New Book Sheds Light On Late Nintendo President’s Friendships

“Video games are meant to be just one thing: Fun. Fun for everyone!”

– the late Satoru Iwata, former Nintendo President.
A new book titled Iwata-san has just been published by Hobonichi and it includes interviews with fellow industry legends Shigeru Miyamoto and Shigesato Itoi. In case you didn’t know, Miyamoto is the creator of several time-tested franchises including Mario and The Legend of Zelda while Itoi is well known for being the creator of the EarthBound (Mother in Japan) games and is also the founder of Hobonichi.
The book is a compilation of some of Iwata’s own words and also a collection of interviews as mentioned above. Iwata was Nintendo’s fourth president and is often regarded as the man who revolutionized Nintendo. As you can surmise from the quote placed at the beginning of the article, Iwata was focused on broadening Nintendo’s appeal to everyone, regardless of age and origin.

â€œTo me, he was a friend more than anything. It never felt like he was my boss or that I was working under him. He never got angry; we never fought about anything.â€
– Shigeru Miyamoto (via IGN)
Image via Junko Kimura/Getty Images
Miyamoto and Iwata became friends while the two were working in Nintendo. After being promoted to president, Iwata decided he would do things differently. He directly met with the company’s 40 department heads and 150 other employees. He wanted to communicate with his staff on a personal level. Miyamoto described that previously the business atmosphere was “stuffy” and Iwata’s way of doing things had “improved the ventilation”.

â€œItâ€™s hard to describe how I felt when first meeting him. There was something very pleasant about him. Without even really knowing him, you could immediately feel that he was someone you could trust.â€
– Shigesato Itoi (via IGN)
Image via Iwata Asks.
Iwata first met Itoi when he joined HAL Laboratory as a part-time programmer during his university years. One of the games he worked on was Itoi’s EarthBound. When Itoi first established Hobonichi in 1998, Iwata signed up to work as the publishing company’s IT manager. Iwata continued to work as Hobonichi’s IT manager even until 2007 when he was running Nintendo full-time. A true friendship that lasted a lifetime.
The world, especially the gaming world, misses you dearly Iwata-san. You showed us that video games weren’t just about having top-of-the-line hardware or being really good and skilled. You showed us that, when it comes to video games, the most important thing is that you have fun. Nothing more, nothing less.


The Esports Awards Returns To Las Vegas For Its 2023 Rendition

The Esports Awards, the ultimate highlight of the esports calendar, is back and they’re bringing the excitement to Las Vegas for the 2023 edition. This year’s event promises not only the grand ceremony itself but also networking opportunities and the highly anticipated Lifetime Achievement Mixer. It’s the perfect chance for brands, organizations, and industry thought-leaders to gather, exchange ideas, and make valuable connections.
If you thought last year was amazing, just wait till you hear what’s in store for the 2023 Esports Awards. Taking place on 29–30 November, the ceremony will be broadcasted live on all major platforms from the cutting-edge Zouk venue in Las Vegas. It’s a truly state-of-the-art setting to celebrate the best of the best.
The Esports Awards is thrilled to team up with 5GRV: Gamers on the Road for an exciting partnership. As part of their award-winning reality show’s second season, they’ll be presenting the Esports Host of the Year Award. In this season, we’ll follow four fierce and talented Black Female Streamers, namely BarefootTasha, DefinedbyKy, LeeshCapeesh, and the hilarious comedian GloZell. Together, they’ll embark on a journey to the 2023 Esports Awards, showcasing diversity and inclusion within the gaming community.
This year, the Esports Awards is making a big change to ensure equal opportunities for everyone, regardless of the size of their communities. They’re introducing a self-nomination format, open to B2B professionals and select media outlets in the esports industry. Nominees will have the chance to provide supporting information for their nomination, and media outlets will play a crucial role in the nomination process by bringing their expertise and knowledge of the esports scene to the table.
To be eligible for nomination, an official representative from the company, product, or talent must complete the process before 7 July. If you’re interested in learning more about the nomination process, check out this link: https://esportsawards.com/nominations/.
But wait, there’s more! Las Vegas will also be hosting the inaugural Scholars on 28 November. The Scholars is an awards ceremony dedicated to collegiate gaming, organized by the same team behind the Esports Awards. Keep an eye out for further details about this exciting event.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to continue honoring excellence in the industry and celebrating the dreams that have become a reality for so many, including ours. Recognizing the potential of the collegiate scene, we’re introducing the Scholars as a platform for players, individuals, and organizations in that space. We can’t wait to welcome talented individuals from around the world to join us in November for some well-deserved celebrations.”
Mike Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards
Let’s not forget the incredible spectacle that was last year’s Esports Awards at Resorts World Las Vegas. It was a milestone event that brought together the biggest names in esports and beyond. PUBG Mobile, LOUD, and Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag were just a few of the winners that night. The 2022 campaign saw a whopping 17 million total viewership, 115 million impressions, and 10 million votes cast. With those numbers, it’s safe to say that the Esports Awards are expecting nothing less than another remarkable year in 2023.


Gamescom Asia 2021: Our Favourite Games So Far

Gamescom Asia 2021 happened last weekend from the 14th to 17th October. True, it probably got lost in the shuffle against other major gaming events in the same week, but most folks missed out on some lovely SEA-made (and China) indie title announcements. And we all could use a bit more indie gaming in our balanced interactive play diet, right?
Here are the ones we enjoyed, from 4X entries to visual novels with SEA-anime art.


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s Orlog Dice Game Is Getting A Real-Life Version

One of the many side activities in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla includes a dice minigame called Orlog.  It’s a popular minigame, as statistics from Ubisoft recently revealed that over 3.5 million games of Orlog have been won by players of the game to date.
I enjoyed Orlog a lot and even found myself playing them as soon as I meet any new Orlog challenger in the game’s open world.
If you like Orlog too, you’ll be glad to learn that Ubisoft is working with pop culture collectibles producer PureArts to publish a physical real-life version of Orlog in 2021.

However, Orlog isn’t actually based on a real historical game. Historians only know that Vikings played physical games with dice, but not their exact structure or rules. In an interview with Dicebreaker, Ubisoft co-development game director Benoit Richer said:
â€œThe goal was to have a game that would be â€˜credibleâ€™ rather than historically accurate as we didnâ€™t find any clear rules throughout our research.â€
In the meantime, check out our full review of Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla here, or head on over here for our guide on how to be the best Viking in the game.


Cyberpunk 2077 Anime Jacks In This September On Netflix

Netflix has unveiled a teaser for its upcoming anime adaptation for CD Projekt RPG Cyberpunk 2077. It’s called Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and it’s coming out on September 2022.
The show’s luscious animation is produced by Studio Trigger of Kill la Kill and Promare fame. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a 10-episode standalone anime that follows the story of a street kid trying to survive in Night City: by being an edgerunner mercenary, doing a ton of dirty criminal activities to get the job done as a gun-for-hire. The anime is directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi (Gurren Lagann) and features character designs by Yoh Yoshinari (Little Witch Academia).
Check out the teaser below in all its stylish glory.


Nike Is Making New Video Game-Themed Sneakers With Pixellated Logos

Nike is no stranger to video game or pop culture collaborations, including Sony PlayStation, Stranger Things, and more. This fall, the iconic brand will continue to embrace the gaming community with a new Blazer makeup.
This Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage features a White/White/Bright Crimson/Black colourway, with a “Have A Good Game” printed across the lower heels, playful Velcro heel patches, a multicoloured sole, and an all-over glow-in-the-dark branding treatment.
Best of all, it has a pixelated Nike Swoosh logo, which looks great.
However, Nike has yet to officially announce the new sneakers but Instagram account @soleheatonfeet reports that this “Have a Good Game” video game-themed Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage will release sometime in Fall 2020.
Check it out below:
Nike Blazer Mid ’77 Vintage “Have a Good Game”
Release Date:Â Fall 2020
Colour:Â White/White/Bright Crimson/Black
Style #:Â DC3280-101


One Of Dead Or Alive 6’s Costume-Based Pet Peeves Will Be Fixed This Month

Thanks for listening to your DOA fanbase, Koei Tecmo. DOA 6’s  crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me, the outfits and costumes, will take less time to unlock thanks to a new update.
As mentioned on our review, players can gain costume parts by 3-starring missions in DOA Quest. However, there are a finite number of quests and only so many costume parts to toss around. Plus, grinding for costume parts on Arcade, Ranked, Survival, and Time Attack takes a long, long while since you only gain about less than 10 of them
Right now, the bonus for getting these parts when playing those modes have been multiplied to a 100. Not bad! In addition, the game’s mid-March update will stop the random distribution of costume parts. Once it’s applied, you’ll only get pieces for a character you currently use. Which means a lot of you will get your Kasumi and Hitomi bikinis and skimpy clothing soon enough with a bit more grinding.

A DEAD OR ALIVE 6 game update (Ver.1.02) is planned for mid-March. It will consist in fixing points as how costumes are acquired, such as costume pattern parts being attributed at random to other characters than the one being used. We hope you continue to enjoy #DOA6.
— Official DEAD OR ALIVE Fighting Game (@DOATEC_OFFICIAL) March 4, 2019

Perhaps this may entice you to buy and play the game? In any case, do check out our review here (we kinda liked it) and our short video below.


Next PlayStation To Be Powered By AMD’s Latest Navi & Ryzen 2 Tech

It turns out that the next PlayStation will be powered up by the hardware company’s latest processors according to recent Computex news.
During the AMD Computex 2019 keynote in Taiwan, the company will be helping out Sony PlayStation to power up its PS5/next-gen console. It will be brandishing a customized version of AMD’s Zen 2 processor (3rd-gen Ryzen CPUs) and its new Navi architecture GPU, the Radeon RX 5000.
So what’s cool about the Radeon RX 5000 family set of GPUs? Well, it:

improves efficiency and increases instructions per cycle
has multi-level cache hierarchy with RDNA architecture
delivers better gaming performance at a lower power consumption and reduced latency; we’re talking up to 25 percent higher performance-per-clock and up to 50 percent higher performance-per-watt.

These additions seem to coincide with the new console’s need to load games superfast. Stay tuned to Kakuchopurei for more game-related Computex 2019 updates.
Top image credit: Tom’s Hardware


Man Sues Marvel Over Iconic X-Men Animated Series Theme Song

Many comic book fans grew up watching the classic X-Men animated series in the 90s, which officially ended its run 22 years years ago. However, that hasn’t stopped a man from suing not only Marvel but also Disneyâ€™s Buena Vista Television, Amazon, Apple, Haim Saban and others over what he claims is copyright infringement (via Deadline).
The lawsuit claims that the iconic X-Men animated series theme song (that you’re humming in your head right now) is a ripoff of the theme song from Linda, a â€œcomedy-thrillerâ€ that aired from 1984 to 1991 in Hungary.Â Zoltan Krisko represents Gyorgy Vukan, the late composer of the Linda theme song.
According to the lawsuit which was filed today in the Southern District of New York (read it here), Linda is â€œa household name in Hungary and an entire country could identify the series through its iconic soundtrack.â€
Listen to the two theme songs below, and judge for yourself.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAkL2-vh2Sk&w=560&h=315]
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Saml21Dto&w=560&h=315]
I’m not a musician, but the rhythm does sound suspiciously similar even to my ears. The X-Men animated series currently streams on Amazon Prime Video and is available at Appleâ€™s iTunes Store, which is why they’re also part of the lawsuit alongside Marvel and other parties.


