Both Malaysian Teams Bow Out Of M4

Day 4 of the Playoff Stage at Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s M4 World Championship was a sad day for Malaysians as both representatives, TODAK and Team HAQ were knocked out
Argentina’s S11 Gaming and Occupy Thrones, the representative from the Middle East and North Africa region were also sent packing. But Day 4 also saw the continuation of the Burmese bulldozer of a team, Falcon Esports, continue their underdog run in the lower bracket.

Check out our M4 Schedule with live score updates!

Falcon Esports vs. S11 Gaming
The opening match of the day saw Myanmar’s dark horse of the tournament, Falcon Esports eliminate Argentina’s S11 Gaming. Given Falcon’s trajectory, they were expected to come out on top in every pundit’s books as Falcon Esports has displayed previously that they are a force to be reckoned with and can go toe-to-toe with the best.
Game 1

The series opener commenced with Falcon Esports’ Jungler, Kenn displaying his dominance on Fanny as he added another first blood to Falcon’s 87.5% first blood rate. They were able to achieve a significant lead in kills, but S11 Gaming was able to exploit weaknesses in Falcon Esports’ strategy and make it difficult for them to maintain their lead. In the end, Falcon Esports secured the win by successfully stealing the Lord with a play by Kenn, which greatly weakened S11 Gaming and led to their defeat.
Game 2

In the second game, Falcon Esports successfully countered the popular hero Karrie by utilizing Harith with an aggressive early-game strategy. S11 Gaming struggled to find a suitable counter, as their use of two pick-off heroes, Kadita and Selena, was ineffective. Additionally, they were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, as Yu Zhong was unable to fully maximize his potential. Harith proved to be an excellent counter for Karrie, as it was able to win the lane and make it difficult for all of S11 Gaming’s players. Harith forced Karrie to be less effective in terms of dealing damage and less powerful in team fights. Furthermore, Falcon Esports had additional damage from Ling and utility from heroes like Kaja, Valentina, and Martis, which made it easy for them to secure a 2-0 victory.

Team HAQ vs. Incendio Supremacy
Team HAQ, the champion of MPL Malaysia Season 10, suffered a difficult loss to Incendio Supremacy with a score of 2-1. Turkey’s mainstay team has indeed appeared convincing since the Group Stage phase. They even defeated Falcon Esports. This highlights the increasing competitiveness in the world of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The Lower Bracket M4 Knockout Stage uses a Best of 3 format, where the team that earns two points advances to the next round. Initially, Team HAQ took the lead, but Incendio Supremacy was able to come back and win the next two matches to secure the victory.
Game 1

In the opening match, Garyy, Team HAQ’s Jungler, was able to secure the use of Fanny, along with other strong heroes such as Grock, Karrie, Valentina, and Lolita. Incendio Supremacy attempted to counter this by fielding Fredrinn, Pharsa, Lolita, Estes, and Gloo. They also attempted to use the meta healer to neutralize Team HAQ’s attacks. While the strategy was able to withstand Team HAQ’s offence, Incendio Supremacy made a mistake when contesting for the second Lord, allowing Team HAQ to take advantage of an incorrect prediction by Tienzy and his team. This resulted in Team HAQ immediately pushing towards the enemy base’s turret and securing the win.
Game 2

Dissatisfied with their previous performance, Incendio Supremacy decided to once again use the meta healer, with APEX47 selecting Estes, in the second match. Team HAQ chose Diggie as their Roamer this time. The strategy seemed to work well for Incendio Supremacy this time around. They immediately took control of the match from the start and were able to close the game in 13 minutes with a kill difference of 11 to 1. APEX47 looked unstoppable with 100% kill participation. With this win, Incendio Supremacy was able to tie the series and force Team HAQ to play a decisive third match.
Game 3

The final match between Incendio Supremacy and Team HAQ was closely contested, as the winner of this round would advance to the next stage of the M4 World Championship and the loser would be eliminated. Once again, APEX47 played Estes, and Tienzy used Leomord as the Jungler. Team HAQ, who did not respect the ban on their opponent’s meta healer, appeared to be struggling again. By the 10th minute, the gold difference between the two teams had reached 5,000. This prompted Team HAQ to try and even the playing field. Incendio Supremacy repeatedly attempted to attack Team HAQ’s base, but their defence held strong. However, Mann made a mistake by trying to make a surprise attack on the opponent, which ended up being detrimental for Team HAQ as Mann’s absence made it easier for Incendio Supremacy to carry out attacks. With the help of super minions, they succeeded in destroying Team HAQ’s base turret, securing their win and eliminating Team HAQ from the M4 World Championship.

TODAK vs. The Valley
After being defeated by RRQ Hoshi and relegated to the Lower Bracket, Malaysia’s TODAK was eliminated from the tournament by The Valley. The North American team had learned from their losses in the Group Stage and were able to defeat one of the top teams in the M4 World Championship. TODAK had come out as the winner of Group B, beating ONIC Esports, Malvinas Gaming, and MDH Esports. Meanwhile, The Valley had finished third in Group D, losing to RRQ Akira and Team HAQ. In the quarterfinals of the Lower Bracket Knockout Stage, The Valley was able to dominate the match, not giving TODAK any opportunities to earn points. The 2-0 victory eliminated TODAK from the Mobile Legends World Championship: Bang Bang, following Team HAQ who had been eliminated earlier by Incendio Supremacy.
Game 1

Both teams started the game with strong pressure on each other and aggressive play. The Valley and TODAK both fought fiercely in the first match. During the mid-game, a struggle for the first Lord ensued and war broke out again. The Valley’s cohesive play surprised CikuGais and his team. This enabled the North American team to achieve objectives and widen their gold lead. Shortly after, The Valley secured the second Lord, which helped them in breaking the enemy’s defences. With this advantage, MobaZane and his teammates were able to get their first point of excellence.
Game 2

In the second match, TODAK seemed to be more cautious in their hero selections, securing Hilda, Valentina, Ling, Lunox, and Esmeralda. The Valley also had a strong lineup with Joy, Lolita, Beatrix, Faramis, and Barats. The Valley’s Gold Laner, Basic, had a strong performance with his Beatrix hero and was able to get a Triple Kill in just 6 minutes. Despite being behind in terms of kills and game tempo, TODAK’s Rival played objectively by destroying The Valley’s turrets one by one. They even managed to seize the Lord and forced the match to go into the late game. However, with the help of the Lord, The Valley was able to stop TODAK’s attack and secure a 2-0 victory, eliminating TODAK from the M4 World Championship and advancing to the Lower Bracket Semifinals to face the winner of the match between RRQ Akira and Occupy Thrones.

RRQ Akira vs. Occupy Thrones
RRQ Akira‘s dominance continues, as the Brazilian team is showing their strength even after being demoted to the Lower Bracket by Blacklist International. In the quarterfinals of the Lower Bracket M4 Knockout Stage, they faced off against Occupy Thrones. The Middle East North Africa (MENA) team had defeated Malvinas Gaming in the previous match with a 2-0 victory, but this time they were defeated by RRQ Akira with the same score. This resulted in Occupy Thrones being eliminated from the tournament, along with four other teams that also lost earlier. Despite this defeat, it was a notable achievement for Occupy Thrones, as this was their first time participating in the Mobile Legends World Championship: Bang Bang.

Despite a delayed start, Game 1 was extremely lob sided towards RRQ Akira as they dominated in all stats across the board from kills, to Turtles, to Towers. Throughout the first game, it felt as if the members of Occupy Thrones were on completely separate pages as half the team acted as if they wanted to fight, and the other half seemed to focus more on objectives. This lack of synergy would ultimately be Occupy Thrones’ demise as they lose Game 1 without putting up much of a fight.
Game 2

Having said that Occupy Thrones didn’t put up much of a fight in the first game, going into Game 2, things went very differently as the game stretched to a whopping 22 minutes and 26 seconds with both teams accumulating over 60k gold. Occupy Thrones had seemingly fixed all of their problems from the previous game which would see this game be extremely back and forth with it all coming down to one final Lord dance in the 21st minute where RRQ Akira manage to secure it uncontestedly. This lack of action from Occupy Thrones would cost them their run at M4 as they would inevitably fall.


The Future Of Warframe In 2019: Space Battles, Revamps, & New Story

Digital Extremes just revealed their upcoming plans for one of 2018’s best ongoing games: Warframe. There’s still a lot of legs in this sci-fi PvE space ninja-filled shooter, and so far their 2019 roadmap is looking pretty stellar. Heh.
We’ll break it down:
–New TennoCon this 6 July: the annual Warframe convention is still a-go. Not many game companies can boast having a big-ass annual convention for just one game.
-New warframes, because the team isn’t going to run out of cool ninja outfits to create with a pretty fair and robust F2P model. The first one is the Hyldren; she favours heavy weaponry and uses a giant shield to cast her abilities. And yes, she’s the equivalent of Zarya.

The next one is called Wisp while the third promised one is unnamed at this point in time.Â No set release date though; we’ll see those in a future dev stream.
-Wolf of Saturn Event: Warframe will be getting a huge Alert and Challenge overhaul. The new system will now feature a set of daily and weekly challenges tied into an evolving story told through in-game animated comics that introduces a new Warframe character.
“There’s a bit of worldbuilding in the Wolf of Saturn,” says creative director Steve Sinclair. “It’s primarily focused on cosmetic rewards. You’ll get to see the lineup and what you’re working towards as well as, paced in there, some high-end power rewards.”
-New cinematic story quest: The next chapter in Warframe’s ongoing story is called The New War which takes place after the last one called The Sacrifice. The team aren’t going to reveal more, but they did show off a new piece of concept art that shows a very large Sentient construct that’s destroying a bunch of other vessels.
–That really cool spaceship battle mode shown last year: The devs reminded us that the Railjack demo is going to be a thing where three Warframes have to pilot a giant spaceship, fight against other bigger ships, and proceed to board them on-foot or using the Archwing.
The official name of this update is Empyrean. This is the dev team’s method of unifying Warframe’s Archwing combat, regular combat, and space battles together into one giant epic mode.
-Planes of Duviri faction: this Fall 2019 update is basically a new race who play a big part in tying Warframe’s story together.
-New area expansions and revamps: Venus’ Fortuna and Orb Vallis area will be getting a new expansion called Deck 12 – Exploiter which boasts an event, a boss, and a lore bomb altogether. Jupiter’s Gas City is getting a makeover this spring.
Sinclair said the following:

“The remaster is absolutely beautiful, but our goal is that there is a new game mode. There are gameplay wrinkles, there are new reward structures and enemy types. There are things that are attacking [from] the outside.
It’s not just a fresh coat of paint on the Gas City. There’s a lot of really exciting things to do there, to earn there, and to learn there about the story.”

