Loop Hero Guide: How To Master Your Eternal Wandering

This guide will be periodically updated.
Loop Hero is out on PC, so if you fancy a hybrid auto-battler RPG type experience presented as an 80s title, this game will sort you out! You select your unlocked character classes, create a deck that lets you lay out tiles to power up your hero and create obstacles for him to get stronger with, and keep them on a literal loop before the boss shows up.
Of course, this means you have to plan your struggle carefully so that your hero doesn’t get killed prematurely, as well as make him farm materials you need to get stronger and make your campsite base more fortified. The game can get in-depth, so let us assist you with the early and mid-game bits ofÂ Devolver Digital and Four Quarters’ opus for 2021.
Plan Your Farming
The goal of Loop Hero is to get stronger. To do that, you need to create as many enemy spawning grounds on the looping road. Ideally, you need the following in your deck:

Cocoons to generate spiders.
Cemeteries to get high-quality items (from the undead).
Groves to spawn ratwolves.
Battlefields, so that they can generate loot every time you start a new loop.

Start off with these first. As for resources….
Encircle The Treasury Tile When Your Loop Count Is High
During the adventure parts, you’ll be getting resource cards like meadows, forests, and whatnot. Sometimes, you’ll get a Treasury card; build landscape tiles surrounding it, and you’ll get a ton of materials plus some loot for your hero. The materials bonus & loot quality from encircling the Treasury grows bigger and scales to your hero’s level with each loop. So, we suggest you save a resource card before placing it down to encircle the Treasury if you’re at loop 4 or higher.

Just keep in mind that empty Treasury spots generate gargoyles.
Focus On Upgrading Your Field Kitchen
When you get new resources from early loops, you are encouraged to build a Field Kitchen so that your campfire healing bonus gets upgraded. Upgrading it all the way to a Diner gives you the added benefit of healing your HP before the loop’s boss fight. That’s very handy, so do attempt to focus your materials to prioritize this upgrade.
Build A Refuge To Unlock The Rogue; Build A Crypt To Get The Necromancer Class
To build a Refuge, you need to leave a space empty next to the Field Kitchen. To build a Crypt, you need to build a Cemetery first. Refer to the building menu to see how the flow chart works.
Get The Smelter As Soon As You Can
The Smelter will give you an Arsenal card that gives you an extra equipment slot appropriate to your class. Since equipping more weapons & equipment means better hero survivability, this is a pretty essential upgrade, so unlock the Smelter at your home base as early as possible.
Place Battlefields At The Start of Your Loop, Near The Campfire
If you want the best possible loot for your hero(blues, yellows, oranges, etc.), you need to start placing Battlefields near your campsite. However, do not let your Battlefield tile areas overlap because the spot that overlaps will turn into a blood path. Blood paths create blood clot enemies, and they’re pretty tough in the early game.

The screencap above showcases the best way to arrange your Battlefield tiles (noted by the yellow treasure icons that pop up). Put them at the start of the loop.
…And Try To Place Battlefields Opposite Heavily-Populated Monster Paths
They’ll summon reanimated spirits of deceased monsters in the same path. So the next time you reach that area in your next loop, you have more enemies to kill.
Do Not Place Meadows Next To One Another
Instead, place them next to buildings and other tiles like mountains and rocks. The regular meadow tile will turn to a blooming meadow, which regenerates 3 hit points instead of 2 hit points. You’ll need every bit of precious regen as you head to high-count loops.
Focus On Magic Damage, Damage All, and Regeneration Buffs
When you get weapons from kills (or trophies via the Rogue class), focus on those that give you magic damage and damage all skills. These will be helpful in early loops in case your luck isn’t so hot in the first three. Health-wise, focus on getting any piece of equipment that gives you regeneration. It’ll be a while until you can get health potions via keep upgrades.
As for classes you unlock, this simple bullet points should help you in the early stages:

Warrior: Max HP, Regeneration, Vampirism
Rogue: Attack Speed, Evasion, Crit. Chance
Necromancer: Magic HP, Max Skeletons, Attack Speed

Storm Temples Will Help With Your Magic Damage

Placing a Storm Temple will light up forests that are arranged in a row. These result in burnt forest tiles which boost your magic attack stats, which is useful since it adds more to your base DPS stats.
Spread Out Your Monster Spawn Tiles
Do not pack them all together at one go as it’ll cause a bit of strain to your hero. You do want him to level up, but some creatures take a while to kill. You do not want to be in a situation where a Flesh Golem will spawn as you’re whittling the health of a tanky enemy, especially at 1/3rd of your health and when you’re so close to camp.
Also, do not pack Ruins tiles next to each other or next to combat-heavy areas. These will spawn ranged Scorched Worms that can attack from afar and cannot be killed. This will be a headache in the long run, so spread out Ruins tiles.
Put Vampire Mansions Right Next To Swamps
The Swamp’s anti-regen debuff will work against vampires, vampirism effects, and regen abilities. This will at least make combat against these Twilight mofos a little manageable.
Put Vampire Mansions Next To Villages
Villages can heal you and give you quests, which are “traps” that buff up a random enemy that yield decent rewards if killed. If you want to take that playstyle a step further, put a Vampire Mansion next to a village which turns it into a ransacked village.
If you survive after three loops, that ransacked village will turn into a Count’s Land that heals you more effectively than the Village, as well as bestow quests with better rewards.
When You Gain Access To River Tiles, Make A Zig-Zag River Pathway
Rivers are important because they amplify other stat-boosting cards on the map as long as they’re adjacent to it. For example, if you surround a Blooming Meadow with two River tiles, you get +12HP per Meadow per Day. So, plan a zig-zag river path that goes from top to bottom, but also made in a way that can surround Meadow tiles.
Outposts Are Handy If You’re A Rogue

Later on, you’ll gain access to the Outpost card which spawns soldiers who can help you out but at the cost of taking rare loot that’s dropped on the spot. However, if you’re a Rogue, you only get to cash in trophies for loot at the start of a loop, so the Outpost’s drawback does not apply to the class.
Do not use Outposts if you’re a Necromancer, because the soldiers will turn on you instead.
Focus Boosting Your Necromancer’s Attack Speed

The Necromancer class lets you summon minions automatically to fight for you. While their stats are dependant on other attributes, the rate they come out in the open is dependant on the Necromancer’s attack speed. When your attack meter fills up to full, a new minion spawns. So if you have high attack speed stats, you’ll be summoning more enemies and meatshields to overwhelm your enemies.
You Can Farm Bosses
Yes, you can kill the boss of each loop to get resource packs or extra perks when you level up in a loop. You can only get up to three of these perks; if you defeat the boss a fourth time, you’ll instead get a resource pack. Once you get the hang of a boss and how he/she works, you should just replay those loops again for the extra loot and materials for future upgrades.
Know When To Quit
Just when you think you’ve got it sorted, along comes the onslaught that is the 5th loop if you place a lot of enemy encounters and spawning ground. It’s usually best to stop after the 4th loop, collect your spoils, build up your base, then go on another expedition stronger than ever. You can retreat anytime to your base, but you only keep 60% of your loot and resources if you escape on tiles other than your campsite. If you escape on your campsite tile, you escape unscathed with all of your resources.
Protip: click and hold onto the bottom-right escape icon so that it prompts you whether you want to escape before starting a new loop. This comes in very handy if you somehow lost track of what’s going on and forget to click the escape button on command.
You Can Make The Game Run Faster
In case the 2x fast-forward option isn’t enough to fulfil your need for speed, you can make the game go even faster by editing one of its *.ini files. Here’s how:

Open the variables.ini file in your Steam/steamapps/common/Loop Hero directory using a text editor (like Notepad).
Search for the game_speed value in the line of code.
Crank it up to the desired number of your choice. The default is 60, so you can put 240 or lower to make the loop go faster.

This won’t affect achievements, but there are some quirks that pop up like less Treasury payout. Just make sure you have a backup of the variables.ini file in another safe folder or directory in case.


PlayStation Plus Asia Gets 5 Free Games In February 2021

Gamers will have five new games to look forward to in the PlayStation Plus February 2020 lineup, but this is only for those in the PlayStation Asia regions like Malaysia, etc.
From 2 February 2021 to 1 March 2021, PS Plus subscribers will be able to redeem Concrete Genie (PS4), Bloodstained Ritual of the Night (PS4), Biped (PS4), and Control Ultimate Edition (PS5).
Meanwhile, from 2 February 2021 to 5 April 2021, PS5 players will be able to claim the PS5 exclusive Destruction AllStars.
However, unlike PS Plus in the U.S, PS Plus Asia only offers the PS5 version of Control Ultimate Edition, which means that PS4 players won’t be able to redeem this game. As a consolation prize, PS4 players in Asia will receive two additional games in place of Control Ultimate Edition, which are Biped and Bloodstained Ritual Of The Night.
Destruction AllStars (PS5)

Entertain the crowds by bringing controlled chaos to the vehicular combat arena of this metal-crunching multiplayer game. Pick one of 16 superstar competitors, then leap into four game modes, using timing, tactics and skills to cause carnage behind the wheel or create havoc with your parkour skills. Perfect your characterâ€™s abilities â€“ including a hero vehicle unique to them â€“Â  to give you the edge in free-for-all battles or team challenges and become Global Destruction Federation Champion.
Control Ultimate Edition (PS5)

Master supernatural abilities and wield a shape-shifting sidearm in this third-person action-adventure from Remedy Entertainment. Take on the role of Jesse Faden, Director of the Federal Bureau of Control, whose New York headquarters is breached by an ominous enemy.
Despite outward appearances, the skyscraperâ€™s interior is vast and ever-shifting. Youâ€™ll need to explore â€“ and weaponize â€“ this unpredictable environment to clean house and repel the invaders. The Ultimate Edition includes the base game as well as The Foundation and AWE expansions.
In the meantime, check out our review of the game here.
Concrete Genie (PS4)

Pick up a magic paintbrush and return the polluted town of Denska to its former bright and bustling seaside self in this touching and multi-award-winning action-adventure. Cleanse streets and alleyways, then use your Living Paint to create mischievous Genies whose magical powers will aid you in overcoming puzzles and seeing off bullies who pursue you.
You can check out our review of the game here.
Biped (PS4)

Developed by NEXT Studios, Biped is a coop action-adventure game with a strong focus on moment-to-moment collaboration between 2 players.
Bloodstained Ritual Of The Night (PS4)

Bloodstained Ritual Of The Night is a Metroidvania type video game developed by ArtPlay and published by 505 Games. The game’s development was led by former Castlevania series producer Koji Igarashi, and is considered a spiritual successor to the series.