PUBG PS4 Comes With Uncharted and The Last of Us Pre-Order Bonuses

In what comes to no surprise to no one (thanks to rumors and leaks), Sony and the PUBG Corporation have announced that PUBG PS4 will be launching next month on December 7, 2018.

There will be four different editions for PUBG PS4. These include the following:

Disc Edition -Â $29.99 (Includes base game)
Looterâ€™s Digital Edition -Â $29.99 (Includes base game)
Survivorâ€™s Digital Edition -Â $59.99 (Includes base game and the Survival Pass containing the new Vikendi winter map, a 2300 G-Coin Pack andÂ 20,000 Battle Points)
Championâ€™s Digital Edition -Â $89.99 (Includes base game and the Survival Pass containing the new Vikendi winter map, a 6000 G-Coin Pack and 20,000 Battle Points)

Those who pre-order any of the three PUBG PS4 Digital Editions will also receive the Nathan Drake desert outfit from Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception and Ellie’s Backpack from The Last of Us.

Cue Uncharted theme.

Can anyone give this back to poor Ellie?

Besides that, additional pre-order bonuses include a generic PUBG PSN Avatar and an exclusive Miramar theme. After the horrible PUBG Suicide Squad Joke and Harley Quinn skins, I hope these exclusive PUBG PS4 cosmetics look better in-game than they did.

It’s amazing how the $30 difference between the Survivorâ€™s Digital Edition and Championâ€™s Digital Edition only means a few thousand more G-Coins. With Fortnite and H1Z1 already establishing themselves earlier with PS4 players, it will be difficult (almost impossible) for a paid battle royale game like PUBG to compete.


Sony’s Zombie Game Days Gone Delayed To April 2019

It’s only a matter of time until we get news of a big game of 2019 getting pushed back. In this case, it’s Days Gone, the zombie action game from Bend Studio (ex-Syphon Filter guys FYI), straight out of PlayStation’s mouth.
When’s the new date? The game will now be out 26 April 2019 instead of February 2019 because Bend Studio is taking the opportunity to further polish the game. Fine by me; better a polished game than a broken open-world mess, right?
To recap, Days Gone lets you control a drifter biker as he roams the post-apocalyptic Pacific Northwest fighting zombies/Freakers and other hostile human factions. This game may go toe-to-toe with the upcoming Dying Light 2. That one has Chris Avellone doing the story, so unless Days Gone has an ace up their sleeves, Dying Light 2 might edge out in the narrative department.


VCT 2023 Ascension Pacific Tickets Are Now On Sale

Get ready for an epic showdown as the champions from the 10 regional Challenger leagues in APAC gear up to fight for a coveted spot at the VCT Pacific table. It’s time to witness the rise of a new team that will join the ranks of the APAC VALORANT esports titans. So, mark your calendars and make sure not to miss this thrilling event!

QUALIFIED TEAMS

SCARZ â€“ Japan
Dplus â€“ South Korea
NAOS Esports â€“ Philippines
BOOM Esports â€“ Indonesia
XERXIA â€“ Thailand
Fancy United Esports â€“ Vietnam
Bleed eSports â€“ Malaysia & Singapore
ONE Team â€“ Taiwan & Hong Kong
TBD â€“ South Asia
TBD â€“ Oceania

South Asia and Oceania teams will be announced soon.

LOCATION
Ascension Pacific will be played at two different locations.
Group Stage (28 June – 4 July): Pullman Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, 30, 21 Sukhumvit Road, Watthana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Playoffs and Grand Final (7-9 July): Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, Hall 8, 60 Ratchadaphisek Rd, Khlong Toei, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
MATCH TIMINGS

Tournament day matches will begin at the following times:

Group Stage: 1:00 PM (UTC+7) / 2:00 PM (UTC+8)
Playoffs: 3:00 PM (UTC+7) / 4:00 PM (UTC+8)

ON-SITE ACTIVITIES
Fans who watch the action in-person can look forward to a host of exciting offline activities. Donâ€™t miss out on the fun!

Free Swag Giveaways
Date: Every day
Every ticket holder can enjoy the distribution of free official Ascension Pacific swag that you cannot purchase anywhere! The Group Stage and Playoffs each have their own exclusive swag kit with unique items, so make sure you watch both stages and grab your swag!
Swag items include the following:

Group Stage: Drawstring bag, folder
Playoffs:

Early Bird day pass holders: Tote bag, folder, herbal inhaler, bucket hat*
*Subject to availability until the quantity runs out
Regular day pass holders: Tote bag, folder

5v5 VALORANT Experience Zone (powered by Steelcase)
Date: 7â€“9 July
Drop by solo or with your squad to play an exciting 5v5 game of VALORANT! Experience what the pros are using on stage by playing in the Steelcase Gesture Chair. We will also be giving away 3 chairs to the lucky winners on the 9th after the grand final show, so make sure you stay till the end!

Influencer Showmatches
Date: 8â€“9 July
There will be an influencer showmatch on 8 & 9 July, before the semi and grand finals kick-off. These showmatches will feature some of your favourite creators from around the APAC region, playing through a Bo3 series. Keep an eye on our social pages for more information about the confirmed influencers and the final schedule!

Cosplayers
Date: 7â€“9 July
What: Donâ€™t miss out on your opportunity to meet and take photos with your favorite VALORANT agents!


Square Enix Details Outriders Campaign, Pyromancer Class & Music

Earlier today, developer People Can Fly and publisher Square Enix hosted a live stream presentation for their upcoming third-person shooter RPG Outriders. In the broadcast, they detailed the game’s campaign structure, another of the four playable classes called the Pyromancer, and its music.
Outriders Campaign Structure
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOEvK0R5iiE&w=560&h=315]
According to People Can Fly, the main campaign of Outriders will take around 25 to 30 hours for players to complete, and potentially two to three times longer than that if they choose to do all the side content.
While Outriders isnâ€™t an open-world game, it does feature large maps, hubs, and side areas, with different zones featuring towns and bleeding into main story mission areas. There will also be hidden areas that players can discover to reap more rewards (this is an RPG after all). Side missions can be completed at any time, while the difficulty and rewards will scale based on the player’s character level.
Players can travel between the aforementioned different zones in their Outrider truck. They won’t be able to actually drive or control it, but it’ll be like their base of operations, which can be improved and customized with upgrades and new additions to the crew.
Outriders Pyromancer Class
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4wJ7tWsQsc&w=560&h=315]
The Pyromancer class is exactly what it sounds like, focusing on the use of fire-related abilities in combat. This class specializes in mid-range combat, and seems to be a archetype of the mage class from other RPGs.
Pyromancers are encouraged to fight from a safe distance, setting enemies on fire and burning enemies while they take damage over time, which also heals the Pyromancer when they die. The class also specializes in area of effect (AoE) attacks against multiple enemies, and even their melee attacks have extra fire damage.
Four Pyromancer abilities were showcased during the stream, which you can watch in the trailer above. Thermal Bomb marks an enemy and burning them, but if any nearby Outrider kills a marked target before the ability expires, the target will explode, dealing massive damage to all nearby enemies.

Ash Blast is more utility-focused, where the Pyromancer sends out a wave of ash around itself, stunning all nearby enemies, while Heatwave sends a line of fire in front of the Pyromancer, setting anything it hits ablaze.
Last but not least, Overheat deals minor fire damage to all enemies in an area, marking them for the Pyromancerâ€™s healing abilities. But if Overheat strikes any enemies already on fire, it will still deal massive damage. There will be four more Pyromancer abilities, which remain unrevealed at this time.
Developer People Can Fly confirmed that Outriders wonâ€™t offer any PvP or competitive multiplayer, as well as the fact that players can have multiple characters per account.
Outriders Music
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PYfK2rgixs&w=560&h=315]
The music in Outriders is composed by Emmy Award Winner and three-time BAFTA nominee Inon Zur, best known for composing the music in games like 2007’s Crysis, 2009’s Dragon Age Origins and 2010’s Fallout New Vegas.
In a press release (via Gematsu), Zur said:

â€œAs a composer, itâ€™s always extremely exciting to be involved in building new worlds and telling new stories, so Iâ€™m thrilled to reveal that I have composed the score for People Can Fly and Square Enixâ€™s epic sci-fi action game Outriders.
It was a lot of fun blending heavy orchestral soundscapes and futuristic musical sound design for this roller coaster sci-fi adventure and I canâ€™t wait to share the music with you.

Outriders is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC sometime in Holiday 2020.


Young Souls Is A 2D RPG Beat-Em-Up Slated For Late 2021

Need to sate that beat-em-up craving after Streets of Rage 4’s awesome DLC? Why not give this upcoming game a look?
Young Souls is an upcoming 2D beat-em-up RPG hybrid from 1p2p Studio and The Arcade Crew, featuring twin siblings Jenn and Tristan who have to save their scientist foster dad from goblins big and small in a parallel world just underneath their hometown.

The action & art style looks pretty ace so far. And those bosses look intimidating and varied. There’s even bits where you need to train the twins to buff them up for future dungeon runs.
If you want to play it now, you may need to head to Google Stadia and try it out. If you want to play it without any input delay or you just don’t particularly care about Stadia, just wait until fall 2021 since that’s when it’s coming out for Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.


Legendary Comic Book Artist John Paul Leon Dies At 49

John Paul Leon has passed away on 1 May 2021 at the age of 49. The cause of death was not given.
The news broke via a tweet by DC Comics senior editor Chris Conroy. In his tweet, he wrote:
“Last night we lost John Paul Leon, one of the greatest draftsmen in the history of comics, the kind of artist that EVERY artist revered.
Those who loved him had some warning, but not enough.
Because of the long gestation period of BATMAN: CREATURE OF THE NIGHT, working with JP just might have been one of the longest professional relationships of my career.
Every minute of it was a joy. I’ve never worked with anyone as kind, as thoughtful, as dedicated.”

