Open World Sandbox Games Like RDR2 Are Limited; Here’s Why

Like most people, I loved Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s the best that Rockstar has offered in terms of storytelling, characters, and dialogue. However, I have a hard time classifying it as my favourite Rockstar game and that’s mainly because the overall gameplay just isn’t all that great.
After more than an entire decade of playing the Grand Theft Autos and also the first Red Dead Redemption, I couldn’t help but think that no one else could make open world sandbox games as fun as Rockstar did. A lot of developers tried but they never seem to have reached the same level of polish and creativity.
I don’t blame them. Making fun and interesting sandbox games is anything but simple, and I believe Rockstar is reaching their limits too.
When Enough Is Enough
I take RDR2 as the yardstick here because its open world is at worst still one of the best in the industry. From the muddy soils of Valentine to the snow-capped mountains in the Grizzlies, everything feels detailed and alive. Just woke up at camp and noticed that you buy some more ammo? Well, you might just get robbed on your way to town.

Being the critically-acclaimed giant that they are, there’s no doubt that Rockstar knew about the whole “wide as an ocean, deep as a puddle” criticism that a lot of open world games were getting. And it’s obvious they did their very best to make sure RDR2 would be spared from such scathing words. But alas, the open world has probably reached its limits. Its own invisible walls.
About 30% through the game, I had already come across similar “random” encounters at least twice. I’d fall asleep more than a handful of times while tapping X to get to my destination. And when I do get to my destination, I realise there wasn’t much fun to be had anyway. It was just another “talk to mission giver, ride with mission giver to location, kill enemies at location” session.
Forgoing linearity for the sake of “freedom” is (to me) the main cause of this stagnation in game design. A purpose has to be given to a big world because without one, it would be too obvious that a big world was never a necessity. If the purpose is to merely give a sense of freedom and expansiveness, then the most important question in gaming has to be asked yet again: Do those things make the game fun?
Not Your First Open World Rodeo
There’s no need to look back at last year to understand this conundrum. Everyone’s got bullet points of what they didn’t like about Bioware’s looter-shooter Anthem and variations of “beautiful but ultimately unremarkable open world” is almost always one of the points. The developers hyped up the idea of having your own Iron Man suit and having the freedom to fly anywhere you want. They forgot to add that it was only for anywhere devoid of interesting content.

And it’s not just games everyone likes to crap on that has this problem. Of course, RDR2 was a good enough example of this but for the sake of showing how it isn’t uncommon, take a look at other past releases that boasted their open worlds. Final Fantasy XV, GOTY material to many, had invisible walls and pretty much on-rails driving mechanics (comfy though, according to many people).
Dragon Age Inquisition, again a popular choice for GOTY, had a single-player MMORPG design which made its huge and beautiful areas feel like chores to travel through.
What Should Be Done?
So at this point, it’s only appropriate that I provide some sort of counter-idea to open world games and fortunately for me, there’s been a bunch of very good linear or non-sandbox games which were released quite recently.
Look at the Resident Evil 2 remake. Look at its design. Look at how it ignores the idea of “bigger worlds, hundreds of hours of gameplay” and just stands there atop its pyramid stack of 10/10 scores.

Heck, the game literally challenges you to replay it and see if you can beat it under 3 hours and so far I’ve seen nobody complain about that. One of us here even thinks it’s the gold standard for video game replayability.

But it has to be said that RE2 is a horror game and almost all great horror games are linear by design to emphasise the lack of freedom and thus the player’s ability to escape whatever scares them.
To that, I bring up Devil May Cry 5.

Fast-paced hack and slash combat with deep mechanics? Hell yeah. Colourful visuals with high-resolution details and particle effects? The RE Engine got you covered. Big open world for you to express your freedom and desire to run around aimlessly? No thanks!
DMC5 sticks to its regular 20-mission structure and excels at pacing your enjoyment. There are puzzles from time to time to make you think for a bit but 90% of the time you’re just seconds away from kicking more demons ass. No 10-minute drive to your next destination. No exposition dialogue to make it feel as if the travelling is necessary. Just you having fun with a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The truth of this matter has always been spouted endlessly in cliche lines used by businessmen and writing editors: quality, not quantity.

Perhaps it’s time for developers to rethink about their efforts in creating gigantic worlds and trying to fill them with interesting and fun interactions. Maybe create interesting and fun scenarios then try filling a world with them. A world of just traversing from one fun setpiece to another.


Hearthstone Global Games: Chinese Taipei Disqualified for Cheating

The Chinese Taipei team has been disqualified from the Hearthstone Global Games tournament for cheating after being found guilty of stream sniping during their 5-4 win over Team Singapore yesterday.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Colc_MSgIJ8&w=560&h=315]
As reported by InvenGlobal, video evidence showed the Chinese Taipei team comms revealing about how they were able to find out which cards the Singaporeans do not have by following theÂ dynamic vision tool which is specifically offered by the Hearthstone broadcast team for use of the viewers watching on the stream.
In response, Blizzard released the following statement:
â€œThe Chinese Taipei Hearthstone Global Games (HGG) team has been disqualified from the Hearthstone Global Games competition.
Following the Chinese Taipei vs. Singapore match, the Chinese Taipei team uploaded a video of their gameplay. Upon review of the video, and after reviewing in-person statements from the players, the Hearthstone Esports team has determined that members of the Chinese Taipei team used the delayed tournament broadcast to aid them in a decision during the game. This behavior is prohibited in our tournament rules under section 7.11a. Specifically, players are prohibited from â€œ[s]tream sniping, or any general attempt by a player to spectate his or her own match or get information from another person spectating the match.â€
Based on the timing of this disqualification, the Singapore HGG team will advance in place of the Chinese Taipei team to the playoff stage of the Hearthstone Global Games at BlizzCon.â€
The violation not only cost Chinese Taipei the match, but also any chance of appearing at BlizzCon this year.Â Â The Singapore team consisting of â€œCrumpledâ€, â€œkatsucurryâ€, â€œKhaiusâ€, and â€œSequinoxâ€ will now advance in place of the disgraced Chinese Taipei team to BlizzCon, with a guaranteed $12,000 prize money.

Source: InvenGlobal


Neon Genesis Evangelion Lands In PUBG Mobile In New Game Mode

PUBG Mobile has announced a new limited-time game mode inspired by the iconic and acclaimed anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion pitting players against its fearsome Angel as part of the new Version 2.0 Update.
The new ‘Core Circle’ game mode comes to Livik and Erangel. Players can watch EVA-01’s face off against Neon Genesis Evangelion’s 6th Angel in a special event running from 19 May to 19 June 2022 in Erangel.
Players will start off in a special shrunken Blue Zone at the beginning of each match, as they witness the 6th Angel’s appearance on Spawn Island firing a powerful laser. Players can follow the action by finding EVA-01’s spawn point on the mini-map and observing the Angel’s deadly path forward.
To defend the island, fortresses will open fire on the Angel until it unleashes its force back on them. Players can rummage in the chaos to seize better supplies after the fortresses have been destroyed and change the structure of the fortress walls to adapt to their own combat plans.
In this mode, more supply crates are littered throughout the battlefield, including ones that contain more valuable resources below ground level. Players can throw Blue Zone grenades to create a mini Blue Zone, which depletes Health, plus there will be a limited-time Respawn period near the beginning of the match where fallen teammates can return to the fold and still retain their weapons.
Starting from May 14th to June 19th, players will be able to grab a number of new exclusive Neon Genesis Evangelion collaboration items, from the iconic character plugsuits to themed armour and parachutes to backpacks. A special buddy will also be landing in the game for players to partner with.
Following on from PUBG Mobile’s past partnerships with other globally renowned anime and animated titles including Jujutsu Kaisen and Arcane, this partnership brings the imposing imagery and content of the cult-classic Neon Genesis Evangelion anime to PUBG Mobile’s iconic battlegrounds for an experience like no other.
Vincent Wang, Head of the PUBG Mobile Publishing at Tencent Games, said:
“Neon Genesis Evangelion is one of the most famous and recognisable anime series of all time, so we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring its unique action, and futuristic world to PUBG Mobile. The ‘Core Circle’ game mode continues our commitment to give players unforgettable experiences based on universally acclaimed and culturally significant partners, enriching the PUBG Mobile experience for both current and new players.”
An additional exclusive themed EVA Discovery event also arrives in-game beginning tomorrow until 19 June 2022, where players can play matches in Classic Mode to gain Exploration Progress, with an extra progress bonus available from Core Circle gameplay after 19 May 2022. Progress can be exchanged for limited-time Neon Genesis Evangelion themed rewards, and a special discount will be applied when upgrading some collaboration items into permanent items.
PUBG MOBILE’s Version 2.0 Update is available on on the App Store and Google Play Store.


Digimon Survive Gets Confirmed Worldwide Release Date

It was only a few days ago that Digimon Survive received its Japanese release date, but publisher Bandai Namco and developer HYDE has confirmed that the strategy RPG is slated to release worldwide for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC on 29 July 2022. That’s only one day after its Japanese release date, which will be on 28 July 2022.
In a video update, Digimon Survive producer Kazumasa Habu said:
“Hello everyone. My name is Kazumasa Habu and I am the producer of Digimon Survive at Bandai Namco Entertainment. Sorry to keep you waiting for updates on Digimon Survive. But today I would like to provide you with this exciting news! The release date of Digimon Survive has finally been fixed for July 29, 2022. The Digimon Survive team is planning to deliver more exciting news to you in all forms. Please look forward to it and stay tuned. We are almost there!”
Digimon Survive was originally announced a whopping three years ago in 2019.


Hyper Light Drifter Sequel Announced; Early Access Slated For 2023

We’re getting a sequel to the 2016 hit action adventure title Hyper Light Drifter.
The new title from developer Heart Machine (of Solar Ash fame as well) will be called Hyper Light Breaker. It’ll be out on Steam Early Access for PC in 2023 and will be published by Gearbox Publishing. Yep, it’s going to take a while.
Hyper Light Breaker will be using a 3D perspective and graphics engine instead of the 2D one from the prequel. There was a bit of pre-alpha gameplay footage shown at the end of the teaser trailer below, but it seems to have translated the bright 2D artwork really well. Then again, we had a full-fledged taste of that from Solar Ash. Here’s the game description:
“Enter the Overgrowth, a new land in the world of Hyper Light. Play alone or with friends to explore massive biomes, defeat brutal monsters, create new builds, survive the mysterious Crowns and overthrow the almighty Abyss King in this action rogue-lite adventure from the creators of Hyper Light Drifter.”
Check out the teaser trailer below.


