Here’s When The Outer Wilds Will Arrive On Steam

After first releasing on the Epic Games Store last May, Outer Wilds will be arriving on Steam in a few months.

Developer Annapurna Interactive recently released a Steam release date trailer, revealing the release date to be 18 June. So it’s less than three months to go before you can get your hands on it.
Outer Wilds, which I keep mistaking for The Outer Worlds, received great reviews when it came out and earned a mention on our Best of 2019 roundup. Our former writer Burhan called it “one of those rare games that will give you eureka moments very often. Coupled with a fine-tuned soundtrack thatâ€™s relevant to the narrative, and you have a space-faring journey unlike any other that even the late David Bowie would be jealous about.”
The Steam description calls it “a critically-acclaimed and award-winning open-world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop”, which does sound like one heck of a journey. You can add it to your wishlist here.


Aliens Fireteam Elite Drops This August

Publisher Focus Home Interactive and developer Cold Iron Studios announced that co-op third-person survival shooter Aliens Fireteam Elite,Â previously announcedÂ asÂ Aliens Fireteam, will launch for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC via Steam on 24 August 2021.
A Digital Deluxe Edition will also be available, which includes the â€œEndeavor Veteran Packâ€ and â€œEndeavor Pass,â€ which contains four additional cosmetic downloadable content bundles (class kit skins, weapon colours, head accessories, and more).
Pre-orders for any edition of the game will include the â€œHardened Marine Pack,â€ which includes the â€œBandana Headâ€ accessory, â€œDigital Red Camoâ€ weapon colour, three weapon decals, and â€œChestbursterâ€ joke emote.
According to Cold Iron Studios co-founder Craig Zinkievich, the game is inspired more by 1986â€™s action-oriented Aliens by James Cameron than 1979â€™sÂ AlienÂ by Ridley Scott.
Aliens FireteamÂ is set in 2202, 23 years after the originalÂ AlienÂ movie trilogy (and yes, that includes 1992â€™sÂ Alien 3). At this point in the timeline, Xenomorph outbreaks are rare but the aliens are widely-known. The Colonial Protection Act of 2187 commissioned warships to patrol the universe and protect colonists from Xenomorph outbreaks. You play a new soldier aboard the USS Endeavor and you end up orbiting Katanga after a distress call.
There will be over 20 enemy types, including 11 different Xenomorphs along the evolutionary scale from Facehuggers to Praetorians, each designed with their own intelligence to ambush, outsmart and eviscerate vulnerable marines. Players will be able to choose from five unique classes; Gunner, Demolisher, Technician, Doc and Recon, as well as an extensive arsenal of more than 30 weapons and 70 mods/attachments.
In the meantime, check out the new trailer below:


Overwatch: Mercy Gets Massive Nerf on PTR; Junkrat’s Mine Dialled Down As Well

Heads up support players who cannot aim (we kid! we kid!) – Our favorite guardian angel, Mercy is getting a YUUUUGE nerf. These changes relates to her Valkyrie ultimate, where she’s receiving downgrades everywhere from its total duration (15 seconds from original 20), speed boost reduction (decreased by 50%), and the omissions of bonus Resurrect and it being instantaneous.
According toÂ principal designer, Geoff Goodman when discussing a new patch that just went live on the PTR, the move was done to better balance the game. Via his post on the Blizzard Overwatch forums, Goodman said:
“Mercyâ€™s recent Resurrect changes have helped in allowing enemies to have more counter play in dealing with her, but she was able to use Resurrect through Valkyrie enough to largely mitigate the impact of the previous changes. Additionally, weâ€™re toning back the amount of mobility Valkyrie provides through Guardian Angel and reducing its duration to overall reduce the power of this ability.”
Mercy isn’t the only one receiving a nerf. Junkrat’s concussion mine is now less effective as the dev team reduced the damage dealtÂ to targets farther away from the explosionâ€™s center. Definitely a welcomed move as we’ve had enough of being offed by mines that’s clearly thrown a few feet away from us. Each mine deals 120 damage – that’s equivalent to a Pharah direct rocket hit or a Genji Dragon Blade! Madness. Commenting on this change, Goodman said:
“Junkrat has been enjoying the flexibility his double-charge Concussion Mine provides, but it has now become a bit too easy to throw out huge bursts damage in a large area. With this change he can still dish out similar damage but he must now be more accurate with his tosses.”
Goodman ended the post stating “We will likely be iterating on these changes in the coming weeks”Â so these tweaks are not final – as all PTR changes usually are. However, it would be interesting to see how these changes shift the meta as well as hero picks, moreover with the relatively high pick rate of the latest character who also happens to be a support hero, Moira.
Personally we feel that Mercy is in a good place at the moment, but if it was up to us to tweak her kit, it would be to return her multiple res ultimate, but removing its ability to simultaneously revive everyone at the same time. E.g limiting it to singular, unlimited revives within a specific window while on Valkyrie mode.
What do you think? Have a better idea to make Mercy more viable? Comments section is right down below.


100 Thieves Won’t Join Call Of Duty World League 2020

Just a few weeks ago, we reported that the Call of Duty World League (CWL) was shifting towards a franchise-based system similar to the Overwatch League (OWL) and now at least eight franchise slots have been sold. Unfortunately, this year’s CWL first runner-up, 100 Thieves, won’t be joining the inaugural CoD Franchise League.
100 Thieves CEO and founder, Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag announced the news in a recent video, citing high financial costs as the main reason for the team’s decision in not joining the tournament.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knL9kkr4vrI&w=560&h=315]
It’s been reported by several sources that a franchise slot in the upcoming CoD Franchise League is priced at US$25 million, an amount that’s a bit higher than the cost of an OWL Season 1 franchise slot which costed US$20 million.
Despite the heartbreaking news, Haag stated that this isn’t the end of 100 Thieves in the Call of Duty esports scene. He emphasised that the long-term survival of the 100 Thieves brand is the current priority and contending with the financial and systematic conditions of the CoD Franchise League would disrupt that branding.

“For us to make such a costly investment into Call of Duty would possibly jeopardise really everything that this company has been building for the last year and half and two years for me. It’s just a risk that we can’t take right now.”
– Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag, 100 Thieves founder.

Mike Rufail, CEO of Team Envy and current owner of OWL team Dallas Fuel and the newly established Dallas Call of Duty, has expressed respect towards Haag and his decision. Looking at their history together, Rufail said that Haag has been “an amazing competitor for so many years for our organisation”.
Speaking on the topic of taking part in a franchise league, Rufail mentioned that he understood the difficulties and sacrifices needed to be made when deciding to invest in something as costly as the CoD Franchise League.
So what does this mean for the future of Call of Duty esports?
It’s definitely sad that we won’t be seeing one of the best Call of Duty teams take part in the biggest CoD tournament in the world. However, Haag is keen on keeping the team alive and so it’s likely that we will still be seeing them take part in other major tournaments.
For more news on the Call of Duty esports scene and the Call of Duty World League, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei.


Makoto Shinkai’s Next Movie, Suzume No Tojimari, Gets First Teaser Trailer

Makoto Shinkai’s next movie after 2019’s Weathering With You has received its first teaser trailer. The working title for his new movie is Suzume No Tojimari (literally translated in English as Suzume’s Door-Locking).
The Suzume No Tojimari synopsis reads:
On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—
17-year-old Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly mesmerized by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob…
Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.
The stars
The sunset
The morning sky
Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky—
Drawn in by this mysterious door, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.

Shinkai stated (via Anime News Network) that three important points about the film are that:

it is a road movie around Japan.
A story about “closing doors” rather than opening them. He elaborated that closing doors can refer to tying loose ends or finishing something.
A reason to visit the movie theater.

Makoto Shinkai is directing the film and writing the screenplay, while Masayoshi Tanaka (Your Name, Weathering With You) is designing the characters. Kenichi Tsuchiya (Your Name, Garden Of Words) is the animation director, while Takumi Tanji (Children Who Chase Lost Voices) is the art director. CoMix Wave Films and Story Inc. are producing the movie. TOHO is distributing the film.
Shinkai is best known for other anime movies like 5 Centimeters Per Second, Voices Of A Distant Star, The Garden Of Words, Your Name and Weathering With You.
In the meantime, check out my spoiler-free review ofÂ Weathering With YouÂ here, or head on over here for my spoiler-filled discussion of the movie’s problems. There’s also a live-action adaptation of Weathering With You (sort of), which you can check out here.
Suzume No Tojimari is slated to premiere in Japanese cinemas on 11 November 2022. Check out the Suzume No Tojimari teaser trailer below:


EA SPORTS To Pay $588 Million For Premier League Rights

EA SPORTS is known for its popular FIFA video game series and with the two parting ways, Sky Sports reports that EA would have to pay US$588 million for the rights to have all the Premier League clubs.
In today’s gaming world, it is not the programming or gameplay that determines the popularity of a game, but rather the ability to secure exclusive rights to feature actual teams and leagues that players want to see.
The cost of securing these licenses has become astronomical, and while video game publishers are often secretive about the exact figures, a recent leak has shed some light on the amount that EA is paying for its football rights.

Sky Sports reports that 20 Premier League clubs were informed during a recent meeting that a new six-year deal with EA Sports worth approximately £488 million (US$588 million) is close to being finalized.
This agreement would allow EA to continue as one of the Premier League’s main “partners,” a sponsorship arrangement that has seen the presence of EA Sports branding in various aspects of the league, from referee uniforms to the Premier League’s Player of the Month award.
Additionally, players of FIFA 23 will have the opportunity to experience the competition, energy, and excitement of the world’s most popular league with all 20 Premier League clubs, complete with their 2022/23 kits, logos, and an authentic broadcast, commentary, and pre-match choreography package.
In conclusion, the proposed new partnership between EA Sports and the Premier League estimated to be “worth more than double the existing deal,” highlights the significance of licensing deals in the success of sports games.
The $588 million that EA is paying is not just for the rights to the Premier League, but also to maintain its status as a main partner of the competition. With the high cost of securing these licenses, it is clear that the success of sports games heavily depends on licensing.


Mortal Kombat Movie Delayed To April 2021

The Mortal Kombat movie reboot was previously slated to release on 15 January 2021, but Warner Bros. has delayed the upcoming film to 16 April 2021.
However, the movie will premiere in both cinemas and HBO Max, just like every other Warner Bros. movie in 2021.
Directed by Simon McQuoid, the Mortal Kombat movie is written by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham. The cast includes Ludi Lin, Joe Taslim, Tadanobu Asano and Jessica McNamee.
All we know about the movie so far is that it will be R-rated and feature fatalities. In the meantime, you can actually play as three characters from the original 1995 Mortal Kombat movie adaptation.