Because of the long gestation period of BATMAN: CREATURE OF THE NIGHT, working with JP just might have been one of the longest professional relationships of my career. Every minute of it was a joy. I’ve never worked with anyone as kind, as thoughtful, as dedicated.
— Chris Conroy (@ConroyForReal) May 2, 2021

Leon began his comics career at the young age of 16, illustrating for the Dragon And Dungeon magazines, but it officially started with RoboCop (1992) and RoboCop: Prime Suspect (1992) for Dark Horse Comics.
He went on to work for DC Comics on Static (1993) and Static Shock!: Rebirth of the Cool (2001), helping launch the Milestone Comics Universe (for which he is best known).

He also worked on The Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix (1996), The Winter Men (2005) and Batman: Creature of the Night (2017). He was recently nominated for an Eisner Award (the comics industry’s equivalent of the Oscars) along with Tom King for his work on the short story Black Death in America, which debuted in Vertigo’s CMYK: Black issue.
In addition, the late Leon also contributed his artwork to style guides for comic book films, including Superman Returns, Batman Begins, Green Lantern and The Dark Knight.
Jim Lee, Tom King and other comic writers/artists wrote about the late John Paul Leon’s passing on social media:

I remain in awe of both his unrivaled draftsmanship & his stellar designwork-both of which were simply unparalleled & technically just so precise & perfect. But what really made me a fan was how he still squeezed in every bit of emotion & life in every image he created. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/2wswYtxFzF
— Jim Lee (@JimLee) May 3, 2021

John Paul Leon was a comic book humanist. He grounded the inherent absurdity of conveying myth and story through inked panels by insisting the emotional struggle of our lived experience be in every line, every picture. And he was a joy of a man, kind and funny, to the end. RIP. pic.twitter.com/ERLxdJjnIX
— Tom King (@TomKingTK) May 2, 2021

Every writer has a list of artists they want to work with. John Paul Leon was always on my list. An utterly unique talent who made a classic artistic tradition very much his own. My heart hurts for the loved ones he left behind, and for the brilliance stolen from all of us. pic.twitter.com/kNB4kJUXgv
— Ron Marz (@ronmarz) May 2, 2021

My favorite story from working with JP on Mother Panic was a script that said "red tomato with white maggots" (Violet had abstract red/white hallucinations during combat) and JP misread and drew a tornado instead of a tomato ?. I actually liked it too much to say anything… pic.twitter.com/QWf6NpxddQ
— Jody Houser @ SDCC! ????? (@Jody_Houser) May 3, 2021


The Outer Worlds Will Only Be Enhanced On Xbox One X, Not For PS4 Pro

We’re only about one week away from the release of Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds and gamers must already be wondering what the best platform to play the game would be. According to the publisher and developer themselves, the best console to play the game on is the Xbox One X.
In an official statement to Windows Central, publisher Private Division said that The Outer Worlds will only be enhanced in 4K on the Xbox One X, and not on the PS4 Pro. This means that the PS4 Pro version will likely be stuck on 1080p resolution with no option for 4K.
It’s a bizarre decision, seeing as the PS4 Pro versions of many games are often enhanced to allow for 4K resolution and take advantage of the console’s additional power compared to the base PS4.
The fact that The Outer Worlds will be available via the Xbox Game Pass at launch might have something to do with the PS4 Pro not receiving any enhancements, if you catch my drift (cough money cough).
The Outer Worlds is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC on 25 October 2019. In the meantime, head on over here for everything you need to know about the upcoming game, or check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujfolWOLD1I&w=560&h=315]


The Infinix HOT 20 Series Smartphones Are Coming To Malaysia Next Month

Following their recent smartphone launch, Infinix has set its sights on a trendier lifestyle vibe and has announced the launch of a new series. Infinix will be bringing its Infinix HOT 20 Series to the Malaysian community on 3 November 2022. Infinix HOT 20 is the brand’s latest smartphone model in the HOT series lineup.
The Infinix HOT 20 features a 6.82-inch Punch Hole Fluid Immersive Display with a 50MP Super Nightscape with f/1.6 Aperture camera unit, giving users the thrill of clear night photography skills. Besides that, the Infinix HOT 20 is also equipped with the Upgraded Version MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, enabling a smoother and seamless performance. The Infinix HOT 20 is also powered with 11GB RAM+128GB ROM Large Storage, which allows users to enjoy more space to store large files, games and apps.
Apart from that, Infinix will also be introducing another device within the HOT series, the Infinix HOT 20i. It is equipped with a 6.6-inch High-Bright Sunlight Readable Display along with its trendy and slim phone design, providing comfortable viewing. The Infinix HOT 20i also includes a 5000mAh large battery with Power Marathon Technology for prolonged uninterrupted usage, and a 13MP with f/1.8 Wide Aperture Triple Rear camera unit for instant memory capturing.

Richard Tang, Country Director for Infinix Malaysia, said:
“At Infinix, we strive to innovate and create products to inspire youths in having access to the digital lifestyle without the need to break their pockets. With the Infinix HOT 20 series, we are set to deliver a fast and fun user experience in line with the trendy lifestyles of the young users in Malaysia.”
More information on these stylish smartphone devices will be made available soon so stay tuned to Infinix Malaysia’s Official Facebook page, Instagram page, YouTube channel, Twitter page and website.


Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur Fight Crime In New Animated Series Clip

Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur animated series was originally announced all the way back in 2019, but now we’ve finally gotten our first look at a clip revealed out of San Diego Comic-Con 2022.
The newly-revealed clip depicts Lunella Lafayette AKA Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, as well as a friend, out trying (and failing) to stop a crime.
Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur follows 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette (aka Moon Girl) and her 10-ton T-Rex, Devil Dinosaur, as they protect New York City’s Lower East Side from danger. Based on Marvel’s hit comic books, the highly-anticipated Disney Branded Television animated series is slated to premiere in 2023 on Disney Channel and Disney+
The cast members are as follows:

Diamond White – Lunella Lafayette AKA Moon Girl.
Fred Tatasciore – Devil Dinosaur.
Alfre Woodard – Mimi, Lunella’s grandmother.
Libe Barer – Casey, Lunella’s best friend and manager.
Sasheer Zamata – Adria, Lunella’s mom.
Jermaine Fowler – James Jr., Lunella’s dad.
Gary Anthony Williams – Pops, Lunella’s grandfather.
Laurence Fishburne – The Beyonder, who is described as “a curious and mischievous trickster”.

According to ET Online, the series wll also feature a bunch of guest stars, including Alison Brie, Andy Cohen, Daveed Diggs, Maya Hawke, Jennifer Hudson, Method Man, Cobi Smulders, Wesley Snipes, Omid Abtahi, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Michael Cimino, Indya Moore, Craig Robinson, Gideon Adlon, Pamela Adlon, Anna Akana, Ian Alexander, May Calamawy, Wilson Cruz, Asia Kate Dillon, Luis Guzman, astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, Josh Keaton, June Diane Raphael, Paul Scheer and Tajinae Turner.

Marvel’s Moon Girl And Devil Dinosaur will premiere on Disney+ sometime in 2023.
Check out the clip below:


This Gorgeous Final Fantasy VI Masterline Terra Figure Will Ultima Your Bank Account To Oblivion

Square Enix just announced a doozy in its company figure-making and toy-crafting line.
The company will be releasing a new Square Enix Masterline Final Fantasy VI 1/6 scale figure of main heroine Terra riding her Magitek Armor at the start of the game. The figure comes with a cute Moogle figure too.
This ensemble is courtesy of Prime1Studio, a renowned figure production group that has quite a detailed portfolio. If it’s anything like Square Enix’s previous Masterline figures, it will cost you US$3,399 or more. It’s expensive, yes, but it will improve your geek cred over 9,999.Â Check out the 1/6 figure in all of its Esper-laced glory below.


Fallout Shelter Gets A Sequel With PVP, But There’s A Catch

Bethesda is slated to release a sequel to the popular free-to-play simulation title Fallout Shelter,Â but there’s a twist: it’s only available in China.
FalloutÂ YouTuber JuiceHead has published a video covering most of the details as well as some early access footage of Fallout Shelter Online. The game takes the essence of the original game and bolts on multiplayer features, such as online battles and joining guilds. A world map is also available, giving you the opportunity to explore beyond the shelter, expanding beyond the base-building mechanics.
Here is JuiceHead’s video on the topic.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRP2gnviaG0]
Bethesda plans for its release exclusively on China grounds through Weibo’s games distribution service. According to Pete Hines, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Comms at Bethesda, it’s a Chinese developed game made for its own audience.

It’s developed in China, for China
â€” Pete Hines (@DCDeacon) August 16, 2018
With that said, however, it’s suspicious to see marketing materials in English for a game exclusively for the Chinese territory.
Maybe we’ll be seeing an international release soon. Who knows what they might announce at E3.


Demon Slayer Season 3 Premiere Is Coming To Malaysia’s TGV Cinemas (Update)

Updated on 16 February 2023:
Tickets are now on sale for the Demon Slayer Season 3 one-hour special episode general screenings, with dates from 2 March 2023 to 5 March 2023. You can book now by heading over here.

Nani Ga Tanoshi?
TICKETS NOW ON SALE for #DemonSlayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba #SwordsmithVillageArc. ?? https://t.co/uMdbfRb50Y
*Kindly note that the showtimes for each location will be reflected on the website and app gradually.#DemonSlayeratTGV #Anime #AnimeMovie #AnimeatTGV pic.twitter.com/UuGtwcSEiX
— TGV Cinemas ?? (@TGVCinemas) February 15, 2023

Updated on 10 February 2023:
Tickets are now on sale for the Demon Slayer Season 3 one-hour special episode fan screenings, which will be happening on 25 February 2023. You can book now by heading over here.
They are available at the following locations:

TGV Sunway Pyramid
TGV Suria KLCC
TGV Central i-City
TGV 1st Avenue
TGV Kinta City
TGV Tebrau City

TGV Cinemas also confirmed that general screening tickets will be announced at a later date.

Mizu no kokyu ichi no kata!!!#DemonSlayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba #SwordsmithVillage Arc FAN SCREENING tickets is ON SALE NOW! ?? https://t.co/y1G0xEQTRI#DemonSlayeratTGV #Anime #AnimeMovie #AnimeatTGV pic.twitter.com/zmVMRRGA8U
— TGV Cinemas ?? (@TGVCinemas) February 10, 2023

Updated on 9 February 2023:
According to a new post by TGV Cinemas, tickets for the Demon Slayer Season 3 one-hour special episode screening will be available starting tomorrow (10 February 2023).
However, no other details have been revealed as of yet.

