Chorus Scratches That Arcade Space Sim Itch Thoroughly

Platform(s): PC (version played), PS4, Xbox One
Genre: Space sim like Wing Commander & Freelancer, without the trading
Chorus’ destroy all evil space cult baddies and space horrors storyline is just window-dressing for its true appeal: the ability to pilot a kick-ass spaceship and destroy all manner of armada with your powers. You’re in the space shoes of ex-cult elite killer Nara, who has buried her previous way of religious zealotry to help survivors in this hub called the Enclave.
Just like most giant video game villain groups, the space cult wants to expand its reach and brainwash people, as well as summon giant red space horror portals for some reason. So together with your ship and its AI Forsa(ken), you kick a lot of space booty with your awesome ex-cult superpowered spaceship.
Space Race

Nara’s special ship and powers (called Rites) allow her to “drift”, taking sharp corners and pivoting instantaneously to take down enemies in space dogfights. She can also teleport behind pursued spacecraft to close the gap quick, and also take down an enemy’s shield with special lightning. Later on, she can do a super-fast thrust that damages and kills anything in front of her. This is in addition to her already packed arsenal featuring a gatling gun, missiles, and laser cannons to deal with armoured and shielded enemies.
I’ll say this: if Nara and her ship were to take lead in Star Wars Episode IV’s Death Star battle, the Rebels would have won the entire war in just one movie.
It’s powerful, it’s fast, it has awesome space magic skills, and it’s a blast to control Whether you’re using keyboard + mouse, a joypad, or even a flight stick, you’ll be speeding and drifting while blasting enemies to kingdom come in no time flat after the obligatory hour or so of beginner flying and shooting courses disguised as missions.
The scifi world of Chorus is basically a bunch of space stations and cities all built onto rock and debris, with an ice planet or two. They look different from each other and do offer plenty of nice vistas and space imagery -the game has a Photo Mode for opportunities like these. Each of these systems play and feel about the same: they offer a number of sidequests and short missions for you to farm credits and get sweet loot for. Your spaceship can be outfitted with new guns and up to three mods, not to mention the standard hit points and shield upgrades (done in tiers).

The cool part about the mods and equipment system is the perks. Some of these items have special icons that let you gain a pretty beneficial passive perk if you have three or four items with the same icons. These include getting extra space magic energy if you kill an enemy you teleported behind, to even having your minigun overheat less than usual as long as you chain kills. It’s not in-depth, but it’s enough to get you through most of the swarms and enemies. It doesn’t need to be needlessly complex to be fun; it makes me more proactive in completing sidequests strewn all around the galaxy just to get the laser pew pews and shield mods I would want to outfit my space harbinger of doom.
The Rite Stuff

Despite Chorus offering the thrills of space combat, and it does in wide open spaces, it also throws a few curveballs at you. Sometimes you’ll fight enemies in tight spaces where you really need to be careful where you bump into while you’re flying. At times, you’ll fight a boss with obtuse mechanics that insta-kill you if you don’t pick up on their pattern and methods quick. I have died a huge number of times from these fights because the game doesn’t seem to telegraph some of these skills and boss attacks well. It sure as heck can get frustrating and tiresome, even with the generous checkpoint system.
Also, in the second half of the game, the game’s story seem to like having Nara and her spaceship essence Forsa speaking like those married couples who complete each other’s sentences. It’s cute at first, but it gets grating after the 30th time they do it while in a life-or-death space combat situation.

In spite of these quirks, I still had a blast with Chorus. It’s been eons since I’ve played a good arcade-style space sim title, and Chorus scratches that itch while also dishing out a decent narrative that doesn’t get in the way of all the shooting, flying, and exploration. I dig how the ship controls and plays, and the game throws some curveballs that do challenge me so that it doesn’t get too easy. And if you feel ballsy, there’s permadeath mode once you get the hang of things in your first 12-hour playthrough.
Chorus aims for the stars, and blasts it sky-high. Just mind some space turbulence like cheap boss fights and that annoying back-and-forth between the pilot and her ship AI.
Pros

Great space sim combat with nice open-world exploration bits.
Good well-paced narrative, mostly.
Ship powers & customization is solid and fun.
Space-drifting and blinking with space magic doesn’t get old!

Cons

A few terribly-designed boss battles and setpiece fights.
Nara & Forsa off-cuff dialogue can get grating.

Final Score: 70/100


New Live A Live Trailers Show Off Four More Stories

Square Enix has unveiled four more trailers showcasing the Live A Live JRPG remake’s HD 2D-rezzed gameplay and story bits.
The new trailers are for the stories Twilight of Edo Japan (ninja), Wild West (cowboy setting), Near Future (sci-fi and mechas), and Middle Ages (fantasy). They all look really amazing and are doing the HD 2D moniker justice, especially the mecha bits that are teased in Flow.
English

Japanese

The Live A Live livestream that happened hours ago also showcased a ton of gameplay from the remake. The scenarios previewed include The Strongest and Secret Order.

The Live A Live remake will be out exclusively for Nintendo Switch on 22nd July. The JRPG features eight protagonists in different timelines and eras, with a final ninth chapter to tie it all together. Basically, it was the game that influenced other titles like Saga Frontier and Octopath Traveler. It also was the title that made composer Yoko Shimomura a household name, not Kingdom Hearts. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.


Here’s Your First Look At Baldur’s Gate 3 [Update]

Update: we’ve added the livestream reveal for the game after the spoiler tags.Â
We have no doubt that the upcoming Larian Studio-developed Baldur’s Gate 3 will be similar in style and look with past Baldur’s Gate titles. Based on these recently-leaked screenshots via Jeuxactu.com, we were right.Â
We’ll put a few spoilers here in case you wanted to save the surprise for another time.

Here you go. Witness the golden age of CRPGs, now with 2020 graphics and tech in video (past the 14:22 mark) and static form:

Check out these new close-ups angles when you’re speaking to characters and your party.

I should also point out that compared to other Baldur’s Gate entries, you seem to be talking to more demons & githyanki. That’s always a plus. We can’t wait to see it in motion soon, but these screenshots are more than enough to elevate the CRPG hype.
What say you?


Black Widow Drops On Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia Next Week

On 6 October 2021, dive into an action-packed spy thriller full of fresh secrets, allies and an unstoppable nemesis as Marvel Studiosâ€™ â€œBlack Widowâ€ launches on Disney+ Hotstar!Â
In the first film in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), when a perilous conspiracy with ties to her past emerges, Natasha Romanoff akaÂ Black Widow must confront the darker parts of her ledger. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must face her past and deal with unfinished businesses and the damaged relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.Â
Watch Scarlett Johansson reprise her role as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, alongside Florence Pugh as Yelena, David Harbour as Alexei/The Red Guardian, and Rachel Weisz as Melina.Â
Marvel Studiosâ€™ â€œBlack Widowâ€ is directed by Cate Shortland and produced by Kevin Feige.Â Â
Malaysians can stream their favourite shows and films now by subscribing to the service directly at DisneyPlusHotstar.my or via the Disney+ Hotstar app on Android and iOS devices, for RM54.90 for three months*.Â
Access Disney+ Hotstar on Astro at incredible deals. Astro Movies Pack customers (CH411 â€“ CH416) must activate via astro.com.my/Disney to immediately start streaming Disney+ Hotstar.
In the meantime, check out our full review of Black Widow by heading over here.


Loki Episode 4 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The fourth episode of Marvelâ€™s LokiÂ is available now on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers fromÂ Loki Episode 4 so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here, Episode 2 hereÂ and Episode 3 here.
Also, if you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles forÂ WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns here atÂ Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
If you want a non-spoiler guide toÂ Loki, you canÂ head on over here.

Young Sylvie Was Captured By The TVA As A ‘Variant’

Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Ravonna Renslayer captured a ‘Variant’ Loki when she/he was still a child for some reason.
The Time-Keepers In The Flesh

Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s Ravonna Renslayer meets with the Time-Keepers in the flesh. We see the Time-Keepers in the flesh for the first time, or did we? Are these really the Time-Keepers, or is Ravonna Renslayer the real antagonist all along and have been orchestrating everything from the start?
Sasha Lane’s Hunter C-20 Is Apparently Dead, According to Ravonna Renslayer

We don’t actually see C-20, but Ravonna claims that C-20 is dead just due to her mind being scrambled by Sylvie in Loki Episode 2. No one has died by mind control yet in the MCU, so this is incredibly suspicious.
Later in the episode, Ravonna even prevents Mobius from even speaking with Sylvie. That’s even more suspicious.
Young Sylvie Was Apparently Captured Just Because She’s Female?

According to Sylvie, she was captured by the TVA as a child just because she’s a “Goddess Of Mischief” who is “not supposed to exist”. Is it really as simple as that? Can the Sacred Timeline really be disrupted just because of a Loki being born a different gender?
The Potential Of Loki And Sylvie Dying Will Apparently Cause A Nexus Event In The Timeline?

The TVA finally re-captured Loki and Sylvie, but they only discovered their location because it seems like the prospect of their deaths is causing a major branch to the timeline, the likes of which has never been seen. Interesting.
Loki Gets Thrown To Memory Loop And Meets Sif

In the comics and Norse mythology, Sif was originally blonde but Loki was jealous because she chose Thor over him. As a result, Loki used his magic to change Sif’s hair from golden blonde to black, and it stayed that way. Plus, it’s nice to see Jaimie Alexander reprising her role as Sif again.
Mobius Confirms Vampires Existing In The MCU

This is interesting. Mobius mentions that the TVA has previously captured Variants who are Kree, Titans, and Vampires. Of course, we’ve seen a lot of Kree and Titans, but this is the first time that Vampires have been confirmed to be in the MCU. I guess they’re already working towards that new Blade movie starring Mahershala Ali.
Sylvie Can Access The Lost Memories Of Variants Working At The TVA

Loki says that Sylvie can use her enchantment powers to access the memories of Variants working at the TVA, which the Time-Keepers erased.
Sylvie Restores The Memories Of Hunter B-15, Hunter C-20 Was Last Interrogated By Ravonna Renslayer

Now two hunters have realized that they were Variants after recovering their memories, Sasha Lane’s hunter C-20 and Wunmi Mosaku’s Hunter B-15. The footage that Mobius saw on Ravonna’s device confirms that Ravonna was the last to meet C-20 before her ‘death’ and that she has been hiding the truth from the beginning.
The TVA Prunes (Kills) Mobius

In a heartbreaking and shocking scene, the TVA prunes and kills Mobius after he finds out the truth.
The Time-Keepers Are Fake Android

As expected, when Sylvie kills one of the Time-Keepers, it turns out that the Time-Keepers are merely androids and are actually fake.
Who, then, have been pulling the strings of the TVA? Will it be Kang The Conqueror? It won’t be long now until we learn the truth. In the comics, Ravonna Renslayer is the lover of Kang after all. Who else would she be working with?
Kang The Conquerer.
Loki Episode 4 Post-Credits Explained

Yes, there’s a post-credits this time.
In the Loki episode 4 post-credits scene, Loki survives his pruning and finds himself in a post-apocalyptic New York City. He meets several Loki variants, including Classic Loki, Kid Loki, Crocodile Loki, and Boastful Loki wielding Mjolnir.
It looks like it’s time for LOKI, VARIANTS ASSEMBLE!