‘Game Over’ Means Something Different In Cyberpunk 2077

In the past, CD Projekt Red confirmed that the missions and quests in Cyberpunk 2077 will allow for “emergence in gameplay”, which means that they will be complex enough to be completed in a variety of ways. Now we’ve learned that the very same feature will also be affecting how “Game Over” works in the upcoming RPG game.
Speaking with German publication GameStar (via PCGamesN), CD Projekt Red’s Philipp Weber said that Cyberpunk 2077 won’t have a ‘Game Over’ screen unless the player dies. What this means is that even if players fail any particular quest’s objectives or get somebody else (NPCs) killed in the process, the game will still continue on.
Of course, there will be complicated consequences for having failed the quest or getting that NPC (or NPCs) killed, but unlike other games, there will be no “Game Over” screen. All this makes for more immersive gameplay and will encourage players to actually complete quests however they want (and according to their own unique playstyles), instead of following a scripted line of events.
Cyberpunk 2077 is sounding more and more revolutionary as more details and pieces of information are revealed. Will the game be as iconic and as much a game-changer as The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was for the industry?
Here’s hoping that we’ll be seeing more of it at E3 2019 later this year, especially since CD Projekt Red is calling it “their most important one yet”.


Tales of Arise Collector’s Edition Announced

Bandai Namco announces the collector’s edition of its upcoming JRPG Tales of Arise during its recent livestream.
Anyway, the collector’s edition contains the game, a pretty sweet casing with the game’s emblem, the original soundtrack to the game, an artbook featuring the game’s concept artwork and illustrations, Tales of Arise character stickers, postcards, and a statue of both Alphen and Shionne that’s 18cm tall.

The bad part? This is only available in Japan and straight out of Bandai Namco’s Asobistore online shop. It’s going for 21,780 yen.
As a bonus, PS4 versions of the game will get a free PS5 upgrade of the game. For more Tales of Arise gameplay goodness, check out gameplay videos of its combat & exploration, and also a boss fight.


Erika: The Newest Hero in Torchlight: Infinite’s Upcoming Season Launch

Torchlight: Infinite is preparing for its first major update of 2023, and as part of this update, XD Games has revealed a new hero character named Erika.
Erika will be available when the Blacksail season is released on 12 January. Additionally, XD Games is introducing two new hero traits for Rehan and Moto, which will offer players more options for customizing their play style. Players who pre-register for Torchlight: Infinite’s second season will receive a bundle of in-game rewards.
In the upcoming season of Torchlight: Infinite, players will embark on a journey into the Sea of Void. They will encounter various dangers in these treacherous waters, including the Lord of the Void Sea, the most formidable pirate in the game.

Action RPG fans can expect a lot of new content and features in the Blacksail update for Torchlight: Infinite. The update will introduce new gear to collect and a Hero Relic item slot, providing even more options for customizing and refining character builds.
Below are some highlights of the new features that will be introduced in the upcoming update for Torchlight: Infinite, called Blacksail
New Hero: Cateye Erika
Erika is a Stalker, hailing from the Ichi Tribe. Equipped with dual blades, her first Hero Trait is called “Wind Stalker” which specialises in rapid movement, allowing her to swiftly weave between enemies before delivering a devastating killing blow.

New Hero Trait: Raging Phantom (Rehan)
Get ready to inflict some serious damage. Rehan is the first to gain a brand new Hero Trait. “Raging Phantom” allows the battle-hardened berserker to become one with an Ancestor Spirit who will automatically attack enemies with Rehan’s main skills and annihilate his enemies.
New Hero Trait: Charge Calling (Moto)
Another new Hero Trait coming in the next season is Moto’s “Charge Calling”. Flanked by his platoon of Synthetic Troops, the ingenious commander can now activate their self-destruct protocol to deadly effect, ordering his robotic minions to rush into enemy mobs only to explode seconds later.
Community Event: First Down
XD has also announced a new community event in which streamers will compete to see who can reach Timemark 6 and defeat the Traveller boss the fastest. This is an interactive contest where streamers’ supporters will earn rewards based on the streamer they choose to support. To participate, people just need to enter a streamer’s dedicated code in Torchlight Infinite’s redeem menu page. All supporters will receive 50 Primocrysts as a welcome gift. At the end of the event, all valid participants will receive rewards based on their chosen streamer’s final ranking.
Those excited about the new season can pre-register here for some in-game goodies. This bundle includes the following:

Insight Crystal x 1
Shattered Primordial x 200
Oblivion Waters x 20
Resurrection Token x 20


Disgaea 7 Animated Trailer Reveals Post-Launch DLC & More

Nippon Ichi Software has unveiled a new animated trailer for the upcoming strategy RPG title Disgaea 7. It reveals the game flow and base, as well as post-launch DLC.
Basic Game Flow
As players progress through the story, various new elements such as character development will gradually unlock.

Event Occurs – First, the story begins and an event occurs.
Battle Begins – After the event ends, the battle will begin. Instruct your characters and defeat the enemy.
Victory – By defeating the enemy and clearing the stage, the story will progress.

Events

The main story is one of world reformation, in which protagonists Fuji and Piririka set out on a journey to overthrow the Oedo Shogunate.
In doing so, Fuji’s party will face various challenges. Encounters with allies, confrontations with enemies, betrayal, lack of money… overcome all of these obstacles to overthrow the Shogunate. Those who want to get to fighting faster can use Event Skip to progress through the text quickly.
Battle: Flow and Rules

After the event ends, the battle will begin. Instruct each ally character, go back and forth between your turn and the enemy’s turn, and defeat all enemies to clear the stage. Depending on the results of the battle, you may obtain additional rewards.
Base: Preparing for the Next Battle

Fuji and company’s base is the “Netherworld Ship,” from which they set out to various destinations.
The Netherworld Ship houses various facilities, which will unlock as the player progresses through the story. Purchase equipment, scout and strengthen party members, and prepare for battle.
Base Facilities

General Store – Purchase various items by spending the in-game currency HL.
Netherworld Hospital – Recover characters’ HP and SP. When your Hospital use counter reaches a certain number, you can turn the
“Gajapon” to win wonderful prizes.
The Dark Assembly – Do various things by spending mana to pass proposals.
Item World – Explore Item Worlds, upgrade items, and perform Item Reincarnation.
Quests – Receive quest requests, reports, and rewards.
Data – Check various gameplay-related records.
Ranked Battles – Challenge ranked battles.
Dimension Guide – Choose which Netherworld you want to visit and challenge stages.
Scout Shop – Recruit or dismiss generic characters.
Skill Shop – Upgrade special skills and learn Evilities.
Research – If you deposit an item, you can automatically advance through its Item World.
Squad Shop – Assign characters to a “Squad.” Belonging to a Squad has various benefits.
Juice Bar – Distribute accumulated EXP and Extracts.
Special Content – Apply downloadable content.

Downloadable Content

Downloadable content for Disgaea 7 will be released in two parts. The downloadable content will include original scenarios that see the cast of Disgaea 7 get involved with familiar characters from previous games in the series.
Seraphina, Axel, and other popular characters who have yet to make the jump to 3D will appear in fully realized 3D. Additionally, characters will co-star in dream scenarios that cross the boundaries of the series. Enjoy conversations between characters that have never spoken to each other before.
Users who purchase the Season Pass, which includes all the downloadable content as a set, will also receive additional playable character Pleinair as a bonus. But the downloadable content does not only consist of new characters—consumable items such as “Boost Tickets” that will aid you in your adventure and character development are also planned for release.
Seraphina, Axel, Sicily, Artina, and Fenrich make the jump to 3D for the first time!
Season Pass
The 6,600 yen Season Pass is a set containing all downloadable content at a discounted price. Additionally, users who purchase the Season Pass will receive the additional playable character Pleinair as a bonus.
Useful items that will help players on their adventure will also be available as downloadable content, including:

Support Set (free)
Hell Bag (110 yen)
Mana Bag (110 yen)
100% Boost Ticket (110 yen)
400% Boost Ticket (330 yen)
900% Boost Ticket (550 yen)

Digital Deluxe Edition
The Digital Deluxe Edition of Disgaea 7 includes the standard edition pre-order bonus downloadable content “Glasses Costume Set,” plus the “Series Costume Set” which allows Fuji and company to dress up as popular characters from previous games, the “Special Weapons Set” containing exclusive weapons, and three “Boost Tickets” that make clearing stages even easier.
For 10,978 yen, the Digital Deluxe Edition includes the following contents:
Series Costume Set

Fuji – Adell Version
Piririka – Fuka Version
Wey-yasu – Axel Version
Suisen – Mao Version
Seefour – Etna Version
Ao – Bieko Version
Higan Zesshousai – Girl Laharl Version

Special Weapons Set

Melee Weapon “Quick Glove”
Sword Weapon “Quick Blade”
Spear Weapon “Quick Lance”
Bow Weapon “Quick Bow”
Gun Weapon “Quick Gun”
Axe Weapon “Quick Star”
Staff Weapon “Quick Staff”
Monster ATK Weapon “Quick Claw”
Monster INT Weapon “Quick Medal”

Boost Ticket

900% (x1)
400% (x1)
100% (x1)

Disgaea 7 is slated to launch for the PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch on 26 January 2023 in Japan. The English version has no release date announced as of now.
Check out the trailer below, along with the other character showcases Nippon Ichi has released the past few days:


Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦? Episode 4 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

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

Doctor Strange Loses His Love, Christine Palmer, In The Accident

In this episode of What If…?, instead of losing his hands in an accident, Doctor Stephen Strange loses Christine Palmer; the love of his life.
However, just like in the MCU, this accident causes him to search for a magical or mystical means of restoring what he lost. In this case, it’s Christine and not his hands. Still, he still goes on to become the Sorcerer Supreme and defeat Dormammu, just like the 2016 movie.
It’s only after that that things start to turn unexpectedly…

Doctor Strange Uses The Time Stone To Change The Past, But Christine Keeps Dying No Matter What

Doctor Strange repeatedly uses the Time Stone to go back in time and prevent Christine’s death, but she keeps dying no matter what he does differently.
Why? It’s because…
The Ancient One Appears To Doctor Strange, Christine’s Death Is An “Absolute Point”, Doctor Strange Goes To The Past To Find The Lost Library of Cogliostro

The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) appears to Doctor Strange while he’s in one of his attempts to prevent Christine’s death and tells him that he “cannot reverse an Absolute Point”.
She doesn’t explain what an “Absolute Point” but it sounds like a fixed point in a timeline that would still happen no matter what else changes.
She later says that “this path only leads to darkness and the end of this reality”, which might mean that Doctor Strange’s actions are negatively impacting this universe.
As a result, Doctor Strange goes to the past to find the Lost Library Of Cagliostro to find the secret to break the Absolute Point.