–The expected rework and upgrades for 2019: The game’s melee combat will be a bit more organic and will be reworked “step by step”. The game will also drop support for Directx 9 and its 32-bit operating systems.
Most importantly, it’ll be noob-friendly. Warframe can be daunting and complex, so having a new team work on the new player experience will be a good first step in making people play more Warframe once they’re sick of Destiny and probably Anthem. Don’t forget: you have to pay cash upfront to play those two open world loot-heavy shooters.
-New Warframe cosmetics for your Operator and your Warframes. I’m a fan of the new Nidus skin: he looks like an infested Kain Highwind.

The full Twitch stream is below:
Watch Devstream #122 from Warframe on www.twitch.tv


Ms. Marvel’s Most Relatable Growing Up Moments

Have you really experienced your teenage years to the fullest if you haven’t lived through any of the scenarios below? Perhaps you were a major geek for your favourite superhero and had dreams of fitting in at school or at home. Or maybe you loved doing just about anything with your besties and spent your teen years fostering relationships with your annoying siblings (still love ‘em though!) or discovering your identity.
Find out how well you relate with Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel below:
An obsession with all things pop culture

Most of us grew up exposed to various aspects of pop culture, from creating jokes referencing our favourite TV series to fangirling over your beloved K-pop artists. Participating in pop culture adds some colour to our lives and helps us form better connections with people, as you “find your tribe” with others who share similar interests. Kamala is no exception! She’s an avid gamer, a voracious fan-fiction scribe, and a superhero megafan with an oversized imagination especially when it comes to her favourite hero, Captain Marvel.
Constantly on a quest to “find yourself” amidst the challenges that come with being a teenager

Every teenager wants to feel like they belong in a group, whether it’s your family or friends at school and so on. But feelings of belonging aren’t just about fitting in like some of us mistakenly believe it to be — it’s about being accepted for who we are. Born into a Pakistani Muslim family, Kamala feels the weight of being different from her schoolmates. She feels the pressure of following her mom’s expectation for her to live a traditional life while not to mention having to grapple with her newfound superpowers. Sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it?
Being joined at the hip with your best friends

There’s no better way to spend your high school life than with your best friends who stick by you while creating unforgettable memories. Nothing quite beats the friendship Kamala has with her childhood friends, Bruno and Nakia. While their friendship includes a healthy dose of teasing, their support for each other knows no bounds and only deepens further after Kamala discovers her powers.
Using your older sibling as a buffer between you and your parents

As the saying goes, “Blood is thicker than water”, and those with siblings can relate wholeheartedly. There may be times when your sibling drives you up the wall with their annoying antics but they always have your back. Aamir, Kamala’s brother is a shining example of portraying the latter as an older brother who acts as a buffer between Kamala and her strict parents, particularly when traditional values and expectations are involved.
Having a rosy view of the world

Being a teenager is a roller coaster ride, filled with ups and downs. Most of us experience multiple phases of questioning ourselves, juggling everything the world throws at us and figuring out who we want to be. Kamala differentiates herself from other superheroes as a perfectly relatable teenager who constantly questions herself and the world around her, while trying her best to figure out her identity as she goes on her heroic journey.
Stream Ms. Marvel on Disney+ Hotstar and catch the series finale on 13 July 2022 here. This was produced in collaboration with Disney+ Hotstar. Five episodes of Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
You can check out my breakdown of Ms. Marvel Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4 here. Or head on over here for my spoiler-free review.


Battlefield 5 Finally Releasing Firestorm Battle Royale Mode

Four months after the initial release of Battlefield 5, EA and DICE will finally be releasing the promised Firestorm battle royale mode for the military FPS shooter later this month. A new official trailer for Firestorm revealed its release date: 25 March 2019.
Battlefield 5 Firestorm battle royale is set to feature the “largest Battlefield map ever”, with over 17 types of vehicles to in 64-player matches. What differentiates it from other battle royale modes in games like Call of Duty Black Ops 4Â is that there will be a gradually enclosing ring of fire around the map, which means that there’s literally a ticking time clock of death.
Players can either play solo or team up in squads of four (with a total of 16 teams in a single match). The Battlefield 5 Firestorm trailer highlights several of those aforementioned 17 vehicles, as well as what awaits players behind a bunker of sorts: an unknown type of tank.
In the meantime, head on over here for our review of Battlefield 5, or check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-JB-O8A-TA&w=560&h=315]


The Resistance Strikes Back: Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker D23 Trailer Breakdown

Disney has unveiled the new trailer of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker that was initially shown at the D23 Expo last weekend. The first half of the trailer is essentially nothing but scenes and callbacks to all the previous eight movies in Star Wars canon, while the second half is packed with all the good stuff.
The Resistance Strikes Back

We see the New Trilogy tag team of heroes finally reaching where it was they were heading to at the end of Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, as they were fleeing from the planet Crait and the First Order.
At an as-of-yet-unknown desert planet location, they’re greeted by an army of Resistance fighters, presumably recruited by those who went beyond the Outer Rim fringes of the galaxy. After watching the Resistance getting their asses handed to them in the last two movies, it will be nice to see them finally doing some actual fighting and ‘resisting’.

However, this triumphant moment is cut short when a shot of the new Resistance fleet is then followed by an entire armada of Imperial Star Destroyers.

Imperial Star Destroyers

What’s interesting here is that these are NOT First Order Star Destroyers, but they are indeed the Empire’s Star Destroyers. The first Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker trailer already teased the return of Emperor Palpatine AKA Darth Sidious.
The question is: If he did return, how has he amassed a massive number of Star Destroyers when the Empire is broken and no more? That’s not even asking how is he even still alive after falling to his death on the second Death Star in Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi.

Time Travel In Star Wars
Ezra Bridger and Ahsoka Tano facing the astral projection of Emperor Palpatine in the World Between Worlds.
There might be time travel involved, as the final season of the Star Wars Rebels animated series introduced the concept into franchise canon. In the thirteenth episode of the final season, protagonist Ezra Bridger saved Ahsoka Tano from dying at Darth Vader’s hand by pulling her into the World Between Worlds, a dimension that exists outside of time and space but linking all moments in time together at the same time.
This act proved that time could be manipulated and altered in the Star Wars universe. In the same episode, Emperor Palpatine himself could project an astral form into the World Between Worlds but he needed Ezra’s help to physically enter. His plans were foiled when Ezra retaliated against him and destroyed the portal.
It could be possible that Darth Sidious did somehow find another way into the World Between Worlds, and used it to transport himself into the future. If he had access to it, he could have amassed a secret Imperial army and stayed alive all this time without anyone knowing.
Dark Rey

The trailer ends with a bombshell revelation, as we see an evil-looking Rey in a hooded Sith cloak wielding a double-sided lightsaber similar to Darth Maul’s. Does this mean that Rey has gone to the Dark Side? Possibly, though I have a few other theories.

It is most likely just a Force vision, similar to how Luke Skywalker saw his own face in Darth Vader’s helmet when he was training in Master Yoda in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.
Rey could have been a descendant of Emperor Palpatine all along, and that may mean that she has a genetic predisposition towards the Dark Side.
This might be far-fetched, but she could be one of many clones that Emperor Palpatine has created from his own DNA. Imagine an army of unlimited Sith Lords, similar to how the Kaminoans used Jango Fett’s DNA for the Clone Army in Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones.

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is slated to release on 20 December 2019. In the meantime, check out the D23 trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n1T3HxHd7Y&w=560&h=315]


Farlight 84 Is A New Battle Royale Hero Shooter From A Singaporean Publisher

Move over, Overwatch and Fortnite.
Farlight 84 is a new battle royale hero shooter multiplayer game from Singaporean publisher Miracle Games and Chinese developer Lilith Games.
The game is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where the player’s mission is to survive at all costs even if it means having to eliminate everyone else. There will be weapons and vehicles galore, as well as jetpacks that allow players to get airborne.
However, Farlight 84 will blend intense third-person shooter gameplay with MOBA elements. Each match will accommodate up to 40 players, and players can even build a hub to hang out with friends called “refuges”, which are built from raw material obtained from matches.
Farlight 84 is heading to iOS, Android and PC sometime in 2021. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Ys X: Nordics – Here’s What You Need To Know About Falcom’s Upcoming JRPG

The Ys series is back again with a brand-new entry featuring the famous red-haired adventurer Adol.
Falcom announced Ys X: Nordics would be coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch a couple of weeks ago. Until recently, we did not have much information about the game, but that has changed with the latest issue of Famitsu magazine (via Gematsu).

Falcom President Toshihiro Kondo shared more about the upcoming action RPG game. Here’s what we know:

The “Nordics” in the title is a term that means “people of the north”.
The game takes place after the events of Ys I and II. Adol is 17 years old and on his way to Celceta.
Dr. Flair Rall from Ys II is travelling with you.
Characters in this prequel are younger to cater to a new demographic since it’s coming out for Nintendo Switch as well.
There are only two playable characters (Adol and the axe girl). Kondo assured that the action is dense and there are all sorts of things you can do.
The game will have towns, but your main hub is your ship.

