Peacemaker Episode 6 Breakdown & Easter Eggs Explained

The sixth episode of Peacemaker Season 1 is now streaming on HBO GO and HBO Max. Iâ€™ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you havenâ€™t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, nowâ€™s your chance to stop reading.
The series will explore the origins of the character that Cena first portrayed in James Gunnâ€™s 2021 film,Â The Suicide Squad, which is already currently available on HBO GO.Â PeacemakerÂ isÂ a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.
The series also stars Danielle Brooks as Adebayo, Freddie Stroma as Vigilante, Jennifer Holland as Harcourt, Steve Agee as Economos, Chukwudi Iwuji as Murn, and Robert Patrick as Auggie Smith.
In the meantime, you can check out my breakdown of the ending and easter eggs in The Suicide SquadÂ byÂ heading over here.
You can also check out my previous breakdowns ofÂ PeacemakerÂ Episode 1, 2 and 3 here, as well as Episode 4Â and Episode 5 here.

Murn Is A Butterfly But Not ‘Evil’

It turns out that Harcourt already knew since the explosion in Episode 4 that Murn is a butterfly (since he wasn’t hurt by the explosion). However, Murn explains that his people came to Earth because their planet was dying. Their Queen (Goff or Eek Stack Ik Ik) wanted to dominate Earth while others wanted to live on Earth peacefully. Murn reveals that the butterflies kill their hosts when they take over their bodies.
A Bunch Of Superhero References

Names like The Flash and Wonder Woman gets thrown around.
Peacemaker Accidentally Killed His Own Brother When He Was Younger

We get a glimpse of Peacemaker’s past and it looks like he’s traumatised by the fact that he accidentally killed his own brother. That’s a tragic origin story.
Detective Sophie Song Gets Taken Over By Goff/Eek Stack Ik Ik, Queen Of The Butterflies

Yep, that happened. And she takes over the whole police department too.
It’s Invasion Of The Body Snatchers up in here.
The White Dragon Suits Up

Peacemaker’s father finally suits up as the White Dragon again.
We only have two episodes left. Until then, excelsior!


Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker Will Be The Longest Movie In Franchise History

As Disney released the final trailer for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker earlier today, tickets for the upcoming movie also went on sale in the US. While that is undoubtedly big news on its own, the bigger news here is that the official runtime for the movie has been revealed as a result.
According to AMC Theaters (where tickets for the movie have gone on sale), Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker will have a runtime of 155 minutes, or 2 hours and 35 minutes. That’s only three minutes longer than Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (which previously held the record for longest Star Wars movie).
However, as long as Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, it’s still nowhere near as long as this year’s record-breaking blockbuster Avengers Endgame, which clocked in at 181 minutes, or 3 hours and 1 minute.
Check out the complete list of Star Wars movies from the shortest to the longest runtimes:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) – 98 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) – 121 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – 124 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983) – 131 Minutes
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) – 133 Minutes
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – 135 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999) – 136 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (2015) – 138 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) – 140 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002) – 142 Minutes
Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017) – 152 Minutes
Star Wars Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker (2019) – 155 Minute

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of SkywalkerÂ is slated to release on 20 December 2019. In the meantime, check out the final trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qn_spdM5Zg&w=560&h=315]


Square Enix Launches The World Ends With You Countdown Website

Square Enix has launched a new countdown website that’s related to The World Ends With You. It teases an imminent announcement which will drop in less than seven days, on 24 November 2020.
What is it? It’s not related to the previously-announced The World Ends With You anime because that has its own official website. Plus, this new countdown website was tweeted by the official Twitter account for Square Enix 1st Production Department, which means that it must be a video game.

TIMELIMIT WITHIN 7DAYShttps://t.co/Y0U4JoEShO— SQEX ????????PR (@1stPD_PR) November 17, 2020

For those who don’t know, The World Ends With You was originally an action JRPG game that launched for the Nintendo DS in 2007. It was ported to Android and iOS devices in 2012, before receiving an enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch in 2018, dubbed The World Ends With You Final Remix.
The World Ends With You is also notable for being featured as a playable world to explore in Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance, which was no surprise considering that Tetsuya Nomura is involved with both franchises.
It’s currently unclear if this new countdown website is teasing a sequel to the original game, or if it’s teasing something else entirely; like perhaps something will come out of that alleged appearance in the Kingdom Hearts 3 secret ending.
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei.com for what will eventually be announced in less than seven days.


The Next Star Wars Celebration Is Going To Japan In 2025

Today at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London, it was announced that the world’s biggest Star Wars event will return to Japan for the first time since 2008. It will be the next Star Wars Celebration, taking place from 18 to 20 April 2025, once again at the Makuhari Messe.
Star Wars Celebration is probably skipping 2024 because, in the past, it’s never been an annual event. It usually had a two or three-year gap between events, and only sometimes having had multiple annual events in a row.
Whatever it is, we’ll cover the best of Star Wars, so stay tuned on Kakuchopurei.

see you in Japan #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/bhhskcQ0eK
— Star Wars (@starwars) April 10, 2023


Alienware’s Concept Nyx Still Exists; Focuses At Ultimate At-Home Gaming Server & New Controller

Last year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Alienware showcased its Concept Nyx device, which is an at-home server that stream games throughout the household that aims to be as seamless as possible. Since then, there hasn’t been a peep from the company about the idea.
That all changes in 2023, as Alienware reminds everyone that Concept Nyx is still a thing, just in time for CES 2023. To recap, here’s the official description from last year:
We have been looking at how to power four game streams simultaneously, smart switching among devices, and drawing from a central library of all your games regardless of where you purchase them. Gaming on Concept Nyx aims to be as effortless as accessing your favorite music, TV shows and movies. Imagine a simple app loaded on each device delivering instant access to all your games for a more seamless gaming experience across devices in the home. Imagine no more fighting with your family or roommates over game time (you can still fight over groceries and laundry). Wouldn’t it be nice to tear down the barricades so that everyone can game on their own terms?
Dell Gaming Strategy Lead David Zavelson said that Concept Nyx is still a work-in-progress but has seen a ton of updates. The concept is a flexible gaming experience based on last year’s major announcement, but now the emphasis is on gamers moving their experiences seamlessly across all the different PC platforms they own.
Said updates include the following:

-Split-screen options for single-player games so that players can have multiple complementary apps alongside the main gaming screen.
-The concept of getting children and parents engaged together by playing the same games through Concept Nyx, like parental tools and dashboards.
-A revamped Concept Nyx controller, completely different from the Nintendo Switch-like apparatus on the feature image. Now it looks more like an Xbox controller with a few additions like a fingerprint sensor (the Alienware logo button), a Steam controller-like touchpad that serves as an omnipad with multiple functions & inputs, and an on-screen overlay that shows what the inputs are from the get-go when you prompt it open.
-The fingerprint sensor on the Concept Nyx controller can load up your gaming profiles. Also, pointing the controller to the server and monitor sensor will load up your game instantaneously, so you can continue from where you left off instantly.
-The Concept Nyx controller can have up to 95 functions mapped onto it; it’s as close to having a keyboard in gamepad form.

-An AI Assistant that helps makes gamers multitask better when they’re gaming. For example, it helps you screen calls and tasks while you’re busy with the good stuff. So if you get an important phone call, Concept Nyx will prompt you to stop. Everyone else? The AI Assistant will shove that aside.
There is no release date for the Concept Nyx game controller as of yet.


Stranger Things Season 4 Premieres This May

Netflix has announced that Stranger Things Season 4 will be released in two volumes, with Volume 1 dropping on 27 May 2022 and Volume 2 on 1 July 2022. They also confirmed that Season 4 will be the penultimate season; with Stranger Things Season 5 set to be the last, completing the story arc the Duffer Brothers intended for the people of Hawkins and beyond, as well as the mysterious Upside Down.
The news was revealed via a letter from the showrunners:

We canâ€™t wait forÂ Stranger ThingsÂ Season 4. In the meantime, you can check outÂ my spoiler-filled discussion and theories on whatâ€™s coming inÂ Stranger ThingsÂ Season 4, which I wrote way back in 2019.
Check out the newly-revealed key art below:


The Rogue Legacy Devs Are Releasing A New Pixelated Co-Op Brawler This Month

Man, I’ve spent quite a few hours with the 2D action Metroidvania platformer Rogue Legacy ever since it came out in 2013. I found the many traits you get at random when you start the game over and over rather endearing & annoying at the same time (especially the colourblind one and the gigantism one). Fun times; it seems like the game’s developers, Cellar Door Games, are at it again with their ode to old-school gaming.
Their genre of choice this time around? Side-scrolling beat-em-up; that’s what their upcoming title Full Metal Furies is about. You control one of the female Furies (ass-kickingÂ saviours of this world) to save the world from invading titans. And it’s all done in pixelated 2D glory.

Each selectable character has a specific moveset that requires you to work together with your co-op partner. The Furies have different roles: one’s a Tank who can absorb damage & knock enemies back while one’s an Operator who can lay out a turret to damage enemies from a good distance.
Players will have to pick different roles and co-operate to survive and deal maximum damage to the onslaught of foes they’ll face. There’sÂ also an RPG element to it, with the numbers flying about when you hit & shoot things really hard.
If this tickles your fancy, you need not wait too long; it’s coming out January 17 on PC (via Steam) and Xbox One. There’s no word on a PS4 version though. Stay tuned to a review of this bad boy soon.


Netflix Asia Rebrands Itself As Netflix Malaysia

Several days ago, I wanted to tag the official Netflix Asia Twitter account in one of my tweets. To my surprise, the account was unavailable, or shut down for some reason, preventing me from tagging them in my tweet. What could it possibly have meant? I was afraid that it meant Netflix was going to stop supporting this region or something.
Earlier today I finally received my answer. It seems that the official Netflix Asia Twitter account has officially rebranded itself as Netflix Malaysia starting from today and its first unique Malaysian-flavoured tweet, which you can check out below.

Apa citer pic.twitter.com/hMRRwYymJq
â€” Netflix Malaysia (@NetflixMY) October 1, 2019
Other Asian countries with official regional Twitter accounts include Japan, Indonesia, India, Thailand and the Philippines. This may be good news for Malaysia, as it likely indicates that the Malaysian streaming market is now considered major enough to warrant its own exclusive regional support.
I’m especially loving the Netflix Malaysia Twitter bio, which puts a Malaysian twist on the popular adage, ‘Netflix and chill’.

Netflix and lepak.

We’re looking forward to seeing what Netflix Malaysia has in store for the future. Perhaps even Malaysian Netflix Originals in the making? Fingers crossed.


[Rumour] New Alone In The Dark Game Leaked Before Official Reveal

Update: The Alone In The Dark reboot has a trailer. Check it out below. The game will be out for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series; no release date has been confirmed yet.