Yatta!!! #DemonSlayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba #SwordsmithVillage Arc tickets are going on sale TOMORROW. Stay tuned!?#DemonSlayeratTGV #Anime #AnimeMovie #AnimeatTGV pic.twitter.com/mxB5f1VQpQ
— TGV Cinemas ?? (@TGVCinemas) February 9, 2023

Malaysian cinema chain TGV Cinemas has announced that the one-hour special first episode of the upcoming Demon Slayer Season 3 AKA Kimetsu No Yaiba Season 3 AKA the Demon Slayer Swordsmith Village Arc or Kimetsu No Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc will be showing in Malaysia.
This is part of the “World Tour Screening”, which will also take place in more than 418 theatres in Japan and 80 countries starting from 3 February 2022, where the 10th and 11th episodes of Season 2 and the first episode of the upcoming Season 3 will be screened.
However, TGV Cinemas has not revealed the premiere dates, showings or locations for the Demon Slayer Season 3 one-hour special. In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for the latest updates.
The upcoming season will adapt the Swordsmith Village Arc from the manga, which ran from chapters 98 to 127.
The synopsis reads:
For the first time in over 100 years, the upper ranks of Muzan Kibutsuji’s Twelve Kizuki are not full. Angered, Muzan dispatches the survivors on another mission. Elsewhere, Tanjiro journeys to a village of swordsmiths and has to explain how his sword was so badly damaged to Haganezuka, the smith who made it. While Tanjiro waits for his sword to be repaired, enemies close in…
Demon Slayer Seasons 1 and 2, as well as the Mugen Train movie, are now streaming on Netflix. In the meantime, you can also check out my review of the Demon Slayer Kimetsu No Yaiba The Hinokami Chronicles video game by heading over here.


WRC 10 Adds New Historical Content In A Free Update

NACON and KT Racing have announced a second free update to WRC 10, the official FIA World Rally Championship video game, for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Steam PC and Epic Games Store. Available today on all platforms, this update brings new content, including a new car and new rallies.
The Acropolis Rally: An Icon Of The Championship Returns
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This new free update adds one of the most iconic rallies in WRC: the Acropolis Rally. With winding and dusty mountain roads, sometimes on cliff sides, the Greek Rally is known to be particularly challenging for drivers. Returning to the official WRC calendar in 2021 after a 7-year absence, it was won by Kalle RovanperÃ¤ for his 2nd victory of the season! Already present in WRC 10 since the launch through a historical event, the update brings 3 special stages in 2021 version to the experience and also joins the game’s Career mode.
Five New Anniversary Events
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As an anniversary edition of the championship, WRC 10 has already offered a large number of historical and key events of the championship since 1973. After the 3 historical events added in October, five new events are now available in WRC 10! Famous driver and co-driver duos will compete in their cars of the time:

– Rally Argentina in 1994 with Didier Auriol and Bernard Occelli in their Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD,
– Rally Argentina in 2004 with Carlos Sainz and Marc MartÃ in their Citroen Xsara WRC,
– Rally Germany in 2002 with SÃ©bastien Loeb and Daniel Elena in their CitroÃ«n Xsara WRC,
– the Safari Rally in Kenya in 2000 with Richard Burns and Robert Reid in their Subaru Impreza S5 WRC ’99,
– Rally Mexico in 2016 with Jari-Matti Latvala and Miikka Anttila in their Volkswagen Polo R WRC.

â€œClubâ€ Mode Gets More Realistic
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In â€œClubâ€ Mode, which allows players to create their own online events and championships, a realistic mode is now available to add an extra layer of difficulty. This mode allows you to carry over the damage inflicted on the vehicle to the next stage, to place one or more service parks (and to impose a mandatory passage to a service park in order to equip the car with appropriate tyres when the road surface changes between two stages), and finally, the stages are played in one shot and cannot be replayed.
WRC 10 is now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Steam PC and Epic Games Store, and will be launched on Nintendo Switch at a later date.
[videopress yfgHHlwQ]


Here Are The List Of Games You Can Play During The Xbox Summer Game Fest Demo Event

Xbox is hosting a Summer Game Fest Demo event this year, where anyone who has an Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S can play over 40 demos of upcoming and unreleased games for an entire week.
You can start playing the following demos from 15th June to 21st June (PST). After that, the demos are gone forever and you’ll have to wait until the game are out and available for purchasing.
Sable

A pretty cel-shaded adventure game about a girl and her sand glider as she goes through a rite of passage in a vast desert sci-fi-laden world.
Lake

An adventure game that takes place in 1986 where you play a woman who is taking a break from city life for two weeks in her hometown.
The Riftbreaker

A base-building survival action RPG mash-up where you play a scientist/commando who has to pilot a mecha to survive.
Echo Generation

A voxel turn-based adventure game set in the summer of 1993. Oh, and your heroes take control of some mechas for some reason.
Tunic

An isometric action-adventure game in the veins of The Legend of Zelda. Except you play as a cute warrior fox and all the graphics are sharp, pointy, and distinctive polygonal shapes. We’ve played this game before; it’s all kinds of charming and we cannot wait for the full game.


XDefiant Receives Summer 2023 Release Window & Another Open Beta

During this year’s Ubisoft Forward, it was announced that XDefiant is expected to drop this summer but before that, they’ll be holding one more Beta to stress test the servers and polish out any kinks they might still have lingering from April’s Beta.
The presentation opened with XDefiant’s lead, Mark Rubin sharing his gratitude towards everyone who participated in the Closed Beta back in April. During this he hinted that XDefiant will be launching this Summer but no release date has been confirmed yet, so stay tuned for that.

Open Beta
It was after this, that Rubin announced that they will be holding an Open Beta that anyone can participate in on Xbox Series X | S, PS5 and PC. I think it’s safe to say that they’re taking a page out of Activision Blizzard’s book when dealing with the Diablo 4 Open Beta as they completely neglected all marketing and made the beta focused around game and server performance.
The Open Beta will be from 21–23 June, with times/time zones still to be confirmed.

Launch Content
Following this, Rubin gave us a brief description on what to expect on launch. XDefiant will have a 6-Week Pre-Season with a lot of the content that was included in the previous beta. This includes:

5 Factions (1 Unlockable)
14 Maps (10 Arenas, 4 Progression)
5 Modes (3 Arenas, 2 Progression)
24 Weapons (44 Attachments each)

Now that’s quite a bit of content for the first 6 weeks. Completionists are definitely going to have their hands full.
If you’ve played the previous Beta then you’ll already be familiar with this. So what’s beyond the 6-Week Pre-Season? Well, Rubin teased a little bit about what’s to come in Year 1. We can expect:

4 New Factions
12 New Maps (1 per month)
12 New Weapons (1 per month)

Unfortunately, that was all that Rubin had to say in this presentation but as we close in on Summer and the game’s release, we will get to hear more about what to expect over this next year. Until then be sure to stay tuned.


Destiny 2 Makers Have History Of Workplace Toxicity; Aims To Fix It

File Bungie under the “toxic workplace video game company” section alongside Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Riot Games, and many others.
IGN recently published a massive report on the Destiny/Destiny 2/OG Halo developers’ flawed workplace culture, crunch, and hiring practices. The report included dozens of stories from former and current employees describing the poisonous company culture and its slow progress of moving towards improving it.
The reports stem from the company’s narrative team, which has faced 60 to 100 hour work weeks, with managers and team leaders reportedly berating employees on a daily basis. This is despite Bungie stating in interviews and on the record that it has made significant progress in eliminating crunch throughout its company culture like delaying content.
Bungie CEO Pete Parsons state that the company is trying its best for a secure and workplace-friendly future:
“As CEO, it is my job to factor both the past and the future and be accountable for all of it, here and now. Speaking with the team at Bungie, reading the stories, and seeing both known and newly surfaced accounts, it is clear we still have work ahead of us.
I am committed to it. We are not yet the studio we have the potential to become, but we are on our way. And we will not rest or slow these efforts because we recognize that the journey of inclusivity, diversity, and equity is, in itself, the destination we all strive towards. This is critical to achieving our vision and fulfilling the potential of the welcoming, equitable home of creative and technical excellence Bungie should be.”

No company is perfect. But to have culture like this go unchecked for years is not a good sign for retaining your most-talented and passionate workers. Hopefully Bungie’s leads take this step forward and prove it in the next few months or even year.


Stellan Skarsgard Might Be Joining The Rogue One Spinoff Series

Stellan Skarsgard might be joining the cast of the upcoming Disney Plus Rogue One spin-off, Variety reports.
Skarsgard, who you might’ve seen in the first two Thor movies or HBO’s Chernobyl, and actor Kyle Soller are currently “still in final negotiations for their roles”, with little else beyond that. My bet is that Skarsgard is playing some Imperial figure, but who knows?
The still-untitled series focuses on Rogue One‘s Cassian Andor and his droid partner K-2SO in the earlier days of the Rebellion. We’ve no idea what it looks like yet, but it’s described as a “rousing spy thriller“, with Rogue One co-writer Tony Gilroy involved. The show will supposedly premiere in 2021, but as Variety notes, the COVID-19 pandemic could have disrupted those plans.
In the meantime, we can always rewatch Rogue One, which despite its flaws remains the best of the new Star Wars movies to me. Meanwhile, Skarsgard will be appearing in another big sci-fi title, Dune, as Baron Harkonnen when it arrives on 18 December.


New Xbox Game Pass Titles For May Include Loot River, Trek To Yomi, & More

Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass have a slew of new titles for this May 2022. Hope you like a ton of indie titles because that’s what you’re flooded with.
Speaking of flood, Loot River is one such game, out right now for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. We had a blast with the roguelike Tetris-esque block-shifting game; check out our review to find out why.
Here are the rest of the games coming out for the subscription service:
5 May

Trek To Yomi – Available on day one with Game Pass: Trek to Yomi is a cinematic action adventure game that follows an enthralling story of Hiroki during his fall against the forces of evil. Experience his heroic return to make good on his failed promise to save the people he sore to protect.
Citizen Sleeper – Live the life of an escaped worker, washed-up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Inspired by the flexibility and freedom of tabletop RPGs, explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future.
10 May

Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Anniversary Edition – On Jabberwock Island, you and your classmates were ready for fun in the sun until Monokuma returned! Trapped in a dangerous situation, you must survive through the class trials. Your only hope rests in solving the island’s mysteries. Plus, Ultimate members can play with native touch controls with cloud gaming on day one, no controller needed!
Eiyuden Chronicle Rising – Strengthen your bonds with the launch of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising on Xbox Game Pass. Experience the prewar tales of various characters who will eventually become your companions in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the top funded Kickstarter game of 2020 and coming to Game Pass on day one in 2023.
This War of Mine: Final Cut – In This War of Mine: Final Cut, remastered for Xbox Series X|S, you play a group of civilians trying to survive in a besieged city; struggling with lack of necessities and constant danger from snipers and hostiles. It’s an experience of war seen from an entirely new angle.
15 May
NHL 22 – Experience breakthrough hockey with Game Pass Ultimate and EA Play! NHL 22 is coming soon to The Play List, so all members can hit the ice. Members also get NHL 22 rewards, including World of Chel gear sets, and more.


