Netflix Announces Assassin’s Creed Live-Action Series

Netflix has announced a brand new live-action series based on Ubisoftâ€™sÂ Assassinâ€™s CreedÂ franchise
Ubisoft senior vice president of film and television Jason Altman and director of television development Danielle Kreinik will serve as executive producers of the upcoming series.
No other details have been revealed about the Netflix Assassin’s Creed series, so it’s safe to assume that it will be a while before it even premieres.
In a statement via press release (Gematsu), Altman said:
â€œFor more than 10 years, millions of fans around the world have helped shape theÂ Assassinâ€™s CreedÂ brand into an iconic franchise. Weâ€™re thrilled to create anÂ Assassinâ€™s CreedÂ series with Netflix and we look forward to developing the next saga in theÂ Assassinâ€™s CreedÂ universe.â€

Netflix will be developing an Assassin's Creed live-action series. @Ubisofts's Jason Altman and Danielle Kreinik will serve as Executive Producers— Netflix Geeked @ SDCC #NetflixSDCC (@NetflixGeeked) October 27, 2020

Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla is slated to launch on 10 November 2020 for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on PC. However, it will only release for the PS5 on 12 November 2020.
In other recent news, the developer revealed the game’s post-launch plans.


Demon Slayer Season 2 Is Coming In 2021 [Updated]

Update (26 September, 2021): Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie Mugen Train came out last year in Japan and in other regions in 2021 to great success. However, it looks like we’ll be getting more of that soon.
According to Anime News Network, Demon Slayer Season 2 will premiere on 10 October 2021 with its own adaptation of the Mugen Train arc consisting of seven episodes (including a brand new episode). The first episode will feature Rengoku as he embarks on his journey to the Mugen Train (which is the aforementioned brand new content). The remaining six episodes will add about 70 new animation cuts and new background music, as well as a new trailer.
LiSA will sing the opening song “Akeboshi” (Morning Star) and ending song “Shirogane” (Silver) for the Mugen Train arc, while Aimer will sing the opening song “ZankyÅ Sanka” (Song of Reverberation) and ending song “Asa ga Kuru” (Daybreak) for the Entertainment District Arc.
TheÂ Entertainment District Arc will only officially kick off on 5 December 2021 with a one-hour premiere.
Check out the Demon Slayer Season 2 Mugen Train and Entertainment District posters below:

Demon Slayer Season 2 is coming later this year in 2021. The highly-anticipated second season of the hit anime series by Studio Ufotable is officially titled Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba Entertainment District Arc (Kimetsu No Yaiba Yuukaku-hen).
According to Anime News Network, Haruo Sotozaki is returning to direct the second season, and Akira Matsushima is again designing the characters. The cast from the first television anime season is returning, including Katsuyuki Konishi as Tengen Uzui (pictured in the new poster below).
Check out the poster below:

However, there is no definitive release date or release window for Demon Slayer Season 2 as of yet.
The entire first season of theÂ Demon Slayer anime is now streaming on Netflix Malaysia. For now, it remains to be seen when Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen TrainÂ will premiere in Malaysia.
Check out the Demon Slayer Season 2 trailer below:


We’re Getting Yet Another SD Gundam Game

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has announced that SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays will be releasing for the PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC (via Steam) sometime in 2019. It is set to arrive with the original Japanese voiceover and English subtitles.
In celebration of the G Generation’s 20th anniversary in 2018, SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays will feature iconic characters and Mobile Suits from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans.
The G Generation series of games have always allowed players to create and develop their very own team of Gundams. Imagine Gundam Wing, Gundam Exia, and Gundam Barbatos in the same team!
Countries in Southeast Asia will receive SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, The Philippines, and Indonesia. More details and information will be revealed at the upcoming Taipei Gameshow, which takes place from 25 to 27 January 2019.
In the meantime, check out the SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays announcement trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm0YUOjtRRg&w=560&h=315]


eFootball 2023 Set To Launch 25 August With 2 New Ambassadors

eFootball fans save the date because the 2023 update will go live on Wednesday, 25 August along with patch notes on the same day.

Save the date!??
The eFootball™ 2023 update will be released on 25/08/2022
Patch notes and information regarding gameplay improvements will also be made available on the day of the update ??https://t.co/ktbHYcB674
— eFootball (@play_eFootball) August 22, 2022

Lionel Messi, Neymar and Takefusa Kubo, who have long been eFootball global ambassadors, there will now be two new players joining the star-studded roster.
Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool, a player considered by many as one of the best right-backs in the world right now, alongside Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes.
All five of these players have been motion captured so that the movements in eFootball closely follow their real-life actions.
This season’s theme is “New Season Kickoff – New Player Types & Licenses” focusing on the strength of newer players.
Two new card types are coming to eFootball’s Dream Team – the equivalent of FIFA’s FIFA Ultimate Team – Highlight and Epic. Highlight cards will feature players who are doing exceptionally well in this current season. Epic players will have a higher progression ceiling than Legendary players, and feature past and present footballing stars.


Detective Pikachu Returns This October

The Pokemon adventure game featuring the talking Pikachu from Pokemon is back again.
The latest Nintendo Direct for June 2023 just revealed that the upcoming adventure title is due 6th October for Nintendo Switch. Players will control Detective Pikachu with his gruff voice and love for coffee as he teams up with a new teenage boy to solve mysteries in a new town where Pokemon and humans co-exist.
The last Detective Pikachu game came out in 2018 for Nintendo 3DS. A movie adaptation was released in 2019 and starred Ryan Reynolds as Detective Pikachu.


John Rambo Is Going To Be In Mortal Kombat 11

Just when you thought Mortal Kombat’s guest additions couldn’t get any more bizarre and pop culture-y, along comes this NetherRealm Studios’ announcement.
John Rambo, star of the First Blood and Rambo films where a Vietnam war veteran fights PTSD and terrorists with guns & bow-and-arrows, will be the next DLC addition in Mortal Kombat 11. Oh, and fan-favourite ninja Mileena and Rain will be joining in too. The three are new additions to the Kombat Pack 2 alongside Fujin, Sheeva, and Robocop earlier this year.
And yes, Sylvester Stallone will provide the voice of John Rambo, because it wouldn’t mean much if NetherRealms didn’t.
Kombat Pack 2 will be a new addition in the next Ultimate edition of Mortal Kombat 11, which is essentially a new bundle of the game with all the Kombat Pack DLCs that were previously released.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate will contain:

Mortal Kombat 11
Kombat Pack 1
Aftermath
Kombat Pack 2

…and will be out 17th November this year for PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, and Xbox Series X. And yes, if you owned a PS4 or Xbox One version of the game, you’ll get a free upgrade to the next-gen version of each respective version.


Disney Plus Malaysia Social Pages Are Live [Update]

Update (25 January 2021): Both the Disney Plus Hotstar Malaysia Facebook and Instagram pages have been taken down.
However, Disney Malaysia has yet to offer any official statements or comments regarding these social media pages or even when Disney Plus will be launching in Malaysia. We will update this article with further news if and when they arrive. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei!

It looks like Disney Plus Malaysia is coming soon, as the official Facebook and Instagram pages have already gone live.
Disney Plus Hotstar is already operating in select regions in Asia including Indonesia and India. Disney Plus Hotstar combines the offerings of the main Disney Plus streaming service as well as local content unique to these respective countries.
The Disney Plus Hot Star Malaysia Facebook and Instagram pages are now live, with only a single post so far that simply reads “LOADING…”. This must mean that the official launch of Disney Plus Malaysia is a lot closer than we’d expect. Fingers crossed, folks.
Earlier this month, we discovered that Disney Plus Malaysia is currently hiring for jobs and roles, which you can check out here.


AGON By AOC Claims Top Spot As World’s Leading Gaming Monitor Brand

Gaming monitor and IT accessories brand AGON by AOC has announced its position as the world’s number one gaming monitor brand, as declared by the IDC Quarterly Gaming Tracker report for Q4/2022. The gaming-focussed sub-brand of the display specialist AOC, AGON by AOC, has outpaced its competitors to secure the top spot on the global gaming monitor market, thanks to the technologies offered (such as MiniLED and DisplayHDR 1400), exceptional performance (with refresh rates up to 360 Hz), and commitment to providing the ultimate gaming experience.
In the last year, AGON by AOC launched its 5th generation of AGON monitors with refreshed designs as well as fast, responsive panels, and introduced brand-new technologies in its AGON PRO line-up.
Kevin WU, General Manager of MMD Singapore, said:
“We are thrilled to be the world’s top gaming monitor brand. This couldn’t be possible without the incredible support of the gaming scene and customers worldwide who faithfully trust our expertise to deliver exceptional products with great value. As we continue to grow, we are committed to bringing innovative and state-of-the-art products to the market, tailored to the preferences of our diverse gaming community.”

AGON by AOC offers a comprehensive line-up of gaming monitors, which appeals to a wide range of gamers with its three sub-categories:
AOC GAMING: Designed for casual and core gamers, these monitors accommodate players of all skill levels, from content creators and streamers to those who relish the thrill of exploration and adventure. The AOC GAMING line emphasizes the importance of the gaming experience itself, providing diverse options that cater to gamers’ varying moods and interests. The AOC GAMING category offers a value-focussed approach to deliver high-quality, high-performance monitors to a mass audience of entry-level as well as intermediate gamers, with products such as the renowned 27G2SP,25G3ZM or Q27G2S/EU monitors.
AGON: Tailored to mainstream and hardcore gamers, the AGON line-up serves competitive players who aspire to become heroes in the gaming scene, like their favourite streamers or top esports players. With a premium design and useful extra features, AGON monitors excel in providing a seamless and immersive gaming experience for multiplayer esports titles, such as shooter and MOBA games. AGON’s 5th generation monitors offer the latest 32-inch AG325QX with a 180 Hz refresh rate and response times as low as 1 ms GtG, empowering competitive gamers to unleash their true capabilities with fast reflexes and fast decision-making.
AGON PRO: Crafted for high-end gamers, AGON PRO monitors minister to high-level content creators, influencers and professional esports athletes, such as the renowned G2 Esports, RNG and Furia Esports teams sponsored by AGON by AOC, who demand the best in gaming technology. These individuals are driven by competition, strive to achieve personal bests, and seek superior features, exceptional performance, as well as unparalleled quality to indulge their passion for gaming. AGON PRO monitors deliver an unmatched experience for popular esports, shooter, MOBA and similar titles, and the line-up offers custom-designed monitors such as the League of Legends branded AG275QXL, too.
AGON PRO models come with cutting-edge technologies such as MiniLED backlighting to achieve 1000 nits brightness and localized dimming zones (AG274QXM), or high refresh rates of up to 360 Hz and pro tools such as the NVIDIA Reflex Analyzer (AG254FG). Thanks to built-in features such as a KVM switch and USB-C connectivity (AG324UX), these models improve productivity for content creators and professionals, whilst included add-ons such as the Screen Shield (in selected models) or QuickSwitch controller vastly improve the gaming experience, whether on stage at esports tournaments or in the comfort of one’s own living room. Stay tuned for AGON PRO’s 6th generation of monitors that will bring long-awaited technologies to gamers worldwide.
AGON by AOC extends its heartfelt gratitude to the gaming community and customers for their trust and continued support. The brand pledges to maintain its relentless pursuit of innovation, ensuring that gamers are equipped with the best tools to conquer their favourite games.
Founded in 1967, AOC is a globally leading monitor and IT accessories brand and a subsidiary of TPV Technology Limited, the world’s largest LCD manufacturer. AOC’s comprehensive product portfolio provides innovative, ergonomic, environmentally conscious and stylish solutions for professional as well as personal applications.


