with friends in huge sandbox maps or perfect your race car to perfection in the Trailmakers Rally.
UnderMine (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) ID@Xbox â€“ 6 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58ral7Vy1lM&w=560&h=315]
Delve deep into the UnderMineÂ and discover its secrets, one peasant at a time!Â UnderMine is an action-adventure roguelike that blends combat and dungeon crawling with RPG-like progression. Mine gold, die, upgrade yourself, and try again!
Challenge dangerous bosses and rescue helpful characters that supply new upgrades for your adventure. Decipher the cryptic messages of theÂ UnderMineâ€™s residents and unfold the mystery at the heart of the dungeon.
Xeno CrisisÂ (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) ID@Xbox â€“ 6 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTTSHB4biQo&w=560&h=315]
Run and gun your way through seven distinct areas and master an arsenal of ten different weapons as you take on thousands of varied adversaries in this top-down arena shooter for one or two players.
It will require guile, composure, and good judgement to have a chance of reaching the final showdown. Xeno CrisisÂ is a genuine 16-bit throwback for those who enjoy a challenge, with superb pixel art and a blistering soundtrack.
Final Fantasy VII HDÂ (Xbox Game Pass for Console, Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) â€“ 13 August 2020
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utVE4aUKYuY&w=560&h=315]
Relive the RPG that redefined gaming. The world has fallen under the dominion of the Shinra Electric Power Company, a sinister corporation that has monopolized the planetâ€™s very life force as Mako energy.
Cloud Strife, a former member of Shinraâ€™s elite Soldier unit, now turned mercenary, lends his aid to the rebels, unaware that he will be drawn into an epic battle for the fate of the planet while having to come to terms with his own lost past.
While this isn’t Final Fantasy VII Remake (that probably won’t be coming to Xbox ever), at least players will be able to play the classic and iconic original JRPG.
Last month, Xbox announced that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to enjoy Project xCloud service for free and at no additional cost in select supported countries starting from September 2020, including those in Singapore.


Ubisoft Announces VR Multiplayer Shooter Space Junkies

A new Ubisoft game has been announced, and it’s a VR multiplayer title.

Space Junkies,Â a VR-exclusive jetpack-fueled arcade shooter developed for the PlayStation VR, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Oculus Rift + Touch and HTC Vive.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-yzQ_v4Km0&feature=youtu.be]
Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the game utilises Brigitte, Ubisoft’s new proprietary VR engine designed to allow teams to work seamlessly in virtual spaces and adapt to VR pre-production and production.
Space JunkiesÂ is a high-octane multiplayer shooter played in three-dimensional space arenas and takes advantage of the full VR experience to immerse players in intense low-gravity shootouts.

The PlayStation VR version of Space Junkies will support the DUALSHOCK 4 controller and features a unique navigation system to allow the players to traverse in space at high speeds while being fully immersed. The SIXAXIS feature is also used for an increased immersive experience.
Space Junkies offers 1v1, 2v2 and free-for-all modes at launch. Weapons and customizations options across six varied interior and exterior battlefields. Each of the arenas has special attributes to them, such as unique tactical zones, dynamic lighting and breakable environments, making each battle a unique battle.
Players would need to be on their toes to avoid death coming from all directions. Another great thing to report is that the game would receive new content updates post-release, including new modes, maps, weapons and customization items.
Hey isn’t this the Prothean guy from Mass Effect?
Ubisoft also announced that there will be several test phases before launch, including Open Beta across all platforms. You can register for the Open Beta here.
Space JunkiesÂ producer, Adrian Lacey said: “We are beyond excited for the launch of Space Junkies and canâ€™t wait for players to jump into this rocket-injected, gunslinging laser bonanza in outer space!”, he continued saying: â€œBeing able to launch on PlayStation VR is great news for our players and we are looking into supporting additional headsets to bring the Space Junkies experience to more people in the future.â€
Space Junkies will fly to PlayStation VR, Windows Mixed Reality headsets, Oculus Rift + Touch and HTC Vive on 26 March.


90s-Styled RPG Cris Tales Delayed To 2021

We had a ball of a time with indie RPG darling Cris Tales earlier this year. Alas, it’s not going to be out next month.
Cris Tales will be delayed from its 17th November release date to early 2021 according to publisher Modus Games and developer SYCK. This is because the devs are taking all the feedback from the previous Steam showcase demo and need to fix & improve the game further. Fair enough; no company big and small want to ship out a half-hearted game.
On the plus side, SYCK will be hosting a Reddit AMA on 17th October 3am GMT+8. So if you want to ask more questions about their influences and why they love 90s JRPGs a lot, Reddit’s a good place as any to hear their answers.


The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Super Bowl Trailer Breakdown

We have finally received our first full trailer for the upcoming The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, which debuted earlier today during the Big Game (the Super Bowl). Running at just under two minutes long, here are the interesting stuff that I noticed during the trailer:
Our First Look At Madripoor?

That looks a lot like Hong Kong or Singapore, but it might turn out to be a location that might be making its debut from the comics into the Marvel Cinematic Universe; Madripoor. In the comics, Madripoor is essentially the Marvel universeâ€™s version of Malaysia, Singapore, or a Southeast Asian nation.
However, it’s usually a stereotypical den of criminals, with lawlessness and crime rampant. Still, it’s a popular place in the Marvel universe. Perhaps Baron Zemo has somehow escaped prison and is in hiding in Madripoor.
Fun fact: We’ve even seen members of the X-Men eating Malaysian food like laksa and lepat pisang when visiting Madripoor (here’s proof, we’ve covered it).

