When Is Apex Legends Getting Its First Season?

It was F5-mashing season on the official Apex Legends subreddit as players wait for the Battle Pass release date announcement. There were leaks that suggest that the first season will drop on 12 March.
Well, that date has passed, and everyone was disappointed. According to the roadmap below, the inaugural season will kick off in March. However, Respawn hasn’t said anything as of yet.

All that changed when Respawn’s Vince Zampella spilt a few pieces of beans on Twitter.

Yes
â€” Vince Zampella (@VinceZampella) March 17, 2019
Zampella confirmed that they have a solid release date in hand, but only teased us about it. So, no official date yet, but we have something to hold on for.
All I can say is that it’s coming soon, as season 1 ads are starting to pour in other websites, as pointed out by on Reddit.

So what can we expect from Season 1?
New Legends
According to the roadmap, we might be seeing a new Legend once the season starts. Based on some leaks, it might be Octane and/or Wattson. But I won’t hold my breath on this one though.
Some Legends will also receive tweaks, especially the hitboxes, at the start of the first season. You can check them out here.
New Weapons
The Havoc auto rifle was leaked a while ago and was released on 20 February. I mean, Respawn did a smart move in this one. Why? The Havoc was featured in the cinematic trailer. Just take a look at this:
Hello friend, Havoc here.
This trailer released on 4 February, which was the release date of the game.
So, another leak along the lines is the L-Star energy rifle. For non-Titanfall players, the L-Star is an energy auto rifle that spews balls of electricity to your enemies. It looks like this;
Respawn, you sneaky son of a gun.
Yeap, you can see Bloodhound holding that weapon even in the poster. So hopefully that’s the new weapon that we would be receiving when the seasons start to roll in.
There are another 13 days in March; so expect the season to kick off in these two weeks.

With the season about to kick off, stay tuned with Kakuchopurei.com as we share with you the updates on our favourite battle royale.


Marvel’s What If…? Episode 1 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The first episode of Marvelâ€™s What If…? is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilersÂ so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â features fan-favourite characters, including Peggy Carter, Tâ€™Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer and Brad Winderbaum as an executive producer, explores hypothetical stories in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It focuses on non-canonical stories like what happens if Peggy Carter became Captain Britain and if Tâ€™Challa/Black Panther was abducted by the Ravagers instead of Peter Quill/Star-Lord.
If you havenâ€™t, you can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles for WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.
ForÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns for Episode 1,Â Episode 2Â andÂ Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5Â andÂ Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns ofÂ LokiÂ episodes, check outÂ Episode 1 here,Â Episode 2 here,Â Episode 3 here,Â Episode 4 here,Â Episode 5 hereÂ and Episode 6 here.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, we were recently lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in a roundtable interview withÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Executive ProducerÂ Brad Winderbaum, Head WriterÂ AC Bradley, and DirectorÂ Bryan Andrews. You can check out that interview byÂ heading over here.

Steve Rogers Gets Shot And Peggy Carter Takes The Super Soldier Serum; Becoming Captain Carter

Peggy Carter received the Super Soldier Serum instead of Steve Rogers because he got shot by the same assassin who killed Dr Abraham Erskine. This changes history, thus turning her into a Super Soldier, while Steve remains a scrawny guy. Also, it’s worth pointing out that Peggy adopts the name Captain Carter and not Captain Britain like so many assumed.
This is because the name Captain Britain already belongs to another completely different superhero from the United Kingdom. We still don’t know when the real Captain Britain will appear in the MCU, but with the Black Knight being portrayed by Kit Harrington in the upcoming Eternals movie in November 2021, perhaps we won’t have to wait long.
Also, in another scene, after retrieving the Tesseract from HYDRA, the military officially promotes her from Agent Carter to Captain Carter.
Steve Rogers Becomes The HYDRA Stomper, Wearing A Suit Made By Howard Stark (The Father Of Tony Stark AKA The Future Iron Man)

Howard Stark never really made Iron Man suits in the MCU. But in the universe, he’s made one for Steve Rogers, so that he could become a hero as well despite having not received the Super Soldier Serum. This proves that it doesn’t matter whether or not he receives the serum, Steve Rogers will always be a hero at heart.
It’s not a coincidence that the HYDRA Stomper looks like the Iron Man Mark 1 suit, but it looks a bit more advanced considering that this one is state-of-the-art at the time (the 1940s) and not just made from scrap metal in a cave.
The HYDRA Stomper Is Powered By The Tesseract Since The Arc Reactor Doesn’t Exist

That Might Be Shuma-Gorath Coming Out Of The Portal Opened By The Red Skull

While Shuma-Gorath is never explicitly mentioned, it certainly looks like the Red Skull might have summoned none other than the evil inter-dimensional being.
Shuma-Gorath is an ancient force of chaos, the immortal, nigh-invincible, and godlike ruler of nearly a hundred alternate universes, capable of energy projection, shapeshifting, teleportation, levitation, altering reality, and sympathetic magic, among many other feats.
He is one of the Old Ones (or Many-Angled Ones), so he’s basically like Cthulhu from Lovecraftian lore. He even looks the part with one eye and tentacles.
However, in Marvel’s What If…? Episode 1, we only see the tentacles and no eye so the monster is not confirmed to be Shuma-Gorath. Still, it could very well be. What else could it be? An octopus?
Plus, Shuma-Gorath is one of several villains that I predict could potentially be in 2022’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

Captain Carter Will Appear In Future Episodes And Perhaps Even Other Universes

In this episode, while we last see Captain Carter finding herself stranded in the future after pushing Shuma-Gorath back into the portal, this won’t be the last that we’ll see of her.
Marvel’s What If…? executive producer Brad Winderbaum has previously confirmed in a press conference that Captain Carter will appear in every season of the series and that the series will revisit her continuing story.
This is a special case for Captain Carter alone so far, as Marvel’s What If…? is an anthology of individual episodes set in their own alternate universes, so we shouldn’t expect to see many of everyone else re-appearing unless confirmed by the showrunners themselves.
Wolverine Claw Marks On Marvel Studios Logo At The Beginning Of The Episode?

At the beginning of the episode, the Marvel Studios intro sequence were changed up a bit. Those three lines behind the ‘E’ in ‘Marvel’ looks a bit like Wolverine claw marks with its three jagged lines (albeit not being the same length).
What can I say except Mephisto confirmed?


Netflix Announces Neon Genesis Evangelion in 2019, Releases Ultraman Trailer

It’s going to be a big year for anime fans on Netflix in 2019, and the company has essentially bagged exclusive rights for the worldwide streaming debut of one of the most iconic anime series of all time: Neon Genesis Evangelion.
All 26 episodes of the original 1995 Neon Evangelion Genesis anime will be available on the streaming service, alongside with the 1997 movie The End of Evangelion and 1998 movie Evangelion: Death (True)Â².
Neon Genesis Evangelion will debut on Netflix globally sometime in Spring 2019, or the first half of 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13nSISwxrY4&w=560&h=315]
Besides that, we reported earlier in July 2018 that Netflix announced a new Ultraman anime series. Now the streaming giant has released the official trailer for the upcoming CGI reimagining of the iconic Japanese tokusatsu hero, which also reveals its release date.
It’s frankly a bit weird seeing this Ultraman inheriting his powers from his father instead of from alien origins, human-sized instead of giant-sized, and fighting another imposter small-sized Ultraman imposter instead of skyscraper-destroying kaijus.
However, I’ll still be watching it out of my nostalgic love for the franchise when it debuts on April 1, 2019. The new design also looks cool, although a bit too robotic and seemingly taking cues from Neon Genesis Evangelion’s mechas. Check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXOG3pZfGOc&w=560&h=315]


Tales Of Arise Trailer Promises More News Coming This Spring

We last received an update from Bandai Namco about Tales Of Arise back in December 2020, where they reassured everyone that the game is still in development. As part of the Tales Of Festival in Japan this weekend, the company has unveiled a new one-minute-long teaser trailer, which confirms that more news will arrive sometime in spring 2021.
The YouTube Tales Of Arise trailer description reads:
â€œSpring is just around the corner, and weâ€™ve been working hard to make it unforgettable.
Catch the first new glimpse from Tales of Arise.â€
Tales Of Arise was initially supposed to release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PC sometime in 2020, but was delayed indefinitely due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The last game in the franchise was Tales Of Berseria in 2016.

Here’s what we know about the game so far:
Tales Of Arise takes place in a solar system containing the two neighboring planets of Dahna and Rena.
The inhabitants of Dahna have always paid reverence to their planetary neighbors on Rena â€“ a planet they can clearly see in their sky â€“ as a land of the righteous and divine.
For the people of Dahna, legends and lore about Rena and its inhabitants have been handed down for countless generations, and through time, have become facts in their minds that have actually masked a cruel reality for the people of Dahna.
For 300 years, the people of Rena have ruled over Dahna, pillaging the planet of its resources and stripping its people of their dignity and freedom.
Tales Of Arise begins with two people, born on different worlds, each longing to change their fate and create a new future for themselves and perhaps their people.
Featuring an original cast of characters, a dramatic storyline, dynamic combat, breath-taking environments, with some classic Tales Of elements included; Tales Of Arise marks a new beginning for the famed JRPG franchise.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Tokyo Game Show 2021: Full Schedule & News [Update]

Update [30/9/21]: Added livestreams and past broadcasts.
CESA has just revealed the schedule for its annual video game showcase set in Japan.
Tokyo Game Show 2021 will be hosted online and will feature top game companies like Xbox, Capcom, Arc System Works, and Square Enix showcasing their latest upcoming games for late 2021 or 2022 (or beyond). Do expect some titles to have late 2022 titles since COVID-19 has messed up every game company’s schedule since its debut back in early 2020.
Here’s the current schedule. Times are in GMT+8:
30th September
9am – TGS 2021 Online Opening
10am – Keynote: We’ll always have games.