NCSOFT Announces Multiplayer Battle Action Battle Crush To Release In 2023

NCSOFT is developing a new multiplayer battle game called Battle Crush that’s set to release on Switch, Steam, and mobile in 2023.
Get ready for non-stop action and adventure as you fight for survival. This adrenaline-fueled game promises a simple, fast-paced gameplay experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Battle it out with intense showdowns between characters competing to reach the top. Feel the rush of excitement with every hit and punch in this action-packed fighting game.

Key Features

Mythical Brawlers – Take on the battlefield with characters based on mythology.
Multiple Gameplay Modes – Choose from a variety of modes to match your play style:

Brawl Mode – Fight for survival in a confined arena with fast-paced combat.
Battle Royale Mode – Enter a vast battlefield and compete to become the last one standing.
One-Versus-One Mode – Go head-to-head against your rivals in intense one-on-one battles.

Keep your eyes peeled for the release of Battle Crush via the game’s Steam page.


Asterix & Obelix Return In Brand New Game This November

Asterix and Obelix from The Adventures Of Asterix may not be as popular as American superheroes but they’re considered as one of the most iconic European comic book properties, sitting alongside the likes of TinTin and Beano’s Dennis The Menace. Fans will be glad to learn that a brand new game featuring the Gallic duo is coming out later this year.
Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch on 21 November 2019 (via Amazon Germany). It’s actually a sequel to 2006’s Asterix & Obelix XXL 2: Mission: Las Vegum, which was originally released for the PS2 (the remastered version is now available).
Just like its predecessor, Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir will be an action-adventure game with beat-em-up combat with puzzles, exploration and collectables galore. It will also offer couch co-op, with one player controlling Asterix and the other, Obelix.
The synopsis reads:

The story begins in the small village of Armorica, where a daily peace reigns.
But one day, the Druid Getafix receives a strange message that will lead our friends on a unique adventure.
Helped by the mysterious Crystal Menhir, they will travel far away and face dangers like no other.

Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir will be playable at the upcoming Gamescom 2019, which takes place from 20 to 24 August 2019 at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany.
The sudden resurgence of the Asterix & Obelix games is not a coincidence, as the licence for the franchise’s game adaptation was acquired by French developer Microids and publisher Anuman several years ago.
Check out the Asterix & Obelix XXL 3: The Crystal Menhir Collector’s Edition below, which comes with a large figurine of Obelix and his dog, Dogmatix, as well as two smaller figures of Asterix and Obelix.


Ruined King: A LoL Story Level 3 Ultimate Guide – How To Find Them All

Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is out now for major platforms and consoles; if you like JRPGs, you’ll love the game’s combat. Part of what makes it fun is each character’s Ultimates.
While you can get powerful Level 1 and Level 2 Ultimates by levelling up, you can only get Level 3 Ultimates by completing each character’s special quest. Here’s a guide on how to do that.
To Get The Level 3 Ultimate Quests
You have to finish the “Cleanse Maokai’s Roots” quest in the Shadow Isle’s Shadow Vaults. After you finish that main quest, you’ll trigger a scene at the Drowned Port which will lead you to meet The Philosopher. This ghost will give you a list of Level 3 Ultimate Quests to unlock each character’s true potential.
Illaoi
Illaoi will have to find an Idol in Baron’s Rest at Bilgewater. Head to the Crucible (which can be unlocked by completing a grieving widow quest in Baron’s Rest as well). Make sure Illaoi is in your party. Talk to the attendant at the centre of the Crucible; there will be a special fight option where Illaoi can duel an Angler. Defeat it to get the Idol.
Then, you’ll need to head to the Mother Serpent temple in Bilgewater’s Buhru residence. The entrance to the temple is northwest of the same place where Illaoi talks to the tribe matriarch. Explore the temple until you reach the top where there’s a ship mast. Head to the end and offer the Idol to get Illaoi’s Level 3 Ultimate.
Braum
You’ll have to find the Token of Purity in the Ocean Purification Temple, which takes place later in the story. In the Cloister of Reflection, there will be a small crevice where Braum can send his Porom over to find treasure. It’s guarded by an Alpha Wolf creature who scares it away, so you’ll need to lure it with bait. Fish for the seaweed bait at the nearby fishing spot.

Yasuo
To get Yasuo’s Level 3 Ultimate, head to the Vault of Giants in The Shadow Isles. Explore the Great Library in the dungeon to get the scroll, then give it back to the Philosopher for Yasuo’s Level 3 Ultimate.
Miss Fortune
To get Miss Fortune’s Level 3 Ultimate where she summons a barrage of cannons, you need to head to Grey Harbor to find special cannon blueprints. Find the optional boss Captain Floon (via the Bounty Board), kill him and his gang, and the blueprints are yours.
Give the blueprints to the blacksmith in Bilgewater’s main market area past Fleet Street (just before Baron’s Rest). Her Ultimate is yours after that’s sorted.
Pyke
Pyke’s Level 3 Ultimate can be obtained by killing three boss Mistwalkers roaming around on Shadow Isle. They basically look like buffed-up divers. Philias in the Drowned Port will give you the quest and the locations of the bosses: at the Graveyard, the entrance to the Shadow Vault, and nearby the Drowned Port. After that, talk to Philias to complete the quest, and then to The Philosopher get your Ultimate.
Ahri
This one’s the easiest. To get Ahri’s Level 3, you need to have her execute 25 enemies. When you fight foes, just make sure she gets the last hit like in the MOBA she’s from. After that’s done, go talk to The Philosopher to get her Ultimate. There’s probably a good chance you had Ahri doing this way before the Philosopher appears.


New Bleach Anime Trailer & Visual Will Be Unveiled This December

Bleach fans: the time is near. You’ll be getting a first look at the long-awaited Thousand-Year Blood War arc in anime form next month.
According to the official Bleach Twitter account, the livestream will be on 18th December 5pm GMT+8. The show will feature voice actor Masakazu Morita (main character Ichigo’s VO), Noriaki Sugiyama (Ishida), and Fumiko Orikasa (Rukia) alongside Shonen Jump editor Shu Murakoshi.

???????????? #???????? 2022 ?????????EX ?BLEACH??????????????????
TV????BLEACH ??????????&?????????
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????#???? #????? #????#??? #????#BLEACH_anime pic.twitter.com/CPaOzpDFwy
— ????TV????BLEACH? (@BLEACHanimation) November 29, 2021

The actual Bleach anime featuring the brand-new final arc of the series has no release date; it’ll most likely be revealed on the livestream.


Convergence: A League Of Legends Story Is Fun 2D Platforming Akin To The Best Prince Of Persia Titles

Platform(s): PC (version played), Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Genre: 2D action platformer with time-rewind mechanics
The rewinding mechanic in games -where you manually go back a few seconds of a playthrough in-game so you can do over a segment you messed up, or want to perfect- is a godsend for game design since the release of Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time back in 2003. Apart from Forza Horizon and Forza Motorsports, there hasn’t been a game that implements it fully in its gameplay and design. It’s more of a do-over tool; it helps manage the pace of a playthrough at your own pace and also ditches the concept of “lives” as you only need to worry about the resource that powers up the rewind.
Leave it to Double Stallion and publisher Riot Forge to answer that call with their latest League of Legends spin-off game, Convergence, and with an appropriate character in the MOBA game’s lore to boot.

Time After Time

Convergence: A League of Legends Story is about Ekko and his quest to protect the town of Zaun (made famous by the Netflix show Arcane). After a factory explosion, he’s tasked with collecting special volatile crystals that are used as weapons from the world’s chembarons and maintaining the peace, all the while meeting friend and foe. Ekko’s kicker is that he has a Z-Drive that manipulates time temporarily to his favour.
Ekko has a hub area to get his upgrades and cash in his findings -for cash and bonus lore items- throughout the many levels and sections of Zaun, from an indoor greenhouse with killer plants to even a fun airship-filled stage with tons of platforming with no margin for error (kind of; we’ll get to that). While the game is laid out like a search action title, it isn’t: the hub area connects you to the many stages with a linear path with some discoverable secrets and challenge rooms.
You’ll not only fight a good amount of enemies and machines -ranging from sword-wielding bandits to even exploding-in-your-face flybots and their respective metal hives- but also have to traverse obstacles with Ekko’ s agility. As you progress, you’ll be able to grind on rails, use your Timewinder projectile to activate platforms, double jump, dash in the air, and even use a “force push” that pushes obstacles and destroy specific barricades. You can even invent items and powerups to equip that can help Ekko with his combat and Z-Drive/time-based gadgets with the cash and items you find; just find a workbench and have the items at the ready to make them, then equip them based on how many Capacitor nodes they take up. Ekko can also learn a few moves, though only the parries are essential for survival.
You’ll need all the help you can get because Convergence is old-school with its 2D actioning and platforming approach. You can die instantly from falling into a pit or onto spikes. You only have 3 hit points and you don’t have invincibility frames when you’re recovering from a hit. This is where the rewind feature comes into play; it’s incorporated in the game design meaning that the old-school platforming gameplay of a 2D platformer is present, challenge and all, without compromising the difficulty.
Many of Convergence’s platforming segments require you to master Ekko’s moveset, but even if you botch up parts of it, the game is generous with its rewind mechanic to let you attempt it again and again, especially for combat. If you didn’t parry that enemy projectile correctly, you can rewind back to the instant you’re safe, then try that timing again. If you get hit by an attack, just go back a second or two and just jump out or dodge out of the way. Missed that jump because you didn’t get off the rail on time? Rewind, rewind, rewind until you get it right. Or until you’re out of Chrono energy, in which case you start at the nearest checkpoint and do that segment again. The game’s checkpoints are pretty generous and don’t mess up your pacing and progress.