Classic Loki is played by Richard E. Grant.
Kid Loki is played by Jack Veal.
Boastful Loki is played by Deobia Oparei.

What’s interesting here is that Classic Loki is wearing the classic and original costume from the comics. Also, there was a version of Loki in the comics who managed to wield Mjolnir, during the 2014 AXIS crossover event, but he wasn’t black, so this Boastful Loki might be an entirely new version.
Crocodile Loki isn’t from the comics, but he might just be the brother of Frog Thor or Throg, who actually is canon. Yes, there’s a version of Thor out there who’s a Frog wielding a tiny little Mjolnir.

That Planet With Variant Lokis Might Be Beyonder’s Battleworld

That place with the Variant Lokis looks pretty run down, like the ruins of a city. Hear me out, that might just be Battleworld from 2015’s Secret Wars crossover event or 1984’s original Secret Wars event. If that’s true, it might herald the coming of an enemy even more powerful than Thanos.
The Beyonder.

The Beyonder is one of the most powerful cosmic beings in Marvel Comics. As a cosmic and abstract being, he is not confined to physical limitations like even Thanos would. In the comics during the original 1984Secret War, he infamously kidnapped a collection of Earthâ€™s heroes and villains and set them against each other for a cosmic chess match in a place he called Battleworld, assembled from pieces of other worlds.
However, in 2015’s Secret Wars, it was a god-like cosmic-level Doctor Doom that did something beyond even what the Beyonder accomplished. He took the heroes and villains from across the Multiverse and took pieces of their dying planets to create another Battleworld.

Evidence of this might have been available from an easter egg in Loki Episode 2 when Mobius points out that a pen he uses to sign paperwork in Renslayerâ€™s office is not part of her trophy collection from her adventures across time. The pen is inscribed with the words Franklin D. Roosevelt High School.

What’s interesting here is that Franklin D. Roosevelt High School was attended by Owen Reece AKA Molecule Man. The Molecule Man is arguably also one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel Multiverse, considering that he can alter reality on a whim. It’s not a coincidence then that Doctor Doom used the powers of Molecule Man to start 2015’s Secret Wars and create the new Battleworld.

The MCU version could have the Beyonder and the Molecule Man together, with the Beyonder controlling the TVA while adding the powers of Molecule Man to his in order to manipulate time and reality. Mind blown. We’ll have to wait until the next two episodes to see if there’s any truth to my theory.
Until then, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for the next one!


[Updated] MPL Indonesia Season 11 – Teams, Schedule & Results

MPL Indonesia is back for its 11th season! After falling short on home soil at the M4 World Championship earlier this year, Indonesians are hungry for revenge. As the second strongest region currently, they started a little earlier than the other regions alongside the champion region, the Philippines. So although the league is already underway, it’s never too late to tune in! So here’s everything you need to know about MPL Indonesia Season 11.
NOTE: All Times & Dates will be in (UTC+8)

Details

Date: 17 February – 9 April (UTC+8)
Venue: Sanctuary Auditorium, Menara Kuningan, Jl. H. R. Rasuna Said No.Kav. 5, Kuningan, Karet Kuningan, Kecamatan Setiabudi, Kota Jakarta Selatan, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 12940, Indonesia

Format

Regular Season: 17 February – 26 March

Double Round Robin
All Matches are Best of 3

Earn 1 point for each game win
Earn -1 point for each game lose

Top 6 teams will advance to playoffs

Playoffs: 5–9 April

Hybrid elimination.

3rd to 6th seeded teams compete in Round 1 (Single elimination)
1st and 2nd seeded teams receive a round bye and will start in Round 2 (Double elimination)

All matches are played in a Best of 5. Grand Final will be a Best of 7

Final Results

Place
Qualifies To
Participant

1
MSC 2023
ONIC Esports

2
MSC 2023
EVOS Legends

3
–
Alter Ego

4
–
Rex Regum Qeon

5-6

–

Bigetron Alpha

Geek Slate

7
–
Rebellion Zion

8
–
AURA Fire

Teams

Alter Ego
AURA Fire
Bigetron Alpha
EVOS Legends
Geek Slate – Geek Fam ID partnered with Slate Esports, rebranded to Geek Slate
ONIC Esports
Rebellion Zion
Rex Regum Qeon – RRQ Hoshi renamed to the organization name Rex Regum Qeon

GROUP STAGE RESULTS

Standings

1
ONIC Esports
13-1
27-8
+19

2
Rex Regum Qeon
9-5
22-15
+7

3
Bigetron Alpha
8-6
19-15
+4

4
Geek Slate
8-6
20-17
+3

5
EVOS Legends
7-7
18-17
+1

6
Alter Ego
6-8
13-20
-7

7
Rebellion Zion
4-10
11-22
-11

8
AURA Fire
1-13
10-26
-16

Matches
Regular Season – Week 1
17 February

3:00 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [1] vs [2] Rebellion Zion
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [0] Bigetron Alpha
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [1] vs [2] ONIC Esports
18 February

12:00 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [0] vs [2] Rex Regum Qeon
3:00 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [0] vs [2] Geek Slate
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [0] vs [2] EVOS Legends
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [0] vs [2] ONIC Esports
19 February

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [2] vs [0] Alter Ego
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [2] vs [1] AURA Fire
Regular Season – Week 2
24 February

3:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [2] vs [1] Geek Slate
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [0] Rex Regum Qeon
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [2] vs [0] Rebellion Zion
25 February
12:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [0] AURA Fire
3:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [1] Alter Ego
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [1] vs [2] Bigetron Alpha
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [0] vs [2] Rebellion Zion
26 February

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [1] vs [2] ONIC Esports
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [1] EVOS Legends
Regular Season – Week 3
3 March

3:00 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [2] vs [0] Alter Ego
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [2] vs [1] Bigetron Alpha
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [2] vs [1] AURA Fire
4 March
12:00 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [1] vs [2] Geek Slate
3:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [0] vs [2] Rex Regum Qeon
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [0] vs [2] AURA Fire
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [1] EVOS Legends
5 March

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [0] vs [2] Bigetron Alpha
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [0] Rebellion Zion
Regular Season – Week 4
10 March

3:00 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [2] vs [1] Rex Regum Qeon
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [2] vs [0] EVOS Legends
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [2] vs [0] AURA Fire
11 March

12:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [1] vs [2] Alter Ego
3:00 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [2] vs [1] AURA Fire
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [0] Bigetron Alpha
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [2] vs [0] Rebellion Zion
12 March

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [1] Geek Slate
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [2] vs [1] Rex Regum Qeon
Regular Season – Week 5
17 March

3:00 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [2] vs [0] EVOS Legends
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [0] vs [2] Bigetron Alpha
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [1] ONIC Esports
18 March

12:00 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [1] vs [2] EVOS Legends
3:00 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [0] vs [2] ONIC Esports
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [1] vs [2] Geek Slate
9:00 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [1] vs [0] Rex Regum Qeon (POSTPONED)
19 March

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [1] vs [2] Alter Ego
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [2] vs [1] AURA Fire
Regular Season – Week 6
23 March

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [1] vs [2] Rex Regum Qeon
7:30 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [2] vs [1] Geek Slate
24 March

2:30 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [2] vs [0] Rebellion Zion
5:30 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [0] vs [2] EVOS Legends
9:30 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [1] vs [2] Geek Slate
25 March

1:00 PM (UTC+8) – EVOS Legends [0] vs [2] ONIC Esports
4:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [1] Rebellion Zion
7:30 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [1] vs [2] Alter Ego
10:30 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [0] vs [2] Bigetron Alpha
26 March

12:00 PM (UTC+8) – AURA Fire [1] vs [2] Rex Regum Qeon
4:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rebellion Zion [0] vs [2] ONIC Esports
7:30 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [2] vs [0] Alter Ego
Playoffs
5 April

1:30 PM (UTC+8) – Bigetron Alpha [2] vs [3] Alter Ego (Upper Bracket Quarterfinal)
7:30 PM (UTC+8) – Geek Slate [2] vs [3] EVOS Legends (Upper Bracket Quarterfinal)
6 April

1:30 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [1] vs [3] Alter Ego (Upper Bracket Semifinal)
7:30 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [3] vs [0] EVOS Legends (Upper Bracket Semifinal)
7 April

2:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [3] EVOS Legends (Lower Bracket Semifinal)
7:30 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [0] vs [3] ONIC Esports (Upper Bracket Final)
8 April

7:30 PM (UTC+8) – Alter Ego [2] vs [3] EVOS Legends (Lower Bracket Final)
9 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – ONIC Esports [4] vs [0] EVOS Legends (Grand Final)
Where to Watch?
YouTube / Facebook / TikTok

MPL Philippines Season 11 – Teams, Schedule & Results
MPL Malaysia Season 11 – Teams, Schedule & Results
MPL Singapore Season 5 – Teams, Schedule & Results


Valorant Champions Tour APAC Challengers Playoffs Stage 1 Kicks Off Next Week

The first regional Playoffs for VCT APAC 2022 is here! The VCT APAC Challengers Stage 1 Playoffs brings together 20 of the best teams in the APAC region to compete for a chance to represent the region at VCTâ€™s first global event of the year, Masters 1 Iceland, in April 2022.Â Â
VCT APAC Challengers Playoffs Stage 1 QUALIFIED TEAMS

The following 20 teams have proven their skills and successfully fought through their local qualifiers to compete in Playoffs! These teamsâ€™ local performances in the various national Challengers events have seeded them into Playoffs and determined their starting point in this event.
Thailand: XERXIA, Made in Thailand, FULL SENSEÂ
Philippines: South Built Esports,NAOS Esports, Action PHÂ
Indonesia: BOOM Esports, BOY WITH LOVE, ONIC EsportsÂ
Vietnam: CERBERUS Esports, Fancy United Esports, Team Big BAAM Singapore/Malaysia: Paper Rex, Bleed eSports,NNÂ
Taiwan/Hong Kong: Oblivion Force Griffin E-SportsÂ
South Asia: Velocity Gaming, Global EsportsÂ
Oceania: BonkersÂ
VCT APAC Challengers Playoffs Stage 1 TOURNAMENT FORMAT & DATES

