Did The New Star Wars Trilogy Deserve All The Hate?

Pre-1977, top-notch director George Lucas, after releasing classics such as THX 1138 and American Graffiti, wanted to secure the rights to sci-fi serial and comic icon Flash Gordon and wanted to make a film out of that. He couldn’t secure the rights, though that didn’t stop him. Together with other luminaries like Gary Kurtz, John Williams, Gilbert Taylore, and Paul Hirsch, he just made up his own sci-fi story that’s heavily influenced by Westerns and samurai films.
That’s basically how Star Wars was born; people did not know what the heck the movie was back then, but they loved it over time. And with it a legion of fans who cherished the long-spanning franchise and media empire, to the point of vicious ferocity, record-keeping, gatekeeping, possessiveness, and control.

In October 2012, George Lucas sold his production company Lucasfilm to the Walt Disney Company, as well as the Star Wars IP. This led to a new trilogy created by the House of Mouse starting with Star Wars: The Force Awakens in 2015 and ending with Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker in 2019.
As you can tell from your go-to reviews aggregate site, the movie series is bookended with the energy and impact of a wet fart. And based on what a LOT of people have said and sworn to time and again, they usually state the following:

Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker was a course correction film.
The film it is course-correcting is Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Most people still condemn Riann Johnson, the director of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, for ruining the new trilogy.

To celebrate all things Star Wars this week since it’s 4th May, I’m going to talk about the most divisive films in the new trilogy. We still stand by our previous reviews of the series, but sometimes it’s always good to rewatch what we thought was bad and then figure out if there’s any good in them. Much like how Luke Skywalker found some good in Darth Vader even if he lost a hand doing so. Or nearly got Force lightning’ed to death attempting it again.
Let’s start off with…
The Last Jedi Isn’t The POS You Thought It Was
Star Wars: The Last Jedi sure as hell isn’t a cinematic masterpiece. Personally, however, it is a good movie that stays true to the original film’s message and mystical tone because it is following themes from the original trilogy while trying something new script-wise and direction-wise. You know, without being a copy-pasta version of a story that’s already out since the late 70s and 80s.
Hear me out:
-Having Princess Leia flying in space after the ambush is just an extension of Force powers within the Skywalker lineage from the original trilogy.

-Anything involving Luke and Rey’s training on that island is well-done and does tell us more about the Force while keeping things mystical.
-Poe Dameron’s character arc makes sense because he needs to learn how to be a leader beyond doing daredevil flight stuff and relying on bravado and luck to win. Hence, his X-Wing blowing and him getting taken down a peg by his commanding officer Vice Admiral Holdo while Leia’s in a coma.
-Luke Skywalker’s character arc in TLJ too was warranted and is keeping in line with the character, despite fanboys telling you otherwise.
In TLJ, Luke Skywalker wasn’t the perfect mentor and teacher to Rey; he never was to begin with despite his happy ending in Return of the Jedi. Things can change in-between Return of the Jedi up until the time he formed the new Jedi Temple, for one. Timeskips are the writer’s best tools so that they can make logical changes to characters assuming they did their research. And they did it well with Luke’s arc.

That flashback where he was about to kill a young Kylo Ren (then-Ben Kenobi) proved that Luke has always been a good guy. Had he killed Ben, then maybe Kylo Ren wouldn’t have slaughtered a lot of people in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, right? Just like in the original trilogy from his time in the farmhouse with his still-living uncle and aunt to his time with Yoda in the Dagobah swamp, Luke has always been too idealistic and naive, as well as impatient.
And if the climax for Empire Strike Back has taught us, he is in way over his head and has always faltered before doing the right thing. When Darth Vader said “most impressive” in that fight scene, he was genuine about it, but at the same time, he knew he can school Luke.

People took issue with the fact that he showed flaws and also how he ended things with Kylo Ren and the First Order in the film’s finale: with illusions and Jedi mind tricks. Well, that’s what the Jedi have been preaching since the original film: they don’t fight and create conflict. They seek knowledge and defend themselves. And in times of failure, they learn from it.

Luke isn’t that perfect: he’s been shown to be impatient and naive since the original trilogy. He only made the right decision at the end of Return of the Jedi when he did not give in to hate in the finale with Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine. It’s through all of this that the logical conclusion is to use his wits and extreme Force powers to hold off Kylo Ren and the First Order in TLJ’s finale.
And for those who wondered who gave the idea to turn Luke into a hermit? It wasn’t J.J. Abrams or Rian Johnson: it was George Lucas. Both directors respected his wishes.
-The Jedi Order temple that was destroyed in that flashback? This hammered the point home that no matter how the story goes, the Jedi Order has always been a failure. That was proved in the first trilogy’s Jedi Order, to the point where Anakin Skywalker was frustrated with the system, hence him easily getting seduced by the Dark Side via Palpatine. Luke, with his vague impressions of what a Jedi Order should be, started his own and it turned out not so well.
 TLJ’s flashbacks are just bringing up the series’ themes to light; to remind us that the cycle of the Light and Dark side needed to be permanently fixed with different methods.
-Do we really need to know more about Snoke beyond his role for The Force Awakens and TLJ? I think Riann Johnson cut his role short because he assumed fans would be smart enough to figure out that Snoke is just a stand-in for the previous Emperor Palpatine (in Return of the Jedi); basically, an archetype that’s meant to give way to a bigger villain; like Kylo Ren.
The movie still needed work and isn’t perfect, far from it. Personally, the casino planet needed to be trimmed down and didn’t need to be as stretched out as it should. When it came to Poe Dameron learning his lessons about being a better leader, the journey is a bit rocky and has some plot holes here and there.
I completely understand that people will hate Star Wars: The Last Jedi from their first viewing of the film. Guess what? People back in the 80s hated Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (the second in the trilogy, just like TLJ). But eventually, people loved it after repeated viewings and the second time they watched it. In fact, I daresay that if The Empire Strikes Back premiered to 2017’s audience and fanbase, it’ll definitely be vilified and picked apart for not sticking to conventions. Or whatever excuse they make up.
TLJ basically moved the series forward and its director and team knew what they were doing while sticking to the themes of the overarching original trilogy and prequel trilogy’s themes. Perhaps you should give TLJ another watch or so after seeing the rest of the original trilogy; you might gleam more from the shows.
Too bad Rise of Skywalker didn’t give a s*** about all that messaging and consistent themes, instead opting to “rectify” the “mistakes” of the last film.
The Rise Of Skywalker Isn’t As Good As You Think It Is
We’ve already talked about this film in our review and why it’s bad. A rehash of Return of the Jedi beat-by-beat, a lot of meaningless plot elements & cheap ploys crammed into an already-long film that should have been trimmed down (or needed a better crew of editors), and characters being reduced to nothing more than Lightsaber delivery boys for Rey in the finale.
Yet somehow the mass majority of people think otherwise. Do check out the user reviews if you want to see 50,000 posts that say absolutely nothing.

I’ll give the film some credit though:

The effects and money shot scenes are a beauty to look at. I’m glad that most of the film still relies on practical effects to make its key scenes stand out and feel authentic. See the “Lido Hey” scene below for proof of this.
The cast did the best they could with whatever crappy material they were given. Props to the actors like Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver for being huge sports and sticking through to the mess until the very end, while being professionals about it.
The way the team integrated Princess Leia’s scenes with workarounds wasn’t too shabby, given the circumstances. It’s pretty hard to re-do these, given Carrie Fisher’s unfortunate death.
J.J Abrams and his crew should be given a medal for completing Rise of Skywalker within the tight deadline he’s given (1.5 years less than TLJ did), and making it watchable and presentable at the very least.

Has The Cycle Ended?
This begs the question: did the new trilogy died in Rise of Skywalker? Or did it stab itself in The Last Jedi?
This may shock no one, but it honestly cut itself with a gaping wound with The Force Awakens, the very first film that kicked off the trilogy. Instead of starting with a new kind of storyline, the new owners of the Star Wars franchise opt to just create a Mad Libs version of A New Hope. It’s fun and well-made, but at the same time, it already set expectations for the fanbase that Star Wars nostalgia rules the roost. It’s basically going to be very hard to introduce new concepts and spins without major backlash.
In fact, the latest slew of Disney Star Wars TV shows is dangerously mimicking what the new trilogy flat-out did. If you recall Season 2 of The Mandalorian, the best parts viewers enjoyed are the bits involving Boba Fett (a Star Wars OG character) and deepfake Luke Skywalker at the season’s climax. Let’s hope that this isn’t going to be a crux for future Star Wars shows to lean on.

So to answer the question: is the new trilogy bad? As a whole, yes; kinda, since it does lack a cohesive vision and direction. Say what you will about the prequel (I probably did, a lot), but at least there’s a backbone of a story & structure supporting it.
But the New Trilogy have some merits and good qualities. Probably the biggest reason why they ended up the way they are is because they weren’t given enough room in-between films to breathe. And this isn’t counting the Star Wars films in-between the mothership shows. A Star Wars film a year from 2015 to 2019 is more than enough to burn even the most dedicated fan out.
It’s ironic that for a brief moment, Star Wars fans actually received the best film they deserve and sticks true to Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With A Thousand Faces, which was the basis of George Lucas’ space fiction series anyway. Too bad it’s the one they hate even until now.


No More  Heroes III  Is “45 Percent Complete” & “Bigger Than Ever” According To Suda 51

The world really needs more misadventures with hitman Travis Touchdown and a touch of Goichi Suda “51” insanity. Which is why it’s reassuring to know that development for No More Heroes III is going smoothly according to the latter, him being the CEO of dev company Grasshopper Manufacture and all.
Here’s what we know so far based on a recent WCCFTech interview:

Development for the game is about 35 to 40 percent complete.
The budget forÂ No More Heroes IIIÂ is not Grasshopper Manufactureâ€™s biggest; that’s a little worrying.
The open-world will be bigger than the originalÂ No More Heroesâ€˜, but not as big as something you would see in a Ubisoft or Rockstar Game. There will be “about the [usual] amount of side missions youâ€™d expect from aÂ No More HeroesÂ game, along with some other extras”â€””something different than your standard mini-game”.
The suit Travis wears in the announcement trailer will be playable in the final game, but only in “certain special circumstances”.
The Beam Katana charge motion control will reappear, but “the real challenge was figuring out how to best use the Switch hardware”.
A new trailer will be released “this year or early next year”.

No More Heroes III will be out 2020 for Nintendo Switch. Check out the first official trailer below to sample the madness.


