Ghost Of Tsushima Official Merch Includes Hoodies & Jin Sakai Funko Pops

Sucker Punch’s Ghost Of Tsushima is finally out and with it, a slew of ridiculously-priced official merchandise that fans will lap up anyways. They have everything from hoodies, bags, artbooks, Funko Pops, and more.
Firstly, Sucker Punch is working together with Funko for twoÂ versions of Jin Sakai Funko Pop! Vinyl figures! Both versions measure approximately 3.75 inches tall and feature Jin outfitted in his Ghost Armor, complete with his deadly katana and tanto. You can get the original Jin Sakai figure or get a variant with blood spatter at GameStop.

Funko Pop! Games â€“Â Ghost of Tsushima – Jin Sakai
Pre-order now
Price: US$11.99
Ships to US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Funko Pop! Games â€“Â Ghost of Tsushima – Jin Sakai with Blood
Pre-order now
Price: US$11.99
Ships to US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

On the PlayStation Gear store, there are several Ghost of Tsushima items at a special price, including a bundle that includes a Ghost of Tsushima logo hoodie and sling bag for US$39.95. Separate from this bundle, you can also find other Ghost of Tsushima items available now over on the PlayStation Gear store.

In collaboration with Dark Horse, Sucker Punch has also been working for years on this beautiful art book, The Art of Ghost of Tsushima. This art book is packed with more than 200 pages full of concept art, storyboards, and more from throughout the development of Ghost of Tsushima, as well as commentary and insight from the development team.
You can pre-order it now at the price of US$49.99.
Â
Besides all that, the Good Smile Company and Max Factory are working on a fully-articulated Jin Sakai Figma. It will feature posable joints, swappable heads with and without Jinâ€™s Ghost mask, and a cloth cape, as well as accessories including different sword kits and arrows.
Check out the early concept below:

Last but not least, the incredible team at Prime 1 Studio working on a Jin Sakai 1:4 Scale statue. It will feature a fox, a shrine, a guide bird, and ginkgo leaves straight from the Golden Forest featured in the game.
Check out the early concept of the statue below:

In the meantime, check out our review of Ghost of Tsushima here.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMot-Xz9sCA&w=560&h=315]


PlayStation To Offer 10 More Free Games, Including Horizon Zero Dawn

Sony Interactive Entertainment launched the PlayStation At Home initiative last year in April 2020 to keep the PlayStation community entertained while practising social distancing. This year’s iteration launched earlier this month and will go on until June 2021.
We already know that 2016’s Ratchet & Clank will be free to claim until 1 April 2021, but they have just announced 10 more free games via PlayStation Blog.
However, it’s important to note that Subnautica, The Witness, Abzu, Rez Infinite, Moss, Thumper and Paper Beast are not available in China.
Meanwhile, Enter the Gungeon is not available in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
Starting From 26 March 2021
PlayStation and some of our favourite indie partners are collaborating to provide more free games to explore while youâ€™re staying safe and staying home:
AbzÃ»

From the artistic mind behind Journey, Flower, and The Pathless, ABZÃ› is a beautiful underwater adventure that evokes the dream of diving. Immerse yourself in a vibrant ocean world full of mystery and bursting with colour and life.
Enter The Gungeon

Enter the Gungeon is a gunfight dungeon crawler following a band of misfits seeking to shoot, loot, dodge roll and table-flip their way to personal absolution by reaching the legendary Gungeonâ€™s ultimate treasure: the gun that can kill the past.
Rez Infinite

Prepare yourself for the ultimate version of Rez, a thrilling journey of sights and sounds and shooting action, remastered and upgraded by members of the original development team exclusively for PS4 and (optional) PlayStation VR.
Subnautica

You have crash-landed on an alien ocean world, and the only way to go is down. Subnauticaâ€™s oceans range from sun-drenched shallow coral reefs to treacherous deep-sea trenches, lava fields, and bio-luminescent underwater rivers. The water teems with life: Some of it helpful, much of it harmful.
The Witness

The Witness is a single-player game in an open world with dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. This game respects you as an intelligent player and it treats your time as precious. Thereâ€™s no filler: each of those puzzles brings its own new idea into the mix. So, this is a game full of ideas.
Astro Bot Rescue Mission

Get a whole new perspective on platform games, thanks to PlayStation VR, in this daring rescue operation. Take control of Astro in a massive adventure to rescue his crew, where the PS VR headset puts you right in the thick of the action. Judge every jump with accuracy and be curious â€“ there are lots of secrets to discover in your daring quest.
Moss

Moss is a single-player action-adventure puzzle game and new IP from Polyarc tailor-made for the VR platform. In Moss, players meet Quill, a young mouse with dreams of greatness beyond the confines of her settlement. While exploring the woods, she finds a mysterious Glass Relic and an ancient magic is awakened.
Thumper

Thumper is rhythm violence: classic rhythm-action, blistering speed, and brutal physicality. You are a space beetle. Brave the hellish void and confront a maniacal giant head from the future. Every crushing impact is interwoven with a pounding original soundtrack. To reach synesthetic bliss, you must go through rhythm hell.
Paper Beast

Experience a dreamlike odyssey in virtual reality. Discover a wild ecosystem, born from lost Internet data. Be the first to explore a world inhabited by exotic and surprising creatures, and shape your environment to overcome obstacles and puzzles. Unravel the mysteries of Paper Beast, a game born from the imagination of Eric Chahi (Another World, From Dust).
This amazing selection of PS4 games and PS VR games will beÂ available for free download from 11am GMT+8 on 26 March 2021 to 11am GMT+8 on 23 April 2021.
Starting From 19 April 2021

Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition will be available for free download from 11am GMT+8 on 20 April 2021 to 11am GMT+8 on 14 May 2021.


Iconic Map Estate & Snipers Set To Return In Modern Warfare II Season 3

FaZe Dirty, one of the top YouTubers for Modern Warfare II, recently got to try out a new map in a Season 3 playtest, and it looks like a classic Call of Duty map is finally getting the remake treatment it deserves.
If you’re a CoD fan, you know that each new game usually includes a few remakes of classic maps. Modern Warfare II already brought back fan favourites like Shipment and Shoothouse, and Warzone 2 added a few points of interest inspired by classic CoD maps, like Quarry, Dome, and Showdown.
But despite seven map remakes from MWII in other games, some classic environments still hadn’t been revisited. Luckily, Infinity Ward has finally shown some love to the original MW2 by bringing back a much-loved map for Season 3.

Activision invited FaZe Dirty to check out the new season, where he got to try out the brand-new Intervention sniper and the FJX Imperium. But the real excitement came when he got to play on the new Season 3 map, Pelayo’s Lighthouse.
Dirty spilt the beans on his experience in a recent YouTube video, where he not only showed off some FJX Imperium gameplay but also gave fans a sneak peek of a familiar location. In the video, he walked through a house on Pelayo’s Lighthouse that fans of the original MW2 will definitely recognize as Estate. It looks like it’s going to be a great addition to the game, and fans can’t wait to try it out themselves.


[Report] ArenaNet President Worked On Guild Wars 3 Before Announced Departure

ArenaNet is best known for having developed the MMORPG Guild Wars and its sequel, Guild Wars 2. Yesterday, the company’s president Mike Oâ€™Brien shockingly announced his sudden departure from his position of almost two decades in a heartfelt post on the Guild Wars 2 official website.
Mike O’Brien (in the red shirt)
O’Brien mostly just thanked fans and colleagues in the long post. Part of the statement reads:

“For the past two decades weâ€™ve gotten to work with brilliant developers and advisors,
weâ€™ve enjoyed an amazing relationship with the Guild Wars community,
and were able to pursue the games of our dreams.
Iâ€™ve appreciated every moment of it.
But the time has come for me to take a step back.
Next week Iâ€™ll join some of my friends in forming a new studio.
Weâ€™ll go back to the beginning and make small games again.”