A leak has appeared that a remake of the 1992 game Alone in the Dark is in the works. And will be announced later today.
Smartoys, the Belgian Retailer, posted a listing for the game, which appears to be published by THQ Nordic, along with box art and some screenshots, which was backed up by reputable insider AestheticGamer, who shared more information and screenshots on Twitter.

Seems a website posted a bit early the thing I was teasing a few days ago, indeed Alone in the Dark 1 is being remade in the style of RE:2. Be announced properly later today. Southern Gothic Horror w/Lovecraft. Story by the guy who wrote SOMA & Amnesia: The Dark Descent. pic.twitter.com/IqpWK6JwkN
— AestheticGamer aka Dusk Golem (@AestheticGamer1) August 12, 2022

The remake has been allegedly described as a “psychological horror meets Southern Gothic”.
This was then followed by a description which reads as:
“This love letter to the cult ’90s game will take you through a story that’s as sinister as it is memorable through the eyes of one of the two protagonists,
Playing as Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood, explore the various environments, fight monsters, solve puzzles and discover the terrible truth about the mansion of Derceto.
In the deep south of the United States during 1920, Emily Hartwood’s uncle disappeared. Accompanied by the private detective Edward Carnby, she looks for him in the manor of Derceto, a mental asylum where something lurks.
You will encounter strange occupants, nightmarish kingdoms, dangerous monsters, and uncover an evil conspiracy. At the confluence of reality, mystery and madness, the adventure that awaits you risk undermining your certainties. Who are you going to trust, what are you going to believe, and what are you going to do next?”

Although the shop listing almost certainly confirmed the game’s existence, AestheticGamer then took to Twitter to further confirm it.
“Indeed, Alone in the Dark 1 is being remade in the style of Resident Evil 2. Be announced properly later today. Southern Gothic horror with Lovecraft. Story by the guy who wrote Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent.”
THQ Nordic will be hosting a digital showcase on 12 August at 12:00 PM (PT) / 3:00 PM (ET) / 8:00 PM (BST) — that’s 13th August 3:00 AM (GMT+8) for us Southeast Asians — so the game will likely be officially announced there.
The original Alone in the Dark is credited as a forefather to the survival horror genre, released four years before the original Resident Evil. The game is set in 1920s Louisiana and tasks its protagonists, Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood, with escaping a haunted mansion.


We’re Getting A Saved By The Bell Reboot, Whether You Want It Or Not

The Saved By The Bell TV series in the late 80s and early 90s is quite a pop culture treasure of a sitcom. It was harmless, disposable entertainment that occasionally had some social commentary and spawned a million high school sitcom clones.
Oh, and it also led to the creation of Funny Or Die’s Zack Morris is Trash series, my current online jam right now when I’m not typing up news like these on a goddamn Saturday.
Anyway, Saved By The Bell is getting a 2020 reboot, featuring returning cast members Mario Lopez and Elizabeth “Showgirls” Berkley as Slater and Jessie respectively. Slater is a gym coach in Bayside High School while Jessie is a mom to one of the new kids in Bayside.

Speaking of kids, there’s no sign of prankster & human douche Zack Morris, though we get to see his son in action in the trailer above. Watching Slater reminisce about the good old days is going to be the show’s schtick. Let’s hope it’s not its only hook.


GameAxis Ade Putra’s Favourite Gaming Things Of 2018

Itâ€™s time to make merry, grab some Steam discounts, and hammer out those “Best of 2018” lists. As my fellow Kakuchopurei pals dig out their Year of the Dog highlights, Iâ€™d like to spend this time sniffing out five positive developments from the industry so far.
Itâ€™s all too easy to count our losses, with this year seeing multiple studio closures and the end of strategy guide makers Prima Games. But as we toast to those bygone memories, let us also cheer for the victories large and small.
After all, weâ€™re all here for the fun of games.
Mad Catz pounces back
Peripherals maker Mad Catz gave us plenty to twiddle, beat, and mash since the early â€˜90s. From racing wheels and drum kits to gamepads and fight sticks, they rode the success of esports and rhythm games while keeping an eye towards space simsâ€™ return. Yet it all came crashing down in 2016, when surplus inventory resulted in losses so tremendous they filed for bankruptcy a year later.
It was a tragic, ignoble end to one of gamingâ€™s titans of hardwareâ€¦ until they pounced back with new ownership right out of Hong Kong. This kittyâ€™s journey isnâ€™t over yet.
Ubisoft fends off Vivendi takeover
Say what you will about their open-world formulas and selling tactics, but Ubisoft sure knows how to navigate hostile seas. In March this year, the publisher finally won its three-year battle for independence against Vivendi, a Goliathan who once counted Activision Blizzard among its own.
Itâ€™s the second defensive achievement by Ubisoft founder and CEO Yves Guillemot, who had previously ended a six-year takeover attempt by Electronic Arts in 2010. This may not satisfy the gripes and criticisms many have levelled at them, but itâ€™s certainly good news for all the developers and subsidiaries under their banner worldwide.
Microsoft acquires 7 new studios
The console wars may be over but Microsoftâ€™s grand plans are only beginning. After a considerably muted stretch for Xbox, the company dropped some green-tipped bombshells at E3 by announcing five studio acquisitions. That was followed by two more in November, adding beloved RPG developers Obsidian and inXile Entertainment to the list.
Together, theyâ€™ll be shaping what is likely to be a service-based future for the Xbox ecosystem, one spanning across console and PC with monthly game subscriptions and cloud streaming. With big money rolling in, weâ€™re expecting these studios to tackle some ambitious projects to drive up user numbers.
Google gets proactive in Southeast Asia
Itâ€™s the star of mobile gamingâ€™s whirlwind rise, but as everyone bleats excitedly over the regionâ€™s users and potential revenue, Google has deigned to cast the spotlight on developers instead. The house of Android recently held the worldâ€™s first indie games accelerator in Singapore, taking 30 studios from SEA and Asia on a mentorship programme that left graduates flushed with gratitude and newfound knowledge.
It ranks low on the gamer-hype totem pole, but itâ€™s by and large an acknowledgement of regionâ€™s budding talent, ones that need a few informed nudges to get on the right path to success.
The Epic Games Store
Many storefronts have risen to challenge the dominant, bloated empire of Steam, but few have had the position and resources to do so. As the creators of Unreal Engine, the bedrock for many critically and commercially successful games, as well as Fortnite, the biggest gaming phenomenon of 2018, Epic Games are one of that privileged few.
With a better revenue cut for developers, financial recognition for content creators, and strong adoption incentives for users, here is a very real and potent competitor to Valveâ€™s aging storefront — and thatâ€™s not considering the long-awaited demand for such an arrival.
What’s In Store For 2019?
The industryâ€™s on the cusp of some major shifts come 2019 and beyond. We have the newly-waged battle between Steam and Epic Games Store to benefit from, plus the ongoing competition between NVIDIA and AMD thatâ€™ll push for better cost-to-performance ratios — seriously, PC gaming isnâ€™t as expensive as you might think.
On the console front, we have the diverging paths of PlayStation and Xbox, both chasing their own visions for next-gen gaming. You shouldnâ€™t discount the Nintendo Switch, either, which just got hit by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and is about to receive a ton of exciting releases next year. Even mobile gaming is up for some exciting possibilities with the advent of devices such as the Razer Phone 2 or ASUS ROG Phone. And who knows where virtual reality is headed off to, now that the hardware is out in the hands of consumers and developers?
Whatever you play, wherever you play it on, itâ€™s always an exciting time to be a gamer. If youâ€™ve exhausted Kakuchopureiâ€™s daily updates, come join me over at GameAxis to gush over the best form of play there is.
See you in 2019!


Lost Judgment Tips & Guide: How To Be The Best Detective

Lost Judgment isn’t a difficult game. There are even two tiers of easy difficulty to make things even easier. You’re basically there for the story, the stylish combat or the many minigames featured in the game.
You won’t really need help most of the time, but here are some tips that can improve the experience. On a related note, you can check out our review of the game here.
How To Restore Health

Restoring health might be obvious in other games, but not in Lost Judgment. There were several times I didn’t realise that my health was low so getting hit just once or twice by enemies resulted in my death.
There are only two ways to restore your health. The first is to visit any of the restaurants in the game (they are the buildings with the knife and fork logo). Talk to the vendor in those restaurants and just buy any food or drinks. However, obviously, you can’t do this during combat.
During combat, the only way to restore health is to use consumable food or items like Toughness Z. To use the, you just need to open your main menu with Options, then head to the Items menu and the first tab will be Recovery Items. You can also assign items to the up button on the D-Pad by tabbing over to Shortcuts in the item menu.
There’s also technically a third way, but it’s not practical. Unlock the Music Appreciation skill in the Special Tab of the Skills menu using your SP. This skill will allow you to gradually replenish your health while you listen to music in the Yagami Detective Agency (your home hub).
Keep Switching Combat Stances & Be Creative To Earn Additional SP

In Lost Judgment, protagonist Takayuki Yagami can change combat stances between three styles: Crane, Tiger and Snake. Crane uses sweeping kicks and is great for handling crowds of enemies, Tiger is great for dishing out damage in general while Snake is best to parry and unarm enemies.
You mainly get SP (the game’s version of experience points) from completing combat encounters, but the amount you get is dependent on how creative you are during combat. If possible, use all three stances in any battle, as well as utilize the environment by executing special EX moves and wield weapons whenever you can (grab bicycles, signs, chairs, etc.).
How To Best Spend Your SP Points

There is no best way to spend your SP points, but you should definitely prioritize several skills in the skill tree. It’s up to your preference, but it’s best to focus on spending your SP on increasing your maximum health and attack damage.
However, even before that, you should get some of the Battle Bonus upgrades, seeing as they can help you gain more SP with every battle, which means that accumulating SP will be less of a grind.
All The Mini-Games In Lost Judgment

There are many, many mini-games in Lost Judgment.
It’s important to note that not all of these mini-games will be available at the same time or in one place. Some of them are DLC-only while some have to be unlocked first.
Here’s a list of them:

Mahjong
Batting Center
Shogi
Club SEGA Arcades (lots of different games)
Darts
Golf
Casino
Dancing Rhythm Game

Arcade Mini-Games

Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Fantasy Zone
Penguin Land
Quartet
Enduro Racer
Woody Pop
Maze Hunter 3-D
Secret Commando

DLC Mini-Games

Fantasy Zone II
Alien Syndrome
Darius II
SDI

Mini-Games That Can Be Played In Versus Mode

Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown
Fighting Vipers
Sonic the Fighters

Don’t Forget The Side Quests For Extra Money And SP

You don’t really need to do any of the Side Cases (side quests) like School Stories. If you wanted to, you can just surf through the story. However, taking the time to do Side Cases will net you a lot more money and SP, in case you need more of those to progress through the main story, unlock more skills or buy the items that you want.