The Return Of Baron Zemo

We last saw Helmut Zemo AKA Baron Zemo (Daniel Bruhl) back in 2016’s Captain America Civil War, but he’s officially back for some trouble as the main antagonist of The Falcon And The Winter Soldier. He has returned with his grudge on superheroes for failing to save his family in Sokovia is as strong as ever, and he’s back to finish the job.
In the trailer, we can hear him say:
“Superheroes… cannot be allowed to exist.
I have no intention to leave my work unfinished.”
If you haven’t, here’s our full look at his new more comics-accurate costume:

This must be Zemo visiting a memorial in Sokovia.

Our First Look At The Flag Smashers

This is actress Erin Kellyman in an unknown role, but it’s clear that she’s one of the Flag Smashers; an anarchist terrorist group of some sort. In the comics, the Flag-Smasher has always been an individual supervillain who is basically anti-patriotism, so the MCU has basically adapted the character into an entire group/organization instead.

The Introduction Of John F. Walker AKA US Agent

We don’t really see his face but this is most likely John F. Walker AKA US Agent (Wyatt Russell) making his debut as the US government appoints him as the official’ Captain America, much to the chagrin of both Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan). In the comics, John F. Walker was a super-soldier who started as a villain called the Super-Patriot, before replacing Steve Rogers as Captain America when the former refused to follow the orders of the government agency Commission On Superhuman Activities.
If you haven’t, here’s our full look at his new more comics-accurate costume:

In another moment in the trailer, we catch a glimpse of him in full costume at a football game:

The Return Of Sharon Carter

Sharon Carter (Emily Van Camp) returns to the MCU for the first time since 2016’s Captain America Civil War and she’s seemingly on the run for some reason. I have reason to believe that The Falcon And The Winter Soldier will introduce a version of the comic book’s Commission On Superhuman Activities and that’s probably why Sharon is like a fugitive of some sort.
The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Release Date

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier will premiere on 19 March 2021, with six episodes planned. In the meantime, you can check out the full trailer and new poster below:
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Adventure Academia Is A New RPG Spun Off From Class of Heroes

Acquire’s next big JRPG is coming off from its Class of Heroes franchise.
Its new title is called Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent and it features an adventurer named Alex who has the Ruler Orb. This weapon can command others on the battlefield, which he will need to search for his missing father in colourful yet dangerous fantasy world.
The gist of this isometric grid-based JRPG is you can command up to 10 heroes as they attack and advance on the field in real-time, but it’s up to you to decide what commands they should follow.
Key features:

Pick them up by pinching them, deploy them on the field, and the let the battle commence! Use markers to tactically guide your student soldiers in real time!
Uh oh! Backed into a corner by a deadly attack? Just pinch your students out of harm’s way! Each stage features gargantuan boss monsters with varying abilities and attacks! You’ll have to guide your party properly… Or face being wiped out!
An Edgy… Master Artist… Mentally Weak… Dwarf?! Choose your students! With ten races and over eighty different personality traits to mix and match with, you’ll have a unique squad in no time!
Up to 10 races you can recruit, from Humans to the tough dragon-like Bahamoon.

Check out the gameplay below. Adventure Academia: The Fractured Continent will be out on PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 8th September in Japanese; the English version is “coming soon”.


[Report] First Look At Updated Sonic In Upcoming Live-Action Movie

Paramount shocked the world earlier this year when they unleashed the first live-action Sonic The Hedgehog trailer featuring an almost universally-loathed design for the iconic blue Sega mascot. After announcing that they will completely redesign Sonic and that the movie has been delayed to next year, thing shave been quiet.
Until now, that is.
While a proper trailer or image has yet to be released, two leaked images posted by Twitter user @BestInTheGalaxy reportedly reveal our very first look at the redesigned Sonic. It looks more accurate to the character’s original video game look, which will surely satisfy many fans.

pic.twitter.com/PuM2RHW6vc
â€” ; (@BestInTheGalaxy) October 14, 2019
It remains to be seen if these images are ultimately authentic or genuine, though one of them clearly looks like it’s part of an official-looking poster featuring Jim Carrey’s Dr Robotnik in the background. We’ll have to wait for an official new first look in the months ahead from the folks at Paramount.
Directed by Jeff Fowler, Sonic The Hedgehog is now slated to release on 14 February 2020.


Free Fire Adds Legendary Street Fighter Characters This July

Garena has announced a global collaboration with Capcom to bring Street Fighter V content into Free Fire. The crossover unites two of the video games industryâ€™s biggest hitters and continues Garenaâ€™s strategy to create fresh gaming experiences for the Free Fire community through collaborations with some of the worldâ€™s most well-loved brands.
Free Fire players can look forward to seeing Street Fighter fan favourites Ryu and Chun-Li when the collaboration goes live in July. Ryu and Chun-Li will be accompanied by plenty of exclusive content and experiences, including a full interface reskin, new activities, and plenty of themed collectibles.

â€œStreet Fighter revolutionised fighting video games. It is a franchise many of us grew up with, playing as its iconic characters like Ryu and Chun-Li.
Bringing a part of Street Fighter into Free Fire and welcoming Ryu and Chun-Li to Bermuda is something our players will enjoy.â€

Garenaâ€™s collaboration with Capcom builds on its strategy to continue expanding the Free Fire experience through collaborations with some of the worldâ€™s most recognisable brands. Most recently, Garena announced collaborations to bring international football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and the anime series Attack On Titan into Free Fire.
Street Fighter is a fighting video game franchise developed and published by Capcom and is one of the worldâ€™s highest-grossing video game franchises of all time. It has sold 46 million units worldwide as of 31 March 2021. Street Fighter V was released for the PS4 and PC in 2016.
Free Fire is an immersive battle royale game created specifically for mobile gamers. Developed and published globally by Garena, Free Fire achieved a record high of over 100 million peak daily active users in 2020.
Free Fire can be downloaded on both the Apple iOS App and Google Play store.


Capcom’s Great Ace Attorney Game Sold 500,000 Copies

The Capcom hits keep on coming.
While the Ace Attorney games aren’t as huge as the Resident Evil or Monster Hunter series, they can still hold their own sales-wise given how niche the visual novel genre can get. The “latest” in the series, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, has surpassed 500,000 units worldwide.

