Succession’s Final Season Is Just As Riveting And Sharp As Before

The media empire is sure as hell a fast-paced and cutthroat business. Whether it’s global news coverage or even video games and entertainment, the lifestyle of moguls and higher-ups who run these companies have to fight internally as much as externally and against many other rivals vying for the same seat of power and relevance. So it’s no surprise that some people can resonate with someone as unlikeable and belligerent as Logan Roy, the patriarch and lead character of the HBO series Succession. As big of an a-hole he is, especially with how he treats his own kin, you have to give it up to series creator Jesse Armstrong and his team of writers for making us watch the many episodes of the show and go “maybe he’s got a point about the business”.
With the series now close to the end with its fourth and final season, it doesn’t look like Succession is going to rest on its laurels. If these first four episodes we’ve seen are of any indication, we are clearly going to miss the messed-up dynasty that is the Roy family.
This review features general spoilers for Season 3.

After the Roy kids -Kendall, Roman, Shiv- get kicked out of the WayStar media dynasty by “loving” patriarch Logan in Season 3’s finale, they’re taking matters into their own hands and are trying one-up daddy dearest by poaching his partners and do all the stuff conglomerates do with a billion dollars in capital. And so far, Succession Season 4 does not disappoint in the slightest.
We get to see every main character’s story arc escalate in the first two episodes, with the third and fourth pulling the rug from under our feet just when you thought things were going in the same direction as in Season 2 with media company-related woes and whatnot. It’s really hard to navigate through the show’s fourth season without spoiling anything major at all, but I’ll say this: just when you thought you couldn’t be more shocked with the past seasons, Jesse Armstrong and his team did it again with a new narrative shift. It also asks the question “should you really let your offspring take over your legacy just because they’re blood, especially if you aren’t able to make the decision?”

While I’m still pondering on coming to that answer, I can however talk about some scene & acting highlights. The speech in the newsroom (and everything else after) during episode 2 was definitely one worth taking in given the context of the speechgiver’s mental health & history.  The episode 3 bit involving an airplane and a cruise ship go back-to-back without missing emotional and mentally-draining bits. The patriarch meeting in a nightclub that could cause Logan Roy to get seizures felt genuine yet conflicting, like a jerkass dad convincing his scarred kids that he isn’t playing mind games anymore.
Speaking of which, Brian Cox’s Logan Roy proves once again why his portrayal of faux Rupert Murdoch is captivating despite his questionable attitude, sanity, and methods. Matthew Macfadyen (as Tom) may be typecasted in the future as a corporate sleazeball who loves playing the managerial ladder game (we’ve all had jerkasses like these in our places of work), but his back-and-forth with the patriarchy and his camaraderie with “sidekick” Greg is somewhat adorable.
And this clearly goes without saying, but the trio of Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Roman (Kieran Culkin), and Shiv (Sarah Snook) finally teaming up for business and periods of grief, after all the nonsense and backstabbing in past seasons, is pretty heartwarming. Even if that may seem fleeting at times, the topic of family beyond everything else really plays out well amidst the meticulous swearing, creative s***-talking, and black comedy. You will clearly be missed when the 10th episode has passed, you captivating-to-watch family dynasty drama, you.

The ten-episode season debuts Monday, March 27 on HBO (Astro Ch 411) and HBO GO.


Shovel Knight Dig Launches This September For PC & Nintendo Switch

Publisher Yacht Club Games and developer Nitrome will continue the legacy of its 2D mascot Shovel Knight with its new game, Shovel Knight Dig.
Shovel Knight Dig is a 2D action platformer where you dig your way downwards to treasure and fight off Drill Knight and his goons. Unlike the first Shovel Knight, this game is in full high colour with fluid animation, scaling, rotation, and parallax. Levels in the game are randomly generated, and music is provided by Jake Kaufman.
Shovel Knight Dig will be out on 23 September for PC, Nintendo Switch, and Apple Arcade. The Xbox and PlayStation versions will be out at a later date.
Key Features

An all-new presentation featuring a new Shovel Knight story! When Drill Knight and his dastardly digging crew blast apart Shovel Knight’s peaceful campsite and steal his loot, he grabs his trusty Shovel Blade and starts tunneling after them!
The first Shovel Knight adventure in glorious high colour pixel graphics and sound. Fluid animation, scaling, rotation, and parallax create the most convincing Shovel Knight world yet!
Every adventure is different! Shovel Knight Dig levels have been meticulously crafted, then stitched together using proprietary generation techniques for infinite replayability.
Jump, slash, and dig your way in an all-new direction – down! Rely on your trusty Shovel Drop, then dig through huge swaths of dirt with all-new Speed Shovel mechanics.
Grow in power and wealth as you descend into the depths of the earth. Emerge with untold riches to outfit Shovel Knight further, unlocking permanent items and upgrades to your Shoveling equipment.
New Knights, new characters, and new enemies abound, but fear not! Shovel Knight Dig features Shovel Knight‘s signature storytelling, humour, and maybe even some familiar faces…
Another pulse-pounding soundtrack in a new style by astonishing virtuoso Jake Kaufman!
The first collaboration between Yacht Club Games and Nitrome, pixel masters!


[Rumor] Quantic Dream’s PS4 Tech Demo Will Be A Full Game Called Dreamland For PS5

An insider who knows the inner workings of Quantic Dream said that the company’s next non-Star Wars title will be based on an old tech demo they did.
According to reports from Twitter user @accngt, the next title from the French studio led by director David Cage will be making a game codenamed Dreamland, which is based on the PS4 tech demo The Dark Sorcerer. The interactive storytelling game will be written by David Cage, with the core team in Paris working on it. The game will be a comedy, features cross-gen, and more advanced than Star Wars Eclipse.Â
https://twitter.com/accngt/status/1487463292100657157?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1487463292100657157%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.videogameschronicle.com%2Fnews%2Fquantic-dreams-ps4-tech-demo-is-reportedly-coming-to-ps5-as-dreamland%2F

The tech demo made its debut at E3 2013, back in a time when people could go out to events. Remember that?


New Avengers Endgame Hot Toys Figure Offers Closer Look At Hawkeye/Ronin

Weâ€™re less than two weeks away from Avengers Endgame, and the most mysterious living Avenger remains Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye. He was absent for the entirety of Avengers Infinity War, but he will be returning with a vengeance as Ronin in the upcoming sequel.
Hot Toys has officially unveiled a 1/6th scale figure of Hawkeye fromÂ Avengers Endgame. The deluxe version of this new collectible offers a closer look at the new costume, weapons, and equipment that will be part of Barton’s new Ronin persona.
Hawkeye will come bearing an arsenal of deadly weapons as Ronin in Avengers Endgame, with not only his trusty bow and arrow but also a katana, a dagger, and freaking shurikens. You read that right, he’s gone full-on ninja on us all.
He also keeps his different arrowheads underneath his shiny black gloves, not to mention that he has a utility belt (just like Batman) now. Vigilante and assassin all rolled into one. This is going to be a dark and brooding Clint Barton like we’ve never seen before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Check out the Avengers Endgame Hawkeye Deluxe Version Hot Toys 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure below.

Avengers EndgameÂ is slated to release on 24 April 2019 in Malaysia,Â two days earlier than in the US. In the meantime, check out more Hot Toys Avengers Endgame content here or the latest Entertainment Weekly covers forÂ Avenger Endgame here.
Update: The Avengers Endgame Hawkeye Deluxe Version Hot Toys 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure is cheaper to purchase locally. Ordering it from an outside source like Sideshow will set you back around $274 or roughly RM1,128, while a local site like ToyGarden offers the same product for only RM939.


Free Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order Update Adds New Game Plus, Red Lightsaber & More

In celebration of Star Wars Day on 4 May 2020, publisher EA and developer Respawn Entertainment have releasedÂ a free content update forÂ Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order. This is a massive update, which should make fans of the game extremely happy.
New Journey+ Or New Game Plus

The Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order update adds a highly-requested feature into the game; New Journey+, which is the game’s version of new game plus. Players can finally replay the game’s story while bringing over stuff from your first playthrough.
The following will carry over into New Journey+:

All cosmetics, including lightsaber colours, lightsaber parts, Cal’s ponchos, and others.

However, all abilities will have to be re-learned in New Journey+.
New Cosmetics, Including Red Lightsaber

A lot of fans bemoaned the fact that Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order doesn’t feature the option of wielding red lightsabers. The developers probably noticed that, so now it’s been added to the game, albeit only in New Journey+.
In New Journey+, players will also have a new Inquisitor poncho skin for Cal Kestis to go alongside that red lightsaber and two new lightsaber cosmetic sets; Protection and Defense I & II.

Now the only thing that is missing are just actual dark side Force abilities.
Meditation Training Combat Challenges

Even if you’ve finished the game, players can now check out the new Meditation Training option, which can now be accessed from any Meditation point in the game. These are new challenges, in the form of Combat Challenges and Battle Grid.
Combat Challenges will pit Cal against waves of enemies across multiple planetary backdrops from across the galaxy, including the Imperial stronghold Fortress Inquisitorius. Each unique location will feature its own unique challenges, with different numbers of waves.
However, it’s worth pointing out that Meditation Training has been designed for veteran players and for when Cal Kestis is at his strongest towards the end of the game.
There are 12 challenges in total, each with three stars. Unlocking twelve stars in total, regardless of how many you get per challenge, will give players three new BD-1 cosmetic skins.
Star 1: Complete the challenge
Star 2: Complete the challenge without healing
Star 3: Complete the challenge without taking damage
â€œOnderon Bloomâ€ BD-1 appearance.
â€œKesselstoneâ€ BD-1 appearance.
â€œGalionicaâ€ BD-1 appearance.
Meanwhile, the Battle Grid mode is a sandbox for players to create their own encounters. Players will be able to select a location, the size of the encounter they want to face, tinker with various difficulty modifiers and set the overall combat difficulty to one of the four difficulty levels.

As an added bonus, this mode will also feature unique enemies not available in the story, including Cal’s Master Jaro Tapal and the dark side version of himself, Inquisitor Cal Kestis.
Quality Of Life Improvements

The folks at Respawn Entertainment have also improved several aspects of the game with new quality of life improvements. These include:

Option for button-mashing quick-time events to be skipped.
Needing to hold the Climb button can now be disabled.
Holding a button to confirm/interact with something can be changed to a button press.
Text size scaling options have been added.