We List All Of Borderlands 3’s Rare Spawn Hunt Enemy Locations And Rewards

The Borderlands anniversary celebration is still ongoing and this week, the Borderlands 3 event this time is the Rare Spawn Hunt. From 8 October to 14 October 2019, more rare enemies in designated areas of Pandora and other planets will appear more often with a higher chance of dropping good loot.
So if you’re keen on adding more Legendaries to your collection of weapons, you’ll want to make use of our guide on how to find those rare spawns. This video by DPJ will be of great help too.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks9cXeMOPWw&w=560&h=315]
1. Rakkman
Loot: Night Flyer pistol.
You can find him at this location in Carnivora.

2. El Dragon Jr.
Loot: Unleash the Dragon artifact.
You’ll find our fiery friend in Jakob’s Estate on Eden-6.

3. Road Dog
Loot: Redline shotgun.
Road Dog can be found at the Splinterlands on Pandora.

4. IndoTyrant
Loot: random customisation.
Spawns at Knotty Peak and make your way to Floodmoor Basin on Eden-6.

5. Force Troopers
Loot: random Legendary class mod.
Find these guys in Atlas HQ on Promethea.

6. Demoskaggon
Loot: random Legendary shield.
Stranger things have been seen elsewhere but you’ll find this one in the Droughts on Pandora.

7. The Unstoppable
Loot: Band of Sitorak shield.
Stop this man in Ambermire on Eden-6.

8. Thunk & Sloth
Loot: It’s Piss grenade mod.
Get this legendary grenade mod at Konrad’s Hold on Pandora.

9. Maxitrillion
Loot: Horizon shotgun.
You can get this singularity-inducing shotgun at the Voracious Canopy on Eden-6.

10. Borman Nates
Loot: Psycho Stabber pistol.
Get your Oedipus Complex on at the Meridian Outskirts on Promethea.

11. Princess Tarantella II
Loot: Hive rocket launcher.
Spawn at the Chop Shop and make your way to the Splinterlands on Pandora.

12. Mother of Grogans
Loot: random Legendary artifact.
Find her at the Anvil on Eden-6.

13. Red Jabber
Loot: random Legendary grenade mod
Find this Jabber at the Ambermire on Eden-6.

14. Urist McEnforcer
Loot: Masterwork Crossbow sniper rifle
You can get this awesome sniper rifle in Lectra City on Promethea.

That’s all the rare enemies you’ll want to farm during this event. Next week, we’ll have an event called Show Me The Eridium which will probably give us a good chance to farm for… well, Eridium.
Have fun and don’t forget to like, follow, and obey!


EA Releases New Immortals Of Aveum Unpacked Trailer Ahead Of Launch Next Month

EA and Ascendant Studios have released a new trailer for their upcoming Immortals Of Aveum. It offers an overview of the game’s world, mechanics, and spellcasting.
The trailer delves into Immortals of Aveum’s spellbinding first-person combat, master all three colours of magic to suit how you want to play, discover how to customize your spellcasting with 25 unique Spells, over 80 Talents, and hundreds of pieces of magical gear, and dive deeper into the epic, story-driven campaign.
Immortals Of Aveum is a single-player first-person magic shooter where you play as Jak, an unexpected Triarch Magnus who is thrust into the midst of the Everwar. It’s up to Jak and the elite battlemages of the Order of the Immortals to protect magic and stop the tyrant, Sandrakk, from plunging Aveum into oblivion.
Immortals Of Aveum is slated to release for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and EA App on 22 August 2023.


The Division 2’s Recent Expansion Ups The Challenge & Gear Quota

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Genre:Â Loot-and-shoot third-person shooter set in a New York that may eerily happen in real-life
Last March, The Division 2 was launched with great reception. We definitely enjoyed our time with the game during those few months. However, Ubisoft did not anticipate the game’s content and interest waning after that period.
A year later, the company and its in-house developers plan to revitalize the game with a paid expansion titled Warlords of New York, along with a free update that will shake up the main game’s core systems. As far as restarts go, Ubisoft’s head is definitely in the right place.
Big Apple Blues

The expansion takes place in, you guessed it, New York. Yep, the same city where 2016’s The Division took place. Your mission? To take down rogue Division agent Aaron Keener, the antagonist from the first game. So basically this story is part trip down memory lane, part exposition and callback.
True to the title, you have Warlords to take down. To find Aaron Keener, you have to take down his four lieutenants who are currently controlling New York. Beat each of them in their themed stage with their own gimmicks, and you gain new additional arsenal. The main story doesn’t really go anywhere unless you defeat all the Warlords, but at least the writers fleshed out some characters enough. Returning characters like Faye Lau also get some interesting story moments, so there’s that.
Honestly, I’m not really here for that. I’m playing The Division 2 for the gunplay and looting, and this expansion satisfies on that front. The expansion doesn’t take that long to complete; 6 to 8 hours tops, especially when you’re distracted by random hostage rescue situations and “protect the zone until the bad guys are all dead” type missions. But it’s packed and there’s an endgame to gear up for as well.
For starters, the new New York map here is pretty expansive. It’s about a third the size of Washington DC from the previous game, and it’s beautiful. Although I missed the snow from the first Division, the detailing of this ravaged summertime apocalyptic Big Apple is full of buildings and tunnels to explore.
The Division 2’s mobile cover shooter mechanics are just as challenging and fun as ever, with the new Warlord levels showcasing some cool firefights. Warlord James Dragov comes with a number of heavily-armoured goons whom you can’t make a dent on unless you use the turrets in the enclosed space you’re fighting in.
Another Warlord, Kajika, requires you to chase him through a sewer system filled with electric traps and oncoming flamethrower-savvy Cleaners. Tech-savvy Warlord Theo Parnell uses holograms to distract and trick my Division group, making us second-guess who to fire at and who to dodge.

There’s going to be a boss fight and sequence you’ll love in here if you love shooters and some semblance of a puzzle. The kind that involves taking cover & being mobile.
Plus, you get their abilities ala Mega Man style: Hologram Emitters from Theo, Shock Traps from Kajika. These add a lot of options and opens up new playstyles for you to use and exploit against rogue factions here. I had a helluva time using Shock Traps in any mass mob situation, especially when I have a dependable sniper in my team to pick off stunned foes.

Oh, and for those who haven’t reached Level 30, you can use a one-time character boost for your existing character, or just create a new Level 30 character. Once you reach the new level 40 cap, you gain access to the new endgame reward system. You can now earn points that can be put into different attributes like armour regen or headshot damage. Similar to Borderlands 3’s Guardian Ranking system, these are extras that can help give you an edge with meaningful stat rewards.
A City That Never Sleeps

The new update isn’t just about new stages and firefights; it’s also about quality of life upgrades. Remember how in the previous Division 2 versions where you end up with more garbage items and equipment than you need? Now the gear and item system has been changed so that everything is streamlined;Â  less perks and skills, but tweaked so that they’re more meaningful.
Speaking of abilities, you can now store the ones you like from weapons and gear in your recalibration history. The Division 2 also has meters that help showcase how good that stat or skill is, or if you already have something else better saved somewhere. If you find a new gun, you can tell from the game’s new UI and QoL updates whether it’s worth keeping or scrapping.

And once that ability is in your history, you can use it to improve your other items as much as you want. Long story short: less clutter to deal with.

Of course, if this is your first time in The Division series, Warlords of New York isn’t the place you should start with. If you’re still halfway in The Division 2, I won’t suggest diving headfirst buying the expansion just yet. Just get the game updated and enjoy the free perks for now.
New York; A Helluva Town
While The Division 2 doesn’t offer anything too meaningful story-wise, it makes it up with a dearth of content, loot, and shooting. Which is what any DLC worth its salt should offer anyway.

Warlords of New York improves further upon the loot-and-shoot pandemic setting warzone shooter, making it feel like a Division 2.5.Â

Let’s hope the game’s new Seasons and new rogue agent fights help spice up the endgame further. As for now, book a trip down to this city to sate your loot-hoarding and hunting jollies.

Pros

Improves upon core game.
Loot and QoL systems improved.
Great firefights & boss battles.
Pretty and expansive new area to explore.

Cons

Lacking in narrative.
Still tailored for long-time DivisionÂ players.

FINAL SCORE: 80/100


Three Key Takeaways From Overwatch League Pre-Season Day 3

Spitfire back on track; Houston an A-tier team; and are the Shanghai boys in trouble?
We are starting to see the trend of the teams and where they stack up against one another as Day-3 of the Overwatch League pre-season concludes. Here are the three main takeaways from Day-3. But first, here are the results:

Spitfire Finally Take Flight
Following their shock loss to Los Angeles Gladiators in their opening match for the pre-season yesterday, London Spitfire left everyone wondering what is up with the whole lineup and has the west caught up with the Koreans when it comes to competitive Overwatch? After all, this is a team consisting of two APEX finalists; the larger portion of it featuring Season 4 winners GC Busan and they are being taken to school by what many perceived as the lesser of the two Los Angeles teams.
Well, you can rule any of that out as from what we’ve seen in the Spitfire v Shock match, the non-Korean teams still have lots of ground to make to catch up with the boys from Korea as Spitfire steamrolled past the stacked San Francisco Shock. Sure one can attribute fatigue to the Shock’s showing vs Spitfire, going out 0-4 but let’s not take anything away from the boys representing London. An improved DPS performance saw the team bounce back in style from yesterday’s upset and showed everyone why they are a force to be feared in the inaugural season of the Overwatch League. Yesterday’s result was an anomaly and while pre-season results should not be taken too seriously, today’s performance is a truer representation of quality this Spitfire team has compared to the rest of the pack.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAhU0yjfzbg&w=560&h=315]
Houston On the Way Up
It is quite rare that a team which lost its first two pre-season games to receive positive reviews but that is exactly what Houston earned following their back-to-back losses against the top tier teams; Dallas Fuel yesterday and Seoul Dynasty today. Many graded them to be amongst the middle-of-the-pack teams (including us) but Houston showed everyone that they can go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league and not play possum once the going gets tough. They gave Dallas a run for their money and against heavy favorites Dynasty, managed to tie them on Numbani to limit the loss to 2-1 in favor of the Koreans. We may have graded them as ‘B – Middle of the Pack’ but based on how they performed during the pre-season, easily warrants at least an A – Dark Horses and Top-6 Spots in Overall standings.