According to sources close to the developer (via Kotaku), O’Brien and his team were working on a potential Guild Wars 3 prior to them leaving, although the project was ultimately not officially greenlit. While he will still be making new albeit smaller games with his friends and new studio, it won’t a Guild Wars 2 sequel.
Who knows? Perhaps we’ll receive a spiritual successor of sorts to the Guild Wars franchise by O-Brien at his new studio. The latest ArenaNet project wasÂ Guild Wars 2’sÂ Living World: The Icebrood Saga update, which recently launched on 17 September 2019. Check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSD2aXhfCIE&w=560&h=315]


Fort Solis Starring RDR2’s Roger Clark Launches This August

Fallen Leaf, Black Drakkar Games and Dear Villagers have announced that Fort Solis will launch for the PS5 and PC via Steam on 22 August 2023.
Set aboard a deserted mining facility on Mars, players must solve the mystery of the missing crew, make crucial decisions, and escape the compound. To commemorate this announcement, the developer has put together a new Welcome to Fort Solis trailer, offering a tour of the titular mining station, ranging from its barracks to its labs, to its greenhouse. Much care was taken to create a facility that could believably host a crew, yet remain coolly indifferent enough to drive one mad. Fort Solis is the product of corporate industry, a massive and inhospitable base set amidst the blood-red wasteland of the Martian desert.
Fort Solis has you assume the role of engineer Jack Leary, as he spends the longest night of his life on an isolated mining base on Mars. Explore Fort Solis station at your own pace, gathering clues from its bunkers, labs, crew quarters, and harsh, stormy surface to understand what enigmatic fate befell its inhabitants. As the night grows longer events escalate, spiral out of control, and the mystery as to what’s really going on deepens.
Utilizing the power of Unreal Engine 5, Fort Solis offers an intricately immersive setting in the deepest reaches of space. Featuring a first-class crew that includes Red Dead Redemption 2 lead Roger Clark, Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Death Stranding), and Julia Brown (The Last Kingdom, World on Fire), Fort Solis grounds you in its hard science-fiction drama with no camera cuts, load times, or HUD. Inspired by titles like Firewatch and Until Dawn, Fort Solis offers a hybrid piece of media, emphasizing narration and immersion. Told across four chapters, Fort Solis can be binged in one intense session or played chapter by chapter like a Netflix series.
It was originally announced during Summer Game Fest 2022.
Check out the latest gameplay trailer below:


Here’s When Star Wars Celebration 2020 Will Take Place

The biggest Star Wars event will be returning to the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, next year as the dates for Star Wars Celebration 2020 have already been confirmed to take place from 27 to 30 August 2020.
Tickets for the event will start going on sale next week starting from 21 June 2019 at 9am PT (12am on 22 June 2019 for GMT+8 regions). As of now, we still don’t know what next year’s event will have in store for the legions of Star Wars fans around the world.
This year’s Star Wars Celebration 2019 was the best one in years, as it helped reignite everyone’s hope in the franchise after a string of disappointing movies and games like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Solo: A Star Wars Story and 2017’s Star Wars Battlefront 2.
Highlights from Star Wars Celebration 2019 included the first trailer for Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker, unveiling Respawn Entertainment’s new singleplayer game Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order, as well as revealing more of both Star Wars The Clone Wars Season 7 and the franchise’s first-ever live-action series The Mandalorian.
It’s arguably the best time in years to be a Star Wars fan, and we can’t wait for Star Wars Celebration 2020 to arrive.

Breaking news! @SW_Celebration is headed to Anaheim, August 27-30, 2020. Tickets will be available Friday, June 21st @ 9:00am PT.
Full details: https://t.co/DFmWn4rCwr #StarWarsCelebration pic.twitter.com/9UAPMANGM6
â€” Star Wars (@starwars) June 13, 2019


The Your Name Remake Is Getting A Spider-Man Director; Here’s Why It’s Good News

Remember that awesome anime film Your Name featuring a boy and a girl who swapped bodies? The one which made Makoto Shinkai, the guy who did the magnificent Voices of a Distant Star, a household name? The one film that became the highest-grossing anime film in existence?
His film’s getting a live-action remake by J.J Abrams, Bad Robot, and Paramount. According to Deadline, the remake also hooked itself a director: Marc Webb of 500 Days of Summer and the Amazing Spider-Man films. Eric Heisserer, the writer of Arrival and Bird Box, is doing the script.
Here’s the synopsis of the live-action adaptation and how it’ll be changed up.

In this reimagined version, a young Native American woman living in a rural area and a young man from Chicago discover they are magically and intermittently swapping bodies. When a disaster threatens to upend their lives, they must journey to meet and save their worlds.

As to why they hand-picked Marc Webb, producer Genki Kawamura had this to say:

“Marc was our first choice to direct this refashioned interpretation of the film from the moment we explored creating an American version. As we saw inÂ 500 Days Of Summer, Marc has a tremendous talent for telling great love stories and in the same way moviegoers were captivated by the original film, we are certain Marc will engage fans of the original and an entirely new audience for these charactersâ€™ beautiful journey. With J.J. Abrams producing, Eric Heisserer writing and Marc directing, this project officially has the team we dreamed about.”

Good Idea?
Personally, Marc Webb would be a great pick. Sure, Amazing Spider-Man 1 and 2 were shitty superhero films that tainted the Spider-Man brand, but their one saving grace was the chemistry between Andrew Garfield’s Peter Parker and Emma Stone’s Gwen Stacy. And 500 Days of Summer was a darn good romantic comedy-drama film that showcased the talents of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.
Oh yeah, and he directed the first episode and second season premiere of Crazy-Ex Girlfriend; those two episode were pretty ace in getting the ball rolling for that Rachel Bloom vehicle. Anime fans may be worried about the whole film and how it’ll look, but rest assured that at least the relationship between the adaptation’s protagonists (the US versions of Taki and Mitsuha) will at least be in good hands.


BanG Dream! Project – A Primer On This Generation’s Famous Anime Girl Band

Originally published on 17th August. Brought forward due to the release of the new BanG Dream! anime.Â
Anime and music share more in common pair than given credit for. Music performances, in particular, are prominent in plenty of anime. Popular shows such as K-On!, Angel Beats, and so on come with their own original music, which then becomes part of the merchandise that fans eagerly collect.
Within the past decade though, this niche aspect of anime fandom has grown much bigger in popularity, even to the extent that it’s now become its own distinct genre. One such anime music project and media franchise marches to the beat of its own literal drum, as well as the riffs and croons of its electric guitars & Japanese-esque Stevie Nicks-wannabe vocals: the BanG Dream! project.
With an anime movie coming out for the first time in Malaysia this week, we figured it would be best to bring you up to speed about this anime music combo.
What Is The BanG Dream! Project?

BanG Dream! (or Bandori for short) comes from the idea of shooting for one’s dreams. First launching in January 2015 by card/mobile game-making company giant Bushiroad, it follows the same path as The Idolmaster, Love Live, Revue Starlight, and similar properties by placing a large focus on anime characters who sing and perform. It is a broad multimedia franchise that, interestingly, prospers on creating a link between anime characters and real-life performers.

As such, the BanG! Dream project appears in a vast amount of entertainment formats, from a mobile rhythm game to manga and anime adaptations, as well as last but not least, bustling live concerts.

While most other IPs focus on idol singers who sing and dance, Bandori is unique in that it instead uses music bands to captivate its audience. What this means is that the characters of Bandori all sport stylish guitars, drums, and keyboards to perform their music. Look hard enough and you might even notice real-life parallels in each characterâ€™s instrument. A realistic duplicate of Rokka from RAISE A SUILEN’s electric guitar even exists for a whopping US$4,905!
This is the biggest distinction that sets Bandori apart from its contemporaries. Budding musicians will no doubt have a soft spot for Bandoriâ€™s various live bands. And while idols dancing on stage do have a charm of their own, thereâ€™s also nothing like rooting for characters who themselves are experts at making music, and who accurately pay respect to live musicians.
Where Reality And Fiction Converge

Bandori has a total of nine bands spread across its various media, with plenty of these groups focusing on different music genres. Whether youâ€™re into Pastel*Palettesâ€™ J-Pop, Roseliaâ€™s J-Rock, or something experimental like Hello Happy World, thereâ€™s bound to be a band here that fits the mold somehow.
Adding on top of that are the unique members of each band, all of whom have their own colourful personalities that you can get to know over time.

Thereâ€™s also the massive voice cast behind these characters. While there are too many to name, Bandoriâ€™s cast is a mishmash of voice actresses that anime fans may already recognize, as well as those who found fame through Bandori. These voice actresses not only voice their respective characters but are also in charge of the singing for their songs.

A few of these voice actresses even partake in live performances. Bands such as Poppinâ€™ Party, Roselia, RAISE A SUILEN, and Morfonica have members who are perfectly capable of handling musical instruments on top of catering to crowds at live concerts.

Why Should I Care?
Bandori has gained popularity even beyond Japanâ€™s shores. There are fans who got in it because of the anime, the live performers, or even through the game. Though international fans canâ€™t easily attend concerts, screenings of these concerts are occasionally held at theatres, where fellow fans get to embrace the spirit of the live performances.

Just like traditional music groups, Bandoriâ€™s bands play their own original music and regularly release singles and albums that you can listen to. But beyond that are also the anime characters, voice actresses, and a universe that binds them all together.

With so many different aspects to enjoy and a number of bands to choose from, chances are that Bandori has something somewhere thatâ€™ll catch you hook, line, and sinker.

It helps that all of these different facets of Bandori only help enrich the experience once you delve deeper into the fandom and its nuances.
But if these somehow donâ€™t already pique your interest, you might change your mind when you listen to some of Bandoriâ€™s cover songs. The mobile rhythm game may not sound like much, but beyond its original music is also home to cover songs from popular anime such as Sailor Moon, Fullmetal Alchemist, Eureka Seven, Evangelion, and the list goes on.

