Everything We Know About The Nintendo Switch Lite So Far

The upcoming Nintendo Switch Lite was announced very recently and we covered the basics. Its announcement trailer didn’t tell us much and as expected, a lot of new juicy information have been coming out here and there. Let us help you by putting everything we know here:
Price And Release Date

The Switch Lite will be sold for US$199 (â‰ˆRM830) which is a hundred dollar reduction from the original Switch’s launch price of US$299 (â‰ˆRM1,240).
The handheld console will launch worldwide on 20 September 2019 and will coincide with the release of the Link’s Awakening remake.
The special Pokemon Sword and Shield edition will launch on 8 November 2019 for the same price as the regular models.
The regular models will launch in three colours: turquoise, grey, and yellow.
The Specs
Courtesy of Gamespot, we have details of the Switch Lite’s specs and a comparison of features between it and the original Switch.

Pros and (Joy)Cons
If you plan on getting the Switch Lite do note that there are some major trade-offs you’ll have to make, as shown in the table above. Let’s start with the good:
The Switch now has a D-pad! This might be an overreaction but as someone who struggled with the Joy-Con’s button placement (I’m still not used to it), I’m glad to see an old friend make a return. The asymmetrical analog stick placement still bugs me though.
The battery capacity of the Switch Lite is a bit smaller but thanks to its smaller display, it’s going to last long enough for a decent game session. Apparently you’ll be able to play Breath of the Wild for roughly four hours which is not bad.

And now for what’s not so good:
The biggest negative is probably the fact that the Switch Lite will not be dockable. Designed for a completely handheld usage, you won’t be able to connect it to any TVs. This also means that if you already own a Switch, your dock won’t be doing anything new.
Since the Switch Lite won’t come with detachable Joy-Cons, you’ll need to buy separate Joy-Cons for games like 1-2 Switch. If you don’t own a Switch already, you’ll also need to buy a charging grip for them as well. This isn’t too big of a deal since most Switch games are made for handheld mode but if you plan to play Joy-Con-required games, do bear this in mind.
That’s not all, the Switch Lite also lacks a kickstand so even if you do get yourself the Joy-Cons needed, you’re going to need to lean the console on something to play those games. This is really weird. I don’t see why they couldn’t just build in a kickstand.
Oh and there still won’t be any connectivity for bluetooth audio headsets. Bummer.
What Else Is Coming?
Let’s say you already own a Switch and you want to get a Switch Lite purely for gaming outside, is transferring progress between the two possible?

“Yes, you will have the ability to transfer between devices, your gameplay experiences. More to come on there, but that is the intention,”

– Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser (from an interview with CNET)
So on top of being able to Switch Switches, there’ll be more updates coming that will further synergise the two consoles. We’ll just have to wait and see.
So Should You Go Full Handheld?
If all you’re looking for is a no-fluff handheld console for playing Nintendo Switch games and you don’t care much about local multiplayer, go for the Switch Lite.
But if you do have the bucks for the full-fledged Switch, I’d fully recommend getting it instead. You get both portability and big-screen usage wherever you go. Regardless whether you’re at home or in a hotel room, all you need is an HDMI-capable TV to start having fun with your friends and family.
So yeah, if it’s fully handheld gaming you want, go for the Switch Lite. Otherwise, just get the original Switch.


Western Monster Hunter Clone Going Into Full Release Next Week

The full version of the western Monster Hunter clone Dauntless will be releasing next week on 21 May 2019, alongside the launch of the Hunt Pass Season 5: Hidden Blades. According to developer Phoenix Labs (via PCGamer), the new Hunt Pass will “transform the world of Dauntless into a Moon Blossom Festival,” featuring 50 levels of content offering new cosmetics and premium currency rewards.
If you’re wondering why the game is already heading into Season 5, Dauntless has actually been in open beta for the past year or so. The full version of the game will feature “numerous new improvements and content updates”, “massive campaign rework,” and a new “End of Hunt” screen.
To celebrate the game’s full release, Phoenix Labs will also releaseÂ a new Arcslayer pack at launch, including a new “mech-inspired” armor set, premium currency, and consumables. Dauntless is available on the PC via Epic Games Store, PS4, and Xbox One.
In the meantime, check out the Dauntless gameplay footage below to see the gorgeous cel-shaded graphics of the Monster Hunter clone.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bji5csdbnqY&w=560&h=315]


In Toy Story 4, We Find Out What Happened To Woody’s Kinda-Girlfriend

We got our first full look at the official Toy Story 4 trailer, and we’re excited. Not only because it’ll be continuing the adventures of Woody and Buzz, but it’ll probably bring up the following themes:
-Existentialism in the form of Bonnie’s new makeshift toy Forky.
-What life would be for a toy that went missing from his/her owner. Case in point, Bo Peep who went missing in the third movie for plot reasons.
-Woody’s dilemma on whether he should reunite with his main squeeze in a new place or stay on with his buddies.
Or maybe it’ll be a retread of the first Toy Story plot. Either way, it’ll look gorgeous doing so. Will this be the Toy Story that will jump the shark? God only knows June 21.


Here Are All The Overwatch Storm Rising Skins So Far

The next Overwatch Archives event, Storm Rising, will be playable later today. You’d better be goddamn excited since these sort of PvE events help flesh out the game’s soul and offer something other than PvP and entitled toxic behaviour.
Anyway, you’ll be playing all the difficulty levels of this mode -using either Genji, Tracer, Winston, and Mercy- to get a chance to win exclusive skins and cosmetics. We’ve got:
Ashe The Socialite. This gets full marks because it’s classy & shows off B.O.B at his best.Â

Talon Baptiste. The new guy gets the cool threads & legs.

Clown Junkrat. Can’t say “no” to more Junkrat shenanigans.

…and a bunch of others I don’t really care about. To each their own.

In case you need a refresher on how the Havana takedown looks like, check out the official trailer below:


Hi Score Girl Second Season Will Be Out On Netflix This April

If you’re a retro video game fan, you owe it to yourself to watch Hi Score Girl. It blends a cute love story with old-school gaming knowledge bombs and trivia, capturing the 80s and 90s period authentically in anime form. We’re talking Street Fighter II Guile handcuff nonsense and Final Fight perfect runs, yo!
The second season of the show (episode 16 to 24) will be out on Netflix worldwide on 9th April. It’ll be the finale to the show that will culminate the story between Haruo, Akira, and Koharu. As well as feature a ton of fighting video game references grandpas like myself will appreciate.


Remembering Kobe Bryant’s 20-Year Career In Basketball Video Games

Sad news for sports fans: Kobe Bryant tragically passed away recently. He was renowned as the de facto NBA basketball player from his humble beginnings in 1996 to 2016.

This is what the NBA 2K login screen looks like right now ? #RIPKobe pic.twitter.com/Ra1epv4cuc
— Barstool Gametime (@StoolGametime) January 26, 2020

He’s been breaking records and maintaining streaks for 20 years to the point where he’s renowned worldwide.Â To pay tribute to the legend, we at Kakuchopurei will highlight his top tier video game basketball moments.
NBA Live 97 onwards

Back in 1996, Kobe Bryant was selected 13th overall in the 1996 NBA draft. He was 17 at the time and needed to get his parents to cosign his first contract; that was quite a big deal back then to bring in a super-young player in the big leagues.
That also means he was represented in pixelated form in the Megadrive and SNES versions of NBA Live 97 in pixelated glory. Yes, he’s been around with the NBA for THAT long.
Kobe Bryant in NBA Courtside

His debut in the NBA was so legendary that he ended up in his own game for the Nintendo 64. 1998 was indeed a riveting time for polygons in sports games, eh? The game became popular enough at the time to warrant a sequel in 1999, and went multiplatform on PC, PlayStation, and Game Boy Color.
The third game’s title ditched Kobe’s name, although he was still on the cover.

A pity he wasn’t born a few years earlier. Otherwise, he would have been in his own 90s mascot action game.
NBA ’07: Featuring the Life Vol. 2

Remember when Sony had an NBA sports game series on the PS3 and PSP? Good times.
NBA 2K10 Onwards

In 2009 onwards, he’s been appearing in a lot more NBA games than usual. He graced the 2K10 cover of one of 2K Games’ biggest sports meal tickets. That franchise is so bit, not even a microtransaction-influenced slot machine can stop its reign.

Regardless, the NBA games have portrayed the video game version of Kobe Bryant in the best and most accurate way possible within the constraints of technology during their time.
Rest in peace, Black Mamba, and thank you for the memories.


Bungie Is Working On A Brand New Game Series

Bungie, the folks behind the good Halo games and the Destiny series, is planning to put out a brand new IP within the next four years.
This announcement was made alongside a press release talking about the company’s expansion plans, specifically a slew of new hires in their independent studio and a new expansion for its worldwide headquarters. The company’s first international office will be in Amsterdam and will open in 2022.
So will we see a new game from Bungie that isn’t Destiny or a shooter? Who knows? The devs plan to introduce the new IP before 2025 hits. We’re in a COVID-19 world, so delays and postponements of that plan might happen. Though it’ll be nice if they somehow went back to their strategy game roots ala the Myth series.


Assassin’s Creed Finally Goes To Japan & Will Feature Ninjas

Ubisoft has announced a new Assassin’s Creed action RPG in the works: Assassin’s Creed Codename Red.
The upcoming game will be in line with AC Odyssey and AC Valhalla in terms of action and RPGing, being the future of the company’s open-world RPG games in the AC series. The game is being developed by Ubisoft Quebec under the creative direction of Jonathan Dumont. The game will be set in the very heavily-requested setting of Japan and will deal with a powerful shinobi fantasy.
No release date or platforms have been announced yet. In related news, Assassin’s Creed Codename Jade and Codename Hexe have been announced. The former is a mobile game set in feudal China, while the latter is a different type of AC game from Ubisoft Montreal, led by creative director Clint Hawking.

The trio code-named AC games will be connected via the Assassin’s Creed Infinity Hub. According to Ubisoft, they’re still figuring out how to connect all these single-player standalone games into Infinity.


New Journey: What’s Next For The Cast Of The MCU?

