The Latest Need For Speed Gets Its Groove Back

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, PS4
Genre: Street racing with some open-world bits
There was a time long ago when a Need For Speed racing game under the EA banner would garner tons of sales during holiday seasons just because of its pedigree and prestige. At least before titles like Forza Horizon changed up the driving game scene immensely. Oh, and the fact that EA loved to publish one new NFS game per year to the point of oversaturation and burnout.
I guess all the series needed was a good long hiatus, because it came back in a pretty significant way with 2022’s Need For Speed Unbound developed by Criterion Games (of Burnout racing game fame). Maybe it’s not the juggernaut it once was, but there’s some darn fine racing to be had here.
Race Wars

The premise of this NFS title is what you expect: you and the car garage you’re associated with get betrayed by a close friend after a series of tutorials about the ins and outs of driving. Enter a mysterious benefactor who helps you out with cash, and off you go as you race and earn your way through the game’s underground racing scene to take back what was stolen while getting paid big. This being a NFS game, cops will be on your tail, so watch out and amscray unless you want your hard-earned money taken away.
It’s a formulaic plot, but we’re here for the racing and drifting, and that’s delivered in decent spades. The tried-and-tested arcade driving controls and inputs of Need For Speed Unbound feels good; it’s not too difficult to get into but there’s a learning curve, especially with the drifting segments (that net you tons of cash) and the challenging AI on Normal and Hard. Tough but fair, essentially; just the way we like it from our back-to-basics racer. Its feel and weight for the cars aren’t as super-detailed and tweakable as Xbox’s racing king, but it’s adequate enough for a game that lives up to its namesake.
The one significant way Need For Speed Unbound stands out from other racing games for the past year or so is the art style: the game blends super-realistic and detailed cars and tracks with graffiti and Instagram/TikTok art inserts on-screen. When you’re flying off the ramp, you sprout graffiti wings for a second or two before the race shifts back to reality. When you drift, you have cartoon smoke coming out from your wheels in an exaggerated fashion that’s fit for the boomer social media vid-sharing generation, with current music to go along with the literal flow. I’m not a fan, but this does make the game stand out aesthetically and carves a uniqueness that isn’t common in racing game these days.
Off The Beaten Path?

And just like racing games that need a proverbial nitro boost, developer Criterion cribbed a significant amount from the Forza Horizon games with the open-world setup. You head to a spot to do your races with the buy-ins, get heads up on delivery races (take a supercar or exotic vehicle from point A to B fast), and do a bunch of odd jobs, with each of them earning you bits of heat. When your heat level reaches 1 or more, the cops in the area are on high alert. Fast cars, interceptors, barriers, helicopters: you name it, they’ll bring it to stop you. These bouts are very challenging at the first few hours of the game since your starting cars are pretty average in terms of speed and handling. The game’s rival AI also feels a tad cheap at times even from the get-go, prompting many restarts just because they suddenly catch up via the nature of off-screen teleportation.
In fact, I feel that most folks here either change the difficulty here or just flat out give up because you can spend more than 5 minutes just evading cops post-mission because your early builds won’t cut it speed-wise. At least until you start earning bigger pots from races and planning ahead during the in-game weeks leading up to the big Sunday night races that net you the better cars. That’s the progression method that racing games like these are missing these past few years. Having to plan ahead how you tackle the different races and spending on car parts to get your car class from a B to higher before the week ends is key to succeeding efficiently. Personally, it’s a nice change of pace from your past Forza games, like as if you’re climbing from the bottom tier and feeling the gradual changes as you chart your course around Lakeshore City. It would be nice if the actual open world area of Lakeshore was interesting and varied though; for a game with a lot of personality shining from its detailed cars and “anime” cel-shaded art style, the hub you’re driving it just feels stock by comparison.
I Feel The Need…
Need For Speed Unbound is clearly a tryhard driving game that takes a bit of the open-world Forza Horizon structure, but at least there’s a sense of hard-earned progression and skill required as you play through Lakeshore City’s dirty and seedy racing challenges and plethora of city-based courses. EA and Criterion have taken it to the streets once again, and racing game fans looking for rubber to burn in 2022 will find some longevity in this racing title. I really hope we see more from Criterion and its take on the NFS franchise, because this just feels like the starting few laps rather than the full tour. It’s not going to replace Forza Horizon 5 as my top racing game of the generation, but it’s a nice diversion if you want to go back to the arcade style of racing and hot pursuit nonsense that entails.
Pros

Unique art style.
Great game design & tension from races & pursuits.
Lovely challenge & satisfying progression.

Cons

Standard story.
Stock map to run around in.
Cops & rival AI feel cheap.

Final Score: 70/100
Review copy provided by EA.


[Rumour] Warner Bros Montreal Might Be Working On A New Superman Game

Warner Bros’ game divisions aren’t working on just Gotham Knights.
A recent Warner Bros Montreal job listing hints at a brand new AAA game. According to a PCGamesN report, the listing is for a Senior Gameplay/Animation Programmer who can “work with its game development team responsible for a new IP, AAA title” who will optimize “cross-platform gameplay systems” and “NPC behaviours”. WB Montreal is “focused on developing games that expand the DC universe in the interactive space”; keep in mind that its upcoming game Gotham Knights is currently being wrapped up.
So what does this mean? All signs seem to point towards the long-rumoured Superman game. Concept art for that leaked online last year, and the aforementioned new IP will most likely be something outside the Batman universe. We won’t know until the next DC games showcase, which will take place in the next big online comic festival.
Gotham Knights will be out in 2022.


Kingdom Hearts Melody Of Memory Demo Drops In October

During Tokyo Game Show 2020, Square Enix has announced that they will release a free demo forÂ Kingdom Hearts Melody Of MemoryÂ for the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch sometime in mid-October.

Keep your calendar clear for mid-October! We'll be dropping a #KingdomHearts Melody of Memory playable demo on #PS4, #Xbox One & #NintendoSwitch!Get ready to dive into amazing rhythm-action gameplay with memorable tunes, in this can't-miss musical journey! pic.twitter.com/HskCDnjmm0— KINGDOM HEARTS (@KINGDOMHEARTS) September 25, 2020

Unfortunately, no other details about the demo were revealed.
Kingdom Hearts Melody Of MemoryÂ is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on 11 November 2020 in Japan and 13 November 2020 worldwide.
You can watch the full â€œKingdom Hearts Melody Of MemoryÂ TGS 2020 Online Specialâ€ show below. However, it’s fully in Japanese without any subtitles.


Langrisser I & II HD Remakes Will Be Out Early 2020; Missing Pointy Details

Fans of 90s JRPGs and strategy RPGs should remember the Langrisser series from Japan, or Warsong for the Sega Megadrive/Genesis in the rest of the world. It combines turn-based RPG combat with fantasy anime tropes, and it was glorious.
Now you can look forward to reliving those glory days with the upcoming Langrisser I and II HD remakes courtesy of NIS America. The twofer pack will be out early 2020 for PC, Nintendo Switch, and PS4, and features the aforementioned HD graphics, re-orchestrated music, new UI and “quality of life” changes, and English subtitles.

What we won’t get is artwork from Satoshi Urushihara. Arguably, he’s the guy who made Langrisser’s world come alive and…perky. Shapely even, if I’m putting it bluntly.
Have a look-see at the previous game’s art style and gauge for yourself if the remake really needs more Satoshi and less Nagi Ryou.


To The Rescue! Is A Cute Sim Experience That Dog Lovers Will Love

Platform(s): PC
Genre: Immersive Sim, Management, Building, Indie
Who honestly doesn’t love dogs? If you’ve never been able to take care of cute little doggos in real life (for whatever reason), there’s finally a game all about taking care of canines galore. Little Rock Games’ To The Rescue! is a charming dog shelter simulator.
The main objective in To The Rescue! is simple, you’ll have to take care of various dogs and find the right homes for as many of them as you can. To do this, you’ll need to not just manage all of the dogs’ needs in order to maximize their chances of finding the right forever homes, but also work to upgrade your shelter, control disease outbreaks, and make other tough decisions.

One of those tough decisions even involves the choice to euthanise your dogs, which lends an additional real-life experience to the game. The reason why this mechanic is in the game is because the developers wanted players to know that real-life shelters are sometimes forced to resort to euthanasia when there’s no other alternative. However, this mechanic can be switched off at any time if players don’t want to engage with it.
Thankfully, the game features lots of other fun mechanics you can engage with, including mini-games where you can play fetch with the dogs, a tug of rope (see picture below) and more. An extra nugget that makes the experience better is that while you’re taking care of your virtual dogs, 20 percent of Little Rock Gamesâ€™ profits from all sales of To The Rescue! will be donated to a charity that benefits real animal shelters across the United States.

Best of all, you can pet all the dogs that you want. It’s a dream come true for dog lovers indeed. To The Rescue! is slated to release on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch sometime in Fall 2021. The demo is now free to download and play.
[videopress Pkmn3OYS]


Starship Troopers Is Getting An RTS Game

The Starship Troopers franchise has long fizzled out into straight-to-video obscurity after the success of Paul Verhoevenâ€™s Starship Troopers movie in 1997. The first movie was the only one that barely managed to capture the satirical and sardonic tone of the original novel by Robert A. Heinlein. Obsidian Entertainment’s recent The Outer Worlds is probably a better adaptation, but I digress.
Developer The Artistocrats is currently working on Starship Troopers – Terran Command, an RTS game with a mix of classic RTS elements and tower defence. The Belgian studio is best known for the Order of Battle series andÂ Commander: The Great War.
According to the official announcement by publisher Slitherine, The Artistocrats studio owner and lead designer Lukas Nijsten has developing Starship Troopers – Terran Command for more than two years.
Speaking with Polygon, Slitherine development director Iain McNeil said:

â€œWe aimed to capture the essence of the original movie and its universe.
This is not only achieved by creating a coherent set of units and scenarios, but also by mimicking the language, visual elements, dialogues, and the little details that made the film such an iconic, cult feature.â€

Starship Troopers – Terran Command is slated to release for the PC sometime in 2020. In the meantime, check out the gameplay trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3Y5rJbktbM&w=560&h=315]


Here’s Why Microsoft Is Shutting Down Xbox Accounts

According to a new change in policy, Microsoft will soon start shutting down Xbox accounts after two years of inactivity, instead of the previous five years. This will come into effect starting from 30 August 2019.
It is apparently part of the company’s policy that users must use their accounts to keep them ‘active’ and avoid getting shut down.
Here’s how to make sure that your account remains active:

Sign in to your Xbox account at least once every two years
Purchase, redeem, or access purchase of, a current Microsoft product or service
As long as you have an active subscription (Xbox Game Pass, etc.)
As long as you have an unspent balance of money in your Xbox account

There are more but those are usually the ones that are related to gamers the most. I think it’s a good move on Microsoft’s part that they’re removing inactive accounts, some of which may just be spam and harmful phishers.
As long as you keep signing into you Xbox accounts or adhere to any of the requirements listed above, there’s no need to worry about your account being removed. If you haven’t used it for two years, then you wouldn’t even have cared enough in the first place.
Even if you don’t have a current Xbox console or have not been playing games for a while, a simple sign-in would suffice in keeping your account active. Remember that before getting your pitchforks and torches ready.