Youâ€™ll even find covers of VOCALOID music and -my personal favourite- the Persona games. Of course, these renditions are all performed by Bandoriâ€™s numerous bands. If you’re a big fan of otaku-related media, there’s a treasure trove of goodness here just waiting to be opened.
Who knows, you might even prefer some of these covers to the original versions!

Iâ€™m Interested, But There Are Too Many Characters!

With so many bands and roughly three dozen characters to name, starting out on this franchise is no doubt intimidating. However, Bandori doesnâ€™t necessarily expect you to remember whoâ€™s who and where they belong right away. It even offers many easy entry points to the franchise. Whether youâ€™re starting with the music, the anime, or even the game, thereâ€™s no definite wrong approach.
The mobile game,Â which is a freely available app on Android and iOS, is a great way to acclimate yourself to Bandoriâ€™s music. Youâ€™ll get access to a library of their songs that you can play along to, and also get to enjoy character interactions while collecting gorgeous artwork of the various characters. If you happen to be a big fan of other anime or game franchises, youâ€™ll also be pleasantly surprised by the lineup of cover songs.
Personally speaking, Roseliaâ€™s excellent cover of Persona 3â€™s “Memories of You” was what led me to listen to some of their own music, eventually leading to favourites such as “Kakumei Dualism” and “Fire Bird”.

The anime is also a neat place to start from if youâ€™re looking to get invested in characters. The story mainly follows the exploits of the Poppinâ€™ Party band, but slowly expands to the other groups over time. If youâ€™re looking to see how these colourful personalities build lasting friendships, then the anime is surely a no-brainer. With up to three available seasons, as well as two films out, youâ€™ll have plenty of time to get to know them.
But maybe you arenâ€™t keen to invest in a lengthy TV series just to learn about the girls. Bandoriâ€™s got that covered too. A lighter anime series, called BanG Dream! Girls Band Party!â˜†PICO, is freely available on its official YouTube channel. Featuring chibi versions of the characters, the episodes are brief three-minute romps that deftly introduce the dynamics of Bandoriâ€™s characters to you.

You can even check out the channelâ€™s English Club series. The voices behind the characters usually come forward to produce funny skits for a segment called Bandori TV. Though Bandori TV is only broadcast in Japan, the English Club series is specially made for the international fans who feel that theyâ€™re missing out. If youâ€™re looking for a glimpse into the real people behind the anime avatars, hereâ€™s a good place to start.

Other ways to discover Bandori include their live performances, as well as the past music videos they have done. Seeing the bands (both real and fictional) in action might just leave a good impression. Of course, simply digging through their list of music also works, and would even give you a good starting point if a particular band’s style of music interests you.

Listen And Play
BanG! Dream has only grown in popularity over the years. So much so, in fact, that it even has its own male-centric spin-off, ARGONAVIS from BanG Dream!. There are plenty of singles and albums to experience, a game to keep you occupied on the daily, as well as fun merchandise to collect such as official music sheets, nendoroids, clothing, and much more.

The biggest draw, though, remains its anime aesthetic complemented by the allure of live concerts, as well as its overall great and diverse music.

After all, youâ€™d be hard-pressed to find any other property that expresses this contrast so well. Perhaps that reason alone is a good enough excuse for giving Bang! Dream a shot.


The Idol Showdown Fan-Made Fighting Game Is A Huge Love Letter To The Culture

Platform: PC
Genre: 2D fighting game with Vtubers and the nonsense/memes that follow
Besto Games Team has created the perfect stopgap game before Street Fighter 6: a 2D fighting game called Idol Showdown. And it only costs you free-ninety-nine!
The premise is simple: pick one VTuber from the eight-person roster and duke it out best 2 out of 3. The fighting game feel and mechanics are a mish-mash of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Guilty Gear, since auto-combos are a thing and you can select one Assist (another Vtuber) to do special assist attacks and buffs.
All this is accompanied by an easy-to-follow input system and intuitive controls that mixes both traditional and modern-style inputs. You have four attack buttons, you can pull off specials easily by pressing the S button and also perform motion inputs (236P and so forth), and you can do simple combos and cancels to keep your offense going. It’s easy to get into, though hard to master as everyone’s got at least a long-string combo for big damage. Anyone from your casual players to your experts in “doing a f***ing infinite” will feel right at home with Idol Showdown’s control scheme and versus gameplay.
V(Tuber) For Vendetta

The eight characters in the roster have their own quirks, playstyles, and sets of beautiful animations that fit in a 2D fighting setting. Inugami Korone is a shoto (projectile, anti-air, horizontal special, beginner-friendly methodology), Kiryu Coco is a traditional grappler, and Aki Rosenthal is a zoner with her own “get off me” assists.
Most importantly, it’s all a treat to watch and witness thanks to the lovely art direction and presentation on display. Besto Games Team spared no expense and time in making this a 2D pixel feast for the eyes, paying tribute to each VTuber’s style of presenting/singing and working it in their specials and Super moves.

That also goes double for the character’s assists, which consists of Vtubers like Amelia Watson and Sakura Miko. And because Besto Games loves its fighting games, they turn Roboco into a Doctor Doom assist and give Amelia Watson JoJo vampire time-slowing powers. That I can get behind.

V(Tuber)-Trigger
There are a few extra modes outside of the standard offline/online versus mode, like training/tutorial, a single-player roguelike mode called Virtual Frontier, and Arcade mode. The Virtual Frontier is where you’ll spend time a bit more than usual: you pick your character and go through 3 Acts with various stages and trials like defeating foes in a time limit or a super-powered armoured VTuber.
You can buy items and find them in your journey to add more passive abilities to help you out, as well as accumulate items you can use in fights like power boosts and life-leeching. Shops and resting spots are available on each path, and it’s up to you to decide which ones to take before proceeding, so planning your route to get to the end is important. This mode gets really challenging in Act 2 onward, so you’ll need to stock up on items to bolster your character for big major fights. Don’t be too shocked if you end up failing and retrying this mode for hours on end, reaching so close to the finish line only to get steamrolled by a jacked-up Sora who has unlimited items & life drain.

So far, the only wrinkle in this free game project is the online mode, which is still in beta. Despite featuring rollback, disconnects for online play are pretty frequent to the point where I had to use tools like Parsec to play online with friends. I do have some decent matches with not much lag, but this mode is still in beta form. I presume this is a snag the dev team will fix and improve over time. A few additions like auto-close lobbies, public lobbies with more than 2 players, and queue functions would be good ideas to make online a lot more feasible in the coming months or even years.
Thankfully, the rest of this love-laboured package more than makes it up. In fact, you don’t even need to be a huge fan of the Vtuber culture to appreciate and have fun with this free 2D fighting game that’s putting a lot of triple-A US$69.90 games to shame in this day and age.
I only know a fraction of the culture; this is mostly relegated to clips of Kiryu Coco simping over Yakuza/Like A Dragon characters and Rushia’s “boing boing” tirade. However, with the way this game is going and possibly having expansion plans beyond its eight-person roster, I might end up a full-on convert.
Final Score: 80/100


ESPL Chooses Malaysia’s Axis Esports As First Country Franchisee

Global brand Esports Pro League (ESPL) has announced that it has chosen Malaysian esports tournament organiser Axis Esports as its first country franchisee for their new worldwide esports tournament.
ESPL is an integrated ecosystem for tournaments, brands, publishers, teams, and players with a focus on the grassroots community and digital interactivity. It is slated to launch in early 2020 across 16 different countries in Asia, Europe, and the Americas, targeting amateur gamers with aspirations of becoming professionals.
Earlier today at Level Up KL 2019, ESPL CEO Michael Broda and Olympic Council Malaysia President Dato’ Sri Mohd Norza Zakaria officially signed the agreement which cemented the collaboration between ESPL and Axis Esports.
ESPL is co-founded by tech firm Sedania Innovator Berhad and publisher iCandy Interactive. On the question of how EPL will be affected by other esports regulating bodies and authorities in Malaysia, Sedania founder Datuk Azrin Mohd Noor said:

“ESPL is a global brand. I have no control over them, or how they’re going to appoint franchisees and media partners all around the world.
For Malaysia, ESPL is a tool as an entry point for amateur players.
Sports and politics shouldn’t be involved.
The top two percent of pro players will be still be regulated by these local esports authorities and bodies, but ESPL is designed to attend to the 98 percent of amateur players, implementing a zero-to-hero strategy for 18-year-old boys who wants to represent their country.
That’s what ESPL’s foundation is built upon, and what Sedania is aligning their interests with.
We welcome every grassroots and organization.
Today is about announcing our first franchise partner in the world, and they (ESPL) chose Malaysia to be their first franchisee.
It’s a win for Malaysia as a country.
It’s a win for all amateur players in this country.”