On April 16, Mortal Kombat enters the arena. Coming to theaters and streaming exclusively on HBO Max. #MortalKombatMovie pic.twitter.com/mjB8DRhyYM— Mortal Kombat Movie (@MKMovie) December 14, 2020


Legendary Comics Writer Denny O’Neil Dies At 81

Comic book legend and veteran writer/editor Dennis J. “Denny” O’Neil has died at the age of 81. His family confirmed the news (via GamesRadar); that he died at home due to natural causes several days ago on the night of 11 June 2020.
Oâ€™Neil was best known for revitalizing two DC Comics characters; Batman and Green Arrow. After the campy and goofy silver age of the 60s, he brought back a darker Dark Knight and Emerald Knight in the 70s, with the help of editor Julius Schwartz and legendary artist Neal Adams.

He co-created iconic Batman characters such as Raâ€™s al Ghul, Talia al Ghul, Leslie Thompkins, Azrael, and Richard Dragon. However, one of his best comics (to this day) remains the Green Lantern/Green Arrow run, where he focused on the two superheroes as a duo travelling the United States.
It was notable for being one of the first mainstream comics to explore complex issues of political subject matter and social justice problems that plagued the era, including those related to drugs and racism.
It was during O’Neil’s Green Lantern/Green Arrow run that the famous and iconic Green Arrow story appeared in issues #85 and #86, which shockingly revealed to the world that Green Arrow’s partner Roy Harper AKA Speedy was addicted to heroin.

In addition, he also wrote the iconic Superman vs. Muhammad Ali one-shot and the Armageddon 2001 crossover event for DC Comics. He later worked for Marvel Comics as well, being involved in the creation of Madame Web, Hydro-Man, Obadiah Stane, Lady Deathstrike, and the concept for the Transformers, including naming Optimus Prime.

We have also lost several other comic book legends in 2020, including Asterix creator Albert Uderzo. They will be terribly missed, and we shall forever cherish their contributions to the comics industry.


Subnautica Makers Announce New Miniatures-Focused Strategy Title

Unknown Worlds, the makers behind the famous Subnautica series, will be changing genres with their new game.
It’s called Moonbreaker, and it’s a turn-based strategy game where you play with miniatures from different eras and fantasy worlds. The game’s narrative is penned by famous fantasy author Brad Sanderson. Best of all, you can customize and paint your miniatures with whatever you see fit.
And it won’t be long until you get to test the game out: Moonbreaker’s Early Access playtesting for the PC version will be available on 29th September. The game’s actual release date hasn’t been announced, but it’ll probably be a year after its Early Access release.


We Are Getting More SaGa Remastered JRPGs After SaGa Frontier

It’s like the mid-90s all over again, but with a smoother coat of paint.
Square Enix has confirmed on a recent livestream that it will be releasing more remasters of the SaGa series by designer Akitoshi Kawazu, a few days after it has released its latest remaster of the PS1 “classic” SaGa Frontier. I say “classic” because it was a rushed game with no proper climax; the remaster at least has the decency to add just that and a whole lot of other things like the missing eighth character Fuse who ties all of the seven selectable character’s plot threads together.
The SaGa games are notorious for having out-there game mechanics that are usually vague or poorly explained. They were breakthroughs in Romancing SaGa and its sequels, but were not the best ideas in Unlimited SaGa. It’ll be nice to see the other SaGa games getting a remaster and some much-needed upgrades and quality of life tweaks. These include SaGa Frontier 2 and Unlimited SaGa.


Hi-Fi Rush Arcade Challenge Is Out Now!

Need to find more to do after you’re done with one of this year’s best games? Tango Gameworks has you covered!
The devs behind surprise 2023 hit game Hi-Fi Rush, which blends action with rhythm game mechanics where on-screen actions are in sync with the music beat, has released the Arcade Challenge update. This update adds two new modes: BPM Rush and Power Up! Tower Up!
Arcade Challenge introduces two new enemies, unlockable rewards, fresh costumes, and a nice prize once you complete all 40 challenges tied to the new mode.
“The new BPM RUSH mode tasks players to battle waves of enemies to music with a steadily increasing BPM or beats per minute.
As you defeat each wave and tackle toughened-up new foes, the BPM will speed up to the next level, up to a whopping 200 BPM!
In Power Up! Tower Up!, players take on the Rhythm Tower challenge with a new twist. Power Up! Tower Up! introduces Upgrades and Bugs between rounds – Upgrades boost Chai’s stats and provide other helpful boons, but at the cost of a lowered score multiplier. Bugs, meanwhile, boost your score potential and get you closer to those stylish S-Ranks…but at a cost.
The Arcade Challenge! Update! also introduces new Special Attacks starring our mechanical buddies CNMN and Smidge, new challenges to earn new Photo Mode stickers, some new t-shirts for Chai and outfits for Korsica, test out new poses and filters for Photo Mode and more!”

You can only access these two modes once you’ve beaten the game. Hi-Fi Rush is available now for PC and Xbox consoles.


Original Metroid Prime Devs Aren’t Fans Of New Remaster; Here’s Why

It really sucks when your name is omitted from the credits, especially in remasters of games you’ve worked hard on back in the day. That’s what’s happening with ex-devs of the Metroid Prime series.
Ex-Retro Studio senior gameplay engineer for Metroid Prime and Metroid Prime 2, Zoid Kirsh, has expressed disappointment about the Metroid Prime remaster because the original staff of the Gamecube original weren’t listed in the new credits.
Rather than listing everyone on the original game, the remaster just uses a single screen that says the following:
“Based on the work of Metroid Prime original Nintendo GameCube and Wii Version development staff.”
Kirsch said that “While many studios did amazing work on the remaster”, he’s “let down Metroid Prime’s Remaster does not include the full original game credits”.
“I worked with so many amazing people on the game and everyone’s name should be included in the remaster, not just a single card like this.”
Others like ex-Retro Studio coder Jack Mathews also chimed in:

This is a travesty. Not just for my credit (even though most of my code was probably replaced), but for people whose code and work are largely unchanged, like Mark HH, Steve McCrea, all of the uprezzed art and concepts, the game design. Shameful. https://t.co/y6tXyCG3N1
— Jack Mathews (@jack_mathews) February 12, 2023

The topic of crediting developers in video games is still a point of contention, especially when it comes to remasters, remakes, and even online mobile games. For example, it’s common for people to get removed from the credits for mobile gacha games with each new update, because sometimes the old programmers and coders who worked on the original game will be replaced with new ones if the gacha game lives longer than 3 years. There’s really no regulation for this sort of thing, unfortunately. Here’s a quote from a Video Games Chronicle interview with ex-Alone In The Dark series programmer Katharine Neil on the subject of credits:
“Some gamers don’t realise how important this issue is for us professionally. Many seem to think it’s about bruised egos or something. No – like film and TV – it’s about getting hired for the next job and not looking like a liar on your CV.
There are still no industry standards that developers can count on their employers to adhere to. And I think the fact that many people still don’t even know that those IGDA crediting standards exist says something.
And one thing I can say for sure is it’s something game developers do worry about – i.e. will I get punished in the credits by a vindictive boss, or will I be unfairly credited if I have to leave this project early.”


These New Nioh 2 Patches Are Nerfing The Game Even More

Team Ninja’s Nioh 2 has been out for almost three weeks, and it’s already received several patches to make the game a lot easier than it was at launch. I should know, since I reviewed the game and have been playing it since the beginning, having obtained the Platinum trophy just last night.
The developer has released the full patch notes for the game’s latest 1.07 update. Like the previous 1.05 update, there’s no actual new content to speak of, but instead features a lot of nerfing adjustments and bug fixes. Firstly, many of the game’s notoriously-difficult optional sub-missions have been made easier, reducing their difficulty.
Previously, even normal Yokai and human enemies could potentially one-shot or kill players in a single hit even if they’re over-levelled. That won’t be the case anymore, as their attacks have effectively been weakened in the Nioh 2 1.07 update.
In Nioh 2, none of the bosses gave me as hard a time as Shibata Katsuie. I was playing throughout an entire night and kept dying, before finally beating him at 4am in the morning. It looks like Team Ninja knows this guy was one of the hardest bosses, so what did they do? Nerf him, of course, by weakening his attacks.

Another major change is that the drop rate for Smithing Text (used to craft weapons and armour) and The Art of Combat (used to learn new skills and abilities) have been buffed. They were previously ultra-rare, but now they’re likely easier to find.
In the meantime, check out the full patch notes below, courtesy of the Team Ninja official Twitter account:

[Update]
Today, we’ve rolled out patch v1.07 for various adjustments and bug fixes. Please read look at the images below for all the changes and continue to unleash your darkness samurai! #Nioh2 #PlayStation4 pic.twitter.com/tCICXnXh08
â€” Team NINJA (@TeamNINJAStudio) March 31, 2020
Adjustments

Adjusted the mission difficulty of the sub-missions:

â€œA Favor for the Blacksmithâ€
â€œThe Greedy Hunterâ€
â€œThe Sunomata Yokai Huntâ€
â€œThe Viper and the Butterflyâ€
â€œThe Brothersâ€™ Bladesâ€
â€œThe Burning Skyâ€
â€œScattered Fragmentsâ€
â€œCalling on the Fire Godâ€
â€œThe Dreamâ€™s Endâ€

Weakened the attacks of some non-boss enemies. Previously, though the player could be above the recommended level, some enemies would kill the player in one hit.
Weakened some attacks of Shibata Katsuie that are especially difficult to dodge.
Buffed the drop rate of Smithing Text and The Art of Combat.
Added â€œDifficultyâ€ to the search condition of Random Encounters.
Added â€œAccessoriesâ€ tab to the â€œTempering.â€
Added a feature to initialize settings in the HDR settings.