Challenger Stage 1 Playoffs is structured with 3 stages of the competition. Apart from fighting for one of 2 seats in Masters 1, teams will also be competing for a prize pool of USD 150,000.Â
VCT Challengers Stage 1 – APAC Finals Playins:Â Â

 Date: March 10 – 13Â
 Format: 8 teams will play in GSL format. 4 successful teams will proceed to the next stage.Â

VCT Challengers Stage 1 – APAC Finals Groups:Â Â

 Date: March 16 – 21Â
 Format: 16 teams will play in GSL format. 8 successful teams will proceed to the knockout stage.Â

VCT Challengers Stage 1 – APAC Finals Knockouts:Â Â

 Date: March 24 – 27Â
 Format: 8 teams will go through a series of double elimination brackets. The final 2 teams will be invited to Masters 1 in Iceland.Â

BROADCAST DETAILSÂ
Playoffs broadcasts will run from 11 am to 10 pm GMT+8 and will be streamed at the followingÂ  links:Â
VeraEsports the official Esports platform and content hub for all VCT Challengers APAC streams – websiteÂ
VCT PhilippinesÂ

 Twitch – Valorantesports3
 YouTube – VALORANT Esports
 Facebook – VALORANT Esports PH

VCT IndonesiaÂ

 Twitch – Valorant ID
 YouTube – VALORANT Esports ID
 Facebook – VALORANT Esports ID

VCT Malaysia & SingaporeÂ

 Facebook – VALORANT Esports MYSG

VCT ThailandÂ

 Twitch – VALORANT TH
 YouTube – VALORANT Thailand
 Facebook – VALORANT Esports TH

VCT Taiwan, Hong KongÂ

 Twitch – VALORANT TW
 YouTube – VALORANT TW
 Facebook – VALORANT Esports TWHK

VCT VietnamÂ

 YouTube – VALORANT Vietnam
 Facebook – VALORANT Esports VN


RazerCon 2020 Will Showcase Several Upcoming Games

Razer has announced the first-ever inaugural RazerCon, a full-day digital event produced by the peripherals giant with its network of hardware and software partners.
RazerCon 2020 will be held from 12am GMT+8 on 11 October 2020 to 1pm GMT+8 on the same day. It will be livestreamed across Razerâ€™s major social network channels, including Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
RazerCon attendees can expect to tune-in to a variety of exciting events and activities, from exclusive reveals of new Razer products, to previews of upcoming games. The day will conclude with an online concert featuring performances by fan-favourite EDM and metal acts.
RazerCon 2020 will feature:
Global mixed reality keynote by Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, hosted against the iconic Singapore skyline.The worldâ€™s first RGB lighting-reactive live stream.Razer panels held by product managers, showcasing new and unannounced products and discussing design and technology.Exclusive content showcases from multiple game studios such as Romero Games, Perfect World Entertainment, Paradox Interactive and technology partners such as Intel, NVIDIA, and Western Digital.Appearances from gaming celebrities, including an audience meet and greet session with CloakZy and CourageJD, a RazerStreamer panel with PaladinAmber and many more.Concerts by top EDM artists, and a metal concert headlined by Sabaton and Herman Li of DragonForce with special guests Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders) & Tim Henson (Polyphia).
Viewers will be invited to interact on stream to participate in contests and giveaways for a chance to score attractive prizes such as a brand-new Razer Blade 15, Razer and partner hardware, along with in-game items and beta keys from participating game studios.
Min-Liang Tan said:
â€œWe have a very passionate and hardcore gaming community that has stuck with us for many years, and the idea of having a major gathering for Razer fans and all gamers out there was brought up countless times.2020 has been a challenging year for everyone around the world, greatly limiting physical events. We see RazerCon as an opportunity to celebrate gaming and the Razer community while setting a new standard for online events.â€
Global mixed reality keynote hosted against the iconic Singapore skyline
Traditional presentations in front of in-person audiences have become a thing of the past in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kicking off RazerCon 2020, Razerâ€™s Co-founder and CEO, Min-Liang Tan, will showcase Razerâ€™s latest products, services and announcements during a live, virtual keynote presentation set against the iconic Singapore skyline.
The backdrop will be brought to life through immersive mixed-reality technology which incorporates augmented real-time effects, along with live-composited visuals taken from real-world photography and video footage â€“ all this while being streamed live.
The worldâ€™s first RGB lighting-reactive livestream
RazerCon attendees will be in for an audio-visual treat in the first-ever livestreamed event powered by Razer Chroma RGB lighting (patent pending), a proprietary RGB lighting technology system that features 16.8 million colours to create endless animated lighting effects.
Viewers around the world are encouraged to turn on their Razer hardware during the show and watch their Razer Chroma-enabled devices sync and dance to world-class performances from top EDM artists, and heavy metal band Sabaton as well as Herman Li from DragonForce, all of which are part of the RazerCon post-event concert.
The concert portion of the online convention will also tout sound enhanced by the audio engineering experts at THX Ltd, which have been responsible for not only implementing THX Spatial Audio to high-end hardware products, but also delivering it to numerous digital events like the Ocean Meets Festival Music Event.
Exclusive showcases from Razerâ€™s product teams and global game and technology partners
Beyond getting up close with the latest and greatest Razer products as well as new innovations exclusively revealed during the show, viewers will be treated to exclusive previews of upcoming game titles in a true celebration of everything gaming.
Game titles include:
Empire of Sin by Romero Games, with a highlight of the title’s game pillars introduced by the legendary and award-winning game designer, Brenda Romero.A brand-new look at the wild frontier of the upcoming dungeon crawler Torchlight III from Echtra Games and Perfect World EntertainmentA glimpse into the movie adaptation of Mutant Year Zero, directed by Hasraf â€˜HaZâ€™ Dulull.
Attendees can also expect content from many other premium partners supporting RazerCon, such as Intel, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Western DigitalÂ® WD_BLACKâ„¢, ASRock, Paradox Interactive, Perfect World Entertainment, Capcom, and many more.
Interested fans can register their interest in the event from now (by signing up on the official website here) and take part in contests and giveaways leading into the event for a chance to win attractive hardware from Razer and supporting partners.


Animal Shelter Simulator Debuts on PS4 and PS5

Animal Shelter Simulator will now be available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 from March 3. The game is the only game of its kind in which the player runs a shelter for dogs and cats. The game not only requires you to take care of animals but the player is also required to attend to various matters related to the shelter. Previously, Animal Shelter Simulator appeared on PC and Xbox consoles. The game will be released on Nintendo Switch in the first quarter of 2023.
Animal Shelter Simulator is a game by the Polish studio Games Incubator, that debuted first on PC last March. The percentage of positive reviews on the Steam platform is currently 84% (based on over 1,500 player reviews). The simulator was later released on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
Ultimate Games S.A. is responsible for the preparation and release of the game for PlayStation 4. As part of backward compatibility, the title also works on PlayStation 5.
GAMEPLAY

In Animal Shelter Simulator players will find, among others, a construction mode (If you are a fan of SIMS, this is a game for you!) that allows them to plan space and expand the hostel with additional buildings and elements.

The simulator also requires taking care of the finances of the shelter, and in free moments the player can, for example, organize photo sessions for their four-legged pupils.

The main goal is to take care of four-legged pets and to search for the best homes for them. The creators have prepared a system under which each animal has its own individual characteristics, and detailed indicators determine their condition and well-being.
“This unique simulator, created for younger and older animal lovers, takes a broad approach to running a shelter, combining simulation and fun in the right proportions. On the one hand, you can play with animals and treat them, and on the other – you also have to care for the economic matters related to the activities of the shelter”
Says the COO of Ultimate Games S. A., Rafal Jelonek.

It is of course a single-player game and also takes up a teensy tiny small size space of 1.52GB.
Animal Shelter Simulator will have multiple language options: English, Polish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese Brazilian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Turkish
You’ll be able to access the games through the links below based on the platform you wish to get them on!

Animal Shelter Simulator Gameplay Trailer
ANIMAL SHELTER SIMULATOR PLAYSTATION STORE
ANIMAL SHELTER SIMULATOR MICROSOFT STORE
ANIMAL SHELTER SIMULATOR STEAM


Man Rips Off Wordle & Charges For It, Gets Grilled On Twitter

Wordle is the current online phenomenon; players guess a five-letter word, then share their results and attempts via a vague Twitter post. It’s why you’ve been seeing grids of green, yellow, and grey blocks all over your feed as of late.

Wordle 206 4/6
????????????????????
— Mr Toff33, Ouroboros-In-Training (@MrToffee) January 10, 2022

The game itself is simple, challenging, fun, and free. This also means that it’s ripe for cloning. One turned up on the Apple App Store as of late made by Zachary Shakked, and it’s not just a clone. It’s an exact duplicate, with the mechanics and title, as well as a Wordle Pro upgrade option that costs US$30 and unlocks 4, 6, and 7-letter words with unlimited plays per day.
He also bragged about it online:

Of course, there are consequences for ripping off a game that is intended for its original creator’s significant other:

This guy shamelessly cloned Wordle (name and all) as an F2P iOS game with in-app purchases and is bragging about how well it's doing and how he'll get away with it because Josh Wardle didn't trademark it. So gross. pic.twitter.com/kIs8BypuRA
— Andy Baio (@waxpancake) January 11, 2022

While there are most likely clones of Wordle out there as we speak, at least the creators of those knock-offs have the decency and common sense not to brag about it.


The Greatest Versus Game You’ve Never Heard Of

Here’s a video about an SNK 1996 gem that didn’t get the recognition it deserved. It’s time to change that. It’s called Twinkle Star Sprites; we’ve talked about it before, but this is the first time we’ve done a video on it. Enjoy!


