Riot Games SEA & SPORTFIVE Announce Partnership

Leading video games developer and publisher, Riot GamesÂ  Southeast Asia, has appointed global sports marketing agency SPORTFIVE as their exclusive commercial representative for the localised feeds of its international esports events across the region.Â Â
As part of the appointment, Riot Games Southeast Asia and SPORTFIVE will explore sponsorship opportunities for the localised entitlements of Riotâ€™s most well-loved properties including League Of Legends, League Of Legends Wild Rift and VALORANT within Southeast Asia.
Partners will be able to utilize selected assets from the gamesâ€™ IP to create unique marketing campaigns and social media activations, coupled with branding exposure on the various localised broadcast channels.Â Â
The top tier international events that will be broadcast with localised feeds include the seasonalÂ  League of Legends Pacific Championship Series, where teams from Southeast Asia, Taiwan,Â  Hong Kong and Macau compete to qualify for spots at League of Legends Worlds. The partnership with SPORTFIVE will provide year-round opportunities for brands to engage with fans through various international esports events across League of Legends, VALORANT, and League of Legends: Wild Rift, all of which will feature localised broadcast feeds for Southeast Asia.Â Â
This partnership enables Riot Games to tap into SPORTFIVEâ€™s expertise around the esports ecosystem and its extensive network both globally and locally within the Southeast Asia region.Â  It extends SPORTFIVEâ€™s longstanding association with Riot Games in Europe and further cements the collaborative efforts between the two parties. Â
Justin Hulog, General Manager, Southeast Asia, Riot Games said:
â€œWe are delighted to partner with SPORTFIVE for exclusive esports commercial representation across Southeast Asia.
SPORTFIVEâ€™s network and expertise in the esports space, regionally as well as globally, sets the stage for a great partnership as Riot aims to bring global content to hyperlocal platforms and activations.
Together, we are excited to develop and uncover partnership opportunities that grow long-term value for our brand. Southeast Asia is a burgeoning market for Riot, and with massiveÂ  viewership numbers from our fans in the region, connecting with like-minded partners helps toÂ  grow the popularity of our games and player base further.â€Â
Malcolm Thorpe, Managing Director, Southeast Asia said:
â€œRiot Games is an important client for SPORTFIVE in Europe so we are delighted to extend our partnership to Southeast Asia.
The Riot Games properties have a huge presence, especially in certain markets, and we are excitedÂ  to support Riot Games in growing awareness and value across the whole region.â€Â
Anthea Chee, Senior Vice-President, CorporateÂ  Partnerships â€“ Southeast AsiaÂ said:
â€œWe are thrilled to embark on this collaboration with Riot Games to find innovative solutions and brand partnership opportunities on their behalf.
With more non-endemic brands finding value within the esports sphere, the possibilities to be creative is endless and we cannot wait to introduce that journey to brands.”
SPORTFIVE recently facilitated the multi-year partnership between chocolate company, KitKat and Riot Games-operated League of Legends tournaments LEC Spring and Summer Split in Â Europe.
[videopress Ix7pk4tA]


God of War Ragnarok: 5 Noteworthy Things In This Father-Son Fight Trek

Deja vu is rather common in the gaming scene where sequels are a dime a dozen. After all, it’s a company’s surefire way to sell millions rather than with a risky new IP; that is the nature of the business. Having said that, sequels to big games can be labours of love if given the time and care.
Our early hands-on with Sony Santa Monica’s magnum opus sequel to 2018’s God of War, an action-adventure game we revered wholeheartedly and features father-son team Kratos and Atreus, is indeed closing up loose plot ends and will hopefully end with a bang. Though back to what I said, some things do seem a tad too familiar. Not that it’s completely a bad thing, mind you.
Here are the five standout elements that made my first four hours of Sony Santa Monica’s sequel incredibly promising. Yes, it’s all combat-related since I do not want to spoil key story details, so bear with us.
Yellow Circles, Red Circles Oh My!
While in the heat of battle, there will be yellow & red circles highlighting an opponent’s attack. Red circles mean you can’t block it, while yellow circles means you can parry it if you time your block just right. Otherwise, you’ll be in a temporary stun state. It’s one of the key combat features carried over from the last game, and it’s definitely welcome.
While messing up your parries isn’t an issue in the first four hours of the game, I suspect there will be enemies that will be ready to stab you for massive damage while you’re keeled over. Tougher foes will probably only be vulnerable if a perfect parry was made, so I see the use of such telegraphs to help players recognize what’s blockable and what isn’t.
Frost & Fire Buffs

This one’s brand new to the game: Kratos can manually charge Frost effects on his Leviathan Axe and Flame effects on his Blades of Chaos for their respective power attacks. These go away after the first swing, but they’re usually powerful and deal AoE damage alongside other effects if you level up your skill tree.
If you’re good, you can perform a combo, and then do a Frost charge effect followed up with better attacks to keep them in a juggled state. It’s a small but fun addition to help expand Kratos’ repertoire of Leviathan Axe, Blades of Chaos, and shield.

Tweaked Combat

There’s a sense of deja vu in God of War: Ragnarok, but it’s the good kind. The 2018 God of War’s combat system and action is almost peerless with its feel, weight, controls, responsiveness, and balance between casual and hardcore playstyles. Switching seamlessly between weapons with the d-pad is pretty easy, while rear markers to highlight attacks from the back are still helpful given the game’s third-person perspective.

Pacing & World-Building

The first major area you visit in your father-son runaway trip is Svartalfheim, the dwarf city that your two blacksmith pals from the first game can’t shut up about. This portion has a main quest where you need to find a person-of-contact through a town, past a river area leading to smokestacks, and the eventual giant mine with its network of mazes and puzzles. Said brainteasers rely on using your axe to freeze halfpipes, make water run onto watermill contraptions, or even trigger switches with your Blades of Chaos. They’re a good diversion before both father and son start fighting Einherjars, the undead, and other fantasy monsters that spit goo in your face.
The best part? You also get to hear lore-spouting severed head Mimir talk about Norse gods & how shady they are, and find out more about what happened pre-2018 God of War and how they screwed over a lot of the realm for their selfish gain. It all flows naturally and doesn’t interrupt anything or grind it to a halt.
And yes, you will need to use rafts to ferry from place to place just like in 2018 prequel. I feel that Kratos rows the boat much faster than in the last game, so hooray for progress?

Different Big Boys To Beat Down
It’s only been a few hours, but so far my significant boss encounters are pretty variable and aren’t relying so much on just colour-coded giants like in the original. So there’s that. Throughout my four hours, I’ve fought a bear, a crocodile, and a demigod with lightning powers and a magic hammer. The latter is clearly a setpiece battle that will look damn good when being spectated on bigger TV screens, though the fight itself is intense. This is especially when the demigod gets supercharged with lightning and launches his hammer repeatedly with various timings and animation.

My toughest fight was was a seemingly regular undead with flame attacks called The Hateful midway in a Svartalfheim mining cave. Its purposefully-delayed long-reaching flame attacks deal a lot of damage, and it had damage-over-time fire that will knock Kratos down quick if he dallies too long. The monstrosity also has a couple of undead minions to distract you while it flanks with its slashes.
There’s going to be an enemy that will stonewall you, and The Hateful is no different. Make no mistake; the new God of War isn’t going to take it easy on you with hard-hitting enemies with meaty life bars. And also the new Bifrost ailment will affect a set amount of your life bar; while this heals over time, it goes away immediately if charged Bifrost attack hits you.
If this preview sounds like things feel a bit too samey like in the 2018 title, well, you may be right. Given that this game may be 20+ hours long, there might be a huge number of surprises in store for action game fans who want an epic adventure and also justify paying so goddamn much for a PlayStation 5. So here’s hoping it’ll come to that.
God of War Ragnarok will be out on 8th November for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. We’ll most likely have a review up a few days prior.


Never Grave: The Witch And The Curse Is An Upcoming Metroidvania From Palworld Makers

Pocket Pair, the developer behind the upcoming Pokemon-with-guns game Palworld, already has a new game in the works.
It’s an upcoming 2D search action Metroidvania title named Never Grave; The Witch and The Curse, and it features roguelite elements and a titular witch. The game also has a possession system that gives you more combat advantages and perhaps even traverse more areas in the game’s possible maze-like structure.
I’m getting a Hollow Knight vibe from the gameplay, but with more chibi artwork, colour, and a lot more interesting mechanics. And multiplayer featuring four players, it seems!
Full feature list and trailer below. Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse will be out for PC in Early Access form; no release date has been mentioned yet.
Features
Authentic 2D action: Identify enemy attacks, fight with magic, and sometimes use the terrain to win! Dungeons such as ruins and botanical gardens are auto-generated and change each time you play. Furthermore, there are obstacles and puzzles waiting to block the player’s path in the dungeons.
Possession system: Possess enemies using a cursed hat. Use unique abilities from your possessed enemies to open up avenues of action and gain an advantage in battle!
Rebuild a ruined village: Use materials collected in the dungeons to clear the rubble of ruined villages, build new facilities and cultivate crops in the fields. Produce food and potions in the village to prepare for the next battle!
Multiplayer: Multiplayer support for up to four players. Call your friends from other worlds and conquer dungeons together!
Game features:

Metroidvania x Roguelite with an emphasis on exploration.
Sophisticated and tactilely designed player character controls.
Possession system where hats can possess enemies and use their unique abilities.
Traditional Japanese hand-drawn limited animation is used for character 2D animation.
Thickly painted backgrounds with depth, as if you are travelling through a world of picture books and cut-out pictures.
Learn actions such as double-jump from artefacts to explore new areas.
Constantly changing play style depending on the synergy of “traits” associated with magic and items.
Intense battles with tough bosses. It will take more than just memorizing boss patterns to defeat them without taking damage…
Rebuild your village. Strengthen yourself through building and production to prepare for the next adventure.
Explore different terrain each time you play through procedurally generated dungeons.
Multiplayer support. Up to four players can delve into the dungeon together!


This Battle Royale Game Was The Most Downloaded Mobile Game Of 2020

What was the most downloaded mobile game of 2020 in the whole wide world?
According to App Annie, Free Fire was the most downloaded mobile game globally in 2020, across both the iOS and Google Play stores. This was reflected in App Annie’s latest State of Mobile 2021 report.
This is actually the second year in a row that Free Fire was the most downloaded mobile game worldwide, having also topped the ranking in 2019.

This caps off a strong 2020 for Free Fire.Â Several milestones reached by the popular mobile game last year included the following:

Free Fire achieved a new record high of over 100 million peak daily active users in 2020. (Source: Sea Q3 2020 earnings)

Free Fire content on YouTube saw over 72 billion views in 2020, making it the 3rd most-watched game of the year. It was also the second most-watched live game in 2020. (Source: YouTube)

Free Fire has over 100 billion lifetime views on YouTube. (Source: YouTube)

We announced collaborations with some of the world’s most popular stars and brands to engage players further, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Money Heist (La Casa de Papel), DJ KSHMR, and Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan.