12pm – The King of Fighters XV Special Program by SNK

5pm – Xbox TGS Showcase 2021

7pm – Spike Chunsoft TGS 2021 Special

8pm – D3 Publisher TGS 2021 Live broadcast

9pm – Capcom Online Program

1st October
10am – Sense of Wonder Night 2021 (indie and experimental games showcase)

3pm – NTTe-Sports

5pm – 505 Games Upcoming Titles Showcase

6pm – Square Enix Presents TGS 2021

7pm – Bandai Namco Entertainment Showcase

8pm – Level-5 Showcase

9pm – Sega/Atlus Showcase

Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVEÂ (iOS, Android)
Hatsune Miku: COLORFUL STAGE!Â (iOS, Android)
Lost JudgmentÂ (PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One)
Mega Drive Tower Mini ZERO
Phantasy Star Online 2: New GenesisÂ (PS4, Switch, PC)
Sega NET Mahjong MJÂ (PC, iOS, Android)
Sonic Colors: UltimateÂ (PS4, Switch, PC)
Super Monkey Ball: Banana ManiaÂ (PS5, PS4, Switch, PC)
Virtua Fighter 5: Ultimate ShowdownÂ (PS4)

2nd October
11am – Tencent Games

11:30am – Japan Game Awards 2021
12pm – Square Enix Presents at TGS 2021 Online Day 2

12pm – Famitsu presents The Appeal and Potential of RPGs with Hironobu Sakaguchi and Naoki Yoshida

3pm – GungHo Online Entertainment: Puzzle & Dragons tournament

7pm – Koei Tecmo Games TGS 2021 Special Program

9pm – Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 4th Heart Stage first gameplay reveal by Konami
9pm – Square Enix Jazz Live Painting
3rd October
12pm – Arc System Works

3pm – NCSoft TGS 2021 Special Program

7pm – Genshin Impact TGS 2021 Program

8:40pm – Love_Sega TGS 2021 Concert

10pm – Gran Saga TGS 2021 Presentation

11pm – TGS 2021 Closing Ceremony


Tails Of Iron Features Sword-Slinging Rat Princes & The Witcher’s Voice

If you fancy a nice 2D action-adventure game with narration from Geralt of Rivia? Then Tails of Iron may be your jam.
Tails of Iron is an upcoming RPG from indie publishing house United Label. It’s about a young rat named Redgi, heir to the Rat Throne, who fights back against the ferocious frog army to protect his rat kingdom. The game features punishing brutal souls-like combat with lush 2D hand-drawn artwork. And the deep raspy vocals of Doug Cockle, the man who voiced The Witcher’s titular hero.
Check out the rat-tastic teaser & screenshots below. Tails of Iron will be out on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC this 17th September.


S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chornobyl Trailer Unveils New Gameplay Footage

Ukrainian developer GSC Game World has unveiled a brand new gameplay trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chornobyl. The game was originally slated to launch in December 2022 before it received another delay.
The previous game was S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call Of Pripyat, which was the third game in the franchise and originally launched for the PC in 2010. This means that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chornobyl will technically be the fourth game in the franchise.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chornobyl is described as a huge and borderless open-world game with a non-linear story, as well as powered by Unreal Engine 5. It will be available sometime in 2023 on PC and as a console exclusive on Xbox Series X/S. It will also launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one. However, the Steam page for the game does show a December 2023 release window, though that might be a placeholder.
You can wishlist and pre-order the game on Steam now.
Check out the trailer below:


Call Of Duty Player Base Is Still Going Strong, Says Activision

In news that will surprise absolutely no one, a lot of people are still playing Call of Duty even to this day. Thanks to the F2P popularity of Call of Duty: Warzone, the series’ player base has steadily been in the millions.
According to an Activision earnings call, Call of Duty has sustained over 100 million monthly players during the last few months of 2020. The majority of that amount is from Warzone and Black Ops: Cold War; after all, the former entry has hit past 85 million players since its March 2020 launch. Sayeth Activision Publishing president Rob Kostich during the same earnings call:
“Warzone is going to be front-and-center for us for a long time. And on that front, Iâ€™d like to take a moment to thank our players for their constant and continuous feedback on all aspects of the game. Itâ€™s something we listen to each and every day, and itâ€™s important to our process.
Black Ops Cold War brought in a ton of content to Warzone. It had over 30 new weapons, new Operators, and a lot more. And this was a massive update that required a lot of resources on our side. And having gone through this integration now, we now have even a greater sense on how we can make these transitions work even better and smoother for all of our players in the future. And this is really important for us.
We feel really good overall and confident in our strategy going forward. Warzone will continue to central part of that future content planning. Itâ€™s where our entire community can come together and experience the latest of what the franchise has to offer. And our goal remains the same: whether youâ€™re a premium or free to play Call of Duty player, we want to provide everyone with incredible gameplay experiences, and weâ€™re going to continue to invest significantly across all fronts to support that effort for the community.”
Woo hoo, I guess, if you’re into F2P multiplayer military shooters. For more Call of Duty news, check out our features and guides on the realistic shooty bang bang title.


E1 Championship Season Two Kicks Off Its First Race Tomorrow

Top sim racers from around the region will be competing for a total prize pool of RM67,000 (US$16,000) in theÂ E1 Championship starting 25 August 2021 live on eGG Networkâ€™s channels across eight countries. Season 2 of the regionâ€™s premier simulator racing championship will be visiting some of the worldâ€™s most iconic tracks on iRacing, with eight rounds of thrilling action for esports and motorsports fans across Southeast Asia.
A total of 20 drivers will be competing for E1 glory, including defending champion Ar Muhamad Aleef â€˜Hamiltonâ€™ (SIN) of Team Flash, Naquib Azlan (MAS) of Stratos Motorsports, Kalen Chin (AUS) of Blackwolf Wot Performance Racing, and Inigo Anton (PHL) of GT Radial Eurasia Motorsport.
Each week, drivers will go through a practice round, a 5-minute qualifying round, and two races on race day. Race 1 will be a 15-minute sprint race, while Race 2 will be a 30-minute reverse grid race.
Drivers who finish in the top 5 of the qualifying rounds and the top 15 in Race 1 and Race 2 will earn valuable points. The driver with the highest points at the end of the season will be crowned champion.

Axle Sports founder, race director and E1 championship organiser Alex Yoong said:

â€œTo make things more interesting this season, we are introducing new race environments that have been made possible on the iRacing platform.
For the first time in the E1 Championship, there will be joker rounds with mystery circuits revealed to drivers only hours before the race.
We have also lined up an oval race, fixed setup races, and some night races this season. Itâ€™s going to be the most exciting one yet for both esports and motorsports fans out there.”

All rounds will be broadcasted live on eGG Network channel in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Australia.
Additionally, fans can watch on AVG in Vietnam, ESTV Esports TV, as well as E1 Championshipâ€™s Facebook and YouTube onÂ Wednesdays at 9pm (GMT+8) from 25th August 2021.


The Last Of Us Will Run On Steam Deck

Joel and Ellie will be hitting the deck. The Steam Deck, that is.
The Last Of Us Part 1 will be out on PC on 3rd March, but many action game fans are wondering if the adventures of Joel and Ellie will be able to run on Steam Deck. TLOU creator Neil Druckmann confirmed on Twitter that yes, you can run it on Steam Deck.
“Ellie and Joel will grace the Steam Deck… don’t worry!”

Ellie and Joel will grace the Steam Deck… don’t worry! https://t.co/89aMYuTPQB pic.twitter.com/Dti18OhXDV
— Neil Druckmann (@Neil_Druckmann) December 10, 2022

There is no word on how well it’ll run, or whether the game’s frame rate and fidelity will take a hit on the portable device. Guess we’ll find out in March; you can pre-order the game on Steam for US$60/RM249 right now.
On a related note, the PlayStation-exclusive third-person bullet hell roguelike action game Returnal will be coming to PC in 2023.


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Reveals An Unlikely Collaboration

Ubisoft and Reebok have announced their partnership for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which will centre around a capsule collection including sneakers, apparel and accessories inspired by the Vikings fantasy.
The Reebok Assassin’s Creed Valhalla collection is headlined by three footwear styles in exclusive colourways inspired by the northern lights:
Zig Kinetica (â‚¬119.95) (Roughly RM590.70):

Inspired by the deep black of the Nordic night and the northern lights the Zig Kinetica x Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is designed with a black moulded-mesh upper, built around its distinctive zigzag-shaped, energy-return sole in an emerald sea.
Nodding to the Viking Lifestyle, the model features the symbol for Synin, a raven that represents a major feature of Norse mythology, and helps key character Eivor on his journey.
Club C Revenge (â‚¬89.95) (Roughly RM443.04):

Simple yet versatile, the Club C Revenge x Assassin’s Creed Valhalla features a soft suede tan upper with emerald sea and black hits throughout.
On the heel, the silhouette features a twin battle axe symbol, the epitome of Norse versatility and one of the most iconic Viking symbols.
Classic Leather Legacy (â‚¬89.95) (Roughly RM443.04):

Coming with a cold grey upper and highlights in both emerald sea and emerald haze, the Classic Leather Legacy x Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, a retro-running inspired lifestyle silhouette, is the perfect choice for those who donâ€™t want to choose between the present and the past.
The embossed raven symbol on the heel this detail speaks once more to the deep meaning of these creatures for the Vikings.
The collection also includes two hoodies (â‚¬64.95 each, or roughly RM319.93), a cap (â‚¬27.95, or roughly RM137.68) and matching socks (â‚¬14.95, or roughly RM73.64).

The collection also includes two hoodies (â‚¬64.95 each, or roughly RM319.93), a cap (â‚¬27.95, or roughly RM137.68) and matching socks (â‚¬14.95, or roughly RM73.64).
Each piece features the custom Assassin’s Creed Valhalla X REEBOK logo, as well as additional symbols such as ravens and axes, true to the Norse mythology.
The collection will be available exclusively onÂ http://reebok.comÂ from 7 November 2020, and from 11 November 2020 at select retail stores. For more information, you can visit the official websiteÂ here.
Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla is slated to launch on 10 November 2020 for the Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS4, the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Store on PC. However, it will only release for the PS5 on 12 November 2020.
In other recent news, the gameâ€™s latest trailer revealed new gameplay details, including the fact that players can wield Excalibur and visit America.


Pagan Online Is Leaving Early Access This August With “Massive Changes”

I had quite an enjoyable time with action RPG Pagan Online as of late, but I do wish the game had more beyond its instance dungeons and its “MOBA style” unlocking system that feels kinda out of place in a game of this stature. Luckily, publisher Wargaming and developer Mad Head Games are on the case to flesh the game out.
According to them, the game will be out of Early Access on 27th August. The launch version of the game will see “massive feature and content updates”. These include:

A full eight-act story campaign with new zones, amps and bosses
Two new playable characters
A revved-up crafting and loot drop system
Skill trees
End game content

Mad Head Games chief creative office Uros Banjesevic promises it’ll be a “different game”. In related news, the developer is launching a pre-release program called the Might and Glory Club. This enables streamers, bloggers, artists, and content creators to stream and share content based on the release version of Pagan Online a week before it goes live. Those who apply are and chosen will be given codes for in-game rewards to share with their audiences, as well as be selected as one of the”Heroes of Pagan Online”. Whoever gets this title will be in the game’s end credits and receive media support from the devs.
If this sounds like something up your alley, do give the game a shot right now; it’s going for US$20 on Steam at the moment. If you wait until after launch day, it’ll cost you US$30 instead.