In the meantime, check out the trailer below, or head on over here for our full in-depth review of Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order to find out why it was one of the best games in 2019.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSwYMwm8fIU&w=560&h=315]


Microsoft Job Listing Points To New Mysterious Halo Game

A new Halo game (that’s not Halo Infinite) is apparently in development, according to a Microsoft Xbox job listing.
TheÂ producer job posting, which was posted on 6 February 2021 (viaÂ GamesRadar), reveals that Halo franchise developer 343 Industries is working on a new entry in the Halo franchise. The listing states that the company is looking to hire a producer “to help develop a new project in the Halo universe”.
The phrasing in the job listing indicates that this Halo project is separate and different from Halo Infinite, which has been in development for a while now and is slated to launch sometime in 2021. It is also asking for experience in shipping AAA games for the current generation, which is interesting, to say the least.
Unfortunately (and as expected), the job listing doesn’t reveal any tangible information about what this new Halo game might be. It could be anything, from a new Halo Wars title or another Halo spinoff game in the vein of 2009’s Halo 3: ODST.
Let’s hope this new project’s development won’t be as troubled as Halo Infinite‘s, where even one of the directors departed last year.
In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for all the latest news on the Xbox Series X, and check outÂ all the latest updates and developments on all things Xbox to date here.


Brandon Routh Recreates Kingdom Come Superman Iconic Pose

While it was already confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that Brandon Routh would be donning the Superman suit again, the actor has finally revealed what his costume looks like. Not only will he be playing the Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come iteration of Superman, but he also recreated the iconic pose from the cover of the comics.
Routh posted the picture of himself in full Kingdom Come Superman suit with the iconic pose on his Instagram earlier today. This won’t be the first time he’s playing the Man Of Steel, as he previously played the hero in 2006’s Superman Returns. However, he’s also currently playing another hero in CW’s Legends Of Tomorrow, namely the Atom (with shrinking powers similar to Ant-Man).

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brandon Routh (@brandonjrouth)

The costume is faithful to the comic book version, featuring the red and black Superman logo on his chest, simplistic belt and red accents. This version of Superman was created by writer Mark Waid and artist Alex Ross, debuting in the 1996 Kingdom Come Elseworlds series.

Kingdom Come is set in an alternate universe on an alternate Earth, picking up a decade after Superman failed to save Lois Lane from the Joker and retreated to the Fortress of Solitude, giving up his superhero mantle, but returning after some convincing from Wonder Woman due to the threat of an impending superhero civil war after the rise of vigilante Magog.

CW’s Crisis On Infinite Earths ambitious crossover event will also see other famous actors reprising their iconic roles, including:

Burt Ward as Robin from the 1966 Batman series.
Legendary Batman: The Animated Series voice actor Kevin Conroy as an older version of Bruce Wayne/Batman.
Ashley Scott as Huntress from the 2002 Birds of Prey series.
Tom Welling as Clark Kent/Superman from the Smallville series.
Erica Durance as Lois Lane from the Smallville series.

The Crisis On Infinite Earths crossover will begin on 8 December 2019, across a whopping five episodes from five different series, starting with Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, Arrow, and ending with Legends Of Tomorrow.


E3 2019: It’s Not As Good Without PlayStation, Says Xbox Head

Gaming is famous for its enduring rivalries between companies, such as the legendary war between Sega and Nintendo in the 80s/90s, and the current console wars between Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox. Healthy competition is part and parcel of a thriving industry.
E3 2019 suffered from the absence of a major player, as Sony PlayStation decided not to grace the world’s biggest gaming expo with its presence this year. Gamers everywhere lamented this decision, but it turns out that even their fiercest rival felt like this year’s event was just not the same without them.
In an interview with Giant Bomb (via IGN), Xbox Head Phil Spencer surprisingly uttered the following words:

“I wish Sony was here. E3 is not as good when they’re not here.”

Spencer also shared his opinions on the past, present, and future of the games industry. Even the likes of him can agree that gaming is headed towards a more inclusive future, where exclusives and platform limitations may become a remnant of the past.

“If you go to the store and you buy your kid the green box, and I go to the store and I buy my kid the blue box, and they both want to play the same game and they can’t play together…
I understand, in a fixed world of ‘in order for one to win, one has to lose,’ what the dynamics are there…but when the business is growing, the numbers of gamers are growing, it feels like our opportunity, as an industry, is to get rid of the friction and just let people have fun playing the games.”

That’s directly from the head of Xbox himself, folks. E3 2019 was huge for the company, as they showed more of Halo Infinite and confirmed the release window for their next-gen console, amongst a lot more game announcements.
Check out what we thought of Xbox’s E3 2019 press conference here, which includes highlights of the event.


Disintegration Multiplayer Technical Beta To Begin In Late January

Back in Gamescom 2019, we got our first look at Disintegration. It’s basically a squad-based first-person shooter with robots and futuristic vehicle. What makes it stand out is that it’s made by a studio founded by a Bungie veteran who helped create the Halo universe.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZC68Q7A6Jg&w=560&h=315]
The studio, V1 Interactive, has now announced that the game will have two multiplayer technical beta tests very soon. A closed technical beta will be happening from 28 January to 29 January 2020 and it’ll be followed by an open technical beta from 31 January to 1 Februray 2020.
While the game will indeed have a single player component, the beta tests aim to allow players to only try the multiplayer gameplay. There will be two game modes and maps for players to try out. It’s open for PC, PS4, and Xbox One players.
You can sign up for the technical beta here. For now, the game still doesn’t have a solid release date but it’s not hard to assume that it will be ready to come out this year.


Elden Ring 1.09 Update Adds Ray-Tracing Support On Current-Gen Consoles & PC

Bandai Namco and FromSoftware have released the latest Elden Ring 1.09 update. Besides the usual balancing adjustments and bug fixes, the new update adds ray-tracing support for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC versions of the game.
Check out the full patch notes below:
Targeted Platforms
PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S / Steam
New feature
Ray Tracing support has been added for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC versions.
Ray Tracing can be activated in the settings menu:
PS5 / XSX: Game Options -> Ray Tracing
PC: Graphics -> Ray Tracing Quality
Please note that performance – such as frame rate and resolution – may be impacted while playing with Ray Tracing on.
The minimum and recommended technical specification to use Ray Tracing can be found at the end of the patch notes.

Ray Tracing Technical Specifications

MINIMUM
RECOMMENDED

Operating System: Windows 10
Operating System: Windows 11

Processor: Intel Core i5-10600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
Processor: Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT

Memory: 16 GB RAM
Memory: 16 GB RAM

Graphic Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT, 12 GB
Graphic Card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT, 16 GB

Recommended Graphics Setting: 1080p – Low quality – Low Ray Tracing
Recommended Graphics Setting: 1080p – High quality – High Ray Tracing

PvP Exclusive balance adjustments

The adjustments in this section do not affect single-player or cooperative play.
The Inescapable Frenzy incantation power and grab angle have been increased.
The Lifesteal Fist skill power, range and grab angle have been increased.
Decreased the power of two-handed jumping attacks.
Decreased the power of heavy and heavy running attacks of Fist and Claw weapon types.
Decreased the power of the Founding Rain of Stars spell.
Decreased the spell enhancement effect of the Terra Magica spell.
Decreased the damage and poise damage of the Wave of Gold skill when hitting an opponent over a certain distance.
Decreased the effectiveness of the Determination and Royal Knight’s Resolve skills.
Decreased the effects of the Contagious Fury skill of the Jellyfish Shield.
Decreased the effectiveness of the Claw Talisman.
Decreased the effectiveness of the Lord of Blood’s Exultation Talisman.
Decreased the attack power buff granted by the White Mask head armor.
Decreased the jumping attack damage buff granted by the Raptor’s Black Feathers armor.
Decreased the damage buff gameplay granted by Magic Shrouding Cracked Tear, Flame-Shrouding Cracked Tear, Lightning-Shrouding
Cracked Tear, and Holy-Shrouding Cracked Tear when activated with the Flask of Wondrous Physick.

General Balance Adjustment

Added an invincibility window when respawning in the colosseum.
Increases the scaling of the following attributes when infusing weapons with certain Ashes of War:
Magic / Fire / Flame Art / Lightning / Sacred
Increased the attribute scaling of the following weapon types:
Colossal Sword / Great Axe / Hammer / Flail / Great Hammer / Colossal Weapon
Increased the speed, range and recovery time of some attacks for the following weapon types:
Great Hammer / Great Axe / Great Sword / Curved Greatsword
Flail weapons changes:
Increased the speed of some attacks.
Reduced attack recovery time.
Increased poise when using two-handed attacks.
Increased running attack speed and reduced attack recovery time for the following weapon types:
Straight Sword / Curved Sword / Katana / Twinblade Sword / Axe / Hammer / Halberd
Increased the first attack speed for the following weapon types:
Straight Sword / Curved Sword / Whip
Increased the speed of guard counters for the following weapon types:
Straight Sword / Great Sword / Colossal Sword / Great Curved Sword / Katana / Twinblade Sword / Axe / Great Axe / Flail / Great Hammer / Spear / Great Spear / Halberd
Reduced the attack recovery time for Whip weapons.
Increased the damage of Claw weapons.
Added Holy damage and Faith scaling to the Great Club.
Increased damage negation when blocking Holy damage and decreased damage negation when blocking damage from other affinities.
Increased the effectiveness of the Twinblade Talisman.
Slightly reduced rolling travel distance for light equipment weights.
Decreased the hitbox size for some attacks of the following weapon types:
Thrusting Sword / Heavy Thrusting Sword / Spear / Great Spear / Halberd

Ashes of War adjustments

Lifesteal Fist
Increased target grab range.
Surge of Faith
Increased projectile generation speed.
Flame Spit
Increased the guard speed and blocking amount of the skill.
Adjusted the angle of the fireball.
Tongues of Fire
Increased the guard speed and blocking amount of the skill.
Great Oracular Bubble
Increased projectile generation speed and reduced the recovery time.
Viper Bite
Reduced the time before rolling is possible after using the skill.
Shriek of Milos
Increased close range poise damage.
Spearcall Ritual
Increased projectile generation speed.
Cursed-Blood Slash
Increased projectile generation speed and reduced the recovery time.
Gold Breaker
Reduced the recovery time.
I Command Thee, Kneel!
Increased attack generation speed.Starcaller Cry
Increased the speed of follow-up attacks.
Spinning Wheel
Increased attack generation speed.
Added a roll & heavy attack cancel timing while using the skill.