Free Fireâ€™s flagship tournament of the year, the Free Fire Continental Series (FFCS), ended on a high note, with the Asia Series obtaining more than 2.5 million peak concurrent viewers (PCV), setting a new record for Free Fire esports. (Source: Esports Charts)


Microsoft Flight Simulator Takes Off In August

Publisher Microsoft and developer Asobo Studio have announced that Microsoft Flight Simulator is slated to release for PC via the Microsoft Store and Xbox Game Pass on 18 August 2020. The Xbox One version is scheduled for release at a later unspecified date.
Microsoft Flight Simulator is the next generation of one of the most beloved simulation franchises. It will feature over 2 million cities, 1.5 billion buildings, real mountains, roads, trees, rivers, animals, traffic, and more. Players can pilot a variety of aircraft from light planes to commercial jets with an experience that scales to your level with interactive and highlighted instrument guidance and checklists.
This latest instalment also features the ability to fly during the day or night with live real-time weather, including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain, and lighting.

You can check out the official PC requirements for Microsoft Flight Simulator by heading over here.
Here is an overview of each edition:
Standard (RM234)
Includes the base game.
Deluxe (RM350)
The Deluxe Edition includes everything fromÂ Microsoft Flight SimulatorÂ plus five additional highly accurate planes with unique flight models and five additional handcrafted international airports.
Additional aircraft:

Diamond Aircraft DA40-TDI
Diamond Aircraft DV20
Textron Aviation Beechcraft Baron G58
Textron Aviation Cessna 152 Aerobat
Textron Aviation Cessna 172 Skyhawk

Additional airports:

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands)
Cairo International Airport (Egypt)
Cape Town International Airport (South Africa)
Oâ€™Hare International Airport (USA)
Adolfo SuÃ¡rez Madridâ€“Barajas Airport (Spain)

Premium Deluxe (RM465)
The Premium Deluxe Edition includes everything fromÂ Microsoft Flight SimulatorÂ plus 10 additional highly accurate planes with unique flight models and 10 additional handcrafted international airports.
Additional aircraft:

Diamond Aircraft DA40-TDI
Diamond Aircraft DV20
Textron Aviation Beechcraft Baron G58
Textron Aviation Cessna 152 Aerobat
Textron Aviation Cessna 172 Skyhawk
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
Cirrus Aircraft SR22
Pipistrel Virus SW 121
Textron Aviation Cessna Citation Longitude
Zlin Aviation Shock Ultra

Additional airports:

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (Netherlands)
Cairo International Airport (Egypt)
Cape Town International Airport (South Africa)
Oâ€™Hare International Airport (USA)
Adolfo SuÃ¡rez Madridâ€“Barajas Airport (Spain)
Denver International Airport (USA)
Dubai International Airport (United Arab Emirates)
Frankfurt Airport (Germany)
Heathrow Airport (United Kingdom)
San Francisco International Airport (USA)

In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYqJALPVn0Y&w=560&h=315]


CatDog & April O’Neil Are Going To Be In Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl

What’s better than having Nickelodeon characters fight each other? Having the Ninja Turtles in the mix.
Not content with adding in Leonardo and Michaelangelo in the mix, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl adds in journalist and former damsel-in-distress April O’Neil. Just keep in mind that the TMNT license is currently under Nickelodeon.
Oh, and CatDog is in the game too, in case there are late 90s cartoon fans here. April looks like a rushdown character who can reflect fireballs with her mic stand(?) while CatDog is a footsie character with emphasis on his/her vertical attacks that cover a good deal of space.

Point is, these are all fan-favourite additions, and we can expect more from developers Ludosity, Fair Play Labs, and Ludosity AB. The current roster so far is below:

Helga (Hey Arnold!)
Danny Phantom (Danny Phantom)
Sandy Cheeks (Spongebob Squarepants)
Zim (Invader Zim)
Nigel Thornberry (The Wild Thornberrys)
Michelangelo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Leonardo (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Spongebob Squarepants (Spongebob Squarepants)
Patrick Star (Spongebob Squarepants)
Reptar (Rugrats)
Lincoln Loud (The Loud House)
Lucy Loud (The Loud House)
Oblina (Aahh!! Real Monsters)
Powdered Toast Man (Ren & Stimpy)
April O’Neil (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
CatDog (CatDog)

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl will be out this Fall for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One.


Project xCloud To Expand With More Games, Platforms & Countries In 2020

During the X019 London Inside Xbox live stream, Microsoft announced massive plans ahead for its video game cloud streaming service, Project xCloud. It now boasts more than 50 games from 25 different partners, including popular titles like Devil May Cry 5, Tekken 7, and more.
In addition, Project xCloud will support Windows 10 PCs and other unspecified platforms starting next year in 2020, as well as provide support for various controllers and hardware from other parties like Sony PlayStation’s Dualshock 4 and Razer peripherals. It will also be expanding to other countries in 2020, including Canada, India, Japan, and Western Europe.
Last but not least, Microsoft unexpectedly revealed that Project xCloud will somehow support or be compatible with the Xbox Game Pass in 2020, where players will be able to stream games “they already own or will purchase”. However, it’s unclear how this will ultimately work, considering how unrealistic it is to expect every single game on the Xbox Game Pass to support cloud streaming.
Google must be quaking in fear right now, especially with its upcoming launch looking like it’s going to be a disaster. Meanwhile, Microsoft has yet to announce the release date for the full version of Project xCloud, as it is currently only available in Preview form.
In the meantime, check out the complete list of games available on Project xCloud starting today:
505 Games
â€¢Â Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
â€¢Â Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
Avalanche Studios
â€¢Â theHunter: Call of the Wild
Bandai Namco
â€¢Â Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
â€¢Â Rad
â€¢Â Soulcalibur VI
â€¢Â Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
â€¢Â Tekken 7
Bigben Interactive
â€¢Â WRC 7
Capcom
â€¢Â Devil May Cry 5
Codemasters
â€¢Â F1 2019
Curve Digital
â€¢Â For the King
Devolver Digital
â€¢Â Absolver
EA
â€¢Â Madden NFL 20
Fatshark Games
â€¢Â Vermintide 2
Focus Home Interactive
â€¢Â Vampyr
Funcom
â€¢Â Conan Exiles
â€¢Â Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden

IO Interactive
â€¢Â Hitman
Klei Entertainment
â€¢Â Mark of the Ninja: Remastered
Koch Media
â€¢Â Dead Island: Definitive Edition
KRAFTON
â€¢Â TERA
Mad Dog Games LLC
â€¢Â World War Z
Pearl Abyss
â€¢Â Black Desert Online
Rebellion
â€¢Â Sniper Elite 4
SEGA
â€¢Â Puyo Puyo Champions
Square Enix
â€¢Â Just Cause 4
â€¢Â Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
â€¢Â World of Final Fantasy Maxima
Studio Wildcard
â€¢Â ARK: Survival Evolved
Take-Two Interactive
â€¢ Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
â€¢ WWE 2K20
Team17
â€¢ Overcooked!
â€¢ Yokuâ€™s Island Express
THQ Nordic
â€¢ Battle Chasers: Nightwar
â€¢ Darksiders 3

tinyBuild
â€¢ Hello Neighbor
Unknown Worlds
â€¢ Subnautica
Wargaming
â€¢ World of Tanks: Mercenaries
â€¢ World of Warships: Legends
Xbox Game Studios
â€¢ Crackdown 3
â€¢ Forza Horizon 4
â€¢ Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
â€¢ Gears 5Â (already available on xCloud)
â€¢ Halo 5: GuardiansÂ (already available on xCloud)
â€¢ Halo Wars 2
â€¢ Hellblade: Senuaâ€™s Sacrifice
â€¢ Killer InstinctÂ (already available on xCloud)
â€¢ Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
â€¢ ReCore: Definitive Edition
â€¢ Sea of ThievesÂ (already available on xCloud)
â€¢ State of Decay 2
â€¢ The Bardâ€™s Tale IV: Directorâ€™s Cut


The Super Smash Bros.-Like LEGO Game Launches This Summer

Bandai Namco has announced that LEGO Brawls will launch for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch sometime in summer 2022.
In LEGO Brawls, you can build, customise and level up their ultimate LEGO Minifigure heroes with unique style, strategy, and personality. Fans can also collect unlockable minifigures, power-ups and emotes from their favourite LEGO themes as they battle and build their way to the top of the global leader boards.
Players around the world can team up and brawl 4v4, party with friends or play a battle royale-style game mode, or the fan-favourite “couch co-op” style Free-for-Brawl game mode where it’s “every-player-for-themselves”.
This game was originally announced during the Nintendo Direct in February 2022, but it’s actually a port of an Apple Arcade mobile game.


Animal Crossing: New Horizons Offers More Animal Crossing, Now On A “Deserted Island”

Nintendo just unleashed a ton of Animal Crossing: New Horizons info in its latest Nintendo Direct video feature an hour ago. Let’s go through the checklist and see what they’re touting as new features in a game that shackles you with debt and turning the objective of paying it off with fun times and pastels.
You Can Experience Survival-Lite Gameplay
When you start your game, you can choose between four islands to explore and camp out. Basically, you explore the heck out of the place and gather stuff (bugs, leaves, mushrooms, whatever) while you chill and relax. You can choose between the northern and southern hemisphere, each with their own rotating seasons that is dependant on your Nintendo clock.
There are still dangerous animals abound while you’re on your deserted island holiday, like scorpions and bees. You may need to use medikits and ointments so that you aren’t “damaged”.
You may come across a castaway at the edges of the island. To rescue them, just keep them company until they come to. If only real life castaway-helping was this convenient.

You Can DIY Craft Stuff

You can now learn to make your own furniture and items using the DIY Workshop. You just need to learn the recipe, then collect the materials from the woods and island. Get enough, and voila! Your own bed, chair, and whatnot for your island-relaxing needs.
Nook Inc. Mileage Program

Want some purpose in a game that doesn’t offer much of it? Then the Nook Inc. Mileage Program is for you. Do a bunch of random island activities to earn Nook Mileage Points, then trade those points to either pay off Nook’s debt for the island package, or get a bunch of exclusive stuff from the Nook Stop.
You Can Buy A House On The Island

Just like in previous Animal Crossing games, you can go in debt with Tom Nook and Nook Inc. again by getting a house. And yes, you can take your sweet time repaying back the mortgage unlike in real life.
You Can Build Your Own Diorama In-Game

There’s a section of the island called Photopia where you can scan your Animal Crossing amiibos and then pose them in a theatre with a bunch of its own props. Take photos, make them look good with the available filters, and then send it out for all to see.
Wait For Future Developments & DLC

Nook Inc. will invite more animal residents for you to recruit whenever you need to.Â The game will also add more remodelling and moving services.Â Free updates will crop up after the game launches; these include pre-seasonal events tied to holidays and festivals like Halloween or Christmas.
Do It Yourself
Once you get a special Nook Inc. permit, you can even pull out a shovel and remodel the island yourself, just like you would in games like Minecraft and Dragon Quest Builder 2. You know, in case you’re already bored with those games.
You Can Get Outta Dodge…

…and call Rescue Services if you’re lost on the island. This is basically the Animal Crossing equivalent of fast travelling to your base camp.
This is clearly not a game for me. And even so, I can recommend other titles that satiate that relaxing simulation itch for you like the latest Sims or the aforementioned Minecraft and Dragon Quest Builder 2 that offer some semblance of a purpose and objective. Still, there’s a market for people who like these sort of things, so you do you, I guess. Full Nintendo Direct below.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons will be out 20th March.