Doctor Strange Has To “Gain The Power Through The Absorption Of Other Beings”, The Tentacles From Episode 1 Returns

Also, Doctor Strange summons what seems to be the same tentacled inter-dimensional being from the end of Marvel’s What If…? Episode 1. I predicted back then that it might be Shuma-Gorath but his name is never explicitly mentioned.
Shuma-Gorath is an ancient force of chaos, the immortal, nigh-invincible, and godlike ruler of nearly a hundred alternate universes, capable of energy projection, shapeshifting, teleportation, levitation, altering reality, and sympathetic magic, among many other feats.
He is one of the Old Ones (or Many-Angled Ones), so heâ€™s basically like Cthulhu from Lovecraftian lore. He even looks the part with one eye and tentacles.
However, inÂ Marvelâ€™s What Ifâ€¦?Â Episode 1, we only see the tentacles and no eye so the monster is not confirmed to be Shuma-Gorath. Still, it could very well be. What else could it be? An octopus?
Plus, Shuma-Gorath isÂ one of several villains that I predictÂ could potentially be in 2022â€™sÂ Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness.

He Summons A Bunch Of Other Beings And Literally Absorbs Them, One Might Be An Insect Version Of Doctor Strange

After failing to do anything with the tentacled monster, he summons a bunch of other beings. The first is a Gnome, who he absorbs. Then, he summons what seems to be an insect Version Of Doctor Strange. I say this because it is wearing a Cloak Of Levitation, which Strange takes for himself before sending Doctor Bug Strange back to its dimension.
The next being he absorbs is interesting, because not only does it look like a giant Raven, it also has six eyes. If that sounds familiar, DC Comics has a character named Raven (who’s known to be part of the Teen Titans). Raven’s father is a demon named Trigon, who has exactly the same six eyes styled in the way.
Could this possibly be a reference to Raven or Trigon from DC Comics? Who knows.

Raven from DC Comics.
Trigon from DC Comics.
He also absorbs a bunch of other beings, including a fire-breathing dragon, a two-headed creature, a winged demon with a skull and antlers, and a lot more.
Lastly, he summons the tentacled being again but this time cuts off the portal before absorbing several of the being’s tentacles, giving him even more power.

It Turns Out There Are Actually Two Doctor Stranges In This One Universe, Thanks To The Ancient One

When Doctor Strange goes to the past to find the Lost Library Of Cagliostro to find the secret to break the Absolute Point, the Ancient One used the powers of the Dark Dimension to split Doctor Strange into two individuals and two timelines, but both of which is happening in the same universe.
This is big because this establishes that multiple timelines can still exist in the same universe, which fills the Captain America plot hole in Avengers Endgame.
Doctor Strange Vs Doctor Strange, The ‘Dark’ Doctor Strange Wins

It’s a fierce and long fight, but it ultimately ends with the dark and evil Doctor Strange re-absorbing the good Doctor Strange back into himself.
Dark Doctor Strange Goes Back And Saves Christine Causing The End Of The Universe, The Watcher Actually Interacts With Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange goes back in time and successfully breaks the Absolute Point by saving Christine. However, doing so results in the end of the universe, with a black void consuming everything.
In his desperation, Doctor Strange calls out to The Watcher and asks for his help. This marks the very first time that a character is aware of the Watcher’s existence and is actually interacting with him.
Of course, The Watcher says that he can’t interfere.
Doctor Strange Supreme Is Still Alive

The universe ends, but surprisingly, the dark Doctor Strange remains alive.
This is interesting. Why? One of the most prominent theories for one of the scenes in the Spider-Man No Way Home trailer was that this Doctor Strange with no cape and wearing darker clothes is an evil Doctor Strange variant from another universe.

However, it’s important to note that the Doctor Strange in the Spider-Man No Way Home trailer (seen above) doesn’t seem to be wearing the same clothes as the dark Doctor Strange from this What If episode. You can see that he still has his Cloak Of Levitation even at the end.
Still, it’s very much possible that Doctor Strange Supreme from this What If…? episode has somehow found his way into the MCU, especially after the MCU’s Doctor Strange seemingly tampered with the multiverse to make the world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man.
That’s all for this week, folks. Until next week, Excelsior, true believers!


Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection Launches In April 2023

Capcom has announced that Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection will launch for the PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) on 14 April 2023. The PS4 and Nintendo Switch versions will be available both physically and digitally for US$59.99, or as two separate volumes digitally for US$39.99 each.
Players will join MegaMan.EXE and fellow NetNavi Operators around the world to save the interconnected world of Net Society. With the collection’s online features, players can use room codes to have Private Battles with friends, join Casual Battles with others online, or strive for NetBattler nobility in Ranked Matches! NetBattlers looking to mix things up can also choose from different sets of battle rules such as wagering Chips in Real Thing battles, the best-of-three brawl Triple Battles introduced in Mega Man Battle Network 3, or the return of Version Battles from Mega Man Battle Network 4.
Players on the hunt for specific Battle Chips can trade with friends and fellow NetBattlers across the globe. In addition to exchanging collected Battle Chips from the series, players can trade MegaMan.EXE styles to customize their look and swap Navi customizer programs to make MegaMan.EXE even stronger. Players can even download rare Battle Chips that were previously available primarily at promotional events in Japan! 15 downloadable Battle Chips can be accessed via the MegaMan screen in each game.
In addition to experiencing these beloved Mega Man Battle Network titles online with other NetNavi Operators, players who pre-order will enjoy the following exclusive additional content! The MegaMan.EXE PET on the launcher screen is customizable with two brand-new skins: Hub Style for Volume 1 and Dark MegaMan for Volume 2. Additionally, four new special arrangements of original music from the Mega Man Battle Network series will be available in the Music Player as part of the pre-order bonus package.
Check out the trailer below:


ESL CEO Warns Staff Not To Discuss Hong Kong Protests

Following the controversy which began with Hong Kong Hearthstone player Chung “blitzchung” Ng Wai’s political statements, many people within the esports industry have been engaging in discussions concerning China and the Hong Kong protests which are still happening to this day.
ESL co-CEO and co-founder Ralf Reichert has instructed his employees to refrain from talking about the Hong Kong protests. The Hong Kong Free Press has reported that more than 700 employees have received the message from Reichert through Slack on 9 October 2019. The message reads as follows:

“All of you might have heard about the political discussions and strikes surrounding the situation in Hong Kong, China. As a global company being active in many countries around the globe, we naturally do abstain from political discussions and setting the best example by living our values. Therefore, we would like to suggest to not actively engage in the discussion, especially on social media.”
– Ralf Reichert, ESL co-CEO and co-founder.
It’s worth noting that ESL announced a partnership with Chinese streaming company Huya back in September. Huya pledged to buy US$30 million in ESL shares. It’s easy to see that people will consider this the main reason why ESL wouldn’t want its employees talking about the protests and potentially mucking up their relationship with Huya and China.
Just recently, Blizzard president J. Allen Brack announced that blitzchung’s prize money would be returned but he would still be suspended from Hearthstone Grandmasters for 6 months.
The Hong Kong Free Press reached out to ESL and asked them if they were concerned about their China market and whether or not the company respected free speech. Here’s what their spokesperson answered:

“Mr. Reichert’s internal message on Slack was a reminder to ESL employees about the general social media policies that been in place for many years; that we do not use ESL’s brand or platform for personal political statements, and to show respect for colleagues with views different than our own. ESL team members are of course free to harbor personal views on private social media accounts.”

Like Blizzard, ESL is just saying that it needs to ensure that its events don’t become secondary to something political or controversial. However, it’s still up for discussion whether or not these actions point towards any form of political or financial bias.
Cover image taken from the Web Summit flickr profile.


Here’s What You Can Expect In BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle’s Ver 2.0 Update

Another year, another update for a tag team-focused fighting game featuring different anime fighters. Arc System Works’ guest-filled fighting game, BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, is no different and will be receiving a grand Version 2.0 Special Edition update this 21st November.
So what will fighting game fanatics be getting? Let’s break it down:
-New fighting mechanics. These include:

Extra Assault, whichÂ allows players to use one bar of the skill gauge for a powerful Clash Attack; it leaves them with an Active Switch power-up once it’s finished.
Cross Raid attacks which can be used after landing the final hit of your first auto combo. Tag your pals in after an attack.Â
Delay Entry. Once your first character is KO’ed, you can control when your partner comes in.
Rampage Time: when the in-game timer reaches 80, this will cause skill gauges for both players to increase continuously.

-New characters: this one’s a no-brainer, though you’ll need to spend season pass/DLC money for this bit. You’ll be getting the following:

Persona 4 Arena‘s Elizabeth and Tohru Adachi. They’ll be using their Personas like in that one Shin Megami Tensei game.
BlazBlue’s Susanoo and Celica A. Mercury. The former has rushdown potential while the latter fights with a puppet.
Under Night/UNIST‘s Hilda. Ojou laugh “rich bitch” here has crazy zoning moves.
RWBY‘s Neo Politan.
Akatsuki Blitzkampf‘s Akatsuki (also in UNIST) and Blitztank. The latter is a tank BTW.
Senran Kagura‘s Yumi. Yep, ASW is tapping that well-endowed well.

This major update will be out on 21st November for PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.


Xbox Game Pass July 2021 Has Something For Everyone

Microsoft has announced a bunch of new games for Xbox Game Pass July 2021, ranging from strategy games to RPG spin-offs. Here they are:
Coming In July 2021
Dragon Quest Builders 2Â (Cloud) â€“ 8 July 2021
Dragon Quest Builders 2Â is a block-building RPG set in a fantasy land threatened by an evil cult. Explore, battle, create, and harvest in the charming single-player campaign or build big projects in the online sandbox mode for up to four players.
Tropico 6Â (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox â€“ 8 July 2021
InÂ Tropico 6, travel to a beautiful island state and make it your own. In this sixth entry in the series, build and manage a whole archipelago, decking it out with your choice of buildings, industry, and dÃ©cor. Will you rule your people as a generous statesman or ruthless dictator? The choice is yours.