Ubisoft Combats Toxic In-Game Behaviors With Fair Play Program

Ubisoft is turning the digital world into a better place using the Fair Play program, which launches today for all Ubisoft players.
In addition to Ubisoft Connect, the beta version of the program features 5 learning capsules including statistics and facts about the toxicity of online gaming. This provides players with resources about the effects of their disruptive behavior and how this affects other players’ experiences as well. Moreover, there’s a self-assessment included to better understand situations that can push them to be toxic using tips and advice from a pro player on how to overcome it.

Here’s what Director of Player Safety at Ubisoft Jérémy Marchadier has to say about the program:
“At Ubisoft, our key objective is to create games that foster positive online experiences and to make sure that players evolve in safe communities. We believe that education and the promotion of positive play are paramount to inducing a positive shift in players’ experience.”
This approach is a continuation of Ubisoft’s bigger plan of creating gaming structures that sparks more rewarding social experiences and prevent toxic interactions such as the recently announced research project with Riot Games called “Zero Harm in Comms”.
Aside from the program, Ubisoft launches the Rainbow Six Reputation Score display, a new tool that will enable Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege players to have a clear and concrete understanding of the impact of their behaviour in-game.
Visit Ubisoft’s Fair Play article to find out more about the initiative.


Humble Bundle Is Selling An All-Charity Gaming Package To Help Fight COVID-19 In India

Humble Bundle’s latest charity bundle will be helping the COVID-19 relief effort in India and Brazil, two countries that are currently dealing with deadly COVID-19 outbreaks.
For US$20, you get the following games, digital books, and apps in the Heal COVID-19 Bundle:

Into the Breach
Baba Is You
BioShock Remastered
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Undertale
Hyper Light Drifter
Tooth and Tail
The Witness
This War of Mine: Final Cut
Saints Row: The Third â€“ The Full Package
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
Superhot
Stick Fight: The Game
Portal Knights
Wargroove
Brutal Legend
Death Squared
Crusader Kings Complete
Pinstripe
Teleglitch: Die More Edition
Dwarfs!?
Dead in Bermuda
Bury Me, My Love
The Art of Captivating Conversation: How to Be Confident, Charismatic, and Likable in Any Situation
Ultimate Sh*t Hits the Fan Survival Guide
You Can Do All Things
Coping Skills: Tools & Techniques for Every Stressful Situation
Unfuck Your Worth: Overcome Your Money Emotions, Value Your Own Labor, and Manage Financial Freak-outs in a Capitalist Hellscape
Eff This! Meditation: 108 Tips, Tricks, and Ideas for When You’re Feeling Anxious, Stressed Out, or Overwhelmed
Locked content Locke & Key Vol. 1: Welcome To Lovecraft
Red Sonja: Petitioning the Queen
Ashampoo WinOptimizer 18
Ashampoo Backup Pro 14
Ashampoo Photo Optimizer 7
Music Maker: Hip Hop Edition

Sure, you may have owned at least a number of the aforementioned games, but you’re getting behind a really good cause. At this point in time, the charity has raised US$159,264. The bundle will be available from now until 19th May.
For more on combating COVID-19, check out our review of the AZ vaccine.


Legendary Actor & Martial Artist Sonny Chiba Has Passed Away

Shinichi â€œSonnyâ€ Chiba has passed away at the age of 82. According to Variety, the late legendary actor and martial arts master died due to complications caused by the COVID-19 virus after being hospitalized for several weeks.
Born as Sadaho Maeda in 1939 in Japan, the late Sonny Chiba started learning martial arts in 1957. During his lifetime, he managed to achieve six black belts in six different martial arts, including Kyokushin Karate, Ninjutsu, Goju-Ryu karate, Shorinji Kempo, Judo, and Kendo.
The late Sonny Chiba has over 200 movie and TV credits to his name. He is best known worldwide for starring in 1998’s The Storm Riders as Lord Conqueror, 2003’s Kill Bill Volume 1 as Hanzo Hattori, and 2006’s The Fast And The Furious:
Tokyo Drift as Boss Kamata.
His final movie, Bond Of Justice Kizuna, will be released in Japan later this year.


DC FanDome: Hilarious Peacemaker Trailer Reveals January Release Date

HBO Max has released a new trailer for PeacemakerÂ during DC FanDome 2021.
In addition to Cena, Steve Agee and Jennifer Holland reprise their Suicide Squad roles as John Economos and Emilia Harcourt. They’ll be joined by new cast members Freddie Stroma as DC character Vigilante, Robert Patrick as Peacemaker’s father Auggie and Danielle Brooks as fellow recruit Leota Adebayo and Chukwudi Iwuji as Clemson Murn, the head of the team.
Peacemaker will premiere on HBO Max on 16 January 2022.
Check out the trailer below:


The Lord Of The Rings The Rings Of Power Super Bowl Trailer Returns To Middle-Earth

Amazon Prime has unveiled the first teaser trailer for The Lord Of The Rings The Rings Of Power during the Super Bowl. The 60-second teaser trailer opens with the words: â€œHavenâ€™t you ever wondered what else is out there? Thereâ€™s wonders in this world beyond our wandering. I can feel it!â€
It seems like they were spoken by a harfoot â€” an ancient ancestor of hobbits â€” played by Markella Kavenagh. Highlights of the trailer include:

A young Galadriel (Morfydd Clark), scaling up an ice-coated cliff face with nothing but a dagger and grit.
Halbrand (Charlie Vickers), a human on a small raft stuck inside a raging storm at sea.
Arondir (Ismael Cruz CÃ³rdova), a silvan elf, grabs a flying arrow with his bare hands, flipping it around and shooting it back.
A terrifying cave troll baring down on a terrified elf.
Prince Durin IV of the dwarf realm of Khazad-dÃ»m (Owain Arthur), looking up with tears in his eyes.
A young Elrond (Robert Aramayo), glowering while others (seemingly) carouse behind him. (Fun fact: Aramayo also played young Ned Stark on â€œGame of Thronesâ€ â€” the man is cornering the market on younger versions of iconic fantasy characters!)
Disa, princess of Khazad-dÃ»m (Sophia Nomvete), appears to sing into the heavens.
An almost naked man, surrounded by a raging, smouldering fire, reaching out to someone.
A soldier (Will Fletcher), in the middle of a battle with a horde of orcs.
A human hand holding either the hand of a small child, or a harfoot.

For the very first time, it will bring the heroic legends of the fabled Second Age of Middle-earthâ€™s history. This epic drama is set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkienâ€™sÂ The HobbitÂ andÂ The Lord Of the RingsÂ and will take viewers back to an era in which great powers were forged, kingdoms rose to glory and fell to ruin, unlikely heroes were tested, hope hung by the finest of threads, and the greatest villain that ever flowed from Tolkienâ€™s pen threatened to cover all the world in darkness.
The Lord Of The Rings The Rings Of PowerÂ will premiere on Amazon Prime Video onÂ 2 September 2022.


Solar Ash Kingdom Is The Next Game From Hyper Light Drifter Devs

Heart Machine‘s Hyper Light Drifter was a glorious indie action RPG with a visual style that hearkens back to the glory days of 8-bit and 16-bit gaming. To the delight of gamers everywhere, the developer has announced its next game, Solar Ash Kingdom.

Revealed exclusively on IGN, not much has been revealed about Solar Ash Kingdom, though from the looks of the trailer, it will feature a very distinctive visual style. The graphics look reminiscent of another indie hit, 2016’s Furi by developer The Game Bakers.
According to Heart Machine founder Alx Preston, Solar Ash Kingdom will differentiate itself from Hyper Light Drifter with “a whole new set of incredible tech and key innovations.”
In a statement to IGN, he also said:

“We strive to tell a beautiful story through our world, the atmosphere, our characters, and even our gameplay – each aspect of our games are painstakingly considered – which requires a large investment of time.
Thanks for bearing with us and our relative silence; weâ€™re so excited to start opening up about the game and the process behind it on our devlog and beyond.
Itâ€™s been difficult to hold our tongues on such an exciting creation after this long, but itâ€™s been worth it to make sure we put out our best for our audience to see just how far weâ€™ve come from our days of pixel art.”

Solar Ash Kingdom is set to be an Epic Games Store exclusive for the PC version. It hasn’t been confirmed if the game will be arriving on the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch as well. As of now, no release date has been announced, but if it’s anything like Hyper Light Drifter, it will surely be another critical indie darling.
If anyone is wondering if Solar Ash Kingdom might be a secret sequel to Hyper Light Drifter, the developer has clarified on Twitter that it is in fact, not a sequel at all, but something brand new.

Thanks for the like! It is not a sequel to HLD, however – new stuff!
â€” Heart Machine (@HeartMachineZ) March 13, 2019
In the meantime, check out the awesome trailer for Solar Ash Kingdom below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywJHZie8oQM&w=560&h=315]


Singapore To Host First Asean Esports Tournament Late 2018; No Games Announced Yet

Competitive gaming is big, no doubt about that. Just check out Newzoo’s latest findings on games like Dota 2 and League of Legends going big all across Southeast Asia; the competitive scene worldwide is worth US$905.6 million. And we haven’t factored in other competitions like The International, the Overwatch League, and many others.
Our neighbours down South are hosting the “first-ever major AseanÂ Esports tournament in 2018”. According to a Straits Times report,Â the inaugural Asean eSports competition will be at the Singapore Sports Hub (near Kallang area in Singapore) in the first weekend of August (4th and 5th).
Singapore ParliamentaryÂ Secretary for Culture, Community and YouthÂ Mr Baey Yam Keng said to Singapore Parliament yesterday that the tournament will be part of the local Shine Festival for Youth and GetActive! Singapore.
With 2.8 million gamers in Singapore since 2017 (we assume all kinds, from your “filthy” casuals to hardcore jerks like me), we think that’s a good idea for everyone in the region to compete in perhaps one of Southeast Asia’s most developed and most expensive hub around.
The big question is: what games will be on tap? The news report did not mention any games yet. So let’s take a stab at it, shall we?
Vainglory: Since Singapore’s Impunity was the top 4 best teams in the game on a worldwide scale, this one’s a no-brainer pick.
League of Legends: Probably another good pick, since there are a good number of LoL teams in the Southeast Asian regions.
Overwatch: We wish, but last we checked, Blizzard wanted a sizeable cut for large-scale regional tournaments involving this game. Unless the organizers have deep pockets, this one might be shelved. A shame too, since the best players are all in Thailand and Vietnam.
Dota 2: This pick’s pretty likely, since every other Asian country except Singapore has a decent Dota 2 team ripe for competing. Heck, even Singapore top dog Iceiceice is playing for team Malaysia/Philippines.
Counter-Strike GO: Also another likely pick. Can’t say much since I’m not a big CSGO guy though, but CSGO has been around long enough that there are SEA teams who are worth a damn.
Street Fighter V: This one is a bit tricky. While this game has seen a lot of esports and esports organizer love outside of Japan and The West, the scene is still underdeveloped in the region.
Sure, we have South East Major 2018 happening and the other South East Asia Major tournaments, but that competition usually attracts more foreign players and competition who are not within the Southeast Asia jurisdiction. Unless someone in the community has the clout to change Capcom’s mind, I don’t see this happening.
(top image credit: ESL One)