According to Datuk Azrin Mohd Noor, ESPL is unaffiliated with any of the esports organizations and authoritative bodies in the country. It won’t matter if the players are part of any state or national associations.
ESPL and Axis Esports’ agreement is similar to the deal between Sepang International Circuit and FIA Motorsports in order to obtain the Formula One license. In addition, ESPL is also partnering with eGG Network for its upcoming tournament.
However, no games have been officially announced for ESPL as of yet, though they will likely feature popular esports games like Dota 2 or the like.


Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Among Us Twitch Stream Peaked Over 400,000 Viewers

The U.S. Presidential Election is slated to take place on 3 November 2020, which is just two weeks away. In an attempt to drive the younger demographic to go out and vote, New York US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (or AOC) streamed the popular Among Us game earlier today.

Here we goooo https://t.co/nZap5fuerN— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 21, 2020

Also joining Ocasio-Cortez during her Among Us stream were Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, as well as popular streamers like Pokimane, DrLupo, Myth, Maia, Jacksepticeye, MoistCr1TiKaL, Hasanabi, and Disguised Toast.
According to Forbes, AOC’s stream peaked at 440,000 concurrent viewers. However, if you count separate broadcasts of the same streaming session by the other streamers, that number surpassed 700,000 live viewers.
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar even posted her PC specs, which are pretty mighty impressive:

Posting specs:Intel Core i7-10700KZotac GeForce RTX 2060 SuperG.Skill TridentZ RGB 32GBSamsung 970 EVO Plus 1TB M.2 NVMe main6TB SSD storageCorsair iCUE H100i AIONZXT H510i case https://t.co/nSYcbJrgC2— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) October 21, 2020

Among Us is a party game by developer InnerSloth, where players have to to try and figure out who is sabotaging the crew of their spaceship, or the â€˜imposterâ€™, while accomplishing seemingly mundane tasks at the same time.
At one time, it was evenÂ the third most-played game on SteamÂ (where it costs only RM12.50), and the game is even free-to-play on mobile platforms; Android and iOS.

Thank you so much for joining, Myth! I’m so excited this is your first time voting!I had a blast. Thanks @IlhanMN, @pokimanelol, @hasanthehun, @DisguisedToast, @mxmtoon, @Jack_Septic_Eye, @Hbomberguy, @DrLupo, @Valkyrae, @Gusbuckets, @Corpse_Husband, @MoistCr1TiKaL & @israhirsi https://t.co/L02lZwWpjz— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 21, 2020

It looks like even politicians are now taking on video game streaming as platforms to encourage younger people to vote, which is an admirable effort on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s part. Perhaps we’ll see more politicians from other countries joining in the trend, but frankly, that seems rather unlikely in Malaysia.


All Aboard The HypeTrain – A New Way To Experience Video Game Events

Updated on 23 November 2022:
Sorry, folks. HypeTrain has been postponed indefinitely.
Stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for more future updates!

Latest update of the HypeTrain ?
The train hasn't left the station nor is it out of commission. We'll see you guys in the future when we're ready with the next announcement.#HypeTrain #KKP #Announcement pic.twitter.com/QU61PYjvEV
— Kakuchopurei (@Kakuchopurei) November 23, 2022

At Kakuchopurei, we love our video game events.
Having experienced world-class shows such as E3, Paris Game Week, GamesCom and Tokyo Game Show first-hand, we always dreamed of bringing a similar experience to our friends back home on multiple occasions.
And let’s face it; local video game events have become stale and boring. Video game events have been watered down to gamers either congregating at a concourse of a shopping mall, or stare at other players competing on an esports stage. We say it is high time to flip the formula and make video games events fun again.
Enter Kakuchopurei’s very own, first-of-its-kind event utilizing public transport spaces: The HypeTrain.
Choo choo, mofos!

HypeTrain is a Kakuchopurei original IP and in the long run, we aim to bring similar events to other train stations, train lines in the Klang Valley (think the Ampang line, or the Kelana Jaya line) and even to outside of Malaysia. The Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok MRT lines are definitely within our sights.
For one special weekend, 26-27 November, we have partnered with MRT Corp to bring to you a novel way to experience your favourite games.
We have identified four high-traffic MRT stations in the Klang Valley which will host ‘Hype Booths’ where passersby can engage with activities, participate and compete in several video game titles in a much more conducive and meaningful manner.
All of these booths will run simultaneously across four stations, and all participants are not only encouraged to take part in Hype Booths near them but to visit ALL THREE stations to accumulate as many points as possible by taking part in the various activities.
The full list of games featured will be unveiled in the upcoming days, so be sure to stay tuned to our website and other social media accounts. Pre-registrations for The HypeTrain will also commence in the next few days, rewarding early birds with a significant advantage compared to walk-in sign-ins.
Until then, ALL ABOARD! THIS TRAIN AIN’T STOPPING.


Samsung Confirms The New Galaxy S22 Flagships

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S22, S22+, and S22 Ultra flagship phones.
For the first time ever, the Note’s built-in S Pen is coming to an S series device. With S Pen, the S22 Ultra becomes more than a phone. It embraces the legacy of the Note while opening up new ways to be creative and get things done. The result is a mobile experience unlike any before. Will this spell the end of the Note line? Time will tell but based on our first impressions, the S22 Ultra will make you forget about the Note line almost instantaneously.
Also unveiled were the more ‘affordable’ versions of the S22 line, the ‘standard’ S22 and the S22+ which is pretty much the souped up version of the former.
Check out the specs for each phone below:

Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+

Galaxy S22
Galaxy S22+

DisplayÂ
6.1-inch FHD+Â
Dynamic AMOLED 2X DisplayÂ
Super Smooth 120HzÂ refresh rate (10~120Hz)Â
240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game ModeÂ
Vision BoosterÂ
Eye comfort shieldÂ
6.6-inch FHD+Â
Dynamic AMOLED 2X DisplayÂ
Super Smooth 120HzÂ refresh rateÂ (10~120Hz)Â
240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game ModeÂ
Vision BoosterÂ
Eye comfort shieldÂ

*Measured diagonally, Galaxy S22’s screen size is 6.1-inch in the full rectangle and 5.9-inch with accounting for the rounded corners, Galaxy S22+’s screen size is 6.6-inch in the full rectangle and 6.4-inch with accounting for the rounded corners; actual viewable area is less due to the rounded corners and camera hole.

SecurityÂ
Ultrasonic FingerprintÂ

Dimensions & WeightÂ
70.6 x 146.0 x 7.6mm, 168g
75.8 x 157.4 x 7.6mm, 196g

CameraÂ
12MP Ultra-Wide CameraÂ

F2.2, FOV 120Ëš

Â
50 MP Wide CameraÂ

Dual Pixel AF, OIS, F1.8, FOV 85ËšÂ

Â
10MP Telephoto CameraÂ

3x Optical Zoom, OIS, F2.4, FOV 36ËšÂ

Â
10MP Front CameraÂ

F2.2, FOV 80ËšÂ

AP
AdvancedÂ 4nm Processing

*May differ by market and carrier

MemoryÂ
8 + 256GBÂ Â
8 + 128GBÂ Â

*Actual storage space may vary by market, model, file size and format.

BatteryÂ
3,700mAhÂ
4,500mAhÂ

*Typical value tested under third-party laboratory condition. Typical value is the estimated average value considering the deviation in battery capacity among the battery samples tested under IEC 61960 standard. Rated (minimum) capacity is 3590mAh for Galaxy S22 and 4370mAh for Galaxy S22+. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors.

ChargingÂ
25W WiredÂ Â
15W WirelessÂ Â
Wireless PowerShare
USB-IF compliant
Up to 45W WiredÂ Â
15W Wireless
Wireless PowerShareÂ
USB-IF compliantÂ

*Estimated against the usage profile of an average/typical user. Independently assessed by Strategy Analytics between 2021.12.08â€“12.20 in USA and UK with pre-release versions of SM-S901, SM-S906, SM-S908 under default setting using 5G Sub6 networks (NOT tested under 5G mmWave network). Actual battery life varies by network environment, features and apps used, frequency of calls and messages, number of times charged, and many other factors.

*25W Power Adapter, 45W Power Adapter and data cable sold separately. Using the original Samsung 45W Power Adapter and data cable is recommended for Galaxy S22+. Using the original Samsung 25W Power Adapter and data cable is recommended for Galaxy S22.

*The USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF) was established in 1995 to support and accelerate the market and consumer adoption of USB compliant devices. Galaxy S22 and S22+’s Super Fast Charging has been certified to be compliant to the USB standards which means your products have met the highest standards in the industry. This certification can be found on www.usb.org.

* Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G, Z Fold2, Note20, Note20 Ultra, S20 FE, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.