UFC 4Â (Console) EA Play â€“ 8 July 2021
Shape your legend with EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate â€“Â UFC 4Â is coming soon to The Play List! Members can enter the Octagon on July 8 to create and customize their own character and start their journey from unknown amateur to UFC superstar.
BloodrootsÂ (Cloud, Console, and PC) ID@Xbox â€“ 15 July 2021
Left for dead by a colourful group of bandits, you will chain killing sprees to exact revenge on the treacherous Mr. Black Wolf. Improvise your kills with utterly everything you can get your hands on from carrots to plasma guns.

Farming Simulator 19 (Cloud, Console, and PC) â€“ 15 July 2021
The ultimate farming simulation returns! Become a modern farmer and develop your farm in two huge American and European environments, filled with exciting new farming activities, crops to harvest and animals to tend to.

The MediumÂ (Cloud) ID@Xbox â€“ 15 July 2021
Discover a dark mystery only a medium can solve. Travel to an abandoned hotel resort and use your unique psychic abilities to uncover its deeply disturbing secrets, solve dual-reality puzzles, survive encounters with sinister spirits, and explore two realities at the same time.
Already Available Now
Going Under (Cloud, Console, and PC)Â ID@XboxÂ â€“ Available now
A satirical dungeon crawler about exploring the cursed ruins of failed tech startups. As an unpaid intern in the dystopian city of Neo-Cascadia, youâ€™ll wield office junk as weaponry as you make your way through the offbeat procedural dungeons beneath your company campus.
Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) Availability Expands to PC and Apple Devices

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets, on Xbox.com, across 22 countries. Xbox Cloud Gaming is also now powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware, bringing you faster load times and improved frame rates.
Simply go toÂ xbox.com/playÂ on Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Safari on your PC or mobile device to start playing hundreds of games from the Xbox Game Pass library.Â Learn more here!
DLC / Game Updates
A Plague Tale: Innocence Series X|S Update â€“ Available now
Follow the critically acclaimed tale of young Amicia and her little brother Hugo, in a heartrending journey through the darkest hours of history. Now optimized for Xbox Series X|S with native 4K resolution on Series X, 60 FPS, 3D audio support and improved visuals.
Astroneer:Â Jet-Powered Update â€“ Available now
Explore and reshape distant worlds! Astroneer is set during the 25th century Intergalactic Age of Discovery, where Astroneers explore the frontiers of outer space, risking their lives in harsh environments to unearth rare discoveries and unlock the mysteries of the universe. The Jet-Powered Update adds new missions that will help you unlock new vehicles including a VTOL and Hoverboard!
Black Desert:Â Corsair Update â€“ Available now
Need a break from the heatwave? Meet Corsair! Sheâ€™s a commander of the sea and the newest class in Black Desert. This seafarer can ride the (actual) waves, use tsunamis, and transform into a mermaid to defeat her enemies. Her combat style mimics the waves of the ocean â€“ unpredictable, unique, and cool. If you want to spend summertime surfing with dolphins, Corsair is the right choice for the adventure!
Destiny 2 Solstice of Heroes Event â€“ Available until 3 August 2021
Soar across the EAZ in search of glory and treasure. Each day features a buff based on either Solar, Arc, Void, or â€“ for the first time â€“ Stasis. New Prism days let you choose the element you charge! Earn Legendary Solstice armour and upgrade it until it begins to glow, revealing the power within.
Doom EternalÂ Series X|S Update â€“ Available now
Attention all Slayers! Patch 6 forÂ Doom Eternal is available now, bringing you free next-gen upgrades that unlock the full capabilities of the Xbox Series X|S. Plus, duke it out online in the new Battlemode arena, Corrosion, and put your skills to the test in the Taras Nabad Master Level.
Gears 5Â Operation 7 Free Update â€“ Available now
Strike at the enemy in Gears 5 Operation 7, available now. Jump in with four new characters, a brand-new map and a rebuilt classic map, renewed Tour of Duty and more.
GroundedÂ Shroom and Doom Update â€“ Available now
Groundedâ€™s Shroom and Doom content update bring the gameâ€™s terrifying first boss, mushroom building materials to build castles from, and long-awaited community requests like sitting and, best of all, pet companions.
GreedfallÂ Series X|S Update â€“ Available now
Enjoy exploring uncharted lands filled with magic, secrets, and creatures in 4K resolution, highly improved visual, fast loading and 60 FPS in performance mode! With diplomacy, deception, and force, influence a living world to shape your story and forge your own destiny.
Tom Clancyâ€™s Rainbow Six Siege:Â Year 6 Season 2 North Star â€“ Available now
Xbox Game Pass members save 10 percent. North Star will soon ascend in the Siegeâ€™s constellation! Discover more about our new operator Thunderbird, the Favela map rework, and much more including some balancing changes, a new death experience animation and the new seasonal â€œMedicantâ€ skin bundle.
Zombie Army 4:Â Abaddon Asylum DLC â€“ Available now
Xbox Game Pass members save 10 percent. Abaddon Asylum is the second mission in Return to Hell, a haunting three-part Zombie Army 4: Dead War campaign! Explore a terrifying new location in this 1-4 player mission, complete with terrifying enemies, collectibles and more! Plus, grab the free Left4Dead Character Pack 1 containing Bill, Francis, Louis, and Zoey! You may have survived a damned facility â€“ but the dead donâ€™t care.
Fallout 76Â Steel Reign Update â€“ 7 July 2021
Steel Reign is the final chapter in the Brotherhood of Steel storyline. Tensions have never been higher between Paladin Rahmani and Knight Shin. The appearance of Super Mutants and people disappearing is only adding to the divide. Will you take the side of justice or remain committed to duty?
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks
Here are lots of brand-new Perks to go claim in the Perks Gallery on your Xbox Console, Xbox App on Windows 10 PC, or the Xbox Game Pass Mobile app for iOS/Android.

Space Jam: A New Legacy The GameÂ â€“ Play It First with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Play as LeBron, Bugs, and Lola as they face the Goon Squad in a wacky basketball beat-em-up! Claim this Perk to get exclusive early access and play the full game right now through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks. Space Jam: A New Legacy â€“ The GameÂ will be available as a free-to-play title for all players starting July 15 through the Microsoft Store on your Xbox console.
Black DesertÂ â€“ Special Gift Bundle â€“ Available now
The new class Corsair joins the battlefield of Black Desert! Gear up with this special bundle and embark on an adventure youâ€™ve been longing for!
Apex LegendsÂ â€“ Protocol 3 Weapon Charm â€“ Available now
Show the competition what youâ€™re made of with your new Protocol 3 Weapon Charm, brought to you by EA Play! Equip this with your favourite weapon and battle for glory, fame, and fortune in style.
World of Warships: LegendsÂ â€“ Navy of the Realm â€“ Available now
Get a pair of powerful early German warships in the new Xbox Game Pass bundle: Navy of the Realm. Youâ€™ll get your hands on the fan favourite cruiser KÃ¶nigsberg and the destroyer G-101 along with plenty of Camouflages and Boosters.
Xbox Game Pass Quests
Starting on July 6, Xbox Game Pass members can earn 2x points for completing Quests built around select games celebrating 20 Years of Xbox. Check for Quests on your Xbox console or the Xbox Game Pass mobile app.
Check out the new July monthly Quests you can start today:

Grand Theft Auto VÂ (150 points): Steal 5 cars
Tom Clancyâ€™s Rainbow Six SiegeÂ (150 points): Play 1 training grounds match
GroundedÂ (225 points): Earn one achievement

Leaving Soon
Itâ€™s time to prepare to say farewell to the games leaving the Xbox Game Pass library on July 15, including a batch of EA Play games to be delisted from The Play List on 14 July 2021.
Remember, you can use your Game Pass member discount to save up to 20 percent on games leaving the Game Pass library, while PC and Ultimate members can save up to 10 percent on the EA Play games.
14 July 2021 (EA Play)

EA Sports UFCÂ (Console)
EA Sports UFC 2Â (Console)

15 July 2021

Endless Space 2Â (PC)
DownwellÂ (PC)
CrossCodeÂ (Cloud, Console, and PC)


Hero-Based Combat Racing Game Disney Speedstorm Delayed To 2023

The release window for Gameloft’s free-to-play Disney-themed racing game, Disney Speedstorm, has been extended from 2022 to 2023. The game will be out on Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, Epic Game Store, and Microsoft Store.
If you are unfamiliar with the game, basically in Disney Speedstorm, heroes and villains from various Disney and Pixar films compete on racetracks inspired by the films they appeared in. For the full view, head out to our article here to find out more.
This might be frustrating for passionate fans of Disney’s game especially when there’s no date confirmed for the worldwide release. On the greater side, we can expect Speedstorm’s performance to be on the same par as other triple-A racing games. Check out the announcement (via Twitter) below:

A message from the #DisneySpeedstorm Team:
Read more below ? pic.twitter.com/BCQwgJc0dC
— Disney Speedstorm (@SpeedstormGame) November 30, 2022


Sega’s Shining Force Is Coming Back, But…

Good news, strategy RPG fans: the classic Shining Force series from Sega is making a comeback.
The bad news, depending on how you look at it? It’s coming back as a mobile game. According to Gamer.ne, developer Hive (a subsidiary of Korean company Vespa) has recently licensed the rights to make Shining Force games for mobile. The next Shining Force game in a very, very long while will be called Shining Force: Heroes of Light and Darkness (Shining Force: Hikari to Yami no Eiyuu) and will be out in the first half of 2022 worldwide.
Just like most mobile RPGs, the new Shining Force will be a free-to-play title with item-based in-app purchases. The game will be distributed in Japan, South Korea, North America, Europe, and other Asian countries. So there’s a chance it’ll be out in English and may piss off a few retro gaming fans hoping to see a next-gen Shining Force game. All six of them.