SDCC 2020: Best Of Day 1

The first day of San Diego Comic-Con 2020 (SDCC 2020), or rather, Comic-Con At Home 2020, was pretty awesome, despite taking place fully online and not being an event at an actual convention (due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic).
While big wigs like Marvel and DC Comics are absent from this year’s iteration, we still received a bunch of exciting reveals and announcements from a variety of panels. Check them out below:
Star Trek Prodigy, First Look At Star Trek Lower Decks

The Star Trek Universe panel at SDCC 2020 finally revealed the official name and logo for the second modern Star Trek animated series (the first is the upcoming Star Trek Lower Decks). Star Trek Prodigy is a CG-animated series that “follows a group of lawless teens who discover a derelict Starfleet ship and use it to search for adventure, meaning and salvation”.
It is being developed by Kevin and Dan Hageman of Netflix’s Trollhunters and LEGO Ninjago fame. Star Trek Prodigy is slated to launch on Nickelodeon sometime in 2021, produced by CBSâ€™ Eye Animation Productions.
Star Trek Prodigy is the sixth new Star Trek series in development since the premiere of Star Trek Discovery in 2017, Star Trek Picard earlier this year, Star Trek Strange New Worlds, the Section 31 spinoff and the aforementioned Star Trek Lower Decks.
Check out our first look at Star Trek Lower Decks, which is slated to premiere on 6 August 2020:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64obsPsXxkE&w=560&h=315]
Truth Seekers Trailer

From creators/writers Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (both of whom starred in Shaun of the Dead), Truth Seekers is a supernatural comedy-drama series featuring a group of part-time paranormal investigators who team up to uncover a deadly conspiracy.
It looks like a zanier and very British take on Ghostbusters, but with Pegg and Frost together again at their horror-comedy roots, we all know this is likely going to be great. Truth Seekers will feature eight episodes in its first season, which will premiere on Amazon Prime Video sometime in fall 2020.
Check out the trailer below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UY2iyLnNeCQ&w=560&h=315]
His Dark Materials Season 2 Trailer

HBO has unveiled the first trailer for His Dark Materials Season 2. The panel for the series also revealed additional cast members joining for the second season, including legendary British actor Terence Stamp as Giacomo Paradisi, Jade Anouka as Ruta Skadi and Simone Kirby as Dr. Mary Malone.
It will be based on the second book of Phillip Pullman’s fantasy series; The Subtle Knife.
His Dark Materials Season 2 is slated to premiere sometime in fall 2021, though it has been shortened to only seven episodes when it was originally eight (due to filming being disrupted by COVID-19).
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnFsU7SY0Gk&w=560&h=315]
Utopia Trailer

Amazon Prime Video has unveiled the first trailer for its upcoming conspiracy thriller drama Utopia, which is an American remake of a British TV series of the same name that aired from 2013 to 2014.
The official synopsis for Utopia reads:

“Utopia centers on a group of comic fans who meet online and bond over their obsession of a seemingly fictional comic called â€˜Utopia.â€™
Together, Ian (Dan Byrd), Becky (Ashleigh LaThrop), Samantha (Jessica Rothe), Wilson Wilson (Desmin Borges), and Grant (Javon â€œWannaâ€ Walton) unearth hidden meanings cloaked within the pages of â€˜Utopia,â€™ predicting threats to humanity.
They realize these are not just the makings of a conspiracy; they are very real dangers coming alive right now in their world.”

Fun fact: Utopia was created by Gillian Flynn, the author of Gone Girl and Sharp Objects, both of which have also been adapted into a critically-acclaimed movie and TV series, respectively.
It is slated to premiere sometime in fall 2020. In the meantime, check out the trailer below:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfMBkiPFh-k&w=560&h=315]
Bill & Ted Face The Music Release Date

Bill & Ted Face The Music has received a new trailer and a new release date. The highly-anticipated third entry in the cult classic movie franchise will now be released both in cinemas and video-on-demand (VOD) via digital retailers on 1 September 2020.
The new trailer showcases more of what to expect, including Alex Winters and Keanu Reeves reprising their iconic roles as Bill S. Preston, Esq. and Ted â€œTheodoreâ€ Logan. It teases the duo embarking on another time-travelling adventure to steal music from their future selves.
At the same time, Wilhelmina Billie â€œLittle Billâ€ Logan (Brigette Lundy-Paine) and Thea â€œLittle Tedâ€ Preston (Samara Weaving) (the daughter of Bill and Ted, respectively), also embark on their own excellent adventure.
Check out the radical trailer below, dudes:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gPGeAYo3yU&w=560&h=315]
The Boys Renewed For Season 3

During the panel at Comic-Con, executive producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg announced that The Boys have been renewed for Season 3 ahead of their Season 2 premiere on 4 September 2020.
Amazon Prime Video also released our first look at The Boys Season 2 with the bizarre The Whale clip below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkZEPgBqAu8&w=560&h=315]


The Talos Principle Is Free On The Epic Games Store

We’re at the final three days of the Epic Games Store Holiday Sale 2019. On each day of the sale, the store is giving away a free game and we’ve been getting some great titles. Today, we’re getting one of those games people describe as “thought-provoking”.

The Talos Principle is free on the Epic Games Store just for today. Originally released in 2014, the game went on to win the hearts and minds of many gamers thanks to its philosphical narrative and eureka-inducing puzzles.
There’s a ton of great deals over at the EGS Holiday Sale 2019, check out our recommendations.


It’s Always Nice To See Game Developers Supporting One Another

I’m at a loss at where to file this up under, to be honest. All I’m doing is sharing the fact that the games industry is a small world and that we’re doing all we can to work together despite the obvious rivalries.
Case in point, the latest Insomniac Games tweet, fresh out of releasing this year’s best comic book game, talks about featuring the latest from Square Enix and Eidos Montreal on their official Twitch channel: Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

Don't have a case of the Mondays! Come join us as we play Shadow of the Tomb Raider from @EidosMontreal on @Twitch.https://t.co/XYoygnW2fJ
— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) September 17, 2018

That’s not all. Two other game development companies give a shoutout to the latest Lara Croft graverobbing exploit: Ubisoft and Dontnod.

From one tomb raider to another, congrats on your launch ? #ShadowOfTheTombRaider @EidosMontreal pic.twitter.com/Uy14DsZ9sj
— Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) September 14, 2018

Happy launch day @tombraider! See you in the wilderness! #TombRaider pic.twitter.com/Ae5nKltQUo
— Life is Strange (@LifeIsStrange) September 14, 2018

Talk about a class act. Granted, Insomniac Games does feature games from other studios to play (even on Xbox One) on their own Twitch channel, so it’s really nothing new. If you haven’t checked them out, you should: they’re good fun.
What I’m getting at is that once in a while, it’s always good to gain a bit of perspective, realize that everyone (be it game publishers, developers, news publications, event managers, etc.) are all in it to make our customers, viewers, and audiences happy and well-entertained. Sometimes, working together is the way to go.


“Internet Darling” Keanu Reeves In Talks To Join The MCU, Says Marvel Studios Head

Keanu Reeves is currently one of the hottest Hollywood commodity on the Internet, not only due to his latest movie John Wick 3: Parabellum releasing last month but also after his surprise appearance during Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 press conference last week.
In an interview with ComicBook.com, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed that they have been in talks in with Keanu Reeves for a long time. However, they’re waiting for the perfect role to give the 54-year-old actor.
Feige compared Reeves with Jake Gyllenhaal, who also talked with Marvel Studios “multiple times” before finally landing the role of Mysterio in the upcoming Spider-Man: Far From Home movie set to release next month.
Feige said:

â€œWe talk to him for almost every film we make.
We talk to Keanu Reeves about. I donâ€™t know when, if, or ever heâ€™ll join the MCU, but we very much want to figure out the right way to do it.â€

If Reeves were to enter the MCU, there might be several roles suited to the actor. Some fans want him to be Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four. What do you think the perfect MCU role for Keanu Reeves could be? Let us know in the comments below.


Gamespot Hit By Layoffs

Many employees of games website Gamespot have been laid off. These include the following:

I've officially been laid off, so please do let me know if you have any job ideas https://t.co/hiOmbFcT8K— Will Fulton (@thewillennium) October 8, 2020

just got word that i am getting laid off after the RV acquisition. my last day is november 30.if you have any openings in writing, social media, editing, podcasting, anything, please please send tips or opportunities my way. i have nowhere to go if i lose where i live.— Ashley Oh (@itsashleyoh) October 8, 2020

After 12 and a half long years of good times and great work, my role with GameSpot has been made redundant.If anyone out there could use the skills of someone with this much senior editorial and video production experience, well, my schedule is looking pretty free right now.— Edmond Tran (@EdmondTran) October 8, 2020

After almost 9 years I'm sad to announce I have been made redundant from GameSpot. It really was the most fulfilling job with the most incredible people. Please keep me in mind if you know of anyone looking for a host, video producer, games journo, etc. ??— Jess McDonell (@JessMcDonell) October 8, 2020

So, I have also been laid off from GameSpot.I'll be sending out a lot of feelers, but if you want someone with 7+ years of experience in games, 5 of which are in video production, hit me up. That's all. Much love to everyone else in this situation with me. It sucks.— Tony Wilson (@chaingunpope) October 8, 2020

According to GamesIndustry.biz, these layoffs are a result of the pending acquisition of CNET Media Group (the parent company of GameSpot, CNET, Metacritic, and Giant Bomb) by Red Ventures.
In an official statement, a Red Ventures representative said:
“As part of Red Ventures acquisition agreement with ViacomCBS, Red Ventures will retain a vast majority of CNET Media Group employees and assets under the Red Ventures business umbrella. The deal has not closed and to protect the privacy of our employees we cannot release additional information at this time.”
Red Ventures began its acquisition of CNET Media Group from ViacomCBS for US$500 million last month. ViacomCBS originally acquired the websites for a whopping US$1.8 billion back in 2008.
We at Kakuchopurei wish all the best to all the former Gamespot employees affected by the layoffs. It’s always devastating when you’re unceremoniously fired from your job, especially with little to no notice like this.