OSÂ
Android 12
One UI 4.1

Network and ConnectivityÂ

5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E (Galaxy S22+) / Wi-Fi 6(Galaxy S22), Wi-Fi Direct BluetoothÂ® v 5.2

*5G services are only supported in 5G network enabled locations. Requires optimal 5G connection. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
*Availability of LTE model varies by country and carrier.
* Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection. Will require a Wi-Fi 6E router.
*Ultra Wide Band supported on Galaxy S22+

SensorsÂ
Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity SensorÂ

sWater ResistanceÂ
IP68Â

* IP68 is based on test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry if wet. Not advised for beach or pool use.Â

Both felt like natural progressions of the S21 line, with subtle yet obvious improvements throughout. The aluminum frame does give the S22 versions a slightly thicker feel in the hand but since we don’t have an actual S21 variant in hand to compare, this could just be our minds playing tricks. Nonetheless, they come with incremental improvements from last year’s models and are solid picks for those searching for flagship-tier phones for 2022.

But if these were the luxury & sports versions, next up, the Ultra is essentially the supercar version of them all. Largest screen available in this year’s smartphones lineup, the Ultra lives up to its tag. Don’t believe us? Check the specs for yourself.

Galaxy S22 Ultra

DisplayÂ
6.8-inch Edge QHD+
Dynamic AMOLED 2X DisplayÂ
Super Smooth 120HzÂ refresh rate (1~120Hz)Â
240Hz Touch Sampling Rate in Game ModeÂ
Vision BoosterÂ
Eye comfort shieldÂ

*Measured diagonally, Galaxy S22’s screen size is 6.8-inch in the full rectangle; actual viewable area is less due to camera hole.
*The Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with Vision Booster on Galaxy S22 Ultra received a certification from VDE Germany for 100 percent Mobile Color Volume in the DCI-P3 color range, which means your images arenâ€™t washed out and youâ€™ll get unbelievably vivid colors regardless of differing levels of brightness. The display can achieve peak brightness of up to 1750 nits, improving the contrast between dark and light aspects of digital content for a more brilliant picture quality, with a 3,000,000:1 contrast ratio to make your mobile experience more immersive.

SecurityÂ
Ultrasonic FingerprintÂ

Dimensions & WeightÂ
77.9 X 163.3 X 8.9mm, 229g

sCameraÂ
12MP Ultra-Wide CameraÂ

F2.2, FOV 120ËšÂ

Â
108 MP Wide CameraÂ

F1.8, FOV 85ËšÂ

Â
10MP Telephoto CameraÂ

3x Optical Zoom, F2.4, FOV 36ËšÂ

10MP Telephoto CameraÂ

10x Optical Zoom, F4.9, FOV 11ËšÂ

40MP Front CameraÂ

F2.2, FOV 80ËšÂ

*100X Space Zoom includes 10x Optical Zoom and 10x digital zoom with AI Super Resolution technology. Zooming in past 10x may cause some image deterioration.

AP
AdvancedÂ 4nm ProcessingÂ Â

*May differ by market and carrier

MemoryÂ
12 + 512GB
12 + 256GBÂ Â
8 + 128GBÂ Â

*Actual storage space may vary by country, model, file size and format.
* Memory option may vary by country.

BatteryÂ
5,000mAhÂ

*Based on average battery life under typical usage conditions. Average expected performance based on typical use. Actual battery life depends on factors such as network, features selected, frequency of calls, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns

Charging*Â
Up to 45W WiredÂ Â
15W Wireless**
Wireless PowerShare
USB-IF compliant***

* Wall charger sold separately; use only Samsung-approved chargers and cables. To avoid injury or damage to your device, do not use incompatible, worn or damaged batteries, chargers or cables. Supports 45W charging.

** Limited to Samsung or other brand smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra, Z Fold3 5G, Z Flip3 5G, S21 FE 5G, S21 5G, S21+ 5G, S21 Ultra 5G, Z Fold2, Note20, Note20 Ultra, S20 FE, S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6, S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE and Note5. Only available with certain Samsung Galaxy wearables such as Galaxy Buds2, Buds Pro, Buds Live, Watch4, Watch4 Classic, Watch3, Watch Active2, Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If battery power is lower than 30% Wireless PowerShare may not function. May not work with certain accessories, covers, other brand devices or some Samsung wearables. May affect call reception or data services, depending on your network environment.

***The USB Implementers Forum, Inc. (USB-IF) was established in 1995 to support and accelerate the market and consumer adoption of USB compliant devices. Galaxy S22 Ultraâ€™s Super Fast Charging has been certified to be compliant to the USB standards which means your products have met the highest standards in the industry. This certification can be found on www.usb.org.

OSÂ
Android 12
One UI 4.1

Network and ConnectivityÂ

Â 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi Direct BluetoothÂ® v 5.2

* Requires optimal 5G network connection, available in select markets. Check with your carrier for availability and details. Download and streaming speeds may vary based on content provider, server connection and other factors.
*Availability of LTE model varies by country and carrier. Actual speed may vary depending on market, carrier, and user environment.
* Wi-Fi 6E network availability may vary by market, network provider and user environment. Requires optimal connection.
*Ultra Wide Band supported

SensorsÂ
Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor

Water ResistanceÂ
IP68Â

* Galaxy S22 Ultra and S Pen are rated as IP68. Consistent with IP68 rating, water resistant in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. Rinse residue/dry after wet.

Although it carries a similar-sized battery, software updates and how the phone functions makes the S22 Ultra more power efficient – perfect for power users out there. It lasts longer and charges faster. So what’s not to like?
Some may disagree with this year’s design language where Samsung totally removed the camera housing which became synonymous with the S21 line. Taste is subjective and while we do miss the ‘encased camera’ look, we don’t have much to complain about this year’s model. We kind of understood Samsung’s deliberateness in trying to make the S22 Ultra stand out from the rest. Also, after seeing all the colors available in person, while we love our matte black phones, the greenish – olive colored one is definitely starting to grow on us.
In short, if you are either looking to finally replace your old Note, or plainly in search of the cream of the crop of this year’s Samsung flagship releases, this is your go-to model. However if you have last year’s model and are still on the fence on whether to upgrade from it – the camera should be the deal maker … or breaker – which we will be diving deeper into once we get our hands on the actual review unit.Â
Galaxy EcosystemÂ
Alongside the new S22 series, Samsung is introducing an all-new line of tablets and a pack of updated features for Galaxy Watch4 so that Galaxy users can stay connected in every aspect of their lives. Built for a new era of connectivity, the Galaxy Tab S8 seriesâ€“ including Tab S8, Tab S8+ and Tab S8 Ultra â€“ is Samsungâ€™s most versatile line of tablets ever, built and designed to meet the ever-changing needs of those who work, study, play and create.Â
Our pick of the bunch is easily the Tab S8 Ultra which not only carries the largest screen of the lot, it is also the closest one to a two-in-one, tablet and laptop hybrid. We can’t wait to test it out; churning out texts, editing videos and once everything’s done, use it as a remote screen for our Cloud gaming sessions.
Local Availability
However, tech comes at a price and everything we spoke of here today do come at a premium. Starting on 10 February 2022, Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ will be widely available in carriers and Unlocked by Samsung versions through Samsung.com/my, carriers and retailers online. Both devices will be available in the following colours and memory options:Â

Galaxy S22/22+: Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Pink Gold in 128GB and 256GB models with 8GB RAM.Â Â

Models

RRP
Colour

Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 256GB

RM 4,299
Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green, Pink Gold

Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G 128GB
RM 4,099
Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green, Pink Gold

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 256GB

RM 3,699
Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green, Pink Gold

Samsung Galaxy S22 5G 128GB
RM 3,499

Phantom Black, Phantom Silver, Green, Pink Gold

Starting on 10 February 2022, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra will be widely available in carriers and Unlocked by Samsung versions through Samsung.com/my, carriers and retailers online. The device will be available in the following colours and memory options:Â

Galaxy S22 Ultra: Phantom Black, Phantom White, Green, and Burgundy in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 512GB (RM 5,899)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 128GB (RM 5,099)
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 256GB (RM 5,499)

We will be getting our hands on some of these devices listed above for review soon so for a more in-depth, day-to-day usage experience. While everything points to a potential smartphone of the year models, we recommend you hold off your pre-orders first so as to hear what we, along with other tech reviewers has to say about them.


Elden Ring Character Creation Process Leaked

We’re only one month away from the release of Elden Ring, and the character creation screen for the game has already leaked. It was leaked by YouTuber ER-SA.
It certainly looks like this character creator is more complex and advanced compared to any of the previous From Software games. It seems like now players will be able to create more realistic characters.
Elden RingÂ is releasing on 25 February 2022 for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
You can check out the leak below before it eventually gets taken down soon.