Diablo 4 World First Hardcore Level 100 Claimed; Find Out Who’s In The Top 7

Blizzard recently announced a contest involving Diablo 4, where the first 1000 people to reach level 100 in Hardcore mode (permadeath mode) will get their names etched on a Lilith statue placed in an undisclosed location.
Many have tried and mostly failed, but we now have our first-ever Level 100 Hardcore player right now: streamer Souaib “cArn” Hanaf, a gamer who “used to play StarCraft II and Dota 2 for a living”. He is the world’s first to reach Level 100 in Hardcore mode, with their party comprised of other streamers Zizaran, Cocobear, and Steelmage. cArn’s build is a Whirlwind Barbarian that relied on Battle Shouts and Whirlwind uptime.
Check out the landmark moment below.
 SLAYER gets World First 100 HC by      u/Esuna1031 in      diablo4

At this point of writing the current standings of top 7 worldwide players who reached level 100 are:

Rob (Barbarian, Softcore)
cArn (Barbarian, Hardcore)
Wudijo (Rogue, Hardcore)
Nugiyen (Druid, Hardcore)
Zizaran (Sorcerer, Hardcore)
Steelmage (Sorcerer, Hardcore)
Raxxanterax (Barbarian, Softcore)

Congratulations to these players! There are more players on their way to being level 100 in Hardcore, so it’s not too late for you to have your name on the statue!


The Razer Sonic Xbox Controller Is Now Available

The limited edition Razer Sonic The Hedgehog Xbox Wireless Controller and it comes bundled with a matching charge stand which should charge the controller within three hours.
The controller is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Android and iOS. It also sports texture grips and “impulse analog triggers”. It’s priced at US$199.99, or roughly RM885+, which is pretty expensive. The charging stand is able to fully charge the controller in under three hours.
For more details, head on over here.


We Talk To Japan & Asia’s Best Street Fighter 5 Players About Esports

We sent Mr Toffee down to Japan for a few days during the mega-arcade event JAEPO and the International Challenge Cup 2019. During the latter, teams from Japan fought teams from Asia in different games over the course of 2 days.
Mr Toffee managed to talk to the Street Fighter V participants about, well, Street Fighter V and fighting game esports stuff. The first video is focused on the Asian team -OilKing, NL, and Humanbomb…

…while the second video is focused on the Japanese team – Fuudo, Nemo, and Tokido.

Have fun watching! Let us know what you think about it on the comments below or on our Facebook page.


Sega Gets New Mascot, Who Happens To Be Son Of Old Mascot

Sega’s previous tease wasn’t about Virtua Fighter 6, unfortunately. But it was about something monumental all the same.
The company released an ad announcing its new mascot: the son of the previous mascot Segata Sanshiro. Check out the weirdness below.

For context, Sega had a brute force-based mascot in the 90s (the Sega Saturn period) called Segata Sanshiro. He makes you want to buy Sega and will browbeat you into doing so.

Segata was played by Kamen Rider actor Hiroshi Fujioka. Since he’s 74, he now has his son Maito Fujioka take his place as the new “Segata Sanshiro” as part of the company’s 60th birthday celebration.
Stay tuned as Kakuchopurei will pay attention to additional news coming out during Sega’s anniversary week.


PlayStation Announces EVO Community Series Fighting Game Tournaments

To hype up the next EVO Championship Series Tournament this year, PlayStation will be hosting the EVO Community Series PS4 tournaments.
Basically, this series will be three separate fighting game tournaments leading up to EVO 2021. The tournament will also be the first time Guilty Gear Strive will be represented in an official non-beta capacity.
Plus, Asia fighting game pros and players can start joining this PlayStation-branded tournament starting 26 June. Select matches from these tournaments will be broadcasted on Twitch and YouTube. Here are the details:
FGC Arcade EVO Edition

Date: 10th – 22nd June
Games: Granblue Fantasy Versus, Guilty Gear Strive, Mortal Kombat 11, Tekken 7
Regions: North America, Europe
Prize Pool: US$20,000
Requirements: Active PS Plus membership required, 18+ age. Full rules here.
PlayStation Tournaments EVO 2021 Online Warm-Up

Dates: 26 June – 13 July
Games: Guilty Gear Strive, MK11 Ultimate, Street Fighter 5 Champion Edition, Tekken 7
Regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Asia
Prize Pool: US$19,000
Requirements: Active PS Plus membership required, 18+ age. Full rules here.
PlayStation Tournaments EVO 2021 Online Side Tournaments

Dates: 8th July – 3rd August
Games: BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle, Dragon Ball FighterZ, Granblue Fantasy: Versus, Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. Maxi Boost ON, Skullgirls 2nd Encore, Soulcalibur VI, Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r]
Regions: North America, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Asia, Japan
Prize Pool: US$35,000
Requirements: Active PS Plus membership required, 16+ age. Full rules here.
On a related note, you can now sign up for EVO 2021 Online Asia, happening from 5th to 15th August.


The Next Kingdom Hearts Entry Is A Rhythm Game

Square Enix has finally confirmed the next instalment of the long-running Kingdom Hearts franchise, and it’s… a rhythm game. You read that right, fans, Kingdom Hearts: Melody Of Memory is coming to the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch sometime in 2020.
We don’t have much details and information on the game yet, but according to the official website (translated via Gematsu), the description of the game reads:

Many characters from the Kingdom Hearts series appear as playable characters!
Depending on the stage, Disney characters will appear as guests and lend you their strength.
The game features a massive catalog of over 140 songs, including Kingdom Hearts series music, Disney music, and more.
Enjoy rhythm-based action through unforgettable music.

So far, the trailer for Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory does feature iconic ones like Dearly Beloved (which never fails to bring tears to my eyes), but the major reason why fans of the franchise will want to play the game is that it teases the continuation of the plot from the ending of Kingdom Hearts 3.

In the final moments of the trailer, we see Kairi encountering the Master Of Masters, who is said to be the next major antagonist of Kingdom Hearts. It looks like we might even finally learn his true identity (check out my in-depth analysis of the future of the franchise here), but if I know Tetsuya Nomura, it’s better to keep my expectations in check.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6_PF9DUP6E&w=560&h=315]


Outriders Worldslayer Expansion Is Now Live

Outriders Worldslayer is out now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam, Epic, Windows Store). Outriders is a brutal RPG co-op shooter whose gameplay is focused on combat, which is equally balanced between gunplay and skill usage.
In the expansion, you can take your existing Outriders to new levels of power as you journey deeper into Enoch, or use the character boost to create a new level 30 Outrider geared up and ready to face off against the powerful Altered – Ereshkigal. With new horrors to challenge you and new weapons, mods and gear to discover, you’ll be further developing your build through the new PAX class trees, the long-term progression Ascension System and the game changing third mod slots found only on Apocalypse Gear.
Survive the campaign and continue to push through the new Apocalypse difficulty tiers as you face even greater horrors in the Trial of Tarya Gratar, the brand new endgame.
Outriders is a brutal one-to-three player cooperative looter shooter set in an original, dark sci-fi universe, where you create will your own Outrider from one of four powerful classes. Begin with the original Outriders campaign or use the all-new Level 30 Boost to jump straight into the “Worldslayer” content with a fully geared up Outrider and journey across the diverse and deadly planet of Enoch.
In the meantime, check out our review of the base game here.


Malaysian Cinemas To Re-Open In July

It’s good for cinephiles and movie lovers in Malaysia, as Malaysian cinemas are set to re-open in July after several months of shutdown due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. According to Malaysia Senior Minister of Security Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (via The Star), the government has agreed to allow cinemas, theatres and live events to resume starting from 1 July 2020.
He also added that not more than 250 individuals at any given activity or time can be in attendance, and social distancing must be observed at all times according to the usual standard operating procedures.
Upcoming movies include:

Mulan – 24 July 2020
Tenet – 30 July 2020
Monster Hunter – 27 August 2020
The King’s Man – 17 September 2020
Wonder Woman 1984 – 1 October 2020
Connected – 22 October 2020

Movies coming soon this July. SEE YOU GUYS SOON IN GSC! Stay tuned for more! pic.twitter.com/aRLPDLsubJ
â€” GSC | #STAYSAFE (@GSCinemas) June 22, 2020
(Image Credits: PPB Group Berhad)


Will You Enjoy The 2019 Version Of Disney’s Aladdin? Find Out With These Questions!

I’ll be honest: I am rather conflicted about the live-action remastering of Aladdin, slated for this Thursday.
On one hand, it’s unnecessary and it’s clear as day Disney wants to tap into everyone’s nostalgic tendencies. On the other, it’s a competently-directed film with some slight-yet-welcome tweaks and lovely visual updates to the parable about being truthful and not putting up a facade. Try as Disney might, they can’t suppress the stylings and artistic choices that Guy Ritchie has made in at least making this version of Agrabah and its iconic locations a treat for the eyes in live-action form.
As an advocate of the 1992 animation classic that popularized the fourth-wall-breaking sidekick for future animated products (ie The Genie), I’ve prepared a few questions to determine if you are willing to give this remake a chance. Whether you’re a fan of Disney’s past renaissance or just someone who’s going into this blind, do check out these inquiries aplenty:
#1. Do you want to see the masterful direction of Guy Ritchie, the same man who gave us gangster film classics like Snatch and Lock, Stock, & Two Smoking Barrels, taken to a PG-level wringer here? While not completely muted like Tim Burton’s effort, you can clearly see Guy Ritchie keeping it low-key with flashy-yet-kinda-hollow cinematography.

#2. Are you willing to set aside your biased view and accept the fact that no one will ever replace the enigmatic charm of Robin William’s Genie?
#3. In fact, are you able to keep an open mind and come to terms that Will Smith’s Genie is the show’s scene-stealer with his antics, cocky swagger, and wit, despite the fact that his CGI form is out-of-place and immersion-breaking at times? And thankfully he morphs into human form for the other half of the film?
#4. Speaking of CGI monstrosities, are you also able to tolerate the shenanigans of 2019’s Abu, who is possibly a bigger asshole in this version than in the 1992 classic film?

#5. Would you be keen on hearing classic lines from animated movie forcefully shoved in to pander, and delivered as emphatically as a wooden marionette, to parents who grew up with the past show? Especially when the script would have been fine without these mandatory callbacks?
#6. Are you cool with seeing Mena Massoud’s title character of Aladdin going through the motions as the title character’s charming pauper-turned-prince with a decent performance that doesn’t really elevate beyond its predecessor?

