ComicsLord’s Top 10 Gaming Things Of 2018

2018 has been a magnificent year for gaming. It’s definitely better than 2016 or 2017 was for me. What a year it was, especially for the PS4, which (in my opinion) had its best year yet with phenomenal exclusives that blew all the competition away. It was the year of the PS4, with two Game of the Year (GOTY) candidates being PS4 exclusives.
Before we welcome the new year, check out my top 10 gaming things of 2018 below. I’ve included two games from the now-defunct Telltale Games, so I want to take this opportunity to give a shoutout to everyone who previously worked at the studio and unceremoniously laid off in what was the most tragic gaming industry news of 2018.
10. Red Dead Redemption 2

For many, Red Dead Redemption 2 is their choice for GOTY 2018. While it’s not mine, the latest Rockstar title is definitely still a great game with high production values and visuals. Its focus on realism is a double-edged sword, capable of spinning the most unexpected moments in its narrative while being too tedious at times.
The gameplay feels satisfying though a bit unwieldy and clunky at times (due to its realism). My initial playthrough was marred by a couple of bugs which, while not game-breaking, breaks the immersion that the game is so striving for. Head on over here for my full and detailed review of RDR2.
9. Total War Saga Thrones of Britannia

Total War Saga Thrones of Britannia (that’s a mouthful) is the first title in Creative Assembly’s new line of Total War games which are more focused on a fixed point in history instead of an entire era. As a result, the game is more streamlined and less complicated compared to previous mainline titles in the franchise.
The game still retains many of the essential Total War mechanics while removing some of them. It’s smaller scope allows for shorter and faster-paced campaigns, which prevents fatigue from setting in. I look forward to more Total War Saga games, especially with the huge potential of many minor historical conflicts to adapt from.
8. Batman: The Enemy Within

Although the first episode of Batman: The Enemy Within was released in 2017, the final two episodes launched in early 2018 (so it still counts). The sequel to 2016’s Telltale’s Batman is a worthy follow-up to what I feel is the third best Telltale game (after The Walking Dead and The Wolf Among Us).
Unlike other comic book adaptations, Batman: The Enemy Within feels fresh due to the fact that Telltale decided to put their own unique spin on the Dark Knight mythos. Even a comic book fan like me didn’t know what to expect, which is an extremely impressive feat. It also provided a refreshing perspective on the Joker’s origin, which I appreciated.
7. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

I’ve been a fan of Japanese developer Level-5 since the PS2 days when they released underrated gems like Rogue Galaxy and Dark Cloud. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is their first foray on the PS4, and it’s a glorious debut. I was initially apprehensive of the kingdom-building mechanic in the game, but then I realized that it complemented the core real-time combat gameplay while being addicting (in a good way) at the same time.
There’s even an RTS mechanic in the game. This mish-mash of multiple game genres shouldn’t work, but in the hands of JRPG maestros Level-5, it succeeds beautifully. The game is also rendered in lush cel-shaded graphics, which makes the game look like an anime come to life.
6. Detroit: Become Human

I remember calling this game nothing but a glorified movie promoted as a game. I was proven wrong. Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human looks like a tech demo, which means that the graphics are definitely some of the best I’ve ever seen. The high production values can be seen in the excellent motion-capture performances of the actors and actresses.
However, the narrative is filled with plot holes and minor gripes, as well as including every science fiction trope involving androids and artificial intelligence ever. Still, the game is an ambitious undertaking and one that shows the potential of gaming as a versatile medium.
5. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

While there might be some truth to complaints that Assassin’s Creed Odyssey doesn’t feel like an Assassin’s Creed game, I believe that the heavier RPG elements do much to improve the game. The game refines the mechanics already introduced earlier in Origins, and the Greek open-world feels authentic.
Ubisoft Quebec only added naval battles as part of the core gameplay again, but also added new ones like the Shadow of Mordor-inspired Mercenary system and new Conquest system. The addition of dialogue trees also allows for a certain degree of choice, though not at the same level as other games like Mass Effect or The Witcher 3.
Head on over here for my full and detailed review of ACO.
4. The Walking Dead The Final Season

Rick Grimes who? Move over, The Walking Dead TV series, Telltale’s The Walking Dead has always been the best adaptation of Robert Kirkman’s popular comic book since 2012 when we first met Lee and Clementine. After six years and a lot of tears, the conclusion is here. Well, only the first two episodes are currently playable, with Skybound Games developing the remaining two episodes to be released in 2019.
Players grew up with Clementine over three seasons, invested in keeping this young but strong protagonist alive. The Walking Dead: The Final Season is more personal in nature compared to previous seasons, with a smaller cast and setting. That makes for a tighter narrative and more emotion. Clementine’s journey is soon coming to an end. I’m not crying, you are.
3. Marvel’s Spider-Man

The last great Spider-Man game we received was 2004’s Spider-Man 2 on the PS2, and that was 14 years ago. A good Spidey, and by extension, Marvel game was long overdue, which is why it was spectacular fortune that Marvel’s Spider-Man swung by.
I’ve always liked the idea of an older and more experienced Peter Parker (rather than the teenager in Spider-Man Homecoming) so Insomniac’s take on the character provides a closer look at what it means to be Spider-Man with real problems (not schoolchildren problems). Just like Batman The Enemy Within, developers making their own unique take on established comic book lore makes for a refreshing perspective.
Before Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse released, I would have said that Marvel’s Spider-Man is the best adaptation of the character of any media outside of the comics. The gameplay is polished and accessible to everyone, making you feel like Spider-Man more than any other game has done before. Insomniac nailed it, and Marvel’s Spider-Man is now the quintessential Spidey game.
2. God of War

My personal choice for GOTY 2018 is Sony Santa Monica’s God of War.
Itâ€™s one of the few games that actually deserves a 10/10 rating. I was awed by the gameâ€™s narrative and phenomenal visuals from the beginning to the very end of the game. I played through the game with a constant ‘O’ face (insert emoji here). The game is a masterpiece in all aspects: story, gameplay, and music.
If a perfect game exists, then God of War is that game. The fact that Cory Barlog and the folks at the Sony Santa Monica managed to reinvent this tired franchise into something like this is a godly feat in itself. The relationship between Kratos and Atreus is an unexpected emotional rollercoaster ride. I say unexpected because everyone initially thought that Atreus would be that typical annoying brat sidekick. Boy, were we wrong.
I struggle to even find flaws in God of War, that’s just how good the game is. By the end of the game, I was left wanting and utterly satisfied all at the same time. If you told me ten years ago that a God of War game would make me cry, Iâ€™d say you were crazy but apparently, miracles do happen.
1. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

And my number one top gaming thing of 2018 goes to what I believe to be one of the most underrated games this year. This was my most anticipated game of 2018 and I was still blown away by the title developed by Yuji Horii and Square Enix.
Thereâ€™s a certain charm to the game that makes it unique amongst all other modern JRPGs. The fact that the game holds so closely to traditional JRPG tropes may push some gamers away, but thatâ€™s also the reason why this game is the king of JRPGs. This game sets a precedent for other future JRPGs by proving that thereâ€™s nothing wrong with sticking with the classics.
Despite its lack of any real innovation, Dragon Quest XI manages to refine every JRPG mechanic to perfection, which is a testament to one of the oldest and most legendary JRPG franchises of all time. While I admit those who abhor JRPGs wouldn’t like this game, it is a must-play for everyone who professes to play JRPGs.
Besides that, the narrative (though filled with familiar anime-style tropes) is full of twists and turns. Your companions in Dragon Quest XI might also be one of the best ensemble casts I’ve ever had the pleasure of spending more than a 100 hours with. I cared for them and I loved their little quirks.
The game is also a complete package, with no planned DLC or expansions. It also has an extensive post-game that leads to a true ending, which is probably the most satisfying one I’ve encountered in all my years of playing JRPGs, even compared to other franchises like Final Fantasy, Shin Megami Tensei, Tales of, and more.
Head on over here for a more detailed review of Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, and why it’s a masterpiece worth playing.
2019 and Beyond
Personally, 2018 was a game-changer for me in so many ways. I’m thankful that I’m currently working with two of the most experienced (best) game journalists in the region: Kenn Leandre and Mr. Toffee. I’m looking forward to doing more great stuff with these folks, heading into 2019 and beyond.
Speaking of 2019, next year looks like it’s going to be an even more eventful year for the games industry. With a plethora of major game releases and the possible announcements of a new generation of game consoles, 2019 will be a historic year for gaming.


Hardcore Ninja Game Wins Game Of The Year At 2019 Game Awards, & More!

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, one of the toughest-yet-rewarding action titles of 2019, won Game of the Year at this year’s Game Awards produced and hosted by alleged Death Stranding supporter Geoff Keighley.
To which we say “good save”, but let’s not sour the moment.
Sekiro beat out not only Death Stranding, but also Resident Evil 2, Control, The Outer Worlds, and Super Smash Bros. Disco Elysium ends up leading the awards count race with four trophies, with Death Stranding following behind with three awards.
Here are the full list of winners during the show. Winners are in bold.
Game of the Year

Control
Death Stranding
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Resident Evil 2
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Outer Worlds

Best Esports Coach

Eric “adreN” Hoag (Team Liquid, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
Nu-ri “Cain” Jang (Team Liquid, League of Legends)
Fabian “GrabbZ” Lohmann (G2 Esports, League of Legends)
Kim “Kkoma” Jeong-gyun (SK Telecom T1, League of Legends)
Titouan “Sockshka” Merloz (OG, Dota 2)
Danny “Zonic” SÃ¸rensen (Astralis, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)

Best Esports Team

Astralis (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
G2 Esports (League of Legends)
OG (Dota 2)
San Francisco Shock (Overwatch League)
Team Liquid (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)

Best Esports Event

2019 League of Legends World Championship
2019 Overwatch League Grand Finals
EVO 2019
Fortnite World Cup
IEM Katowice 2019
The International 2019

Pity. I was hoping EVO would win.
Best Esports Host

Alex “Goldenboy” Mendez
Alex “Machine” Richardson
Duan “Candice” Yu-Shuang
Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere
Paul “Redeye” Chaloner

Best Esports Player

Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf (Immortals, Fortnite)
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (SK Telecom T1, League of Legends)
Luka “Perkz” Perkovic (G2 Esports, League of Legends)
Oleksandr “S1mple” Kostyliev (Natus Vincere, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
Jay “Sinatraa” Won (San Francisco Shock, Overwatch League)

Best Esports Game

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Dota 2
Fortnite
League of Legends
Overwatch

Best Community Support

Apex Legends
Destiny 2
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Tom Clancyâ€™s Rainbow Six Siege

Content Creator of the Year

Jack “Courage” Dunlop
Benjamin “Dr. Lupo” Lupo
Soleil “Ewok” Wheeler
David “Grefg” MartÃnez
Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek

Best Fighting Game

Dead or Alive 6
Jump Force
Mortal Kombat 11
Samurai Shodown
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Best Narrative

A Plague Tale: Innocence
Control
Death Stranding
Disco Elysium
The Outer Worlds

Best Role-Playing Game

Disco Elysium
Final Fantasy XIV
Kingdom Hearts III
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
The Outer Worlds

Best Score/Music

Cadence of Hyrule
Death Stranding
Devil May Cry 5
Kingdom Hearts III
Sayonara Wild Hearts

I won’t argue with this one; Death Stranding had a nice meditative OST.
Best Audio Design

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Control
Death Stranding
Gears 5
Resident Evil 2
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Best Art Direction

Control
Death Stranding
Gris
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
The Legend of Zelda: Linkâ€™s Awakening

Best Action Game

Apex Legends
Astral Chain
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Devil May Cry 5
Gears 5
Metro Exodus

Best Action/Adventure Game

Borderlands 3
Control
Death Stranding
Resident Evil 2
The Legend of Zelda: Linkâ€™s Awakening
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Best Strategy Game

Age of Wonders: Planetfall
Anno 1800
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Tropico 6
Wargroove

Games For Impact

Concrete Genie
Gris
Kind Words
Life Is Strange 2
Sea of Solitude

Best Family Game

Luigiâ€™s Mansion 3
Ring Fit Adventure
Super Mario Maker 2
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Yoshiâ€™s Crafted World

Best Sports/Racing Game

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled
Dirt Rally 2.0
eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer 2020
F1 2019
FIFA 20

Best Mobile Game

Call of Duty: Mobile
Grindstone
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Sky: Children of Light
What the Golf?

