Bruce Lee Punches His Way Into PUBG Mobile Soon

PUBG MOBILE, one of the world’s most popular mobile games, is excited to announce a partnership with The Bruce Lee Family Company to bring the international icon and one of the most influential mixed martial artists of the 20th century to PUBG MOBILE.
The Martial Showdown is coming in the Version 2.4 Update! Launching later this month, PUBG MOBILE will host a multi-map celebration of the discipline alongside special in-game elements marking the fighting icon’s one-of-a-kind cultural impact. From outfit sets to headgear, PUBG MOBILE will provide players with a variety of ways to express themselves with unique Bruce Lee items and don the iconic style of this martial arts master.
Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG MOBILE Publishing, Tencent Games, said:
“To this day Bruce Lee is still an inspiration to so many across the world. As one of the most influential and well-known stars of the 20th century, many of PUBG MOBILE players are huge fans of his. We’re incredibly proud to be honoring his legacy, bringing many elements of his signature look and personality to the game. I hope that this partnership will provide an amazing experience for PUBG MOBILE players and Bruce Lee fans alike.”
Dennis Chang, Managing Partner of The Bruce Lee Family Company, said:
“We could not be more excited to announce our new partnership with PUBG MOBILE, one of the world’s most popular mobile games. As global online gaming communities continue to grow at unprecedented levels we are fortunate to have found such a collaborative partner in PUBG MOBILE who has been at the forefront of the phenomenal growth trend of mobile gaming and who has created such an exciting and innovative game that truly resonates with Bruce Lee’s fanbase.”
Bruce Lee is one of the most celebrated figures of the 20th century, a martial artist and actor who is credited with the explosion of interest in martial arts cinema in the west. After cultivating his skills across a wide variety of martial arts, Bruce Lee developed his own, Jeet Kune Do, the philosophies of which can be applied to combat, as well as challenging life situations.
The collaboration will introduce a unique collection of in-game outfits and other items available for a limited time. From January 10th, the Bruce Lee Kung Fu Soul Set, Melee Expert Set and Mr. Kung Fu Set will all provide players with different iconic looks of the martial arts master. A number of cosmetic skins for vehicles, parachutes and more are also available, as well as Bruce Lee-themed emotes.
Finally, players can participate in the Dreamrealm Apprentice event from January 10th until January 26th to gain access to exclusive rewards by following Bruce Lee through a series of challenging trials. Further information on Version 2.4 will be revealed shortly so stay tuned.
PUBG MOBILE is available to download for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.


Dolmen Might Take The Soulslike Genre To Space-Filled Heights

The one thing that separates the upcoming action RPG Dolmen from the rest of the indie Soulslike imitators out there is its sci-fi theme and world. You play a space driller who is sent to the planet Revion to find the titular resource called Dolmen; these are crystals that help power up interdimensional travel. The problem? The place where these crystals are from are full of ugly space bugs and horrors, all ready to kill you.
Just like its inspiration, you’ll be dying a lot as you play through the game’s starting area, filled with enemies willing to ambush you if you aren’t paying attention to your surroundings, as well as aren’t being patient and defensive. Luckily, you have a set number of skills to keep you on your toes and surviving. Depending on which class you pick at the start of the game, you can either be a ranged-focused blaster, a melee-savvy hard-hitter, or a trainee who starts at level 1. After 30 minutes with the latter class because I was curious as to how far I could go, I just restarted and picked a set melee class to stand a fighting chance against the horde, albeit one with an option to use a gun whenever possible.
Rock Out

Instead of a Soulslike bonfire, you come across beacons that acts as your save point and a teleporting device to your ship where you’ll spend your nanite points for upgrades. In fact, you can even Dolmen fragments to make bosses respawn for equipment-farming purposes. The weapons you use (both melee and ranged) have light and heavy attacks, and you can go into a special “energy avatar” mode that uses the energy meter to deal big damage.
And that’s all I can say about the current build of Dolmen I playtested for a few hours; it’s what you would want out of a hardcore action RPG: lots of options for speccing, many tools to use for combat, a nice open space to explore that isn’t daunting, and plenty of ways to die. You’ll be doing the latter a lot as the game’s damage-scaling is off the charts; most space bugs here can deal a couple of swipes to make your space driller’s career short. The humanoid enemies aren’t any better, as they have weapons that can hit you from a distance unless you’re handy with the dodge button. Still, you can’t fault developer Massive Work Studio for the controls; they’re pretty tight and from the preview itself, the team knows what it’s doing design-wise.
Dolmen will be out for PC in 2022; it’s definitely worth keeping an eye out next year if you’re into the Soulslike genre of titles.


Esports Included In Malaysia Youth & Sports Ministry’s National Sports Day Celebration

The Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia recently announced that esports will be included as part of the festivities during its National Sports Day Celebration which will be held at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil from the 13th to 14th of October 2018.
Supported by the Ministry, you won’t have a hard time in guessing which games made the list, as the folks who are running it went down the popularity, rather than long-term development of the scene.

Mobile Legends, CS: GO, DotA 2 and FIFA19 all made the list – none of which were titles contested at the recently organized Esports Demonstration Games at the 2018 Jakarta/ Palembang Asian Games. The decision to focus on titles which are popular amongst locals, rather than what will take the Malaysian esports scene beyond the country’s borders is bewildering considering earlier claims of improving the esports scene in Malaysia. From the seven games listed, only PES was included in Jakarta, where the Malaysian pair crashed out in the semis.
For more info, you can check out their official Facebook page here.
To be honest, we are disappointed with the choice of games which as per usual, was limited to the tried and tested bunch, rather than trying out new ones. Titles such as Rocket League, World Of Tanks, Overwatch, League of Legends, Street Fighter V and Tekken 7 – all of which are popular worldwide didn’t even get a whiff.
Sure it’s alright to list popular titles but for how long? If Malaysia is ever to go big on esports, this whole mentality of resorting to comfort picks rather than pushing the boundaries and trying something new should stop.Â Hope this does not lead to the whole ‘Jaguh Kampung’ tag for our esports athletes in the future.
Fingers crossed.

*Kudos to Aksiz.com for the tip


Get A Heckaton Of Borderlands 3 Eridium In This Week’s Update

Are you still playing Borderlands 3? Of course you are; this game is still getting bonuses and updates, you’d be silly not to.
If you’re short on Eridium, fret not: this week from 15th October (3pm PDT) to 22nd October, Eridium drops will be bumped up significantly. Here’s the breakdown:

regular enemiesÂ  will be dropping Eridium,
Mayhem mode Eridium drops will also be boosted,
Moxxi’s Vault Line slot machine will cost less Eridium to play, meaning more opportunities for more Purple and Legendary items,
Crazy Earl’s Eridium-only shop will be offering discounts. You can get Anointed weapons and cosmetics from this whackjob, in case you forget.

Just a heads up: you’ll need to complete one-third of the story mode to be able to smash apart Eridium deposits to collect these bad boys (ie: the bit where you unlock Eden-6).
So what’s next for Borderlands 3‘s Octoberfest? Well, there’s Week 4’s Mayhem on Twitch and Week 5’s Spooky Surprise where you get to farm an undead version of Traunt. For more Borderlands 3 from Kakuchopurei, you can either read our (kinda) glowing review or visit our guides below. We even managed to find the best tales in the game’s mess of a narrative; we’re that good!

â€“Borderlands story recap
â€“Borderlands 3 Skill Tree & Vault Hunter builds to test out
-Borderlands 3 Complete Legendary Weapons list
-Borderlands 3 Rare Spawn Guide


PlayStation Summer Promotion Sale Begins Tomorrow

It’s that time of year, the PlayStation Store is having a limited-time Summer Promotion available from 3 August until 16 August.
Many game titles are available at special prices with up to 80% off. The lineup will be refreshed on 3 August, and the offer will continue until 17 August. You can check out the Summer Sale’s official page and you can also click here to check out store locations.
SUMMER PROMOTION OFFERS
SELECTED PS5 & PS4 (Blu-ray Disc version) WILL BE AVAILABLE AT SPECIAL PRICES AS FOLLOWS:

PLATFORM
SOFTWARE TITLE
SPECIAL PRICE

PS4
MLB The Show 22
RM129

PS5
MLB The Show 22
RM169

PS5
God of War PlayStation Hits
RM39

PS4
Horizon Forbidden West
RM189

PS5
Horizon Forbidden West
RM229

PS4
Gran Turismo 7
RM209

PS5
Gran Turismo 7
RM249

PS4
NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…
RM129

PS4
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE
RM129

PS5
Ghostwire: Tokyo
RM129

Summer Sale is being held in PS Store now and will end on 17 August. Many game titles will be available at a special price with up to 80% off. The game lineup will be refreshed tomorrow to provide discounts for more titles. For details, please visit PS Store.


Legacy Of Kain May Make A Comeback

A Legacy of Kain return could be in the cards thanks to a new survey being pushed out by Tomb Raider developer Crystal Dynamics.
The developer has been asking fans what they want to see from a modern take on the action-adventure title featuring vampires and epic storytelling. The survey asks about familiarity with the series, and whether the next game should focus on: either protagonists Kain or Raziel. The survey also asked who their favourite side characters were, and whether an audience would prefer a ground-up remake or a remaster of Legacy of Kain: Blood Omen and the Soul Reaver entries.
The 90s series was not just known for its plot, characters, and the world, but also its head writer: Amy Hennig of Uncharted fame. You can take the survey here if you’re a fan.


Razer Unleashes The Upgraded DeathAdder & Basilisk V2 Mice

Razer has announced the launch of the Razer DeathAdder V2, the latest iteration of Razerâ€™s best-selling mouse, and the Razer Basilisk V2, Razerâ€™s highly customizable gaming mouse, both upgraded and refreshed for 2020.
As of 2019, the Razer DeathAdder has sold more than 10 million units worldwide. The DeathAdder V2 is further improved beyond just tweaks to the shape, equipped with a new sweat-resistant coating and rubberized side grips for better control and a refined scroll wheel perfectly-tuned for distinct, notched scrolling at a lower resistance.
The DeathAdder V2’s Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor boasts the highest sensor specifications in the market and further enhanced with new intelligent functions, with new Smart Tracking, Asymmetric Cut-off and Motion Sync features.
It also sports eight programmable buttons, all fully customizable via Razer Synapse 3, giving you quick access to macros and secondary functions through Razer HyperShift, and Advanced Onboard Memory, with room for up to 5 profiles saved onto the mouse, allowing users to access their personalized settings anywhere, anytime.
Check out the full specs of the Razer DeathAdder V2 below:

True 20,000 DPI Focus+ optical sensor
Up to 650 inches per second (IPS) / 50 G acceleration / industry best 99.6% resolution accuracy
Razerâ„¢ Optical Mouse Switches rated for 70 million clicks
Improved ergonomic design with ultra-durable rubber side grips
Large 100% PTFE mouse feet (0.8mm thick).
The gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel
On-The-Fly Sensitivity Adjustment (Default stages: 400/800/1600/2400/3200)
Hybrid Cloud storage and on-board memory (4+1 profiles)
Razer Chromaâ„¢ RGB lighting with true 16.8 million customizable colour options
Eight independently programmable Hyperesponse buttons
Advanced Lift-off/Landing distance customization
Razer Synapse 3 enabled
2.1 m / 7 ft Speedflex cable
Approximate size: 127.0 mm / 5 in (Length) x 61.7 mm / 2.43 in (Grip Width) x 42.7 mm / 1.68 in (Height)
Approximate weight: 82 g / 2.9 oz (Excluding cable)
Compatible with Xbox One for basic input

It will be priced at US$69.99 or roughly RM285+ starting from 14 January 2020.