Here’s What We Saw In The Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 & Loki Season 2 Trailers

Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we attended Disney Content Showcase APAC 2022 at Marina Bay Sans, Singapore. During the Marvel Studios presentation, we saw several trailers for upcoming movies and TV series.
We watched the trailer for Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania. Highlights included a shot of new villain MODOK, as well as a scene featuring Kang The Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) wanting Paul Rudd’s Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man to steal something for him in exchange for his daughter, Cassie Lang (Kathryn Newton). Ant-Man And The Wasp Quantumania will premiere in February 2023.
We also watched a trailer for Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3, which revealed that the Guardians will reunite with Gamora. It also showed us a glimpse of Will Poulter’s Adam Warlock and Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary. The movie will apparently delve into Rocket’s past, as we see a much younger version of him being raised by the High Evolutionary. The Guardians will also be wearing more comics-accurate costumes this time around. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 will premiere in May 2023.
(L-R): Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.
Last but not least, we watched the first teaser trailer for Loki Season 2. It doesn’t reveal much, but Loki himself is trying to find the truth about Kang and the current state of the Time Variance Authority. Owen Wilson’s Mobius is in the trailer as well. There will apparently also be multiple variants of Lokis. Loki Season 2 will consist of six episodes. There is no release date or release window as of yet.

Stay tuned for more from our coverage of the Disney Content Showcase APAC 2023.


REV Major 2019 Filled With LowHighs & Filipino Fighting Moments

Last weekend was indeed a treat for fighting game fans in Asia, particular in the Philippines. Gariath Concept, Playbook, Solaire, and Globe teamed up to bring streamers and fans a hell of a fighting game show with, offline and online, with a Tekken World Tour Master event, a Tenkaichi-level Dragon Ball FighterZ World Tour, and a load of other top fighting games new and old.
Here are your REV Major 2019 highlights.
Business As Usual For South Korea in Tekken 7

LowHigh, Rangchu, Chanel, and a few other Korean Tekken 7 luminaries made their mark on the Philippines. Among the top 8 players in this crazy Tekken showdown, Rangchu and Chanel had pocket Zafinas (the first of many Season 3 additions).
That super-poke of hers (b+1+2) and a slew of other counters/stance mixups must have been attractive for high-level players, as demonstrated by top tier female Tekken 7 player Yuyu below.

Street Fighter V’s Top 5 Dominated By Playbook Players
Filipino’s finest, Filipino Champ included, ended up placing pretty high in REV Major 2019’s Street Fighter V tournament. After Tachikawa (who won 1st place) are PBE’s Jamse, Don, and BuyLLy69.
Seeing as SFV’s brackets are full of new and old Japanese killers, it’s a testament to the power of the Philippines in terms of their SFV prowess. We hope to see the PBE guys fight more on an international scale, particularly in October’s SEA Major 2019.
Singapore Wins UNIST

Shoutouts to our neighbours down south for getting a win in a prominent anime fighting game. Resurgence’s Seo mained a pretty high-level character, Byakuya, in a game known for its unique cast.
No One’s Letting Go Of Genjuro In SamSho

The top 4 battle in REV Major’s Samurai Shodown tournament proved that old habits die hard, especially when it comes with Japanese players like Score and Eda. Even with the recent balance patch, the better players can still adjust to the meta.
Here are your results:
Tekken 7
1. UYU|LowHigh (Shaheen, Law, Steve)
2. Yamasa|Nobi (Dragunov, Steve)
3. Liquid|Gen (Shaheen)
4. AMPLFY|Rangchu (Julia, Panda, Zafina)
5. ROX|Chanel (Alisa, Zafina)
5. JDCR (Dragunov)
7. THY|Chikurin (Jin)
7. ROX|Eyemusician (Yoshimitsu)

Dragon Ball FighterZ
1. CO|Fenrich (Cell, Kid Goku, Vegeta)
2. Maddo (Kid Buu, Yamcha, Kid Goku)
3. Xuses|Matoi (Android 21, Goku, Bardock)
4. BC|Tachikawa (Android 18, Kid Goku, Frieza)
5. EHADA|Xanxus (Vegito, Blue Vegeta, Vegeta)
5. Tako956402 (Bardock, Kid Goku, Adult Gohan)
7. PG|BNBBN (Kid Buu, Bardock, Kid Goku)
7. CvG|Umintyu (Android 21, Adult Gohan, Bardock)
Street Fighter V
1. BC|Tachikawa (Kolin)
2. PBE|Jamse (Kolin, G)
3. PBE|Don (Akuma)
4. PBE|BuLLy69 (Birdie)
5. Filipino Champ (Dhalsim)
5. UYU|Jeondding (Rashid)
7. BurningAngel (Juri)
7. POTAto^^
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
1. RPG|JJRockets (Diddy Kong)
2. CG|XIFL (PokÃ©mon Trainer, Little Mac)
3. TSF|PSI Force (Ness)
4. TUO (Wii Fit Trainer)
5. Yoshi95 (Link)
5. BNKR|Mystikmol (Bayonetta)
7. BNKR|Polaroid (Mario)
7. Regerets (Greninja)
Samurai Shodown
1. AMTRS|SCORE
2.Â Kashiyama|Eda
3. Chou
4. NM|Gempoid
5. CvG| UMINTYU
5. NM|Papable Peter
7. SponsorMe|VGD
7. SBK
Pics courtesy of REV Major Philippines.


[Report] Divinity Guys To Make Next Baldur’s Gate Game

Larian Studios is best known for developing the Divinity series of games, most recently of which was 2018’s Divinity: Original Sin II Definitive Edition. Now it seems that the developer is teasing a new game, which looks a lot like it’s going to be Baldur’s Gate 3.
The developer attracted attention when a teaser image of a ‘three’ logo popped up on their official websiteÂ with no details whatsoever (via Kotaku). Later, a Twitter user by the name of @kunkken snooped into the HTML of the site and discovered hints that proved this mysterious new game is going to be the next Baldur’s Gate game, along with official trademarks from Dungeons & Dragons creators Wizards of the Coast.

Here’s a bit clearer instructions pic.twitter.com/yUFDIC0YaG
â€” kunken (@kunkken) May 30, 2019
This is a big deal not only because Baldur’s Gate is one of the most beloved CRPG franchises of all time, but also because the last true mainline game from the series was Bioware’s Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows Of Amn over a whopping 13 years ago in 2000. Many expansions and enhanced editions have since been released but a bonafide sequel was nowhere to be seen, until now, that is.
With E3 2019 inching ever closer in less than two weeks, we might be hearing more about Larian Studios’ mysterious new game very soon.


Front Mission Remake Will Be Out End Of November

Fans of turn-based strategy, mechas, and political intrigue rejoice: the Front Mission remake will be arriving sooner than you think.
Publisher Forever Entertainment and developer MegaPixel Studio announced that Front Mission 1st: Remake will be out for Nintendo Switch on 30th November for US$34.99. You can pre-order the game starting 16 November with a 10 percent discount.
A new video of the remake will be out tomorrow at 9pm GMT+8. In the meantime, check out the game overview below:
“FRONT MISSION 1st: Remake comes back with updated graphics and modern approach! Choose your side and enter the battlefield equipped with the armed Wanzer—the future of Huffman Island is in your hands.
In the year 2090, the world’s conflicts are fought using giant war machines called Wanzers. Huffman Island, the only place where the Oceania Cooperative Union (O.C.U.) and the Unified Continental States (U.C.S.) share a land border is a hotbed of conflict.
With dozens of characters to meet, its mature story, and non-Manichean protagonists, Front Mission is the classic tactical Japanese RPG, finally available worldwide.

The game features new game mode and tweaks to the gameplay and mechanics.
The legendary soundtrack fully reorchestrated.
Original soundtrack available.


My Next Life As A Villainess Anime Gets Second Season; Out 2021

The interestingly mixed-up isekai romance comedy anime My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom! is getting a second season.

For those who aren’t sure what this show is, it’s about a wealthy heiress named Catarina Claes who realizes that she’s stuck in her favourite otome visual novel game called “Fortune Lover”; the kind with handsome sexy studs and pretty boys. However, instead of being a heroine, she is stuck as the game’s villainess.
Since she knows the ins and outs of the game, and stuck with bad to worst outcomes, she has to find ways to stop triggering the visual novel’s “flags of doom” and make her own happy future.


That Was Really John Cena Playing The Piano In Peacemaker

Peacemaker Episode 6 came out this week and as always, it was a good episode. An emotional one too, with Peacemaker ending the episode playing a piano cover version of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home”. However, did you know that John Cena actually played the piano himself?
Peacemaker showrunner and director James Gunn confirmed it via his Twitter account, and he even shared the Spotify link to Peacemaker’s piano cover of the song, if you want to listen to it again.

For those of you asking, yes, that was really @JohnCena playing the piano version of Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home" in the latest episode of #Peacemaker. It has been added to the Peacemaker Official Playlist, or you can listen to it directly here: https://t.co/GTJPdiXHpe pic.twitter.com/sUNb2rlgFn
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 4, 2022

In the meantime, you can check out my review of Peacemaker Season 1 byÂ heading over here. You can also check out my previous breakdowns ofÂ Peacemaker Episodes 1, 2 and 3 here, as well asÂ Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â and Episode 6 here.


Why Did Larian Studios Pick Malaysia For Its Latest Studio?

In 2017, we were graced by the release of Divinity: Original Sin 2. In case you haven’t played it, I’ll let you know that it’s definitely one of the best RPGs to be released in this decade. Two years later, I still consider it the best RPG I’ve played in recent times.

The amazing minds and talents behind the Divinity series of games come from the Belgium-based company called Larian Studios. In a recent keynote presentation at Level Up KL 2019, Larian Studios founder Swen Vincke announced the opening of the studio’s fifth office here in Malaysia.
That’s right, folks. Larian Studios is hiring Malaysians to work on their current project, Baldur’s Gate III.

In our interview with him, we asked him the question playing in everyone’s mind right after the announcement was made: Why Malaysia?
Sven told us that he’s been looking for an Eastern office for a while now and he first came to Malaysia all the back in January of this year. Two of the big factors in making Malaysia an attractive place to set up shop for Larian is that :
i) Malaysians haveÂ good English fluency and,
ii) it’s around 7 hours away geographically from their Belgium studio which would allow for great workload transfer.