Bug Fixes

Fixed a bug where the Scarlet rot status buildup was not properly reflected when giving the Antspur Rapier a Cold affinity.
Fixed a bug where the Scarlet rot status buildup was not properly reflected when giving the Rotten Greataxe a Blood afinity.
Fixed a bug where some attacks of the Partisan, Death Ritual Spear, and Lucerne had unexpected Physical attack scaling.
Fixed a bug where the Nightrider Glaive did not increase the damage of horseback attacks.
Fixed a bug where the Duelist Greataxe and Rotten Greataxe did not increase the damage of charged attacks.
Fixed a bug where the Roar Medallion Talisman effect didn’t increase the power of some incantations.
Fixed a bug that reduced the power of some skills while under the Golden Vow effect.
Fixed a bug that caused the effects the Determination and Royal Knight’s Resolve skills when casted from a left-handed weapon to be added to other skills casted with a right-handed weapon.
Fixed a bug that reduced the critical hit power of right-handed weapons while having
Determination or Royal Knight’s Resolve active on a left-handed weapon.
Fixed a bug where status build-ups were unintentionally added to some Weapon Skills.
Fixed a bug where the power and special effects of a left-handed weapon could be added to a skill cast with a right-handed weapon.
Fixed a bug that caused an equipped Sacrificial Twig to be consumed when a player died in the Colosseum.
Fixed the camera positioning when respawning in the Colosseum.
Fixed a bug where a player could receive credit for a kill in the Colosseum when dying due to the Death status effect, instead of the
player who inflicted that status effect.
Improved stability in Colosseum matchmaking.
Fixed a bug related to level correction when an invader used the Phantom Bloody Finger.
Fixed a bug that could cause disconnections with other players in certain locations during multiplayer.
Improved online multiplayer stability.
[PS4] Fixed a bug that occurred when using the Finger Severer on summoned NPCs while offline that could cause the game to crash.
Fixed a bug related to some enemies not rendering or behaving as expected.
Several performance improvements and other bug fixes.

Elden Ring is available now for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. Elden Ring is one of our highly-rated games of 2022; check out our GOTY video segment on it below, as well as our written review.


F1 Manager 2022 Reveals Starting Driver & Key Staff Ratings

Frontier Developments has revealed the starting driver and key staff ratings for F1 Manager 2022, the major new officially licenced F1 management simulation game, launching on 30 August 2022 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE OFFICIAL F1 MANAGER 2022 RATINGS LIVESTREAM TOMORROW (20 JULY) AT 11PM GMT+8
Authenticity is key in F1 Manager 2022, and the driver ratings are no exception. Working closely with Formula One, each individual driver’s overall rating is influenced by a combination of nine performance ratings, all determined by real racing data. Each performance rating is calculated using multiple information points, creating a data driven rating that encompasses previous performances, up to and including the 2022 season so far. As players, and their drivers, progress through the season these ratings will adapt to reflect their development as they build experience throughout their career.
Starting performance ratings are split into three sections, each containing three individual attribute ratings; ‘Pace’ ratings influence the driver’s raw speed, covering Cornering, Braking and Reactions, ‘Consistency’ stats such as Accuracy, Control and Smoothness largely reduce the likelihood of driver errors. Finally, ‘Racecraft’ ratings allow drivers to adapt to changing conditions, these ratings include Adaptability, Overtaking and Defending.

In addition, each driver has their own Aggression value which determines how likely they are to attempt an overtaking manoeuvre, even at the risk of a racing incident. As well as Growth Potential, which highlights how likely their skills are to develop in future. Players can explore each of these performance ratings in detail on the F1 Manager 2022 official website.
However, victory isn’t just down to the drivers. Central to a team’s success, are the key staff members working both trackside and back at headquarters in order to unleash the potential of the car. Similarly to drivers, each key staff member has their own starting performance ratings, which are unique to each role, and these ratings will change as their experience level increases.
As the name suggests, these ratings are just a starting point. Team Principals can take direct control of how their drivers and staff develop, allocating development points to each performance rating as they gain experience. Every driver and staff member will develop and improve their skills at varying speeds. Just like the real world of F1, there will be breakthrough stars, veterans reaching the twilight of their careers, and all kinds of dynamic nuances resulting in those ratings changing throughout the seasons.

An additional influence for Team Principals to consider is the role of the headquarters. A well-maintained, state-of-the-art set of facilities allows a team to develop improved components, build experience faster and even boosts their individual morale.


We Asked She-Hulk Head Writer Jessica Gao If Every Episode Will Have Guest Stars & Their Unique End Credits Artwork

She-Hulk Attorney At Law is set to be the next Marvel Studios series to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia on 18 August 2022.
The synopsis reads:

In Marvel Studios’ “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany)—an attorney specializing in superhuman-oriented legal cases must navigate the complicated life of a single, 30-something who also happens to be a green 6-foot-7-inch superpowered hulk. The nine-episode comedy series welcomes a host of MCU vets, including Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Tim Roth as Emil Blonsky/Abomination, and Benedict Wong as Wong, as well as Jameela Jamil, Josh Segarra, Ginger Gonzaga, Jon Bass and Renée Elise Goldsberry.
The series is directed by Kat Coiro (Episodes 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9) and Anu Valia (Episodes 5, 6, 7) with Jessica Gao as head writer. Executive producers are Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Coiro and Gao.

Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we were given the opportunity to interview She-Hulk head writer, executive producer and showrunner, Jessica Gao. She is also best known for winning an Emmy Award for writing the famous Pickle Rick episode on the Rick And Morty animated series.
This interview has been edited for clarity. Stay tuned for the video version of this interview and the review of the series. In the meantime, Jessica Gao also recently revealed that She-Hulk scrapped plans to include meta comic book text boxes in our coverage of the recent press conference.

We know that the show has Bruce Banner, Wong, and even Daredevil. And each of the first four episodes I’ve seen had guest stars. Can you confirm if there will be guest stars in every episode, and why you followed this approach with She-Hulk?
Jessica Gao: There won’t be guest stars from the MCU in every single episode but we’ve also pulled a lot of characters from Marvel Comics that we’ve never seen before in the MCU. It will be their debut into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in our show, which is really exciting.
That’s just a result of the format of the show because it is a half-hour legal comedy. We kind of have this built-in format that lends itself to a lot of cameos because there’s a lot of lawsuits that we’re dealing with, with this law firm, so naturally, we would have people who are behind those lawsuits.

Is there anyone you wanted to use but couldn’t for whatever reason?
Jessica Gao: There were a lot of people we wanted to use that we couldn’t. Usually, when we pull from the comics, anytime we were told we couldn’t use a character from the comics, it’ll be one of two reasons.
The first reason would be there was a rights issue with the use of the character, or the other reason is that Marvel already had other plans for that character and so that’s why we couldn’t use them.

(L-R): Mark Ruffalo as Smart Hulk / Bruce Banner and Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer “Jen” Walters/She-Hulk in Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

How did you balance the meta breaking the fourth wall elements and the courtroom drama in the series?
Jessica Gao: For me, the most iconic run of She-Hulk in the comics is the John Byrne run, where she first started breaking the fourth wall and that run was what made me fall in love with the character from the comics in the first place.
And so, it just felt like a very foundational essential part of this character and that it’s inextricably linked so I don’t think there would be any scenario where I would have done a She-Hulk show and not done the fourth wall breaking because to me, that was such a strong part of who she was.

For She-Hulk, I noticed that every episode had unique artwork for the end credits. Can you tell us more about what went into the design and why you followed this approach?
Jessica Gao: Our end credits were done by a company called Aspect Ratio. They came in and they pitched the idea of doing courtroom sketches of our main end titles and when we heard that, we just thought, “Hh my god, that’s genius, why didn’t we think of that, now we feel stupid because we should have thought of that.”
It’s so clear and obvious that that is the perfect way to do it and then they said, “We can, if you want, do bespoke custom images for each episode and we thought, “Oh, that’s wonderful!”
So, our rule for doing it was that you would see things in each that you didn’t really see in the episode so either they were extensions of things that had already happened in the episode or it would fill in the blanks of giving you an extra bit of detail about something that happened off-screen.

(L-R): Tatiana Maslany as She-Hulk/Jennifer “Jen” Walters, Ginger Gonzaga as Nikki Ramos, and Drew Matthews as Dennis Bukowski in Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, exclusively on Disney+. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

What were the biggest challenges of working on She-Hulk?
Jessica Gao: Being part of a connected cinematic universe where everything you do and everything that all these other movies and shows do kind of affect each other. You always have to be aware of that and so, it’s a lot of asking about things, asking about the boundaries about what you’re able to do and oftentimes, wanting to do something and then being told somebody else is already doing it, so you can’t. All of that is just a very tricky path to go down and of course, Marvel is just a huge machine and they’ve created their own system of doing things. You really have to just be okay with doing things their way.


Action RPG Lords Of The Fallen Shows Off Unreal Engine 5 Visuals

At the Game Developers Conference 2023, CI Games and Hexworks released a new trailer for action RPG Lords Of The Fallen, which showcases the game’s Unreal Engine 5-powered visuals.
The trailer highlights the game’s character creation, lighting and more. This includes how the developers have utilized Unreal Engine 5’s Lumen Global Illumination to light the game’s complex environments in real-time, and the in-game mechanic of travelling between two worlds works.
The game was originally announced in August 2022. It is slated to launch for the PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC sometime in 2023.


Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life Remake Is Coming In 2023

During Nintendo Direct September 2022, Marvelous and XSeed Games announced Story Of Seasons A Wonderful Life, which is a remake of Harvest Moon A Wonderful Life that originally released for the Nintendo GameCube and PS2 in the early 2000s.
Story Of Seasons A Wonderful Life revisits the tranquil community of Forgotten Valley, where the protagonist fulfills their father’s dream of running a farm. As the seasons go by, players will find their lifelong partner, raise a child together, and watch them grow up. Will their child carry on the family’s farm legacy or find their calling somewhere else? Only time will tell…
Story Of Seasons A Wonderful Life launches for the Nintendo Switch in 2023.


Are These Upcoming LEGO Overwatch Toys Available In Southeast Asia?