The Sims 4 Snowy Escape Expansion Drops Next Month

EA and Maxis have announced thatÂ The Sims 4 Snowy EscapeÂ is coming to PC and Mac via Origin and Steam, Xbox One and PS4 on 13 November 2020. The 10th expansion pack introduces the majestic and serene world of Mt. Komorebi, a new destination for Sims looking for a getaway from their everyday lives or a new dream home.
The Japanese-inspired world offers a variety of activities for Sims to enjoy, from unwinding in the mountainâ€™s onsen bathhouse, meditating on mindful walks or testing their limits with exciting, and sometimes dangerous sports activities like skiing, snowboarding and rock climbing.
The Sims 4 Snowy Escape producer Graham Nardone said:
â€œThe SimsÂ team is constantly exploring new ways Simmers can play with life, andÂ The Sims 4 Snowy EscapeÂ will offer them the freedom to choose their own adventures in the new world of Mt. Komorebi. Whether Sims want to hit the slopes and go on daring excursions on the mountain, prefer to unwind with scenic hikes and indulge in a day of relaxation, or even build their new dream home, this expansion pack provides something for everyone to enjoy.â€
The first world inÂ The Sims 4Â to introduce both residential homes and rental lots for vacationers, Mt. Komorebi offers three new primary neighborhoods for Sims to take their dream vacation or make the winter destination their home. Players can look forward to more than 130 new Create a Sim items to create various looks to keep their Sims warm and stylish including winter activity wear and both modern everyday and traditional Japanese-inspired fashion.
In addition, the expansion pack offers traditional and modern furniture options for players to design their sanctuary, with unique architectural styles and pieces including shoji doors, windows and screens, tatami mats and paper lanterns. Players can also add extra touches to create their very own oasis, like koi for decorative fountains and a rock garden under the shade of Japanese maple trees.
Sims will discover snow fun for everyone on Mt. Komorebi, including a multitude of high-energy winter sports, where they can tear up the snowy slopes with skiing, snowboarding and sledding. The bravest of Sims can build up their rock climbing skills to conquer the daring and treacherous climb to reach Mt. Komorebiâ€™s peak.
Those who prefer to take a more laid back approach can enjoy relaxing hiking trails with beautiful, scenic views of the mountain and bamboo forests, soak their problems away in the natural hot springs or indulge in new foods and drinks including tasty hot pot around the kotatsu table.
The Sims 4 Snowy EscapeÂ also introduces Lifestyles and Sentiments features, adding more depth to Simsâ€™ personalities and relationships. For the first time, up to 16 Lifestyles will manifest in response to a Simâ€™s actions and habits, changing their behaviours significantly more than Create a Sim traits as they reflect a Simâ€™s lived experiences.
Sentiments represent how two Sims can feel differently about the outcome of a shared experience and have a lasting impact on Simsâ€™ relationships with each other, affecting their social interactions.
The Sims 4 Snowy EscapeÂ Expansion Pack will be available for US$39.99 (or roughly RM165.78).


Nioh 2 Update 1.05 Finally Nerfs Those Annoying Gaki

It’s only March 2020, and we already have at least one GOTY candidate in the form of Nioh 2. I’m not much of a Soulsborne fan, but it reminds me of Capcom’s forgotten Onimusha franchise and I love it (check out my full review here).
Team Ninja has released the full patch notes for the game’s recent 1.05 update, and while it doesn’t add any actual new content, it does bring a lot of significant improvements. If you’ve played Nioh 2, you’ll probably die a lot. That’s a given, but it’s definitely much more frustrating when the game’s weakest Yokai enemy kills you; namely the Gaki.
They scratch you, bite you, and even throw rocks at you, most of which do unbelievably high damage especially at the beginning of Nioh 2. Even later in the game, if they ambush you with a grapple attack, they can still inflict a lot of damage. It’s annoying, really.
Fortunately, the Nioh 2 1.05 update nerfs the Gaki, along with the bigger and more powerful Yoki and Enki. These enemies are the scourge of the early game in Nioh 2, so it’s nice to see that Team Ninja acknowledges. However, they also forced me to get good and improve, so it still wasn’t all bad when they were OP.
I also noticed that the recommended levels for certain missions were increased last night, and it’s confirmed that the 1.05 update did that. Besides that, you can now gain Proficiency faster when using a weapon you don’t usually use, which encourages players to experiment with other weapons instead of sticking with only one or two.
I’ve always disliked Soulsborne games but Nioh 2 changed that for me. Do yourselves a favour and try out this game. In the meantime, check out the full patch notes below, courtesy of the Team Ninja official Twitter account:

#Nioh2 Update v1.05 Notes pic.twitter.com/5RRK3dSMdX
â€” Team NINJA (@TeamNINJAStudio) March 20, 2020
Adjustments

The player will now gain â€œProficiencyâ€ faster when using a weapon that is not as high in Proficiency as their highest proficiency levelled weapon.
Some of the Dojo missions now require less Proficiency.
Lowered the health of Gaki and the power of some of their attacks.
Lowered the strength of a few overpowered attack used by the following enemies: â€œYokiâ€ / â€œEnki.â€
Buffed the HP of â€œAcolytes.â€
Adjusted the recommended levels of some missions to more adequately reflect their perceived difficulty.
When Gyuki charges into the floodgate the horn will stab into it, and Gyukiâ€™s jumping attacks etc. will no longer break the floodgate.
Adjusted the defensive strength and the amount of health of Shimotsuma Rairen in â€œPervading Waters.â€
Improved the Homing for the hatchet skill â€œArise.â€
Reduced the wisdom requirement needed to release the Shiftling skill â€œMurderous Strike.â€
Made upward adjustment to Guardian Spirit Hiyokuchoâ€™s blessing â€œMedicine Burstâ€ so that it would also affect Acolytes.
However, the range of the blessing is now capped from infinite range to seven meters.
Extended the distance at which Mujina can recognize gestures.

Bug Fixes

Fixed an issue where the Divination Talisman does not enhance your compass correctly.
Fixed an issue where all enemies would stop attacking at times.
Fixed an issue where the switchglaive could perform a Ki pulse before successfully landing a grapple skill.
Fixed an issue with the switchglaive where if the player performs an attack that is repelled, the playerâ€™s following low stance strong attack would not hit properly under certain conditions.
Fixed an issue where the throwing skill of the hatchets did not hit enemies in the Yokai Realm.
Fixed an issue that caused the sword skill â€œSwift Stepâ€ to allow the player to fall off when used near cliffs.
Fixed an issue where the two sword skill â€œRandom Sliceâ€ could be executed under certain circumstances even if it had not been acquired.
Fixed an issue where the spear skill â€œChidoriâ€ would have problems homing when used against certain enemies.
Fixed an issue where the Kusarigama skill â€œFoot Sweepâ€ was being reflected off of walls.
Fixed an issue where Gyukiâ€™s Yokai ability would not hit properly on some terrain.
Fixed an issue that prevented the guardian spirits Shin-roku and Saoirse from buffing the player.
Fixed an issue where switchglaive attacks from the Sohaya (human enemy) were not hitting properly under certain conditions.
Fixed an issue when the player used Genbuâ€™s guardian spirit skill on Azai Nagamasa, Nagamasa would stop moving for a while.
Fixed an issue where the Shuten Doji would step in the same direction over and over again repeatedly.
Fixed an issue where Magara Naotaka and Ryomen-sukuna would take a long time to fall back to the ground when they rose up into the air.
Fixed an issue in all missions where a Nurikabe which attacked from long range would not attack the player until they were adjacent.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œThe Mysterious One Night Castleâ€ where the Lesser Umi-bozu in the riverbed would respawn.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œA Way Outâ€ where enemies would be stuck in walls when performing a falling attack in particular areas.
Fixed an issue in the mission â€œA Way Outâ€ where destroying a specific object would not cause the boss to flinch.
Fixed an issue in multiplayer during the mission â€œCorpses and Iceâ€ where Mumyo would not follow the player.
Fixed an issue in â€œThe Frenzied Blazeâ€ where the number of hair locks displayed on the mission selection screen is different from the number that can be obtained in the mission.
Fixed an issue in the multiplayer of â€œDream of the Strongâ€ parts mission â€œThe Golden Castle,â€ â€œLady Osakabeâ€ where even if her Ki meter was completely depleted she would still not fall.
Fixed an issue in sub-mission â€œSong of the Yokaiâ€ where the player could not enter the battle area under certain conditions.
Fixed an issue in multiplayer during the mission â€œThe Bravest of the Braveâ€ after the mission was cleared if the host chose to â€œend missionâ€ it would automatically do so for the visitor as well.
Fixed an issue when using the save data of the online storage infinite â€œGloryâ€s could be produced through â€œDonation.â€
Fixed an issue where the player could receive two â€œPossessed Kodama Bowlâ€ smithing texts.
Fixed an issue where, at times, when the Soul Core effect â€œWhen the player health hits zero Yokai form will activate (Dark Realm)â€ applies the player would have odd behaviours like getting stuck in the ground.
Fixed an issue where the Visitorâ€™s name display was not consistent with the chosen online option setting.
Fixed an issue when while online, if the visitorâ€™s health bar is set to â€œDisplay if changed,â€ the multiplayer partnerâ€™s gauge could disappear.
Various other minor fixes.


Iconic Horror Movie Studio Establishes Blumhouse Games

Blumhouse Productions is moving into the games industry with Blumhouse Games, a new subsidiary to produce and publish video games. According to Bloomberg, Blumhousehas appointed Zach Wood as President and Don Sechler as CFO of the games development and publishing company.
Blumhouse Games aims to invest in about 15 games over the next three to four years, spending about US$25 million on each slate. They plan to make immersive and indie-budget horror games, each costing less than US$10 million to produce, for consoles and PC.
Blumhouse President Abhijay Prakash said:
“For some time we have been looking to build out a team to start accessing the growth opportunity in interactive media. When we sat with Zach and Don they articulated an approach that resonated with Blumhouse’s model and we knew it was a perfect place for us to start our push into the interactive space. With their experience, sensibility and knowledge of the gaming marketplace Zach and Don are the ideal leaders to leverage Blumhouse’s unique genre strengths into gaming.”
Blumhouse Games president Zach Wood said:
“Through my time in the industry, I’ve had the good fortune of working closely with developers to bring their ideas to life. There’s a unique opportunity for horror and genre in the indie game space, and I’m thrilled about teaming up with Blumhouse to meaningfully leverage the company’s brand, reputation, and creative talent.”
Zach Wood has been a video game producer for more than 25 years and has shipped over 30 games, including Sound Shapes, Hohokum, The Unfinished Swan and Bound at Santa Monica Studio and PlayStation; Prey and Redfall at Arkane/Bethesda; and most recently, with Iron Galaxy.
Meanwhile, Blumhouse Productions is best known for producing some of the most popular and iconic modern horror franchises in recent memory, such as Paranormal Activity, Insidious, The Purge, Split, Get Out, Happy Death Day, Halloween, Us, The Invisible Man (check out our review here), Freaky, The Black Phone (check out our review here) and M3GAN (check out our review here).