Dragons In Deep Trouble
Losing 0-4 to Seoul Dynasty on Day-1 was expected but being beaten by the team which many perceived to be the weakest of the twelve – Boston Uprising – should send alarm bells ringing in the Shanghai Dragons’ camp.Â  The team appeared to be out of sorts against the Uprising and while at certain times appeared to be clicking, were unable to sustain the momentum allowing the Boston boys to set up an early lead, mount a comeback and win the tie on the deciding round. As it stands, the Shanghai Dragons are yet able to find their identity, team cohesion and effectively dictate their approaches in team fights – something that every other team in the league would certainly take note as they head closer to the season opener.
The last three matches of the Overwatch League pre-season matches takes place tomorrow starting at 3AM Kuala Lumpur time with the Los Angeles derby, followed by Florida Mayhem vs Dallas Fuel e.g Misfits vs EnVyUs and closing the pre-season is a cracker of a matchup – Seoul Dynasty vs New York Excelsior – where at least five players from the recent Overwatch World Cup winning Korean team will feature.

Stay tuned to Kakuchopurei.com as we bring you all the coverage, analysis and news from the Overwatch League as well as an update on the team grades, performances and new season projections.


Female Gamers Are Spending More Time & Money On Games In Asia

In Asia, Female gamers have been increasing over the years, and all the latest statistics definitely support that. Based on the data gathered from a report by Google and analysts Niko Partners, females accounted for 38 percent of all gamers across platforms at 500 million strong in 2019. In 2021, that number must have surged significantly.
The number of female gamers is growing at a faster rate than male gamers, especially in Asia. For instance, 45 percent of all gamers are female in China as of 2019, while even in a Southeast Asian country like Indonesia, nearly half (49 percent) of gamers are female.
At the end of 2019, there were 500 million total female gamers in Asia, with 8.5 million on consoles, 201 million on PC, and 473 million on mobile. The overlapping numbers are because many of them play games on multiple platforms. In one survey, it’s revealed that 60 percent of female gamers spend up to seven hours per week playing games.
In 2019, female gamers in China spent US$6.6 billion on mobile games and US$4.4 billion on PC. In Southeast Asia, they spent US$1 billion on mobile games and US$660 million on PC. That’s quite a substantial amount of money from a gaming community that some bigots prefer to pretend not to exist.
What Games Do Female Gamers In Asia Play The Most?

According to the same Google and Niko Partners report, female gamers tend to prefer multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), puzzle, and shooter games. Moreover, the user base for Match-3 category games (such as tile-matching and stacking games like Candy Crush Saga and Jewel Quest) and family/farm simulation games is predominantly female.
Role-playing games (RPGs) and simulation titles with strategic gameplay are also widely popular among female gamers, especially those with anime elements. A recent example of this would be MiHoYo’s Genshin Impact, which has taken the world by storm since its launch; earning over US$1 billion to date. A recent report revealing the most popular characters in the game might be more proof of the dominance of female gamers.
Esports in Asia is also popular with female gamers, as they account for one-third of the audience. In Southeast Asia, the independent Female Esports League has been gaining popularity since 2012, with players competing in tournaments across titles such as League Of Legends, Dota 2, and Mobile Legends. Likewise, Singaporeâ€™s Callisto Gaming is a new esports organization exclusively focused on female gamers, with teams like Bren Female, Belletron, and Asterisk.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, female gamers are spending more hours (94.9 percent) and money (70.3 percent) on gaming during the quarantine compared to before the outbreak. Esports operators in Asia also took the opportunity to create female-centric tournaments during the lockdown. For example, Garena Indonesia held its first female-only Call Of Duty Mobile Princess Cup that included 36 teams, while Singaporeâ€™s Female Esports League and Vietnamâ€™s PUBG Female Championship also held special online matches.
Four Ways To Engage Female Gamers

In addition, the Google and Niko Partners report also suggests four ways to further increase engagement from female gamers. These include the following:

Developers and publishers should plan for a mobile-first experience, which is the platform where female gamers are most engaged with.
Developers and publishers should add storylines, character options and unique gameplay elements that female gamers can identify with.
Developers and publishers should tap into the esports community as more female gamers participate.
Developers and publishers should build more diverse teams to better understand the perspective of female gamers and what they want.

The future is female, folks, and the games industry is just one of many that reflect that.


Starfield Gameplay Showcased In Deep Dive Video, Limited Edition Controller & Headset Revealed

During the Starfield Direct (which takes place after the Xbox Games Showcase), Bethesda unveiled a 45-minute-long showcase of gameplay from the upcoming game.
Check it out here:

They also revealed that a Starfield Limited Edition Xbox Wireless Controller and Wireless Headset. The Starfield controller costs US$80, while the headset goes for US$125.
Alongside the controller and headset, Bethesda also has a special Starfield-branded watch that’s part of the collector’s edition version of the game. The watch is also available in the game, acting as a compass with environmental information for planets. The physical watch will connect to your phone to display notifications.

Starfield will launch for the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass and PC via Steam on 26 September 2023.


You Can Pre-Register For The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 To Get e-Vouchers & Savings

Those who are interested can pre-register today and be the first to know all about the upcoming Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 monitor, which won a CES 2023 Innovation Award. It’s the world’s first DQHD OLED monitor that features AI upscaling and an incredibly fast 0.03ms response time (GtG) to bring gamers closer to the action.
Bigger and better, the 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 ultra-premium curved gaming monitor is designed to enhance your gaming experience. This technological marvel brings your virtual worlds to life with breathtaking visuals and smooth, lag-free performance.

You can register here to receive an RM300 e-voucher1 and savings up to RM2,0002 upon early order from 26 June to 9 July 2023. Stay tuned for greater deals this 10 July 2023.
In the meantime, check out our review of the 75-inch Neo QLED TV by heading over here.


My Next Life As A Villainess Anime Gets A Movie For 2023

Ever wonder what it feels like to be a B in a bishoujo visual novel game? Well, the anime series My Next Life As A Villainess: All Routes Lead To Doom is basically that: a girl who ends up in a romance visual novel with branching paths and is casted as the main villain Catarina Claes.
The otome game parody anime series (known in Japan as Otome Game no Hametsu Flag Shika Nai Akuyaku Reij? ni Tensei Shiteshimatta…) is getting a full-fledged movie that continues the series’ plot, and is slated for a 2023 release (via Anime News Network). Production for the film is underway, with a teaser trailer making the announcement official. The trailer itself recaps the adventures of protagonist Catarina and with the “Doom Flags” far from gone.


The Sonic Movie Is Fun Family Fare But Not For Sega Fans

The 90s were the era of company mascots. Nintendo had Mario, PlayStation had Crash Bandicoot, Xbox didn’t exist, and Sega had Sonic. While that trend has died down along with the downfall of Sega as a major force in the never-ending console wars, Sonic The Hedgehog remains iconic and prevalent even now, despite the lack of good modern games.
Surviving all these years is a testament to Sonic’s value as a pop culture icon. It wasn’t a question of if but rather, of when he would be receiving very own live-action movie adaptation. The answer is (obviously) now, and to my pleasant surprise, the final product actually isn’t half bad at all.
Gotta Go Fast

Most gamers who grew up with Sega’s classic titles are now in their 30s (and above) and have kids of their own. After watching Sonic The Hedgehog, I can definitively say that this movie is clearly targeting the latter audience (children) and not the former.

While the movie does feature several fan-service moments and easter eggs, these are few and far in between.
Sure, you’ll smile when you hear the Green Hill Zone music or the sound of Sonic’s rings dropping on the ground.
Unfortunately, I’m sorry to say that there are no Chaos Emeralds or Super Sonic in this movie.

The movie is more concerned with providing a clean slate of sorts to reintroduce the once-prominent Sega mascot to an entirely new generation. As a result, what Sonic The Hedgehog offers is a predictable cookie-cutter plot and simple premise that’s easily digestible by children and adults alike, especially for newcomers who know absolutely nothing about the character.

In comparison, 2019’s Detective Pikachu might not have been great either, but it paid tribute to the source material, as well as featured an established living and breathing world as its setting. It was clearly more for fans of the Pokemon franchise, rather than just casuals who don’t know their Lugia from their Rayquaza.

The point is that the Sonic movie is like a family-friendly version of any Hollywood movie where the aliens are ‘good’.
The story beats are pretty formulaic; an alien who finds himself on Earth (in a small town in the middle of nowhere, no less) builds relationships with humans and gradually learns that Earth could be its home after all.
That’s essentially the basic premise of Sonic The Hedgehog.

Heck, there’s nothing with that; a kids movie doesn’t have to be complex. As long as you understand that Sonic The Hedgehog is ultimately not meant to cater to older long-time fans, the movie is fun and you’ll enjoy it better for what it is. Well, the bright side is that Sonic The Hedgehog doesn’t suffer from inane and ridiculous plot twists like when the bad guy took control of Mewtwo’s body in Detective Pikachu.
Comedic Cringe

Since I described it as a kids movie above, you can probably guess by now the level of comedy that’s featured in Sonic The Hedgehog.
It’s not overly juvenile, nor is it hip-breakingly funny, but rather lies somewhere in between. I found myself chuckling at some of the jokes but most of them didn’t land properly.
It’s totally what you’d expect from a family-friendly movie.

Not even Jim Carrey (as antagonist Dr. Robotnik) could make the movie much funnier than it already isn’t. I grew up with his crazy antics and wild shenanigans in the Ace Ventura movies, 1994’s The Mask, and more. After many years away from the spotlight, he makes his return in Sonic The Hedgehog, and much to my delight (and horror), he acts exactly the same as he did two decades ago, like no time has passed.
That could be either a good or bad thing, depending on how much you like or dislike Jim Carrey’s style of comedy. Even though I used to be a massive fan of the comedian, his jokes here seem more grating than usual, which is probably due to the quality of the script than his comedic acting chops (or perhaps I’ve outgrown his type of jokes). He’s still funny, though some might find him chewing the scenery or overexaggerated delivery to be too over-the-top.

James Marsden does an admirable job with his role as Tom Wachowski, the police officer who befriends Sonic in the movie. There does seem to be sparks of chemistry between him and his CGI companion, but that’s likely because Marsden has gotten so used to acting alongside CGI characters in movies like 2011’s Hop and 2007’s Enchanted.
Ben Schwartz voices Sonic, and his performance induces mixed feelings. His voice and delivery of Sonic’s lines is something that kids would find funny and endearing, while adults would likely just find it annoying. I seem to remember the voices of Sonic in the games and the multiple animated series to be more heroic and less goofy.
What ultimately matters is that his new design looks authentic and awesome, especially in motion during the dazzling high-speed sequences (which unashamedly rips off Quicksilver’s time-stopping scenes in the X-Men movies). I can’t imagine how a movie with the previous horrible design would be like, now that I’ve seen the whole movie with the improved Sonic. Kudos to the VFX teams who made all this a reality, you folks are the true MVP. Too bad they couldn’t do anything about the script though.
Sega Cinematic Universe

The Sonic games have never attempted to look cinematic, updated its old-school platforming gameplay (besides the transition to 3D in the 2000s), or featured unnecessarily complex storylines.
The franchise’s brilliance lies in its simplicity. Why should you expect the movie to be any different in the end?