Bug Fixes

Fixed an issue where the level of the shiftling skill â€œDevour Yokai Realmâ€ would reset when performing a reset on other skill trees. (The level of â€œDevour Yokai Realmâ€ and overused skill points will be fixed in this update.)
Fixed an issue where a custom active skill would remain set to an active skill slot even when a reset of the Samurai Skill tree was performed.
Fixed an issue in the Dojo where an acquired Tea Utensil would disappear when completing the mission.
Fixed an issue in the Dojo where the player could obtain duplicates of a Smithing Text if the player had not already turned in the text in question to the blacksmith.
Fixed an issue wherein the Kodama Bazaar the stock of the items would not increase when using a skill that would increase the maximum amount of item player can possess.
Fixed an issue where twice as many items would be sold when selling items in Storehouse.
Fixed an issue where a visual of certain weapons, while sheathed, was reversed when wearing Youngblood Cuirass.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œBird in A Cageâ€ where it was not possible to give dung balls to â€œRyunojo the Dung Lover.â€
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œRuin Draws Nearâ€ where the player could not ring the bell.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œA Way Outâ€ where the Yokai Realm would not be dispelled when the boss spawned object was destroyed.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œThe Golden Castleâ€ where the Boss would not run out of Ki and would not be knocked down at times even when certain conditions were fulfilled.
Fixed an issue in the multiplayer version of the mission â€œStray Catsâ€ where the mission would not end.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œThe Fire Godâ€™s Magatamaâ€ where an unobtainable blue treasure box location was placed in the compass.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œSharp Eyesâ€ where players could not get amrita when completing the mission.
Fixed an issue where a Biwa Boku-Boku near a shrine would activate a Bloody Grave when the player is praying at a shrine.
Fixed an issue where the Drenched status would not be removed when bathing in a hot spring while being Drenched.
Fixed an issue where a ladder could not be used when certain enemies died with poison while the player was climbing the ladder.
Fixed an issue where co-fighting NPCs cannot be assisted when they went down and simultaneously fell off a cliff.
Fixed an issue where the Custom Active Skill Setting to the Active Skill â€œSword Kiâ€ was not applied to the Active Skill â€œSword of Celerity.â€
Fixed an issue where Ki was consumed before the Active Skill â€œSwirling Snowâ€ was executed.
Fixed an issue where equipment effects and Custom Active Skill settings according to the active skill â€œDeadly Spiralâ€ were not applied.
Fixed an issue where the Custom Active Skill was not applied when Mystic Art â€œTrained Throwâ€ is applied to the Active Skill â€œPiercing Hurl Shadow/Light.â€.
Fixed an issue where the Active Skill â€œDragonfly IIâ€ was not applied to the Mystic Art â€œTrained Throw.â€
Fixed an issue with the grapple move of the hatchets where the grab would not follow through.
Fixed an issue where the Custom Active Skill Setting to the Active Skill â€œWindsweptâ€ was not applied.
Fixed an issue with the switchglaive where you could perform the special switch stances â€œRetrobutionâ€ and â€œEdgeâ€ without having unlocked the skills.
Various other minor fixes.


Star Wars Squadrons CG Short Introduces Imperial Pilot Varko Grey

Earlier tonight, EA Motive has unveiled one of the brand new ace pilots that players will be flying alongside in the upcoming Star Wars Squadron with a new seven-minute CG animated short that was developed with the help of Lucasfilm and visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic.

The CG short takes place over Var-Shaa, where the Imperial Star Destroyer Overseer is trying to flee a losing battle against the New Republic fleet. A Shield Gate, identical to the design shown in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, can be seen breaking up and falling from orbit, which is what makes the dogfight in the planet’s atmosphere later possible (since it was responsible for the planet’s deflector shield).
The animated short also features one member of Titan Squadron; Squadron Leader Varko Grey, who finds himself as the last TIE pilot on the battlefield above Var-Shaa. He is then hunted and pursued relentlessly by a renegade New Republic X-wing in the atmosphere of Var-Shaa.

Titled “Hunted”, the standalone CG short is set before the events of Star Wars Squadrons. If you pre-order the game, players will receive the Var-Shaa skin of the ships seen in the CG short, and more (check them out here).
Recently, the developer also announced that the game has gone gold. Star Wars: Squadrons will launch for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam, Origin, and Epic Games Store) on 2 October 2020.


Resident Evil Southeast Asia Survey Asks If You’d Like Another Remake Or A Sequel

Capcom has released a Resident Evil survey seemingly targeted at some Southeast Asian gamers. I say seemingly because while it names Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand as countries of residence options, there’s also the “others” choice.
Aside from the usual questions about age, what platform you own, and where you get information about Resident Evil, there are a couple of questions that seek to find out what sort of Resident Evil game fans would want next. The first asks if you’d buy another remake, while the second asks if you’d buy a new sequel.
The survey also tries to gauge reaction to the Resident Evil 3 remake by asking if you’ve purchased the game, and if not, why. Similarly, it also asks if you’ve played the demo and whether it inspired you to buy the game. For your troubles, you get three  Resident Evil 3 wallpapers for PC and mobile.
Now that they’ve released remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 in two consecutive years, I suppose Capcom is wondering if they should take a break and return to sequels, or continue if what they’re doing. According to rumours, however, the next Resident Evil game is due in 2021 and will be Resident Evil 8, albeit not the original Resident Evil 8 that was in development.


Mr Toffee’s Top 10 Gaming Things Of 2018

All I can say about 2018 is that if it were not for this gig, the games, The Last King podcast side gig thing,Â and that pretty awesome Spider-Man movie, I would have deemed it the worst year of my God-given existence.
But you’re here for video game talk, so I’ll spare you all the grisly details. I’ll say this: when one door closes, a bigger one opens. I for one am glad and thankful that:
(i) I get to run this awesome shindig with my pal Kenn Leandre.
(ii) I get to keep the pop culture podcasting dream going with Dr. Shafique & Electric Eccentric Tom.Â The show isÂ on Spotify; do look out for it.
(iii) contrary to popular belief, there are sane & reasonable people in Southeast Asia/the world KKP can work with for the future. The pals who contributed to our Best of 2018 bits the past few days are proof of this.
(iii) I get to work with talented up-and-coming folks like Alleef, Burhanudin, Kumikones, Sensei, Yue Lynn, Megikari, and more. The future is looking bright indeed!
(iv) I get to hear Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza sing live during the WESG opening act. The Malaysian pop singer’s still got it.

Let’s not forget why you’re really here: to see what my top 10 picks are for this year. So let’s not dilly dally! But first, did you get to watch this awesome SoundScape 2018 video I made?

Honourable Mentions:
Warframe

A 2013 game gets my vote for best ongoing experience of 2018. Dat Fortuna update yo!
Red Dead Redemption 2

The second half of the game is questionable, at least until the epilogue fixed it, but the first half is GOTY material. C’mon, that bar scene with Arthur and Lenny was gold.
#10. Wandersong

A pleasant little adventure, this one. You play a bard and instil confidence and passion into the people you meet from a cynical witch to a former ensemble band. All this to keep the world from ending itself.
Among all the games on this top 10, this is probably the second game where you don’t off people to solve problems. You sing and/or dance. Simple as that. The OST, vibe, and simple-yet-sweet narrative make this one stand out among all the other narrative-based games out there.
#9. Dragon Ball FighterZ

Arguably the best tribute to anime in fighting game form. I remember playing a lot of Dragon Ball Super Butouden on SNES.
God I’m old.
So it’s with great joy to see a Dragon Ball game going back to 2D fighting game form with lovely 3D graphics and cel-shading to make it look as bombastic and bright as its shonen source material.
I may not be great at tag-team fighting games, but I still have a blast just going nuts with my Android 16/Goku Black/Vegeta trio and just seeing the fireworks. And man, those Dramatic Finishes sealed the deal for me.
#8. Monster Hunter: World

Capcom did right with the Monster Hunter game. It did the impossible; it made casual action gamers care and invested in the game. The small-yet-significant changes from how monsters are tracked to how each weapon functions mean that players can take their time getting the hang of monster hunting.
And if they feel like going into the deep end, they can do so with the high-level hunts and party up with other like-minded folks to go monster-hunting. To which I say “eff that” and just be happy with the fact I can take down some of the tougher beasts with my katana, mallet, and bowgun skills.
#7. Dead Cells

Balls-to-the-wall action. This one’s a tough pick since I played a LOT of great 2D Metroidvania-style platformers and straight-up linear ones: Iconoclast, Celeste, The Messenger, Dandara. Among all of these, Dead Cells stood out because of how it looks, how it plays, and how it controls.
You have to live with your choices of weapons since you can only carry so much, and you have the best dodge controls known to a 2D game this year that you really need to exploit against the enemies and tough obstacles here. You get to pick your own paths here to either make your journey to the king easier or tougher. Most importantly, the action is meaty and frenetic to the point where you want to take “one more play session” even after your death, just to see how far you can make it. Pure arcade action bliss.
#6. Soulcalibur 6

I played the heck out of the Dreamcast Soul Calibur for god knows how long. So it’s only fitting I cherish the seventh game in the long-standing series because it hearkens back to that sequel, but amps it up with new game-changing mechanics.
Reversal Edges can help fend off horizontal/vertical spammers as long as you know they’re not going to sidestep, and can even put you in the advantage if you get the “Rock-Paper-Scissors-Plus” mechanic it’s attached with. Soul Charges make your trademark strings and one-hit attacks buffed-up; suddenly Astaroth’s 1A is a lot more dangerous.
As a fan of a series and a competent player of the 8-Way Run church, I do hope this game goes places in 2019, because what we have right now is a damn good sword-based fighting game that focuses on the meat and trimmed the series’ fat.
#5. Return of the Obra Dinn

Among all the indies I played this year, none of them stood out more than Lucas Pope’s latest. The man behind Papers, Please has struck gold with this time-traveling past-revisiting adventure mystery where you play an insurance adjuster from the East India Company who has to find out what happened on the ghost ship Obra Dinn.
And that’s all I’m going to mention. To discover what happened and to see the mystery unfold is a delight in itself. You have to use processes of elimination and deduction to sort out the ship crew count with what little info you have. The monochrome aesthetics and forboding minimalistic music also help amplify the atmosphere that there’s truly a lot of FUBAR stuff going on.
#4. Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country

You can’t have a “Mr Toffee’s Best Of” list without an RPG or two taking over the top 5. I loved Xenoblade Chronicles 2, so when Nintendo announced a prequel to that story where Torna existed, I was really excited to check it out. And by golly, it did deliver.
True, you may need context from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and the 100 hours of investment to get the most out of the 20-hour prequel. But everything from its improved combat system, its lovely sights and new music, to its colourful cast of characters is worth the trip if only because I wanted to see how things were before the s*** hit the fan at the end.
I got to see the budding relationship between Jin, Lora, and Haze before Xenoblade 2’s storyline. I even get to witness Morag’s predecessor and the fabled hero of legend in their prime, since they were referenced a lot. The journey here is way more intriguing than the eventual destination; that says a lot about the game’s narrative despite its many anime tropes.
#3. Octopath Traveler

There’s more to this game than its godlike soundtrack, just so you know. You have eight interesting and fun protagonists with their own tales to complete, and you have a really awesome battle system that mostly works against bosses and big-sized enemies, not so much the smaller ones. You can mix and match character jobs and classes if you explored the game and took your time uncovering shrines and doing sidequests. And you can choose to participate in the optional endgame even if its resolution and execution leaves a lot to be desired. Plus, the 2D-and-3D diorama look is one for the ages, especially when you have Square Enix and Acquire behind the aesthetics.
Yeah, this game has some quirks and no true way to tie in its eight travelers together unlike in a SaGa game. But the rest of the game is pure gold because of their engaging narrative and fun-if-grind-unfriendly combat system.
Did I forget to mention how awesome the soundtrack is and how it was robbed by the Game Awards 2018? Okay, I’ll shut up now.
#2. Marvel’s Spider-Man

I was a sceptic at first: can a Spider-Man truly be better than a sum of its parts? Well, it took me a couple more games on my “to-do” list like Red Dead 2 and Dragon Quest XI to make me realize that I only need 20 hours to gauge a game’s greatness.
Insomniac’s take on the web-slinger is not only better than past Spider-Man games -not exactly a feat you want to brag about- but it’s better than most of the action-adventure open world offerings out there. It’s big without being too daunting, it’s easy to control and navigate, it’s challenging when you want it to be (thank you New Game+ and Spectacular/Ultimate difficulty), and most importantly, it’s really fun to traverse the whole of New York as a do-gooder with spider-web gadgets and powers.
That last point is pretty darn important; I’ve never felt this much freedom, flexibility, and fun in an open world game since the previous Infamous and Prototype games. You know an open world game nails its controls and design so well when you forget there’s a fast travel option in the first place.
#1. God of War

I gave Kakuchopurei’s first-ever 10/10 score to this masterpiece; how can I not put this first on my personal top 10? Next to Marvel’s Spider-Man, this one’s going in the best game history books because it took a rather shallow character (at least in God of War 2 & 3) and trite worn-out game style (perfected by theÂ BayonettaÂ series; don’t bother contesting this) and turned it on its head.
Despite many people feeling reviewer’s remorse about this game, I do feel that the third-person camera shift and action pacing here makes sense if the Santa Monica team needed to do something outside of their comfort zone. And I applaud them for it. Not only is the combat meaty and fun while still retaining its challenge and flavour -albeit more on the defensive & parrying side this time around- it actually has a narrative worth a damn. I actually give a crap about Kratos and his son Atreus, as well as the talking head they carry around.
I don’t really have much to say except that my review pretty much says it all. This is a masterclass on how to make your triple-A game stand out.