“Solo Mode offers the usual high-speed battles [of the Ys series]. Combination Mode lets you pull off more powerful attacks, but the overall speed of battle is slower so you can fight more carefully. (The speed only changes on Adol’s side.) You can only switch to Combination Mode when holding down a certain button, and it switches back to Solo Mode when said button is released.”
“Defense carries major weight. Guarding builds up your Revenge Gauge, which can increase your attack power.”
“We’ve taken considerable care to adjust the difficulty level so that a wide range of users can enjoy the game.”
“There are special actions called ‘Mana Actions.’ There’s more freedom when performing mid-air actions.”
“About 20 percent of the game is sailing your ship. There are maps dedicated to ship and naval battles that occur when you encounter enemies. There is also a growth (i.e. character development) element to the ship.”
Kondo said he will release new gameplay footage of the game either in the New Year or in Spring 2023.
He hopes to release the game “around the same time as usual”, which is September 2023 or so.
Kondo is quite aware of the challenge his team is undertaking in the new field which is the Nintendo Switch hardware. “Production is currently underway with the intention of making a game that both series newcomers and fans alike can enjoy”.

Ys X: Nordics will launch in Japan for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in 2023. Find out more on their official website.


Fallout Dev Chris Avellone Sexual Assault Claims Dropped; Secures 7-Figure Settlement

Justice has been served for one prominent game developer who went through accusation hell.
Chris Avellone, known for his designer and developer work on the Fallout series and also Star Wars and System Shock, is now free of past sexual assault claims. He was accused in 2020 by two women, whom have withdrawn their claims made against Avellone.
To recap, Avellone was accused of sexual assault by two women in 2020. In 2021, Avellone launched a libel suit against his accusers. Right now, he shares a joint statement from his accusers and himself.
“Mr. Avellone never sexually abused either of us. We have no knowledge that he has ever sexually abused any women. Anything we have previously said or written about Mr. Avellone to the contrary was not our intent. We wanted to support women in the industry. In so doing, our words have been misinterpreted to suggest specific allegations of misconduct that were neither expressed nor intended.
We are passionate about the safety, security and agency of women, minorities, LGBTQIA+ persons, and every other community that has seen persecution in the video game industry. We believe Mr. Avellone shares a desire to protect and uplift those communities. We believe that he deserves a full return to the industry and support him in those endeavours.”
He also settled on a 7-figure settlement from his accusers as compensation for the trouble he went through. It’s hard to get a job or land high-profile gigs when everyone in the industry sides with the perpetrators.
Avellone said that he appreciated the willingness of the accusers to work with him to address issues within the gaming community. He also asks that everyone respects the privacy of the accusers and “use this opportunity as a means to listen to all voices in improving our culture and our communities”.
While it’s good that Avellone gets justice on his side, we should remember that there are other game developers and folks in the industry who aren’t lucky due to these similar “woke” witchhunts without proof of any kind. This should be a wake-up call for people not to jump to conclusions and look at facts rather than who’s the loudest on social media.


Goons Legends & Mayhem Will Bring Brawling Hockey Action This Year

Firestoke and RageCure Games have unveiled Goons Legends & Mayhem for PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch in 2023. Following in the footsteps of titles like Mario Strikers and Windjammers, Goons Legends & Mayhem brings cartoon-brawling action to the sport of hockey, delivering fun multiplayer matches where outrageous special abilities are key to your goal of getting the puck into the net.
Supporting 1 to 6 players, Goons Legends & Mayhem is a 3 vs 3 hockey action game with a variety of PvE and PvP modes, including a full story campaign. Players can choose from one of eight characters divided into 3 classes – the attack-focused sharpshooter, the defense-oriented enforcer and the wingman, a wildcard that can either focus on supporting their team or act as a constant pain in the neck of the opponents. Each character has their own special ability, including explosive mines, freezing opponents in a cube of ice and teleportation, adding an element of cartoony brawling to this hockey title where teamwork is the key to success.
Goons Legends & Mayhem story campaign takes players on a varied journey across ice rinks nestled in forests, to floating ice rinks sailing the sea on pirate ships as they try to stop the Great Mascoteer’s mission to ruin hockey for everyone. On this adventure, players will encounter bosses to defeat, collectibles, character upgrades, and cool cosmetic unlockables.
Alongside the fun hockey gameplay, class-based characters and chaotic brawling abilities, even more depth is added by six environments for you to play with, each of which has its own special mechanics, environmental hazards and a goaltender to defeat.
Francis Tremblay, Game Director, said:
“Making a game that blends arcade hockey and beat ‘em up action, brings couch co-op nostalgia, compelling online play AND a great single-player campaign, has been far from easy, but that’s what we’re delivering. We can’t wait for you and your friends to get on out onto the ice and try the game on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC this year.”
Firestoke CEO Paul Farley said:
“It’s great to finally be able to announce Goons: Legends & Mayhem. We knew immediately that this was an ice hockey game like no other with appeal that goes well beyond just hockey fans. It’s rare in gaming that a game not only brings a truly fresh approach to an established genre, but also does so in a way that appeals to both new and established players. Goons does this. It’s been a joy partnering with RageCure games on this title. They are not only huge hockey and gaming fans, but a fun team to work with!”
Check out the trailer below:


Is Half-Life Alyx Truly The Champion Of VR Gaming?

Half-Life: Alyx is right now a remarkable VR game that captures the spirit of the Half-Life franchise. It’s also a game that technically costs you US$1,000 to play if you don’t own a Valve Index VR headset & gear.
The Last King podcast folks, featuring Shafique, Dustin, and our own Mr Toffee, dish out their thoughts on VR gaming in 2020, and whether Half-Life: Alyx is worth the effort and cost.
https://soundcloud.com/thelastkingpodcast/episode-164-is-half-life-alyx-worth-the-wait


New Expansions for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Rainbow Six Siege Out Now

Ubisoft has released highly-anticipated major expansions to two of its games; Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Rainbow Six Siege.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

AC Odyssey players can already download the first episode, Hunted, of the Legacy of the First Blade expansion. They will meet Darius, the first wielder of the iconic Hidden Blade, and help in fighting against a secret Persian organization called the Order of the Ancients.
The first episode of Legacy of the First Blade also introduces a new Assassin ability Death Veil, where the bodies of assassinated enemies will automatically disappear and leave no trace. Additionally, players can look forward to new legendary gear and weapons as well.
In the meantime, check out the trailer for Episode 1: Hunted of the Legacy of the First Blade expansion below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIzDIhwzoHc&w=560&h=315]
Rainbow Six Siege

Rainbow Six Siege‘s Year 3 Season 4 content Operation Wind Bastion is out now. Players can look forward to two new Operators named Nomad and Kaid, who each has her/his own special abilities and equipment.
Along with the new Morrocan Fortress map, Operation Wind Bastion also brings several updates to the game. These include a redesigned in-game shop and updated throw curves to make throwable gadgets easier and more comfortable to use, as well as playlist changes to the Ranked Map and Casual Map pools.
Check out the gameplay video below for what to expect from Rainbow Six Siege‘s Operation Wind Bastion.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msOG2T1cLOE&w=560&h=315]


Pagan Online Is A Promising Combo Of Warframe & Diablo

I’m not sure why Pagan Online, the latest action RPG from Wargaming and Mad Head Games, got a ninja Early Access release recently in Southeast Asia. Why wouldn’t the publishers behind the successful World of Tanks games toot its own horn about breaking into a different genre of games?
Perhaps it’s due to the recent feedback the team got regarding the game’s “controversial” control scheme. But maybe because they have a slow burner in their hands and decide not to go all out until launch; the same can be said for other online action RPG Paths of Exile.
Control Mish-Mash

Back to the controls: unlike in other action RPGs, Pagan Online allows you to control your hero with the WASD keys for movement and your mouse for aiming/click-attacking. Most players are used to the Diablo style of movement and attacking and fighting in motion method to prep themselves for the endgame.
Honestly, with the way each mission and fight is structured, the WASD control scheme and a dodge mechanic gives this game a twitch-style arcade feel that reminds me of an isometric fantasy-laced version of Geometry Wars or Nex Machina. Except with escalating gear and power levels.
Yeah, I forgot to mention: all missions and quests in Pagan Online are done in instances similar to earlier action RPG games like Dragon’s Nest and pretty much all your mobile games out there like Dragalia Lost. You don’t explore a sprawling map like in your Diablos and Grim Dawns; all your fighting is done in 5 minutes or so in short levels.
And instead of getting randomized loot, you end up with semi-powerful loot and a ton of crafting recipes. You will be using the game’s crafting system to make your own purple-colour high tier weaponry or equipment to bolster your Might – the game’s measurement of power so that you can tackle the tougher dungeons. Most of these missions are either “survive and kill waves of enemies” or “hunt down this one boss” or even “protect this macguffin by fending off the horde”.
Suffice to say, this part of the game gets really addictive once you’re in the zone; you’ll be hard-pressed to leave your keyboard and mouse setup because of “one more” dungeon run or “one more” defence mode mission.
Character Arcs

I’ve only played two characters so far -Anya and Masha- because their playstyles are interesting and don’t seem too typecasted. I’m not accusing the rest of the cast for being boring; it’s just that Anya’s ranged blood-leeching attacks and Masha’s evasive tank gameplay style seem to fit what I’m going for with a new action RPG -action in motion.
Unlocking characters and their outfits require you to collect Shards; to get these specific shards you need to complete Assassination missions, which require keys you get from other side missions to grind your character to kingdom come. While these missions are serviceable in its default difficulty, the real challenge starts once you bump it up to Hard or higher.

The loot drops will be great, but you’ll be constantly pressing the Dodge key and managing your mana and cooldowns while you’re on the run from enemy mobs overwhelming you and ranged foes just pelting you to death from a safe distance.