Best Multiplayer Game

Apex Legends
Borderlands 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Tetris 99
Tom Clancyâ€™s The Division 2

Best Ongoing Game

Apex Legends
Destiny 2
Final Fantasy XIV
Fortnite
Tom Clancyâ€™s Rainbow Six Siege

Best Performance

Ashly Burch as Parvati Holcomb â€” The Outer Worlds
Courtney Hope as Jesse Faden â€” Control
Laura Bailey as Kait Diaz â€” Gears 5
Mads Mikkelsen as Cliff â€” Death Stranding
Matthew Porretta as Dr. Casper Darling â€” Control
Norman Reedus as Sam Porter Bridges â€” Death Stranding

Best AR/VR Game

Asgardâ€™s Wrath
Blood & Truth
Beat Saber
No Manâ€™s Sky
Trover Saves the Universe

Player’s Voice Award

Death Stranding
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Fresh Indie Game

Disco Elysium
Gris
My Friend Pedro
Outer Wilds
Slay the Spire
Untitled Goose Game

Best Indie Game

Baba Is You
Disco Elysium
Katana Zero
Outer Wilds
Untitled Goose Game

Best Game Direction

Control
Death Stranding
Resident Evil 2
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Outer Wilds


The Next Guilty Gear Plans To Bridge Old & New Fighting Game Fans Together

Fans of Arc System Works rock-heavy fighting game anthem Guilty Gear Xrd were most likely stoked at the latest Guilty Gear game teaser during EVO 2019. Not much info has surfaced since then.
However, the game’s general director Daisuke Ishiwatari said on Twitter that the new Guilty Gear plans to bring a whole new experience for casual and hardcore fans alike. Here are some of the buzzwords and quotes from the post:

The game’s core concept will neither be an evolution nor a return to roots. It’s also not an addition and subtraction of elements to the existing title.
The director and his team plan to disassemble the current franchise into fragments and sift out the pieces that make it unique and charismatic. They will then use bits of the game to completely restructure it into a “new experience”.
The team plans to change up the essence of the fighting game genre to achieve that uniqueness for the next Guilty Gear. It is a high risk on their part, but with their long-time experience with fighting games, they’re confident in nailing it.
To tie it all home, he brought up the quote “Game is a bridge that connects people”.

A few words from Daisuke Ishiwatari on the new #GuiltyGear…
Official Guilty Gear Website: https://t.co/5t2AD9wFxi pic.twitter.com/Dh20lleKH0
— ArcSystemWorks (@ArcSystemWorksU) August 9, 2019

Hopefully it’s not Guilty Gear Isuka. That’s a prime example of good intentions gone bad.
The new Guilty Gear will be on PS4. A playable demo will be available at ArcRevo World Tour Final 2019. In the meantime, rock out to the teaser and its badass new song.

It ain’t going to top Guilty Gear Xrd’s landmark reveal, but it’s still gorgeous all the same.


Death Stranding’s PC Version Has Been Delayed

The PC version of Death Stranding will no longer be released on 3 June as originally planned.
Instead, the game will now launch in July. The delay is related to last month’s incident, whereÂ Kojima Productions closed its offices due to a COVID-19 case.
Kojima Productions wrote on Twitter:

“Following the temporary closure of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, we have had to delay the PC launch of DEATH STRANDING to July 14, 2020, to allow more development time amidst the current work-from-home orders in place.
Thank you all for your patience and continued support!”

Following the temporary closure of KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, we have had to delay the PC launch of DEATH STRANDING to July 14, 2020, to allow more development time amidst the current work-from-home orders in place. Thank you all for your patience and continued support!#keeponkeepingon pic.twitter.com/euOmebcdQj
— KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS (Eng) (@KojiPro2015_EN) April 21, 2020

The game’s delay might be a bummer, but it’s perfectly reasonable considering the circumstances. In the meantime, I guess PC gamers who were looking forward to Death Stranding will have to make do with Walking Simulator.


Justice League Snyder Cut Is Dropping In March 2021

HBO Max has yet to officially announce the release date for the upcoming Justice League Snyder Cut, but director Zack Snyder has spilled the beans apparently ahead of schedule.
On the social media network Vero (via TechRadar), Snyder said:
“I understand your feelings and I just hope I can wipe that Version out of existence with what you see in March.”

March 2021 is only three months away at this point, but it’s currently unclear if all four parts of the movie will be made available in that same month, or if only the first part will launch.
Several months ago, HBO AsiaÂ confirmedÂ that the upcomingÂ Justice League Snyder CutÂ will premiere on HBO GO in Asia (including Malaysia and wherever the platform is available) when it launches sometime in 2021.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XIOU_k4mwDw


Here Are The Most Downloaded PlayStation Games Of 2021

Sony Interactive Entertainment has revealed its list of most-downloaded PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation VR games of 2021.
Unfortunately for Asia, the list covers the North American and UK market, though in a way it is a good reference point to start on. With that said, here are the most-downloaded games for the PS5, PS4, and PSVR.
PlayStation 5

US/Canada
EU

1
NBA 2K22
FIFA 22

2
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Call of Duty: Vanguard

3
Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man: Miles Morales
FIFA 21

4
Madden NFL 22
Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

5
Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042

6
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Among Us

7
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Kena: Bridge of Spirits

8
MLB The Show 21
FAR CRY 6

9
Resident Evil Village
It Takes Two

10
Far Cry 6
Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla

PlayStation 4

US/Canada
EU

1
Grand Theft Auto V
FIFA 22

2
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Grand Theft Auto V

3
Minecraft
Minecraft

4
NBA 2K22
FIFA 21

5
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

6
Madden NFL 22
The Crew 2

7
NBA 2K21
Red Dead Redemption 2

8
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt â€“ Game of the Year Edition

9
MLB The Show 21
Call of Duty: Vanguard

10
Mortal Kombat 11
The Forest

PlayStation VR

US/Canada
EU

1
Beat Saber
Beat Saber

2
Job Simulator
Job Simulator

3
SUPERHOT VR
SUPERHOT VR

4
GORN
Creed: Rise to Glory

5
Swordsman VR
Swordsman VR

6
Creed Rise to Glory
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

7
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series
GORN

8
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners
RICK AND MORTY: VIRTUAL RICK-ALITY

9
Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-ality
Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series

10
The Walking Dead Onslaught
ASTRO BOT Rescue Mission

Free-To-Play Games (F2P)

US/Canada
EU

1
Fortnite
Fortnite

2
Call of Duty: Warzone
Rocket League

3
Rocket League
Call of Duty: Warzone

4
Splitgate
eFootball 2022

5
Apex Legends
Genshin Impact

6
Genshin Impact
Apex Legends

7
Destiny 2
eFootball PES 2021 LITE

8
Rec Room
Brawlhalla

9
Brawlhalla
Destiny 2

10
Rogue Company
Splitgate

Long story short, sports games, Grand Theft Auto 5 (online), Beat Saber, and Fortnite all take the top spot in each category. We’d probably guess that Genshin Impact will at least take the top spot in the F2P category in the Asia market.


Xbox Game Pass Adds Injustice 2 & More This January

The Xbox Game Pass is getting a bunch of new games this month starting from 7 January 2021. Comic book and fighting game fans can look forward to Injustice 2, while sports fans can play the eFootball PES 2021 Season Update.
Check out the full list of games below:
eFootball PES 2021 Season UpdateInjustice 2The Little AcreNeoverseTorchlight IIIWhat Remains of Edith FinchYIIK: A Postmodern RPG
Also, four games are leaving the Xbox Game Pass on 15 January 2021, so if you want to keep playing them, you can buy these games before they leave.
FTL: Faster Than LightMy Friend PedroSword Art Online: Fatal BulletTekken 7

???? /so?on/ – (adv) – in or after a short timehttps://t.co/5Lhtvitwze pic.twitter.com/ruSSfm5AiL— Xbox Game Pass (@XboxGamePass) January 5, 2021

If all that isn’t enough, the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is currently 95 percent off at just SG$1, and you’ll also get two months free off your purchase.
Head on over here to subscribe now.


GTA Online PS3 & Xbox 360 Servers To Shut Down Later This Year

Rockstar Games has announced that they will shut down the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto Online on 16 December 2021.
Meanwhile, online services for L.A. NoireÂ andÂ Max Payne 3 on PS3 and Xbox 360 will shut down on 16 September 2021.
It’s not a coincidence that this is being announced now, considering that it was only last month that Rockstar Games announced that GTA V will be coming to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on 11 November 2021, as well as a standalone edition of GTA Online.
Check out the details below via Rockstar Games:
Grand Theft Auto Online on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

September 16, 2021

PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Shark Cards forÂ Grand Theft Auto OnlineÂ no longer sold.

December 16, 2021

Grand Theft Auto OnlineÂ services for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, including website stat tracking via the Rockstar Games Social Club no longer available.
Grand Theft Auto VÂ Story Mode for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 not impacted.

L.A. NoireÂ on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

September 16, 2021

Online services for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, including website stat tracking via the Rockstar Games Social Club no longer available.
L.A. NoireÂ Story Mode for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 not impacted.

Max Payne 3Â on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360

September 16, 2021

Online services for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, including website stat tracking via the Rockstar Games Social Club no longer available.
Max Payne 3Â Story Mode for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 not impacted.

Will I be able to transfer my progress fromÂ Grand Theft Auto OnlineÂ on PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 to current console generations before it is shut down on December 16, 2021?
No, this is not possible. There is no feature available to transfer character data or progress from those platforms. All website stat tracking for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 via the Rockstar Games Social Club will also be removed.
Can I get a refund for Shark Card purchases forÂ Grand Theft Auto OnlineÂ on PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 or transfer the balance to current console generations?
Virtual currency and virtual goods purchases are platform-specific and cannot be refunded or transferred. Please see our End User License Agreement for additional details.