#7. Do you want to see Naomi Scott’s Princess Jasmine be more than a damsel in distress and trophy wife material, complete with her own song number tailor-made for this film to be relevant in this age of #metoo movements? Because personally, this is the only reason why you should at least pay attention to this version of Disney’s Aladdin if you’re one of those progressive movie-goer types. If anything, the Princess Jasmine change is noteworthy.
#8. Would you like to have a pretty weaksauce antagonist in your remastered live-action flick? An actor miscast in a role that portrays him as that oddly creepy uncle, instead of the slimy, scheming, and grandiously evil vizier like in the animated show? Seriously, I thought the live-action Gaston from Beauty & The Beast was inconsequential.

#9. Would you also like a pretty decent side distraction in the form of Nasim Pedrad’s Dalia, Jasmine’s chambermaid who becomes the object of the Genie’s eye?
#10. Also, is your brain able to comprehend the thought of the Genie, a magical entity, being able to woo and boink a human female, essentially reliving a Rule 34 subtopic buried in the depths of the internet in PG form?

#11. Are you ready for a ton of contemporary humour, especially one courtroom scene involving jams as a running joke? Though to be fair, it did make this jaded reviewer snigger a bit.
#12. Would you be down with the artist below to do a rendition of A Whole New World in the end credits? Or keen on hearing a version of the classic Genie-intro tune A Friend Like Me with beats provided by the one and only DJ Khaled?

#13. Do you have a mind of a goldfish where you forget stuff from the early 90s, much less a few weeks ago, and want to see a live-action rendition of an animated show that you can get on Blu-Ray/streaming networks for cheap?
#14. Would you like an ode to that Will Smith movie Hitch at the end of your reboot? You know: the bit with the irrelevant dancing? Because this seems to be a Will Smith thing for comedies and family-friendly flicks involving him? Seriously, I wished there was a set pic of this because it’s just too damn corny and awkward.

If you answered “YES” to most of these questions, then, by all means, spend your money on watching this remake.Â There’s effort clearly put into this show, what with the vistas and welcome bits of narrative that help elevate some of its main stars beyond their past archetypes.
But at the same time, this is a tale that’s old as that other one with the librarian and man-beast that doesn’t need improving or reiterating with the magic of live-action.
Is Disney’s Aladdin 2019 unnecessary and tryhard? Yes, it is. Devoid of entertainment? Definitely not. Aladdin 2019 has its moments and is blatant in its cash-grabbing weaponized nostalgia motives, but trust me when I say that it could have been worst. Like “Disney direct-to-DVD sequel” levels of bad.
FINAL RATING: 50/100


World of Warships: Legends Early Access Now Live On PS4 And Xbox One

After the final round of beta sessions last month, World of Warships Legends Early Access is now live for PS4 and Xbox One users. The game is free-to-play (just like the PC version), so players don’t need to worry about spending money to partake in some intense naval action.
World Of Warships Legends Early Access features:

Over 50 ships of 3 classes: Destroyers, Cruisers, Battleships,
15 maps (including five new maps)
Over 20 commanders
A variety of Combat Missions
Voice Chat
HDR support

Full 4K support will arrive in a later update in summer 2019. Developer WargamingÂ St. Petersburg has refined and improved the gameâ€™s user interface to cater to consoles, including intuitive new controls and console-exclusive content.
The full release of World Of Warships: Legends is slated for sometime in 2019. For more information on the three purchasable editions of the game which offers exclusive premium in-game content, head on over here for all the details.
In the meantime, check out the launch trailer for World Of Warships: Legends below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y1pWGKtKN8&w=560&h=315]


Rurouni Kenshin Anime Reboot To Premiere In 2023

During the Aniplex Online Fest 2022 event on Saturday, the Rurouni Kenshin anime reboot revealed a new trailer, the main staff, and the main cast. T
he anime will premiere in 2023 on Fuji TV’s Noitamina programming block. This is a reboot similar to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and 2011’s Hunter X Hunter, so it will re-adapt the main manga series.
This also means that this 2023 series will eventually animate the final arc of the manga, the Jinchu arc, for the first time ever. The original 1996 anime did not cover the final arc.
Aniplex also revealed character visuals for Kenshin and Kaoru, check them out below:

According to Anime News Network, Hideyo Yamamoto (Strike the Blood, Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka, Cells at Work! Code Black) is directing the anime at LIDEN FILMS. Terumi Nishii is designing the characters, and Y? Takami composes the music. S?ma Sait? stars as Kenshin Himura, and Rie Takahashi costars as Kaoru Kamiya.
Watsuki originally launched his Rurouni Kenshin manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 1994. The manga has more than 72 million copies in circulation worldwide. The manga follows Kenshin Himura, who was once a deadly assassin during the Meiji Restoration and is trying to find a new life beyond violence.
Back in November 2017, police discovered DVDs with footage of naked girls in their early teens in Watsuki’s Tokyo office. He was later charged with child pornography and fined ¥200,000.
The manga was previously adapted into a 95-episode TV anime series, an anime film, three original video anime projects, five live-action films, and a stage musical by the all-female musical theatre troupe Takarazuka Revue.
Check out their trailer:


Borderlands 3 Maurice Black Market Vending Machine Location: 12th August

Heads will explode and hearts will be frozen in this week’s Maurice Black Market vending machine. Here’s where you can find this week’s machine in Borderlands 3.
Maurice’s Black Market Vending Machine Location
To access this vending machine, you have to head down to Jakobs Estate in Eden-6. Make your way to the mansion, then head to the library portion with three stories. We’ll provide the screencaps of the map location and landmarks.

Here are the Legendaries on sale in the vending machine:

Headsplosion sniper rifle
Unending Magnificent pistol
Frozen Heart shield

The Headsplosion is a great Jakobs sniper rifle while the Frozen Heart is a worthy addition to a Zane and FL4K vault hunter build that relies on depleting shield for big Cryo damage and heals for you. Overall, a pretty solid week of Legendary loot.


New She-Hulk Trailer Teases Upcoming Matt Murdock  & Daredevil Appearance

Marvel Studios has unveiled a new look at Charlie Cox’s return as Matt Murdock AKA Daredevil.
The trailer has Jennifer Walters going: “Life would be so much easier if I was just Jen”. Right after that, we hear the voice of Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil, reassuring her, accompanied by clips showing the hero in his new outfit.
Check out my spoiler-free review of She-Hulk here.
Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar, we were given the opportunity to interview She-Hulk head writer, executive producer and showrunner, Jessica Gao. She is also best known for winning an Emmy Award for writing the famous Pickle Rick episode on the Rick And Morty animated series.
Check out my breakdown of She-Hulk Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4 here.


Guardian Tales Adds New Co-Op Mode For Lunar New Year

Guardian Tales, an adventure RPG from Kakao Games introduces the new game mode, â€œCO-OPâ€ along with the new hero, “Lynn” and more content to commemorate this special occasion.

The new game mode “CO-OP” is ready for you to enjoy the game with other players which 4 players can gather their strength to clear the dungeon. In the CO-OP stage, you will race against time. You must clear monsters, run through the maze, and slay the raid boss before the black swarm of mosquitoes kills you. You can also gain more rewards by cooperating with other players in this mode.

Moreover, “Drunken Swordmaster Lynn”, the new fire warrior who is a chef from Shen City was added. She drinks tea, gets drunk, and fights with her own signature “Drunken Swordsmanship” move to soothe the bitterness in her life. Join up with Lynn in the latest pick up hero event as well as her exclusive weapon, “Red Lotus”. Besides, you can get to know her in the new short story, “Lynn’s Bento Shop”.

If you received a lot of red envelopes and don’t know what gift you want to buy for yourself, Guardian Tales prepare the Lunar New Year special package for you. You can get those gems, gold, stamina, and more items at a valuable price. This deal will not last long, so get it before it’s gone. Besides, you can claim tons of rewards in the Lunar New Year roadmap event too. The more event point you gain, the more rewards you can claim.

Guardian TalesÂ is now available on theÂ Google Play StoreÂ andÂ Apple App Store.


Heroes Needed! Overwatch Is Free To Play For A Limited Time

It was recently announced that Gearbox’s hero shooter Battleborn has started the process of shutting down its servers. In the end, no other game in the genre can compare to the success of Overwatch and it looks like Blizzard is going to continue dominating the market.

From 26 November to 4 December 2019, Overwatch is free to play. For PC players, all you have to do is sign up for a Battle.net account, download the Battle.net app, install Overwatch, and you’re good to go. PS4 and Xbox One owners just need to download the game from their respective digital storefronts. Sorry Nintendo Switch players, no free Overwatch for you.
The best part about this free week is that you get access to everything in the game. All heroes, all maps, all game modes. To sweeten the deal, you get to keep your progress if you decide to buy the game after the free trial ends. The standard edition of the game is being sold at a discounted price of US$14.99 (~RM63) while the Legendary Edition is on sale for just US$20.00 (~RM84).
For those of you who already own the standard edition of Overwatch, you can upgrade to Legendary Edition for just US$5.00 (~RM21). Now that’s one heck of a bargain.
The Overwatch free trial will last until 4 December 2019 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Head on over to the Overwatch official website to sign up and download the game. We need more heroes, so what are you waiting for? Join us!


Nacon Unveils New PC Peripherals Range

Gaming peripherals maker best known for their customisable PlayStation 4 DualShock 4 controller, Nacon, yesterday revealed the first pictures of their new range of PC peripherals which were teased at this year’s GamesCom – a gaming mouse, gaming keyboard and gaming headset.
The modular GM-500ES optical mouse:Â

CL-750OM Compact Mechanical Keyboard

GH-110ST Gaming Headset

All three devices carry that distinctive minimalist yet sophisticated look synonymous with the brand. Based on our experience using Nacon products in the past, we have feeling these three PC-centric devices will also carry that high quality feel we experienced with the Nacon Revolution 2 which we reviewed here.
No news on the retail prices for all the products above but rest assured we will update this news piece once we have the details.


Valheim Is Doing Just Great; Now In Steam’s Top Five Most-Played Games

Survival game Valheim is getting more and more love from PC gamers despite being only an Early Access title. It may have a lot to do with its survival and crafting gameplay; it seems to be a cut above the rest and improves upon the survival game formula.
Valheim’s rise has been on a high, selling more than 3 million copies in less than three weeks on Steam. In fact, at one point (precisely yesterday during BlizzCon 2021), the game was at second place on the Steam most-played games chart, just below Counter-Strike GO.Â
Here are the current stats for the top five games on Steam (via Steamdb).