There are a number of ways to kill your onslaught of zombie hordes, projectile-chucking teleporting-savvy mages, and giant brutes with mortar cannons, and they will hit you hard unless you’re diligent with the crafting and repeated instance-farming. Having reflexes to activate your specials in a row while noting their cooldowns help too.
For instance, my Anya lays down a Blood Heart skill which acts as a magical equivalent of a C4, but I can keep striking it to increase the blast radius. Meanwhile, her dash allows her to leech life from any enemy in her way. Coupled with a few bleed/slowdown effects and more skills that allow her to siphon more life, kiting enemies and keeping at max range via her whip strikes becomes more fun and even invigorating in higher difficulties.
Meanwhile, Masha has wide melee strikes that hit enemies clustered together. She also has an AoE special that blinds nearby enemies. And if they miss their attacks, she gets a couple of buffs and even heals for a bit. And she can teleport via the power of tarot cards. It’s all goofy, but it somehow works visually and in an action RPG killing spree kinda way.
Point is, you’ll find someone to love and play as the whole way through even if the initial three characters -Kingewitch, Anya, and Istok- aren’t your cup of tea. I’m sure there will be long-as-heck video guides on Lukian’s dual-affinity playstyle and Dameer’s pet-based class combat.
Cult Following

Pagan Online reminds you constantly that it’s a hybrid of past loot-and-shoot action RPG titles like Warframe but with the perspective and trappings of Diablo. Does it succeed in eliciting joy from action RPG fans like myself? Undoubtedly yes, because once you start popping this new set of Pringles can, you can’t stop.
I’ve sunk in 15 hours mastering the ins and outs of the aforementioned blood mage and ninja gipsy, all the while tweaking and perfecting the art of crafting to make sure they’re up to the many challenges ahead. I do miss seeing my characters have their ridiculous equipment on display since all cosmetics parts are based on the hero’s current skin. It would make sense to see your crafted gear be on display, right?
Speaking of characters, their skill trees are pretty basic since all their moves are pretty much what you see in the character selection screen. With not much to look forward there, players will need to get their jollies from getting loot, and then crafting new and better weaponry with all the recipes they have amassed.

It’s a different kind of tedium, but at least it’s pretty to look at and controls just fine.

But fear not: Mad Head Games are going to bring out a huge patch for the game next week, featuring new skills and character progression bits, as well as new loot and crafting systems. It’s worth the progress wipe; this game is still Early Access, remember?

If Pagan Online sounds like your cup of short burst tea, check it out here.


Legendary Comic Artist Tim Sale Has Died

Comic artist Tim Sale, the man behind the gorgeous and moody artwork for Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman For All Seasons, has passed away.
He died due to severe health issues.

It’s with a heavy sadness that I must announce that Tim Sale passed away today. He passed with the love of his life beside him, and loves all of you very much. Please share photos and stories under this post, as we hope to share them with the community.
— Remembering Tim Sale (@ArtBySale) June 16, 2022

Tim Sale was an incredible artist, whose take on iconic characters had real human depth, and his groundbreaking page designs changed the way an entire generation thinks about comic book storytelling. Our condolences go to Tim’s family and friends. He will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/VgXxu7O0V4
— DC (@DCComics) June 16, 2022

Tim Sale began his work in comics in the 1980s and gained a following in 1990 onward. He usually collaborates with writer Jeff Loeb and did artwork for the much-lauded DC Comics storyline Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman For All Seasons. The series is influential to comic books and even comic book adaptations of the Batman variant to say the least.

He also did great work at Marvel Comics with Loeb again via the colour-themed superhero origin stories Hulk: Grey, Daredevil: Yellow, Spider-Man: Blue, and Captain America: White. These stories were just as moody and gorgeous like his DC efforts, and help to flesh out the motivations of the respective main characters in the books. Amidst his artwork, he brought out levels of complexity and emotions from each panel he creates alongside his comic book partner Loeb. He not only can make great splash pages but also add energy and humanity to a number of seemingly-normal scenes, like Peter Parker’s maudlin life outside of his costume.

Tim Sale will sorely be missed.


Keanu Reeves To Reprise Iconic Role In John Wick 4 & 5

Keanu Reeves is a busy man these days, appearing in the upcoming CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 and Bill & Ted Face The Music, as well as The Matrix 4. Now, according to Deadline, he will also be reprising his role in the back-to-back sequels game with John Wick 4 and 5 to film consecutively next year.
In todayâ€™s Lionsgate earnings call,Â  CEO John Feltheimer said,

â€œWeâ€™re also busy preparing scripts for the next two installments of our John Wick action franchise, with John Wick 4 slated to hit theatres Memorial Day weekend 2022.
We hope to shoot both John Wick 4 & 5 back to back when Keanu becomes available early next year.â€

John Wick 4 is currently scheduled for 27 May 2021, but John Wick 5 has yet to receive a release date. John Wick Chapter 3 Parabellum premiered in 2019 and managed to garner a total worldwide box office revenue of US$326.7 million (check out our review here).
The franchise has even received the video game treatment in the form of 2019’s John Wick Hex (check out our review here).


Borderlands 3 Maurice’s Black Market Vending Machine Location: 20th May

We kind of lost track of the number of weeks since this feature is added, but we nonetheless know where to find this week’s Maurice’s Black Market Vending Machine in Borderlands 3.
The latest location of Maurice’s Black Market Vending Machine is at Skywell-27 (the Promethea stage where you fought Katagawa Ball). The actual location is at the early part of the stage; it’s where you activated Reese’s Viper Drive for the first time in the story.

The Legendary guns you will get to buy this week are:

Stimulating Gratifying Laser-Sploder Assault Rifle (and other variants)
Gatlin Breakneck Mutant Assault Rifle (and other variants)
Burning Flakker Shotgun (and other variants)

Suffice to say, the Flakker is the best one among the lot to get. Do not buy the Mutant; it’s one of the worst weapons in the game.
Feature image credit: Moxsy


Shingo & Kim Are Coming To KOF XV In January 2023 Onward; Samurai Shodown Also Gets Rollback

The King Of Fighters XV’s Season 2 Pass will start rolling out on January 2023.
SNK has launched a trailer announcing its arrival. It also mentions that character balance and refinements, along with classic character Shingo Yabuki will be out first in January 2023. For those not in the know, Shingo is Kyo’s pupil in the art of fighting. He has spirit, but he obviously cannot unleash Kusanagi flames; all of his moves are “lesser” versions of Kyo’s moveset, though they hit really hard as a trade-off.

Mainstay Fatal Fury/KOF Taekwando fighter Kim Kaphwan, who is absent in KOF XV, will be out as a Season 2 character on Spring 2023. The DLC will also add in more playable characters, as well as much-needed crossplay among PC, Xbox, and PlayStation users.
As icing on the fighting game cake, the 2019 Samurai Shodown reboot will finally, FINALLY get rollback netcode for PC and consoles. The PC open beta rollback test will happen on January 2023, while the console versions will happen in the near future.

Check out the trailer below:


Mobile Gaming and the Creativity of the Industry

I was stuck again in one of those boring work meetings at 9 in the morning and thankfully, we were given a 20-minute break before I hit my face on the table falling asleep.
As usual, some of my colleagues would go grab something to drink while others went for a smoke or paid a visit to the restroom. But mobile game developers have created a new break-time-habit for some of my friends.
Huddled over one corner of the meeting room there were four men laughing together while they held their phones horizontally and had both hands on opposite ends of the screen. Another PUBG Mobile session was about to start.

Why Game On The Go?
Mobile gaming has evolved extremely quickly in the past few years and consequently, it’s also changing gaming as a whole. The overall affordability and accessibility of game-capable smartphones have outdone what Facebook managed to do with social games like Farmville: introducing games to an audience that weren’t interested in playing video games. This coupled with mobile data plans that are priced more and more competitively as each day goes by has created a powerful catalyst for the growth and success of mobile gaming.
If you’re interested in reading about contemporary facts and statistics on the popularity of mobile gaming, I recommend this. Here are a few of the interesting points:

Mobile gaming contributes to more than 50% of global revenues in the gaming industry.
More than 2 billion mobile gamers worldwide.
In 2017, Worldwide box office generated $40 billion in revenue. In the same year, mobile gaming generated $50.4 billion.

Wherever the money goes, people follow. Console and PC video game developers who want to survive and thrive will look out for and pounce on opportunities to profit from this gigantic shift in demography and purchasing trend.

Making Mobile Magic
The decisions to create a mobile version of major titles such as Diablo and Command & Conquer aren’t simply because the developers believe they can “tell more stories” on a different platform. Both of these upcoming games have been met with very negative response from most fans of the original games. To me, this disappointment is completely warranted.
Developing video games is a labour of creativity. People enjoy new video games because they challenge and reward us in new ways when compared to older video games. There’s a constant need to evolve and provide fresh ideas to make people want to play.
It’s worth remembering that game developers are human beings like you and me who also need to pay the bills and then still have enough money to buy video games. Mobile gaming introduces a conundrum in this need to balance creativity and profit.
Almost all of the financially successful mobile games are completely free. Developers and publishers either use ads or microtransactions to generate profits. This means that anyone can own the games and they would only need to pay if they wanted something extra in-game. Thus, the games are usually judged based on how much pressure is put onto the players to purchase those in-game extras.
In other words, it’s really about how fair the game is on a scale ranging from aesthetics-only to pay-to-win. If a mobile game is very popular, it’s probably because the developers found a very good balance on that scale.
The Flip Side
Going back to my point of games being a labour of creativity, this is where things can go bad. The aforementioned methods of money-making in mobile games are more dependent on how good you are at designing a business model rather than designing a video game structure. If people would pay up simply to have an edge in a singular core gameplay mechanic, then there’s really no need to write well-written stories or create intricate combat systems.
Hell, one of the most successful mobile games in the world is Candy Crush Saga and I’m not saying Candy Crush has no plot. I’m saying it has bypassed the need to write GTA levels of script-writing while making much much more money.
There’s a bright side to all this and it actually goes back to my own point of games needing creativity. As more and more mobile games are developed, there will be creative and ambitious developers who will want to introduce better ideas and make mobile gaming just as interesting and enjoyable as console and PC gaming without having to sacrifice fairness and resort to lootbox gambling tactics.
As the hardware of smartphones gets more powerful each year, the limits as to what can be played on a smartphone will keep on being pushed and thus, there will be more room for concepts still unique to mobile gaming.