The Infinity Saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ended, spanning a total of 22 movies and more than a decade, the first of its kind in history. Beyond Spider-Man: Far From Home, Marvel Studios have yet to officially announce the full extent of their future plans, other than several smaller announcements.
We can already deduce part of what the future can be from the contracts (or lack thereof) of the actors and actresses making up the cast of the MCU. Most of these are based on insider sources from other sites like The Hollywood Reporter.
Keep in mind that spoilers for Avengers Endgame will be flowing freely as I discuss the future of these stars (and the characters they portray) below. It’s not too late to turn back if you haven’t watched the movie yet.
Robert Downey Jr (Tony Stark/Iron Man)

Most of the original founding members of the Avengers originating from the 2012 movie originally signed five-picture deals, which they then renegotiated as the years went by.
In the case of Robert Downey Jr AKA Tony Stark AKA Iron Man, his character met a rather definitive end in Avengers Endgame, sacrificing himself to defeat Thanos once and for all. The actor walked away from the movie a whopping $75 million richer.
Avengers Endgame was highly likely the last time we’ll ever see Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark. Why? His contract was never renewed, as it was only renegotiated with terms to extend his appearances in more movies.
Unless his contract is ever renewed, his heartbreaking sendoff in Avengers Endgame was Robert Downey Jr’s swansong. He’s been here from the very beginning in 2008, it’s high time that the next generation of heroes gets their due.
Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America)

Just like his co-star and fellow Avenger Robert Downey Jr, Evans renegotiated his contract after his initial five-picture deal. Steve Rogers’ fate in Avengers Endgame, while not as definitive as dying, means that this was likely it for Evans in the MCU as well.
Captain America choosing to stay behind in the past and living a full life with soulmate Peggy Carter fulfilled the end of the character’s arc in the MCU. There’s no reason why they would bring back Rogers, especially now that he’s literally given away his shield and mantle of Captain America to Sam Wilson AKA Falcon.
Scarlett Johannson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow)

Despite the fact that she died in Avengers Endgame, Marvel Studios have already confirmed that a standalone Black Widow movie is in the works. Not only will Johannson reprise her role as the former assassin, but she will reportedly also produce her upcoming solo movie, which will earn her a cool $20 million salary.
However, details are scarce on the Black Widow movie, which is currently slated for a 2020 release. Due to Black Widow’s fate in Avengers Endgame, it’s fair to assume that the upcoming movie will likely be a prequel of some sort, allowing us to not only learn more about Natasha’s past in the Red Room but also maybe finally reveal what exactly happened in Budapest with Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye.
Chris Hemsworth (Thor Odinson)

Just like the rest of his founding Avenger co-stars, Hemsworth renegotiated his original five-picture deal with Marvel Studios. However, unlike the definitive ends of Iron Man, Captain America, and Black Widow, Thor remains very much alive and well at the end of Avengers Endgame, even choosing to join the Guardians of The Galaxy team.
While a fourth Thor movie is yet to be confirmed, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is slated to begin production sometime in 2020. Director James Gunn has not revealed the official casting for the upcoming sequel yet, but all members of the team are set to return, likely with Hemsworth’s Thor as a new member.
Thor returning in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is interesting, as the movie could finally introduce his long-time friend in the comics and original wielder of Stormbreaker, the alien known as Beta Ray Bill. However, nothing has been confirmed as of yet, so this all remains speculation for now.
NEXT


Microsoft And Activision Hit Back At FTC’s Cock-Blocking Measure

Earlier this month, the Federal Trade Commission planned to file a lawsuit to stop Microsoft’s US$69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which it argues would enable the company to “suppress competitors” to its Xbox consoles and its subscription content and cloud gaming business. The deal could reduce PlayStation’s ability to compete since it would give Microsoft ownership of the Call of Duty series; the former being the ones to convince the FTC that the deal was against them.
Microsoft and Activision is countering the lawsuit by arguing that the merger would be procompetitive and benefit consumers by making CoD games more broadly available.
“The acquisition of a single game by the third-place console manufacturer cannot upend a highly competitive industry. That is particularly so when the manufacturer has made clear it will not withhold the game.
The fact that Xbox’s dominant competitor has thus far refused to accept Xbox’s proposal does not justify blocking a transaction that will benefit consumers. Giving consumers high-quality content in more ways and at lower prices is what the antitrust laws are supposed to promote, not prevent.
Any suggestion that Microsoft’s statements to the European Commission about ZeniMax were misleading is incorrect. Microsoft explicitly said it would honor Sony’s existing exclusivity rights and approach exclusivity for future game titles on a case-by-case basis, which is exactly what it has done.
The European Commission agrees it was not misled, stating publicly the day after the Complaint that Microsoft did not make any ‘commitments’ to the European Commission, nor did the European Commission ‘rely on any statements made by Microsoft about the future distribution strategy concerning ZeniMax’s games'”.
Activision Blizzard also responded, stating that the FTC is misreading the realities of the competitive gaming industry and “turning antitrust on its head”.
“The FTC ignores the significant benefits of the Transaction in favour of a warped attempt to ignore the facts and rewrite antitrust law and settled precedent to protect Xbox’s competitors from hypothetical harm that has no basis in marketplace realities.
Adding Activision’s content to multigame subscription and cloud gaming, where it would not have been available otherwise, is plainly output enhancing and gives garners more options on how and where to engage with Activision content. Activision, and particularly its King division, will also enable the acceleration of Xbox’s early non-existent mobile gaming business, which would enhance competition in the fastest growing segment of gaming. And the transaction will ultimately expand the capital support and talent available to Activision’s game development studios, driving further innovation in new games and technologies.”


PlayStation’s Rumoured Game Pass Equivalent Is A Great Idea, Says Xbox Head

A December report stated Sony is working on its own version of the Xbox/PC Game Pass codenamed Spartacus, where players pay a monthly subscription fee to play a selected bunch of games for a particular console. Xbox boss Phil Spencer reacts positively to this piece of news, according to an IGN interview.
“I don’t mean it to sound like we’ve got it all figured out, but I think the right answer is allowing your customers to play the games they wanna play, where they wanna play them, and giving them choice about how they build their library, and being transparent with them about what our plans are in terms of our PC initiatives and our cross-gen initiatives and other things.
So when I hear others doing things like Game Pass or coming to PC, it makes sense to me because I think that’s the right answer.”
Spencer sees Sony’s Game Pass strategy as “an inevitability” rather than “validation” for Microsoft’s approach to exist.
“We should continue to innovate, continue to compete, because the things that we’re doing might be advantages that we have in the market today, but they’re just based on us going first, not that we’ve created something that no one else can go create.”
With the Xbox Game Pass (and PC) being a huge success over time, it’s only natural for the competition to follow suite. The PlayStation brand has a ton of classics from the PS1 onward back in the mid-90s, so having a Game Pass service for PlayStation Network would be incredibly ideal; you’ll definitely have more than a handful of exclusive PlayStation games to play on your PS5, assuming you found one in 2022.


DC’s Stargirl Is Returning For A Second Season

DCâ€™s Stargirl has been renewed for a second season only halfway through its first season. The first season isÂ currently airing every Wednesday, same day as the U.S. at 9.50pm on Warner TV (Astro Channel 712 HD / UnifiTV Channel 451).
DCâ€™s Stargirl follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. The series focuses on the character that started creator Geoff Johnsâ€™ career as a comic book writer when he created her in 1999, lovingly inspired by his late sister who was killed in a 1996 plane crash.

ItÂ stars Brec Bassinger, Luke Wilson, Amy Smart, Yvette Monreal, Anjelika Washington, Cameron Gellman, Trae Romano, Jake Austin Walker, Hunter Sansone, Meg DeLacy, Neil Jackson and Christopher James Baker.
Geoff Johns himself executive produces DCâ€™s Stargirl with Melissa Carter, who serves as co-showrunner, as well as Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Greg Beeman.

The series is great for presenting comic book themes of legacy and heroism, as Courtney strives to build a new version of the classic Justice Society of America (JSA). For those unfamiliar, the JSA was the precursor to the Justice League in DC Comics, featuring Golden Age heroes like the original Alan Scott Green Lantern, Wildcat, and of course, Starman.
DCâ€™S Stargirl is one of three DC shows currently available on WarnerMedia platforms. New episodes of PennyworthÂ Season 1 debut exclusively on Warner TV (Astro Channel 712 HD / UnifiTV Channel 451) every Monday at 9pm, while anew episode of Doom Patrol Season 2Â is released every Friday onÂ HBO GO.
[vimeo 425408769 w=640 h=360] WTV – DC’s Stargirl from WarnerMediaAsiaPac on Vimeo.


Ahsoka Confirms Lars Mikkelsen As Grand Admiral Thrawn

During Star Wars Celebration 2023, it was confirmed that Lars Mikkelsen will be playing the role of the main antagonist, Grand Admiral Thrawn, in the upcoming Ahsoka series. He previously voiced Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Star Wars Rebels animated series.

Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration:
Lars Mikkelsen joins the cast of @AhsokaOfficial as Grand Admiral Thrawn. #Ahsoka pic.twitter.com/XnpJzLzQVe
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 8, 2023

If you’re wondering, yes, Lars Mikkelsen is indeed the older brother of the Death Stranding star Mads Mikkelsen.


Battlefield 2042 Will Not Have Voice Chat At Launch

Voice communication is essential in a team-based shooter like the Battlefield series. So it’s a bit strange that the upcoming Battlefield 2042, a game where you play in a 32-player filled arena (or more), is not launching with squad VOIP.
According to EA, voice chat support is coming ASAP, but developer DICE is working on the assumption that coordinated squads will communicate in Discord or other standalone chat applications. Which is a rather fair assumption given this day and age where third-party voice chat is common in multiplayer games, especially in Battlefield 2042’s new mode called Hazard Mode which is basically Escape From Tarkov EA version.
For the rest of the people who don’t want to use third-party chat apps, you’ll have to resort to text chat, the quick chat menu, and the built-in ping system which I heard isn’t so hot in the game.


Cyberpunk Tabletop Creator Discusses Cyberpunk 2077 Tech And Politics

An interesting aspect that a lot of people gloss over when talking about CD Projekt Red’s upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077 is that it’s based on a board game written by Mike Pondsmith and published by R. Talsorian Games. Pondsmith has a lot of insight regarding Cyberpunk 2077 and it’s definitely worth reading.
Mike Pondsmith at the Retro Inspired Game Jam 2019. Photo from JCU Singapore.
Last month, James Cook University in Singapore hosted the fifth annual Retro Inspired Game Jam. Associate professor Roberto Dillon has been organising the event for the past five years and this year, he invited Mike Pondsmith to share his experience and knowledge working in both tabletop games and video games.
For the development of Cyberpunk 2077, CDPR has enlisted the help of Pondsmith to get his input on the world of Cyberpunk and its mechanics. At the Retro Inspired Game Jam, Pondsmith mentions how things have changed since the release of the first Cyberpunk tabletop game (1988) and its second edition Cyberpunk 2020 (1990) especially when it comes to real world technology.

“Technology is cheap. Even if food is no longer cheap, or housing isn’t cheap, technology is really, really available. You’re not going to have a world where cell phones don’t exist. You can have good cell phones, you can have really crappy cell phones, but I personally own five cell phones and two of them, at least, I don’t even use anymore. You’re always going to have cell phones of some form.”