Singapore Dota 2 Player Iceiceice Banned On Twitch After Saying The N Word

Top image credit: Reddit
It’s 2018, and yet there are just some things you aren’t allowed to say on TV and on livestream. One of Singapore’s finest esports players learned that the hard way.
According to Tilt Report, Daryl “iceiceice” Koh allegedly dropped a racial slur while streaming on Twitch, specifically the N-word. Because of this, his streaming platform was shut down. Also, team Mineski apologized for his behaviour.

How did it all happen? After he and his team became the first-ever Southeast Asian team to win a Dota 2 major, iceiceice was talking about his son’s name on Twitch. When one of his teammates suggest he call him Daryl Jr., he said the following:
“I donâ€™t even like the nameÂ Daryl. Daryl is like a n****râ€™s name. Itâ€™s not anâ€¦ I mean OK, itâ€™s a black personâ€™s name. Iâ€™m not a big fan of, like, Daryl. My parents named me Daryl after watching a show.”

While he may have said it in a joking manner, since he is well-known to have a playful persona to match his high-level Dota 2 skills, the folks at Twitch think otherwise. Iceiceice’s channel is no longer accessible due to “terms of service violations”. It’s not clear whether his account will be back up again.
You can check out the clip below and draw your own conclusions. This may have future repercussions for the player and for Mineski, so iceiceice may have to take down his outspoken persona a notch.


[Leak] Optimus Prime Leaked To Be Rolling Into Fortnite Next Season

Fortnite fans prepare to rev up your excitement because there’s a spicy rumour making the rounds. It seems that our beloved game might be teaming up with none other than Optimus Prime himself, just in time for the upcoming Transformers movie.
Now, before you get too worked up, let me tell you that we’re still in the dark about the official details of Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3. But fear not, my friends, leaks and rumours have come to the rescue, keeping our anticipation alive and kicking.

What are the leaks?
According to one of these leaks, it appears that the new season could introduce a tropical biome, possibly even throwing in a dash of desert vibes. Can you imagine battling it out in such an exotic setting? Sounds like a whole new adventure awaits us.
Another leak has surfaced, hinting at something massive about to hit the wilds of Fortnite Island. Brace yourselves for a potential Fortnite x Optimus Prime crossover. Yes, you heard it right. A screenshot shared by a Reddit user called Ambushments showcased a loading screen featuring none other than the leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime. Now, that’s a strong indication that a Transformers event is in the pipeline.
And you know what adds more weight to this rumour? Fortnite has a reputation for syncing up its collabs with new releases. And guess when the new Transformers movie, “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts,” is set to hit theatres? You got it, folks—9 June, which also happens to be the day Season 3 is expected to drop.

Twitter user and notorious leaker HYPEX came to the party with a tantalizing tweet. Alongside the Prime-loaded loading screen, they compiled a bunch of unconfirmed details, including the possibility of Summer Meowscles and Mechanic skins making an appearance. And get this, rumour has it that a racing mode, grind rails, and a shiny new Mythic Drum Shotgun will also join the fray in the next season.

SEASON 3 LEAKS SO FAR ??
– Fortnite x Transformers Collab with an Optimus Prime skin.– A Summer Meowscles skin, and a Mechanic skin.– Rideable Raptors that now get exhausted.– Tropical Biome and with most likely a Desert area, and a volcanic area, as it's been leaked multiple… pic.twitter.com/6YFkqNOluf
— HYPEX (@HYPEX) May 28, 2023

In the weapons department, HYPEX’s recent post suggests that Fortnite aficionados will have a whole arsenal of fresh toys to play with. For instance, helicopters may be getting a launcher that shoots every 2 seconds, dealing 35 damage and a whopping 450 builds damage. Now that’s some serious firepower!
Oh, and did I mention that a leaked loading screen revealed the existence of a brand-new Lever Pistol? Plus, brace yourselves for an Epic/Legendary Thermal Bolt Action Sniper that packs a punch with 116/121 damage and 290/303 headshot damage. That’s going to make some serious waves in Season 3!
Now, I know what you’re thinking—take all of this with a grain of salt. Leaks can sometimes be misleading, after all. But come on, the possibility of a Fortnite x Optimus Prime collaboration is too exciting to ignore. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and wait for Epic to spill the beans. Season 2 is coming to an end in early June, so we won’t have to wait much longer to find out what they have up their sleeves.
So, my fellow Fortnite enthusiasts, buckle up and get ready for a potential adventure of epic proportions. Optimus Prime might just be joining our ranks, and with a bunch of exciting new features and weapons on the horizon, Season 3 promises to be a wild ride. Stay tuned, gamers!


FIFA 23 Gets The FIFA World Cup Update Next Week

FIFA 23 is getting the FIFA World Cup 2023 update on 9 November 2022 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. The FIFA World Cup 2022 will be playable in FIFA 23 at no additional cost, with all the drama, excitement and authenticity of the real thing, as well as a full Season of content coming to FIFA 23 Ultimate Team.
FIFA 23 delivers an immersive FIFA World Cup experience with authentic stadium dressings, match ball, additional player head scans, the iconic trophy, and two stadiums including the stunning Lusail Iconic Stadium where the tournament’s champions will be crowned. Players can also enjoy dedicated FIFA World Cup commentary alongside visuals and cinematics that reflect the global atmosphere of the World Cup.
Starting from 21 November 2022, players can follow along with the tournament as results, fixtures, statistics, and lineups are updated at the end of every real-life match day, with new games to play each day in Your FIFA World Cup, Featured Quickplay, and Online Quickplay.
Players will be able to take control of their chosen nation’s FIFA World Cup fate when Your FIFA World Cup becomes available in FIFA 23 after the first fixture on Match Day 1. Choose a nation, select a live starting point from past or current match days, and play an authentic single-player tournament inheriting all the real-world progress made to date.
Featured Quickplay lets you choose a past or current match day and play an authentic fixture with real-life lineups either in single-player, or challenge friends both locally and online. Meanwhile, the single-player Tournament Mode allows you to play as one of the 32 qualified nations in an authentic recreation of the full tournament. You can also create a Custom Tournament and edit your experience by changing groups and substituting in teams that didn’t make it to the original FIFA World Cup 2022 Finals.
Check out our review of FIFA 23 by heading over here.
Check out more of what to expect in the trailer below:


Xbox SEA Reveals The Top 3 Games On PC Game Pass In Malaysia

The Xbox Game Pass on PC, or PC Game Pass, has been available in Malaysia since April 2022. Since we’re nearing the one-year anniversary of the service in Malaysia, Xbox SEA has unveiled some interesting statistics and numbers.
According to the statistics provided by Xbox SEA, the top three most played games on PC Game Pass in Malaysia are:

Halo Infinite
Sea Of Thieves
Minecraft

The same report also reveals that the gaming sector in Malaysia is dominated by mobile games with a whopping 75 percent, followed by PC gaming at 66 percent and console gaming at 55 percent. Another fun fact is that the gross revenue of the local games industry in Malaysia in 2022 was US$489.10 million, which is impressive considering that the population of Malaysia is less than 30 million people. Last but not least, the projected number of gamers in Malaysia is expected to increase to 16.2 million by 2027 and that’s in four years’ time.

Overall, we can conclude that the games industry in Malaysia is expanding and booming, especially as it becomes more and more accessible. The Xbox PC Game Pass is a huge contributor to that, allowing players access to a massive library of both old and new games for just RM15 per month. In the meantime, check out our review of the Xbox PC Game Pass here.
You can subscribe to Xbox PC Game Pass now by heading over here and paying only RM5 for your first month.


The Team Who Developed Control Is Having An Awesome Hell Of A Year

Just because a game company hasn’t released a major game since 2019 doesn’t mean it’s in the red. In fact, you can be way above the black if you play your cards right.
That’s the case with Finnish developer Remedy, renowned for the Max Payne titles, Alan Wake, and Control. The latter action-adventure game came out in 2019, but has seen success since and has been re-released as an “ultimate edition” with its DLCs and also on game services like Xbox Game Pass and cloud services via Nintendo Switch and Amazon’s Luna. November 2020 was Control’s best sales month so far, most likely due to the next-gen consoles on sale and the Ultimate Edition of the game being on sale too (via Gamesindustry.biz).
As a result, the company’s financial results show that its operating profit for the 12 months in 2020 reached â‚¬13.2 million (US$16 million); this is more than double they made back in 2019 which was â‚¬6.5 million (US$7.9 million). The company’s full-year revenues went up 30% to â‚¬41.1 million (US$49.8).Â This was achieved without releasing a single new game in 2020.
What’s next for Remedy? Well, they’re still working on a collaborating with Smilegate on the single-player component for multiplayer FPS Crossfire, as well as in the early stages for a game called Vanguard. The latter is a co-op title with “world-building and narrative strengths” courtesy of Remedy.
Furthermore, Epic and Remedy are partnering for two projects: one triple-A game and one smaller-scale title. Both will be for console and PC, and will be new Remedy IPs under their ownership. The triple-A game will be slated for Spring 2021.


PRISM+ Malaysia Expands Soundbar Lineup With Two New Models

PRISM+ has announced the latest addition to its line-up of home entertainment systems with the launch of the PRISM+ Symphony and PRISM+ Flow Soundbars. With the launch, the brand aims to provide a holistic home cinematic experience – while bringing its premium value proposition to the audio space. The PRISM+ Symphony, which will feature best-in-class technologies such as Dolby Atmos spatial audio, 11 speakers for better sound separation, an 8-inch wireless subwoofer, and 3D-surround sound will retail at RM1,999.
Meanwhile, the PRISM+ Flow will retail at RM799 and will be one of the few in its class to feature a wireless subwoofer. Both soundbars will go on pre-order today on the PRISM+ website, Lazada store, Shopee store and its retail store – and are expected to launch in mid-November.
PRISM+’s latest line of home cinema products comes from the back of wildly successful launches. Having introduced its full line-up of Q Series Pro TVs in Malaysia earlier this year, as well as launching its first retail store in Malaysia, the brand has continued to show tremendous growth in the market. This year, the brand has seen its revenue increase over 30 percent from Q1 2022 (January – March) to Q2 2022 (April – June).
Eric Kam, Country Director of PRISM+ Malaysia, said:
“We see Malaysia as a tremendous market for us in terms of opportunity, and this has been reflected by how well-received we have been in the market. The launch of the Symphony and Flow soundbar is a step forward in the evolution of the brand as we continue to make premium home cinematic experiences more accessible while also supporting best-in-class, immersive audio technologies like Dolby Atmos.”
The advent of the Flow and Symphony soundbars will be an evolutionary mark in the consumer tech brand’s history, as this is PRISM+’s maiden journey into the audio space market. Targeted at different audience segments, PRISM+ Symphony soundbars will feature Dolby Atmos for a fully immersive home cinematic experience, while the PRISM+ Flow soundbars will support Dolby Audio for a dynamic audio experience.
The PRISM+ Symphony’s stand-out feature is undoubtedly the Dolby Atmos – allowing the premium soundbar to immerse users in their favourite entertainment with sound that moves all around with breathtaking realism. Priced at RM1,999, the PRISM+ Symphony is the most affordable premium soundbar in its class. When coupled with the upward-firing speakers, this 5.1.2 soundbar breaks new boundaries with an added height dimension for sounds. Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby TrueHD will also be supported by the Symphony.
This will provide users with an optimum experience even on devices or platforms that do not support Dolby Atmos. In addition, the Symphony features an HDMI-eARC port that will allow users to play high fidelity audio, as well as a peak power output of 760 watts – allowing users to enjoy higher quality audio performance and a deeper, fuller bass without distortions even at higher volumes.
Users looking for an entry-level audio set-up need to look no further than the PRISM+ Flow. Priced at RM799, the Flow is a 2.1 speaker with 240W peak power output powered by Dolby Audio Technology. The versatile soundbar measures at a length of 890mm x 82mm x 58mm, making it suitable for desktop setups as well as small bedrooms. Aside from Dolby Audio, this soundbar also supports both Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus.
Both soundbars will feature wireless subwoofers, allowing for a more versatile set-up, meaning that users can place the subwoofer in the optimum position in their homes. In addition, both the Flow and Symphony come with five preset modes for News, Music, Sport, Gaming, and Movie – as well as adjustable LED brightness, and can be navigated via the TV remote to ensure a seamless home cinematic experience.
Eric adds:
“The launch of the PRISM+ Symphony and PRISM+ Flow is a realisation of our goal to bring true cinematic immersion into the living rooms of our consumers. We worked closely with trusted partners such as Dolby to optimise our products for a seamless user experience.”
The PRISM+ Flow and PRISM+ Symphony will be available for pre-order starting today (28 October 2022) and are scheduled to be shipped by the middle of November 2022. Pre-orders can be made from the PRISM+ website, official Lazada and Shopee stores, as well as its retail store at Sunway Pyramid. For more information on price, details, and specifications, head on over to the official website here.