In The Thick Of It
For now, it’s too early to say that games like Diablo Immortal and C&C Rivals are horrible mistakes that were the results of greed and complacency. Perhaps those games will succeed and further enhance the notion of mobile gaming being the true leader of the game industry.
And even if those games don’t succeed, they’ll remind other big developers to think of better ways to delve into the mobile gaming market. I’m convinced that most studios are already formulating their mobile game business plans because the numbers are there: Mobile gaming is making the most money and it will continue to make even more money than the other platforms.


The First Look At Netflix’s Cowboy Bebop Adaptation Intro Is A Thing, I Guess…

The Netflix TUDUM fan event has a slew of reveals and teasers of upcoming new shows; one of them is the currently maligned-before-it’s-even-out-the-door adaptation of Cowboy Bebop.
After a bunch of still shots of the cast -John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, and Daniella Pineda as Spike, Jet Black, and Faye Valentine respectively- in what seems to be glorified cosplay, we get to see the live-action show’s version of the classic anime intro.

It’s a choice, I’ll tell you that.
It’s got a 60s pulp action vibe going on, and cheesy as all heck. The intro also teases the different villains and bounties from the classic anime series, including our first look at Spike’s rival Vicious and his beau Julia.

Watch it and judge it for yourself; it’s probably not for me since I can just watch the original anime series in my own spare time. But for those who really just want to see a live-action adaptation of a classic series, they have this intro to salivate.
The series will be out this 19th November. We’ll be sure to give this live-action adaptation a chance when it’s out then; it’s at least keeping it colourful and campy. And they have the corgi Ein, so that’s something, I guess.


John Wick Hex Is Good “Turn-Based” Combat Fun, But Did It Really Need The License?

It’s odd to see a title like John Wick Hex existing: a game made by Mike Bithell and his Bithell Games group (Thomas was Alone, Volume), a prolific indie dev, tasked with a movie license based on a Keanu Reeves comeback idea turned into an over-the-top action franchise. And yet somehow we live in a time where it’s not mandatory to pay full triple-A price for it.
If anything, this strategy game that is brandishing the John Wick name excels at what it does: deliver a “turn-based” title where all your figurative chess pieces move simultaneously to the flow of the action. In other words, a top-down isometric Superhot but with a grizzled assassin dubbed the Baba Yaga against the world.
The story is inconsequential – it takes place before the first film and deals with John Wick killing a bunch of mob bosses with narration from Lance Reddick and Ian McShane. But the action? Hardly, if playing a different kind of strategy game is your cup of tea.
Redline

See, everything in John Wick Hex is running on a timeline. See the top of the screen? All your actions and your enemy’s are determined by this. Everyone moves at the same pace. All actions -from shooting to crouching to recovering health- has a preparation time and an action time. During the prep bit, you can be interrupted or waylaid.
The upside? You can do the same to your opponent. If you see enemies coming at you or if they’re lining up their shots, you can choose to either go up close and beat them up, or just get out of sight. If you pay attention to the timeline and move just before the red bits hit the centre white line, you’re good.
You’ll be doing a lot of mental calculating and predicting; keep in mind that your resources like handgun clips and bandages are limited. You may even need to be creative and either chuck a gun to stun foes or even push them away to get away from lines of sight.
You will run out of ammo frequently, so making sure you down enemies with guns and then taking their spoils will give you more options. You also can use focus to do special “one-hit takedown” moves to clear enemy count, but you’ll need to find a safe spot to recharge that resource.

Needless to say, the six chapters where I’m going through the motions and kicking ass is pretty fun.

Seeing the cel-shaded graphics in motion with the atmospheric tunes blaring while I’m racking up a kill count from an “enemy respawn” door and figuring out my route gives me a decent amount of thrills.
Parabellum

Just some caveats: once you figure out how the enemy AI here works, particularly after the second chapter, you can find yourself in situations where you can funnel enemies to meet their Baba Yaga-branded beatdown; no guns required. In levels with a high enemy count, your “Wait” button is your best friend as enemies will come to you and home to your general direction, their mortality be damned. Suffice to say, strategy gamers will not get much of a challenge here after an hour or two.
Furthermore, the replay function after you complete the game looks…goofy. Basically, you’ll see an emotionless Keanu Reeves proxy walking like a hunched robot, aiming at enemies, and then kicking them in the nuts after a few hard chops on their shoulders. It’s fun to watch the first time, but it gets sadder with each replay if you’re hoping for some flair.

I am aware that this game is under an indie budget and constraint, but the record stands that John Wick Hex’s replays are unintentional comedies waiting to be turned to machinima skits.

Despite those hiccups, it’s a decent strategy title nonetheless, though I do wonder if tacking this already nice idea onto a John Wick license is necessary. Even without it, if the characters are replaced with more sardonic takes using action movie archetypes, I’d still buy it just for the gameplay alone.
It ain’t gonna curb stomp X-COM, but nothing can. Consider this movie tie-in a nice diversion from your other indie strategy titles that are out by the boatload this year post-FTL and Into The Breach.
Pros

Unique visuals & music.
An exciting take on turn-based combat.

Cons

Enemy AI can be exploited easily.
Replay mode loses all semblance of coolness.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100


The Witcher Season 3 Has Started Filming; Here’s What You Need To Know

Itching for more Geralt of Rivia live-action on Netflix? Well, keep waiting because the next season is still a long way off.
Fansite Redanian Intelligence claims to have photos of The Witcher’s cast and crew filming at a church in Slovenia, along with the official Twitter account announcing The Witcher Season 3 filming currently being a thing.

Our family is back together again. #TheWitcher Season 3 is officially in production! pic.twitter.com/rlBl0j3lT1
— The Witcher (@witchernetflix) April 4, 2022

Details are pretty light at the moment, but we predict that the next season will be out on 2023. The next season will probably focus on the Time of Contempt plot, as well as a Blood of Elves story, meaning that fans may see the rise of the Scoia’tael (the dwarves and elves coalition). We may also see the introduction of The Witcher 3’s Shani, as well as more from Philippa Eilhart and Djikstra.
For more on the Netflix Witcher series, head on over to our review & thoughts on the last season.


Here’s What You Require to Play Far Cry 5 On PC

Ubisoft today released what is required to play their upcoming, ‘Living-in-America’ simulation, Far Cry 5. While the bare minimum of GTX670 will allow you to launch the game, a much more powerful machine allows you to enjoy all the outdoor splendour of North American redneck country.
Minimum SpecsÂ
CPU: Intel Core i5-2400 @ 3.1 GHz or AMD FX-6300 @ 3.5 GHz or equivalent
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 670 or AMD R9 270 (2GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0 or better)
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64-bit versions only)
Recommended Specs
CPU: Intel Core i7-4770 @ 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 @ 3.2 GHz or equivalent
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD R9 290X (4GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0 or better)
RAM: 8GB
OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 (64-bit versions only)
4K Gaming
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700 @ 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X @ 3.6 GHz or equivalent
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD RX Vega 56 (8GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0 or better)
RAM: 16GB
OS: Windows 10 (64-bit version only)
Now This Is Getting Ridiculous a.k.a I Wanna Be Able to See Individual Facial Hair of the Baddie.
CPU: Intel Core i7-6700K @ 4.0 GHz or AMD Ryzen 7 1700X @ 3.4 GHz or equivalent
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 SLI or AMD RX Vega 56 CFX (8GB VRAM with Shader Model 5.0 or better)
RAM: 16GB
OS: Windows 10 (64-bit version only)
Ubi were also kind enough to list out all compatible graphics card in case you’re still unsure of your machine’s ability to run it:
Nvidia:
GeForce GTX600 series: GeForce GTX670 or better
GeForce GTX700 series: GeForce GTX760 or better
GeForce GTX900 series: GeForce GTX950 or better
GeForce GTX10-Series: GeForce GTX1050 or better
AMD:
Radeon 200 series: Radeon R9 270 or better
Radeon 300/Fury X series: Radeon R7 370 or better
Radeon 400 series: Radeon RX 460 or better
Hope it helps, but hey – you can always purchase the game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and skip all the hassle.


The Live-Action Cowboy Bebop Struts Its Stuff With A Lost Session Teaser

Netflix just released a new Cowboy Bebop teaser dubbed “Lost Session”.
It’s basically the production house showing off how a live-action Cowboy Bebop is pulled off. The results? It ain’t half bad, with the slick editing and 70s aesthetics mixed in with the show’s original music.

Look: nothing is ever going to top the original anime series and live up to its long-lasting magnificence. But, if someone were to put a gun on Netflix’s head to make a live-action adaptation featuring John “multitalented” Cho pulling off the Spike Spiegel hair with his own follicles, this teaser seems like a good way to pull it off. Believe me: as someone who has seen shitty anime adaptations like Fullmetal Alchemist, Ghost in the Shell, Attack on Titan, and Death Note, things could have looked & played out worst.
Then again, Faye’s costume could have been less butch and more femme fatale. The live-action Cowboy Bebop will be out on Netflix this 19th November; the anime will be out this Thursday.


Southeast Asia’s Mineski, Fnatic, TNC Knocked Out Of The Biggest Dota 2 Tournament Ever

This is truly a sad day for Southeast Asia in the competitive Dota 2 scene. The three main Southeast Asian Dota 2 esports representatives for The International 2018 (or TI8) are eliminated from the tournament.
We have to wish “GG” to Mineski, Fnatic, and TNC as they fought their damnest in the gruelling bouts against China, Europe, and many other countries for Dota 2 supremacy.
To recap, Mineski lost to Virtus.pro 0-2 in the second round of the lower bracket. But before that, Mineski ended up fighting TNC Pro Team and winning that particular group stage fight.
Fnatic in the meantime was surpassed by Team Serenity, who was said to be the dark horse and possible team to pull off upsets. They scored a 1-0 against the SEA team thanks to spot-on team fights and skirmishes.