Rejoice all PS Plus members – 5 FREE games (including newly release Destruction AllStars) to get you through the month of February:
? Concrete Genie (PS4)? Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (PS4)? Biped (PS4)? Control: Ultimate Edition (PS5)?? Destruction AllStars (PS5) pic.twitter.com/f8HMDfrKRK
— PlayStation Asia (@PlayStationAsia) January 28, 2021


Dinosaurs & Humans Work Side-By-Side In This New Jurassic World Dominion Trailer

Universal Pictures just unveiled the first official trailer for Jurassic World Dominion, the final film in the Jurassic World series that rebooted Jurassic Park because we do love dinosaur films.
The whole trailer highlights the old generation of Jurassic Park archaeologists (Laura Dern, Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum) teaming up with the new generation heroes (Chris Pratt, Bryce Dalla Howard). Here’s the film synopsis:
“From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs now liveâ€”and huntâ€”alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with historyâ€™s most fearsome creatures.”
New actors include DeWanda Wise (Sheâ€™s Gotta Have It), Emmy nominee Mamoudou Athie (Archive 81), Dichen Lachman (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Scott Haze (Minari) and Campbell Scott (The Amazing Spider-Man 2). Returning cast members include BD Wong as Dr. Henry Wu, Justice Smith as Franklin Webb, Daniella Pineda as Dr. Zia Rodriguez, and Omar Sy as Barry SembenÃ¨.
Let’s hope this third film doesn’t suck as bad as the last one. Jurassic World Dominion will be out in Southeast Asian cinemas this 9th June. Trailer & poster’s below for your viewing pleasure.


Kao The Kangaroo Has The Best Of Intentions As A 3D Platformer Retread, But…

Platform(s): Xbox Series (version played), Xbox One, PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Genre: 3D platformer with a marsupial mascot
You have to hand it to Tate Multimedia, perhaps the only folks with the best of intentions to bring back an obscure 3D platformer mascot title back to the 2022 limelight. Honestly, was there a subsection of gamers who were clamouring for a Kao The Kangaroo reboot or sequel? In any case, this new iteration will have to do. Is it perfect? No, but it could have gone down worst.
Boxing Day

Kao The Kangaroo pits you as the title character as he is on a quest to search for his missing dad and sister. He comes across a pair of magic boxing gloves that help him. So off he goes as he runs, jumps, boxes, and platforms his way through cutesy enemies and 3D platforming challenges. As far as level design goes, it occasionally entertains.
There’s an elemental gimmick where Kao can collect orbs to lace his gloves with either fire, ice, or wind. When powered-up, he can destroy specific obstacles or trigger certain puzzle pieces to advance his movement. This is to switch things up from the combat and platforming, and it’s handled adequately. See a puddle of water with a block nearby? Freeze it with the ice glove so you can slide the block to act as a makeshift platform for the high ledge. See a spiderweb blocking your way? Set it on fire with your fire glove. See a boomerang pedestal and a ledge from far away that needs freezing? Use your ice gloves, take the boomerang, and you have an ice projectile to turn that ledge to a popsicle.
The keyword here is “occasionally entertains”, because there is nothing here that wows and impresses me from both a level design perspective and from a presentation standpoint. The levels feel standard, the game looks fine, and you can’t help but notice that the developers have half the work done fine, but the other half is lacking in making this feel like the reboot that screams “comeback”. For instance, the game not playing any sort of victory jingle when you’ve completed a stage. When the camera bugs out and clips through a wall when you’re manually turning it in a place with tight corridors, making you unable to see what’s ahead. Some levels like the one that copies Crash Bandicoot’s trademark “run towards the screen from an obstacle” chase stage just felt awkward to play; like it’s thrown in without having the knowledge to make that stage fun or tightly-paced.
Speaking of which, the controls can sometimes be unresponsive at crucial moments, which is a no-no for a platformer that requires precision. This is evident with the grapple hook parts and parts where I’m climbing ledges from bottom to top of the stage; I had to restart these segments because the game doesn’t register me clinging onto the the ledge even though I was 100% next to the thing. It’s frustrating to say the least.
Punch Down

There are a ton of games that are worthy of your time within Kao The Kangaroo’s price range. Heck, most of these are more stable than Tate Multimedia’s 2022 offering.
Kao the Kangaroo has a few bright spots here and there. I didn’t mind the mindlessness of the combat and the boss segments are fun even if the presentation and cues aren’t up to snuff. And while the story is standard and the voice acting is not great, it isn’t outright terrible and has some semblance of charm to it. Like it’s purposefully channeling the English dub way of things in the early 2000s, when overacting and barely-passable voice work were the norm.
However, the experience is soured by the game’s bugs and imprecise platforming at times. I really wanted to be enamoured and charmed by the game, but I was glad I was done with the ordeal rather than left wanting more after the credits rolled. It’s not as disastrous as Balan Wonderworld, but it’s a few steps close to that snooze pit.
Kao’s 2022 venture is serviceable and by-the-numbers at best. Its developers have their hearts in the right place in using this 2000s mascot in their new 3D platformer reboot, but this sure isn’t even a bronze medal effort if we’re being honest. Unless you really want a 3D action platformer that reminds you of the early PS2 days of 3D mascot platforming and are a fan of the genre (unironically or otherwise), you can give this marsupial a miss.
Pros

Serviceable platforming and action.
Fun boss fights.

Cons

Presentation feels lacking; has some issues.
Controls can get janky.

Final Score: 50/100


EA Play Games Will Be Available On Xbox Game Pass Starting November

The Xbox Game Pass initiative keeps getting bigger.
Starting this November and December, EA Play games will be available on Xbox consoles and PC respectively. Xbox Series X/Xbox Series S this November, PC this December. The catch? You have to subscribe to the Ultimate edition which will cost you US$14.99 per month. Oh, and if you already subscribed to both EA Play and Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft is canceling EA Play subscriptions and any remaining time over 50 days will be “rounded up and converted to the nearest month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at a ratio of three to one”.
o if you have 3 months of EA Play on your account, you’ll get 1 month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate added. Head here for the full FAQ on that.Â
So what’s available on EA Play? Well, if you like the The Sims, FIFA, Battlefield, and Mass Effect, then you’ll find a lot to love with this piece of news. In related news, Bethesda classics and current games will be available on Xbox Game Pass later this year. The first game? Doom Eternal on 1st October.Â
Also, here’s a handy picture from Xbox explaining the Xbox Game Pass ideology. To summarize, if you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate edition for a generous monthly subscription, you get to play whatever games that are available on either your PC, your mobile phone (via xCloud), or your Xbox Series X/S console which you may get this November via parallel importing. No Malaysia support for Xbox; too bad.


Dead Space Remake Secret Ending: How To Get The Alternative Ending

In a departure from the original, developer Motive Studios have added an alternative ending or secret ending in the Dead Space Remake (check out my spoiler-free review here).
However, the Dead Space Remake secret ending does take quite a bit of time and effort to obtain. It took me 30 hours (and two complete playthroughs) to be able to finally achieve the secret ending.
Here’s what you need to do in order to get the Dead Space Remake secret ending. First, you have to complete one playthrough on any difficulty. Then, you’ll have to start a New Game Plus playthrough on any difficulty. During the New Game Plus, you’ll have to find a whopping 12 hidden collectible items called Marker Fragments.
The problem is that there’s no way to track these down automatically. You’ll have to manually find them, and trust me, some of these were hidden really well (which is part of why I had to spend almost 30 hours to get the secret ending).
So, here are the locations for each 12 of the Marker Fragments in New Game Plus of the Dead Space Remake. Keep in mind that the chapters in brackets are only when I found each specific Marker Fragment, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that’s when you have to get them, especially since it’s possible to backtrack in the Dead Space Remake.
Theoretically, none of the 12 Marker Fragments are missable and it doesn’t matter in what order you find them in, as long as you find them and compile them before the point of no return (which is at the end of Chapter 11 going into Chapter 12). However, it’s obviously easiest and fastest to simply grab them as you’re passing by the room or area, so that you don’t have to waste time backtracking. However, some of them are in rooms where you can only access after progressing through the story and unlocked Level 3 security clearance, which means that the earliest possible time you can collect all 12 is still near the end of Chapter 11.
Also, keep in mind that you have to compile all 12 Marker Fragments by going to one specific room (which will be mentioned below) before you can get the secret ending, so don’t go into Chapter 12 until after you’ve collected all 12 Marker Fragments and compiled them in that room.
In addition, here’s some advice; no matter what difficulty you play your first playthrough on, you can change it when you start New Game Plus. What this means is that you can get the secret ending even on the easiest difficulty, Story, but that’s up to your preference.

Fragment 1: Maintenance Bay Office (Chapter 1)

What it looks like:

Fragment 2: Engineering Engine Room (Chapter 3)

What it looks like:

Fragment 3: Medical Dr. T. Kyne – CSO (Chapter 4 or possibly 2)

What it looks like:

Fragment 4: Bridge Break Room (Chapter 4)

What it looks like:

Fragment 5: Medical Dr. C. Mercer – 2S0 (Chapter 5)

What it looks like:

Fragment 6: Medical Cryogenics (end of Chapter 5)

What it looks like:

Fragment 7: Hydroponics East Grow Chamber Floor 3 (Chapter 6)

What it looks like:

Fragment 8: Communications Hub Communications Array Floor 2 (Chapter 8)

What it looks like:

Fragment 9: Crew Quarters Deluxe Shift Bunks (Chapter 10)

What it looks like:

Fragment 10: Crew Quarters Inquiry Desks (Chapter 10)

What it looks like:

Fragment 11: Hangar-Cargo-Tram-Control (Chapter 11)

What it looks like:

Fragment 12: Mining Mineral Samples Floor 5 (Chapter 11 but potentially much earlier)

What it looks like:

Crew Quarters Lt Commander V. Holt Floor 3 (Where You Need To Compile All The Marker Fragments)

What it looks like:


Behold: The Purest Vision Of Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding

Happy Death Stranding Friday, everyone! Check out this ultimate Death Stranding trailer made using Deepfakes.

Whether it’s meant to be a parody of the tweet below…

A HIDEO KOJIMA GAME means the declaration of me doing concept, produce, original story, script, setting, game design, casting, dealing, directing, difficulty adjustments, promoting, visual design, editing, supervising the merch. pic.twitter.com/Th7f5S6vpU
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) September 22, 2019

…or just a fan who likes to take a joke a step further, it’s pretty surreal. Check out our review of the game here.