Goat Of Duty Goes Free (Temporarily) To Encourage #StayAtHome Behaviour

To keep us entertained and to encourage us to stay at home in these Covid-19 times, the developer and publisher of Goat of Duty are making the game free for a while. You have now till April 1 (in Malaysian time) to grab it and keep it forever.
“As an Italian developer and a Spanish publisher ourselves, we are aware of how this situation can escalate in every part of the world,” reads their Steam post. “That’s why to keep you all entertained during these tumultuous times, we are joining with Steam to offer Goat of Duty for free during the following two weeks, between March 17th and March 31st.”

Despite the name, Goat of Duty is less Call of Duty with goats and more of an arena shooter. I have an aversion to exploding animals, but the game does look like fun. Just remember that you won’t get trading card drops if you get the game via this free offer.
If you end up liking the game, you can also participate in a survey to let the devs know what you want to see in Goat of Duty.


KKP Best Of 2020: Game #22

For more Best of 2020 stuff, head here.
#22: Trials of Mana (PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch)

Trials of Mana (2020) is a textbook example of a wemake remake done right, except within the constraints of a budget. Unlike another Square Enix remake that was highlighted by us previously, the folks at Xeen do not have that same luxury of making it more epic than the sum of its parts.
Admittedly they botched the cutscenes and storytelling – the English dub range from passable to terrible, with the exception of Faerie who is actually doing a damn good job. The key cutscenes look cheap and its tale isn’t a huge improvement over the original. And why does every woman in the game look like they belong in a Dead or Alive volleyball title? Thankfully, Xeen focused on what mattered: making a 3D action-adventure hack-and-slash that balances between simple and complex.
The class system is more flexible than before, which each of the six characters being able to switch between dark and light type classes instead of getting locked with what was picked. Most of the boss battles from the original are more realized and feel like actual fights than RPG leave-it-to-chance-and-stats affairs. The jump and dodge abilities do help with widening your offensive and defensive repertoire. The ring menu system and UI get a 2020 overhaul that makes it a breeze to switch between spells and curatives, as well as upgrading your band of adventurers.
Let’s also not forget the amazing remastered score from the original game’s composer Hiroki Kikuta, who basically just used the appropriate instruments to modernize what the synths were trying to replicate back then. Honestly, I got goosebumps at hearing this version of the iconic theme here.

True, it does get easy the more you get accustomed to the controls, the character-switching, and the combat engine. And the bonus endgame dungeon gets way too repetitive and wears out its welcome. But all things considered, Square Enix and Xeen made the Mana series relevant and enjoyable again for both a new breed of JRPG fans and old-school SNES gamers who waited 20+ years for a faithful remake of an underrated classic. We call that a critical hit two-fer that paid off big time.


World Of Tanks Mars Update Adds New Free-For-All Sci-Fi Brawl

World of Tanks is launching an interstellar showdown pitting players in a fierce and unrestricted Martian melee. From 11 May to 22 May 2023, tankers can loot the mysterious surface of Mars in a specially designed research vehicle and engage in epic combat.
With a new set of abilities and power-ups, players will have the chance to truly flex their off-world combat skills and take control of the alien-made “Object” in the centre of the map, hit the opponents with Impulse Gun shots, or just ram them to oblivion, and take advantage of buffs that can give a serious edge in the competition.
The mysterious alien “Object” that players must scan awaits in the centre of the map: an old crater with a peculiar terrain. Along with the iconic Martian red dust, there are many hazards. Deep chasms, complex rock formations and several perilous pools of highly corrosive acid. The edges of the area offer breathtaking views, so it’s easy to lose concentration and fall off the cliffs.
To explore the planet, tankers will have access to their own Mars Rover, an innovative six-wheeled research vehicle that’s built to traverse the perilous terrain of Mars. Armed with advanced Impulse Gun technology, players will be able to zap their opponents with ease. And even if a rover gets destroyed, it will be respawned and will rejoin the battle.
But it’s not just about the combat – the event is scored with specially recorded matching soundtracks that will take the cosmic gaming experience to the next level. And as players progress through the competition, they will have the chance to earn days of WoT Premium Account, bonds, new equipment, and a ton of new Mars-themed customizations.
So, gear up and get ready to blast off to the red planet for an interstellar free-for-all like no other. The competition is fierce, the terrain is treacherous, and the rewards are out of this world.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


We’re Getting A Scaled-Down Version Of Borderlands 3’s Maliwan Takedown

If you want a four-player tailored challenge in Borderlands 3, the Takedown at Maliwan Blacksite raid will sate your lust. It features tougher enemies and mobs, no respawns save for the start and a midway checkpoint, and some challenging boss fights that require some teamwork and elemental prep.
For those who rather not be carried by more savvy players, Gearbox will be releasing a scaled-down version of the raid. While you still need to be level 50, at least you can attempt to solo it without being obliterated, or at least tackle it with a smaller party. The rewards are still the same depending on the Mayhem mode you’re playing on, so this should be a boon for many.
This limited-time update will be active from 16th January all the way to 30th January, so technically this is the company’s way of treating its Chinese players for their New Year’s celebration. This hotfix will also amend the following:

Addresses a report about The Arbalest of Discipline spawning with just shields.
Lowers the health on Anointed Enforcer.
Updated FL4K’s Furious Attack so that it applies bonuses to pet damage properly

Check out the full patch notes here.


Secret Invasion Episode 2 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The second episode of Secret Invasion is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. I’ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you haven’t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, now’s your chance to stop reading.
Check out my spoiler-free review of Secret Invasion here. The first season will consist of six episodes. Check out my breakdown of Secret Invasion Episode 1 here.
The synopsis reads:
“In Marvel Studios’ new series ‘Secret Invasion,’ set in the present day MCU, Nick Fury learns of a clandestine invasion of Earth by a faction of shapeshifting Skrulls. Fury joins his allies, including Everett Ross, Maria Hill and the Skrull Talos, who has made a life for himself on Earth. Together they race against time to thwart an imminent Skrull invasion and save humanity.”
Check out my breakdown of She-Hulk Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 here, and Episode 9 here.
Check out my breakdown of Ms. Marvel Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 here.
Also, check out my breakdowns of Moon Knight Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 here.
You can check out my previous breakdowns of Hawkeye Episodes 1 and 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here and Episode 5. and Episode 6 here.
In addition, you can check out my previous breakdowns of Marvel’s What If? Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9 here.
If you haven’t, you can check out my previous breakdowns and easter egg articles for WandaVision Episode 1 and 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9.
For The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns for Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns of Loki episodes, check out Episode 1 here, Episode 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here, Episode 5 here and Episode 6 here.

Nick Fury First Met Gravik In 1997, Two Years After The Events Of 2019’s Captain Marvel, And He Promised To Find The Skrulls A New Home If They “Worked To Keep Earth Safe”

Gravik’s parents died fighting against the Kree. Nick Fury first met a younger Gravik in 1997, two years after the events of 2019’s Captain Marvel.
Nick Fury made a promise to the Skrull refugees that if they worked to keep Earth safe, Carol Danvers and himself would find them a new home. However, we know how that worked out in the present. Nick Fury and Carol Danvers never did find the Skrulls a new home, and it looks like Nick Fury might have used the Skrulls for his own ends as spies back then.
Nick Fury broke his promise, that’s probably Gravik wants payback.
Talos Reveals How Skrullos Was Destroyed And That There Could Be Millions Of Skrulls On Earth Right Now

Talos revealed that the Skrulls had to leave their home planet Skrullos because they were defeated by the Kree.
He also revealed that any Skrull that didn’t go to Emperor Drogge’s colony, went to Earth instead, because he called them after Nick Furt went to S.A.B.E.R. That means that there could potentially be millions of Skrulls on Earth.
He also confirms that Nick Fury used the Skrulls as spies years ago.
The Skrull Council

When Gravik goes to the Skull Counciil meeting, we meet the members, who includes the UK Prime Minister Pamela Lawton, the NATO Secretary-General, a news reporter from earlier in the episode, and others.
Gravik’s Motivations And He Has A Plan Against The Avengers

What we speculated before was true, Gravik wants to take the Earth because Nick Fury broke his promise and abandoned them.
When Sergio, another member of the Skrull Council, asks what would happen if the Avengers return, he implies that he has plans to counter the Avengers if they return.
Gravik gets promoted to Skrull General of the Skrull Council.
Gravik Is Also Planning Something Called The Harvest

Pagon mentions something called the Harvest, which Gravik is planning but it’s something we still don’t know anything about.
Nick Fury Doesn’t Want The Avengers Involved Because He Doesn’t Want The Skrulls To Replace Or Impersonate Them

While talking to Rhodey, Nick Fury says he doesn’t want the Avengers involved because he doesn’t want the Avengers to be replaced or impersonated by Skrulls.
In the comics, the Skrulls infiltrated the Avengers first.
The Harvest Involves Getting DNA To Do Something With Them, Maybe To Create Super Skrulls

G’iah continues to investigate the Harvest, and she finds the DNA of various sources being harvested, including from Groot from the Guardians Of The Galaxy, a Frost Beast from Jotunheim (one of the nine realms in Norse mythology and related to Thor), and from Cull Obsidian, one of the Black Order of Thanos who first appeared in 2018’s Avengers Infinity War (he’s the big guy who fought Spider-Man, Iron Man and Doctor Strange at the beginning of the movie).
Extremis is also mentioned, the same nanotechnology featured in 2013’s Iron Man 3. It was used by AIM and Aldrich Killian to make super soldiers.

Perhaps this is what Gravik has in mind to counter the Avengers, by using DNA from various super beings and giving them to Skrulls, thus creating Super Skrulls that are capable of fighting the Avengers.
In the comics, the first Super Skrull was a Skrull named K’lrt, who was experimented on by Skrull scientists and given the powers of the Fantastic Four. During the comic book version of Secret Invasion, there were many more Super Skrulls capable of replicating more diverse powers.

A scene later with Sonya interrogating the Skrulls reveals that the Harvest involves a machine that will make Skrulls stronger.
Nick Fury’s Wife, Priscilla, Is A Skrull

The episode ends with Nick Fury meeting a mysterious woman and kissing her. He has a ring, which means that they must be married. In the credits, her name is simply listed as Priscilla and she is played by actress Charlayne Woodard.
But the most surprising thing about her is that… she’s a Skrull!
We’ll learn more about her in the coming episodes.
Only four episodes left, until the next one, excelsior!


Overwatch League: Team Paris Unveils Official (and uninspiring) Name

After weeks of guesswork and speculation, we finally have Team Paris’ official Overwatch League name – and going along with the uninspiring, mellowed tones opted by new franchises such as Atlanta Reign and Toronto Defiant, Team Paris went for ‘Eternal’.
Yes. Paris Eternal.