Meanwhile, the Razer Basilisk V2 retains all the customizable features distinct to the Basilisk family. Equipped with the same advanced technologies as the DeathAdder V2, the Basilisk V2 features 11 programmable buttons including the acclaimed multi-function paddle and customizable scroll wheel resistance.
Check out the full specs of the Razer Basilisk VR below:

True 20,000 DPI Focus+ optical sensor with 99.6% resolution accuracy
Up to 650 inches per second (IPS) / 50 G acceleration
Advanced Lift-off/Landing distance customization
Eleven independently programmable buttons
Replaceable multi-function paddle
Razerâ„¢ Optical Mouse Switches rated for 70M clicks
Ergonomic right-handed design with textured side-grips.
Gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel with infinitely customizable resistance
On-The-Fly Sensitivity Adjustment (Default stages: 800/1800/4000/9000/20000)
Hybrid On-board and Cloud Storage (4+1 profiles)
Razer Synapse 3 enabled
2.1 m / 7 ft Speedflex cable
Approximate size: 130mm / 5.11 in (Length) x 60mm / 2.36 in (Grip Width) x 42mm / 1.65 in (Height)
Approximate weight: 92 g / 3.3 oz (Excluding cable)

It will be priced at US$79.99 or roughly RM326+ starting from 14 January 2020.


Internet Celebrates Same Day Launch Of New Doom & Animal Crossing…

Who would have thought that an id Software game about killing demons in hell and an idyllic village simulator would go hand-to-hand with each other? The internet did, and it has produced some tender moments between Doom Eternal’s Doomguy/Doomslayer and Animal Crossing: New Horizon’s Isabelle in art form.
Maybe it has a lot to do with the fact that both games are coming out in the same week: 20th March. This odd pairing equals some incredible fan art and Twitter posts like the ones below (via ResetEra).

Nice of isabelle to offer some coffee to Doom Guy before a long day of demon slaughtering ?#DOOM #AnimalCrossing pic.twitter.com/2kAPbDqPrj
— C:UsersYonusBahtzee (@YunizBuzee) November 24, 2018

The appeal of the crossover is its role-reversal. Who wouldn’t want to see a pint-sized dog holding a shotgun larger than her entire body? Or see Doomguy in said idyllic setting?
My personal favourite is the podcast below.
https://twitter.com/datonestarfox2/status/1187842690819473409
Hell, even the Doom Twitter account is in on the joke.

Animal Crossing
— DOOM (@DOOM) December 31, 2019

More Twitter and Reddit posts below, in case you’re up for seeing this potentially loveable mashup to start off 2020. Here’s hoping there’s a mod for this when Doom Eternal actually arrives late March.

Despite fighting massive hordes of demons and monsters, Doom slayer still takes time to hang out with friends! #DoomEternal #Doom #bfg9000 #isabelle #cute #fanart pic.twitter.com/pF9RGvCe5n
— Tungsten Hale (@HaleTungsten) August 5, 2019

the delay had me thinking… what if doomguy and isabelle teamed up?#DoomEternal #AnimalCrossingNewHorizons pic.twitter.com/qP9UfGyr16
— ?Juicy? (@JuicyArtz) October 22, 2019


Persona 5 Royal Shipment & Sales Top One Million Copies For New Platforms

Atlus’ hit RPG Persona 5 Royal has topped one million in worldwide shipments and digital sales for Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
This is clearly a “no s***, Sherlock” moment since everyone and their mothers have been clamouring for the fifth mothership Persona game to come out for other platforms that aren’t the PlayStation 4. Speaking of which, the game’s combined shipments and digital sales numbers are beyond 3.3 million units worldwide. Also, the Persona 5 series -the JRPGs, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, Persona 5 Strikers- have surpassed 8.3 million units worldwide as of 30 November.


The Full Character Roster In The King of Fighters XV So Far [Update]

A new gaming generation means another new King of Fighters game to rival Capcom’s offering. The King of Fighters XV was announced and features a nifty art style, some new battle mechanics in its 3v3 combat, and the return of fan favourites.
Here are the revealed characters so far, each with their own trailers.
Team Rival
Isla

This KOF newcomer fights with her kicks and magic hands. She has great footsies and buttons, a plethora of air moves, and a sick DM dropkick that can be used in many, many combos.
Dolores

Another newcomer to KOF, Dolores has a mix of grapples and footsie tools to deal good damage.
Heidern

Love defensive charge motion characters? Heidern is your man.
Team Krohnen
Krohnen

It’s K9999/Nameless but for KOF XV. He’s got the drill moves, the close-ranged flames, and a Super DM where he launches a giant arm into your face.
Angel

The most complex grappler-esque character to use in fighting games is back and is dressed as tasteful as ever.
Kula Diamond

The anti-K’ has a new snowman-summoning move in addition to her projectile, her ice-skating spin-kick moves, and her ever-useful giant icicle DM.
Team Hero

Shun’ei

Your main character for this KOF. He plays like he does in KOF XIV, with his aerial attacks, his anti-air, and projectile moves.
Meitenkun

This sleepyhead fights with a modified version of the Drunken Fist way involving his pillow, just like in KOF XIV.
Benimaru

This latest reveal of Benimaru proves that EX moves can be pulled off even without being in MAX mode.
Team Sacred Treasures
Chizuru Kagura

The KOF ’96 mid-boss is back and is helping Kyo and Iori out with mystical legendary flames and stuff. She still has her previous illusion-based moveset, along with a new orb-related DM.
Iori Yagami

Everybody’s favourite murderous bass player is back. He has his old moves back (he’s an SNK-style shoto with uppercuts, projectiles, 3-hit special chain), though he learned a few new tricks. He can use the EX version of his 212 Shiki Kotosuki move to OTG opponents for an extra hit.
Kyo Kusanagi

The KOF mainstay is obviously back. He has kept most of his moves from KOF’98 and KOF’99, from his Rekkas to his R.E.D. Kick, which now has juggle properties when using the EX version.
Team Orochi
Yashiro

Shermie

Chris

The trio that bookended the Orochi saga in KOF is back and possibly better than ever. The three fighters still retain their moves from KOF ’97/KOF ’98/KOF 2002, albeit with new cancel and EX move options.
Ikari Team
Leona

Ralf/Clark

Fatal Fury Team
Terry Bogard

Andy Bogard

Joe Higashi

Joe Higashi is best known for his Muay Thai fighting style. He made his debut in 1991’s Fatal Fury King Of Fighters and last appeared in 2016’s The King Of Fighters XIV. He’s not the best at combos, but he does hit hard, has good range, and has a decent projectile.
Team Art of Fighting
Ryo/Robert Garcia

King

Team K’
K’

Whip

Maxima

Team Superheroine
Mai Shiranui

Fatal Fury’s sexy ninja, she has her slew of fast moves, divekicks, and fan projectiles. Speaking of which, the EX version of her fan has an extra bounce property ala Guilty Gear Anji’s butterfly.
Athena Asamiya

Yuri Sakazaki

Team Secret Agent
Vanessa

Blue Mary

Luong

Team G.A.W
Ramon

Speedy grappler with mixups and crossups aplenty. He’s a tough one to keep away thanks to his mobility.
Antonov

Slow heavy hitter with big moves. Has less combo potential compared to the cast, but he slaps hard.
King of Dinosaurs

Heel Tizoc. Big moves, great command grabs, pretty slow.
Characters Who Aren’t In Teams Yet
Kukri

Ash Crimson

Prettyboy Guile archetype. Has a DM where he temporarily has no charge time for all his moves.
Elisabeth Blanctorche

Straight out of KOF XI and KOF XIII, Elisabeth Blanctorche has magic light powers that she can use to teleport back and forth, as well as do close-up attacks that hit pretty hard but isn’t as combo-savvy compared to the rest of her mid-sized peers.


YSEALI Game Changers Program Offers Mentorship From Industry Experts

Are you a game creator in Malaysia with a passion for making a difference in Southeast Asia? If so, the YSEALI Game Changers Program may be the perfect opportunity for you.
This exciting program offers seed funding and mentorship with industry experts to help you create games that address some of the region’s most pressing social and environmental challenges.
The YSEALI Game Changers Program is designed to support game creators who want to make a positive impact on their communities and the world. The program provides training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help you grow as a game creator and develop the skills you need to create socially conscious games. With the support of industry experts, you’ll be able to explore important social issues, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain cross-cultural perspectives.

Notable industry folks who will be hosting webinars include Sophie Azlan, El Lim, Kate Edwards, Saqina Latif (Persona Theory), Brian Kwek (Ysbrd) and Paul Escuadra.

Joining the YSEALI Game Changers Program is an opportunity to unlock your potential as a game creator and drive positive change in Southeast Asia. With the program’s support, you’ll be able to create games that are not only fun to play but also have a positive impact on the world. Whether you’re a seasoned game developer or just starting out, this program is an excellent opportunity to gain the skills and support you need to succeed. Check out the schedule below.

So, if you’re a game creator in Malaysia and want to make a difference, visit http://ysealigamechangers.com to learn more about the YSEALI Game Changers Program and how you can get involved. With the support of industry experts, you can turn your passion for game development into a force for good in Southeast Asia.