YES! #TheGreatAceAttorney Chronicles has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide! Thank you to all of our passionate fans who have made this game a great success! pic.twitter.com/Er9STXhsnS
— Ace Attorney (@aceattorneygame) April 15, 2022

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles collection includes The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures and The Great Ace Attorney 2: Resolve, two 3DS adventure titles that were never released outside of Japan until 2021. The collection is out now for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC; go check it out if you haven’t.


Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold War Beta Drops Next Month

Publisher Activision and developer Treyarch have released the first details and trailer forÂ Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War‘s multiplayer mode, as well as announced when the beta will officially be dropping.
The beta schedule is as follows (via Activision):
First WeekendÂ (PlayStation Exclusive)8 to 9 October 20202 â€“ PS4 Early Access.10 to 12 October 2020 â€“ PS4 Open Beta.Second WeekendÂ (Cross-Play Beta)15 to 16 October 2020 â€“ Xbox and PC Early Access, PS4 Open Beta.17 to 19 October 2020 â€“ Open Beta On All Platforms.
Early Access And Open Beta Times

There are two weekends ofÂ Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold WarÂ beta content with each lasting a total of around five days, scheduled to begin each Thursday at 1pm ET (or 1m GMT+8 for Southeasian countries).
Weekend 1: PS4 Exclusive Beta
The first Beta Weekend is exclusively for PS4 owners, running from 8 to 12 October 2020.
Weekend 1: Early AccessÂ â€“ Thursday, October 8, and Friday, October 9 are available for early access on PS4 to players who have pre-orderedÂ Call Of Duty Black Ops Cold WarÂ on PS4 or PS5.Weekend 1: OpenÂ â€“ Saturday, October 10, to Monday, October 12 is free to all PS4 owners. If youâ€™ve got a PS4 and an internet connection, you should be ready to engage, though PlayStation Plus may be a requirement in some territories.
Weekend 2: PS4, Xbox One, and PC Beta (Cross-Play)
The second beta weekend is for PS4, Xbox One, and PC owners, starting from 15 to 19 October 2020.
If youâ€™re a PS4 owner, regardless of whether or not you pre-ordered the game, you can resume and continue to play the open beta free for the entire Weekend 2 period.
Weekend 2: Early AccessÂ â€“ The first two days of the weekend – Thursday, October 15, and Friday, October 16 – are available for early access to anyone who has pre-ordered or pre-purchased the game on Xbox One/ Xbox Series X, or on PC via Blizzard Battle.net respectively. If youâ€™re an Xbox One or PC owner and want to play Weekend 2 of the beta for the longest possible time, be sure to pre-order. This period will be open for PS4 players.Weekend 2: OpenÂ â€“ The rest of the open beta period, running from Saturday, October 17, to Monday, October 19, is accessible to all players on PS4, Xbox One, or PC. If youâ€™ve got an Xbox One, Xbox Live Gold is required to play. If you have a PC, a Battle.net account is required to play.
New Maps

InÂ Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, Treyarchâ€™s signature map design will be rooted in the gameâ€™s realistic and historical setting, all accentuated by a visual art style that immerses players into the unfolding early 1980s Cold War narrative.
This Multiplayer journey brings operators around the world from the Angolan desert (Map name: Satellite), to the frozen lakes of Uzbekistan (Crossroads), to the streets of South Beach (Miami), to frigid North Atlantic waters (Armada), and even to the heart of the U.S.S.R. (Moscow).
Hereâ€™s a quick rundown of some of the maps you can expect to infiltrate into:
Armada â€“ Based on Operation Azorian, U.S. and Soviet forces arrive in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean in search of a prototype nuclear submarine. The scale of the Cold War could be tipped in favor of whoever salvages it, whether it be the Soviets reclaiming it or the U.S. intercepting it. Zipline from ship to ship or command gunboats to turn the tide of the fight.Crossroads â€“ At a pivotal route to Afghanistan deep in Uzbekistan, NATO forces are mobilized to ambush a large Soviet military convoy comprised of mobile ICBM launchers. With the backdrop of a frozen Soviet Wilderness, an MI6 Squadron are ready to combat any Spetsnaz forces in order to secure the top-secret intel held on the convoy, as well as any necessary supplies for future operations. Use tanks to blow up enemy positions or snowmobiles to zip behind the enemy and break their lines.Miami â€“ Through hired DGI forces, Perseus ambushed and assaulted a prison transport in Miamiâ€™s famed South Beach in order to free a trusted ally. Amid the cover of night amongst vibrant art-deco architecture and neon lights, CIA special forces have been dispatched to eliminate remaining DGI forces and identify clues to Perseusâ€™ whereabouts.Moscow â€“ In the heart of the U.S.S.R, a Spetsnaz squad was sent to a compromised CIA safe house in order to secure the area, capture any remaining CIA operatives, and acquire further intel on NATOâ€™s future plans. Initial reports indicate that the area has gone hot and fighting has spilled out into the streets, prompting a second CIA-JSOC team to arrive at the scene as reinforcements.Satellite â€“ Deep in the deserts of Angola, Central Africa, a top-secret, American-made reconnaissance satellite known as the KH-9 has been grounded, potentially by Perseus. Hired DGI forces are searching for the sensitive intel it holds, while NATOâ€™s MI6 Squadron have been dispatched to secure the site and eliminate DGI stragglers.
While just a sample of the broader array of maps that will be available at launch, these five maps are meticulously designed and based on authentic, real-world sources, as Treyarchâ€™s visual research department visited real-life locations, photo-scanning thousands of physical objects, terrains, environments, and materials.
All those assets aided developer designers and artists to deliver an immersive virtual world thatâ€™s rich in ambience, further pushing the visual fidelity of environments through photometric lighting, and the game engineâ€™s â€œContourâ€ terrain system. This sets an incredible stage for Multiplayer combat set through a high-dynamic-range true 4K experience on next generation platforms (PS5 and Xbox Series X) and PC.
Multiplayer Modes Overview