“My Pasts Have A Way Of Catching Up…”

It’s because of Double Stallion’s understanding of what makes platformers challenging and fun that makes Convergence a thrill ride from start to finish. My favourite moments in Ekko’s adventure include the challenging time trial-type areas where I have to chase a robot through an obstacle course to pilfer its treasure. They’re tough, but the rewind mechanic lets me do over portions of it, failing that I’ll just do the whole thing again. I also dig most of the platforming that involves wall-running and vaulting through a greenhouse, and also using bouncing pads in the game’s really fun airship-slash-hot-air-balloon concert level, along with the level’s accompanying boss battle. Convergence’s art direction mixes the vibrant feel of a 2D platformer with the dark vibes of Zaun’s worst and slightly-worse areas, and it really is fun to witness in motion.
In fact, Ekko himself feels really good to control, otherwise the whole game would fall apart. He’s so fast, speedy, and slippery, that even the game’s 2D camera has trouble keeping up with him. I know it’s weird to talk about how wonky a game’s 2D framing is, but the screen can go left and right in a haywire-y manner that some players can get motion sickness. Perhaps it’s because of how small Ekko is on display and how zoomed-out the camera get, but I understand the decision because you need to see what’s ahead for you to jump and traverse.
Still, I do hope Double Stallion can sort out the camera’s focus on Ekko as it can get disorienting. Sonic The Hedgehog was made in the early 90s and solved that problem with a speedy character just great; why can’t Convergence? The game’s combat can also get chaotic with so many projectiles and enemies crowding onto you; you might have to rewind a copious amount of times just to find out where you are amidst the mess.

Tick Tock

If you miss the Ubisoft Prince of Persia games, but prefer the 2D iterations that came after Sands of Time, Convergence: A League of Legends Story is the best substitute for that proverbial antidote in 2023. It’s fast, frenetic, fun, well thought-out, and has slick controls. Apart from some screen positional & focal point issues (along with some default difficulty issues), everything else about publisher Riot Forge’s first foray into segmented 2D platforming with time-bending mechanics is golden.
Timeless? We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s definitely an experience you want to clock in, especially for its low asking price and 8-hour-or-so playtime.

Pros

Great controls & platforming feel.
Lovely level design, challenges, and boss fights.
Vibrant art style.
Lots to love for League of Legends lorehounds.

Cons

Screen & 2D view can’t keep up with Ekko’s agility.
Combat can get chaotic and hard to make out at times.

Final Score: 80/100
Review copy provided by Riot Games. Convergence: A League of Legends Story will be out on 24 May (GMT+8).


Game Fest India Happening This October – Set To Explore More Esports Opportunities

NESCO Exhibitions and Electronic Sports Federation of India (ESFI) have announced Game Fest India, which is slated to take place at the launch edition of Hobby & Lifestyle India from 11 to 13 October 2019 at the Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon, Mumbai.
Over 10,000 gaming and esports enthusiasts are expected to gather at the upcoming event to explore more opportunities both in the gaming and esports industries and engagement avenues like Gaming Arcade and Duathlon.
Asian Esports Federations Director of Esports Federation of India & V.P Lokesh Suji said:

â€œIndia is already on the path of becoming the next big market for video games and esports; 2019 will see some major developments on this front.
In line with our mission & endeavours of growing the video gaming industry and building a sustainable esports ecosystem in India, we are pleased to associate with NESCO and Hobby & Lifestyle India.
We encourage stakeholders of video gaming and esports industry to make the best use of the opportunity.â€

The Indian video games industry is projected to reach US$1.1 billion by 2020, thanks to the deep penetration of smartphones and Internet services across the country. This is further bolstered by the fact that the country’s gaming population is expected to increase to a whopping 310 million by 2021, which makes for massive market potential.
Ultimately, Game Fest India is an initiative which not only aims to acknowledge and explore the underlying potential of the esports and gaming industry in India but also create a business avenue to showcase new games, products as well as act as a gateway for global players to tap into the Indian gaming market.


Survival Mobile Game LifeAfter Teams Up With Resident Evil

NetEase Games’ post-apocalyptic survival game LifeAfter and Capcom’s Resident Evil have teamed up for a large-scale collaboration event. Since the first announcement of the collaboration event, the game has risen in major global rankings, reaching the Top 10 on App Store Grossing Chart in multiple regions.
As part of the collaboration event, LifeAfter features a recreation of the iconic Raccoon City Police Department from Resident Evil 2, and four iconic bosses from the Resident Evil franchise, including Nemesis, Tyrant, Executioner Majini, and G (Stage 2). Players also have access to skins of classic Resident Evil characters like Ada Wong and Leon S. Kennedy.

This global collaboration event has been live for two weeks, unveiled to players through outdoor advertisements that appeared in the commercial districts of many cities including Tokyo’s Shibuya ward, Taipei, Hong Kong and Jakarta.
In Indonesia, the advertisement for the LifeAfter and Resident Evil collaboration appeared in as many as 20,000 Indo Mart stores. You can download the Android, iOS and PC version of the game for free here.


[Report] Seoul Dynasty Acquires Two London Spitfire Players

Sources close to ESPN are reporting that Overwatch League team Seoul Dynasty is currently working on picking up two players from rival team London Spitfire in an unprecedented transfer move ahead of the upcoming 2020 season.
Those two London Spitfire players are reportedly none other than Jae-hee “Gesture” Hong and Joon-yeong “Profit” Park, both of which initially joined the team back in November 2017 before the first season even kicked off.
Gesture (left), Profit (right)
They were also instrumental in helping London Spitfire become the Overwatch League Season 1 champions in New York back in July 2018. With Seoul Dynasty’s poor showing last season (finishing seventh-eighth in the Overwatch League Season 2 playoffs after losing to Huangzhou Spark), they will need all the power they can get for next season.
Meanwhile, this is potentially bad for London Spitfire, as they will be left with a slimmer roster after the transfer of Gesture and Profit to Seoul Dynasty. Their remaining players include Kim “Fury” Jun-ho, Choi “Bdosin” Seung-tae, Jung “Krillin” Yung-hoon and Song “Quatermain” Ji-hoon.
Both Seoul Dynasty and London Spitfire have declined to comment on this news, so we’ll have to wait until an official confirmation from either of the two teams to find out whether the transfer will really be happening, or if it’s just a rumour.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETiq4MQAvkY&w=560&h=315]


This Sims Fan Has Built A Malay Minangkabau House In The Sims 4

Yesterday, we covered a Malaysian who managed to recreate authentic Ramadan bazaars in the Nintendo Switch exclusive Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Today, we have discovered another Malaysian in the same spirit of using games to inspire local festive vibes, especially during the currently-ongoing MCO (Movement Control Order).
A Malaysian named @NunaTasya on Twitter has shared screenshots of her creations in The Sims 4, which includes building a traditional Minangkabau-style Malay house completely adorned with interior decorations and all.

So I built a traditional Malay Minangkabau house on sims. Thread.#sim4 #rumahmelayu #tradisional pic.twitter.com/zpcVQKLIiA
â€” tasha (@NunaTasya) April 24, 2020
You can check out the rooms inside her Minangkabau-style Malay house below, all of which look homey and authentic to the overall theme. There’s even a room with a sejadah, or Islamic prayer mat, for added measure.

Kitchen + bathroom (even has that cebok thing ok hahaha) pic.twitter.com/TE0fdAD5SJ
â€” tasha (@NunaTasya) April 24, 2020
According to her tweets, she only used base game content (and several custom decorative items) to build the Minangkabau-style Malay house. Other The Sims 4 players can find her unique creations in the game’s Gallery by searching the term ‘nunatasyaxx’ and ticking the box for custom content.


Sony Reveals New DualSense & PS5 Console Cover Colours

Sony has revealed the newest colours to join the PS5 family of colour accessory offerings: Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple. Adding to the previously released Cosmic Red and Midnight Black DualSense wireless controller colours, the latest galaxy-inspired colours will launch globally starting in January 2022 at participating retailers.

They are also introducing new PS5 console covers to match all of the galaxy-inspired DualSense wireless controller colours in Midnight Black, Cosmic Red, Nova Pink, Starlight Blue, and Galactic Purple.
These new console covers are beautiful and easy to use. You only need to remove your original white PS5 console covers and click your new ones into place. The PS5 console covers will be available for both the PS5 with the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive and the PS5 Digital Edition.
However, they are sold separately from the PS5 console and DualSense controller.
The Midnight Black and Cosmic Red PS5 console covers will become available starting in January 2022 at participating retailers in the following locations:

USA
Canada
UK
France
Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Spain
Portugal
Italy
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
China
Taiwan
Hong Kong
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Indonesia
Vietnam
Korean
The Philippines

The Nova Pink, Galactic Purple, and Starlight Blue PS5 console covers will also launch in these locations during the first half of 2022. The company also plans to launch the PS5 console covers in additional territories during the year, which will be announced in the future.


Disney Dreamlight Valley & Its Life Sim Elements Seem Familiar, But Fun Nonetheless

To say that Gameloft and Disney’s latest Magic Kingdom-themed game is a clone of Nintendo’s popular life simulation game Animal Crossing is a fair comparison. In Disney Dreamlight Valley, you are a random human being-turned-caretaker of Dreamlight Valley who is tasked with taking care of the namesake village, bringing Disney characters into your place, decorating it and cleaning it up, and also making all sorts of furniture and planting crops to make it your personal Disneyland. Or world, whichever. Point is, Disney Dreamlight Valley is taking a stab at this and is using its plethora of IPs from The Little Mermaid to Moana to make it stand out more than its contemporaries.
For the most part, that’s all it needs to do. That, and make it free-to-play. At least, not yet.

When You Wish Upon A Star

The elephant in the room is that Disney Dreamlight Valley is in Early Access, which means it isn’t free to get into from the get-go. The game costs US$29.99 which nets you in-game currency called Moonstones and said Early Access privilege. At the very least, what’s there to play and check seems fleshed out for now.
You start off the game as an avatar of your creation; you then become the caretaker of Dreamlight Valley, taking over the former ruler and making friends with the Disney denizens including Sword in the Stone’s Merlin, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and many more. Those earlier tasks we mentioned? These earn you Dreamlight points which allow you to unlock new areas for building, fishing, and farming. The more places you unlock, the more villagers and Disney IPs you can attract to your homestead. There’s a plot about the Forgetting that pits you to remake the village so that the Disney characters can remember why they were stuck in Dreamlight in the first place, but that takes a backseat from all the other activities you’ll be doing like being pals with Goofy via fishing trips to Mickey having a picnic with you so that he can reminisce about his missing girlfriend Minnie Mouse.

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a game that encourages creativity at the cost of hard work and menial labour. Lots and lots of menial labour. Want to make that special cupboard and brick road tileset? You have to forage for items in the meadows, forests, and beaches. Luckily, you have a slew of magical tools at your disposal. Apart from night thorn-removing magic that’s crucial to the Forgetting plot business (clearing those net you Dreamlight magic stones for unlocks), you also have a neverending watering can for hydrating plants and crops, a gold shovel for digging holes and treasure, a camera for selfies, a pickaxe for mining, and a fishing rod for, you guessed it, fishing. All activities involving harvesting and building are simple and to the point; even the fishing minigame requires minuscule input so even haters will find the joy of catching random bass from ponds all the more therapeutic and meditative.