All The Games From The Surprise Nintendo Direct Mini August 2020

Nintendo decided to punk us all and release a surprise Nintendo Direct Mini presentation earlier today. It’s certainly impressive, considering that this comes only one week after the Nintendo Indie World Showcase 2020 earlier this month and a month after July 2020’s Nintendo Direct Mini.
Check out my full recap and roundup of theÂ Nintendo Direct Mini August 2020Â below:
Kingdom Hearts Melody Of Memory

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory will launch for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on 11 November 2020 in Japan and 13 November 2020 worldwide.
The game will feature both online and local multiplayer options, as well as a Free-For-All mode that is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and supports up to 8-player local play. As previously revealed, fans can look forward to a brand new chapter in the Kingdom Hearts story.
The synopsis reads:
Experience the music of Kingdom Hearts like never before!Play as familiar faces from the Kingdom Hearts series, including Disney guest characters who will appear to lend you a hand.Enjoy a massive variety of music from both the Kingdom Hearts series and Disney, with a collection of over 140 songs.Dive into rhythm-action gameplay with memorable tunes in this canâ€™t-miss musical journey!
Â  Fuser
Harmonix showed off the multiplayer element of its upcoming rhythm game Fuser and revealed three more songs coming to the game, which includes Ghosts N Stuff by DeadMau5, Dance Monkey from Tones and I, and Blinding Lights by The Weeknd.
It is slated to release for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in fall 2020.
Taiko No Tatsujin Rythmic Adventure Pack
Bandai Namco has announced Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure Pack for the Nintendo Switch. It is slated to launch in winter 2020 worldwide.
This game brings includes both Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure 1 and Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adventure 2. These games will allow players to take part in two time-travelling RPG adventures with Don-chan as they try to save the world, recruit monsters, form a powerful party, and enjoy over 130 songs.
World Of Tanks Blitz
Wargaming has announced that World of Tanks Blitz is now available for the Nintendo Switch via the Nintendo eShop.
It is a free-to-play online multiplayer game that features over 350 unique and exclusive combat vehicles, including historically accurate vehicles, experimental tanks based on blueprints of famous engineers, and armoured monsters from popular alternate universes.
World Of Tanks Blitz is also already available for PC via Steam, iOS via the App Store, and Android via Google Play.
Big Rumble Boxing Creed Champions

Survios has announced Big Rumble Boxing: Creed Champions for the Nintendo Switch. It is slated to launch in spring 2021.
This boxing experience will have players assume the roles of Adonis Creed and Rocky Balboa, as well as other legends from the cinematic universe, including Apollo Creed, Ivan Drago, Victor Drago, and Clubber Lang.
Players can rise through the ranks in an intense arcade mode, hone their skills in classic Rocky training montages, and go head-to-head with friends in thrilling local competitive multiplayer.
Collection Of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend
Square Enix has announced Collection Of SaGa: Final Fantasy Legend for the Nintendo Switch. It is slated to launch on 15 December 2020 worldwide.
Collection of SaGa: Final Fantasy Legend includes ports of 1989’s The Final Fantasy Legend (Makai Toushi SaGa in Japan), 1990’s Final Fantasy Legend II (SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu), and 1991’s Final Fantasy Legend III (SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha).
The collection includes new enhancements like high-speed mode as well as features unique to the Nintendo Switch, such as adjustable screen magnification and game screen background customization. Furthermore, this game also revives the nostalgia of playing the original by enabling vertical usage of the console after removing the Joy-Cons.
Just Dance 2021
Â
Ubisoft has announced Just Dance 2021; the latest entry in the long-running dancing franchise and this version features 40 new tracks, including Don’t Start Now by Dua Lipa and Feel Special by TWICE.
Just Dance 2021 is slated to release for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5 and Google Stadia on 12 November 2020.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
Sega has announced Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 for PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via (Steam). It will launch for all consoles, except for the PS5, on 8 December 2020. The PS5 version will release sometime in holiday 2020, and the PC version in early 2021.
You can watch the entire eleven-minute presentation below.


Apex Legends and the Miracle of Working Together

Bullets are flying. Your teammates are hanging on by a thread thatâ€™s about to snap, and youâ€™re hiding out behind a boulder trying to reload. You can sense things are going south for the rest of your team, and your suspicions are confirmed when a third party shows up and shoots them dead.
Fortunately, they donâ€™t see you and go after the other team trying to kill you instead. That team now has bigger problems to worry about, and you, barely any health to your name, have an opening.
Any other game and this opening would be to run away, seeing as your team is dead and you wonâ€™t survive for much longer on your own. However, this is Apex Legends, and in this game, death is temporary. You charge out and grab your teamâ€™s banners, and you run as fast as your frame rate can carry you to the nearest respawn beacon you can find, and you suddenly have a chance at winning again.
This is what sets Apex apart: the gameâ€™s making us work together for once.

Survival Of The Fittest?
The way I see it, the battle royale genre is a triangle of competing video games that are trying different things with varying levels of appeal. PUBG will soon be known as the old-school style of battle royale, the purest form of the genre.
You drop on a map, you pick up weapons, and you rock out for the next 20 minutes as passively or aggressively as you please. There are no gimmicks, no complications, no extra gameplay mechanics to worry about.
The Big Three
PUBG cracked the genre wide open, but Fortnite stepped in and realised that this was a big enough market for them to do the same thing in a completely different way. The core concept is still the same. 100 players are still duking it out to be the last one standing.
However, Fortnite throws in balloons that make you float, rockets you can fly on, cannons that can shoot you halfway across the map, et cetera. Thereâ€™s a lot of jolly fun to be had in Fortnite – and a lot that separates it from PUBG. Where PUBG is as simple as hide behind cover and shoot, Fortnite has you dealing with building forts, throwing down traps and trolley-riding.
Rounding out the triangle is Apex Legends, a fairly new face to the battle royale genre, less than two months old at this point. It had a major challenge to overcome almost immediately, and that was to set itself apart in an already saturated genre. I believe that theyâ€™ve succeeded, by emphasising the one thing that really sets this game apart from every other battle royale game, which is teamwork.

The foundation of what makes us want to play as a team in Apex Legends begins with its effortless pinging system. Your chances of success skyrocket when the team is working together, moving around houses and pinging loot for each other. You feel like youâ€™re making sure everyone has the equipment that theyâ€™re most comfortable with and that comes at no cost to you. Youâ€™re just clicking a button and walking away. In the big picture however, it makes a team of randoms feel closer. Youâ€™re not just clicking a button to them, youâ€™re telling the entire team that youâ€™ve got their back. Nothing is more important in a team-based game.
The second piece of the puzzle is the respawn beacon. Itâ€™s fairly standard in battle royale games for death to come in two phases: one when you get knocked down but can be revived, and the next when youâ€™re killed while youâ€™re down, at which point youâ€™re gone for good. This isnâ€™t a necessarily fun system from a gameplay perspective as teammates who get killed have no choice but to spectate the rest of the game. Most of the time, theyâ€™re just going to quit the game so they can get to playing the next match quicker. Surviving teammates are on their own.
The respawn beacon takes this fairly standard death mechanic and puts the Apex spin on it. Now, dead players leave â€˜Banner Cardsâ€™ and itâ€™s up to the rest of the team to get the cards to a nearby respawn beacon so they canâ€¦ well, respawn. Essentially, itâ€™s a second chance, and not an unfair one, as players respawn with no loot in a fairly open area, with enough noise to attract a whole lot of unwanted attention.
But second chances are priceless and if taken advantage of, these respawn beacons can easily put one team over the other in any shootout. Numbers are everything after all, and if you use respawn beacons consistently, youâ€™ll always have the numbers.
The last thing that cements Apexâ€™s uniqueness in a wide field of battle royale games, is its decision to introduce hero shooter elements to the game. Overwatch proved that people love playing with characters with fun abilities and diverse personalities.
Personality Is Key

Apex Legends takes a page out of their playbook here and introduces its players to 9 colourful legends. Each character has different abilities and most abilities benefit the entire team, rather than the one player using them.
When youâ€™re playing Bangalore and toss down some smoke grenades during a fight, you blind everyone in the area – unless you have a Bloodhound on your side, in which case he can simply pop his ability and shoot through the smoke. These abilities work best in this game when used unselfishly.
There is so much that makes Apex Legends fun to play. However, Apex succeeds at being a head turner not just because of its fluid parkour mechanics or quick and satisfying gunplay, but because of the way it encourages team-based combat in a way no other battle royale game is doing at the moment. Itâ€™s truly rare to find a game where you can play as fluidly with friends as you can play with randoms, and thatâ€™s exactly where Apex Legends shines.


Respawn Explains Why Apex Legends Season 3 Won’t Feature Kings Canyon

Apex Legends Season 3 kicks off today, and that means tons of new features. One of the biggest changes in the battle royale game’s latest season is the fact that the new Worldâ€™s Edge map has replaced the previous Kings Canyon, which means that the latter will no longer be playable as of today.
In an interview with Stevivor, Respawn Entertainment’s Drew McCoy (Project Lead on Apex Legends) explained the reasons why the developer is removing Kings Canyon in Apex Legends Season 3. He said:

â€œWhat we donâ€™t want to happen for example, is what it is like when a new character comes out.
In Season 1 when Octane launched, he was the brand-new thing and you would see a lot of people select Octane as the first player on their team.
Then the other two would disconnect because they also wanted to play as the new character.
Itâ€™s a separate problem, but we think the same type of thing is going to happen with multiple maps.
What we donâ€™t want is for someone to get in on October 1st and be like, â€˜Oh, it put me on Kings Canyon, Iâ€™m going to back out.â€™
Youâ€™re going to end up with a bunch of half dead games.
So at launch itâ€™s going to be Worldâ€™s Edge only, and then based on feedback from players, and the data we can get, we have a lot of different levers we can pull to see what we can do about reintroducing Kings Canyon.
But there are a lot of moving parts, because we also have events happening throughout the season, and all these other things that are flipping on and off, so itâ€™s one of those things where we have given ourselves many doorways to go through depending on what happens.â€

While Kings Canyon is gone for now, at least there’s the hope of its return in the future, after players have had their fill of the new World’s Edge map, of course. In the meantime, head on over here to find out why we think that the arrival of Apex Legends Season 3 could bring in newcomers and sceptics to the game.
Apex Legends Season 3 is now live for all players on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For everything you need to know about the game, we have everythingÂ grouped up here.


Marvel’s Eternals Drops On Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia Next Month

Disney+ Hotstar has announced that Marvel Studiosâ€™ Eternals will start streaming exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar on 12 January 2022.
Marvel Studiosâ€™ Eternals follows a group of heroes from beyond the stars who had protected the Earth since the dawn of man. When monstrous creatures called the Deviants, long thought lost to history, mysteriously return, the Eternals are forced to reunite in order to defend humanity once again.
The outstanding ensemble cast includes Gemma Chan as humankind-loving Sersi, Richard Madden as the all-powerful Ikaris, Kumail Nanjiani as cosmic-powered Kingo, Lia McHugh as the eternally young, old-soul Sprite, Brian Tyree Henry as the intelligent inventor Phastos, Lauren Ridloff as the super-fast Makkari, Barry Keoghan as aloof loner Druig, Don Lee as the powerful Gilgamesh, with Kit Harington as Dane Whitman, with Salma Hayek as the wise and spiritual leader Ajak, and Angelina Jolie as the fierce warrior Thena.
ChloÃ© Zhao directs the film, and Kevin Feige and Nate Moore are the producers, with Louis Dâ€™Esposito, Victoria Alonso and Kevin de la Noy serving as executive producers. The screen story is by Ryan Firpo & Kaz Firpo, and the screenplay is by ChloÃ© Zhao & Patrick Burleigh and Ryan Firpo & Kaz Firpo.
Eternals originally premiered in Malaysian cinemas on 3 November 2021. In the meantime, check out ourÂ EternalsÂ review here.