(Image credit: Polygon)
The recent leaks are true: LEGO is releasing new Overwatch toys early next year. Here’s a breakdown:

Tracer and Widowmakerâ€™s minifigsÂ accompany a “mannable” drone satellite and checkpoint disc. Comes with their signature weapons too. This playset is US$14.99.

The set can be combined with the Watchpoint: Gibraltar map kit that includes Mercy, Reaper, Winston, and Pharah. That likewise gives minifigs their signature items and weapons.
It also features a 14-inch Overwatch rocket that separates into two vehicles. This set costs US$89.99.

Brothers Hanzo and Genji face off in the Hanamura dojo, which includes a Shimada Henchman minifig. The dojo features a weapons stand, health pack, and “2 hidden disc shooters that represent the dragon spirits of each brother.”
The 197-piece kit is US$19.99.

Soldier 76, McCree, and Reaper are together in the Dorado Showdown playset, which includes a payload truck (with adjustable hover-wheels), a generator payload and a Dorado-style building with a doorway for the payload truck to pass through. Dorado Showdown is US$29.99.

Reinhardt and D.Va are standalone mechs both more than five inches tall. Their minifigs can ride in the cockpit; D.Vaâ€™s mech has a shooting function. This set is US$39.99.

Once built, Bastion can be posed in recon mode (more than 10 inches tall) or sentry mode (about 6 inches tall) without rebuilding. This kit is US$49.99.
Excited? Are your toy-collecting senses tingling? Well, you may have to parallel import it; Blizzard does not ship these outside of the US for now. Hope you have pals in the US who can mail stuff to you!


The Apex Legends Apex Rising Charity Invitational Is Happening Next Month

If you’ve never heard of Falloutt, Jon Kefaloukos, aka Falloutt, is the life of the party when it comes to shoutcasting for the Apex Legends Global Series! Even if you’re not an avid follower of the Apex Legends esports scene, there’s a good chance you’ll become a fan watching him shoutcast (I know I did when I first saw VikkiKitty). With his charisma and infectious energy, he’s the kind of person who can make any game exciting and entertaining to watch.
On the 17th of February 2023, Falloutt posted the image below showing a critical analysis of the current competitive ecosystem pyramid in Apex Legends.
Falloutt talks about the large gap that is unexplored between casual players and pros. It is without a doubt that game publishers will spend all their resources and time to maximize the lowest part of the pyramid, which is the casual players since that is the biggest part of their player base.

There is always a HUGE downtime after Challenger Circuit ends and aspiring pro players have nowhere to grind but ranked, and we all know Apex Legends ranked is… well, it’s something… And imagine, all these aspiring players, watching ALGS, getting pumped and motivated to only have ranked to play. Many players have repeatedly asked for a more community-based competitive scene outside of the main event ALGS circuit series, and that’s what we’re about to get! So, let’s talk about –
APEX RISING
What is it? Well, the answer to our problem! Apex Rising is a new tournament series, and it’s all about giving the fans, community members, and aspiring pro players a chance to experience competitive Apex Legends like the pros do. The ultimate goal is to provide the resources, support and opportunities needed to help aspiring pro players and Apex Legends fans succeed and bridge the gap between the community and the pros.
Here, they will be able to showcase their skills, and take their game to the next level. But here’s the thing, it’s not just about the competition – Apex Rising is also dedicated to growing the game through grassroots. community-driven events, tournaments, and broadcasts that will bring players of all skill levels together.
What’s great about this series is that it isn’t just about competitive gaming – it’s also about making a difference in the world. Apex Rising is committed to supporting leading and deserving charities through significant fundraising efforts when they can. By participating, you’re not only showing off your crazy movement and skills, but you’re also contributing to an important cause! And the best part? This is all just the beginning. Apex Rising has a long-term roadmap and vision that includes even more charity fundraising and community-driven events.
APEX RISING: CHARITY PRO-AM INVITATIONAL

Well, hold on to your weapons, and get ready for the ultimate Apex Legends philanthropic showdown! The Apex Rising: Charity Pro-Am Invitational is a two-day esports tournament that brings together 40 teams of pro players/ content creators, and 2 deserving community members in a double elimination, Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) format. 40 of the world’s top professional players and influencers will be paired up with 80 amazing community members who have earned their spot, not just based on their skills mechanically in game, but also their leadership as well as personalities. We’re talking about a diverse group of players from all over the world, all coming together to showcase their skills and also have a blast. This itself makes for a unique and exciting competition that’s all about giving back.
The goal is to raise US$1, 000, 000 for charity while promoting pro players, content creators as well as amateur rising stars in the process. With great viewership expected, this event is sure to drive a significant impact to both the Apex Legends esports scene and charities.
So mark your calendars, for 20 to 21 April 2023, root for your favourite players, and watch as the community comes together in support of a great cause!
Who’s running Apex Rising?

Well, as it is a community-driven event, there will be many amazing people they’re relying on to make it happen. From staff members and community members, everyone is coming together to create this event. Here’s the main crew who will be hard at work, be sure to give them all some love while you’re at it.
We’ll keep you guys updated on what’s next for Apex Rising, so stay tuned!


You’ll Want To See Sid Meier Play The First Civilization Prototype On A 30-Year Old Computer

The Civilization strategy series has been around for three decades or so, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Heck, the latest Civ VI update is somehow shoehorning in battle royale.
Developer Firaxis, led by series creator Sid Meier, are so in tune with the past games that they’ve kept an original development PC running for over a year just to look back at the original prototypes.
“When the 25th anniversary of Civilization rolled around,” Meier says, “I realised we had in our basement some of the original computers that were used to create the game. I thought itâ€™d be fun to try to resurrect those. There were actually two of these Compaq Deskpro 386 computers that I saved for all those years. We brought them in here, and tried to fire them up.”
It’s also been a while since we’ve heard the words “Compaq”, “Deskpro”, and “386”. How far we’ve come, eh? Of course, they had to clean it up thoroughly because these are old machines and they have to be kept turned on and powered up for a year in fear that it’ll never boot up again. Check out the old school gameplay at the 10:04 mark.

It’s nice to know that the more things change, the more they stay awesome and possibly the same.


Star Wars To Get The Taika Waititi Treatment

Just in time for Star Wars Day on 4 May 2020, the official Star Wars Twitter account broke the best news for fans of the franchise. Thor Ragnarok and Jojo Rabbit director Taika Waititi will direct and co-write a new Star Wars feature film for theatrical release.

Incoming news from a galaxy far, far awayâ€¦.
Academy Award winner @TaikaWaititi to direct and co-write a new Star Wars feature film for theatrical release; Academy Award nominee Krysty Wilson-Cairns (@WeWriteAtDawn) to co-write screenplay with Waititi: https://t.co/o3Exz8ndy9 pic.twitter.com/Yrt0LQbi7B
â€” Star Wars (@starwars) May 4, 2020
This won’t be Waititi’s first foray into the franchise, as he previously directed the first episode of The Mandalorian Season 1. Joining Waititi on screenplay duty for the new Star Wars movie will be screenwriter Krysty Wilson-Cairns, best known for working on last year’s award-winning World War One movie 1917.
In addition, Leslye Headland (best known for being a co-showrunner on Netflix’s Russian Doll) is currently developing a new untitled Star Wars series for Disney Plus, on which she will write, executive produce, and serve as showrunner.
This new untitled Star Wars series will be the fourth one to be announced for Disney Plus after The Mandalorian (the second season of which has been confirmed to be in post-production), a series featuring Rogue One‘s Cassian Andor, and the Obi-Wan Kenobi series.
However, both Taika Waititi’s movie and Headland’s series have yet to receive a release date at the time of writing. More will probably be revealed in the near future. We still know nothing about these new projects, especially on which era of Star Wars they will be exploring.
Perhaps they’ll take place during the age of the High Republic, the recently-announced new (and canon) ancient era for the Star Wars universe. Until then, may the 4th be with you, and enjoy Star Wars Day!


Blizzard Teases New Pharah Skin

Blizzard earlier today teased of a sweet looking Legendary Pharah skin coming our way as part of their cosmetic update which drops in five days. Calling it ‘ASP Pharah’, the new shiny skin sees our favorite rocket launcher sporting a brand new serpent-themed gold armor with a helmet resembling a headdress that reveals her Cleopatra-look.

Only 5 more days until our cosmetics update arrives in Overwatch! Join us as we count down to their release with new item reveals every day.
Today’s reveal: ASP PHARAH (Legendary Skin) pic.twitter.com/hDROJPh8WZ
â€” Overwatch (@PlayOverwatch) January 18, 2018
Aptly tagged as a Legendary Skin, we estimate that it will cost you about 3000 coins to outrightly purchase it although it expected be available via lootboxes. But come on – we saved 3000 coins to date exactly for moments like this so we now know what armor Ms Fareeha Amari will be sporting come 23rd January 2018. Just imagine pairing that skin with a gold rocket launcher. Late last year, Blizzard revealed several brand new skins for other Overwatch heroes which were inspired by other Blizzard games.

Expect more reveals in days to come as Blizzard ramps up the momentum ahead of the release of the newest map on Overwatch, Blizzard World.


Falcom Teases Modern Ports Of Missing Legend Of Heroes Games

JRPG fans are pretty content with the fact that niche Falcom titles like The Legend of Heroes series are getting English localizations. Case in point, the recent Trails of Cold Steel series which I am finally playing on PC thanks to the recent Steam sale.
Falcom’s goodwill in porting over past titles is far from over. The company that built Ys teased that they are working to make The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki and The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki playable on modern consoles (via Easy Allies). When asked about the “Crossbell games”, Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo said that they plan to talk to foreign publishers once plans for these ports are concrete.

“The thing about both of those games is that they were originally developed for PSP in Japan, and then later on they received whatâ€™s called theÂ Evolution versions of them in Japan, but the point is is that theyâ€™re no longer able to be played on modern console(s). So what we want to do as a companyâ€”what weâ€™re actually starting to prepare forâ€”is to be able to bring both of those games to modern console(s).
So right now itâ€™s still in the very early stages and thereâ€™s not much to be said about it, but as we do this and as those plans become a little bit more solidified, we would like to absolutely start talks with foreign publishers and things, and get that conversation going to bring these games finally out to fans here in the west.”

Sounds awesome for Falcom fans. The latest Trails game in English, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III, will be out on 24th September for PS4.


Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 3 Will Be The Final Season

During Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, it was announced that Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 3 will the final season for the animated series. It will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar sometime in 2024.
Star Wars The Bad Batch follows the elite and experimental clones of the Bad Batch as they find their way in a rapidly changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars. Members of Bad Batch; a unique squad of clones who vary genetically from their brothers in the Clone Army; each possess a singular exceptional skill that makes them extraordinarily effective soldiers and a formidable crew.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch Season 2 stars Emmy Award nominee Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad!) as the voice of the Bad Batch and Emmy Award nominee Michelle Ang (Fear the Walking Dead: Flight 462) as the voice of Omega. Emmy Award winner Rhea Perlman (The Mindy Project, Cheers) returns to guest star as Cid, Noshir Dalal (It’s Pony, The Owl House) returns to guest star as Vice Admiral Rampart, and Emmy Award winner Wanda Sykes (The Upshaws, Black-ish) makes her guest starring debut in the series as Phee Genoa.
Two years ago, we managed to participate in a brief exclusive interview with actress Gwendoline Yeo, who voices the Kaminoan named Nala Se in Star Wars The Bad Batch, as well in a roundtable interview with head writer and executive producer Jennifer Corbett as well as supervising director and executive producer Brad Rau, courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia.
In the meantime, check out our review of Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 2 here.

Just announced at #StarWarsCelebration:@StarWars: #TheBadBatch will return for a third and final season on @DisneyPlus in 2024. pic.twitter.com/3R2zSeMrKa
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 10, 2023


Genshin Impact 3.1 Update Will Be Out This September

HoyoVerse will release the next update for its JRPG Genshin Impact later this month.
Genshin Impact version 3.1: King Deshret and the Three Magi will be out on 28th September. The update will extend the Sumeru area with a new desert expanse, as well as add in new Domains and dungeons like King Deshret’s Mausoleum. The next Archon Quest with two Fatui Harbingers will also be on tap for the update.
Most importantly, the next three characters in the gacha pool will be available: Nilou, Cyno, and Candace. There will also be a Weinlesefest quest featuring returning characters Razor and a few others from Monstadt. But you’re clearly here for the gacha goodness; check out their kit and skills below.

Check out the trailer below.


Netflix Anime 2022 Lineup: JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Vampires, Romans & More

The Netflix anime Japan 2022 virtual weekend took place earlier today, where they provided updates on upcoming anime coming to the streaming platform. These include Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Stone Ocean, Spriggan and more.
Netflix Anime Creative Director Kohei Obara said:
“Anime is one of the cornerstones of our investment in Japan, watched by nearly 90 percent of our members here last year. At the same time, interest in anime has grown worldwide, and more than half of our members globally tuned into it last year. From diversifying our slate to bringing back fan favorites, we want to continue growing our members’ discovery and love for anime, both in Japan and around the world with this next chapter of anime on Netflix.”
Check them out below:
Thermae Romae Novae

Mari Yamazaki’s manga masterpiece Thermae Romae, winner of the Cartoon Grand Prize 2010 and the Short Story Award at the 14th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, is finally being adapted into a Netflix original anime as Thermae Romae Novae! Mari Yamazaki herself will also be participating in the series as series composer.
This fantastical bathhouse comedy tells the story of Lucius, a young man struggling as a bathhouse designer in the Roman Empire who somehow ends up time traveling between ancient Rome and present-day Japan and incorporating Japan’s bath culture in the designs of his own Roman thermae.
Thermae Romae Novae will premiere on Netflix on 28 March 2022.

Vampire In The Garden

Though mortal enemies, a human girl and a vampire queen set out in search of the paradise where humans and vampires once coexisted in peace.
The fateful meeting of a human and the vampire queen may change the world. From WIT STUDIO and a team of talented creators comes Vampire in the Garden One cold winter, humanity lost its battle with the vampires, and with it, most of where they called home. A small population of survivors created a wall of light in a small town to protect them and give them a place to live in peace.
The protagonist, Momo, lives a repressed life but still wishes to coexist with the enemy, the vampires. Fine, the vampire queen, once loved humans and disappeared from the battlefield. As war rages through the humans’ town, the two have a fateful encounter. Once upon a time, humans and vampires lived in harmony in a place called Paradise. This is the story of a young girl and a vampire on a journey to find Paradise.
Vampire In The Garden premieres on Netflix on 16 May 2022.

Ghost In The Shell SAC_2045 Season 2

After tracking down a source in California, Major Motoko Kusanagi and the Section 9 crew head back to Tokyo as the posthuman threat grows bolder.
Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki bring a vision of the future in 2045 to the landmark near-future science fiction franchise “Ghost in the Shell.” Fully prosthetic cyborg Motoko Kusanagi leads Public Security Section 9 as they once again take on cyberbrain crime.
Ghost In The Shell SAC_2045 Season 2 premieres on Netflix on 23 May 2022.

Ultraman Season 2

Ultraman teams up with Seven, Ace, Zoffy, Jack and Taro, and together, the united Ultraman brotherhood takes on a new alien threat.
The story heats up as six warriors band together! Directors Kenji Kamiyama and Shinji Aramaki take the world of ULTRAMAN into the realm of the unknown. Get the first glimpse of Alien Wadoran Maya, a new character that will appear in Season 2.
Ultraman Season 2 premieres on Netflix on 14 April 2022.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stone Ocean

The legacy of the Joestar family continues with Jolyne as she and her companions take on new Stand users behind the bars of Green Dolphin Street Prison.
2011, United States, Florida —
When Jolyne Cujoh and her boyfriend get in an accident while out on a drive, she is framed for the crime and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Will she ever be free from this prison — this stone ocean?
The final battle in the century-spanning, intertwining fate of the Joestar family and DIO begins!
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Stone Ocean Episodes 13-24 will premiere worldwide on Netflix in fall 2022.

Spriggan

Based on the manga “Spriggan” (published in Shogakukan’s “Shonen Sunday Comics”) written by Hiroshi Takashige and illustrated by Ryoji Minagawa.
A great civilization once existed on this Earth. Possessing knowledge and scientific prowess far exceeding that of modern man, the relics of this ancient civilization remain hidden across this world even now. As high-speed communication networks cover the globe and the peering eyes of satellites are able to expose all secrets, the armies of great nations clash as they seek to uncover and research these artifacts, which possess an unfathomable “power.”
A member of this ancient civilization carved a message into a plate: “Protect our relics from evil-doers.” Taking this message to heart, one organization aims to seal away this ancient civilization for good. The elite secret agents of this organization are known as…Spriggans.
Spriggan premieres on 18 June 2022 on Netflix.

The Seven Deadly Sins Grudge Of Edinburgh Part 1

With over 37 million copies sold and winning in the children’s category of the 39th Kodansha Manga Award, The Seven Deadly Sins (original work: Nakaba Suzuki) is receiving a spin-off anime film. This film will feature an original story by Suzuki. Split into two parts, the story will follow Tristan, the son of The Seven Deadly Sins protagonists Meliodas and Elizabeth. Tristan inherits the power of the Goddess Clan and can heal people’s wounds and injuries, but he often ends up hurting others due to his inability to control his Demon Clan power. To protect his family, Tristan heads to Edinburgh Castle and meets a host of new friends along the way.
The Seven Deadly Sins Grudge Of Edinburgh Part 1 is coming to Netflix in 2022. Check out the new art above!


FIFA 23 X Marvel Collaboration For World Cup

FIFA 23 will see EA SPORTS partner up with Marvel Comics so that players can get a set of FIFA 23 Marvel Super Heroes cards. Here’s how you can get one for free.
Announced on 15 August, for the first time in the 14 year history of FUT, the unique illustrated designs will replace real-world player photos in-game for 21 of the selected FIFA World Cup FUT Heroes items.
Explaining the concept, an EA post said: “Blurring the lines of Comic Culture and Football Fandom with the legendary artists at Marvel, FIFA 23 Ultimate Team Heroes will be illustrated and inspired by Marvel Super Heroes to celebrate awe-inspiring moments of their careers.”
On top of Ultimate Team cards being designed to look like Marvel characters, there will also be a number of superhero-style kits, balls, and other items available to players.
HOW TO GET A FREE FIFA 23 MARVEL SUPERHERO CARD
To get a free FIFA 23 Marvel Heroes card, you have to pre-order the game before21 August, 2022.
This works just like Ones To Watch bonus cards from the past, and alongside the Hero card, there are also a number of other benefits for players to make the most of.
LIST OF PLAYERS

These are the confirmed FIFA 23 Marvel Superhero cards we know about so far. FUT Heroes from last year have evolved into real superheroes, inspired by different Marvel Comics. The confirmed list of FIFA 23 Hero cards includes the following:

Yaya Toure
Park Ji-Sung
Landon Donovan
Claudio Marchisio
Ricardo Carvalho

For more information on this collaboration, you can check the EA’s official blog post.


Life Is Strange 2 Is Getting A Physical Release Next Year

Square Enix and Dontnod Entertainment have announced that Life Is Strange 2 will be getting a physical release next year for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
There will be two editions of the physical release; Standard Edition and Collector’s Edition. The Standard Edition will only contain the Life is Strange 2 base game, Arcadia Bay Patches and a bonus game in the form of The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit. The Collector’s Edition will contain all of that and additional items such as a hardcover artbook, vinyl figurines, and a box.

The physical editions of Life Is Strange 2 is slated to release on 3 December 2019 in Europe and 4 February 2020 in the US. The developer explained that the reason for the bizarre delay of the US version is because “different countries have different requirements when it comes to rating the content on the discs”.
They are now available for pre-order on the official Square Enix website.