“Back when we were a young studio and struggling, there was a lot of crunch. Now that we’ve grown older and have our own families, I don’t want that becoming a part of our lives anymore. So we set up studios around the world to allow us to continue developing our games while minimising crunch.”
– Swen Vincke, founder of Larian Studios.
For those of you who have the skills and interest to work with these legends, just head on over to the Larian Studios official website and you’ll find “Kuala Lumpur” under the Careers tab. They’re even looking for a full-time game tester. Apply now!


Free-To-Play Rocket League Will No Longer Need PS Plus Or Switch Online

Psyonix has confirmed that gamers will not require PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions to play Rocket League once it officially goes free-to-play.
The developer announced the news via a blog post on its website, revealing that once the game goes free-to-play, it is stated that â€œPlayStation Plus on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch Online will no longer be required for online play on those platformsâ€.
They also said that once Rocket League goes free-to-play, the game will â€œonly be available to new PC players via the Epic Games Storeâ€.
In addition to going free-to-play, the game will also be receiving constant updates to its seasonal content, competitive ranking and the addition of a new player experience for first-time players.
The next update will be issued on current platforms â€œin the next few weeks around mid-September, and the launch of free-to-play will follow shortly afterâ€.
Psyonix is also streamlining Rocket Leagueâ€˜s competitive side by combining Competitive Seasons, Rocket Pass and Competitive Tournaments into one season that will see all events follow the same schedule once the game goes free-to-play.

The game is also getting three new levels of Grand Champion ranks and a new highest competitive rank, Supersonic Legend, as well as a new Rookie bot difficulty level, quick chat options, and Rocket League music that will be remixed by Monstercat artists.
Rocket League is currently available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Mac.


Get Ready To Die And Die Again In Dead Cells’ First Paid DLC

We’ve been getting free updates for Dead Cells for over a year now and the time has come for us to properly support the developers with our wallets.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdNovVWIPt0&w=560&h=315]
Evil Empire, the studio that spawned from Motion Twin, has unveiled a new trailer for Dead Cells‘ first paid DLC called The Bad Seed. It will be released on 11 February 2020 and will only cost you US$5 (~RM20).
What’s interesting about The Bad Seed is that it’s an early-game DLC which is meant to “spice up your early game runs once you’ve played through the core game”.
The two new levels, The Arboreturm and The Swamp, will act as alternatives to The Courtyard/Toxic Sewers and The Ramparts/Ossuary/Ancient Sewers.

A new Dead Cells major update wouldn’t be complete without a boss and this time, we’re getting one in the form of… mama tick? The developers themselves say that you’ll the idea if you’ve ever watched Starship Troopers.
Check out The Bad Seed’s Steam store page here. The DLC will also be available for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.


New Nintendo Labo Kit Goes VR

Nintendo has just revealed its new virtual reality (VR) kit through the company’s innovative yet quirky Nintendo Labo lineup. The kit isn’t as sophisticated as the PlayStation VR but more basic to create a simple and shareable virtual reality experience for the whole family.
Nintendo Labo: VR Kit is the fourth kit to be released as part of the Labo lineup to date, with the tools to make DIY cardboard creations called Toy-Cons,Â play a variety of games with these creations, andÂ discover how Nintendo Switch technology brings it all to life.

The new kit offers six new Toy-Con creations, including the Toy-Con VR Goggles, which can be combined with the other creations, allowing players to interact with the virtual world through imaginative real-world actions. Fend off an alien invasion with the Toy-Con Blaster, visit a colourful in-game ocean and snap photos of sea life with the Toy-Con Camera, and so much more.
Nintendo promotes the sharing of Toy-Con creations so that everyone can join in on the fun. To help encourage this social gameplay, players simply slip the Nintendo Switch console into the Toy-Con VR Goggles and hold it up to their eyes to explore numerous games and experiences. No funky headbands needed.
Nintendo of America Sales and Marketing Senior Vice President Doug Bowser said:

â€œThis new kit builds on the core tenets of Nintendo Labo â€“ Make, Play and Discover â€“ to introduce virtual reality in a way thatâ€™s fun and approachable for both kids and kids at heart”.

He added that ‘they wanted to design an experience that encourages both virtual and real-world interactions among players through passing around Toy-Con creations.’
Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will launch in retail stores with two primary configurations, one that includes all Toy-Con creations and another that includes a smaller selection of projects to get started:

Nintendo Labo: VR Kit: The complete VR kit. Includes the Toy-Con VR Goggles, Toy-Con Blaster, Toy-Con Camera, Toy-Con Bird, Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Elephant.
Nintendo Labo: VR Kit â€“ Starter Set + Blaster: Includes the Toy-Con VR Goggles and Toy-Con Blaster.

The complete VR kit will be priced at $79.99 (RM326) while the Starter Set is priced at only $39.99 (RM163). Both of these kits will also include a Screen Holder and Safety Cap.
Those who own the Starter Set and is looking to expand their horizons can purchase the following optional expansion kits.

Expansion Kit 1: Includes the Toy-Con Elephant and Toy-Con Camera.
Expansion Kit 2: Includes the Toy-Con Wind Pedal and Toy-Con Bird.

Both expansion kits will come at a price of $19.99 (RM81), and will only be sold exclusively online on the Nintendo online store.
The inventive Toy-Con Garage mode, which is part of all Nintendo Labo software, returns with Nintendo Labo: VR Kit, offering basic programming tools for players to experiment with.
The Nintendo Labo: VR Kit – Starter Set + Blaster and complete Nintendo Labo: VR Kit will be available in stores on 12 April 2019.


For Honor Gets A New Hero For Season 2 Year 3 Update

Ubisoft has announced today that the new hero, Hitokiri, will be joining the Samurai Faction in For Honor with the launch of the game’s third year Season 2 update, aptly titled ‘Sakura’. This update will be live for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC on 2 MayÂ and will see more than just a new hero, but with new maps, seasonal events and much more.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lom8dib3AWg]
The Hitokiri are ghostly warriors who have lost all faith in humanity. They wander the land clutching their Masakari, the mighty axes they used to sentence criminals, their presence on the battlefield spreading a black cloud that can terrify all enemies. This new archetype will have both female and male versions: Sakura and Yato.Â The heroes will be immediately available for Year 3 Pass owners, while other players can unlock them for 15,000 Steel.
Year 3 Season 2 will introduce more heroes to the roster, focusing on the Lawbringer and the Raider. A new map, Canopy, is also in the works and will be released together with Hitokiri.
Players who are looking to receive seven days of exclusive access to the new heroes at launch, as well as other rewards, can pick up the Year 3 Pass which is now available and is included in the For Honor Complete Edition bundle.
If you’re interested in a first look of the new update, there will be a special Warrior’s Den livestream on 26 April on the For Honor Twitch channel here.


The Sandman Season 2 Confirmed, Renewed By Netflix

After several months since the premiere of its first season, Netflix has finally greenlit The Sandman for a second season. According to a report from Deadline, the news of The Sandman Season 2 comes after an accidental leak on the official DC Comics Twitter page which posted a tweet (which has since been deleted) that read:
“The dream continues. [The Sandman] will return with new episodes based on multiple volumes of the Neil Gaiman graphic novel to explore even more stories of the Endless.”
No other details or information have been revealed at this time.
In the meantime, check out my predictions of what’s to come in The Sandman Season 2 and beyond (though be prepared for full spoilers from both Season 1 and the entire comic book run).
Check out the official announcement video posted by Neil Gaiman earlier today:

The rumours are true. Netflix is thrilled that so many of you have been watching Sandman, and the thing we were all hoping would happen… has indeed happened… pic.twitter.com/zc5CrhsdZK
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) November 3, 2022


Overwatch League: New York Excelsior Joins the Fray

Team New York will henceforth be known as New York Excelsior after announcing their official name and logo yesterday. Mostly made up of players from Korean-based LW Blue, the team is owned byÂ Jeff Wilpon who is also COO of the baseball team The New York Mets.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJI9WXBWmso&w=560&h=315]
The official statement read “The name Excelsior means â€œever upwardâ€ in Latin, and is inspired by the everyday heroism of New York. Â It’s this spirit of optimism, drive, and ambition that the team hopes will propel them to victory in the Overwatch League. The team nickname, â€œNYXL,â€ also evokes New York at its strongest, while the flag logo represents different people, cultures, and ideas coming together.
â€œIt is an amazing opportunity to have NYXL be part of a brand new professional league and representing the city of New York,â€ said Jeff Wilpon, Co-Founder and Partner at Sterling.VC, a Sterling Equities venture capital fund. â€œWeâ€™ve put together a strong team and look forward to competing at the highest level.â€ he added
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X214BRXRSjs&w=560&h=315]
Save for ‘Libero’ (Meta Athena) and ‘ArK’ (LW Red), the rest of the all-Korean roster were ex-LW Blue members and have competed together in the APEX circuit where they finished fifth in Season 4. You can get a glimpse of their players at the upcoming 2017 Overwatch World Cup as Saebyeolbe and Mano are part of the Korean team.

â€œIâ€™m incredibly excited to join NYXL as a coach with the chance to manage the team as it competes with and against the best players in the world in the Overwatch League,â€ said Pavane, coach for NYXL. â€œNew York is a great sports city and we will give our all when representing the city and our fans when play officially begins.â€
Also revealed was the team’s colors, modeled by Lucio. We aren’t so crazy about the colors tho but reckon it would look really good on a Genji. What do you think?

The Overwatch League begins preseason play on December 6, with a series of exhibition matches featuring all 12 teams. The regular season will begin on January 10 and run into June, with playoffs and finals in July 2018.


STONKS-9800, A ‘City Pop Business Sim’ Coming To Steam Early Access This July

Ternox Games has some exciting news to share! They’re about to drop STONKS-9800, a rad text-based stock market business simulator that takes you right back to 1980s Japan. Get ready to embark on this epic financial journey when it hits Steam Early Access on 17 July. And that’s not all—mark your calendars for the full release in 2024, available on PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One and PC via Steam.
STONKS-9800 is a game that blends the best of visual novels, stock market sims and throws in some retro anime and vaporwave vibes for good measure. It’s like stepping into a time machine and immersing yourself in the economic boom of 80s Japan. But hold up, there’s more to this game than just funky aesthetics. While it’s all about chilling and having a blast, STONKS-9800 also tackles some serious themes. See, the 1980s weren’t all about salaryman culture, city pop tunes, pachinko parlours, and those cozy izakaya bars. It was also the era when “karoshi,” or death by overwork, started to become a concern. So, go ahead and make those big business moves, but don’t forget to take care of your health too. Balance is key, my friends!