Football Continues Digitally With FIFA 20 Stay & Play Cup (Updated)

Update (16 April 2020):
EA and FIFA have released the full roster list of the cub representatives for the FIFA 20 Stay And Play Cup.
Check it out below:

AIK: Nabil Bahoui
Ajax: SergiÃ±o Dest
Atletico Madrid: Joao Felix
Brondby: Jesper LindstrÃ¶m
Chelsea: Cesar Azpilicueta
Dortmund: Achraf Hakimi
DjurgÃ¥rden: Jesper KarlstrÃ¶m
FC Copenhagen: Mo Daramy
HJK Helsinki: Nikolai Alho
Liverpool: Trent Alexander Arnold
Lyon: Bruno Guimaraes
Manchester City: Phil Foden
Marseille: SaÃ®f Khaoui
PSG: Juan Bernat
PSV Eindhoven: Mohamed Ihattaren
Real Madrid: Vinicius Jr
Roma: Justin Kluivert
Tottenham Hotspur: Serge Aurier
Porto: Fabio Silva
Valencia: Manu Vallejo

EA and FIFA have announced the EA SPORTS FIFA 20 Stay And Play Cup, where professional football athletes will go head-to-head with each other, bringing together 20 of the most famous and historic clubs in Europe as they play FIFA 20 in an esports tournament from 15 to 19 April 2020.
The esports tournament will feature professional footballers nominated by each club. However, specific players have not yet been revealed.
Check out the full list below:

England: Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur
France: Olympique Lyonnais, Marseille, PSG
Germany: Dortmund
Spain: Real Madrid, AtlÃ©tico de Madrid, Valencia
Portugal: Porto
Italy: AS Roma
Netherlands: Ajax, PSV Eindhoven
Sweden: AIK, DjurgÃ¥rden
Finland: HJK Helsinki
Denmark: FC Copenhagen, Brondby

They will be playing a single-elimination knockout tournament. Each match will be a one-leg 1v1 match with 85-rated squads, with only the winner advancing to the next round. EA will donate US$1 million to Global Givingâ€™s Coronavirus Relief Fund to support ongoing COVID-19 relief efforts as part of its Stay Home, Play Together initiative.
FIFA Chief Commercial Officer Simon Thomas said:

â€œDuring this unprecedented time, more than ever, we are seeing people come together to find new ways to engage in football.
Itâ€™s encouraging to see the ways we can bring real-world experiences to life with our partners at EA.
We are not only committed to supporting coronavirus relief efforts, but also bringing even more ways for football fans to engage with the sport they love in the coming weeks.â€

Fans can catch the action on theÂ EA SPORTS FIFA Twitch channel or their YouTube channel. If you’re a Malaysian, you can also check all the action on Astro SuperSport HD Channel 811 (SD Channel 831) and on eGG Network Channel 800.

Check out the live matches schedule below:

16 April 2020 at 12am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 1 – Marseille vs Brondby

16 April 2020 at 12.45am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 2 – Valencia vs Djurgarden

16 April 2020 at 1.30am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 3 – PSV Eindhoven vs AIK

16 April 2020 at 2.15am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 4 – Copenhagen vs Helsinki

17 April 2020 at 12am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 5 – Round of 16 Real Madrid vs M1

17 April 2020 at 12.45am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 6 – Round of 16 Chelsea vs Roma

17 April 2020 at 1.30am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 7 – Round of 16 PSG vs M2

17 April 2020 at 2.15am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 8 – Round of 16 Liverpool vs Ajax

18 April 2020 at 12am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 9 – Round of 16 Atletico Madrid vs M3

18 April 2020 at 12.45am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 10 – Round of 16 Tottenham vs Lyon

18 April 2020 at 1.30am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 11 – Round of 16 Manchester City vs M4

18 April 2020 at 2.15am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 12 – Round of 16 Dortmund vs Porto

19 April 2020 at 12am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 13 – Quarter Final 1

19 April 2020 at 12.45am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 14 – Quarter Final 2

19 April 2020 at 1.30am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 15 – Quarter Final 3

19 April 2020 at 2.15am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 16 – Quarter Final 4

20 April 2020 at 1am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 17 – Semi-Final 1

20 April 2020 at 1.45am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 18 – Semi-Final 2

20 April 2020 at 2.30am: Stay and Play Cup 2020: Match 19 – Grand Final


Samurai Bringer Is An Ancient Japan Voxel-Looking Roguelite Slated For Early 2022

If you feel like your roguelike/roguelites need a dash of that lovely voxel Minecraft-style graphics and ronins, Samurai Bringer should be up your alley.
Samurai Bringer is an upcoming roguelite set in ancient Japanese times where you can create your own samurai and defeat hundreds of samurai warriors ancient Japanese mythical creatures like Yamata-no-Orochi and a slew of demons under its wake. Players can mix and match combat techniques to form their own fighting style from spinning blades to flame attacks.
The game’s samurai customization screen also lets you equip a ton of passive bonuses in the form of scrolls you get from defeated enemies. Even if you die in one run, you still keep all these permanent powerups to strengthen your warrior for future battles in randomly-generated levels.

Samurai Bringer will be out in Spring 2022 for PC, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.


Steam Adds New LGBTQ+ Tag On Its Store

In a surprise move, Valve has added a new official tag to its store, and its the ‘LGBTQ+’ tag, allowing developers and customers to sort out the games for faster discovery.
Kotaku reveals that the feature was in development for quite a while. The store’s tagging system was divided into an official and unofficial tag. The official tag helps the storefront recommend games to the players while the unofficial tag is just a system for users to sort out games without being visible to others.
The system was different back then. The LGBT tag had its own hub page, until last year when Valve began to distinguish between official tags and unofficial tags. ValveÂ apparently removed hub page functionality from non-approved tags. This seems to be Valve’s effort to standardise the tags.
The recently added LGBTQ+ tag is now being populated with titles. Kotaku reveals that this occurred shortly after Nepenthe developer Yitz posted on the Steam developer forums about a tag that’s suitable for his upcoming game, To The Dark Tower.

But as we all know, the internet is full of trolls, therefore, developers, such as Yitz, are worried that the tagÂ could be abused by trolls, either by users or developers applying it to games it did not apply to, or by people who portray a bad light towards the community.
Yitz said, “Tags like this are important because of what Steam tags are currently being used for classifying games by various factors that will impact the player’s experience, and recommending games with similar tags to players who seem to like a lot of the given tag.”

“As such, tags are sort of equivalent to visibility, in a way. If I enjoy a lot of games tagged ‘Psychological Horror,’ for example, Steam will show me more psychological horror games. If I want to play more games that challenge traditional gender roles, until today Steam had no way of knowing that.”

This is a good move by Steam to appeal to masses, but with Malaysia being a conservative state, as shown in the recent PUBG debacle, it might attract some flak.


A Live-Action Dungeons & Dragons Series Is In The Works At Paramount Plus

A new live-action Dungeons & Dragons series is in development for Paramount Plus. The first season will feature eight episodes and the first episode pilot script is written by Red Notice director Rawson Marshall Thurber, who is also set to direct the first episode of the series.
According to Deadline, the series will be a co-production between eOne and Paramount Pictures. They are also partnering, co-producing and co-financing the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves movie directed by Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley, which premieres on 31 March 2023.
However, it’s currently unclear if the movie and series will be connected or be considered to be separate. The iconic Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game comes from Wizards Of The Coasts and was first launched over 49 years ago. The franchise has since expanded to include video games and more.
In the meantime, check out the trailer for the Dungeons & Dragons movie below:


Diablo 3 Season 25 To Introduce Soul Shards & New Witch Doctor Set Buffs

Funny story: I came back to Diablo 3 for the 24th Season a few months ago and had a ton of fun just getting all the achievements and some of the new Ethereal power weapons for my Demon Hunter, Monk, and Barbarian. Maybe because it’s been a while since I had a proper PC action RPG fix.
Point is, Diablo 3 will be gearing up for a 25th Season in a few week’s time, which I definitely will be checking out later this month. According to an official Diablo 3 announcement from Blizzard, Season 25 will kick off before the end of 2021 and will be available in the Public Test Realm update.
Here’s what you can expect from patch 2.7.2.
Soul Shards & Hellforge Embers
Season 25 will bring in a new type of socketable items: Soul Shards. Yes, the shards that power up the Prime Evils and Lesser Evils are now available for players to get and use on their weapons and gear in the new Season. There will be seven unique Soul Shards, with each of them bestowing a different demonic power. These Soul Shards can be upgraded three times using a new consumable: the Hellforge Ember. Here’s the quote from the official notice:
“With the upcoming 25th Anniversary of the Diablo Franchise, we wanted players to delve into the darker side of the Nephalemâ€™s past. In Season 25, players can embrace evil by infusing themselves with the essences of the Lords of Hell. Players will embark on their Season Journey to discover and upgrade demonic Soul Shards based on the seven Lords of Hell. By embodying a Prime and Lesser Evil, players will inflict new forms of pain and suffering on the demons of Sanctuary. We canâ€™t wait for players to get their hands on Soul Shards to start unlocking their true power.”
Soul Shards and Hellforge Embers can drop from anywhere in Sanctuary, but Soul Shards have a higher chance to drop from Bosses. Soul Shards cannot be traded, but can be salvaged or utilized in Caldesannâ€™s Despair. You may only equip one Prime Evil Soul Shard and one Lesser Evil Soul Shard at a time. Lastly, Soul Shards and Hellforge Embers only drop in Seasonal play, and will not transfer to your non-seasonal character when the season ends.
For a full list of Soul Shards, check out our PTR guide.
Class Updates
The following classes will be getting changes & buffs: Witch Doctor, Barbarian, Necromancer, Wizard, and Demon Hunter. They’ll be getting changes in their respective sets. There’s been a number of complaints about Season 24 giving the Witch Doctor the shaft power-wise. Conversely, the Wizard has been seeing way too much play thanks to the Firebird Finery set being pretty OP. Speaking of which…
Some Major Item Changes
The Firebird Wizard set is getting nerfed, while the Witch Doctor’s sets & legendary items are getting buffs. Here’s the full list:

Remorseless: While both Wrath of the Berserker and Call of the Ancients are active, Hammer of the Ancients deals 600-800% increased damage.
Shukraniâ€™s Triumph:Â Spirit Walk lasts until you attack 3 times or until an elite enemy is within 20 yards of you. Attacks while in the spirit realm deal 75-100% increased damage.
Lakumbaâ€™s Ornament:Â Reduce all damage taken by 60% if your Soul Harvest stack is at least (1-3), and an additional 2% for each stack of Soul Harvest.
Spider Queenâ€™s Graspâ€‹:Â Corpse Spiders deals an additional 600-800% damage and releases a web on impact that Slows enemies by 80%.
Brood of Araneaeâ€‹:Â Corpse Spiders deals an additional 75-100% damage, and each spider bite causes the target to take an additional 1% damage from Corpse Spiders for 5 seconds.
Spirit of Arachyr (2-piece bonus):Â Corpse Spiders now spawns with health and attacks twice as fast.
Spirit of Arachyr (4-piece bonus):Â Summon a permanent Spider Queen who leaves behind webs that lasts for 15 seconds and Slows enemies. You take 75% reduced damage while in the web. The Spider Queen is commanded to move to where you cast your Corpse Spiders.
Marauderâ€™s Encasement (4-piece bonus):Â Sentries deal 400% increased damage and cast Elemental Arrow, Chakram, Impale, Multishot, and Cluster Arrow when you do, as well as automatically cast your equipped Hatred spenders.
Marauderâ€™s Encasement (6-piece bonus):Â Your primary skills, Elemental Arrow, Chakram, Impale, Multishot, Cluster Arrow, Companions, Vengeance, and Sentries deal 12000% increased damage for every active Sentry.
The Shadowâ€™s Mantle (6-piece bonus):Â Impale deals an additional 75000% weapon damage to the first enemy hit, and 25000% to subsequent enemies.
Bones of Rathma (6-piece bonus):Â Each permanent active minion increases the damage of Army of the Dead by 1750%, up to 31,500%.
Firebirdâ€™s Finery (2-piece bonus):Â Disintegrate Ignites enemies, causing them to take 1500% weapon damage per second until they die. When you die, a meteor falls from the sky and revives you. This effect has a 60-second cooldown.
Firebirdâ€™s Finery (6-piece bonus):Â You gain 2500% increased damage while Ignite is applied to a target. Hitting an Ignited enemy with a non-channeling fire spell deals Ignite damage multiplied by Combustion stacks.