Cyberpunk 2077 Will Be More Complex Than The Witcher 3

To say that CD Projekt Red is shouldering high expectations in regards to Cyberpunk 2077 would be the understatement of the year. After showing off how good they are at making open-world RPGs through the The Witcher games, they have to keep on surpassing themselves and worry not, they plan on doing just that.

A Redditor going by the moniker of Shavod recently shared paragraphs worth of information about Cyberpunk 2077 from a CD Projekt yearly Polish community meeting which he attended last Saturday.
The post itself has almost 2,200 words so let me help you by summarising the most noteworthy points:

When Johnny Silverhand said you and him “have a city to burn”, you can go along with that suggestion and do just that.
The main questline in Cyberpunk 2077 might be shorter than the one in The Witcher 3. However, this is just the main story. No idea how big the game is when you take into account the side activities.
The way that sidequests evolve in Cyberpunk 2077 will be much more complex when compared to sidequest progression in The Witcher 3. When you choose a branching path, it turns into an entire branch of its own unlike The Witcher 3’s format of most quest branches simply leading back to one predetermined outcome. The developers want to make sure it will be difficult for players to have playthroughs that are exactly the same.
Car customisation isn’t confirmed but the developers “have plans” for the feature.
Car physics aimed to be more realistic than Grand Theft Auto games.
Just like The Witcher 3, motion capture was also used to animate the sex scenes.
The developers want to add modding tools but no confirmations on that yet.

This small list is enough to tell us that the game isn’t just the most ambitious game CD Projekt Red is working, it just might be the most ambitious RPG ever made. As someone who wasn’t too impressed at how straightforward some questlines were in The Witcher 3, I’m really glad to hear that they’re making some crazy improvements to change that in Cyberpunk 2077.
To read the full Reddit post, click here.


Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023 Schedule Announced, Includes Lucasfilm Showcase

Lucasfilm and Star Wars have announced the schedule for the upcoming Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, which will take place from 7 to 10 April 2023 at ExCeL London in England.
It’s currently unclear which timezones the schedule belongs to (London time or US ET/PT time).
Check it out below:
Friday, 7 April 2023
Lucasfilm’s Studio Showcase
11:00AM – 12:30PM, Live on the Celebration Stage; streamed to the Galaxy and Twin Suns Stages
Star Wars Celebration returns, launching with a must-see showcase that will kick the weekend’s festivities into hyperdrive. Lucasfilm’s current crop of live-action filmmakers will be joined by special guests to discuss the many current and upcoming Star Wars adventures, including The Mandalorian, Andor, and more!
London Calling: Designing Star Wars Productions in the UK
1:00PM – 2:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage

Host Amy Ratcliffe sits with Lee Sandales (set decorator), Kevin Jenkins (production designer), Jake Lunt Davies (concept designer and storyboard artist) and Glyn Dillon (costume designer) for a behind-the-scenes look at their design work on Lucasfilm’s UK productions of the sequel trilogy as well as Solo and Rogue One.
The Making of Andor Season One
3:00PM – 4:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage; streamed to the Galaxy and Twin Suns Stages
Executive producers Tony Gilroy and Diego Luna and their team of creatives recount the making of the epic first season of Star Wars: Andor.
Saturday, April 8
Ahsoka
11:00AM – 12:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage; streamed to the Galaxy and Twin Suns Stages
Join executive producers Dave Filoni, Jon Favreau, and special guests for a look at the upcoming Disney+ series, Ahsoka.
Bringing Worlds to Life: The Concept Artists of ILM
12:30PM – 1:30PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Join host Clayton Sandell alongside Doug Chiang and members of the Industrial Light & Magic Art Department as they take you behind the scenes to explore what goes into bringing a director’s vision to the silver screen. From their work on the original trilogy to the Star Wars prequels, and to the latest films in the franchise and beyond, you’ll learn how iconic movie moments are made.
Star Wars: The High Republic
1:00PM – 2:00 PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Centuries before the Skywalker saga there was the High Republic! Join luminous authors and Lucasfilm editors for an in-depth conversation about epic new tales spanning books, comics, audio, and beyond. Including all-new announcements and reveals from Star Wars: The High Republic Phase II, and a sneak peek of what is to come in Phase III!
40 Years of Return of the Jedi
2:00PM – 3:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage
Forty years ago, Return of the Jedi was the highly-anticipated sequel that Star Wars fans had been waiting years to see, and the last Star Wars theatrical adventure to be released for the foreseeable future. Counted as a favorite episode by many, Return of the Jedi’s story, characters, settings, and score still resonate with fans today, and its 40th anniversary offers the perfect opportunity to celebrate this time-honored classic. Join special guest host Ming-Na Wen as she chats with Star Wars legends of the past, present, and future about the influence of this beloved chapter in the galaxy far, far away.
Star Wars Creator Cosplay Workshop
2:00PM – 3:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Join The Mandalorian’s Shawna Trpcic (costume designer) and Maria Sandoval (hair department head) as they lend their expertise to give you tips and tricks on your own cosplay. The talented team will also be guest judges for Celebration’s official cosplay competition, so come by and get a tune-up before the big contest. This is the Way!
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures Screening
3:00PM – 4:00PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Families and fans of all ages are invited to attend an advance screening of the first two episodes of Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures! Join host Krystina Arielle and special guests for an exciting sneak peek at the new animated series. Set during the High Republic era, Young Jedi Adventures follows younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi. Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures will premiere on Disney+ and Disney Junior on May 4, 2023.
Hasbro Star Wars & Indiana Jones Panel
4:00PM – 5:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Join Hasbro’s Marketing & Design team members as they discuss the popular Hasbro Star Wars and Indiana Jones lines, including the Black Series, The Vintage Collection, Adventure Series, and the Retro Collection. Attendees will get an in-depth look at Hasbro’s latest action figure and premium roleplay offerings from throughout the sagas. Word is there may also be a few surprises.
Creature Cantina
4:30PM – 5:30PM, Live on the Celebration Stage
Step into the amazing world of Neal Scanlan’s Creature Cantina, responsible for the creation of all the droids, creatures, and aliens of each UK-based Star Wars production in the last ten years. Join Neal and his team on a journey as they show you for the first time ever, how they create, build, and perform the characters you’ve fallen in love with.
Clone Wars – 15 Year Anniversary Panel
5:30PM – 6:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage; streamed to the Twin Suns Stage
Join Dave Filoni, Athena Portillo, Matthew Wood, Dee Bradley Baker, Ashley Eckstein, Matt Lanter, and James Arnold Taylor for a look back at the beginning of Lucasfilm Animation and how Star Wars: The Clone Wars came to be.
Sunday, April 9
Villains of the Sequel Trilogy
11:00AM – 12:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage; streamed to the Galaxy Stage
The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many panels some consider to be…can’t-miss! Join host Amy Ratcliffe as she sits down with Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine), Andy Serkis (Supreme Leader Snoke), and Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma) as they discuss their villainous roles in the final chapters of the Skywalker Saga.
Behind the Magic: The Visual Effects of Andor
12:00PM – 1:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Join host Amy Ratcliffe, Industrial Light & Magic, and members of the creature effects and special effects teams for a deep dive into the special and visual effects that brought a burgeoning rebellion to life in Star Wars: Andor.
Hyperspace Stories: Dark Horse Comics Returns! (all-ages)
12:30PM – 1:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Dark Horse Comics returns to a galaxy far, far away with a wide range of stories for fans of all ages. Join editor Matt Dryer and a group of all-star authors as they dive into Hyperspace Stories, The High Republic Adventures, and more! Featuring sneak peeks and reveals!
A Look Back at Obi-Wan Kenobi
1:30PM – 2:30PM, Live on the Celebration Stage
Take a look back at the hit limited series with Obi-Wan Kenobi cast members Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Indira Varma and Vivien Lyra Blair, and executive producer/director Deborah Chow.
Funko: Collect Across the Galaxy!
2:00PM – 3:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Funko is proud to present, Funko: Collect Across the Galaxy at Star Wars Celebration, a journey of discovery through the collection of new pop-culture products celebrating the Star Wars galaxy! From Pop! to Funko Games, Loungefly to new form factors, panel attendees will get a first-hand look at never-before-seen Funko products!
Star Wars Cosplay Competition
2:30PM – 3:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Both veteran and amateur cosplayers alike will join the most exciting Cosplay Competition in the galaxy at Star Wars Celebration Europe! It is more than just a competition — it’s a fun-filled celebration of the very best Star Wars cosplayers that want to share their talent, skill, and determination with the universe.
Disney Parks: Where Star Wars Comes to Life
4:00PM – 5:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage
Join some of the creative minds from Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm for a special look at how Disney brings Star Wars to life in its parks and beyond. Discover more about immersive experiences from a galaxy far, far away, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, and more.
Beyond the Spires: Making of Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge
4:00PM – 5:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Hear from key creators of Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge – Enhanced Edition, the hit experience on PlayStation VR2 that expands and explores the world of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how this VR adventure came together.
Star Wars Animation Game Night
4:30PM – 5:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Star Wars Animation Game Night is a competition of galactic proportions starring voice actors from your favorite animated Star Wars series. Watch as Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, Matthew Wood and Matt Lanter compete in feats of knowledge, skill, and luck to prove who is the ULTIMATE Star Wars fan.
Lucasfilm Publishing: Stories From a Galaxy Far, Far Away…
5:30PM – 6:30PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
From adult-aged novels to non-fiction, from kids comics to audiobook epics, Lucasfilm Publishing explores the stories from a galaxy far, far away. Featuring all-new announcements, exciting details and reveals for new and upcoming titles from the time of the High Republic to the time of the First Order, this panel is not to be missed!
Monday, April 10
Star Wars: The Bad Batch
11:00AM – 12:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage; streamed to the Galaxy and Twin Suns Stages
Join host Amy Ratcliffe as she invites Star Wars: The Bad Batch executive producer and supervising director Brad Rau, executive producer and head writer Jennifer Corbett, executive producer Athena Portillo, and actors Dee Bradley Baker (the Bad Batch) and Michelle Ang (Omega) to discuss highlights from the second season of the acclaimed series!
Make Mine Marvel Star Wars!
12:30PM – 1:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Make mine Star Wars, and make mine Marvel! Join Marvel editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski and some of Marvel’s top talent for a comics conversation unlike any other. Including all-new announcements and reveals from a galaxy far, far away!
From Screen to Tabletop
12:30PM – 1:30PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
From Screen to Tabletop is an exploration of the process behind making miniatures games for fans across the galaxy. The team at Atomic Mass Games will pull back the curtain and breakdown the development differences between skirmish-based games and full army games as well as share insights into their philosophy that multiple game lines within the Star Wars galaxy allows space for gamers of all types. For those that enjoy the creative process, enjoy behind-the-scenes peeks at concepting work, rules philosophy, art selection, and more!
Star Wars: Visions Volume 2
1:00PM – 2:00PM, Live on the Celebration Stage
Join host Amy Ratcliffe, Star Wars: Visions executive producers, and filmmakers from Aardman, Cartoon Saloon, D’ART Shtajio, El Guiri, La Cachette, Lucasfilm, Punk Robot, Studio Mir, Triggerfish, and 88 Pictures for an exclusive first look at Star Wars: Visions Volume 2.
Star Wars: Galaxy-Sized Collecting in a Micro World with Jazwares
2:00PM – 3:00PM, Live on the Twin Suns Stage
Now more than ever fans are demanding new ways to collect and connect within the vast Star Wars saga. With micro trends continuing to permeate some of the world’s most beloved toys and collectibles, Star Wars is positioned for an epic renaissance. Where will this new galaxy go? Enter the world of Star Wars Micro Galaxy Squadron from Jazwares!
Doug Chiang: Designing Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian
2:30PM – 3:30PM, Live on the Galaxy Stage
Doug Chiang, Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian production designer and Lucasfilm’s vice president and executive creative director,  will present an in-depth talk about designing the characters, spaceships, and worlds for Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian Season 3. He will share the challenges they faced in revisiting iconic Star Wars characters like Obi-Wan and Darth Vader. Attendees will also have the chance to ask Doug their own questions.
Celebration Europe Closing Ceremony
4:00PM – 5:00PM, Live on the Celebration, Galaxy, Twin Suns, & Star Wars Celebration LIVE! Stages
Gather with your friends and fellow Star Wars fans to relive the best moments of the weekend and bid farewell to another Star Wars Celebration. Featuring special guests, weekend highlights, and much more, this is a send-off you won’t want to miss!