Ghostwire Tokyo Is Like Far Cry With Magic

Platform(s): PS5 (version played), PCGenre: First-person, open-world, mage/exorcist simulator, horror elements
Ghostwire Tokyo was one of the breakout surprises of E3 2019. Ikumi Nakamura became a viral sensation and Shinji Mikami of Resident Evil fame is involved (he founded Ghostwire Tokyo developer Tango Gameworks). Plus, the trailers have been teasing a unique game with fresh and innovative gameplay.
Unfortunately, the whole experience is pretty much just Far Cry with magic.
i see dead people

Ghostwire Tokyo is set in a, well, Tokyo where everyone has disappeared; only ghosts, yokai, doggos and kitties are roaming the empty city. There aren’t many positives in this game, but one is that the game doesn’t bother to waste time on a slow set-up in the beginning. The game’s protagonist, Akito, wakes up in the middle of Shibuya with a voice of a spirit named KK in his head and magical powers. He immediately gets attacked by Visitors (what the enemies in the game are referred to, probably to distinguish them from the normal Japanese yokai) and thus begins the game’s combat tutorial.
While the game is an open-world title, it doesn’t overwhelm players with a massive area from the very start. You start with a small area, and that area will get bigger as you cleanse Torii Gates (the game’s version of towers). You literally can’t venture too far, because most of Tokyo is enveloped in a fog that will kill you, until you clear them by cleansing the Torii Gates.
Ghostwire Tokyo relies on a lot of tired conventional open-world tropes, essentially following the Ubisoft template. The aforementioned Torii Gates are basically the same things in other open-world games you’ll need to complete in order to unlock more of the map. The main mechanic of the game is the worst offender of this, as you’ll need to collect spirits from all over Tokyo in order to save them. You do this by absorbing them with a resource called Katashiro Paper, but they’re finite. Once you absorb 10 spirits with your 10 Katashiro Paper, you’ll need to find a payphone stall to turn these spirits into XP and meiko, which is basically the main currency in the game.
It becomes tedious as heck because you can’t go a few seconds or a few minutes in the game’s open world without encountering a spirit (they’re literally in every corner and on many buildings). Then, once your Katashiro Paper is fully used, you’ll have to stop what you’re doing, find a payphone and sit through the same animation sequence every single time.

All this becomes an annoying chore, especially when there are so many spirits, and when they’re your main source of XP and money.

Another trope is that the game has a lot of collectibles to find. You’ll probably miss many of these if you don’t press the square button every few seconds to activate your special Spectral Vision, which scans the environment and highlights interact-able objects. The world is cluttered with so much stuff that you’ll need the vision to find the things you want to find.
Oh, and don’t get me started on the stealth. This game is marketed as an action game, but the developers still added stealth. However, the stealth mechanics are extremely simplistic. The game’s environments often aren’t made for stealth gameplay to work well, and the line of sight for enemies can be wonky. Plus, the button for stealth kills is the same button to zoom and do another important mechanic, ripping the cores of your enemies.

The trailers for the game has made a lot of players intrigued because they made the gameplay look mysterious and unique. After 16 hours with the game, I can tell you that the biggest problem with the game is that the combat never really evolves beyond what is shown.

The way you play in the beginning is the same as how you’ll play at the end. Ghostwire Tokyo feels like a shooter, but replace the guns with magic finger attacks. All magical attacks use the same exact button, R2. The ONLY variation is that you can charge them for more powerful attacks. If I’m making it sound too simple, that’s because it really is.
You can also melee enemies by pressing R3 or use a bunch of stuff like talismans to stun enemies in one place or use a bow and arrow. It’s laughable because there’s no reason for anyone to use the bow and arrow because of how weak it feels and is, but the game forces you to ONLY use the bow and arrow in certain parts when it takes away your magic for plot purposes.
Oh, and the magic attacks? Not only is there only two moves (R2 and holding R2), there are ONLY three elements in the game. That’s right, three, and all the combat amounts to is essentially spamming R2 these three magic elements. Sure, certain enemies can be resistant to one element or weak to another, but there’s no spice to the combat.

The only silver lining is how cool the combat looks, especially the finger gestures and animations. However, when all you’re doing is spamming R2 with the same three magic elements, it can get old really fast. I was expecting some cool combos or combinations to perform with the magic attacks but there were none. Here’s the cycle of almost every combat encounter: spam magic attacks, enemies get weak, rip out their cores by holding L2, occasional parry or melee attacks to replenish ammo, rinse and repeat.
The PS5’s DualSense controller’s Haptic Feedback makes it all feel electrifyingly satisfying but that doesn’t help spice up the combat when it’s only skin-deep. Thankfully, one of the things that the game does well is traversing the city. Akito can glide for a few seconds, and grapple hook flying Tengu to reach the rooftops of buildings. Tokyo is beautifully realised and atmospheric, and you’ll be doing a lot of indoor exploring as well, inside apartments, offices, houses, and more. Kudos to Tango Gameworks for their attention to detail, not only with the environmental assets but also the easter eggs and references.
fantastic Yokai And Where To Find Them

Ghostwire Tokyo is not a horror game, but it does have horror elements, so if you’re a horror fan or a fan of Japanese mythology/legends, you’ll be happy for sure. The game has an extensive list of yokai to meet and collectibles that will make you grin or chuckle, like a cursed videotape (a reference to Ringu). It’s fun delving into the game’s lore and the side quests, which can be amusing or fascinating. One side quest even had me having to give toilet paper to a spirit shitting in a public toilet. There’s also a Fallout 4 easter egg in there, so other games are not exempt.
Despite being an open-world game, it only took me around 16 hours to finish the game, and that’s with completing a healthy bunch of side quests, as well as unlocking/cleansing almost all the Torii Gates on the map. There are only six chapters in the game’s story, and each subsequent chapter is shorter than the last. Chapter five and six were really just cutscenes, ‘walking simulator’ gameplay sequences and boss battles, which made the game’s endgame feel rushed and somewhat incomplete. It was also suspicious when the cinematic cutscenes in the last chapter of the game resorted to pre-rendered cutscenes, which I realised because my Akito went back to wearing his default early game clothes when I’ve already decked him out in a ninja costume (yes, you can customise Akito’s clothing).
In a world that’s already saturated with open-world games, it’s disappointing that Ghostwire Tokyo doesn’t do much to distinguish itself and instead relies on tired tropes. Add simplistic combat and annoying mechanics to that mix, and the game doesn’t have much to stand on. The only saving graces are the flashy visuals and aesthetics, as well as attention to detail in other areas such as environments and creepy monster designs.
Ghostwire Tokyo is disappointing because it has the potential to be so much more. Instead, it’s just an average by-the-numbers open-world game, but with magic and yokai.
PROS

Combat is flashy and awesome to behold, especially the hand animations.
Easter eggs for horror fans and fans of Japanese mythology/legends.
Can be atmospheric and creepy at times.

CONS

Combat is simplistic and can get repetitive quickly.
Tedious mechanics and tired open-world tropes.
Rushed and underwhelming ending.

FINAL SCORE: 60/100
Review copy provided by Bethesda. Played on PS5. Ghostwire Tokyo releases for PS5 and PC on 25 March 2022.


Project L Will Pave The Way For A Viable Free-To-Play Fighting Game Experience

Riot Games will be entering the 2D fighting game arena with Project L eventually, and so far its recent reveal during the company’s November League of Legends media fiesta shows a ton of promise.
To recap:

The game is a 2v2 assist-based fighting game similar to the Marvel vs Capcom series, Skullgirls, and Dragon Ball FighterZ.
The game is employing a colourful 3D art style and is set in the League of Legends universe.
The current roster count is 4: Darius, Ahri, Jinx, and Ekko. Ekko gets a character breakdown: he’s a mid-ranged zoner with some juggling tools and “rewind” double-back moves to get him out of danger.
The game’s input will be very simple; no quarter-circle motions or DPs. Just button presses and one d-pad directional input similar to Super Smash Bros. and Fantasy Strike.
Online fighting will implement rollback netcode.

Sounds good? Well, it may be too soon but Project L has yet to talk about how the game will be sold and marketed. We have a few concrete theories on that; well, just one.
Based on its publisher’s track record with esports games –League of Legends and Valorant– Project L will most likely be a free-to-play game.

When people hear free-to-play, people have reservations. They would associate it with a brainless gacha game or a pay-to-win scheme disguised as a game, which isn’t completely false. But in practice, there are a good number of fun games that run on the F2P model just great like Path of Exile, Warframe, Genshin Impact, and World of Tanks (to a point). Most of them offer gameplay and basic mechanics for free, with the cosmetics stuff requiring payment. And this isn’t a decade ago where F2P games on mobile were pretty exploitative – we’re looking at you Dungeon Keeper and Final Fantasy: All The Braves.
When done and handled right, and just keeping it cosmetics-based without any way to tweak the game system and balancing, the model does work. LoL and Valorant are doing just great with their current payment model. Loads of players are on-board the game, no one’s feeling completely shortchanged with the game’s quality, people are still tuning in to esports and competitive tournaments for both titles offline and online, and both titles are still being updated on a consistent basis with no signs of either slowing down. Riot Games has experimented a ton with this business model, from straight-up exclusive skins and cosmetics with tiered pricing to loot boxes.
Granted, some of them may not work as intended (like the purchasable achievement system), but for the most parts these exclusives are of the highest quality and come with their own brand of promotions and marketing. You don’t need me to tell you how successful the spin-off virtual band K/DA are, just because of how catchy the song is and how exotic and shiny the purchasable K/DA skins are.

Riot Games has seen their fair share of failures and successes that ended up working out big time.Â It’ll be pretty silly for Project L not to follow this line of thought and business model, given how mad successful Riot Games is for the past few years or so.
However, if it needs ideas on what to do and what NOT to do from a messaging and outside perception angle, all it needs to do is look at Xbox One’s Killer Instinct.
Wait, What?
For those who didn’t know, the 2013 reboot of Killer Instinct came out as a free-to-play game, but with a few stipulations:

Free characters are in a rotation; one week it can be Sabrewulf, the other it can be Jago.
Each individual character in the then-eight-person roster cost a set low price. So if you just want to pay US$4 for Jago, you can do that.
You can pay for the game’s full package for a one-time retail fee, just like you would a regular retail game.