PRISM+ Symphony

PRISM+ Flow


Chaos Walking Trailer Shows Tom Holland & Daisy Ridley In Action

Chaos Walking is an upcoming new sci-fi action thriller that stars Tom Holland (the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-Man) and Daisy Ridley (Star Wars’ Rey).
Directed by Edge Of Tomorrow director Doug Liman, Chaos Walking is based on the novel by Patrick Ness, who also co-wrote the screenplay adaptation with Christopher Ford.
The official plot synopsis for Chaos Walking breaks down the film as follows:
“In the not too distant future, Todd Hewitt (Tom Holland) discovers Viola (Daisy Ridley), a mysterious girl who crash lands on his planet, where all the women have disappeared and the men are afflicted by ‘the Noise’ â€“ a force that puts all their thoughts on display. In this dangerous landscape, Violaâ€™s life is threatened â€“ and as Todd vows to protect her, he will have to discover his own inner power and unlock the planetâ€™s dark secrets.”
In addition to Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley, Chaos Walking also boasts a star-studded cast that includes Mads Mikkelsen, DemiÃ¡n Bichir, Cynthia Erivo, Nick Jonas, Kurt Sutter, and David Oyelowo.

Chaos Walking is slated to release sometime in 2021.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Final Fantasy Brave Exvius Gets Another Kingdom Hearts Crossover

After 2018’s Final Fantasy Brave Exvius’ first crossover with the Kingdom Hearts franchise, another crossover is happening yet again. This time it’s with the new mobile game Kingdom Hearts UÏ‡ Dark Road.
From now till 9 December 2020, players can participate in themed events and earn exciting rewards in both games. Check out the overview of the new and exciting collaboration content below:
Collaboration Event â€œScala ad Caelumâ€: This collaboration dungeon, based on the location seen in Kingdom Hearts 3 and Kingdom Hearts UÏ‡ Dark Road, is available from 26 November to 9 December 2020.Players can earn the â€œYoung Xehanort (KHDR)â€ unit by completing this dungeonâ€™s corresponding event quest (BGN), along with collaboration exclusive equipment and more rewards by participating in other events.Additional New Units: Sora (KHIII), Riku (KHIII) and Kairi (KHIII) are available to summon as new Neo Vision units for a limited time. Each of these units has a brand-new vision card which can be obtained after EX Awakening. Units can equip these vision cards to give them additional boons.Returning Units: Previously released KINGDOM HEARTS units Sora (KH), Riku (KH) and Sephiroth (KH) are back to summon for a limited time. This time around, these unitsâ€™ parameters have been upgraded.Neo Vision Premium Summons: Three NV Premium Summons will be available from 26 November to 9 December 2020, each focusing on one of the new Kingdom Hearts Neo Vision units. The summon rate for the featured Neo Vision unit will be slightly higher on each banner. Additionally, an 11-summon will cost 4500 lapis instead of the usual 5000, and players will receive Summon Coins (KHIII) each time they summon.These Summon Coins can be exchanged for KHIII units, UnitFragments and NV Awakening Materials.â€œChallenge of the Brave: Let Your Heart Be the Guiding Keyâ€: Players can obtain awakening materials for Sora (KHIII), Riku (KHIII) and Kairi (KHIII) by participating in this event from 26 November to 9 December 2020.Guaranteed Unit Summon: This free summon guarantees one Kingdom Hearts unit, including the three new Neo Vision units. Players will be able to perform two summons total using tickets which can be obtained through the daily login bonus, which starts on 26 November 2020.Login Bonus: Players can receive lapis, various awakening materials and more, including two â€œKHDR Collaboration: Guaranteed Unit Summonâ€ tickets, simply by logging in from 26 November to 9 December 2020.Free Daily 10x Summons: For 14 days, from 26 November to 29 December 2020, players can perform one free daily 10x Summon.Half Energy, Amazing Enhancements, Growth Chambers Unlocked â€“ from 26 November to 23 December 2020,

Final Fantasy Brave Exvius players can also take advantage of a limited-time Black Friday bundle, available on 27 November 2020. Players can purchase the Black Friday Mythril Chest, which contains 7,000 Lapis, 100 Red Star Quartz and 300 VIP Coins, and other limited-time bundles.
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is now available as a free-to-play app throughthe App Store, Google Play and the Amazon App Store.
This title is developed as a collaboration between SQUARE ENIX and gumi Inc. The game is available in eight languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese (traditional), Korean, Thai and Indonesian.


Here Are Your Upcoming MCU, Disney, & Fox Films For The Next Few Years

After Disney’s takeover of 20th Century Fox this year, the House of Mouse has finally revealed their full motion picture release plans for the next seven years. And it’s looking pretty blue; hope you like James Cameron’s Avatar and its 3D shenanigans!
Let’s break it down:
Marvel has phase 4 plans

As mentioned before, we will be getting a Black Widow standalone film, an Eternals flick, a Shang-Chi movie, and Black Panther 2. Marvel has two 2020 movies and three untitled films for 2021 and 2022. As for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3? That’s going to take up the later date and year since director James Gunn has a Suicide Squad film to finish.
Disney still doing live-action remakes
Love it or hate it, Disney’s grand live-action plan is netting them a lot of money. So we’re getting more: there’s Mulan set for 27 March 2020 and Cruella slated for 23 December, 2020, starring Emma Stone. Above all else, we’re getting eight untitled live-action films which may be following that path.
Here’s a freebie, Disney: why not just remake the crappier Disney animated films in the classic animation lineup like The Black Cauldron, The Rescuers, and The Aristocats?
Avatar Attack
We’re getting a new Avatar movie every two years through 2027. James Cameron really, REALLY loves his CG spectacle and wants to expand it to five new films. Expect more fights between Na’vi and humans during Christmas, assuming the first few films make bank.
We’re getting a Bob’s Burgers movie next July

Hot damn! It’s been nine seasons and this underrated animated comedy is still kickin’ and still fun to watch. The question is how self-referential and goofy will this be?
Here’s the full list; keep in mind that Southeast Asian releases are a day before these US dates (Thursdays instead of Fridays):
Disney Films (2019-2020)

TolkienÂ (Fox Searchlight) – May 10, 2019
AladdinÂ (Disney) – May 24, 2019
Dark PhoenixÂ (Fox) – June 7, 2019
Toy Story 4Â (Disney) – June 21, 2019
StuberÂ (Fox) – July 12, 2019
The Lion KingÂ (Disney) – July 19, 2019
The Art of Dancing in the RainÂ (Fox) – Aug. 9, 2019
Ready or NotÂ (Fox Searchlight) – Aug. 23, 2019
Ad AstraÂ (Fox) – Sept. 20, 2019
The Woman in the WindowÂ (Fox) – Oct. 4, 2019
Maleficent: Mistress of EvilÂ (Disney) – Oct. 18, 2019
Ford v. FerrariÂ (Fox) Nov. 15, 2019
Frozen 2Â (Disney) – Nov. 22, 2019
Star Wars: The Rise of SkywalkerÂ (Disney) Dec. 20, 2019
Spies in DisguiseÂ (Fox) – Dec. 25, 2019
UnderwatchÂ (Fox) – Jan. 10, 2020
Untitled Kingsman MovieÂ (Fox) – Feb. 14, 2020
Call of the WildÂ (Fox) Feb. 21, 2020
OnwardÂ (Disney) – March 6, 2020
MulanÂ (Disney) March 27, 2020
The New MutantsÂ (Fox) April 3, 2020
Untitled MarvelÂ (Disney) – May 1, 2020
Artemis FowlÂ (Disney) – May 29, 2020
Untitled Pixar AnimationÂ (Disney) – June 19, 2020
Free GuyÂ (Fox) – July 3, 2020
Bobâ€™s BurgersÂ (Fox) – July 17, 2020
Jungle CruiseÂ (Disney) – July 24, 2020
The One and Only IvanÂ (Disney) – Aug. 14, 2020
Death on the NileÂ (Fox) – Oct. 9, 2020
Untitled MarvelÂ (Disney) – Nov. 6, 2020
Ronâ€™s Gone WrongÂ (Fox) – Nov. 6, 2020
Untitled Disney AnimationÂ (Disney) – Nov. 25, 2020
West Side StoryÂ (Fox) – Dec. 18, 2020
CruellaÂ (Disney) – Dec. 23, 2020
The Rest Of The Films (Disney, MCU, Fox)

Untitled Marvel (Disney) – Feb. 12 – 2021
NimonaÂ (Fox) – March 5, 2021
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – March 12, 20213/12/21
Untitled Marvel (Disney) – May 7, 2021
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – May 28, 2021
Untitled Pixar Animation (Disney) – June 18, 2021
Untitled Indian Jones (Disney) – July 9, 2021
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – July 30, 2021
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – Oct. 8, 2021
Untitled Marvel (Disney) – Nov. 5, 2021
Untitled Disney Animation (Disney) – Nov. 24, 2021
Avatar 2Â (Fox) – Dec. 17, 2021
Untitled Marvel (Disney) – Feb. 18, 2022
Untitled Pixar (Disney) – March 18, 2022
Untitled Marvel (Disney) – May 6, 2022
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – May 27, 2022
Untitled Pixar (Disney) – June 17, 2022
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – July 8, 2022
Untitled Marvel (Disney) – July 29, 2022
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – Oct. 7, 2022
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – Nov. 4, 2022
Untitled Disney Animation (Disney) – Nov. 23, 2022
Untitled Star Wars (Disney) – Dec. 16, 2022
Untitled Disney Live Action (Disney) – Feb. 17, 2023
Avatar 3Â (Fox) – Dec. 22, 2023
Untitled Star Wars (Disney) – Dec. 20, 2024
Avatar 4Â (Fox) – Dec.19, 2025
Untitled Star Wars (Disney) – Dec. 18, 2026
Avatar 5Â (Fox) – Dec. 17, 2027


Monster Hunter Rise Gets Okami DLC This Week

Remember Okami, the cult classic game on the PS2 by Clover Studio with the beautiful water brush visuals and innovative gameplay?
Monster Hunter Rise is crossing over with Okami for some free DLC on 30 July 2021. Players can look forward to an event quest reward in the form of an Ammy Costume Palamute layered armour set.
If you’re interested, Okami is also now available for PC on Steam, as well as PS4 and Xbox One.