Ubisoft Delays Skull & Bones Yet Again; Cancels 3 Unannounced Games

Is Ubisoft trying to go for a world record of “most-delayed game”? It seems to be doing so with this latest news.
Ubisoft announced that it has delayed Skull & Bones (via IGN), the Ubisoft Singapore-made pirate game that has been in development for 10 years or so, for the sixth time. The game will now arrive “early” in Ubisoft’s next fiscal year -April until March 2024. Previously, the pirate game was slated for March 2023.
In addition, Ubisoft has cancelled three unannounced games. This is due to the company facing major challenges “as the industry continues to shift towards mega-brands and long-lasting titles than can reach players across the globe, across platforms and business models”.
Other key points from the company’s recent press release include:

Just Dance 2023 and Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope failing to meet expectations.
Plans to release Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and “other premium titles” during the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Here’s the full press release quote from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot:
“We are clearly disappointed by our recent performance. We are facing contrasted market dynamics as the industry continues to shift towards mega-brands and everlasting live games, in the context of worsening economic conditions affecting consumer spending.
Despite excellent ratings and players’ reception as well as an ambitious marketing plan, we were surprised by Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope underperformance in the final weeks of 2022 and early January. Just Dance 2023 underperformed as well.
Therefore, with the approval of the Board of Directors, we are taking additional important strategic and operational decisions today. It is key to continue adapting our organization, to further strengthen our execution and to ensure we both deliver amazing games to players as well as great value creation.
The industry’s long-term prospects remain promising, and I am convinced Ubisoft is well positioned to benefit from this momentum thanks to the strength of our teams, brands, production capacity, technology and balance-sheet. Our back-catalogue remains very healthy with notably robust activity on Rainbow Six Siege, great momentum for our Assassin’s Creed games, and generally solid performance from our live games.
We expect our strategy to build long-lasting live games and transform our biggest brands into truly global phenomenon with multiple offerings across platforms and business models, to ultimately generate significant value creation, with strong topline and operating income growth over the coming years.”
One does wonder if the Singaporean government and its Media Development Authority body have anything to say about this delay, considering that Ubisoft Singapore has been getting grants solely for the production and release of the pirate game.


You Can Play Football Manager 2022 For Free This Weekend

The official Football Manager account has announced that Football Manager 2022 will be free to play this weekend on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via both Steam and Epic Games Store.
They also confirmed that it’s the full game.

Clear those weekend plans…
Try Football Manager 2022 for FREE across Epic, Steam and Xbox ?
Live today – stay tuned ? pic.twitter.com/49sobivW6m
— Football Manager (@FootballManager) April 7, 2022

Football Manager 2022 is the closest thing to real football management. FM22 brings new, progressive ways to find your winning edge, instill your footballing style and earn it on the pitch. It originally launched in November 2021.


Mass Effect Remastered & New Entry Announced Prematurely [Update: It’s Official]

Update: …and it’s made official, thanks to the leak. EA has officially announced the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, featuring the first three games all remastered graphically & whatnot. We’re also getting a new entry in the series.

Looks like some folks are a little too excited on N7/Mass Effect day. According to a GameSpot leak (via ChaosMole), fans and RPG connoisseurs will be getting a twofer from Bioware.
The leaked articles stated that the Mass Effect Legendary Edition will be out in 2021. It features the original trilogy and will be out for next-gen consoles and PC. This collection features:

Better resolution (we’re guessing 4K)
Better framerates (up to 120fps, perhaps?)
Better textures, shaders, character models, and effects

Bioware also announced that it will be working on a new Mass Effect entry, with the series’ veterans at the helm. Our guess as to who will be on this? Original creative director Casey Hudson and Mass Effect: Andromeda creative director Mac Walters, most likely. Hopefully, this won’t end up like that “A”-labelled mess.


MDEC’s Level Up KL Hosts SEA Game Awards 2021; Game Submissions Now Open

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, or MDEC, will be hosting the SEA Game Awards 2021 by way of the Level Up KL expo. This will be the fifth year in the running for Level Up KL, with the event happening on September 2021.
The award categories for the show are as follows:

Grand Jury Award
Rising Star Award
Audience Choice Award
Best Technology
Best Visual Art
Best Game Design
Best Innovation
Best Storytelling
Best Audio
Best Student Game

If you reside and/or work in Southeast Asia and have a game you want to show off to the world, you can submit your entry before the 2nd of August. You can do so on this registration link.
https://www.facebook.com/lvlupkualalumpur/posts/4239970919399728?__cft__[0]=AZXCPxC7Xseg95pHiTu8Sy8vtIPHnfx4f1UTpiI_zAtG1HI8iRzLC-xtSBzHFqKSGmcSGtCKzDrcyn_nhmiiDYNCnBAGnYszRJXGGxXmgSrSKQnVlZj4OR1MtR2LyrXMx6oCxv6xjVUpJq_7Cv5QD8Pw&__tn__=%2CO*F
We can expect to see the nominees from all over the region popping up closer to September.


Atomic Heart Will Be Out Next February

The upcoming first-person action RPG sci-fi dystopian title Atomic Heart now has a release date after being delayed to next year.
Publisher Focus Entertainment and developer Mundfish will release Atomic Heart on 21 February, 2023 for PC (Steam), Xbox, and PlayStation platforms and consoles. The game will also be available on Xbox Game Pass.
If you order the Premium Edition of the game, you’ll get an Atomic Heart “Atomic Pass” Season Pass, two exclusive weapon skins, and a digital art book. As to what’s inside the season pass, we’re thinking new stages and boss battles, but we won’t know until we get actual official words.
Check out the trailer and key features of the game below:
Key Features

A utopian world, both mad and sublime.
Visceral, spectacular and unforgiving combat.
Blast giant machines and mutants using your multiple skills and advanced weapons.
Upgrade your arsenal and equipment.


ASUS ROG’s Join The Walkers Challenge Offers Great Prizes To Win

ASUS ROG recently announced the new Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker Special Edition (GA401QEC) laptop, created in collaboration with the legendary artist, DJ and music producer. With unique styling and a custom ROG Remix sampler, this machine is ready for any creative endeavour.
It is priced at RM7999, and thereâ€™s currently a special promo where buyers can get a complimentary ROG Slash Sling bag worth RM399 when they purchase a ROG Zephyrus G14 Alan Walker SE.
Now, you can stand stay at home and stand a chance to win great Alan Walker prizes by taking part in the Join The Walkers challenge. The contest takes place from now until 30 September 2021.

All you need to do is perform the following steps:

Set your Instagram profile to “Public” inÂ Settings Privacy.
Save this song into your list:Â my.rog.gg/AW_Sorry_ROG
Upload your version of the “Join The Walkers Challenge” video on Instagram Reels.
Tap the music icon, select the song you saved.
You may use stickers, GIFs, effects, and texts to enhance your video.
In the caption, add the hashtagÂ #ROGAlanWalkerMY, tagÂ @asusrogmalaysia
Write a short caption about yourÂ favourite featuresÂ on the ROG Zephyrus G14 AW SE.
Turn on the “Also share to feed” option.

Try your luck now!
For more details and information, you can head on over to the official website here.


AMD Streamer Challenge 2020 Sees SEA Streamers Compete In Valorant & Fall Guys

AMD and esports organiser Eliphant have partnered to bring to Asia the AMD Streamer Challenge 2020, the next-generation of streamer-led, AMD-powered gaming entertainment.
The new gaming series will air completely online from September through to December 2020 and will feature popular online personalities from East Asia (South Korea and Japan) and Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand).
Streamers will face off against one another in a variety of formats and game titles over several episodes competing for a total prize pool worth over US$20,000.
Acer and HP join AMD as anchor sponsors for the series, providing the latest in AMD-powered gaming hardware for streamers to compete on and sponsoring prizes and giveaways for viewers.
EPOS joins as the official gaming headset supplier, bringing a premium-quality audio experience to pair with AMDâ€™s gaming experience.
Secretlab comes on board as the official gaming chair, bringing the world-class experience that top esports professionals enjoy at tournaments around the world.
The East Asia competition will be the AMD Streamer Challenge: Triple Threat, which will involve streamers from Japan and South Korea facing off against each other in a series of in-game challenges in one of this yearâ€™s hottest games â€“ Valorant.
In Southeast Asia, the format will be the AMD Streamer Challenge: Domination where streamers will form teams with their fans, and represent their countries in a round-robin competition in both Valorant and Fall Guys Ultimate Knockout.
AMD sponsored pro team Fnatic will also make an appearance and Dota 2 fans will be able to sign up to play with or against them.
The AMD Streamer Challenge will comprise a total of 11 episodes, which will be broadcast on the officialÂ AMD Twitch channel, as well as on theÂ AMD Streamer Challenge website. Southeast Asia episodes will be broadcast in English, Thai and Bahasa Indonesia, while East Asia episodes will be broadcast in Japanese and Korean.

AMD Streamer Challenge is unique in that viewers will play a significant role and be able to join in the action by signing up for team slots to play with their favourite streamers, and also stand a chance to win from the prize pool.
More information is available on theÂ AMD Streamer Challenge website,Â including the list of participating streamers, episode challenge formats and sign-up form.


Age Of Wonders 4 Announced; Out This May

The 4X genre of PC gaming isn’t that plentiful, so it’s a good thing Paradox Interactive is stepping in with the next Age of Wonders game.
The publisher and developer Triumph Studios will release Age Of Wonders 4 for PC, Xbox Series, and PS5 on 2nd May. It combines 4X gameplay, turn-based tactical combat, and a bunch of factions that grow and change as you expand your empire. Basically, it’s like a bigger and slower Heroes of Might & Magic title, if you’re a 90s PC gamer type.
Announcement trailer & feature list below:

Create the Empire of Your Wildest Fantasies

Craft your followers by combining bodily forms, societal traits and arcane powers. Build anything from a clan of cannibal halflings to mystic moon elves, or recreate your favourite fantasy tropes.
Seek powerful tomes of magic to enchant your armies and evolve your people! See your people physically change as they morph into angelic beings or scions of chaos to face their enemies.
Seek glory through brutal domination, cunning alliances, or ultimate arcane knowledge, and write your legacy into the very fabric of the realm itself!

Strategy Meets Role-Playing Like Never Before

Every choice opens up new possibilities and tactical advantages; deep, multilayered strategy allows you to try new tactics or explore new powers at every turn.
Tactical turn-based battles bring your armies to life, showcasing their power in an environment shaped by your decisions. From skirmishes with roaming monsters to vast sieges with dozens of units on each side, with the addition of a morale system and more features, every battle brings a fresh challenge.
Tremendous variety in empires, units, and environments keep the game endlessly replayable. Age of Wonders is more moddable and open-ended than ever in the series’ history.

Make Your Mark on a Vast, Reactive World

Explore a new realm with each game—or create your own! Challenge new variations and combinations of locations and features, from frozen wastelands ruled by ice queens to desolated ruins where dragons roam.
A new event system provides unexpected levels of storytelling for 4X games. See your decisions shape the world around you, from growing cities and roaming armies to world-warping magic effects.
Guide your empire to greatness—but the story doesn’t end with your victory or defeat! Ascend your rulers to an in-game pantheon and unlock ways to further customize your experience. Encounter your own creations as potential rivals or allies in subsequent games, and experience the next chapter in your own story!