Expect to see familiar core modes, such as Team Deathmatch, Search & Destroy, Domination, and Kill Confirmed brought back alongside new ways to play like VIP Escort, Combined Arms, and Fireteam.Â
Call Of Duty Black Ops 4â€™s fan-favorite competitive Control mode also makes a return.
VIP EscortIn this new six-versus-six objective core game mode, teams either protect or subdue a randomly selected player who becomes a VIP. This Very Important Player only gets a kitted-out pistol, a smoke grenade, a UAV for team intel, and the satisfaction of having up to five other squadmates defend them.These protectors must escort the VIP to an extraction point as they fend off the attacking team, whose goal is to neutralize the VIP before they escape. A non-VIP who dies during the round is out until the next one, but a downed player at zero health can defend themselves in Last Stand or be revived by a teammate to get back into the fight.Combined ArmsA 12-versus-12 battle that combines infantry and vehicular gameplay, Combined Arms is a larger-scale mode where the action is tailed to the environment it takes place within.Depending on the map, vehicles such as Tanks, Snowmobiles, Attack Helicopters or Wakerunners will amplify and advance the action alongside traditional gunfights, allowing for jaw-dropping moments right in the middle of an intense engagement.At launch, expect to play multiple Combined Arms Maps across a handful of Combined Arms Modes, including Domination, which places multiple flags around a given map for teams to capture and defend.FireteamFireteam is a new 40-player category ofÂ Black OpsÂ Multiplayer with up to 10 teams of four, where the action is centred around not just the operators in the field, but also the environment they battle in. The first available Fireteam game type is called Dirty Bomb.
Initial Gameplay Information

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold Warâ€™s boots-on-the-ground combat is built upon the familiar feel ofÂ Black OpsÂ movement and gunplay, all while innovating on key gameplay elements to bring it to new heights.
It begins with, of course, the weaponry. A new weapon sound engine brings further understanding of enemy and friendly gunfire, giving players a sense of what is being fired at them and where it came from through three-dimensional and directional sound.
For an operatorâ€™s own loadouts, the Create-a-Class system is now slot-based, automatically giving them a primary, secondary, lethal and tactical equipment, a Field Upgrade, and a set of Perks.
New to Black Ops, Field Upgrades are in-game items that either help your squad or hinder your enemies, earned solely on time in-game with a cooldown that lasts after death.
Loadouts can also be outfitted with class-changing Wildcards, which can provide one of four benefits:
Grant eight attachments for a primary weapon.Carry up to six Perks.Double the number of lethal and tactical equipment given on spawn.Carry three Perks from any category, rather than be limited to one of each.
Those looking to further tinker with their primary weapon, or some secondaries, can head to the Gunsmith. Each primary weapon can be customized with up to 54 attachments across eight different nodes, or attachment points, with at least six options per attach point.
The benefits and drawbacks of each attachment are shown via exact percentage change, which allows operators to precisely understand the data behind how each weapon configuration will feel out in the field, along with further conversations between developer and community about weapon tuning.
Outside of Loadouts, Scorestreaks make a return with several significant changes. In this new system, earned score is kept through death, giving all players a chance at earning these visceral and fun tools that can turn the tide of battle.
However, these Scorestreaks, especially higher-end rewards, must still be earned through earning plenty of score via elite gameplay. Those who string together multiple kills before a death will earn streak score bonuses, which can aid significantly in earning the gameâ€™s most powerful Scorestreaks.
Scorestreaks also have cooldowns, preventing players from â€œspammingâ€ Scorestreaks repeatedly, and some even exist to counter other Scorestreaks outside of traditional anti-Scorestreak measures.
With more points of motion and physics effects, operatorsâ€™ movement will feel more lifelike than ever before. On top of these visual advancements, expect four new refinements in movement to be introduced in Black Ops Cold War:
Sprint Take Off â€“ Operators automatically receive a burst of speed when starting a sprint, then settle down to a normal sprint speed.Sliding â€“ Slides start and end in a crouched position for a more believable movement pattern.Footstep Control â€“ Faster movement makes more noise, while slower movement doesnâ€™t make as much sound. Players can further reduce the sound of their footsteps while sprinting with the return of the classic Ninja Perk.Jumping â€“ Expect more natural height in jumps, which briefly slows an operator down as they land.
Cross-Play, Cross-Progression, Cross-Generation

For the first time in franchise history, all fans will experience the next generation of global combat as one community, regardless of the platform or console generation on which they play Black Ops Cold War.
With Black Ops Cold War, an entire Multiplayer party could be comprised of up of to five players who are playing the game across the available five platforms, including next and current generation consoles as well as PC.
Alongside cross-platform and cross-generation play, players will have their profile, progression, and statistics tied to their Activision account. This allows them to switch between platforms, if they choose to do so, without losing in-game progress or identity.
Call Of Duty Warzone Battle Pass, Store, and Armory Integration