Katy Perry, Post Malone, & J Balvin Are Canonically In The PokÃ©mon Universe…

Pika, you’re a firework!
To celebrate the monster wrangler RPG franchise PokÃ©mon’s 25th year anniversary, the Pokemon Company are teaming up with this generation’s pop stars for a musical collaboration. And no, it’s not a K-Pop thing.
Instead, the celebration will bring in Katy Perry, Post Malone, and J Balvin to not only make songs and virtual concerts just for the occasion but also have their personas immortalized in the PokÃ©mon universe via the trading card game. Check out the artwork below:

If you’re wondering why the artwork looks familiar, that’s because they’re drawn by famous Japanese PokÃ©mon artist Yuu Nishida, Naoki Saito, and nagimiso. The birth dates for each artist on the bottom left is a nice touch. We’re not sure if these cards will actually be on sale or are just mockups, but they’re done in a legitimate and elaborate fashion!
For more information on the collaboration and the music these artists will be doing, head on over to the official site. For the record, this isn’t Katy Perry’s first stint in video games; she is canonically in The Sims and in Final Fantasy.


Malaysian Devs Ammobox Studios Seeking Public Help For Upcoming Legal Battle Against Rogue Publisher

Who knew you could launch a DMCA against your own game, eh?
In a recent turn of events, Malaysia developer Ammobox Studios, who created the nifty-looking FPS-RTS hybrid Eximius: Seize The Frontline, is seeking public crowdfunding help for an upcoming legal battle against TheGameWall Studios. They plan to use Gofundme.com as its funding platform.
Here’s what happened:

Eximius was 8 years in the making; the game came out in September 2018 in Early Access form. It garnered mostly positive reviews on Steam.
The project fell victim to UK-based publisher TheGameWall Studios led by one Eduardo Monteiro. The company took all of the game’s revenue and potential earnings due to unfulfilled marketing work. They also cut off communications.
Furthermore, TheGameWall Studios has full control of the application rights in Steam and has locked out Ammobox Games out of the financial controls. This made Ammobox DMCA its own game a week before Christmas 2018.
From September 2018 onwards, Ammobox Games had to support the game out of their own pocket instead of publisher backing.
The natural course of action is to sue TheGameWall Studios. However, the company cannot afford the cost required for the upcoming legal battle. Hence, this campaign.

Right now they have a stretch goal of US$25,000; at this point in time, they have raised US$218. Do give these Malaysians a helping hand if possible; publishers like these should not get away with nonsense like this.


Cursed To Golf Is Weirdly Addictive

Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch
Genre: Golf-like (rogue-lite but with golf)
The genre written above speaks for itself, but this isn’t your average sports game. Described as a side-scrolling golf game that implements puzzles and other rogue-lite aspects, Cursed to Golf is a joint-venture between developers Chuhai Labs and publishers Thunderful.
Basically, you begin the game as this championship golfer called “The Champ” who’s playing in a tournament. A storm begins to brew but the Champ ignores it and as a result, is struck by lightning. Instead of dying you are sent to “Golf Purgatory” where you meet The Scotsman who informs you of your situation. He states that it’s possible to ascend back to life if the 18-hole golf course is finished.

Easy Enough
The basic mechanics of the game are pretty simple and intuitive, if you’re good with angles then this game will mostly be a breeze for you. To stop things from being too easy you have a par count which displays the number of which you need to finish that hole in. Obviously, you have hazards as you do in real golf such as bunkers, water and rough patches but Golf Purgatory also provides weirder hazards such as TNT blocks which can let you get to the hole faster or can send you further away.
The rogue-lite aspect of the game and what should definitely be noted is that although there are only 18 holes to get through, the levels that you get are randomised on every run, not to say that it’s a new level every time, but the order of which you play them changes per run.
The only gripe I have with the gameplay is that when aiming, you don’t have an option to look further ahead. I understand why this is the case, it does add another factor to what makes this game challenging but for me personally, I would have found this game a heck of a lot more enjoyable if I were able to actually see where my long shots are landing.
A Lovely Pixel View

Both the art and soundtrack are a genuine delight. The art style as a whole is cute and very much fits the vibe of the game’s premise with the soundtrack complimenting the arcade-like aesthetic.
Speaking of sound though, when the Champ speaks, he makes this cute but slightly annoying sound in replacement of the actual dialogue. Don’t get me wrong, I get what the devs were trying to do but they could have chosen something a little bit different. After hearing it all throughout the tutorial it kind of got on my nerves if I’m being honest.
Can’t Stop
Now I’m not going to lie, the simplicity of the game’s mechanics plus the puzzle-like courses that you have to make your way through really does make for an addictive experience. Especially when you have a par count you need to do it under, it really makes you want to challenge yourself and complete the hole in as few shots as possible.
Cursed To Golf is simple 2D golfing fun with a cute undead aesthetic that will sate your short-game jollies.
PROS

Simple and intuitive mechanics.
Phenomenal art and soundtrack.
Level design just makes sense.

CONS

Annoying dialogue sounds.
Unable to see far when aiming drive shots.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100


The Settlers: New Allies Slated For February 2023 On PC

The Settlers: New Allies is available for pre-order now on PC via Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store and will officially release on 17 February 2023. The game will be available on the PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and Luna at a later date
In this build-up real-time strategy game published by Ubisoft and developed by Ubisoft Düsseldorf, players will settle onto a new land, build their communities, meet new factions, and choose to welcome them as allies or enemies to protect and defend their new settlement.

Players can enjoy The Settlers: New Allies in one of three game modes:

Single-Player Campaign – As the Elari are forced to flee their homeland, they must settle on new and unknown territories. These new Settlers will have to face many challenges on their journey, from the raiding of ruthless bandits to the discovery of the new culture of these lands.
Hardcore Mode – As players will be able to play new scenarios, a wide range of modifiers and conditions will make the AI an even more challenging opponent. Adaptability is key in this new mode that will put the best players to the test, alone or with friends.
Skirmish – Players will be able to experience Solo vs. AI, co-op vs. AI or PvP featuring up to eight players on the 12 maps available at launch.

At release, The Settlers: New Allies will be available in two editions:

Standard Edition: Base game
Deluxe Edition: Base game, deluxe pack (in-game digital content and digital artbook and soundtrack and Explorer pack (in-game digital content)

Ubisoft also announced that in commemoration of the game they will be livestreaming The Settlers: New Allies on Twitch to cover a series of topics around the different modes, the lore, and much more. Join the first livestream on 1 December at 11:00 PM (UTC+8). This first stream will feature the Skirmish mode with the game’s Creative Director, Christian Hagedorn.


Cyberpunk 2077 Devs Hit With Crunch & Broken Promises (Update)

Originally published on 30 September 2020
(Updated on 30 September 2020):
CD Projekt Red studio head Adam Badowski has given his official response to the report by Jason Schreier about the developer’s intention to commit to crunching for the last few weeks heading to the Cyberpunk 2077 release date.
He states that it was “the hardest decision I’ve had to make” and that everyone will be well-compensated for their extra overtime. He also confirmed that 10 percent of the company’s annual profit will be divided directly to each employee.

https://t.co/Ie5W0O7iiv pic.twitter.com/IJBZ3IIT6m— Adam Badowski?? (@AdamBadowski) September 30, 2020

Cyberpunk 2077Â developer CD Projekt Red has told its employees that six-day workweeks will be mandatory ahead of the gameâ€™s 19 November 2020 release date. This is despite the fact that the company has previously promised not to force its employees to crunch.
According to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, an account from a CD Projekt Red employee recently, as well as an email to staff earlier this week, has proven that the developer is still forcing the culture of crunching.
The CD Projekt Red employee said that some of the staff have already been working on nights and weekends for more than a year. Meanwhile, the email by CD Projekt Red studio head Adam Badowski is self-evident.
Badowski wrote that â€œstarting today, the entire (development) studio is in overdrive,” which means that employees will have to work six days every week. However, unlike other companies who force the same thing, CD Projekt Red will be paying their employees for the overtime as per Polish labour laws.
He also wrote:
â€œI take it upon myself to receive the full backlash for the decision.I know this is in direct opposition to what weâ€™ve said about crunch. Itâ€™s also in direct opposition to what I personally grew to believe a while back — that crunch should never be the answer. But weâ€™ve extended all other possible means of navigating the situation.â€
CD Projekt Red has yet to officially comment on the report by Schreier. Cyberpunk 2077 is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 19 November 2020.


The Top 5 Street Fighter V Championship Contenders For EVO 2019

The world championship of fighting games – EVO 2019 is just around the corner. And with it comes the inevitable buzz, speculation, and discussion of which players will be the ones to take home the fame and glory of becoming the EVO world championship in their respective games.
First up, letâ€™s take a look at Street Fighter V.
Fighting In The Streets
Although the Capcom Pro Tour has superseded EVO as being the yearly Street Fighter tournament with the biggest prize pool, the EVO championship title for Street Fighter still holds more prestige among the Street Fighter community due to the traditional open bracket format and the fact that itâ€™s still the biggest fighting game event in the world right now. Whoever wins the championship at the end, theyâ€™ll have to come on top of 1929 competitors.
And although the tournament registration numbers arenâ€™t as high as previous years, the level of competition is certainly higher than ever before with the current competitive scene currently boasting the highest percentage of elite international players weâ€™ve ever seen.

When it comes to the all-out battle royale that is the EVO tournament bracket, itâ€™s almost impossible to predict who will even emerge from pools to compete in the spotlighted top 8.
The open nature of the tournament and the aforementioned legion of elite international players mean that nobody, not even the so-called Japanese gods are safe from elimination in the early stages of the tournament – as we have seen over and over again in recent years.

Even so, there is a handful of competitors that weâ€™ll be keeping our eye on, and have the momentum going into EVO which give us that extra bit of confidence that theyâ€™ll make it to the end. Here are our picks for the top 5 Street Fighter V EVO 2019 championship contenders.
Honourable Mentions
Before we get to our top 5 picks, itâ€™s important to note that there will be quite a few notable names missing from our list. This is only natural given the fact that pretty much all of the top players from across the world will be attending the tournament. Each and every one of them technically has the chance to win it, but we couldnâ€™t possibly cover every top player attending the tournament. Regardless, the fighters mentioned below do have an edge over the rest of the top players.
Our honourable mentions include the following:
CYG BST | Fuudo

One of the most consistent Birdie/R.Mika players on the CPT circuit this year and the 2nd runner up at EVO 2018. Unfortunately, he hasnâ€™t quite been able to break the barrier and finish in 1st place when it comes to major tournaments. EVO could very well be his moment, but as of right now there are other top players who have more momentum going into the tournament.
NVD Phenom

One of the top-ranked players in Europe who has been playing extremely well after switching to Karin this season. Like Fuudo, he hasnâ€™t quite managed to clinch a top spot in any major tournaments yet, but the way heâ€™s been playing just gives us that nagging feeling that he might be on the cusp of a major tournament win.
And now, the top 5 for Street Fighter V for this year’s EVO.
5. Machabo

Though heâ€™s been well known as a top player in the Guilty Gear scene, no one could have predicted that Machabo would suddenly appear as the undeniable breakout star of this yearâ€™s CPT season thus far.