The Amazing Spider-Man LEGO Art Swings To Decorate Your Room This August

The LEGO Art 31209 The Amazing Spider-Man will go on sale on 1 August 2023. This 2,099-piece set will retail for US$169.99 and will be available from LEGO.com, or your local LEGO store.
It has vibrant comic book colours, emulating the comic book Ben-Day-dot printing technique from the 1960s. Measuring over 54 cm high and 41 cm wide, the 3D effect of the optical illusion of Spidey breaking out of the frame looks cool.
There’s also the detail of the 15 LEGO Spiders in the frame, which is a nod to issue #15 of Amazing Fantasy, the comic book debut of Spider-Man back in August 1962. The LEGO Art 31209 The Amazing Spider-Man also comes with a custom soundtrack tailor-made to enhance the time spent building this piece of Super Hero art.


Wild Hearts Is More Than Just A Monster Hunter Clone

I can’t help but think of Monster Hunter and the numerous clones that have emerged since the franchise’s explosion in popularity as Wild Hearts’ release date approaches. At this time, the Monster Hunter series has existed in our gaming culture for close to 20 years. Its unique gameplay and features have established a new genre that is separate from similar games that were launched around the same time as it did.
Be sure to check out our preview for Wild Hearts

Due to the Monster Hunter game series’ success, other game developers have started to use its game model, giving rise to what some have dubbed Monster Hunter clones. Players who love the distinctive and nostalgic atmosphere of the first Monster Hunter game have grown to love these games.
So what makes these Monster Hunter clones so appealing? Let’s take a closer look at the key elements that are present.
What Is A “Monster Hunter Clone”?
To understand what a Monster Hunter clone is, we must examine its gameplay similarities to the original Monster Hunter. One of the defining traits of these clones is their combat system, which typically includes the following elements:
Giant Monsters

While not the most original aspect of Monster Hunter clones, it is undoubtedly one of the most notable. These games feature massive enemies, with multiple attack points and parts that players can aim for, break, or exploit. This design allows players to find the best attack strategies and combinations by identifying the optimal points to attack and searching for offensive combinations that work best on a specific body part.
It’s important to note that other games also feature similar enemy designs, but Monster Hunter clones have made this a fundamental aspect of their game. This approach adds a level of realism to the game, as opposed to simply treating large enemies as big targets. For example, games like Phantasy Star Nova, which can be considered a precursor to Monster Hunter, still include the same giant monster slaying element found in current Monster Hunter clones.
Comprehensive Customization
Customization is another key element that adds to the realism of the Monster Hunter game series. This draws from western RPG elements, including a comprehensive item loot/drop system. In Monster Hunter clones, players not only take down giant monsters, but also obtain loot from them, which is linked to the parts and points they have attacked, broken, or extracted. These items can be used to customize a variety of things in the game, but most importantly, they are used to craft and upgrade equipment needed to defeat other beasts.
The comprehensive customization in Monster Hunter clones is what drives its replay value and keeps players coming back, either because they love it or they hate it. This also encourages players to be strategic in their approach to defeating enemies, rather than simply resorting to hack-and-slash tactics. In fact, while the giant monster slaying aspect is the most popularized, it is the customization element that is most important in defining a game as a Monster Hunter clone. This is what truly sets it apart as a unique genre.
Multiplayer

Active multiplayer is another feature commonly found in Monster Hunter clones, especially in recent years. While it may not be directly related to the original Monster Hunter games on the PS2, players have the option to call upon NPCs to fill in player slots, but the real fun comes from cooperative play.
With each player using their own customized equipment, groups can work together in specific areas and even in story missions, which greatly improves game progression and enhances the customization system. There is also a sense of fairness as each player participates equally in combat and shares the same amount of items and bonuses.
The majority of these multiplayer options are offered online, but for handheld versions, ad-hoc or local network connectivity options are also available, making it easy for players to team up and play the co-op game mode they prefer. Freedom Wars, for example, adds a unique twist to traditional co-op play with various PVP multiplayer modes when players are not busy fighting Abductors and rescuing researchers.
The Appeal of Monster Hunter Clones
Over the years, the success of the Monster Hunter clone games has shifted from being just a different version of Monster Hunter to having its own unique appeal. The initial popularity of these games was due to their similarities to Monster Hunter, including the platform engine and gameplay elements such as giant monster slaying, comprehensive customization, and multiplayer options.
However, as time has passed, these games have evolved and developed their own distinct flavour, no longer relying on the success of Monster Hunter. The continued popularity of these games is now driven by a different, more dynamic form of gaming appeal.

The appeal of Monster Hunter lies in its technical nature. The gameplay is not just about hacking and slashing, it requires a certain level of skill and understanding of the game’s mechanics to overcome even the simplest of enemies. In contrast, Monster Hunter clones tend to modify and simplify the technical aspect to improve the game’s overall pacing and increase interactivity in the battle environment.
A defining characteristic of the original Monster Hunter games was the absence of a jumping mechanic in the game. This unique aspect set it apart from other action games and required players to navigate battles by only walking around the battlefield. This lack of a jump option may have seemed strange to new players at first, but during the mid-2000s, it became a feature that distinguished the main games from the clones.
You see, Monster Hunter clones took a different approach by introducing the ability to jump and sometimes even the option to dash in the air. An example of this is Ragnarok Odyssey, which enhances the battle system by allowing players to dash through the air and attack key points on massive targets.

Another aspect of environment interactivity that is featured in several Monster Hunter clones is the use of long-lasting and widespread effects. A prime example of this is the PSE Weather System in Phantasy Star Online 2. In this game, players are exposed to various environmental effects based on the current weather conditions in the quest area of a specific planet. This could range from elemental boosts to increased mob spawn rates, adding another level of depth and excitement to the game experience.

Each Monster Hunter clone may have a different approach in its game concepts and designs, but they all share the goal of enhancing the interactive dynamic environment features. This doesn’t mean that Monster Hunter falls short in this aspect, rather, it just means that each Monster Hunter clone offers a unique twist on the familiar formula.
Wild Hearts’ Formula

Then that begs the question, can Wild Hearts improve on the Monster Hunter Formula? From what we’ve seen so far, one obvious difference is the fact that Wild Hearts is open-world. Unlike Monster Hunter, which has a central hub for preparation and segmented areas for hunting, Wild Hearts has taken the open-world approach like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
This provides players with the freedom to do as they please and in doing so, will be more inclined to explore and become immersed in the world at their own pace. The unique blend of elements in Azuma would make for a thrilling open-world experience and set Wild Hearts apart from the typical Monster Hunter structure.
One way for Wild Hearts to stand out and differentiate itself from the Monster Hunter series is to have a more emphasised story. While the gameplay is important, having a captivating and engaging storyline as the main focus rather than features and mechanics, as is typical in Monster Hunter games, can help set Wild Hearts apart.
Additionally, by downplaying the emphasis on multiplayer, Wild Hearts can allow the individual narrative to shine through even better. By offering a more in-depth and immersive story, Wild Hearts has the potential to be a truly unique and standout title in the gaming world.

Another distinguishing factor that Wild Hearts has is the building mechanic and how it is not only incorporated into how you traverse the world of Azuma but also into the game’s combat. In this day and age, it’s extremely hard not to compare it to Fortnite in that sense. Building walls to stop Kemonos from ramming into you and creating platforms for you to perform aerial strike downs, this mechanic is unique to Wild Hearts alone. This could be further developed if the game had more complex and fighting game-esque combos were introduced, creating a higher skill ceiling for those who may want to.
Overall I see a lot of potential in Wild Hearts revolutionising the hunting genre and being more than just another Monster Hunter clone. Yes, there are a lot of similarities but we’ve also seen ways that the game differs itself from other Monster Hunter games and clones in a way that’s not too out of place and still fits the genre as a whole. Now the question is whether or not it will fall flat or hit the ground running.


Netflix September 2021: Our Picks & Highlights

Since everyone is (still mostly) staying home because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Iâ€™m sure you wonâ€™t want to waste time sifting through Netflixâ€™s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming giant updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so Iâ€™m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for Netflix Malaysiaâ€™s September 2021 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Your Name (1 September 2021)

The Your Name anime movie by Makoto Shinkai remains one of the most highest-grossing anime film and Japanese films of all time, garnering over a whopping US$357.9 million at the worldwide box office.
Your Name tells the story of a high school boy in Tokyo and a high school girl in a rural town, who suddenly and inexplicably begin to swap bodies. Obviously, thereâ€™s more to it than that, but what could have been an overly convoluted and messy plot turned out to be a beautiful and emotionally stirring love story.
It’s one of the best anime movies in recent times and you own it to yourselves to watch it if you haven’t, especially if you’re an anime fan. Itâ€™s definitely better than Makoto Shinkaiâ€™s follow-up, Weathering With YouÂ (at least, in my opinion).

Money Heist Part 5 Volume 1 (3 September 2021)
LA CASA DE PAPEL (L to R) JAIME LORENTE as DENVER, BELÃ‰N CUESTA as MANILA, ÃšRSULA CORBERÃ“ as TOKIO in episode 04 of LA CASA DE PAPEL. Cr. TAMARA ARRANZ/NETFLIX Â© 2020
100 hours seems like 100 years. This is how Tokyo describes how she feels in the official trailer for the first volume of La Casa de Papel Part 5. The Professor reveals that the stormwater tank has been discovered while Colonel Tamayo gets ready for the army to enter the Bank of Spain.
It is one of the most uncertain moments for The Gang. They are against the ropes and it seems like this will truly be their ending. Will they gather their strength to fight against the oddsâ€¦ just one more time? After all, they are The Resistance.
The synopsis reads:

The gang has been shut in the Bank of Spain for over 100 hours.
They have managed to rescue Lisbon, but their darkest moment is upon them after losing one of their own.
The Professor has been captured by Sierra and, for the first time, doesnâ€™t have an escape plan.
Just when it seems like nothing else could go wrong, an enemy comes on the scene that is much more powerful than any theyâ€™ve faced: the army.
The end of the greatest heist in history is approaching, and what began as a robbery will turn into a war.

Money Heist Part 5 will launch in two instalments, Volume 1 on 3 September 2021 and Volume 2 on 3 December 2021.