Give A Little Whistle

In fact, Disney Dreamlight Valley’s selling point is that it’s relaxing. There’s just something so addictive and methodical as digging a ton of holes and plotting your makeshift farm just in front of Mickey Mouse’s crib, and then randomly heading to the beach you’ve just unlocked to go fishing. The story quests too require you to take your time, with some of them involving crop-planting and waiting for them to grow to solve them. The game follows the world clock set onto your console/PC system, so it’s not like you can speed things up manually. Heck, the game doesn’t even have a sprint button, forcing you to take things at a slower pace.
And that’s all there is to it with Disney Dreamlight Valley: creating your dream homestead and village filled with characters you love/hate from Disney and Pixar. At least there’s no annoying raccoon you have to pay debts and interests fee to; just a bunch of cryptic notes to unlock and a ton of Night Thorns to clear out. If you fancy a Magical Kingdom touch with your farming/life sim game, there’s no harm in trying out Disney Dreamlight Valley for its current asking price. It looks good thanks to its kinda-like-Disney-Infinity art style to its chill-and-relax gameplay of tending your crops and building your personal Magic Kingdom. And also going boating with Moana or just cooking with Ratatouille’s Remy.
Disney Dreamlight Valley is in Early Access right now and available for PC (Steam).


HBO’s The Last Of Us Season 1 Will Adapt The First Game, But With Changes

HBO’s The Last Of Us TV series will adapt the first game (2013’s The Last Of Us) but there will be changes and deviations from how it originally happened in the game.
Speaking with IGN during SXSW 2021, The Last Of Us game director and TV series executive producer Neil Druckmann spoke about their (including showrunner Craig Mazin) approach to the upcoming live-action adaptation:
â€œWe talked at length [that season 1 of the show is going to be [the first game], the philosophical underpinnings of the story were essential.
As far as the superficial things, like should [a character] wear the same plaid shirt or the same red shirt?
They might or might not appear in it, thatâ€™s way less important to us than getting the core of who these people are and the core of their journey.
Things sometimes stay pretty close.
Itâ€™s funny to see my dialogue there from the games in HBO scripts.
And sometimes they deviate greatly to much better effect because we are dealing with a different medium.
For example, in the game, thereâ€™s so much action you have to have to train the player about mechanics.
You have to have more violence and more spectacle to some degree than you would need on a TV show because you donâ€™t need to train people on how to use a gun.
So thatâ€™s something thatâ€™s been really different, and HBOâ€™s been great in pushing us to move away from hardcore action and focus more on the drama of the character.
Some of my favorite episodes so far have deviated greatly from the story, and I canâ€™t wait for people to see them.â€
However, Druckmann didn’t want to spoil much about HBO’s The Last Of Us beyond all that beyond that, but he did say that the iconic Clickers (the zombies from the game) look awesome, so that’s great for fans of the game.
â€œI just saw the first prosthetic test for the Clicker and itâ€™s awesome. Itâ€™s so rad to see this thing come to physical life.”
The Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal will play the role of Joel Miller, while Game Of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey will be portraying Ellie. No release date or window has been announced as of yet.
The Last Of Us Part 2Â is out now for the PS4. In the meantime,Â check out my full spoiler-free review of the game here, orÂ head on over here for a guide and tips for the game. If youâ€™ve already played the game, then I suggestÂ checking out my 4000-word spoilerific articleÂ on why the hate for the game isnâ€™t justified.


Magneto Voice Actor David Hemblen Dies At 79

David Hemblen has died at the age of 79. His death was reported via an obituary on the Toronto Star.
The late Canadian actor was best known for voicing the iconic X-Men villain Erik Lehnsherr AKA Magneto throughout all five seasons of the legendary X-Men The Animated Series from the 90s.
He also voiced Magneto in the 2000 and 2001 fighting games X-Men Mutant Academy and X-Men Mutant Academy 2,
In addition, his best-known live-action role was as Jonathan Doors on the science fiction TV series, Earth Final Conflict, which was based on ideas by Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry.

This horrible, heart-breaking year continues… Our #Magneto https://t.co/ky2xulT3PP— XMenTAS?SDCC (@xmentas) November 23, 2020

You can check out some of the late Hemblen’s most famous voice acting roles in the video below.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=EsIW58n7z40

https://youtube.com/watch?v=z-cdCx1lBT4


Street Fighter 6 Character Themes For Chun-Li & Luke Are Out Now

Capcom just published a couple of Street Fighter 6 character music themes on its official website (via Fighting Game Anniversaries).
Luke’s track is called “Taking Aim” and it’s a remix of his Street Fighter 5 theme but with a more hip-hop slow BPM flair with huge emphasis on bass.

Luke's character theme for Street Fighter 6, "Taking Aim", was fully released today by Capcom. It can be listened to below. pic.twitter.com/PtX3rcxzOy
— Fighting Game Anniversaries (@FGAnniversaries) June 10, 2022

Chun-Li’s track is called “Not a Little Girl” and it’s a completely new theme that isn’t a remix of any of Chun-Li’s old music. And it sounds like it’s keeping in tune with her martial arts roots while exuding her bright cheery outlook in life post-Shadaloo; think a more upbeat China Vox. That’s a refreshing change if I’m being honest. You can make a comparison between this new one and her previous themes below.

Chun-Li's character theme for Street Fighter 6, "Not a Little Girl", was fully released today by Capcom. It can be listened to below. pic.twitter.com/5k8CcX2sk5
— Fighting Game Anniversaries (@FGAnniversaries) June 10, 2022

On a related note, Capcom revealed the next official character in its SF6 roster: Guile. He plays about the same: turtler playstyle with Sonic Booms and Flash Kicks to keep opponents at bay, with his V-Trigger stuff at the forefront. For more Street Fighter 6 news, head here.


Stranger Things Season 4 Drops In 2022

Netflix has announced that Stranger Things Season 4 will premiere sometime in 2022.

don't blink. STRANGER THINGS will return with Season 4 in 2022u?op ?p?sdn ??? u? ll?,? ??s pic.twitter.com/ta3WX0pEcH
— Netflix Geeked @ SDCC #NetflixSDCC (@NetflixGeeked) August 6, 2021

In the meantime, you can check outÂ my spoiler-filled discussion and theories on whatâ€™s coming inÂ Stranger ThingsÂ Season 4, which I wrote way back in 2019.
Last month marked the fifth anniversary of the first season of Stranger Things. Thatâ€™s right, itâ€™s been half a decade since 2016 when we first set foot in Hawkins, Indiana.


Lost Ark Player Count Goes Over A Million, A Day After Launch

Update: Lost Ark numbers recently beat CS:GO and Dota 2’s; the game is now the second-highest played game with peak player records with 1,325,305 players. Here’s the latest ranking as of 13 February:

PUBG: Battlegrounds â€“Â 3,257,248
Lost Ark â€“Â 1,325,305
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive â€“ 1,308,963
Dota 2 â€“Â 1,295,114
Cyberpunk 2077 â€“ 1,054,388
New World â€“Â 913,634

Original story
The latest MMORPG from Amazon Game Studios and Smilegate is a big hit a day after its official launch.
Lost Ark is doing record numbers at the moment, hitting a peak of over a million concurrent players on its launch day and beyond. This is in spite of its current server issues.
It’s the fifth-highest player count Steam has ever recorded, as well as being the only fifth game ever to break over a million concurrent players (via SteamDB). The only games to have reached those numbers and beat Lost Ark are Cyberpunk 2077, Dota 2, Counter-Strike GO, and PUBG.Â

It's done it
Lost Ark just became only the 5th game EVER to pass OVER 1 MILLION CONCURRENT PLAYERS ON STEAM
Un-freakin-believable pic.twitter.com/8LWo0v6qFl
— Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) February 12, 2022

Why is Lost Ark goshdarn popular? It’s free-to-play, it’s got lovely graphics and aesthetics, it’s an easy-to-play isometric action RPG that’s really an MMO, and the classes have cool moves and pretty hair/faces/what-have-yous. The marketing for this in the US and Europe also had a lot to do with its popularity, though it’s arguably not as obnoxious as something like Marvel’s Avengers where a ton of influencers and content creators feign interest in the title.
Of course, that isn’t stopping people from outside those countries to play the English version of Lost Ark. If you’re figuring out how to do that, we’ve got a guide for that.


Former Mass Effect Director Forms New Studio

Mass Effect trilogy director Casey Hudson has announced the establishment of Humanoid Studios, a new game development studio based in Canada working on an unannounced new intellectual property. He originally left BioWare back in December 2020.
In a Twitter thread,Â Hudson said:
â€œIâ€™ve been working with some colleagues on something awesome, and I wish I could tell you all about it!
For now though, I can only say thisâ€¦ Today we are announcing a new independent videogame company built to unleash the creative freedom of developersâ€”bringing innovation and artistry to players through an all-new IP.â€

Today we are announcing a new independent videogame company built to unleash the creative freedom of developers – bringing innovation and artistry to players through an all-new IP.
— Casey Hudson (@CaseyDHudson) June 29, 2021

Here is an overview of the studio, via itsÂ official website:
Founded by Casey Hudson and talented developers from around the world, we combine excellence in the arts with advanced sciences to deliver the future of interactive entertainment.
We believe in hiring great people, empowering them with the best tools and a supportive environment, and providing them the creative freedom to do their best work. We are building something special, and we invite you to join us.
Humanoid Studios is currently hiring for various positions, including senior gameplay programmer,Â senior gameplay designer,Â director of operations,Â senior creative director,Â environment artist,Â senior-level designer, andÂ 3D artist.
All the best to Casey Hudson and Humanoid Studios!


Warner Bros. Delays Tenet & Wonder Woman 1984… Again

There’s more bad news for movie fans, as the COVID-19 pandemic strikes again. Warner Bros. has announced that they have delayed Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and the upcoming Wonder Woman 1984.
Tenet will now premiere on 31 July 2020 (instead of 17 July 2020), while Wonder Woman 1984 has been pushed back several months to 2 October 2020 (from its most recent release date of 14 August 2020).
In a statement to Variety, Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich said:

â€œWeâ€™re especially thrilled, in this complex and rapidly changing environment, to be bringing Christopher Nolanâ€™s â€˜Tenet,â€™ a global tentpole of jaw-dropping size, scope and scale, to theaters around the world on July 31.
Itâ€™s been longer than any of us couldâ€™ve imagined since weâ€™ve seen a movie on the big screen, and to acknowledge Chrisâ€™ fans as we count down to â€˜Tenetâ€™â€™sâ€ opening day, we are also excited to offer his masterpiece â€˜Inceptionâ€™ in theaters for its 10th anniversary on July 17.â€

Wonder Woman 1984 is coming to your favorite theater this fall. See it October 2, 2020. âœ¨ #WW84 pic.twitter.com/OvW9AAa7gT
â€” Wonder Woman (@WonderWomanFilm) June 12, 2020

Although cinemas in the United States and other countries have started to reopen amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, studios can’t plan for consumer behaviour beforehand. Would audiences still flock to movie theatres and cinemas even with proper social distancing SOPs in place? The answer is likely a no for a lot of people, which means less revenue for movie studios.