In theory, it’s a great option for a reboot of a game to go through different payment models. On the flip side, having a prominent outlet like IGN calling it a great free-to-play game during E3 2013 may not be the best messaging to bring out, especially in that timeframe where the F2P moniker has heavy negative connotations. It’s not as bad now, but it was a death knell for many games from the “gaming audience” that are quick to judge these things.

Thankfully, cooler heads and sensible audiences prevailed; the “F2P” model worked, though most folks I know ended up just buying the full PC version of the game when it was made available a few years after the Xbox One launch version. The point here is that Riot Games will need to control their messaging and get a ton of legacy fighting game community folks on board the Project L train during the game’s drip-feed promotional phase. And also hammering the point home that the F2P model will work wonders if it had the same rotational roster system and a “buy one character for X price for life” option, while at the same time keeping the microtransactions cosmetics only.
Again, all those K/DA and Star Guardians skins? They all will probably translate well onto Project L as long as it doesn’t come out looking like Street Fighter 5 Blanka-Chan costume game-breaking nonsense.
PR-wise, having the EVO founders Tom and Tony Cannon leading Project L and putting out a convincing promo for the upcoming 2v2 fighting game is already the battle half-won. Now it just needs other fighting game luminaries and lifetime achievement awarded folks like Maximillian and Justin Wong just making content without coming off as schills. We don’t want another repeat of the Marvel vs Capcom Infinite PR nightmare, right?

And yes, we do know that there are F2P fighting games like Fantasy Strike, Metal Revolution, and Flappy Fighter. But do they have a chance to headline the next big EVO fighting game tournament compared to Project L’s chances?
Exactly. Besides, Fantasy Strike became F2P AFTER its past retail model didn’t work out.
Forging Ahead

Like we said before, it won’t be a huge surprise for Project L to debut with an F2P model. But for all you know, Riot Games will probably buck the trend and go for the standard retail price model like with their recent Riot Forge offerings: US$40 for all the characters and gameplay options, with free updates coming in on a consistent basis ala Overwatch.
However, if Riot Games are sticking through to their formula, they can definitely get more money out of Project L with cosmetics and speech packs/announcers alone. Imagine having your 2v2 fights being commentated by the Arcane VOs or the OG voice actors of the game.
Yes, you will have your detractors and naysayers saying the Project L title will be casual filth that will die out after a few months of play. I’ll say this: the LoL player count is currently at 180 million players on a monthly basis just for the PC platform alone (Steam, Riot Games client). On average, that’s about 2,160,000,000 players yearly. If Project L only gets a fraction of that for its initial year, that’s still a total of about 540 million players on board the game total, in theory.
How many sales has Street Fighter 5 made throughout its run since early 2016? About 6 million units for all its platforms (PC, PS4). Tekken 7? Over 6 million copies worldwide, with the whole series reaching over 50 million copies sales. Quality and “hardcoreness” of a franchise is one thing, but having more people on-board your “niche” genre game, even if it’s half of 180 million players, is probably going to do the genre and community growth aspects more good than bad.
Now if only Riot Games can sort out its own toxic MOBA community, then maybe the future can look more certain and brighter for Project L.


Overwatch League: Superstar DPS Closer to Officially Joining NYXL Roster

You’ve seen him in action at the Overwatch World Cup and we are now a step closer to seeing him in action in the Overwatch League as New York Excelsior DPS superstar,Â Yeon-ohÂ “Fl0w3R”Â Hwang finally lands in Los Angeles. As shown in his tweet last week, he should already be in Los Angeles, joining his Excelsior teammates as they prepare for the inaugural season of the Overwatch League.
While he is still ineligible to contest under the NYXL banner til he turns 18 after May 14th, rumor has it that he may play for NYXL’s Overwatch Contenders team to keep himself sharp.

Finally.#NYXL pic.twitter.com/z6ZeT0IHzp
â€” Fl0w3R (@Fl0w3RGOD) December 28, 2017
Having made his name in the Korean Overwatch OGN APEX circuit where he played for LW Blue and LW Red,Â Fl0w3RÂ became a household name amongst Overwatch fans worldwide following a string of stellar performances for Team Korea at the recent Overwatch World Cup. Flanked by teammates such as Ryujehong and Saebyeolbe who are practically the best in their respective roles,Â Fl0w3RÂ still stood out thanks to his crazy aim and almost supernatural reflexes.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhK_5_9uZ-U&w=560&h=315]
The Overwatch League kicks off January 12th 2018 with NYXL taking on Boston Uprising andÂ Fl0w3RÂ is expected to make his debut for NYXL in May against Florida Mayhem.


Malaysia’s Streamline Expands Publishing Division With Five Games In The Works

Earlier this month, Malaysia’s Streamline Media Group (Streamline) announced the expansion of their Publishing division, including two new appointments: Stefan Baier as Executive Vice President of Publishing and Neil Haldar as Vice President of Publishing.
Baier is a co-founder of Streamline and has contributed to the company’s global growth in development, business, and operations since 2001. Meanwhile, Haldar is a well-known name in mobile gaming, bringing nearly thirty years of business development, licensing, and video game production experience to the leadership team. His past roles include Activision (Sierra On-Line), Atari (GT Interactive), MGM Studios, and Japanese mobile publisher, GREE.
Nail Haldar.

VP of Publishing Neil Haldar, said:
“I am happy to join the Streamline team in this period of incredible growth for the company and the industry. Accelerating Streamline’s existing publishing and live ops capabilities layers into Streamlineâ€™s future and growing publishing efforts.”
Publishing is not new for Streamline. They already previously released four original games on mobile, PC, and console. One of the games developed by Streamline isÂ Bake â€˜n Switch, a party brawler that features co-op and player-versus-player party action for up to four players with online multiplayer capabilities. It is now available on PC and Nintendo Switch.
This latest investment and expansion promises to deliver a new generation of original titles, developed using cutting-edge video game technology, including Unreal Engine 5.
Alexander Fernandez, CEO and Co-Founder of Streamline Media Group, said:
“Game development is core to who we are as a company. Expanding our publishing team with Neil and Stefanâ€™s veteran experience reaffirms our commitment to creating original content and to exploring different ways to engage with our communities through various models of play.”
Streamline is building out a diverse portfolio showcasing its ever-expanding game development knowledge and expertise. They currently have five games in the greenlight process, ranging from a AAA console title, casual game, and a Real-Time-Strategy game.
Stefan Baier, EVP of Publishing and Co-Founder of Streamline Media Group, said:
“Over the past twenty years, we have established AAA co-development partnerships and built an accelerating pipeline of internal games. Our history demonstrates trust from some of the biggest names in gaming. Now, those gathered insights will guide us toward a new portfolio, partnerships, and progression in the industry.”
Streamline is currently hiring Level Artists and Game Programmers to work closely with the new publishing arm to guide and support the next generation of games.


Guess How Much The Last Of Us Part 2 & Horizon Forbidden West Cost To Make?

The Microsoft vs. FTC court proceedings continue, with more new info being shed on not just Xbox, but also PlayStation.
Poorly-redacted documents published for the case have revealed the scale of PlayStation budgets for The Last of Us Part 2 and Horizon Forbidden West (via Tom Warren).
The document stated that triple-A games from PlayStation cost over US$100 million. Horizon Forbidden West cost US$212 million to make and was worked on by 300 employees for 5 years. The Last Of Us Part 2 cost US$220 million to make and was worked on by 200 people for five years.

Sony did great job on the document redactions… not ? https://t.co/aPQgk9JU8L pic.twitter.com/5rJQbZbbd0
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) June 28, 2023

I guess this was what ex-PlayStation head Shawn Layden meant when he said creating modern blockbusters is “unsustainable” back in 2020. Here’s a quote from his talk:
“I think the industry as a whole needs to sit back and go, ‘Alright, what are we building? What’s the audience expectation? What is the best way to get our story across, and say what we need to say?”.


Total War: Warhammer 3 Delayed To 2022

Creative Assembly will be delaying its third Total War: Warhammer game.
The upcoming strategy title featuring Games Workshop’s fantasy IP will be out in early 2022. The reason is because the developers want to put in extra time to not push out a “rushed title to market”.
“With nearly a decade of development on the Total War: Warhammer trilogy behind us, it feels surreal to see its culminating chapter so close to release. While it’s tempting to rush to the finish line as it comes into view, we have made the decision to give it a little more time by moving the launch window of Total War: Warhammer 3 from 2021 to early 2022.
The wait won’t be much longer, and we’ll have plenty of new information for you in the meantime. The new date will make for a stronger release and the best first step into a new era for Total War: Warhammer. We don’t consider this release the end of our trilogy, but the start of years of content and support as we continue to bring the jaw-dropping scale of Games Workshop’s fantasy universe to Total War.”

Total War: WARHAMMER III will now release in early 2022.
We know this is disappointing, but the extra time means we can accomplish more than we could if we rushed to release this year.
We won’t be staying quiet however, join us tomorrow for the global reveal of Grand Cathay… pic.twitter.com/R4GdObAs9P
— Total War (@totalwar) September 13, 2021

Sounds good to us, as major titles like these do need time to be developed, tweaked, and balanced. Fans of the series seem to agree:

I'd rather wait, and receive a quality product with you maintaining a healthy work life balance. ?
— Michal Huniewicz (@m_huniewicz) September 13, 2021

Make it right. This doesn’t bother me.  I’d rather you not deliver a broken game. Thank you.
— Daggs.DFK, Destroyer of Worlds (@Fat_Unicorn12) September 13, 2021


DNF Duel Gets Second PlayStation Beta Test This April

Arc System Works’ next anime fighting game is getting another beta test next month.
DNF Duel, the 2D fighting game based on the hit South Korean MMORPG Dungeon Fighter Online/Dungeon & Fighter, will be getting a second open beta test session for PS4 and PS5 users at the following times:
Start Date: 2nd April 10 am GMT+8 (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, etc.)
End Date: 5th April 5am GMT+8
The latest character in the roster, the Ghostblade, will be made playable in the upcoming beta. DNF Duel will be out on 28th June 2022.


Samurai Maiden Sales Top 50,000

Yuri love is indeed strong in Japan.
The total shipments and digital sales for 3D action game Samurai Maiden have surpassed 50,000 according to D3 Publisher and developer Shade. According to Famitsu reports (via Gematsu), 7,884 units are physical copies in Japan. Regardless, congratulations!