Warzone will continue to evolve after the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, interweaving some of Black Ops Cold Warâ€™s themes, weapons, and operators into this blockbuster free-to-play Battle Royale experience.
Specifically, both games will share post-launch seasonal content through the return of the Battle Pass system and the Store, as well as share a progression system. At launch, Black Ops Cold War is set to include a brand-new leveling journey that will later connect to Warzone, allowing players to unlock new functional content to be used in both titles. In addition, both games are set to share post-launch seasonal content through the return of the Battle Pass system and the Store.
On top of all new Black Ops Cold War content, Warzone players will still have access to previously earned content: Weapons, Operators, Blueprints, Equipment, Cosmetics, and so on, that they earned during their experiences in Modern Warfare. Please note that previously earned Modern Warfare content is only available and usable in Modern Warfare and Warzone.
This means:
Those who earned Modern Warfare items in Modern Warfare or Warzone will retain their content when Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War arrives this November.All new Black Ops Cold War functional content, such as base weapons and attachments, can be unlocked by playing Black Ops Cold War and Warzone.The Battle Pass System will continue to include free tiers, similar to the Modern Warfare Battle Pass system, which will include new base weapons in addition to other categories of items players can earn simply by playing the gameBattle Passes will launch in tandem with post-launch live seasons, which will include themed content that matches each seasonâ€™s narrative.Players can see the content they will earn or buy through the Battle Pass or Store.The Battle Pass and Store will feature a variety of cosmetic content, including Operators, Weapons, Blueprints, Player Identity items, and more.There will not be a Season Pass model. Post-launch Multiplayer maps and modes will be free and given to all players simultaneously on all platforms.
Call of Duty Black Ops Cold WarÂ is a collaborative effort across multiple studios, including Treyarch and Raven Software, along with additional support from High Moon Studios, Beenox, Activision Shanghai, Demonware, and Sledgehammer Games.
Call of Duty Black Ops Cold WarÂ is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC viaÂ Battle.netÂ on 13 November 2020, and for PS5 and Xbox Series X sometime this holiday. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.


Overwatch Gets Its First-Ever Young Adult Novel

The heroes in Overwatch are getting featured in their very own young adult novel titled; The Hero of Numbani, from Scholasticâ€™s AFK imprint and critically-acclaimed author Nicky Drayden. It’s releasing today on 15 June 2020.
A threat is growing in Numbani, and a new hero is rising to meet it. Orisa, LÃºcio, and
Doomfist are featured in this electrifying original story, but it chronicles and focuses more on the origins of Orisa.

The synopsis reads:

Set within the technologically advanced African city of Numbani, a young inventor named Efi Oladele witnesses an attack by Doomfist.
Efi feels driven to build Numbani the hero it deserves, but as she races to complete her robot Orisa, Doomfist is mounting a series of attacks.
Can she stop Doomfist before itâ€™s too late?

The Hero of Numbani is now available for paperback at US$9.99 (or roughly RM42+) and eBook at US$5.99 (or roughly RM25+). In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvm0of3iDUU&w=560&h=315]


Celebrate Mass Effect’s N7 Day In Anthem With These Skins…

For all you sci-fi CRPGÂ  fans out there,Â  today isÂ  N7 Day, the annual event where fans celebrate the awesomeness of Mass Effect -all three of them because true fans don’t count Mass Effect:Â Andromeda.
To mark this year’s remembrance, Bioware added new Mass Effect-themed cosmetics to their recent live service game Anthem, including four Javelin skins, a new wrap, and a new emote. Each class of Javelin has its own skin based on a non-human species from the Bioware classic: Ranger gets Turian, Storm gets Asari,Â  Interceptor gets Quarian, andÂ  Colossus gets the Krogans.

The new emote is the Shepard Shuffle, a move pulled off by ME’s lead space guy/girl in an awkward fashion in his/her favourite dance club on the Citadel. If you think you’re getting these for free,Â  keep in mind that these are EA properties, so you’ll have to pay for them: 61,000Â  coins per skin, andÂ  23,000 coins for the emote.
So close, yet so far, Anthem. At least Bioware has a good sense to keep their N7 Day celebration low key given their recent string of bad luck and game release woes.
Images courtesy of Reddit’s CptnCASx.


Here Are The Rest Of Xbox Game Pass November’s Games

The second half of Xbox Game Pass’ November free game offerings have been revealed, and it’s quite a doozy that caters to indie, strategy, and even hack-and-slashing, I mean shooting.
Dune: Spice Wars, Ghostlore, Lapin, and Norco will be out on Xbox Game Pass on 17th November. This is followed by 3D action game Gungrave G.O.R.E., which will be out on 22nd November.
29th November will be rounded off with Insurgency: Sandstorm, Soccer Story, and multiplayer PvE first-person shooter-with-melee Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. The last game on this list is noteworthy as everyone has been waiting for their “Left 4 Dead but Warhammer 40K” fix.
Pentiment, the new adventure game from Obsidian, is out right now on Xbox Game Pass. It’s a lovely Renaissance Era game with multiple ending choices and a great mystery for you to solve. Check out our full review here. If you prefer a more scifi approach, Somerville is worth playing as it’s also available on the service. Our review of that game from Jumpship Studios is here.
Full descriptions of the November games are below:

Available Today
Pentiment (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Available on day one with Game Pass: Jump into the world of illuminated manuscripts and play as Andreas Maler, a journeyman artist living in 16th century Bavaria. Get caught up in the murder and scandals happening in the town of Tassing and leave your mark on this community with repercussions you will experience over the following 25 years in the game.
Somerville (Cloud, Console and PC)
Available on day one with Game Pass: In the wake of catastrophe, you must find the means to make your family whole again. Somerville is a Sci-Fi adventure grounded in the intimate repercussions of a large-scale conflict.
Coming Soon