Kakuchopurei’s Best Of 2019: Fire Emblem Three Houses

What happens when you combine the anime-tinged dating sim mechanics of the Persona series with the isometric grid and turn-based combat of XCOM or Final Fantasy Tactics?
You get Fire Emblem: Three Houses, the latest instalment of the long-running JRPG franchise exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Players assume the role of a professor at an academy who recruits potential waifus and husbandos as their students, training and leading them into battle for the sake of their chosen factions. Just like the Persona series, there’s a school calendar semester system to keep track of and fill with meaningful activities before the next combat skirmish.

These social elements are relatively new to the franchise, especially on this scale. Couple that with the engrossing story with political turns and twists ala Game Of Thrones, and you have a game that you’ll be playing for hours and hours, not to mention the massive amount of replayability.

Behind all the cute girls and handsome boys featured in the game lies a deep and in-depth strategy game that’s comparable to any other tactical strategy title out there.

Even if you’re not a fan of anime or similar aesthetics, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a great addition to the burgeoning JRPG lineup and library of the Nintendo Switch, especially with the PS4 already claiming titles like Persona 5 as exclusives.


Genshin Impact’s Latest Livestream To Talk About Much-Awaited 1.6 Update

Tomorrow’s going to be a lovely day for anime waifu and husbando fans.
Mihoyo just announced that its upcoming Genshin Impact live stream will talk about the 1.6 update on 28th May, 5pm GMT+8. The update will most likely be about the upcoming hero Kazuha, the sword and Anemo character who hails from the continent of Inazuma. Speaking of which, Inazuma will definitely be the highlight of the live stream.
In addition, the game’s new gacha banner will also be introduced and will most likely feature Kazuha alongside Rosaria, Bennett, and Razor. The live stream will also detail customized skins and costumes; basically cosmetics that players can buy with actual money because that’s how these F2P games work.

1.6 Special Program Announcement
Juicy details, redemption codes, and incredible gifts!
View details here:https://t.co/ep7wv9qWRP pic.twitter.com/PH4vrGMa4m
— Genshin Impact (@GenshinImpact) May 26, 2021

For more Genshin Impact features, check out our thoughts on the new Cryo-based vengeance-savvy heroine Eula.Â


Granblue Fantasy Versus Might Add In This Fan Favorite Character Into The Game

Arc System Works and Cygames has announced during the recent Granblue Fantasy Versus Cygames Cup Special 2022 Final Round tournament that its fighting game, Granblue Fantasy Versus, will be getting three new actions in its battle mechanics.
GBVS’ version 2.80 update will add in three new actions and is scheduled for early June, with system introduction videos coming up just before the month.
Arc System Works has also announced the Granblue Fantasy Versus Cygames Cup 2022 Summer tournament, which is happening this July. More details will be shared later.
Finally, Arc System Works has announced the playable character survey results. It turns out that all regions have voted for Sandalphon; this Granblue Fantasy character is the most-requested addition to the current roster. Here’s the breakdown for each region:
Asia/Oceanic

Sandalphon
Vikala
Beatrix
Seofon
Nier
Siegfried
Jeanne d’Arc
Lucio
Lucifer
Lucilius

Japan

Sandalphon
Siegfried
Beatrix
Seofon
Vikala
Anila
Nier
Ilza
Lucilius
Vane

Americas

Sandalphon
Beatrix
Siegfried
Ilza
Seoofn
Aliza
Anila
Silva
Vikala
Vane

Europe

Sandalphon
Beatrix
Siegfried
Aliza
Seofon
Ilza
Anila
Jeanne d’Arc
Silva
Black Knight

Check out the full GBVS Cygames Cup Special 2022 final round tournament below. Granblue Fantasy Versus is available now for PS4 and PC (Steam); it still doesn’t have rollback netcode.

Top image credit: Uwro


Dragon Quest Builders 2 Now Available For Pre-Order

Sony Interactive Entertainment Singapore Private Limited (SIES) has announced that Dragon Quest Builders 2 is now available for pre-order, ahead of its official release date on 12 July 2019.
The original Dragon Quest Builders was originally released in 2016 for the PS4 and PS Vita, before being ported over to the Nintendo Switch in 2018. The spinoff game was notable for being sort of a Dragon Quest version of Minecraft, as the gameplay featured gathering and building mechanics similar to the popular sandbox game.
As a sequel, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is set to feature the following:

Online multiplayer for the first time, allowing up to four players to play together at any single time
Construct bigger structures with more variety and options than before
Travel faster by soaring, swimming, and dashing through the expansive world
Inspire NPC villagers to help you out
Create your own farms and raise a multitude of crops
Divert flowing water to create your own rivers, waterfalls, and swimming holes
First-person mode

Here are the prices for each of the game’s different editions:

Dragon Quest Builders 2 Standard Edition – RM229
Dragon Quest Builders 2 Digital Standard Edition – RM219
Dragon Quest Builders 2 Digital Deluxe Edition – RM294

The Digital Deluxe Edition ofÂ Dragon Quest Builders 2 will contain the following:

Dragon Quest Builders 2 Full Game
Stackable Slime Recipe
Lo-Res Luminary Recipes
Legendary Line Art Recipe
Dragon Quest Logo Recipe
Season Pass

Season Pass owners will receive the following exclusive content:

Designer’s Sunglasses
Hotto Stuff Pack:
– Includes more than 40 recipes to design and decorate structures that look similar to a distant land where visitors take a sweat break from their weary travels.
Aquarium Pack:
– Learn how to catch 40 different fish that can be added to your own DIY aquarium. – Unlock an additional tool â€“ the fishing rod â€“ recipes, as well as customization options, including swimwear, straw hats, and ponytail hairstyle.
Modernist Pack:
– Includes more than 70 different recipes to construct modern-looking
structures, or change hairstyles and clothing.

Those who pre-order Dragon Quest Builders 2 at authorized PlayStation dealers will also receive a Dragon Quest Builders 2 Exclusive Stamp.

Meanwhile, early purchasers ofÂ Dragon Quest Builders 2 will receive an exclusive product code to redeem the following items:

Water Sigil Recipe
Moon Sigil Recipe
Soul Sigil Recipe
Star Sigil Recipe
Sun Sigil Recipe

In the meantime, check out the Dragon Quest Builders 2 gameplay video below to tide you over until the game releases on 12 July 2019.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vns0pXs5lXA&w=560&h=315]


This Street Fighter 5 Tier List For 2021 Might Be Controversial…[Update]

Just because your main characters in a fighting game received a ton of buffs & changes doesn’t mean their match-ups may have improved somewhat. That’s whatÂ  Topanga TV in Japan has assessed based on its recent Street Fighter 5 tier list.
Top Japanese fighting game pro Mago posted the list on Twitter, and it may be causing the fighting game community worldwide to question it. Keep in mind that Topanga TV consists of the top fighting game players and is based in Japan, which is a country regarded for its high-level scene.
Despite having an infinite, Dan Hibiki is rated as the roster’s weakest fighter. Ryu, who has seen the most improvements, is mid-tier. Alex is still at the bottom tier despite his great improvements. Zoners like Menat end up at the top of the list due to the V-Shift changes. And despite Abigail being nerfed and susceptible to V-Shift, Japan still regards the character as a top-tier pick.
Here’s the breakdown; keep in mind that it’s only been a month or so since the update, so the meta can always change in the next few months:
S Tier
Abigail, Menat, Cammy, Rashid, Urien, Guile, Karin
A Tier
Dictator, Boxer, Poison, Zangief, Kolin, Akuma, Chun-Li, Sakura
B-Tier
Laura, Seth, Sagat, Ryu, Cody, G, birdie, Ed, Falke, Juri, E.Honda, Zeku
C-Tier
Necalli, Dhalsim, Ibuki, Blanka, R.Mika, Vega, F.A.N.G., Ken, Kage, Lucia
D-Tier
Nash, Alex, Gill, Dan(?)

If you want a more nuanced tier hot take, look no further than fighting game content creator Bafael and his Street Fighter 5 Season 5 tier list. Keep in mind that the following tier list takes into account each character’s kit and how they benefit from V-Shift and other Season 5 changes. Long story short, SF5 is the most balanced in its current state.
S-Tier
Menat, Rashid, Urien, Akuma, Karin, Chun-Li, Ibuki, Kolin, Necalli, Balrog, G, Ryu, Dictator, E.Honda
A-Tier
Zeku, Sagat, Kage, Abigail, Sakura, Alex, Poison, Cammy, Cody, Guile, Birdie, Seth, Falke, Laura
B-Tier
R.Mika, Blanka, Ken, F.A.N.G., Zangief, Lucia, Nash, Ed, Dhalsim, Juri, Gill, Vega

For more Street Fighter shenanigans, check out our Street Fighter 5 character tracks ranking list.


Square Enix’s Project Athia Will Be A PS5 Exclusive For 2 Years…

PlayStation might be securing new kinds of exclusivity clauses with their closest partners if the recent PS5 trailer is of any indication.
According to the company’s new and upcoming games trailer, Square Enix action RPG Project Athia will be a PS5 exclusive like Final Fantasy XVI. The former will be an exclusive for the console until at least 24 months after its release date, which is filed between “god knows when” and “when it’s ready”.