Salt and Sacrifice Gets May Release Date

2D action RPG title Salt and Sacrifice, which is essentially the best 2D version of Dark Souls made by an indie group, will be out in a few month’s time.
The sequel to Salt and Sanctuary will be out on 10 May for PS4, PS5, and PC. The new trailer below talks about how PvP in multiplayer works. It’s optional, the mode gives you new moves to execute, and sects to join, each with its own different missions. Seems like developer Devoured Studios have thought the online mode through.


Apex Legends Season 16 Adds Remastered Legend Classes, Perks, & More

Apex Legends is getting a new season, but this one isn’t coming with a fresh new legend, which is pretty new given the standard Respawn Entertainment drops them.
Instead, the company is doing a little something different: remastered Legend Classes for Season 16. According to a recent Apex Legends presentation we attended a few weeks ago, the game’s new season is going to rework every Legend with classes, perks, and meta updates.
“Because of all these changes, we’re pausing on adding a new Legend this season so everyone can learn and master the new meta.
Over time, with the addition of new Legends and the evolving meta, the class roles have started to become a little bit muddy, so this season, we want to take a chance to redefine what classes mean to the game.”
Team Deathmatch

For the past 4 years one of the biggest demands by the Apex Legends community was Team Deathmatch. Well, good news legends! We are finally getting Team Deathmatch for the first 3 weeks of the upcoming season.
Team Deathmatch will be a 6v6, and the first team to reach 30 kills wins the round, and a team must win 2 rounds in order to win the overall match. Players will be able to select loadouts just like in the very popular game mode Control. The TDM maps will feature some fan-favourite POIs, such as Skulltown on Kings Canyon, and former arena maps such as Party Crasher and Habitat 4. This will be replacing Arenas, as we see Arenas being removed permanently as of Season 16.
Mixtape will then be replacing TDM as a permanent playlist. Mixtape is basically a playlist of rotating fan-favourite LTMs, which will include TDM, Control, and Gun Run! This will give players an opportunity to play casually on a seasonal basis.
Legends Revamp
Legends have been split into five classes: Assault, Skirmisher, Recon, Controller, and Support.
Assault (Ash, Fuse, Maggie, Bangalore, Revenant)
“These Legends have core patterns that revolve around using their abilities to force opponents to make combat decisions or mistakes. They often initiate plays to create an advantage or an opening that their team can then assault on.”
Skirmisher (Pathfinder, Horizon, Octane, Valkyrie, Wraith, Mirage)
“They’re good flankers, they have a hit and run style of play, they can get into a fight and can get out of it just as quickly.”
Recon (Crypto, Seer, Vantage)
“[They’re focused on] enemy intel and tracking. These characters don’t have access to ring data, but they can scan a modified survey beacon to reveal enemy positions on the map for 30 seconds.”
Controller (Wattson, Catalyst, Rampart, Caustic)
“These are Legends who place their abilities in the world to control their positioning and force enemies to fight on their turf. They excel at holding zone and bunkering down.”
Support (Lifeline, Loba, Newcastle, Gibraltar)
“[They focus on team survival and supply], and they have a much more team-oriented focus and look for opportunities to protect, recover or resupply their squad. These Legends allow their squad to sustain in fights or reset more quickly.”
New Gun(s)
In addition to all this, Apex Legends Season 16 will also introduce a new weapon: the Nemesis four-round burst assault rifle, alongside a new golden attachment for shotguns.
The Nemesis Burst AR, the new gun that will be using energy ammo will be the latest gun to be introduced since Season 11. The gun fires automatic bursts which get faster and faster the more you shoot it. Respawn is “shipping it hot” to take down the R-301 and Flatline meta.
Speaking of guns, there will be a few changes to some current guns. The fan favourite, the R-301 is being nerfed in Season 16. The damage it does will be reduced from 14 to 13. In addition to that, all assault rifles will now have a reduced hip fire accuracy. This was done to make ARs less powerful at close range, in which the SMGs, Shotguns and Pistols should be dominating fights. Hopefully, this will switch up the current gun meta and make way for some new ones.
As for supply drop weapons, the Hemlok will be going into the care package and will be removed from Ground Loot. It will also be getting a massive buff, with increased damage, increased headshot multiplier, as well as coming with the Boosted Loader attachment. The Rampage LMG will be returning to ground loot as well. Controller favourites, the Car SMG and G7 Scout marksman will be coming out of the crafter and will be replaced with the Volt SMG and Longbow DMR.
A new golden attachment will be added for shotguns, which is the golden shotgun bolt, this is an auto-reload which happens whenever the player slides. This feature works while the shotgun is holstered or being used. Movement players rejoice! All shotguns will also be able to take standard stocks as an attachment now.
Firing Range

One of the most awaited changes, the Firing Range is getting a huge revamp. The new season will bring in infinite ammo, new dynamic stats for guns, huge dummy settings and more. Yes you heard it right, infinite ammo, legends.
With the dummy settings, you can now make your dummy well, and move more in a not-so-bot-like way. You will be able to make them strafe left to right, and also increase or decrease the speed when they do this. You will also be able to make them crouch, and the best part, you can make them do this all at random. As for the new dynamic stats being added, you will have an overlay of different stats at the top of your screen when in the firing range.
These stats will include, the number of shots fired, the damage dealt, the number of headshots, kills as well as your accuracy percentage when shooting. New hit markers have also been added and will remain on screen just a few seconds after shooting your gun. This is to help newer players, as well as seasoned ones to learn and practise the different recoil patterns to master them. All these changes make the firing range a new playground for legends to run around, test movement, 1v1 their friends as well as a better warm-up before heading into public or ranked matches.
Orientation Mode
This specific mode is only for brand-new players. After completing the tutorial in the Firing Range, new players will be required to complete a few orientation matches. These matches will mostly be against bots and new players. This is to help new players get up to speed and adjust before being thrown into matches with other seasoned players. The best part is, all the matches will be played on Kings Canyon.
Miscellaneous
For the sweaty legends, there will unfortunately, be no rank changes for this season. However, Respawn has confirmed that they are currently working on their matchmaking system to improve it. The only change that will be coming to rank this season is that the Ranked map will be rotating every 24 hours, instead of each split. The maps for this season have been confirmed to be Broken Moon, Storm Point and World’s Edge. These maps will also be the same in regular BR.
Apex Legends Season 16 will be out on 14 February. Check out the gameplay trailer below:


Cyberpunk Cat Indie Game Stray Lands On Its Feet This Summer

The upcoming PC and PlayStation indie game Stray, which wowed a lot of people back in its 2020 reveal, will be out middle of this year.
Stray is set to release in Summer 2022 for PC and PS5. It’s an action adventure game featuring robots and a main cat-racter, and it’s the first game from BlueTwelve Studio, a game development studio made up of ex-Ubisoft employees. The game will be published by Annapurna Interactive.
Check out the gameplay below:


At first, for some time, I was not able to answer

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Pre-Order for Insomniac’s Spider-Man Now Open

The pre-order forÂ PlayStation 4 exclusive, Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man willÂ start from today, April 27, 2018 at PlayStation Store. Digital pre-orders net you three additional Spidey suits – two of which we know already – Spider-Punk and the Infinity War Iron Spider suit. The third skin is yet-to-be announced.
On top of that, digital pre-orders come with the following:

5 Extra Skill Points
Early Unlock of a Spider-Drone Gadget
Spider-Man PS4â„¢ Custom Theme
Spider-Man PSN Avatar

The Digital Deluxe version grants you the following additional items (on top of the full game and items above assuming you pre-ordered your game):
Three chapters in Marvel’s Spider-Man: The City that Never Sleeps series â€“ Available post launch, each chapter contains:
â€¢Additional missions
â€¢Additional characters from the Spider-Man universe
â€¢Additional suits for Spider-Man
DigitalÂ Standard Edition will retail atÂ MYR 199 while the Deluxe EditionÂ will beÂ MYR 224.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTfrF35eKfQ&w=560&h=315]
If you’re the sort who prefer physical copies, theÂ suggested retail price for Standard Edition will be MYR 209 while the Collectorâ€™s Edition will be MYR 699 which comes with the following:

The City that Never Sleeps Pack (Also available through the Digital Deluxe as mentioned above)
White Spider Sticker
Marvel’s Spider-man Statue
Custom Steelbook
Mini Artbook

Still confused? We don’t blame you. These pre-orders can be a doozy at times.

So if you want the additional skins, you pre-order the game digitally. We are unsure whether you will receive the same if you order the physical version though. We have contacted the folks at SIE and will revert once we have the answers
You DO NOT need to get the Digital Deluxe to obtain the additional skins.
Collector’s Edition is essentially Digital Deluxe + physical goodies

Developed by Insomniac Games, Marvel’s Spider-Man will be released on September 7, 2018.


The Sonic Movie Is More Popular Than Star Wars IX & Mario Among The Public

We live in interesting times, inciting headlines and all.
Sega bragged on their Twitter page recently that its movie adaptation of Sonic The Hedgehog, which features a speedy anthropomorphic hedgehog and Jim Carrey as a psychopathic robot inventor, has a high user review rating on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.

The fans have spoken! The #SonicMovie audience score on Rotten Tomatoes is currently sitting at 95%!
For those of you that haven't seen it, don't take our word for it but you're in for a real treat! ? pic.twitter.com/Q4WvvWsibc
— SEGA (@SEGA) February 15, 2020

And yes, the Sega and Paramount movie is ranked higher than last year’s fantasy film Star Wars IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Here are the scores of both films for comparison’s sake.

Not a fair comparison? How about pitting Sega’s mascot against Nintendo’s plumber?

This obviously isn’t indicative of the film’s quality. The Sonic The Hedgehog film is a film tailored for all ages, is by-the-numbers backed up with some appropriate casting, and somehow loves to plug Olive Garden for some reason. Plus, it’s only been a few days since the film came out. But it does show how the internet feels about a long-standing video game series that inspires creativity among the furry and Deviantart community finally getting a live-action adaptation they can call their own.


PS5 Patent Hints At Potential Focus On Pushing Microtransactions

A recently filed patent featured on the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) official website has revealed that Sony Interactive Entertainment might be planning to push microtransactions on players. The diagram of the patent shows a user interacting with their console in an Alexa or Siri-like situation.
To understand how it would work, the software sifts through the gameplay data of players and the entire community. Based on that, the system, or digital assistant of sorts, will provide tips or suggestions on how to beat a particular level or enemy. However, they seem to also involve recommending microtransactions payable by in-game currency or real money.