More than a skin, these colors will unite us during the #OWL2019 ðŸ’ª pic.twitter.com/nwoa0iOpxT
â€” Paris Eternal (@ParisEternal) November 8, 2018
Not only were we lamenting on the missed opportunities to add some zazz to their branding, guess what? The real ‘Eternal City’ isn’t Paris – It’s Rome.
They also revealed their official logo which fortunately, carries more spunk than ‘Eternal’ would ever muster. They’ve opted for France’s national animal, the Gallic Rooster.
A quick Google-fu explains: The symbol of the rooster decorated French flags during the Revolution. It is the symbol of the French people because of the play on words of the LatinÂ gallusÂ meaning Gaul andÂ gallusmeaning coq, or rooster.
Those familiar with football would instantly recognize the symbol donning the jerseys of 2018 World Cup winners, France. The rooster was also chosen as the official mascot for the 1998 World Cup. Surely you remember Footix, right?

Le Coq Sportif is a French athletic apparel brand and also sports a rooster on its logo. So the fowl choice by Paris Eternal was spot on. But man. They totally missed on the opportunity to call themselves ‘Le Coq’ which means ‘The Roosters’.
The Overwatch League Season 2 kicks off next February. Eight new franchises joins in on the fray, and so far, we only know three of them – Atlanta, Toronto and Paris. So stay tuned to Kakuchopurei in the upcoming weeks as keep you updated.


This Gold-Plated PS5 Looks Glorious & Expensive

TheÂ PlayStation 5 is due to release later this year during Holiday 2020. While Sony has yet to announce any other official colour schemes beyond the standard white, a UK-based company is offering Golden and Platinum PS5s.
Truly Exquisite is selling the PS5, as well as the accompanying wireless headset and DualSense controller, with a glorious-looking golden plating. Other options include Platinum and Rose Gold. You can “register your interest” on the official website now.
However, the Golden PS5 will apparently be custom made, and most likely won’t be available until after the console launches sometime in Holiday 2020, which means that this won’t be available at launch.
No price for the Golden PS5 has been revealed as of yet, but don’t expect it to be cheap. Feast your eyes on the Golden PS5 below:

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


Transformers Canon Collab Rolls Out Optimus Prime Camera

Transformers is collaborating with Canon for a new Optimus Prime-themed camera. It’s basically a mirrorless Canon EOS R5 camera with an Optimus Prime theme.
The accessories for the Transformers x Canon Optimus Prime R5 includes a mini Canon EOS R5 for Optimus to hold as well as the legendary Matrix. It is priced at US$169.99 (or roughly RM756.97 and is slated for a February 2023 release. You can pre-order it now on the official website.
The product description reads:

“In the Transformers’ annual collaboration project, This figure transforms into a robot from the mirrorless camera Canon EOS R5. The camera state EOS R5 mode is reproduced at 80% scale of the actual camera, and the camera body and lens can be removed like the actual camera. The Optimus Prime R5 state has a symbolic design with a lens on the chest. The figure is also holding the EOS R5 handheld!”

Product Features

4.33 x 6.69 x 7.87 inches (11cm x 17cm x 20 cm)
Made of plastic
Canon & Takara Tomy collaboration
Transforms from camera to robot
Instructions may or may not include English translation

Box Contents

Optimus Prime body
R5/RF lens
Matrix
EOS R5 Handheld Camera
Lens shield
Instruction manual


Digimon World Next Order Launches In February 2023 For PC & Switch

Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia is pleased to announce that Digimon World: Next Order will be launching on the Nintendo Switch™ and STEAM® on 22 February 2023.
Bonus content available for buyers of the game have also been revealed, alongside two new videos – a teaser trailer and a message from the game’s producer.

The world evolves according to your bonds with your Digimon. This Training RPG game utilises the gameplay system of the Digimon World series, allowing players to train their Digimon—each with their own personalities and lifespans—and journey across the Digital World while battling various wild Digimon.
Featuring more than 230 Digimon in total, the game also lets players raise two Digimon partners at the same time.
A purchase of the game will provide players with three bonus items that will help them on their journey:

Omegamon Ult. Digivolution Item: Summaesquetrine
Imperialdramon PM Ult. Digivolution Item: Sacrimperine
Parameter Boost Set: HP Chip Mini x2, MP Chip Mini x2, Strength Chip Mini x2, Stamina Chip Mini x2, Speed Chip Mini x2, Wisdom Chip Mini x2

Check out the trailer below:


The Top Video Game Music For Your Workout Sessions

Did you know that music accounts for a huge percentage in your video game experience? I mean, imagine fighting the dragons in Skyrim without a piece of background music, it’s awkward and wouldn’t deliver the same goosebump-inducing moment.
So it’s understandable that many of the sounds and music in video games have a certain tale behind each beat. Well, I’ve started the topic because recently I’ve begun running.
Yeah, as in running every evening at the park, and not running from my responsibilities. Inspired by the great, supportive people down at NewWaves.rc, I’ve finally gotten the spark to rack up the miles. You can check their Insta page here, and you’re always welcomed to join us.
However, it’s usually a drag past the 3km mark, so I definitely need something to keep me occupied and boost my spirits for that extended run periods, and as a gamer, I’d like to spice up my runs with tunes I find awesome, upbeat, and pushing me to the limits.
Think of these songs as the Rocky Theme of the gaming world.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhlPAj38rHc]
In no particular order, here we go!
Dragonborn (Skyrim)
Composer: Jeremy Soule
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsnRQJxanVM]
Simply listening to this song gives me goosebumps and inspires me to do something legendary. Something like slaying a dragon in Skyrim, or hitting that goal I’ve set for so long. This piece was composed by none other than Jeremy Soule, the legendary soul behind a piece of legendary music. A quick tangent: our Mr Toffee wrote an article about him and his discography.
Another great song from this game I would listen to is Far Horizons, a calm and idyllic tune reminiscent of a stressful walk in the verdant forests, but that’s usually during the cooldown phase of my workout.
Run Boy Run (Dying Light Trailer)
Composer: Woodkid
I know, I know, this isn’t a song from a video game. But hear me out, this song fits well when you’re running. Just watch the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IM3YE0BZuo]
This is one of my favourite songs to run with. I easily hit further runs with this one. I would simply imagine zombies and Volatiles chasing me, and I’ll run faster and without stopping.
I just need to work on my free-running, and then we’re all set.
Years Of Training (Horizon Zero Dawn)
Composer: The Flight
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuSrbJ03p2g]
Watch that scene above, and tell me how is that song not a great training song. I mean, the name says all. This is one of the scenes that surely motivates me to do something productive, and surely it’s a great addition to my run playlist.
The song hits a crescendo at the 1:35-minute mark when Aloy grows up and completes her training, and the music goes all “Yeah you can do it!” on me.
It gets me every time.
You Are The Jumpmaster (Apex Legends)
Composer: Stephen Barton
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aY7QAW_aE2Y]
This piece of music is from the recently released yet popular battle royale from Respawn Entertainment, Apex Legends.
I’d like to think this one as a slow buildup to my sprint, with the music starting with a grandiose theme and then returns to a manageable pace as players gather up in the dropship. Right at the 1:21 mark, that’s the cue for players to drop onto the Apex Arena, and that’s the cue for me to sprint and exhaust myself.
The chorus of the song is powerful. It channels the energy of the drop phase of the gameplay into that extra literal mile while fuelling my imagination of me dropping from the ship, ready to scrounge for loot.
I can only imagine what people think of me while I act out that fantasy. I don’t mind, I am the Runmaster.
Battle Themes (Final Fantasy Series)
Composer: Nobuo Uematsu
Okay, since there are one too many Final Fantasies and battle themes, I’ll just lay out a few and pick up a personal best.
I think the Final Fantasy VIII Laguna Battle Theme is a great song with a nice, consistent upbeat pace for a workout.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jho-peCAKs]
The song features in the dream sequences in the game. Kinda nice if you ask me.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlH15l0m7eI]
The Final Fantasy VII battle song makes a strong point here as well.
Another song I’d like to point out is FFXIV‘s Behemoth Battle Theme. This song was also featured in Monster Hunter World in the Behemoth raid quest during the MHW x FF crossover event.
This song brings back good ol’ memories of carting after the purple monster casts Ecliptic Meteor. Also, it is perfect to boost your willpower during those sweaty workouts.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlKjo5oi_HU]
Behemoth surely taketh with his eyes.
Halo 2 Theme Song (Halo 2)
Composer: Michael Salvatori, Martin O’Donnell
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_cwHnQ7Xsg]
The guitar shreds will pump up your reps, surely, I can’t be wrong about that. This song is brought by the same person who arranged the epic orchestra of the Destiny series, Michael Salvatori.
This song puts yourself in the shoes of the Spartan, Master Chief, the strong, stoic protagonist we’ve come to love. So you can push a few reps more when the tune starts blasting in.
Guile’s Theme (Street Fighter Series)
Composer: Yoko Shimomura
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGw8DWctAts]
The Japanese were somehow able to create a more American song than the Americans. This is one of the greatest themes in a fighting game. This song can fit perfectly well to your punching bag workouts. It’s the epitome of a fighter song, gets your blood and adrenaline pumping and entices you to keep landing blow after blow to the punching bag.
Well, our writer, Kenn decided to disagree on this choice and suggested his pick, which is, umm, Ken’s Theme.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t8B3Sx8X-0]
Surely, no bias was involved here.
But in all seriousness, Ken’s (Kenn?) theme is also a great song for working those muscles while feeling all alpha at the gym.
Silent Siren (Devil May Cry 5)
Composer: Hiromitsu Maeba
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMptcb-UMa8]
This EDM-centric, smokin’ sexy song is gonna keep your body hot and ready to push further. Imagine battling a boss, which turns out to be your stamina level, and beating it and coming on top, finally being better than your previous self.
Yeah, I understand that the previous line doesn’t make sense, much like me, a DMC virgin, to DMC5‘s story.
Megaman X6 Themes (Megaman X6)
Composer: Naoto Tanaka
Ready?
I’d like to point out the songs from Megaman X6 since it’s the hardest game in the franchise, in my opinion, and it has the widest range of top-notch workout tunes.
Take Infinity Mijinion’s Theme, for example, it has the vibe of a ’90s rock concert, and it sounds quite like The Final Countdown.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWWxFFjQHKQ]
Or Blaze Heatnix’ stage theme, the ultimate shred song to shred off those weights, and look shredded.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctA999T5HZM]
Jin Kazama’s Theme (Tekken 3)
Composer: Keiichi Okabe
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6awV2p758VI]
Another dope song from a Japanese fighting game. They do have a knack on composing upbeat songs, don’t they?
You can use this during cardio workouts, or the punching bag workouts, the song works wondrously well with those types of workouts.
This is truly a great song, partly because of this.
Uncharted Theme (Uncharted Series)
Composer: Greg Edmonson (Uncharted 1-3), Henry Jackman (Uncharted 4)
The Uncharted series is one of the best series, topped off with a magnificent soundtrack. The main theme welcomes you before you start your journey. You can use this to begin your workout, starting small then turning up the dial.
As they say, Sic Parvis Magna, or Greatness From Small Beginnings.
The first 3 Uncharted themes had a very upbeat and bright tone about it.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgcq_ZtqbO0]
While A Thief’s End had a smoother, darker tone to its theme, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great song to work yourself out.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlM2wf6OHKk]
Megalovania (Undertale)
Composer: Toby Fox
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcoqR9Bwx1Y]
The sound of a bad time fills you with determination.
Undertale‘s iconic theme slash meme icon is a magnificent song to kick it up a notch. You can say that this is a .. sansational soundtrack. The chorus’ high tempo and the running notes will keep you running as longer and faster, and always beyond your limits. You’ll definitely feel boned after you’re done with your workout.
This song fits perfectly with a running pace. I’m sorry if these puns aren’t humerus, but it did tickle my funny bone.
Sans would be proud of me.
Sans approves of the paragraphs above.