Last but not least, I recommend that you stay for a while after the movie ends. Fans of the Sega mascot will surely appreciate the mid-credits scene, which drove several of the viewers in my screening to clap and cheer. I won’t spoil what it is, though I can say that it’s extremely fan-pleasing and one that might mean the beginning of a new Sega Cinematic Universe.
It’s time to make a Yakuza or Total War movie, Sega. We know you want to.
FINAL SCORE: 50/100
Sonic The Hedgehog opens in Malaysian cinemas on 13 February 2020. We caught the movie via press screening, courtesy of United International Pictures Malaysia Sdn Bhd.


Xbox Bethesda E3 2021: All The Games & Announcements

E3 2021 continues with the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase 2021 live stream, featuring various release date announcements and new game reveals.
Check out the games below:
Halo Infinite

Halo Infinite will be available on day one with the Xbox Game Pass.
It’s coming in Holiday 2021 to the Xbox One family of consoles, Xbox Series X, and PC through the Microsoft Store and Steam. The legendary Halo series returns with a free-to-play multiplayer service and the most expansive Master Chief campaign yet. Features a grappling hook for traversing/weapons-stealing, returning vehicles and weapons in multiplayer, and improved graphics and 60+fps gameplay.

Starfield

Starfield will launch exclusively for Xbox Series X/S and PC on 11 November 2022. It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch.
StarfieldÂ is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators ofÂ The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimÂ andÂ Fallout 4. In this next-generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanityâ€™s greatest mystery.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart Of Chernobyl is coming to Xbox consoles and PC on 28 April 2021.
From epic cutscenes and underground labs to open-world fields, here is the first look at the gameplay of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart Of Chernobyl. It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch.
It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Back 4 Blood

Back 4 Blood is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and PC on 12 October 2021.
It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Contraband

From Avalanche Studios and Xbox Game Studios, a co-op smugglerâ€™s paradise set in the fictional world of 1970s Bayan.
It’s also coming to Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Sea Of Thieves A Pirate’s Life

Split across five incredible Tall Tales packed with secrets and side-quests, Sea Of Thieves A Pirate’s Life sees Captain Jack Sparrow sailing in from beyond the horizon to sweep players into an epic new adventure.
Free Jack from his prison and witness the power of the worldâ€™s greatest Pirate Treasure, which he just so happens to have stolen, before joining him on an unforgettable quest to stop dark forces from dominating this pirate paradise.
This lovingly crafted story will be available to play alone or with a crew and will be a free update for all players with the arrival of Sea Of Thieves Season Three on 22 June 2021.

Battlefield 2042

Battlefield 2042 is coming out on 22 October 2021.
Check out the gameplay trailer below:

Twelve Minutes

Twelve Minutes is coming Xbox console and day one to Xbox Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud on 19 August 2021.
An interactive thriller about a man trapped in a time loop. Featuring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe.

Psychonauts 2

Psychonauts 2 is available on 25 August 2021. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Combining quirky missions and mysterious conspiracies, Psychonauts 2 is a platform-adventure game with cinematic style and tons of customizable psychic powers.
Psychonauts 2 serves up danger, excitement, and laughs in equal measure as players guide Raz on a journey through the minds of friends and foes on a quest to defeat a murderous psychic villain.

Fallout 76 Steel Reign

Steel Reign brings the conclusion of the Brotherhood of Steel storyline. You arrive back at Fort Atlas to find the tensions between Paladin Rahmani and Knight Shin have reached a boiling point. After swarms of Super Mutants start to appear and people are reported missing, how will you guide the Brotherhood? Will you take the side of justice or will you remain committed to duty? Free for Fallout 76 Players. Available on 7 July 2021.
The Steel Reign update includes:

New Questline – Choose what direction the Brotherhood of Steel will take and solve the mysteries behind the appearance of the Super Mutants
New Locations and Gear – Unlock unique gear and explore new locations as you uncover what’s been happening in Appalachia
Season 5 Scoreboard â€“ K.D. Inkwell is back in Escape from the 42nd Century! Rank up to unlock new rewards including C.A.M.P. items, cosmetics, and more. Beginning July 7.
Legendary Crafting â€“ Put those Legendary Modules to work and create your own 1, 2, & 3-star legendary items, right from the comfort of your own C.A.M.P.

Expeditions: The Pitt is a free update to Fallout 76 that will, for the first time, take you outside of Appalachia! Expeditions are story-driven, repeatable missions to various exciting locales in the Fallout universe – starting with The Pitt in 2022.

The Elder Scrolls Online

Experience Tamriel unleashed with Console Enhanced, a new version of the game for Xbox Series X|S that fully utilizes the native power of current-generation machines to provide incredible boosts to performance and graphical fidelity. Tamriel has never looked or played better on consoles with Console Enhance – available on 15 June 2021 for Xbox Series X|S.
Explore a world without limits and play your way in The Elder Scrolls Online, an ever-growing online saga set in the renowned universe of the Elder Scrolls. Join millions of players and tell your own story with your choice of fully customizable classes, action-packed combat, and hundreds of hours of adventure and exploration with no subscription required.

Party Animals

Get ready to party like an animal. Party Animals is coming to Xbox Game Pass in 2022.
Fight with or against your friends in Party Animals. Choose your character from a diverse cast of adorable animals as you battle it out across multiple game modes to be the last one left standing in the ultimate competitive brawler.

Hades

Publisher Private Division and developer Supergiant Games will release Hades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and Xbox One both physically and digitally on 13 August 2021.
Hades first launched for the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store in September 2020 following a 10-month Early Access period.

Somerville

In the wake of catastrophe, you must find the means to make your family whole again. Somerville is a Sci-Fi adventure grounded in the intimate repercussions of large scale conflict.
It will release for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC in 2022. It will also be available via Xbox Game Pass.

Diablo 2 Resurrected

Diablo II Resurrected will launch for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 23 September 2021, publisher Blizzard Entertainment and developer Vicarious Visions announced.

A Plague Tale Requiem

Embark on an emotional and breathtaking journey. Follow Amicia and her brother Hugo on a perilous new quest, doing whatever it takes to survive a brutal, uncaring world.
A Plague Tale Requiem will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2022. The game will be available at launch on Xbox Game Pass for Consoles, PC and Cloud.

Far Cry 6

Watch the new Far Cry 6 gameplay from the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase. Takedown settlements with the help of an angry alligator Fang for Hire, resolver weapons, and customizable backpacks. Bring freedom back to Yara with co-op matchmaking.

Slime Rancher 2

Developer Monomi Park has announcedÂ Slime Rancher 2 for Xbox Series and PC. It will launch in 2022.
Slime Rancher 2Â is a sequel to the award-winning, smash-hit original that has been enjoyed by over 10 million fans worldwide. Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys to Rainbow Island, a mysterious land brimming with ancient technology, unknown natural resources, and an avalanche of wiggling, jiggling, new slimes to discover.
As Beatrix attempts to unravel the islandâ€™s secrets and uncover its true purpose, sheâ€™ll build, ranch, and farm within a beautiful conservatory, whose sparkling glass walls give her a full view of the prismatic paradise she now calls home. Key features include a new rainbow-hued island to explore, new slimes to breed and capture, and the chance to build a conservatory to craft new gadgets and upgrade your vacpack.

Shredders

A love letter to snowboarding, Shredders takes inspiration from snowboarding movies, the Amped games from the original Xbox, and the snowboarding heroes on social media. Shredders is a project fed by passion and built to shine on Xbox Series X|S.

Atomic Heart

Atomic Heart is coming day one to Xbox Game Pass on console, PC, and cloud.
Atomic Heart takes place in the Soviet Union in an alternative reality sometime in 1955, where technology like the internet, holograms and robots have already been invented. The main protagonist is a special agent called P-3, who is sent by the government to investigate a manufacturing facility that has fallen silent.

Replaced

Discover the dark secrets of Phoenix-City. Define your shared future in REPLACED coming in 2022 to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Xbox Game Pass for Console and PC, with an optimized version for Xbox Series X|S.
REPLACED is a 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer where you play as R.E.A.C.H. – an artificial intelligence trapped in a human body against its own will. REPLACED combines cinematic platforming, pixel art and free-flow action combat with a deep, engaging dystopian story set in an alternative 1980s.

Grounded

The Grounded Shroom & Doom Update is available on 30 June 2021. Play it with Xbox Game Pass.
Befriend pets, build castles, unlock achievements, fight the Broodmother, and so much more, in one of the biggest updates to Grounded yet.

Among Us

Among Us celebrates its 3rd birthday on 15 June 2021, and our gift to you is a special update: You can play with EVEN MORE of your friends with the launch of 15 Player Lobbies.
The 15 Player Lobby update will be launched on all available platforms, including Windows Store and Xbox Game Pass for PC. It will also be available on Xbox consoles later this year.
Among Us is coming to Xbox Game Pass on Xbox consoles & cloud later this year.

Eiyuden Chronicle

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred HeroesÂ will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in 2023, preceded by town-building action RPGÂ Eiyuden Chronicle: RisingÂ in 2022, publisher 505 Games and developer Rabbit & Bear Studios announced.Â Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred HeroesÂ will also be available via Xbox Game Pass on day one.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is an exciting new JRPG adventure published by 505 Games and developed by Rabbit & Bear Studios. Featuring a traditional 6-character battle system utilizing painstakingly created 2D sprites and gorgeous 3D backgrounds.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a celebration of the JRPG genre readily associated with studio lead Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I & II) and director Osamu Komuta. Eiyuden Chronicles is both a throwback to the classic JRPG games that have entertained millions and a modern, exciting tale of discovery and adventure featuring a cast of hundreds of fully realized characters.

The Ascent

Play The Ascent day one on console, PC, and cloud with Xbox Game Pass on August 19, 2021. The Ascent is a solo and co-op Action-shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega-corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Can you survive without it?

Age Of Empires IV

Age of Empires IV is available on 28 October 2021. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass for PC.
One of the most beloved real-time strategy games returns to glory with Age of Empires IV on Xbox Game Pass for PC, Windows Store, and Steam, putting you at the centre of epic historical battles that shaped the world. Featuring both familiar and innovative new ways to expand your empire in vast landscapes with stunning 4K visual fidelity, Age of Empires IV brings an evolved real-time strategy game to a new generation.
Choose your path to greatness with 8 diverse civilizations, 4 distinct campaigns with 35 missions that include legendary historical figures, user-generated content tools for custom games, 8 player multiplayer modes, and a tutorial system and story mode designed for first-time players to help achieve easy setup and success.