Elden Ring: The Best Weapons To Get

Elden Ring features a plethora of weapons to help you with your Elden Lord path and monster-slaying. Depending on your stats, there’s always the right weapon for you.
But which ones are great? Well, here are our suggestions. For more Elden Ring goodness, check out the other features we have before we dive right into weapons.
Elden Ring best class build so far
Elden Ring boss battle guide
Elden Ring Rune farming spots
Bloodhound’s Fang Greatsword

A greatsword that deals great poise damage like the halberds in the game, but also has great Bleed buildup
Here are the requirements needed:
Strength: 18
Dexterity: 17
To obtain this, you have to go to the Forlorn Hound Evergaol in Limgrave. Defeat Bloodhound Knight Darriwil in the Evergaol and the sword is yours.
Reduvia Dagger

You get this by slaying Bloody Hutner Nerijus early in the game in front of the Murkwater Cave. Here are the requirements:
Strength: 5
Dexterity: 13
Arcane: 13
Fighting him can be tough, but after dishing a few hits an ally AI companion joins in to defeat Nerijus. The knife requires the following to equip, but it’s worth it for its Bleed effect and projectile weapon art skill.
Hookclaws

A pretty fast bunch of weapons that you should dual-wield. Also deals Bleed damage (better than Reduvia, arguably), which is useful for most of the game and its enemies. Here are the requirements.
Strength: 8
Dexterity: 14
You can find this in Stormveil Castle.
Uchigatana Katana
This katana also deals blood loss buildup; as you can tell from this guide, it’s a useful trait to have on a weapon. Here are the requirements:
Strength: 11
Dexterity: 15
The Uchigatana is a starter weapon if you picked the Samurai starter class, but you can get it inside the Deathtouched Catacombs. You need to unlock one of the previous hallway’s doors via a lever, then find it on a dead body hanging over the edge of the platform.
Moonveil Katana

One of the best katanas in the game. It hits pretty hard and deals Bleed effect too, but it has a pretty cool weapon art called Transient Moonlight. You sheath your blade and can launch a slash attack that shoots out a wave of light.
Here are the weapon’s requirements:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 18
Intelligence: 23
To get it, you will need to head to the Gael Tunnel in Caelid. Kill the Magma Wyrm there and you’ll get it.
Sword of Night & Flame
Arguably one of the most powerful weapons in the game is available from the start if you know where to look. The sword deals physical, magic, and fire damage while also featuring a nifty weapon art where you can cast Night Comet or do a cool flame blade sweep. It has the following requirements however:
Strength: 12
Dexterity: 12
Intelligence: 24
Faith: 24
To get it, you’ll need to equip Torrent, your magic steed.

Head up toÂ Stormvale Castle. Instead of entering the main entrance, head for the broken bridge and make your way around the side along the cliff face.
Activate theÂ Lake Facing Cliffs Site of Grace.
Head down into the lake itself and follow the sunken road around the left side of the Raya Academy. You should see a way up out of the lake in the cliff to the northwest.
Activate the Northern Liurnia Lake Shore Site of Grace.
Go north along the road until you reach theÂ Kingsrealm Ruins, and head right to the back of the ruins until you see a wall.
Hit the centre of the stone wall to reveal a doorway.
Take a short rest at the Road to the Manor Site of Grace.
Head up the road towards the keep at the back, making sure to watch out for the falling magic arrows here.
Activate the next Site of Grace at the Main Caria Manor Gate.
Hug the left wall, taking care not to wake up the hands on the ground. You should see a hand already awake and some stairs leading into the wall to the left.
Head into the building and go up the stairs to find the Manor Lower Level Site of Grace.
Walk along the wall, avoiding the ghostly knights that appear and turn left after the first wall.
Continue walking across the wall; on the third section of the wall, jump down to the building on your left.
Jump down to the next building and climb down the ladder.
Open the chest in this room to find the Sword of Night and Flame.


Destiny 2 Beyond Light Deep Stone Crypt Raid Guide

This week’s going to be a big one for Destiny 2 fans; the Deep Stone Crypt Raid is available for play right now. It already has its World’s First teams who finished it around 5 hours, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a shot at it.
After all, the best loot is usually in these 6-man missions. For Destiny lore hounds, you’re essentially going to the original source of the Exos race.Â Here’s how to complete the Deep Stone Crypt (via Reddit’s Destiny 2 raid thread).
Raid Requirements

You must complete Beyond Light Campaign,
Your Guardian’s minimum recommended power level has to be 1230,
The Final Boss’ power level is 1250,
Champions in Raid are Overload,
Shields used in Raid are Arc and Void.

Just like previous Raids, this one is divided into Encounters: there are 4 main ones to keep note. We’ll go to each bit one by one, but first:
Know Your Roles
The Raid’s concept revolves around 3 different roles shuffled around called Augments: Operator, Scanner, and Suppressor.
These roles are present in each encounter, with Suppressor being available only in the 3rd and 4th encounter. After the 1st encounter, every role can be taken by picking up an item dropped by an Operator Vandal, a Hacker Vandal, or Suppressor Vandal. These unique bad guys drop the Operator, Scanner, and Suppressor role respectively.

The Operator is indicated by a red icon. Their main purpose is to Operate as they can shoot various raid mechanics to trigger various effects.

The Scanner is indicated by a yellow icon. Their purpose is toÂ ScanÂ and determine which elements in an encounter are relevant to the team in order to succeed.
The Suppressor is indicated by a blue icon. Their purpose is toÂ SuppressÂ by stunning the bosses in the 3rd and 4th encounter, enabling the rest of the team to proceed with the encounters’ mechanics.

Intro
The raid starts out in Eventide Ruins. Head straight ahead via your Sparrow, clear the ads, and proceed through the door. You will eventually enter Desolation after a small airlock. You can use the Pikes if you want.
This intro section will teach you about the Raid’s heat bubbles which serve to shelter you from the blizzard. Your team must navigate between these heat bubbles to stay alive and reach the end of this area.
Standing in the blizzard grants you theÂ Frostbite debuff, which stacks up to 10x. If it reaches that high, you die; simple as that. You can prevent this by entering the heat bubbles, granting you the Shelter from the StormÂ buff, and slowly removing your Frostbite stacks.
Clear the ads around each bubble as you progress. You can choose toÂ Transmat in the centre of the safe bubbles, which will send you back one checkpoint if you need to help your teammates.
You will fight a few Brigs defending the final bubble. After that, you’ll approach a small airlock that opens to a series of tunnels that lead to Restricted. Continue making your way through these until you reach the entrance to the Deep Stone Crypt. Take a right inside, and you will reach the first major encounter.

1st Encounter: RESTRICTED – Disable Crypt Security

Roles: Operator, Scanner
This encounter revolves around the idea of having your Operator in the basement shooting keypads while Scanners up top guide them.
The room is split into 3 sections: Light (lit side), Dark (unlit side), and Below. Light and Dark each have 4 windows which allow players in either to view keypads below.
Start the encounter by having your chosen Operator pick up the buff from one of the Augmentation Terminals.
This is how the encounter is played out:

A Hacker Vandal will spawn in Dark, from which you can grab the Scanner buff.

The current Scanner looks through their windows to see which 2 keypads are glowing on their side. Once memorized, they pass the role to the other side by depositing it in their Augmentation Terminal.

Once all 4 keypads have been located, the Operator can head Below by shooting the keypads next to the central doors.Â OnlyÂ the Operator can enter these, and they will not allow passage if someone else is with them.

When Below, the Scanners guide the Operator to which keypads they need to shoot. Successfully shot keypads will make a sound and show the Operator icon. The Operator hasÂ 1 minuteÂ to shoot all 4 keypads, or they will be killed.

The 6 Top Fuses will then be exposed to begin the DPS phase, wherein the Operator needs to trade their role with a Scanner via the Augmentation Terminal in the centre of Below, directly in front of the stairs.

The newly-appointed Scanner Below checks all 6 smaller Fuses directly below the top ones and calls out which is glowing. This indicates which the Top team need to shoot. Failure to communicate means a huge risk of a team wipe.

Repeat the last step until each Fuse is destroyed to clear the encounter.

The top Fuses will be shielded again after a short while, so rinse and repeat until the encounter is cleared. In order to get the player Below back out, the current Operator can shoot the keypads next to the doors to release them before they are killed by incineration.

Role Breakdown
Scanners

Check and memorize which 2 keypads are glowing Below via the windows on your side.
Send your role to the other side via the Augmentation Terminal.
Send your role to the Player Below once all 4 keypads have been activated.
If you’re the Scanner Below, inform your team which fuses are currently glowing for the DPS phase.

Operators

Shoot the keypads next to the central doors to enter Below once your Scanners have determined which 4 keypads are needed.
Shoot all 4 keypads within 1 minute, following the guidance of your Scanners.
Send your role to the Top via the Augmentation Terminal in front of the stairs, and pick up the Scanner role.

Once you’ve cleared the encounter, a door on the Dark side will open to lead you to the next encounter.

2nd Encounter: CLARITY CONTROL – Defeat Atraks-1

Roles: Operator, Scanner
This encounter revolves around juggling the Scanner role to determine which Replicant of Atraks-1 to shoot. It takes place in 2 distinct areas: Ground, and Space. A majority of the encounter takes place in Space, with 4 airlocks to evacuate Replicants, as well as where the final stand takes place.
You need to decide on 2 teams of 3, a Ground teamÂ and aÂ Space team. The encounter starts once somehow walks through the orb at the opposite side of the room from the entrance. Here’s how the encounter plays out:

An Operator Vandal will spawn at Ground, while a Hacker Vandal will spawn in Space. 3 Sentinel Servitors will spawn in each zone too, and serve to advance the encounter. The Space team can either head up directly via the Launch Pods, or wait to grab the Operator role, then head up, and grab the Scanner role as well.