Step Aside Death Stranding, Here’s A Proper Delivery Man Sim

Gamers like to mock Death Stranding for being a FedEx, Delivery Man, Post Man, and Mail Man simulator. However, developer Gamious has actually made a game where the purpose is exactly that.
Lake is a serene and picturesque game where players deliver mail and get to know the town’s quirky locals in Providence Oaks, Oregon in 1986. The game actually combines free-roaming driving sim gameplay with story-driven point-and-click adventure elements.

Players assume the role of Meredith Weiss, who is taking a break from her career in the big city to deliver mail in her hometown. Players will experience those two weeks in the town, with branching narratives and different endings to look forward to.
Lake is slated to release for PC (on Steam) and unspecified consoles sometime in 2020. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GyZjUAPSas&w=560&h=315]


Blizzard Responds To Warcraft 3 Reforged Kerfuffle With Some Answers & Instant Refunds

RTS fans are pretty pissed off about Activision Blizzard’s mishandling of the Warcraft 3 remastered port, which has lacklustre detailing, unfulfilled promises, and that one thing about custom games being owned by the parent company.
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/559492157979230/
Naturally, Activision Blizzard had to respond after days of giving silence and receiving backlash & review-bombs. And respond they did.
The team said that they’re “sorry” that players “didn’t have the experience” they wanted and proceeds to share their next steps. The game’s next few patches will include:

Fixing the game’s faded visuals, portrait animation and audio bugs, and overall UI.
Fixing online features such as leaderboards and clans.
Retaining the in-game cutscenes so that they don’t steer too far from the original game.

Also, they’re offering instant refunds to players who are disappointed with their purchase of Warcraft 3 Reforged. Head here to get it sorted.
Full message below:

Hail War3 Players,
Weâ€™ve been following the discussions the past couple days and want to thank you for your feedback as well as your support. First off, we want to say weâ€™re sorry to those of you who didnâ€™t have the experience you wanted, and weâ€™d like to share our plans for whatâ€™s coming next.
There were a few hours during launch day where we experienced server-load issues that impacted playersâ€™ ability to jump right in, but we were able to resolve those later in the day. Separate from that, weâ€™ve seen community feedback about different aspects of Reforged that we wanted to take some time to address.
Before we go on: the team is excited that Warcraft III: Reforged is finally upon us and weâ€™re fully committed to supporting the game for a long time to come. The next few patches and updates weâ€™ll discuss below are just part of our ongoing plans. This game is an integral part of the Blizzard DNA, with a team that loves Warcraft III, and weâ€™re looking forward to pouring our hearts into Reforged and the Warcraft III community for the long term.
One of the concerns with Reforged that weâ€™ve seen are the visuals when selecting Classic Mode. Weâ€™ve identified the bug causing the colors and shading to look different from the original Warcraft III, and weâ€™re testing a fix that will be incorporated in a larger patch addressing this issue and others. We expect to release that late this week. The patch will also address many other known issues, such as fixing some portrait animations and audio bugs, implementing some UI fixes, and more. Please keep an eye out for the patch notes for a detailed list of all the bug fixes.
Another area of concern weâ€™re seeing is regarding online features such as leaderboards and clans, which applies to all Warcraft III players, including those who havenâ€™t purchased Reforged. At BlizzCon we talked a lot about how the team is actively working on standing up the back-end to ensure a smooth transition to this new MMR system, much like we did with StarCraft: Remastered. As with Remastered, these and other features will be included in a major patch for Reforged, which will also address the issue for players of the original game. Weâ€™ll share release plans as work progresses in the coming weeksâ€”please be assured that the team is hard at work on standing these features up.
There are some individual concerns weâ€™ve seen that weâ€™re not currently planning to address and we wanted to give the community a heads-up. As of Version 1.30 of the original game, we saw very low usage of tournaments and of the Reign of Chaos ruleset, so we removed both in mid-2019 (in Version 1.31). Eliminating the maintenance for underused elements has helped us streamline our overall support of the game and focus on areas impacting the most players. That said, we do anticipate that players who prefer Reign of Chaos will find custom games with similar rulesets, which we hope will help satisfy that concern.
Related to that, as we talked about last year at BlizzCon, we did not want the in-game cutscenes to steer too far from the original game. We went a little deeper into the thought process behind that at the show, but the main takeaway is that the campaigns tell one of the classic stories in Warcraft history, and we want to preserve the true spirit of Warcraft III and allow players to relive these unforgettable moments as they were (albeit rebuilt with new animations and the higher fidelity art).
We know this update doesnâ€™t address all questions, but weâ€™re committed to the development and support of this game. We hope youâ€™ll keep an eye out for this weekâ€™s patch and future updates and let us know what you think as we continue fine-tuning things. Until then, thank you as always for your support and passion for Warcraft III. We appreciate all your feedback and will continue to keep the Warcraft III community updated on everything weâ€™re working on.
Sincerely,
The Warcraft III: Reforged Team


Ace Combat 7 Tips & Tricks: How To Fly The Unfriendly Skies

Still not so sure if you should get Ace Combat 7? Well, our review says that it’s the best arcade-style flight sim out there this year, so go get it!
While you’re at it, here are some basic tips on how to get your flight of fancy started. We’ll start adding more advanced tips as time goes by, but these should help sort you out throughout most of the game.
Note: this is based on the PlayStation 4 version of the game.
Know Your Basic Weaponry

The Circle button is your best friend because it’s your main attack button. You can either fire your standard missiles or your equipped special weapon. You switch between the two by pressing Square. Get your loadout sorted before you take to the skies.
The X button fires your machine gun, which can come in handy when you’re close to your enemy. It can be fiddly to line up a shot, but it’s surprisingly powerful and handy in taking down enemies with low HP.
Pressing Triangle swaps between targets; holding it down will shift the camera so your target is on screen. Your current target will flash on your radar as well as the main heads up display, and you’ll even get a handy arrow pointing you towards it. When a target is within range of your homing missiles, its indicator will turn red.
Learn How To High-G Turn
High-G turns are manoeuvres which allow you to make much tighter turns than normal. The way to do it is to hold down both triggers and push the left stick in the desired direction.
Performing this move has its advantages and disadvantages — it’s great when dogfighting and when you need to turn quickly to line up a shot against your opponent.
However, high-G turns will dramatically decrease your speed. Holding one for too long will see your plane stall, which will throw you off your path and could potentially cause you to crash. Master this move so that you can get ahead of the dogfighting curve.
The Clouds; Use Them!
The clouds in Ace Combat 7 are not just fluff; they’re useful for gameplay. You can use clouds as a form of cover, hiding from enemy fire.
However, passing through them will result in water droplets forming on your canopy, reducing visibility. If you linger in the vapours for too long, this water will start to freeze, which will really mess up your ability to fly effectively.
Clouds can also screw with the homing range of your missiles. In thunderstorms, lightning strikes can disable your instruments, meaning your HUD will get all messed up for a while. Just be careful when you’re out flying in poor conditions.
Use These Aircraft Parts To Boost Your Performance

Collecting planes, upgrading your aircraft tree, and unlocking parts is part and parcel of Ace Combat 7. Don’t fret too much about your current plane collection. If you play through the story, you’ll be able to unlock decent aircrafts.
What you want to focus on are aircraft parts. There’s a lot to purchase on the aircraft tree. Here are the best ones so far:

Light Blisk (Body) – Increases acceleration
Next-Gen High-Pressure Components (Body) – Increases top speed
New Rudder Actuators (Body) – Increases yaw manoeuvrability
Bulletproof Fuel Tank (Body) – Increases defence
Directional Proximity Fuze (Arms) – Increases standard missile power
Thrust-Adjusting Steering Device (Arms) – Enhances homing capabilities of regular missiles
Takeoff Weight Augmentation (Arms) – Increases special missile ammunition
Onboard Self-Defense Jammer (Misc) – Reduces homing capabilities of enemy missiles

Try Out These Dogfighting Tips

Dogfighting is also a crucial element inÂ Ace Combat 7; you need to be aware of your enemy’s orientation. You can check it out by looking on your radar on the bottom left corner represented as arrowheads; wherever it’s pointing, that’s where the enemy is headed. If enemies are ahead and flying away from you, that’s when you take the shot.
Here are a few more tips when going one-on-one.

Know your aircraft roles: Fighters are fast and effective in air-to-air, while Attackers have high defence and take out ground units better, but are less manoeuvrability in the air. Multirole planes are the all-rounders.
You’re only locked onto an enemy when the indicator around them is red. Try not to waste your missiles.
When close enough, a reticle for your machine gun will appear on your screen. It may be wildly off centre, but that’s because it’s compensating relative to the enemy’s trajectory. Line up this reticle with the target to deliver some quick damage.
Use high-G turns to quickly change your path and get the drop on enemies.
Most enemy aircraft can be taken down with two standard missiles. If you have a good shot, double tap Circle to send both of your loaded missiles out together for an immediate kill.

Try Out PSVR Mode
Playing the game in VR mode is incredibly immersive. Unfortunately, you can’t do this in the main game’s campaign; the VR mode is its own separate mode. But it’s fun to have; after completing the VR missions, you can unlock Free Flight mode where you can fly around each of the environments peacefully with any plane you want.
There are no enemies and pesky time limits, so play this mode if you want to take a breather from dog-fighting and country-liberating. It’s pretty zen-like, flying a really expensive and fast plane with no restrictions whatsoever; like a new version of Microsoft Flight Simulator.


Here’s The World Of WarCraft Dragonflight’s 2023 Roadmap

Blizzard has released World of WarCraft: Dragonflight’s roadmap for 2023.
As you can tell from the picture below, the game will get six content patches and two major updates in 2023. Here’s a quote from Blizzard president Mike Ybarra about it:
“We’re increasing the cadence to which Warcraft updates content starting with Dragonflight. We want a living game that always has an adventure waiting.
In planning out the road ahead following the release of Dragonflight, we’ve been mindful of the duty we owe our players to nurture this living world and, frankly, the need to do better than we have at times in the recent past.
Our goal for Dragonflight is that there should always be something right around the corner, with a new update hitting our test realms shortly after the last one is live and in your hands.”

The new World of WarCraft expansion introduces dragon riding, an all-new skill-based method of aerial travel, and WoW’s first-ever combo race/class Dracthyr Evokers.