The Outer Worlds 2

New solar system, new crew, same Outer Worlds. The Outer Worlds 2 is coming…and when that day is closer we will show you more…but until then enjoy this.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Microsoft Flight Simulator is coming to Xbox Series X|S July 27, 2021. Play it day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Players will experience the same level of depth and complexity that fans of the critically acclaimed flight simulator have come to love on PC.
The Microsoft Flight Simulator team also announced today a one-of-a-kind expansion in partnership with Paramount Studios to coincide with the exciting launch of the new Top Gun: Maverick movie. More details on the experience will be revealed as the 19 November premiere of the movie and release of the expansion draw closer.

Forza Horizon 5

Publisher Microsoft and developer Playground Games have announced Forza Horizon 5 for Xbox Series, Xbox One, and PC. It will launch on 9 November 2021.
Your ultimate Horizon adventure awaits! Explore the vibrant and ever-evolving open-world landscapes of Mexico with limitless, fun driving action in hundreds of the worldâ€™s greatest cars. Play Forza Horizon 5 day one with Xbox Game Pass.
Mike Brown, creative director of Forza Horizon 5 debuts an extended first look at gameplay. Join Mike and a few friends as they showcase a taste of what Forza Horizon 5 has to offer. Beautiful, diverse landscapes are on display as our players dip into a game of PiÃ±ata Pop through Horizon Arcade.

Redfall

The quaint island town of Redfall, Massachusetts, is under siege by a legion of vampires who have blocked out the sun and cut the island off from the outside world. Trapped with a handful of survivors against diabolical enemies threatening to bleed the town dry, choose your hero from a diverse roster, grouping up with others to create the perfect team of vampire slayers.
Redfall is an open-world co-op FPS being developed by Arkane Austin and will launch exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC in Summer 2022. Play it Day One with Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Mini Fridge

Xbox and chill. Coming to you Holiday 2021.
You can check out the full live stream below:


Hardspace: Shipbreaker Lets You Be A Blue-Collar Worker, In Space

An upcoming Early Access game will let you play as a ship-salvaging blue-collar worker, whose work happens to take place in the zero-gravity environment of space.
A new behind-the-scenes video for Hardspace: Shipbreaker highlights some of the game’s elements, like the laser tool that lets you slice “any object in the game” in “any way” that you want. You’ll also stumble upon story details as you break ships apart.

My favourite bit in the video was hearing that the corporation you work for and are indebted to in the game has your DNA. When you die, they’ll just “reassemble you”. Dark stuff.
The game will be out on Steam on 17 June 2020. If you like the idea of laser-cutting stuff, having “next-generation physics simulation”, or just want to pay off an in-game debt of 999,999,999 credits, you can check out the Store page here.


Bernie Sanders Is Now A Star In His Own Retro Platformer

US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has been making the rounds on Twitter and on the news as of late. Now he can add “Mario impersonator” on his resume.
In the obvious 2D platformer homage Super Bernie World, the pint-sized elderly has to travel across 11 states and save the US of A from the Republicans.

Your adversaries include ICE bullets, Republican politicians, and koopa troopas with
“superimposed” Republican faces that is sure to give you nightmares. Heck, even the theme song on this trailer has the Super Mario Bros. “1-1” jingle DNA all over it!
All this is made by the game devs to convince the curious to vote in the upcoming US election and donate to Sanders’ campaign. You can get the game for free, either on Steam or on Itch.


Demon Slayer Movie Rakes 10 Billion Yen In Record Time

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen Train has sold more than 7.9 million tickets to earn 10.75 billion yen (roughly US$102.52 million) in its first ten days at the box office. The marks a new record (via Anime News Network), as the movie becomes the fastest movie in Japanese history to reach the 10 billion yen milestone.
This is in addition to all the records broken in the Demon Slayer movie’s first-day record of more than one million people and over 1.2 billion yen. It opened in 403 cinemas across Japan, with 365 normal screens, and 38 IMAX screens.
The entire first season of the Demon Slayer anime is now streaming on Netflix Malaysia. Meanwhile,Â Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Mugen TrainÂ isÂ slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on the following dates:
Fan Screening: 5 December 2020 and 23 January 2021General Screening Release Date: 4 February 2021

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ckqEMHDxL5A


Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare II Special Ops Mode Will Add Three-Player Raids This December

If you need a challenge beyond Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II’s campaign, Activision Blizzard has you sorted.
The company has revealed new details about the series’ post-launch content roadmap, and that includes multiplayer Raids for the game’s Special Ops mode this December. The game’s release will be followed by a pre-season time period where players can level up to unlock weapons, attachments, base Loadout items, and progress through the Special Ops tier system.
Raids in the game are “a whole new experience for the franchise — a three-player cooperative engagement requiring teamwork and strategic, puzzle-solving thinking in-between bouts of intense combat”. They also happen to be the direct continuation of the Campaign Mode. They will form parts of the game’s co-op Special Modes, which will feature the following missions:

Bad Situation: Infiltrate a town in the dead of night to uncover intel and evidence left behind by Al Qatala before exfiltrating.
Vehicle Escape: Destroy SAM turrets preventing reinforcements, before racing to reach an exfiltration plane.
Observatory Defense: Defend a location from tough waves of enemies attempting to detonate bombs.

Players will have access to the following kits in Special Ops:

Assault: Kit focused on increased armor with an Armor Box Field Upgrade — later levels include faster Loadout item usage, increased armor capacity, and free Stims included in the Backpack.
Medic: Kit focused on quicker revives with a Stim Pistol Field Upgrade for ranged instant revives — later levels include a free Bomb Drone, similar benefits to the Double Time Perk, and free Claymores and anti-tank mines included in the Backpack.
Engineer: Kit focused on better equipment usage with a Snapshot Pulse Field Upgrade to see nearby enemies — later levels include the ability to automatically restock Lethals and Tacticals over time, the ability to carry extra equipment, and a free Heartbeat Sensor and Spotter Scope included in the Backpack.

“Kits are leveled up by earning Stars through missions and mission-related challenges, which gives all three of these launch missions plenty of replayability.
We highly recommend completing all three Special Ops missions with three stars and have at least one Kit leveled up to Rank 5 before Raids, a direct continuation of the Campaign, are introduced to Special Ops later in Season 01.”

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will be out on October 28 for PC and consoles, but you can get early access to the game’s Campaign if you buy it before 20 October.


Indonesia-Made A Space For The Unbound Is Getting Its Own Webtoon

Indonesian publisher Toge Productions and developer Mojiken has announced that their adventure game, A Space for the Unbound, is getting a webtoon / webcomic via LINE Webtoon Canvas on 20 May 2022, in collaboration with Kosmik Network.
A Space For The Unbound is a slice-of-life adventure game with beautiful pixel art set in the late 90s rural Indonesia that tells a story about overcoming anxiety, depression, and the relationship between a boy and a girl with supernatural powers.
Follow two high school sweethearts, Atma and Raya, on a journey of self-discovery at the end of their high school years. When a mysteriously supernatural power is suddenly unleashed threatening their existence, they must explore and investigate their town to uncover hidden secrets, face the end of the world, and perhaps learn more about each other.
A Space for the Unbound is slated to release on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Xbox One sometime in 2022. The demo is playable for free on Steam.

A Space for the Unbound is coming to Line Webtoon Canvas on May 20th!?
Collaborating with @kosmiknetwork and @MojikenStudio, our webtoon will soon be available to read on Line Webtoon Canvas! Discover what lies in Niken's story and the truth about her fate.#indiegame #webtoon pic.twitter.com/wC9GxvgdiG
— A Space for the Unbound ? WISHLIST NOW! (@ASFTUgame) May 13, 2022


The Batman Figure Teases White Eyes For Robert Pattinson’s Dark Knight

Toy manufacturer Prime 1 Studio has revealed the first look at their The Batman figure during their Next Level Showcase 2 Event and this is probably the closest look to the full Batman costume worn by Robert Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in the upcoming movie.
What’s interesting here is that The Batman figure can be seen featuring white eyes. It’s notable that Jim Lee’s DC FanDome poster for The Batman from last year, Batman also appeared to have white eyes. The Batman Prime 1 Studio figure is also bulkier than expected and there’s also a side pouch on his leg that holds grappling hooks.

However, Prime 1 Studio has yet to reveal additional official details, so take everything with a grain of salt. The Batman is slated to premiere on 4 March 2022. In the meantime, check out The Batman Prime 1 Studio figure below:

Esta estatua Prime 1 Studio de "The Batman" es BRUTAL!! ?? pic.twitter.com/8A21189LbA
— Expo Comics News ? (@ComicsExpo) May 22, 2021


We May Not Get A Dota 2 The International 2020 Tournament

It’s a sad day for esports fans worldwide: The International 2020 may not happen.
Valve has confirmed that its flagship Dota 2 annual championship has been delayed. While a 2020 event hasn’t been ruled out, there is a good chance the tournament series will need to move to 2021.

“After extensive consideration of the global health emergency stemming from COVID-19, we have made the difficult choice to delay The International. We have been exploring various date possibilities, but it is likely that the event will need to happen in 2021.
Given the highly volatile landscape for local gathering restrictions, virus trajectory, and global travel policies, we donâ€™t expect to have enough confidence to communicate firm dates in the near future.”

The tournament prize pool will be funded by Battle Pass sales, just like in past International events. However, this year’s iteration will be delayed.

“With our team working from home and things taking longer to complete, the release date of the Battle Pass will be at least a couple of weeks later than usual.”

A huge number of major and international esports tournaments have been cancelled and/or delayed due to COVID-19. We have a list here if you need to keep track.