While some developers and games offering microtransactions that make games easier is nothing new in the games industry, this new software digital assistant will instead work on a much more sinister level, offering expensive microtransactions at just a click away. This new system would be very predatory in nature, one that kids or even gullible adults could easily fall prey to.
Developers would be able to take advantage of this new technology if that were the case. Hopefully, this new PlayStation digital assistant guide tech will be used in an ethical way. If not, the gaming industry will once again be cast in a bad light, not unlike all the hullaballoo about loot boxes in games just several years ago.

In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for all the latest news on the PS5, and check outÂ all the latest updates and developments on all things PS5 to date here.


The PlayStation 5 Will Be Out By The End Of 2020

Sony has finally confirmed that the successor to the PlayStation 4 will officially be called the PlayStation 5, or the PS5. It is slated to release during “Holiday 2020”, which translates to sometime near the end of 2020.
According to the official PlayStation Blog post, the PS5 will come with two important innovations. The first is that the Dualshock 5 (unofficial name) controller will adopt haptic technology to replace the older “rumble” technology. This will allow players to feel a broader range of feedback that adds to the immersion, from the impact of a car crashing into a wall or even the feeling of tackling an opponent on the field in football.
The second innovation to arrive with the PS5 will be adaptive triggers, which have been incorporated into the trigger buttons (L2/R2).Â  This will allow developers to program the resistance and sensitivity of the triggers so that players feel the tactile sensation of drawing a bow and arrow or accelerating an off-road vehicle through rocky terrain.
Combining adaptive triggers with the haptic technology will produce a more powerful experience for players. PlayStation has already given game creators early versions of the new Dualshock 5 controller so that they can start embracing the new capabilities of the next-gen console.

(image credit: Wired)
Here are other details we’ve discovered about the PS5, revealed exclusively by Wired in an article authorized by PlayStation:

PS5’s GPU hardware includes ray-tracing acceleration.
Physical PS5 games will use 100GB optical disks.
The PS5 will have a 4K Bluray player and SSD.
The PS5 will include the ability to selectively install (or delete) parts of a game, like only the multiplayer or singleplayer portion.
The PS5 will feature a revamped UI.
Information about what missions you could do and what rewards you might receive for completing them in singleplayer, or available set of multiplayer activities you can join in real-time, will be visible in the PS5 UI.
The prototype Dualshock 5 controller looks very similar in design to the Dualshock 4, with the exception of a little hole with an as-of-yet unrevealed function.
The Dualshock 5 uses a USB Type-C connector port for charging (and wired playing).
The Dualshock 5 has a larger battery and is heavier than the Dualshock 4.

That’s all the confirmed details about the PS5 that we know so far. In the meantime, head on over here to check out all our other PS5-related news and feature articles.


Star Wars Jedi 2 Won’t Be Out Until 2023; Will Only Be Next Gen

The sequel to the hit action adventure game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order will be out next year.
Insiders (via Jeff Grub’s Giant Bomb podcast) said that the game will ditch the Fallen Order moniker and will only be for next-gen consoles Xbox Series and PlayStation 5.
“Star Wars Jedi 2 is going to be new-gen only, where it’s PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and then of course PC. One of the reasons that they’re going to be able to do that is because it’s not coming out until 2023. This game is for sure now not coming out until 2023.
They don’t have to worry about trying to straddle these generation lines. It makes it easier to just disassociate yourself with those millions of PS4s and Xbox Ones out in the world when you are in 2023 and you’re going to have several months of making it very easy to get an Xbox Series X, probably a few months before now and then when it’s actually okay to get a PS5.”
EA officially announced a Star Wars Jedi sequel earlier this year, alongside two other new Star Wars games. The game will be made by Respawn Entertainment. Of course, this is all speculation until EA announces the launch date of Star Wars Jedi 2.


Activision Delays New Seasons Of CoD Modern Warfare, Warzone & Mobile

Activision has announced that new seasons for Call of Duty Modern Warfare, Call Of Duty Warzone and Call Of Duty Mobile have all been delayed amidst the growing unrest and protests in the US.
These new seasons include Call of Duty Modern Warfare Season 4, Call of Duty Warzone Season 4, and Call Of Duty Mobile Season 7. They were originally slated to launch tomorrow on 3 June 2020.
The trailer for Call Of Duty Modern Warfare Season 4 even teased a playable Captain Price. It’s understandable that some fans would be upset, but it’s all for a good cause. The publisher announced the news on the official Twitter account for Call Of Duty:

pic.twitter.com/8uNhuhDGAp
â€” Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) June 2, 2020
Sony also recently postponed their highly-anticipated PlayStation 5 showcase, which was initially scheduled for later this week. More gaming events and announcements will likely be affected by the protests in similar ways during the coming weeks (or even months).


Malaysian-Made Horror Game Simulacra 2 Gets Release Date

Malaysian games developer Kaigan Games previously gave us the horror gems 2017’s Sara Is Missing and Simulacra on mobile platforms. Now they’re returning with the sequel to their unique found-phone horror format with Simulacra 2, which has received an official release date and final trailer.

Simulacra 2 will release not only on Android and iOS like Kaigan Games’ previous titles but also on PC (Steam). The official game description/synopsis reads:

“A young social media influencer untimely â€“ and unnatural â€“ death is being ruled as an accident.
But Detective Murilo suspects that something is amiss.
He recruits your help in investigating the case, and hands you a crucial piece of evidence; the victimâ€™s phone.
You have to get to the truth by combing through the victimâ€™s past on her phone and interrogating possible suspects in the present.”

The first game featured a groundbreaking gameplay mechanic in which players had to solve the mystery using only the victim’s phone. Simulacra 2 will expand on that with new inventive apps, a more complex narrative, a larger live-action cast (including the one and only Iain McNally hamming it up as seen in both the trailer and featured image of this article), and a deeper look into a creepy alternate universe where nothing is as what it seems.

Published by Another Indie, Simulacra 2 is slated to release for Android, iOS, and PC on 12 December 2019. Kaigan Games have yet to reveal the official price for the upcoming game. In the meantime, check out the final trailer below or head on over to Spotify and listen to the game’s official soundtrack ahead of its release.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ga7pYyWAY&w=560&h=315]


Halo Infinite Is Finally Getting Infection Next Month

Exciting news for all you Halo fans out there! Remember how we’ve been patiently waiting for new content to be added to Halo Infinite? Well, hold onto your seats because the long-awaited Infection Mode is finally making its way into the game with the Season 4 update, set to drop in June 2023.
Let’s rewind a bit and talk about the launch of Halo Infinite. Back in late 2021, expectations were high, but sadly, the initial response was a bit underwhelming. The game lacked a significant amount of content, leaving players feeling a bit disappointed.
When it first came out, Infinite only offered a basic multiplayer and campaign experience, leaving out important features like Forge and Mission replay, among others. Sure, the development team has been working hard to add these modes in since then, but there’s still a lot missing from Halo Infinite.
But fear not, my fellow Spartans, because 343 Industries has finally confirmed that the beloved Infection game mode is making a grand entrance into Halo Infinite next month!
For those who may not be familiar, Infection mode made its debut in Halo 3 and has since appeared in games like Halo: Reach, Halo 2: Anniversary, and Halo 5: Guardians. It’s a thrilling zombie-style mode where players must either hide from or run away from those infected by the villainous Flood.
Here’s how it works: if an infected player eliminates a non-infected one, the fallen player respawns as part of the Flood and joins the mission to infect the remaining survivors. The goal is to be the last gamer standing who’s not infected or survive until the clock runs out.
To add to the excitement, 343 recently dropped an update on their Halo Waypoint portal, complete with a sneak peek of what Season 4 has in store for us. Trust me, you’ll want to check it out when it arrives on June 20!
Now, it’s no secret that Halo Infinite has been facing some challenges in keeping players engaged due to the slow rollout of new content. Back in January 2023, Dexerto even published an article expressing concerns about Microsoft’s management of the Halo series.
We can only hope that the introduction of Infection Mode will rekindle the flame and bring back players who may have strayed away. Time will tell, but one thing’s for sure: Halo Infinite is determined to evolve and keep us hooked with fresh experiences.
So mark your calendars, prepare your battle strategies, and get ready to dive into the intense world of Halo Infinite’s Infection Mode. It’s time to show those Flood who’s boss and fight for survival in the ultimate gaming showdown!


Death Stranding Director’s Cut Is Coming To PC This Spring

505 Games and Kojima Productions have announced that the exclusive-for-PS5 Death Stranding Director’s Cut will be out for PC this year.
Death Stranding Director’s Cut, which adds in a ton of action and stealth bits, will be out for Steam and Epic Games Store this spring. The PC version of the walking/delivery simulator title where you can open up paths for your fellow Death Stranding pals will incorporate Intel’s new Xe Super Sampling graphics technology. This tech will have PCs use machine learning to enable players to explore the game’s environment in “high graphical detail along with elevated performance”.
All copies of the game will include the following bonuses and in-game items:

Selections from â€œThe Art ofÂ Death Strandingâ€ digital book (by Titan Books)
Backpack patches
Bridges Special Delivery Team suit (Gold)
BB pod customization (Chiral Gold)
Power Gloves (Gold)
Bridges Special Delivery Team suit (Silver)
BB pod customization (Omnireflector)
Power Gloves (Silver)

I’d say this is a great time to revisit Death Stranding, if for the extra content and levels. For more on Kojima Productions’ future, head here.


E3 2018: Does Xbox Marks The Spot?

It’s now Day 2 of E 2018, and Microsoft just finished their Xbox press conference. While it initially feels like a repeat of 2017 where they announced a ton of games but only few exclusives, keep in mind that Xbox’s Game Pass idea kinda makes all of this sounds tempting.
We’ll do a quick breakdown, then get back to that main point.
Xbox Has Third-Party Game Premieres
When it comes to world exclusive announcements, yes, Xbox has those in spades. Huge, HUGE spades. We’ll talk about the ones we care about.