Dune: Spice Wars (Game Preview) (PC) – November 17
A 4X real-time strategy game from the developers of the critically acclaimed Northgard. Set in Frank Herbert’s groundbreaking Dune universe, you must lead your faction and battle for control and dominance over the harsh desert planet of Arrakis. ‘The Air & Sand Update is also coming November 17, adding new layers of strategy with military flying units and new buildings, along with improvements across the board.
Ghostlore (Game Preview) (PC) – November 17
Ghostlore is an ‘Eastpunk’ Action-RPG where you fight monsters from Southeast-Asian folklore. Inspired by timeless classic ARPG’s such as Diablo 2 and Titan Quest, Ghostlore offers a detailed item and character customization system, procedurally generated maps, and an authentically retro 90’s aesthetic.
Lapin (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 17
Available on day one with Game Pass: Lapin is a 2D platformer game featuring a group of brave rabbit explorers. Five rabbits used to live under a park, but construction forced them to leave their beloved hole. Players need to help Liebe and her friends explore the world with precise control. Meet new friends, remember past events, and hop on to the end of the adventure!
Norco (Cloud and Console) – November 17
The award-winning Southern Gothic point & click narrative adventure game Norco is coming soon to Game Pass, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Your brother Blake has gone missing in the aftermath of your mother’s death. In the hopes of finding him, you must follow a fugitive security android through the refineries, strip malls, and drainage ditches of suburban New Orleans.
Gungrave G.O.R.E (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 22
Available on day one with Game Pass: Stylish third-person shooting meets close-range martial arts, creating seamlessly flowing action as you crush your enemies in a gory ballet of bullets. Utilize your unlimited ammo Cerberus pistols and your transformable EVO-coffin to unleash devastating combos in pursuit of maximum damage and style.

Insurgency: Sandstorm (Cloud and Console) – November 29
Battle in the war-torn environments of a contemporary conflict through a series of intense co-op and PvP multiplayer modes. Feel every bullet and fear every impact in fierce close quarters combat as your team fights toward victory.
Soccer Story (Cloud, Console, and PC) – November 29
Available on day one with Game Pass: Soccer Story is a physics-driven adventure RPG, where every problem can be solved with your trusty magic ball. Along the way, you’ll need to best bad guys in 1v1s, compete in a range of sports (with your soccer ball, of course), and solve puzzles with your brain and your balls!
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide (PC) – November 30
Available on day one with PC Game Pass: Take back the city of Tertium from hordes of bloodthirsty foes in this intense and brutal action shooter. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is the new co-op focused experience from the award-winning team behind the Vermintide series. As Tertium falls, Rejects Will Rise.


Miasma Chronicles Guide & Tips: The Best Weapon & More

Miasma Chronicles is coming out for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on 23 May 2023. This is the third game from Swedish developers The Bearded Ladies after 2018’s Mutant Year Zero Road To Eden and 2020’s Corruption 2029, combining XCOM-like turn-based tactical strategy and stealth elements. You can check out our full review of Miasma Chronicles by heading over here.
Here are some tips and tricks for you to survive post-apocalypse America in Miasma Chronicles:
Talk To Everyone In Town

When you gain access to any hub area like Sedentary or anywhere that features NPCs, talk to all of them. Why? Because some of them will give you items, some will give you side quests and one will even give you the best weapon in the game (more on this later).
You Have To Buy The Overwatch Ability

If you’re used to XCOM and other XCOM-like games or even Mutant Year Zero Road To Eden, I’m sure you’ll be a bit confused to discover that the characters in Miasma Chronicles can’t perform something as simple as Overwatch. Well, if you didn’t notice, you can actually unlock the Overwatch ability for the characters via their skill trees.
You Can Change The Difficulty At Any Time

In most XCOM-like games, you have to stick with your chosen difficulty from beginning to end in that playthrough. However, in Miasma Chronicles, you can actually change the difficulty at any time in the game by going into the pause menu and settings. This game has some unbalanced difficulty spikes, so don’t be afraid to change your difficulty if you find yourself unable to progress further.
Save Scum Is Your Friend

This is something that strategy game veterans do all the time; save scumming. What that means is that you can save at any time, even between turns during combat. So, for instance, if you miss a shot due to unlucky RNG or made a fatal mistake, simply reload the game and do it differently. Also, since the game has difficulty spikes and random enemy ambushes, it’s best to have some safety saves just in case.
You Can Climb Vines To Get On Top Of Buildings

The game doesn’t tell you this, so it might very well be possible for certain players to miss this entirely. You can climb vines to get on top of buildings. Sometimes the vines are hard to see, but they’re often there if a ladder isn’t present.
Make Sure You’re Stocked On Health Items, And Don’t Be Afraid To Use Your Money To Buy Them

This might sound like obvious advice but always keep at least two or three health items (medipods) at all times. If you don’t have any, use your Plastic money to buy them. You’ll need the health items, especially on Standard or higher difficulties (where you don’t recover your health after every battle, which only happens in Narrative difficulty).
Don’t Forget That You Can Re-Spec The Skill Deck At Any Time

It’s easy to forget that you can simply re-spec your skill points in your characters’ skill decks at any time without any penalties since most games don’t actually give you that luxury. In Miasma Chronicles, some skills work better in some situations more than others, so it’s best to always re-spec depending on what type of enemies you’re facing at any given time.
Save At Least 7000 For The Best Weapon In The Game

After around 15 hours or more into the game, you’ll reach a location called Club 14, where there’s a robot NPC named Pontius Pychart. He will offer to give you the ultimate weapon for 7000 Plastic, which is a huge amount of money in the game. This is similar to how players get the ultimate RYNO weapons in Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank game.

After you pay him 7000 Plastic, he gives you a key to a basement in another location, The Breakfast Club. Go there, but you’ll need to sneak around some robot enemies to gain access to the basement, where the weapon awaits. The weapon’s name is EDZ-COL: ASSAULT.