We are pleased to announce that “SAMURAI MAIDEN” has sold over 50,000 units worldwide!Many thanks to all “SAMURAI MAIDEN” fans around the world!!!#s_maiden pic.twitter.com/oG5w0BK4o9
— SAMURAI MAIDEN (@s_maiden_en) December 12, 2022

If you want to see why people are paying the equivalent of US$60 for a samurai action game with schoolgirls, you can check out our video below. Or you can check out our review, which states that the game does get a tad cheap and repetitive despite the flashy combat.


Halloween Ends On A Butchered Note, If You’re Watching It Here

In Halloween Ends, the final entry in the Halloween reboot slasher flick horror movie trilogy, the real evil isn’t hulking serial killer bogeyman Michael Myers (Nick Castle). Instead, it’s the Lembaga Penapis Filem/Film Censorship Board of Malaysia.
Rusty Knife
The meat of the film’s second and third part, the kills that our runaway killer enacts (sort of) are all censored and cut off by Malaysia’s film board, removing all impact and results of what could be the trilogy’s redemption arc. The film even comes with a neat premise: what if one of the denizens of Haddonfield ends up being ostracized by their own to replace the missing bogeyman? What would this scapegoat’s life be and how far into evil would he or she fall? That’s pretty much the premise of Halloween Ends where we have new character Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) getting the shaft after a mishap in babysitting a shitty brat who saw it coming.

Fast forward to later, after the events of Halloween Kills, we get the trilogy’s survivor Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) now living her life semi-normally with her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak), with the latter head over heels over Corey’s demeanour. But evil never dies, and we see the life of Corey intermingling with Laurie and Allyson, and The Shape not far behind through slasher film circumstances. The build-up works fine and the classic Halloween movie vibe of balancing atmosphere, scares, and dread is present still.
However, the pacing and execution of the storyline in the second half really falters and could have gone better. Fans deserve a bit more, especially when they have to invest in three of these movies hoping for a satisfying payoff.
Pumpkin Jacked
Still, the film does deliver on the tension, the setups, and the fact that the trilogy is put to a merciful end. It’s a shame horror fans in Malaysia get the butchered edition; add 1 more point to the final score if you’re watching this outside of the country where they’re lax with R-rated films that deliver on gore and kills.
Halloween Ends is leagues better than Halloween Kills, but just a few steps below the decent reboot even if it’s trying a different spin on things. It could have been worse: we could have had a nonsense cult or Busta Rhymes shoved in just for that nostalgia cash-in attempt.
Final Score: 50/100


Apex Legends Launches Fight Night Collection Event

Apex Legends is starting off the New Year with a bang. From 6 January to 19 January 2021, the Apex Legends Fight Night Collection Event will celebrate Pathfinder, the Outlands friendly modified Mobile Robotic Versatile Entity (MRVN).
With 24 limited-time themed cosmetics, new Air Drop Escalation mode, a Pathfinder Town Takeover, a new rewards track and the release of Gibraltarâ€™s heirloom, thereâ€™s a ton of content to jump into Apex in the New Year!Â
Check out the details on the fearsome event before showing up to brawl:

â—Â  Â  Airdrop Escalation Takeover:Â  A new temporary game-type, the â€œAirdrop Escalation Takeoverâ€ will introduce more supply drops that contain fully-kitted weapons of various tiers.
This mode will work as a â€œtakeoverâ€ of the normal â€œPlay Apexâ€ game mode, giving the classic Battle Royale a twist with way more supply drops — and of course, regular weapons will still appear as ground loot.

â—Â  Â  The Pathfinder Town Takeover: Legends will drop their weapons and unique abilities to brawl it out in Pathfinders Town Takeover.
Players can aim to punchout the loot balls contained within the ring to scoop up rare loot and duke it out with foes in hand-to-hand combat.

â—Â  Â  The Fight Night Collection Event: Boasting a rewards track, this event adds another set of 24-themed, limited-time collectible cosmetics.
All 24 items will be available through direct purchase (for Apex Coins or Crafting Metals) and in Event Apex Packs for the full duration of the event.
Players who collect all 24 event items will earn the Gibraltar heirloom. Following the event, the heirloom will be available to all via heirloom crafting.

â—Â  Â  Loot-Granting MRVNs: Only appearing in Olympus, MRVNs are now programmed to reward Legends in the arena. These friendly robots will give players loot only after interacting with them, and will produce tiered loot equal to what is shown on their screens.

Pathfinder Town Takeover
Entering the ring will prevent any player from using their weapons and any of their abilities. The only way to beat someone is via a bit of fist oâ€™ cuffs. Oh, and donâ€™t worry about any outside ring interference, no outside projectiles, grenades, or abilities can penetrate the ringâ€™s force field.
Punchout the loot balls contained within the ring to scoop up some rare loot.
Fight Night Collection Event and Rewards Track
The Fight Night Collection Event brings another set of 24 themed, limited-time cosmetics to Apex Legends.
All 24 items will be available through direct purchase (for Apex Coins or Crafting Metals) and in Event Apex Packs for the entire duration of the event.
Each Event Pack will come with one event item and two non-event items at the following drop rates:

If you collect all 24 event items, youâ€™ll get the Gibraltar Heirloom.

After the event ends, the Gibraltar Heirloom will become available via heirloom crafting.
As with previous events, this event brings a rewards track with all-new earnable cosmetics:

You can earn 1000 points per day and challenges refresh daily. The challenges also stack with your Battle Pass, so you can complete both at once.
Loot MRVNs
After having been previously decommissioned, MRVNs are now programmed to reward Legends in the arena.
Only appearing in Olympus, these friendly guys will give you loot after interacting with them. Theyâ€™ll produce tiered loot equal to what is shown on their screens.
White sad face = Common level 1 lootNeutral blue face = Rare level 2 lootPleased purple face = Epic level 3 lootVery Happy yellow face = Legendary Level 4 loot
Pick up your loot and thank your friendly MRVN. Or, if youâ€™re feeling toxic, shoot them. When you do, they may drop their arm for you to store in your inventory.


Korean Esports Players Call Out Asian Racism In The US

The Asian hate crimes in the US are prevalent even in esports. Overwatch League Dallas Fuel player Lee â€œFearlessâ€ Eui-seok spokes out about the racism and harassment he has faced while in the United States.
When asked by a fan during a live stream on Twitch about what itâ€™s been like for him since moving to Texas earlier in 2021, he had this to say:
â€œBeing Asian here is terrifying, seriously.
People keep trying to pick fights with us.
Every time they see me, itâ€™s like Americans will come up to us and thereâ€™s even people who cough on us. â€¦
Itâ€™s my first time ever experiencing racism.
And itâ€™s always â€” itâ€™s pretty severe. And they try to scare us â€” lots of them just try to scare us.â€

i dont know if i'm "stepping out of line" for translating something about what another team's player is experiencing
but here's the full translation of that Fearless clip.
please see some of what OWL players and staff are facing as Asians in America. pic.twitter.com/LZWvnRkuAx
— swingchip? (@swingchip930) April 6, 2021

Speaking with the Washington Post, Lee added:
â€œI wear my team jersey around on purpose.
If I have my jersey on, I think they realize weâ€™re part of some kind of team, so they donâ€™t bother us as much.
But if I have my everyday clothes on, they run up to us, harass us, then run away.â€
In an official statement, Overwatch developer and publisher Activision Blizzard responded:
â€œAt Activision Blizzard, we condemn racism in the strongest possible terms.
We stand with the Asian community, our employees, and our players and are working across our organization, including esports, to do our part to combat hate and ignorance.â€
Racism is never acceptable.


Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint Will Be Free To Play This Weekend

Ubisoft has announced as part of the Ubisoft 35thÂ anniversary celebration, Tom Clancyâ€™s Ghost Recon Breakpoint will kick off a free weekend from 4 to 7 November 2021, available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, and PC.
In addition to having full access to the base gameâ€™s content, new players will get the chance to experience Tom Clancyâ€™s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Operation Motherland and earn related rewards. They can pre-load the game starting from 2 November 2021 on Windows PC.

Players who purchase the full game will see all their progress carry over from the free weekend. You can visit ghostrecon.com/freeweekendÂ to pre-load the game and get all detailed information about the free weekend.
In Tom Clancyâ€™s Ghost Recon Breakpoint: Operation Motherland, players will help Karen Bowman and the Outcasts liberate the island of Auroa which is at the center of an upcoming global conflict. A new faction of enemies, more dangerous than ever, will do everything to block the Ghostsâ€™ progress.


How The Netflix Locke And Key Series Escaped Development Hell (Exclusive Interview)

Netflix recently released the first trailer for Locke And Key, an upcoming series based on the graphic novels/comics of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel RodrÃƒÂguez. For those who donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t know, Joe Hill is actually the son of horror maestro Stephen King himself. It is slated to premiere next month on 7 February 2020.
We recently received the opportunity to interview two of three showrunners and executive producers for Locke And Key; Carlton Cuse and Meredith Averill. They talked about how they managed to get the series out of development hell and how the series adapts the comics’ blend of horror and fantasy.

				Carlton Cuse

				Meredith Averill

Q: Locke And Key has been through development hell for a while now. How did you manage to get it up from the ground and into production?
Carlton Cuse: I read the comics when it came out in 2008. I really loved it and thought that it was exceptional. It was emotional, and the genre stuff felt really fresh, not derivative of the twenty other things, which is really hard especially in the haunted house fantasy house space.

It was initially sold to some guy named Steven Spielberg if you’ve ever heard of him. Then it went through sort of a development period with a bunch of other producers.
About four years ago, I was having a meeting with my agent in New York on something else and he said he was heading out for a meeting on Locke And Key, and I said, wait, what, that comic is available now?

He said, yeah, the rights had reverted to Joe Hill, and I told him how much I loved it. That got passed on to Joe Hill. Joe Hill was a fan of the shows that I had done, so I got together with Joe and he was excited about working with me and I was excited about working with him. We started down a development path together and we had a few more twists and turns in the road.
The project went through a period at Hulu, then finally ended up at Netflix. When we sold it to Netflix, Meredith came on board and that was a really wonderful and important demarcation point. We sat down and showed it all to Netflix. Netflix has expressed a really strong commitment to making this.
With their support and resources, we really crafted the show that the episodes that you will see. It was a long path, but I think it’s one that allowed for a lot of time to think through a lot of the problems and how to adapt the show, how to make it work. I think all of those things ultimately worked for the good, and we’re really proud of what we ended up with.
Q: Horror isn’t something new for both of you since you’ve worked on shows like Bates Motel, The Strain, and The Haunting Of Hill House. What did you learn from those productions that you’ve brought into Locke And Key?
Meredith Averill: You know, I think, working on one haunted house show and jumping to another haunted house show. Apparently, this has become my brand. There are some definite similarities between them and that the house is very much a character. We’re dealing with this family that is coping with an immense amount of grief and guilt.