We have a new From Software RPG called Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice coming out next year. It looks like Dark Souls but set in Japan and features samurais and ronin. Oh, and your main hero has a retractable shield and a grappling hook. That should spice things up by a ton. Out 2019.
Devil May Cry 5 is official. The game features Nero with a new arm, Dante, and most likely Vergil if that box art is of any indication. It’s out Spring 2019.
The Division 2 gets an Xbox showcase here. You still team up with people and shoot down insurgents and rogue factions, but now in a dystopian Washington DC that is surprisingly colourful. Kudos to the folks who spray-painted Air Force One in the destroyed plane of that demo.
We get a new Frozen level in Kingdom Hearts III. It’s still coming out 29 January of 2019 though.
We also get the definitive edition of Tales of Vesperia, a game that originally came out on Xbox 360. Yes, it’ll have the extra content from the special PS3 version.
We get a glimpse of Just Cause 4. Rico Rodriguez still has his grappling hook and now he’s going up against a tornado in an undisclosed country.
Turns out that there’s a new Dying Light sequel. It still has the same parkour and zombie infestation action, but this time the story and direction is handled by Black Isle/Obsidian legend Chris Avellone.
Last but not least, we get to see a full-blown trailer for CD Projekt’s long-awaited RPG Cyberpunk 2077. Androids, mods, guns, rednecks with electric shotguns, fast cars, techno music: what’s not to love?

Just keep in mind that these titles will be out on PS4 too.

Xbox Has Exclusives; Most Of Them For Next Year
We have a new Halo called Halo Infinity. We have a new Ori platformer -Ori and the Will of the Wisp. We have a new Gears of War which some of us are stoked about because of the snow levels, the new Locusts, and the mothereffin’ Kryll. There’s even a Gears Tactics game which is basically X-Com but with the Gears of War universe.
And we have also seen a possible successor to EA’s Skate called Sessions. And new footage for that adorable fox Zelda clone Tunic. And a new Battletoads game. Gotta love the retro throwbacks.

But what’s coming out in 2018 though? Forza Horizon 4, which is set in the historical backdrop of Britain and features dynamic seasons in its open world racing gameplay. Mr Toffee loved Forza Horizon 3 to death, so this one should be up his alley. Still, we can’t dress up the fact that there’s only ONE exclusive this year.
As for Crackdown 3? That’s pushed back for next February.

Xbox Owns Some Familiar Names
Ninja Theory. Playground. Undead Labs. Compulsion Gaming. You might recognize some of these names; they’re now working internally with Xbox. There’s also a new studio called the Initiative and they’re working on an unannounced game. This is nice and all, but shouldn’t they be doing this a few years prior?
You’re Paying $14.90 Monthly For All Of This
But at the end of it, despite the lack of exclusives this year, it all boils down to value and gaming.Â Assuming you bought an Xbox One a long while ago, all you need to do to play these games is to pay a Netflix-esque subscription.
Almost all of these games are available on the Xbox Game Pass from the get-go. Take a look at the trailer below; all those indie games (and even the game above) are playable from the get-go for that tiny-ass monthly fee. Coupled with the Fast Start update this June which makes new games play and load faster, while solving the download problem via machine learning, players may be experiencing a smooth gaming experience.

Xbox’s streaming service approach to gaming is going to pay dividends. In fact, if you want to play games for a moderate price and can’t afford a PC or can’t be bothered to set one up, you might as well buy an Xbox and subscribe to a Game Pass to save money and time. Let’s also not forget that Xbox head Phil Spencer announced a new Xbox in the making.
All Xbox needs now is just a lot more aggressive marketing and push to be ahead of the curve and make people forget about its lack of exclusives this year.
All in all, Xbox’s showing is at a standstill, but still leaning towards a “hell yeah” in terms of presentation. On one hand, its Xbox Game Pass idea and these game announcements make Xbox’s long-term plan, relevance to the public, and future a lot more stable from here on out.
On the other hand, traditionalists will not find much to cheer for here as there’s only one big exclusive coming out close to the end of the year. But for next year? We’re in for some fun times yo! Edit: after seeing ALL of the major press conferences, we felt that we should give Xbox some more love since they did set out to present all the games they have on tap for their console in grand fashion.
Score: 6/10. Good, but not great.


World of Warcraft: Embers of Neltharion Update Coming Hot On 2 May

This one’s for the World of Warcraft fans as you’ll want to hear about the upcoming content updates. The Champions of Azeroth have been exploring the recently re-opened Forbidden Reach, but their attention will soon turn to the underground. That’s because the Embers of Neltharion update is coming on 2 May, along with Dragonflight Season 2 on 9 May.

Embers of Neltharion

Let’s start with Embers of Neltharion. This update includes a brand new zone called Zaralek Cavern, where you can explore, complete quests, and meet new denizens. Plus, guilds will be able to invite players from the opposite faction, giving you access to new guild chat, bank access, and calendars. There’s also a new renowned track called Loamm Niffen with new rewards and activities to unlock. And for all you dragon enthusiasts out there, there are new racing courses, glyphs, abilities, and a new drake to ride.
But that’s not all! Embers of Neltharion also comes with class tuning and balancing, HUD/UI updates, and tons of new gear, mounts, and pets to collect.

Season 2
Now onto Dragonflight Season 2. The new raid, Aberrus, the Shadowed Crucible, will have you facing off against nine bosses to stop the Incarnates and Scalecommander Sarkareth from accessing Neltharion’s secret laboratory. And for Mythic+ fans, there’s a new rotation that includes returning dungeons like Freehold, The Underrot, Neltharion’s Lair, and Vortex Pinnacle. The system also received some major changes, including the removal of a seasonal affix and a revamp of the base affixes.
All in all, these updates are sure to keep you busy and entertained for hours. So mark your calendars for 2–9 May and get ready for some epic adventures in World of Warcraft! For more info check out the official blog post.


Here’s Your First Look At Persona 5’s Joker In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

We haven’t forgotten about Super Smash Bros. Ultimate; we’ve just been too busy with a ton of games these past few months. So it’s serendipitous to see a major new update for the Nintendo Switch fighter during one of our very few lull periods of the year.
Persona 5’s Joker, or Segata Sanshiro in my playthrough, will be a playable character in SSBU in the latest version 3.0 update. Let’s break it down:

He’s part of the Challenger Pack 1, and he’s billed as a fast knives-wielding and agile fighter. He’s light and susceptible to hard hits, but he has great mobility.

He has a grappling hook for manoeuvring, some ranged gun attacks that he can dodge cancel out of, and can use Eiha (via Arsene) for multi-hitting power specials.

He can gather power by guarding attacks using his Rebel’s Guard down special input. His Rebellion gauge builds up and he takes less damage than usual using this move. Releasing the down special input (if you hold it) will push nearby opponent’s back.

If his Rebellion gauge is full, Joker will unmask himself and summon Arsene. This form gives Joker a lot more moves and adds more damage & counters to his attacks.
He also gets Wings of Rebellion, a very awesome getaway and flying tool that renders Joker invincible during the flight.

His Final Smash is All-Out Attack. It’s fast, it can hit a second time if you tilt your d-pad again, and it evokes the same All-Out Attack from the Persona 5 RPG if it confirms, right down to the final pose. It can hit multiple opponents too!

He also brings along the Memento Stage, a new playable arena for the game. The stage changes between Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 aesthetics and music as the fight rages on. It’s pretty cool if you’re fans of the new-age Persona games.

The “Behind The Mask” remix for SSBU is just too cool for school.

Check out the latest Nintendo video portraying the leader of the Phantom Thieves. Joker and the 3.0 update will be out 17 April US time (later at GMT+8).


You Can Now Earn Overwatch League Tokens With (Almost) Zero Effort

In a bid to bump up their (already impressive) Overwatch League viewership on Twitch, Blizzard will be rewarding everyone who watch the stream live with Overwatch League Tokens that can be used to obtain the Overwatch League hero skins in-game. As detailed by Twitch’s official blog:
“Youâ€™ll get one League Token at the end of every live map finish. And some lucky viewers will get 100 tokens for every final map they watch per matchâ€Šâ€”â€Šenough to get your favorite Overwatch League team skin in the game.”
However, there’s a catch: TheÂ awards are available only in Argentina, Canada, Chile, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and United States. Tokens expire December 31, 2018 if not redeemed into the Overwatch game and will not be replaced.
No Malaysia or Singapore. Darn it.

Here’s to hoping that the offer to be expanded to more countries as Stage 2 progresses.
On top of that, they are also rewarding active viewers who participate in the chat, and cheering using the Bits feature. Bits is a special currency that can be bought for as little as US$10 for 1000 Bits for first time buyers.

Using this currency, viewers can cheer for their teams by spending them on a team’s Cheeremote which rewards them withÂ that teamâ€™s exclusive Twitch emote. Also, for every 100 Bits spent on a Cheer, youâ€™ll get a random Overwatch Hero emote to use on Twitch.

By cheering using Bits, viewers will also work together in unlocking exclusive loot once a threshold is reached. At time of writing, everyone’s pooling in Bits to unlock an exclusive Tracer skin.Â Â


Sega Genesis Mini Gets A Launch Date And A Bunch Of Classic Games

Sega’s classic console, the Sega Genesis, also known as the Mega Drive in certain regions, is getting a reboot in the form of the Sega Genesis Mini/Mega Drive Mini. Think of it as the PlayStation Classic, but in Sega flavour.

The console will include a three-button controller as opposed to the six button controller in the Japanese Mega Drive Mini version. While the Mega Drive Mini will be sold in SKUs that come with one or two controllers, there is only one Genesis Mini SKU, which contains two USB-wired controllers by default. The package also includes a USB power adapter, a power cable, and an HDMI cable.

The games will differ according to different regions. The Japanese version will get these games, along with more unannounced games;

Gunstar Heroes
Comix Zone
Shining Force
Space Harrier II
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Puyo Puyo Tsu
Madou Monogatari I
Powerball
Rent-A-Hero

While the American version will have these games preloaded;

Sonic the Hedgehog
Altered Beast
Dr. Robotnikâ€™s Mean Bean Machine
ToeJam & Earl
Ecco the Dolphin
Castlevania: Bloodlines
Comix Zone
Gunstar Heroes
Shining Force
Space Harrier II

The Sega Genesis Mini/Mega Drive Mini will release on 19 September 2019 worldwide. So far, there is no pricing in sight, nor any pre-order date revealed. Keep an eye out as we update on more info of the classic console.

For more info, head on to its official page here.