Do note that in the PTR, there will be increased Legendary drop rates, increased experience gain, and double Blood Shard drops so that players can check out the changes super-quick within the two weeks. Speaking of which, Season 25 will start on 19th November, meaning that you have until then to wrap up your Season 24 to-do list.
How To Access Diablo 3 PTR

Select Diablo 3 on the Blizzard launcher.
Go to dropdown menu above â€œplayâ€ button.
Download the PTR client.
Once installed, log in with your email, password, and authenticator.
If itâ€™s your first time logging into the PTR, you can create a new character, or copy one over from an existing Diablo 3 account.


Black Adam Trailer Breakdown: Isis, Osiris & The Justice Society

From New Line Cinema, Dwayne Johnson stars in the action adventure Black Adam. The first-ever feature film to explore the story of the DC Super Hero comes to the big screen under the direction of Jaume Collet-Serra (Jungle Cruise).
The synopsis reads:
Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the ancient gods, and imprisoned just as quickly, Black Adam (Johnson) is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.
Johnson stars alongside Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, Sarah Shahi as Adrianna, Marwan Kenzari as Ishmael, Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone, Bodhi Sabongui as Amon, and Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate.
“Black Adam” smashes into theaters and IMAX internationally beginning from 19 October 2022.
The Origin Of Black Adam

It looks like this version of the character will follow the New 52 origins. He’s a slave named Teth-Adam from thousands of years ago who lived in the fictional land of Kahndaq and was granted powers by the wizard Shazam.
Black Adam pretty much has the same powers as Billy Batson’s Captain Marvel/Shazam, but he gets his powers from a different set of gods: Shu, Horus, Amon, Zehuti, Aten, and Mehen.
Meet The Justice Society
The Justice Society are basically the precursor to the Justice League; a group of heroes.
First up is Hawkman, played by Aldis Hodge. There are several versions of the character, but this is likely the Carter Hall version.

Next is Albert Rothstein AKA Atom Smasher (played by Noah Centineo). Not to be confused with The Atom, his powers is basically super strength and the ability to grow large.

Kent Nelson AKA Doctor Fate is played by Pierce Brosnan and he’s essentially the Doctor Strange of the DC Universe. He gets his powers from one of the Lords Of Order, Nabu.

This swirling person is probably Maxine Hunkel AKA Cyclone (played by Quintessa Swindell). She can manipulate the wind.

Intergang Are The Villains

These are members of Intergang, an organized crime group in the DC Universe who uses alien technology to commit crimes, including technology from Darkseid’s Apokolips. Intergang’s role in the movie was revealed by Sarah Shahi, the actress playing Adrianna Tomaz.

Adrianna Tomaz AKA Isis And Amon Tomaz As Osiris

Sarah Shahi is playing Adrianna Tomaz. In the comics, Black Adam falls in love in Adrianna Tomaz and she’s the main reason for why he becomes more heroic and less of a villain. Adrianna Tomaz also gains powers after Black Adam gives her the amulet of Isis. When she says “I am Isis.”, she will transform and gain the powers of several Egyptian gods and goddesses.

The boy beside Adrianna Tomaz is Amon Tomaz, who is played by Bodhi Sabongui. In the comics, Amon would later also gain powers and become Osiris. He has to say “Black Adam” to transform and activate his powers. Together, Black Adam, Isis and Osiris are the Black Adam family, just like how Captain Marvel/Shazam has his own Marvel family.

There you have it folks.
Check out the Black Adam trailer below:


The PS5 PlayStation Asia Showcase Live Stream Is Happening Next Week

The PlayStation 5 Asia Celebration live stream will take place on 11 November 2020 at 11pm (GMT+8) as PlayStation Asia celebrates the upcoming launch of the PS5.
The live stream will feature Singapore-based influencers like JJ Lin, Joakim Gomez, and Victoria Cheng. Viewers will also stand a chance to win prizes just by participating in quests during this event, including a PS5 Console, a PULSE 3D Wireless Headset or PlayStation Plus 12-Month membership.
However, according to the rules of the events, only users from selected countries will be eligible for the prizes. For example, only PSN account holders in Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore are eligible to win the PS5.

https://www.facebook.com/PlayStationAsia/posts/3738190306213614

Besides unboxing and gameplay sharing sessions, it remains unclear what else this PS5 Asia Celebration live stream will have in store for us. Let’s hope it finally reveals the official prices and release dates for the PS5 in Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and more.
For more details and information, head on over to the official website here. In the meantime, check out allÂ our PS5-related coverage here.


World of Tanks Trade-In Feature Returns

Calling all Tank Commanders!
The Trade-In feature is back for World of Tanks, but for a limited time only so grab the keys to your garage cuz we all know – your lineup could use some sprucing up.
Starting today, Premium Tank owners are able to trade their ride for another as long as it meets several criteria set by Wargaming.net. The announcement post on World of Tanks’ official site read:
(…) can trade-in any premium tank of Tier VI – VIII whenÂ buying a new premium tankÂ available in the tech tree,Â which isÂ of the same or higher tierÂ as your old vehicle.Â
It is possible to trade-in only one vehicle at a time. When trading in, half of your old tank’s value in gold will be reduced from the price of the vehicle you’re attempting to buy.
They also included a scenario example in case you are still wondering how the trade-in works:
Example trade-in:
You want to buy the LÃ¶we, which costsÂ 12,500Â in the game. In exchange you want to trade-in your old Dicker Max, which normally costsÂ 3,200.
Just like selling standard vehicles gives you half of their value in credits, trading in your old premium tank will produce half of its value in gold, which then in turn will be deducted from the price of the tank you are wantingÂ to buy.
In this example, trading in your Dicker Max will yield you half of its price, which isÂ 1,600. Consequently, your new vehicle’s price will be reduced accordingly and you now needÂ 10,900Â for theÂ LÃ¶we.
In short, this trade-in window allows you to convert your Premium Tank into gold coins to purchase other vehicles. This feature is now live and will run til March 2nd 2018 and you can trade-in only vehicles that are of lower or equal Tier to the vehicle you are purchasing, but not lower than Tier VI.
However, we aren’t sure if this feature is available for the game on all platforms and whether World of Tanks Blitz will be getting it as well. We’ve contacted Wargaming.net for clarification and will update you once we receive their official word.
World of Tanks is a free-to-play, historically-realistic tank battle game by Wargaming.net. It’s available for download on the PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2PSyIZt7U8&w=560&h=315]


Hot Toys Reveals Comics Accurate Suit For Rocket Raccoon in Avengers Endgame

Weâ€™re less than two weeks away from Avengers Endgame and the new Hot Toys figures are really giving us closer and more detailed looks at each of the surviving Avengers in the upcoming movie, not to mention the only surviving member of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon.
Rocket’s new costume in Avengers Endgame was first glimpsed in the Super Bowl TV spot in February 2019. We saw him sporting a cool new suit that hews closer to that of his original iconic uniform (with the purple theme and red gloves) back when he first joined the Guardians of the Galaxy in the 2008 comics by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

A leaked image of a Hot Toys figure reveals a closer look at Rocket’s new costume in Avengers Endgame. Behold:

Rocket is not the only wearing a comics-accurate costume in Avengers Endgame. Captain America is finally donning a chainmail-inspired suit, Iron Man is going back to his Silver Age colors and design with the Mark 85, and even Hawkeye is going with the Ronin persona and look.
Avengers EndgameÂ is slated to release on 24 April 2019 in Malaysia,Â two days earlier than in the US. In the meantime, check out theÂ latest Entertainment Weekly covers forÂ Avenger EndgameÂ here.


The Reason Moira Sounded So Familiar

Ever played Overwatch’s latest character Moira and thought to yourself -“She sounded so familiar but I could not put my finger on it”? Well wonder no more as the actress who voiced her -Â Genevieve Oâ€™Reilly – also played Mon Mothma in Rogue One as well as voicing the same character in the animated series, Star Wars: Rebels.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frdj1zb9sMY&w=560&h=315]
To a lesser extent, she was also seen in a much lesser and forgettable role as Officer Wirtz in Matrix: Reloaded and Matrix: Revolutions. That’s one cool trivia for you today (in case you haven’t known about it) which hopefully encourages more players to try out this newest support character.
While you are at it, check out all of skins available to the character below:

Able to heal and deal significant damage to her opponents, Moira is a combination of many characters into one – the elusiveness of Sombra, the healing capabilities of Mercy with the AOE seeking damage of Symmetra. She also packs a powerful ultimate that looks a lot like a souped up Kamehameha – dealing damage to opponents while at the same time heals anyone nearby.


Arma III Is Getting Its First Paid-For Third-Party DLC

For those of you still playing the pretty-realistic military shooter Arma III, there’s new content heading your way. The upcoming paid-for third-party DLC will be out tomorrow on Monday, 29 April.
The DLC is called Global Mobilization, and it’s created by a two-person team called Vertexmacht. Here’s what you’re getting:

a 10-mission single-player campaign focused in the inner German border from the perspective of a private in a West German army and a leader of a tank platoon.
17 multiplayer scenarios, including a deathmatch mode called “Fashion Police” where teams can change based on the clothing you wear.
more than 40 new vehicles from the 1980s Cold War Germany scenario
21 new weapons
about 419 square kilometers of terrain in both summer and winter variants, which is bigger than everything else in Arma III.