Once Space team has both roles, each team needs to kill all 3 Sentinel Servitors in their area to advance the encounter, wherein the Atraks-1 Replicants will begin casting a wipe mechanic. The Scanner in Space needs to spot which of them is glowing yellow, and call out to their team to DPSÂ onlyÂ that Replicant. Upon dying, it will turn into a purple cloud, which must be picked up by a Player.

The Scanner then sends their role to the Ground team via any of the Augmentation Terminals available around the room, followed by the Ground team Scanner checking which Atraks-1 Replicant is glowing, DPSing it, and sending the role back.

The Players that ran through the purple clouds left behind the Replicants will have a debuff calledÂ Atraks-1 ReplicationÂ with a 42 second timer. If this counts down to 0, a copy of Atraks-1 will respawn on top of them, and wipe the fireteam. To control this, Players holding this debuff should head to Space, where theÂ Operator can shoot the glow above them to cause them to drop the Replication, and refresh the timer. Protip: The Operator can also call and send Launch Pods by shooting the keypads next to them.

Once two Atraks-1 Replicants have been killed in each section and have their debuffs picked up, all 4 players with the debuff need to group up in front of one of the 4 airlocks in Space. The Operator can shoot the keypad to open the airlock, where all 4 players need to stand inside and allow the Operator to shoot their debuffs to drop them inside, before running out. The Airlocks reset after each set of 4 Replicants, so you could also airlock each player individually instead of 4 at once.

Sentinel Servitors will spawn again, and the killed Atraks-1 Replicants will respawn. Rinse and repeat these steps until you reach the final stand.

The Final Stands occurs in Space, so have all players head up once you reach this point. It’s simply a rapid-fire version of the encounter, without needing to deal with Replications. The current Scanner just calls out which Atraks-1 Replicant is currently glowing for all the team to DPS, then move on to the next Replicant, until the boss is killed, and the encounter is completed.

Role Breakdown
Operator
The Operator must always stay in Space.

Send or call Launch Pods depending on how many people need to change positions.
Shoot the glowing debuff above players withÂ Atraks-1 ReplicationÂ to reset their timer and avoid a wipe.
When all 4 Replications are being carried, shoot the keypad next to an airlock that everyone is gathered at to open it.
Shoot the 4 players’ debuffs to cause them to drop the Replications inside the airlock.

Scanner

Call out which Atraks-1 Replicant is the current target in your section of the encounter.
Send your role to the other team via an Augmentation Terminal.
During the Final Stand, call out each Atraks-1 Replicant as they glow in order, no trading roles.

A door to the right in Space will open once the encounter is cleared, to allow you to progress further into the raid.

Intermission: Descent to the Nuclear Contingency Chamber
This mid-encounter transition features a jumping puzzle with some combat. Make your way along the catwalks to the other side, killing ads along the way. Clovis AI will spout Destiny 2 lore stuff, all to some exquisite music. The 2nd Hidden Chest can be found here, along the left side of the area, underneath some large fans.

3rd Encounter: RAPTURE – Prevent Europa’s Destruction

Roles: Operator, Scanner, Suppressor
This is the first encounter that now introduces theÂ SuppressorÂ role. While the purpose of the other two roles is generally the same, there are yet again some differences.
This encounter revolves around juggling Nuclear Cores which give a debuff in order to deposit them and increase the progress of the encounter, no real phases here.
The encounter goes as follows:

The Operator, Scanner, and Suppressor can all be picked up from their respective Vandals that will spawn at the start of the encounter.

The Scanner checks which 2 of the 4 central bins are glowing: These are where the runners will need to deposit the Nuclear Cores. Meanwhile, the Operator shoots the keypads next to either the left or right Core station, spawning Nuclear Cores for the team. The Suppressor stands ready under one of the 3 Security Drones, from which they can shoot Taniks.

Two players pick up the Nuclear Cores, to then be ready to deposit them in the centre of the room. Carrying a Core gives you the Radiation debuff which stacks up to 10x; you die once it’s at 10x. Manage this by calling out your stacks of Radiation to your team, and if need be, have someone else interact with you to pick up your core.

Passing the core will reduce the Radiation debuff from the previous player; the new guy holding the core will slowly gain Radiation debuff stacks. Stacks of Radiation will decay after a long while, so keep an eye on that if you go to grab a new Core.

Once all the Cores are being carried, the Suppressor must shoot Taniks from under each of the 3 Security Drones, which will eventually stun him, allowing the Nuclear Cores to be deposited into the glowing bins that the Scanner calls out at the centre of the room. Each Bin must receive only one Core. Doing so will advance a progress bar beneath the bins, while also disabling a random Augment. The Player affected by this must drop their Augment at an Augmentation Station to trade it with someone else.

Repeat this 5 more times to unlock the hatch in the centre of the room which leads to the end of the encounter. Once it opens, it’s a sprint to the end of the hallway, as Taniks will be chasing you, and the final door will slowly close. Getting caught by Taniks is an instakill, while missing the door wipes the fireteam.

Role Breakdown
All roles may have to switch with someone else throughout the encounter, as clearing a set of Nuclear Cores will disable the Augment for a random player.
Operator
Shoot the keypads next to the Core Dispensers to spawn 2 Nuclear Cores for your team.
Operator
Check which 2 Deposit Bins in the centre of the room are glowing, and call them out to your team.
Suppressor

Stand under a Security Drone and shoot Taniks once all cores are being carried. He will glow blue when you are in the correct position.

Repeat for all 3 of the Security Drones in the room.

Core Runner

Grab a Nuclear Core once they’re summoned.

If need be, call out to your fireteam when you’ve got high stacks so that someone else can take over for you.

Deposit the Core in one of the two Depsoit Bins that the Scanner called out.

The encounter is cleared once the Station crash lands on Europa. The loot chest is available in the wreckage to the left.

4th Encounter: Taniks the Abomination

Roles: Operator, Scanner, Suppressor
The final encounter of the raid. It shares the exact same mechanics to the last encounter for the most part, with some slight added complexity.
The arena is split into 3 sections:Â Spawn, Blue, and Orange. Each section as 2 Deposit Bins like the previous encounter, one to the left, and one to the right, along with 3 Security Drones.
Run near or shoot the piles of debris in the centre of the arena to start the Encounter. Here’s the breakdown:

One Augment Vandal spawns in each section of the arena. Players need to pick up all of these Augments.

The Scanner runs around each section, checking which Bins are glowing, and calling them out to the team. Callouts are usually the area, followed by ‘Left’ or ‘Right’. i.e. “Blue Right, Orange Left”

Taniks will eventually do a Meteor attack (big purple columns), which lets you know that you need to shoot his thrusters. If at least 2 Thrusters aren’t destroyed in time, he will wipe the fireteam. Each thruster will drop 1 Nuclear Core. To facilitate this encounter, it’s recommended to only shoot 2.

Core Holders will get the RadiationÂ debuff that will kill them at 10x stacks. Swap with other players to avoid this. Taniks will also occasionally trap a player holding a Core in a large purple sphere. The Operator needs to shoot this to free them. Try to stay away from the Operator if you’re holding a Core, as it can trap them as well, where they cannot free you.

The Suppressor then stands under each Security Drone, shooting Taniks to stun him once all 3 are activated. This allows the Core Carriers to deposit their Cores in the bins that the Scanner had spotted.

Same as the previous encounter, a random Player will have their augment disabled. Swap with another player via the Augmentation Terminals to mitigate this issue.

Once all 4 Nuclear Cores have been deposited, this begins the DPS phase. Taniks will summon 2 Arc domes around him, the outermost of which has debris flying around its’ outer edge which must be avoided. In order to DPS him, stand between the outer and inner dome. Standing within the inner dome directly below him causes damage, and will likely kill you. He will occasionally knockback the whole fireteam, so be ready to safely jump back in when this happens.

When the DPS phase ends, just rinse and repeat these steps until you reach the final stand.

Once below ~15% HP, Taniks will begin teleporting around the arena, attacking constantly. You can DPS him during this phase, and must deal enough damage to kill him before he wipes the fireteam.

Role Breakdown
Operator
Shoot the Detention Sphere (purple) when a player gets trapped to free them, while keeping your distance from Core holders, as getting trapped yourself is guaranteed death.
Scanner
Check all Deposit Bins around the Arena for the 2 that are glowing yellow, and call them out to your team.
Suppressor
Stand beneath the 3 Security Drones that activate once the 3 Cores are held to stun him and allow depositing.
Core Runner
Deposit your Core in one of the glowing Deposit Bins that your Scanner calls out, and switch with someone else if your stacks ofÂ RadiationÂ near 10x.
The final chest will spawn in the Orange section once the encounter is completed. This chest is unique in that you can choose your reward to receive from it, as well as payÂ Spoils of ConquestÂ to buy a Crypt Cache that contains your desired loot.