Riot Games Acquires Wargaming Sydney Studio

Riot Games has announced its acquisition of Sydney-based Wargaming Studios and will rename the company as Riot Sydney.
The League of Legends and Valorant developer and publisher have been on a roll this past year, and to add to this, they continue to expand as they acquire Wargaming’s Sydney studio. The studio will be renamed Riot Sydney and is a global development powerhouse with experience creating next-generation game development tools and servers, world-leading games, and some R&D projects, as well as prototypes for new game features, add-ons, and console ports.
“We are really excited to bring these talented developers and teams to Riot, the Rioters that have had the opportunity to work with members of the Sydney team are confident not only in the tech they’ve built over the years but, more importantly, in the people who’ve built it. Naz (Naresh Hirani, Head of Development, Riot Sydney) and the dev teams at the studio have a long history of working in ways that will complement Riot’s ability to deliver value to our players and we really look forward to collaborating with them.”
– Marc Merrill, Co-Founder, and President at Riot Games
The newly established Riot Sydney will use their considerable expertise to further augment the League of Legends, Valorant, and tech teams at Riot. The studio will be a key contributor to Riot’s Development Studios organization under industry veteran and Riot’s Head of Development Studios, Molly Mason-Boule. Under Molly’s leadership, Riot is expanding its approach to global development, and over time, Riot is looking forward to growing the game industry in Australia and will also continue to explore similar opportunities to add expert talent from veteran studios.
“Being part of Wargaming has been a phenomenal journey for us over the last 10 years, and it’s helped our studio grow and thrive, we were really impressed by the cultural fit we’ve experienced in our dealings with everyone at Riot, and we can’t wait to bring our expertise in global development to the respective teams. I know I speak for the whole team when I say how excited we all are to become part of Riot and help deliver amazing experiences to players.”
– Naresh Hirani, Head of Development at Riot Sydney
The studio is one of the largest development studios in Australia and has worked on World of Tanks, World of Warships, and many more titles across consoles and PC. The studio’s award-winning tech, Bigworld Technology, was the catalyst for becoming part of Wargaming in 2012. Before this, Bigworld Technology was powering 30+ MMOs and online games and also held the Guinness World Record for Most Players Online Simultaneously on one MMO Server. Wargaming will maintain ownership of and continue the use of Bigworld Technology for its products.
The studio was purchased by Wargaming in 2012 for US$45 million.
The acquisition comes 10 years after Bigworld joined Wargaming and helped the studio create some of the world’s most popular games. The studio has over 25 years of gaming experience in Australia and has proven to be one of the most innovative teams in the region and industry.
The studio’s entire development staff will join Riot Sydney, while the existing publishing team will remain a part of Wargaming.
Wargaming is best known for its experience in developing next-gen game development tools as well as AAA games and research and development projects as well as their iconic games such as World of Tanks and World of Warships.


Why FIFA 18 Is Still THE King Of The Hill Of Football Video Games

For the flip side of this argument, head over to the counter feature onÂ Pro Evolution Soccer 2018.
This feature is part of Gegenpress Time, a series on Spout360.com where we discuss about football games and today is pretty much a counter-argument to anÂ article posted a few weeks back.

First up: calm down, FIFA fans. We got your backs covered. What? You think it was going to be a one-sided argument? Come on. If even on TV they allow a counter-argument from that clown Gary Neville to Jamie â€œStuds Up!â€ Carragherâ€™s comments, what more on the internet.
So letâ€™s cut straight to the chase, shall we? Sure, Konami has been making giant leaps and strides with their PES brand these past few years. However, the FIFA brand is far from being toppled over. Knocked off their perch? Not even close. You can quote me on that.
Anyway, here are three reasons why FIFA is still â€œThe Chosen Oneâ€ in the world of football simulation games.
License, baby!
Those who boot up FIFA want realism. While some games can brag about the realistic look of sweat dripping off Edison Cavaniâ€™s chiselled chin, nothing disrupts immersion like reading â€˜MD Whiteâ€™ or seeing (the team supposedly) Real Madrid clad in a garish kit that does not at all resemble the real thing. Do you want to see how Atletico Madridâ€™s Antoine Griezmann look like in a United shirt? There; have it. None of this Man Red bull.
The FIFA series has always carried the worldâ€™s largest license agreement when it comes to football games and they are miles ahead of their nearest competitor. To a majority of us, football on the gaming console is a form of escapism and us mimicking yet â€˜taking controlâ€™ of something resembling real life as close as possible. And FIFA delivers on that.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_7Gz_RFLnE&w=560&h=315]
Football Ultimate Team
Ever since FUT was introduced in 2009, no other game has come close to resemble the dynamic build-your-own-team ala trading cards game mode. While some detractors may point out the mode resembles PESâ€™ (or Winning Eleven) Master League mode, FUT has grown to be a beast of its own right, with constant improvements over the years, made even more realistic as the servers sync with real-life player performances.
The inclusion of legendary players with different stats across their careers marks another stamp of approval from us. This mode is a godsend especially those who can never shut up in discussing which Ronaldo is THE BEST Ronaldo (itâ€™s fat Ronaldo, FYI).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-oy5d8XDE0&w=560&h=315]
The Various Game Modes
For that amount of money paid for a full-priced AAA title in FIFA18, gamers deserve as much as they can the moment they walk out of the game shop or once the game download is complete. The various and engaging forms of game modes on FIFA makes it a much more logical pick in the long run for those who feel they want more than just a bog-standard one-on-one mode be it against their friends or the CPU. Had enough of FUT? Then hop onto Career mode or if youâ€™re heavy on the narrative, jump into Alex Hunterâ€™s boots as he works his way up in the European pro scene in The Journey.
The point is, FIFA 18 comes with more bells and whistles to keep players occupied in the long run. While it may seem trivial, the licensing allows a much more dynamic and realistic take on the complex climate of football which is evolving at such a rapid pace.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbK_Xw5BiSw&w=560&h=315]
FIFA 18Â is already out this week on the PS4 and Xbox One. It will still hit older consoles like the PS3 and Xbox 360, but these versions will be watered down. It will also come to the Nintendo Switch but if based on our experience with the FIFA on handhelds (sort of), weâ€™d stay clear away from it.
After reading these two football sim features, which one will you buy this month: Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 or FIFA 18? Comments section is right below, and you can read up on the case for PES 2018 at Spout360.com here.


MapleStory M Celebrates the New Year with New Update

The newest update for MapleStory M will kick off new holiday events that include new dungeons for high-level players and better qualities of life changes.
The latest update for the mobile MMORPG will bring in new themed events for the new year, which include two brand new dungeons for high-level players to dive into. This update adds two dungeons in the Arcane River region: Erda Spectrum and Hungry Muto. These new party quests feature tapping minigames and can only be entered by players level 200 (Erda Spectrum) or 215 (Hungry Muto) and higher. Players will also receive five free tickets per week for the dungeons and can earn rewards including Vanishing Journey Arcane Symbols.

Maplers above level 140 will also be pleased to hear that the update also brings along an improved leveling experience, through new quests with higher EXP rewards to hasten the grinding process. On top of that, the Edge of Space dungeon will have three new dungeons. However, Guild Fort Battle fans will sadly have to wait until it reopens in February.
Several more events will also be added to keep players which be detailed below:

Starforce Enhancement Event â€“ On Jan. 29 and Feb. 1, Maplers can celebrate Lunar New Year with a discount on Starforce enhancement costs.
Bittersweet Valentineâ€™s Day Event – Love is in the air from Feb. 10 through Feb. 24, when Maplers will experience a special Valentineâ€™s Day story quest. Players can also collect ingredients from field hunting to exchange for a gift box full of EXP tickets, Auto Battle tickets and much more.
2022 Teddy Familyâ€™s Bucket List – From Jan. 20 through Feb. 16, players can participate in six different mini-events to earn Tenny event coins and other rewards based on their ranking in each event. The event shop will remain open until Feb. 23.

Potion Pyramid: Players can stack potions in the shape of a pyramid against other players
Teddyâ€™s Bowling Class: A bowling minigame to win rewards. Players can adjust the power of the bowling ball with the bowling gauge
Teddyâ€™s Garden: An EXP buff event that rewards by the amount and type of flowers grown
Teddyâ€™s Baking Challenge: Exchange event items collected from field hunting for various rewards
Kittinâ€™ Around with Teddyâ€™s Cat: Take care of Teddy’s cats for special rewards and cumulative rewards!
I Love Yummy Food Event!: A minigame where players score points by dodging objects

Teddyâ€™s 14-day Attendance Event – From Jan. 20 through Feb. 10, Maplers can earn rewards for logging in for up to 14 days. These rewards can include Teddy event coins, a Legendary Rebirth Flame, Red Meso exchange tickets and more.

Ready to get on that grind? MapleStory M is available to download for iOS on the Apple Store and Android on the Google Play Store.


PokÃ©mon Sword And Shield Trailer Reveals Version-Exclusive Gym Leaders

The PokÃ©mon Company has released a new trailer for the highly-anticipated PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield, which reveals a bunch of new features. These include version-exclusive gym leaders, a new Gigantamax mechanic, and of course, brand new Gen 8 PokÃ©mon to gawk at.
Version-Exclusive Gym Leaders
There will soon be more of an incentive to get both PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield, as they will feature version-exclusive gym leaders not found in the other game. For example, players will encounter the fighting-type expert Bea in PokÃ©mon Sword, while those in PokÃ©mon Shield will have to face the ghost-type expert Allister instead.

This means that there will now be some actual variety in two PokÃ©mon titles belonging to the same generation.
Gigantamax Mechanic
We’ve already been exposed to the Dynamax mechanic but it seems that there’s going to be an even more powerful version in PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield. The Gigantamax allows PokÃ©mon to not only become bigger (like Dynamax) but also change their appearance.
It also boosts their power (like Dynamax), with the added advantage of being able to use a unique move known as a G-Max Move, which is unique to each PokÃ©mon. Unlike Dynamax, Gigantamax is limited to certain species of PokÃ©mon, and even amongst those species, only rare specimens will be able to use Gigantamax.
We still have no idea what that really means, but for now, we know two PokÃ©mon capable of Gigantamax: Drednaw and Corviknight.
Drednaw
Drednaw’s G-Max Move
Corviknight
Corviknight’s G-Max Move
New PokÃ©mon
Take a look at some of the new PokÃ©mon introduced in the PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield trailer.
Alcremie

Gigantamax Alcremie

Yamper

Rolycoly

Duraladon

PokÃ©mon Sword and Shield are slated to release exclusively for the Nintendo Switch on 15 November 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrTGSdJzWE0&w=560&h=315]


Lakers Wins NBA Championships In 2K20 Simulation

While real-life players and the league are cracking their heads on methods to best finish the currently-suspended NBA season due to Covid-19, the makers of the NBA 2K franchise, 2K recently simulated the remainder of the season which saw LeBron James-led LA Lakers win their 17th title.
Facing the Milwaukee Bucks who is led by 2k19 cover athlete, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Lakers needed seven games and a miraculous three-game comeback to win LeBron’s fourth title, and his first with the Lakers.