Project Athia will also be out on PC, so even if you don’t have a PS5 in 2021 and beyond, you can still play it on your personal rig. One wonders if this is PlayStation’s counter against Xbox acquiring the whole of Zenimax and Bethesda: getting Square Enix to side with the State of Play.
For more on Project Athia, check out the following link.Â


This Sekiro Wolf Figma Comes With His Own Death Screen

Good Smile Company has revealed new details about the Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice protagonist Wolf Figma figure, which was first unveiled several months ago. Now we know more about the upcoming figure, including the fact that there will be two different; the regular and DX version.
The regular version focuses on Wolf himself and comes with his two iconic katana wielded by him in the game, Kusabimaru and Fushigiri, as well as a grappling hook attachment.
Meanwhile, the special DX version comes the same weapons and accessories as the regular version, as well as additional stuff like the Sculptorâ€™s Idols (that act as save points in the game), Loaded Axe, Loaded Spear, and Loaded Umbrella. However, the biggest hilarious highlight has to be none other than an actual physical recreation of the game’s now-iconic death screen.

Preorders are already open on the official website from now until 11 June 2020 at 12pm JST (11am GMT+8 on the same day). Priced at 13,200 Japanese Yen (or roughly about RM535+), it is slated to release sometime in January 2021.


Princess Peach + Bowser = The Sexiest Super Mario Bros Meme So Far

Talk about being hot for Peach. There’s a new internet trend where Mario’s nemesis Bowser and Mario’s love interest Princess Peach combine to form one attractive-looking dragon turtle human hybrid.
So what’s up with the feature picture on this post and the Peach/Bowser wombo combo craze? Let’s go step by step.
-New Super Mario Bros U was announced and introduced Peachette, a Toad who can transform into a Princess Peach if powered up with a mushroom crown thing.

-Twitter user ayyk92, a Malaysian artist, created this alternate ending to Super Mario Odyssey.

-Pretty funny, eh? Well, this Peach/Bowser transformation was inspired by the Peachette crown power-up. This apparently got the whole of the internet in a drawing and meme-churning frenzy because the combo is quite alluring in nature…

For some reason bowser as peach has been spreading like wild fire, I don’t even know how this started… pic.twitter.com/dCc1yMVRe3
— Dan (@_Void2Flame_) September 22, 2018

-…and eventually reached Japan, where a whole slew of artists showcased their version of this hybrid. What’s its name? Well it’s a toss-up between Bowserette, Bowsette, and Peacher. Japan’s calling her Koopa-Hime (“Princess Koopa” in English).

?????? pic.twitter.com/sPLo0sQd90
— ??????????23b (@c2tiduru) September 23, 2018

???????????????????????????????????????????????????(??????????????????????????)
??????????????(?) pic.twitter.com/0TvCuldGWU
— ??? (@BPMAXM) September 23, 2018

???????????????????? pic.twitter.com/KvHdyZwdsw
— MayoRiyo (@MayoRiyo) September 23, 2018

?????????????@ayyk92 ???????????????https://t.co/YQnewSc7aYhttps://t.co/ss2VXvcj6N#????????#????#??? #SuperMario #bowser pic.twitter.com/pY0LG7AvU9
— ????????C100?2????21b?????9/4??? (@LolitaMajin) September 22, 2018

The regal and reptilian combo means that Koopa-Hime is the perfect hot-and-cold tsundere anime personality. Either that or a yandere complex where she’s gleefully violent while looking good being so.
Let’s see the tsundere side of Koopa-Hime.

??????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/SiJr4bkAOQ
— ? 10? ? (@10den_j) September 23, 2018

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/oqMR10EzKc
— ?? (@sekobi) September 23, 2018

And now here’s the yandere side. Dat teeth yo!

????????????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/wxm5uMhmUX
— ?????????? (@kasakasanekokon) September 23, 2018

???????? pic.twitter.com/N04o39nV3D
— ???? (@cot_510) September 23, 2018

It even got the attention of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid artist Cool-Kyou Shinsha.

YAHOOOOOOO?? pic.twitter.com/BJ711NCjXB
— ?????? (@coolkyou2) September 23, 2018

Here’s an old-school pixel rendition of Koopa-Hime as a Super Mario Bros. boss.

#?????????60?1???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/8VDfYAiQIS
— ?? (@_akaimono) September 23, 2018

Well done, internet. You may convince Nintendo to give in to your nonsense and create a new character that is perfectly canon in this G-rated universe.
Also, the artist who started the trend posted this regarding the bump in followers. Malaysia Boleh!

> follower count is now x100 from before this started> bunch of artists I follow and even Dragon Maid's made fanart> got a Know-your-meme entry> there's a top trending tag on Japan TwitterWhat the hell is happening, I'm flattered but also a bit scared now pic.twitter.com/RMC8aQOmf8
— haniwa (@ayyk92) September 23, 2018

Let’s check out the rest of the Koopa-Hime madness, shall we? If you spot any new ones, let us know and we’ll add it here and make this the unofficial Koopa-Hime fanart hub.
There’s a sentence I didn’t know I would write today. In related news, have you seen our Super Mario games ranking list?
Update: …and we now have our first few Bowserette/Bowsette/Koopa-Hime cosplayers. Thanks Nadyasonika & Emerald Campbell!
Update #2: …and now Singapore joined the fray. Better step it up, Malaysia! (via Geek Culture)

#Bowserette #Bowsette  ? I got'em all ? pic.twitter.com/XpgGWZsAF4
— Nadyasonika @Warsaw (@Nadyasonika) September 23, 2018

Guess who cosplayed #Bowsette#???? #PrincessBowser Instagram: TheDragonMaid pic.twitter.com/NYZEldLHnU
— Emerald Campbell (@EmTheLine) September 24, 2018

https://twitter.com/gudobe7/status/1043774049975820288

???????????????? pic.twitter.com/kXnhQw8xb3
— TADD@??????? (@iamtaddd) September 23, 2018

Princess Bowser??????????
Original tweet?https://t.co/EyM5RxZ9cw pic.twitter.com/8mjtnobAkt
— ??? (@nyu7nyu) September 23, 2018

https://twitter.com/koza_mom0/status/1043858808651436032
https://twitter.com/theZeemesh/status/1043969698424123394

she’s cute pic.twitter.com/ZROb1cyZC9
— toki @ HIBERNATION & DEATH? (@tokimekiwaku) September 24, 2018

ok I gave in #bowsette pic.twitter.com/OWMiSktnl2
— ?°???(????? ) Team Scarlet ?? (@mana_chan__) September 24, 2018

I CAVED pic.twitter.com/pkM9tD7uiS
— princey ? SLEEP MODE (@konpeitopanic) September 24, 2018

????????????????????????#???? pic.twitter.com/3YFBoIz2aS
— ??(????????P) (@sinmay01) September 24, 2018

???????????? pic.twitter.com/cjNrtz2epy
— ????@???? (@fgoaaa424) September 24, 2018

??????????!! pic.twitter.com/UzuuqiHovO
— ?????/IIDA POCHI.??????6?&?????3?? (@lizhi3) September 23, 2018

????? pic.twitter.com/qNJcIOeYiD
— ??50 (???)??(????? (@meme50) September 23, 2018

?????????? pic.twitter.com/6vwzYoRh3n
— Guchico@1????? "? "38b (@Guchico77) September 23, 2018

?????????×?????? #???? pic.twitter.com/98K5NZOWUh
— ?? | YANA ? ???2??/??13a (@YA_IVA) September 23, 2018

??????????? pic.twitter.com/U64hy2PzIu
— ??????U (@butcha_u) September 23, 2018


Sega’s Game Gear Micro Is Apparently A Thing…

When the Nintendo Game Boy was making headway in the early 90s, Sega had to come up with something to compete against it. Enter the Sega Game Gear, a portable that featured colour-packed portable gameplay and ports of your favourite 16-bit games that were kinda decent for its time.
Now you can play with power, as Sega announces the Game Gear Micro. Here’s the breakdown:

The device is 40% less than the original Game Gear.
The Game Gear Micro comes in four colour variants: Black, Blue, Yellow, and Red.
Each colour comes with a set of four games.
Each Game Gear Micro costs 4,980 yen (RM195).
The mini console will be out 6th October. You can pre-order them now on Amazon Japan.

And now, the games:
Black

Sonic The Hedgehog
Puyo Puyo Tsu
 Out Run
Royal Stone

Blue

Sonic & Tails
Gunstar Heroes
Sylvan Tale
Baku Baku Animal

Yellow

Shining Force
Shining Force II
Shining Force: Final Conflict
Nazo Puyo: Arle no Roux

Red

Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible
Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special
The G.G. Shinobi
Columns

Expect the Black and Blue to be imported by countries outside of Japan, as there isn’t a huge language barrier for platformers, action titles, and puzzle games. Yellow and Red might be enticing for fans of 90 RPGs, especially Persona fanboys.


Netflix Geeked Week Day 2: The Gray Man, The School Of Good & Evil And More

Netflix Geeked, Netflix’s home for all things genre entertainment, is prepping their second annual Geeked Week. Geeked Week 2022 is a free five-day virtual event celebrating Netflix’s genre series, films, and games that runs from 6 June to 10 June 2022. You can expect tons of exclusive news, new trailers, celebrity appearances and so much more.
In the meantime, you can check out the Day One announcements here.
Check out the announcements and reveals of day two below:
The Sea Beast

From Academy Award winning filmmaker Chris Williams (Moana, Big Hero Six), THE SEA BEAST takes us to where the map ends, and the true adventure begins. Starring Karl Urban, Zaris-Angel Hator, Jared Harris, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Dan Stevens and Kathy Burke.
In an era when terrifying beasts roamed the seas, monster hunters were celebrated heroes – and none were more beloved than the great Jacob Holland. But when young Maisie Brumble stows away on his fabled ship, he’s saddled with an unexpected ally. Together they embark on an epic journey into uncharted waters and make history.
It premieres on 8 July 2022.

Troll

Deep inside the mountain of Dovre, something gigantic awakens after being trapped for a thousand years. Destroying everything in its path, the creature is fast approaching the capital of Norway. But how do you stop something you thought only existed in Norwegian folklore?
TROLL, from director Roar Uthaug, is coming soon to Netflix.

Day Shift

The guys who taught John Wick how to kick ass, are now teaching Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, and Snoop Dogg how to hunt vampires. Day Shift, coming on 12 August 2022 on Netflix.
In Day Shift, Jamie Foxx stars as a hard working blue collar dad who just wants to provide a good life for his quick-witted daughter, but his mundane San Fernando Valley pool cleaning job is a front for his real source of income: hunting and killing vampires as part of an international Union of vampire hunters.

Killer Book Club

Killer Book Club is a new Spanish horror film featuring mysterious teens and a killer clown coming soon to Netflix.

mysterious teens and a creepy clown — what more can you ask for? KILLER BOOK CLUB, a new Spanish horror film, is coming soon to Netflix #GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/B2rkyAtLsr
— Netflix Geeked @ SDCC #NetflixSDCC (@NetflixGeeked) June 7, 2022

Blasted

Bros before UFOs…This sci-fi comedy is inspired by the Norwegian UFO phenomenon. Former childhood friends and local laser tag duo – Sebastian and Mikkel – reconnect later in life for the ultimate bachelor party that gets invaded by aliens. To defeat the aliens they need to rekindle their relationship to save everyone.
It premieres on 28 June 2022.