Key Features

Buy stocks, get dividends, monitor the prices;

Your decisions affect the market – and your life;

Keep an eye on your health and do not overwork, lest you end up in the hospital;

Invest in real estate and cars, increasing your level of comfort;

Manage your company, having a controlling interest;

Achieve success as a legal business – or get rich quickly engaging in shady activities;

Play a variety of mini-games, including pachinko and horse racing betting


Embracer Group Will Buy Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, & Square Enix Montreal, Plus Its IPs

Embracer Group, the investment firm who recently bought Gearbox Software, are continuing its buying spree with notable Square Enix Western studios.
The group has entered an agreement to acquire Crystal Dynamics (Tomb Raider, Marvel’s Avengers), Eidos Montreal (Deus Ex, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy), and Square Enix Montreal. The group has also bought a huge catalogue of IPs from Square Enix, including Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, Thief, Legacy of Kain, and plenty more. That’s more than 50 back-catalogue games.
The total worth of this acquisition is US$300 million on a cash and debt free basis, to be paid in full at closing. Here’s a quote from Embracer co-founder and group CEO Lars Wingefors.
“We are thrilled to welcome these studios into the Embracer Group. We recognize the fantastic IP, world class creative talent, and track record of excellence that have been demonstrated time and again over the past decades. It has been a great pleasure meeting the leadership teams and discussing future plans for how they can realize their ambitions and become a great part of Embracer. Embracer is the best kept secret in gaming: a massive, decentralized collection of entrepreneurs whom we are thrilled to become a part of today. It is the perfect fit for our ambitions: make high-quality games, with great people, sustainably, and grow our existing franchises to their best versions ever. Embracer allows us to forge new partnerships across all media to maximize our franchises’ potential and live our dreams of making extraordinary entertainment.”
Why Did Square Enix sell its companies & IPs?
According to a press release, Square Enix said that the purpose of the sale was to move forward with “investments in fields including blockchain, AI, and the cloud” among other things. Yes, it seems as if its mandate to prioritize NFTs and other related ventures takes centrestage over talented game-making companies from the West.


All The Awesome Video Game Music Acts Of Tokyo Game Show 2021

Tokyo Game Show 2021 was not only a hotbed of new game information, reveals, and standout publisher debuts, but also a great online music celebration.
From Square Enix to Sega, each notable video game company has arranged their own timeslot for a 40-minute-or-so live music performance featuring their respective game tunes. In a time when it’s hard to catch these kinds of shows offline and also all of them consecutively, this is a godsend for gaming fans worldwide.
Here’s the list:
Capcom
The company that made Resident Evil arranged a special Monster Hunter: Rise music concert featuring traditional (and rock) covers of the game’s standout tunes.

Square Enix Lounge Jam
Square Enix not only had one music concert, but TWO! The first one is a more relaxed music session with Octopath Traveler covers and even a smooth version of Nier Replicant Kaine’s theme.

Square Enix Jazz Live Painting
The next Square Enix joint is one part loud jazz band, other part live painting session from artist NOVOL. There’s plenty of Final Fantasy arrangements and a nice Chrono Trigger insert to go around!

Genshin Concert 2021 “Melodies of an Endless Journey”
It’s only been a year-plus, and Genshin Impact has amassed a ton of love from the community for its music. Naturally, Mihoyo used their millions from the gachas and put up this big-budget concert for everyone to tune into. Features orchestra works from the Dirk BrossÃ© and the Flanders Symphony Orchestra to a number of bands doing their best rock and electronica covers of the game’s many battle themes.
If anything, the acapella rendition of the game’s starting menu theme should at least entice interest from even the most staunch of haters.

#Love_Sega Special Live Concert
The one a number of people missed out on due to the Genshin Impact concert. This Sega show featured a couple of sets from Persona 5 music vocalist Lyn, a DJ mix of tons of Sega jingle classics, violin renditions of Sonic’s best stage themes, and a surprise guest in the form of the guy who did the famous Daytona USA “Let’s Go Away” theme.


The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal Debunks Helmet Rumours

There’s been a rumour going around that The Mandalorian lead actor Pedro Pascal (who plays Din Djarin) doesn’t like wearing the helmet.
Fans have cited the fact that Din Djarin has removed his helmet twice as proof of this, as well as reports from sources like American journalist Grace Randolph claiming behind the scenes drama due to Pascal’s dissatisfaction.
In an interview on the live British talk showÂ The One Show, Pascal has officially denied these rumours. He explains that he understands the narrative purpose of the helmet in The Mandalorian.
He said:
â€œThat is not true actually. Itâ€™s a really wonderful way of telling the story.Itâ€™s always been a very clear creed for the character, and the collaborative process of the whole thing has been, weâ€™ve all been on the same page with this, I think. So I, you know, what I want is for them to make the best show possible, however, they get that done.

@GraceRandolph something that may interest you. Pedro Pascal just got asked a Mandalorian question about wearing the mask and rumours on live UK tv just now. pic.twitter.com/ttWVO7FgN9— Aaron Corr (@aaron_corr) December 15, 2020

Din Djarin has actually only removed his helmet twice in two seasons of The Mandalorian so far, both of which served the narrative at hand. The first was when he needed dire medical attention at the end of Season 1 and the other was during last week’s episode when he needed to do something drastic to save Grogu/Baby Yoda.
The Mandalorian Season 2 finale premieres later this week, while The Mandalorian Season 3 is set to premiere on Christmas 2021.


Berserk Will Continue On Without Kentaro Miura

After the sudden passing of Berserk creator Kentaro Miura last year at the age of 54, fans have wondered whether it’s the end of the dark fantasy manga. After months of speculating, we have our answer.
The Berserk manga will resume with six chapters of the current story to be published. After that, the book will continue with a new arc. The new entries will be credited as follows:
“Original work by Kentaro Miura, Manga by Studio Gaga, Supervised by Kouji Mori”
The story and manga post-Miura will be supervised by Holyland creator Kouji Mori, who is Miura’s close friend. Here are his statements regarding his role in future Berserk stories.
Nearly 30 years ago, Miura called me and said, “I need to talk to you about drawing a rough draft.” I went to his workplace just to talk as we always do, but Miura looked more serious than usual. “I need to draw the Eclipse,” he said. I sensed it would be hard work, but couldn’t believe it when I was trapped indoors for a week… In that very moment, the storyline for Berserk was completed, until the very last chapter.
Strangely, the story for Berserk went on exactly as we discussed at the time, with almost no changes. I continued to talk to Miura often, whenever there was a big episode. We did so ever since we were students, consulting each other while working on manga.
I think people with good intuition would realize by now that I know the story for Berserk up to the very end. Still, I cannot say that I can draw it because I know it. That is because only the genius Kentaro Miura can write a masterpiece like Berserk.
However, a great responsibility has fallen on me.
While he was alive, Miura said, “I haven’t told anyone other than you, Mori, about the story in its entirety.” And that was the truth. It is too big a responsibility. I thought, should I talk to fans about it through an interview? Or should I publish an article with some illustrations? But that wouldn’t convey the scenes that Miura described to me, or the lines of Guts and Griffith…
Just when I was trying to decide what to do, I received a message.
“The staff are saying they will finish the last chapter that was left behind, so can you take a look?”
The last few pages of the chapter were incomplete. Some did not even have the characters drawn on them.
I took a look at the manuscript, without expecting much.
Desperation can push people to create miracles — There it was, the completed manuscript for Berserk.
“Mr. Mori, will you let us do it?”
Miura’s apprentices, who Miura had been so proud of while he was alive, asked me straight.
Company Director Shimada, a mentor for me and Miura, also said, “If you do it, the company will give our full support.”
I thought, if I run away now, Miura would say:
“I talked to you about it so much, but you didn’t do it!!”
Alright. I’ll do it properly.
I have a message and promise to everyone. I will recall the details as much as possible and tell the story.
Also, I will only write the episodes that Miura talked to me about. I will not flesh it out. I will not write episodes that I don’t remember clearly. I will only write the lines and stories that Miura described to me. Of course, it will not be perfect. Still, I think I can almost tell the story that Miura wanted to tell.
The talent Miura’s apprentices have are real!
They are brilliant artists.
Many of you may not be fully satisfied with the Berserk written without Miura, but we hope everyone’s thoughts will be with us.
We ask you for your continued support.
Looks like Berserk fans will get their hopeful ending after all.


Hawkeye Joins Marvel’s Avengers On PS5 & Xbox Series This March

Square Enix and Crystal Dynamics have announced that Marvel’s Avengers will launch for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on 18 March 2021 alongside the new Hawkeye playable character and Operation Future Imperfect story arc.
We first met Clint in Kate Bishopâ€™s Operation Taking AIM, where she brought him back from the brink of a huge AIM conspiracy involving the manipulation of time itself. Operation Hawkeye: Future Imperfect marks Chapter 2 of Season One, where we continue diving into the consequences of the Tachyon Project and come face to face with a possible future where all hope is lost.
Hawkeye’s Lucky the Pizza Dog will also be featured in the upcoming Operation.

As Kate Bishopâ€™s mentor and close friend, Clint and Kate have similarities in their skillset due to being mentor and protÃ©gÃ©, but nevertheless, they are two different fighters each with their own style. Clintâ€™s bow skills are second to none in the Marvel Universe, and this version is inspired by his Ronin period to create his sword abilities, which makes him a powerful melee and ranged hero.
Whereas Kate blinks around the battlefield as a blur of never-ending strikes to multiple foes, Clint is the steadfast hunter, taking down his foes with powerful, precise hits one at a time until heâ€™s the only one left standing. Clintâ€™s Quick Reflex Intrinsic Ability allows him to sidestep enemy attacks and parry with a fast-staggering bow shot. His Dead Eye Skillâ€¯allows him to focus his aim on a single target, increasing damageâ€¯and reaction with razor arrows. With Rangerâ€™s Momentum, snap to targets instantly and zero-in on weak points.

Oh, and expect a certain iconic Marvel supervillain named Maestro:

You can check out the full deep dive video below:


Distant Worlds Is This Week; Here Are All The Arrangements Of The FF Main Theme

Final Fantasy’s music has always been the best kinds of OSTs to default to; they’re inventive, fun, and catchy at times.
To celebrate the Distant Worlds concert that’s scheduled for this weekend starting tomorrow night, here’s a SoundScape video Mr Toffee did that focuses on the many arrangements of the Final Fantasy theme. You know, the one that played in the opening of the Famicom/NES game where Squaresoft thought they were going to fold.
My how things have changed.


VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – Can OpTic Repeat Stage 1 Masters Run?

Off to a slow start, OpTic Gaming manages to prevail as they qualify for the bracket stage and send KRÜ Esports home.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT STAGE 2 MASTERS – COPENHAGEN SCHEDULE
After failing to claim the top seed in North America Stage 2 Challengers, OpTic Gaming has managed to make a group stage run yet again in the exact same manner as Stage 1 Masters Reykjavík.
Just to recap, in the last Masters, OpTic also failed to claim the top seed from North America, leaving them in the group stage at Reykjavík. OpTic lost their initial group stage match versus XERXIA but went on to secure the second seed in the group.
From there, the GreenWall would face off against the top seed from North America, The Guard, beating them 2–1 and repeating the scoreline in the upper bracket semi-finals against the Korean side, DRX.
OpTic would later be sent into the lower bracket final by LOUD to go head-to-head against ZETA DIVISION where they would sweep the Japanese representatives 3–0, claiming their spot in the Grand Final. And the rest is history as we know that OpTic would go on to win the event by taking revenge on LOUD and sweeping them 3–0.