Machabo has been going on an absolute rampage starting around May of this year when he won Battle Arena Melbourne before going on to get top 8 at 4 consecutive CPT premier events, finishing in 3rd place at Combo Breaker, CEO, and most recently, Versus Fighting.

Those last 3 tournaments are easily among the biggest tournaments in the world outside of EVO, and being able to finish in the top 3 of massive events with such consistency is something that we rarely see, even from the most talented of players.
The momentum Machabo is carrying into this tournament is certainly undeniable, and he has plenty of reason to feel confident given that heâ€™s already beaten the likes of Tokido, Sako, and Fuudo in major tournaments.

Having said that, Machabo doesnâ€™t quite have the same Street Fighter EVO experience as the other players on this list, and he may also run into problems due to the fact that he hasnâ€™t demonstrated the ability to play a character other than Necalli – who may be prone to some bad matchups if Machabo gets an unlucky draw during the bracket.
Weâ€™ll have to wait and see whether Machabo is able to survive pools without incident and make it to the later stages of the tournament, but if he does, then he could very well end up taking the whole thing.
4. Fujimura

When Ibuki received her first set of major nerfs in the season 3 patch of Street Fighter V, everyone was convinced that her reign of terror was over. That was only until Fujimura established himself as one of the current top players in the world while demonstrating that the latest version of Ibuki was perhaps even scarier than she was before.

Currently sitting in 4th place of the CPT rankings, the name of the game has been consistent domination for Fujimura. Thatâ€™s not to say that heâ€™s won every single major tournament outright, but when Fujimura wins, he always seems to do so in an extremely convincing fashion.

After finishing 2nd and 1st at his last 2 premier events (CEO and Taipei Major), Fujimura looks as ready as ever to win EVO. We find it hard to believe that heâ€™ll have much trouble reaching top 8 given that heâ€™s already done so at EVO 2016 and 2018.
3. Tokido

The winner of EVO 2017 and last yearâ€™s runner-up. If anyone has made their case for being the worldâ€™s greatest player in the lifetime of Street Fighter V, itâ€™s Tokido – a man who needs no introduction for anyone whoâ€™s been the least bit interested in the competitive fighting game scene for the past decade.

Though heâ€™s always been considered to be one of the Japanese gods of fighting games, itâ€™s been his performance over the last two years that have really cemented his status as the preferred candidate for the title of â€œbest player in the worldâ€.

He might not quite have surpassed Daigo Umehara as the â€œGOATâ€ of the FGC, but Tokido has certainly proven himself to be a worthy contender for the title of â€œBest in the Worldâ€, by achieving incredible results in an era where the level of international competition is higher than ever.

While he could be considered by many to be the statistical favourite to win EVO outright based on previous performances, it just so happens the current level of competition on the international circuit is so intense that there are still 2 more players which arguably have more momentum going into the tournament. Regardless, we donâ€™t have any doubt that Tokido could still make an appearance in grand finals this year.
2. Bonchan

The entire Street Fighter V era has been incredibly tough for Bonchan. Though heâ€™s always been considered one of the very best Japanese players and has managed to finish as the first runner up at EVO for Street Fighter IV, he was one of the notable top players that had the most trouble adapting to the newest iteration of the game.
Known best for his immaculate Sagat play, the offence-oriented meta of Street Fighter V and the lack of characters that fit Bonchanâ€™s signature playstyle, unfortunately, resulted in him struggling to achieve any significant results throughout the first three seasons of the CPT. Even when Sagat was released as a DLC character for season 3 a year ago, Bonchan still struggled to find his footing due to Sagatâ€™s apparent weakness in competitive play relative to the rest of the cast.
Despite all the hardship, Bonchan has stayed devoted to the game and in 2019 it appears as if he has finally reclaimed his former place at the top of the competitive ladder.

Heâ€™s had to make massive adjustments to his playstyle and gameplan – developing an entirely new Sagat playstyle while also embracing Karin as a primary character.
Underneath all those adaptations, we still see that highly calculative, patient and strategic player that we absolutely loved watching a few years back.

After beating Punk in the grand finals of the Versus Fighting premier CPT tournament, it would appear that Bonchan is on the top of his game, and this year is as good a time as any for us to finally see him back in the grand finals of EVO.
1. Punk

You might be wondering at this point – â€œWell if Bonchan just beat Punk at Versus Fighting, then shouldnâ€™t Bonchan be the favourite to win EVO?â€.

Think about it this way: Punk might be the most talented player that we have ever seen in the history of Street Fighter. And if youâ€™ve been paying attention to his journey thus far, youâ€™ll know that even with his recent loss, he could still easily be the favourite to win this year.

When he first burst onto the scene in the 2016-2017 season, many people had him pegged him as the favourite to win EVO. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as the heavy expectations of the American fans and Punkâ€™s own inexperience relative to his opponent ended up working against him in an unforgettable grand finals set where Tokido reset the bracket against Punk before crushing him in 3 straight games to win one of the most memorable EVO championships of all time.
Following his defeat, Punk went through a severe crisis, losing his previous dominance on the tournament circuit, switching characters to Cammy and ultimately performing very poorly at EVO the following year.

Now, like Bonchan, Punk has regained his confidence in his skills as well as his original character: Karin, and heâ€™s been looking stronger than ever – if thatâ€™s even possible.

Bonchanâ€™s feat of beating Punk from the losers bracket at Versus Fighting was incredible, but Bonchan and the other Japanese players have admitted on record that Punk is currently on a completely different level from every other top player at the moment. Bonchan himself had to spend dozens if not hundreds of hours training and forming a strategy specifically to defeat Punk.

Now that Punk has lost to Bonchanâ€™s â€œAnti-Punkâ€ strategy once, the chances are that Punk will be studying the footage and developing his own countermeasures, resulting in Bonchan ultimately having created an even more terrifying player than before. It also doesnâ€™t help that the Japanese players have been openly discussing Bonchanâ€™s strategy on stream, giving Punk plenty of material to study heading into EVO.
Regardless of results or tournament environments, we know one thing for sure – there is no player with a competitive spirit fiercer than Punkâ€™s, and you can guarantee that heâ€™s motivated.

Top image credit: Polygon


There’s Going To Be A Final Fantasy Musical Next Year…

Did anyone ask for a Final Fantasy musical? How about one for its pretty successful spin-off for iOS and Android? No one else? Guess it’s just you, Japan.
The free-to-play gacha-savvy title Final Fantasy Brave Exvius will be a musical for the stage in March 2020 (via IT Media). I’m dead serious: Square Enix is approving this side story to be played by live actors with its own music over its mothership titles. This may be an experimental pick to test the waters before using its big guns, but it’s still ballsy nonetheless.
The musical will be written by Fumiya Matsuzaki, who penned the Super Danganronpa 2 musical. That also is a thing too, I guess. FFBE The Musical will run from 6th to 15th March in Tokyo and 20th to 29th March in Kobe.
FFBE was released in Japan on 22nd October 2015 to middling to huge fanfare. It’s a mobile JRPG with turn-based combat reminiscent of Brave Frontier, and comes with its own awesome-looking 2D sprites. It even has cameos from other mothership FF titles and even other Square Enix characters like Deus Ex’s Adam Jensen and Just Cause 3’s Rico Rodriguez. And Ariana Grande and Katy Perry for some reason that will only be known by some oddball Square Enix shareholder.


ROG Malaysia Is The Official Gaming Phone Sponsor For Mobile Legends MPL MY From Season 11 To 14

Republic Of Gamers ROG Malaysia has announced that they will be the Official Gaming Phone Sponsor of Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League Malaysia (MPL MY) for four seasons, starting from Season 11, which is starting in February 2023, all through Season 14, which is slated to happen in late 2024.
Shawn Chang, Global Sales and Marketing Director of Phone Business Unit, Republic of Gamers, said:
“ROG is committed to building the gaming community, hence we have decided to work with MOONTON on MPL MY to equip the best teams in Malaysia with the best gaming phones and help them to achieve new heights in their esports careers. We are also taking this opportunity to collect feedback from elite mobile gamers to ensure that we can continue innovating towards new features and create the best gaming phone to all gamers out there.”
Fikri Rizal Mahruddin, Marketing, and Business Development Lead, MPL Malaysia, said:
“We are delighted to have ROG as our official phone partner for MPL Malaysia. Their battle-ready phones are the best fit for powering up competitive Mobile Legends: Bang Bang matches, and we look forward to capturing epic team battles on them!”
Organized by MOONTON, MPL Malaysia is a biannual event, pitting the top 10 local MLBB teams against each other for a share of the US$100,000 prize pool. The top two teams from the regional MPL tournaments will proceed to the Mobile Legends World Championship, which will see elite teams from all around the world fight tooth and nail to be crowned the world champions for Mobile Legends Bang Bang.
This sponsorship highlights ROG’s commitment to stimulating growth in the esports scene, not just in Malaysia, but also worldwide. ROG is dedicated to bringing better gaming experiences to elite and amateur players alike, equipping them with the world’s best gaming gear to propel them to ever higher levels of success.
The dedication to enable the best gaming experience for every kind of gamers has culminated in Team ROG, with members ranging from diverse backgrounds to showcase just how capable ROG products are, regardless of the game you choose. Team ROG counts renowned DJ Alan Walker and professional footballer, Son Heung-Min, among its ranks, as well as pro esports teams like Misfits Gaming, Rogue and Team BDS. ROG challenges gamers to achieve their true potential in play to live up to the motto of For Those Who Dare.