Zom 100 Bucket List Of The Dead

Eiji Akaso stars as Akira, the man trying to survive the hordes of the undead that have overrun his town. It’s based on the manga series of the same name.
https://twitter.com/NetflixGeeked/status/1534208822432120833
Wendell And Wild

Wendell & Wild is an upcoming stop-motion animated dark fantasy comedy horror film directed by Henry Selick, from a script by Selick and Jordan Peele, based on Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman’s unpublished book.
Produced by Netflix Animation, Monkeypaw Productions, Gotham Group, and Principato-Young Entertainment, the film stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele as the titular characters, with Lyric Ross, Angela Bassett, James Hong, Sam Zelaya, Tamara Smart, Seema Virdi, Ramona Young and Ving Rhames in supporting roles.
This is Selick’s first feature film since 2009’s Coraline.
It premieres on 22 October 2022.

#WendellAndWild sliding into #GeekedWeek the way Kat slides into paranormal activity ? pic.twitter.com/9oksx2ArEl
— Netflix Geeked @ SDCC #NetflixSDCC (@NetflixGeeked) June 7, 2022

Spiderhead

Two inmates (Miles Teller & Jurnee Smollett) form a connection while grappling with their pasts in a state-of-the-art penitentiary run by a brilliant visionary (Chris Hemsworth) who experiments on his subjects with mind-altering drugs. Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick, Tron: Legacy). Based on The New Yorker short story, Escape From Spiderhead, by George Saunders.
It premieres on 17 June 2022.
Rebel Moon

Rebel Moon is an upcoming  epic science fiction adventure film directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay he co-wrote with Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad, based on a story he also created with Johnstad. It features an ensemble cast, starring Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bae, Staz Nair, Alfonso Herrera, Jena Malone, Stuart Martin, Ed Skrein, Cary Elwes, and Corey Stoll.
Check out a new creature design from the set:

here’s a sneak peek at a brand new creature design for Zack Snyder’s REBEL MOON, shot on his phone. #GeekedWeek pic.twitter.com/lNIvQFHMA7
— Netflix Geeked @ SDCC #NetflixSDCC (@NetflixGeeked) June 7, 2022

The Gray Man

It’s Ryan Gosling vs. Chris Evans in the first clip from the upcoming action blockbuster THE GRAY MAN – directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, available on 22 July 2022 on Netflix.
Also starring Ana de Armas, with Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Dhanush, Wagner Moura and Alfre Woodard. Based on the novel ‘The Gray Man’ by Mark Greaney, the screenplay is by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.
THE GRAY MAN is CIA operative Court Gentry (Ryan Gosling), aka, Sierra Six. Plucked from a federal penitentiary and recruited by his handler, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), Gentry was once a highly-skilled, Agency-sanctioned merchant of death. But now the tables have turned and Six is the target, hunted across the globe by Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former cohort at the CIA, who will stop at nothing to take him out. Agent Dani Miranda (Ana de Armas) has his back. He’ll need it.

The School Of Good & Evil

Welcome to The School for Good & Evil, where every great fairytale begins… Directed by Paul Feig, The School for Good & Evil follows best friends Sophie and Agatha, who find themselves on opposing sides of a modern fairy tale when they’re swept away into an enchanted school where young heroes and villains are trained to protect the balance of good and evil.
Based on the International Best Selling Book Series and starring Charlize Theron, Kerry Washington, Sophia Anne Caruso and Sofia Wylie, The School For Good & Evil comes to Netflix this September. It sort of looks like Netflix’s Harry Potter.


Bravely Default 2: How To Get The Gambler Job (And Master The Card Minigame)

Bravely Default 2’s Jobs are quite an assortment to experiment with. But did you know that there are a few optional ones you can score if you put in the extra hour or two?
One of them is the Gambler Job. You can only get this in a sidequest chain early in the game. Here’s how you can get it (via Reddit), as well as learn how to play the B’n’D card game that comes with it.
Slight story spoilers in Act 1; here’s your warning.

Talk To Shirley In The Gambling Hall
Once you fought Annihal the Beastmaster, you can now play the sidequests that will lead to you getting a Gambler Job. Head to the Gambling Hall, talk to the lady standing by the card table. That’s Shirley. After a few cutscenes, you will be able to play Bravely Default 2’s card game: B ‘n’ D.

The game is similar to Final Fantasy VIII’s Triple Triad, but on a bigger board. Your objective is to get more territory than your opponent. You hamper your opponent’s efforts by either eliminating his/her red squares with your own cards, or “flank” them by sandwiching two blue squares in-between one or more red square(s).
Powerful cards usually cover more territory or add different temporary/permanent effects like stopping certain cards from being played for one turn, or weakening/strengthening card types. The permanent effects are represented by character tokens on the board; you can eliminate them and their effects by eliminating that particular square. Simple, but fun!
Boost Your Rank To B & Get More Cards
Once you get your freebie deck from Shirley, you can fight her, but only if you’re at B rank and if you have a great deck to beat her. So fight folks in the Gambling Hall to boost your rank to B. Fight the old lady standing next to the bar (left side of the room), fight and beat her to accumulate points, then buy off her cards with said points. The most important one you need is the Bard card.

Once you’re done, fight the boy sitting at the card table on the right part of the Gambling Hall. This boy is tougher than the old lady because he loves to use wide flanking techniques. Just get the hang of the AI and avoid situations where you would be flanked. Protip: the boy will ALWAYS use the Beastmaster card on his first turn; use a card like the Vesp to eliminate it and cover more ground. Buy off all his cards; his top prizes are the Gelaflan and Horten cards.
Once you have beaten the two and bought all their cards, just keep fighting any opponent, either in the Gambling Hall or outside. You’ll eventually get your rank to B soon enough.
Talk To Orpheus In the Gambling Hall
Once you get your rank to B, you can now fight Shirley. Being an obviously shrewd bitch, she will have a deck as stacked as her bod. You’ll need an awesome card to swing things in your favour. Talk to Orpheus, who is skulking at the top part of the Gambling Hall. After a conversation, he will give you the Orpheus card that will weaken all humanoid and beast cards.
Beat Shirley At Her Own Game
Before you initiate a card battle against her, be sure to get your party ready for an oncoming fight. It’s best that you’re at level 17 or above before attempting this, as well as get the following Jobs buffed up and items for any of your four party members (main/sub):

Vanguard/Bard.
White Mage/Bard.
Black Mage/Beastmaster (with ample supply of beasts & monsters).
Monk/Freelancer.
Ether, Mini Ether, Phoenix Down, Stones, any throwable weapon items.
Any equipment with Sleep Immunity.

Once you’re prepped, you can fight Shirley in a card battle. Since you took all cards from most of the NPCs in the room, you can add or change the rules of the card game. Add the “first to 15 points on the rule board” stipulation.
When editing your deck, make sure you have the following ready:

Orpheus
Gambler/Bard
Horten
Vesp
Gelaflan
Any Aqua element card

When fighting her, she will always play the Shirley card. Use the Orpheus card to counter that, attempt to do wide flanks on her red squares, and just be aggressive overall.

Once you beat her, she will fight you alongside Orpheus and two lackey soldiers. Here are some protips:

Shirley is weak to Swords, Staves, Lightning, and Wind. She has no immunities and other benefits.
Default to 3 will all characters save the White Mage. He/She needs to heal.
Have your Black Mage cast Blizzara or Blizzaga to kill off the soldiers and weaken Orpheus. Alternatively, you can use Stones or Thundara for this.
Orpheus will counter your healing, spells, and attacks with Lilting Lullaby, which puts you to sleep. Since you have equipped items that give you Sleep immunity, you don’t have to worry about that.

Finish off Orpheus with a Monk’s Strong Strike or any powerful you have at your disposal. Use your 3 Brave Points and a Freelancer’s Luck+ buff to achieve this.
Use the Vanguard/Bard to buff your party with “Don’t Let ‘Em Get You” and “Don’t Let ‘Em Trick You”.
You can cast Poison on Shirley.
Whenever Shirley Defaults, you should Default too.
Also, keep your HP above 1,500 whenever possible. That’s what your White Mage is for.

Once you beat her, congrats: you now have the Gambler Job!

Ability
Job Level
Cost
Description

Odds or Evens
1
200 pg
Spin the wheel and perform a physical attack on a target that can deal double damage depending on whether the result is odd or even.

Life or Death
2
666 pg
Spin the wheel to revive unconscious allies and restore their HP. The amount of HP restored depends on the result of the wheel, but stopping on a skull will KO the user.

Flash the Cash
3
N/A
Spend 50 pg multiplied by the user’s level to deal 1.3x that amount of damage to a target.

Spin the Wheel
5
1 BP
Spin the wheel and receive 77 times the result in pg.

Elemental Wheel
6
300 pg
Spin a double wheel featuring both numbers and elements, and perform elemental attacks on random targets based on the result.

Triples
7
500 pg
Spin the wheel and perform a physical attack on a target. Landing on a number in the range selected will result in triple damage.

Bold Gambit
9
777 pg
Spin the wheel featuring the numbers one to ten. Landing on ten will result in all allies or enemies earning three BP.

High Roller
11
10000 pg
Spend 10000 pg to perform an extremely powerful physical attack on a target.

Dealer’s Choice
12
1 BP
Trigger random effects that can affect enemies, allies or both.

That’s it for the Gambler Job. For more guides, here’s the optimal way to farm Speed Buns early in the game.
If you want to max out the Gambler Job quick, we have a guide for JP farming too!


PS5 Startup Sound Teased By A Burger King Ad Of All Things [Update]

Update: the Burger King PS5 ad is just a US-based promotion for a PS5 giveaway by purchasing a select product through the company’s app (via a soon-to-be-fired Burger King employee).

Burger King and PlayStation 5's upcoming promo. Buy a 2 for $5 on the BK App for a chance to win a #PS5 console!The URL in the bottom left takes you to https://t.co/oeCDvUCK4r.Shared by a BK employee. pic.twitter.com/MQhQvK0zdB— Okami Games (@Okami13_) October 13, 2020

Original story
Earlier today, a peculiar Burger King ad went viral on Twitter. What’s weird about the ad is that it seemingly teases an incoming PS5-related reveal on 15 October 2020, which is two days from now.
The Burger King ad features the Burger King mascot himself repeatedly peeking into a big Burger King paper bag. Every time he opens it, we hear a sound that could potentially be the PS5’s startup sound.
It’s bizarre how we’re only a month away from the launch of the PS5, and we might only be hearing the PS5 startup sound (and possibly its UI too) in a collaboration between Sony and Burger King of all things.
See for yourself.