It’s quite obvious that we’re all reeled in to the world of Cyberpunk 2077 thanks to its slick portrayal of futuristic elements such as hacking, body customisation, and so on but beneath all that lies a cautionary tale about how scary things can get when we let technology and ultra-capitalism dominate the world. Pondsmith wants the players to discover this themselves instead of having it all explicitly stated.
Some people have already began to “miss the point” of an ultra-futuristic dystopia as they criticise the abstract approach towards gender and race in Cyberpunk 2077. This is another element that Pondsmith wants gamers to understand through experiencing the world of Cyberpunk 2077. His protip on the matter is to show, not preach.

“The first thing is, if you want to get somebody to kind of see your point of view, don’t preach. At least for Talsorian, we always had kind of a generally progressive leaning anyway. A lot of this is kind of like, ‘yeah, we were doing this back in the ’80s.’ We had transgender people running around in Cyberpunk in 1989…because my friends are transgender. So what’s the deal? Why not? But that’s not preaching — this is the world I see.”

When it comes to bridging the gap between tabletop games and video games, Pondsmith believes it’s very important to be adaptable. A good example of this Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077 being portrayed by Keanu Reeves. In the original tabletop games, he was “kind of blond” said Pondsmith but he believes in adapting with the times.
Pondsmith also spoke about fan-made games and fanfiction at the event, particularly mentioning the My Little Pony fandom which he finds fascinating. To read up on that, check out the write-up by GamesIndustry.biz.


Overwatch Winter Wonderland 2020 Is Now Live

Itâ€™s time to freeze the good moments of this year and cosy up with family, friends, and teammates.
Overwatch Winter WonderlandÂ 2020 is now live on PC, Xbox One, PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Brand new rewards are available this year, so donâ€™t forget to log in fromÂ 16 December 2020 to 6 January 2021Â for a holly jolly cosmetic collection.

NEW BRAWL: 4v4 Freezethaw Elimination
In addition to Meiâ€™s Snowball Offensive, Yeti Hunt, and Snowball Deathmatch, players will be able to experience the new brawl, 4v4 Freezethaw Elimination!This new game mode requires one team to completely freeze the other team in order to win.Players will become frozen when they would normally die.Teammates can thaw someone by interacting with the frozen player.

WEEKLY CHALLENGES
Weekly Challenges are back for Winter Wonderland, allowing you to unlock limited-time rewards by winning nine games.Rewards include an array of player icons, sprays, and Epic skins!Week 1: Elf Junkrat (Epic)Week 2: Gingerbread Ana (Epic)Week 3: Frosty Roadhog (Epic)

NEW COSMETICS
5 Legendary SkinsConductor ReinhardtPenguin MeiIce Empress MoiraToybot ZenyattaLumberjack Torbjorn3 Epic SkinsPlayer Icons, Sprays

In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


PC Requirements for PES2019 Released

Konami recently unveiled the recommended specifications to run PES2019 on the PC and it’s pretty decent if you ask us. With 30GB of available space in the drive, a machine running on Intel i5 or AMD FX4350 should be adequate to run it. A minimum of 4GB RAM is mandatory and older machines utilizing GTX670 GPU should be able to showcase the graphical improvements implemented onto this year’s iteration at the lowest of settings.

To fully enjoy the game the way Konami intended you to, an i7 machine running on 8GB or RAM and a GTX760 GPU is recommended.Â  Full specs are as detailed above. Konami recently released a long list of official licensed leagues and teams joining PES2019’s roster, along with a slew of improvements to the game.
The open beta for PES2019 is also just around the corner. We have the deets here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLV23n5bJJM&w=560&h=315]


Seems Like People Are Not Fans Of Nintendo’s Online Expansion Pack…

After so many noteworthy Nintendo Direct videos, something needed to happen to bring the company down a peg. The latest Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Packs will do the trick.
Right now, it’s the most-despised and disliked video the company has done in 2021. At this point in time, the video has 112,000 dislikes, severely outweighing the 17,000 likes it has. And all this happened within 16 days since it was published.
Previously, Nintendo’s worst and most-disliked YouTube video is the E3 2015 trailer for Metroid Prime: Federation Force, which was apparently a slap in the face for Metroid fans.

Why The Hate?
Because not only is it charging more than double than its Nintendo Switch Online basic plan, but it only offers access to an Animal Crossing expansion and 23 N64 and Sega Genesis games. Furthermore, the emulation for the N64 and Sega Genesis classic titles aren’t the best in the world since they run poorly, lack proper control remapping, and feature a number of visual and gameplay bugs.
You can check out the innocuous ad below.


Doom Eternal Delays Invasion Mode Development For Single-Player Horde Mode This Year

Sad news, Doom Eternal fans. Id Software will not be able to release the much-touted Invasion Mode for the first-person shooter this year. Instead, the team will be releasing a brand-new single-player Horde Mode.
Basically, it’s a single-player mode where you kill waves of enemies and possibly get powered up to survive the ongoing waves. The team will also be refreshing Battle Mode with a more competitive rank-based structure, a number of gameplay and balance updates, and a new map. The reason Invasion Mode is taking a while to come out is due to the unforeseen consequences of the pandemic and remote working that’s impacting the progress of the mode’s development. Understandable, of course, which is why it’s nice players are getting a free mode this year.
Full update details below. Also, if you haven’t played Doom Eternal, you should; it’s one of 2020’s best FPSs in a long while:

An important update on the development of DOOM Eternal from id Software Executive Producer Marty Stratton. pic.twitter.com/RPfhek2crI
— id Software (@idSoftware) July 2, 2021


HBO Asia Unveils First Teaser For True Detective Night Country

HBO has released the official teaser for the original drama series True Detective: Night Country, starring Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Fiona Shaw, Finn Bennett, Isabella Star Lablanc, Aka Niviâna, Anna Lambe, and Joel D. Montgrand with Christopher Eccleston, and John Hawkes. Issa López serves as showrunner and writer and directs all episodes.
When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice.
Showrunner, writer, director, executive producer, Issa López; star and executive producer, Jodie Foster. Executive Producers: Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, and Mark Ceryak for PASTEL; Mari Jo Winkler; Chris Mundy; Alan Page Arriaga; Steve Golin; Richard Brown; Woody Harrelson; Matthew McConaughey; Cary Joji Fukunaga; Nic Pizzolatto. Producers: Princess Daazhraii Johnson; Cathy Tagnak Rexford; Sam Breckman.
You can subscribe to HBO GO online at https://www.hbogoasia.my/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for as low as RM23.30/month. You can also access HBO GO via Astro. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.


New Uncharted Movie Set Photos Teases A Great Adventure

Sony Pictures has dropped several new set photos from the upcoming Uncharted movie, giving us a peek at some of its mysterious sets and props.
They’re nothing too exciting, besides a couple of ancient maps, a shiny gold cross that also apparently doubles as a key of sorts, and a mystery room with a statue.
TheÂ UnchartedÂ movie will premiere on 16 July 2021. Now weâ€™ll just have to wait for a trailer to eventually arrive.
In the meantime, check out the set photos below, along with some of the previously-revealed official photos from the Uncharted movie.
Sully’s shirt in UNCHARTED.A clapboard on the set of UNCHARTED.Magellanâ€™s Book in UNCHARTED.Cross of the Brotherhood on a map in UNCHARTED.Cross of the Brotherhood in UNCHARTED.On the set of UNCHARTED.Map in UNCHARTED.The Cross of the Brotherhood in UNCHARTED.Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) in UNCHARTED.Nolan North and Tom Holland on the set of UNCHARTED.


E3 2019: Gods & Monsters Looks Like A Zelda Clone From AC Odyssey Devs

The last game to be announced during Ubisoft’s E3 2019 press conference was Gods & Monsters, a new game inspired by Greek mythology from the developers of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
The official description for Gods & Monsters states:

“In Gods & Monsters players embody Fenyx, a forgotten hero on a quest to restore power to the Greek gods after it was stolen by Typhon, the deadliest creature in Greek mythology.
Players will explore the Isle of the Blessed and prove their heroism as they face dangerous mythological creatures, including fearsome Gorgons and Harpies and mighty Cyclopes.
Gifted with special powers from the gods of Olympus, players must overcome treacherous dungeons, challenging trials and perform heroic feats on their journey to save the gods.”

The trailer for Gods & Monsters is less than a minute long and doesn’t offer much (if any) actual gameplay footage, but its visuals look similar (and are probably inspired by) Legend of Zelda. Some might even call this new game Ubisoft’s attempt at making their very own The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild.
Gods & Monsters is slated to launch for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Google Stadia on 25 February 2020. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZUx1sXB12c&w=560&h=315]


Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp Deploys On Switch This April

During Nintendo Direct February 2023, Nintendo announced that Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp will launch for the Nintendo Switch on 21 April 2023.
Players will join Andy, Max, Sami, and more in two full-story campaigns, each one filled with colourful turn-based tactical action and go head-to-head in local and online play. In this game, players will command an army in strategic, turn-based combat as a tactical adviser for the Orange Star Army.
This remake features two campaigns that cover the events of Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2 Black Hole Rising.
Check out the trailer below:


The Wild Rift Pentaboom Showdown Charity Match Is Happening In December

Riot Games Southeast Asia has announced the League Of Legends Wild Rift Southeast Asia Pentaboom Showdown, slated for 12 to 13 December 2020 at 12pm GMT +8. This is to get ready for the Regional Open Beta of League Of Legends Wild Rift.
Held with official event organizer IO Esports, the League Of Legends Wild Rift Southeast Asia Pentaboom Showdown will feature eight teams of five prominent content creators and personalities from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
In conjunction with the showmatch, Riot Games Southeast Asia will donate US$60,000 to Room to Read (Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam), Openminds Project (Thailand), Beyond Social Services (Singapore), Passerelles Numeriques (the Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam) and Wing Melaka (Malaysia).
Participating teams will stand to win a total prize pool of US$66,500, prizes from official sponsors Razer and Secretlab, as well as bragging rights as the strongest Wild Rift team in the region.
Riot Games SEA, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau General Manager Justin Hulog said:
“Itâ€™s been a long time coming, but we couldnâ€™t be more thrilled to celebrate that League Of Legends Wild Rift is now open for our players in Southeast Asia. With this charity showmatch, we want to end 2020 on a high note by giving back, and engaging our players with a fun and entertaining show featuring some of their favourite personalities across the region.”
The League Of Legends Wild Rift Southeast Asia Pentaboom Showdown will be broadcast live in Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malaysia, Burmese, English, Khmer, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch, and will feature prominent personalities including:
Chea Gaming, Henaa Gaming, Prom Official ML and T26.haha from Cambodia.Cindy Gullla, Dylan PROS, GOGOGOY, Jess No Limit and VY Gaming from Indonesia.Fredo Sameon, Harris Annuar, Ismail Izzani, Soloz and XK Penjahat from Malaysia.Ace Gaming, GuGu, I C E I C E, Original Matt Channel and NX Live from Myanmar.Alodia Gosiengfiao, Ashley Gosiengfiao, Dexie Diaz, James Reid and Megan Young from the Philippines.Danial Ron (TITAN GAMERS), Nathan Hartono, Ryan Tan (Night Owl Cinematics), Sezairi and Vincent Sin (TITAN GAMERS) from Singapore.Dx Channel, Frozenkiss, JAI RAW, and May Pitchanart from Thailand. A final participant will be announced in December!ADN Äáº¥ng YM, BÃ© Chanh Gaming, Milona, Misthy and Msuong from Vietnam.
For more information on the participants and the full list of channels to watch the showdown, you can visit the official website here.