Mobile Legends Malaysia Crossover Features Malaysian Football Icons Clashing With Esports Professionals

Moonton is bringing together the spirit of football and World Cup celebrations with MOBA action.
The company is inviting Malaysian football icons and esports teams for a Mobile Legends: Bang Bang crossover. The football stars will be Safee Sail, Khairul Fahmi, and Dominic Tan, while the esports professionals include TODAK, Moon, SMG – Xorn, RSG- Inazami, and Team Haq – Garyy. The ten football and MLBB stars will team up, with the actual show taking place for all to see on 25th November.
The ten stars will compete in soccer/football and Mobile Legends MOBA action, with the losers going through a customized punishment and the winners getting a trophy and bragging rights. Other special guests include Malaysian female pro-footballer and gamer Intan Serah, MPL Malaysia MC Aiman Laphel, and top entertainment creator XK Penjahat.
Check out the teaser below:


Fantastic Beasts The Secrets Of Dumbledore Drops On HBO GO Malaysia Next Week

Fantastic Beasts The Secrets Of Dumbledore will premiere on HBO GO in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan on 30 May 2022 (via Twitter).
The synopsis reads:
Professor Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) knows the powerful Dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Mads Mikkelsen) is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts Magizoologist Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) to lead an intrepid team of wizards, witches and one brave Muggle baker on a dangerous mission, where they encounter old and new beasts and clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers. But with the stakes so high, how long can Dumbledore remain on the sidelines?
The rest of the Wizarding World movies is also available on HBO GO.
In addition, the exciting documentary Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History, which sees Stephen Fry exploring the inspirations behind some of the Wizarding World’s magical creatures, will also debut on the same day on HBO GO.

Unfurl all sorts of mysteries around fantastic beasts and real-life creatures across history that you may not believe could exist in the upcoming new documentary Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History. Join Stephen Fry as he embarks on an incredible journey to discover the stories behind some of the world’s most fantastic beasts. With the help of scientists, historians, writers and filmmakers, Stephen finds out why the world of magical animals is more popular today than ever before.
Whether digging for dragons, meeting distant relatives of the unicorn or swimming with an unlikely inspiration for mermaids, Stephen uncovers the secrets behind some of our best-loved mythical creatures, and reveals real-life beasts – from rhinos to narwhals, vervet monkeys to manatees – that have inspired some of the greatest legends in history, storytelling, and film.
Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History is narrated by Stephen Fry and directed by Chris Chapman and Adam White. Victoria Bobin serves as producer and Alice Keens Soper is executive producer of the one-hour documentary.
You can subscribe to HBO GO online at https://www.hbogoasia.my/ or the mobile app via the App Store or Play Store for RM23.30 per month. You can also access HBO GO via Astro. HBO GO is also available on Android TV, Apple TV, LG TV and Samsung Smart TV – and comes with AirPlay and Google Cast functionality.
In the meantime, check out my review of Fantastic Beasts The Secrets Of Dumbledore by heading over here. It’s better than its predecessor, but still struggles to capture the magic of the Harry Potter franchise.


Apex Legends Season 8 Trailer Showcases Fuse & King’s Canyon Makeover

Respawn Entertainment has released a new 80s-action-movie-style trailer for Apex Legends Season 8. It showcases the new Legend named Fuse and aÂ glimpse of the newly-destroyed version of the Kings Canyon map.
It looks like Fuse has a wrist-mounted grenade launcher, which he can use to throw explosives at enemies. He also appears to be able to drop a cluster of napalm onto the map, which sets the ground on fire after it’s been unleashed. These two attacks might be his Tactical ability and his Ultimate, but whatever his Passive skill is remains a mystery.
King’s Canyon is currently in runs after a ship crashed into it, changing the landscape and the map for players. The Apex Legends Season 8 trailer also features new weapons, such as the old-west style 30-30 Repeater rifle.
Apex Legends Explosive Holds
These are going to be dotted around the map and will contain various types of loot, in what sounds very similar to loot vaults on Worlds Edge.
Here’s how to open one:

Jump into Kings Canyon, landing near an Explosive Hold.
Throw a Frag Grenade, Thermite or Arc Star at the centre of the door.
It opens.

These will provide more looting opportunity for players.
In anÂ official blog post, Respawn Entertainment said:
â€œWhen the ship came crashing down, several mobile armories that were being stored in its cargo bay were lost and scattered across Kings Canyon.
Although they require security clearance to open them, crafty Legends have discovered that a well-placed ordnance can blow those doors open, granting access to weapons, ammo and valuable attachments.â€
Apex Legends Season 8 will go live on 2 February 2021.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Disney+ Hotstar Is Getting Six New Exclusive Indonesian Series

Indonesian stars descended on Singapore today to unveil six exciting Indonesian original series slated for exclusive release on Disney+ Hotstar. Featured alongside some of the world’s most eagerly anticipated global tentpole titles and storytelling from across APAC, today’s newly-announced Indonesian series included: Hubungi Agen Gue! (The Talent Agency) and Wedding Agreement The Series Season 2, in addition to updates on previously-announced titles Tira, Teluh Darah (Blood Curse), Jurnal Risa (Risa’s Journal: From the Danur Universe) and Mendua (Between Two Hearts).
Held at Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay Sands, this year’s Disney Content Showcase included several presentations on Disney’s upcoming slate of theatrical productions from its major studios and unveiled an expanding collection of APAC Originals for its streaming service. Featuring guest appearances from some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, Indonesia’s segment included appearances from award-winning producer and writer Mira Lesmana for Hubungi Agen Gue!, writer Risa Saraswati for Jurnal Risa, and stars Chelsea Islan for Tira, Deva Mahendra for Teluh Darah, Adinia Wirasti for Mendua, and Refal Hady for Wedding Agreement The Series Season 2.
Vineet Puri, Vice President & General Manager, The Walt Disney Company Indonesia, said:
“We are thrilled to showcase our premium collection of Indonesian stories alongside some of the world’s biggest titles at the Disney Content Showcase in Singapore. Through our collaboration with the most talented creators in Indonesia, we will continue to showcase quality storytelling that Indonesian audiences will love, and contribute to the country’s very dynamic creative community.”
Tira – From the world of Indonesia’s superheroes Bumilangit, Tira tells the story of Suci, an inspirational stuntwoman stricken with a death curse. To free herself, she must find and defeat nine evil people who possess ancient dragons, only to discover that someone close to her is the evillest of them all. Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Joko Anwar and directed by Zahir Omar, Tira features Chelsea Islan in the title role.

Teluh Darah (Blood Curse) – From the incredible mind of director Kimo Stamboel, Teluh Darah tells the story of a young woman named Wulan whose world view is flipped on its head after witnessing a black magic attack on her family. Driven to protect them at any cost, Wulan will go to the ends of the earth to find out who is responsible and hold them to account. Starring Mikha Tambayong and Deva Mahenra, Teluh Darah recently premiered at the Busan International Film Festival’s “On Screen” program.

Jurnal Risa (Risa’s Journal: From the Danur Universe) – From Danur, one of Indonesia’s most famous horror universes, comes a story by Risa Saraswati about a group of cousins who practice a forbidden ritual over the summer break, leading to one of them becoming possessed. With time running out, the remaining cousins will race to save their loved one from being lost to the spirit world forever. Produced by Manoj Punjabi and directed by Awi Suryadi, two of the creatives behind Indonesia’s number one box office movie KKN Di Desa Penari, Jurnal Risa features an impressive cast of some of Indonesia’s up-and-coming stars.

Hubungi Agen Gue! (The Talent Agency) – Adapted from the original French series Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent!), this dramatic comedy follows four agents in an Indonesian talent agency as they struggle to save their business following the unexpected death of the company’s founder. Starring Donny Damara, Hannah Al Rashid, Yoga Pratama, Lydia Kandou, each episode will feature A-listers guest-starring as themselves. This new series is produced by legendary producers Mira Lesmana and Riri Riza (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?) and SK Global Entertainment (Crazy Rich Asians), and directed by one of Indonesia’s top directors, Teddy Soeriaatmadja.
Mendua (Between Two Hearts) – Starring Adinia Wirasti, Chicco Jerikho and Tatjana Saphira, Mendua tells the story of Sekar, a happily married woman of 15 years who suddenly begins to suspect that her husband may be having an affair. But what starts off as a fleeting thought becomes an obsession that threatens to push Sekar over the edge. Mendua is an adaptation of the BAFTA award-winning Doctor Foster, originally written by Mike Bartlett and produced by Drama Republic for BBC.
Wedding Agreement The Series Season 2 – After the wildly successful first season, Wedding Agreement The Series returns with a gripping new story. Starring Refal Hady as Bian and Indah Permatasari as Tari, season two opens three years after the first, with Bian suddenly deciding that he needs to start over.


Resident Evil Movie Reboot Casts Jill, Leon, Claire & More

The Resident Evil reboot origin movie has announced the casting of its major lead characters, including actors for Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, Claire Redfield, Leon S. Kennedy, and Albert Wesker.
If you’re confused, this movie is separate and unconnected to the upcoming Resident Evil Netflix series.
Production firm Constantin Film and writer/director Johannes Roberts announced the cast earlier today (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Set in 1998 â€œon a fateful night in Raccoon Cityâ€, the Resident Evil movie will star the following:
Kaya Scodelario (Maze Runner) as Claire Redfield.Hannah John-Kamen (Ant-Man and the Wasp) as Jill Valentine.Robbie Amell (Upload) as Chris Redfield.Tom Hopper (The Umbrella Academy) as Albert Wesker.Avan Jogia (Zombieland: Double Tap) as Leon S. Kennedy.Neal McDonough (Yellowstone) as William Birkin.
In an official statement, director Johannes Roberts said:
â€œI really wanted to go back to the original first two games and recreate the terrifying visceral experience I had when I first played them whilst at the same time telling a grounded human story about a small dying American town that feels both relatable and relevant to todayâ€™s audiences.â€
It sounds like this upcoming movie will be an amalgamation of elements from the first two games, which is probably why both Jill Valentine and the duo (Leon S. Kennedy/Claire Redfield) will be featuring in it.
The new Resident Evil movie is slated to release sometime in 2021. Here’s hoping that this marks an improved new beginning for movie adaptations of Capcom’s popular franchise.