?? https://t.co/t0M38a1ZSV— PlayStation (@PlayStation) October 12, 2020
Below the same tweet, video game industry analyst Daniel Ahmad pointed out that there was recently an actual Sony patent where interactive advertisements could be part of the PS5 experience.
According to the patent, users could potentially interact with live ads through gestures or voice commands, For example, shouting Burger King aloud during a Burger King commercial will end the advertisement and even incur some sort of reward in return (perhaps a coupon or something).

This a real Sony patent btw lolhttps://t.co/hH3RbQKZkI— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) October 13, 2020

At the time of writing, it remains to be seen what exactly the nature of the Burger King PlayStation ad ultimately is. We’ll have to wait until 15 October 2020 and see what it turns out to be.
In the meantime, check out all our PS5 coverage and news here.


Deathloop Guide: How To Survive This Violent Groundhog Day Scenario

Deathloop is an entertaining and stylish PS5/PC first-person action game that’s part roguelike and part Dishonored. It’s also pretty challenging as it doesn’t allow you to save during your playthrough; you can only save at the start and at the end of each run, whether you live or die.
Rather than chickening out, we embrace the Loop and its gameplay, and figured out most of its mechanics and trappings.Â Here are some tips to prolong your roguelike runs while playing action guy Colt.
Understand The Loop Rules

Here goes: one single day is segmented into four sections: Morning, Noon, Afternoon, and Evening. Each of the four main areas – The Complex, Updaam, Karl’s Bay, and Fristad Rock – will have different enemy placements, opened/closed-off sections & rooms, and objectives depending on the time of day it is.
For instance, there will be more enemies guarding Updaam at Night than in the Morning or Noontime. Conversely, the Library will be occupied with baddies in the Morning while it’s empty in the Afternoon. Just keep track of how populated an area on the island is and at which time of day, as well as the events that happen be it Visionary-involved or whatnot.
Each Run Gets Harder For Each Dead Visionary
Killing a Visionary places increased stress on the Loop. In gameplay context, this means you get better equipment in your next run in the Loop, but enemies are harder to kill and are a lot more aggressive. Basically, if you kill half of the Visionaries, you’ll get better loot but a tougher challenge. And headshots don’t instantly kill some Visionaries, even if you have the Frenzy damage buff turned on.
Julianna Only Invades A Game If There’s A Visionary In The Day

The island’s ever-persistent Head of Security will only invade your playthrough if you are hunting a Visionary who is in your vicinity. The times she spawns in is random, so be quick about your business.
She is tricky to kill, but she isn’t invincible. When she is killed, you can grab her Residium remains and also a random slab powerup. You may also score a Purple or Gold weapon too if you’re lucky.
Also, proximity mines and other traps will be laid out on escape routes, even close to your safehouse door at times. So just be wary and look down once in a while if you’re on the run.
The Best Weapon? Your Hands & Machete

Whether you have a machete or not, your melee instant-kills if you’re using it in stealth. It also helps with conserving bullets, which you can use for your various guns (shotguns, snipers, machine gun, etc.) in case your current run goes south.
All Door Lock Combinations, Codes, & Puzzles In Deathloop Are Randomized
The codes and puzzles are randomized for every player and on every playthrough. You’ll need to dig up information and search for clues to get the info you need, rather than rely on an FAQ for the numbers. So take your time and explore the island, its rooms, and its facilities for the solutions you need.
Embrace Death
One of the earlier missions actually requires you to kill yourself with an unproven experiment to make you progress. This is basically Deathloop’s way of telling you that you may need to pull off trial and error moves & escapades to get ahead.

Just remember: thanks to your Reprise powerup you get at the start of the game, you can die twice and you can proceed & faff about in the level. Die a third time, and you start the day over. The top-left icon just below your health and energy indicates how many “lives” you have left in that particular run.
You drop all your Residium at the spot you died, so you should attempt to collect it if you want to save up for future infusions. There will be situations where the spots you die at will be inaccessible; just deal with it and don’t f*** up next time.
You Can Get An Achievement If You Get All The Deaths
Speaking of embracing it, you can get an achievement for experiencing all the types of death the game offers via the Spice of Life trophy. You can:

Drown.
Fall.
Shot to death.
Stabbed to death.
Get blown up.
Choke on Poison Gas in Karl’s Bay at Hangar 2 in the Morning.
Succumb to fatal fepressurization in Wenjie’s Lab at the Complex.
Get grounded up in a grinder at the Updaam Dorsey Manor.
Get fried by a rocket in Condition Detachment/Charlie’s fortress at Updaam.
Be obliterated by a reactor at Fristad Rock in the bunker.

Pick Off These Visionaries First To Make Your Life Easier

Harriet (Morning, Karl’s Bay) – Her Nexus Slab makes you hurl an energy projectile that links anyone it comes in contact with. If you target one person with an attack, it’ll affect all of those linked, similar to that one Dishonored skill that’s a fan-favourite.

Egor (Evening, Complex)Â – His Aether Slab turns you invisible. Being invisible in a game where enemies are on high alert when you make a few gunshot sounds is incredibly useful. Also, tripwires and sensors do not detect you while you’re invisible. Just mind the power meter as it drains pretty quick.

Charlie (Noon, Updaam) – His funhouse/fortress in Updaam is well-defended, but he (and his army) is worth killing in the noontime because of his Shift Slab, which is the power to teleport over short distances. It’s basically the Dishonored Blink/Teleport powerup (another fan-favourite). It makes getting around places easier and you can surprise attack enemies.
If All Else Fails, Quit To Main Menu & Restart The Day You’re In
Apparently, quitting the game lets you restart the day you’re in. Though you can’t change your loadout once it’s set, this may be the best way to “reload a save” without going all the way back to the Morning Loop. We suspect Arkane and Bethesda may patch this feature out to preserve the game’s difficulty, so use it while it’s still available.


Granblue Fantasy: Relink Action RPG Delayed To 2023

Bad news for fans of Granblue Fantasy and its illustrious spin-offs: the game’s action RPG title will be pushed back.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink will be delayed to 2023 from its previously-planned 2022 release window due to the pandemic affecting the game’s internal development. The game will be out for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC (Steam). Here’s a message from the game’s producer Yuito Kimura:
“The development team has been hard at work getting Granblue Fantasy: Relink ready for its target release date in 2022. We understand the excitement players have for this game, so it is with utmost regret that we announce that the release date will be pushed back a second time to 2023.
Although internal and external circumstances pertaining to the novel coronavirus have been the primary hindrance to the development process, the entire staff has spared no effort in pushing to make up for lost time. However, considering the large-scale scope of this title, we believe more time is needed to further polish and optimize details and gameplay as we approach the final stretch.
All graphical resources, scenario pieces, voices, music, and other assets are in a completed state. At this stage, we are focused on refining gameplay balance, debugging, improving audio and graphical fidelity, and making general improvements to the overall experience. We would like to ask for a little more of your patience.
Further information was slated to be revealed in June 2022, but at the moment, our plan is to share more details in December 2022. We can’t wait to show you what we have!”

The release date for Relink has been changed, with details posted to the official website. We sincerely apologize to everyone excited for Relink.https://t.co/i67yCmjkAJ
Please stay tuned for further updates in 2022!#RELINK pic.twitter.com/rNsEO17ggR
— ???????????? ???? (@gbf_relink_jp) June 10, 2022


EA Returns Need For Speed Franchise To Criterion After 7 Years

The last Need For Speed title that Criterion Games worked on was 2013’s Need For Speed Rivals, which was co-developed with Ghost Games. EA has announced that the franchise will be returning to Criterion Games after seven years in the hands of Ghost Games.
Ghost Games is set to change its name to EA Gothenburg again (if approved by the Swedish Union), and it will shift to being an engineering hub to support development across EA’s portfolio. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, EA said:

“The engineering expertise in our Gothenburg team, some of whom are architects of the Frostbite engine, is vital to a number of our ongoing projects, and they would remain in that location.
Outside of the engineers and those that we plan to transfer to other positions, there would be 30 additional staff in Gothenburg, and we would hope to place as many of them as possible into other roles in the company.”

Ghost Games has previously developed three Need for Speed titles in the past seven years: 2013’s Need for Speed: Rivals, the 2015 reboot, 2017’s Need for Speed: Payback and 2019’s Need for Speed: Heat (check out our full review here). Meanwhile, Criterion has spent that same time supporting EA DICE on Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Wars: Battlefront II and Battlefield V.
EA continued:

“With a strong history and passion for racing games and vision for what we can create, the Criterion team is going to take Need for Speed into the next-generation.
Ghost Games have helped to bring some great Need for Speed experiences to our players.
Consistently delivering that at AAA levels means we need teams with diverse skills in locations where we can continually support them and bring in new team members to join.
Despite our best efforts to establish an independent development group in Gothenburg over several years, it’s become clear that the breadth of talent we need to maintain a full AAA studio is just not available to us there.
Criterion can also provide the consistent leadership that we need to continue creating and delivering new Need for Speed experiences for a long time to come.
Criterion is a fantastic studio, and we’re looking forward to adding to their talented team and building a great future for Need for Speed.
The engineering teams in Gothenburg are also vital to our ongoing plans across EA.”


Garena World 2021 Ends With Two New Games & 1.2 Million Attendees

Garena has concluded its first-ever fully virtual edition of Garena World. Hosted virtually in Thailand on 3 and 4 April 2021, Garena World 2021: Virtual Unite lived up to its reputation as Southeast Asiaâ€™s biggest gaming and esports event as it recorded an online attendance of over a whopping 1.2 million at its â€œInteractive Virtual World.â€
Fans were treated to an immersive online experience that combined cutting-edge technologies with entertaining content to deliver the best of both the online and offline formats.Â Garena World 2021 showcased the power of gaming and esports to bring communities together in celebration of a shared passion.
In his opening speech, Thailand Minister of Tourism and Sports Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports said:

â€œWith the current age of volatility, the esports industry has remained highly flexible and fluid, adjusting to various situations swiftly and effectively.
By changing the event format and organising it as a virtual event, there are many benefits to gain, such as being able to spread the spirit of competition to audiences through the online world without limitations, whether in terms of distance or time.â€

All in all, Garena World 2021 obtained more than 40.2 million views â€“ reinforcing Garenaâ€™s status as a leading esports organiser in the region and across the world.
Garena Thailand Head and Senior Director Krit Pattanateach said:

â€œAs a pioneer of esports in the region, we have witnessed first-hand how well innovation resonates with the community.
With the tremendous reception Garena World 2021 has received, we have seen again how well fans will respond to formats and content that continually push the boundaries.â€

Undawn

Garena announced during the opening ceremony that it will publish Undawn, an immersive open-world survival shooter, for gamers in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Developed by Tencent Gamesâ€™ LightSpeed and Quantum Studios, it is slated to launch on iOS, Android, and PC later this year.
Undawn will thrust players into a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies. Built using Unreal Engine 4, Undawn will offer a AAA experience set in a huge open world that pushes the boundaries for both graphics and multiplayer gameplay.