Nendoroid D.Va Needs To Be Nerfed for Its Cuteness

The Blizzard store today unveiled that pre-orders for Good Smile Company’s Nendoroid D.Va is now open and damn that’s one cute figurine. Clad in her default MEKA suit, the Nendoroid D.Va stands about 10cm tall and comes with articulated arms, legs and even the back portion of her hair. Like all Nendoroid figures, you are able to swap out her hands and face plates for a variety of poses and styles. The figure comes with a stand and arm attachment for additional variety in poses and it alsoÂ comes bundled with a miniature version of D.Va’s MEKA which comes with articulated appendages.

Available for US$49.90 and limited to ten units per order, pre-orders for the figurine is now open at Blizzard’s Store. Definitely a cute addition to any work space but you have been warned – Nendoroid figures aren’t hitting top scores when it comes to posability. For our thoughts on another Overwatch Nendoroid figure, check out our review of Good Smile Company’s Nendoroid Tracer figurine.Â


Guns + Girls + Booty = Windfall For Nikke: Goddess Of Victory

Ever since its debut on mobile phones worldwide, the hit action game Nikke: Goddess Of Victory has been the talk of the town over on the internet. And it’s clearly paying dividends.
In just a month, Nikke: Goddess Of Victory has amassed over US$100 million according to app revenue tracking sites like AppMagic. The game itself is really popular in Japan and South Korea, with 53% of the game’s revenue coming from the former. For comparison, Genshin Impact made US$14 million in its first month of release back in 2020.

The game is published by Level Infinite, which is a subsidiary of China’s megacorporation Tencent. While that alone indicates that the game is backed by a possibly huge marketing campaign, there are other factors that led to the game’s one-month massive success money-wise. One of them being its character’s money-makers.

Elden Ring kneels before NIKKE.
GOTY2022 pic.twitter.com/1y5AYzAwkN
— J I Y U N A (@jiyunaJP) November 6, 2022

Now that the proverbial elephant in the room has been addressed, we can bring up the game’s major money draw: the gacha banners. Turns out that Nikke’s banners rotate faster than other games; try 10 days instead of the usual 2-week grace period as with the case of the new character Helm who is basically a sexy ship captain who got rejected from a Kantai Collection audition for being too age-appropriate.

The game also has a pity system where you are guaranteed an SSR unit pull AFTER 200 pulls. The game has 47 (and counting) SSR units for completionists to pull. Coupled with the fact that 80% of the time you’ll be drawing duplicates of SR characters and that equates to a lot of money for digital waifus, especially if your luck is pretty crap in these kinds of games.
Goddess Of Victory: Nikke is out right now for mobile phones (iOS and Android), and if the game developers and publishers keep making gacha characters look like they came out of Queen’s Blade (like this Xmas version of the well-endowed character Rupee below), then you can expect the game to make more than US$100 million in the next year or so.


Genshin Impact Hypostasis Boss Guide: How To Knock Their Blocks Off

Genshin Impact has a plethora of world bosses to fight, be it a giant ice wolf or an elemental giant-as-heck plant. With the game’s upcoming Hypostasis event happening these next few days, we figured we should create a guide to tell you how to tackle a particular set of elemental bosses that come in block-shaped sizes and boast their own arenas.
We’re talking about the Hypostases, and here’s how you should beat them effectively. We will be touching on both the regular versions and the Pure versions
Regular Versions
Electro Hypostasis
First up, you need to form a party with Pyro, Hydro, Cryo, and Geo. You also need a Pyro with a decent charge attack for the boss’ near-death phase.
How does the Electro Hypostasis fight? It will do one of the following:

Does a drill attack that goes forward, then goes up in the air to throw fast electro attacks at you. You can fire charged arrows at it during the latter phase. In any case, you can attack it when its core is vulnerable.
Performs a three-attack sequence that has a wide range. Just dodge them all, then attack the Hypostasis when its core is vulnerable.
It teleports to the centre of the arena and then spreads out its blocks in a circular fashion to shoot spinning lasers at you, then clams up after a few seconds. During this bit, the Hypostasis is at its most vulnerable. Wail on it using the best attacks, Elemental reactions, and Elemental Bursts you have. You only have a short window of opportunity before it closes, so be sure to get that dodge button ready when it does. When the purple symbol on the ground disappears, dodge.
It teleports to the centre of the arena, and then shoots out purple block waves at you in a circular clockwise pattern. Just walk in a clockwise fashion to avoid most of it, and then dodge accordingly if the pattern catches up with you. You can then attack the core after it’s done with this attack.
The Hypostasis summons a “cage” to trap you in, dealing damage via an Electro AoE that pulses every second. Use charged attacks to break the barrier, then attack the core. Sometimes, through some randomness, the cage doesn’t trap you. This phase only occurs when the Electro Hypostasis is at half health or below.

When the Electro Hypostasis is near death, it will teleport to the centre of the arena and then summon three Revival Prisms. Destroy them before they resurrect the Hypostasis to a quarter of its health. Use your hero’s charged attacks to destroy them quick.
Once you’re done, go collect your rewards. Make sure you have at least 40 resin to get your spoils.
Geo Hypostasis
For this fight, you need to form a party with Geo, Electro, or anything else that can break through stone and armour. We’re talking heroes with greatswords like Noelle, Diluc, and Chongyun.
The Geo Hypostasis will do one of the following for its attacks:

The Geo Hypostasis will summon four or more Geo pillars that it uses to stay away from your melee attacks. You will need to destroy all these Basalt Pillars using a greatsword-bearing character. Start with the one that’s occupied by the Geo Hypostasis.
While it’s up on a pillar, it will launch Geo pellets at you. Dodge these accordingly.
It will also do a large AoE pulsing Geo attack that hits everyone hard. Luckily, there are Geo shards (the yellow floating blocks) you can destroy that creates a temporary barrier that nullifies these pulses. They usually appear close to a Basalt Pillar that’s holding the Geo Hypostasis, which means you can easily attack one without consequence once the barrier is up.
Destroying a Basalt Pillar while the Geo Hypostasis is on it will leave it vulnerable for a good amount of time.
The Geo Hypostasis will also do a large AoE giant fist attack. Stay out of the telegraphed circle, or just use a well-timed dodge to get out of the way. You can then attack the exposed core for a short bit. It does this attack moreso than usual once there are no Geo pillars left in the arena.
The Geo Hypostasis will summon more Basalt Pillars a second time once its health is lower than 50%.
It will also summon a “Geo rain” attack where random areas on the arena will be showered with DOT spots. These last for a good minute or so even if the Hypostasis enters a new attack phase, so keep that in mind and just be careful.

When the Geo Hypostasis is near death, it will teleport to the centre of the arena and then summon three Revival Prisms. Destroy them with charged attacks or greatsword attacks (or Geo Bursts like Noelle’s). Otherwise, it will resurrect with a quarter of its health back.
Once you’re done, go collect your rewards. Make sure you have at least 40 resin to get your spoils.
Anemo Hypostasis
As long as you don’t have a hero with Anemo in your party, you should be fine. In fact, Pyro, Electro, and Hydro are the best in getting a Swirl elemental effect when fighting Anemo Hypostasis with specials.
How does the Anemo Hypostasis fight? It will use one of the following attacks:

The Anemo Hypostasis will summon a bunch of tornadoes in the arena. Just walk around them slowly and dodge them if they get too close. They move pretty slow, so this shouldn’t be a problem once you’ve figured out their pattern.
It will summon gusts of wind homing to your general direction. Dodge these when you see a green symbol appear on the ground. After this bit, a bunch of wind currents and floating Anemo symbols appear in the arena. Make it a priority to collect these; use the wind currents (with your sweet jump-and-gliding combo), and then collect them.
After being in the arena for a few minutes, the Anemo Hypostasis will perform a series of hard-to-dodge large AoE wind blasts that deal humongous damage. The number of attacks are dependant on the number of Anemo symbols in the air. If you have collected them all during the wind currents segment, you won’t need to worry about this bit.

When the Anemo Hypostasis is near death, it will summon a number of Revival Prisms in the air, along with a bunch of wind currents. You need to glide up there and collect them all to prevent it from reviving. Thankfully, even if it did, it only revives once. Beating it again when it’s revived will make it stay dead.
Once you’re done, go collect your rewards. Make sure you have at least 40 resin to get your spoils.

Pure Versions (from the Hypostatic Symphony Event)
General
Before you start a fight with the Pure Hypostatises, you need to pick a difficulty level and the available variations (modifiers). Higher difficulties & more variations equal higher score if you win the fight.
Protip: the new Hypostasis event will restore your party to full HP and Elemental Burst as you enter.
Difficulty Level & Multiplier Bonus

Easy: 1x
Normal: 1.5x
Hard: 2.5x
Expert: 4.5x

Variations List

Challenge time may not exceed 300 seconds: 100 points
Challenge time may not exceed 180 seconds: 150
Challenge time may not exceed 120 seconds: 200
Opponent’s HP increased by 25%: 100 points
Opponent’s HP increased by 50%: 150 points
Opponent’s HP increased by 100%: 250 points
Opponent’s Cryo RES increased by 50%: 40 points
Opponent’s Physical RES increased by 50%: 40 points
All party members’ Healing Effectiveness decreased by 40%: 40 points
When active character’s HP is lower than 50%, ATK is decreased by 25%: 40 points
All party members’ CRIT DMG decreased by 50%: 50 points
All party members’ Energy Recharge decreased by 80%: 50 points
Switching characters increases the DMG taken by all characters in that player’s party by 25%. This effect stacks up to 4 times: 50 points
Opponent’s ATK increased by 50%: 60 points
All party members’ movement SPD decreased by 20%: 60 points
After sprinting, all characters in your own party take 75% increased DMG for 10 seconds: 60 points
Elemental Skill CD is increased by 100%: 60 points
When active character’s HP is greater than 90% CRIT Rate is increased by 10% and CRIT DMG is increased by 20%: -50 points (it’s a buff, hence the deduction)
All party members’ Shield Strength increased by 30%: -50 points (it’s a buff, hence the deduction)

Suggested Variation choices (in order of least troubling to the most)
Opponent HP> Cryo RES increase> CRIT DMG decrease > ATK increase > Energy Recharge decrease > Healing Effectiveness decrease > Physical RES increase > ATK decrease by 40% > Switching characters debuff > Party movement debuff > Sprinting debuff > Elemental Skill CD > Challenge Time.
Pure Electro Hypostasis

Fight these guys like you would the regular Electro Hypostates. Wait until they’re done with their attacks, then attack them when their core is exposed. However, these Pure versions possess special Amethyst Prisms that activate via Electro damage, enabling them to do AoE damage to anyone nearby. Use Elemental Reactions to turn them off (Overload, Swirl, Freeze, etc.)
It will do one of the following:

Does a drill attack that goes forward, then goes up in the air to throw slow Electro balls that blow up and deal AoE damage upon impact. You can fire charged arrows at it during the latter phase, but this will be tough as its Electro balls will track your position. These attacks can also happen individually, not necessarily one after the other.
Performs a three-attack sequence that has a wide range. Just dodge them all, then attack the Hypostasis when its core is vulnerable.
It teleports to the centre of the arena and then spreads out its blocks in a circular fashion to shoot spinning lasers at you, then clams up after a few seconds. During this bit, the Hypostasis is at its most vulnerable. Wail on it using the best attacks, Elemental reactions, and Elemental Bursts you have. You only have a short window of opportunity before it closes, so be sure to get that dodge button ready when it does. When the purple symbol on the ground disappears, dodge.
It teleports to the centre of the arena, and then shoots out purple block waves at you in a circular clockwise pattern. Just walk in a clockwise fashion to avoid most of it, and then dodge accordingly if the pattern catches up with you. You can then attack the core after it’s done with this attack.
The Hypostasis summons a “cage” to trap you in, dealing damage via an Electro AoE that pulses every second. Use charged attacks to break the barrier, then attack the core. Sometimes, through some randomness, the cage doesn’t trap you. This phase only occurs when the Electro Hypostasis is at half health or below.