Anime Puzzle RPG Game Murasaki7 Is Now On Android Early Access

Developer Chamoji have announced that their new anime-styled puzzle RPG mobile game, Murasaki7, has been globally available on Early Access for Android on the â€‹Google Play Storeâ€‹ since 9 December 2019.
Murasaki7 is a new, exciting spin on the puzzle RPG mobile game genre by featuring a unique story with over 200 levels and several other game modes to enjoy. Best of all, the game offers adorable and kawaii anime girls galore.
The synopsis for the game reads:

When the best of humanity discovered the planet Gaia XV, they aimed to create a new, technologically advanced world where justice and order dominates above all.
Believing computers are incorruptible, the hyper-intelligent, self-learning AI, Genesis, was developed to control computers and machinery, as well as to rule over all of Gaia XVâ€™s inhabitants.
Unfortunately, a twisted idea formed in the AIâ€™s logic: designed to protect humanity, the AI found out that the greatest danger to people are themselves.
Thus, it aims to release the planetâ€™s noxious gases that would put everyone in a permanent, unconscious state, after which Genesis can care for everyone in stasis.
With the fate of the planet hanging on the balance, Ellie Reigns travels across Gaia XV in search for weapons and warriors that can put an end to Genesis’s tyranny!

Android users who previously â€‹pre-registeredâ€‹ for Murasaki7 will receive a 5-star character named Ellie Reigns. However, all new players will also enjoy a Welcome Gift Pack containing 2,000 Gems, 3-day Gaianite Player EXP Booster, and 15,000 Gaianite.
There are several game modes in Murasaki7:

Adventure – Follow the story of Murasaki7 (Murasaki Seven) and help the Angels liberate Gaia XV by defeating the enemies.
Blitz Raid – Earn points by dealing damage to enemy boss within the limited time and receive daily and monthly rewards for being part of the leaderboards.
Daily Missions â€‹- Play daily missions to earn hero materials and Gaianite!
Friendship Quest – Complete puzzle quests with your friends and receive rewards depending on the difficulty of the task.
PvP (Coming Soon) – Compete with players of your calibre, climb the rankings, and try to stay on top.

Here are the minimum specs for your mobile device:

Android OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Memory: 3GB

Here are the recommended specs for your mobile device:

Android OS: Android 9.0 Pie
Memory: 4GB

Murasaki7 is now available to download as an Early Access game on the Google Play Store here. There are plans for an iOS release, though Chamoji have yet to announce any release dates.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNMX86fddX0&w=560&h=315]


Watch Dogs: Legion Will Not Be Getting Any More Updates

Ubisoft just announced that its open-world action-adventure title Watch Dogs: Legion will not be getting future updates, with update 5.6 being its last.
To recap, Watch Dogs: Legion has received about a year and a half’s worth of DLC and extra content post-launch, including new multiplayer modes and story DLC featuring the first Watch Dogs’ protag Aiden Pearce. The final new multiplayer season Stripes will be out as planned.
So what’s next? The game will enter an end-of-life mode for multiplayer, cycling through previous seasons indefinitely. Here’s the official statement from Ubisoft:
“The current season 4 Rebels track, containing 80 ranks, will run until January 22, 2022, followed by Season 5 Stripes. After that, Seasons 3-5 will continue to cycle and return to the game, giving you the opportunity to acquire rewards you might have missed out on in the past. Some rewards to look forward to are a modified version of Aiden Pearce’s jacket, and Jackson’s mask and clothing set.”

We wanted to express our thanks to all players of Watch Dogs: Legion. You've built the best DedSec London could have hoped for. https://t.co/FMmOUXHDBf pic.twitter.com/CKV91DhKj1
— Watch Dogs: Legion (@watchdogsgame) January 21, 2022

Seems like a natural course of action, given that the Watch Dogs games have always been more a single-player title than one with multiplayer-focused possibilities.


PS Plus February 2022 Offers A Borderlands Spinoff, MMA Fighting & More

Gamers will have four new games to look forward to in the PlayStation Plus Asia February 2022 lineup. From 1 February 2022 to 28 February 2022, PS Plus subscribers will be able to redeem Tiny Tinaâ€™s Assault On Dragon Keep A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure, EA Sports UFC 4, Planet Coaster Console Edition and Dragon’s Crown Pro.
Check them out below:
EA Sports UFC 4 | PS4

No matter how or where you play, EA Sports UFC 4 puts you at the centre of every fight. Develop and customise your character through a unified progression system across all modes. Go from unknown amateur to UFC superstar in the new Career Mode, or challenge the world in new Blitz Battles or Online World Championships to become the undisputed champ. Fluid clinch-to-strike combinations offer more responsive and authentic stand-up gameplay, while overhauled takedown and ground mechanics deliver more control in those key phases of the fight.
Tiny Tinaâ€™s Assault On Dragon Keep A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure | PS4

Smash skeletons, defeat dragons, and battle giant golems in this first Wonderlands adventure inspired by Borderlands. Experience the acclaimed 2013 quest that started it all in this standalone campaign jam-packed with fantasy, fun, and mountains of magical loot! Pick from six unique Vault Hunters, each with their own signature abilities and powerful builds, and jump into chaotic fantasy battles in solo or co-op.
Use souped-up firearms to blast your way through treacherous forests, spooky crypts, and fearsome fortresses. Be warned though: your journey can change in an instant on account of Tinaâ€™s gleefully chaotic whims.
Planet Coaster Console Edition | PS5

Surprise and delight crowds as you build the coaster park of your dreams and manage a truly living world with unparalleled attention to detail. Whatever your skill level, bring your ideas to life. Take advantage of Blueprints to quickly place over 700 pre-made objects, including coasters, facilities and scenery; build from the ground up with detailed piece-by-piece construction; or transform the ground itself with terrain-altering tools. Running your park is just as easy. Guests react in real-time as you set prices, place scenery, and install exciting new attractions. Keep them entertained so attendance figures â€“ and profits â€“ skyrocket.
Looking for inspiration? Discover the Frontier Workshop and harness the worldâ€™s best designs in your expanding empire. Download coasters, scenery, buildings, and entire parks, or grow a following by uploading your own creations. From stunning firework displays to sprawling cruise ships, thereâ€™s no limit to creativity.
Dragon’s Crown Pro | PS4

Regardless if whether magic or steel is your fancy, Dragonâ€™s Crown Pro offers a variety of ranged and close combat options for this classic, side-scrolling, beat â€˜em up. Band together, or journey solo, as one of six playable classes and explore a winding dungeon with new adventures at every turn.
With refined, painted artwork and 4K compatibility, exploring dungeons and battling dragons have never looked so spellbinding. The soundtrack of swords and sorcery has also been revamped and re-recorded by a live orchestra.


16 Things That Sets the S23 Ultra Apart From the S22 Ultra

Samsung recently unveiled their 2023 flagship phone model, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra last week. Cannot tell them apart? We don’t blame you. At first glance, the new phone looks very similar to the one it is replacing leaving even the techiest of TechTubers scratching their heads.
We’ve gotten our grubby paws on the S23 Ultra for review so you can expect the thorough shakedown of Samsung’s 2023 flagship to come soon. Having reviewed the S22 Ultra as well, a comparison piece is inevitable. So allow us to point out the key differences between last year’s hero model to the one replacing it.
Hopefully this helps your decision on whether to splash a small fortune on the latest model or save a bit by either sticking with or opting for the S22 Ultra instead.
Left, S22 Ultra, Right, S23 Ultra

1. New chip = overall better performance
The S23 Ultra runs on a custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip. Running on most advanced smartphone chip in the market should, theoretically promises an even smoother experience due to faster computational performance and better power management to boot.
2. Higher storage & RAM in base model
One of the common gripes from last year’s model was the relatively low specs for the base version of the S22 Ultra. A paltry 8GBs-worth or RAM and 128GB non-expendable memory are nowhere adequate for a modern, flagship-tier smartphone. Thankfully Samsung listened resulting in the lowest-spec S23 Ultra now equipped with 12GBs worth of RAM and double the size of internal storage, at 256GB.
3. S23 Ultra is slightly heavier
The S22 Ultra was a chonky boy and the 23 is chonkier. As shown here, this year’s model weighs about 7g heavier. At this rate, Samsung should ship every Ultra device with a proper belt. For pants.
4. S23 Ultra has a smaller speaker grille
The speaker grille on the S22 Ultra was already small. The boffins at Samsung somehow managed to make it even smaller without sacrificing sound quality. This results in a cleaner, unintrusive look when consuming media such as movies on your device. Props for that!
5. S23 Ultra has a boxier feel
The S22 Ultra had a curved screen which bled into the side panels of the phone. This results in a somewhat slippery feel to it. Physics, see. Less surface area to hold equals less grip. To remedy this, the S23 Ultra have a distinctively angular feel, with flat side panels allowing for a more confident grip when operating the device.
Left, S22 Ultra; Right, S23 Ultra.
6. S-Pen base on the S23 is square-ish vs the more oval in S22-Ultra.
On-brand with the ‘boxier’ theme of the S23 Ultra, the S-Pen which comes with the device also sports a squarish base. It still feels the same in hand. We tested the S-Pen from the S22 Ultra on the S23 Ultra test unit and it works interchangeably.
7. 12 MP front camera in S23 Ultra vs 40 on S22 Ultra; Less Means Better (?)
One noticeable ‘downgrade’ – at least on paper – on the S23 Ultra is the front-facing camera. Last year’s model had a 40MP camera. We only get a 12MP one this year. HOWEVER, Samsung kept reiterating that this does not equate to a lesser setup, as this year’s model comes with a larger and more advanced sensor. The spiel is that the front camera on the S23 Ultra also supports Super HDR and can now shoot clips at 60 fps, an improvement from the 30 fps found on last year’s model.
8. 200MP main camera vs 108 main camera on S22 Ultra
From one noticeable ‘downgrade’ to an upgrade that’s been one of the main highlights. If you thought the 108MP main camera on the S22 Ultra was ridiculous and overkill, Samsung pushed the envelope with a 200MP main shooter this year. Couple that with improved processing, any bad photos taken with an S23 Ultra henceforth is the photographer’s skill. Or lack thereof.
9. Slightly different camera modules placement; slightly larger camera bump on the S23 Ultra
At a glance, you may have a hard time discerning the two but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice that the camera rings on the S23 Ultra are larger. Also, you can tell them apart by looking for the laser Auto Focus sensor. It is bright red on the S22 Ultra while on the S23 Ultra, it’s more muted.
10. S23 Ultra comes with One U.I 5.1 out of the box. S22 Ultra still running on 5.0
Out of the box, the S23 Ultra comes with the One U.I version 5.1 installed. The S22 Ultra is still on the 5.0, but expect it to receive the same 5.1 treatment pretty soon. It is worth mentioning that Samsung has promised a four years worth of major operating system updates on their phones, plus five years of security updates. This basically translates to guaranteed, longer software support if you get the S23 Ultra.
11. S23 Ultra has similar battery capacity but better power efficiency
Despite carrying batteries of the same capacity, expect better power efficiency from the newer device mostly due to the new chip. However, battery performance on the S22 Ultra is no slouch. Normal users can easily go through a full day without charging and still cap off the day with about 35% capacity left. In layman’s terms, incremental but significant power efficiency with this year’s device.
12. S23 Ultra now shoots 8K 30fps video vs a ‘mere 24fps with the S22 Ultra
A godsend for 8K video aficionados out there. 6fps may seem miniscule but makes a whole lotta difference once you experience it. The bigger storage size also helps as these larger format videos, even for a short clip, eats a ton of space.
13. S23 Ultra OIS range has been doubled
Optical Image Stabilizers is super helpful when you are recording while on the move. Imagine recording your kids during sports day, or your pet while walking them in the park. OIS sensors compensates the micro-movements while recording for a more ‘professional’ and stable outcome. A larger OIS range means increased area to compensate resulting in even smoother outcome. Airplane takeoff videos – let’s go!
14. S23 Ultra is tougher with the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
It’s got to be tougher than last year’s one right? It’s got a ‘2’ in it. And we all know most sequels are the best movie in a trilogy. Terminator 2, The Two Towers, Empire Strikes Back … OK maybe not Attack of the Clones.
15. Slightly faster fingerprint sensor on the S23 Ultra
Now this may be just a placebo effect or recency bias but we feel that the newer device reads our fingerprints and unlocks slightly faster. Possibly only noticeable to those coming from the S22 Ultra, this improvement nonetheless adds a bit more zippiness to the S23 Ultra.
16. S23 Ultra is ‘technically more affordable’ vs S22 Ultra due to bigger RAM & storage in base model (2x); But you may do well with the S22 Ultra anyway.
Both retail at the same price point but the S23 Ultra offers double the storage capacity at 256GB and larger RAM making it overall, when compared side-by-side at launch, the more attractive offer. However, due to the incremental improvement the S23 Ultra carries over from the S22 Ultra, you may not lose much even if you opt for the ‘older’ model. The S22 Ultra surely have taken a significant dip in its value – it is a year’s old now anyway – and you should be able to snap up some good deals if you look hard enough.
So there you have it. We’d love to go up to 23 differences but somewhat ran out of steam. We may edit this piece down the road once we spot more significant differences, but for now, these 16 will do. Also, stay tuned for our full review of the S23 Ultra which is coming soon.