And it looks like OpTic is on the road to do it yet again. Earlier today OpTic secured the second seed in Group A just behind Guild Esports who they lost to in their first match of the tournament. To do this, they had to replay the last Masters’ Grand Final against LOUD but this time fighting to stay in the competition. Ultimately, OpTic came out on top in a close 2–1.
This meant that the North American side would have to face KRÜ Esports — who haven’t had the best record against the GreenWall which remained true as we saw earlier today when OpTic swept the Latin American team in a comfortable 2–0, reminiscent of their last meeting in Masters Reykjavík — securing themselves qualification to the bracket stage.

SHEEEEEEEESH @Marved6 #VALORANTMasters pic.twitter.com/ybL654PpSf
— VALORANT Champions Tour ?? (@ValorantEsports) July 13, 2022

Here in the upper bracket quarter-finals, just like the last Masters, OpTic will have to face the top seed from North America. The only difference this time is the team itself, as they are to be pitted against XSET instead of The Guard like in Iceland.
So far this tournament, everything has gone exactly how it did last for them. Missing out on the top seed prior to the competition, losing their first match in the group stage to Guild Esports, securing the second seed in the group, facing off against the top seed from North America, XSET in their first match of the bracket stage. And it is very possible that if OpTic wins this match, they will go on to face DRX just like last time.
It really does look like the stars could be aligning. For more VCT 2022 action, head over to our full schedule and livestream feature page.


New 2D Adventure Puzzle Game Lost In Play Set To Release Summer 2022

Indie game studio Happy Juice Games is set to release their first IP, Lost In Play this coming Summer on Steam. For those who want to bring it on the go, then you’re in luck because it’ll also be launching on the Nintendo Switch at the same time.
Lost In Play is a point-and-click 2D adventure puzzle game which follows the brother and sister duo of Toto and Gal as they explore dreamscapes and befriend magical creatures, all whilst solving puzzles in an attempt to make their way home. The overall game is to be reminiscent of a mix between Alice in Wonderland, Monkey Island and Hey Arnold! in terms of the aesthetic and overall vibe. TV shows such as Gravity Falls, Hilda, and Over the Garden Wall take on a massive inspiration in the portraying of the warm and somewhat trippy cosmetics.
Lost In Play features:

A mysterious animated puzzle adventure with amazing cartoon-style visuals.
Magical and magnificent creatures to help.
No text or dialogue – everything is communicated visually.
Take part in a variety of uniquely creative activities; Play cards with goblins, create a dragon, and teach a sheep how to fly.
More than 30 unique puzzles and mini-games.

You’ll be able to get Lost In Play later this Summer on both the Nintendo Switch and Steam for $19.99/€17.99/£15.49/RM87.60. But if you’re impatient then the demo is currently available on Steam for you to try out.


Wolfenstein Devs Are Working On A New Indiana Jones Game

Bethesda and WolfensteinÂ developer MachineGames have announced a newÂ Indiana JonesÂ game.
In a tweet, Bethesda posted:
â€œA newÂ Indiana Jones game with an original story is in development from our studio, MachineGames, and will be executive produced by Todd Howard, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games.
Itâ€™ll be some time before we have more to reveal, but weâ€™re very excited to share todayâ€™s news!â€

A new Indiana Jones game with an original story is in development from our studio, @MachineGames, and will be executive produced by Todd Howard, in collaboration with @LucasfilmGames. It'll be some time before we have more to reveal, but we’re very excited to share today’s news!
— Bethesda (@bethesda) January 12, 2021

We still don’t have any details about the game, but it will feature an original story featuring Indiana Jones at the height of his career. That probably means that it’ll be set before the events of the much-maligned 2008’s Indiana Jones Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, but at this point, anything’s possible.
In the meantime, check out the teaser trailer below:


Tokyo Game Show 2018 Livestream Guide

This feature is still being updated…
It’s that time of year again in Japan where every video game company in the country shows off their latest games, be it for consoles or for mobile. While TGS has been dominated by mobile games year in and year out, the spectacle of the event has yet to diminish.
Thankfully in this age of livestream and Twitch.tv, we now get to see what’s going on in the Makuhari Messe from the comforts of our own homes. From 20th to 23rd September, there will be a multitude of events happening that will be livestreamed for all to see.
We’ve listed down the major shows from each different game company and their respective links. Do bookmark this page and tune in to the appropriate timings.
Keep in mind that these livestreams will all be in Japanese and may not have English subtitles. Don’t worry if you don’t understand them; we’ll be pushing out recaps in English for your convenience.
All times are in GMT+8/Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines time. Let’s start:
Sega

Links: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Fnrs_-c3vc), Niconico (http://live.nicovideo.jp/gate/lv315225962)
Highlights

Yakuza Online (20th September, 10.00am)
Catherine: Full Body (20th September, 10.40pm)
Project Judge (20th September, 12.30pm)
Wonder Gravity: Pino to Juuryoku TsukaiÂ  (20th September, 2.30pm)
New IP announcement, VR game (21st September, 11.45am)
Persona Q2 (22nd September, 1.30pm)
Puyo Puyo Esports (22nd September, 2.50pm)
Persona 5 Mini-Concert feat. Lyn (23rd September, 2.45pm)

Square Enix

Links: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nujbBI5Jbsk)
Highlights

Kingdom Hearts III TGS Showcase (22nd September, 11.50am)
Dragon Quest Builders II (22nd September, 1pm)

Sony PlayStation

Links: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMD7gkExuvg)
Highlights

Dreams showcase (20th September, 10am)
Days Gone showcase (20th September, 3pm)
Death Stranding showcase feat. Hideo Kojima (23rd September, 2.30pm)

Bandai Namco

Links: Niconico (http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv315242648)
Highlights

Jump Force Special Stage presentation (20th September, 1.30pm)
Tekken Pro Championship Japan Representatives (21st September, 11.30am)
Tales of Crestoria (22nd September, 10am)
SoulCalibur VI presentation (22nd September, 11.10am)
God Eater 3 presentation (22nd September, 3pm)
Dragon Ball FighterZ Japan tournament (22nd September, 3.30pm)
Ace Combat 7 (23rd September, 10.30am)
One Piece: World Seeker (23rd September, 2pm)

Capcom

Links: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-7Y1grzPY4)
Highlights

TGS 2018 Broadcast special (20th September, 6pm)
Dragon’s Dogma Online presentation (22nd September, 9.15am)
Mega Man 11 presentation (22nd September, 10.15am & 11am)
Devil May Cry 5 presentation (22nd September, 11.25am)
Resident Evil 2 presentation (22nd September, 12.45pm)
Ace Attorney announcement (22nd September, 3pm)

Konami

Links: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2NYkDsdbTw)
Highlights

Super Bomberman R esports competition (22nd September, 12.40pm)
Falcom JDK Band special performance – yes, the Ys guys (22nd September, 2.05pm)

Koei Tecmo

Links: YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF1hCNILpMA), Niconico (http://live.nicovideo.jp/watch/lv315224412)
Highlights

Warriors Orochi 4 Showcase (20th September, 12pm)
Dead or Alive 6 Showcase (20th September, 1.30pm)
Dead or Alive 6 Exhibition Match (22nd September, 1pm)

Stay tuned this week for our TGS 2018 writeups on Kakuchopurei.com.


This Is Why The Biomutant Devs Went Silent For So Long

The much-anticipated action RPG Biomutant was supposed to be out in 2019, but it’s already 2021. Nothing happened between then and up until the Biomutant announcement from developer Experiment 101 regarding its May release date. Why is that?
The answer is simple: the game needed a ton of bug-fixing, and the team wanted to do that without putting themselves in crunch. The studio boss Stefan Ljungqvist told IGN the following:

“Itâ€™s been a huge amount of work for QA, because it’s not easy in an open-world game to find [bugs]. And then once they’ve been found, we have to fix them, and that’s put some additional challenge on us, being a small team.”

Ljungqvist’s past experiences with video game companies left him “burned out” and aware of the negative effects of constant overwork. He also credits THQ Nordic for not pushing the studio to hit an earlier release date, even though the company will need to work extra hours to support the game after release.

“I mean, the studio, we are 20 people and we can’t afford to have [staff] leave the studio, or be destroyed during development. That would be devastating.
For certain pushes, you might do it in a limited form. But the most important thing is you get paid, which is not common in our industry, crazily enough. And also you get â€˜recap timeâ€™, because you have to have rest. If you’re just doing this constantly for 12-14 hours a day, you will eventually have to pay for it.”

On a related note, the game will not have PS5 and Xbox Series X versions because the game is “led on the last-gen”.

“If you look at it from a development perspective, that’s really important because it’s easier to scale up than to scale down. [Besides], there is a high-end version of Biomutant already made for PC. The game already in some form exists in what you would expect on the current-gen platforms.”

Sounds like some companies should be taking lessons from Experiment 101, especially big ones based in Europe. Biomutant will be out this May.


Hori To Release A Nintendo Switch Controller With A Proper D-Pad

Rejoice, D-pad snobs. Japanese peripheral maker Hori will be releasing a Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controller with a real D-pad. The left-only controller will be out this July, according to 4gamer.net.

The catch? It’s not a complete Joy-Con, meaning that it can only be used in handheld mode and does not feature acceleration, gyro sensor, and vibration features. But it’s quite a steal at 2,678 yen though – that’s about US$26.
If you want a proper D-pad for your left thumbs to be comfy on, this might be worth a pre-order from your local game store.


Spider-Man 3 Set Photos Reveal Updated Suit & Christmas Setting

New set photos from Spider-Man 3 (or untitled sequel to Spider-Man Far From Home) have revealed that Tom Holland’s Peter Parker will be donning a slightly updated Spider-Man suit from the previous movie, as well as a possible snowy Christmas setting.
A new batch of set photosÂ shared byÂ Just Jared has revealed an updated suit for Spider-Man. The minor changes include the removal of a small black section in the red waistline that splits the black parts of his suit that was on the original suit from Spider-Man Far From Home. The images also show Tom Holland’s real-life younger brother Harry Holland somehow on set for some reason.
Check out the photos below:

More set photos caught sight of Holland and Zendaya on a doughnut shop set. According to the report by Just Jared, Peter is seen going inside the shop with the intention of talking to MJ, who is working there alongside Ned. Additionally, the doughnut shop’s exterior features Christmas decorations, which means that at least part of the movie will be set at Christmas time.
Check out the photos below:

Right now, confirmed additional cast members for the untitledÂ Spider-Man 3Â movie includeÂ Jamie Foxx reprising his role as Electro from 2014â€™sÂ The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Alfred Molina as Doctor Octopus from 2004‘s Spider-Man 2 and Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange returning as a mentorÂ to Tom Hollandâ€™s Peter Parker AKA Spider-Man.
However, those rumours regarding the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprising their roles as Spider-MenÂ remain unconfirmed at this point in time.
In the meantime, you can check outÂ our review ofÂ Spider-Man Far From Home, which remains the last MCU movie to have been released to date. The next MCU movie weâ€™ll be catching is Black Widow, andÂ thatâ€™s going to be in 2021.
Spider-Man 3 (or untitled sequel to Spider-Man Far From Home) is slated to premiere in December 2021.