Recently, Capcom announcedÂ thatÂ Monster Hunter Rise for the Nintendo Switch has shipped more than five million units worldwide since it launched on 26 March 2021.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


[Rumour] Persona 3 Remake Footage Leaks

The Persona 3 Remake has been rumoured for several months now, but it seems like footage of the game has apparently leaked online. However, it’s best to take all this with a grain of salt for now, at least until Sega or Atlus officially announces the game.
That being said, both of them have been milking Persona 5, Persona 4 and Persona 3 for years now, so it wouldn’t be farfetched for a Persona 3 Remake to be real. This is despite many fans asking for a proper sequel in the form of a Persona 6, instead of something that would be shameless nostalgia bait.
At the time of writing, the alleged Persona 3 Remake footage has yet to be taken down, so check it out below, or at the link here:

UPDATE: Special thanks to anonymous user DM for this!! So it seems this was part of footage from SEGAs Japan’s Internal meeting held in 2021… The Japanese characters on top rights reads “Footage in development” pic.twitter.com/5sW13O1kyQ
— aikaangelica (@AVtoGAMEnoYAMI) April 9, 2023

The alleged footage shows what seems to be gameplay footage of Yukari Takeba attacking an enemy during a battle with improved graphics. That’s all we see for now.


Riot Releases New Song And Music Video For Worlds 2019

Riot is maintaining the tradition of producing songs for the League of Legends 2019 World Championship (Worlds 2019). This year, they’ve come out with Phoenix, sung by Cailin Russo and Chrissy Costanza. Check it out:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1IKnWDecwA&w=560&h=315]
The video includes appearances from pro League players Faker and Caps. They seem to be fighting shadow versions of themselves, perhaps to symbolise that one’s own greatest enemy is oneself. Perhaps it plays into the song’s title and wants to drive home the idea that only by defeating oneself, one is reborn better; like a Phoenix.
Worlds 2019 is happening right now and will culminate on 10 November 2019. For the full schedule of the matches, you can check here.
Personally, I’m still hooked on K/DA. Now that’s an earworm!


Top Street Fighter World Warrior Tested Positive For COVID-19 [Update]

Update (22 May, 9:53am): Daigo is now released from the hospital following this. He’s doing fine right now thanks to the nurses and doctors who took care of the World Warrior.

I was released from the hospital.
— Daigo Umehara (@daigothebeast) May 22, 2021

After nearly two weeks of treatment, today I was released from the hospital. Extremely grateful to the nurses and doctors for their devoted care. Many thanks to my fans and colleagues for the warm support. It will take time to get back to normal, but I’m so glad I’m recovering.
— Daigo Umehara (@daigothebeast) May 22, 2021

Original story (8 May, 2021)
Daigo Umehara, a renowned Street Fighter player and esports competitor known for being one of the very few apex predators in the business, has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a public statement on his Twitter account, he experienced fatigue and high fever on the 5th of May. Like any responsible human being in a worldwide pandemic, he went to the doctor to get tested. He was declared COVID-19 positive on 6th May.
He will be self-quarantining himself and will be resting at home while awaiting word from respective health officials on what to do next. He also apologizes for causing concern to his colleagues and supporters.

On 5/5, I experienced fatigue and a high fever, so I went to the doctor to get tested. On 5/6, I tested positive for COVID-19. I have been self-quarantining since the symptoms started, and am now resting at home while awaiting word from the health admin office for next steps.
— Daigo Umehara (@daigothebeast) May 8, 2021

Because of his status at being the best and also being humble in imparting his World Warrior knowledge to people, he has been receiving online “get well soon” messages and replies from the fighting game community.

Wishing you a healthy recovery old friend ? pic.twitter.com/3DtD9PwsaB
— Alex Valle ??????+? (@TheAlexValle) May 8, 2021

Please be safe, and get better! ?
— Matt McMuscles (@MattMcMuscles) May 8, 2021

Oh no! I hope you are doing well, Mr. Umehara! Please take care of yourself and take whatever time you need to recover! Best of wishes for you!
— James Chen (@jchensor) May 8, 2021

Feel better please get some rest
— Justin Wong (@JWonggg) May 8, 2021

Hope you get well soon!
— Gerald Lee (@CoreAGaming) May 8, 2021

Kakuchopurei wishes a speedy recovery for the World Warrior.


Convergence Is A League Of Legends Spin-Off Platformer Featuring Ekko

The Riot Forge initiative has been busy as of late, with bangers like Ruined King and Mageseeker in tow. Who would have thought that there’s one more surprise from the side Riot Games publisher: a 2D platformer called Convergence?
Convergence: A League of Legends Story stars everybody’s time-hopper Ekko who is tasked with protecting the city of Zaun, but all the while being enveloped in a time and space conspiracy that even makes him unsure of himself.

There’s some bits of 2D platforming gameplay where Ekko grinds onto rails and uses his weaponry, and also major appearances of key League of Legends characters like Camille, Warwick, and Jinx. The game is set in Zaun; Jinx HAS to be in the game somewhat, hopefully with an appearance of Vi and Caitlyn to boot.

Convergence: A League of Legends Story will be out on 23 May for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. Check out the game description & trailer below:
Developed by Double Stallion Games, CONVERGENCE: A League Of Legends Story is a 2D Action Platformer with an incredible art style that focuses on tight dynamic combat and unique exploration opportunities afforded by Ekko’s ability to travel in space and time.


Reverse Building Game Terra Nil Will Be Out On PC & Netflix This Spring

The wait for one of this generation’s more unique “city builder” titles will be dropping soon, at least this quarter.
Terra Nil, a reverse city-builder title where you reclaim nature by building and destroying for the greater good in isometric form, will be out on PC and Netflix this Spring. The game started out as a Ludum Dare 45 game jam project in October 2019. The game won fourth place and was being built on by its original developer Sam Alfred alongside artists Jonathan Hau-Yoon and Jarred Lunt.
Check out the Devolver Digital-published game below in all its natural glory. You can play a demo of the game right now if you’re curious about the reverse city-builder concept.


The Witcher Blood Origin Adds Malaysia’s Michelle Yeoh Into The Cast

Netflix has announced that Michelle Yeoh has been cast in the upcoming series The Witcher: Blood Origin.
Yeoh is set to play the role of ScÃan, the very last of her nomadic tribe of sword-elves in the series. No one can come close to her artistry with the blade, and no one carries as much loss within their heart. When a chance presents itself to retrieve a stolen sacred sword, taken from her fallen tribe by nefarious means, she launches herself into a deadly quest that will change the outcome of the Continent.Â
Yeoh joins Laurence Oâ€™Fuarain in the cast, who will star in the role of Fjall. Born into a clan of warriors sworn to protect a King, Fjall carries a deep scar within, the death of a loved one who fell in battle trying to save him. A scar that won’t let him settle, or make peace with himself or the world around him. In his quest for redemption, Fjall will find himself fighting beside the most unlikely of allies as he carves a path of vengeance across a continent in turmoil.

Blood Origin will be a six-part, live-action limited series and a prequel to the hit Netflix series The Witcher. Set in an elven world 1200 years before the world of The Witcher, Blood Origin will tell a story lost to time – the creation of the first prototype Witcher, and the events that lead to the pivotal â€œconjunction of the spheres,â€ when the worlds of monsters, men, and elves merged to become one.
Declan de Barra will act as Executive Producer and Showrunner and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich will act as Executive Producer. Andrzej Sapkowski will serve as a creative consultant on the series. Jason Brown and Sean Daniel from Hivemind, and Tomek Baginski and Jarek Sawko from Platige Films will all serve as executive producers.
More details and information will probably be revealed at the upcoming WitcherCon on 10 July 2021.


Dragon Quest Creator Marries Affair From Two Decades Ago

Over 30 years ago, games industry veteran Yuji Horii created one of the most enduring and iconic JRPG franchises of all time, Dragon Quest. It has been revealed that Horii had divorced his wife and recently married an old flame from an affair over two decades ago.
According to Yahoo Japan (as translated by user Sage on Resetera), Horii finally spilled the beans in an interview with Japanese magazine Shukan Shincho. He clarified that it wasn’t a 20-year-old affair and that the relationship was only recently rekindled.
“So it wasn’t a 20-year-affair, ” said Horii. “After that happened, we were together just as friends for a long time. Partners at work without any romantic intentions.”
After divorcing his wife in 2016, Horii married the woman from the affair last year. The divorce settlement had him paying his now ex-wife a total of 1 billion yen.
“I honestly didn’t want to make anyone sad. There was a kind of indecisiveness. At least from here on, I want to try to do things to make people around me happy,” he said. “Paying my ex-wife 1 billion yen too, that was because I thought maybe it would make her feel even a little less sad I think. Other people’s happiness is your own happiness.”
Horii’s current wife (from the affair) is a Dragon Quest staff member, with her most recent credits being in a ‘Special Thanks” section in 2009’s Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies.
To make things even weirder in context, Horii’s now ex-wife and the daughter from their marriage are also credited as Dragon Quest staff members. This should be taken with a grain of salt because the Armor Project’s (Horii’s studio) exact staff members are kept private for the most part.
Now that’s a round of illicit puff-puff, isn’t it?
In other related news, yesterday Square Enix announced that Dragon Quest XI Echoes of the Elusive Age had achieved a new sales milestone of more than 4 million units worldwide, alongside the reveal of a new Dragon Quest console game in development. Check out the full story here.


Final Fantasy XV’s Long Development Wasn’t Nomura’s Fault, Says Wan Hazmer

Metronomik CEO Wan Hazmer is currently developing No Straight Roads, but before that, he was the Lead Game Designer for Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XV. He’s taking everything he learned in his years working at the Japanese studio and bringing it here to Malaysia starting with No Straight Roads.
In an interview with Game Informer, Wan Hazmer discussed his experiences of working on Final Fantasy XV. Here are some interesting takeaways from the 40-minute conversation.
Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata subscribed to a development philosophy (of sorts) called “Tekisai Tekisho”, which means “assigning the right people to the right positions” or assigning tasks based on how good or passionate the individual is on that particular subject.
For instance, Wan Hazmer himself was assigned the title of “Lead Game Designer” was because Tabata was aware that he loved “human cultures” and “traveling”. Hazmer also loves the “cognitive behavior in urban planning” and explaining questions like why “a plaza has more people” or why a dark alley has less.
The interviewer also asked:

“Why do you think games take so long to develop under Nomura?”