Â Games
Â Players Now
Â Peak Today (22nd Feb, 2021)

Â CS: GO
Â 558,063
Â 1,118,611

Â Dota 2
Â 303,579
Â 635,217

Â PUBG
Â 236,473
Â 440,972

Â Valheim
Â 218,412
Â 502,387

Â Team Fortress 2
Â 106,680
Â 128,525

Keep in mind that Valheim is the only game that’s recent, since it came into play on 2nd February 2021. This means these concurrent player numbers and peak numbers are pretty dang impressive, especially in the Steam top five most-game played charts.
This also cements the fact that if you have a cool hook to your game, there will be people who will jump aboard your PvE-focused survival adventure game. Here’s a quote from Iron Gate Studios co-founder Henrik TÃ¶rnqvist (via PC Gamer) about the state of the game:

“We had a feeling that it would sell pretty well, at least to sustain us, you know. But it being a million seller, and now two million seller, is something we could never have guessed. It’s quite incredible, and very humbling also, I might add.”

If you’re looking for a bandwagon game to jump aboard for streaming and whatnot, give Valheim a go. In fact, use our beginner’s guide to sort yourself out early into the game’s trying areas.


Sing 2 Gets Exciting Final Trailer Ahead Of January 2022 Premiere

United International Pictures (UIP) Malaysia has unveiled the final trailer for Sing 2, the sequel to the 2016 animated musical Sing. It’s made by Illumination, the same studio behind the Despicable Me and Minion movies.
The ever-optimistic koala, Buster Moon, and his all-star cast of performers prepare to launch their most dazzling stage extravaganza yet, all in the glittering entertainment capital of the world. Thereâ€™s just one hitch: They first have to persuade the worldâ€™s most reclusive rock star; played by global music icon Bono, in his animated film debut, to join them.

Buster (Matthew McConaughey) has turned the New Moon Theater into a local hit, but Buster has his eyes on a bigger prize: Debuting a new show at the Crystal Tower Theater in glamorous Redshore City. But with no connections, Buster and his cast, including harried mother pig Rosita (Reese Witherspoon), rocker porcupine Ash (Scarlett Johansson), earnest gorilla Johnny (Taron Egerton), shy elephant Meena (Tori Kelly) and, of course, porcine provocateur Gunter (Nick Kroll), have to sneak their way into the world-famous Crystal Entertainment offices, run by ruthless mogul wolf Jimmy Crystal (Bobby Cannavale).
In a desperate attempt to get Mr. Crystalâ€™s attention, Gunter spontaneously pitches an outrageous idea that Buster quickly runs with, promising that their new show will star lion rock legend Clay Calloway (Bono). Problem is, Buster has never met Clay, an artist who shut himself away from the world more than a decade ago after the loss of his wife. Even worse, Buster has failed to realize that Mr. Crystal is an egocentric gangster who would rather drop somebody off the roof of a building than be lied to.
As Gunter helps Buster dream up an out-of-this-world theatrical masterpiece, and the pressure (and sinister threats) from Mr. Crystal mount, Rositaâ€™s leading role in the show gets ripped away and handed to Mr. Crystalâ€™s spoiled daughter, Porsha, played by Grammy-nominated artist Halsey. Desperate to save the show, and his life, Buster embarks on a quest to find Clay and persuade him to return to the stage.
Sing 2 is written and directed by acclaimed returning filmmaker Garth Jennings and features additional new characters played by music superstar Pharrell Williams, Black Pantherâ€™s Letitia Wright and comedians Eric Andre and Chelsea Peretti. The filmÂ combines dozens of classic rock and pop hit songs, electrifying performances, breathtaking artistry and Illuminationâ€™s signature humour and heart into the definitive feel-good cinematic event of the year.
Sing 2 is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 20 January 2022.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:
[videopress fteABAx0]


Is Diablo Immortal A Pay To Win Game?

Diablo Immortal is out now in select major regions worldwide, with Asia getting access to the game later in June. We played it and it’s what you expect from an action RPG crammed in a mobile game format: touch-screen controls that work and are spot-on, good action & lovely graphics made by the Blizzard folks, the same Diablo feel from the franchise, and free-to-play.
Being a free-to-play game, a microtransaction system has to be put into place for the company to earn money for the game. How is that done with a looter-heavy action RPG like Diablo Immortal? Easy: you pay money to increase your chances for better loot in the game’s loot-focused challenges and random dungeons. Let’s break it down and then talk about whether it’s game-breaking or fair.
Diablo Immortal Has Three Currencies
We have to start at the beginning. Diablo Immortal has three currencies: Gold, Platinum, and Eternal Orbs.
Gold is earned in-game and is used for transactions with NPCs in-game. You earn Gold by killing monsters and finishing quests.
Platinum is earned either through selling special in-game items or completing special tasks. You can also purchase Platinum by paying real money. Platinum is used to complete special in-game transactions that have powerful and valuable gear and items, as well as forge Legendary Gems that you slot into your armour/weapons for buffs and power-ups.
Eternal Orbs are basically Diablo Immortal’s way of getting profit for its parent company. See, Eternal Orbs cannot be earned in-game: you have to pay real money for these bad boys. Eternal Orbs are used to acquire Reforge Stones (for re-rolling Legendary gear stats), Dawning Echoes, and Legendary Crests, which in turn will lead you to situations and dungeons where your chances of getting powerful loot gets higher and higher.
Diablo Immortal Has Loot Boxes

Diablo Immortal is banned in certain countries like Belgium and The Netherlands because it uses loot boxes. These loot boxes come in the form of Elder Rifts and Crests.
Elder Rifts are specialized zones filled with monsters you kill; the higher the rift level is, the better the chance of getting high-level loot and gear. It’s basically like Nephalem Rifts in Diablo 3: late-game activities where you farm multiple times to get the best gear possible. But in Diablo Immortal, you have to pay real money to increase those odds.
To increase the odds of getting better high-value gear, you need to modify Elder Rifts with Crests. You insert a Crest into an Elder Rift before you partake in the dungeon. The Crest not only increases the odds but also adds random modifiers to the rift that either make them easier or harder to complete. The more Crests you add in, the more difficult the stage but you get a better chance at scoring high-value items.
It’s also the only way you can acquire Legendary Gems. Like we said earlier, Legendary Gems are powerful items you slot into your equipment for better buffs, power-ups, and enhancements. If you’re curious about the Legendary Crests gem drop rates, here you go:

1 star capped – 75%
2 star capped – 20%
2/5 star – 3.75%
3/5 star – 1%
4/5 star – 0.20%
5/5 star – 0.05%

There is also a pity system in the gachaing of these gems. Every 50 Legendary Crets will get you one guaranteed 5-star.
Diablo Immortal Has A Battle Pass
Like all F2P games, Diablo Immortal has a battle pass. Basically you have both a free and premium progression tracks filled with unlockable rewards.
You will reach new levels on the progression track by completing a vareity of in-game objectives and activities. The free and premium tracks are treated separately. So, if you hit Level 2 on the Battle Pass but haven’t purchased the premium option, you’ll only get the free track rewards offered at that level. You have to pay real money to unlock the premium progression track, otherwise you don’t get the rewards from that track. If you purchase access to the premium track later on, you’ll be rewarded with the premium rewards you missed.
Diablo Immortal Has Cosmetics You Can Buy

This bit’s easy to understand: Diablo Immortal’s microtransaction shop also has costumes and cosmetics for your characters that you can pay with real money. These will cost you about US$15-US$25, and they do look pretty cool and epic to own.
You Might Need To Spend Real Money For Endgame Gear Tweaks
Unlike regular gear that require scrap materials to upgrade via excess loot-scrapping, your Legendary gear requires Glowing Shards. You get Glowing Shards by breaking down Legendary gear, which you get via the auction house or just being lucky. And to boost that luck? That requires real money via Crests and Elder Rifts-buffing. If you want to speed up the process, you can use Platinum to acquire upgrade materials via the merchants and the marketplace.
Remember when we mentioned Reforge Stones that re-roll Legendary gear with new stats? You can get these from NPCs called Hilt Traders. To get a Hilt item to trade with them, however, is rare: you only get them from daily and weekly objectives, Rifts, Battle Pass rewards, and end-game content and Raids. Reforge Stones are also earned from winning PvP battles at the end of each competitive season.
Basically, upgrading equipment is half regular gameplay and half using the game’s paid currency to get the upgrades you need.
Is Diablo Immortal Pay To Win?

The short answer is “no”. You can finish the game and hit max level without paying a cent. However, paying real money for Eternal Orbs and increasing the chances for better drops by powering Elder Rifts would make your grind and life a lot easier.
Even if the developers have said time and gain that players can reach the highest PvP ranking without spending a dime, the real money systems piling up in Diablo Immortal that increases chance and drop rates has the potential to be predatory. This is especially apparent for very dedicated players who want the best of the best; the system is potentially tailored to prey on the impatient.
Time will tell if Diablo Immortal’s microtransaction system will end up either influencing the scene for the better or otherwise.


Is This How Joaquin Phoenix Looks Like As The Joker?

We all love a good old-fashioned tease, eh? Director Todd Philips shared the first look of star Joaquin Phoenix as Batman’s iconic supervillain. Check it out below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Todd Phillips (@toddphillips)

Sadly, there’s no clown makeup yet, but we do get a caption: “Arthur”. Guess his character’s name in the upcoming yet-to-be-titled film will be Arthur Fleck and will eventually be the Clown Prince of Crime in this DC universe.
The film itself will be an origin story of the Joker as he goes from struggling comedian to full-blown criminal kingpin. The film is described as a gritty character study that is also a broader cautionary tale. Other actors attached to this project include Robert De Niro, Frances Conroy, Marc Maron, and Zazie Beetz.


Super Mario Bros Movie Didn’t Credit Musicians For The DK Rap

In the upcoming Super Mario Bros animated movie (at least in Malaysia; it’s out in a number of other places), there’s a segment that plays the (in)famous DK Rap from the N64 game Donkey Kong 64. Composers Grant Kirkhope and George Andreas made the song, so you would think they would get proper credit for their meme-worthy contribution in gaming.
It didn’t; instead, the credits listed the DK Rap as being from the game without details on who composed and performed it. This was mentioned by Kirkhope himself and a couple more games journalists on Twitter.

I was really looking forward to see my name in the credits for the DK Rap, but alas as expected it's not there …….. fml
— Grant Kirkhope (@grantkirkhope) April 5, 2023

grabbed a pic of it tonight (cropped to avoid other song spoilers) Hope they can add proper credit in a future release? pic.twitter.com/QZzZuTxdBB
— André (@AndreSegers) April 5, 2023

The Super Mario Bros. movie is coming soon to Malaysia on 20th April. Most countries are showing it right now on 6th April.


Trombone Champ Guide: How To Finish The Game For Real

Trombone Champ is an indie game that is half a music rhythm game and half an adventure game with its own secrets. For an indie title whose sole gimmick is the trombone noises played in popular classical music, there’s a bit going on under the hood.
Here’s a guide on how to become a Trombone Champ, get most of the achievements, and solving the game’s puzzles beyond the music rhythm gameplay bits. Note that this guide may contain spoilers to the endgame, so here’s your obligatory warning.