CoD Modern Warfare & Warzone Season 4 Trailer Teases Playable Captain Price

Earlier today, the Call of Duty official Twitter account revealed a trailer for upcoming Season 4 of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare and Call Of Duty Warzone. What’s interesting is that the trailer heavily features Captain Price, one of the beloved characters from the original 2007’s Call Of Duty Modern Warfare.
Developer Infinity Ward will launch Season 4 on 3 June 2020. However, the one-minute trailer doesnâ€™t reveal any details about gameplay changes, but focuses on story instead; specifically the growing threat of nuclear war.
A nuclear warhead can be glimpsed in the trailer, which looks suspiciously like the very same warhead that players have discovered in the Bunker 11 easter egg. The answer to that may be in Season 4.
The trailer also spends a lot of time on Captain Price, depicting him leading a squad in the back of an airplane. Based on the trailer, the developer could be be teasing the potential return of Captain Price as a playable Operator.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOOoRmEIXRs&w=560&h=315]


Malaysian Female CS:GO Pro Joins China Esports Team

The past two months have been a roller coaster ride for Malaysian-based female CS:GO team Orange Sphynx. In June, they went to Shanghai for the ZOWIE Divina Women’s Asia Championship 2019 and nabbed second place.
Their performance in Shanghai qualified them for DreamHack Showdown Valencia 2019. Unfortunately, the team was eliminated after being consecutively beaten by American team Dignitas Female and Dutch team CPH Flames Female.
Just a few weeks after their defeat in Valencia, the team is faced with another major challenge. The team’s (former) leader Ramona “GFi#” Azween has recently left to join China-based team TYLOO. The announcement went public through a tweet from TYLOO’s Twitter account.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Today we are excited to welcome ex-Orange.Sphynx member Ramona “GFi#” Azween to our CSGO.fe roster. @RamonaAzween pic.twitter.com/IyiGJtDSnT
â€” TYLOO (@tyloogaming) July 22, 2019
Ramona will be joining TYLOO’s female esports team TYLOO Female. It’s worth noting that at least four of TYLOO Female’s former members left to form 7PM.fe which is the teams that won first place at the aforementioned tournament where Orange Sphynx got second place.

“This marks my departure from Orange Esports It truly has been a long life changing journey for me, and I look forward to this next step in my career.”

– Ramona “GFi#” Azween, from her Instagram post.
We wish Ramona all the best in her career with TYLOO Female. Let’s see how Orange Sphynx will adapt to this change and move forward in their journey. As one of Malaysia’s best female CS:GO teams, they definitely shouldn’t let this demotivate them and see it as a new challenge to conquer.
Top image credit: Ramona Azween’s Twitter page.


Call Of Duty Modern Warfare II Beta & Other Details Leaked

It was only a few days ago that Activision announced the release date for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, but details about the game have already been leaked via data miners (via Charlie Intel).
The details were apparently found on Call of Duty: Vanguard files related to the recent Season 3 Reloaded update. Allegedly, like the previous Call Of Duty betas, PS4 and PS5 players will be granted early access to the open beta first before those on other platforms. However, due to the Microsoft Activision acquisition, this will likely be the last year of PlayStation exclusivity.
The data mine also revealed that there will be three game editions for Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2. These include the standard edition and Cross-Gen Bundle. Both come with the game, early access to the open beta, and other unspecified items.
The third and last is a Vault Edition, which also comes with early access to the open beta, but with the addition of the Battle Pass Season 1 with 50 Tier Skips, the Red Team Operator Pack containing Operators Ghost, Farah, Price, and Soap, 10 hours of 2x XP and 10 hours of 2x weapons XP, FJX Cinder Weapon Vault, and the Ghost Legacy Pack, which is said to contain 12 Operator Skins and 10 Weapon Blueprints.
Last but not least, the data mine also claims that the game will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC. However, Activision has yet to officially announce or confirm any of this, so it’s better to take everything with a grain of salt for now.


Sega Astro City Mini Console Lets You Play The Best Golden Axe

Sega recently announced its latest mini retro console: the Astro City Mini.
It’s obviously based after one of the best arcade cabinets that support ST-V and Naomi JAMMA boards, but in mini form. if you’ve played an awesome Sega arcade game or fighting game in the late 90s and early 2000s, it’s definitely on an Astro City. The Astro City Mini a more intricate button setup, functioning microswitches, and a headphone jack.

Most importantly, the Sega Astro Mini marks the first time Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder will be getting a home release. For those not tuned into 80s and 90s beat-em-ups, Golden Axe was a series of fantasy-based beat-em-ups that was average at best. At least until 1992 when Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder came out which improved the game tenfold.
The sequel boasts impressive sprites and graphics, a more variable cast that includes a female centaur and a midget imp who plants trees that bore health-replenishing fruit, 4-player co-op, and branching paths that add replayability to the beat-em-up formula. It was so good, Sega did not bother porting it and instead made a bunch of lesser Golden Axe games. What?

The mini console will be out in Japan later in 2020 for US$120 or so. We’re not sure if it will come out for Western markets, so you’ll need to ping your favourite parallel importers for this beauty. The current list of arcade games are below:

Alien Syndrome
Alien Storm
Golden Axe
Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder
Columns II
Dark Edge
Puzzle & Action: Tant-R

Virtua Fighter
Fantasy Zone
Altered Beast


Apex Legendsâ€™ Anniversary Update Adds Familiar Face and New Game Mode

Apex Legendsâ€™ latest season is called Defiance and will bring a familiar face to the Apex Games along with new changes to the Olympus map and a new mode.
Seasons come and go for Apex Legends but to celebrate their third anniversary, the upcoming season titled Defiance seeks to be a special one. The newest update will bring a familiar face to the roster of Legends with the release of Mad Maggie, sister to our favorite one eyed Australian Fuse. Having been sentenced to fight to the death in the Games for her crimes, the new legend is bound to bump into her brother at some point.
A melee focused Legend?
The new season also adds a new Limited Timed Mode in the form of Control that will be Respawn Entertainment’s take on the popular Domination game mode. For the first 3 weeks of Defiance, see whether you can handle the madness in the new Control mode. Select your loadout and drop in to a 9v9 experience where teams battle to hold control points with infinite respawns. Respawn released another Stories from the Outlands animated short, with Maggie at the center, showing off her prosthetic arm similar to her brother and a brief look at the corrupt officials in the world of Titanfall.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZPbJ6VKs2E&t=181s
Other additions within the season include new changes to the Olympus map, a new Defiance battlepass and ranked season, plus players will be able to unlock rewards just for logging in for the first three weeks of Defiance.
The new update will arrive February 8 so it’s safe to assume, with a brand spanking new meta with it.


Good Smile Unveils Cyberpunk Edgerunners Rebecca Plushie

Cyberpunk Edgerunners’ loud-but-adorable trigger-happy character is getting her own plushie figure, thanks to the Good Smile Company.
The company will be releasing a plushie of Rebecca from the hit Netflix series adaptation along with all her tattoos underneath her clothes in plushie form! Becca will surely light up your day with her whole get-go figure.

You can start to pre-order the adorable Becca right now until 16 February 2023; it cost about 3,850 yen/US$29.86, and will only be out in March 2023 onward.
If you want to watch more of Rebecca’s antics from the Cyberpunk Edgerunners adaptation, watch the video down below.
Cyberpunk Edgerunners but only the best girl


Final Fantasy 16 Demo Will Be Out Two Weeks Before Release Date

While the media has its collective hands on the preview build of Final Fantasy 16, many do ask when it’s their turn to take a stab at the upcoming JRPG.
Square Enix producer Naoki Yoshida, who is handling FF16, said on Famitsu that the Final Fantasy 16 demo will be released 2 weeks before the game launches for PS5 on 22nd June. The best part? The game’s save data will carry over to the main game, just like in past Square Enix JRPG demos.
For more on Final Fantasy 16, check out the gameplay video below and the rest of our coverage.


ASUS ROG & ACRONYM Launches New Limited-Edition Tablet

ASUS ROG has announced the second project in its ongoing collaboration with ACRONYM, a leading technical apparel company, to create the ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 — bringing together the world of fashion, art, tech, Web3 and gaming in a powerful tablet.
Available for sale worldwide starting 3 April 2023, the device features pro-level specs, including an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. Containing that outsized power is a tablet-sized chassis that’s designed to encourage portability and real-world use. The beautifully intricate, custom-machined aluminium creates rigidity. An ingeniously designed integrated carry system uses a versatile strap that lets the device become its own transport system and allows use in multiple modes. Rubber holds are inset to provide grip in every orientation, and the corners are reinforced to keep the machine safe from accidental bumps or drops.

ACRONYM co-founder Errolson Hugh has been a pioneer in the technical-apparel industry since the company’s founding in 1994. In the decades since, ACRONYM has built an extensive design portfolio dedicated to fusing advanced functionality with high-end technology. Whether they’re collaborating with Nike or BE@RBRICK, appearing in the Death Stranding game, or creating apparel under its own flag, ACRONYM has a proven track record as a visionary in the apparel industry with a commitment to sourcing top-notch materials to engineer hyper-functional designs that go beyond style. The ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 is the second product in the company’s ongoing collaboration with Republic of Gamers.
Sharing his enthusiasm for the partnership, Hugh commented:
“The design idea of the RMTO2 seeks to make a new proposition. We’re trying to reimagine how users interact with the world around them, together with their machine, and do things in a new way. We chose to partner with Republic of Gamers because it has a completely open-minded approach. Its engineers were willing to go into unknown territory, and they had the know-how and the competence to deliver those ideas.”
To design the RMT02, Hugh called on experts with unique design experience, starting with industrial designer and feature film concept artist Phil Saunders, best-known for designing the iconic Iron Man suit. Saunders took a visionary approach to the project, having spent his career literally designing for future worlds. The project was spearheaded by Rod Chong, an LA-based creative director and long-time collaborator with Hugh. Working alongside ROG engineers and staff, Hugh’s team entered a years-long design and prototyping process that pushed even ROG’s considerable expertise.
About working with the ACRONYM team, Shawn Yen, ROG Vice President of the Gaming Business Unit says:
“Working with the ACRONYM team is a process of understanding how we can look at things from a different angle, and approach customer experiences from different perspectives. ACRONYM takes design to a whole new level of thinking how humans interact and use the things around them.”
This human-first approach made ACRONYM a natural design partner for the Republic of Gamers. ROG is committed to making premium gaming hardware that’s powerful enough for pro-level work and play, while also being customizable enough that every gamer can express themselves. ACRONYM designs consistently embody their belief that good design is a form of freedom. Through style, audiences can share their story, their way.

The ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 is part of ROG’s 2023 Flow series, which aims to offer ultra-versatile gaming with ultra-thin devices that can adapt to any scenario. The Flow Z13 was the perfect platform for ACRONYM and ROG to expand this versatility to other uses that require pro-spec processing and graphics in a multi-functional hand-held device. The integrated carry system and stabilized grips aid use on the go, and the integrated kickstand easily transforms the RMT02 into a traditional laptop form factor that’s perfect for gaming, creation or viewing content. The kickstand can also be used when the machine is in a portrait orientation, making it the only Z13 capable of hands-free use from both angles.
The ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 features an Intel Core i9-13900H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU. ROG has also added a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus to the device, along with a total thermal capacity of 80 W. The ROG Intelligent Cooling system has added a vapor chamber here with 50% mainboard coverage. Liquid-metal and arc-flow fans ensure 0 dB ambient cooling. The device supports XG Mobile and sports the ROG Nebula display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Other features related to the display include a 165 Hz refresh rate, 500 nits brightness and 100% DCI-P3 touchscreen panel with Corning Gorilla Glass DXC.
The device is equipped with Type-A, Type-C, and microSD connectivity options. It also comes with Thunderbolt 4 and WiFi 6E. It has a full CNC-milled metal chassis and supports 130 W fast charging through a Type-C port.
Starting from the ROG Flow Z13 base and incorporating functional elements and the design philosophy of their apparel design, ACRONYM radicalized the compact portability of the Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02. The device effortlessly transitions between high-end tablet, a powerful, mobile desktop for gaming and an on-the-go creative workstation. The ACRONYM design philosophy advocates ‘open agency’, allowing the user multiple ways to interface with, and use the product — an approach that is obvious throughout the RMT02. Design elements are driven by how the device feels in the user’s hand and how they encourage use in new scenarios.