Tetsuya Nomura was the original director for Final Fantasy XV (which was then still called Final Fantasy Versus XIII) from 2006 to 2012 when Hajime Tabata later replaced him as the game switching platforms (from the PS3 to the PS4 and Xbox One).
Wan Hazmer replied:

“Sorry, I can’t comment much on that, but I don’t think it’s always the case. It’s just that, it is not (just) under Nomura-san, there are so many circumstances that are involved in development.
It’s not only the director, there are so many other things that are not in control by the company. For example, the ecosystem, platforms changing, so many factors, so you can’t pinpoint just one (Nomura).”

There you have it, folks. It’s never okay to put the blame on one individual when the truth is that game development relies on many factors, some of which can be controlled (planning, etc) and some of which that cannot (platform change, etc).
Recently, we went to Metronomik and interviewed Wan Hazmer himself. Head on over here for our exclusive for more details on his upcoming game No Straight Roads.
Check out the full Game Informer interview below for more details on Wan Hazmer’s experience on developing Final Fantasy XV, and how it all ties with his currently-in-development No Straight Roads.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4jVnvs0vFo&w=560&h=315]


[Spoiler Alert] Disney Executes Order 66 On Rise Of Skywalker Leaks

The sci-fi tale of Star Wars is about to conclude the saga with its longest movie in the entire 9 episode chronicle. Here’s the final trailer showcasing some key moments.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg]
As viewers might have noticed, the trailer confirms that Rey and Kylo Ren will both join forces in the final installation of the saga. Rey and Kylo Ren are seen smashing an effigy of Darth Vader, but Kylo Ren is still seen wielding a red lightsaber, the colour synonymous to the Sith.
Up until today, details of the plot are still vague, yet like death, taxes and hatred of ewoks, leaks are bound to happen. We’ve stumbled upon one major story element which pretty much spoils the upcoming conclusion like how Jar Jar spoiled The Phantom Menace.
Spoilers abound. And in case you ain’t clear about it, we’ve prepared nine lines of ‘Spoiler Warning’ to coincide with the ninth instalment of the saga.

Leaks have surfaced online, indicating that the relationship between Rey and Ren goes deeper than it seems.
According to the source of the leaks, Reddit user u/Josh_Den_of_Nerds, these newly leaked images are allegedly in the concluding arc of the film, showing Kylo Ren with his mask off wielding a new lightsaber in a colour typically associated with the Jedi.
We have found theories suggesting that Ren is wielding Anakin Skywalker’s lightsaber while Rey proudly wields General Leia’s previously unrevealed lightsaber. Could this scene be moments before fighting a resurrected Emperor Palpatine? Who knows.
Alright, feast your eyes upon these holy leaks that might last a few hours before Disney decides to execute this article.
The battle on the bridge, as seen in the trailer.
Rey and Ren, already converted into a Jedi.
That looks quite like Emperor Palpatine.
What could possibly be the final moments of the 9-episode saga?
These pictures were reportedly confirmed by leaker Jason Ward of Making Star Wars. Leaks regarding the movie have been quite wild recently. There were even spoilers revealing many of the images and key moments from the final trailer before it was released on Monday.
So far, Disney has been very fervent on taking these leaks down. For example, most of these pictures were taken down off of the Star Wars Leak subreddit only a few hours after the pictures were posted. There’s no telling if this post will get the same treatment.
The conclusion will finally be revealed when Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker hits your local screens on 20 December. Save the date.


How Much Would You Pay For This Devil May Cry 5 Jacket Bundle?

Want to look cool like Dante from the Devil May Cry series? Or even as suave as Nero? Then Capcom has the right bundle for you.Â
All you need is US$8,600 or more for a jacket + box art + game bundle. Easy peasy, right?
In all seriousness, this is even worse than the Resident Evil 6 Leon’s jacket bundle which cost US$1,300. Fans are given the privilege to choose between three bundles with them Devil May Cry jackets.

As stated on the pictures, Nero’s blue jacket (damaged or no damage) costs 750,000 yen (RM27,677), while Dante’s cost 900,000 yen (RM33,211). V the new guy’s jacket costs 600,000 yen (RM22,140).
Dante’s jacket is a little special because it’s the same one the game’s motion capture actor wore. Whatever floats your boat, Devil May Cry fans. There’s no word on whether these will be sold outside of Japan though.


Crash Bandicoot 4 Leaked By Taiwan Rating Committee

A recent rating by the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee (via Gematsu) has apparently leaked an unannounced game titled Crash Bandicoot 4: Itâ€™s About Time for the PS4Â andÂ Xbox One. It is reportedly being developed by Toys For Bob, the studio behind Spyro Reignited Trilogy.
The description that accompanies the rating reads:

Crash is relaxing and exploring his island in his time, 1998, when he finds a mysterious mask hidden away in a cave, Lani-Loli.
The mask is one of the Quantum Masks and apparently knows Aku-Aku, Crashâ€™s mask friend!
With the Quantum Masks returning and a Quantum Rift appearing near our heroes, they decide to bravely head through to different times and dimensions to stop whoever is responsible.

While publisher Activision has yet to officially announce the game, they have been teasing several publications worldwide with a 200-piece puzzle depicting a new mask that was initially teased in a PlayStation promotional video back in November 2019.
Check out the promotional puzzle below:

It’s possible that Crash Bandicoot 4: Itâ€™s About TimeÂ might be officially announced next week during the Summer Game Fest’s Day of the Devs live stream slated on 22 June 2020 at 11 pm GMT+8.


[Report] Fallout Legacy Collection Out Late October

Update: Bethesda has confirmed that the Fallout Legacy Collection is indeed coming out on 25 October 2019 for PC but it will only be released in the UK and Germany. Why? Well, that’s what everyone wants to know and Bethesda is keeping mum about it. Personally, I think they’re just drumming a controversy so that they can use the outrage as marketing.

Fallout Legacy will release in UK and Germany only.
â€” Bethesda UK (@Bethesda_UK) October 4, 2019

The last time I reported about Amazon leaking a video game product was when somebody accidentally listed the Overwatch Nintendo Switch case prior to the game’s Switch port announcement. This time, someone might have done something to make Todd Howard very upset.
As of writing this, a listing for the Fallout Legacy Collection for PC is up on Amazon Germany. As you can see below, it’s priced at â‚¬39.99 (~US$44 and ~RM180) which is pretty affordable considering that you’ll be getting six full-fledged Fallout games complete with all DLCs.

Games included in the collection are Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics, Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Edition, and Fallout 4: Game of the Year Edition. Looks like even Bethesda has acknowledged that nobody wants Fallout 76, even if it’s offered in a cheap bundle.
I Google-translated the description and here is what it says:

The full collection of all award-winning single-player games in the series! Return to Odland with the Fallout 4 – Game of the Year Edition. It contains all the gameplay updates, graphic enhancements, the ability to download and play free mods on PCs and consoles, and all six official extensions. Welcome back to New Vegas! With Ultimate Edition, Bethesda Softworks is putting together the complete Fallout: New Vegas package. The main game with the four additions Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues and Lonesome Road will immerse you even deeper into the world of New Vegas.

According to the Amazon Germany listing, the Fallout Legacy Collection is scheduled to launch on 25 October 2019 but so far only a listing for the PC version is up so we’ll have to wait and see if consoles will be getting it too or not.


Dragalia Lost’s 1st Anniversary Features Gala Prince & Upcoming Mega Man Crossover

The recent Dragalia Lost 1st anniversary news video was streamed a few hours ago. Here’s what you can expect from the game’s celebration and future updates. There’s a lot, so I’ll keep it as short as Notte and as focused as Mym’s determination.
-Free daily tenfold summon tickets. Players will get a total of 100 pulls so maybe, just maybe, you’ll get the Gala Mym summon you rightfully deserve.
-Speaking of Gala characters, the Prince (named either Euden or whatever you picked) is now a 5-star Gala character. He will be joined alongside other Gala characters like Cleo, Mym, and the rest of this exclusive cast.
-Also, if you choose to do a Platinum Gala Gacha with real money (aka Diamantium), you will get a guaranteed Gala Adventurer.
-Mini Mids. Oh, and also a ton of other stuff when you log in like 5,000 Wyrmite, 100,000 Eldwater, new stickers for me to pester people with online, and a ton more bonuses.

-There’s a new item in the Halidom/Castle screen called a Hustle Hammer. You can use it instantly to finish Facility construction. You will also get Honey Tea too which restores stamina. Great if you don’t want to waste your current honey stash for those extra farming sessions.
–There’s going to be a version 1.12 update coming soon before 2019 ends. This update will add in new Expert and Master difficulties to Advanced Dragon Trials, new High Dragon-themed 5* weapons, leaderboards and rankings for High Dragon Trials for those with a competitive streak, and a sixth Mana Circle for existing and new adventurers.
-The game will also bring in Chapter 11 of the main story this December, featuring a conclusion of sorts for some story bits as well as new mysteries leading up to more story chapters for next year. New story chapters will be added every two months after this one.
–New high-level bosses. Here’s a sneak peek at one of them. Pretty badass.

-A Mega Man crossover called Mega Man: Chaos Protocol. Guess Nintendo, Cygames, and Capcom are bringing in the Blue Bomber somehow. They’ll be more news on this later this year.
Check out the full anniversary video below.

The event will last from today until 18th October. So best you get started on collecting your freebies and partaking in new raids later today!


Leaked Controller Packaging Confirms Xbox Series S Console

Microsoft has inadvertently revealed its second and cheaper version of the next-gen Xbox console through a leaked next-gen Xbox controller packaging. The Verge has obtained legitimate photos of a white next-gen Xbox controller, and what’s interesting is that the packaging clearly mentions the Xbox Series S alongside the already-announced Xbox Series X.
The side of the packaging notes that the controller works with both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. However, Microsoft has yet to officially announce an Xbox Series S yet or even a white version of the new Xbox Series X controller.

It is now rumoured that Microsoft will be officially revealing the Xbox Series S sometime this month in August 2020. The Xbox Series X was initially revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live 2019 last year, so perhaps this year’s event will see the unveiling of the Xbox Series S.
According to The Verge, the Xbox Series S is expected to feature 7.5GB RAM, four teraflops of GPU performance, and the same CPU as the Xbox Series X.
In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for all the latest news on the Xbox Series X, and check outÂ all the latest updates and developments on all things Xbox to date here.


Ubisoft Plans To Continue Making Massive Open-World Games

In recent years, Ubisoft titles have been getting bigger and bigger in terms of content and sheer game size, employing an open-world model to many of its popular franchises. The most apparent example of this is 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which has been receiving updates and expansions up until July 2019 with the last instalment of The Fate Of Atlantis DLC.
It took me more than 100 hours to complete almost everything that Odyssey had to offer, and the company is still supporting the game almost a year after its release. For gamers who wish that Ubisoft would return to its more focused action games like the older Assassin’s Creed titles, the answer is no.
Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed whether we’ll be seeing more linear titlesÂ like Assassin’s Creed Unity in the future? He said:

“No.
Our goal is to make sure you can have a Unity within an Odyssey.
If you want to have a story of 15 hours, you can have it, but you can also have other stories.
You live in that world and you pursue what you want to pursue.
You have an experience, many Unity-like experiences.”