At least they ended on a semi-adequate note. TNC Pro and Fnatic are at 13th to 16th place and walk home with US$125,000. Mineski secured 9th-12th spot with US$375,000. Better luck next time, guys!


E3 2019: Outriders Is A Co-Op Shooter From Bulletstorm Devs

The mysterious Outriders game remains somewhat of a mystery but at least now we know who is responsible for the game: Bulletstorm developerÂ People Can Fly. A full trailer was unveiled during Square Enix’s E3 2019 press conference earlier today.
Set in a dark and desperate universe, Outriders is a drop-in-drop-out co-op shooter for up to three players, but it also supports single player as well. While the trailer doesn’t show any actual gameplay footage, we can see that the design aesthetics of weapons and creatures are extremely alien in nature.
Outriders is slated to launch for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC sometime in summer 2020. In the meantime, check out the official announcement trailer below for a glimpse into the brand new dark IP.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0dyNDP5Vfo&w=560&h=315]


Overwatch League: Dallas Fuel Reveal Final Roster Ahead of Deadline

Dallas Fuel became the first team to reveal their finalized roster for the upcoming Overwatch League via a cool reveal trailer last night. Following the additions of formerÂ Arc 6 and Fnatic support main, ScottÂ “Custa”Â Kennedy and another ex-Arc 6 player, Tank main,Â FÃ©lixÂ “xQc”Â Lengyel, Dallas Fuel now have a total of nine players in their list, and is one of the most global team participating in the Overwatch League.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wcaHcF18A8&w=560&h=315]
These two are the latest additions to the Dallas Fuel lineup, with DPS star Brandon ‘Seagull’ Larned having joined the team last month, bringing the total of nationalities representing Dallas Fuel to eight.

We are unsure how these additions will fit into the well-gelled setup of Dallas Fuel however we see the addition of Custa may free HarryHook off his support duties, allowing him to roam free as Soldier. Meanwhile xQc’s addition adds another option on tank considering Cocco has been the sole tank main, with Mickie providing support. Expect more news on final team rosters for the Overwatch League as we are only hours away from the deadline. Pre-Season kicks off in December, while the full season will start January next year.
Kakuchopurei.com will be bringing you all the scores, team updates and of course analysis so make sure to stick around for all your Overwatch League fix.


Latest Halo Infinite Update Changes How Ranked Playlist Matchmakes

Halo Infinite just received an update that brought about some balance adjustments to snipers and weapon mechanics, as well as bug fixes that players have been clamouring for, but also change to the Ranked mode too.
One of the most popular features of the game is its Ranked playlist, where players are ranked according to their skill and performance. And guess what? The developers have finally listened to player feedback and made changes to the Ranked matchmaking system.
The Halo Infinite Ranked has been switched from MMR (Matchmaking Rank) to CSR (Competitive Skill Rank), which means players will be more fairly matched against opponents of similar skill levels.

This change is based on player feedback and should result in better balanced matches. Submit a ticket at https://t.co/Ya2f8ZXD20 if you encounter issues with unbalanced teams in Ranked playlists. (2/2)
— Halo Support (@HaloSupport) March 1, 2023

Your rank is determined by your performance in your first ten ranked competitive matches, and it gets updated as you play the game. At the start of each season, your rank gets reset, so you need to climb as high as possible.

What’s the difference between CSR & MMR?
CSR is the rank visible to other players, while MMR is the hidden rank used by the game to determine a player’s skill. The recent change means that the skill of your teammates and opponents will be more variable, but defeats won’t be harshly penalized, making it easier to rank up by grinding.
It’s important to note that new or casual players who don’t have a rank will still be matched based on the old MMR methodology.
The developers made this change after listening to player suggestions, and if you encounter any issues with unbalanced teams in Ranked playlists, you can submit your feedback. Some players are also requesting that MMR-based matchmaking be removed entirely from social playlists due to imbalances in the old system.


Cyberpunk 2077: What You Need To Know

Everyone and their Western RPG-loving mothers are looking forward to CD Projekt’s latest sci-fi epic, Cyberpunk 2077, that’s basically their version of the Shadowrun games. Which is a lovely thing. Seeing as it’s from the folks who brought us the meticulous and expansive Witcher 3, you can expect the same level of detail in this title.
Based on recent previews, it really shows. Which is why we are going to recap all the info we know so far for your reading convenience. So let’s deep-dive right in.
It’s a first-person RPG

The first thing to clear up here is the kind of game Cyberpunk 2077 is. It’s a first-person RPG in the veins of your Elder Scrolls titles, but sci-fi. Basically a huge contrast to CD Projekt’s Witcher series, Cyberpunk 2077 puts you in the shoes of V who has to do crime-related deeds in Night City. You also have a retro-fitted car that takes you to places.
Speaking of V…
You can choose your background identities….
Just like in Dragon Age, you can choose your origins. If you are a Nomad, you start off in a small trailer trash area in the game’s Badland. If you start off as a Corporate, you’ll begin in the skyscraper-filled City Center. No matter which origin you start with, you’ll eventually make your way to Jackie in the Watson district.
…And even tweak your own “junk & pubes”
We are not kidding. Cyberpunk 2077’s character customization system is so in-depth, you can even set your own “various size and combo of genitals”. You can even select up to five types of pubic hair, three kinds of nipples, two dick types, and one vagina option.
And we thought Saints Row IV and Black Desert Online were the apex of character customization.

There are multiple ways to tackle missions
Just like in many open-world RPGs, Cyberpunk 2077 has multiple avenues for quest completion. Whether it’s via hacking, or talking your way out of trouble, using brute force, or just taking your time and stealthing it, CD Projekt will have multiple ways open for its assortment of missions that should cater to your playstyle.
Your guns are divided into three categories
Speaking of brute force, your guns are split into three types: power weapons, smart weapons, and tech weapons. Power weapons favour the head-on approach, while smart weapons feature lock-on and self-guided systems in their bullets/rockets/projectilesTech weapons use non-conventional means to debuff and disarm enemies, like a shotgun that shoots magnets that stick onto enemies and make them latch onto nearby metal surfaces.
You can hack into enemies
The deep-diving cyber aspects from the many Cyberpunk 2077 trailers aren’t just for show. You can infect goons using a virus transmitted from objects like credit chips given to them. Or just hack a robot or two and make them your temporary allies for the current mission.
You have two different side quests
In Cyberpunk 2077, you have two different side quest types if you’re not up to doing the game’s main questline: gigs and side jobs. Gigs are substantial story-driven side missions similar to Witcher 3’s sidequests. However, they can unravel, evolve, and turn into more complex quests that rival even the scope of your main quests.

One story mission in Cyberpunk 2077 requires you to rip off a powerful CEO from a big corporation in Night City. Before pulling off this heist, you need to complete a couple of prep missions.
Side jobs are quicker missions you can complete on the fly, be it to cure someone who has overloaded themselves with augmentations or hacking into the NCPD police database to hunt for wanted criminals. Whether you want to go on a sidequest tangent or just complete a few quick jobs for cash or XP, Cyberpunk 2077 has you covered.
The friends you make will turn you into another person’s enemy
There are a multitude of factions in the game; doing missions with one of them will make you an opponent in another faction’s eyes. Going into bed with a corporation like Militech via hacking and subterfuge will not earn you many friends, but Militech will have your back later in the game. It’s really up to you who you want to partner up with; CD Projekt’s giant world and lore will make sure your choices are plentiful and will have future benefits and appropriate consequences.
The day/night cycle is distinct
There’s a world of difference whether you’re exploring the game in the daytime or the nighttime. Most of the seedier aspects and locales are only open at night, so using the time skip feature here is useful if you need to access to these places. While it never really gets dark in Night City (with the neon lights and billboards), the in-game crowd and traffic get distinctively busier in the nighttime.
The game will run just fine even without a next-gen GPU
Cyberpunk 2077 will be supporting DLSS 2.0, which is the second-gen NVidia-branded Deep Learning Super Sampling tech that uses AI to upscale images. Just make sure you have your own GeForce RTX graphics cards, since that’s the only requirement. You still need a beefy computer, but at least this part of the requirement is excluded.

A Cyberpunk 2077 anime is in the works
And Studio Trigger will be behind it. The show will be making its way onto Netflix in 2022 and will flesh out the world of Cyberpunk 2077, as well as get people on-board the genre set up by Ghost in The Shell eons ago.
It’s coming out this November
After numerous delays and COVID-19 slowdowns, the game’s latest release date is set: 19th November 2020. The game was initially supposed to be out on September, but CD Projekt wanted to work on it longer. In any case, we’ll be looking forward to destroying the rest of our free time in 2020 with this upcoming CRPG that’s a long-time coming.


Huge Turnout At Riot Games Walkout Protest

The planned Riot Games employee walkout protest happened yesterday, with over 150 of them gathering to show their discontent and dissatisfaction over the company’s gender discrimination and sexist work environment, as well as forced arbitration.
These Riot employees stood in the parking lot on the Riot Games compound, holding signs and giving speeches. In an interview with Kotaku, Riot Games social listening strategist Jocelyn Monahan (who participated in the walkout) said:

“Weâ€™re asking that forced arbitration be ended for all past, current, and future Riot employees, including contractors and in current litigation.
We are what makes Riot great. I want us to feel solidarity and connection with each other. I want us to feel connected. I want us to feel like our voices are heard and heard in a way that matters.”

Riot Games’ Response To The Walkout
Their response has been surprisingly mild. In an email sent to Kotaku, a company representative said:

â€œWe respect Rioters who choose to walkout today and will not tolerate retaliation of any kind as a result of participating (or not).â€

Near the end of the walkout, Monahan announced that if Riot Games fail to implement any changes on their forced arbitration stance by 16 May 2019, everyone who participated in the walkout will take further action. However, it remains unclear what exactly “further action” means at this point in time.
Though Riot Games promised that there won’t be any retaliation, some of the protestors still professed fear that there might be unforeseen or unexpected consequences from their walkouts and demonstrations. Nevertheless, they will keep on going as long as Riot Games stay silent on the matter at hand.
(Image Credit: Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)


CD Projekt Red Pulls The Plug On Gwent For Consoles

Digital card games form a very niche community and market. Even if you can start playing them for free, it takes a special level of interest to get someone hooked into the formula of winning card games to get more cards. CD Projekt Red is discovering that their card game just isn’t working out on some platforms.