Uniqlo Crossover With Spy X Family Drops Next Month

UNIQLO has announced that they will launch the SPY x FAMILY UT collection on Friday, 27 June 2022. UTs (UNIQLO T-shirt) offer an array of authentic pop culture and art graphics from around the world that allow the wearer to express their individuality.
The collection celebrates a manga series by writer and illustrator Tatsuya Endo that has garnered a string of awards since it debuted in March 2019 in Shonen Jump magazine. As of May 2022, nine volumes of this series have sold more than 18 million copies.
A long-awaited Japanese television anime show adapted from the series began airing in April this year. This is the first apparel collaboration for SPY x FAMILY, and highlights the dark and light sides of key characters.
The UTs feature the distinctive logo and graphics of the SPY x FAMILY series, including main character and spy Loid Forger (code named Twilight) and two other members of a family he fabricated to carry out his mission. One is Anya Forger, a telepathic girl he adopted. The other is wife Yor Forger (nicknamed Thorn Princess) a professional assassin.
The Stella Star, which Eden College in the series awards for distinctive achievements, inspired the UT design featuring Anya, who is one of the most popular SPY x FAMILY characters. A graphic depicting her inside the UT pocket is sure to delight fans of the series.

There are four adult T-shirt designs (each priced at RM59.90) in the Uniqlo Spy X Family UT Collection. They will be available at all UNIQLO stores and uniqlo.com starting from 27 June 2022.
One of the characters in Spy X Family, Anya, is so popular that she’s basically become a viral meme. Like here….


Here’s What You Can Expect From The Division 2 Private Beta Next Week

After initially announcing The Division 2 Private Beta several weeks ago, Ubisoft has revealed what kind of content players can expect next week. Players will actually be able to take part in not only early game content but also a taste of the endgame content of The Division 2.
The Division 2 Private Beta will begin at 10am CET on 7 February 2019 (5pm GMT+8 on 7 February 2019) and end 10am CET on 11 February 2019 (5pm GMT+8 on 11 February 2019).
Players will begin The Division 2 Private Beta by venturing into the ruins of Washington D.C. to unlock new skills and abilities until they reach the established level cap of 7. the eastern part of the game’s open world will be available to explore, including the following content:

Two main missions, available in Story, Normal and Hard Mode
Five side missions and additional activities in the open world
Unique PvPvE gameplay in one of the three new Dark Zones
Organized PvP gameplay in one Conflict mode, Skirmish

That’s only the early game content. Starting from the second day of The Division 2 Private Beta at 5pm CET on 8 February 2019 (12am GMT+8 on 9 February 2019), players will be able to take part in the endgame content Invaded mission. This will come with a level cap of 30 and unlock brand new Survivalist, Sharpshooter, or Demolitionist specializations.
According to Ubisoft, these are the official descriptions for the 3 enemy factions inÂ The Division 2:
True Sons:

A paramilitary force that relies on combat expertise and overwhelming firepower to dominate their enemies and expand their territory.
Smart and organized,
Led by a former JTF officer whose ruthlessness and cunning make him a dangerous adversary.

Hyenas:

A loosely organized gang of opportunistic raiders that prey on struggling civilian encampments through violence and intimidation.
These hedonistic scavengers take everything they can steal and destroy everything else to deprive their enemies of valuable resources.
Led by a council of the strongest pack leaders.

Outcasts:

Bitter survivors of a forced quarantine bent on revenge against those who brutally imprisoned them and the society that stood by and let it happen.
Their charismatic, bloodthirsty leader believes everyone is complicit and urges her followers to punish the guilty by spreading sickness and murdering indiscriminately.

Ubisoft also recently announced that the PC version of The Division 2 will exclusively be available on the new Epic Games Store and its own platform, Uplay. It will no longer be sold on Valveâ€™s Steam store.
In the meantime, check out The Division 2 Private Beta trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmIFt6WqFgU&w=560&h=315]


Kakuchopurei Best 30 Games Of 2022: #27

For the rest of the list, head here. For #28, head here.
#27. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One, PC)

Gearbox Software’s latest entry in the FPS RPG saga, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands offers tons of entertainment in every aspect of its performance and gameplay. The game is primarily recommended for Borderlands fans, but should also appeal to heroic-fantasy fans and curious players.
The game stars voice actors such as Wanda Sykes, Andy Samberg, and Will Arnett who lend their voices to a robot, handsome hero, and evil Dragon Lord respectively to make the tale captivating with their quirky and witty humour. What sets this game apart from others are the character progression and customizability. From six different classes to its mass equipment system, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands gives you the freedom to explore your fantasy playstyle.
This fun is amplified in the multiplayer component which you can play via local split screen or online. The challenge gets tough but with higher loots chances of killing enemies together. Mythic Rank system powers up players above Level 40 with additional stat boosts and elemental damage.
Gearbox Software did a fantastic job delivering beyond the robust story campaign even if its current endgame DLC leaves fans and players a lot to be desired.


PUBG New State To Present The Future Of Battle Royale Next Month

During its hour-long PUBG: NEW STATE online showcase, KRAFTON, Inc., the creators of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, announced that PUBG: NEW STATE will officially launch on iOS and Android in more than 200 countries on 11 November 2021 following a final Technical Test in 28 countries* from 29 to 30 October 2021.
During the showcase, CH Kim, CEO of KRAFTON, shared opening remarks followed by presentations from Minkyu Park (Executive Producer), Daehun Kim (Creative Director), Henry Chung (Head of Publishing) and Sangwan Kim (Head of Anti-Cheat Unit). The company revealed its post-launch support plans for PUBG: NEW STATE, which include a strong and consistent pipeline of new content, global service support and anti-cheat measures.

The 28 countries include Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, Maldives, Laos, Saudi, UAE, Yemen, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Oman, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Turkey.

Developed by PUBG Studios, the same company that created the highly successful PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS battle royale video game for PC and consoles, PUBG: NEW STATE will launch as a free-to-play next-generation mobile game in 17 different languages. Set in the year 2051, PUBG: NEW STATE will bring the full, uncompromised battle royale gaming experience currently available in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS to iOS and Android, making it one of the most realistic and technologically advanced mobile games to date.

Krafton CEO CH Kim said:
â€œPUBG: NEW STATE inherits the core of the PUBG IP and will have a competitiveness in and of itself on the global market. KRAFTON will continue to produce games that will be enjoyed by players across the world. Weâ€™re committed to offering an expanded experience based on the belief that games will become the most powerful type of media.”

Setting the Standard for Battle Royale on Mobile

The gameâ€™s Executive Producer, Minkyu Park, introduced what makes PUBG: NEW STATE competitive and unique. He noted that while PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS mainstreamed the battle royale genre, PUBG: NEW STATE defines the standards of a battle royale for the next generation. The game uses state-of-the-art rendering technology and a gunplay system on par with whatâ€™s found in the PC version of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. Additionally, the graphical quality of PUBG: NEW STATE pushes the boundaries of what was previously possible on mobile platforms.

Key Game Features and Update Plans

During the PUBG: NEW STATE online showcase, detailed game features and content update plans were discussed by Creative Director, Daehun Kim. He noted that PUBG: NEW STATE aims to push the battle royale genre forward through original gameplay features that include, but are not limited to, weapon customization, the drone store and a unique player recruitment system. When it launches, PUBG: NEW STATE will have four unique maps, including the future-set Troi and franchise staple, Erangel. The game will also be regularly updated with new content, improved gameplay and a season-based service focused on gameplay balance and fun.

The Global Service Blueprint

Head of Publishing, Henry Chung, presented KRAFTONâ€™s global service blueprint for PUBG: NEW STATE and noted that KRAFTON will actively communicate with the fans and provide stable game services by establishing nine global service hubs. The company will also pursue various initiatives to live up to the expectations set by the global gaming community and deliver the best gameplay experience possible for all fans.

Ensuring a Fair Battleground Through Strong Anti-Cheat Measures

KRAFTONâ€™s anti-cheat strategy to create a safe and fair gameplay environment was also introduced. Head of Anti-cheat Unit, Sangwan Kim of PUBG Studios, noted that KRAFTON will ban the use of an unauthorized program, emulators, keyboard and mouse, and actively detect and restrict hacks to prevent cheating and protect the gameâ€™s code. Aside from technical responses, the player sentiment and feedback from the community will be closely reviewed, analyzed and reflected through in-game updates.

Finally, the company announced that PUBG: NEW STATE has surpassed more than 50 million pre-registrations on iOS and Android as of the online showcase. Pre-registrations originally opened in February 2021 when KRAFTON formally revealed PUBG: NEW STATE.
For game info, please visit http://newstate.pubg.com.
[videopress AUdfA9Kn]


Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed Beams Down This August

THQ Nordic and Black Forest Games have announced that Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed will launch for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam on 30 August 2022.
A “Dressed to Skill” edition will also be available, which includes a “Skin Pack” at launch and the downloadable content “Challenge Accepted” due out in Q4 2022. Pre-orders for any edition of the game include the newly launched multiplayer spin-off Destroy All Humans Clone Carnage.
In Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed, a faithful remake of the most acclaimed entry in the fan-favorite Destroy All Humans franchise, our charming but evil alien invader Crypto (138!) will unleash his large arsenal of weapons onto five huge open-world areas: Bay City, Albion, Takoshima, Tunguska, and the Moon.
Players will experience the swinging ’60s in all its glory and deal with Hippies, the KGB, and many other threats. To roam quickly around the large areas, Crypto can use his jetpack; his hoverboard; and of course his flying saucer, equipped with a neat little arsenal of destruction of its own.
The saucer received an interesting update: abducting humans in certain numbers (you’ll have to follow the recipe!) will unlock new skills. And last but not least, Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed features a two-player, split-screen cooperative mode so you and a friend (or whatever floats your boat) can destroy all humans together.
You can check out my review of Destroy All Humans! here. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Is Knights Of The Zodiac A Dragon Ball Evolution 2.0?