Latest Street Fighter 5 Tier List For 2021’s Recent Patch Sees Some High Risers

The 18th May 2021 patch for Street Fighter 5: Champion Edition has changed up the game’s meta for the better. Weak characters get buffs while stronger characters get nerfs.
The latest from Japanese tournament fighting group Topanga, which include FAV|Ryusei, Rohto|Tokido, RB|Gachikun, RZR|Fuudo, RB|Bonchan and HG|Moke, have cast their votes for this month’s updated tier list.
Most notably, characters like Nash have climbed up the rankings exponentially. Still, the usual suspects like Karin, Menat, Cammy, Rashid, and Guile are still hovering in the S-tier spot. Here’s the lowdown:
S Tier
Cammy, Karin, Menat, Rashid, Guile, Urien, M.Bison (Dictator), Abigail
A Tier
Kolin, Balrog (Boxer), Poison, Chun-Li, Akuma, Sakura, Seth, Sagat, Zangief
B Tier
G, Laura, Ryu, Birdie, Nash, Cody, Ed, Falke, Juri, Ken, E.Honda, Zeku, Vega (Claw), Lucia, Dhalsim
C Tier
Necalli, Blanka, R.Mika, Ibuki, F.A.N.G, Kage
D Tier
Alex, Gill, Rose, Dan

Just keep in mind that Rose and Dan haven’t seen much tournament play for more than three months, so their ranking will probably go up a few notches in the near future. Having said that, Alex and Gill are still considered the bottom of the barrel by Japanese players.
It’ll be interesting to see where Rose and Dan will place later in 2021, especially with new characters like Oro and Rival School’s Akira entering the fray.


The Next Free Epic Games Store Titles Are Prey & Jotun

Mark your calendars for free games this coming week, everyone.
The Epic Games Store will be dishing out the following games for free: Prey and Jotun. The former is the Arkane-developed reboot of the first-person action adventure title while the other is a pretty decent action-exploration game.

Prey and Jotun will be available for free from 12 May until 19 May. These games will replace Terraforming Mars, which is free right now to download until 12 May.


Skullgirls 2nd Encore Is The Most Popular Game On EVO Online 2020 So Far

It’s a brand new day for fighting games, as their netcodes and online capabilities will be put to the test in this month’s EVO 2020 tournament. So which game has the most registrants?
Believe it or not, it’s the 2012 fighting game Skullgirls, or rather its updated form Skullgirls 2nd Encore. According to an official tweet from EVO chief Joey Cuellar, Skullgirls nails the top spot for each region in this year’s online EVO tournament.
Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat 11, and Them’s Fightin’ Herds are also the top fighting games on the list. Then again, those are the only games that have acceptable online play infrastructures, but we’ll take what we can get.
Additionally, all fights in EVO 2020 will be changed to 3/5 games. Full numbers below:
North America

Skullgirls 2nd Encore – 1,249
Killer Instinct – 1,175
Mortal Kombat 11 – 1,152
Them’s Fightin’ Herds – 1,004

Europe

Skullgirls 2nd Encore – 235
Them’s Fightin’ Herds – 207
MK11 – 205
Killer Instinct – 149

Japan/South Korea

Skullgirls 2nd Encore – 41
Them’s Fightin’ Herds – 30
Killer Instinct – 29


Who Wants More Free Stuff At Epic Games Store?

Of course you want free games, you hoarder you. Epic Games Store just released a bunch of free indie titles for your perusal. They are:
20XX, a roguelike action-platformer in the veins of the Mega Man series.

Barony, a first-person retro-roguelike inspired by titles like Ultima Underworld.

Last but not least is the adventure title Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP. It’s about a wandering warrior monk doing errands, and it’s quite a trip.

These titles will be free until 6th August, so grab them now.


Uncapped Games Is A New RTS-Making Studio Led By Blizzard Veterans

Tencent subsidiary Lightspeed & Quantum Studios has announced the founding of a new studio led by renowned Blizzard veterans: Uncapped Games.
Uncapped Games is run by Blizzard veterans, lead designer David Kim and lead producer Jason Hughes, with the company focused on making “action-packed real-time strategy games” for PC. Its first-ever project will be revealed at a later date.
The California-based company is now hiring, and will focus on building an “industry-leading pool of talent that bring unique perspectives and skillsets to develop games at the studio” as well as “committed to creating an environment that is focused deeply on great game making, while at the same time being a value-driven place to work that puts whatâ€™s good for the game above any decisions based on ego”. Sounds like the founders have had their fair share of issues with their previous employers based on this press release blurb.
Here’s what Jason Hughes has to say about the company and its goals:
“One of our main priorities with Uncapped Games is to empower great game developers to enjoy what they do best and foster an environment that lends itself to developing amazing games.”
David Kim also adds in further on why Uncapped Games was founded:
“Making the next great PC real-time strategy has been my goal for almost a decade now, and Lightspeed and Quantum is giving us an awesome shot at making that. Putting together a team of great developers with lots of experience and being backed by the right people who also believe in real-time strategy as much as we do, is our first big step in getting there.”


Red Dead Redemption 2 PC Specs Point To It Being The Definitive Version

With the PC version of Red Dead Redemption 2 releasing next month, Rockstar Games has finally revealed the spec requirements for the upcoming game, as well as new content and features that will presumably be coming exclusively to that platform.
According to Rockstar, here are the Red Dead Redemption 2 PC specs:
Minimum Specifications:

OS: Windows 7 â€“ Service Pack 1 (6.1.7601)
Processor: Intel Core i5-2500K/AMD FX-6300
Memory: 8GB
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 770 2GB/AMD Radeon R9 280 3GB
HDD Space: 150GB
Sound Card: DirectX compatible

Recommended Specifications:

OS: Windows 10 â€“ April 2018 Update (v1803)
Processor: Intel Core i7-4770K/AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 12GB
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB/AMD Radeon RX 480 4GB
HDD Space: 150GB
Sound Card: DirectX compatible

You’ll need a heck ton of space to install Red Dead Redemption 2 on PC, but at least the spec requirements are modest enough, especially for a massive open-world game like this. The improvements and new content added to this version of the game also means that it is essentially the definitive version of the game (sorry, console folks).
Here are the technical enhancements and new content in Red Dead Redemption 2 PC:

Increased draw distance
“Higher quality” global illumination and ambient occlusion
“Improved” snow trails
“Improved” reflections and higher resolution shadows
Tessellated tree textures
“Improved” grass and fur textures
HDR support
Unlocked resolution (4K and higher)
Ultrawide aspect ratio and multi-monitor support
Unlocked framerate
Three new Bounty Hunter Missions
Two new Gang Hideouts
Two new Treasure Maps
Four new weapons: M1899 Pistol, Evans Repeater, High Roller Revolver, Le Mat Revolver
Seven new horses: Few Spot Appaloosa, Perlino Andalusian, Red Chestnut Arabian, Buttermilk Buckskin Kentucky Saddler, Liver Chestnut Morgan, and Gold Palomino Tennessee Walker.
Thereâ€™s also a new mission called, â€œTo The Ends of the Earth.â€

Red Dead Redemption 2Â for PC comes out on 5 November 2019.