Destiny 2 Beyond Light’s First Raid Has Its First Winners

It’s a glorious day for Destiny 2 fans as Bungie has crowned its first-ever team to finish their latest raid from the Beyond Light campaign, the Deep Stone Crypt.
The Deep Stone Crypt World’s First are clan Luminous, who consist of the following players:

Aoterra
Claw
Flux
Schendzie
SiegeDancers
Sotosolice

They completed the raid in under five hours and a half on 22nd November.

Clan Luminous has been crowned Deep Stone Crypt World First winners, after one of the most exciting #Destiny2 raid races in recent history! https://t.co/6Z1zgclT3t
— DeltaIntel (@DeltaINTEL) November 22, 2020

They were minutes away from their rivals, which included Saltagreppo’s fireteam Elyisum (5 hours, 41 minutes) and The Legend Himself (5 hours, 44 minutes). Previously, The Legend Himself won the World’s First for the previous raid Garden of Salvation. This is followed up by fourth-place World’s First team Saber’s Fireteam (5 hours, 45 minutes) and fifth place’s TeamTHrow (5 hours, 53 minutes).
The win wasn’t without any controversies. A lot of folks on Twitter accused clan Luminous of cheating that allowed them to speed through the raid. As a result, the World’s First title run results were given time to be verified until the 22nd November PST.
This also means that there will be a frame of reference on how to complete the latest Destiny 2 Raid. We’ll be putting up our Deep Stone Crypt guide soon enough.


Assassin’s Creed Mirage Release Date Leaked By Japanese Retailers

According to listings on the website of Japanese retailers, Assassin’s Creed Mirage will launch on 12 October 2023. This release date might very well be potentially true because Japanese retailers generally will not list a release date for a product unless it’s already official.
Japanese retailers don’t use placeholders. However, an official release date has not been officially announced by Ubisoft yet.

Japanese retailers have listed Assassin's Creed Mirage with an October 12 release date.
(Japanese retailers generally don't date a product unless official. In other words, placeholder dates aren't a thing.)
A release date hasn't been officially announced by Ubisoft yet. https://t.co/THpTqO1NW0
— Gematsu (@gematsu) May 24, 2023

Earlier this month, other rumours have been corroborating this, saying that Ubisoft will launch Assassin’s Creed Mirage on 12 October 2023. That’s according to French Assassin’s Creed data miner and leaker j0nathan, who made the alleged claim in a recent YouTube video.
It was only last year in September 2023 that Ubisoft confirmed Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be the next game in the series.
We still know next to nothing about the game, except that Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be set in 9th-century Baghdad and is described as a back to roots gameplay from earlier games in the franchise. Development of the game is being led by Ubisoft Bordeaux, the studio behind Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s Wrath Of The Druids expansion DLC.
We’ll probably learn more at the Ubisoft Forward 2023 on 13 June 2023.
In other recent news, Ubisoft also announced that they plan to increase the size of the Assassin’s Creed development team.
In the meantime, re-watch the reveal trailer below:


Omega Force’s Monster Hunter-Like Game, Wild Hearts, Launches In February 2023

Omega Force and EA have announced Wild Hearts, a new adventure game set in a fantasy world inspired by feudal Japan, which is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC on 17 February 2023.
The newly-revealed trailer shows off the gameplay and combat, which looks reminiscent of Capcom’s Monster Hunter. However, it looks like the developer is adding unique mechanics, like a live crafting system that enables players to build traps in real time, which looks similar to Fortnite.
Wild Hearts can be played solo or in co-op, with crossplay across all platforms. The game will be released under the EA Originals label, which includes other previously-released games like Lost In Random and more.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Axle Sports Announces Drivers For Le Mans Virtual Series

Following their success in the EERC European Endurance Championship 24-hour race in June, Axle Sports is all set to propel forward in the upcoming Le Mans Virtual series which is scheduled to start on the 25th of September.
Axle Sports, led by Alex Yoong, is honoured to be a part of such a prestigious sim racing event which is thought to be one of the biggest in the world. The team has been selected as one of only 31 teams to compete in the virtual race for the second season in a row. Alex would have fond memories of the worldâ€™s oldest active sports car endurance race as he won â€˜Rookie of the Yearâ€™ when he first competed in Le Mans back in 2006.
https://www.facebook.com/axlemotorsport/posts/10159605284804002
The newly re-named and expanded Le Mans Virtual Series will be a global, elite series made up of five rounds, and kicks off on 25 September 2021 with a 4-hour endurance race at Monza.
Yoong said:
â€œIâ€™m really proud of what Axle Sports has achieved in esports in a really short time.
When we entered last year, we were new to rFactor2 and did not know what to expect.
But now, with a yearâ€™s experience under our belt, we have become a leading rFactor2 team in the region with multiple victories not just here but also in Europe.
Our aim is to win. Our aim is to show that we have the talent in Asia Pacific to take on the best teams in Europe and beat them.”
Axle Sports will be relying on one of the fastest sim racers in Malaysia, Naquib Azlan, who recently won his second eRacing GP Global Edition championship in May 2021.
Naquib said:
â€œIâ€™m delighted to be a part of this team and I canâ€™t wait to share the stage with some of the best drivers in the world.â€
Naquib Azlan will be accompanied by Josh Purwien (Australia) and Team Flash driver, Muhammad Aleef (Singapore) who will drive Car #21 in the LMP Class, while Alister Yoong (Malaysia), Mikko Nassi (Singapore) and Inigo Anton (Philippines) will be competing in the GTE Class in Car #61.
The first four rounds, taking place between September and December, will be held strictly online, with the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual taking place as the climax of the premier endurance esports championship.
The finale will be a live, televised event within the 2022 Autosport International motorsport show in Birmingham, U.K. on 15 and 16 January 2022, with 50% of the entire US$250,000 prize fund available for the 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual standalone race.


TGS 2018: Mega Man 11’s Latest Trailer Is The 20XX Version Of The Ice Capades

Capcom just released a new Robot Master trailer for Mega Man 11. We now have our ice-based villain Tundra Man and he is…fabulous.

He comes with a lot of twirley ice-skating moves (hence the headline) and with his own spotlights like as if he’s on stage. Defeating him will net you the Tundra Storm which is a short vertical ice wind burst attack. Think of it as a nerfed column version of Storm Eagle’s Storm Tornado or Tengu Man’s Tornado Hold.
We do wonder if Tonya Harding would give Tundra Man a run for his money in doing a triple axel. Mega Man 11 comes out 2nd October for PS4, PC, and Xbox One.


High On Life Is The Top Xbox Game Pass Title Right Now

Squanch Games’ first-person shooter with the talking guns, High On Life, has received mixed reviews. That didn’t really bother most people as High On Life is currently the most popular game on Xbox Game Pass right now. It’s currently holding the top spot above Minecraft, Forza Horizon 5, FIFA 22, and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.

How HIGH can @highonlifegame go!? TO THE TOP is the correct answer. Huge congratulations @SquanchGames @JustinRoiland and team! ????????? https://t.co/wUNOBqMq88
— Aaron Greenberg ??????U (@aarongreenberg) December 19, 2022

The game also sold well at full price, taking 5th place in the Xbox’s sales rankings just below Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, FIFA 23, and Madden NFL 23.
So how’s the game? It’s decent according to us at the office, but it’s dependent on your tastes. If you love Rick & Morty’ brand of humour, High On Life might feel derivative, or it could be what you need: more of it. Its gunplay is decent and has some neat gun and secondary fire ideas, but it does have a few technical hiccups frame-rate-wise. If you have Xbox Game Pass, you might as well give it a shot as it’s free.