Masami Kurumada’s Saint Seiya manga is as old as Dragon Ball but it hasn’t been as prominent in pop culture worldwide, despite the manga having sold millions and with hundreds of anime episodes. This live-action film adaptation is Toei Animation’s chance to make it more popular in the mainstream.
From the perspective of a newcomer who’s not familiar with the source material (manga/anime), did they succeed? Read on to find out.
Bland And Uninspiring

No, it’s not nearly as bad as 2009’s Dragon Ball Evolution was but Knights Of The Zodiac is definitely not much better by any means. Knights Of The Zodiac isn’t as cringe-worthy or as ridiculous as Dragon Ball Evolution but director Tomek Baginski has managed to make Knights Of The Zodiac so bland and uninspiring that it sucks all the fun out of the movie. At least Dragon Ball Evolution had its fun moments. Knights Of The Zodiac mostly made me want to fall asleep from beginning to end due to its overly serious vibe.
The colour tone and cinematography of the movie is so muted and dark as if Knights Of The Zodiac is afraid of bright colours. It’s baffling, considering how vibrant the source material looks like, in comparison. While I’m not that familiar with the source material myself, I grew up thinking that the franchise’s iconic armour looks cool and awesome. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the movie version, which looks more like cheap foam rather than the shining godly armour it’s supposed to be. The budget should have been used to make the armour, which the franchise is famous for, look much better than it is.

In addition, Knights Of The Zodiac suffers from pacing and editing issues. Scenes are cut jarringly, and the movie likes to rely on dreary exposition. Sean Bean is one of the highlights of the movie (his mere presence usually improves anything he’s in), and he’s burdened with spewing most of the exposition. He does the best with the lines he has, but that’s not enough to make the movie’s boring writing more exciting or compelling. As for the rest of the cast, they’re pretty unremarkable (yes, even Famke Janssen) and Mackenyu (who plays Seiya, the protagonist) delivers a wooden performance. Plus, there’s no chemistry between him and Madison Iseman, who plays Athena. It’s a shame, considering how genuine and warm Madison Iseman’s performance is, she certainly deserved better.
The only saving grace in Knights Of The Zodiac is its decent action scenes and fighting choreography. Visually, they sort of look like how anime translated into live-action would look like, featuring stylistic flourishes and an emphasis on each punch/kick. Too bad the action can’t really make up for everything else. It’s still nowhere near the level of something like Alita Battle Angel or The Raid Redemption. Thankfully, if you’re not familiar with the source material, the movie does explain its premise in a somewhat straightforward way. As I’ve previously mentioned, though, the dry exposition and bland plot don’t help in making the movie any better.

Not The Knights You’re Looking For

Only the most die-hard or hardcore fans will be able to gain any enjoyment out of Knights Of The Zodiac. That is; if they can. It’s not as bad as Dragon Ball Evolution, but it’s still not a good introduction to the franchise for newcomers. You’re better off looking for the source material, either anime or manga, instead of this poor excuse of an adaptation.
FINAL SCORE: 30/100
We attended an early screener of Knights Of The Zodiac courtesy of Sony Pictures Malaysia. Knights Of The Zodiac is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 11 May 2023.


The 30 Best Games Of 2021: #3

Every day from December to January, we’ll be posting our top 30 games of 2021 daily. Here’s number 3.
#3: Deathloop

Platforms: PS5, PC
Arkane Studios have made some truly excellent games over the years, including the two Dishonored games and Prey. Deathloop might be their most ambitious and high-profile game yet, and it definitely shows. The developer has taken everything they’ve learnt from their previous games and incorporated them into Deathloop, even improving upon them. The first-person action stealth combat in those games have been cranked up to 11 and Deathloop is their most action-heavy game yet.
However, what makes Deathloop even more unique and unconventional is the game’s premise; the idea of time loops. If you die, you’ll have to start from the beginning again, but the fun of it is that this time around, you’ll have the experience and knowledge, as well as tricks of your own, to finally overcome and complete the level. Also, let’s not forget the immersive sim elements and with no two loops being the same, the gameplay in Deathloop is one of the most dynamic we’ve ever seen.


Loki Episode 1 Breakdown & Easter Eggs Explained

The first episode of Marvelâ€™sÂ Loki is available now on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. The last time we saw this version (or variant) of Loki of an older timeline (2012’s The Avengers) escaping with the Tesseract/Space Stone in 2019’s Avengers Endgame. In case you forgot, the existing mainline version of Loki died at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s Avengers Infinity War.
Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers from Loki Episode 1 so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
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 at Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4, Episode 5Â and Episode 6.
If you want a non-spoiler guide toÂ Loki, you canÂ head on over here.

Getting Caught By The Time Variance Authority

After escaping using the Tesseract in 2019’s Avengers Endgame, he wakes up and finds himself in Mongolia. Once he gets there, he immediately gets caught by a Time Variance Authority team led by Wunmi Mosaku’s Hunter B-15.
The Introduction Of The Time-Keepers

In the comics, the TVA claims responsibility for monitoring the multiverse and can prune timelines if theyâ€™re deemed too dangerous to exist. They also take action to prevent other beings from altering the past or future. Meanwhile, the Time Keepers are the last three beings who exist in the remaining timeline in the universe, who oversee the TVA.
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they stopped a multiversal war in the past and have reorganized the multiverse into one single “Sacred Timeline”. They also created the Time Variance Authority. A branch in the timeline is referred to as a “nexus event”, which if left unchecked, would lead to another multiversal war.
An Unknown Individual Has Been Causing Repeated Nexus Events

In another scene, we meet Owen Wilson’s Mobius M. Mobius and another team of TVA agents, who are investigating a nexus event in 1549’s France. It’s the sixth case so far, and someone has been committing them. When a kid on the crime scene is asked by Mobius who the culprit is, he points to a stained window depicting a devil.
We already know that it’s not Mephisto, so let’s forget about that. It might be Kang The Conqueror, who is a known time-travelling villain. It’s already been confirmed that Johnathan Majors will be portraying Kang The Conqueror in the upcoming Ant-Man 3 Quantumania movie. However, it’s possible that he might show up early here.

It’s Confirmed: Loki Is D.B. Cooper

This was first seen in the trailers, but Mobius finally confirmed it here. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Loki was indeed D.B. Cooper. In real-world history, D.B. Cooper was an unidentified man who hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft in United States airspace between Portland and Seattle on the afternoon of November 24, 1971. After collecting US$200,000 in ransom and four parachutes, he leapt to an uncertain fate over southwestern Washington. Despite an extensive manhunt and a 45-year-long FBI investigation, the perpetratorâ€™s identity and fate remain unknown.
In the MCU, Loki did all that only because he lost a bet to Thor.

Mobius Recaps The Future Events Of Thor The Dark World To This Version Of Loki

Mobius tells this variant Loki what’s supposed to happen, ie the events of 2013’s Thor The Dark World, where Loki inadvertently causes his adopted mother, Frigga’s, death. Curiously, Mobius stops short of telling Loki his ultimate fate of dying at the hands of Thanos. Very interesting indeed.
It Turns Out That The TVA Has Confiscated A LOT Of Infinity Stones

The TVA has confiscated so many Infinity Stones that their agents and employees even use them for paperweights, funnily enough. This makes him realize how small he is in the scheme of the multiverse, making him blurt out:
“Is this the greatest power in the universe?”

Whoops, Loki Witnesses His Own Death

Later in this episode, Loki witnesses the events of 2017’s Thor Ragnarok and his death at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s Avengers Infinity War.
The TVA Is Hunting Another Loki Variant

Scratch that Kang theory. It seems like the fugitive variant being hunted by Mobius and the TVA is another Loki variant.
A Device From Kang The Conqueror’s Era & The Mysterious Fugitive

The episode ends with a group of the TVA’s Minutemen investigating a nexus event in 1858 Oklahoma in the US. There, they find a device that could be traced to the “third millennium”, also known as the 30th century. This is very interesting, considering that Kang The Conqueror comes from the 30th century AKA the “third millennium”. Perhaps we really might meet Kang The Conqueror soon? Fingers crossed.
Kang The Conquerer.
Also, who is this mysterious hooded figure? Is this the evil Loki variant described by Mobius? Is it someone else? Is it Kang The Conqueror? A lot of questions remain, but we’re only in the first episode, folks. Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for more weekly articles like on Loki.

Loki Episode 1 is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia.


Quirky Sailing Ship Game Sail Forth Is Out To Sea Right Now

Just before 2022 ends, we have a curious little indie title that came out a few days ago: Sail Forth.
Sail Forth lets you pilot a customizable bunch of ships across a vibrantly-coloured archipelago in search of secrets and sea fights, the latter involving sea monsters and pirates. It’s a mix between Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, but done with a smaller team. This makes Sail Forth all the more impressive.
All the more impressive is that the game has a realistic simulation of sailing despite its cartoonish look. It’s still an accessible game for casuals, but it has a ton of detail like separately simulated wind and sails.
“Put the wind to your back and cast out into a vast ocean-spanning dozens of eccentric regions. Discover countless isles bursting with their own flora, fauna, friendly folk, and fearsome foes. Playfully pursue a pod of curious dolphins, admire the beauty of the sun sinking into an icy horizon, or run down a clutch of cowardly criminals only to accept their apologies to the tune of wild cannonry. Will you answer the call of High Adventure?”
Check out the trailer below to see if it’s your kind of jam. Sail Forth is out now for PC (Steam, Epic Games), Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.


New Resident Evil Death Island Sees Return Of Jill Valentine, Leon, Chris Redfield & Rebecca Chambers

Capcom has announced a new animated film in the Resident Evil franchise and it’s Resident Evil Death Island, a sequel to 2017’s CG film Resident Evil Vendetta. It will premiere sometime in summer 2023 and will be distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
Directed by Eiichiro Hasumi (Assassination Classroom) and a screenplay by Makoto Fukami (Psycho-Pass), Resident Evil Death Island features D.S.O. agent Leon S. Kennedy on a mission to rescue Dr. Antonio Taylor from kidnappers, when a mysterious woman thwarts his pursuit.
Meanwhile, B.S.A.A. agent Chris Redfield is investigating a zombie outbreak in San Francisco, where the cause of the infection cannot be identified. The only thing the victims have in common is that they all visited Alcatraz Island recently. Following that clue, Chris and his team head to the island, where a new horror awaits them.
Leon, Chris and Rebecca were previously voiced by Matthew Mercer, Kevin Dorman and Erin Cahill. It’s currently unknown who will be voicing Jill, considering that she wasn’t in previous movies.
Meanwhile, the Resident Evil 4 Remake is slated to launch for PC via Steam, PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S on 24 March 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


Square Enix To Host Live A Live Concert This August In Japan

During the launch livestream party of the Live A Live ports for PS4 and PC, Square Enix has announced an upcoming live concert that highlights the music of the iconic JRPG.
The Live A Live A Live Concert will launch live on 13 August in Japan and is meant to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the JRPG. Guests for the live show include game producer Takashi Tokita, composer Yoko Shimomura, and singer-songwriter Hironobu Kageyama alongside HidexHide and Yoko. Here are the details:
Date: 13 August 2023
Venue: J:COM Hall, Hachioji (Google Maps link)

If you’re planning to go down and want to stay within the Tokyo/Akihabara area, just note that it’ll take you an hour-plus to get to Hachioji by train. As for the game, Live A Live is out right now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, and PS5.