Ace Attorney Pop Up Parade Figures Are Up For Pre-Order

The Good Smile Company has announced that the Ace Attorney Phoenix Wright and Miles Edgeworth Pop Up Parade Figures are now up for pre-order on the official website. The pre-order period will end on 28 September 2022 and the product will ship sometime in February 2023. They each cost ¥4,800, or roughly RM155+.
Phoenix Wright is the protagonist of Capcom’s Ace Attorney franchise, while Miles Edgeworth is his childhood friend who’s also the protagonist of the Ace Attorney Investigations spinoff games. The most recent title was The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles in July 2021 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC. Check out our review of the game here.


Google Doodle Gives Tribute To An Icon Of Malaysian Animation

Today’s Google animated Doodle celebrates the 67th birthday of Kamn Ismail, a cartoonist and pioneer in Malaysian animation. He is best known for creating Keluang Man, Malaysia’s first superhero, and played a pivotal role in modernizing the country’s animation industry.
Kamn was born on this day in 1956 in Pengkalan Balak, Malacca. He fell in love with drawing as a child and dreamed of becoming a comic artist. When he was a teenager, his skills attracted the attention of McMillen Film Company, which hired him to oversee the creative aspects of a movie called Paper Tiger.
However, for the next 17 years, he worked as a clerk and held several positions at the Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway because his father didn’t approve of him working as an animator. Despite that, Kamn never gave up on his dreams and secretly learned computer animation techniques in his spare time. His skills eventually landed him an opportunity to work for Kharisma Pictures.

He trained the company’s animators and directed Malaysia’s first animated television series, Usop Sontorian, in 1996. Afterwards, Ismail became a director at UAS Animation Studios, where he created  Keluang Man. He brought the character to life by blending 2D and 3D animation, which was an innovative technique for its time
By doing all this, Kamn helped modernize Malaysia’s animation industry. His work has won numerous prizes such as the Best Animated Film at Malaysia Film Festival and was awarded as a Malaysian Animation Icon.
This is especially timely, considering that a live-action Keluang Man movie is in the works.
In the meantime, relive your nostalgic memories with the iconic Keluang Man intro below:


Team Fortress 2 Soldier Voice Actor Rick May Dies At 80

Voice actor Rick May has passed away at the age of 80 after contracting the COVID-19 Coronavirus in a nursing home where he was recovering from a recent stroke in February 2020. His death was reported by the Rekindle School. May was a teacher at the independent art, acting, and film institution in Seattle, Washington, US.
May was best known for voicing many characters in video games, most prominent of which was the role of Soldier in Valve’s Team Fortress 2. He also voiced Dr. M in Sucker Punch’s Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves, and Genghis Khan in Age of Empires II, as well as Peppy Hare and Andross in Star Fox 64.

Fans and friends of the late May have posted tributes on social media. His role as Soldier was beloved in particular, as the player class in Team Fortress 2 became one of the popular characters to come out of the game over the years after many updates and lore expansions.

Rick May, the talented voice of soldier from tf2 has passed away due to Covid-19.
â€¦ Rest in peace Rick May, and thank you for bringing us all the joy you have over the years.
I know this is very devistating news, and shows us just how careful we need to be in these times. pic.twitter.com/NlgC24DYti
â€” Team Fabulous 2 Reanimated (@Teamfabulous2R) April 13, 2020

lol i got rick may to say happy birthday to my friend in the soldier voice pic.twitter.com/ZVH2wGN29f
â€” 8-Bit Shark (@8BitShark_) November 18, 2018

Rest in peace, Rick May. pic.twitter.com/y40XOVevWk
â€” Chaotix (@ChaotixTF2) April 13, 2020
As a remembrance of the late Rick May, check out several of his roles below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h42d0WHRSck&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lijg3AJSY5o&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7T4Ta53x6M&w=560&h=315]


Stewie2K Takes Hiatus From Competitive CS:GO

Professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player Jake “Stewie2k” Yip has come out and announced he’ll be stepping away from competitive CS:GO and will become a content creator/streamer for Evil Geniuses.

I’m hype to announce that I’ll be streaming VAL & CS for @EvilGeniuses Creator Collective. For now, I’ll be stepping away from competitive CS and focusing on streaming. Thanks to those who tagged along and ?to many more! My future isn’t determined, so stop by tonight’s stream ?
— Jake (@Stewie) July 28, 2022

Nicknamed the “The Smoke Criminal” during his come-up and labelled as one of the greatest products coming out of North America, EG got their hands on Stewie2k earlier this year but unfortunately, his leadership wasn’t enough as EG were unable to do anything significant.
Following this string of bad luck and almost two months after EG finalised their 15-man roster, Stewie2k went to Twitter to announce that while not competing in CS:GO he will be focusing on streaming it along with Valorant.
As of this year, the Smoke Criminal was wrapped in controversy and rumours about his attitude towards the game and lack of professionalism. This was in regards to EG’s idea for a 15-man roster dubbed the Blueprint project. He initially claimed the comments were “twisted and overly dramatic” but eventually apologized to EG and the fans for “playing a massive part” in that early project ultimately failing.