The Lakers are the #2KSim champs ðŸ”® Facts IRL? pic.twitter.com/JbH68DSKEs
â€” NBA 2K20 (@NBA2K) May 15, 2020
After going 1-0 up thanks to a dominant first game showing, the Lakers went on a three game losing streak before turning the tides and capping the series win with a slender 103-101 win in Game 7. 2k20 cover athlete, Anthony Davis was named Finals MVP. Additional stats for the simulated finals are as follows:
#2KSim Finals: Los Angeles Lakers (4), Milwaukee Bucks (3)
Game 1: Lakers 129, Bucks 89

Anthony Davis: 35 PT, 19 RB
LeBron James: 24 PT, 6 RB, 7 AS
Kyle Kuzma: 19 PT
Dwight Howard: 14 PT, 12 RB
Khris Middleton: 22 PT, 6 RB, 6 AS
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 15 PT, 14 RB

Game 2: Bucks 106, Lakers 105 (OT)

Giannis Antetokounmpo: 24 PT, 12 RB, 7 AS
Khris Middleton: 24 PT, 5 RB, 4 AS
Eric Bledsoe: 16 PT, 4 RB, 7 AS
Anthony Davis: 30 PT, 18 RB, 4 AS
LeBron James: 18 PT, 12 RB, 9 AS
Dwight Howard: 17 PT, 17 RB
Kyle Kuzma: 16 PT, 6 RB

Game 3: Bucks 96, Lakers 79

Giannis Antetokounmpo: 20 PT, 10 RB, 3 AS
Khris Middleton: 16 PT, 6 RB, 7 AS
Brook Lopez: 16 PT, 4 3PT
Anthony Davis: 24 PT, 13 RB
LeBron James: 19 PT, 7 RB, 3 AS
Dwight Howard: 16 RB

Game 4: Bucks 131, Lakers 101

Khris Middleton: 37 PT, 7 RB, 7 AS, 6 3PT
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 27 PT, 14 RB, 5 AS
Donte DiVincenzo: 16 PT, 4 RB, 3 AS, 4 3PT
LeBron James: 27 PT, 7 RB, 7 AS
Anthony Davis: 19 PT, 15 RB
Danny Green: 17 PT

Game 5: Lakers 141, Bucks 112

LeBron James: 37 PT, 8 RB, 8 AS
Anthony Davis: 31 PT, 8 RB
Dwight Howard: 18 PT, 13 RB
JaVale McGee: 18 PT, 8 RB
Rajon Rondo: 19 AS (2 short of NBA Finals record â€“ Magic Johnson, 1984)

Game 6: Lakers 108, Bucks 103

LeBron James: 40 PT, 10 RB, 5 AS
Anthony Davis: 22 PT, 10 RB, 4 AS
Kyle Kuzma: 20 PT
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 30 PT, 10 RB, 5 AS
Khris Middleton: 28 PT, 7 RB, 5 AS

Game 7: Lakers 103, Bucks 101

Anthony Davis: 32 PT, 17 RB, 3 AS, 3 ST, 3 BL
Dwight Howard: 15 PT, 12 RB, 3 BL
LeBron James: 14 PT, 6 RB, 6 AS, 3 ST
Khris Middleton: 18 PT, 6 RB, 4 AS, 3 ST
Giannis Antetokounmpo: 18 PT, 14 RB

Losing in seven after coming up so close must really hurt for Giannis. Perhaps it’s time to switch teams for a better chance at winning a championship. It worked for KD didn’t it?
Anyway, since we are at it, 2k20 is on sale right now at the PlayStation store at a ridiculous price of RM22.77. Yep. It’s going for 91% off. If that’s not a steal, then we don’t know what is.


Far Cry 6 Lost Between Worlds Challenges Players in a Distorted Space

Ubisoft introduces Lost Between Worlds, a new expansion for Far Cry 6 where players find themselves lost in a distorted space between worlds set in a fractured version of Yara launches today, 7 December.

The DLC unveils a new chapter of Dani Rojas’ story, accompanied by a formless being called Fai. After getting lost during a mysterious meteor impact site exploration, you will need to gather five lost shards, each hidden away in a mysterious Rift, to repair Fai’s broken spacecraft. Every five shards will increase the main hero’s overall stats for survivability and getting closer to escape.
You will have to use your guerrilla skills to get the crystals by navigating 15 unique and challenging trials called Rifts. To escape the Rifts, players must defeat Shardfaces, humanoid and animal crystal enemies, while utilizing the tactical Chromatic Combat system. While in the midst of getting the shards, your next goal is to find the exit portals.

Each distinctive Rift has its unique challenges and obstacles along its way. Players may uncover powerful weapons and tools such as energy fragments called Glints, allowing players to revive and re-visit a Rift, if needed. These energy fragments are scattered throughout Rifts for players to discover.
In addition, players can unlock a Fractal Bomb that can blast through crystal walls and reveal hidden weapons and goodies, as well as a grapple for easy movement. With each mission completed, Dani Rojas will get Fai’s powerful weapon to take it back to Yara.

In addition, new players can get the chance for a free trial of Far Cry 6! Available across PC and consoles platform. Play as Dani Rojas and explore the Isla Santuario region. With Dani joining forces with the Libertad resistance group led by Clara Garcia and assisting them with clearing a military blockade to get to their main base, the hero will be faced with a difficult decision.
Players can continue the fight by purchasing the game for up to 67 percent off all editions and still save the game’s progression. A sweet deal if you ask us!
Get your hands on Lost Between Worlds now available for purchase, or a part of the Upgrade Pass on Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Ubisoft Store and Epic Games Store. To find out more about Far Cry 6 and Lost Between Worlds, check out at Ubisoft’s official website.


Singapore Will Be Represented in Overwatch Contenders

Singapore-based, up-and-coming Overwatch team in the SEA region, Chaos Theory will be carrying the hopes of all aspiring Singapore Overwatch pros as they participate in the upcoming Overwatch Contenders Pacific starting this Thursday.Â  They open their campaign against the Korean-heavy Talon esports.

One of the better teams in the region, Chaos Theory became the first pro Overwatch team in Singapore when they were formed last year. Singapore has been one of the more active countries in the SEA region in growing the Overwatch community and have participated in both Overwatch World Cup qualifiers, in 2016 and 2017. SoÂ it comes as no surprise that the first SEA-based team participating in the Overwatch Contenders series hails from this tiny island nation as well.
However, in the off chance that they make it to the Overwatch League, they will not be the first Southeast Asians to compete, as the honor goes to Dallas Fuel’s off-tank, Thai-bornÂ Pongphop “Mickie” Rattanasangchod.
The Overwatch Contenders is part of the Overwatch League’s Path to Pro program, and serves as a developmental league for aspiring players and teams. There will be seven regions altogether and each region consist of twelve teams. These teams will play against one another across three seasons in a year, followed by a regional playoff stage. For more info, head on over to the Overwatch Contenders official site.


Arcade Oddity Popâ€™n Music Lively Is Coming To PC

Remember the good ol’ days when Beatmania and DJMax ruled the arcades? Now you can relive that with Konami’s upcoming port of its music game Pop’n Music Lively.
This music rhythm arcade game is known for its nine-button operation and its selection of eclectic EDM soundtrack, with notable composer Yasunori Mitsuda even contributing to the game at one point. The beta is out now; you can get it here. You’ll need to register for a Konami account to access it though.
These are the songs you can test with the beta. Have fun!

â€œHaisui no Jinâ€ by Hideo Suwa (fromÂ Popâ€™n Music 17 The Movie)
â€œKurokami Midareshi Shura to Nariteâ€ by Qualia Muramasa (fromÂ Popâ€™n Music 18 Sengoku Retsuden)
â€œRenâ€™ai Kansokuâ€ by NU-KO (fromÂ Popâ€™n Music 20 Fantasia)
â€œPerverse Heart ~Ama no Jaku~â€ by Egoistic Lemontea (fromÂ Popâ€™n Music Lapistoria)
â€œOmedetou! Otanjoubiâ€ by Witches (fromÂ Popâ€™n Music Peace)


Amazon Might Be Making A Mass Effect TV Series

The adventures of Captain Shepard and his space alien crew might be coming to a livestreaming service near you.
Deadline reported that Amazon is now “nearing a deal” to turn the Bioware RPG trilogy into a high-budget TV show. Here’s a quote from Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke about the upcoming adaptation:
“One of the companyâ€™s newest hopefuls in the arena isÂ Mass Effect.Â Amazon Studios is nearing a deal to develop a series based on the best-selling sci-fi video game franchise from Electronic Arts.
You will see us continuing to invest in fantasy genre of all kinds, we have a genre-focused team on the ground in Studios who work tirelessly with our creative partners on those slates, and you can look forward to more.”

With Amazon’s current sci-fi series The Expanse about to wrap up with its sixth and final season, there will be a need for a sci-fi show hole that needs filling in Amazon. A live-action Captain Shepard using relays to save the galaxy from space Reapers sounds like something pretty cool to watch. A TV show with seasons would tell a better story than a single movie would, anyway. Speaking of which, the Mass Effect movie is cancelled earlier this year as Legendary Pictures has walked away from the project.


Code Vein Frozen Empress DLC Adds New Boss, Weapons & More

The Frozen Empress DLC for Code Vein is out now for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
The new boss is the Frozen Empress of the Great Collapse Horror, who can control ice-elemental attacks with her cold iron armour. Two crystals accompany her, occasionally triggering advantageous support effects and buffs.
The Frozen Empress is located at the new frozen Celestial Ice Prison, a dark area filled with ice and snow. She will come with her own Horror Hunting Trials. One of these trials is Poseidonâ€™s Right Hand, which grants players a Blood Mist Halberd for defeating the Frozen Empress with a Halberd and without hitting zero health more than three times.

In addition, the new DLC also includes cosmetic items and equipment, including a Ymir Blood Code with ice-related abilities like Frost Turrent and Hoarfrost Stream. Both Mia and Yakumo have new outfits, each with three colour options, while players obtain new face paint inspired by both of them.

Players can also get an Hoarfrost-affected bayonet, halberd, hammer, and sword. As for Blood Codes, Asclepius Vestige with Offensive Order, Pollux Core Fragment with Steadfast Strike and Usurperâ€™s Blade have been made available as part of the DLC.


Neo: The World Ends With You Will Be Ported To PC This Month

Square Enix has announced that its new contemporary Reaper’s Game-themed RPG, NEO: The World Ends With You, will be out for PC later this month.
The PS4 and Nintendo Switch RPG will be ported for the master race on 28th September via Epic Games Store, similar to the company’s Kingdom Hearts 3 port.

As far as the game is concerned, it was fine. You can read our review of the PS4 version here.


Bandai Namco Sues Former Worker For Embezzling US$4+ Million Over Smartphones

Bandai Namco Holdings will be suing a former employee for allegedly embezzling 600 million yen/US$4.65 million in damages (via Gamebiz.jp). Why? Because the employee sold internal company smartphones (for test/dev kits & playtesting upcoming mobile games) for personal profit and without permission.
According to its Bandai Namco Entertainment subsidiary, the company noticed a discrepancy between registered smartphones within the office and the amount actually being used by employees in November 2021, thus prompting an internal investigation. The company found out that the employee sold 4,400 company smartphones between April 2015 and April 2022. The employee was fired in December 2022.
It’s quite a loss & a blunder. To show that the company takes full responsibility, the Bandai Namco Holdings and Bandai Namco Entertainment executives will be taking monthly salary pay cuts between 10-30% for the next three months.