That is sort of where the similarities end between them. Our show is more on the fantasy axis, just a little lighter. Hill House was certainly much darker, but we do employ flashbacks to inform our present story and for surprising reveals about our characters.
In terms of structure, I would say that’s the one thing we brought over from that.

But it’s also that I like to tell stories in the non-linear kind of fashion so that’s an exciting way for me to tell stories and something that we brought over that I loved.
Q: How does Locke And Key stand out from other fantasy series out there?
Carlton Cuse: I think what Joe and Gabriel did in the comics is very original and I think even though we’ve remixed it, it still brings forth all these elements. Part of the reason I fell in love with the comics in 2008 is just a really cool interesting story.

It’s a little Harry Potter, a little Stranger Things, a little Chronicles Of Narnia, but at least to us, it’s still pretty original and fresh.
For people who like this genre of storytelling, I think it would be a really enjoyable experience.

Q: What was the biggest difficulty you had when adapting Locke And Key?

Carlton Cuse: I think some of the things that are the most imaginative in the comics, like the Head Key.
In the comics, you can literally open up the top of someone’s head and look inside and there’s this sort of clockwork. You know, incredible visual imagery.

That felt really extreme and totally very hard to pull off, so we had to imagine how we were gonna translate the Head Key to TV and do it in a way that we could afford to do on that sort of budget and schedule that we have for TV.
It was really about wanting to really show these things that were special, like the Head Key or the Shadow Key that were in the comics. However, given our resources and maintaining the tone that Meredith and I were going for in the show, I think that was a challenge.
The Head Key as seen in the official poster.
Q: What was your favourite scene that was brought to life in Locke And Key?
Meredith Averill: For me, it was something that Carlton just touched on, the Head Key. For all the challenges that it presented in terms of trying to translate that onto film, it also was kind of creatively really exciting to be able to talk about it in the room.

In our adaptation of it, when the key goes into the back of someone’s neck, a literal door appears and you can actually walk inside your own brain.
We got to have a lot of really creative discussions about, okay, if we looked inside Kinsey’s brain, what would that actually look like?

Using the foundation of their personalities to kind of build all these fantastic and surreal worlds that visually are some of our most memorable scenes in our season. A great thought in the writer’s room when we were discussing other people’s head that we had plans to go into and what they might look like.
I think that was some of the more exciting things from the comics that we got to adapt.
Q: Unlike other Netflix series (which sometimes takes several episodes to set things up), Locke And Key does all that in the very first episode. Why did you take this more traditional TV approach?
Carlton Cuse: I think part of that had to do with the lessons learned in some of the prior development. When I was in the writers’ room with Meredith, we said let’s not wait three episodes to introduce these characters, let’s set them up right in the pilot.
We were really confident in trying to put our foot on the accelerator pedal and really make sure that the pilot included all of these different elements that were going to be part of the show. It was representative of the series that we wanted to make.

Meredith Averill: No pun intended, but we wanted to ‘Locke’ you guys down right away at the end of the pilot.
That was the ‘Key’ to ‘Locke’ you guys down.
Sorry, it’s been a long day (laughs).

Q: Part of what made the comics so iconic & memorable was Gabriel Rodriguez’s brilliant artwork. Have you translated some of those visual elements into the adaptation?

Carlton Cuse: We are very grateful to the work that Gabriel Rodriguez did. If you see the show, the house is really big, I mean, the design of the house, the Keys, they were based on his designs.
We modified things a little bit here and there but he did such a great job of finding a tone in his drawings that is kind of between horror and fantasy.

It feels substantial, believable, has mystery and just this really cool quality to it. He’s really an amazing illustrator and it feels really helpful when you’re dealing with the production team and you have something that tangible you could show them.
It’s very easy to get on the same page if you’re all looking at a drawing of a house and you could sort of say, this is what we want to do and this is what we’d like, maybe change a little bit here and there, but it was really foundational to the whole series.
Q: How faithful to the source material will your adaptation of Locke And Key be? Will there be surprises even for fans of the comics?
Carlton Cuse: We don’t tell the entire story of the comics this season. We bite off a big chunk of it and we talked a lot of where we wanted to go. I think we got to a really good place. I’m not going to spoil it for you, but it doesn’t finish the comics’ story.
9. What is the cast of Locke And Key like?
Meredith Averill: Jackson (Robert Scott) was brought over from the original pilot and it’s because he is Bode (Locke) in every way. He’s described on the page of the pilot as a pop tart in human boy form. We think that’s the perfect description for both Jackson and Bode.
For Kinsey (Locke), one of the very first auditions we saw was Emilia Jones, who was this actress out of the UK and just popped off the screen for us. We think she’s gonna be such a star. As for Connor Jessup, we were familiar with his work on American Crime. He brought so much vulnerability and sensitivity to Tyler (Locke). We just love what he did with the part.
And then Darby Stanchfield as Nina (Locke), she brought such a warmth to Nina that we weren’t even expecting and now I think we write towards that now. The scripts can be great but if the casting isn’t right, it could’ve really gone wrong but we felt immediately even from the table read that they had such incredible chemistry and you really believe them as a family.
You know, that chemistry continues off-screen, they have grown to love one another and hang out all the time and have Sunday night Locke family dinners in Toronto. It’s just such a joy to see how their chemistry have really translated and I think that when you watch the show, you really feel that.
(Left) Emilia Jones as Kinsey Locke, (Middle) Connor Jessup as Tyler Locke, (Right) Jackson Robert Scott as Bode Locke.


Bandai Namco Launches Gundam Game 35th Anniversary Website

Man, there’s been a ton of Gundam games since 35 years ago, huh? Bandai Namco is reminding us that this was a thing with its latest website.
The Gundam Game 35th Anniversary website is now live, and it contains a full list of every Gundam video game ever released from the Famicom Hot Scramble game with its blend of 2D shooting, search action, and first-person rail-shooting…

…to the Extreme VS. Maxiboost ON fighting game for PS4 that will sort your Virtua ON fix, but with Gundam.

To celebrate the occasion further, Bandai Namco will be selling its games at a discount on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch digital stores (PS Store and E-Shop respectively). You can also follow the Twitter @gundam_ggame campaign to win yourself a 35th Anniversary polo shirt and eco bag.


World Of Warships To Launch Malaysia’s First Cruiser Into Early Access

World of Warships is celebrating 2022 with a bunch of new Pan-Asian cruisers that are pretty good at wars and blowing stuff up.
The new TierV-X Pan-Asian cruisers can be used as rentals for Random Battles and Asymmetric Battles, or you can just buy them when they’re available. The six new ships are:

Malaysia’s first cruiser, the Tier VI Rahmat,
China’s Tier V Chungking,
China’s Tier X Jinan,
Tier VIII Harbin,
Tier IX Sejong,
Tier VII Chumphon.

Players can also earn Portal Tokens through social apps via weekly Twitch drops and regular Discord activities. They can exchange these tokens for new skins and unlock a mission marathon with the skins as a final reward.
Check out the overview below, which has a thumbnail of a brunette next to the new warships for broad appeal. The 0.11.0 update will be up from 19th January onward (that’s today).


Riot Games Launches Regional Offices in Asian Markets

In a conference call with the media today, Riot Games announce the establishment of a new organizational structure for the Asian market. New Managing Director for APAC, Alex Kraynov pledged to give its player base in the region a ‘hyper-local’ experience when it comes to Riot Games’ products in the near future.
Unveiling his new team, Kraynov said he aims to double down on Riot Games’ efforts for community outreach and improve the support of local players.

Commenting on his new team lineup, Kraynov said â€œThis is a natural step in progression for our publishing business in Southeast Asia, and Riot Games recognizes that APAC has the potential to become the biggest region in the world for Riot. This region is intricately diverse, with massive gaming communities that have diverse needs and a strong appetite for mobile gaming.”
Riot Games had previously run the SEAÂ  business out of its Singapore hub office and also had an office in Japan. As part of its expansion, they will now open new publishing offices in the Philippines, India, Indonesia/Malaysia, and Thailand.
To reflect on this expansion, the following roles were announced today:

Shinji Komiyama, Director of Country Management, APAC
Jennifer Poulson, Head of Publishing Partnerships, APAC
Alasdair Gray, Head of Marketing, APAC
Derek Winder, Head of Business Development, APAC
Yasushi Fujimoto, Country Manager of Japan
Joel Guzman, Country Manager of the Philippines
Resha Pradipta, Country Manager of Indonesia/Malaysia

Future appointments for Country Managers of Thailand, India, and a Head of Regional Tech were also confirmed and will be announced soon.
Head of Business Development, Derek Winder also welcomed all forms of collaborations and ideas from everyone who intend to work closely with Riot Games IPs in the near future.
Acknowledging Asia being a ‘mobile first’ market, Kraynov’s team plans to double down on their efforts for the community, providing support to local esports establishments and grassroot communities. This includes on-ground events focusing on the local player base once situations allows them to, whilst adhering to the necessary steps in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic.


Is The Galaxy Buds2 Pro Samsung’s Answer to Apple’s AirPods Pro?

Sequels, despite the momentum they are riding on, rarely fare well. Just look at Independence Day: Resurgence, Starship Troopers 2 … the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Many fail to live up to the high standards set by their predecessors who have previously challenged the status quo and redefined the playing field.
But that’s not the case with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds2 Pro.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is a big leap in improvement from the Galaxy Buds 2 – which we reviewed here. It takes everything that was good, and made them great, turning this piece of equipment into a must-have for those who are mostly out and about. Post-pandemic, video calls are the staple for everyone working remotely from either their home office or a nearby cafe. So having reliable audio equipment for that impromptu video call sans the need to lug around huge ear cans is a godsend.
However, the boffins at Samsung really need to sort out the naming conventions for their earbuds line. Is the Buds2 Pro a sequel to the Buds 2, or Buds Pro? It’s getting confusing.
Buddy Games
The Galaxy Buds2 Pro comes in three colors; black, white and purple – all in matte finish which we like. Their cases are color-matched, and you can either charge your Buds2 Pro using the USB-C port, or wirelessly. Nice.