Massive open-world games mean higher budgets and resources required than ever before. However, Guillemot reassures that the current model is sustainable, as “the number of players that play our games is constantly growing.”
He continued:

“New markets are opening up and games live a lot longer than before.
So at the moment, we see that we can continue to increase the investments because we know we can have a return on investment that can be quite long[-tailed].
Our teams don’t stop after launching the game.
We have huge teams that continue to create content for players to stay in those universes they love to be in.
The fact that we have some players buying items in these games is giving our teams the chance to continue creating that extra content.”

While Ubisoft titles still tend to feature invasive and exploitative microtransactions in the form of EXP boosts or cosmetics, they’re completely optional and not forced unto the player, unlike games like EA’s Star Wars Battlefront 2. I managed to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for a hundred hours and didn’t spend a single cent on anything but the Season Pass.


KKP Best Of 2020: Game #11

Check out our collection of Best Of 2020 articles here.Â
#11: Genshin Impact

As far as Breath of the Wild clones go, this F2P offering from Mihoyo isn’t half-bad.
In fact, it’s shaping up to be quite a long-term thrill ride. From its large map to its combat, there’s a lot that clicks with Genshin Impact. Control a party of four characters of different waifu/husbando stature, and then go through the motions of the game’s typical fantasy plot with your fairy companion Paimon.
Then just futz around and level up your characters, doing quests here and there while taking things slow as you wait for the eventual events and updates that’s part and parcel with a free online game. Even if it’s for a short time, you can feel the progress you’ve made to get your own team to a high level, or just buffing up your Adventurer Rank.
True, its F2P mechanics and gacha method of earning characters and leveling up will hit you like a brick wall right after the 15-hour mark. But for those early moments, you’ll be enamored that a game as expansive, as beautiful, and as playable like this somehow feels generous from the get-go. As long as you’re not hard-up on getting certain 5-star characters, you can enjoy Genshin Impact for what it is without burning through your entire wallet.


Here’s How You Can Join The LEGO Super Mario Championship Malaysia

Following the highly anticipated launch of the LEGO Super MarioÂ Adventures with Luigi Starter Course, the LEGO Group is introducing the LEGO Super Mario Championship in Malaysia, a digital competition with the LEGO Super Mario playsets that bring the iconic Super Mario characters into the real world.
Taking place from 17 September 2021 to 17 OctoberÂ 2021, participants can enter the contest through the following steps:

Build a LEGO Super Mario level. Builders will have to be aged between 5 and 13 years.
Submit a video (of maximum 30 seconds in duration) of participants playing the level with LEGO Mario and/or LEGO Luigi. The video must include an overview of the level, while capturing the fun and excitement showcased by the participants during play. Participants can submit their videos at www.lsmchampionship.com/my
Submit an image of the total coins earned.

All submissions received for the LEGO Super Mario Championship will be reviewed by a panel of judges, which include Singapore LEGO Certified Professional Nicholas Foo, who is recognised as one of the leading LEGO artists in the world, along with LEGO Designers Benjamin Ma and Amy Bennett, and Stine Bagge, Brand Manager SEA, The LEGO Group.
Winners will be selected by these judges based on how creative their LEGO Super Mario level design is, their LEGO Super Mario spirit shown in the video, and the total coins they have earned from playing their level. The winners of the championship will stand a chance to walk away with up to RM1,800 worth of LEGO Super Mario sets.
The LEGO Group Marketing Group Rohan Mathur said:
â€œWith the recent introduction of the Adventures with Luigi Starter Course, there is no better way to celebrate the expansion of the LEGO Super Mario theme than with the LEGO Super Mario Championship locally.
Fans and players alike can expound on their creativity by showcasing their unique builds, and discovering the new social play experience with both characters.
We look forward to seeing all the different LEGO Super Mario levels created by the participants, and cannot wait for them to uncover different ways to build their levels and emerge as champions.”
The interactive and highly-anticipated Adventures with Luigi Starter Course is the latest extension of the LEGO Super Mario product line, the result of a unique partnership with Nintendo, that has introduced an entirely new way to play with LEGO bricks.

This is the first time a social play experience will be introduced to enable children and fans to connect LEGO Mario and LEGO Luigi figures for brand new 2-player adventures in the LEGO Super Mario universe. This exciting feature is perfect for family activities, where two players are able to enjoy the universe of LEGO Super Mario at the same time for new brick-built adventures.
For those looking to share their participation in the championship on social media, donâ€™t forget to hashtag #LEGOSuperMarioChampionship too.
[videopress YIXK675v]


Elden Ring: What You Need To Know Before Diving In

If you love From Software’s brand of punishing action RPG gameplay, you probably have seen the earlier gameplay trailer for Elden Ring. We assumed that it’s Dark Souls 4 with some open-world traversing and horse-riding.
Thanks to the many previews from bigwig sites like GameSpot, it’s confirmed that Elden Ring is indeed the true follow-up to Dark Souls in everything but its moniker. It’s clearly the most ambitious title From Software games has ever done, but a huge number of recurring tropes & mechanics from past Dark Souls games are present in Elden Ring.
And honestly? That’s fine by us because we love a challenge. Here’s what we know so far, apart from its simultaneous PC and console release on 20th January 2022.
The Hub World Connects Every Dangerous Spot You’ll Visit

Elden Ring features a giant hub world called The Lands Between; it connects smaller dungeons and major boss encounters. Branching out further are “Legacy Dungeons”, which is where self-contained Soulsborne dungeons will reside, from the vast Metroidvania-like interconnecting levels to the tough boss fights that punctuate them.Â There will also be “subterranean labyrinth” stages that may be procedurally generated (random) levels, similar to Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons.
In any case, expect to spend a minimum of 30 hours or so just getting through all of Elden Ring’s many dungeons, levels, and dangerous areas. Yes, this also includes the dreaded From Software swamp level. *shudders
There’s A Map You Can Refer To, But…
…it’s simple and not at all covered with icons like in your typical sandbox games. Elden Ring’s map is simple and showcases terrain, landmark drawings, and are gathered in fragments as you progress throughout the game.
All Levels Are Built For Jumping
Yes, you can finally jump in a Dark Souls-like game. All dungeons in Elden Ring are designed clearly with jumping in mind, either for basic navigation and shortcut-taking.
You Can Summon Spirit Helpers In Single Player Mode
You can call forth ghost NPCs to help you out using the Ashes of the Deceased item. They can only be summoned in single-player mode, with each of them bringing in their own skills and abilities. One example include a small mob of bandits who can hold an enemy in place while you use your long-ranged weapons to pick them apart.
Bonfires Exist, But In A Different Name
They’re called Sites of Lost Grace in Elden Ring now. They serve the same purpose: heals you fully, refills your healing charges, respawns enemies in the current map they’re in, and aÂ  hub to level up your character and his/her skills. One key thing about these sites is that they now shine a guiding light to highlight a future objective, kind of like breadcrumb trails in the Fable games.
The levelling up bits on the site are now handled by this NPC called Melina, and she is a lot more chatty than past Dark Souls characters who gravitate towards the player. Here’s a quote from FromSoftware marketing and production manager Yasuhiro Kitao:
“Whereas before these characters were generally reserved and quiet characters, Melina has got her own ambitions and her own big place in the story, so we hope you enjoy that aspect of it.”
Skills Are Not Tied To Weapons
Speaking of skills, your special moves are not tied to specific weapons unlike in Dark Souls 3. This means players are free to swap them between a number of weapons; you can do this at the Site of Lost Grace.
You Can Break Stances, Parry, And Guard Counter
Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro have their own sets of defensive maneuvers, and Elden Ring is no different. In fact, it’s taking some mechanics from those games and implementing them here. Your character can parry attacks and break an enemy stance. The new Guard Counter move will attack immediately after blocking, but takes out a huge chunk of your stamina.
Boss Battles Can Be Fought On Horseback
Yes, you can ride on a horse and stab giant dragon bosses in Elden Ring, as well as perform a critical attack right in their weak eye when prompted. Of course, you will have to occasionally fight on-foot if the situation calls for it, but generally, your boss battles can be fought with or without your ghostly steed.
The Game May Have Asynchronous Multiplayer Bits
In one of the game’s Legacy Dungeons, players will come across a bloodstain, a signature From Software that lets you summon other player’s simulacrum and lead you to paths. Or troll you to a trap or inescapable boss fight. Either way, there will be online multiplayer components that can enhance the single-player Elden Ring experience which is entirely optional.
The Game’s Story Will Be A Bit More Direct
Kitao mentioned that the game’s environmental storytelling will still be in Elden Ring, but its narrative structure will be similar to Sekiro where it’s slightly more cinematic and direct. Some players may miss the mysterious and opaque narrative from Dark Souls, but that’s how From Software is rolling with Elden Ring’s tale.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Made The In-Game Text, Not George R.R. Martin

Many RPG fans were surprised that A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin collaborated with game director Hidetaka Miyazaki for Elden Ring. Turns out that while Martin was responsible for the overall world and mythos, the in-game text is all Miyazaki’s doing. Here’s a quote from FromSoftware marketing and production manager Yasuhiro Kitao (via Ungeek).
“In From fashion, the story is told in fragments, and we havenâ€™t changed our principle of providing a world and narrative that the player can interpret for themselves. [Miyazaki is] at the forefront of the text, writing the text in the game.


Gamers Hideout Apologizes For PS5 Pre-Order Debacle [Update: Revised Bundle Revealed]

Update: Added revised Gamers Hideout PS5 bundle, now with “optional purchases”.
Gamers Hideout is one of 27 authorized retailers to officially open PS5 pre-orders in Malaysia. However, they stoked the ire and anger of many gamers when it turned out that their pre-order requirements were more than just a first-come-first-serve basis.
When Gamers Hideout initially opened pre-orders for the PS5 at 12pm on 12 November 2020, gamers were shocked to discover that in order to actually pre-order a PS5, they were forced to make a PWP (Purchase-With-Purchase) order.
A PWP order means that they had to purchase something additional in order to procure their PS5 pre-order. In this case, customers were required to buy one PS5 title at full price, one of three PS4 Mystery Game Packs, and two PS5 accessories.
All in all, this added up to an exorbitant almost one thousand RM more than the PS5’s initial price of RM2299 (for the standard edition). You can see why this angered many gamers, as it essentially forces them to fork out more money involuntarily just to secure a PS5 pre-order.
The pre-order pages with the PWP have since been taken down, but here are some screenshots courtesy of our friends from Lowyat.net.
Image Credit: Lowyat.net
Image Credit: Lowyat.net
Earlier today, after many complaints from gamers and apparently a rebuke letter from Sony Malaysia, Gamers Hideout has issued a formal apology on social media.

https://www.facebook.com/GamersHideout/posts/10157840217895914

Alleged Sony Malaysia message responding to complaints on Facebook
Reparations
Gamers Hideout will be revising its PS5 bundle with “optional purchases” as a response to the backlash (via sources close to Kakuchopurei). Highlights include an Adventure Game Pack featuring Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4/PS5), Resident Evil 3 (PS4), and any 1 selected PS4 game for RM399, and an Action Game Pack featuring Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (PS4/PS5), RE3 (PS4), and a PS4 game of your choice.