Famous Genshin Impact Battle Music Appears In The Most Unexpected Of Places

Genshin Impact is one of the most popular games right now. What’s not to like? It has addicting combat and it’s free to play to boot. In fact, it’s so popular that a local broadcasting news channel in Malaysia used one of the background music (BGM) the game developed by Chinese developer miHoYo.
It’s only used for several minutes during a segment that reported on the challenges of celebrating Chinese New Year during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. It was likely used as background music due to how oriental it sounds, which suits the Chinese New Year theme of the news segment.
You can check it out below:

The song used is Chasing The Torrents from Jade Moon Upon A Sea Of Clouds Disc Three Battles Of Liyue in Genshin Impact. It’s one of the songs featured on the Liyue Chapter OST in the game as recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra with special guest folk musicians at AIR Studios and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall.
You can listen to the aforementioned track on Spotify below:

In other related news, as of last week, the Genshin Impact 1.3 update is live, so you can check out our Genshin Impact Lantern Rite Event Guide or buy some Genshin Impact Genesis Crystals on Codashop.
Genshin Impact is now available on PS4, PC, Android and iOS.


QuakeCon 2021 Full Schedule: Quake, Deathloop & More

Weâ€™re a week away from the kickoff ofÂ QuakeCon at Home, the global online event that will bring the fun and comradery ofÂ QuakeConÂ to your home. QuakeCon 2021 will feature live streams with updates on existing and upcoming games, tournaments, charity fundraising, puppies, musical performances, giveaways, celebrity streams, developer panels and more.
Read on for more details about the stream schedule, charity initiatives, giveaways, sales on games, the Twitch Team, and opportunities with QuakeConâ€™s awesome partners.
The fun kicks off with a brief Welcome Message at 2am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021 followed immediately by fan-focused panels.
QuakeCon Day 1 will feature a series of signature panels with Bethesda developers discussing whatâ€™s new, whatâ€™s upcoming, and looking back at some of the biggest games for their anniversaries, QuakeÂ andÂ The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
Meanwhile, Day 2 and Day 3 will feature a variety of fun panels from around the world with charities, community, guest stars and more.
QuakeCon 2021 Schedule
More details about each of the panels at QuakeCon 2021, including full panel descriptions, can be found online at https://quakecon.bethesda.net/schedule.
QuakeCon 2021 (20 August 2021)

Welcome to QuakeCon 2021 with Pete Hines & Erin Losi: 2am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021
Celebrating 25 Years of Quake with id Software and Machine Games: 2.05am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021 â€“ Kevin Cloud and Marty Stratton from id Software and Jerk Gustafsson from MachineGames discuss the impact and legacy of the original QuakeÂ on its 25th anniversary.
Deep Dive into Deathloop with Arkane Lyon: 2.30am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021 â€“ Arkane Lyon gets fans â€¦ looped in â€¦ on the details of the upcoming PS5 console exclusive Deathloop, including a special discussion about multiplayer.
Fallout 76: Making Appalachia Your Own with Fallout Worlds: 3am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021 â€“ Join members of the Fallout 76Â development team as they discuss how the game is evolving and take an in-depth look at our upcoming Fallout Worlds Update.
Inside the Award-Winning The Elder Scrolls Online with ZeniMax Online Studios: 3.30am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021 â€“ Matt Firor and Rich Lambert take fans inside ESOÂ and discuss the great additions to the game and what new players can expect from the award-winning MMO.
Reliving the Opening of Skyrim with the Creators from BGS: 4am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021 â€“ Celebrate Skyrimâ€™s 10th Anniversary and watch the opening moments of SkyrimÂ as the creators discuss insider stories and relive memories from development.
DOOM Eternal Studio Update with Marty and Hugo: 4.30am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021Â â€“ id Softwareâ€™s Marty Stratton and Hugo Martin bring fans up-to-date on everything happening withÂ DOOM Eternal.
ANZ â€“ Fallout 76 End-Game Guide: 11am GMT+8 on 20 August 2021
ANZ â€“ Fallout 76 â€“ Playing with UFC Middleweight Rob Whittaker: 12.30pm GMT+8 on 20 August 2021
UK â€“ Fallout 76 â€“ UK Stream Team Build-a-Thon: 9.30pm GMT+8 on 20 August 2021
UK â€“ Letâ€™s Talk Quake with Digital Foundry: 10.45pm GMT+8 on 20 August 2021

QuakeCon 2021 (21 August 2021)

Deathloop Meets its Makers: 2am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
WeRateDogâ€™s Matt Nelson and Pete Hines Rate Dogs & More: 3.30am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
Code Orange vs Quake Music Video Debut: 4.15am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
Alienware â€“ Fundraising and Raising Heck with Anna Maree: 5am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
The Elder Scrolls Online â€“ Dungeon Speed Run Competition: 6.30am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
Exclusive Musical Performance by Trivium: 8am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
Skyrim â€“ 10thÂ Anniversary Interactive Fun Run with Gus Johnson: 9am GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
ANZ â€“ The Elder Scrolls Online â€“ Mates of Oblivion Dungeon Runs: 12.30pm GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
ANZ â€“ The Elder Scrolls Online â€“ MissMollyMakes An Epic Banquet: 1.45pm GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
UK â€“ DOOM Eternal – â€˜Prayer vs Slayerâ€™: 9.30pm GMT+8 on 21 August 2021
UK â€“ ESO – Through Flames of Ambition with the UK Stream Team: 10.45pm GMT+8 on 21 August 2021

QuakeCon 2021 (22 August 2021)

DOOM Eternal BATTLEMODE Community Bonanza!: 2.15am GMT+8 on 22 August 2021
Fallout 76 â€“ C.A.M.P. Love It or Nuke It: 3.30am GMT+8 on 22 August 2021
Quake World Championship Grand Finals: 4.45am GMT+8 on 22 August 2021
The Elder Scrolls Online â€“ Live Art Creation: 6.30am GMT+8 on 22 August 2021

Charity Initiatives
Weâ€™re excited to once again continueÂ QuakeConâ€™sÂ charitable legacy in both a global and local way.Â QuakeConÂ viewers will be able to join us in donating to organisations directly from the officialÂ QuakeConÂ stream, includingÂ Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC),Â NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund,Â The Trevor Project, andÂ UNICEF.
QuakeConÂ also has the new and exclusive â€œPugcubusâ€ and â€œCatloopâ€ apparel for sale. Custom Ink will split all profits from the sale of these shirts between our long-time Dallas animal adoption partner,Â Dallas Pets Alive,Â as well asÂ FOUR PAWS, a global animal welfare organisation.
You can purchase these items here:Â https://www.customink.com/fundraising/quakecon
Free In-Game Goodies!

DOOM Eternal QuakeCon Slayer SkinÂ â€“Â DOOM EternalÂ players can access a free in-gameÂ QuakeConÂ Slayer Skin, icon, and player badge across all platforms. Available from 19 August to 2 September 2021.
Fans who have theirÂ ESOÂ and Twitch accounts linked throughÂ account.elderscrollsonline.comÂ and watch for the minimum required time (15 minutes) during any of theÂ ESOÂ streams will receive a Twitch Drop containing one Ouroboros Crown Crate and one Flame Atronach Pack Wolf pet.
Log in toÂ Quake ChampionsÂ duringÂ QuakeConÂ and receive this yearâ€™s exclusive QuakeCon 2021 Gauntlet weapon skin, profile icon, and nameplate! Available until 23 August 2021.

QuakeCon Sale
Check out the QuakeCon 2021 Bethesda Sale across digital storefronts featuring massive deals on select Bethesda games, including 67% offÂ Fallout 76, 75% offÂ DOOM EternalÂ Deluxe Edition, 85% offÂ Dishonored: Death of the Outsider –Â Deluxe Bundle, and more.
These sales are live right now.
Official QuakeCon Twitch Team
Playing and sharing games with friends in the BYOC is the core ofÂ QuakeCon, and this year the global QuakeCon community will once again unite and connect through the official QuakeConÂ Twitch Team. The Team will celebrateÂ QuakeCon, play and share games, and help raise money for theÂ QuakeCon-supported charities. Some players will be featured on the QuakeConÂ Twitch Team page.
QuakeCon Giveaways on Fun from Partners
QuakeConâ€™sÂ amazing partners have put together some awesome giveaways for fans who tune into our streams and interact with us on Twitter at @QuakeCon and @Bethesda. Check out just a few of those giveaways to look out for over the course of the event below and stay tuned to learn how to win them!

Pecos PeteÂ has their traditional brandedÂ QuakeConÂ mugs for sale
Alienware will be giving away a curved 360Hz Monitor on Anna Mareeâ€™s Fundraising and Raising Heck stream
Razer Prize packages â€“ Fans will have three chances to win each day while watching on Twitch

Razer Huntsman Mini Gaming Keyboard with Clicky Optical Switch
Razer Viper Ultimate Gaming Mouse with Charging Dock
Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Headset
Razer Gigantus V2 Mouse Mat
Razer Base Station V2 Chroma Headset Stand USB Hub
Razer Sneki Sneki Plushie

Fractal Design: CustomÂ QuakeConÂ Torrent Black Light Tint TG PC Cases
DOOM and Fallout-themed gaming chairs from noblechairs
Custom Skyrim SteelSeries Headset and Mousepad as well as a Custom Skyrim Constellation Keyboard by Keycult
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Overwatch League Suspends DPS Star Following Inappropriate Conduct With A Minor

They just can’t stay out of trouble.
The Overwatch League today have suspended Boston Uprising DPS star, Jonathan ‘DreamKazper’ Sanchez indefinitely following allegations of him engaging in inappropriate conduct with a minor. While investigations are underway, the league and his team have released the following statements;

Earlier today the Overwatch League was made aware of the allegations against Jonathan “DreamKazper” Sanchez. He is suspended indefinitely while the league investigates this matter.
â€” Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) April 8, 2018
The Boston Uprising also took the same stance by indefinitely suspending Sanchez.

Statement from the Boston Uprising: pic.twitter.com/N06NmoDgfI
â€” Boston Uprising (@BostonUprising) April 8, 2018
Apparently, the 21-year old Sanchez approached a 14-year old fan via Twitter and engaged in inappropriate relationships with the minor which included exchanging of nude pictures and ‘explicit facetime activities’.
If found guilty, getting booted out of the Overwatch League should be the least of his worries. If you want to read theÂ full transcript of the accusation against DreamKazper, you can head check it out at InvenglobalÂ
We will update you with more on this story as it develops – or at least report on the league’s stand once everything is clearer.