Developer Bohemia insists that this third-party DLC is not a paid mod, according to its recent statement.

“We believe that these DLC packs would not have otherwise existed or be possible as mods of similar quality and scope. Third-party DLC will never replace something that was available for free.”

For context, all third-party DLC must be a new project pitched to and approved by Bohemia, as well as go through a number of QA processes, legal and publishing support, and other needs throughout its development.
There’s no pricetag for the DLC, but you can check out more info about it here on the Steam page.


Overwatch 2 New Users Will Have To Play 100 Matches To Unlock All Original Heroes

With Overwatch 1 shutting down on 2 October, it’s only a matter of time until the sequel takes over with its 5v5, new maps, and new free-to-play system. What could possibly go wrong?
A lot, it seems. First-time Overwatch 2 players will have to unlock old heroes by playing 100 matches. In addition, features like in-game chat and competitive mode will only be unlocked when said new players have met certain requirements. Hope you’re able to win 50 matches because that’s the only way to play competitive mode.
Blizzard is calling this gatekeeping “First Time User Experience”. See, this system is meant to gradually ease players into the game following consistent feedback from new Overwatch players. Here’s the company’s reasoning:

“This focused experience eases new players into the world of Overwatch by teaching them about different modes, rules, and other high-level aspects of the game in an approachable way. Most FTUE restrictions are lifted while in a group, so new players can team up with their friends at any time to play almost any game modes. Competitive is the exception to this rule because new players must complete a specific challenge to access this game mode.”

How are older players going to invite new players into their games and show them the ropes if they’re barred from basic features via this wall? It remains to be seen if this will play out positive or otherwise.
But Wait, There’s More!
Apparently, all Overwatch 2 players will be required to have a phone number attached to their Battle.net account. Here’s why:

“This additional layer of security is an industry-proven solution in combating both cheating and disruptive behaviour, further protecting your Overwatch 2 experience from bad actors.”

This also means that the company will be able to record voice chat and keep tabs on your account(s). So play nice, play fair, and let big brother Blizzard keep watching, eh?


You Never Saw It Coming! Persona 5 Stage Play Happening In Japan

Impatient for Persona 5 Royal to come out? Can’t wait to be reunited with your Phantom Thieves buddies? Well guess what, you can see them up front in Japan this December.
Persona 5 the Stage is a stage play adaptation of the hugely popular JRPG of the same name. Actor Ino Hiroki, who has performed on stage play adaptations for anime such as Bleach and Haikyuu, will play the role of Joker. The official website shows that other members of the cast will be revealed soon.

The only staff member known so far is Nishimori Hideyuki, bearing the dual responsibilities of producer and scriptwriter. This isn’t the first time Nishimori directs a stage play for a video game as he was also in charge of the script and production of last year’s Danganronpa 3 THE STAGE.
In Tokyo, the show will be performed at the Tennozu Galaxy Theater from 19 December to 29 December 2019.
In Osaka, it will be performed at the Mielparque Hall Osaka from 13 December to 15 December 2019.
Tickets aren’t being sold yet so if you’re keen on getting yourself a seat, make sure to keep an eye on the official website and the show’s official Twitter account.


Star Wars Jedi And Racer/Commando Collection Launches This October

THQ Nordic and Aspyr Media (Knights of The Old Republic remake) will be releasing a bunch of old Star Wars games in bundles and collections.
First up is the Star Wars Jedi Knight Collection. This bundle features Star Wars Jedi Knight II and Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. You play as Kyle Katarn, a merc-turned-fresh Jedi with Force powers, going through single-player missions set in the world of Star Wars. There’s also online competitive multiplayer going on as well for the collection.

We're thrilled to announce that we will be bringing two new exciting bundles to PS4 and Nintendo Switch, in partnership with @THQNordic
The STAR WARS™ Jedi Knight Collection and the STAR WARS™ Racer and Commando Combo are coming to a store near you later this year! pic.twitter.com/DqX7ZpTMdF
— Aspyr (@AspyrMedia) October 11, 2021

The other collection is Star Wars Racer And Commando Combo, which is a bundle featuring Star Wars Episode 1 Racer and Star Wars Republic Commando. Basically, you’re getting two classics: one racing game and one squad-based real-time shooter.
Both collections cost US$29.99 each and they are available for PS4 and Nintendo Switch. The PS4 version is out on 26th October and the Switch version is on 16th November.
I do wonder why they didn’t include Dark Forces and the first Jedi Knight in the first collection. Ah, well.


For Honor Frozen Shores Launches Next Week

Ubisoft has announced that For Honor Year 5 Season 4 Frozen Shores will be available on 9 December 2021. A later update, Title Update 2 (TU2), will bring a new hero and other experiences and rewards in the world of For Honor on 27 January 2021.
During a calm winter, all factions recover from their losses caused by the perils of Tempest, except for mysterious ships that have navigated the rising waters of Heathmoor and ended up at the docks.Â
From 9 December until 30 December 2021, For Honor will offer a limited-time event, Frostwind Celebrations. During this event, players will be able to progress through a Free Event Pass and gain access to a multitude of rewards such as a Paired-Emote, new Battle Outfit, an Effect and an Ornament. There will also be weapons available for players to loot. Players can purchase a Battle Pass with premium content including new Battle Outfits, Ornaments, Execution, Podium and Effects.
Following last season’s Testing Grounds, improvements to the Shinobi will be added to the live game on season launch. For Honor will also have another phase of Testing Grounds from 30 December 2021 to 6 January 2022, focusing on the Dominion game mode and Conqueror. Changes for Dominion will include capture speed, renown, hard points and other UI improvements.
On 27 January 2021, Title Update 2 brings a new hero into the world of For Honor, as well as limited-time experiences and rewards. The Covenant Games return, allowing players to play the Carousel of Horkos game mode, with rewards including a Battle Outfit and an Ornament as well as an Effect. A Throwback Event, the Black Priorâ€™s Riposte, will also bring back original rewards and weapons.
For Honor is currently available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Malaysian Tabletop Makers Offers Bundle To Raise Funds For Flood Victims

Several Malaysian game designers have assembled and are offering a bundle of tabletop games on itch.io to raise funds for flood victims in Malaysia. You can get up to 25 games in the bundle, and all proceeds will go to Mercy Malaysia’s flood relief fund.
The Malaysia Flood Relief 2021 Bundle includes tabletop games from Aaron Lim, Alyssa Yeo, Centaur Games, Kristen Chin, Nana, Rick Chia, Samuel Mui Shen Ern, Tun Kai Poh, Valis Teoh and Zuhayri Mohamed. There are two tiers to the bundle, where US$15 features 10 games worth US$37 (Dirty Machine, An Altogether Different River + Branching Streams, The Ech0 Consultation, CASE CLOSED, Sleeping in Your Heart, Knight of Your Life, How Lonely It Is To Be A Ghost, Tall Tales & Alien Skies, and Mr-Kr-Gr).
Meanwhile, the more expensive US$45 features an additional 15 games on top of that, for a total value of US$132 (ECH0, Homebound, What Should We Have Tomorrow?, Royal Rumble, Capitalites, Blood and Meat, Stories to Astonish the World, 22 Minutes, Uncover Your Story, and six more zines from A Thousand Thousand Islands).
The special bundle offer will end in less than four days, and again, all proceeds will go to Mercy Malaysia’s flood relief fund, so it’s all for a good cause. Every little bit helps. Plus, you’ll get to support local tabletop creators and have some fun at the same time.

A bunch of Malaysian game designers have put together a bundle of tabletop games on itch to raise funds for flood relief efforts in Malaysia. You can get up to 25 games in the bundle, and all proceeds will go to Mercy Malaysia's flood relief fund. Link in the next tweet: pic.twitter.com/juqdc1ANOC
— Aaron Lim ??? (@ehronlime) December 20, 2021


HBO GO August 2022: Our Picks & Highlights

I’m sure you won’t want to waste time sifting through HBO GO’s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so I’m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for HBO GO August 2022 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Industry Season 2 (2 August 2022)

From creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, the second season continues to offer an insider’s view of the black box of high finance, following a group of young bankers as they forge their identities within the pressure cooker environment and sex and drug-fuelled blitz of international bank Pierpoint & Co’s London office. In Season 2, Harper, Yasmin and Robert must drive new business and make new alliances both in and out of the office as Pierpoint and its junior bankers seek to take every advantage in a post-COVID world. Stars Myha’la Herrold, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawty and David Jonsson.
It premieres on Tuesday, 2 August 2022 at 9am on HBO (Astro Channel 411) and HBO GO.

Halloween Kills (13 August 2022)

Picking up minutes after the events of the 2018 film Halloween, Laurie Strode is rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after leaving masked monster Michael Myers caged and burning in her basement. However, Michael manages to free himself from Laurie’s trap to resume his ritual bloodbath. As Laurie fights for her life and prepares to defend herself against him, she inspires all of Haddonfield to rise up against their unstoppable monster. Together with a group of survivors from Michael’s first rampage, the Strodes form a vigilante mob that sets out to hunt Michael down, once and for all. Stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak and James Jude Courtney.
It premieres on Saturday, 13 August 2022 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Channel 411) and HBO GO.

Series Finales

Catch the nail-biting finales to ongoing series that are currently streaming on HBO GO. These include Westworld Season 4 starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Ed Harris and Jeffrey Wright, on Monday, August 15; as well as Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin featuring Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Maia Reficco, and Tony Award-winning Filipino actress Lea Salonga on Thursday August 18.

Queenpins (20 August 2022)

Inspired by a true story, this outrageous comedy follows a bored and frustrated suburban homemaker, Connie Kaminski and her best pal JoJo Johnson, a vlogger with dreams, who turns a hobby into a multi-million-dollar counterfeit coupon caper. Stars Kristen Bell and Kirby Howell-Baptiste.
It premieres on Saturday, 20 August 2022 at 9pm on HBO (Astro Ch 411) and HBO GO.

House Of The Dragon (22 August 2022)

Based on George R.R. Martin’s Fire & Blood, the series is set 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones and will tell the story of House Targaryen. Stars Paddy Considine, Matt Smith, Olivia Cooke, Emma D’Arcy, Steve Toussaint, Eve Best, Fabien Frankel, Sonoya Mizuno, and Rhys Ifans.
It premieres on Monday, 22 August 2022 on HBO GO.

Those are just several selected highlights from next month’s offerings of new TV series and movies on HBO GO next month. Now you can plan your HBO GO watchlist for August 2022.