New Final Fantasy VII Remake Key Visual Showcases Main Characters

We’re still two months away from the highly-anticipated Final Fantasy VII Remake, thanks to its recently-announced delay. To make up for it, Square Enix gave us a new trailer just last week, and now they have revealed a new key visual for the upcoming game.
The new Final Fantasy VII Remake key visual features protagonist Cloud Strife aboard his iconic bike taking his place front and centre, accompanied by (from left to right) Red XIII, Aerith, Barret, and Tifa, with the majestic backdrop of Midgar and the Shinra Headquarters.
It’s beautiful and epic at the same time, not to mention nostalgic for fans of the original game. It looks like something that would be taken from the very end of the game as if the group is posing and staring into the distance (it’s a clichÃ©) just before the credits start rolling.

The key visual also comes with a text on the official Square Enix Twitter account, which reads:

“Combining incredible visuals, stunning world-design, a glorious musical score, seamless strategic action-based combat and a captivating cast of characters.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is almost upon us.
We hope youâ€™re ready for it.”

Combining incredible visuals, stunning world-design, a glorious musical score, seamless strategic action-based combat and a captivating cast of characters â€“ #FinalFantasy VII Remake is almost upon us.
We hope you’re ready for it. #FF7R
Learn more: https://t.co/Y2vaeH2F36 pic.twitter.com/3oGdXOm2jh
â€” FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (@finalfantasyvii) February 7, 2020
We also recently learned that the game’s timed exclusivity for the PS4 will end in April 2021, after which it will likely be released for PC and/or the Xbox One, as well as probably the next-gen consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X.
Final Fantasy VII Remake is slated to release for the PS4 on 10 April 2020. In the meantime, check out the latest trailer below, which depicts cross-dressing Cloud in glorious full HD for the first time.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN1Jj2Yt67Q&w=560&h=315]


You Can Expect To Watch These Three New MCU Series On Disney+ Later Next Year

There’s a lot that Disney+ has to offer but a lot of people are mainly interested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offerings. A lot of MCU series have been announced and we finally know when some of them is expected to be released on Disney+.
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Photo from TheDisInsider.
At Comic Con Experience 2019 (CCXP19), Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige stated that Moon Knight, Ms. Marvel, and She Hulk will be ready for Disney+ towards the end of 2020. Feige revealed the three Disney+ series back in August when he was at D23 Expo.
Feige’s statement doesn’t give us concrete release dates but fans can expect to see the three superheroes on their screens sometime in 2021. The word “ready” used by Feige doesn’t necessarily mean the shows is scheduled to come out in the late 2020 period. It’s highly possible that he’s talking about wrapping up production of the shows’ early seasons.
Another reason why a late 2020 release is improbable can be found by looking at what the MCU-related content is coming out on Disney+ during that time period. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, WandaVision, and Loki are all scheduled to launch in late 2020 to early 2021 time frame.
The wait is going to be agonising but fortunately, 2020 is still chock full of great MCU offerings. We’ve already got the first Black Widow trailer and it’s coming out on 1 May 2020. We’ve also got The Eternals to look forward to. It’s scheduled to be out in November 2020.


Monster Hunter Rise Version 3.0 Update Launches Tomorrow; Features New Boss Fights & Ending

Monster Hunter Rise players who aren’t satisfied with the game’s current conclusion can look forward to the next free update tomorrow.
Monster Hunter Rise Version 3.0 will launch on 27th May and will add in new huntable monsters: Crimson Glow Valstrax and Apex Zinogre. They’re probably give your team a run for its money as they will be pretty tough to beat.
Also, the game is getting a new ending to advance the story and more.

Here’s the roadmap for the game in the next few months.
27 May

Version 3.0

New monsters Crimson Glow Valstrax, Apex Zinogre, etc.
Regular quests for some Apex monsters
New ending

Mid-June

Capcom Collaboration #1Â â€“Â Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of RuinÂ Palico Layered Armor Tsukino Costume

End of June

Version 3.1

Downloadable content
Event quests

End of July

Version 3.2

Capcom Collaboration #2
Downloadable content
Event quests

End of August

Version 3.3

Capcom Collaboration #3
Downloadable content
Event quests

Here’s the list of patch notes for the update:
Main Additions

Added story elements

New monsters will appear in Hub quests.
New monsters will appear in the Rampage.
New quests will be available.
A new combat locale will be available.
New weapon trees, armor, and layered armor will be available.
New skills and Rampage Skills will be available.
You can change the appearance of Rampage weapons using certain materials.
Note: The above items will be unlocked when certain conditions are met.

Added system elements

New Guild Card awards will be available.
New downloadable content can be purchased from Nintendo eShop.

Yep, looks like Capcom is still keeping Monster Hunter Rise a-going for the Nintendo Switch.


Streets of Rage 4 New DLC Features New Character, Survival Mode, & More!

Backup requested! Streets of Rage fans who loved last year’s fourth entry will be pleased to know that new content is coming their way.
The next Streets of Rage 4 DLC, subtitled Mr X. Nightmare, will most likely bring back the final boss of parts 1, 2, and 3 back to the fold along with new stages. Based on the recent trailer, our heroes are going into cyberspace and Mr X. can somehow invade our heroes through that dimension. The DLC will also make a much-requested character playable: Estel Aguirre the supercop you fought twice in Streets of Rage 4.

She’ll have her moves and more from the base game. Dotemu has also hinted at two other characters who will be playable, but they’re keeping mum. Perhaps it’s Streets of Rage 3‘s Roo and Streets of Rage 2’s Skate all grown up? Based on the silhouettes, it’s probably the SoR4 versions of Max and Shiva.

The DLC will also add a new Survival Mode which “challenges players to elevate and prove their true capabilities through special tests of skill”. We’re guessing this mode lets you fight endless enemy waves until you get a particular high score, or until you’re dead. There’s also a new character customization option where you can build personalized versions of their favourite characters by equipping them with new moves.

Of course, what would a Streets of Rage 4 expansion be without new music? The DLC will feature new tracks from Tee Lopes, a composer known for his work on Sonic Mania.
Streets of Rage 4: Mr X Nightmare will be paid DLC and will be out later this year for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. No price has been announced yet.
For more on Streets of Rage 4, read our glowing review of the game.


Darkzero wins the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs

After 4 gruelling and tiring days of gaming, the Apex Legends Global series Split 2 Playoffs ends with team Darkzero as your champions.
40 teams from all over the world came together at the Copper Box Arena in London to fight for the chance to get a share of the $1 million prize pool. The Split 2 Playoffs is the last LAN before the ALGS Championship and also one of the last chance for teams to qualify.

DarkZero who are currently the reigning ALGS champions and, TSM, the Split 1 winners, both became match point eligible in the third game. As the Finals went on, three other teams entered the race for the prized title after hitting the 50-point mark.
It was only in the seventh game that a winner was found. Rhys ‘Zer0’ Perry was the hero as DarkZero came out on top of a highly contested final ring to claim the trophy for his team, DarkZero to reclaim their throne and hold TSM off in second place. The North American teams really outshined all the other regions, as they held all top five spots in the finals (DarkZero, TSM, Oxygen Esports, XSET, and FaZe).
Darkzero had a rough Split 1, and the team almost didn’t make the Playoffs and placed 13th in London. Brody ‘Xynew’ Geissler, their newest member, could not have dreamed of a better LAN debut.

INTERESTING FACTS
TEAM COMPOSITION PICKRATES
The teams at the tournament seem to love Bangalore and Seer in 3-player compositions more than the rest of the team. While the latter character has received nerfs as of late, he is still picked due to his Tactical Ability.

INDIVIDUAL LEGEND PICKRATE
It comes off as no surprise that Seer has the highest pick rate. He received a couple of “nerfs” during the Dressed to Kill Event just recently. However, most pros have agreed that these nerfs are more of a buff towards him. Reworking Seer to be less scan-focused by severely nerfing his wallhack potential and making his tactical ability a menace for team fights, as it is almost undodgeable makes it frustrating to play against since there are no counters to it. And so, Seer stays on top.

You can watch a video here on TSM Imperial Hal and the TSM coach, ‘Raven’ on why they think Seer has been buffed.

TOP 5 WEAPONS

Prowler is the #1 kills (846),  and is more than double the Nemesis (390) – and the CAR (379). SMGs are likely statistically to be that high due to all the teams waiting to fight late game. Shotguns are also not as consistent as SMGs which is why you don’t see it used as often.
In a recent post made by a famous Apex content creator, HisAndHersLive, they mentioned for an SMG nerf. Some pro players have agreed calling for a nerf to SMGs as a whole.

ALL END ZONES
If you’re a little bit of a geek, here are all the end zones during the 4 days at ALGS.

Storm Point

World’s Edge

Special thanks to Apex Legends Status for all the statistics. If you’d like to see more statistics in detail, you can head over here: https://apexlegendsstatus.com/
We also managed to get a picture with DarkZero’s Noyan “Genburten” Ozkose’s mother and brother after the event!