When they’re near-death, they will summon prisms that you need to destroy to permanently end them; failing to do so will make them come back again but with less health. However, there will be more than three of them for you to destroy. Some of them are in clusters, meaning AoE charged attacks are effective here.
The difficult part of this fight is the modifier, or rather modifiers. To gain the highest score for this battle, you need to crank up the difficulty for a higher multiplier and add in more modifiers to get better rewards from this overall fight. With the maximum amount of variations turned on, you can usually die from 2 hits or less from this hypostasis.
Pure Anemo Hypostasis

These guys are tougher than your average Anemo Hypostasis. For starters, they come with an extra attack phase that hits everything on ground level. You need to stay in the air and do a “ground pound” plunging attack to interrupt this phase.
Those wind currents that are a staple to this fight? You have to attack them first to activate them. The Hypostasis summons these inactive currents after a tornado attack.
Otherwise, the Pure Anemo Hypostasis is about the same, except with the added variations. On Hard and Expert with the highest number of variations, you can get one-hit KO’ed by a single attack.

The Anemo Hypostasis will summon a bunch of tornadoes in the arena. Just walk around them slowly and dodge them if they get too close. These tornadoes move pretty fast, so take caution when dodging and evading them.
It will summon fast gusts of wind homing to your general direction. Dodge these when you see a green symbol appear on the ground. After this bit, a bunch of wind currents and floating Anemo symbols appear in the arena. Make it a priority to collect these; use the wind currents (with your sweet jump-and-gliding combo), and then collect them.
After being in the arena for a few minutes, the Anemo Hypostasis will perform a series of hard-to-dodge large AoE wind blasts that deal humongous damage. The number of attacks are dependant on the number of Anemo symbols in the air. If you have collected them all during the wind currents segment, you won’t need to worry about this bit.

When the Anemo Hypostasis is near death, it will summon a number of Revival Prisms in the air, along with a bunch of wind currents. You need to glide up there and collect them all to prevent it from reviving. These Prisms actually move in a pattern, so keep that in mind while you’re collecting them. Beating it again when it’s revived will make it stay dead.
Pure Geo Hypostasis

This fight is mostly the same as the regular Geo Hypostasis, except:

When it’s on a Basalt Column, it’ll stay there for a short bit before it explodes and causes AoE damage. The spot it exploded from will generate a Sandstone Vortex that deals continuous damage.
When activated, Basalt Columns will act as turrets that periodically fires Geo bullets at your hero.
Destroying a Basalt Column will net you a Geo Elemental Shard for you to pick up for protection.

Otherwise, fight it like you would a regular Geo Hypostasis (but with modifiers).

The Geo Hypostasis will summon four or more Basalt Column that it uses to stay away from your melee attacks. You will need to destroy all these Basalt Pillars using a greatsword-bearing character. Start with the one that’s occupied by the Geo Hypostasis.
While it’s up on a pillar, it will launch Geo pellets at you. Dodge these accordingly.
It will also do a large AoE pulsing Geo attack that hits everyone hard. Luckily, there are Geo shards (the yellow floating blocks) you can destroy that creates a temporary barrier that nullifies these pulses. They usually appear close to a Basalt Column that’s holding the Geo Hypostasis, which means you can easily attack one without consequence once the barrier is up.
Destroying a Basalt Column while the Geo Hypostasis is on it will leave it vulnerable for a good amount of time.
The Geo Hypostasis will also do a large AoE giant fist attack. Stay out of the telegraphed circle, or just use a well-timed dodge to get out of the way. You can then attack the exposed core for a short bit. It does this attack moreso than usual once there are no Basalt Column left in the arena.
The Geo Hypostasis will summon more Basalt Column a second time once its health is lower than 50%.
It will also summon a “Geo rain” attack where random areas on the arena will be showered with DOT spots. These last for a good minute or so even if the Hypostasis enters a new attack phase, so keep that in mind and just be careful.

When the Geo Hypostasis is near death, it will teleport to the centre of the arena and then summon three Revival Prisms. Destroy them with charged attacks or greatsword attacks (or Geo Bursts like Noelle’s). Otherwise, it will resurrect with a quarter of its health back.


Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei 5 Livestream & Video Spoiler Guidelines Are Strict, As Expected

Atlus recently published the official Shin Megami Tensei 5 spoiler and media distribution guidelines, which it has done for many of its big titles like Persona 5. And as expected, it’s as restrictive as you can get.
You will need this guide if you want to livestream the game or publish video content when the game is out; there’s a good chance Atlus will copyright strike your video(s) if you don’t adhere to it. As for post-release date content? Just add a spoiler tag to it just to be safe. Even then, Atlus is really, REALLY strict about this sort of thing since its game’s stories can surprise even the most hardened of JRPG fans.
The guidelines may have spoilers of in-game locations, so here’s your warning.

Scenes You Can’t Stream Or Publish (Even Post-Release)

From the events after capturing Banko Temple at the end of the story.
The endings.
The credits.
Boss analysis information that can be viewed on the menu screen.

When distributing content that corresponds to story scenes, a notation that clearly conveys that the media will contain story segments should be used, such as â€œThis contains spoilers,â€ even in areas other than the prohibited sections.
Additionally, the distribution of videos and live streams before the gameâ€™s release date is strictly prohibited.
Distribution Guidelines

Screenshots and videos of this game must be distributed on an online service for personal use.
When delivering content corresponding to the story like event scenes, please clearly indicate that the content includes story, so as to not deprive other customers of their enjoyment.
The distribution of videos, live streams, etc. before the release date is strictly prohibited.

Copyright Notice Request
Posting and delivering content is allowed at the condition that the copyright holder is clarified:Â Â©ATLUS Â©SEGA
Precautions

Please do not reuse othersâ€™ gameplay footage.
Please do not release content that is only music data like BGM for purposes that are only for listening to it.
Please refrain from using sites and services whose browsing experience can be considered for commercial purposes. However, even if secondary revenue is generated from the functions provided by the online service distributing videos and live broadcasts (e.g. YouTube partner program, etc.), that is not considered use for a commercial purpose.
Please do not act in a way to slander a third party, including a specific player.
Please do not post anything illegal, inappropriate, or offensive to public order and morals. This includes:

Any action that interferes with the normal operation of our products or services, or impairs their safety.
Cheating, cracking, unauthorized access, circumvention of technical restrictions, unauthorized modification, or any tool or service that allows this.

If there is a request from us, regardless of the reason, please stop releasing videos immediately. Additionally, we may delete videos and suspend live streams that we deem inappropriate. We may not be able to answer any inquiries regarding the reasons for this, so please be forewarned.
Regarding videos, we do not make any guarantees whatsoever when it comes to infringing the rights of third parties. Additionally, we will not indemnify any damage or conflict with third parties that arise as a result of the distribution of such a video.

And you wonder why Twitch folks and YouTubers hate livestreaming Atlus games. Also, Atlus is keeping true to the mothership series with multiple endings, mostly alluding to the series’ Law/Chaos/Neutral pathways & conclusions.
Shin Megami Tensei 5 will be out on Nintendo Switch on 12th November.


We Talk To One Of Southeast Asia’s DBFZ Top Player About Fighting

Nicholas Choo is a really talented fighting game player. So much so that he has a few benefactors who are making sure he competes in the best available overseas tournaments. Previously he was at EVO Japan 2018 and he recently won the Dragon Ball FighterZ tournament at Indonesia’s premiere fighting game tourney Abuget Cup earlier this July.
Check out his kick-ass winning plays here:
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1485107634926980/
Naturally, we had a short chat with the Singaporean top player about his personal FGC experiences.
On His First EVO Experience In EVO Japan
I was crowdfunded by the folks from Versus City. We had all sorts of backers even from the Overwatch and Super Smash Bros community. I was very grateful they gave me the chance to compete in Japan. Xian gave me a place to stay at Nogata. It was a very convenient place since it’s only a few stops away.
Despite the pre-planning,Â I had to scramble and find where my pools were taking place at. Getting to the tournament venue was a pain too; I got lost and was almost late.
It was the first time I participated in such a big tournament with a huge pedigree; the place was literally packed with people.Â I’d say you have to be 30 minutes early to the tournament and settle down. Playing in the arcade and playing on a console is a significant difference.
What He Learned During His Time There
Aside from the differences in timing for an arcade fighting game, you can hear your opponent’s buttons presses and see their reactions when you play on the console. These little things can change the outcome of a match.
Japanese people play very differently from others. They establish a game plan from the very start and work towards it. It took me a while for me to adapt to the way they play.
On His Most Challenging Opponent In The Next EVO
The player I’m most impressed with is Kazunoko by far. I think I’m severely behind most of the top players from Japan and America, at least in Dragon Ball FighterZ. It’s hard to find time to play these days and the dwindling player base in Singapore does not help. I’ll still try my best though.
His One Big Advice To The Southeast Asian Fighting Game Community

I’ll really have to say that you must not get discouraged and give up. Since we are living in Southeast Asia we have a much smaller player base so we are hugely disadvantaged in matchups.

We fight the same people all the time and because of this, we do not have a variety of people to fight against. Only when we travel overseas are we able to fight people different from the norm. Luckily with netplay this has been improved.


Genshin Impact Version 2.2 Update Features New Inazuma Island & Thoma

Even with recent anniversary kerfuffles going on within entitled fans, Mihoyo is still persevering on with the announcement of the game’s next major update, which is scheduled for 13th October, right after the Kokomi banner is finished.
Genshin Impact version 2.2 is dubbed Into The Perilous Labyrinth of Fog, and will have the Traveler and his/her compatriots exploring the new Tsurumi Island. This new locale is full of fog, ruins, and mysterious enemies to discover and fight.

The update will bring in the samurai warrior from the game’s Inazuma storyline: Thoma. He uses Pyro as his element, he wields are polearm, and can bring up a shield to mitigate damage while he pulls off his spinning long-reaching attacks.