Fantasy Town

Garena has opened pre-registration in Thailand for Fantasy Town, a farming-town-building mobile game developed by Arumgames that is set in an adventure-filled fantasy world. In addition to having fun growing crops and raising animals for harvesting and selling, players will be tasked to take charge of a fantasy town and to govern over various magical townsfolk, such as fairies and dwarves.
Players can also embark on various adventures such as taking part in mining, exploring ancient cemeteries, protecting the town from villainous trolls, and raiding troll camps. In addition, players can form guilds and join them to share items and compete among the different guilds.
Garena World 2021 featured 39 teams from across nine regions as they competed in tournaments spanning four of Garenaâ€™s hit titles â€“ Arena of Valor (AOV), Free Fire, FIFA Online 4, and Call of Duty: Mobile â€“ Garena.
The winners took home the largest slices of the US$660,000 (19 million baht) prize pool.

RoV Pro League 2021 Summer: Bacon Time fought off 6 other challengers to win the title crown and the right to represent Thailand at the Arena of Valor World Cup (AWC) 2021, one of the gameâ€™s biggest tournaments in the region.

Free Fire Pro League Season 4 Presented by DTAC: EVOS Esports TH beat out 19 other teams to emerge as champions and book a spot at the Free Fire World Series 2021 Singapore, the gameâ€™s iconic international tournament.

FIFAe Champions Cup Spring 2021: South Koreaâ€™s Crazy Win did just that and overcame teams from China, Thailand, and Vietnam to earn the title.

Call of DutyÂ®: Mobile â€“ Garena Invitational 2021: Thailandâ€™s Astro.1s1k fended off the local champions from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Taiwan to become champions.

You can check out highlights of the event in the video below:


Creators Of GRIS Bring Us Another Gorgeous Game, Neva

Nomada Studio, the creative minds behind the visually stunning game GRIS, unveiled their latest project at the recent PlayStation Showcase. Say hello to Neva, a captivating game set to grace the gaming scene in 2024 on the PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X | S, and PC via Steam.
Neva follows the remarkable journey of a young woman who forms an extraordinary bond with a wolf cub. As they traverse through a crumbling world, their connection strengthens and matures, guiding them forward. Prepare yourself for an enchanting mix of platforming, brain-teasing puzzles, and thrilling combat.
Brace for impact as Neva’s handcrafted cinematics sweep you away, complemented by haunting melodies that set the mood just right. The user interface keeps things simple and minimalist, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the game’s captivating atmosphere. Trust me, if the trailer and Nomada’s past achievements are any indication, Neva promises to be an absolute visual spectacle.
Just see how gorgeous the visuals are in the trailer below.


SoundScape: The Industrial Beats Of Command & Conquer’s Composer Frank Klepacki

With EA and Petroglyph teaming up to create a Command & Conquer and Command & Conquer: Red Alert remaster bundle (with special art asset help from Lemon Sky Studios), I feel it’s appropriate to also bring up a huge part of the franchise. I’m talking about the music composed by one Frank Klepacki.
The Western game composer simply made Command & Conquer’s industrial soundtrack memorable among gamers. Using only an ASR-10 sampler, a RolandS760 sampler,a Roland JD 990 synth module, and an electric guitar, he channelled a lot of Nine Inch Nails and Ministry when doing music for the then-upcoming real-time strategy game back in 1995.
True, he did create some good soundtracks beforehand like the Legend of Kyrandia series and Lands of Lore, but in all honesty, his name was synonymous with C&C and C&C: Red Alert. Even after Westwood folded, he still made video game music for strategy games when he became a full-time audio director for Petroglyph Studios.
I’ll probably make a Soundscape video about him in the future featuring all of his work. But that’s going to take a while, so instead let’s go through his highlights from his humble beginnings in Westwood to his Petroglyph stints.
Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon (1991)

Pretty standard moody dungeon-crawling fantasy fare, but it establishes Frank’s foothold into the games industry. The 90s was truly a great time for gaming, eh?
Dune II (1992)

Frank’s first foray into real-time strategy music. Pretty intense stuff even with the limited synths he had to work with.
Legend of Kyrandia series (1992-1994)

Frank did some chill-heavy and jazzy pieces for Westwood’s fantasy adventure trilogy. The second and third games fared better in the soundtrack department due to their zany storylines and protagonists.
Command & Conquer Series (1995)

And here we are, the OST that made Frank a household name in RTS industrial music. PC master race folks back in the day can hum the main melody of “Act on Instinct”, “C&C Thang”, and “Industrial”. There are a ton more tracks I didn’t mention, but on a whole, Frank’s music sets the tone of the wartime future C&C is in.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert Series (1996-2008)

C&C Red Alert’s music and the Hell March anthem cemented Frank’s place in video game music history, but I should bring up how influential the first battle track “Bigfoot” was during my high school years playing PC games, pausing the game just to hear the game’s entire soundtrack. Oh, and “Crush” too. The C&C games really went all-out with the CD medium it’s on.

Universe At War: Earth Assault (2007)

While his other C&C works and his Petroglyph compositions were fine, none of them matched the originality and intensity of the original C&C games. That is until he made music for Universe at War. Now this real-time strategy soundtrack sound like it came from Hollywood. For the game’s Hierarchy faction (the aliens on the cover of the game) he made a sample featuring mangled voices to create an unnatural kind of sound.
He also created samples & sounds of heavy cranes recorded with overdriven impacts for the faction’s walkers. That’s just as detailed & insanely dedicated as, oh say, Mick Gordon and the Killer Instinct (2013) audio crew making music and sound effects.

Thanks for the PC gaming music memories, Frank Klepacki.


Project Sekai Is Having A Song Contest

Japanese rhythm game Project Sekai is having a song contest, where participants have the chance to have their song featured in the game.
While the original tweet and post are in Japanese, the Project Sekai ENG fan page shared the details of the competition in English. Aside from having their song included in the game’s 2D mode, the winners will be credited and will win a Â¥50,000 SONICWIRE gift certificate.

An original song contest is being held for Project Sekai! Winners will have their song be included in Project Sekai's rhythm game (only in 2D mode), be mentioned in the game's credits, and win a ¥50,000 SONICWIRE gift certificate!Entries close April 30th, at 5 P.M. https://t.co/sa0WXSJYRU
— Project Sekai ENG (Unofficial) (@pjsekai_eng) February 25, 2020

Please consider participating if you're an international producer! SEGA rarely gives recognition to the worldwide Vocaloid scene so this might be our time to shine ???You're even allowed to use the English or Chinese banks that the Cryptonloids have for this!! pic.twitter.com/exOESLKq6e
— Project Sekai ENG (Unofficial) (@pjsekai_eng) February 25, 2020

You can read the translated entry requirements in either Project Sekai ENG’s thread (the one above) or this article by VocaSphere. The ones written by Project Sekai ENG are as follows:

“Fullsize song can be any length, game-size must be ~2min with the chorus played once and an outro.”
“You need to submit it WITHOUT setting any license requirements, otherwise it won’t be counted. No songs already tied to labels, etc.”
“You need to submit both a full-size and game size version”
“Any language is OK!”
“You can use multiple VOCALOIDs! Sampling non-Cryptonloids is not allowed (including human vocals)”
“Multiple people can work on one submission, as long as only one person is set for contact info”
“You cannot post the song anywhere except for piapro during the contest period (Posting it publically after the results are announced is OK!)”
“Please send the lyrics in when submitting your song”
“Also, please make sure to use the ãƒ—ãƒã‚¸ã‚§ã‚¯ãƒˆã‚»ã‚«ã‚¤ï¼¿æ¥½æ›² tag when submitting!”

According to the official post (and as mentioned in Project Sekai ENG’s tweet), the deadline for the competition is 30 April 2020, with the cutoff time being 5pm.


You Can Now Create Your Own Mods In Cyberpunk 2077, Officially

CD Projekt has made it official: its hit(?) RPG Cyberpunk 2077 will feature modding support.
The company has released its first official modding support tools for the game effective immediately; PC version, obviously. This is in line with what CD Projekt’s global community lead Marcin Momot said previously in 2019:
“Obviously, we would love to support the modding community in the future, but for the time being we want to focus on releasing the game first.”
Here is the list of tools for now; it’ll definitely grow as time goes by:

Metadata: Per game release, required by some of the tools.
ArchiveDump: A utility for listing contents of game data archives.
TweakDump: A utility for listing contents of game Tweak DB (game settings) binaries.
TweakDB IDs: A list of IDs of Tweak DB entries. Generated using TweakDump and tweakdb.str metadata.

Just one caveat though: CD Projekt reserves the right to shut down mods that let players have “sex” with Keanu Reeves’ character Johnny Silverhand. That means no swapping a joytoy skin with that of Johnny Silverhand. Here’s CD Projekt’s official stance:

“Our most important rule regarding user-generated content, game mods in particular, is that it canâ€™t be harmful towards others. In the case of model swaps, especially those that involve explicit situations, it can be perceived as such by the people who lent us their appearance for the purpose of creating characters in Cyberpunk 2077.”

This is understandable, as CD Projekt do not want to harm its relationship with Keanu Reeves for future Johnny Silverhand appearances.
Due to the game’s buggy nature, the first few mods from the game (the ones that will be official starting now) will probably help stabilize and optimize the game for the better. Basically, this is a great way to get its passionate community to support their long-awaited game. We’ll be sure to list out our favourite Cyberpunk 2077 mods in a huge-ass list in the coming months.


Tribeca Film Festival Will Feature Death Stranding Panel With Hideo Kojima & Norman Reedus

Death Stranding remains a mysterious enigma of a game three years after it was initially announced at E3 2016 by Hideo Kojima. He has since revealed trailers for the game at subsequent E3 events but none of them have made much sense. However, that may change very soon (we hope).
Hideo Kojima and Norman Reedus (who stars in the game) will be discussing Death Stranding at the Tribeca Film Festival later this month. Hosted by The Game Awards host Geoff Keighley, the special event will take place at the Stella Artois Theatre, Borough of Manhattan Community College Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York at 6pm on Thursday, 25 April 2019.
For anyone lucky enough to be in the area, the price for admission is $40.00 per person. According to the event description on the official website, Kojima and Reedus will be talking about “pushing the boundaries of the video game medium and talk about how their relationship has established over working on the title together”.
While that sounds good and all, they probably won’t be revealing anything too vital about Death Stranding at the event, since these Tribeca Panels aren’t usually even streamed online for everyone to see. However, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei to see if any juicy details do come out of the event.
The latest news we have of Death Stranding is Hideo Kojima showing off the game to Horizon Zero Dawn developer Guerilla Games but that was over three months ago. Read the full story here. More news about the game is long overdue by now.