That wraps up our picks for the top video game workout music. What’s your personal favourite workout theme? Tell us in the comments section below!
Speaking of workouts and running, have you seen the latest Game of Thrones Ultraboost sneakers we picked up? Let’s hope we can balance a healthy life and gaming.


Holocure Gets Indonesian VTubers In New Update Next Month

Vampire Survivor clone/top-down WASD action roguelike game Holocure is getting a new update.
The new 0.6 update will add new VTubers to control, specifically the ones from Hololive Indonesia. These include Pavoliva Reine, Kureiji Ollie, Mika Melatika, Kaela Kovalskia, Moona, Kobo Kaneura, Vestia, and Amicia. Each of them will have their own unique powerups and special skills to bring to the WASD table.

In addition, the game will add a new Holo House feature where you can create your own homestead with flowers and crops to grow, as well as inviting VTubers you collected in the game hang out in this new location. You can even higher critters to work on your new place.

The Holocure 0.6 update will go live on 17 August. Check out the trailer below.

You can get the free game here.


PUBG Mobile Celebrates 3rd Anniversary With New Music-Themed Content

To celebrate the upcoming PUBG Mobile‘s third Anniversary on 21 March 2021, a fresh wave of updates is arriving in the game including music-themed gameplay, new firearm, vehicle, Metro Royale new chapter and more festive celebration content.
Now, players can turn up the jams and chicken dinners with the PUBG Mobile Version 1.3 content update, available for free via the App Store and Google Play.
Version 1.3 content update introduces an electronic music festival in-game as the celebration of PUBG Mobile 3rd Anniversary. In this version, players can drop into the all-new music-themed game mode â€œHundred Rhythmsâ€ on the beloved Erangel map.
When players queue for the new variant, they will be prompted to choose one of three special armbands on Spawn Island, which boast unique in-game powers. The armbands each offer one core active ability boost and can upgrade with two passive boosts by collecting cassettes throughout the map.
The three â€œHundred Rhythmsâ€ armband skills are Guardian Armband, Recon Knight Armband and Survivor Armband with descriptions are as follows:

Guardian Armband

Music Barrier (Active) â€“ This skill activates a device that generates a semi-transparent barrier to reduce part of the damage from enemy fire
Music Conversion (Passive) â€“ This skill activates an interactive feature of the barrier generator. Players can use this feature to disable the barrier and recover the Energy of allies within range instead
Pop Metal (Passive) â€“ Players and allies have decreased reload time within the barrier

Recon Knight Armband

Sonic Scan (Active) â€“ Players with this ability can throw a scanning device, revealing the location of nearby enemies with marks
Encore (Passive) â€“ Knocking down marked enemies recovers player health
Sound Burst (Passive) â€“ Ammunition deals additional electric charge damage when dealt to marked enemies

Survivor Armband

Stealth (Active) â€“ This ability allows players to activate a wearable Ghillie Suit for a short time, which conceals weapons and backpack on their backs
Surveillance (Passive) â€“ A UI tip will appear on-screen if there are any enemies nearby
Breathing Easy (Passive) â€“ Health is generated after a period of no damage being dealt to them

Additionally, PUBG Mobileâ€™s Version 1.3 updated features also include Mosin-Nagant, a 7.62mm bolt-action sniper rifle that is as powerful as the Kar98K, but it’s bullets fly faster and has less damage drop-off. It can knock out an unarmored enemy with a single shot from a long distance. The Mosin-Nagant will spawn on Erangel and Vikendi, replacing some of the Kar98K rifles.
Motor Glider, players can now traverse Erangel and Miramar from the skies in this two-seat aerial vehicle that consists of a front seat for the pilot and a back seat where passengers can shoot from. To take off, the Motor Glider must gain enough speed, and then the pilot must press the ascend button to raise the nose. The Motor Glider uses fuel based upon its engine speed.
Lastly,Â Metro Royale Update reveals a new chapter â€œUncoverâ€ in Metro Royale mode, while Metro Exodus monsters and Tikhar Rifle are removed. At the start of the new chapter, player rankings, honour levels, and inventory will be reset. New honour rewards released, including AG, permanent finishes, and other cool rewards. Extra elite enemies will suddenly appear on the battlegrounds, which can be defeated for great rewards. More AI and equipment balancing adjustments made.
Meanwhile, preheating the 3rd Anniversary Celebration in March, PUBG Mobile also released its first CG movie titled The Growth along with the 1.3 content update. The movie recaps the growth process of common players in the world of PUBG Mobile, available now in-game.


Soul Hackers 2 Gets Sorely-Needed Speedy Upgrades

While we loved the JRPGing Soul Hackers 2 had to offer, it sure as hell isn’t Shin Megami Tensei 5 material. At least Atlus plans to rectify that with a couple of new updates this November.
Atlus will release a free update for Soul Hackers 2 which adds the following:

Dash Function – Added a “Dash” function to Ringo’s movement in dungeons and fields. You can switch between “Normal” and “Dash” as you like. (With the addition of the Dash function, the effect of the Summoner Skill “Assassin’s Stride” has been changed to, “Become undetectable to enemies for a fixed distance.”
High-Speed Battle Mode – Added a “High-Speed” mode to battle. You can switch between “Normal” and “High-Speed” as you like.
Four new demons: Aitvaras, Isis, Neko Shogun, and Pixie (Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers version).
Some adjustments, including load times speeding up, random encounter frequencies, and ease of skill inheritance during Demon Fusion.

The first two are sorely needed due to Soul Hackers 2’s monotonous pacing at times. Ringo can Dash which can speed up dungeon crawling, and the high-speed battle mode can fast-forward repetitive battle animations for brevity’s sake.
Soul Hackers 2 is out now for Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as PC. Check out our review here.


Destiny 2 Solstice Of Heroes Event Returns Next Week

The Solstice of Heroes event kicks off once more in Destiny 2. Solstice of Heroes is a free event that takes place from 12 August to 9 September 2020.

Eva Levante once again returns to the Tower to encourage Guardians to gather and celebrate the resilience of humanityâ€™s foremost defenders.
All Guardians who finish Eva’s quest, “The Solstice Begins”, will unlock a free Solstice of Heroes music track, which they can claim by logging into their Bungie Rewards account online.

With the Solstice of Heroes also returns the European Aerial Zone (EAZ), where Guardians will take on Hive, Cabal and the Fallen. Once the enemies have been defeated, treasure chests in the zone will award Solstice of Heroes armour pieces.

Those who are looking to raise their Power Level will want to gather Solstice Key Fragments to unlock Solstice Packages containing Powerful gear and new armour upgrades.

Solstice of Heroes also brings two more Triumphs, which will count towards progression in the current Moments of Triumph pursuit.

Also in the Tower, Tess Eververse will have new Universal Ornaments available, along with a new finisher, new accessories and emotes. These Universal Ornaments will make any Legendary armour look like Solstice armour, including a subclass-specific glow.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light is now available for pre-order on the PS4, Xbox One, PC via Steam, and Stadia. Destiny 2 will also be coming to both the PS5 and Xbox Series X.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNJfxiNhjPU&w=560&h=315]


Our Hogwarts Legacy Semester Officially Begins In February 2023

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Avalanche Software have announced that Hogwarts Legacy will release for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC on 10 February 2023. The Nintendo Switch release date will be announced at a later date.
The news was announced via Twitter.

Hogwarts Legacy will launch on February 10, 2023 for PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. The Nintendo Switch launch date will be revealed soon. The team is excited for you to play, but we need a little more time to deliver the best possible game experience. pic.twitter.com/zh0EsOvDb7
— Hogwarts Legacy (@HogwartsLegacy) August 12, 2022

The last news we received of the game was back in March 2022 during a PlayStation State Of Play.
Players can create their own character and assume the role of a new student who has to enroll into a fifth-year curriculum immediately. The game is set in the 1800s, and so it is set even before the events of the Fantastic Beasts films, and of course, the Harry Potter movies.
You start out the game by getting sorted into your house of choice via the Sorting Hat (Ravenclaw, please!). Then, you’ll be able to attend classes at Hogwarts, including Defense Against The Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology and more. The live stream also reveals that players will be able to explore beyond just Hogwarts, including iconic Wizarding World locations like Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest and inside the Gringotts bank.
Players will be able to make difference combos and use different playstyles according to their choice of spells. The gameplay footage also teases that players can learn Unforgivable Curses like Avada Kedavra, the iconic death spell used by Voldemort. Do you go in wands-blazing by using Accio to pull an enemy close before blasting them with Incendio? Or do you cast the Disillusionment Charm to take a stealthier approach, finishing off enemies with a silent Petrificus Totalus takedown? Different techniques will be required to counter enemy strengths and weaknesses that should make every encounter feel engaging.
The storyline seems to involve a goblin rebellion and some dark wizards/witches, but not much has been revealed. Besides that, players will be able to cultivate plants and magical beasts, as well as do side quests and complete dungeons. And yes, you can fly broomsticks and even Hippogriffs over the open world of the game.
In the meantime, check out the Hogwarts Legacy trailer below:


Skullgirls 2nd Encore Xbox One Port Indefinitely Postponed

Publisher Skybound Games and developer Lab Zero Games have announced that the Xbox One version of Skullgirls 2nd Encore has been “postponed indefinitely due to unforeseen development and production challenges”.
The announcement didn’t go into the details about these challenges. It’s safe to say that the game will not be coming to the Xbox One within October 2019. It was initially scheduled to be released alongside the Nintendo Switch version which is still on track for launch on 22 October 2019. The PS4, PS Vita, and PC versions were released years ago.