Pentiment Is An Extremely Well-Executed Passion Project

Platform(s): PC (version reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: RPG Adventure
The newest entry into Obsidian Entertainment’s extensive catalogue of games, Pentiment is a 16th-century murder deduction story that insights and entertains. Players take hold of Andreas Maler, a journeyman artist that has found himself in the towns of Kiersau Abbey and Tassing and finds himself mixed up in a series of crimes and mysteries that span over 25 years. Andreas has taken up temporary residence in Tassing to work in the neighbouring town’s scriptorium—a place where books were copied and painted, but during this time, are slowly becoming surpassed by innovations like the printing press.
The year is 1518 and Bavarian society is on the brink of falling into shambles with Martin Luther’s words threatening a thousand years of papal dominance of western Christianity, the peasants of Tassing up-in-arms regarding high taxes, and the rich and powerful guarding their value with violence if necessary. The last thing that anyone needs is to find the corpse of an aristocrat strewn across the floor of your monastery let alone the fact that it’s none other than your friend and mentor.
Andreas takes it upon himself to find the true killer. You have too many suspects and not enough time to gather the evidence you need to convince the adjudicator that one of them is guilty. However you choose to spend your time, there are going to be stones left unturned and questions unanswered.
Decisions, Decisions…

From numerous interviews, we know that the folks over at Obsidian really wanted to put emphasis on the choices you make throughout the game in comparison to their other works. With some choices having consequences you won’t see for decades to come. At the very start of the game, you can choose where you studied and what you studied with even these choices being able to drastically help you solve the case or help you with other decisions in the future.
Many of the choices are time-sensitive, especially in regard to the murder as the people demand justice, but lack patience. With only a matter of days to figure out who the true killer is, you’d think that every hour counts. But it’s quite the opposite in fact, as there’s no ticking timer to it instead, time passes whenever you make a significant decision. These decisions could be exploring certain areas of the town or having supper suspect. The game has a tendency to stress the fact that you are making an important decision by doing a certain thing that you otherwise could do an alternative. Understandably this leaves you in a state of “what if I chose this instead of that” which, for me at least, encourages replayability.
The game never strictly tells you if you got the right culprit or not, but in hindsight, I’m pretty sure I got the wrong person as I was solely focused on one suspect. I happened to focus on them instead of one of my other suspects and collected more evidence that pointed to them as a result. I’m sure you will find other reviews that will tell a very different story which just goes to show that replayability is definitely something that the devs had in mind when creating this butterfly effect of a game.
A gripe I had from early on in the game was that when you’re making an important decision, it’s not always blatantly obvious that you are making an important decision. Usually, there are indicators and warnings but on a couple of occasions where I only realised I’d made a choice after I’d made it which did frustrate me a tad bit during my playthrough.

Print Screen

Pentiment’s art is really something else. Never have I played a game with such a unique art style that just feels like it would be wrong if it was done any other way. It’s obvious that it is heavily inspired by the late illuminated manuscripts and early printed books of the Renaissance era. Because of that, it really aids in shaping our perception that this game takes place in the past.

In what would otherwise be another dry history lesson, the artwork really draws you in as if you’re reading the book the game takes place in.

Another aspect of the art that I admire is the font. Fonts are used prominently throughout the game as you read literally every line of dialogue as there is no voice acting. Not only that, but every word is stroked in letter by letter and after talking to the Senior Producer, Alec Frey about it, I can imagine of much of a headache this was to code and develop. One last note about the font that I really did like is that everyone’s dialogue font is solely determined by their status. Priests speak in an intimidating and laborious gothic script, peasants in what can only be described as decipherable scratches, the upper class in a mess of serifs and curlicues, and people like our protagonist will speak in a sober and readable style.

The Sound of Music

As I mentioned before, the game has no audible dialogue so a lot of emphasis is put on the ambience and soundtrack. The soundtrack is absolutely perfect for the setting of the game. When you think of the era in which the game takes place, the soundtrack perfectly portrays it with its heavy use of period-accurate instruments.

The ambience, although subtle, really adds to the immersion of the game as it aids in conveying a sense of place whether you’re in the monastery or out in the meadow. Another aspect that I think will go unappreciated is in regard to the pen strokes. Almost as if ASMR, the scratches that the pen makes as each letter strokes is enough to lift the hairs on my arms in a therapeutic way.

The Court’s Verdict

Pentiment is truly a passion project and differs greatly from Obsidian’s lengthy, mechanics-heavy RPGs. At 20 hours, the game is relatively short, but there is so much potential for replayability as you will probably find yourself going back to find out what other paths you can take and ultimately spend triple the amount of time of your original playthrough. You can really see the amount of effort the team put into this game, with convenient little features and details here and there that make your playthroughs smoother than you’ve ever experienced.
Obsidian knew just exactly what they wanted to do with the game and executed it with perfection. Obviously in terms of the game itself but also in ‘vision’. When I play this game, I really feel as if I am experiencing the team’s vision of the game and when that vision of the game is an exceedingly enthralling story-slash-art history lesson, I can’t help but feel satisfied. And the fact that this game will be available on the Game Pass feels like I’m committing daylight robbery. I wholeheartedly recommend giving this game a shot.

Final Score: 90/100


Luigi’s Mansion 3 Will Have Terrifyingly Cool New Features

The first Luigi’s Mansion had us exploring and ghost-busting in… Luigi’s Mansion. In the second game Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, we had to cleanse five different mansions from the apparitions that haunt them. Now in Luigi’s Mansion 3, we’re letting Luigi go on a vacation that he definitely deserves.
Just kidding! Luigi is about to the get Hotel Transylvania treatment and this time it’s our duty to help him banish the boo-ers in the Last Resort hotel.

Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct showed us a glimpse of the fearful floors that await us. There’s going to be a Garden Suite with overgrown foliage, Castle MacFrights tainted in medieval macabre, the Tomb Suites full of sands, snakes, mummies, and more.
But fear not! Luigi’s Mansion 3 will also have a multiplayer mode called Scream Park where you and 7 other friends can play using a single Nintendo Switch console provided you have 8 joy-cons lying around. It’s a team-based 4v4 competitive mode and the team who takes out the most ghosts win.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is scheduled to be released on Halloween, 31 October 2019 exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.


Singapore YouTube Gamer Dee Kosh Under Fire For Offering Minors Money For Sex

Trouble is afoot in Singapore’s gaming YouTube scene. Or “gaming” if you prefer.
Darryl Ian Koshy, better known as YouTube guy and Team NOC gaming participant Dee Kosh, is facing hot water as he is facing multiple accusations of offering minors S$1,000 for sex (via Coconuts.co). At least five people, one of them being a 17-year old named Samuel, are filing police complaints against Dee Kosh for using his status as a talent manager to solicit sex from minors as well.
Dee Kosh himself initially denied all wrongdoing in the face of these serious accusations, going so far as to send out lawyer-armed letters of demand to his accuses like Instagram user @_Epaul.
However, he then said last night that he acknowledged some of the truths to the allegations and apologized to those he had “hurt”. He said that the Whatsapp messages he sent to the minors were just nothing but “inappropriate language” and “cheeky talk”, and isn’t in any way an attempt to “groom” them for sex.

“Some of the allegations baffled me because they were baseless and untrue. However, even though I had put out on an earlier statement on Instastories denying allegations which had surfaced initially, I now admit that there is truth to some of the things which are being said now, and I am sorry to the people I have hurt in the process.
There are some screenshots circulating of me texting with a 15-year-old that I now accept is problematic. My tone was questionable, but there was absolutely no intent to groom him
Let me state categorically that I did not ever have any sexual relations with [the teen Snapchatter] or with any minor. To me, it was a friendly conversation which was cheeky and inappropriate, but I did not take it any further.”

Additionally, the firm who sent the letter, DC Law, said yesterday that it was no longer representing Dee Kosh anymore. Furthermore, he is also “on leave” from his Power 98FM DJ gig after these accusations (via Mothership.sg).
Dee Kosh is a Singaporean who runs a YouTube channel that has more than 300k subscribers who like low-hanging fruit reaction videos and surface-level mocking of games and pop culture. He also joins his pals from Singapore YouTube bigwigs Night Owl Cinematics (NOC) in post-recorded gaming sessions involving trending titles like Mobile Legends and Valorant.Â

And also the occasional scary game because it’s easy to emulate the Markiplier formula with friends in high places.

Jesting aside, we just have this to say: innocent until proven guilty. Even if you may not be a fan of how he does his gaming content, allegations are just that until confessions & straight-up evidence are present.
Top image credit: Straits Times


The Sims 4 Celebrate 20th Anniversary With Free Hot Tubs

The Sims franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary today, and developer Maxis has announced that they will be granting a free hot tub to every Sims player.
What’s so special about a hot tub? Well, it’s not just any old hot tub. The Sims 4 is bringing back the return of the iconic hot tub. Veteran players will remember that very same hot tub from the original Sims.
The hot tub is dropping for free on all platforms in a small update today. It’s currently free for all PlayStation Plus members, so grab it while you can. Publisher EA has also revealed an infographic detailing some of the franchise’s highlights from the past two decades, including:

Over 1.6 billion Sims have been created.
Those Sims have engaged in 1.3 billion Woohoos.
There have been 575 million Sim households, 37 million Sim weddings, and 173,000 Sim toddlers.
Players spent over 65 million hours in the gallery.
There were 217,00 aliens, 1 million mermaids, and 6.9 million vampires, which is frankly a great gauge for Simmers’ personal interests.

Recently, The Sims 4 recently added Simplified Chinese language support. Check out the long, long, long infographic below:


Spider-Man PS4 Scarlet Spider Suit Gets Hot Toys Treatment

One of the many great things about Insomniac’s Marvel’s Spider-Man for the PS4 was that it featured more than a whopping 50 different suits/skins for Spidey. These included classics like the original Iron Spider suit, various Spider-Armors and of course, the 90s throwback Scarlet Spider suit.
While everyone is still trying to erase the Clone Saga from their minds, the Scarlet Spider suit remains a beloved and fan-favorite suit, probably second only to the iconic black Symbiote suit. In the comics, it wasn’t even Peter Parker in that suit, but his clone, Ben Reilly.
Hot Toys has announced a new 2019 Toy Fair Exclusive Spider-Man Scarlet Spider Suit 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure. It’s so authentic and detailed that it comes with a pair of ankle pouches (which is totally a remnant of the 90s), a camouflage utility belt, and those signature web-shooters.
It also comes with a bunch of accessories, including a camera, a coffee cup, a donut, a smartphone, and a freaking pizza in a box, incredibly with a removable slice of pizza. Check out the Spider-Man Scarlet Spider Suit 1/6th Scale Collectible Figure below:

According to the official website, it is slated to arrive sometime in the third or fourth quarter of 2019. Perhaps this will tide everyone over until the Marvel’s Spider-Man sequel eventually comes in the future. In the meantime, Excelsior!