Activision Blizzard Faces New Sexual Harassment & Discrimination Lawsuit

Activision Blizzard cannot catch a break still.
The bigwig publisher that’s being acquired by Microsoft is facing more legal trouble, being hit with a new lawsuit containing fresh allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. A Bloomberg report stated that attorney Lisa Bloom filed the lawsuit in the Los Angeles County Superior Court for a current employee named “Jane Doe”. Here’s the lawsuit:
“For years, Activision Blizzard’s open ‘frat boy’ environment fostered rampant sexism, harassment and discrimination with 700 reported incidents occurring under CEO Robert Kotick’s watch.”
Jane Doe joined the company in 2017 as a senior administrative assistant in the IT department. She was pressured regularly to drink alcohol and participate in lewd games. Her female employees were regularly subjected to sexual comments and groping by male colleagues during alcohol-fuelled “cube crawls” in the office. She failed in making multiple attempts to escape in different departments in the company, though she was eventually offered another role with a lower status and significantly lower salary after complaining directly to ex-Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. Furthermore, her November 2021 application for an executive assistant position was rejected after speaking out about her experiences with the company the following month.
As of now, Jane Doe is seeking multiple court orders. These include the start of a rotating HR department to stop conflicts of interest as well as the firing of Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick. The latter is expected to leave the company after Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard for US$68.7 billion.


Facebook’s Farmville Is Shutting Down At The End Of 2020

Zynga’s Farmville has been one of Facebook’s biggest games since it launched in 2009. The agriculture farming simulation game was a fun way for people, both casual and hardcore gamers alike, to spend their free time on the streaming site with.
After 11 years, Zynga is finally shutting down Farmville permanently on 31 December 2020, according to an official blog post. The reason for this decision is because Facebook will stop supporting all Flash games on the platform completely by that exact date.
Farmville‘s in-app purchases will be available until 17 November 2020, but no refunds will be given. At its peak, the original Farmville apparently reached over 40 million players per month.
If you’re still hankering for a farming simulator, Farmville 2: Tropic Escape and Farmville 2: Country Escape are currently available and free-to-play on Android and iOS. That might help bide your time until Farmville 3, which Zynga also confirmed in the same blog post.
However, no further details or information were revealed about Farmville 3. In the meantime, let’s all mourn the soon-to-be abandoned virtual farms.


The Best Graphics Settings For Deathloop On PC

We love Deathloop a lot, but we can’t lie and say that our PC gaming experience with the title is 100% perfect.
For some reason, our VRAM usage for the game exceeds the limit despite the fact that we’re not running any other program apart from Steam and the game. There are some bugs and stuttering going on in the PC version: it’s not the worst problem to have but it is rather annoying.
Luckily, we’ve sorted that out. Until Bethesda and Arkane launch a new update to fix some of its PC problems, here are the graphic settings we recommend when playing Deathloop on PC for the best optimal experience and highest frame rate possible.
Before we start, here are the recommended settings for Deathloop on PC:
Minimum Specs (1080p, 30fps with low settings)

OS : 64 bit Windows 10 version 1909 or higher
Processor : Intel Core i5-8400 @ 2.80GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Memory : 12 GB
Graphics : Nvidia GTX 1060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 580 (8GB)
DirectX : Version 12
Storage : 30 GB available space (HDD)

Recommended Specs (1080p, 60fps with high settings)

OS : 64 bit Windows 10 version 1909 or higher
Processor : Intel Core i7-9700K @ 3.60GHz or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Memory : 16 GB
Graphics : Nvidia RTX 2060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5700 (8GB)
DirectX : Version 12
Storage : 30 GB available space (SSD)

Ultra 4K Specs (4K, 60fps with Ultra settings)

OS: 64 bit Windows 10 version 1909 or higher
Processor : Intel Core i9-10900K @ 3.70GHz or AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
Memory : 16 GB system RAM
Graphics : Nvidia RTX 3080 (10GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16GB)
DirectX : Version 12
Storage : 30 GB available space (SSD)

Basics

There’s a ton of settings to play around with Deathloop. The biggest one that will impact your frame rate is the resolution you’re playing the game at. The ideal option is 1080p with a hard FPS cap of 120fps, with VSync off. If you have a decent graphics card, you can opt for 1440p on Ultra settings.
Let’s go step-by-step on which graphic settings affect Deathloop the most.
Shadow Details
This setting has the biggest impact on performance. You can just reduce this to the lowest since the shadows don’t really look that good in Ultra for some reason. Just go for Low or Very Low to get the best frame rate.
Texture & Model Details
Blackreef and its Eternalists look really good even if these texture settings are set to low. Just crank Texture Details to Low and Model Details to Medium.
Ambient Occlusion
Deathloop supports AMD graphics cards more, so the game will default to FidelityFX CACAO. If you have an Nvidia card instead, just switch to Nvidia HBAO+.
If you have expensive next-gen hardware, just switch to Raytraced Performance or Raytraced Quality rendering and see how your FPS is doing.
Post Processing Anti-Aliasing
While it’s tempting to turn this off for a higher frame rate, the game will look pretty blocky and messy. We suggest you just turn it between Low and High and see how your FPS turns out. If you have next-gen hardware, just put it to Temporal, or High at best.
While you’re at it, turn off Camera Motion Blur and Bloom. These options are unnecessary in a lovely-looking first-person shooter like Deathloop.


New Total War Pharaoh Trailer Showcases All The Egyptian Leaders

Creative Assembly and Sega have unveiled a new deep-dive trailer showcasing the four different leaders of the Egyptian faction; Ramesses, Seti, Tausret, and Amenmesse.
In Total War Pharaoh, the newest entry in the award-winning grand strategy series, immerse yourself in ancient Egypt at the zenith of its power and experience the dramatic events that threaten its destruction.
The setting is this:
With the end looming for the great Pharaoh Merneptah, the people of Egypt cry out for a new leader. Many desire the power of the throne, but the path to becoming Pharaoh is a perilous one. Unearth a breathtakingly vibrant recreation of the Bronze Age Collapse as you battle societal disarray, face natural disasters and fight to protect your people against waves of invaders.
Prove your legitimacy to become Pharaoh, or Great King of the Hittites, and expand your growing empire on a campaign map that spans the rich cultural hubs of Egypt, Canaan and Anatolia. With a choice of eight Faction Leaders, step into their unique playstyles and take charge of diverse unit rosters. Whether you’re charming the courts as a peerless diplomat, charging into battle as an unwavering commander or causing chaos as a fearless warlord, become a leader that history will remember.
The base game contains eight playable faction leaders from three diverse cultures:

Egyptian: Ramesses, Seti, Tausret, Amenmesse
Canaanite: Bay and Irsu
Hittite: Kurunta and Suppiluliuma

With a brand-new Campaign Customisation feature, no two campaigns will ever feel the same. Determine how you play with an extended range of campaign customisation options, such as random starting positions for all factions, detailed resource settings, the ability to toy with natural disasters and much more.
Total War Pharaoh will launch on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store sometime in October 2023.
In the meantime, check out our review of A Total War Saga Troy MYTHOS here. In addition, check out my review of Total War Warhammer 3 and Immortal Empires here.
Check out the new deep dive trailer below:


Steam Game Festival Is Now Live; 500+ Free Game Demos Available

Steam’s February game festival, aptly called the Steam Game Festival: February 2021 Edition, is now live.
The week-long online event from the 4th to 10th February (GMT+8) not only features developer livestreams and chats, but more than 500 PC game demos of various genres for you to try out. Here are our picks, in case you don’t want to wade through the algorithm set upon your account.
Siege Survival: Gloria Victis

Here’s a grimy-looking survival game for you to try out. You have to manage medieval resources to survive as long as possible from a long-as-hell siege. Download it here.
Despot’s Game

We covered this during the TinyBuild live stream. Now you too can try out this rogue-like tactics oddity on Steam right now.
Graven

Missed Heretic and Hexen back in the 90s? This first-person shooter nod to those medieval classics will sort you out.
SkateBIRD

Think Tony Hawk Pro Skater, but you’re a bird.
Ashwalkers

A greyscale survival game where you live your life as a wastelander trying to get by in a world ravaged by a volcano-related cataclysm. Demo’s here if you want something a little bleak.
Minute of Islands

Explore strange and wonderful islands in this narrative puzzle platformer. Also, gorgeous 2D art style. You can try the demo out now; the full game will be out 18th March.
Rise Eterna

16-bit strategy RPG throwbacks? The Steam Festival’s got them too. Demo’s here.
Loop Hero

Do you want even more of a throwback when EGA and VGA graphic cards were a thing and computer RPGs had that old-timey rough feel to them? Loop Hero will scratch that proverbial itch. Essentially you’re a hero who has to automatically walk in a loop, level up, collect resources, kill enemies, and eventually open up his memory of the past to uncover the game’s underlying narrative. Old-school tropes meets new-school gameplay, in other words.
Happy Game

The weird adventure game-making folks at Amanita Design are making a psychedelic horror title. If you thought Botanicula and Samorost weren’t trippy enough, this one might upend them all.
Stellar Warfare

If you’re a fan of Star Wars or Star Trek, we’re sure that you love a good old big space battle with space ships and explosions galore. Tense Games’ Stellar Warfare will have you living out your fantasy of space battles. You can check out the demo here.
Tunche

LEAP Game Studios’ Tunche stands out amongst the crowded rogue-like action genre with its refreshingly-unique art style and charming visuals. You can check out the demo here.
Expedition Zero

Thrilling for a scary survival horror game? Then, look no further than Enigmatic Machines’ Expedition Zero with creepy atmosphere and snowy Siberian setting. You can check out the demo here.
Balan Wonderworld

If you miss the innocent charm and gameplay of classic platformers, you should check out the Balan Wonderworld demo. Its vibrant visuals and good platforming gameplay will leave you nostalgic for your childhood. In the meantime, you can also head on over here for our preview and thoughts on the demo.


AMG-Chan 2020 Has Been Postponed

Bad news, anime fans in Malaysia. The upcoming AMG-Chan 2020 event has been postponed. AniManGaki made the announcement on their Facebook page just a few hours ago.
You can probably guess what’s the reason. In their post, AniManGaki wrote that they made the decision after consultation with Quill City Mall (where AMG-Chan was to be held), local authorities, and the Ministry of Health. They noted that the region had seen a large increase in Covid-19 cases lately.

“Despite previous plans to take extra precautionary measures on-ground, the risk to continue the event is too high a chance for a potential outbreak,” they wrote. “As our priority would always be the safety of our attendees, staffs, exhibitors and everyone else involved in the event, our team has collectively agreed to make this difficult decision.”

They added, “Our team will be holding an emergency meeting this weekend to re-access the situation and decide on how we are to proceed from here. For now, we just need everyone to stay healthy and well as we ride this out together.”

AMG-Chan was originally meant to be held on March 21 and March 22. It would have had competitions for cosplay, dancing, and singing, booths, and a Granblue Fantasy Versus tournament among other things. The main AniManGaki 2020 event in August remains untouched for now.
While it’s sad to see AMG-Chan affected, safety has to come first, and it’s good to see the AniManGaki team take measures to ensure that.