China Finally Approves More Games After An Almost One-Year Freeze

It was originally reported that the Chinese government would be starting another round of approval process for games back in November 2021. After several months, that has finally happened. According to a report from Reuters, China’s gaming regulator approved the publishing licenses of 45 games in the country.
These 45 games include Baidu and XD Inc’s Party Star, as well as games from companies such as iDreamSky, 37Games, a subsidiary of G-bits Network Technology Xiamen, Shenzhen Zqgame and Yoozoo Games. This ends a nine-month long freeze that began in July 2021.
The approval process also resulted in the U.S.-listed shares of Chinese games companies like NetEase Inc and Bilibili Inc increasing a whopping 8% and 8.6%, respectively, in premarket trading. Why have their stocks increased in value so much? Game approvals have recently slowed down in China because they are beginning to enforce stricter rules, especially for children. These include moves to fight against gaming addiction and limit the amount of time its youth can spend on the games to only one hour per day.


John Wick Writer Will Work On Falcon & Winter Soldier TV Show

Ever watched an MCU movie and kept thinking to yourself “The superpowers of these guys and the fight choreography of John Wick, what a dream”. Well, your dream is coming true.
The upcoming Disney+ TV show Falcon & Winter Soldier will put the two titular characters in a lot of tough situations. Neither of the two have godlike strength or access to crazy-advanced tech like most members of the Avengers so a lot of old-fashioned ass-kicking is needed instead and no one kicks ass like John Wick.

According to a report by The Wrap, creator of the John Wick franchise Derek Kolstad has joined the writing team of Falcon & Winter Soldier. The first season of the show is scheduled to premiere in August 2020 and it will be a post-Endgame storyline.
Alongside Falcon & Winter Soldier, Marvel Studios is also developing a few other shows for Disney+. The confirmed shows include WandaVision and Loki. The shows are pretty self-explanatory thanks to their titles but I’m excited to see how Marvel is going to evolve the MCU in a post-Endgame phase.


A Playable StarCraft Ghost Build Has Popped Up Online

Remember when Blizzard was working on a StarCraft third-person shooter spinoff titled StarCraft Ghost back in the early 2000s?
Around two decades later, an early playable Xbox build of StarCraft Ghost has apparently leaked online. Twitter user Andrew Borman shared screenshots of the leaked build on his account, though he claimed that they were taken from anonymous Xbox forums.

Who would have thought a month ago that Starcraft Ghost would leak in some form? pic.twitter.com/24wCp4XBsE
â€” Andrew Borman (@Borman18) February 16, 2020
Several people have uploaded gameplay footage of this playable StarCraft Ghost build on YouTube as well, some of which have been taken down at the time of writing. However, a high-quality video by a user named Delso Bezerra is still up and running, which you can check out below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHQVsejt_bE&w=560&h=315]
The footage shows StarCraft Ghost protagonist Nova in action, running around and shooting aliens in what seems to be a straightforward and generic shooter from the early 2000s with the StarCraft brand slapped onto it.
According to Kotaku, a source has reportedly told them that the playable build of StarCraft Ghost is from a leaked devkit of the game. If you’re really interested in trying it out for yourself, head on over to this link to download it. However, do so at your own risk.


You’re Getting More Ghost In The Shell: SAC_2045 Next Year

The CGI Netflix anime Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 may have its detractors, but most folks are glad to see the Major and her pals get another shot in anime life. So much so that Netflix is renewing the anime for another season.
During the Netflix Festival Japan 2021 livestream today, the second season of Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045 will be out worldwide in 2022. The show will be directed by Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki of Production I.G and Sola Digital Arts fame, with Russian illustrator Illya Kuvshinov doing character designs. Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi will be composing the music; the pair have composed music for the Metal Gear Solid and Halo series.

#NetflixFestivalJP ??????????????? ??NEW!?
Netflix?????????? SAC_2045?????22022???????????
?????“?????????”???9????????????????“??”?????????????#??????? #SAC2045 pic.twitter.com/mawP4a3A0T
— Netflix Japan Anime (@NetflixJP_Anime) November 9, 2021


Geek Fam Scored 12th Place At The PUBG Mobile World Invitational 2021

The PUBG Mobile World Invitational (PMWI) East 2021 drew to a close after a brutal 20 matches of intense competition, over a period of 4 days. Taking place between 22 July to 25 July 2021, the 4-day tournament hosted sixteen teams across Asia, competing to be crowned champions of the biggest PUBG Mobile charity tournament organized by Tencent in collaboration with Gamers Without Borders.Â
With the event featuring some of the biggest PUBG Mobile teams from all over the world, Geek Fam was chosen as the one and only team to represent Malaysia on an international scale. Consistency being their strong suit, Geek Fam was selected based on their incredible team rankings which remained consistently strong during PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL) Season 3.Â
Securing the invite to The PUBG Mobile World Invitational (PMWI) East 2021, the team managed to secure a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, on Day 1, Match 3, with a total of 11 kills. Furthermore, in-game leader, DamRude, ranked 3rd place as Kill Leader on Day 1 of the tournament.Â
With the majority of the US$3.16 million prize pool to be donated to a list of charity organisations, identified by Gamers Without Borders. Geek Fam contributed US$61,500 to UNICEF, in line with Gamers Without Borders mission to distribute vaccines across underdeveloped countries and communities that hold the risk of being forgotten and continue to suffer as compared to global superpowers that are fast approaching the post-pandemic era.Â
Overall an incredibly intense 4 days, like all good things, the PMWI 2021 came to an end with Team Valdus Esports from Thailand, walking away with the champion title. Meanwhile, Geek Fam managed to grab 12th place in the overall standings.
Check out the official team placements below:

1st: Valdus The Murder
2nd: Natus Vincere
3rd: D’Xavier
4th: Z3US eSPORT
5th: Bigetron RA
6th: DS Gaming
7th: YaLLa Esports
8th: DRS GAMING
9th: REJECT
10th: Blacklist International
11th: A1 eSports
12th: Geek Fam
13th: i8 Esports
14th: NASR Esports
15th: Fanatic Zombies
16th: Team MYthS


Battlefield 2042’s Season 3 Will Breathe New Life Into The Game

Electronic Arts have revealed Battlefield 2042’s Season 3: Escalation which will be available on 23 November. December will also see the game be available for free for a limited time.
Season 3 brings a boatload of new content such as a new map, Specialist, weapons, vehicle, and more, as well as the addition of 100 new tiers of Battle Pass content. All core gameplay-affecting content will be available to all players as part of the Free tier track in Battlefield 2042’s Battle Pass. Additional cosmetic items are earnable through a Premium version of the Battle Pass.

In Season 3, players will be able to take the fight to the untamed wilderness in Sweden with the new map, Spearhead, featuring semi-automated manufacturing facilities of high-tech weaponry.
New Egyptian-born Specialist and security expert Zain is adept at flushing foes out of cover with his XM370A Airburst Rifle. With his perseverance under pressure helping him lead on the front lines, Zain can immediately recharge his health after taking out an enemy.
Weapons
If it’s weapons you’re interested in then you’re in for a treat. The weapons being added in Season 3 follow the sentiment of high damage and more tactical stakes.

The Rorsch Mk-4 Railgun launches unbelievably fast projectiles and features multiple firing modes, meaning players who can master its charging times will find versatility and power in this cutting-edge weapon.
NVK-S22 Smart Shotgun is compact and nimble enough for users to be able to ambush in close-quarters situations.
NVK-P125 Bullpup Pistol is an ideal sidearm for long-distance encounters.
Throwing Knives are coming to Battlefield 2042 arsenals this season as well.

The multi-moded EMKV90-TOR Tank offers an adaptable way to move across the combat zone, wreaking havoc in the process. The EMKV90-TOR has two modes: Mobility Mode, emphasizing swiftness, and Siege Mode, which slows the tank down to a crawl, but allows it to deal immense damage. In addition, this tank features a special system that detects the source of incoming attacks within a range and displays them in the HUD.
Players looking for more progression in Battlefield 2042 will find lots to do this season. In addition to the Battle Pass, New Assignments will offer more Vault Weapons, such as the XM8 and A-91, with even more to come in future Season 3 updates.
Updates coming later in Season 3: Escalation includes the highly-anticipated Specialist rework, featuring the move to a Class-based system and a set of balance adjustments, as well as reworkings of the Manifest and Breakaway launch maps.
Free Access

New players can check out Season 3 and the rest of Battlefield 2042 for free for a limited time starting this December. Whether on Xbox, PC (Steam) or PlayStation, players will be able to experience the game, and its multiple seasons’ worth of improvements and content. Free access will be available on the following dates:

Xbox: Free Play Days, 1-4 December
Steam: Free Weekend, 1-5 December
PlayStation: Free Access, 16-23 December

In case you want to learn more then you can go check out Battlefield 2042’s official website.