In case you didn’t know, Skullgirls was initially released in 2012 for PS3 and Xbox 360. At the time, the game was published by Autumn Games and they got sued over allegations of fraud regarding another game, not Skullgirls. Autumn games could no longer pay them so the entire development team was laid off.
Later on, the core team would regroup to form Lab Zero Games. In 2014, they had to make Skullgirls Encore as a re-release of Skullgirls because Konami (worked with Autumn Games to distribute Skullgirls) requested the game to be removed from PSN and Xbox Live. Skullgirls 2nd Encore is released as a port for PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PS Vita. It includes all the characters and character colours released in past DLCs.


Guerrilla Has Big Plans For Horizon Franchise, Confirms Multiplayer Game In The Works

Guerrilla Games claims that they have 16 plans for the Horizon franchise and that there is indeed a Horizon multiplayer game in the works.
Speaking with GamesRadar, studio director Jan-Bart van Beek said that they have 16 plans for the franchise.
He said:
“We’re going to be continuing it for a very long while. As people probably already know, we’re also going to be working on a multiplayer game.”
He added that the Horizon multiplayer game is “another massive shift for the studio, almost on the same level as doing the first Horizon” and that “building out a two-player experience is a whole new challenge for the studio”.
It’s been several months since the death of Lance Reddick, who passed away back in March 2023. In remembrance of the late actor, Guerrilla Games has added a Lance Reddick memorial in the game, which players can visit.
In 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West (and 2017’s Horizon Forbidden West before it), the late Lance Reddick played the role of Sylens, a character who’s been both an antagonist and a friend to the game’s protagonist, Aloy. His last appearance as Sylens was in the Horizon Forbidden West Burning Shores expansion DLC, which launched back in April 2023, just one month after his passing.
In the meantime, check out my review of Horizon Forbidden West here or head on over here for a guide.


Wolfenstein: Youngblood Gets Its Biggest Update Yet

One of the biggest problems in Wolfenstein: Youngblood was that it had a really short main campaign. It took me less than 10 hours to beat it and to make matters worse, the endgame content didn’t exactly keep me coming back for more. The game’s latest update seeks to mitigate that.

Update 1.0.7 has just dropped for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One versions of Wolfenstein: Youngblood. The Nintendo Switch update is coming soon. It will add a whole bunch of new locations, abilities, skills, pep signals, skins, and treasure hunt missions.
Glorified Fetch Quests

The new treasure hunt missions seem to be the main spotlight of the update. However, they appear to just be a bunch of fetch quests that only serve to make you’ve got enemies to kill and items to collect so that you can unlock the new skills and skins.
Story-wise, the treasure hunt missions will take you through new locations in Paris where the Nazis have built a secret laboratory of sorts to keep a sealed chest containing an item supposedly related to the God Key. For those of you who haven’t played the game, the God Key is something you get near the end of the main campaign. It lets you catch bullets and projectiles and throw them back.
New Dances To Your Nazi-Killing Repertoire

All three skills trees (Mind, Muscle, and Power) will be getting new abilities. You’ll also unlock a new ability called God Key Sense but it’s just there to help you with the aforementioned treasure hunt missions.
Perhaps the most interesting addition are the new Pep Signals. You’ll get two new ones in this update and both of them are inspired by other id Software games. One of them is called Hammer Rage. It will restore heavy weapon ammo for you and your partner. The other one is Quad Damage. It’s pretty self-explanatory.

A Wolfenstein: Youngblood update wouldn’t be complete without new skins and this time, we’re getting seven of them. Seeing as how you only get to see them in the elevator dance scenes, it’s not that big of a deal for most people who play solo, like me. Still, that red Bloodthirst skin looks pretty good.

Wolfenstein: Youngblood update 1.0.7 is now available for download to all players on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Check out Bethesda’s blog post detailing the update here.


Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia: The Best Shows & Movies To Watch

Disney Plus will be arriving in Malaysia on the 1st of June with a price tag of RM54.90 for three months. Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia offers a variety of content, a lot of which are exclusive to the streaming service. It’s home to Disney classics, Marvel and Star Wars stuff, as well as other interesting content that’s fit for the entire family to watch.

Here are my recommendations for what to watch on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. While we may not be sure what the full list of shows are on the Malaysian version, it’s safe to assume that the top Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney premieres and content, from recent to old, will be available.
The Mandalorian Seasons 1-2

Even if you’ve never watched The Mandalorian before, chances are that you’ve probably seen Baby Yoda Grogu on the Internet. If not for the sheer cuteness of Baby Yoda, this show is not only jam-packed with Star Wars easter eggs and references for long-time fans of the franchise, but it also substantially adds to the franchise lore.
This is the first-ever live-action Star Wars TV series, and suffice it to say, it’s a success. There are currently two seasons of The Mandalorian to watch, with the third season and a spinoff series (The Book Of Boba Fett) starring the iconic bounty hunter Boba Fett on its way.
You canÂ head on over hereÂ for our analysis ofÂ The MandalorianÂ Season 2 ending and post-credits scene, as well as what the future might hold for the series moving forward.

Wandavision Season 1

Wandvision has the distinction of being the first-ever TV series under Marvel Studios, and it turned out to be just as good as any of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in terms of production scale and quality. With a focus on reality-bending hijinks and on Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff AKA the Scarlet Witch, this is a must-watch for any MCU fan looking forward to the future.
You can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles for WandaVisionÂ Episode 1 and 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5,Â Episode 6,Â Episode 7,Â Episode 8Â andÂ Episode 9.

Star Wars The Clone Wars Seasons 1-7

Star Wars The Clone Wars ran for years since 2008 but no one (except the truest Star Wars fans) really cared until it turned out that The Mandalorian had a lot of connections with this animated series. Now that it has ended its run with a whopping seven seasons, viewers will now be able to experience the entire 100+-episode saga that chronologically takes place between 2002’s Star Wars Episode 2 Attack Of The Clones and 2005’s Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge Of The Sith.

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier Season 1

The Falcon And The Winter Soldier is essentially the rise of a new Captain America, and while I won’t spoil who it is, you’ll probably already know by now. This series is another great example of an MCU TV series successfully developing a supporting character from the movies and giving them their own full-fledged stories.
You can check out my previous breakdown and easter egg articles for The Falcon And The Winter SoldierÂ Episode 1, Episode 2,Â Episode 3,Â Episode 4,Â Episode 5, and Episode 6. If you want a non-spoiler guide toÂ The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you canÂ head on over here.

Star Wars The Bad Batch Season 1 (Ongoing)

If you’re hankering for more animated Star Wars goodness after watching The Clone Wars, Star Wars The Bad Batch is currently five episodes into its first season. It’s set between 2005’s Star Wars Episode 3 Revenge Of The Sith and 1977’s Star Wars Episode 4 A New Hope.

Ejen Ali (2 Seasons And A Movie)

Ejen AliÂ is one of the most popular animated series to be produced by a Malaysian studio (WAU Animation), featuring protagonist Ejen Ali; a secret agent of the clandestine organization M.A.T.A. The animated series already boasts two seasons (both of which are currently available on Netflix) and a feature-length movie.
It is praiseworthy for featuring some of Malaysiaâ€™s best 3D CG action sequences yet. In addition, its unique techno-futuristic setting is perfect for the seriesâ€™ excellent world-building and characters.

Hamilton

Hamilton is a live stage recording of the 2015 Broadway musical, but this was the only way most of us outside of the U.S. could even catch the acclaimed musical. Oh, and what a musical it is. The cast, performances and music make for a stellar two hours and 40 minutes of sheer delight and an awe-inspiring show.
If thereâ€™s one thing that proves how goodÂ Hamilton was, we listened to the songs so much for the rest of the year that it was our most listened music album on Spotify for 2020. Itâ€™s just that good. Hamilton is something that needs to be experienced, even if it’s just a recorded performance.

The Mighty Ducks: Game Changer

A 12-year old kid forms an underdog ice hockey team with the help of former Mighty Ducks coach Gordon Bombay, who is a shell of his former enthusiastic coach-like self from the past films. It’s a continuation of the famous Disney sports feel-good movie trilogy, now with a new cast to help bring the series further.
Imagine Cobra Kai restarting the Karate Kid franchise, but now with ice hockey: That’s The Mighty Ducks: Game Changer in a nutshell. Fun for the whole family if you’re into these sort of “reboots”.
The Simpsons Season 1-8
The best versions of America’s famous comedy family are now available for streaming on Disney+ following the Fox buyout from the House of Mouse. Forget about the Zombie Simpsons seasons: the early 90s episodes features the best jokes and social commentary ever found in US-made sitcom television history.

Thanks to Disney+, you can watch classic episodes like “Homer At The Bat” (Season 3), “Deep Space Homer” (Season 5), and “Marge vs. The Monorail” (Season 4) that honestly still resonates to this day.
Gravity Falls

The influence & importance of this weird-yet-engrossing Disney show in future animation shows since 2012 onward cannot be overstated. Gravity Falls is a landmark genius series featuring trouble-making kids dealing with the supernatural, with a ton of clever pop culture jokes here and there to keep the unique insane flavour going.
Star Vs. The Forces Of Evil

Imagine Sailormoon and Card Captor Sakura made by Westerners, but with its own bizarre sense of humour not unlike Gravity Falls. That’s Star vs the Forces of Evil and it’s a fast-paced riot from start to finish.
The main character Star is part insane and part energetic, counterbalanced by the reserved but headstrong Marco as they partake in many interstellar and fantasy adventures set in Earth and beyond. Plus, you get tiny dogs shooting lasers from their eyes as a recurring visual gag; what’s not to love.
DuckTales (2017 Remake)

This reboot made me forget about the classic 80s series. Look, the old show was good and all, but goddamn if this new series up the ante, the animation, and the overarching plot of the McDuck extended family and its many, many globetrotting adventures.
Not only did it fit deep cuts like the Three Callaberos and Darkwing Duck into the new canon, but it also answered the eternal question about Huey, Dewey, and Louie’s parentage. Suffice to say, it delivers that burning inquiry in spades.

Shows That Aren’t Available On The Malaysia Disney+ (Yet)
X-Men The Animated Series

All kids growing up in the 90s and early 2000s grew up with the classic X-Men The Animated Series. It’s still one of the best adaptations of Marvel’s Children of the Atom outside of the comics, even with all the live-action movies out there.
Also, don’t tell us you don’t miss that catchy theme music from the series’ opening?

Gargoyles

Remember Greg Weisman, the guy who produced and created DC’s Young Justice and Marvel’s Spectacular Spider-Man on television? Well, he got his start with this 90s animated show called Gargoyles, and it was the direct competitor to the likes of Fox’s Marvel offerings and Warner Bros. Batman: The Animated Series.
In some regard, Gargoyles came out on top at times with its epic story of mythical gargoyles out of time and defending 90s New York from evil. It also introduced the world to the deep and menacing voice of Keith David who did main gargoyle hero Goliath.
This underrated animated show featured the best kind of character work, storytelling, and action that paved the way to future shows like Nickelodeon’s Avatar.