River City Girls Is A Legit Kunio-Kun Game In A Fresh Coat Of Paint

Have a hankering for the good old days when brawlers and side-scrolling beat-em-ups had simple-yet-fun non-linear level layouts and a simple RPG progression system? Wished that Technos came back from the dead and made a nicer-looking River City game?
Well, we can’t have the latter. But that’s OK because developer WayForward is doing a great job at recreating that kind of game and making it fun for this generation of gaming. River City Girls is proof of that.
Renegade

So what defines a Technos Kunio-kun game? Well, it’s a combination of simplistic high school trappings and a beat-em-up RPG hybrid. There’s not much of a plot – it’s a role reversal thing where violent femmes Kyoko and Misako search high and low in River City for their boyfriends. But the manga-styled cutscenes and anime aesthetics make it all the more enjoyable to savour, especially given the fact that our leads think and act as typicalÂ  dumb-but-very-driven high school girls
Gameplay-wise, you go left to right, or down to up, and beat up enemies along the way. The mean streets of River City are full of thugs, violent cheerleaders, and even Terminator spoofs with a mob mentality and penchant of ganging up on you in corners. Fortunately, you have an arsenal of moves like Chun-Li lightning legs (for Kyoko) and wrestling brawler moves lifted from the WWE (for Misako), coupled with great controls and tight fighting. Heck, you can even pick up enemies and use them as weapons just like in the original River City Ransom.
But not initially though!Â  You’ll start off with punches and throws, then as you get money from the battered bodies of your foes, you’ll get to spend them at the city’s plethora of vendors & stores to get said new moves and even stat-boosting foods and amenities. Just like any basic RPG, you can gain levels which give you access to more moves and stat boosts, and even hoard items for later consumption.
New to this Kunio-kun title is the ability to gain recruits. After beating up a foe,Â  they’ll sometimes beg for mercy. Press the L1/Left bumper when prompted to recruit them to your side so that you can call them for an assist attack ala Marvel vs Capcom. You can come up with a bunch of combos and setups just to get the most out of your main character’s attacks.
It’s quite a steep climb to get the money you need to beef up your arsenal.Â  While the first section of the game has a fine difficulty curve, I suspect many players not fine-tuned to old-school grindey level-up-style beat em ups will find themselves losing their hard-earned money by not preparing for a boss fight. Just one protip: spend as much money as possible before approaching bosses.
And once you do get a sizeable amount of offence and stat boosts, the game becomes a cakewalk if you beat the crowding beat-em-up system. It’s just a matter of getting the timings of certain attacks to a tee, like Kyoko and Misako’s Y+B/Triangle+Circle powerful air grabs. Also, this game is manageable with another person. Too bad it’s local co-op only; online play would be nice in a future patch.
Speaking of gang-fighting girls, who should you start off with if you’re going solo here? It depends: Kyoko is a combo queen while Misako is a brawler. I prefer the latter since she hits hard and gets knockdowns quick without equipment help, but if you like chaining attacks, Kyoko and her lightning legs and volleyball scoops can make for simple-yet-effective enemy juggling.
Pretty, Pretty Colours

Despite that small caveat, the game’s art style leaves a huge positive impression. Just one look at River City Girls, and you can see the huge labour of love painted on its sprite work and animation. From the eye pops when beating foes to even how the bosses move and show defeat, it’s a testament for 2D animation in games when it’s done right. Even the soundtrack, while bubbly and pop-esque in nature, fits with the game’s cheerful anime motif especially when it breaks out the 80s synths most of the time.

Art may be subjective, but the way this game keeps its 16-bit style while having its character in smooth heavy in-betweens motion is a sight to behold.

Also, if you’re a huge Technos Double Dragon fan and even WayForward’s successful attempt, you will see a good chunk of cameos here and there. Characters from past Kunio-kun games appear as shopkeepers. Even goddamn Skullmageddon plays a vendor role. Skullmageddon!
Once you finish the game for the first time, you may feel as if there’s something missing; like a certain confrontation waiting to happen. Just another protip here: if you want to unlock the real final fight, you’ll need to destroy all 25 Sabu statues in the game. You’ll have ample time to do all that; just use the video below for some help.

No Dodge(ball)ing This
If you miss the good old days when Technos wasn’t bankrupt and you had an inkling over what the Double Dragon/Kunio-kun series are, you owe it to yourself to try out River City Girls.

It’s fun to play, it’s best with a friend, and it’s just gorgeous to look at in motion. If you hate brawlers and simple beat-em-ups with a slight grind, this won’t change your mind.

On that note, WayForward should handle all Double Dragon and Kunio-kun games since they know what they’re doing with this entry and Double Dragon Neon. Even publisher and rights holder Arc System Works acknowledges this, what with their piss-poor attempt at a fourth mainline Double Dragon game. River City Girls is enough to make us forget that transgression, and also doubles as a good case for a beat-em-up revival.
Pros

Cute & fluffy story filled with Kunio-kun/Double Dragon nods.
Lovely brawling and action.
Awesome retro-esque aesthetics.
Great controls and feel.

Cons

Brawler fatigue sets in after the 2-hour mark.
Difficulty curve gets uneven.
Light on extras.

FINAL SCORE: 70/100


This Is How Cyberpunk 2077’s Publishers Are Taking Responsibility For Its Messy Launch

Since early Friday morning, everyone in the whole world knows how buggy Cyberpunk 2077 is. Given how its publisher and developer CD Projekt were with its previous open world game The Witcher 3, we kinda suspected it was leading to that.
However, the situation escalated further since the base console versions of the game (Xbox One and PS4) are near-unplayable. So the executives of CD Projekt took it upon them to take responsibility, telling its staff recently that they will receive their full bonuses no matter how their game is reviewed (via Bloomberg).
Previously, the devs were told they would receive extra pay based on the game’s critical performance. Also, the company has a token-based bonus system according to current and former employees who spoke to Bloomberg. Every month, team leaders gave out tokens styled after the company logo (the red bird) to members of their team who deserved honours.
Thanks to the new system in place following the buggy launch, those payouts will be guaranteed, along with the annual profit-sharing payouts.Â Here’s a quote from studio head and creative director Adam Badowski to clarify just that.

“We initially had a bonus system that was focused on the gameâ€™s ratings and the release date, but after consideration, we believe that measure is simply not fair under the circumstances. We underestimated the lengths and complexity involved to make this a reality, and still you did everything you could to deliver an ambitious, special game.”

Will this band-aid solve the company’s long-time problem of having its workers spend late nights on finishing a game via crunch periods that last for years? Probably not, because that’s a management issue that cannot be solved overnight. But it’s no coincidence that the CD Projekt higher-ups unwittingly made this public to coincide with the game’s public release, especially when it’s getting critical acclaim on Metacritic.


New Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse Trailer Teases More Multiverse Hijinks

Sony Pictures has unveiled a new trailer for Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse.
The new trailer has a more dramatic feel to it, as it seems like Miles Morales has to choose between saving”one life” and “worlds”. He wants to save everyone, so this puts him at odds with Oscar Isaac’s Spider-Man 2099.
The synopsis reads:
Miles Morales returns for the next chapter of the Oscar®-winning Spider-Verse saga, Spider-Man™: Across the Spider-Verse. After reuniting with Gwen Stacy, Brooklyn’s full-time, friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is catapulted across the Multiverse, where he encounters a team of Spider-People charged with protecting its very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero so he can save the people he loves most.
Spider-Man Across The Spider-Verse premieres in cinemas on 1 June 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


Complete Entertainment Exchange Is Now In Malaysia, Sells Games Both Old & New

Complete Entertainment Exchange (CeX) has made its debut in Malaysia. Operated by Nuovolife Sdn. Bhd., CeX Malaysia is set to revolutionize the country’s electronics and gaming landscape with their debut store, located at IOI City Mall Putrajaya. They offer an enticing array of pre-owned electronics and entertainment options.
31 years ago, CeX started in the UK and has since expanded its reach to over 630 stores across 10 countries – including Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, the Netherlands, Australia, India, and Italy. Considering its strategic location and rapidly growing economy in Southeast Asia, Malaysia has been chosen as a significant addition to the prestigious lineup of countries that benefit from CeX’s outstanding customer proposition.
Zyman Marzuki, the CEO of Nuovolife Sdn. Bhd., expresses his excitement about this promising venture:
“We are thrilled to bring CeX operations to Malaysia. The response in the UK has been incredibly positive, and we firmly believe that Malaysia’s dynamic market presents a prime opportunity for CeX to thrive. Combining CeX’s proven business model with our deep local insights and the dedicated team at Nuovolife Sdn. Bhd., we are committed to reshaping the consumer electronics landscape and providing Malaysian customers with an unforgettable retail experience.”
CeX Malaysia will be boasting an extensive inventory of over 10,000 SKUs. The range includes consumer electronics like phones, tablets, and laptops, as well as video games, hardware, accessories, cameras, audio technology, and niche products such as virtual reality and drone tech, catering to tech enthusiasts and gamers, with a comprehensive selection of products.
Zyman also shares his personal connection with CeX and his aspiration to introduce their exceptional services to Malaysia:
“I first encountered CeX in one of their London stores while selling my treasured video game collection. The outstanding service, fair pricing, and seamless trading process left a lasting impression on me. Inspired by their franchising model, I was determined to introduce CeX’s offerings to Malaysia.”
You can now visit the first CeX store at unit no. L2-69, IOI City Mall Putrajaya, located next to GSC West Wing. The store operates daily from 10 am to 10 pm. CeX Malaysia plans to expand its presence throughout the Klang Valley by 2023 and into other regions of Malaysia by 2026.
Check out the pics below:


Activision’s Active Player Base Drops Below 100 Million

It has been revealed that during Activision’s second quarter, their monthly active player base dropped below 100 million for the first time in almost three years.
The Call of Duty publisher’s second quarter ended on 30 June and it came to light that the total monthly active users (MAUs) had dropped to 94 million, down from 100 million in the first quarter.
Activision has maintained above 100 million MAUs since the fourth quarter of 2019, during the release of Call of Duty: Mobile, peaking at 150 million during the first quarter of 2021.

On Monday, 1 August, Activision came out and stated that its second-quarter revenue and operating income declined year-over-year, “reflecting lower engagement for the Call of Duty franchise, but grew versus the first quarter”.

Engagement can be expected to rise during the company’s fourth quarter when it plans to release two new Call of Duty games, Call of Duty Modern Warfare II release date in late October 2022 and the second rendition of Call of Duty: Warzone which will also launch as an extension of the Modern Warfare universe later this year.