Aladdin And The Lion King Remastered Collection To Traumatize Gamers New & Old

The House of Mouse plans to re-release two of Virgin Interactive’s 2D platformers based on Disney’s Aladdin and The Lion King. According to a leaked screenshot of a 2019 GME Conference (via W and GameXplain), the two games will be available in a 2-for-1 bundle for pre-order starting 28th August and will be for the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. Maybe even for PC.

Aladdin and Lion King game remakes hitting October – all systems – just announced at GameStop con @Wario64
— W (@wolverinefactor) August 27, 2019

These new versions of the 1993 and 1994 controller-breaking classics will be playable in its original and 1080p resolutions, retain its original soundtracks, and comes with assist options to fast-forward and rewind to any part of the stage. It even gives you the option to auto-play itself if you suck really hard at a “kids” game.
I am kidding about it being a “kids” game; these games are notoriously difficult. Aladdin’s challenge level ramps up as soon as you reach the Cave of Wonders -damn you carpet ride! The Lion King’s barrier of entry is its “Can’t Wait To Be King” segment. F***ing monkeys.
In case you need a reminder, here’s how both games play. Don’t be fooled by how easy this looks; try playing this game without save states.


Here’s What To Expect From Anthem’s Endgame Post-Launch

Bioware has announced that it’s planning to support its upcoming game with constant post-launch updates called ‘Acts’. These Acts will expand on Anthem‘s storylines by adding new locations, gameplay features, and more. This means that after finishing Anthem‘s main story, players can look forward to a bunch of endgame content.
Anthem‘s Act 1 ‘Echoes of Reality’ will be launching sometime in March, and players who complete the game’s first Act will be able to experience a Cataclysm; which is described as a limited-time event that comes with extreme weather, new enemies, and new mysteries to solve.

Here’s what we know about Anthem‘s endgame content so far:

The Pilot level cap is currently set at 30, but players may still continue to upgrade their Javelins adding higher-level and more powerful gear to their loadout.
There will be six levels of difficulty in Anthem, including Easy, Normal, Hard, Grand Master, Grand Master 2, and Grand Master 3. The last three tiers of difficulty can only be unlocked once players reach the Pilot level cap of 30.
A variety of endgame mission types will be made available for players. These include contracts and legendary contracts given by different factions(which will grant access to better crafting blueprints), as well as daily, weekly, and monthly challenges that will reward crafting material and coins.
Players can gather their squad to raid Strongholds, featuring some of the highest-leveled challenges and enemies in the game, which will yield the best loot in the game.
All of the aforementioned mission types can also be tackled randomly through Anthem‘s free-roaming Freeplay mode, where players can explore the world at their own leisure.

As of now, two more unrevealed Acts will follow Act 1 ‘Echoes of Reality’. Anthem is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 22 February 2019. In the meantime, check out the video breakdown of Anthem‘s endgame content below, and our first impressions of the game from the recent demo here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2RHMcfHkg&w=560&h=315]


Marvel TV Head Jeph Loeb To Leave After A Decade Of Service

Jeph Loeb will reportedly be leaving his current position of Marvel Television executive vice president and head after almost 10 years of service. According to sources close to Variety, he is looking to officially announce his exit from the company by Thanksgiving 2019, which will be on 28 November 2019.
Loeb was responsible for almost every Marvel TV series for the past decade, including Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD, the Marvel Netflix universe (Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher, The Defenders), Runaways, Cloak and Dagger, Legion, as well as all the animated shows.
He is also an Eisner-award-winning veteran in the comics industry, having written the iconic Batman: Hush and Batman: The Long Halloween for DC Comics, and many more at other publishers like Marvel Comics, Image Comics, and Dark Horse.Â Besides all that, Loeb was a writer/producer on the TV series Smallville and Lost, as well as a writer/executive producer on the TV series Heroes.

News of Loeb’s upcoming departure comes shortly after it was recently announced that Kevin Feige will be the new Chief Creative Officer for Marvel Entertainment as a whole, overseeing the company’s content creation, including publishing, movies, TV and animation. This means that Loeb would have to answer to Feige, granting the latter decisive power over Marvel Television moving forward.
However, Loeb’s departure isn’t so surprising, considering how much Marvel TV has declined in the past few years. The Marvel Netflix universe is dead, with the only notable series right now being Marvel’s Agents Of SHIELD (and that’s already in its final season). All the upcoming TV series like Loki and WandaVision will be produced by Marvel Studios, instead of Marvel TV.


GDC 2020 Talks And Ceremonies To Go On(line)

Thanks to the power of the internet, GDC 2020 won’t be entirely absent this year. Talks will be streamed between 16 March to 20 March 2020, the week which the event was supposed to take place before being affected by Covid-19.
“Thanks to submissions from many of the original speakers who had talks accepted for GDC 2020, organizers will be streaming speaker-recorded versions of the talks they would have given in person, for free all week (from 9am to 5pm PT) from MarchÂ 16thÂ throughÂ 20th,” GDC wrote in a blog post.
In Malaysia (and other Southeast Asian countries), that means that they’ll be streamed from 12am to 8pm GMT+8 from 17 March to 21 March 2020.
In addition, the Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice Awards ceremonies will be streamed on Twitch on 18 March 2020 at 5pm PT (or 19 March 2020 at 8am GMT+8 in Malaysia).
They will retain the same hosts (Trent Kusters and Kim Swift respectively) as their original physical versions. Most of the award categories are maintained as well, with the exception of the alt.ctrl.GDC award.
One hour before the awards, Double Fine and iam8bit (the former E3 2020 creative director) will have a “virtualized 2020 edition” of their Day of the Devs showcase. The showcase was originally meant to let visitors try over 70 unreleased indie games. Now, those games will be “beamed straight onto your device of choice via the official GDC stream”.

A streaming schedule for the talks will be posted here on 13 March 2020. If you miss any of the talks, you can find them on the GDC Vault and their YouTube channel sometime after the event.


This Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod Let You Play As Animals

The RDR2 mod scene is a-buzzing following the PC version’s release. These highlighted ones let you play as animals.
The Model Swap mod on Nexus Mods let you replace ArthurÂ  Morgan with any number of other characters using a simple save edit. Switching to an animal lets you properly control one and make it move just as accurate as its in-game counterpart would. Birds,Â  bears, sheep: as long as it’s in RDR2, it’s fair game.
It’s still a work in progress, but it’s pretty impressive how fast this is set up given that the game was out late last Tuesday.


New Job Openings Alludes To A Ghost Of Tsushima Sequel

While Sucker Punch has yet to officially announce a sequel to Ghost Of Tsushima, several new job openings heavily indicate that the developer is at least planning to start working on a potential Ghost Of Tsushima 2.
What’s interesting is that the new Sucker Punch job postings forÂ narrative writerÂ andÂ associate outsource artistÂ both mention “knowledge of feudal Japanese history” and “an interest or familiarity with traditional Japanese culture and aesthetic”.
It’s almost a forgone conclusion. What else could it be but a Ghost Of Tsushima 2?
However, none of the job postings specifically mentions Ghost Of Tsushima by name. In most cases, developers don’t really mention the game that you’ll be working on outright in the job listings. The industry is secretive like that.
The multiplayer component Ghost Of Tsushima Legends recently dropped just last week, and you can check out our review of the game here.


Diablo 4 Early Access & Open Beta: Here’s When You Can Download & Play It

Activision Blizzard has announced the time and date action RPG fans can download the Early Access and Open Beta for the upcoming title Diablo 4.
Players can download the beta early for the Early Access version on 16 March at 12am GMT+8 (an hour after 15 March 11pm GMT+8). Early downloads for the Open Beta will begin 23 March at 12am GMT+8 (an hour after 22 March 11pm GMT+8).
What Time & When Does The Diablo 4 Beta Start?
The Early Access’s start time for both Early Access is on 18 March 0:00 GMT+8, while its end time is on 21st March 3am GMT+8. The Open Beta starts at 25th March 0:00 GMT+8 and ends on 28th March 3am GMT+8.
If you find any bugs during the Early Access and Open Beta sessions, you can post all your queries and reports on the Diablo 4 forums starting 17 March.
The beta’s World Boss Ashava will be out in the Fractured Peaks, ready for fighting at the following times: 18 March and 25 March at 10am, 12pm, 10pm, and midnight PDT. You may want to bring a big group for this fight.
For more info about the Early Access and Open Beta, head to our feature page.


The PS5 Will Be Backwards Compatible With 99 Percent Of PS4 Games

Thanks to the PS5 Showcase earlier today, we now know the price and release date of the PlayStation 5.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan said that “thousands” of PS4 games have been tested, and that “99 percent” of them will work on the PS5.
Previously, Sony only confirmed that the PS5 will be able to run the “top 100” PS4 games, but later added that the PS5 will support an “overwhelming majority” of PS4 games.
Ryan also said that he expects the PS4’s life span to continue for another “three or four years,” and that the system will continue to be supported in that timeframe.
“Many will transition to PS5, we hope if we do our job well, but tens of millions will still be engaged with the PS4.”
That sounds true, especially now that we know certain PS5 games like the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West will also be coming to the PS4.
During the PS5 Showcase, Sony also announced the PlayStation Plus Collection, which gives subscribers on PS5 access to several of the PS4’s best games, including Bloodborne, 2018’s God Of War, Uncharted 4, and more.

In case you missed it,Â check out ALL the games from the recent PS5 Showcase, orÂ head on over hereÂ to find out the official price and release date for the PS5.


Samba De Amigo: Party Central Is Sega’s New Maracas Party Game For Switch

Shake your bon bon, because the Samba de Amigo franchise is making a comeback under a new name – Samba de Amigo: Party Central.
The rhythm game that started its heyday on the Sega Dreamcast is back again for the Nintendo Switch this summer for US$39.99. For those who don’t know, you use your peripherals (your JoyCons in this case) to shake to the beat and the inputs on-screen for points.
Here is the game’s key features and debut trailer. Get shakin’!
Key Features

Get up and shake it center stage in this vibrant and colourful rhythm action game with smooth Joy-Con controls that make the game fun for everyone.
Groove to 40 hit songs from the world’s most popular genres, with more arriving as post-launch DLC!
Test your technique in a variety of minigames and challenges.
Strut that style by customizing your character with unique costumes and accessories.
Hit the dance floor and play online in World Party mode.
Show the world what you’ve got by competing on the online leaderboards.