The Witcher card game GWENT will be discontinued for console players starting from 9 December 2019. CD Projekt Red explains that this decision was made due to the fact that the game is most popular on PC and mobiles so they believe it would be better to focus on those platforms instead of maintaining the console versions.
If you’re one of those players who have GWENT accounts for consoles and PC/mobiles, do note that you can’t merge your accounts to collectively have all your cards and currencies in one place. The only thing you can do is to create a new GOG account so that their progress can be copied into that account. Account-copying can be done from 9 December 2019 until 9 June 2020.
Here’s what transfers over into the copied account:

All collected ornaments
Meteorite Powder â€” Only applies to Xbox One players*
All other currencies
Cards
Deck lists
Account level
Current Rank
Thronebreaker rewards
Contracts

Bad news for PS4 players: CD Projekt Red says that it’s not possible to transfer Meteorite Powder from PS4 to GOG. So you’ll have to spend all your Meteorite Powder before requesting to copy accounts. At least the value will be transferred over in the form of what you’ve purchased using the Meteorite Poweder.
For more instructions on how to carry out the account-copying process, check out the official announcement from CD Projekt Red here.


She-Hulk Episode 5 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The fifth episode of She-Hulk Attorney At Law is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. I’ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you haven’t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, now’s your chance to stop reading.
Check out my spoiler-free review of She-Hulk here.
The synopsis reads:
In Marvel Studios’ “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany)—an attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases must navigate the complicated life of a single, 30-something who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk. The nine-episode comedy series welcomes a host of MCU vets, including Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong, as well as Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra, Ginger Gonzaga, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
The series is directed by Kat Coiro (Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9) and Anu Valia (Episodes 5, 6, 7) with Jessica Gao as head writer. Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Coiro and Gao.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we were given the opportunity to interview She-Hulk head writer, executive producer and showrunner, Jessica Gao. She is also best known for winning an Emmy Award for writing the famous Pickle Rick episode on the Rick And Morty animated series.

In the meantime, Jessica Gao also recently revealed that She-Hulk scrapped plans to include meta comic book text boxes in our coverage of the recent press conference.
Check out my breakdown of She-Hulk Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4 here.
Check out my breakdown of Ms. Marvel Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 here.
Also, check out my breakdowns of Moon Knight Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 here.
You can check out my previous breakdowns of Hawkeye Episodes 1 and 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here and Episode 5. and Episode 6 here.
In addition, you can check out my previous breakdowns of Marvel’s What If? Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9 here.
If you haven’t, you can check out my previous breakdowns and easter egg articles for WandaVision Episode 1 and 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9.
For The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns for Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns of Loki episodes, check out Episode 1 here, Episode 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here, Episode 5 here and Episode 6 here.

Mallory Book Enters The MCU

In this episode, Jennifer Walters becomes the client of Mallory Book in the case against Titania using the She-Hulk name for her brand of cosmetics.
Mallory Book also exists in the comics, and she’s a rival of Jennifer Walters when it comes to the lawyer stuff as she also works at the same firm, Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway. In the MCU, she’s portrayed by actress Renée Elise Goldsberry.
In the latest She-Hulk comics, Jennifer Walters is now working at Mallory Book’s firm.

Daredevil’s New Suit Teased

We already know that Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil will be appearing in an upcoming episode of She-Hulk thanks to a recent trailer, but this teaser of his new costume might indicate that we could be seeing him in the very next episode. That’s possible, considering that we only have four episodes left in this season of She-Hulk.

We might even get to see She-Hulk’s superhero costume next week. Fingers crossed.
This is also the only episode so far with no post-credits scene. Until next week, excelsior, everyone!


Original Medal Of Honor Writer Returns For Respawn’s New Entry

Respawn Entertainment will soon give fans a deeper look at Medal Of Honor: Above and Beyond, the studioâ€™s new immersive VR experience that will bring the iconic Medal Of Honor franchise back to its roots.
Respawn Entertainment founder and CEO, Vince Zampella, and Medal Of Honor: Above and Beyondâ€™s Game Director, Peter Hirschmann, will join Geoff Keighley as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live at 2am GMT+8 on 28 August 2020 to debut an all-new trailer.
More details will also be revealed about what fans can expect from the upcoming World War II VR-exclusive title.
Hirschmann is also best known for having written the first entry in the franchise, 1999’s Medal Of Honor.
In anticipation of the debut, Respawn Entertainment has released new key art for Medal Of Honor: Above and Beyond. Check it out below:


Simulacra 3 Is Kaigan Games’ Spookiest & Most Ambitious Game Yet

Platforms: Android, iOS, PC (Steam)
Genre: Puzzle, Interactive, Horror, Found-Phone
Malaysian developer Kaigan Games is best known for ‘found phone’ horror games 2016’s Sara Is Missing, 2017’s Simulacra and 2019’s Simulacra 2 and 2021’s Doctor Who And The Lonely Assassins (check out our review here). They’ve returned with the same formula, but Simulacra 3 is perhaps their most ambitious one yet.
Your Phone Is Haunted

In the town of Stonecreek, people are vanishing into thin air, leaving nothing behind but strange symbols where they were last seen. Rumours swirl that it is Beldam, the ghost of a witch that once haunted the streets of Stonecreek. You are the intern at the local paper, tasked with assisting a journalist named Ruby Myers in her investigation into the disappearances. Your only lead is the phone of the missing Paul Castillo, a software developer, an amateur historian of the town, and one of Ruby’s sources. While Ruby does the legwork, your job is to hack into Paul’s phone for any clues left behind. You’ll have to navigate through the apps on a phone as you investigate the Beldam of Stonecreek.
In Simulacra 3, you’ll see your actions play out in real-time, as well as react to video calls in real-time. Here’s how the game works; you basically have access to Paul’s phone, so you’ll have to go through his contacts, messages, emails, pictures, videos and even browsing history contained inside to slowly solve the mystery at hand. Each clue you find will have to be scanned and applied in the Atlas mechanic in order to progress through the game. Each clue will open up more data inside the phone, and you’ll have access to more messages, pictures and the like to inspect.
The challenge of the game lies in where and when to apply those clues, especially when applying them to the game’s Atlas mechanic, where you sometimes have to even trace the mysteries from location to location chronologically to solve them. It’s great that the game doesn’t hold your hand, but the objectives can sometimes be too vague or cryptic, resulting in frustrating situations where I have no idea where to even begin. I was genuinely surprised by how out-of-the-box some of the solutions can be, though the process can be too random at times and making it an annoying experience. A lot of these puzzles will require you to memorize certain details and bits of information. I made things easier for myself by taking a picture of important clues and details for my own reference, which did make me feel somewhat like a sleuth or detective.

In addition, you’ll also engage with a lot of multiple-choice dialogue with Ruby and other characters. Some of them will feature meaningful choices that will actually affect the game’s narrative and ending. That’s what a lot of the game will be like, with the dialogue and interactions taking place in the form of texts and chats. If you can’t tolerate mountains of text messages, then Simulacra 3 will probably just be a chore for you.
The most interesting mechanic in the game is being able to hack into a building’s security system (including cameras) to aid Ruby in real time and help her escape from the ‘threat’ (which I can’t spoil). It felt exciting and is perhaps the most memorable part of the game. Unfortunately, this mechanic is only used once in the entire game, which is a shame. It’s unclear if this is due to budgetary reasons or time constraints, but it would be awesome if Kaigan Games continues to experiment more with unique mechanics like these.
As for the length of the game, it’s probably one of Kaigan Games’ longest games yet. It took me more than four hours (approximately five hours) to finish my first playthrough. Of course, with the multiple endings and choices, there is a fair amount of replayability with more potential hours out of Simulacra 3. In addition, there aren’t too many jump scares in Simulacra 3 compared to previous games, and the game’s music is weirdly non-existent (mostly consisting of sound effects).
They’re Calling From Inside The House

If you’re into mysteries and horror, you can’t go wrong with Simulacra 3. It’s another decent effort from the folks at Kaigan Games and it’s great to see that the Malaysian games industry is continuing to grow with more and more games worth playing.
PROS

The found phone mystery is engaging enough.
Creepy at times (but there are also cheap jump scares).

CONS

A bit too predictable and ‘safe’ plot.
Some of the puzzles can be too vague.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100
Simulacra 3 was reviewed on Steam (PC) via a review code from publisher Neon Doctrine. It releases on PC via Steam on 25 October 2022.