The company went on to say “Activision’s expanded studios also continue to make strong progress on an innovative mobile experience that will extend Warzone to the largest and fastest growing platform. Across the Call of Duty ecosystem, the teams are well positioned to support these launches with substantial live operations while also continuing development of new premium content planned for 2023 and beyond.”
Back in January, it was announced that Microsoft had plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in a US$68.7 billion deal. In newly published documents, Sony said it believes Call of Duty could inspire users to switch to Xbox should the proposed acquisition gain regulatory approval.


Premier League Has The Best Passers In FIFA 23

FIFA 23 is slated to release on 27 September and with that EA SPORTS is commemorating by sharing the players who have the highest-rated Passing in FIFA 23.
The English Premier League dominates half of the list with a total of 10 players from seven different clubs. Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne sits atop of the list with a whopping 93 Passing. Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos ties second with a rating of 90 Passing along with Villareal’s Parejo and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lionel Messi.

BEST PASSERS

NAME
TEAM
POSITION
OVR
PASSING

Kevin De Bruyne
Manchester City
CM
91
93

Toni Kroos
Real Madrid
CM
88
90

Parejo
Villarreal CF
CM
86
90

Lionel Messi
Paris Saint-Germain
RW
91
90

Luka Modri?
Real Madrid
CM
88
89

Trent Alexander-Arnold
Liverpool
RB
87
89

Christian Eriksen
Manchester United
CM
82
88

Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United
CAM
86
88

Thiago
Liverpool
CM
86
87

Marco Verratti
Paris Saint-Germain
CM
87
87

Joshua Kimmich
Bayern MÃ¼nchen
CDM
89
87

Hakim Ziyech
Chelsea
RW
83
87

Jorginho
Chelsea
CM
85
86

Frenkie de Jong
FC Barcelona
CM
87
86

Luis Alberto
Lazio
CM
83
86

Youri Tielemans
Leicester City
CM
84
86

David Silva
Real Sociedad
CAM
83
86

Martin Ã˜degaard
Arsenal
CAM
84
86

RÃºben Neves
Wolverhampton Wanderers
CM
83
86

RaphaÃ«l Guerreiro
Borussia Dortmund
LB
82
86


Weathering With You Gets Live-Action Movie Adaptation…Sort Of…

To many of his fans and critics, Makoto Shinkai delivered yet another animated masterpiece earlier this year with Weathering With You. Not even a year has gone by and it’s already received a live-action adaptation.
Okay, it looks good so far.

Oh, wait a minute.

Something seems suspicious here, folks.

Yeah, it’s actually porn.

That’s right, Weathering With You is already getting the live-action porn treatment, courtesy of Total Media Agency (TMA), the JAV company which made live-action porn for Faith/Stay Knight, Haruhi Suzumiya and EVA.
The porno version of the animated movie is titled â€œMeiki no Koâ€ (åå™¨ã®å) or â€œPussy with Youâ€. It stars Aoi Kururugi as the female protagonist, Hina Amano.
In the original, Hina has the power to change the weather and make it stop raining just by praying. However, this version of the character has the ability to make penises go hard and erect by praying. Well, I don’t need to tell you where this is going.

https://img-9gag-fun.9cache.com/photo/aEgM639_460svvp9.webm
Weathering With You isn’t even the first Makoto Shinkai movie to receive the porn treatment, as 2016’s Your Name also did and it was titled Your Rope.
In the meantime, check out my spoiler-free review of Weathering With You here, or head on over here for my spoiler-filled discussion of the movie’s problems.
(Image Credit: 9GAG)


Samurai Maiden Pre-Orders Begin Today

Clouded Leopard Entertainment Inc. has announced the start of digital version pre-orders on the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop for the Asian localized version of D3 PUBLISHER INC.’s samurai girl action game: SAMURAI MAIDEN, for PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch, which begins on 27 October 2022.
Pre-orders of the Digital Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition, available on the PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop until 23:59 (local time) on Wednesday, 30 November 2022, will include the following DLC character costumes, which will be available for download after purchase.

A young woman from the 21st century with sharp swordsmanship skills finds herself in Honn?-ji during the Sengoku period. Together with a trio of newfound ninja friends, she races through the Underworld beneath Honn?-ji, confronted by enraged corpses at every turn!
Nothing can stop this all-female powerhouse team, as the young woman-turned-samurai slashes up enemies while the ninja wipes them out with their fierce ninjutsu.
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is slated to release for the PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch on 1 December 2022.
Check out the trailer below:


Xbox Game Pass Adds Total War Three Kingdoms, FIFA 22 & More

Xbox Game Pass has announced additions to the month of June 2022.
Check it out below:
Available Today
Shadowrun Trilogy (Cloud and Console) ID@Xbox
The Shadowrun Trilogy comprises 3 cult tactical RPG games taking place in a dystopian cyberpunk future in which magic has re-awakened, bringing back to life creatures of high fantasy. Initially created as a tabletop RPG over 30 years ago, this one-of-a-kind setting that has gained a huge cult following during the past three decades.
Total War: Three Kingdoms (PC)
Total War: Three Kingdoms is the first in the multi award-winning strategy series to recreate epic conflict across ancient China. Combining a gripping turn-based campaign game of empire-building, statecraft and conquest with stunning real-time battles, Total War: Three Kingdoms redefines the series in an age of heroes and legends.
Check out our review here.

Coming Soon
FIFA 22 (Console and PC) EA Play – June 23
FIFA 22 is coming soon to The Play List with EA Play, so PC Game Pass and Ultimate members can experience fundamental gameplay advances and a new season of innovation across every mode. Plus, score monthly recurring rewards like Ultimate Team Stadium Sets, Seasonal XP Boosts, and more. Keep up to date with all the EA Play benefits here!
Check out our review here.

Naraka: Bladepoint (Cloud, Console, and PC) – June 23
Naraka: Bladepoint is an up to 60-player mythical action combat experience with martial arts inspired melee combat, gravity defying mobility, vast arsenals of melee & ranged weapons, legendary customizable heroes with epic abilities – inspired by the legends of the Far East.

Far Cry 5 (Cloud, Console, and PC) – July 1
Welcome to Hope County, Montana, the land of the free and brave, but also the home to a fanatical doomsday cult known as Eden’s Gate. Stand up to cult leader Joseph Seed and his siblings, the Heralds, to spark the fires of resistance and liberate the besieged community.
In Case You Missed It
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge reunites Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael as they kick shell in a bodacious, beautifully realized side scrolling beat ’em up invoking the Turtles’ legendary 1987 design and paying homage to classic TMNT games like Turtles In Time.
Check out our review here.

Omori (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Explore a strange world full of colorful friends and foes. Navigate through the vibrant and the mundane in order to uncover a forgotten past. When the time comes, the path you’ve chosen will determine your fate… and perhaps the fate of others as well.
DLC / Game Updates
Golf With Your Friends: Bouncy Castle Course DLC – Available today
Game Pass members save up to 10%! Ready for the wildest multiplayer golfing experience yet? The Golf With Your Friends Bouncy Castle Course is packed with colorful hazards and challenging holes to master. Outsmart your friends in online multiplayer with up to 11 other players (only one of you needs to own the course to play it) or tackle it solo to master those trick shots.
Jurassic World Evolution 2: Dominion Biosyn Expansion – Available now
Game Pass members save 10%! Discover the biggest expansion yet with the Jurassic World Evolution 2: Dominion Biosyn Expansion. Experience a completely new and immersive campaign inspired by the events of Biosyn Sanctuary from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment’s Jurassic World Dominion.
Minecraft: The Wild Update – Available now
Experience Minecraft in a whole new light – or dark. Evade the warden in the deep dark if you dare. Explore the swamps together with frogs and tadpoles. Ask an allay to collect supplies to fill the chest on your boat. Build with sculk, mud, and mangrove wood. The choices are endless, and all of them yours.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Marvel’s Avengers: Ms. Marvel Future Suit Pack – Available now
Unlock the Ms. Marvel Future Suit outfit, a 3-day hero’s catalyst, and a 3-day fragment extractor with your Xbox Game Pass membership. In a future with Super Heroes outlawed, you must reassemble, rebuild, and customize the Avengers to stop AIM. Then, defend the Earth from escalating threats for years to come. Visit playavengers.com for more info.
Halo Infinite: Pass Tense Razorback Bundle – Available now
Customize the UNSC’s latest transport vehicle with the exclusive “Pass Tense” Razerback Vehicle Coating, four 2XP Boosts and four Challenge Swaps! The Perk requires Halo Infinite to use, available free on Xbox, Windows, and Steam.
Naraka: Bladepoint: Awakening Bundle – Available June 23
Start your adventure on Morus Isle with the exclusive Viper Ning outfit The Awakening and Xbox-themed headwear!
Paramount+: 30-day free trial – Available June 28 (UK, Ireland)
We are also excited to share that we are bringing the popular Paramount+ trial to our members in the UK and Ireland! Stream the Paramount+ Original Series Halo, plus a mountain of entertainment when you redeem your 30-day free trial. Terms and conditions apply.
Xbox Touch Controls Added to 10 More Games

Ultimate members, we’ve added Xbox Touch Controls to 10 more games ready to play from the cloud today. Jump in on Apple and Android phones and tablets at xbox.com/play or via the Xbox Game Pass mobile app on Android devices – no controller required. You can also jump in controller-free on your touch-enabled Windows PC at xbox.com/play or with the Xbox app for Windows PCs.

Broken Age
Bugsnax
Chinatown Detective Agency
Kraken Academy!!
Life is Strange: True Colors
Ninja Gaiden ?
Ninja Gaiden ?2
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk
The Last Kids on Earth

Leaving June 30
The following games are leaving the Game Pass library soon, so make sure you tie up any loose ends before they go. Remember to use your membership discount to save up to 20% on games in the Game Pass library.

FIFA 20 (Console and PC) EA Play
Jurassic World Evolution (Console and Cloud)
Last Stop (Cloud, Console, and PC)
MotoGP 20 (Cloud, Console, and PC)


The Final Project L Video For 2022 Showcases Illaoi In-Game, And Core Mechanics Breakdown

You want more Project L gameplay? You’ve got it!
Riot Games’ Project L update video features executive producer Tom Cannon talking about League of Legends Illaoi being playable in the game’s latest build, albeit being 30% complete. He also talked about some Project L origins: the game started off as a 1v1 fighting game, but morphed into a 2v2 fighter instead.
Just like tag team fighting games ala the Marvel Vs series, each character/Champion has two assist actions, with an assist input featuring a version that’s charged if you hold down the assist input.
The Handshake Tag allows a player to immediately tag in the other Champion on the team, provided that both characters are out of the screen at the same time. You can use this in tandem with basic assist action to create mixups and pressure situations.
The Dynamic Save acts as the game’s combo breaker. You start off with one Dynamic Save at the start of each match; it allows the second Champion to appear and save the point Champion. If it’s successful, the opponent will be blown back. However, the opponent can bait and punish the Dynamic Save if they predict it.
Check out the full video breakdown below. Project L’s release date and target platform/console have yet to be announced.