My Overwatch World Cup 2018 Finals Predictions

Blizzcon is upon us. You know what that means for for us Overwatch fans: The annual Overwatch World Cup!
What’s interesting about the OWWC this time is that it will be running in the latest patch, Patch 1.29 which means, rework Torbjorn!
We’ve seen Wrecking Ball, the latest addition in the Overwatch pool of heroes, made a fantastic debut in the competitive scene.
Will we see Mangachu rocking the new reworkÂ Torbjorn this time? I can’t wait, can you?! Here are my predictions for the upcoming matches.
USA 3-1 UK
(3:15am, 3/11/2018 Malaysia Time)
First up, we will have the host country, team USA going against team UK. I will have to put team USA as the favorite to win in this series due to the fact for 1) home crowd advantage and 2) their entire rosters, except for Zacharee (who has also been exceptional), are made of Overwatch League players.
Now let’s not just put our hopes up just because these guys are seasoned, but also because they have experience being on the big stage, being in that adrenaline surge, in front of fans & home crowd, the World Cup will feel like the next tournament for them.
But that doesn’t mean team UK will just hand them the win though. We know Isaac “Boombox”Â CharlesÂ is a scary Lucio when it comes to booping off enemy team from the map, but there also talent in team UK like Christopher “ChrisTFer” GrahamÂ showdown as Reinhardt treating enemy team like bowling pins.
I still think it will be hard for team UK to beat team USA what’s with Muma & Space reputation of being 2 of the best tank in the NA scene & let’s not forget Sinatraa & Hydration Tracer-Genji DPS duo could meant trouble for team UK.
France 2 – 3 Canada
Time: (5:15am, 3/11/2018 Malaysia Time)
To be honest, I can’t actually predict which of these team will win. My prediction is probably 0.001% right because these teams are pretty strong & on par with each other. This is one of the OWWC series that I look forward the most to watch.
Being a total LA Valiant fan, I’ve watchedÂ Soon andÂ Agilities played together a lot throughout the OWL 2018. Being teammates, they know each other weaknesses & strengths. Soon being a Widowmaker while Agilities being Genji during the match could be one of the best showdown ever.
During the Overwatch All-Stars Weekend, Soon managed to emerge as the number 1 Widowmaker, defeating Carpe during the Widowmaker showdown. It was an epic battle & put Soon’s name as one of the player that will give others a nightmare.
No doubt we will be hearing another “Sooooooooooooooooooooooooon” cheers during this match, like we did during the Paris Group Stage (which almost sounded like “booo”).
I used to actually count how many times Agilities landed an airblade more so than a dragonblade but throught OWL, he has improved so much that the airblade count has been moved to aKm. aKm-blade is now living meme amongst the community.
But during last year’s OWWC, aKm showed his prowess as Pharah & Widowmaker. His Pharah was so deadly that last year’s sensation, flow3r from team South Korea wanted nothing more than to defeat aKm in a match. They were on par with each other & it was pure joy watching both aKm and flow3r went head to head last year.
The tank showdown between xQc & Poko will be another sight to watch. Poko who is famous with his articulate timing of his D.va bomb (thus giving birth to the term Poko Bomb) & xQc as an aggressive Winston will leave a lot of highlight moments that we will surely be in awe.
There are so many talents in these two teams that it was tough for me to predict but in the end looking at the team synergy, I believe Canada will emerge victorious in this series but it will be very, very, very close.
China 3-2 Finland
Time – 7:15am, 3/11/2018 Malaysia Time
Team China left the Bangkok Group Stage with a 5-0 match record, leaving all other teams to dust. To be honest, when I first watched the group stage, I was not having high expectation for this team. This is probably due to the fact of Shanghai Dragon’s 0-40 match records, hence there was a lot of questioning on the China Overwatch scene, despite them being able to reach Blizzcon in previous years.
But team China is here to prove that they have more than what OWL has shown to the world. Team China is strong, and talents like Guxue & SHY proved that team China is here to stay. Finland might made it out alive from the Incheon Group Stage, but it was not an easy task for them as team Russia managed to gather 1 win, 1 draw during their match.
Krystal, team China DPS, in the recent interview mentioned that team Finland is strong, but Finland’s biggest weakness is probably Taimou due to his inconsistencies and the team will be gunning towards shutting him down during the match.Â (as reported by OW Beacon)
Whether they will be able to do so, or this quote might actually give Taimou a nanoboost to be more consistent, we’ll watch & see during the Quaterfinal this Saturday!
South Korea 4-0 Australia
(9:15am, 3/11/2018 Malaysia Time)
I would like to be very positive for Australia but in the Bangkok Group Stage, they have barely made out of group stage. Team Australia has team Sweden to be thankful for winning against team Thailand & team Spain, thus giving them a chance to go to Blizzcon. It was not an easy task for Australia, and they know this.
They have to work really hard to win against South Korea. Custa is a great support player & has been playing Mercy throughout the OWL 2018. With Mercy’s massive nerf & since this OWWC will be on Patch 1.29, it will be very hard for Custa to keep healing his teammates, what’s with Fleta & Carpe from team South Korea creating havoc to the supports. ButÂ AkrakenÂ has shown that he could be the Ana support for team Australia when all else went haywire.
All these predictions & speculations are entirely made from the back of my head & it could be 100% wrong. Despite this, I do want my predictions to go wrong too because that seems like a plot twist for me! On a sidenote, I am an avid supporter of the underdogs & I do look forward to seeing them take the stage!


Disney Is Remaking Its Robin Hood Cartoon

It seems that Disney’s Robin Hood cartoon, which featured songs and anthropomorphic animals, is next in line to get a live-action remake. This one, however, will be made for Disney+.
The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Blindspotting director Carlos Lopez Estrada is on board to direct, while the Lady and the Tramp remake’s writer Kari Granlund will pen the script. The project is in early development.
The Robin Hood remake will apparently retain the original’s musical elements and use of anthropomorphic characters. This time, however, it will present them via a combination of live-action and CGI.
That sounds like what they did with The Jungle Book and Lady and the Tramp, though the difference is that Robin HoodÂ is, well, Robin Hood. The characters aren’t just naked, talking animals, but human characters reimagined as animals that walk on two legs and wear clothes.Â Even with movies like Peter Rabbit and Paddington, the idea of that being done in live-action/CGI, as opposed to CGI animation, sounds odd to me.

Having said that, I’m eager to see how the product will turn out. I just hope it doesn’t ruin my memories of the cartoon.
The original cartoon came out in 1973, and featured the voices of Brian Bedford, Monica Evans, and Phil Harris as Robin Hood, Maid Marion, and Little John respectively. Robin Hood was a fox, Main Marion a vixen, and Little John a bear.


China Is The First Country To Win An Olympic-Level Gold Esports Medal

The Asian Games 2018 marks the first time a slew of Esports tournaments are hosted in an Olympics-sanctioned environment. Granted it’s a demonstration match but it’s still a significant step towards making esports great again.
And we already have our first winner of one of the tournaments: the People’s Republic Of China. The country is the first to win a gold medal in an Olympics level esports tournament. The game? Arena of Valor, a mobile MOBA from Chinese publisher Tencent.
China was basically brutal in the games leading up to their victory. From their long drawn-out battle against the equally top-tier Vietnam team to the grand finals where they took 10 minutes in each match to dismantle Chinese Taipei, the red flag was indeed a powerhouse in the ways of Arena of Valor. The team’s two strongest players in AoV were in tow: Ku and LaoShuai were the team’s most prominent damage-dealers and dealing the most stuns.
Speaking of other countries, Chinese Taipei won the Silver medal while Vietnam won the Bronze medal.Â Congratulations to all three countries for being the first three to win prestigious awards in the first-ever Olympics-level esports tournament.


Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Mexico Major Kicks Off Today

Ubisoft has announced that Tom Clancyâ€™s Rainbow Six Mexico Major will take place from 16 August through 22 August 2021 in Mexico City, Mexico. The best teams from all Rainbow Six Esports regional leagues will compete in a LAN environment for the title, a share of the US$500,000 prize pool, and points in the Global Standings in their race towards the Six Invitational 2022.
To ensure everyone’s safety, the event will be held without any live audience and all participants will follow strict sanitary measures; available HERE.
Following an action-packed Group Stage phase running from August 16 to 18, the top eight teams will then face off during the Playoffs from 20 August to 21 August 2021.

16 to 18 August 2021: Group Stages
20 to 21 August 2021: Playoffs
22 August 2021: Finals

Hosted by Christopher “MonteCristo” Mykles and Jack â€œJackyâ€ Peters alongside a slew of talented casters and analysts including Parker “Interro” MacKay, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden,Â Alex “Skys” Magor, the competition will feature the following 15 teams:
From the North American League:

Spacestation Gaming
TSM
Susquehanna Soniqs
DarkZero Esports

From the European League:

Team Empire
G2 Esports
Natus Vincere
Team BDS

From the Asia-Pacific League:

CYCLOPS athlete gaming
DWG KIA
Invictus Gaming International

From the Latin-American League:

Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team oNe eSports
Team Liquid
FURIA Esports

More details about the Six Mexico Major such as competitive format details, schedules, participating teams, health and safety measures, Twitch Drops and more, are available in the Event Guide:Â Â http://rainbow6.com/MexicoMajor2021


The Next Granblue Fantasy Versus Character Has A Pair Of Dragons

April’s going to be a lovely month for Granblue Fantasy: Versus fans; Cygames has announced all of its characters for its Season 1 Character Pass.
Joining Beelzebub (the last boss of GBVS) and samurai cowgirl Narmaya later on this April are big guy Soriz…

…female main character-slash-Gran-clone Djeeta…

….and sword-and-shield knight Zooey, accompanied with two tiny dragons.

The upcoming trio will be out this April. There’s not much gameplay from them, so we’ll just call it: Soriz will be close-ranged but more “punchy punchy” than Ladiva, Djeeta will be a modified Gran, and Zooey will have a mechanic where she summons her dragons to be more effective in mid-ranged combat.
GBVS is out now. If you want to get good, do check out our beginner guide which will be updated with Beelzebub and Narmaya tactics later.


Smalland Survive The Wilds Is Now Out In Early Access

Merge Games has announced that the multiplayer survival game Smalland Survive The Wilds is out now in Early Access on Steam and Epic Games Store. Developed and published in-house, Smalland Survive The Wilds challenges players to survive as one of a race of tiny people in a vast, hazardous open world.
Explore a rich and immersive landscape as the Smallfolk, a tiny race of people battling lake-sized puddles, mountainous trees and monstrous creatures from grasshoppers to geckos that see you as lower on the food chain. Scavenge materials to build encampments, craft powerful armour sets and delicious heart-warming food as you carve out your legacy in the wilds.
As you gain a foothold in this dangerous environment, find and tame creatures to ride into battle and explore the world from a whole new perspective. Scale skyscraper-sized trees, scramble through cavernous cracks in roads, and more as you experience the unique biomes of Smalland’s huge open world.
You can play solo or with up to 9 additional friends in multiplayer with crossplay between Steam and Epic Games Store. Explore the world and survive together or toggle friendly fire to bring the fight to others. Uncover ancient lore from hidden NPCs scattered throughout the world as you learn to survive in this hostile wilderness.
Tame and ride wild creatures from Geckos to Spiders, each mount providing a unique means of travel. The world and its inhabitants are yours to conquer. Scavenge, refine and craft resources to build your encampment on the ground or in the canopy. Claim a Great Tree to design and build a base that will follow you to any world, allowing you to join any server and take your camp with you. Craft powerful armour sets to personalise your appearance and grant you resistance from the elements along with the abilities needed to survive.
Smalland Survive The Wilds is now available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.