As a mobile replacement for our standard headsets which we normally use when working from our desk, the Buds2 Pro is more than just a capable alternative. So far, it is the best fitting earbud we have ever put on, staying secure in our ears save for the most rigorous of runs – which happens very rarely considering our current physical shape.
Speaking of runs, those who sweat profusely would be glad to know that the Buds2 Pro is certified IPX7 which means sweat or a jog in the rain won’t kill it. Although we would not recommend going swimming in it.
The Buds2 Pro also comes with active noise cancelling (ANC) which is surprisingly brilliant – the screaming kids in our most recent flight were reduced literally to hums in the background. Like its predecessors, controlling the Buds2 Pro consists of tapping the device or either side of it. There is very low latency to these commands which allows you to operate your earbuds without the need to whip out your mobile phone.
Although you would want to, as you can further customize the features to suit your preference via the Galaxy Wearable app which is pretty extensive. Voice Detect identifies when you are talking and immediately lowers the volume, eliminating the need to remove the buds, while turning On the Ambient Sound option allows you to listen to your own speech, ensuring you aren’t shouting during your conference calls.
You can customize your controls as to what happens when you tap and hold either side of your Buds2 Pro. We went with activating Spotify when we tap and hold the left one, while ANC kicks in when we do it for the right side one.

There’s also a ‘Gaming Mode’ which pretty much delivers a wired earphone experience for that crispier, almost zero delay gaming sound. We played several rounds of Apex Legends Mobile and CoD Mobile on the S22 Ultra paired to the Buds2 Pro with Gaming Mode turned on and it was brilliant. In-game footsteps were clear enough allowing us to detect where the enemies are at, while explosions and gunshot sounds were crisp.
Not Quite Long-Lasting
Sadly the same cannot be said about our mediocre performance which was more due to the player than the game or devices at hand. Battery-wise, the Buds2 Pro, on paper, should stay powered for up to 8 hours but is severely reduced to 5 hours with ANC turned on. Hey if that guarantees a decent sleep on a flight, we’ll take it.
Save for the most discerning of audiophiles, the sound produced by the Buds2 Pro is way up there. If you mostly use your hearing devices on the go to listen to music and jump into that impromptu conference calls in between locations, the Buds2 Pro delivers in spades. Of course, the voice clarity from the microphone does not hold up when compared to headsets with dedicated mics protruding from them – but that’s the tradeoff of having a compact package. Still, voice clarity is pretty good, with minimal background noise seeping into it.
More than capable delivering what average consumers would ever need, the Buds2 Pro is a fair recommendation for any Android user in search of the equivalent and alternative to Apple’s AirPods – even the Pro variant. Priced at RM899 – a cool RM400 more than the Buds 2, we may recommend going for a slightly older and cheaper option which may also be on discount already.
However, if you are in the market for an upgrade and/or don’t mind spending a decent chunk of change for the best Android wireless airbuds in the market, look no further than these latest offerings from Samsung.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro retails at RM899
Final Score: 90/100
A review unit of the Samsung GalaxyBuds2 Pro was sent to us for review courtesy of Samsung Malaysia. Further details of the product can be found here.


Ubisoft Announces Change In Office; CEO Still At The Top

Ubisoft recently made a post that addresses the allegations of misconduct in all Ubisoft offices worldwide. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated that the company has partnered with Accenture to conduct a thorough audit of the company’s global HR organization, processes, and policies.
“As a result, we strengthened our non-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. We also have created new HR processes and fully updated our internal Code of Fair Conduct. The Code is clearer, more comprehensive, and more actionable. It will be mandatory for all team members to sign when it is published in June. “
The company has also appointed and recruited new leaders at the executive level: Anika Grant as Chief People Officer, BelÃ©n Essioux-Trujillo as an independent member of Ubisoft Board of Directors, and a few others on this list to diversify the hires.
“Considerable progress has been made, and we will continue to work hard with the ambition of becoming an exemplary workplace in the tech industry.”
Previously, the company responded to a recent GamesIndustry.biz piece concerning the minimal changes they’ve done to its workplace environment.
“Over a period of several months, Ubisoft has implemented major changes across its organization, internal processes and procedures in order to guarantee a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment for all team members.”
There’s really not much to say here, except that the effects of these change will only crop up in a few months or so. It’s also interesting to note that CEO Yves Guillemot is still in the same position pre-allegations, so it’s safe to say that all this shuffling is not affecting him in the slightest. And what good timing too, since E3 2021 is just a few weeks away!
Good for him. I’m sure many people are cheering for his actions as soon as the announcement was made…

#HoldUbisoftAccountable No change will occur while Yves remains at the top, He's ignored all complaints repeatedly, Refused to make actual changes aside from moving around members and only had the gall to respond after a community outcry, #FireYves #StepDownYves
— Synth Potato (Ameer) ? (@SynthPotato) May 24, 2021

Ubisoft if Yves resigned pic.twitter.com/KVjKlneeS3
— Sarfraz (@SpeedyRogue29) May 24, 2021

Not much to say really ? pic.twitter.com/o9d7SMqg7C
— ? O?r?b?i?t?a?l?S?h?a?r?k? ? (@OrbitalShark) May 24, 2021


Cave Story & Binding of Isaac Publisher Nicalis Is Run By A “Ghosting, Exploitative Racist”…

Publisher Nicalis are renowned for taking chances with indie games like Cave Story and Binding of Isaac, and these usually pay off. Despite that track record, the company has some dark secrets that were recently brought to light
A Kotaku report stated that Nicalis has a long history of mistreating employees and outside developers, particularly in ghosting them. While the company had some public scuffles with developers in recent years, there’s actually a lot of this happening behind the scenes way before that.

Nicalis founder Tyrone Rodriguez is described as a friendly but often difficult boss, and prone to “controlling” and “exploitative” behaviour. He would pressure them to drink heavily, make racist jokes in the workplace, and berate-slash-ignore them.
He abuses his employees via control over crunch hour breaks. A former staffer said that it was a “anything I tell you to do, you have to do this because I’m the boss” situation. Employees even wasted days and weeks of work because he wouldn’t respond to questions, and even have dinner breaks and doctor visits rebuked.
His Skype exchanges would put even the late Richard Pryor to shame. He would call external partners “retards”, his employees “you gays”, use the “n” word for African Americans casually, just to cite a few examples.
Check out the picture below for one more example.

Game publisher Nicalis, successful for smash hits like Cave Story and Binding of Isaac, has a dark side. A Kotaku investigation reveals employee exploitation, mismanagement, and a whole lot of workplace racism from founder Tyrone Rodriguez. My latest: https://t.co/S6U8RghwOO pic.twitter.com/btXZmWPPu8
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 12, 2019

Tyrone Rodriguez is also known for ignoring developers and wasting their time. Nicalis’ mismanagement has cost external developers like the Enter The Gungeon folks a lot of time. The Game Bakers, who made Furi, were also ghosted by Nicalis when the wanted a Switch port done with their help.

We sent the project, they evaluated the cost, sent a first contract draft that we sent back with changes,â€ said The Game Bakers co-founder Audrey Leprince in an email. â€œBut then they started ghosting us. Not answering emails, Skype calls. We waited three weeks, tried to contact them several timesâ€¦
Finally they answered that they were sorry and would send us a mail the next week. Time passed. We were going at E3 (they were there), offered to see them there. We reminded them how acting fast was important. So eventually we sent a message saying the deal was off considering the communication breakdown.

Check out the full exposÃ©Â here.


There’s Going To Be A Bunch Of Final Fantasy VII Games On Mobile…

Square Enix just announced two new Final Fantasy games to go along with the recent reveal of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade featuring a new episode starring Materia ninja thief Yuffie. And yes, they’re spin-offs to the Final Fantasy VII universe. And they’re going to be on iOS and Android.
The first game is Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier. It’s a battle royale game set in Midgar before the events of FFVII. You play a SOLDIER candidate and have to defeat other SOLDIER candidates to get chosen, I guess?

Judging from the likes and dislikes ratio, a lot of folks are split on this. This one’s coming out for mobile devices in 2021.
The second game is Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis, a chapter-structured single-player game covering the whole of the FFVII timeline, from the original game’s events to the compilation titles like Dirge of Cerberus and Crisis Core. It’s kinda reminiscent of the Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition mobile game, but with the OG edgelord Cloud and his Avalanche team. And probably a whole lot more polished, judging from the gameplay here.

This one’s slated for 2022. Guess those trademarks were handy, eh? 2021 and 2022 are looking to be the year of Final Fantasy VII transitioning before the remake’s sequel.


HBO GO October 2022: Our Picks & Highlights

I’m sure you won’t want to waste time sifting through HBO GO’s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so I’m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for HBO GO October 2022 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Pennyworth The Origin Of Batman’s Butler Season 3 (6 October 2022)

This Max Original DC origin series follows Alfred Pennyworth, a former British SAS soldier, who forms a security company in 1960s London and goes to work with young billionaire Thomas Wayne, who will later become Bruce Wayne’s father. Season 3 will begin after a five-year time jump: the civil war is over, and a cultural revolution has changed the world for better or worse, ushering in a new age of Super Heroes and Supervillains. Stars Jack Bannon, Ben Aldridge, Emma Paetz, Paloma Faith, Ryan Fletcher, Dorothy Atkinson, Ramon Tikaram, Harriet Slater and Simon Manyonda.
Premieres Thursday, October 6 on HBO GO.

Kung Fu Season 3 (6 October 2022)

Armed with martial arts skills and Shaolin values, San Francisco native Nicky Shen continues to protect her family and community with the help of her siblings, ex-boyfriend and new love interest, while searching for the ruthless assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her. Stars Olivia Liang, Tzi Ma, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu and Singaporean actress Kheng Hua Tan.
Premieres Thursday, October 6 at 9.50pm on Warner TV (Astro Ch 712)

Everything Everywhere All At Once (8 October 2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the film is an irreverent and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about Evelyn Wang, a flustered Chinese American mother who is contacted from a parallel universe and told that only she can save the world. The unlikely hero learns to channel her new-found powers and fight through the splintering timelines of the multiverse to save her home, family and herself. Stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis.
Premieres Saturday, October 8 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Ch 411).