Here’s Your Last Chance To Try Out Monster Hunter World: Iceborne For Free

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne has to be one of the most (if not the most) anticipated DLCs this year. It’s going to add tons of new content to a game that has already received countless free updates and additions. Just a few weeks before release, Capcom will let you get one final taste of Iceborne.
The Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Online Beta will start this weekend for PS4 owners from 30 August to 1 September 2019. Xbox One players will get to play from 2 September to 5 September 2019.
The Online Beta will allow you to hunt down three main monsters and Velkhana, the elder dragon who is featured on the expansion’s cover. For those of you who have never played Monster Hunter World, worry not. The three main monsters are there to help you ease into the game: Great Jagras (novices), Banbaro (experienced), and Tigrex (skilled).

You don’t need to have Monster Hunter World to play the beta but you will need to have an online connection plus the online subscription service for your respective console (PS Plus, Xbox Live Gold). If you do have Monster Hunter World, rewards for beating the monsters in the beta can be claimed in the full game.
Take this opportunity to try out the expansion’s new features such as the Clutch Claw, new weapon combos, and the new mount system. You can also take screenshots using View Mode which you should definitely do so that you can share them with PC players. The “master race” is only getting the game next year.

For more details on the Online Beta, check out the game’s official website.
Monster Hunter World: Iceborne releases just around the corner on 6 September 2019 for PS4 and Xbox One. The PC version is scheduled to be released in January 2020.


Masayuki Uemura, The Creator Of The NES & SNES, Is Dead

We bid farewell to yet another legend of video games.
Masayuki Uemura, the lead architect for the Famicom/NES and the Super Famicom/SNES has passed away on 6th December. He was 78, according to an Oricon News report.
Previously, Uemura worked at Sharp, selling photocell technology to various companies. Though everything changed when he got a call from Nintendo in 1981 to make a machine that could play games on cartridges.

Ritsumeikan University will be holding a memorial service for Uemura, which will be announced at a later date. Rest in peace, Uemura, and thank you for one of the most important contributions to gaming history.


Mortal Kombat 11’s Kombat Pack Announces A Few Familiar Faces

Glory be to all nostalgic Mortal Kombat fans; we have a doozy of an announcement.
NetherRealm just showcased its new Mortal Kombat 11 Kombat Pack, and not only did it show us a ton of Shang Tsung and his zoning/spacing/morphing shenanigans…

…it also revealed three new kharacters for said pack. You will get to play as Nightwolf,

Sindel,

…and Spawn. Yeah, THAT Spawn. From Image Comics. The one made by Todd McFarlane who is pretty (in)famous in the comics industry.

We’ll also be getting two more guest characters, with one of them likely to be Ash from the Evil Dead series if that chainsaw sound at 2:31 is of any indication. Unless Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is making a return from MKX…

I’m cool with it either way: MKX’s draw was its horror guest characters, so MK11 should follow suit.
The Kombat Pack includes 1-week exclusive early access to the aforementioned six characters plus skin and gear with each DLC character, as well as 19 additional skins. This also includes the Klassic Arcade Ninja pack for Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and my favourite keepaway ninja Noob Saibot. The early access bits for these will on 18 June.


Merdeka! The 9 Best Empire-Building Games Out Now

Update [30/8/2022]: We’ve added several new additions to the list for you to satiate your nation (or civilization) building itch.
Selamat Hari Merdeka, Malaysia!
It’s the 31st of August tomorrow, which means that we’re going to take a day off from gaming to pay our respects to our forefathers and historical figures for liberating our land from its colonial oppressors. And then go back to playing games.
In lieu of this, let’s just celebrate this auspicious time in our own way: through the power of video games and listicles! Here are our top picks of games that let you create your own city-state, continent, civilization, and dictatorship that’s totally yours and in no way dominated by the white man. In other words, games that let you create your own independent nation. And unlike in real life, it’s Pinkerton syndrome-free!
Democracy 4

Ever thought to yourself “Gee. I bet I know what’s best for my country when it comes to policymaking and balancing the populace’s needs and wants!”. If your answer is yes, then boy do we have a game for you.
In Democracy 4, you play as a freshly-elected head of a country. Thereon, you are tasked with creating policies, ensuring all your key voting demographics are satiated, the economy remains positive all while also staving away assassination attempts. Yes, you can end up being assassinated by extremists who feel you’ve neglected them.
It may seem easy enough but the slider-based games have never been so immersive. Go ahead. Give it a go. Try enacting some controversial policies which are totally against the desires of your biggest pool of voters and watch the voters turn against you.
Humankind

Deemed the successor (or challenger) to Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise depending on how you see it, Humankind takes a slightly different approach in presentation, direction and the most unpopular of all, win condition. Solely utilizing the ‘Fame’ metric instead of several possible winning conditions in Civilization, Humankind is a much-needed addition to the scene which in our books, have become somewhat stale due to Civ’s iron grip on the genre.
The game is still relatively new so expect big things from developers Amplitude Studios and extended support from publishers Sega.
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

As famed video game lyricsmeister guy Brentalfloss sung, “Civilization is the s***!” And he’s right; Civ is the hot s*** when it comes to accessible-yet-tough-empire-civilization-nation-shaping games. And nothing comes close to the breadth and girth of Civilization VI, except maybe Civilization IV and arguably V.
This turn-based strategy game lets you own vision of Malaysia, only you get to choose your own faction and your own leader running it. You’ll have to pick Indonesia (which also means getting theÂ Khmer & Indonesia Civ Pack) if you want to keep things authentic with Kampungs.
If you’re not a stickler for historical accuracies, you can opt to use Gandhi or Teddy Roosevelt to run a newÂ create your Malaysia which may be rife with metals or with barbarian attacks. Simply put: there’s so much flexibility in Civ VI when you want to build your own Malaysian empire free from other people’s rule.
Crusader Kings 3

Fancy shaping a new Malaysia where regicide is served like dinner? Try out Crusader Kings III, the latest entry in the crowning jewel series of Paradox Interactive.
You play a medieval ruler trying to gain more power, influence, and territory in a historically-authentic medieval Europe. Remember shows like Game of Thrones and The Tudors? Imagine the war and politics of those shows but in that continent. But really, you’ll be managing your people, your dynasty, your vassals, your enemies, and your loved ones, hoping to shape a long-lasting empire even after the first generation bites it.
Instead of real-time or turned-based battles, you figure out your next political move, be it marrying off your sons & daughters to rival factions for the greater good of your nation, and host jousting tournaments to keep the populace happy. Make your own European dynasty play out like the mid-2000s of Malaysia’s Barisan National and UMNO’s reign of benevolence.
Tropico 4

If you fancy creating a Malaysia-like empire where you can pull off a Najib, why not go for Tropico 4? Build your own dictator junta state complete with privatized armies and rebel armies that need quelling. Go into the resource trade game to get money, then rule over the island’s populace with an iron fist.
And if you don’t want to do the campaign mode, you can just create your own levels and scenarios to keep the dictatorship dream alive. If you fancy managing an island economy complete with stats-tracking, working on a million projects at once, and don’t mind dealing with a detailed interface, you’ll have a ton of fun shaping your own independent nation with Tropico 4.
Age of Empires 2

The grandaddy of real-time historically-laced strategy games, the Age of Empire series is a war game with a tinge of civilization and empire expansion. What’s really awesome about the sequel, considered the best Age of Empires game ever by fans, is that everything’s bigger and better.
Maps are larger, meaning that flank and pocket positions during fights are crucial in invading. Terrains on maps add more depth to your strategies when combating the other empire.Â The 1v1 competitive element is more pronounced and shorter compared to a turn-based race to see who makes the better empire (so much for that Civ VI esports thing, eh Liquid?).
Army micromanaging is toned down so you can just worry about building towards your tech tree and destroy all oppressors with extreme prejudice. In short, this is the best non-fantasy real-time strategy game using a ton of different kings and armies.
Stellaris

Why stop at Earth? Why not build your own Earth-led nation outside of the Milky Way and explore other galaxies? Colonize empty planets and label them as Malaysian states, and even kick alien ass?
That’s Stellaris in a nutshell: pick a science voyage, visit neighbouring stars, scan for new life, then take it over via diplomacy or conquering. Its first few hours are fun and it gets way, way deeper after the 15th hour. With its many updates and expansions -this IS a Paradox Interactive game after all – you can get immersed in this inner space thinking about which galaxy you want to charter off to so that you can create your own space nation.
Suzerain

What would it be like to take down a corrupt government from within? And how hard will the process be? That’s what Suzerain from Torpor Games is about (thanks the suggestions of our Twitter followers).
You play President Rayne as you lead the nation of Sordland out of an economic recession, all within the mucks of its already-tainted cabinet. Stick to your good values too closely and you may end up being sentenced to prison, impeached and framed by your “allies”. Fund your secret police and military arm well to make sure you’re well-protected from political enemies, at the cost of your morals. There are 20+ endings or so you can unlock to cap off your presidential reign, ranging from you being loved by your country (and getting jailed for it) or being vilified and corrupt (but still ruling the country).
Hits pretty close to home, eh?
Bonus: Offworld Trading Company
Civilization IV’s Soren Johnson went out of his way to form a new studio to make a new strategy game where you make a fortune and carve out a name for your nation. How? By exploiting Mars and its resources.
Much like Age of Empires, it’s an RTS without micromanagement. Instead of destroying your foes with tanks and planes, you ravage them by turning the economic and market table against them. Screw over enemies and rivals by selling, buying, dealing, and closing deals in the otherworldly marketplace.
Great nations are sometimes formed by being the best at manipulating the economy to its favour and having a big workforce. Offworld Trading Company lets you create your own Malaysia with the girth of China and the spending dollar of Singapore in an alternate realm set outside of Earth. Takeovers and trades have never been this exciting since this game came out; do yourself a favour and give this unique RTS a shot.

Got any 4X and turn-based strategy games with nation-building elements you want to share with us? Let us know!


KOF XV Orochi Yashiro, Shermie, & Chris Will Be Out Next Week; Crossplay Next Year

The King of Fighters XV’s latest characters will be out next week, and will have the long-awaited crossplay feature next year.
SNK announced during EVO 2022 that Team Awakened Orochi, which features Orochi Yashiro, Orochi Chris, and Orochi Shermie, will release on 8th August. That’s this coming Monday. To recap, they play like their KOF ’97, KOF ’98, and KOF 2002 counterparts with moves different from the original Yashiro, Shermie, and Chris. They also come with ex-boss Goenitz’s snazzy uniforms.

In addition, the game will receive cross-platform play between the PC, Xbox, and PlayStation versions sometime in 2023. Right now, crossplay is only available between PS5 and PS4 users.
On that note, the next Season 1 DLC characters will be out in Autumn 2022. We’re guessing it’s a Samurai Shodown team featuring Haohmaru, Nakoruru, and Darlene Dagger.