The 13 Most Influential SNK Fighting Game Moves

Our Retro DNA-themed SNK 8-week tribute continues. Check out the links below for our previous features.Â

Hail To The King (Of Fighters)

The Top 15 SNK Games You Must Play Before You Die

The Art of Shinkiro

Why The Neo Geo Was Successful

Every time a new fighting game crops up, you can be sure that it has some sick moves and fighting style made up from the minds of overworked designers and programmers. Sometimes these moves are so awesome in its simplicity or complexity, you see it in different fighting game iterations.
SNK is known for one-upping Capcom’s Street Fighter back in the day, and sometimes they succeed by introducing a move so fanciful it sears into the mind of retro gamers and even fighting game aficionados for years to come.
Here are the 13 that come to mind, in no particular order. They’re on this list because of their catchy names, the way it’s executed, and how functional it is either in raw power, utility, or even style.
Terry’s Power Wave (Fatal Fury)

What better way to start an SNK movelist feature than with the most iconic of all projectiles in the 90s? Terry’s simple projectile move made way to ground projectiles that can go under most air projectiles. Suddenly, your opponent cannot use a slide attack to go under projectiles; they have to either jump or block.
This then evolved into the Power Geyser as a DM in later Fatal Fury games. But you can never forget the horizontal power that is the Power Wave.
Ryo’s Haoh Shoko-Ken (Art of Fighting)

This move is just one giant-ass fireball you can charge and release. But what makes this one remarkable is the way Ryo Sakazaki does it and says the move out loud. It’s both comical and awesome at the same time.
Plus, it covers a lot of the screen and comes out pretty fast. If your opponent jumps too late or too early, the fireball will take a quarter of his/her life.
Rugal Bernstein’s Kaiser Wave (KOF)

Again, it’s just a big-ass fireball, but the big boss of KOF can charge his and give it unblockable properties. He has a fast version, a delayed version that is a ball of electricity, and one where it’s unblockable and makes Rugal have weird tech things sprout from his back.
Just like the Haoh Shoko-Ken, it covers the screen. However, its varying speeds depending on how long you hold down the button mean that you can play mind games with your sitting duck of an opponent.
Kim Kaphwan’sÂ Hou’ou Kyaku (Fatal Fury Special, KOF)

When this high-flying DM hits, all you can think about is the sound that follows: “AH TA TA TA TA TA… WA TAH!” Desperation Move bliss. Apart from the awesome sounds it produces, this move is notable for one of the few DMs in an SNK game that you can also perform in the air.
Ryuji Yamazaki’s Yonga Drill (Real Bout Fatal Fury)

Yamazaki grabs you and sucker punches you. While you’re out for the count, Yamazaki pulls off a special attack animation based on how many buttons the player inputs, ending with a super punch.
This move rewards button-mashing. The more buttons you put in, the better the attack. Perhaps this led to many other games implementing this technique to make Supers or Hyper Combos deal more damage, like in oh say Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
Rasputin’s Secret Garden (World Heroes Perfect)

Some Supers are great in power and damage. Others are just weird AF. Flamboyant monk Rasputin grabs you, opens up a secret garden, and goes into it to do god-knows-what to his opponent.
I think his opponent can press charges since “rape” is sure as hell not part of a regular fighting match featuring swords, robots, and stereotypical interpretations of indigenous Africans.
Iori’s Maiden Masher

Iori’s DM is a move where he runs at his opponent to do killing blows and quick hits, followed by him putting his hand on his opponent’s chest and infusing his Orochi power into them, resulting in a purple explosion.
What’s cool about this DM is that in later iterations, you can follow with up with another 3-hit combo where Iori summons columns of purple flames.
Kyo Kusanagi’s Orochinagi

The main star of the KOF games has a signature move: a fiery forward-charging fire wave that deals a good chunk of damage. Hold and release, out comes the flame serpent wave; ’tis a glorious conflagration indeed.
Rugal’s Genocide Cutter

Rugal unleashes an upward 2-hit kick that slashes opponents.Â Who knew this supposedly simple DP attack can have the most invincibility frames and becomes a high-priority attack? The Genocide Cutter is one major reason why Rugal gets the “coveted” SNK Boss Syndrome title.
Goenitz’sÂ ÐÐÐžÐšÐÐ—Ð/Yonokaze

“Koko desu ka? Koko desu ka?” You will hate that phrase with a passion if this is your first time playing KOF ’96 all the way to the end. Goenitz summons a random column of wind at preset positions on the screen. If you get hit, you take mucho damage and get knocked back significantly. It’s zoning at its worst, reserved for one of SNK’s most badass priest.
Nakoruru’s Clinging To Mamahaha (Samurai Shodown)

What’s cooler than seeing a new Samurai Shodown coming soon in 2019? Seeing 3D versions of Samurai Shodown staple moves in action. First up, we have Nakoruru’s one move where she clings to her pet eagle Mamahaha and then follows it up with either a vertical divebomb or a downwards kick.
Or even with a feint move where she drops to the ground super-quick to bait you into doing a DP, leaving you wide open. No wonder she’s top tier in KOF XIV.
Haohmaru’sÂ Tenha Danku Retsu Zan (Samurai Shodown)

Haohmaru gave a preview of this move during the Samurai Shodown 2019 teaser. All he does is a super slash that deals mega-damage. But just the way it hits its target and then the whole game pauses for a second; that’s a sight to behold.
Granted, it’s not the most practical of DMs – most players use hisÂ Hiougi Tenha Fujin Zan DP- but if you land it, it shows that you’re a patient-enough dude.
Geese’s Raging Storm (Fatal Fury Special, Real Bout Fatal Fury, KOF)

And finally, we have SNK’s most iconic fighting game move. The pretzel motion DM: Rising Storm. Basically, Geese pulls out a huge-ass energy gate/pillar/spikes thingy to end a combo or just do a wake-up punish. It looked impressive back in Fatal Fury Special, and it still looks impressive now in Tekken 7. Yeah, guest characters in other fighting game brands are a huge thing these days.
The motion for this move hasn’t been changed since (except maybe in KOF XIV), but somehow once you get the hang of it, it comes out naturally. For the record, it’s: down back, half circle backwards, down forward.
Got an SNK fighting game move you like that we missed out? Let us know your favourite moves. Let us know on Facebook, on Retro DNA, and on our website.Â


[Updated] VCT 2023: Pacific League – Teams, Schedule, & Results

The inaugural season of VALORANT’s first partnered league is upon us as the best teams throughout the Pacific region battle it out, week after week in Korea as they cement themselves as the best team in the region. The top 3 will qualify for Masters Tokyo as well as VALORANT Champions later on in the year. With that said, here’s a breakdown of the league’s schedule, teams and format.

NOTE: All Times & Dates will be in (UTC+8)

Details

Date: 25 March – 28 May (UTC+8)
Venue: Sangam Colosseum Jangchung Arena, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Format

Regular Season: 25 March – 16 May

Single Round Robin

All matches are Best of 3

Top 6 teams advance to Playoffs
Bottom 4 teams are eliminated

Playoffs: 19–28 May

6 teams in a Double-Elimination bracket

All matches (excl. Lower Final and Grand Final) are Best of 3
Lower Final and Grand Final are Best of 5

Top 3 teams will advance to Masters and Champions

Final Results

Place
$ USD
Qualifies To
Participant

1st

$100,000

VALORANT Champions 2023

Paper Rex

VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo

2nd

$65,000

VALORANT Champions 2023

DRX

VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo

3rd

$40,000

VALORANT Champions 2023

T1

VCT 2023: Masters Tokyo

4th
$25,000
VCT 2023: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier
Gen.G Esports

5th-6th

$10,000

VCT 2023: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier

Team Secret

ZETA DIVISION

7th
–
VCT 2023: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier
Rex Regum Qeon

8th
–
VCT 2023: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier
Global Esports

9th
–
VCT 2023: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier
Talon Esports

10th
–
VCT 2023: Pacific Last Chance Qualifier
DetonatioN FocusMe

Teams

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

GROUP STAGE RESULTS

STANDINGS

1
DRX
8-1
16-4
249-170
+79

2
Paper Rex
7-2
15-6
249-186
+63

3
T1
6-3
12-9
217-204
+13

4
ZETA DIVISION
5-4
11-12
239-248
-9

5
Team Secret
5-4
11-10
228-226
+2

6
Gen.G Esports
4-5
10-11
197-217
-20

7
Rex Regum Qeon
4-5
10-11
208-221
-13

8
Global Esports
3-6
9-12
231-227
+4

9
Talon Esports
3-6
9-12
197-230
-33

10
DetonatioN FocusMe
0-9
2-18
161-247
-86

Matches
Regular Season – Week 1
25 March

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [0] vs [2] DRX
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1 [2] vs [1] Global Esports
26 March

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Paper Rex [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [2] vs [1] Talon Esports
27 March

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [0] vs [2] Gen.G
Regular Season – Week 2
1 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [2] vs [1] Rex Regum Qeon
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports[0] vs [2] T1
2 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [2] vs [1] Paper Rex
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Gen.G [2] vs [1] DetonatioN FocusMe
3 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Global Esports [0] vs [2] DRX
Regular Season – Week 3
8 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1 [0] vs [2] Paper Rex
9 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [2] vs [1] Global Esports
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports [0] vs [2] DRX
10 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [0] vs [2] Gen.G
Regular Season – Week 4
15 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Paper Rex [0] vs [2] DRX
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [0] vs [2] Rex Regum Qeon
16 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1 [0] vs [2] Gen.G
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
17 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports [0] vs [2] Global Esports
Regular Season – Week 5
22 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Paper Rex [2] vs [1] Global Esports
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Gen.G [1] vs [2] DRX
23 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1 [2] vs [0] Rex Regum Qeon
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
24 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [0] vs [2] Talon Esports
Regular Season – Week 6
29 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1 [2] vs [1] DetonatioN FocusMe
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [2] vs [1] Team Secret
30 April

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Global Esports [2] vs [0] Gen.G
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [1] vs [2] DRX
1 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports [1] vs [2] Paper Rex
Regular Season – Week 7
6 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports [2] vs [0] Gen.G
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [0] vs [2] Paper Rex
7 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [2] vs [0] Global Esports
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [0] vs [2] T1
8 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – DRX [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
Regular Season – Week 8
12 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Paper Rex [2] vs [0] Gen.G
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [1] vs [2] T1
13 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [2] vs [0] DRX
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Global Esports [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
14 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports [0] vs [0] Rex Regum Qeon
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [0] vs [0] Gen.G
15 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1  [0] vs [2] DRX
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Team Secret [2] vs [0] Global Esports
16 May

5:00 PM (UTC+8) – Talon Esports [2] vs [0] DetonatioN FocusMe
8:00 PM (UTC+8) – Rex Regum Qeon [0] vs [2] Paper Rex
Playoffs
19 May

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [0] vs [2] Team Secret (Upper Bracket Quarterfinal)
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – T1 [2] vs [1] Gen.G Esports (Upper Bracket Quarterfinal)
20 May

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – DRX [2] vs [1] Team Secret (Upper Bracket Semifinal)
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – Paper Rex [2] vs [0] T1 (Upper Bracket Semifinal)
21 May

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – Gen.G Esports [2] vs [1] Team Secret (Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
7:00 PM (UTC+8) – ZETA DIVISION [1] vs [2] T1 (Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
22 May

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – DRX [0] vs [2] Paper Rex (Upper Bracket Final)
6:00 PM (UTC+8) – Gen.G Esports [0] vs [2] T1 (Lower Bracket Semifinal)
27 May

4:00 PM (UTC+8) – DRX [3] vs [2] T1 (Lower Bracket Final)
28 May
4:00 PM (UTC+8) – Paper Rex [3] vs [2] DRX (Grand Final)

Where to Watch?
Twitch / YouTube / Facebook