Get 4 S-Ranks

To start, you need to at least get 4 S-Ranks in the game’s tracks. The easiest songs to get S-Rank are: Warm Up, Ball Game, Trombone Skyze, and Zarathustra. The game isn’t that tough, so odds are you can get S-Rank for a quarter of the playlist.
Acquire Your First Baboon
Yes, the game has a fixation on Baboons; you need to play along to beat Trombone Champ. So on the main menu screen, click on the Baboon option. You’ll be taken to a dark room.

Click on the item on the bottom left and click on the 4 S-icons on each corner. You will summon the Treblemaster Baboon in the game’s sole comedic jumpscare.
Once you do that spam click on it while it’s on the ground. You can fill the Cup with Toots keep doing this to unlock Cosmetics and the Blue Key. You need to get the Blue Key as part of the requirements to complete the game.
Collect Cards Requested By This Demon
Spam click the candle in the bottom right comer, this will introduce you to a pink demon thing.
He will ask for certain cards; get these for him and you’ll get Cosmetics. You will need at least 1 or 2 of every card to unlock all the cosmetics.
Get The Second Baboon

You need the”Bass Clef card; get this by building cards or just opening loot box packs via Toots. Spam-clicking it will lead you to the Bassmaster Baboon.

This time instead of Toots to unlock cosmetics and The Red Key, you need poop. To get poop, you need to convert duplicate cards into that currency. You need the Red Key as part of the requirements for the endgame.
Prep For The Final Battle
Before you continue on to this final segment, you will need the following:

Champ Trombone
10 Hot Dog Cards
Babi Mask
Baboon Preference set to Hamadryas (in the game’s settings)
Baboon Quantity set to Inferno (in the game’s settings)

This part requires you to amass tons of Toots and Turds, so you’ll need to replay the game’s songs for that grind!
Once you have the Blue and Red Keys, you need to now get a Trazom card. Spam-click on it to get to a room with two keyholes. Use the keys to unlock the final battle. Fight Trazom; when you defeat him, you win the game and are the Trombone Champ!


[Updated] 32nd SEA Games 2023 Cambodia: MLBB Men’s Division – Teams, Schedule & Results

It’s that time of the year again when esports enthusiasts gather to witness their favourite games in the SEA Games. This year’s event, hosted by Cambodia, marks the 3rd time that esports will be contested as a medal event in a multi-sport competition sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee. Excitingly, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will be making its third appearance at the Southeast Asian Games, which also happens to be Cambodia’s first time as the host country. The Men’s Tournament of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang promises to be thrilling, and in this article, we’ll give you all the details you need to know.
NOTE: All Times & Dates will be in (UTC+8)

Details & Format

Group Stage: 12–13 May
 Venue: The Olympia Mall, Monireth Blvd (217), Sangkat Veal Vong, Khan 7 Makara, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

9 Countries divided into 2 groups.

Group A consists of 5 Countries.
Group B consists of 4 Countries.

Single Round Robin.
All Matches are Bo1.
Top 2 From each groups advanced to Playoffs.

Playoffs: 14 May
Venue: NABA Theatre, Level 2, NagaWorld2 Park, 120101, Samdech Hun Sen St, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Single Elimination.
All Matches are Bo3.
Grandfinals and Bronze Match are Bo5

Final Results

Place
Participant

1
Philippines

2
Malaysia

3
Myanmar

4
Cambodia

5-6

Vietnam

Indonesia

7-8

Laos

Singapore

9
Timor-Leste

Teams

Cambodia
Philippines
Indonesia
Myanmar
Malaysia
Singapore
Vietnam
Laos
Timor-Leste

GROUP STAGE RESULTS

GROUP A

1
Malaysia
4-0
4p

2
Philippines
3-1
3p

3
Vietnam
2-2
2p

4
Laos
1-3
1p

5
Timor-Leste
0-4
0p

GROUP B

1
Myanmar
3-0
3p

2
Cambodia
2-1
2p

3
Indonesia
1-2
1p

4
Singapore
0-3
0p

Matches

Group Stage
12 May

12:00 PM (UTC+8) – Philippines [1] vs [0] Laos (Group A)
1:05 PM (UTC+8) – Vietnam [1] vs [0] Timor-Leste (Group A)
2:00 PM (UTC+8) – Malaysia [1] vs [0] Philippines (Group A)
2:55 PM (UTC+8) – Laos [0] vs [1] Vietnam (Group A)
3:50 PM (UTC+8) – Timor-Leste [0] vs [1] Malaysia (Group A)
4:45 PM (UTC+8) – Philippines [1] vs [0] Vietnam (Group A)
5:35 PM (UTC+8) – Vietnam [0] vs [1] Malaysia (Group A)
6:30 PM (UTC+8) – Laos [1] vs [0] Timor-Leste (Group A)
7:25 PM (UTC+8) – Timor-Leste [0] vs [1] Philippines(Group A)
8:20 PM (UTC+8) – Malaysia [1] vs [0] Laos (Group A)
13 May

11:30 AM (UTC+8) – Indonesia [0] vs [1] Cambodia (Group B)
12:25 PM (UTC+8) – Myanmar [1] vs [0] Singapore (Group B)
1:20 PM (UTC+8) – Myanmar [1] vs [0] Indonesia (Group B)
2:15 PM (UTC+8) – Cambodia [1] vs [0] Singapore (Group B)
3:10 PM (UTC+8) – Cambodia [0] vs [1] Myanmar (Group B)
4:05 PM (UTC+8) – Singapore [0] vs [1] Indonesia (Group B)

Playoffs
13 May

5:30 PM (UTC+8) Malaysia [2] vs [1] Cambodia (Semifinal)
8:30 PM (UTC+8) Myanmar [1] vs [2] Philippines (Semifinal)
14 May

2:00 PM (UTC+8) Cambodia [0] vs [2] Myanmar (Bronze Medal Match)
4:20 PM (UTC+8) Malaysia [0] vs [3] Philippines (Gold Medal Match)
Where to Watch?
TBD

32nd SEA Games 2023 Cambodia: LoL Wild Rift – Teams, Schedule & Results
32nd SEA Games 2023 Cambodia: PUBG Mobile Team Division – Teams, Schedule & Results


Samsung S23 Ultra Is The Best Smartphone in The Market Right Now

Ignore all the pre-conceived notions of similarities between the latest Samsung S23 Ultra to its predecessor S22 Ultra. Because S23 Ultra is like the Destroy Mode on the “base” RX-0 Unicorn Gundam – more refined, powerful and an all-round better performing specimen.
The S23 Ultra is the result of Samsung engineers identifying issues, solving them without drastically changing an already solid platform resulting in a familiar yet novel experience. Those keen on the major differences between generations are in luck as we recently released a quick feature detailing the differences between the S23 Ultra and the model it is replacing.
Actually, a quick, easy AND lazy way to describe the S23 Ultra is to read up on our review of the S22 Ultra released last year, and treat the S23 Ultra as being an incrementally improved device. But we don’t do easy. Where’s the fun in that? Also, watering the S23 Ultra to just ‘a better S22 Ultra’ would be criminal and an injustice for a spectacular device.

Left, S22 Ultra. Right, S23 Ultra
More than just an Update
Looks-wise, it is hard to distinguish the S23 Ultra from the device it is replacing. The discerning folks or techies would be able to discern one from the other through the exclusive colours the respective models get. Another method is to look at the S-Pen port; the S23 Ultra has a more square-ish look compared to the more rounded S22 Ultra.
Both sport identical-sized, Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ screens which measures at 6.8 inches. The S23 Ultra sports a tougher and more damage-resistant screen with the Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 to complement the armour-aluminium frame. Out of the box, the IP68-rated S23 Ultra feels like a tank. You’d be forgiven to rock this bad boy sans protection however, we’d still recommend slapping on a proper case and screen protector on. You would have spent a ton for these top-of-the-line devices so please don’t skimp on protection.
As expected of any flagship released in a new calendar year, the S23 Ultra comes equipped with a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip which has been custom-tuned for Samsung devices. At a time when modern mobile phones are already pretty snappy and buttery smooth, we are constantly astounded by how the next flagship devices are able to top an already impressive feat. And in the S23 Ultra, Samsung managed to release a device that outperforms last year’s best-performing device on all discernible metrics; save for weight in which the newer phone weighs about 7g heavier.

				S22 Ultra

				S23 Ultra

An improved chip also means more efficient power management where, despite still having a similar battery capacity to the S22 Ultra at 5000mAh, the battery performance in the S23 Ultra leaves its older brother trailing.
Samsung bumped up the specs for the ‘base’ version of the S23 Ultra as well, from 8GBs-worth of RAM and 128GB non-expendable memory to 12GB of RAM and 256GB which means, theoretically, brings more bang for the buck on release.
Design-wise, Samsung didn’t divert much from the original design language they chose with the S22 Ultra. However, if you look closely, they’ve done a thorough refinement of the device head-to-toe, all for the better.

The rounded edges where the curved screen on the S22 Ultra meets the back is now more angular. It is quite hard to describe in words, but due to this design change, the S23 Ultra now feels much more secure in-hand. Also, the less-rounded edges on the S23 Ultra allows more room  to write on instead of scribbling past the edges when on the older model. The thicker rings around the camera module mean that the S23 Ultra rocks more when laid flat on its back but this can be easily remedied with a good phone case.
‘U’ for ‘Unparalleled Camera’
Apart from the upgraded CPU setup, another main spiel from Samsung for the S23 Ultra is none other than the cameras the devices come equipped with. The star of the show, obviously, is the 200MP main camera which is a significant bump from last year’s already ridiculous 108MP main shooter. This enables more detail to be captured in shots, allowing even zoomed-in and cropped shots to exhibit crazy amounts of detail. The other three cameras to complete the quad-camera setup are identical as last year’s; two 10MP cameras each with 3X and 10X optical zoom and a 12MP ultra-wide camera.
This translates to clear and crisp photos for moments you require to point-and-shoot in all lighting conditions and spectacular results for wide, scenic shots when you take advantage of the 200MP camera. The photos taken are consistent with the typical more saturated colours associated with Samsung’s image processing. Users tend to complain about the shutter lag when trying to capture photos on Samsung devices and to remedy this, Samsung has included the ‘Quick Tap Shutter’ option which can be accessed via the Camera Assistant app. This app is downloadable via the Samsung Galaxy App Store.

The 100x zoom feature returns for those brilliant full moon shots you are able to capture with this device. Closer to the ground, check out the result of us zooming into a billboard which is about 2 kilometres away.