This New Sega Game Is Looking A Bit Too Much Like Actraiser

Remember the Actraiser games back in the 90s for the SNES? The one that combines 2D action platforming with city-building simulation that makes for an enriching experience? And also the sequel that ditches said city-building for god-knows-what reason?
Welp, the devs at ACE Team -renowned for Rock of Ages and Zeno Clash– are releasing a new game called SolSeraph under Sega. And it’s looking like the venerable 90s series is making a spiritual comeback. Trailer below, in case you don’t believe me.

You play as a god name Helios, whose objective is to guide humanity to prosperity while fighting back monsters and demons that plague the earth. You will be side-scrolling in 2D glory fighting and killing said beasts, as well as play strategist in building villages, expanding populations, and defending them from threats in top-down mode.
The Actraiser comparison are apt, even right down to the game’s theme which will be composed by Yuzo Koshiro, also an Actraiser alumni. The game’s going to be on sale on Steam and consoles on 10th July and will cost you US$14.99.
Makes me kinda wish Quintet, or at least its staff, would make a resurgence.


ASUS Malaysia Announces 2023 TUF Gaming Laptops

ASUS Malaysia today announced local pricing, specifications, and availability for its new 2023 TUF Gaming laptop lineup. The all-new TUF Gaming A16 Advantage™ Edition, an all-AMD gaming laptop with a redesigned chassis and an incredibly immersive 16-inch display. The TUF Gaming A15, A17, F15 and F17 laptops also make a triumphant return, sporting the latest silicon from AMD, Intel®, and NVIDIA® to power players into the next generation of gaming performance.
ASUS TUF A16 Advantage™ Edition announced
Built for serious gaming with subtle styling, the TUF Gaming A16 Advantage™ Edition is a sleek gaming laptop built to demolish the competition. Powered completely by AMD, the TUF Gaming A16 features up to AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS processor and AMD Radeon™ RX 7600S mobile graphics. “AMD and ASUS have partnered to deliver our latest ‘Zen 4’ and RDNA 3 technologies into the most innovative form factors,” said Jason Banta, CVP and GM OEM PC. “The TUF Gaming A16 Advantage™ Edition delivers blistering gaming performance and outstanding power efficiency in a sleek portable chassis.”
As an AMD Advantage™ Edition machine, ASUS and AMD have worked together to leverage both hardware and software to their full potential, ensuring the TUF Gaming A16 is fully compatible with AMD’s latest gaming-centric features. Exclusive features like AMD SmartShift and AMD Smart Access Memory™ technologies i enhance system performance and efficiency, while AMD SmartAccess Graphics technologyii makes the most of every frame by automating switching between integrated and discrete graphics or provides full manual control with a dedicated MUX switch.
All that horsepower drives an immersive 16-inch panel with narrow bezels and a huge 90% screen-to-body ratio. Even in frenetic titles, the QHD 240 Hz refresh rates let the TUF Gaming A16 keep up with the pros. With AMD FreeSync™ Premium technologyiii, the display’s refresh rate synchronizes with the GPU’s output to reduce lag, minimize stuttering, and eliminate visual tearing for ultra-smooth and lifelike gameplay. A16:10 aspect ratio display gives incredible immersion and image detail in slower paced titles.
The TUF Gaming A16 boasts even more upgrades under the hood. 4800 MHz DDR5 RAM keep games and programs feeling snappy and responsive, while up to 1TB of PCIe® Gen4 storage leaves plenty of room for even the largest game libraries. USB4® support allows for compatibility with the latest peripherals and high-speed external storage, while a 90 Wh battery and USB-C® power delivery keep the TUF Gaming A16 running all day long.
The TUF Gaming family has always been inspired by the durability and reliability of military-grade equipment, and the A16 leans further into that history with the brand-new Sandstorm colorway. Inspired by the wastelands of battlefields, this custom anodized aluminum finish is the perfect paintjob for a military-grade laptop. For those looking to keep a lower profile, Off-Black also makes a return to help gamers to blend in with the crowd. The machine is also certified to meet MIL-STD-810H spec, guaranteeing its reliability across a range of demanding tests, proving that the TUF Gaming A16 is the perfect blend of style and durability.
ASUS TUF Gaming F15/17 & A15/17 – Updated Hardware
The 2023 ASUS TUF Gaming F15 and TUF Gaming F17 laptops enter this year’s lineup with up to a 13th Generation Intel® Core™ i7-13700H processor, with a mix of Performance and Efficient-cores carefully balancing gaming and multitasking power.
The 2023 ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and TUF Gaming A17 come equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS processor, leveraging incredible gaming performance with serious battery endurance. All four models sport up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 40 Series Laptop GPUs with G-SYNC® support, and feature a max TGP of 140 W with Dynamic Boost. This pairing of high-powered CPUs and high-performance mobile GPUs delivers incredible gaming performance in all the latest titles.
New for 2023, all four models now feature a MUX Switch with NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, ensuring next-level performance. A MUX Switch allows a laptop to bypass the integrated graphics when gaming, increasing performance and reducing latency, and the addition of NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allows this process to happen automatically, giving gamers increased performance in games without needing to press a single button.
High-performance hardware demands superior cooling. As part of its cooling system, dual Arc Flow Fans™ feature an 84-blade design, with blades that taper down to just 0.1 mm to reduce turbulence. These fans provide up to 13% more airflow than their predecessor, despite being quieter than last year’s design, and access to higher GPU power targets for even more performance. With its cooling design, the TUF Gaming family is sure to give gamers every advantage in 2023.
AVAILABILITY & PRICING
Pricing and Availability for Malaysia (as of 22nd Feb 2023)
ASUS TUF Gaming F15/17 (2023) – Intel Series

Model Name
Main Specifications Comparison
SRP

ASUS TUF Gaming F15
 FX507V-V4LP028W
CPU: 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13700H Processor
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 8GB GDDR6 (140W) Display: 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 144Hz
RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200 (Dual-channel)
Storage: 512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack
RM6,499

Availability
March

ASUS TUF Gaming F15
 FX507V-U4LP030W
CPU: 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-13700H Processor
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 6GB GDDR6 (140W) Display: 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 144Hz
RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200 (Dual-channel)
Storage: 512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack
RM5,999

Availability
March

ASUS TUF Gaming F15
 FX507Z-U4LP052W
CPU: 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12700H
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 6GB GDDR6 (140W) Display: 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 144Hz
RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200 (Single)
Storage: 512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack
RM5,299

Availability
March

Additional ASUS TUF Gaming F15/17 (2023) configuration and price for Malaysia will be updated in the future.
For more info, visit: https://www.asus.com/my/laptops/for-gaming/tuf-gaming/

ASUS TUF Gaming A15/17 (2023) – AMD Series

Model Name
Main Specifications Comparison
SRP

ASUS TUF Gaming A15
 FA507X-IHQ057W
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070 8GB GDDR6 (140W) Display: 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 165Hz
RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800 (Dual-channel)
Storage: 1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack
RM6,999

Availability
March

ASUS TUF Gaming A15
 FA507X-VLP029W
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 8GB GDDR6 (140W) Display: 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 144Hz
RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800 (Dual-channel)
Storage: 512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack
RM5,999

Availability
March

ASUS TUF Gaming A15
 FA507N-ULP027W
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 7 7735HS
GPU: NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4050 6GB GDDR6 (140W) Display: 15.6″ IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 144Hz
RAM: 8GB DDR5-4800 (Single)
Storage: 512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack
RM4,999

Availability
March

Additional ASUS TUF Gaming A15/17 (2023) configuration and price for Malaysia will be updated in the future.
For more info, visit: https://www.asus.com/my/laptops/for-gaming/tuf-gaming/

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) – AMD + Radeon™ Series

Model Name
Main Specifications Comparison
SRP

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 AE
 FA617X-SN4028W
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 9 7940HS
GPU: AMD Radeon™ RX 7600S 8GB GDDR6 (95W) Display: 16″ IPS QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 16:10 240Hz
RAM: 16GB DDR5-4800 (Dual-channel)
Storage: 1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack, 100W TYPE-C AC Adapter
Price to be updated.

Availability April onwards

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 AE
 FA617N-SN3099W
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 7 7735HS
GPU: AMD Radeon™ RX 7600S 8GB GDDR6 (95W) Display: 16″ IPS FHD+ (2560 x 1600) 16:10 165Hz
RAM: 8GB DDR5-4800 (Single)
Storage: 512GB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD
Webcam: 720P HD camera
Power Supply: 90WHrs Battery / 240W AC Adapter
Bundle: TUF backpack, 100W TYPE-C AC Adapter
Price to be updated.

Availability April onwards

Additional ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (2023) configuration and price for Malaysia will be updated in the future.
For more info, visit: https://www.asus.com/my/laptops/for-gaming/tuf-gaming/


Halloween Arrives Late In The Sims 4 With New Expansion Pack

EA and Maxis are kicking off the new year with the reveal of The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack, the frightfully fun pack that offers players new ways to play with (after)life.
In The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack, Sims will prepare to deal with ghastly â€œroommatesâ€ in one of the new Haunted House lots, where things go bump in the night as spectres cause mischief and mayhem. Sims can perform a sÃ©ance to summon Guidry the Ghost, who can advise them on how to live comfortably in a house haunted by playful spectre and spooky occurrences.
They can also appease the spectres and commune with the dead, cleanse their homes to send their uninvited guests packing, or simply let them run amok for scares day and night. Sims can even summon Bonehilda, the skeletal maid for a little extra help around the house.
In addition, players can master the new Medium skill to impress Guidry and earn their Paranormal Investigator license. Sims can put their newfound license to the test and help other Sims who are less attuned to the spirit world solve their paranormal problems and restore order in their homes.
The Sims 4 Paranormal Stuff Pack is the 18th stuff pack for The Sims 4 and will be available on 26 January 2021 for US$9.99 on PC Origin, Steam, PS4 and Xbox One.


Dragon Ball Fighter Z Unveils Two New Characters

Update 24th October 2017
Publishers Bandai Namco has confirmed that the game drops January 26th 2018 and that the demo for the game is set to be available circa early January 2018.

Bandai Namco’s highly anticipated 3-on-3 brawler, Dragon Ball FighterZÂ will include two memorable characters according to reports via translated scans of the latest issue ofÂ Â V Jump magazine. Captain Ginyu and Vegeta’s muscle-y sidekick Nappa join the ever growing list of villains set to feature in the roster which include Cell and Freeza.

				Super Saiyan hearing

				The original King of Strong Style

				Never chew with your mouth open, Nappa!