Remarking on the device’s concept, product designer Phil Saunders said:
“The thing that is immediately noticed when picking up an RMT02 up is that everything is extremely tactile. The strap system gives the user as much agency as possible in the ways that they can interact with their device: it becomes its own bag. It can be slung over a shoulder. There’s a mode that frees both hands, so the user can interact with it on the go.”
Driven by the mission to deliver genuine innovation, the collaboration pushed the limits of what’s possible in manufacturing. The machined aluminium, embedded-rubber-grip elements, protective corners, strap system and precision etchings throughout reinforce the notion that this is a precise tool that also took great technical care to make. Designed to be its own carrying case, the robust aluminum chassis undergoes an intensive machining process that presents as both beautifully refined yet raw, displaying evident CNC-path marks. A closer look at the device reveals striking touches, like laser-etched graphics, and customized typefaces and iconography.
The Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 comes with a custom ACRONYM pouch designed to house the power supply, power cables and pen. The Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 will be accompanied by the launch of the WRKGRP BEACON Web3 program, which reimagines the brand-community relationship, adding to the ownership experience with an additional layer of digital and physical collectibles.


Why World of Warcraft Fans Are Not Happy With The Latest Raid’s Ending

As if people needed to find more reasons to rag on Blizzard and its current handling of its online MMORPG World of Warcraft, here’s another one.
The company published the finale cinematic to its 9.1 Raid, and people have negative opinions about it.

Basically, WoW character Sylvannas who recently turned evil, saw the error of her ways, and attempts to attack the Jailer who transforms into a super-armoured bad guy. She got brushed aside, but not before gaining blue eyes and her soul back.

Basically, the writers of the game are taking a page from Starcraft’s Kerrigan redemption arc and putting it in the WoW context. Needless to say, the reveal has been a subject of ridicule among longtime WoW fans and lorehounds.
At this point in time, the finale cinematic has received just 2.6k likes and 5.6k dislikes. Highlighted comments include Sylvanas being “written like an edgy 14 year old’s D&D character” and “getting the Kerrigan treatment”.

We’re not sure if Blizzard is currently going to make amends for making people wait 8 months for a conclusion that many fans saw was coming. To the company’s credit, the art team did a bang-up job with the actual animation.


Gamescom 2019: Synced Off-Planet Is Basically The Division But With Zombies

NEXT Studios (under Tencent) has just announced their latest AAA title SYNCED: Off-Planet. The game is described as a PVPVE third person shooter with RPG elements and is set in a world where humanity is on the brink of extinction due to some mishap with nanotechnology.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_STPwaKjE&w=560&h=315]
You play as human survivors who must fight not only against nanotech zombies but also other players who are trying to capture and ride transport shuttles that will take them off the planet. Oh, I just understood the title while typing that.
Judging by the gameplay footage I’ve seen, the main objective is to find and secure the aforementioned transport shuttles. You can play solo or in a team. There’s a levelling system where you’re rewarded XP for completing objectives and killing enemies. There’s also a resource gathering system for you to upgrade your home base or settlement.

A neat feature you can see in the gameplay trailer is the ability to “sync” with the zombies. This turns them green instead of purple and technically gets you your own army of nanotech monsters.
For now, no other details have been revealed. No release date and not even a list of platforms that the game will be available on. It’s confirmed for PC at least thanks to that “RTX ON” sticker on the screen.


Joaquin Phoenix Creates History In The Golden Globes

Joaquin Phoenix is one step closer to winning that Oscar for his phenomenal performance in Todd Phillips’ Joker last year, as he has won the award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama earlier today at the 2020 Golden Globes.
Phoenix was nominated for the Golden Globe Best Actor awards alongside Adam Driver in Marriage Story, Christian Bale in Ford v. Ferrari, Jonathan Pryce in The Two Popes, and Antonio Banderas in Pain and Glory.
This is Phoenixâ€™s first major Best Actor win of the 2019-20 awards season so far, and surely only his first of many. The majority of precursor Best Actor prizes this season have been awarded to Adam Driver for Marriage Story or Adam Sandler for Uncut Gems.
Phoenixâ€™s Best Actor win is actually his second Golden Globe award after taking home the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical in 2006 for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. In the past, he has also previously received Golden Globe nominations for his performances in Gladiator, The Master, Her, and Inherent Vice.
Joker also took home the Golden Globe for Best Original Score by Hildur GudnadÃ³ttir, making it the first comic book movie in history to win two awards at one occasion. In the meantime, check out our review ofÂ JokerÂ here, orÂ head on over hereÂ to check out all the easter eggs we discovered in the movie.


Taiko No Tatsujin Adds A Malay Song By Malaysia’s Siti Nurhaliza In Its Next Update

Taiko No Tatsujin is a rhythm game franchise by Bandai Namco, where players beat a taiko drum in time with the music. The franchise mostly features Japanese songs, but it does occasionally add foreign songs from time to time. In the next update for Taiko No Tatsujin Nijiiro Ver., the game is surprisingly adding a Malay song from Malaysia and it won’t just be any Malay song; it’s an iconic song by legendary Malaysian singer, Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza.
According to the official blog post, the next scheduled update date for Taiko No Tatsujin Nijiiro Ver. will arrive on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
Taiko No Tatsujin Nijiiro Ver. is the latest entry in the franchise, which was originally released for arcades in 2020 in Japan and in 2021 in the rest of the world. ‘Bukan Cinta Biasa’ by Siti Nurhaliza was originally released in 2003 as part of her ninth studio album, E.M.A.S. (2003). It’s also one of her most popular and most enduring songs.
This is a great achievement for Dato’ Siti Nurhaliza and her Malaysian fans. Malaysia Boleh!
Check out ‘Bukan Cinta Biasa’ by Siti Nurhaliza below:


We Analyze The Best Hearthstone Rise Of Shadows Decks Out There

With the Rise of Shadows out a few days ago, we figured it’s best to help our fellow card-slingers and esports enthusiasts with a detailed guide on how to Hearthstone like a champ.
So far, the meta is already flooded with great deck archetypes, but which ones are the most-sought-after? To help us with this arduous task, we have expert Hearthstone tournament player LambySeries chiming in. Last we heard, he’s pretty damn good at the game & can deconstruct even the tightest decks out there.

Let’s start!
Token Druid
Deck Code: AAECAZICAtaZA8mcAw5A/QL3A+YFxAbX7wLf+wL6hgO0kQPDlAPFlAPOlAPKnAPTnAMA
Deck List Example: Acornbearer x2, Crystalsong Portal x2, Dreamway Guardians x2, EVIL Cable rat x2, Keeper Stalladris, Power of the Wild x2, Wrath x2, Blessing of the Ancients x2, Landscaping x2, Savage Roar x2, Archmage Vargoth, Mark of the Loa x2, Soul of the Forest x2, Swipe x2, Wispering Woods x2, The Forest’s Aid x2.

Arguably the best deck of the current Hearthstone meta is sitting with a massive 58 percent winrate, with key cards like Whispering Woods boosting your chances up to 60 when drawn. The strategy isn’t especially different from previous incarnations of Token Druidâ€”your goal is to fill the board quickly with cheap minion-generating spells and buffs, then find lethal with the massive burst potential of Savage Roar.
The difference now is that Druid has additional tools like Acornbearer, Dreamway Guardians, and Blessing of the Ancients to reach the tipping point far more efficiently. It can often feel like Malfurion has endless reload.
LambySeries Say: With the loss of Spreading Plague, Token Druid has taken a more proactive approach toward its game plan. The deck curves very nicely almost every turn with constant minion threats to pressure the opponent. Blessing of the Ancients works very well to stack multiple buffs on your minions, while The Forestâ€™s Aid gives the deck instant refuel after board clears, allowing the threat of Savage Roar to always be looming around the corner.
The deck has definite top tier potential, and fairs decently well against the other top meta decks. The lack of card draw is definitely a concern with this deck however it is overall mitigated by the consistent flow of threats and every minion needs to be answered to avoid snowball potential.
Tempo Rogue
Deck Code: AAECAaIHCLICyAOvBIoH3Qi0kQOQlwOSlwMLtAHtAu4GiAeGCcf4AtWMA4+XA/uaA/6aA4mbAwA=
Deck List Example: Backstab x2, Preparation x2, Shadowstep x2, Acidic Swamp Ooze x1, Eviscerate x2, Underbelly Fence x2, Blink Fox x2, EVIL Miscreant x2, Edwin VanCleef x1, Raiding Party x2, SI:7 Agent x2, Dread Corsair x2, Hench-Clan Burglar x2, Vendetta x2, Waggle Pick x2, Captain Greenskin x1, Leeroy Jenkins x1.

The Tempo lists you’ll find don’t look too different from what you remember during the Odd Rogue era. Devastating early-game swings like Backstab and SI:7 Agent still have their place, and Raiding Party has distinguished itself as one of the strongest cards from Rastakhan’s Rumble thanks to the arrival of better pirates and a killer weapon in the form of Waggle Pick.
The other big additions are the abbreviated Thief Rogue package with Underbelly Fence and Hench-Clan Burglar. Some decks even opt to run Chef Nomi and Myra’s Unstable Element as a way to ditch your deck cleanly and finish your opponent with one of the scariest instant boards in the game.
Somewhat depressingly, the most successful pro-approved versions of Tempo Rogue are now cutting both Nomi and Togwaggle to focus on more of the less flashy but super powerful cards that help control the early game and apply finishing damage.
LambySeries Say: Two words – EVIL Miscreant.
This card alone has given rogue so much more consistency to combo off and produce constant board pressure. The lackeys of the set all have amazing effects, and no deck now has the ability to abuse them the way rogue can.
The build featured also contains Vendetta which is a huge tempo swing when paired with the right cards. The amount of discover effects in the deck also provides added options and a little fun along the way. No 2 games would be almost exactly the same.
Long story short: very strong contender for the top deck in the meta with all-around good matchups save warrior which the deck struggles slightly with.
Bomb Warrior
Deck Code: AAECAQcGyAO67ALN7wKS+AKggAOblAMMS/sBsgid8AKb8wKD+wKe+wKz/AL1gAOXlAOalAOSnwMA
Deck List Example: Eternium Rover x2, Omega Assembly x2, Town Crir x2, Loot Hoarder x2, Slam x2, Warpath x2, Augmented Elekk x2, Clockwork Goblin x2, Rabid Worgen x1, Omega Devastator x2, Wrenchcalibur x2, Brawl x2, Captain Greenskin x1, Darius Crowley x1, Dyn-o-matic x2, Zilliax x1, Blastmaster Boom x1, Dr. Boom, Mad Genius x1.