The update will also be fighting a new enemy called Rifthounds. They come in small and large sizes, in both Geo and Electro elements, and can inflict corruption debuffs onto heroes.
The 2.2 update will also be adding in DualSense Controller support for the PC version of the game. More features include a Serenitea Pot Inazuma-themed realm layout, Inazuma-style Furnishing Blueprints, Floating Platforms, and flowers that can be used as furnishings from the limited-time Dreams of Bloom event.
Players will also be getting new Hangout Events for Thoma and Sayu, as well as a limited-time event Labyrinth Warriors involving Childe and Xinyan, as well as a paper figure named Shiki Taishou who can buff your characters up during the event.
There will also be a seasonal event called Tuned to the World’s Sounds where players can enjoy a rhythm game with special string instruments and play a duet with Ningguang, Zhongli, Keqing, Xiao, Kokomi, Kamisato Ayaka, and Raiden Shogun.

And just like past Genshin Impact events, here are your redemption codes for Primogems & EXP books.

LBNDKG8XDTND
NB6VKHQWVANZ
BSNUJGQFUTPM

On a related note, the free Genshin Impact concert is also live right now.


Mythic Quest Season 2 Drops In May 2021

Mythic Quest is a sitcom that focuses on a group of colleagues in a game development studio thatâ€™s making an MMO called Mythic Quest. The first season debuted in February 2020, and now the second season is slated to premiere on 7 May 2021 on Apple TV Plus.

In the season 2 teaser trailer, Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), the newly promoted co-director of the studio, and her fellow director Ian (Rob McElhenney) sit down to brainstorm ideas for the gameâ€™s new expansion.
Hereâ€™s the full synopsis for season 2 from Apple:

With the quarantine finally over, season two of â€œMythic Questâ€ finds everyone back in the office (well, almost everyone), attempting to build upon the success ofÂ Ravenâ€™s BanquetÂ by launching an epic new expansion, but Ian (Rob McElhenney) and the newly promoted co-creative director, Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), struggle with the gameâ€™s direction.
Meanwhile, C.W. (F. Murray Abraham) reconciles some unresolved issues from his past, the testers (Ashly Burch and Imani Hakim) test the bounds of an office romance, and David (David Hornsby) loses yet another woman in his life as Jo (Jessie Ennis) leaves him to assist Brad (Danny Pudi).
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


PlayStation 5 Southeast Asia F.A.Q.

There’s a lot to unpack here with the arrival of PlayStation 5 in Southeast Asian doorsteps, less than a month after first-world countries received theirs. Instead of the usual swathes of paragraphs, we’re going to do an F.A.Q. from the perspective of someone who bought the machine at around this time.Â
Let’s dive right in!
Why is this review a month late?
Because we’re not influencers with the right physical assets.Â
Joking aside, our team went the traditional route of buying the machine after much back-and-forth; that’s why we got the console late. Just to be clear to our audience again, we not only cover Malaysia gaming news, but we cover Singaporean tech and gaming beats (hence our Xbox Series reviews being up early); it’s part of being in the Southeast Asia beat, after all. So normally we would get game reviews and hardware writeups early or on the week of release.
While our content is borderless, we are still restricted and subjected to local and market limitations. But through some miracle, we got ours in the end. It wasn’t easy to secure one, as many people can attest to, but we got it somehow, following Malaysia’s release date for the next-gen console.Â
Any disclaimers before we start with the questions?
Yeah, the reason why I said the following is because I’m going in as someone who already had a lovely taste of next-gen 2020 and beyond gaming. So one can argue that my viewpoint is already skewed and adjusted.Â
If we received the PS5 around the same timeframe (or even month) as the Xbox Series X|S, things might be different. But that didn’t happen and we had to work with the hand we’re dealt with, as writers and content creators who prioritize consumers above a publisher’s modus operandi.
At the end of the day, we are here to provide informed purchasing decisions based on practicality.Â
Are you feeling buyer’s remorse yet?
Kind of? But we’re getting ahead of ourselves.Â Â

Let’s talk overall console experience. How is it?
Pretty, pretty good from the get-go. As soon as you boot it up, you realize how everything loads seamlessly, shows you its slick UI and menu screen, and how the bare essentials are arranged. Installed games stand in a line of up to nine titles on the homepage, with the library button at the end that opens up your full collection. Instead of the PlayStation Network and Store being a separate entity, it feels integrated into the system, hence that’s why it loads really fast.Â
It doesn’t change much from the PS4’s layout, but at the same time, it’s streamlined for easy access and navigation. Accessibility options are also a boon, with color correction, text size, the options for inverted colors, and reducing motion being a few examples. Why change up what worked back in 2014?
This also applies to basic options like difficulty, graphics mode, language, and controls. Say you want to keep your left analog camera controls in inverted mode. Instead of doing it for every single game, you load up, you can just set it up on the PS5’s main options so that it sets that setting for all your games. Pretty nifty, I must say.Â
So is it truly the elephant in the room?Â
Yes, but a lovely, oblique, art deco, obnoxious-looking white elephant. It weighs about 5kg; it’s not that heavy, but finding an optimal spot for it (apart from vertical) can be tricky. You’ll need to dedicate enough space for its protruding pop collar sleekness. Its middle “black bar” sandwiched between its white plates is quite a dust magnet, so you have to watch out for that.
I personally am a fan of stacking my consoles atop one another, so I had no problems rearranging the placement of my PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and now an Xbox Series X to fit my humble gaming table set. I can’t really do the same with the PS5; being economical with space is not the PS5’s forte.
But its shape isn’t the whole deal-maker of a new console; it’s the new tech.Â
Speaking of which, what is the one key feature of the PS5?

That’s easy: the DualSense controller. The DualSense controller is slightly bigger than a PS4 DualShock 4, but it features adaptive triggers and haptic feedback motion rumbling tech. And let me tell you: these tech words are more than just extra vibration gimmicks.Â
The former lets its triggers react in different manners to highlight different weapons and objects you’re using. Using a bow will feel different than using a minigun or handgun when adaptive triggers work their magic. From the tension of a bowstring to the pop you feel for each bullet fired from a minigun, you’ll get a range of sensations that will keep you immerse without disrupting your gaming flow.Â Â
The latter bit lets you feel what’s going on with your avatar in the game, albeit in more subtle ways. If you walk on metal, you’ll feel a more sharp and short rumble compared to walking through grass where you feel each reed via the DualSense’s smooth and soft vibrations. When done right, the games will keep players way more immersed with another element more than visuals and audio: sensory feedback. And so far, the DualSense and its potential can be felt.Â

As much as I’m selling it with sugar-laced words, you have to try it out for yourself to be a believer. There’s a lot of cool s*** developers can do using this tech on a PS5, be it to amplify horror games or make trekking in open-world and survival games a lot more immersive than usual with haptic feedback technology.Â

Something like this needs a free game packaged with the console. A tech demo that can supersede the one bundled with the Wii back in the mid-2000s.Â
Wait, THERE’S a tech demo better than Wii Sports right now?!?Â

Yes, and its name is Astro’s Playroom. It’s a simple 3D platformer where you control a little bot named Astro as it goes through a bunch of themed levels to get from point A to B. Said levels are filled with collectibles that are basically PlayStation relics of the past and console doodads, coins that let you in-game gacha more PlayStation memorabilia, and scenes of past PlayStation games being re-enacted by a robo film crew. It’s really cute.Â
But really, the whole point of Astro’s Playroom is to showcase the DualSense controller and its potential; a tool to convince developers to align themselves to PlayStation’s next-gen tech and gamers who need a good reason to invest in the company’s future products. It definitely works, from its implementation of the DualSense and motion sensors to its PlayStation-savvy tribute with its cameos, trophies, collectibles, and design.

Whether you’ve just joined in the gaming fray a few years ago with the PS4 or have been loyal to the PlayStation brand since late 1994 and remembered the echoing quotes of Steve Race and that T-Rex tech demo, Astro’s Playroom is a pop-culture treasure that should be experienced by all.

That is, if you can get a PS5; the game comes free with the console so that’s part of the battle won.Â
Wow, sounds like you genuinely love the PS5 and your opinion is in no way being influenced, swayed, or pressured by a publisher who has a stranglehold over Southeast Asia.Â
Cool your jets. Those points I mentioned are the only things that distinguish this console from being just another piece of hardware with better horsepower.Â
Let’s talk about performance: yes, you can run most games in 60fps and in high-res 4K TV glory. Some titles let you pick between performance and fidelity mode; the former runs at the aforementioned frame rate while the latter cuts it to 30fps but showcases some impressive ray tracing. Say if you have a superhero open-world game that features a ton of lovely evening vistas and skylines, you’ll be impressed with how the PS5 renders it either in ray-tracing mode or in true 60fps mode.Â
Having said that, some games like Bloodborne and Final Fantasy VII Remake don’t run like they’re uncapped and for PS5. Let’s hope an update down the line sorts that out, but for now, only specially-selected titles are picked to have themselves play untethered and in 60fps glory on the PS5.Â
The PS5’s internal SSD loads games fast and on record outmatches most SSDs you can buy on the market. The problem? Sony requires all PS5 games to run off this internal SSD. You can only use external SSDs to play backwards-compatible PS4 games and for storing save data, screenshots, and videos. This might not be an issue right now, but with games requiring more hard disk space these days (like Call of Duty: Warzone), the SSD’s 667GB capacity might seem limited in comparison to Xbox Series X’s option.Â
There’s also the Tempest 3D AudioTech featured in the PS5 that you can experience via headphones. It’s fine; it’s nothing to rave on about like the DualSense.
All these next-gen additions are still significant yet expected. Though in the end, it’s all about the games and how they perform.Â
Ah, yes; games. The only reason you buy these damn machines in the first place. How are the PS5’s offerings?