Avenue 5 Season 2 (11 October 2022)

Created by Armando Iannucci (Veep), this HBO Original comedy series is set 40 years in the future when travelling the solar system is a booming, multibillion-dollar business. Season 2 follows the crew as they struggle to lead, calm, control, and, if need be, hide from increasingly unruly passengers. Stars Hugh Laurie, Josh Gad, Zach Woods, Rebecca Front, Suzy Nakamura, Lenora Crichlow, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ethan Phillips.
Premieres Tuesday, October 11 at 10am on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Ch 411)

The Winchesters (12 October 2022)

In this prequel of the hit series Supernatural, Dean Winchester narrates the epic, untold love story of John Winchester and Mary Campbell, who put it all on the line to not only save their love, but the entire world. They join forces with young hunter in training Latika and easy-going hunter Carlos to uncover the hidden truths about their families. Stars Jensen Ackles, Drake Rodger, Meg Donnelly, Nida Khurshid, Jonathan “Jojo” Fleites, Demetria McKinney and Bianca Kajlich.
Premieres Wednesday, October 12 at 9pm on Warner TV (Astro Ch 712).

Scream 2022 (29 October 2022)
Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream.”
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a terrifying new killer resurrects the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past. Now, only Sidney Prescott, former sheriff Dewey Riley, and reporter Gale Weathers can find a way to stop the killer when everyone is a suspect. Stars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.
Premieres Saturday, October 29 at 10pm on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Ch 411)

The White Lotus Season 2 (31 October 2022)

HBO’s Emmy-winning social satire series from creator Mike White leaves Hawaii behind and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week at The White Lotus resort in picturesque Sicily. Stars F. Murray Abraham, Jennifer Coolidge, Adam DiMarco, Beatrice Grannò, Meghann Fahy, Jon Gries, Tom Hollander, Sabrina Impacciatore, Michael Imperioli, Theo James, Aubrey Plaza, Haley Lu Richardson, Will Sharpe, Simona Tabasco, and Leo Woodall.
Premieres Monday, October 31 at 9am on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Ch 411)


EA Is Not Teasing A New Mirror’s Edge Game

Fans went ballistic when it seemed like EA France was teasing a new Mirror’s Edge game on Twitter.

Alors, ce n'est pas un teasing, simplement un jeu. Si on tease quelque chose un jour, vous le comprendrez tout de suite, ne vous en faites pas !
— EA France (@EAFrance) April 12, 2021

However, sorry, folks, that’s not happening. EA France themselves clarified that they’re not teasing a new Mirror’s Edge game. It’s been five years since Mirror’s Edge Catalyst, after all, and a whopping 13 years since the original game, so we understand why fans are eager for a new game.
Fortunately, Apex Legends players can look forward to a Mirror’s Edge-themed Have Faith weapon charm, which is available now until 3 May 2021 to all EA Play members.

Hit the ground running with the Mirror's Edge-themed Have Faith weapon charm, available now through May 3 to all @EAPlay members. pic.twitter.com/dABp4SlNRZ
— Apex Legends (@PlayApex) April 12, 2021


Riot Employees Plan Walkout To Protest Controversial Company Actions

Employees at League of Legends developer Riot Games are planning to organize a walkout, in response to the news that the company was going to block several employees from filing a lawsuit against it for alleged gender discrimination and sexist work environment.
Speaking to Waypoint, anonymous sources from within the company (from those who are planning the walkabout) said that “talk of a walkout has been brewing among a number of folks with varying levels of investment since Kotakuâ€™s first article hit” and that “leadership consistently promised transparency/actions to be taken and then did not deliver on that promise.”
The walkout was planned for 6 May 2019, which some Riot employees claim have been in the works for months. The one act that drove them to finally go ahead with the walkout was Riot Games forcing employees to go through an arbitration process instead of going to court for a jury trial like most lawsuits do.
Another act that drove Riot employees to organize a walkout is that the company continues to employ several of the men accused with sexual harassment charges or inappropriate behavior, including Riot COO Scott Gelb.
According to Kotaku, several of the Riot employees are unable to confirm how many or how large the walkout gathering will be. Some are resistant to join the walkout since doing so comes with a high risk of getting fired from their jobs.
It remains to be seen if the walkout will be going ahead as planned. After the first reports of sexual harassment came out, Riot Games already apologized and promised to change their hiring practices but it seems like nothing changed at all.
Big corporations like Riot Games think they can get away from being held responsible by strong-arming their employees and forcing them to stay silent. Earlier this year, a former Blizzard employee revealed years of racial abuse and discrimination within the company, and the company did what Riot did, by promising to change for the better.
Cases like this and the massive layoffs at major companies in the games industryÂ just goes to show how important it is that the games industry get unionized as soon as possible. Itâ€™s needed to ensure that the rights of individual game developers remain protected and to avoid any more events like this from happening in the future.


Shadow Gambit Is A New Turn-Based Pirate Game From The Desperado III Folks

Love stealth, turn-based combat, and the high seas life of pirating? You’re in luck with this next game announcement.
Mimimi Games, the developer behind Desperados III, has announced Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew. It’s a stealth strategy game set in an alternate version of the Golden Age of Piracy.
You control an undead pirate crew whose goal is to seek the legendary Black Pearls while dealing with the Inquisition. Your literal skeleton crew can also cast spells and control time with cursed magic, enabling multiple actions in a turn. Fun!
Features & trailer below. The game will be out in 2023 for PC, Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5.
Assemble Your Cursed Pirate Crew – Embark on a journey with cursed pirate Afia and seek the legendary Black Pearls to revive a cursed crew of your own. Each of your eight shipmates is a playable character with an individual personality and armed with unique supernatural powers. Launch friend or foe with Gaelle’s magical cannon, use Mr. Mercury’s soul anchor to open a magic portal or dash across spacetime for split-second stealth attacks with Afia’s mythical sword.
Outsmart Your Enemy – Pull-off an epic heist and salvage a mysterious treasure of otherworldly power to defy the army of the Inquisition. Infiltrate their fortresses. Sneak behind enemy lines. Cleverly combine the magical skills of your crew to take out a variety of enemies with carefully considered tactics. Feel like a brilliant mastermind when your plan clicks perfectly into place!
Your Ship, Your Home – Join The Red Marley, a ghost ship with a living soul. On deck, plan your next adventure or just hang out with your crew mates while they enjoy their un-life. Get to know these legendary cursed pirates of the Lost Caribbean. With individual character missions find out about their backstories, learn who they are and what led them on their cursed journeys.
Explore the Lost Caribbean – Go ashore a variety of exotic islands in the Lost Caribbean. From locales oozing with cursed soul magic to tropical beaches and lively pirate shanty towns: Every island is a unique hand-crafted sandbox where adventures await.
Play It Your Way – Freely select your crew members before embarking on each mission. Utilize their unique abilities to find new strategies against the forces of the Inquisition. Plot your own path to enter and exit each island, be stealthy or more head-on in your play style and use the environment to your advantage. It’s your playground to experiment in!
Manipulate Time and Experiment – The powerful time-manipulating magic of your ghost ship is yours to wield. Pause time to consider your strategic choices or queue up multiple character actions. Capture a memory of every passing moment, to instantly return to if things go south. Change your approach and tactics to discover own unique solutions to each moment in the game—in your own time!


Here Is The Full List Of Xbox Game Pass PC Titles You Can Play Now

In case you haven’t heard, the Xbox Game Pass for PC is now available. For US$1 for the first month and US$4.99 every following month, you can play a huge handful of Xbox titles you want on PC.
Here’s the full list if you’re the kind who’d rather just pay US$5 per month just to try all of these via the Netflix payment model. It sure beats paying for an individual game or three when you think about it.

ABZU
Antiquia Lost
ARK: Survival Evolved
Astroneer
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe
Battlefleet Gothic: Armada
Bomber Crew
Bridge Constructor Portal
Broforce
Brothers: a Tale of Two Sons
Book of Demons
Clustertruck
Crackdown 3
Crosscode
Die for Valhalla!
Disneyland Adventures
Everspace
Fez
Football Manager 2019
Forza Horizon 4 Standard Edition
Full Metal Furies
Gears of War: Ultimate Edition dla Windows 10
Gears of War 4
Guacamelee! 2
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo: Spartan Strike
Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
Halo Wars 2: Standard Edition
Hatoful Boyfriend
Hellblade: Senuaâ€™s Sacrifice
Hello Neighbor
Hollow Knight
Hotline Miami
Imperator: Rome
Into The Breach
Lichtspeer: Double Speer Edition
Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
Metro Exodus
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight
Mindzone
Moonlighter
MudRunner
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
Neon Chrome
Old Manâ€™s Journey
Operencia: The Stolen Sun
Opus Mangum
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
Orwell: Keeping an Eye on You
Oxenfree
Pony Island (Daniel Mullins Games)
ReCore
Riptide GP: Renegade
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure
Ruiner
Samorost 3
Sea of Thieves: Anniversary Edition
Shenmue I & II
Silence â€“ The Whispered World 2
Sinner for Windows 10
Slay The Spire
Shoot n Merge 2048
Smoke and Sacrifice
Snake Pass
State of Decay 2
SteamWorld Dig 2
Sunset Overdrive
Super Luckyâ€™s Tale
Superhot for Windows 10
Supermarket Shriek
Surviving Mars â€“ First Colony Edition
Riverbond
Tacoma
Titan Quest Anniversary Edition
The Banner Saga
The Banner Saga 2
The Banner Saga 3
The Flame In The Flood
The Gardens Between
The Messenger
The Stillness of the Wind
The Surge
The Turing Test
Thimbleweed Park
Thumper
Tyranny Gold Edition
Valkyria Chronicles
Vampyr
Void Bastards
Wandersong
Wargroove
Wasteland 2: Directorâ€™s Cut
West Of Loathing
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus
We Happy Few
Wizard of Legend
Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection


Kakuchopurei Best 30 Games Of 2022: #26

For the rest of the list, head here. For #27, head here.
#26. The King of Fighters XV (PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, PC)

Inheriting the series’ traditional 3-on-3 team battle, The King of Fighters XV or KOF XV as it’s simply known was released back in February in a landscape of already-existing fighters like Guilty Gear Strive and Tekken 7.
Yet somehow it stood out in 2022. KOF XV is an excellent game for fans of the series as it offers great visuals, a familiar-but- deeper fighting system, and speedy gameplay.
It perfects its unique gameplay formula and easily offers the biggest and best character roster the series has ever seen.
Coupled with robust online options and a stellar and stylistic presentation featuring unforgettable music, this is one fighting game that should be in regular rotation for any fan of the time-tested genre.