Blizzard decided to empower Warriors with a new version of  Dr. Boom that’s capable of summoning six of those Boom Bots, and single-handedly created a brand new archetype: Bomb Warrior.
The addition of Wrenchcalibur and Clockwork Goblin has given Bomb Warrior the potential to deliver damage that previous control variants never had, and the board swing provided by Blastmaster Boom can carry games. According to the current meta, the Bomb Warriors on ladder report a 60 percent-plus winrate against every single class in Hearthstone except Hunter.
LambySeries Says: We all know how tedious it is to be up against control warrior variants, and the new set has provided said deck with a rather bombastic win condition.
The core of the deck remains the same, providing a ton of board clears to neuter any potential threats from the opponent. Bomb synergy cards like Wrenchcalibur and Clockwork Goblin put the opponent on a clock and prevent liberal use of their health total due to the threat of dying from bomb damage.
Dr.Boom also makes a resurgence in this deck albeit in its new form. The deck decimates most tempo based aggressive decks, however, may struggle with greedy, value-oriented decks as other than bombs the threat count within the deck is relatively low and closing out games may become an issue if the odds are not in your favour and the opponent does not take enough bomb damage.
Zoo Warlock
Deck Code: AAECAf0GBPIBqwaPggOXlwMNMNMB9QXZB7EIwgj2/QL6/gLchgPEiQPsjAOInQO1nwMA
Deck List Example: Arch-Villain Rafaam x1, Magic Carpet x2, Abusive Sergeant x2, Argent Squire x2, Crystallizer x2, Flame Imp x2, Grim Rally x2, Mecharoo x2, Saronite Taskmaster x2, The Soularium x1, Voidwalker x2, Dire Wolf Alpha x2, EVIL Genius x2, Knife Juggler x2, Scarab Egg x2, Sea Giant x2.

Deck Breakdown: No matter what, there’s only one type of Warlock deck that works: the one featuring the word “zoo”.
The deck archetype comes with the same piloting techniques that it had back in 2014, when Andrey “Reynad” Yanyuk first dreamt up the deck: Play your stuff, use Life Tap for card advantage, and try to win by turn eight. There are some new wrinkles with Magic Carpet, which give your one-cost minions some extra juice.
But the most notable addition is Arch-Villain Rafaam, who turns all the minions in your hand and deck into Legendaries. It gives Zoo a chance to contend in the mana-swollen late game, which has consistently been the archetype’s weakness.
LambySeries Says: As with the name, Zoo is back, riding the fabric of the Magic Carpet. Half of the deck are 1-drops to synergize with said carpet to provide superior board control with cheap rush minions. EVIL Genius also provides lackeys (which are 1-drops as well) to synergize with the carpet and give the deck a little extra reach in terms of burst potential and value trading.
The deck also features Arch-Villain Rafaam as a fail-safe boss minion, turning your measly 1 drops into legendary minions to hopefully tide u through a longer game. The weakness of Zoo is still ever present though, as it is tremendously weak to board clears. Your hero power using health as a resource also usually means you will constantly be at risk of dying to sudden burn damage.
Mech Hunter
Deck Code: AAECAR8GrgaY8AKA8wKggAObhQPxlgMMtQOXCO/1ArT2Arn4AqCFA6KKA7CLA+aWA/KWA/mWA7acAwA=
Deck List Example: Mecharoo x2, Secret Plan x2, Springpaw x2, Tracking x2, Bomb Toss x2, Fireworks Tech x2, Venomizer x2, Animal Companion x2, Nine Lives x2, Spider Bomb x2, Ursatron x2, Replicating Menace x2, Zilliax x1, Mechanical Whelp x2, Oblivitron x1, Unleash the Beast x1, Zul’jin x1.

Deck Breakdown: The end of The Year of the Raven was defined by the re-emergence of Hunter, and Deathstalker Rexxar’s beast-filled beatdown. Hunter had the most powerful Death Knight in the game, and a truly devastating Spellstone that was eventually neutered to six Mana. It seemed likely that after those cards rotated, we’d see some sort of regression for the class as a whole.
So far, that hasn’t been the case.
Hunter currently holds the second-highest winrate of any class in Hearthstone. The offenders will be familiar: Midrange Hunter is still efficient, and the addition of the spell-generating Shimmerfly boosts the winrate to 61 percent when mulliganed for (That’s higher than any other card in the list!).
Mech Hunter throws in a bunch of old Boomsday cards alongside Ursatron, Nine Lives, and the new legendary Oblivitron (which was largely slept on) to create an endless mass of sticky, annoying Deathrattle Mechs.
Add Boomaster Flark and other bomb-generation cards for a toxic board that threatens massive burst damage; perfect for aggro players.
LambySeries Says: This variant of mech hunter features Nine Lives, which provides endless synergy with all the deathrattle effects in the deck. It features a small anti-aggro package to tide it through its relatively weak early game. The deck truly shines in the mid to late game with sticky minions and value cards like Unleash the Beasts, topping out at Zulâ€™jin for even more close to infinite value.
The deck has an extremely favoured matchup versus the likes of control warrior. However, survivability in the early to mid game is a huge issue, and unlike Deathrattle Hunter of old, it is not exactly as explosive as well. This may not be the most rewarding deck even if played well due to the nature of the other top decks in the meta now.
Murloc Shaman
Deck Code: AAECAaoIBOAGkwmn7gKcmwMNxQPbA/kD/gPQB6cI4okD9ooDjJQDtZgDxpkD9JkDx50DAA==
Deck List Example: Grimscale Oracle x1, Murloc Raider x2, Murloc Tidecaller x2, Sludge Slurper x2, Toxfin x1, Bluegill Warrior x2, Ghost Light Angler x2, Murloc Tidehunter x2, Soul of the Murloc x2, Underbelly Angler x2, Coldlight Seer x2, Murloc Warleader x2, Nightmare Amalgam x2, Murloc Tastyfin x2, Scargil x1, Bloodlust x2.
Deck Breakdown: The best Shaman deck on ladder takes advantage of the expansion’s new Legendary: Scargil.

Murloc Shaman reigns supreme in most deck aggregate sites like HSReplay.net thanks to the set’s new Legendary, Scargil. This fish boss, which discounts all Murlocs in your hand to 1-Mana, is undeniably sickâ€”but heâ€™s not even the most important ingredient. That would be Underbelly Angler, which adds a random Murloc to your hand every time you play a Murloc.
It can get ridiculous, and it also gives you the most one-sided matchup in Hearthstone right now. If you want to play Shaman in the next few months, itâ€™s time to go fish.
LambySeries Says: I’m pretty sure most of you have had your fair share of experiences with the murlocs, which are usually associated with aggressive strategies. Nothing has changed in this set with regard to this trend.
The deck aims to dominate the board from turn 1 and snowball turn after turn of every increasingly fat murlocs. Underbelly Angler and Soul of the Murlocs allow for very consistent streams of murloc pressure every turn which if not answered result in death by Bloodlust or the small burn damage package in the deck.
Aggressive murloc decks beat up on most combo-oriented and greedy strategies due to the nature of how fast they get their engine going. The deck though is not the best fit for the meta now, as the likes of rogue and warrior are rather favoured versus it. The former has massive tempo swings while the latter just has some of the best removal in the game.
Conjurer Mage
Deck Code: AAECAf0EBMUEkAeggAOWmgMNigHeBfsGigfhB40Izu8Ct/ECw/gC4vgC0okDg5YDoJsDAA==
Deck List Example: Book of Specters x2, Khadgar x1, Conjurer’s Calling x2, Astromancer x1, Power of Creation x2, Kalecgos x1, Acidic Swamp Ooze x2, Firetree Witchdoctor x2, Sunfury Protector x2, Mind Control Tech x1, Voodoo Doll x1, Scaleworm x2, Twilight Drake x2, Dragonmaw Scorcher x1, Harrison Jones x1, Rotten Applebaum x1, Zilliax x1, Crowd Roaster x2, Ysera x1, Mountain Giant x2.

Deck Breakdown: The Mage class has gone back to its roots as a slow, plodding value deck thanks to the summoning powers of Khadgar, Astromancer, and the Power of Creation. Your goal is to stick a discounted Mountain Giant on the board, drop Khadgar, and then hit it with Conjurer’s Calling, giving you four random 12-drops. The following turn you point those 12-drops to your opponent’s face, and win the game.
All of that sounds great on paper, but right now you’re looking at a winrate of around 53 percent. Conjurer Mage is a great idea, and it does punish Warrior, but it takes so long to get off the ground that by the time you can play your big cards, you’re probably staring down a second Savage Roar.
LambySeries Says: Nothing speaks greedy and explosive like Conjurer Mage. At a glance, the deck looks like an arena deck however the synergies with Conjurerâ€™s calling are insane. Turning a Mountain Giant into two giants/two Grave Horrors is nothing short of devastating, and pairing the above-mentioned combo with Khadgar puts too much stats on board for almost any deck to handle.
Conjurerâ€™s calling also features the Twinspell mechanic, so effectively you have four copies in your deck for a ton of value. Turning a weak Giggling Inventor into two potentially dangerous 7 drops is also a game-changing combo.
The deck itself being like an arena deck has a ton of flexibility with the kind of minion package it runs. The list featured has a decent amount of early game deterrence and weapon destruction that is tailored well to the current meta. The deck has superior high roll potential and utterly wrecks control oriented decks. It still struggles with early aggression; any single big threat has to be unanswered due to how fast the deck can snowball on board.
Definitely deserving of a top spot in the meta.
Where’s Priest & Paladin?
LambySeries Says: These 2 classes have fallen off the map drastically for various reasons.
Priest, with the loss of Shadow Visions, is struggling greatly with its consistency, as well as the fact that there has been no card printed to date with as drastic of a board clear effect as the late Psychic Scream.
Paladin on the other hand simply faded into the shadows as almost every other deck in the meta has the ability to do what it can do, only they do it better. As of the time of writing, I would rank Paladin as the least relevant class in the meta.
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