On the surface, the PS5 has the Xbox Series beat with more exclusives. If you get a PS5, you can buy Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, and Demon’s Souls.Â
But here’s what you’re getting after you’ve cleared out the FOMO air from your brain:

A stand-alone expansion of a 2018 breakout superhero open-world action game. My colleague Kenn may rave on about Spider-Man: Miles Morales, but I’m not on the same boat. Apart from a decent story, you’re pretty much playing the same game, with the same kind of hero archetype, with minimal change, and minimal additions like a bio-electric charged super punch. Cool ray tracing effects & 60fps mode though.Â
A clone of Super Mario 3D World with Sackboy in it. I already have one installed on the PS5 and it’s free; why spend an extra US$70 on this?Â
Â A graphically-enhanced game that came out 10 years ago, which comes with the same pros and flaws that are both improved and corrected in the sequels. This is just my way of saying you can play the Dark Souls trilogy on your PS4.Â

Also, two out of those three exclusives are out on the PS4. Yes, you may have more exclusives than your rival and you may have a number of fanboys fooled. But if you want to have folks jumping onboard your new console, you’ll have to do better than this.
Considering PlayStation’s past exclusives and launch titles being numerous during its PS2 and PS4 days, this is pretty dismal on PlayStation’s part.Â
Well, at least I can play my old PlayStation games on it.
Your old PS4 games, you mean. PlayStation missed a huge opportunity to have its past titles be compatible with the PS5. The brand has a boatload of titles from its PS1, PS2, and PS3 catalog, and it’s a shame that its new launch console is putting the kibosh on older games. At least for now. Might I suggest having a back catalog of games you can pay for monthly and access online?
I’ll say this though: your PS4 copy of Cyberpunk 2077 will run just fine on a PS5, so maybe don’t return your copy yet if you stumble across a PS5. Also, make sure to get the regular PS5 if your PS4 collection is made up of physical discs. The digital version of the PS5 does not have a disc drive.
Uh-oh, I sense a foreboding negative rant oncoming. Are we getting one?Â
You’re not getting a rant, but more like a cautionary tale that’s most likely going to be amplified for months to come.Â
I’m all for next-gen and new consoles. But the PS5 is not a leap that justifies paying RM2,000 for right now. Yes, the PS5 has exclusives but Sony needs to do more than just a graphical remake of an 11-year old game and a stand-alone expansion to 2018’s hit Spider-Man game. And sure, you can play your past PS4 games, but good luck revisiting the rest of PlayStation’s catalog.Â
The PS5 had an opportunity to have a huge backwards compatibility catalogue system going on, but opts to move forward, which is fine for the future. As of now though, in terms of value-added games volume, the Xbox Series has it beat.
Still, I can’t deny that the PS5 is a lovely piece of hardware that opens up potential and feels truly “next-gen”. And if you need a new machine for your PS4 games to run better, there’s no other console that can do it. If you can get one, go for it.Â
If you’re planning on getting one mid-2021, get it in your country. Keep your receipt so that you have a good warranty window in case the PS5 you purchased gets borked. As far as we know, the PS5 has faced numerous technical issues, so just make sure to cover your ass in this regard.
While we’re on that, Sony Interactive Entertainment offers much more support in the Southeast Asian market compared to Microsoft. True, they dropped the ball for the PS5 launch outside of US, Europe, and Singapore markets, but you cannot deny the home base support they have right now, like they did for the PS4 back then.
Sum it up for us, Mr Toffee.
That’s not a question, but ok…Â

Long story short, it’s a big hop than a full-on technological jump. But I’m definitely on board with the new stuff it offers on the table.

We look forward to 2021 and 2022 where the PS5’s potential might be fully realized. Until then, buyers need to be cautious not to fall to FOMO and scalper nonsense, unless you like having an alien-looking dust magnet of a paperweight on your counter.Â
OK, I’m sold. Where can I get one right now?
Beats me. At this time of writing, all PS5 orders and stock are sold out.
You can try your luck with the stores on our guide, but odds are you’ll need a plutonium-powered DeLorean to go back a few months in time to pre-order it.
Or you could try buying it right now for three times the price, but we do not recommend it. No shiny next-gen console is worth humoring scalpers and extortionists. COVID-19 is a bitch, ain’t it?Â
Any more things to add?Â
I really wish the X button wasn’t the confirm button. The Westernization of PlayStation’s brand has truly come full Circle. Or lack thereof.
Pros

DualSense controller is revolutionary.
Fast loading & performance.
Attached with awesome tech demo.
Improved UI & in-game store features.Â

Cons

Lackluster exclusives (for now).
Missed opportunity for backward compatibility.
SSD space woes.

Final Score: 80/100

Vital Statistics
Price
Regular Edition: RM2,299/S$729/PHP27,990Digital Edition: RM1,869/S$599
Processors
x86-64-AMD Ryzenâ„¢ â€œZen 2â€, 8 Cores / 16 Threads, Variable frequency, up to 3.5 GHz
Memory & Storage
GDDR6 16GB system memory with 448GB/s Bandwidth, 825GB of SSD with 5.5GB/s Read Bandwidth (Raw)
Video Capabilities
AMD Radeonâ„¢ RDNA 2-based graphics engine, Ray Tracing Acceleration, Variable frequency, up to 2.23 GHz (10.3 TFLOPS)
Sound Capabilities
â€œTempestâ€ 3D AudioTech
Design
Size: 15.4″ x 3.6″ x 4.09″Weight: close to 5kg


Total War Warhammer 3 Champions Of Chaos & Immortal Empires Adds More To An Already-Massive Game

Platform(s): PC (Steam and Epic Games Store)
Genre: Real-Time Strategy, RTS, Turn-Based, Fantasy And War
Only six months after the release of Total War Warhammer 3 in February 2022, Creative Assembly is finally releasing the highly-anticipated Immortal Empires beta, as well as the Champions Of Chaos Lords Pack. To put it simply, Immortal Empires is the sandbox mode for Total War Warhammer 3. It not only offers more freedom but it’s also one of the biggest and most ambitious projects in the franchise, combining all three world maps from all the Total War Warhammer games. Meanwhile, the Champions Of Chaos adds four new Legendary Lord factions for players to sink into, who come with their own unique story mode and campaign mechanics.
The Champions Of Chaos Lords Pack introduces four new Legendary Lords who fall under the Warriors Of Chaos banner. These include Azazel, Valkia, Festus and Vilitch. Each of them essentially aligns with one of the four Chaos Gods; Azazel (Slaanesh), Valkia (Khorne), Festus (Nurgle) and Vilitch (Tzeentch). What’s interesting about them is that their Realms Of Chaos campaign narrative doesn’t follow the same one as the other main factions of Total War Warhammer 3. Their main objective is not to reach Ursun to help or take advantage of the Bear God. Instead, they have to work to re-open the Chaos Rifts in order to reach the ancient arena-city of Zanbaijin and claim the Altar Of Souls for ultimate power.
Blood For The Blood God
Their campaign is much less restrictive than the main one involving Ursun. There are no fixed boss battles with representatives of each Chaos God this time around, which was a frustrating and annoying mechanic. All you have to do as any of the Champions Of Chaos Legendary Lords is to expand, get stronger, and sacrifice enough souls to reach Zanbaijin for the final battle. It feels great not being forced to follow the main narrative of the previous Realms Of Chaos campaign, and this structure feels closer to that of a traditional Total War campaign.

I spent most of my time as Valkia The Bloody, who is aligned with bloodthirsty Khorne (you know, Blood For The Blood God and all that). She’s the most straightforward of the four new Warriors Of Chaos Legendary Lords, as she is focused primarily on melee. She has a range of powerful abilities, including Daemonshield, which grants invulnerability for a short period, the Spear of Slaupnir, which causes the ground to erupt in a straight line, and her Gaze of Khorne passive ability, which increases the base weapon damage, armour-piercing, and leadership of warriors in her area of influence.
In addition, I loved the new mechanics unique to the Warriors Of Chaos, including Chaos Gifts. As any of the Champions Of Chaos, winning battles grants you the Souls of your enemies. These Souls can be exchanged for great power and Daemonic reinforcements as the Champions of Chaos dedicate them to their patron god or to the Undivided union of all four gods. These include powerful buffs or being able to spawn select units every few turns for recruiting.

The Champions Of Chaos also don’t have a traditional settlement system. They can only hold certain settlements as capitals, and these are those classified as a Dark Fortress region,, most of which are located in the Chaos Wastes and the Norscan homelands. Not only that, but by occupying a Dark Fortress in a Norscan homeland capital, you will gain the respective Norscan faction as an eternal vassal for as long as you control their homeland.
Oh, and my personal favourite mechanic for the new Warriors Of Chaos is the Warband Upgrades. This basically adds even more RPG elements to the Total War franchise. If you’re familiar with A Total War Saga Troy’s Amazon or horde factions, this pretty much works in a similar way. The Champions of Chaos recruit all their units instantly, either from local provinces or as units granted via Chaos Gifts.
Your units can then be upgraded into more powerful units in the ranks of Chaos, rising from humble Chaos Marauders all the way to Chosen or Chaos Knights. You can also dedicate them to a specific Chaos God by granting them the chosen God’s Mark Of Chaos, which makes them even stronger. However, your units can only be upgraded when they have accumulated enough EXP and reached the required levels, which is where the aforementioned RPG elements come in.
This makes sticking with existing units and making sure they survive battles even more important. You grow attached to them and you want them to grow stronger by participating in more battles, so you can’t just recruit and spam doom stacks right from the get-go, especially at the beginning of the game (which is a typical Total War habit and tactic that I hate). When your army does eventually become a doom stack, you’ll feel a lot more satisfied because this is the army that you cultivated and trained yourself.

Another new mechanic is the Path To Glory. Champions of Chaos can spend Souls on their Chaos Lords and Chaos Sorcerer Lords in order to promote them to Daemon Princes. Your Heroes and Lords can also dedicate themselves to one of the four Chaos Gods. Marking themselves and gaining new strengths from their new alignment. However, doing so costs Souls, and Souls deplete every turn if you use Chaos Gifts, so Souls is an important resource that you’ll have to take care of as the Champions Of Chaos.

Immortal Imperium
On the other hand, I did manage to check out a bit of Total War Warhammer 3 Immortal Empires. Firstly, let me just state that a definitive review of this mode is probably impossible even with thousands of hours of gameplay (and I do have thousands of hours albeit across multiple Total War games, trust me) due to its expansive and massive scope. You have more than 80 Legendary Lords to choose from and the combined world map of three games to conquer and explore. That’s a scale that’s never been seen before in an RTS like this, so kudos to Creative Assembly.
Why? Keep in mind that Total War Warhammer 3 Immortal Empires is in beta and will still be in beta when it launches to the public on 23 August 2022, but I was pleasantly surprised by how stable it is. Earlier this year, I complained that Total War Warhammer 3 is not as stable or optimized as recent releases like Total War Three Kingdoms, A Total War Saga Troy or even Total War Warhammer 2. However, Creative Assembly must have been hard at work, because it’s all pretty smooth now. Overall, the game feels more optimized and stable, even when I played Valkia in both Realms Of Chaos and Immortal Empires.

That said, it’s worth pointing out that Valkia’s starting positions are different when playing in Realms Of Chaos and Immortal Empires. It’s probably safe to assume that that’s the case for every other faction as well. It’s fun to simply be able to do anything you want in Immortal Empires, and you can even tweak a bunch of settings, including how long it takes before certain endgame events occur, or you can even turn them off completely. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what Immortal Empires has to offer, but I am happy to say that I will keep on playing it. Even if I’m stranded on a deserted island with only Total War Warhammer 3 Immortal Empires on my laptop, I will likely have enough content until the day I die and even then, I’ll probably have not experienced all of it yet.
As an experienced Total War player, I can certainly say that the sheer diversity and variety of this game are unparalleled. With future patches and updates, Total War Warhammer 3 will only get better.
Early access copy provided by Sega. Played on PC. Total War Warhammer 3 Immortal Empires and Champions Of Chaos Lords Pack will launch for PC on 23 August 2022. Also, you need all three Total War Warhammer 3 games to access the Immortal Empires Beta, while the Champions Of Chaos Lords Pack DLC will be available for the discounted price of RM44.10 until 31 August 2022.