Not an ad for Oppo Reno 8, of course
On the video front, the S23 Ultra now shoots 30FPS on 8K compared to ‘just’ 24FPS on the S22 Ultra. And boy what difference do these six additional frames make! Couple that with a larger OIS range on the S23 Ultra and you get a much smoother video even when you’re on the move.
It is worth noting that there is a reduction in megapixel count for the front-facing camera – down to 12MP from last year’s 40MP – but thanks to the new processor and computational improvements, actually produces more colour-accurate selfie photos than the S23 Ultra. You’ll have a hard time identifying photos taken on the S23 Ultra from the S22 Ultra despite the 28-megapixels difference on paper.

Photography aficionados would be glad to know that the Expert Raw app which is a Samsung official camera app has also been embedded into the camera layout. You’ll still need to download this separately from the Samsung Galaxy App Store but once it is installed, can be accessed directly from the camera app. This opens so much room for experimentation and maximizing the power and hardware in hand.
As a daily driver, the S23 Ultra feels like it should – the best smartphone money can buy, period. Battery life has improved tremendously with the S23 Ultra, going past the 24-hour mark easily even with Battery Saving mode turned off. This can be attributed to improved efficiency and power management thanks to the new SnapDragon chip.
Still, on the new chip, we compared the performance of the S23 Ultra with another behemoth in the smartphone market, the Asus ROG Phone 6D and it passed with flying colours. We ran one of the most demanding mobile games in the market right now, Call of Duty Mobile on the S23 Ultra and it gobbled it up like T-Rex and that goat in the first Jurassic Park movie. The S23 Ultra also launched the game faster than the ROG Phone 6D; which is definitely impressive.

#SamsungS23Ultra Vs #Asus #RogPhone6D #Callofdutymobile launch test pic.twitter.com/GxMxX0xsFn
— Kenn Leandre didn't pay for ?? (@kennleandre) February 14, 2023

Then there’s the S-Pen. A Note all but in name, the ‘Ultra’ series combines every top-tier offerings from Samsung into one device. The S23 Ultra carries over all the bells and whistles that came with last year’s model – which is a good thing. The writing experience on the S23 Ultra is sublime and only until we checked back on our Samsung Notes did we realize the amount of hand-written notes, doodles and scribbles we’ve accumulated.
The S-Pen can also be turned into a remote camera shutter button to fully utilize the gargantuan 200MP rear camera when snapping group photos and when not in use, serves well as a clicking/ fidgeting tool. The S23 Ultra is shipped with the latest Samsung One U.I 5.1 allowing the best customization available to date. The GoodLock app is also now officially available in most Asian markets making it a must-download for those who cannot get enough of personalizing their gadgets.
Is #23 The GOAT?
Alas, no devices is perfect and without flaws but to be brutally honest, it is hard to find faults in the S23 Ultra. Complaints listed below are purely us being nitpicky and based on what we would love to see improved in future S-line, flaghip-tier devices. For one, the device looks too similar to the S22 Ultra making the decision to upgrade from it a hard one save for the fully dedicated, ‘I want the best device in the market’ consumers. In spite of the marked battery performance, we still wished that the phone carries a larger battery – even a 10% bump would have suffice. You can’t have too much power, right?
And lastly, expandable memory. Of course, one can back up their data to the cloud, freeing some space in the device.  But some also prefer the freedom to expand the physical storage capacity by adding on a micro-SD card.  While not a deal breaker, is definitely a feature that will get many more new converts to pick up on the ‘Ultra’ line of devices.
Some may call the S23 Ultra the most ‘extra’ smartphone in the market and they are not wrong. Then again, ‘extra’ shouldn’t carry a negative connotation as the S23 Ultra is by far, one of the most impressive pieces of tech in the market and easily, the best Android smartphone money can buy. Better than the iPhone 14 Pro Max? Highly likely too depending on your set of priorities for smartphones.
In short, the S23 Ultra is the result of a company realizing that to remain ahead, improvements in all areas is a must and it paid off. And just like THE OTHER guy who sports the number 23, the S23 Ultra is firmly in the discussion for the GOATs when it comes to mobile devices.

Pros:

The most powerful and responsive smartphone in the market bar none
Brilliant camera setup made better by software improvements by Samsung
Great battery performance
Overall higher base specs at the similar starting price to its predecessor
Literally a ‘Note’ with awesome camera

Cons:

No expandable memory

SCORE: 90/100

Vital Statistics
Platform: Android 12, One UI 5.1
Body: 163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in), ~233g
Frame: Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame with IP68 dust/water resistance
Chipset: Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
CPU: Octa-core (1×3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
GPU: Adreno 740
Display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak); 6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2
Memory (Internal): 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM, UFS 4.0
Main Camera: 200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide); 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto) x10 zoom; 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto) x3 zoom; 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120? (ultrawide)
Video: 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps
Sound: Stereo speakers, no jacks given
Battery: Li-Ion 5000 mAh, non-removable
Price: Starts from RM 5,699 (256GB, 12GB RAM)
The S23 Ultra hits Malaysian markets on the 17th February 2023. Review unit of the Samsung S23 Ultra provided by Samsung Malaysia. You can purchase your own unit of the S23 Ultra from their official website here.


Why Is Blizzard Removing Overwatch’s Hero Pools From Competitive Play?

Back in March, Blizzard introduced a hero pick/ban system for Overwatch’s competitive mode. The catch, however, is that while the mode bans certain heroes, it was Blizzard that was doing the choosing.
This led to a lot of pro-level players condemning the new competitive system. While it may have made the Overwatch League regular season meta a lot more diverse, it also increased the difficulty of coaching and playing professional Overwatch, damaging the sustainability of the league itself.
How would you like it if you had to get stressed out lost over a new and shifting meta every week?

Ive never been more frustrated with the community and their separation from the competitive scene than when I read the reddit thread about how hero pools are great
Hero pools are the worst thing ever to happen to OW. Everyone I've talked to hates them, they make our lives hell
— Dream (@Dream_val) May 12, 2020

Backing up @DreamOverwatch and @YiskaOut to speak further on my position from earlier pic.twitter.com/lKqzk1OdMX
— AVRL (@imAVRL) May 12, 2020

Bottom line: no one asked for hero pools at all, especially the pros and competitive players who are keeping the scene alive. As such, the Blizzard folks are removing the feature from competitive mode “indefinitely”.

“We initially implemented Hero Pools to address issues with stagnating metas and to keep match-ups exciting and fresh. However, weâ€™ve found that the introduction of Experimental Card and increased hero balance updates have helped us work towards a healthy, changing meta in Competitive Play without needing to disable heroes.”

However, Hero Pools are not departing from Overwatch League. Each selection of heroes will now last two weeks instead of one, and the feature will be disabled during tournaments as well as the week before each tournament. At the very least, Blizzard is listening.


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Gameplay Footage Leaked

The Ubisoft Forward live stream will be taking place on 13 July at 3am GMT+8 next week, but over 30 minutes of gameplay footage from the highly-anticipated Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has been leaked by users on ResetEra.
The leaked gameplay footage of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla seems to be based on an early build of the game, clearly unpolished. It starts off with some hunting gameplay before the player (in the role of the female version of protagonist Eivor) goes on a mission to raid an East Anglian fortress.
From the looks of it, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla still looks very much inspired by its predecessors, 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and 2017’s Assassin’s Creed Origins. The combat and general animations look similar, though that could perhaps be chalked off to the fact that this is an early version of the game.
What I can say is that the skill tree in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla looks a lot more complicated and features more branching paths, which could indicate the heavier and deeper emphasis on RPG elements.
Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla is slated to release sometime in Holiday 2020 for the PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. In the meantime, head on over here to check out everything we know about the upcoming game so far, or watch the leaked gameplay footage below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljBw036pAHo&w=560&h=315]


The Free Fire x BTS Show Premieres This Friday

Following weeks of surprises and Gen FF content, Free Fire and BTS, will release the eagerly anticipated The Free Fire x BTS Show on 9 April 2022. The release comes after a string of teasers from the start of the campaign, which excited fans and players alike with glimpses of the variety show.
At the height of its celebrations, fans and players worldwide will further enjoy Gen FF’s final dash of surprises, which will take the form of in-game activities, exclusive login rewards, and even a new mode to satiate Survivors looking for a fresh gameplay experience.
Gen FF’s final act include ‘The Free Fire x BTS Show’ and rewards galore on 9 April

‘The Free Fire x BTS Show’ will feature all seven members of BTS in an up-close setting, speaking of their aspirations and thoughts that went into creating this campaign. The two-part variety show will be aired online on YouTube, and Facebook on 9 and 10 April 2022.
On 9 April and 9 April only, Survivors will be served extra treats when they log in to Free Fire. Survivors who complete ten matches on the same day will also receive a special milestone reward from the Gen FF collection. As another visual treat, Survivors in Battle Royale mode will be greeted by a Free Fire x BTS-themed virtual air show before they parachute into Bermuda on 9 April 2022 to celebrate the collaboration.
The new Buff or Duff: Lone Wolf system will roll out on 9 April
Lone Wolf fans will also be happy to know that a new Buff or Duff: Lone Wolf will be rolled out on 9 April 2022. The new Buff or Duff: Lone Wolf system will allow players to select one among three buffs- offensive, defensive, or general- while playing the Lone Wolf mode. The buffs are generated as players select their weapons.
Picture perfect memories of Gen FF’s global celebrations

Free Fire‘s collaboration with BTS is one of the biggest it has seen since the beginning of the year. In the weeks leading up to the grand finale of Gen FF, fans and players worldwide have been treated to a variety of celebrations- in the game, on social media, and even in their neighbourhood.
The collaboration between Free Fire and 21st pop icons BTS has unleashed a worldwide celebration of self-expression, individuality, and being true to oneself. On 2 April, New Yorkers enjoyed the in-game-turned-offline display at Times Square. Throughout the bustling crowds, a rendition of BTS’ song, “IDOL” was screened on towering billboards in New York.

In Taiwan, Gen FF fans had the chance to experience the game in person in an offline interactive pop-up store. The participants got to view the BTS-designed manuscripts exhibited in the pop-up store and enjoy the virtual Gen FF campaign that was part of the pop-up store’s décor.
Similarly, delightful players in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, and Vietnam managed to see the campaign come to life through various Gen FF-themed booths.

Stay tuned for more updates and the latest Free Fire news on Facebook and YouTube. Free Fire can be downloaded on both the Apple iOS App and Google Play.


[Report] These Are Your Steam Sale Dates For The Rest Of 2019

It’s that time of year again, where we talk about how great/bad the Steam sales were before relegating back to spending patterns for arguably the most influential digital store this generation. Here are the alleged dates of theÂ  upcoming Steam sales for the rest of 2019 (via Steam Database):

Halloween Sale:Â October 28â€“November 1
Autumn Sale:Â November 26â€“December 3
Winter Sale:Â December 19â€“January 2

The Steam Database folks said “multiple developers posted it in multiple places despite Valve asking otherwise. But you know how that goes”. While the Winter sale date is standard, the Halloween and Autumn dates are a few days late for some reason.
Still, we can’t wait to see what game(s) will get the biggest price slash.


Diablo 2: Resurrected Looks Nice, But Still Has Some Problems

Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, PS5
Genre: Beta of a remastered action RPG with old-school grinding
There is no question that Diablo 2 is an action RPG masterpiece, both the base game and the Lord of Destruction expansion pack. So when Blizzard announced a remaster slated for this September, many fans are stoked to return to the days of 2000s action RPGing where newfangled current-gen (and even last gen) quality of life updates and changes in the genre are purposely missing for the sake of recapturing the hardcore action of the era.
10-or-so hours later,the Diablo 2: Resurrected beta is what you expect from a remaster: a lovely coat of paint that doesn’t change much. I’m fine with that, but there’s a major problem which we’ll have to address in a bit.
No School Like The Old School

Everything you loved and hated about Diablo 2 is in here: the many hours of grinding, the need for high-end loot to clear even Normal difficulty, the fact that the regular enemies hit harder than a semi-truck unless you’re packing a lot of health potions and resort to using a pet class, or look up the plethora of guides you can access for a 21-year old game.
If you’re playing Diablo 2: Remastered blind, be prepared for a crash course in late-90s and early 2000s game difficulty. For the rest of us who thought games like Torchlight 3 and even Diablo 3 are way too easy and “for babies”, this remaster will sort your sadomasochistic jollies. Best to bring a friend in the upcoming weekend public beta if you want your fights to be less aggravating and attrition-heavy.

The beta restricts you to just the first two Acts, with five classes to play with: Barbarian, Sorceress, Amazon, Paladin, and Druid. There’s two more in the upcoming full game -Assassin and Necromancer- and these selections will cover all various playstyles from support to full-on damage-dealing tanks to even pet classes; basically the archetypes you can find in recent action RPGs.
You’ll spend hours getting your character up to snuff, then keep replaying each different dungeon to get the loot you want and the equipment you need to take on roadblocks like everybody’s favourite Act 2 Maggot King f*** Duriel. The core gameplay remains untouched, perks and all, though the game does add in some nice updates like the ability to auto-collect gold and to switch between the new and “legacy” graphics on the fly without any loading whatsoever.
A Hellish Endeavour

The main issue with this remastering so far is the infrastructure and netcode: it’s not up to snuff and is an embarrassing display from the company that thrives on near-perfection.
About 60 percent of the time it’s fine; I’m clearing dungeons with little to no issues. The other 40 percent is filled with lag spikes in unexpected places, unwarranted deaths due to unstable connections, and random disconnects due to server issues. So far, I’ve encountered four of the latter, but generally half of my D2 remaster experience is me trying to fight King Crimson-like effects; I usually end up teleporting ahead or backwards from the path I set out in a dungeon, with none of my past actions registering and my health mysteriously whittled away.
True, I’m playing the beta right now, but it’s only less than a month until the game comes out, and sad to say it doesn’t feel ready to launch. And if this game features Hardcore Mode -where if your character dies, he/she is wiped out forever from the servers- it’s pretty much unplayable with this current server status.

If there is a way to play Diablo 2: Resurrected offline, then that’s fine. As it stands, you need to stay online to play a game that used to have both offline and online characters for you to play on different servers. With Blizzard’s current move of removing LAN gaming options, not to mention the current state of the company, this remaster might look like a title that has good intentions, but is clearly a road leading to gaming hell.


TotalBiscuit Inducted Into Esports Hall of Fame As First Non-Competitive Player

It’s sad to see an influential-yet-controversial figure like Totalbiscuit pass away due to cancer. Yeah, cancer sucks balls. But the next bit of news doesn’t.
John “TotalBiscuit” Bain will be inducted into the Esports Hall of Fame during ESL One Hamburg 2018 at the end of October. His achievements for this induction include:

managing, sponsoring, commentating, and producing content for esports games such as StarCraft 2 and Dota 2.
forming a StarCraft 2 team called Axiom.
being a huge influence in the gaming community, especially the YouTube and podcasting space.

This is great and all seeing as he helped influenced a number of rising YouTube stars and their methodology, but this also means that other esports personalities also have a chance to be inducted somehow if they’re not in the competitive side of things.
Off the top of my head, folks like Markman 23, Tom Cannon, and the EVO crew can earn that same accolade in the fighting game space in the near future. The possibilities are endless; you can thank ESL for this.


Latest Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire Reveals Official PC Specs

The Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire Episode 3 live stream took place earlier tonight. It revealed new gameplay footage, details about the gangs in the game, and most importantly, the game’s official PC specs.
Night City is divided into six districts, each with its own function, style, and demographic. Each district will also feature its own sub-districts that fit their respective larger grand theme. What’s impressive is that every single street in the game will also have its own name.

There are many gangs in Night City, including the following:

Cyberpunk 2077 protagonist V is a Merc, so he can work with different gangs and take jobs from them, but he can’t really join them for that reason as well. However, the Mercs have their own gang of sorts called Afterlife, where Mercs of repute hang out in the game.

Cyberpunk 2077 PC Specs
During the live stream, CD Projekt Red revealed the official PC specifications for Cyberpunk 2077. It looks like the upcoming game will be less demanding than we expected.

Cyberpunk 2077Â is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 19 November 2020. Last monthâ€™s episode of Night City Wire showcased the gameâ€™s many weapons, lifepaths, and music,Â which you can check out here.


Activision Scrapped A Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 Remake After Vicarious Visions’ Merger, Said Tony Hawk

For those hoping for a follow-up to the incredible Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+2 remake, you may be out of luck.
According to pro skater Tony Hawk on a livestream, Activision had briefly taken pitches from other studios, but allegedly wasn’t happy with them. In fact, a planned Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 remake was canned due to Activision Blizzard’s decision to absorb the first remake’s developer Vicarious Visions, whom you now know is supporting Blizzard.
“That was the plan, even up until the release date of [1 and 2]. We were doing 3 and 4, and then Vicarious got kind of absorbed, and then they were looking for other developers, and then it was over.
The truth of it is [Activision] were trying to find somebody to do 3 and 4 but they just didn’t really trust anyone the way they did Vicarious. So they took other pitches from other studios, like, ‘what would you do with the THPS title?’ And they didn’t like anything they heard, and then that was it.
Who knows? Maybe when the dust settles, we’ll figure it out. You never know. I never would’ve thought we were going to do 1 and 2 20 years later.”

??
At least that last line spells hope for a THPS 3+4 remake in the future. After all, THPS 1+2 sold 1 million copies within its first two weeks, showing that quality skating games from the PS1 era remade anew have merit still.


Shadow Of Necropolis Is Now Live In World Of Warcraft Classic

Champions of the Horde and the Alliance, gather your strength (and frost resist gear) and prepare to take on the horrors that await within the floating necropolis of Naxxramas.
The latest content update for World of Warcraft Classic, Shadow of the Necropolis, is now live.

Heroes who have reached Honored status with the Argent Dawn will be able to venture into this epic 40-player raid, home to some of the Lich Kingâ€™s most powerful servants and their treacherous commander, the fallen mage Kelâ€™Thuzad.

You can check out what to expect in the trailer below, or head on over here for more details:


Anno 1800 Drops On Next-Gen Consoles This March

Ubisoft has announced that for the first time in 25 years, a core Anno game is launching on consoles. With more than 2.5 million players, the fastest-selling game of the entire franchise, Anno 1800, will be released on 16 March 2023 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Anno 1800 is a strategy game that gives players the opportunity to show off their leadership skills: build gigantic metropolises, set up efficient and profitable logistical networks, colonize an exotic new continent, charter expeditions to the four corners of the globe, and dominate their opponents diplomatically, commercially or militarily.
Developed by the very same studio behind the original PC version of the game, Ubisoft Mainz, the Anno 1800 Console Edition will offer players the full Anno experience with a completely redesigned User interface and controls, powered by the next generation of consoles.

Stéphane Jankowski, Executive Producer, said:
“Anno 1800 is a great success story for the studio and the 25-year-old Anno brand. The popularity and the success of the game on PC gave us the opportunity to develop a console version of the game, thanks to the power of the next generation of consoles. Bringing our most successful Anno game on consoles is a real chance for us to let new players discover our award-winning game for the first time and join our amazing community.”
Starting today, players can pre-order Anno 1800 Console Edition. Two versions are available: Standard and Deluxe:

The Standard version includes the base game and the biggest game updates.
The Deluxe version contains the base game, the biggest game updates and three cosmetics packs: the Pedestrian Zone, the Amusements Pack and Vibrant Cities.

Early adopters pre-ordering or purchasing the game, will enjoy the imperial and the console founder packs, containing extra cosmetic bonuses, along with the digital artbook and soundtrack. In addition, all cosmetic packs will be available for purchase.
Check out the trailer below:


Gotham Knights Will Be Exclusive To Next-Gen Consoles

Warner Bros. Games Montreal has revealed an extended gameplay demo for the upcoming Gotham Knights, which will be released for the PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC on 25 October 2022. The developer confirmed that the game will not be released for the PS4 and Xbox One.
According to the press release, the reason for that is because:
“Please note, to provide players with the best possible gameplay experience, the game will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC and will not be available for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One consoles.”
Gotham Knights is a brand-new open-world, third-person action RPG featuring the Batman Family as players step into the roles of Batgirl, Nightwing, Red Hood and Robin, a new guard of trained DC Super Heroes who must rise up as the protectors of Gotham City in the wake of Batman’s death. An expansive, criminal underworld has swept through the streets of Gotham, and it is now up to these new heroes to protect the city, bring hope to its citizens, discipline to its cops and fear to its criminals. Players must save Gotham from descent into chaos and reinvent themselves into their own version of the Dark Knight.
In the meantime, check out the gameplay trailer below:


Activision Blizzard Allegedly Discriminant Towards Breastfeeding Workers

Activision Blizzard may not be catching the break it needs given recent controversies. So here’s another one.
Twitter user Jessica Gonzalez, a senior test analyst at Blizzard, recently posted complaints about Blizzard being discriminating and negligent toward its breastfeeding workers. Women who wish to breastfeed their children were not given sufficient amenities to do this. Examples include:

Rocky and unstable furniture.
Power outlets for breastfeeding tools being fire hazards.
Insufficient storage space in the refridgerators.
Sanitation standards are not being kept.
Male employees stealing lactating colleague’s breast milk.

Workplaces with systemic abuse issues inevitably have complicit, incompetent or toothless HR. How do you rationalise doing nothing for *years* while the employees you are supposed to protect are abused, violated or discriminated against? I would be sick with shame
— Meghna Jayanth (@betterthemask) December 9, 2021

Activision Blizzard has yet to release an official statement about this turn of events.