It’s Official; Codemasters Approves EA Takeover

Late last year, EA announced that they were going to acquire Codemasters. Now, the studio’s board of directors have finally voted in favour of approving the acquisition (via PC Gamer), which means that EA’s takeover will be official by sometime in Spring 2021.
EA previously topped Take-Two’s initial bid for Codemasters with a whopping US$1.2 billion bid. After buying Codemasters, EA affirms that they planning to use Codemasters to propel themselves to becoming “a global leader in racing entertainment”, churning out annual releases of racing games.
Right now, EA only releases new racing games every few years with the Need For Speed franchise, the latest of which was 2019’s Need For Speed Heat by Ghost Games. Itâ€™s important to point out thatÂ Formula One,Â DiRT,Â DiRT Rally,Â Grid,Â Project Cars,Â Need for SpeedÂ andÂ Real RacingÂ are now under one roof.
Codemasters is best known for its racing games, such as the annualÂ F1Â franchise andÂ DirtÂ series, the most recent of which wasÂ Dirt 5Â (check out our review here).


Gungrave G.O.R.E. New Trailer Showcases Bullets, Beauty, & Badassery

Action game Gungrave G.O.R.E, based on the anime serieis from Yasuhiro “Trigun” Nightow, now has a stylish looking gameplay-filled trailer courtesy of publisher Prime Matter and developer Studio Iggymob.
The game features protagonist Beyond The Grave still unloading loads of bullets from his giant gun, as well as giant-ass rockets in a semi-realistic backdrop that’s part colourful and part gorey. If you remember all those Devil May Cry clones back in the early 2000s era where the PS2 reigned supreme, you’ll get loads of those vibes here. In fact, it’s almost similar to the PS2 Gungrave game that came out around that same period, just with a new coat of paint, and hopefully new controls.

Gungrave G.O.R.E will be out in Fall 2022 for PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4.


Hades Zagreus Nendoroid Is Now In Production

Good Smile Company, the makers behind many, many cute Nendoroid figures, is currently hard at work in making a chibi version of Hades’ main character.
The Japanese company has announced that a Nendoroid of Zagreus is in the works. More information will arrive soon, hopefully before 2021 ends.

Congratulations to @SupergiantGames on the 1st Anniversary of HADES!!
We're excited to announce that a Nendoroid of Zagreus is currently in the works! Stay tuned for more information coming soon!#HadesGame #nendoroid #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/jWqgTfNpHW
— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) September 17, 2021

Hades the game is out now for PC (Epic Games and Steam), Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. It’s one of Kakuchopurei’s best games of 2020; you should probably go play it if you haven’t. Right now.


Nintendo Direct February 2023: All The Games

Earlier today, the first Nintendo Direct presentation of 2023 took place. It lasted around 40 minutes and unveiled release dates for various upcoming Nintendo Switch games for the first half of 2023.
Highlights of the live stream include a new trailer for The Legend Of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom, a release date for Pikmin 4, a surprise launch of Metroid Prime Remastered, Game Boy Advanced games coming to the Switch, and more.
Check out our full coverage below:

SEA OF STARS FINALLY HAS A RELEASE DATE
GHOST TRICK: PHANTOM DETECTIVE WILL BE PORTED TO PC & CURRENT CONSOLES THIS SUMMER
DON’T NOD ANNOUNCES NEW NARRATIVE GAME HARMONY: THE FALL OF REVERIE
SAMBA DE AMIGO: PARTY CENTRAL IS SEGA’S NEW MARACAS PARTY GAME FOR SWITCH
ETRIAN ODYSSEY ORIGINS HD REMASTER COLLECTION ANNOUNCED FOR NINTENDO SWITCH & PC

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA TEARS OF THE KINGDOM CONFIRMED TO BE THE FIRST US$70 NINTENDO SWITCH TITLE
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA TEARS OF THE KINGDOM GETS EPIC NEW TRAILER DURING NINTENDO DIRECT
A NEW PROFESSOR LAYTON ADVENTURE GAME IS IN THE WORKS
METROID PRIME REMASTERED GETS SURPRISE LAUNCH ON SWITCH LATER TODAY
GAME BOY & GAME BOY ADVANCE GAMES TO COME OUT ON NINTENDO SWITCH LATER TODAY
DECA POLICE IS A NEW DETECTIVE JRPG SLATED FOR 2023

ADVANCE WARS 1+2 RE-BOOT CAMP DEPLOYS ON SWITCH THIS APRIL
DISNEY ILLUSION ISLAND ASSEMBLES MICKEY & FRIENDS ON SWITCH THIS JULY
SPLATOON 3 DLC TO BRING BACK INKOPOLIS IN SPRING 2023
XENOBLADE 3 VOLUME 3 DLC OUT THIS FEBRUARY; VOLUME 4 OUT IN 2023
PIKMIN 4 DROPS ON NINTENDO SWITCH THIS JULY
LEVEL-5 ANNOUNCES NEW FANTASY LIFE ENTRY


The Xbox PC Game Pass Expands To 40 More Countries

Microsoft has announced that they have expanded the PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass on PC to 40 new countries. This makes the the total number of countries with the subscription service to reach a whopping 86.
Here are the 40 new countries:

 Albania
Algeria
Bahrain
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Georgia
Guatemala
Honduras
Iceland
Kuwait
Latvia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
Oman
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Qatar
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Tunisia
Ukraine
Uruguay

New members looking to join PC Game Pass can head over here to learn more about local pricing as well as how to sign up.
To celebrate the launch, new members will receive a special welcome offer for their first three months for a limited time. Those who were a part of our Insider Program will receive two free months of PC Game Pass membership, with no further action needed, as a thank you for helping us shape the experience and being one of the first PC Game Pass members in your country. This will be available directly in member’s accounts in the coming days.


The Demon Slayer 3D Anime Fighting Game Is Coming Out This October In English

The Demon Slayer anime video game, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles, is a mouthful to say, especially if you’re planning on buying it later this year.
The video game adaptation from CyberConnect2 will be out on 15th October for PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4. It will be out in digital and physical form, costing US$59.99 for the standard edition and US$69.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition.
The regular version will include a character unlock key for Demon Slayer Academy Tanjiro as a bonus. All launch period versions will include unlock keys for Demon Slayer Academy Giyu Tomioka and Shinobu Kocho as well.
The Digital Deluxe Edition will include the following:

Character unlock keys for Demon Slayer Academy Tanjiro Kamado, Demon Slayer Academy Nezuko Kamado, Demon Slayer Academy Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Demon Slayer Academy Inosuke Hashibira
The in-game costume â€œButterfly Mansion Patient Wearâ€ for Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Inosuke Hashibira
8,000 Slayer Points
Early access to the game on 13th October.

Sounds like Demon Slayer fans can get their 3D fighting and action on earlier than usual if they have the cash. Gameplay trailer & English dub gameplay below:

You can also check out the game’s official webcast that will premiere later today at 7pm.


Air Sees Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Reuniting For Nike Michael Jordan Story

Amazon has unveiled the first trailer for Air.
From award-winning director Ben Affleck, AIR reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. This moving story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent, and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.
Air premieres on 5 April 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


New Hellboy Hot Toys Officially Announced

Hot Toys is ready to bring the hellfire as the company officially announces a new line of Hellboy Hot Toys collectibles based on the upcoming Hellboy reboot directed by Neill Marshall. This was revealed in a tweet posted by the Hot Toys Twitter account earlier today.

2019 is destined to be legendary as Hot Toys is excited to announce its amazing line of Hellboy collectibles! All hell breaks loose when Hot Toys unveils its line soon. Are you ready to claim your destiny? #HellboyMovie #HellboyFilm #BPRD #HellboyDay #HandOfDoom #AnungUnRama pic.twitter.com/6aiPblgPW1
â€” Hot Toys (@hottoysofficial) March 5, 2019
Though the tweet doesn’t reveal when the new line of Hellboy Hot Toys will arrive or even a glimpse of how they will look like, it does promise that they will be unveiled soon. The Hellboy movie is slated to release on 11 April 2019 so it will certainly be legendary if Hot Toys were to at least reveal some of them near the release date.
Hot Toys previously released Hellboy figures based on Guillermo Del Toro’s version of Big Red, as portrayed by Ron Perlman. Take a look at that below.

I’m hoping to get a Hot Toys figure of either Ben Daimio’s were-Jaguar form or the Hellboy in Mexico’s bat-wrestler.
This would make a great figurine.
In the meantime, check out our breakdown and analysis of the recent red band Hellboy trailer here, or rewatch it below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsBO4b3tyZg&w=560&h=315]


Streamer Disguised Toast Signs All-Female Valorant Team For VCT Game Changers

DSG just announced their all-female Valorant team for VCT Game Changers! And guess who’s on it? Kyedae, QuaterJade, Sydeon, and TrulyTenzin.
It all started when some female Valorant streamers began streaming their coaching and scrim sessions. Fans started speculating that these four big-time streamers might be forming a team to compete in Game Changers. And guess what? It turns out they were right!
On 28 March, Disguised Toast finally confirmed the roster for the much-anticipated Game Changers team. Along with Kyedae, QuaterJade, Sydeon, and TrulyTenzin, the team includes Lydia “tupperware” Wilson, a former Game Changers player for Immortals, and Corey “ruin” Hartog, a former coach for Complexity Gaming.

Introducing the DSG Game Changers team!
players:@QuarterJade @kyedae @Sydeon @TrulyTenzin @tupperwareplays (In-Game Leader)
coach:@CoachRuin
They'll be streaming their scrims and practice throughout the week!
Open Qualifiers starts April 4th! pic.twitter.com/ETXHZ1F95k
— DSG (@Disguised) March 27, 2023

During the streamed coaching and scrim sessions, the team’s dynamic began to take shape. Tupperware, as the most experienced player, was given the role of in-game leader, while the other in-game roles were also decided.
Kyedae is taking on the roles of Controller and Sentinel flex, QuaterJade is the Duelist, Sydeon is another Controller and Sentinel flex, Truly Tenzin is the Initiator flex, and Tupperware is both the IGL and Initiator.
Even though they lost all the maps during their scrims, it was clear that this team has the skills to compete with the best. They executed set plays and strategies discussed during their coaching session, and the team followed Tupperware’s mid-round calling well. It’s safe to say that this is one of the most hyped teams in Game Changers, and fans are eagerly anticipating their debut.


Good Smile Company Announces Jujutsu Kaisen Maki Nendoroid

Jujutsu Kaisen’s most blunt and direct female sorcerer is getting her own Nendoroid action figure thanks to Good Smile Company.
The company will be releasing a Nendoroid of Maki Zenin from the hit anime/manga series along with her various Cursed Tools. She also comes with three face plates with various expressions befitting the green-haired outspoken sorceress.

You can pre-order this cutie right now until 6th January 2022; she will set your wallet about 5,500 yen/US$54.99, and will only be out in May 2022 onward.