Kate (10 September 2021)
KATE (2021) Mary Elizabeth Winstead (“Kate”), Miku Martineau (“Ani”)
Itâ€™s like John Wick but with Mary Elizabeth Winstead in the leading role. What more do you want?
She plays the role of Kate in Netflixâ€™sÂ Kate, a ruthless assassin whoâ€™s been irreversibly poisoned with less than 24 hours to live and goes on a manhunt through the streets of Tokyo to exact revenge on her enemies and forms an unexpected bond with the daughter of one of her previous targets.
The synopsis reads:

Meticulous and preternaturally skilled, Kate is the perfect specimen of a finely tuned assassin at the height of her game.
But when she uncharacteristically blows an assignment targeting a member of the yakuza in Tokyo, she quickly discovers sheâ€™s been poisoned, a brutally slow execution that gives her less than 24 hours to exact revenge on her killers.
As her body swiftly deteriorates, Kate forms an unlikely bond with the teenage daughter of one of her past victims.
Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson, and directed by Cedric Nicolas-Troyan, Kate follows a burned assassinâ€™s furious pursuit of one last self-appointed job.

Lucifer The Final Season (10 September 2021)
LUCIFER (L to R) TOM ELLIS as LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR in episode 606 of LUCIFER Cr. JOHN P. FLEENOR/NETFLIX Â© 2021
Lucifer stars Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar, Lauren German as Det. Chloe Decker, D.B. Woodside as Amenadiel, Rachael Harris as Dr. Linda Martin, Kevin Alejandro as Det. Dan Espinoza, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Mazikeen Smith and Aimee Garcia as Ella Lopez
All bad things must come to an end. The final season of Lucifer premieres on Netflix on 10 September 2021.

Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Movie Mugen Train (11 September 2021)

WithÂ Demon SlayerÂ Season 2Â coming sometime in 2021, the franchiseâ€™s popularity is only set to increase. Both the anime and movie were produced by ufotable, the same studio behind acclaimed anime likeÂ Fate/ZeroÂ and more.
It’s the best time to watch this incredible anime movie with amazing action-packed scenes but also packing an emotional punch that you’ll never see coming. I cried. This movie is brilliant. Watch it. The first season of Demon Slayer is already available on Netflix, so you should watch that beforehand.

He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (16 September 2021)

First things first, let me clarify that this is separate, unrelated and unconnected to Kevin Smithâ€™sÂ Masters Of The Universe RevelationÂ (which came out last month and wasnâ€™t so good). This is a completely brand new take on the franchise; a fresh new reboot and reimagining of the animated series with a CG style that actually looks dynamic.
The official synopsisÂ reads:
In Eternia, the first planet of creation, a demonic tyrant rises: Skeletor!
With dark armies at his command, Skeletor is on the march, hell-bent on capturing Eterniaâ€™s kingdoms, and its ultimate prize â€“ Castle Grayskull, the ancient fortress of mystery said to contain the greatest power in the universe.
Itâ€™s up to He-Man, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal, and his brave squad of rookie heroes to stop Skeletor and restore the peace.
Both sides come armed with enchanted Power Weapons â€“ transforming them into Masters of the Primal Powers of the Universe.
Itâ€™s Master vs. Dark Master, He-Man vs. Skeletor â€“ fighting for control of Eternia, Castle Grayskull, and the fate of us all. In the end, who will become Master of the Universe?

Squid Game (17 September 2021)

Driven to desperation and gathered at an unknown location, the 456 participants play one game each day as they race towards the prize of 45.6 billion won. The price of failure is death, and only one contestant can survive to claim the prize. How did this diverse group of people end up here, and who is the mastermind behind these games?
Spearheaded by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the versatile and socially conscious director of The Fortress, Miss Granny, and Silenced, this unconventional combination of classic childhood fun and the contemporary rat race tells a story like none other.
Cast members Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Oh Young-soo, Wi Ha-Jun, Jung Ho-yeon, Heo Sung-tae, Anupam and Kim Joo-ryoung draw viewers into the macabre show by delivering deep, nuanced performances that vibrantly convey the humanity of the diverse characters who have no choice but to take part in the game.

Bangkok Breaking (23 September 2021)

Bangkok BreakingÂ is a six-episode Thai action-suspense series, exposes viewers to a different side of Bangkok. In addition to the intense and captivating tale at its heart, Bangkok Breaking is also the very first Thai series to be shot in HDR for full visual immersion.
â€˜Weirâ€™ Sukollawat Kanaros assumes the role of â€˜Wanchaiâ€™, who comes to Bangkok from a rural province to earn money for his family but ends up encountering an unexpected incident that takes him down a dangerous path in this city of illusions.

Midnight Mass (24 September 2021)
MIDNIGHT MASS (L to R) ANNABETH GISH as DR. SARAH GUNNING, ALEX ESSOE as MILDRED GUNNING, and KATE SIEGEL as ERIN GREENE in episode 106 of MIDNIGHT MASS Cr. EIKE SCHROTER/NETFLIX Â© 2021
This new horror series comes from Mike Flanagan, the same person behind 2020’s The Haunting Of Bly Manor and 2019’s Doctor Sleep. If you’ve watched both, you’d know that he’s a master of horror.
The synopsis reads:
Midnight Mass tells the tale of a small, isolated island community whose existing divisions are amplified by the return of a disgraced young man (Zach Gilford) and the arrival of a charismatic priest (Hamish Linklater).
When Father Paul’s appearance on Crockett Island coincides with unexplained and seemingly miraculous events, a renewed religious fervor takes hold of the community â€“ but do these miracles come at a price?

Those are just several selected highlights from next monthâ€™s offerings of new TV series and movies on Netflix. Now you can plan your Netflix binge-fest for September 2021.


Is Twitch’s Overwatch League All Access Pass Worth It?

In a bid to ramp up signups for their new All Access Pass feature for the Overwatch League, Twitch have revealed that All Access passholders will receive 12 Overwatch hero skins in May.

Just announced! These 12 away skins will be granted to all All-Access passholders next month!
Get details on all the benefits of the #OverwatchLeague All-Access pass at https://t.co/YeXwCLc9z0 pic.twitter.com/ef58yM7fLg
â€” Overwatch League (@overwatchleague) April 15, 2018
However, we aren’t very sure which hero skins will be available, nor whether the picture in the Twitter post accurately represent the skins passholders will receive. We will update you on this info once we have the official announcement related to it.

All Access Pass grants additional features that totally changes your Overwatch League watching experience. It grants access to theÂ Overwatch LeagueÂ Command Center:Â a second-screen match-day livestream, featuring alternate in-game camera angles, backstage cameras, player POVs, and real-time stats.

If you’d like to experience it before committing to the plan, the All Access Pass feature is available for everyone for free for a limited time (til May 16th). To test it out, scroll down and click on the link beneath the main stream whenever Overwatch League games are being streamed live. Select the option that says ‘Switch to Command Center’ and you’re all set.

Your pass also provides access toÂ exclusive behind-the-scenes VODs. In Stage 3, this will be in the form of a weekly series calledÂ Behind the Screens, in which an Overwatch League player will give their own analysis of a recent game.
On top of that, for those who commit to the All-Access pass, additional in-game content await, starting with three hero skins which you can only receive via signing up to this plan.

For those who are very much into Twitch chat and being active during matches, then you’d be glad to know that a ton of emotes will also be available to you for free. These emotes, like the skins shown above are instantly unlocked and accessible once your payment for the All Access Pass goes through.

While the one-off payment of US$29.99 ($19.99 for Amazon Prime users) / MYR124.00 grants you All-Access benefits up to the start of the 2019 Overwatch League Season, the Twitch emotes, badges, and in-game content are yours to keep forever. A Blizzard account link is required to redeem in-game rewards.
Now you are probably wondering – Is this feature available for me since I live outside of the United States? Well we are happy to report that unlike the loot dropsÂ and tokensÂ program which are limited to viewers from select countries, the All-Access Pass is available to everyone around the world. We are based out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and we have successfully signed up to the plan. Having previously linked our Blizzard account to Twitch, the skins were automatically added to our game as well.
So is it all worth it? Well if you are very much into the Overwatch League, and like us, want to see more than the bog-standard viewing experience, then this is totally worth it. We feel that the All-Access pass is exactly how esports viewing experience should be for serious viewers, and we won’t be surprised to see other leagues to adapt the same approach. And as final sweetener to the deal, them sweet, exclusive skins and emotes are a just great additions for any Overawatch fan, hardcore and casuals alike.

To sign up or at least try out the All-Access Pass feature, head on over to the Overwatch League Twitch ChannelÂ


Roguelike Management Game Backpack Hero Slated For All Platforms In May

Backpack Hero, a popular roguelike management game, is set to launch for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam in May. Publisher and developer Jaspel, along with co-publishers Different Tales and IndieArk, made the announcement.
The game first launched in Early Access for PC via Steam on 15 August 2022 and has attracted 180,000 players since then.
During its Early Access phase, Backpack Hero introduced a compelling twist on the standard deck-building roguelike by making success in each combat encounter not about what you carry, but how you organize items in your bag. The game offers a roster of five heroes to choose from, each with a unique pool of items and abilities that completely change the way you play.
For example, the robot, CR-8, lets you program commands in your backpack Factorio-style, while Pochette carries pets, giving Backpack Hero a Pokémon-esque twist! You can discover hundreds of rare items to arrange into powerful combinations, battle over forty enemy types, and encounter colourful characters on your procedurally generated adventures.

The game’s co-creator, Jasper Cole, expressed gratitude for the community of Backpack Hero, saying, “Over the past year, we launched on itch.io, started a business, ran a Kickstarter, released on Steam Early Access, and got to grow the game in many ways that exceeded our wildest dreams. I’m so excited to see the game on other platforms! This is possible because of the community that supported us, and I am so thankful to you for supporting this humble little indie team.”
Backpack Hero is not done yet; a sneak peek of the highly-requested “Town” feature was included in the new console announcement trailer. This feature adds a whole new layer to a game that’s already received bags of praise in its Early Access phase, offering a rewarding progression path for you to expand your item pool and unlock new heroes.
With the addition of the Town feature, you will transfer your organizational skills from your backpack to the streets to construct a perfect town with the resources you gather on your adventures. Be sure to check out Backpack Hero’s console launch in May to see how the new feature enhances your gameplay experience.