For a list of other authorized PS5 retailers in Malaysia, you can head on over here.
(Featured Image Credit: Wobb Jobs)


Malaysians & Singaporeans Share Interesting Tastes On Netflix; Here’s How

The year is almost over, and Netflix has provided statistics on the viewing habits of both Malaysians and Singaporeans. It’s interesting how some of our tastes are the same, but differ in others. Let’s see, shall we?
It’s a no brainer that both Malaysians and Singaporeans would love Crazy Rich Asians. Not only was the movie filmed in Malaysia and Singapore, but it also featured many actors from both countries as well, like Michelle Yeoh and Henry Golding.
Somehow, we also both love Extraction starring Chris Hemsworth, the Korean horror movie #Alive and the Blackpink Light Up The Sky documentary. There is a lot of love for all things Korean.
The shared most popular titles between Malaysians and Singaporeans are highlighted in bold.
Malaysia Most Popular Netflix Titles In 2020 According to Genre
K-Drama: It’s Okay Not To OkayRomance: Crazy Rich AsiansKids & Family: Over The MoonAction: ExtractionHorror: #AliveDocumentary: BLACKPINK: Light Up the SkyAnime: A Whisker Away
Singapore Most Popular Netflix Titles In 2020 According to Genre
K-Drama: The King: Eternal MonarchRomance: Crazy Rich AsiansKids & Family: The Angry Birds Movie 2Action: ExtractionHorror: #AliveDocumentary: BLACKPINK: Light Up the SkyAnime: PokÃ©mon: Mewtwo Strikes Back – Evolution
In addition, Netflix users in Malaysia watched two times more documentaries and anime in 2020 compared to 2019. The reason for that is highly likely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which gives many people the opportunity to stay at home and watch whatever tickles their fancy.


Overwatch League Offline Games Are Back, But…

If you want to watch Overwatch League in a live and offline setting, you can. The problem? You need to be in China to do just that.
The Overwatch League has announced live match events called Homestands, which are returning during the 2021 season. Again, only in China.
“Due to improved health and safety conditions in China, we are excited to announce the planned return of live events to three cities during the 2021 season.”
The majority of the Overwatch League this year will take place online. Chinese teams in the league will be hosting three seasons of the tournament matches in the following offline events, dates included:

4-6 June: Hangzhou Spark (June Joust)
9-11 July: Shanghai Dragons (Summer Showdown)
7-8 August: Guangzhou Charge (Countdown Cup)

China-based teams who are scheduled against Korea-based teams will play on stage in a live setting while their opponents connect remotely. The China teams involved in these live offline events are:

Hangzhou Spark
Guangzhou Charge
Chengdu Hunters
Shanghai Dragons
Los Angeles Valiant

Details on the offline events and ticket-purchasing options will be announced by the host teams later in 2021. As for plane tickets and travel restrictions in 2021? Well, you’re going to need to check with your respective countries for that, I’m afraid.


New GTA Online Update Features Mega-Casino And Return Of A Beloved Character

GTA V will be getting a new update very soon and with it comes the new Diamond Casino & Resort and it’s more than just a big casino. The update, titled Grand Theft Auto Online: Diamond Casino & Resort,Â  will also come with new missions for players to complete as there is a storyline and a bunch of new characters making their appearance. Check out the trailer:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_cnrYcugoA&w=560&h=315]
The Diamond Casino & Resort will offer a variety of gambling activities including virtual horse racing, slot machines, and also a Lucky Wheel that can be spun daily for bonuses like discounts, clothes, and more. It’s not enough that Rockstar empties our wallet in real life, they want to do in-game too.

Players will be able to acquire their own penthouse at the resort and having a penthouse is the only way to become a VIP member of The Diamond. With the membership, you’ll get perks like access to a luxury parking garage, helicopter concierge, and the eligibility to play at the high-limit tables where only resident guests are allowed to play.
The Truffade Thrax supercar, one of the new vehicles coming in the update.
Remember our hyperactive and self-centered bull shark testosterone aficionado in GTA IV? That’s right, it appears that Brucie Kibbutz is making a comeback and it looks like his bull shark testosterone buzz is still putting him on a rush. I’m expecting a lot of “deals-gone-wrong” type of missions from him.
He sounds like Brucie and looks like Brucie. Most probably Brucie.
The Diamond Casino & Resort update will drop on 23 July 2019 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For more details on the new items and features, check out the official news post on the GTA website. As per Rockstar’s amazing attention to detail and sense of humour, you can even visit The Diamond’s website here.


Arena Of Valor BLEACH Crossover Is Now Live

The official collaboration between Arena of Valor (AOV) and BLEACH has begun. The Japanese seriesâ€™ iconic characters have arrived on the battlefield to shake up the 5v5 MOBA Day event.
Players can look forward to seeing lead protagonist Ichigo Kurosaki and favourites Byakuya Kuchiki and Toshiro Hitsugaya in-game, alongside plenty of exclusive in-game content for AOV players to enjoy.
BLEACH is a wildly popular Japanese manga and anime series. It was serialised in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine from August 2001 to August 2016, while the anime TV series was produced by Tokyo-based Studio Pierrot and ran from 2004 to 2012.
Get the Ichigo Kurosaki skin for Lubu in with Valor Pass S29
The main character in BLEACH, Ichigo Kurosaki, will be the new skin of Lu Bu. Fans of the series can look forward to wielding his shinigami and hollowfication powers on the battlefield after obtaining the exclusive collaboration skin through Valor Pass S29.

Skins for Gotei 13 captains Byakuya Kuchiki and Toshiro Hitsugaya now on sale
Gotei 13 captains Byakuya Kuchiki and Toshiro Hitsugaya will be the new skins for Murad and Bright respectively. Players can feast their eyes on their dazzling but deadly skills, with Byakuya Kuchikiâ€™s cherry blossoms and Toshiro Hitsugayaâ€™s ice dragon guaranteed to lay waste to the battlefield.

Outfit Lindis and Annette in iconic BLEACH fashion
Lindis and Annette will each receive new skins inspired by classic BLEACH fashion. Lindis will be outfitted in a Shihakusho, the iconic uniform of the soul reapers, which players can claim for FREE just by completing in-game missions. Annette will get a Karakura High School Uniform, which can be obtained through the Valor Pass.

You can download Arena Of Valor on the App Store or on Google Play.


Razer Customers Hit By Online Data Leak

If you’ve been buying Razer peripherals online, you may want to check your account and change up your security.
More than 100,000 customer records belonging to Razer have been found exposed online in a security breach. The data leak was discovered and revealed by security researcher Bob Diachenko.
The breach of data was frighteningly extensive, including full names, emails, phone numbers, customer internal IDs, order numbers, and order details, as well as even billing and shipping addresses.
Before going public with the data leak, Diachenko contacted Razer to inform them of the security breach, but it took three weeks for the company to eventually take decisive action, according to his LinkedIn post.

Gaming hardware giant, Razer Inc. recently experienced an incident where customer emails, phones, shipping and billing addresses + more were exposed online. My short report on what happened: https://t.co/n4nSzQm82N— Bob Diachenko (@MayhemDayOne) September 10, 2020

This data leak is incredibly dangerous since customer records could be used by criminals to launch targeted phishing attacks where potential scammers can pretend to represent Razer.
Razer customers should be on the lookout for phishing attempts sent to their phone or email address, including malicious emails or messages. These scammers had three weeks of access to their data, which they could take advantage of at any time.


ASUS ROG Announces New Gaming Phone & Event On 5 July

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the ROG Phone 6 along with an event that will take place online next month 5 July 2022.
Dubbed ROG Phone 6: For Those Who Dare is a virtual event that will take place on 5 July 2022 at 8 PM (GMT+8). The event will unveil the latest generation ROG Phone 6 series and a new lineup of gaming accessories and gaming headphones.
The event will also include an exclusive and exciting live gaming show match, featuring well-known influencers competing to win on the new ROG Phone 6 series.

At the event, ROG will announce the much-anticipated ROG Phone 6. For you tech-heads, the device features the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G Platform and a Samsung AMOLED display.
When combined with exclusive ROG tuning technology, the ROG Phone 6 achieves an impressive 165Hz refresh rate, introducing a new era for gaming smartphone performance, and giving gamers a competitive edge.
The ROG Phone 6 also features an exciting space-inspired new look, unique features, an impressive ecosystem of accessories, and an exciting array of gaming headphones. Working in concert with the impressive raw performance of the ROG Phone 6 series, a new cooling system offers unmatched capabilities for those who dare to win.
To catch the event live, you can just head over to their website where they currently have a countdown to the event itself.


Baldur’s Gate 3 Release Date Pushed Forward To PC, But PS5 Version’s Delayed

Good news and bad news for CRPG fans: Baldur’s Gate 3’s release dates have been shuffled around.
The good news: the PC version of Baldur’s Gate 3 is brought forward to 3rd August. Bad news? The PS5 version is pushed back to 6 September. It’s only an extra week from its 31st August intended date, so it’s not quite a long wait. Meanwhile, PC gamers will be dining RPG early. Here are some words about the good news from developer Larian.
“Baldur’s Gate 3 is targeting 60 frames-per-second and we’re close to achieving that on the [PS5] platform but need a bit more extra time. We don’t want to compromise on quality, and feel it would be a shame to downscale to 30fps or make other compromises to hit an arbitrary date.
We understand that folks may be disappointed with this but we’re close enough to reaching new heights for RPGs on the system that the benefits of a short delay outweigh the downsides of rushing the PS5 release and having to downscale. The full Mac version will also be released at a later date, and we’ll update you as soon as we have a target.”

In related news, the Xbox X|S version is planned, but held up by technical issues.
“We’re optimistic about Baldur’s Gate 3 on the Xbox Series X, but in order to announce and release the game on Xbox, we need to ensure that the game is performing without compromise across the entire Xbox X|S ecosystem, in multiplayer and with split-screen. We already put a lot of effort into making it work and will continue to do so. Like with the PS5 version, we’ll release it when it’s ready. We’ll update you as soon as we can.”


Bugsnax Is Launching 12th November

Cute-looking adventure game Bugsnax has a release date: 12th November. That’s basically the same time the PS5 is launching in most countries.
In addition, developer Young Horses also revealed the voice cast for the upcoming title, which includes veterans like Fred Tatasciore and Yuri Lowenthal.

Based on recent previews showing up so far, Bugsnax is a mix of PokÃ©mon, PokÃ©mon Snap, and your typical first-person adventure game not unlike Paradise Killer and other walking simulators. We can’t wait to check it out this November; it’s also coming to PC and PS4 in case you aren’t planning on getting a next-gen PlayStation console.