Witness Barry Keoghan’s Joker In All His Glory In The Batman Deleted Scene

At the end of The Batman, a post-credits scene revealed a tie-in website. After all the twists and turns, the final reveal is finally here, and it’s a gift for fans of the movie by director Matt Reeves. It’s a deleted scene featuring Robert Pattinson’s Batman interrogating Barry Keoghan’s Joker inside Arkham Asylum.
The scene does confirm a few things. One, Batman already knows the Joker, as the Joker points out that “it’s almost our anniversary, isn’t it?”, which means that this version of Batman must have faced and captured this version of the Joker sometime in year one of Batman’s career. That’s because the events of the movie basically takes place during year two of the Batman’s career.
With a last laugh, Joker finishes the encounter by taunting Batman, saying:
“I think deep down, you’re just terrified because you’re not sure he’s wrong. You think they deserved it. You think they deserved it!”
Barry Keoghan’s Joker definitely looks more disfigured than any other previous cinematic live-action version of the Joker. He looks somewhat like an amalgamation of Heath Ledger’s and Cameron Monaghan’s Jokers, especially the way that he speaks and laughs. I’m looking forward to seeing more of what this Joker can do in future sequels.
In the meantime, you can head on over here for my breakdown of the movie’s ending and post-credits, as well as what to expect from a potential sequel.
Check out the deleted scene below:


Uncharted Is Sony Pictures’ “New Hit Movie Franchise” As It Crosses Box Office Milestone

Sony Pictures’ Uncharted movie has managed to surpass box office expectations after garnering a whopping US$139 million at the worldwide box office. Couple that with the movie’s 90 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the studio is already calling it their new “hit movie franchise”.
The statement was made by Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman (via Deadline). You can read the entire memo below:
Dear Colleagues,
It is Presidents Day in America, but we are open in most places around the world today and we have another global triumph to celebrate.
With over $100M in box office worldwide in just one weekend, and a 90% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes,Â UnchartedÂ is a new hit movie franchise for the company.
This marks a great victory for every single division of the company, as the film was our first major production entirely shut down by the advent of Covid, yet we persevered to complete a picture the audience loves and marketed and distributed it with strategic verve worldwide, despite the pandemic.
The ensuing impact is proof once again of the unmatched cultural power of real movies. On the heels ofÂ Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, andÂ Spider-Man: No Way Home,Â UnchartedÂ is yet another blow to the theatrical naysayers and further proof of the efficacy of our model.
I want to thank all of the filmmakers, the wonderful cast and crew, and especially our friends at PlayStation Studios and Sony Interactive Entertainment for their support. And of course, I want to thank each and every one of you for your creativity, dedication and belief.
Excelsior!
Tom
However, a sequel to the movie has yet to be officially announced or greenlit. Though, if the statement by the CEO of Sony Pictures is any indication, an Uncharted movie sequel might be coming soon after all. This is all a surprise, considering that the movie is currently holding on to a 40 percent critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
In the meantime, you can check our review of the movie by heading over here.


Players Are Already Asking About Apex Legends’ Next Season

It has only beenÂ less than a week from the release of Apex Legends Season 2 and yet a number of people have begun questioning the release date of the next season and all the goodies that come along with it.
Well fret not fellow players, we’re here to break it down for you.
The Lowdown
Respawn was quick to release a high-level view of the year’s content roadmap back in February when the game was released.

As you might have noticed from the roadmap above, the release date for Season 2 did not happen on time and players waited for another month for Battle Charge, which released on 2 July.
Since Season 2 was delayed by a month, it only begs the question…
When Will Season 3 Drop?
We’re looking at a release window between October to November based on the end date of Season 2.
The current expected end date for Season 2 Apex Legends is on Tuesday, 1 October.Â If it doesn’t, you can expect it to finish at 2 am, Wednesday, 2 October local time.
New Legend Incoming?
We’ve been receiving new Legends with each introduction of a new season so far. The first season, Wild Frontier, added Octane to the roster while the second season, Battle Charge, saw Wattson introduced as a new playable Legend.
The next Legend to be added into the roster might be Crypto, the person responsible for the destruction of the Repulsor Tower via EMP blast.
As seen in the release trailer.
In fact, his presence was noticed ever since the first promotional material hit the internet, way before the launch of the first season.

Fans are expecting Crypto to be a technological Legend, with abilities to counter tech-based skills from other Legends such as Bloodhound’s scan ability and Pathfinder’s maphack. He could also possibly be a disabler Legend, using his EMP to disable enemy abilities.
His laptop is already seen in-game.
There are also rumours about him using a sword to block incoming damage, not unlike Titanfall 2‘s Ronin class Titan.
Ronin’ Sword Block ability.
There will usually be leaks into the season that’s worth checking out just for the fun of it. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for it.
How About A New Battle Pass?
Just like the Legends, we’ll be expecting a new battle pass to drop alongside the next season.
Players have voiced out their thoughts upon the first battle pass with its underwhelming rewards. Respawn responded by stepping up the rewards offered by the second battle pass, and tweaked the progression. So far, the players are happy with the Season 2 battle pass rewards.
If, for any reason, the players aren’t happy with the current way of how things work, expect a rework on the battle pass system as we head into Season 3.
How Much Will It Cost?
As per usual, the seasonal battle pass will set you back 950 Apex Coins, which you can purchase with the 1000 Apex Coin pack priced at 16 SGD (RM49), or you can go for the bundle which costs 2800 Apex Coins instantly giving you 25 levels alongside the battle pass.
We’ll be updating our page with more Apex Legends news as we move deeper into Season 2: Battle Charge. In the meantime, why don’t you check out our latest Apex Legends guide including new Season 2 updates and metas.


Taika Waititi’s Star Wars Movie Is Coming Next Year

In an interview with Total Film, LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy was asked about the next Star Wars movie, which will be helmed by Taika Waititi (whose next movie is Thor Love And Thunder in July 2022).
She said:
“Yeah. Well, not 2023, but late 2023. We haven’t locked anything in.”
It’s been a while since the last Star Wars movie, which was Star Wars Episode IX The Rise Of Skywalker. However, no other details were revealed about Taika Waititi’s Star Wars movie, including the cast, synopsis, or even what era of Star Wars it will take place in.
Star Wars Episode IX The Rise Of Skywalker was horrible, so it’s understandable why Lucasfilm is hesitant to release another Star Wars movie so soon. In the meantime, check out my top ten Star Wars characters of all time, or head on over here for my spoiler-filled analysis of Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker.


Diablo 4 Closed & Open Beta Dates Revealed

As part of a recent IGN 2023 Fan Fest, Blizzard just revealed Diablo 4’s closed and open beta dates along with a neat opening cinematic for the sequel.
The first beta will be on 17-19 March and is only open to those who pre-ordered the game. For the rest of us, the next beta session will be on 24-26 March. More details will be revealed closer to the dates.
Check out the cutscene below, which features your main protagonist so the character will change depending on who you pick. Diablo 4 will be out on 6 June for PC and consoles.

If you’re still playing Diablo 3, there’s a new Season out. Details are here.


Wild Hearts Review-In-Progress: In A League Of Its Own

Thanks to the kind folks over at Electronic Arts, I got early access to Wild Hearts ahead of its release and comparing it to the hands-on preview I did on it back in October, I’ve got to say, I’m extremely pleased with how the game has turned out.
Check out the hands-on preview we did back in October
In case you don’t already know Wild Hearts is a new game from Electronic Arts and Koei Tecmo that is developed by Omega Force. It’s kind of like a mix between a hack-and-slash adventure game and a monster hunter game. It’s similar to Monster Hunter by Capcom, but with a bit more emphasis on the hack-and-slash aspect. You play as a hunter, travelling through the world of Azuma battling giant beasts.
The tutorial mostly remains the same as it did in the demo, you meet Mujina, the mysterious musician in a mask who then gives you the ability to use karakuri. You then help Natsume the blacksmith, fight the Ragetail, and then proceed to search for Natsume’s friend Ujishige who has been captured by the Sapscourge.

Classes

Besides that, this latest preview also gives a much better look into the eight unique classes: Karakuri Katana, Nodachi, Bow, Maul, Bladed Wagasa, Hand Cannon, Claw Blade, and Karakuri Staff. Players will have access to the first five classes right from the beginning, while the remaining ones will be unlocked as the story progresses. This classification system will add a significant strategic element to the game, giving hunters the freedom to experiment with various styles.

Kemono

Compared to the hands-on preview we also get to interact more with the game’s Kemono. Players can expect to encounter over 20 Kemono in the four main season-inspired areas.
The Kemono are all inspired by real animals but have a unique twist, like the Spineglider that secretes a liquid that forms into rocks or the Emberplume, resembling a peacock with fire elements. Every Kemono has its distinct attack patterns and weaknesses. The presentation emphasized the importance of consuming foods with different elemental resistances to succeed in defeating certain Kemono.

Karakuri

The crafting system will be a crucial aspect of the game, with both offensive and defensive options available. Wild Hearts features three types of Karakuri, Basic, Fusion, and Dragon, with each having a distinct purpose. While Dragon Karakuri such as hunting towers and hunter’s tents provide long-term utility, Basic and Fusion pieces like crates, chain traps, and celestial cannons serve their purpose during Kemono battles.
I feel this aspect of the game is what really helps Wild Hearts stand out from the rest. I’ve used the comparison of Fortnite before but it’s the only comparison that really does fit right. Being able to build structures and gadgets that help you in battle creates an interesting combat system that is in a league of its own.
The biggest thing that I’ve noticed is that the building doesn’t feel as clunky as it was before. Not to say that it was bad but it just didn’t feel polished during the hands-on preview. However, now it does. Speaking of improvements that perfectly segues into the next part.

Customisation

Since I last played, one of my favourite improvements is the customisation. In terms of mere options and actual customizability, the game was lacking during the original preview where there were constant bugs with the hair and the fact that the options were so limited.
So I was taken by surprise when presented with the character customisation feature after a brief combat and conversation segment. The level of detail in the customisation was impressive, and the player spent around 45 minutes adjusting their character’s facial features.
This feature is highly commendable, especially considering the game’s early access stage. The game already offers an extensive range of options for various aspects, such as hair and eye colour, and players can use sliders similar to The Sims 4’s character creation to design their ideal face.
The customisation system allows players the freedom to create both stunning and bizarre-looking characters, making it a perfect feature.

Not-Quite-Final Thoughts
During the latest presentation of Wild Hearts, the developers revealed their extensive plans for the game after its launch, including two updates already in progress. Unlike other games, Wild Hearts will not require players to purchase a battle pass to access the downloadable content (DLC).
The DLC will be free and include an update in March that will introduce new subspecies of Kemono, tougher quests, and weapon and armour variations, along with bug fixes. Another update is planned for April and will feature a weapon and armour enhancement system, a new Karakuri, and other content similar to the March update.
Wild Hearts is expected to provide players with a unique monster-hunting experience where they must consider both their weapon and Karakuri use. The extensive world of Azuma will continue to expand with future updates, giving players the opportunity to discover new creatures and ways to develop their character. The game will be available later this week, and players can experience everything Wild Hearts has to offer. Stick around for our final review of the game later this week.