Also revealed were their abilities, with Nappa getting to summon his Saibamen to aid him in battle. The translation (via Siliconera) adds that Nappa’s special attack will see him firing a devastating energy beam from his mouth – as seen in the manga.
True to his depiction in the manga, Captain Ginyu will have the ability to call out all of the members of The Ginyu Force – Jeice, Guldo, Recoome and Burter so expect to see the legendary five pull off that iconic team pose mid-game. Ginyu’s special Meteor attack will be”Body Change” which enables him to swap characters and health with his opponent. So will we get the rest of his squad included into the game? We certainly hope so. A grudge match between Vegeta and Recoome is long overdue.

Also revealed recently were the inclusions of Tien and Yamcha as playable characters in the game.Â Dragon Ball FighterZ hits shelves February 2018 for the PS4, Xbox One and PC.


Loop Hero Sells Half A Million Copies; Will Get New Cards & Classes In The Future

Loop Hero is definitely one of 2021’s sleeper hits, if the user reviews and its sales are of any indication. Heck, it took up a lot of my time as of late.
Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Four Quarters just announced that the game has sold over 500,000 units in its first week on Steam. It may be the early pre-March buzz from various publications or a lot of word-of-mouth. Or the fact that since its announcement its charming retro PC RPG graphics and simple-yet-devious loop-and-loot auto-clicker gameplay just works.
To celebrate, the team will be collaborating with artist BardTheZombie to commission a number of Steam trading cards. Here’s the artwork for some of them.

The devs have also mentioned that the game will be getting additional patches and quality-of-life updates. These include a system for saving during expeditions, new speed settings (yes!), and a deck of traits gained for bosses. Future content for the game includes new cards, new classes, and transformations. Updates on these will be announced soon; after all, the game literally came out less than a week ago.
In the meantime, why not check out our guide for this looping RPG title?


World of Dragon Nest Flies Into Southeast Asia Next Year

Dragon Nest fans in Southeast Asia; you’re going to get a heck of an upgrade.
Nexon Thailand announced that the SEA version of World of Dragon Nest, the mobile version of Dragon Nest, will be out 8th January 2020. This version of the game will include many new features, like:

A new Slayer class who specializes in dual blades, attack and defense buffs, and life-stealing. Will this guy/gal be OP for a PvE game?
a true 60FPS mode.
New Nests, which are high-level instances for teams of four to participate in for loot and levels.

Check out this trailer from MMO Culture. World of Dragon Nest will be out in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia for iOS and Android.


Netflix’s The Witcher Is No GoT Or Wild Hunt, But It’s Still Good Fantasy TV Fun

As annoying as it is to some people, it’s almost impossible to discuss the fantasy genre on TV without mentioning HBO’s Game Of Thrones. It was The Lord Of The Rings’ equivalent on TV, a genre-defining feat which would have been fondly remembered as a classic, if not for its widely-derided final season.
Netflix’s The Witcher has an advantage compared to Game Of Thrones when the HBO series debuted in 2011, and that’s an existing massive fanbase mostly consisting of those who’ve played CD Projekt Red’s trilogy of games based on the original books by Polish author Andrzej Sapskowski.
With that in mind, it’s worthy to point out that Netflix’s The Witcher, headed by showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, is a more direct adaptation of the source material. The games were actually unofficial sequels, the chronology of which took place after the events of the books, sort of like HBO’s Watchmen series.

Nevertheless, Netflix’s The Witcher will still be in the shadow of its exceptional video game counterpart, unless it manages to prove otherwise.
The answer to that is complicated, though as someone who’ve played the games myself, I found it to be a decent fantasy series but unfortunately nowhere near the quality of Game Of Thrones’ earlier seasonsÂ or the CD Projekt Red games.

Ambitious Much?

Netflix’s The Witcher certainly starts off strong, with a pilot episode that hits the ground running with lots of epicness going on in the first hour of the series. However, it doesn’t do much to introduce the characters to brand new viewers.
In fact, it seems like the series expects all viewers to at least already have a cursory knowledge about the source material. There are very few instances of exposition, and viewers are expected to fill in the blanks themselves.

A lot of terms are thrown around, most of which only existing fans would comprehend the significance of.
Though I can’t say much more for fear of spoilers, I recommend that you pay close attention to what happens and what is said in every episode, because this is a series that won’t hold your hand through it all.

A lot of things are only explained after the fact, and it will get a bit confusing for viewers who aren’t already fans of the franchise. Still, other aspects of the show are good enough to elevate it beyond that little problem.
Looking Good There, Geralt

Henry Cavill as the titular Witcher named Geralt of Rivia is wry and sardonic, often cracking wise in a dry and unenthusiastic tone, similar to how Geralt is portrayed by voice actor Doug Cockle in the CD Projekt Red games.

For instance, when a wizard named Stregobor told him of a prophecy, Cavill’s Geralt dismisses it because it doesn’t rhyme and saying that “all good prophecies do”. Another scene sees Geralt hilariously knocking a man unconscious with a bag of coins after that man said that he would only grant passage to the Witcher if Geralt pays him, by not-so-subtly saying that “money opens all doors”.
However, it’s hard to believe that anyone would call this Geralt a “monster”, considering how dashing and handsome he is. In comparison, Geralt from the Witcher games looked more grizzled and wrinkled, with scars on his face. Still, Cavill pulls off Geralt where it actually matters; his mannerisms and delivery.
Despite many fans complaining that Anya Chalotra doesn’t look like Yennefer from the games (which is frankly a rather ridiculous comparison in the first place), she does a great job of portraying the sorceress’ rise to power and the nuances of the character.
However, the weakest link between the three main protagonists is Freya Allan’s Princess Cirilla or Ciri. She doesn’t get much to do other than standing around, looking scared and running away from something in the five episodes I’ve seen so far.
It’s slightly disappointing, considering how strong and independent she is in the books and games, though there’s admittedly still a lot of time for the character to grow into that version of the character. I understand that this is a very young Ciri we’re talking about, so I’m not holding it against the character just yet.
Other supporting characters are hit and miss, especially Anna Schafer’s bland Triss Merigold. I did like Joey Batey’s charismatic and charming turn as the bard Jaskier who accompanies Geralt whether the Witcher likes it or not, and is essentially Dandelion in all but name.
One small qualm I have about Netflix’s The Witcher is that the apparent lack of an overarching plot arc or even a clear antagonist. Sure, there’s the threat of the Nilfgaardians (which isn’t a spoiler because this was in the final trailer) but other than that, we still have no idea what the series is working towards even five episodes in.
Most of the five episodes so far have seen disparate arcs focusing on the separate adventures of the three main protagonists; Geralt, Yennefer and Ciri. For something that’s supposed to be based on a binge-worthy format, it’s weird to see The Witcher going on monster-of-the-week episodes.
Due to that, the entire structure is a bit messy and less tight than I expected. The special effects and CGI look decent, though don’t expect anything near Game Of Thrones‘ high production values. Netflix’s The Witcher clearly doesn’t have that kind of gargantuan budget, but they do the best with what they have.
Still, the locations and sets in Game Of Thrones were so iconic that people can still recognise, or even describe, King’s Landing or Winterfell. I haven’t seen anything in Netflix’s The Witcher close to that level, besides generic castles and fantasy trope settings like magical forests or the such.
Fight Like A Witcher

I do praise the fighting sequences and action choreography in Netflix’s The Witcher. It’s better than most swordfights in Game Of Thrones, as they are usually shot more dynamically. However, they do rely on quite a bit of slow-mo, like the choreography team took tips by Zack Snyder. That’s not to say that they look bad because they actually look great in motion.
Cavill clearly put a lot of work into his training and performs some graceful blade works in Netflix’s The Witcher. He fights like he dances, graceful and with deadly precision, which is similar to how Geralt fights in the games.

For gamers who would like to know if Geralt uses his Witcher Signs (magic-based abilities), he does.
However, I’ve only seen him do Aard (kind of like Force Push in Star Wars) and Quen (summoning a protective barrier), though perhaps the writers are saving the more dramatic attacks like Igni (unleashing a barrage of fire)) and Axii (a Witcher’s version of the Jedi Mind Trick).

Like I’ve previously mentioned, the series neglects to explain a lot of things, and that includes what a Witcher can or cannot do. A normal viewer would find it bizarre that Geralt can suddenly use a Force Push-like ability, yet they are expected to accept it without any explanation just because it’s a fantasy series.
Why do a Witcher’s eyes turn fully-blackened when encountering a magical creature or monster? I honestly still don’t know after five episodes. That’s just what happens, I guess. Still, one highlight of mine so far is a long and arduous fight against a Striga (a grotesque female vampire), when Geralt has to resort unconventional methods in order to fight it.

I should point out that the showrunners decided to use practical effects and makeup for close-ups of the Striga, which made for a more visceral and terrifying experience for both Geralt and viewers.
I appreciated that they went the extra mile and put in the effort for practical effects when they could have gone the way of Stranger Things and gone full-on bland CGI.

A Bewitch(er)ing Good Time

Will Netflix’s The Witcher be the next Game Of Thrones? At its current trajectory, I don’t think so. At least, not yet. I’ll have to see what the final three episodes will be like before I can definitively say whether that will be the case.
Despite that, the books are pretty much an untapped mine of potential stories, which Netflix would do well to properly adapt. Fantasy TV is hard to pull off, but Netflix’s The Witcher is doing well enough for now to justify its existence and to hopefully continue improving as it searches for its stride.
Final Score: 70/100


The DC Super Pets Must Save The Justice League In First Trailer

Warner Bros. has released the first full trailer for DC League Of Super Pets or DC Super Pets. It was originally first unveiled during DC FanDome 2021.
In this animated movie, Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime in Metropolis side by side. When Superman and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a rag-tag shelter pack; Ace The Bat-Hound, PB the potbellied pig, Merton the turtle and Chip the squirrelâ€”to master their own newfound powers and help him rescue the superheroes.
The voice cast is as follows:

Dwayne Johnson as Krypto the Superdog, Superman’s dog.
Kevin Hart as Ace the Bat-Hound, Batman’s dog.
Diego Luna as Chip, Green Lantern’s squirrel.
Natasha Lyonne as Merton, The Flash’s turtle.
Vanessa Bayer as PB, Wonder Woman’s pig.
John Krasinski as Clark Kent/Superman, Krypto’s owner.
Marc Maron as Lex Luthor.

Jared Stern wrote the script for DC League Of Super Pets and is co-directing with Sam Levine.
DC League Of Super Pets is loosely inspired by the Legion of Super-Pets, which debuted in 1962â€™s Adventure Comics #293 by Jerry Siegel, Curt Swan and George Klein and consisted of Beppo the Super-Monkey, Comet the Super-Horse, Krypto the Superdog, Streaky the Supercat and later grew to include Detective Chimp, Proty II, Bat-Cow, Flexi the Plastic Bird, Clay Critter and Titus.
The new animated movie is slated to premiere on 20 May 2022.
Check out the trailer below: