Sony Was Popular At E3 2019, Despite Being Absent

Everyone already knew that Sony did not show up at E3 2019, but their presence (or lack thereof) was felt as Sony managed to become the top three publishers that were talked about at the show.
Hollywood Reporter pointed out that Nintendo was on top of its game, standing at number 1 of most tweets of any game publisher this year, followed by Xbox, Sony, Square Enix, then Bethesda.

As anticipated, the Final Fantasy VII Remake was the most-tweeted-about game on Twitter, while Cyberpunk 2077, with its Keanu Reeves appearance, managed to get second place. Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2Â andÂ Animal Crossing: New HorizonsÂ took third and fourth place respectively. Marvel’s Avengers topped off the top five.
It’s impressive how Sony was talked about quite a lot despite the fact that the Japanese giant being absent from the convention. Maybe Microsoft was right when they said E3 wasn’t as good without Sony.


Sekiro Speedrunners Use Exploits To Beat The Game Under 40 Minutes

Speedrunners are having a blast with Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice.Â It’s a hard game, so it’s pretty obvious why a lot of these runners take pride in beating the game as fast as they can. Danflesh beat the game in 50 minutes, but the record now stands at just under 40 minutes, held by LostFeather.

Speedruns will evolve over time so this early experimentation phase will be wild, just like most of the runs you’re about to see. The times differ hugely as players try to find out which path is viable and what not.
I will be talking about endgame content as well as the name of some bosses in the following paragraphs, so be warned.

The strategy here is to go against the mechanics of the game. Being stealthy costs time, so players mostly dash through whole stages and skip bosses. The game also has many endings so speedrunners usually opt for the ‘any% route’ and going for the Shura ending as it is the shortest.
For example, the huge serpent can be sprinted and skipped causing his scripted moments to play out without any input on the player’s end. Players also figured out that they can sequence-break the snake by using a trick that causes the snake to spawn in a later stage where it can be killed, which allows players to skip a time-consuming run through a fort riddled with gunners and an annoying close-quarters boss fight that normally wouldnâ€™t be skippable.
Another very interesting skip is the Folding Screen Monkeys boss. It took me about an hour to kill these cunning apes. But this guy beat the monkeys in less time than it takes for me to prepare my morning coffee.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_u9TOf7Qpk]
The Blazing Bull can also be skipped when using precision jumps through angles that can’t usually be accessed. The player is not meant to be in that spot, so you can see the area does not load correctly and looks broken. That’s a good sign for speedrunners because it means they’re in a place that they’re not supposed to be.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1Utuirf1fE]
Another interesting skip is the Corrupted Monk skip at Fountainhead Palace. This frustrating boss can be ‘cheesed’ by delivering two stealth deathblows and strategically spamming the Shinobi firecracker prosthetics.
[youtubeÂ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_l7gAUIC0IE]
These discoveries make hardened bosses feel like they’re jokes, but make no mistake, the process of discovering these strategies required grueling trial-and-error runs.
I’m hoping the game can be beaten in under 20 minutes so I can enjoy watching the entire game while I chow down my meal.


For Honor Year 5 Season 3 Tempest Launches Next Week

Ubisoft has announced that For Honor Year 5 Season 3 Tempest will be available on 9 September 2021. A special throwback event will also take place later this season along with the return of the Covenant Games.
Tempest brings harsh torrential rains and cyclonic winds after a period of intense drought in Year 5 Season 2 Mirage. When Heathmoorâ€™s warriors wished for water during the drought, the Gods answered â€“ but not in the way the warriors wanted. Now, gigantic tidal waves wreck Heathmoorâ€™s villages and harbors along the coastlines.
Beginning from 9 September until 30 September 2021, there will be a limited-time launch event, Storm Tides. During this event, players will be able to play through a Free Event Pass and gain access to a multitude of rewards such as a new Battle Outfit, an Effect as well as an Ornament. During the event, there will also be new weapons available for players to loot.
Players can purchase a Battle Pass with premium content including new Battle Outfits, Ornament, Execution, Podium and Effects.Â  Additionally, for this season, all heroes will be receiving a unique execution available for 7,000 Steel. Following last season’s Testing Grounds, improvements to Orochi, Raider, and Option Selects and other fight elements will be added to the live game based on players’ feedback.
From 16 September until 30 September 2021, For Honor will also have another phase of Testing Grounds. The focus will be a second pass on the Shinobi from the previous phase as well as new Dominion Game Mode improvements. Changes for Dominion will include capture speed, hardpoint, tracking, and other UI improvements.
Later in the season, players can also experience Wrath of the Jormungandr, a throwback event bringing back original rewards and weapons. In TU2, the Covenant Games also return. This time around, players will be able to play the Heralds of Chimera game mode, where they can prove their worth to Daubeny. The rewards include a Battle Outfit and an Ornament.
With over 25 million players, For Honor is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.


The Last Of Us HBO’s Joel Gets A Panic Attack; Internet Follows Up With Memes

When you’re traveling the post-apocalypse country filled with infected humans and bandits for quite a long while, chances are you’re going to get some form of PTSD in your journey given the many, many dangers and traumas you’ve faced. While we don’t see that in The Last of Us video game Joel (unless you dig deep in-game), you’ll definitely see that in the Joel that’s played by one Pedro Pascal in The Last Of Us HBO episode 6.
During the episode, we see Joel’s mind and body taking a toll on him due to the psychic damage he had suffered in the past few episodes. Thus, he went through a panic attack in three stages below (via NR):

The internet seems to take a liking to this moment of pain, and made the following posts to commemorate the birth of a new meme.

Me today ? pic.twitter.com/ZAK43c6unq
— Saqina Latif wants you to wishlist Kabaret ? (@Larxy) February 22, 2023

Worst person you know just made a very good point pic.twitter.com/rJQG8HhaqE
— Anisa Sanusi (@studioanisa) February 22, 2023

me at the top of the stairs pic.twitter.com/FV3wF5jvB5
— Wesley LeBlanc (@LeBlancWes) February 21, 2023

When someone tells you they chose Triss over Yennefer pic.twitter.com/8PL02fg2on
— Cian Maher (@cianmaher0) February 21, 2023

me after sending one (1) email pic.twitter.com/MBYCmuAFLL
— Natalie Flores (@heartimecia) February 21, 2023

#TheLastOfUs Joel having anxiety attacks while the world collapses around him and while heâ€™s trying to do a job is extremely relatable. pic.twitter.com/E7dAXKK6BV
— Tauriq Moosa (@tauriqmoosa) February 21, 2023

When you realize The Last of Us Season 1 ends in less than 3 weeks pic.twitter.com/zkWBSbjYFa
— DomTheBomb (@DomTheBombYT) February 22, 2023

While Joel’s emotional struggle isn’t a secret in the game, it’s great to see a vulnerable side of the character in the HBO adaptation, so that we can root for him more. For more on The Last of Us HBO, check out our recaps & easter eggs of episode 6.Â


After Much Backlash, Rockstar Is Bringing Back The Original PC Versions Of The GTA Trilogy To Its Store

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition came out and pissed off a lot of people because of how buggy and broken it was. Not to mention the fact that it was a port of the mobile version of the game, which is why it looks pretty bad. And with Rockstar removing the original games from digital stores and developers Grove Street Games having its CEO be oblivious about the situation on Twitter, you can see why the GTA community is in an uproar.
So I guess it’s a good thing Rockstar announced that it will be bringing back the original PC versions of the games – GTA 3, GTA Vice City, GTA San Andreas- to the Rockstar Store as a bundle. As a bonus, everyone who bought the GTA Trilogy Definitive Edition for PC will receive the classic versions in their Rockstar Games Launcher library at no additional cost (until 30th June 2022 hits). The team will fix the Definitive Edition with a Title Update in the near future.
“We have ongoing plans to address the technical issues and to improve each game going forward. With each planned update, the games will reach the level of quality that they deserve to be.
In the meantime, it pains us to mention that we are hearing reports of members of the development teams being harassed on social media. We would kindly ask our community to please maintain a respectful and civil discourse around this release as we work through these issues.”
This mess could have been avoided had the port been based on the original PC version, and if Rockstar did not go out of their way to stop modders with legal action with anything involving the old GTA games. Better now than never.


Romance Visual Novel Remake Of ONE. Launches December In Japan

Fans of the romance visual novel genre will be thrilled to know that ONE, a popular game, is getting a remake! NEXTON and novamicus, the publisher and developer respectively, announced that the game will be launching on 22 December in Japan for Switch and PC via Steam.
Ares will handle the distribution of the Switch version. If you can’t wait to get your hands on it, pre-orders will be available starting 26 May.
For those who haven’t played the game before, here’s a brief overview of the story: It’s set in winter 1998, and you play as an average student. Suddenly, another world appears within you, like a thick layer of snow slowly covering your everyday life.
You begin to realize that it’s the small things in your daily routine, the scenery you’re used to, and the warmth of someone you love (but didn’t realize you did) that keep you grounded in this world. This realization prompts you to pursue a special bond with this person, but what kind of world will you end up in, and whose hand will you be holding when the seasons change and the sun starts shining?


Tales Of Luminaria Showcases More Character Gameplay With English VOs

Bandai Namco just published a good chunk of character gameplay for its upcoming F2P gacha RPG Tales of Luminaria, which features some gorgeous anime graphics and a rocking Go Shiina soundtrack.
As of now, the gameplay vids feature bow-wielding knight Celia Arvier, red-haired sword guy Leo Fourcade, and mage archetype August Wallenstein. These 6-minute gameplay videos also showcase the game’s English dub in full, so if you’ve played some RPGs in English dub for the past year or so, you may recognize these voices.
Celia Arvier (VO by Cristina Vee)

Leo Fourcade (VO by Aaron Dismuke)

August Wallenstein (VO by J Michael Tatum)

Tales of Luminaria will be out for iOS and Android by the end of 2021, probably in closed beta form.


Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes Of Grindelwald Is What You Expect From A Blockbuster Sequel

Just a heads up: I’m not completely down with the Harry Potter lore -having only read the first few Harry Potter books. Thus, my views on this current entry in the prequel series are from the perspectives of a movie buff trying to get the craze and fuss of these recent magic-laced films.
With that said, Fantastic Beasts 2: The Crimes of Grindelwald focuses less on the “crimes” bit and more of the fantastical sorcery-heavy “building the blocks of future films” trope that sequels in the middle tend to do. Just like how director David Yates finishes the Harry Potter series with his Deathly Hallows directorial works, he plays the architect in bridging this prequel gap with foundations leading up to possibly a third and fourth film.
There aren’t any major surprises from a narrative and technical standpoint, but what I ended up watching in the span of 2 hours is entertaining enough to justify Warner Bros. keeping at it with these Harry Potter universe prequels from a viewpoint of a wizard who’s really into animals.
Spellbound

The story is about the first film’s protagonists Newt Scamander, the Ministry of Magic’s Theseus, Tina Goldstein the Auror (think magician police), and many others in pursuit of one Grindelwald (played Johnny Depp) and Creedence (played by Ezra Miller), the latter having the Obscuras -ie some dark power which is important in the Harry Potter universe that’s laden with dark family secrets. It’s so important that Grindelwald crafts an elaborate plot to befriend Creedence and even rally wizards to join his cause for an all-wizard world. Unfortunately, the climax of the plan is probably saved for the next film or so because we only get to see the fireworks and calamity that follows.
Other key players in this magical Tour de France is Leta Lestrange, Theseus’ fiancee who has secrets of her own, mind-reader Queenie Goldstein who isn’t sure which side she’s on since she’s dating Non-Mag Jacob Dan Fogerton, snake woman Nagini, and French-African wizard Yusuff. Honestly the latter two are there because representation? Because they only were there for a short few scenes and nothing else.
Yep, just think of Fantastic Beasts 2 as a bridge film that answers some questions while opening up more, catering to its progressive fans who like their lore and Harry Potter narrative to be knee-deep in references and big picture plot stuff.
Making Magic?

Let’s focus on the good parts: this film’s budget is put to good use into immersing even non-fans who will be dragged by their significant others who read through all the Harry Potter volumes. From the bits in Paris to even Newt Scamander’s abode, even counting the many critters featured on the film’s runtime like the giant-as-heck Zouwou and the tiny nifflers and treefolk, Fantastic Beasts 2 is easy on the eyes.
Say what you will about Eddie Redmayne being typecasted and all, but his awkward-yet-charming demeanour helps keep the film go by in an entertaining and insightful fashion. Behind his mannerisms hide a genius magizoologist who might as well be a detective. A Pet Detective, you might say, minus the funny faces & grossout humour. That hasn’t changed from the first Fantastic Beasts but at least there’s a bit more fleshed out with a seemingly one-note character trope. We get to see him deal with his brother who stands for everything he hates, sees him in his element a lot of times, and even reconnect with Tina after some uncontrollable misunderstanding.
Johnny Depp and Jude Law do their best in fulfilling their respective evil villain/mentor figure roles with adequacy; not quite a breakout performance, but serviceable given the bogged-down source material. Still, fans get to see Albus Dumbledore in his prime when he wasn’t sitting on his headmaster’s chair all day.
In fact, this film does a great job at being a sequel right after the first film, that there isn’t much development to be had character-wise. Sure, there’s a mini-arc involving Leta and her ancestry, as well as the bits with Creedence chasing after answers with the snake lady.
Fans will appreciate the easter eggs and narrative beats, but they may not appreciate the long-windedness of certain key scenes where Grindelwald tries to seduce other wizards to the “dark side”. Perhaps the callbacks are way too detailed for non-fans.
Creedence Clear Water

Is this film a decent bridge between the first and whatever yarns Warner Bros wishes to spin out of a show featuring fantastic beasts and wizardry? Yes, it’s still entertaining and watchable, but perhaps the focus on the narrative could be a little less dense.
It still doesn’t do much to move the main arching plot along. However, the returning cast still shines, the new ones play their parts decently, and the visuals and fantastical atmosphere still captivate non-fans like myself to at least be invested. At least before all the references and obscure characters like the immortal faux-Saruman wizard pop up as a deus ex machina of sorts. There are tons of easter eggs and callbacks for Harry Potter and JK Rowling fans to love here; just don’t expect this film to make a convert out of you.
FINAL RATING: 60/100
P.S: Stay tuned for a future breakdown of the sequel later this week, this time from an actual Harry Potter/JK Rowling story analyst.Â


Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Receives A Manga Spin-off

If you’ve played the unforgiving game of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, you must have met Hanbei the Undying. He’s the NPC hanging just out of the Dilapidated Temple and serves as your training partner for you to ‘git gud’, or you can check out our guide here to ‘git better’.
If you haven’t played the game, he’s an immortal warrior destined to help you become the shinobi you’re meant to be.
Sekiro Gaiden: Shinazu HanbeiÂ  (Sekiro Side-Story: Hanbei the Undying) is a gory manga focused on telling the tale of Hanbei’s backstory. Have a look at the sample below;

FromSoftware’s games are known to be deep in lore, but the lore is always delivered in such an obscure way that it has a satisfying feel to have discovered a whole lore piece in the game. This manga serves as an extension to Sekiro’s amazing world-building.
Shin Yamamoto is the artist for this project, and the manga is supervised by FromSoftware themselves.
The manga will be released the Comic Walker websiteÂ on 27 May, and it’s also been licensed by US-based graphic novel publisher Yen Press. They have included a short teaser below;

“The Sengoku Eraâ€¦A time when losing a battle meant losing it all. The Sword Saint, Isshin Ashina, aims for world dominationâ€¦That is, until he encounters a certain Samuraiâ€¦”

Sounds interesting, worth checking out if you’re a From Software and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice fan.


Bethesda Shows Off A Ton Of Lovely Starfield Gameplay

During the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase 2022 livestream, Bethesda head honcho Todd Howard gave a presentation to showcase a ton of Starfield gameplay.
In Starfield, you basically explore planets, kill aliens, join up with factions and constellations to suit your agenda, and fight a ton of space pirates. The game is clearly going for a serious-but-pulp style 40s space adventure in first-person view, and even features some zero-gravity segments. You can also create and build your own spaceship and fly out to space to explore or just murder things in your path.
Sure, Todd Howard may be blowing the game’s length and scope out of proportion like in his past presentations, but so far it’s looking very impressive and sleek. Who wouldn’t say no to Skyrim with space guns and aliens?

Starfield will be out for Xbox Series and PC in 2023.


The Next Legend Of Heroes Installment Is Slated For 2021…In Japan

Falcom is going to start 2021 with a bang with a new entry in the Legend of Heroes series.
The next installment in the everlong RPG series is called Kuro no Kiseki, which roughly translates to either “Trails of Black” or “Trails of Dark”. It will be out in 2021 for the Japan market.
No platforms has been announced though we can guess that it’ll be out for PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Falcom also stated the following on its Famitsu-exclusive interview (via Gematsu):

The game is set in the Republic of Calvard (the east side of the continent) in the year S.1208, and is focused on “grey morals” characters like a detective, a negotiater, and a bounty hunter.
The game engine is brand-new and features new character models.
Calvard is a cultural sphere in the vein of Eastern Europe with an influx of people from the Middle East. It feels like a mixture of Europe and Asia. The new continent is somewhat small compared to Erebonia. The scale of the map is equivalent to that of the Cold Steel series. While in development still, Kondo believes it will be very close in terms of size.
90 percent of the characters inÂ Kuro no Kiseki are new. The remaining 10 percent will be fan favourites from the Legend of Heroes series.Â  Which means Trails of Cold Steel’s Rean might be in it.

The game will have a proper ending.
The amount of content in the game is about the equal to a singleÂ Trails of Cold SteelÂ title.
There will be a revised battle system where commands are input in real-time instead of pausing. While action elements have been added in its new battle system, Falcom is not considering anything that requires any sort of input skills. Also, you will also have the option to switch to command-style battles.
There are no Combat Links or Brave Orders. But there is a new system in place.
Narrative-wise, there is a â€œTopic Systemâ€ that has to do with conversations with NPCs.
Nihon Falcom as a whole is making preparations to support PlayStation 5 not just for this new Legend of Heroes entry, but also for future Falcom titles.
Here’s the kicker: if a game does not sell well, there will not be a sequel. The TrailsÂ series is no exception.

That’s a hell of an ultimatum. No word on whether this new Legend of Heroes game will be out in English as of yet. To be fair, this is brand-new information. Let’s end this good news on this particular tweet that’s worth pondering, especially if you’ve been following the Trails of Cold Steel series.

People are joking about the similarities between Rean and Kuro's possible protagonist, but you can't spell Rean in Chinese (??) without Kuro (?). pic.twitter.com/XWtWL70oD9
— Guan (?@gu4n@wandering.shop) (@Gu4n) December 16, 2020


Overwatch’s Echo Can Morph Into Any Enemy Hero On The Field

After an origin story showcase, Blizzard is going all-out with its reveal of Overwatch’s 32nd hero, Echo. And if you’ve enjoyed playing shapeshifters like Shang Tsung in fighting games, you may have a ball with this adaptive AI.
While Echo can fry freely, glide while falling, and surge forward while firing three shots at once in a triangle pattern, her true power lies in her Ultimate: duplicate. This enables Echo players to become any member of the enemy team and gain their abilities, including an accelerated version of their Ultimates.

Also, she can fire a Focusing Beam that deals very high damage to targets with less than half their health, culling out the heard. In case you couldn’t tell, she’s a unique DPS character with some “flight” capabilities.
She’s already playable in Overwatch’s PTR, and she seems like a joyride so far, duplicate VOs and all.
https://twitter.com/Liberot99/status/1240835294062161922
https://twitter.com/golfyf_OW/status/1240727104699789313
https://twitter.com/golfyf_OW/status/1240731663883104265

Echo's pretty strong! Here's a video of her kit. The ultimate is INSANE! #overwatch pic.twitter.com/q6ueXHqebT
— Valkia (@officialvalkia) March 19, 2020

She’s also a decent singer too.

Echo is really good at Karaoke! #Overwatch pic.twitter.com/PUW0YCRR70
— Willow, aka Moirai (@MoiraiObs) March 19, 2020

Stay tuned for our breakdown of the heroine on Kakuchopurei this week.


This Is Why Vietnam Is Banning The Barbie Movie

Vietnam has banned the upcoming Barbie movie.
According to Variety, the reason why Vietnam is banning the Barbie movie is because it features a scene that has a the nine-dash line map, which is a representation of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Why is that offensive? It’s because several countries, including Vietnam, say that the nine-dash line map violates their sovereignty.
Vi Kien Thanh, director general of the Vietnam Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said on Monday that the ban was decided by the National Film Evaluation Council.
He said:
“We do not grant license for the American movie ‘Barbie’ to release in Vietnam because it contains the offending image of the nine-dash line.”
Previously, DreamWorks’ animated movie Abominable (2019) and Sony Pictures’ Uncharted (2022) were banned for the same reason. That’s not just the case in Vietnam alone.
For instance, Abominable was banned in multiple countries, including Malaysia and the Philippines. Will Barbie follow suit? We’ll have to wait and see.
From Oscar-nominated writer/director Greta Gerwig comes Barbie, starring Oscar-nominees Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, alongside America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.
The film also stars Michael Cera, Ariana Greenblatt, Ana Cruz Kayne, Emma Mackey, Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Simu Liu, Ncuti Gatwa, Scott Evans, Jamie Demetriou, Connor Swindells, Sharon Rooney, Nicola Coughlan, Ritu Arya, Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dua Lipa and Oscar-winner Helen Mirren.
Gerwig directed Barbie from a screenplay by Gerwig & Oscar nominee Noah Baumbach, based on Barbie by Mattel. The film’s producers are Oscar nominee David Heyman, Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Robbie Brenner, with Gerwig, Baumbach, Ynon Kreiz, Richard Dickson, Michael Sharp, Josey McNamara, Courtenay Valenti, Toby Emmerich and Cate Adams serving as executive producers.
Barbie will premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 20 July 2023.


PUBG Mobile 1.7 Updates Adds Crossover With League Of Legends Arcane

TheÂ PUBG MOBILEÂ Version 1.7 update has arrived with the gameâ€™s most groundbreaking partnership to date, introducing new and innovative gameplay in collaboration with the new League of Legends animated series,Â Arcane.
With new playable characters, a mysterious story, unique gameplay, weapons and abilities, players will travel between Erangel, Piltover and Zaun as some of the showâ€™s most well-known champions. The Version 1.7 update also brings new gameplay features, downed player carry system, new outfits, Cyber Week sales and much more.
With one of the most ambitious partnerships ever introduced toÂ PUBG MOBILE, the Version 1.7 update sees extensive elements from the world ofÂ Arcane, the new League of Legends animated series, come toÂ PUBG MOBILE, introducing locations, characters, and gameplay from the beloved universe. By selecting â€˜themed modeâ€™ when playing a Classic game on Erangel, players will find the huge and mysterious floating Mirror Island.
Early in the game, Mirror Island can be explored by players for supplies. However, as the game continues, Mirror Island will activate and become extremely unstable. Players who come in contact with the Wind Wall will be transported to either Piltover or Zaun, two iconic cities from League Of Legends.

Players who land on the activated Mirror Island will also be able to transform into the iconic champions Jinx, Vi, Jayce, or Caitlyn, and use unique weapons and skills to battle against other players. Defeated players return to Erangel in their original form.
In addition to battling and exploring in these new areas, players can interact with these champions to uncover clues on whatâ€™s taking place in the world ofÂ Arcane, and help those champions return to their own world before itâ€™s too late. Unfortunately, Enforcers, Firelights and Berserkers have also entered the world ofÂ PUBG MOBILE, and players have to stop them from causing mayhem.
Using Hex Shards and other supplies, players can complete the story and return Jinx, Vi, Jayce, and Caitlyn back to Runeterra. Hex Shards can also be used to purchase battle supplies such as the newÂ Stimulant Pack, which gives players the ability to recover health upon defeating enemies, and theÂ Landing Pack, which gives players the ability to glide.
From 23 November 2021Â until 3 January 2021, players can also accumulate Exploration Progress by playing matches in Mirror World or Classic Mode, and earn exclusive Arcane emotes and items, with some recreating the ultimates of the Arcane champions.
Mirror Island will descend on Erangel on 16 November 2021.

PUBG MOBILEâ€™sÂ Version 1.7 update also brings new ways to play together. Knocked down players, both teammates and enemies, can now be carried instead of only reviving them or eliminating them. While carrying another player, movement speed is slowed and no other actions are available, including combat, picking up supplies, entering vehicles or using consumables. Passive damage for the player being carried also occurs at a slower rate, meaning it will take longer for them to be eliminated.
Even better, all the fan-favourite modes brought back in Version 1.6 are set to remain playable in the Version 1.7 update. Metro Royale: Reunion, Vikendi, Payload 2.0, Runic Power, Survive Till Dawn and Infection Mode will all be playable at certain times of the week.
The Version 1.7 update also introduces the new All-Talent Championship Season 4. Teams can compete in weekly matches in order to earn activity rewards and ranking rewards, and move on to the playoffs, Semi-finals and Finals where they will battle it out with the very best competition to earn the ultimate bragging rights.
Players can now enjoy Season 3 of Cycle 1, the new season system that brings updated missions to complete and rewards to earn. Season 3 of Cycle 1 introduces a new season-exclusive currency that is obtained as a match reward and tier reward, along with an improved Challenge Points system that adds estimates for when Challenge Points will take effect. There are also new missions available in themed modes that unlock rewards when completed, and players who collect the Diamond, Crown and Ace Badges in the same cycle can get high-quality supplies for free.
From 21 November to 5 December 2021,Â PUBG MOBILEÂ will offer huge store promotions and discounts to players with the arrival of Cyber Week. Players can earn rewards and coupons for activity, purchase outfits up to 90% off their regular price, and even purchase the new Black Friday exclusive set with an opportunity to earn all their UC back with UC rebate missions. Log into the game for more informationâ€“this isnâ€™t one to miss.
November also brings Royale Pass Month 5: Mirror Realm. From 19 November until 19 December 2021, players can claim the Vanguard and Lethal Creepster content, the Duty Till The End – Kar98K and Duty Till The End – MK47 outfits and more. A free RP voucher for December’s Royale Pass Month 6: Mythic Winter, can be won in the server-wide Golden Chicken eventâ€“ more details in-game.
The Version 1.7 update also adds a number of gameplay and security improvements. New difficulty modes will also be available to provide an extra challenge, and players can now enter a game before matching with teammates. More details can be found in the official patch notes.
PUBG MOBILEÂ is available to download for free on theÂ App StoreÂ andÂ Google PlayÂ Store.


New Warhammer 40k Game Dakka Squadron Makes You An Ork Pilot

There’s a lot of Warhammer 40k video games out there, but we haven’t gotten one about Ork planes before. Until now.
Warhammer 40,000: Dakka Squadron is described as a “fast-paced, aerial shooter where the player is an Ork Flyboy, taking to the skies to do what Orks do best – fight!” It’s being made by Phosphor Games Studio, and it’ll be flying its way onto consoles and PC.

You’ll be able fly Ork aircraft like the Dakkajets, Burna-Bommas, and Blitza-Bommas, and equip them with a variety of weapons. The website also says that you can learn special manoeuvres, suggesting some sort of RPG-esque progression.
There are also different Ork clans, each with unique features. The Blood Axes’ culture, for instance, lets them pull off more special manoeuvres while the Goffs are tankier and do more damage. Other clans include the Bad Moons, Death Skulls, and Evil Sunz.
The website lists other features as well:

Hone your skills to climb the ladder of the Ork faction; start off as a lowly Flyboy and conquer worlds to become a Warboss.

Explore incredible environments across multiple planets through a 20+ mission campaign.

Fantastic voice over acting and dialogue unveil a complex plot and capture the grim humour of the Warhammer 40,000 universe.

Complete missions, perform challenges and unlock achievements to discover powerful Orky weapons and receive incredible fighta upgrades.

Master dogfighting, dive-bombing, and carpet bombing and use different playstyles to complete varied air to air, and air to ground missions.

The first video game built from the ground up by Orks for Orks.

I’m not sure how a game about Warhammer 40k’s Orks can have a complex plot, but the concept of the game definitely seems fun. If you’re hoping to pilot non-Ork planes, however, you’ll have to make do with the Aeronautica Imperialis: Wings of Vengeance boardgame.


Here’s When Apple Arcade Will Launch In Malaysia And How Much It’ll Cost

Yesterday’s Apple Special Event still has everyone talking about that crazy camera config on the iPhone 11 and the ridiculous prices of all the new devices (same old, same old). Here at Kakuchopurei, we’re particularly interested in one gaming-related announcement: the launching of Apple Arcade.
For Americans, Apple Arcade will go live on 19 September 2019 for just US$4.99 per month. That’s basically 5 dollars cheaper than a personal Spotify premium account there. For Malaysians and Singaporeans, Apple Arcade will be launching on 20 September 2019 for a monthly payment of RM19.90 and S$6.98 per month respectively.
The Pathless, a game from the creators of Abzu.
This is actually pretty huge because Apple’s offer is extremely competitive especially when taking into account the constantly-rising number of mobile gamers. Coupled together with multi-device syncing across the Apple family of products, this could convince a lot of people into becoming more dedicated gamers.
It gets even better when you realise that the subscription isn’t just a personal one, it can be used for up to five family members. For Malaysians, that’s pretty much RM4 per person. Even crazier for Singaporeans, it’s just a bit over a dollar per person. Getting unlimited access to more than a hundred titles launching just in 2019 for that price? Crazy.
Now it wouldn’t be all that exciting if the games were just more of what we’ve seen in the free section of the Apple App Store. Thankfully, that’s not the case. From arena brawler LEGO Brawl to open world RPG Oceanhorn 2, there’s an extremely impressive collection of titles for the subscribers.
The Zelda-inspired Oceanhorn 2 will also be part of the subscription.
Will Apple Arcade change the way people approach gaming? Judging by how Apple revolutionised cell phones and computers, I’m fairly confident that Apple Arcade will be a service that prompts more developers and publishers to create more ambitious games for mobiles and tablets.
Oh, did I also mention that you can download your games so that you can play them offline? Cherry on top.
For more information, check out the official Apple Arcade webpage here (Malaysia) and here (Singapore).


Leak Suggests Fortnite Implementing Respawn Vans

“Hey, can I copy your homework”, said Fortnite.
“Sure, just change it a bit so it doesn’t look obvious”, Apex Legends replied.
“No problem!”, Fortnite gleefully answered.
I think this is the dialogue between rivals Fortnite and Apex Legends recently, as a respawn system in Fortnite was leaked.
Some eagle-eyed players spotted a van around the map since Season 8 arrived, and it might be the respawn points I’ve been going on about. It’s in the shape of a van with a player hologram on top.

Fortnite leaker, FortTory had a go in the in-game files and found that within the associated mesh files, the vehicle is referred to as a ‘Second Chance Van’. Smells fishy to me.

Second Chance Van….
Respawn coming to FORTNITE?! pic.twitter.com/qtoSpT0VyK
â€” FortTory – Fortnite Leaks & News (@FortTory) February 28, 2019
A further dig into the files reveals a mesh that refers to player cards to pick up, probably after a teammate has been ‘thirsted’.
Maybe, just maybe, players have to bring the cards to the Second Chance Vans to respawn their teammates.
Another new feature present in FortniteÂ is a ping system. Which sounds quite familiar, I just don’t know where they got that from. Way to go Epic for inventing new mechanics in Fortnite.
All in all, just keep in mind that, the Second Chance Vans are still a leak, and with all leaks, take it with a grain of salt.


Hot Toys Reveals New Marvel & Mandalorian Toy Fair Exclusives

Hot Toys has announced a bunch of new Toy Fair exclusives coming soon.
https://www.facebook.com/hottoys/posts/10158110692852344
First up is the Marvel’s Spider-Man – 1/6th scale Spider-Man (Cyborg Spider-Man Suit) Collectible Figure from the 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man by Insomniac Games.
The figure is expertly crafted based on Spider-Man wearing Cyborg Spider-Man Suit in the Marvelâ€™s Spider-Man video game, featuring a newly crafted masked head sculpt with LED light-up left eyes and multiple interchangeable right eyepieces to create different combinations of Spider-Manâ€™s expressions; a greatly poseable figure body with cybernetic left arm specially painted in metallic colour; skillfully tailored Cyborg Spider-Man suit following a blue and red colour scheme with utility belt and battle damage effects; interchangeable hands for iconic postures; assorted web effect accessories, and a dynamic figure stand for display uses.
https://www.facebook.com/hottoys/posts/10158112620082344
The next one is the Star Wars: The Mandalorian – 1/6th scale The Armorer Collectible Figure from Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia’s The Mandalorian.
The Armorer plays a vital role in keeping the culture of the Mandalorians alive. She forges Beskar armour in the ancient tradition of her people. Star Wars fans were captivated by her character and story. The collectible figure features a finely crafted helmet and armour pieces, a meticulously tailored outfit with a faux-fur coat, a selection of tools, a display stand, and a themed backdrop.
https://www.facebook.com/hottoys/posts/10158112627057344
Last but not least is the Avengers: Infinity War – 1/6th scale Neon Tech Iron Man 4.0 Collectible Figure. Taking design inspiration toward the futuristic and aerodynamic aesthetic, Hot Toysâ€™ Neon Tech series has skillfully recreated the signature and breathtaking armours that appeared in MCU as stunning collectibles, and merged them with glowing neon works.
Standing at approximately 32cm tall, the brand-new diecast figure inspired by the appearance of Iron Man Mark L in Avengers: Infinity War features a streamlined suit of armours with asymmetrical patterns; beautifully polished in shiny black, grey and bright neon orange colour with luminous reflective patterns appearing under specialized LED light, also a selection of fine armour parts composed in translucent matte material enhancing the overall appearance; LED light-up functions scattered throughout the armour; Iron Manâ€™s signature weapons including interchangeable LED light-up Nano Repulsor Cannon, Hand Cannon, Nano Boosters, Energy Blade, Holo Shield, and specially designed figure stand.
https://www.facebook.com/hottoys/posts/10158112612727344


The Free Fire Money Heist Crossover Is Now Live

GarenaÂ is teaming up withÂ NetflixÂ for a crossover betweenÂ Money HeistÂ (also known asÂ La Casa de Papel) andÂ Free Fire, which is now live for all players on Android and iOS. Players can join Plan Bermuda with all-new Money Heist in-game activities starting from 6 September 2020 and a limited time Money Printing Event from 12 September 2020.
In the Money Printing Event, players can earn unique rewards based on milestones of money printed throughout the event. To help earn bigger rewards, theyâ€™ll also be able to boost the printing speed in three different ways:
(1) completing daily event quests,
(2) enlisting the help of their friends, and
(3) adding Printer Fuel Tokens which can be found in-game.
Players will now have more options to deck their characters out with the latest Money Heist x Free Fire collection.
The collection includes the classic red jumpsuit outfit seen in the Netflix Original Series as well as two exclusive outfits inspired by the Free Fire x Money Heist partnership: the Plan Bermuda Shinobi and Kunoichi, and Plan Bermuda Street.

Meanwhile, the eagerly-anticipated new game mode, Money Heist, will be available to players from 19 September 2020. In the limited time Money Heist game mode, two teams of four players go head to head in a race against the opposing side to print the target amount of money in the allotted time.

Players collect money by activating and occupying Money Printers placed in set locations across the map. Once a Money Printer is occupied, theyâ€™ll also need to defend the surrounding area as the opposing team can take them over to earn money for themselves. The team that collects the target amount of money first or with the most amount of money as the time runs out wins.
Free FireÂ can be downloaded for free on both theÂ Apple iOS AppÂ andÂ Google PlayÂ store from the following links.


Disney Refuses To Cut Doctor Strange 2 LGBTQ Reference For Saudi Arabia

The censorship board of Saudi Arabaia wants Disney to cut the LGBTQ references from the upcoming film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness/Doctor Strange 2. The studio and Marvel by extension has refused to do so, at this point in time.
A report from Agence France-Presse (via The Guardian) said that Saudi Arabia’s general supervisor of cinema classification Nawaf Alsabhan requested the removal of “12 seconds”. To find out more about the scene, I’ll have to put a spoiler warning here for courtesy’s sake.

The bit the Saudi Arabian censors want to cut is when new superhero America Chavez/soon-to-be Miss America (Xochitl Gomez) talks about her “two moms”. Alsabshan said:
“It’s just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms. And being in the Middle East, it’s very tough to pass something like this. We sent it to the distributor, and the distributor sent it to Disney, and Disney has told us they are not willing.”
Alsabshan also shut down rumours about the show being banned in the country and in Kuwait.
“It will never be banned. There’s no reason to ban the film. It’s a simple edit… So far, they have refused. But we haven’t closed the door. We’re still trying.”
At this time of writing, Doctor Strange 2 ticket sales are being halted in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar, though they’re still available and moving in United Arab Emirates. If it’s anything like how Saudi Arabia treated the screening of Eternals (no screening at all), Marvel fans in those countries may have to steel themselves for disappointment.
Doctor Strange 2 will be shown in theatres worldwide on 4 May. The film stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange, Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Chiwetel Eijiofor as Baron Mordor, and Benedict Wong as Sorcerer Supreme Wong. Sam Raimi will direct the film.


New Outlast Game Will Feature 4-Player Co-op

Making a standout horror survival game isn’t easy. There are literally hundreds of similar games being made every year but developer Red Barrels managed to carve a name for themselves through their Outlast games and they’re not done just yet.

Red Barrels has just announced their next game titled The Outlast Trials. Unlike the first two Outlast games, it will feature a multiplayer component that allows for co-op play for up to 4 players. The studio is done with the proof of concept so development has only started. In other words, don’t expect a release date anytime soon.
I don’t blame if you thought the people in the above image were wearing VR headsets and the game was going to be a VR game. Fortunately, the studio has confirmed that this won’t be a VR game. Look closely and you’ll see that the test subjects are actually wearing night vision goggles.
What’s confirmed is that the game is still set within the Outlast universe but isn’t a direct sequel to Outlast 2. It’s set in the Cold War era and will place players in the shoes of test subjects who are taking part in a horrific experiment. Let’s hope we get a gameplay trailer sometime in 2020.


Auto Chess, A Dota 2 Mod, Is Getting Its Own MOBA Game. Wait, What?

If there’s any game that deserves the “eternal cycle” award, it’s probably Auto Chess right now.
The makers of Auto Chess, Drodo Studio, & its publisher Dragonest, the “auto battler” that uses Dota 2 characters and bits to form its own genre that also led to Valve and Riot Games create their own versions of the game (Dota Underlords and Teamfight Tactics), is developing its own MOBA.
Yes, you read that right: the creators of a game in a custom game option in a game (Dota 2) that’s based off a mod of a game (WarCraft 3) is creating a new game that’s similar to the aforementioned mod of the game (Dota 2). Screw Ourobouros; this is a way more stark eternal cycle thing going on here.
Will Drodo Studio make their MOBA a little more different than Dota 2 and League of Legends? Or even Mobile Legends? Who knows? Video announcement below.


PS Plus April 2022 Offers Outlaws & Spongebob

Gamers will have two new games to look forward to in theÂ PlayStation Plus Asia April 2022 lineup. From 5 April 2022 to 2 May 2022, PS Plus subscribers will be able to redeem Hood Outlaws & Legends and Spongebob Squarepants Battle For Bikini Bottom Rehydrated.
Check them out below:
Hood Outlaws & Legends

Hood: In this intense online multiplayer title, rival gangs compete in daring heists to hit the wealthy where it hurts. One of the different game modes is State Heist: a full coop PvE mode where teams control spawn points to recuperate as much gold as possible. In Gold Rush PvPvE mode however, two teams of four players battle it out in an attempt to execute the perfect heist, stealing and extracting treasure while fighting each other and the AI Guards. Equipped with unique skills and mystical abilities, each character moves in stealth to steal treasures unseen. It’s up to you to recruit your band of outlaws, master formidable fortresses and outplay your rivals.
SpongeBob SquarePants Battle for Bikini Bottom Rehydrated

The classic platformer returns, faithfully remade in spongetastic splendor! Play as SpongeBob, Patrick and Sandy and use their unique sets of skills to thwart Plankton’s evil plan to rule Bikini Bottom with his army of wacky robots. Meet countless characters from the beloved series and enjoy horde mode for up to two players, online and offline.


Transformers: War For Cybertron Netflix Series Rolls Out This July

Bad news: Transformers: War for Cybertron’s first animated series entry Siege will be delayed. Good news: you won’t have to wait too long, because it’s just a month-long delay.
Transformers fans will get to watch all six episodes of Transformers: War for Cybertron – Siege this 30th July on Netflix. The delay was so that foreign dubs of the show can be completed. The delay news came from actress Linsay Rousseau, who will voice Elita-1 in the series. She added that they weren’t completed in time due to the COVID-19 quarantines going around.

The fight worth fighting.  Transformers War for Cybertron: Siege streams July 30th pic.twitter.com/dUqDfU2Amk
— Netflix Geeked @ SDCC #NetflixSDCC (@NetflixGeeked) June 22, 2020

Just to recap, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy – Siege will feature six 22-minute long episodes. Two more series, Earthrise and a yet-to-be-named third entry, will follow. Polygon Pictures are in charge of animation, while Rooster Teeth (RWBY) will be handling production.


This Is Your E3 2018 Livestream Schedule, Southeast Asia [Update]

Updated 12 June with press conference recaps & vids.
Here’s an easy-to-track E3 2018 Press Conference schedule for you. For Malaysian/ Singaporean viewers, track the Hong Kong one as it falls within the same timezone.

This article was originally posted on 12 May.
It’s one more month until the biggest games expo of the year shows off a ton of cool stuff that may have been leaked prematurely. We’re talking about E3 2018, folks, and it’s going to happen during the week of June 11.
So how’s the schedule like this time around? Like last year, you’ll have to wake up super-early in the morning if you’re living in Southeast Asia. We at Kakuchopurei have gathered all the correct timings of the show for your convenience so that you know what time to get up at.
We also brought up some rumours and info that you can use to place your bets on; keep in mind that it’s all speculation here until they get announced on the show floor itself. Take all of these rumours with a grain of salt, is what we’re saying.
EA Play Hollywood

Time: Sunday, June 10, 2am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: More Anthem! More FIFA! More awkward YouTubers and game streamers trying to host and present their segments when they should be rehearsing that nonsense ahead of time.
Xbox

https://mixer.com/embed/player/Xbo%20x?disableLowLatency=1
Time:Â Monday June 11, 4am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: The next Halo title will have a Battle Royale mode. Crackdown 3 to feature 4 player co-op like State of Decay 2. A new MechAssault game years in the making. The Gears of War 4 team may make a new Perfect Dark game. Fable 4 to be announced despite no Lionhead Studios championing its development. Xbox may also be the first to unveil multiplatform titles like Borderlands 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Just Cause 4.
Bethesda

Time: Monday June 11, 9am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: We hope there’s a new Fallout game in the works from both Bethesda and Obsidian Games. Otherwise, we’ll fall back onto Rage 2 and probably more Elder Scrolls Online expansions.
Square Enix

Time:Â Tuesday June 12, 1am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: Probably not a Kingdom Hearts III release date. We’ll get more gameplay and news on Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Just Cause 4 though. And also those new Final Fantasy XIII expansions featuring Ardyn and Ariana Highwind.
Ubisoft

Time:Â Tuesday June 12, 4am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: A new Assassin’s Creed, more news on Skull & Bones, and some Beyond Good & Evil 2 gameplay which may be using the same open world gameplay styles of past Ubisoft titles. Also we may get news on a Division 2 and a new Splinter Cell.Â
PC Gaming Show

Time:Â Tuesday June 12, 6am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: More awkwardness from popular PC shoutcasters trying to be hosts. All bets are off here: we may get more Phoenix Point, more Cliff Bleszinski Boss Key shenanigans, and more.
PlayStation

Time:Â Tuesday June 12, 9am GMT+8
What to expect/bet on: Bloodborne 2, probably for next year. Other than that, we hope for a new Crash Bandicoot game, or even a new IP. We heard that the cryptic Shadows Die Twice tease from From Software may not be a Bloodborne sequel after all.
Nintendo

Time:Â Wednesday June 12, midnight GMT+8 (stay up on Tuesday night at 11.30pm or so)
What to expect/bet on: News on Metroid Prime 4. And hopefully, more surprises from Platinum Games *coughVanquish2cough*. Beyond baseless speculation, we’ll get more news on Super Smash Bros. There’s also a rumoured Star Fox Grand Prix racing game made by Retro Studios, but we’ll believe it when we hear it on Nintendo Direct.
Update: There’s a leak going around talking about a bunch of new games, like an F-Zero sequel by Platinum Games and a 3D remake of the Game Boy classic Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening.


Tencent’s Streaming App Launches On Nintendo Switch In China

Tencent has launched its streaming app, Tencent Video, on Nintendo Switch in China. Tencent Video is a video streaming app like that of Netflix or Disney Plus, offering a wide variety of local and international streaming content.

Tencent, the official distributor of the Nintendo Switch in China, has launched a Tencent Video app for the console.This is only available to download on the China ver. of the console distributed by Tencent.It's like a Netflix / Youtube style app from Tencent basically. pic.twitter.com/UHziR7hQ6y— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) November 4, 2020

This move by the conglomerate is a huge one, considering that even outside of Japan, the Nintendo Switch doesn’t have access to much streaming options, besides YouTube and Hulu.
This will capitalize on the lack of existing video streaming options on the Nintendo Switch. Tencent Video reportedly already has 900 million mobile monthly active users worldwide. This is because it is also available outside of China by the name, WeTV, on the Google Play Store.


Spider-Man Movies Finds A New Streaming Home

Disney and Sony Pictures have reached a multi-year licensing deal to bring Spider-Man and other Sony Pictures movies to Disney Plus.
Sony Pictures’ theatrical releases from 2022 to 2026 will head to Disney’s streaming services and other television networks (FX, ABC, etc) after they leave Netflix. However, the package currently only covers U.S. markets.
What does this mean? Well, Samâ€™s Raimiâ€™s Spider-Man trilogy, the two Amazing Spider-Man movies, and Tom Hollandâ€™s Homecoming and Far From Home Marvel entries will be available to watch on Disney Plus. That means that almost the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe will be available on Disney Plus soon.
With Netflix and Disney deals combined, Sony is expected to rake in about a whopping US$3 billion in movie licensing over the life of the deals.
ABC, Freeform, FX Networks and Acquisitions for Disneyâ€™s Media and Entertainment Distribution head of business operations Chuck Saftler said (via Variety):
â€œThis landmark multi-year, platform-agnostic agreement guarantees the team at Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution a tremendous amount of flexibility and breadth of programming possibilities to leverage Sonyâ€™s rich slate of award-winning action and family films across our direct-to-consumer services and linear channels.
This is a win for fans, who will benefit from the ability to access the very best content from two of Hollywoodâ€™s most prolific studios across a multitude of viewing platforms and experiences.â€
Recently, Tom HollandÂ squashed the rumoursÂ of previous Spider-Men Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield appearing in the upcoming movie.
Directed by Jon Watts (who also directed 2017â€™sÂ Spider-Man HomecomingÂ and 2019â€™sÂ Spider-Man Far From Home),Â Spider-Man No Way HomeÂ is still filming and in production, but it is slated to premiere on 17 December 2021 later this year.


WWE 2K22 Announced During Wrestlemania 37

Publisher 2K Games and developer Visual Concepts have officially announcedÂ WWE 2K22 at WrestleMania 37. The very first teaser video features both live-action and stunning in-game footage of WWE Superstar Rey Mysterio.
In the teaser, Rey Mysterio, a high-flying Lucha libre legend and one of the most exciting and decorated Superstars in WWE history, slips on his iconic mask, enters the ring, sets up his opponent, Cesaro, and connects with his electrifying 619 signature move. The video concludes with a note confirming WWE 2K22Â will be coming soon and the tagline â€œIt Hits Different.â€
However, no specific platforms and release date were announced or confirmed for WWE 2K22. For now, you can stay tuned on the officialÂ Facebook, Twitter,Â Instagram, and YouTube accounts for the upcoming game.
There was no WWE 2K game in 2020, which markedÂ the first time that a game in the WWE 2KÂ franchise (previously known asÂ WWF/WWE SmackDown! when it was under THQ) did not receive an annual entry since it originally began with 2000â€™s WWF SmackDown!.
2019â€™sÂ WWE 2K20 was universally derided by gamers and reviewers alike, as the game is broken and littered with glitches and bugs to the point of near-unplayability. This was possibly due to the last-minute split between publisher 2K and long-time WWE 2K developer Yukeâ€™s.

WWE 2K22 will likely be the first wrestling games for the next-gen consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, so it will be interesting to see if there will be any major improvements. In the meantime, check out the teaser trailer below.


Psychonauts 2 Now Delayed To 2020

Microsoft and Double Fine Productions have announced that Psychonauts 2 has been delayed yet again, and this time the highly-anticipated sequel to the 2005 cult classic will now be releasing sometime in 2020 instead.
This isn’t the first delay for Psychonauts 2, as it was originally slated for a 2018 release date before being pushed back to 2019. However, (in the press release via GameRevolution) the developer didn’t provide any reason whatsoever for the game’s latest delay but only stated that it simply needs more time.
This unfortunate news comes just one week after an amazing showing at E3 2019, where Double Fine Productions finally unveiled gameplay footage from the upcoming game for the first time. It looks insanely good and as wacky as ever.
Psychonauts 2 is slated to launch for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC sometime in 2020. In the meantime, check out its E3 2019 gameplay trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xV3LGhgDQbc&w=560&h=315]


Little Witch Academia Anime Gets A VR Broom Racing Game

The Little Witch Academia anime brand is taking another stab at video games after its not-so-hot debut.
Developer UNIVRS just announced Little Witch Academia: VR Broom Racing, a game where you race little witches in Luna Nova (anime Hogwarts) in VR first-person mode. The game previously launched for Oculus Quest back in October 2020. Here’s a quote from UNIVRS COO Naoya Koji about the upcoming title:
“Virtual reality is such a unique medium to bring an anime to life, and weâ€™re lucky to work with such great talent to make Luna Nova feel real. With the improvements and new content we added since the Oculus Quest launch, we expect to spellbind a whole new generation of players.”
The game will be out for PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and SteamVR on 15 July. Check out the gameplay trailer below (via Gematsu).


BlizzCon 2023 Tickets Sales Announced; Event Livestream Will Be Free

BlizzCon 2023, a massive celebration of Blizzard games like Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Diablo, is set to take place in Anaheim, California after 4 years. For the first time, you can watch the entirety of the livestream for free, however, the in-person event will cost you quite a bit.
Starting with the ticket prizes, the General Admission ticket cost USD299, and includes access to all halls, early access to the BlizzCon Store, in-game content, and a backpack. The Portal Pass, priced at USD799, offers general admission perks and much more – allowing access to a private lounge featuring meet-and-greets, as well as separate registration and security lines.
The ticket prices have skyrocketed since the last in-person BlizzCon in 2019. Back then, General Admission was USD229, and Portal Pass was USD550. That’s a 30% increase in GA and a 45% increase in Portal Pass.

Tickets will go on sale in July 2023 across two waves. Wave 1 takes place live on Saturday, 8 July starting at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 July, 1 AM MYT through AXS. At the same time, wave 2 will be available on Saturday, 22 July / 23 July, 1 AM MYT. A maximum of two tickets can be purchased per order.
For those who can’t make it to the show in person, BlizzCon 2023 will be live-streamed for free. if you wish to experience more than just watching the show, the Virtual Ticket can be purchased, which features in-game goodies, early access to exclusive BlizzCon merchandise, and more. Pricing for the Virtual Ticket was not announced.
BlizzCon 2023 takes place from 3-4 November in Anaheim, California. This year, Blizzard said the aim is to make the event “more experiential than ever before.” Fans can expect “massive installations, art, and thematic spaces” to showcase franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Attendees can also attend developer panels and learn about upcoming Blizzard projects. The first Overwatch World Cup Finals will take place at BlizzCon as well.
BlizzCon 2023 tickets will be available on 8 July and 22 July only. For more details, visit Blizzard’s official website.
In the meantime, catch a glimpse of what BlizzCon 2023 has in store via the official reveal trailer.


Cobra Kai’s Fifth Season Hits Hard & Strikes First

If you’re hoping that the Cobra Kai series, the worthy follow-up to the Karate Kid series of martial arts drama films, has finally lost steam in its fifth season, keep hoping. In fact, this may be the series’ best and is only going upward.
Zarei

After the events of Season 4, both heroes Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) are forced to close their dojos. At the same time, sneaky businessman-slash-karate-master big bad Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffin) takes over Cobra Kai and all Valley dojos in the area. Daniel gets help from ex-bad guy-now-wise-karate-teacher Chozen (from Season 3, played by Yuji Okumoto) while Johnny reconnects with his son Robbie (Tanner Buchanan) and also heads to Mexico to search for his other runaway “son”-slash-Cobra-Kai-student Miguel (Xolo Mariduena).
We have new enemy dojo leaders in the form of Terry Silver’s sensei’s daughter Kim Da-Eun (Alicia Hannah-Kim), though she’s more of a force of nature to complement Silver than an actual character. That’s fine and dandy, because Terry’s charisma and evil ways are what keeps the show intriguing and engaging, attempting to rally new Cobra Kai students for his grand plan to make all other forms of karate in The Valley obsolete. The showrunners have also given ex-Karate Kid 2 villain Chozen a bigger support role. Suffice to say, he’s a great addition due to his comedic timings balanced out with his sage wisdom and badassness fights-wise, especially with Daniel and Johnny. If there’s a character in need of a spin-off from a, well, spin-off, it’s definitely Chozen.
Cobra Kai is still shining its spotlight on both Johnny and Daniel; the former dealing with new family matters and the latter trying to solve the Terry Silver problem while keeping his sanity in check. Both arcs tie up and pay off really well, with a few set of conflicts that round it up in style, stakes, and gravitas.
Even with all the cast members running around, and there are a lot of story arcs, each of them gets ample screen time within its 10-episode run. These range from Robbie and Miguel’s animosity against each other to Samantha LaRusso (Mary Mouser) sorting her issues out post-Season 4 tournament. The best part is that it somehow takes the few highlights and throwaway lines from the second-worst Karate Kid movie, and turned it into a lore goldmine with ample results for this season. Yes, you get to see part 3’s Mike Barnes (Sean Kanan) and Jessica Andrews (Robyn Lively) pop up here, but in pretty unexpected and justified ways that don’t seem too shoehorned. In fact, I daresay that Cobra Kai Season 5 made Karate Kid Part 3’s existence justified, with its flashbacks and deep cuts interjected in the TV show work organically and heightens the drama. You know a TV show has its worth weighed in gold when it can somehow spin better stories out of a terrible sequel.
Yuudansha

The only issue I can think of with this is that the season will not help you catch up with past events, which is fine since this is already the show’s last few seasons before everything comes to a head. This season is a remarkable way to cap things off just nice with all the setups from Seasons 3 and 4, coming full circle and pitting mentors against students in a free-for-all that’s part and parcel of the series.
If you thought the high school brawl and home assault bits in the last few seasons were epic, Season 5’s climax sure ramps it up further. All in all, a good time for everyone who invested in the series’ comedy-slash-drama from start to finish. The writers may need to figure out how to top this season with the next one (or two), but I’m sure Cobra Kai will find its way just like Johnny Lawrence did with his personal problems. I do worry if the show has peaked with Season 5, and if it has any tricks up its sleeve -retroactively bringing in New Karate Kid for future seasons, anyone? Regardless, this season is good stuff and still makes Cobra Kai a helluva show featuring karate, redemption, forgiveness, and badassery.
Final Score: 90/100


Should Overwatch 2 Be Branded As A Totally New Game? Let’s Sort It Out

After many leaks and speculation, Overwatch 2 is finally announced to the joy of many. The sequel is basically the long-sought-after PvE content that many fans of the Blizzard shooter franchise have been clamouring for since 2016. After all, the game’s many cinematics and Pixar-esque quality trailers did hint at a much broader storyline.
This news is met with some questioning. Some are even accusing Blizzard of scamming players with this DLCÂ  that was supposed to be in the original game back in 2016. To that I say: where’s proof of this?
For those who are still wondering what the differences between both games are, here’s a handy chart posted on Reddit by ArchGunner:

In a nutshell: Overwatch 2 players get the new content and can play with Overwatch players in PvP mode. Overwatch players get new characters and maps, and also play PvP with Overwatch 2 players.

In essence, you’re basically paying money for PvE content; it’s up to you. If you own Overwatch, you’ll still get to play online and keep your progress.

Which begs the question: why brand it as such and deliver these spiels? To answer that, we’ll have to think like Activision-Blizzard. Imagine if you had aÂ  3-years-in-the-running successful PvP multiplayer game. How the hell can you launch a successful sequel to that already successful “service” game?
Repetition Is The Path To Mastery…

Games like Fortnite got around this because it’s an F2P game that can afford a reboot that migrates every player to the new experience. Some companies take the blatant money-grubbing route: triple-A US$60 game sequels that start over and leave everyone behind in the old game. I’m looking at you, EA’s FIFA/Madden series & 2K Games’ NBA/WWE entries.
No matter how prestigious a corporation is, they still have to change up ideas if they don’t turn out as planned. Seeing as how successful and active Overwatch is as a multiplayer game, this is expected.
Which brings us to Overwatch 2; this announcement is trying to minimize the “getting left behind” aspect that entails with a sequel. Overwatch 2 will provide enough changes and content to make it a compelling purchase for fans and curious players who want to get into the series. Furthermore, the co-op and PvE aspects will encourage every player’s friend or two to upgrade.

The bottom line here is you’re given a choice to either stick with Overwatch or upgrade with part 2. No one’s pointing a gun at your head to force you to fork out money. So why bitch about the multiplayer part you’re getting for free?

Blizzard seems to have this idea of keeping all parties engaged and spending money in Overwatch without splitting the fanbase and giving the updates everyone wants. That honestly sounds like a win-win situation. Along with the idea of broadening the player base beyond original Overwatch with PvE content (which worked on games like the Left 4 Dead series), the game may be optimized for next-gen. At least for the console side ofÂ  things.
Pass Into The Iris

Until Blizzard announces the actual price of Overwatch 2, everything else is speculation. Yes, you can furiously type in forums and Facebook that Overwatch 2 is DLC using the same engine as the original Overwatch and it’s just Blizzard squeezing more money out of you. But the producers are transparent about their intentions, which is releasing more content for fans to play together with.

It’s also not unreasonable to pay a bit of money for said new PvE content, right? We live in a world where companies are being a-holes charging for annual releases of sports and shooter series, so having to pay a little extra for a sequel a number of years in the making is a lot more ideal, right?
This is a revolutionary step in the right direction. Yearly releases such as FIFA and NBA 2K should follow suitÂ  if theirÂ  respective companies want to gain back respect from their player base.

And regarding the money-squeezing thing; they already did that with lootboxes back in 2016. So yeah, good job in sticking it to the man, eh? Even if Overwatch 2’s PvE sales end up middling, it’ll take a great PR catastrophe to even make a negative dent inÂ Overwatch’s competitive and PvP scene.
Bottom line: don’t fret about it. You’re getting new stuff for your favourite PvP shooter whether you’re shelling out money for part 2 or not. And personally, I can’t wait to fight that giant-ass Null Sector robot with my friends when it’s out god-knows-when.


Sublime Fantasy Game Sea Of Solitude Gets A Release Date

EA has announced that its anticipated, emotional adventure game Sea of Solitude will be arriving very soon. The third-person journey developed by Jo-Mei Games can be experienced worldwide starting 5 July.

Delve into Sea of Solitude and face your monsters! Coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on July 5! Pre-order here: https://t.co/qOhDacb76z #SeaofSolitude pic.twitter.com/vd8PUNUhAX
â€” Electronic Arts (@EA) May 28, 2019
Sea of SolitudeÂ is an emotional experience that takes players on a personal journey to overcome a young womanâ€™s inner loneliness. You’ll be helping Kay wandering through flooded cities, facing monsters along the way to rid off ‘tainted memories’.

â€œSea of SolitudeÂ centers on the essence of loneliness and tugs on the heartstrings of its players by mirroring their own reality. Itâ€™s by far the most artistic and personal project Iâ€™ve ever created, written during a very emotional time in my life,â€ said Cornelia Geppert, CEO of Jo-Mei Games.

She also said, â€œDesigning characters based on emotions was a deeply personal achievement for our team and weâ€™re so excited for players to soon experience Kayâ€™s powerful story of self-discovery and healing.â€

The game is designed with a striking visual, offering an intimate adventure of self-discovery across a beautiful and evolving world. Kayâ€™s journey unfolds around dynamic environments as atmospheric in-game weather help visualize the charactersâ€™ emotions. New areas are unlocked by overcoming emotional challenges and progressively revealing light and colour into the dark and stormy world.
Sea of SolitudeÂ seems to be an interesting pitch, putting psychology as one of the main themes with an interesting take. I’m keeping my eyes on this game.

Sea of Solitude will be available on theÂ PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC via Origin on 5 July, and will cost USD19.99 (RM84).


Chimeraland Launches In SEA Countries

Chimeraland, a brand new and vast open-world fantasy game developed by Level Infinite forÂ PC, Android and iOSÂ is now available for players in select regions, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.
The exciting new massively multiplayer online title, which features a large scope of exploration, imagination and creativity, racked up over 500,000 pre-registrations in just a few weeks following the commencement of signups in December.
Players in Malaysia are among those who have benefited from the wide variety of pre-registration rewards made available to early adopters. Having seen the favorable response, the development team had also unlocked additional items in recognition of community milestones and targets.
â€œWe are delighted that from today, players in the initial five markets can download and start playingÂ Chimeraland. We know that the anticipation and excitement have been building based on the comments on our social media channels and the success of the pre-registration, and we are confident that the game will not disappoint player expectations,â€ Phyllis Chen, Game Producer at Level Infinite shared.
One of the key features is the focus on Eastern mythology, drawing inspiration fromÂ Classic of Mountains and Seas, a renowned literary work known for its ancient mythical beasts. Players will have the opportunity to explore a sprawling world covering about 4,000 square kilometers and encounter many fascinating beasts and monsters drawn from mythology,
These creatures are more than just visual treats, as players can battle, tame and even combine them – creating and evolving new chimeras with individual characteristics, forms, and abilities. The potential of transformation is only limited by the playerâ€™s imagination, andÂ ChimeralandÂ offers hours of rewarding experimentation, creativity and fun.
The virtual world ofÂ ChimeralandÂ is also notably spherical, similar to the real world. Players will never encounter invisible walls and can enjoy true adventures across a map that includes four continents along with uncharted seas and oceans. With the right pets and skills, players can even take to the skies and space, visiting other worlds and encountering rare star beasts.
The gameâ€™s extremely versatile and creative homebuilding system also allows players to construct their homes in the more familiar environments ofÂ Chimeraland, or on one of the smaller planets in space.Â
â€œChimeralandÂ is all about giving players the freedom to make their own choices and that has influenced everything in the creation of this game. Even the combat system, which has been designed to give players the ability to choose from multiple weapons and use them interchangeably, helps create limitless tactical and strategic choices that ensure both PvE and PvP combat is fun and engaging.â€


This Free Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Fan Game Is Retrotastic

Back in the 90s, Konami hit it out of the ballpark with its slew of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade and NES/Megadrive/SNES beat-em-up games. A lot of us including myself played the heck out of these games because of how fun and in-spirit in was to the colourful brand they were.
Retro fan Merso X thought so too, which is why he created this TMNT fan game called TMNT Rescue-Palooza, which is clearly a homage to the aforementioned arcade games. In a half shell: Shredder celebrates the 30th anniversary of his rivals by kidnapping the supporting cast (April, Irma, etc.).
In true 90s cartoon fashion, you have to rescue them all while beating the crap out of mousers, foot soldiers, and other Dimension X oddities. There are 60 of them to rescue, all of whom are playable once you unlocked them. Fun!
Here’s a trailer:

The best part? You can play it now; download it here. You can also use Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo since he did a crossover with the mutant ninjas at one point. And yes: Bebop and Rocksteady are still a-holes to fight against because this is the brutal 90s.


The Callisto Protocol Director Brags About Crunch Culture, Gets Lambasted Online

While it’s great to bring up how dedicated you are at making a game great just before launch, the phrasing should at least be scrutinized by a PR team especially if you’re the boss.
Such is the case of one Glen A. Schofield who tweeted a while ago about how his team at Striking Distance Studios are working “6-7 days a week” on completing their upcoming survival horror sci-fi game The Callisto Protocol. The way he phrased it in his tweet (which is now deleted) is that nobody is forcing anyone.
“Exhaustion, tired, Covid but we’re working. Bugs, glitches, perf fixes. 1 last pass thru audio. 12-15 hr days. This is gaming. Hard work. Lunch, dinner working. U do it cause ya luv it”

On one hand, going through this a few months before launch is part and parcel of the industry, though not to the extreme. However, we’re in a time when crunch isn’t going to be accepted right off the bat. Saying something like this when you’re the studio head will make people think you’re supporting crunch, especially when you dictate salaries, titles, and current work status. Sure, you’re not being forced to work this much, but that’s clearly going to make you ostracized within a group that is already doing so. Weaponizing passion so that people fall in line is unfortunately common in the games industry. As long as people with some semblance of writing cred can at least keep track of things like this, we can hold studios to be accountable and not work people to the brink of death, be it a bigwig studio like EA or a mid-sized one like Striking Distance Studio.

This, from a studio head, is crunch culture defined. Of course nobody is “forced” to work insane hours. But imagine the reduced bonuses and lack of promotion opportunities if you don’t? “You do it because you love it.” Weaponized passion. This is why people burn out of gaming pic.twitter.com/seyE7tkPuf
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 3, 2022


New Soul Sneak Peek Teases Jazzy Goodness With First Song

Disney Pixar’s Soul was supposed to premiere this month, but it was delayed to later this year on account of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. To soothe our souls (so to speak), Disney Pixar has released a new sneak peek trailer showcasing the first song from the upcoming animated movie.
The brief one-minute sneak peek offers us our first listen of the song Parting Ways; written, produced and performed by Cody ChesnuTT. Meanwhile, American anthropologist/educator Dr. Johnnetta Cole and globally-renowned jazz pianist Jon Batiste (who also lent his expertise to the jazz arrangements and musical compositions in Soul) also serve as cultural consultants on the movie.

Soul follows Joe Gardner (Jamie Foxx); a middle-school band teacher who gets the chance of a lifetime to play at the best jazz club in town. But one small misstep takes him from the streets of New York City to The Great Before; a fantastical place where new souls get their personalities, quirks and interests before they go to Earth.
Determined to return to his life, Joe teams up with a precocious soul simply named 22 (Tina Fey), who has never understood the appeal of the human experience. As Joe desperately tries to show 22 whatâ€™s great about living, he may just discover the answers to some of lifeâ€™s most important questions.

Directed by Academy Award winner Pete Docter (Inside Out and Up) and Kemp Powers (One Night in Miami), Disney Pixar’s Soul is slated to premiere on 19 November 2020. In the meantime, check out the sneak peek trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNYcwbEL-pg&w=560&h=315]


Outriders & Loop Hero Are On The Top Five Steam Best-Sellers List This Month

Sometimes, it takes a really good demo with progress-transferring tactics to get those game pre-orders a-running. That seems to be the case with upcoming looter-shooter Outriders and Loop Hero.
Square Enix and People Can Fly’s upcoming title is one of the top 5 games on Steam for the week of 1st March. The rest of the games are:

Valheim
Loop Hero
Valve Index VR Kit
Deep Rock Galactic
Outriders
é¬¼è°·å…«è’ (Tale of Immortal)
Hades
Baldur’s Gate 3
CS:GO – Operation Broken Fang
Dying Light Enhanced Edition

How did Outriders get there? Well, the demo has a lot to do with it. It’s got rave reviews from the community and from streamers (both sponsored and non-sponsored). It’s also been a while since people played a People Can Fly shooter, the folks known for Painkiller and Bulletstorm. Loop Hero is an indie darling published by Devolver Digital, so it’s going to get buzz regardless.
This is also further proof that a good demo goes a long way in convincing people to invest in your future game. For more Outriders, do check out our thoughts on the demo.


5 Discovery Networks Programs You Should Watch In June

There are a lot of great channels on the Discovery Networks Asia Pacific lineup, each of which features exciting new programs each month. Here’s what you can look forward to in June 2019:
JOHN TORODEâ€™S MIDDLE EAST
DISCOVERY ASIA (ASTRO CHANNEL 571)

Remember the MasterChef UK ‘crispy chicken rendang’ debacle? John Torode was one of the two judges who criticized Malaysian contestant Zaleha Kadir Olpin’s rendang dish. Now his latest program will have him travel to the Middle East to track down the best food in the region.
Premiere Date: 13 June 2019, Thursday
Time: 9pm (MY)
Episodes: 10 x 30 mins
BAKERS VS FAKERS S2
TLC (ASTRO CHANNEL 707)

Who doesn’t like cake? Here’s a show where baking pros go up against amateurs.
Premiere Date: 19 June 2019, Thursday
Time: 8pm (MY)
Episodes: 14 x 60 mins
HUALIEN EARTHQUAKE DECODED
DISCOVERY ASIA (ASTRO CHANNEL 571)

On Feb 6th, 2018, Hualien County in Taiwan was hit with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. Watch this wrenching documentary of how the Hualien County Government was able to keep the damage to a minimal.
Premiere Date: 6 June 2019, Tuesday
Time: 9.00pm (MY)
Episodes: 5 x 60 mins
HANGING WITH THE HENDERSONS
ANIMAL PLANET (ASTRO CHANNEL 556)

Love pets and cute furry animals? Follow Dr. Tony Henderson, his wife Debbie, their sons Dr. Ross, Dr. Ryan, and Cole, and the extended clinic family run the Fox Hollow Animal Hospital.
Premiere Date: 4 June 2019, Tuesday
Time: 9.00pm (MY)
Episodes: 12 x 60 mins
ANIMAL CRIBS S2
ANIMAL PLANET (ASTRO CHANNEL 556)

Designer Antonio transforms drab, cramped homes and outside areas into functional, high-style spaces for both pets and the people they love.
Premiere Date: 12 June 2019, Wednesday
Time: 9pm (MY)
Episodes: 11 x 60 mins


Battlefield 2042 Delayed A Month Later To November 2021

EA and DICE have announced that Battlefield 2042 has been delayed to 19 November 2021. It was originally slated to release on 22 October 2021.
In an official statement, DICE general manager Oskar Gabrielson said that the game has been delayed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
Weâ€™ve made the decision to shift the launch of Battlefield 2042. The game will now be released worldwide on November 19th, 2021.
Building the next generation of Battlefield during a global pandemic has created unforeseen challenges for our development teams. Given the scale and scope of the game, we had hoped our teams would be back in our studios together as we move towards launch. With the ongoing conditions not allowing that to happen safely, and with all the hard work the teams are doing from home, we feel it is important to take the extra time to deliver on the vision of Battlefield 2042 for our players.
Your enthusiasm for the game has been very inspiring. We believe in the game weâ€™re making, and we thank you for your patience as we put some finishing touches into the experience.
Updates on the Open Beta will be coming later this month.
In addition, EA also previously confirmedÂ thatÂ Battlefield 2042Â will not feature a traditional single-player story campaign.
Battlefield 2042 is slated to launch for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on 19 November 2021.
In the meantime, check out theÂ Battlefield 2042 gameplay trailer below:


KL Major 2018: A Quick Recap Of Malaysia’s Big Dota 2 Tournament

Brace yourself, Dota 2 and esports fans in Malaysia. The KL Major 2018 is afootÂ this weekend from 16 to 18 November.
Here’s a lowdown:
-The main fights will be happening from 12pm onwards on Friday and Saturday (16 and 17 November). The grand finals will start at 4pm Sunday on 18 November.
-There’s a sweet lucky draw happening this weekend if you love gaming peripherals from HyperX and Acer Predator.
-These are the six remaining teams right now in the tournament:

Team Secret (Upper Bracket)
PSG.LGD (Upper Bracket)
Ninjas in Pyjamas (Upper Bracket)
Virtus.pro (Upper Bracket)
TNC Predator
Evil Geniuses

-Tune in to the tournament here on PGL’s Twitch page: https://www.twitch.tv/pgl_dota2
–TNC Predator is the only Southeast Asian team remaining in this major Dota 2 tournament. Fnatic was ousted by Evil Geniuses in a best-of-2 battle.

-China’s Dota 2 game isn’t as strong as it was. PSG.LGD is the only Chinese team remaining in the tournament. Vici Gaming and Team Aster were knocked out during the past few days.
-The current placement of the other 10 teams are as follows:

7th-8th place: Vici Gaming, Fnatic. They earn US$60,000 and 900 DPC points.
9th-12th place: Alliance, paiN X, J.Storm, Forward Gaming. They won US$15,000 and 150 DPC points.
13th-16th place: paiN Gaming, Tigers, Team Aster, Gambit Esports. They won US$10,000 and 75 DPC points.

-Notable Dota 2 personalities running around the show floor: Lysander, Redeye, Sheever, TobiWan, SirActionSlacks, PindaPanda.
–The folks from Meta.us will be there to spread the good word of their esports platform. Do say hello to them!
That’s all for now. Who do you think will take the KL Major top spot this year in this new Dota 2 season? Cast your votes & place your bets here!


All The Borderlands 3 Class Skill Trees & Best Builds [Update]

Disclaimer: Once the game goes live and we play more than 30 hours of this game, we’ll be sure to update this with more suggested builds. So watch this space for more Borderlands 3 help!
It’s going to be a few days until Borderlands 3 goes live for PC, PS4, and Xbox One gamers all over the world. And with all the positive reviews the game has received, we’re sure many of you want to play the heck out of this loot-and-shoot game.
To prep you for your loot-hoarding co-op shooting journey, we’ve prepared this feature that collects all the skill trees of each Vault Hunter in the game: Amara, Zane, Moze, and FL4K. We also put in some suggested builds from all over the internet in one handy-dandy feature to give you some ideas.
Amara The Siren

Link:
https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2019/05/01/report-borderlands-3s-amara-zane-skill-trees-partially-revealed/
Highlight Builds & Skills:
Gun-mara: A Level 50 build that uses Phaseslam as an initiator that equips you with Rush Stack and Action Skill buffs that make you tear through tough baddies easily. Equip a shotgun for maximum damage (like a Speedloadin’ Hellwalker), as well as any class mod that boosts your incendiary to 88% or more after a Phaseslam.

Melee Magic: This build is great for DPS, close-quarters combat, and fast skill recharging shenanigans. You’ll want to build your Brawl skill tree to the Downfall action skill augment first off; just make sure to use short-ranged weapons like shotguns and hotkey your melee to an easier key.
Godhand(s): Want a crowd control and AoE Siren? This build will sort you out. Use Ties That Bind to make sure everyone feels your target’s elemental AoE-filled pain.
Lightning Lass: A build with a huge slant on shock elemental and Rush stacks. A pretty offensive siren, that.
The Tankiest: If you want full crowd control with a single target focus on attacks, this Amara build might do wonders.
Zane The Operative

Link:
https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2019/05/01/report-borderlands-3s-amara-zane-skill-trees-partially-revealed/
Highlight Builds & Skills:
Fortress of Zanitude: This Zane build is meant for mobs and survival. Cryo skills, shields, and random grenades are the order of the day.
The Zippiest: A level 50 build that makes sure Zane gets the highest DPS from his gadgets and his speed. You’ll also need specific weapons and shields to make this build work, like an Infiltrator Mod that boosts your damage if your shields are down,Â and an Augment Stop Gap to give you that few seconds of invincibility when your shield breaks.

Fast & Furious: Zane’s Digi-Clone is built for solo play, and this build exploits that fact. Zane’s Violent Momentum passive can help boost your damage while you’re on the move too.
Digi Clone Momentum Build #1,Â Build #2: Zane can use digi-clone and SNTNL while building movement speed with his patented dual skill wielding.
Solo Hitman: For those who work alone and want to get more benefits out of Zane’s clone/teleport tech.
Moze The Gunner

Link:
https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2019/06/11/borderlands-3s-moze-the-gunners-skill-tree-revealed-features-mechs-mags/
Highlight Builds & Skills:
Through The Fire & Flames: This Moze build prioritizes the Salamander Iron Bear augment and sets everything aflame. The Stoke the Embers and Fire in the Skag Den passives will make sure anything with a red HP bar dies super-fast.

Explosions Aplenty: Just like the company Torgue, this build is explosive and benefits anyone who likes AoE attacks.
Dr. StrangeMoze: This build drops Iron Bear for nukes every minute or so to spread radiation on enemies. Focuses on cooldown reduction, splash damage, grenades frequency, and ammo regeneration.
FL4K The Beastmaster

Link:
https://www.kakuchopurei.com/2019/08/10/borderlands-3s-fl4k-skill-tree-revealed-features-pets-pain/
Highlight Builds & Skills:
Invisi-Death Boss Killer: A level 50 build that focuses on Fade Away, Furious Attack, and Guerillas In The Mist. Stay invisible for 12 seconds, then use that time to line up your shots and deal criticals like no tomorrow.

Pet Power: If you want DPS, solo play, and self-healing, this build will help you. Focuses on Gamma Burst, Great Horned Skag, and Atomic Aroma.
Near Invisible Build: This build will let you go invisible with criticals.
Best Friend Protocol: A build focused on the Master and Stalker skill tree. Your pets are your number one priority and harassers to complement FL4K’s Gamma Burst.
Heal Bot: If you want team support and dish out regens, this one may work. Just make sure you have the Spider-Ant as your pet.
Horizon Walker: For you 5th Edition D&D players out there. Teleport shenanigans, favoured enemy traits, survivability: it’s all here.


Earth Defense Force Iron Rain Now Available For Pre-Order

Sony Interactive Entertainment Hong Kong Limited Singapore Branch (SIES) has announced that Earth Defense Force Iron Rain is now available for pre-order in Asian regions. It is slated to release worldwide as a PS4 exclusive on 11 April 2019.
There will be four editions of Earth Defense Force Iron Rain; Standard Edition, Digital Standard, Deluxe Edition and Ultimate Edition. All editions of the game will receive the following bonuses:

Custom Outfit: T-Shirt: EDF: IRON RAIN – Stylish game logo and EDF emblem t-shirt.
Custom Outfit: One Man Army – Eight colors in total.
Custom Outfit: Naval Uniform & Pleated Skirt – Eight colors in total.
Limited Weapon: GK-Predator (2 types) – Two special assault rifles useful for both early and late stages of the game.
In-game Currency: Credits & Gems – Get a head start with in-game currency that can be spent on weapons and items.

There will also be early purchase bonuses which will be given to anyone who buys any edition of Earth Defense Force Iron Rain by 2 June 2019. This includes:

Earth Defense Force 2017 Pale Wing Outfit – Helmet, upper body costume and lower body costume set available in 8 colors.
Tank Top: Riho Futaba – Virtual idol â€œRiho Futabaâ€ tank top.

The Physical Standard version and Digital Standard version of Earth Defense Force Iron Rain are priced at RM 229 and RM219, respectively.
Priced at RM254, here’s what the Deluxe Edition will include:

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN main game
Special weapon â€œPT-Pythagorasâ€ (2 types)
Special support weapon â€œPR-Shamanâ€ (2 types)
Custom Outfit â€œEDF 4.1â€ Logo T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit â€œEDF 5â€ Logo T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit â€œEDF 4.1â€ Class Imprint T-shirt & emblem (4 types)
Custom Outfit â€œEDF 5â€ Class Imprint T-shirt & emblem (4 types)

Priced at RM324, here’s what the Ultimate Edition will include:

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE: IRON RAIN main game
Custom Outfit Infantry – Earth Defense Force 2017 Infantry outfit. 4-piece costume set, including 2 types of helmets,
upper body costume and lower body costume, each available in 8 colors.
Operator Riho Futaba (JP version voiced by Yuko Goto) – Get the right to summon the virtual idol Riho Futaba as your operator.
In-game Currency: Credits & Gems – The in-game currency set can be used to purchase weapons and items. *Counts separately from theÂ in-game currencyÂ received from theÂ pre-order bonus*
Special weapon “PT-Pythagoras” (2 types)
Special support weapon “PR-Shaman” (2 types)
Special weapon “FX-Trailblazer” (2 types)
Special weapon “MR-Geo Needle” (2 types) – These special weapons cannot be found in the main game. Each set includes a high rank (B-A) and low rank (D) type.
Custom Outfit “Onechanbara ORIGIN” set – This set includes 2 types of character pattern t-shirts and 5 types of swimsuit style battle suits based on the outfit of the female protagonist “Aya”
Custom Outfit “Bullet Girls Phantasia” T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “DREAM C CLUB ZERO” T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “School Girl/Zombie Hunter” T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “Happy Manager” T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “Natsuiroâ˜…High School” T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “EDF 4.1” EDF Logo T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “EDF 5” EDF Logo T-shirt & emblem
Custom Outfit “EDF 4.1” Class Imprint T-shirt & emblem (4 types)
Custom Outfit “EDF 5” Class Imprint T-shirt & emblem (4 types) – The t-shirt and logo emblem are designed for those who support the EDF. Carry the spirit of the 4 classes over to EDF: IR!
Styled Bus (DREAM C CLUB ZERO)
Styled Pickup Truck (Natsuiroâ˜…High School)
Styled Car (Bullet Girls Phantasia) – The vehicles sport gorgeous patterns that can’t typically be seen on the battlefield.
Upcoming Additional Mission Pack – The Season Pass for additional missions to be released at a later date. They will feature never-before-seen enemies and whole new weapons. Will be released after the main game is released.

While Earth Defense Force Iron Rain is not a mainline numbered entry in the franchise, it is meant to be geared towards western audiences with its more serious tone and setting. In the meantime, check out our review of last year’s Earth Defense Force 5 here or watch the Earth Defense Force Iron Rain trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_HTPRN8ynw&w=560&h=315]


Here Are Your The Outer Worlds PC Specs

Obsidian Entertainment revealed the PC specifications for The Outer Worlds, which is slated to release on 25 October 2019. They’re not very demanding, though, from the looks of the unimpressive visuals, that was pretty much expected.
Check out the PC specs below:

System Requirements for The Outer Worlds

Minimum
Â OS: Windows 7 (SP1) 64bit
CPU: Intel Core i3-3225 or AMD Phenom II X6 1100T
RAM: 4GB
GPU: Nvidia GTX 650 Ti or AMD HD 7850
HDD Space:Â 40GB

Recommended
Â OS: Windows 10 64bit
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700K Â or Ryzen 5 1600
RAM: 8GB
GPU: GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or Radeon RX 470
HDD Space:Â 40GB

In the meantime, head on over here to find out all you need to know about the game ahead of its release or check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujfolWOLD1I&w=560&h=315]


Dinosaur Ranch Simulation Game Paleo Pines Launches This Fall

Paleo Pines is coming out this fall for PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam. It’s a dino ranch simulation game developed by Italic Pig and published by Modus Games.
Basically, you get to move to this weird and wonderful island filled with friendly dinos and nice people. Your job is to fix up an old ranch and turn it into a cozy paradise with the help of the local townsfolk and the wild dinosaurs. But it’s not just about farming and growing crops, it’s also about exploring and uncovering the lost history of Paleo Pines with the help of your trusty Parasaurolophus, Lucky.
The coolest thing about this game is that you get to befriend different types of dinosaurs and enlist them to help you with your ranch. You can even customize your characters and create your own dream dino ranch! With fun activities like feeding the dinos and playing with them, this game is sure to keep you entertained for hours. Plus, there are lots of different locations to explore, from flowery fields to high canyons, so you’ll never get bored.


Sonic Collection Leaks, Coming This Year

2021 is the Sonic The Hedgehog franchise’s 30th anniversary, and it looks like we might be getting something special from Sega this year.
French siteÂ Sogamely has leaked a mysterious Sonic Collection for PS4. What makes this source more believable is that it’s the very same company that leaked the Sonic Colors remaster several weeks ago. However, there’s currently no cover art or release date.
It’s important to take all this with a grain of salt for now, at least until Sega officially confirms or denies the rumours. At this point, who knows what this Sonic Collection could even consist of? The original 2D games or the newer 3D ones as well?
In the meantime,Â check out my review ofÂ Sonic The HedgehogÂ here. The plot for the sequel might also have been leaked.