Post-Raid

Apart from a cutscene that expands on Destiny 2’s lore, you will get the following:
New quests from The Stranger and Variks + Eclipsed Zones
Thanks to the debris from the Morningstar crash, previous zones in Europa will now have debris falling down. The new missions you get from The Stranger and Variks will net you Legendary rewards.
The Lament Exotic Quest
You can start the Exotic Quest by visiting Banshee-44. To find out more about the new loot, head to our Destiny 2 Beyond Light loot guide.Â
Image credit: KackisHD


Kingdom Hearts 3 Co-Director Explains New Gameplay Features

It’s been more than a decade since Kingdom Hearts 2 and fans have long wondered how the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3 will differentiate itself in terms of gameplay.
In an interview with IGN, Kingdom Hearts 3 co-director Tai Yasue elaborated on the new gameplay features set to be introduced in the long-awaited sequel. Check out what they are below:
-Gameplay Gimmicks Unique to Each World: Every Disney world in Kingdom Hearts 3 will feature its own unique gimmick or gameplay mechanic. Examples include piloting the Giga mechas in Toy Story’s Toy Box, sledding downhill with a shield in Frozen’s Arendelle, and even captaining a ship in Pirates of the Caribbean’s Port Royal.
Players will need to complete these world-specific gimmicks to advance the story at first but returning to these worlds afterward will allow players to replay the gimmicks as minigames.
â€œWe all love the original Disney films, obviously. We watch them over and over again and we just ask ourselves, â€˜What will be the most fun [thing to do] there, in the world,â€™ said Yasue. â€œThe first time around you just clear it, but the second time around there are new routes and there’s a score attack mode.”
-Keyblade Transformations:Â Sora’s signature weapon can change into non-Key forms like yo-yos (Hercules’ Olympus), toy hammers (Toy Story’s Toy Box), and more, according to which world he is currently visiting.
â€œThe tempo was quick and I think it’s really important to have a change in rhythm in the battle systems, and the game, so we wanted to take that feeling and put that into Kingdom Hearts 3, as well,â€ said Yasue. â€œWe wanted our players to be surprised. But at the same time, we wanted it to be true to the world. So by using that, by changing a [Keyblade]â€™s look and also how he fights, you never get really tired or bored of the game.â€
–Attraction Flow Mechanic: These special attacks summon iconic Disney theme park rides into combat. For example, Mad Tea Party cups can be conjured against enemies, or even a Pirate ship, swinging back and forth, hitting enemies in the process.
â€œArt-wise we wanted to pick up [an]… electric parade-like look, and change the rules for each sort of ride, so you have a new feel to it,â€ said Yasue. â€œWe decide which ride we want, according to the field and which enemies you fight with, so it’s not really story-linked. There is another point where you use an attraction, and that really fits into the sort of overall game flow, but usually, it’s just battle-based, and you know, your enemies and your environment, and how that fits in.â€
–Gummi Ship Differences: The Gummi Ship was already in the original Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2, so it’s not a new gameplay feature. However, in Kingdom Hearts 3, it will be much-improved, featuring a 360-degree world in which can players can freely fly around with no fixed path.
â€œYou choose your own route. There’s also treasure all over the place, and missions, and things to explore. You can use the camera feature to take pictures of stars, and that gives you a recipe to make a gummi ship,â€ said Yasue. â€œThe Gummi ships, we have the team from Einhander…working on that with us. For the ships as well, we have a programmer or an engineer who actually works a lot on cars and driving games as well.â€
–Improvements to Magic: While magic-based attacks will largely remain the same Final Fantasy attacks that players are used to (like Fire, Blizzard, and Thunder), they will be much more fluid in Kingdom Hearts 3. No longer will Sora stop in his tracks when unleashing magic attacks.
â€œWhen you look at the animations, for example, even when you’re running and you shoot a fireball, Fire, for example, you’re continuing to run and shoot at the same time,â€ Yasue said. â€œWe wanted it [to have] that seamless look. We wanted the magic spells to evolve, so you get the Situation Command after you’ve, for example, used fire a lot, you have a new level of Fire coming up on your Situation Command.â€
Additionally, Keyblade transformations will also affect how Sora’s magic is conjured. For example, the toy hammer form will unleash a “circular movement” of fire when using Fire-based magic instead of just shooting it forward like he normally does with his Keyblade.
–More Exploration Opportunities: Exploration in Kingdom Hearts 3 will be more than just reaching hidden places to find secret treasure chests.
â€œFor example, the smartphone camera picture feature. You [can] take pictures of hidden Mickeys, and by taking pictures of hidden Mickeys that are placed all over the place you get items,â€ said Yasue. â€œThere’s also a lot of food items hidden away. And if you have food items, you [can] take that to Remy’s restaurant at Twilight Town and make your own dinner.â€
In a Kingdom Hearts 3 demo I experienced last year, I noticed that the core gameplay remained the same with its predecessor, albeit with several small changes. It seems that there’s a lot more content awaiting me in the full version of the game. In the meantime, check out my hands-on preview of Kingdom Hearts 3 here.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is slated to release for the PS4 and Xbox One on 29 January 2019.


EGX Rezzed Steam Page Highlights A Bunch Of Interesting Games

The EGX Rezzed Digital event is over, but the related Steam page remains online at time of writing. It highlights a bunch of games both upcoming and released, and while the vast majority don’t seem to have demos, sadly, it’s a varied selection that deserves a look.
Among the upcoming stuff are sequels to familiar titles, like Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break and Desperados 3. There are also 2D action-platformers like Neon Abyss, puzzle games that tackle deep themes like The Almost Gone, and Shell Corp, a game about eggs.
For me, the most interesting-looking games (all upcoming) are:
Recompile

A Metroidvania game set in a digital realm called the Mainframe, with the developers providing a branching story in addition to combat, platforming, and hacking.
Beyond Blue

Single-player adventure that takes you beneath the ocean of a near-future Earth.
Dice Legacy

A survival city-builder set on a ring-world, with dice and dice-rolling being a major part of the game.
Those Who RemainÂ

A psychological horror game set in the town of Dormont where you have to manage your sanity and choose to help or abandon the citizens you meet.
The Falconeer

Made by a single guy, this is an open world fantasy RPG where you engage in aerial battles with large airships, creatures like flying beetles and manta rays, and rival Falconeers like yourself.
And lastly…
No Longer Home

A “semi-auto-biographical point and click game” about two recent university graduates in the UK, who are preparing to move out of the flat they’ve shared for a year.


Konami Loses A YUGE Team License for PES2019

In an unprecedented announcement, Konami today announced that they have severed ties with German Bundesliga team, Borussia Dortmund, a move which was initiated by the German giants. An official statement posted on the company’s official site read:
“KONAMI and Borussia Dortmund had a license agreement with respect to the use of Borussia Dortmund’s logos, players, stadium and other features in KONAMI products until June 2020. However this agreement was prematurely terminated by Borussia Dortmund. KONAMI will not include Borussia Dortmundâ€™s logos, players, stadium and other features in â€œPRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2019â€.
“Please be assured that the PES series will continue to provide new ways to enjoy soccer through new partnerships with various clubs and leagues.”
No reason for the breakup was revealed but it was indeed suspect considering Dortmund has been one of the few big clubs which has established an official licensing agreement with the Konami game, alongside Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. A few weeks back, Konami revealed that seven new leagues will be officially licensed in its 2019 gameÂ includingÂ Danish Superliga, Portugalâ€™s Liga NOS, Belgium Pro League, Swiss Super League and Scotlandâ€™s Ladbrokes Premiership.
After losing the Uefa Champions League license for PES2019, losing a club of Dortmund’s stature will definitely affect Konami’s push to challenge EA Sports’ FIFA on the licensing department. However, we still feel they have an edge when it comes to pure gameplay experience as PES2018 is the superior game to FIFA18. You can read more about our thoughts on these two games here.


The Last of Us Part 2 Is Delayed Indefinitely

The end seems nigh, as Naughty Dog announced today that it will not be releasing its hugely-anticipated game The Last of Us Part 2 on 29th May for PS4.
Also, Marvel’s Iron Man VR will be delayed, in case you were looking forward to that game.
The reason? According to PlayStation, the global crisis is preventing the company from providing the launch experience its players deserve from a logistical standpoint. The new launch date for the game has yet to be confirmed, so you can list that down as “indefinitely”.
Naughty Dog’s full statement is below:

As you’ve likely just seen, the release of The Last of Us Part II has been delayed. We’re sure this news is just as disappointing to you as it is to us. We wanted to reach out to all of you in our community to give you a little more information.
The good news is, we’re nearly done with development of The Last of Us Part II. We are in the midst of fixing our final bugs.
However, even with us finishing the game, we were faced with the reality that due to logistics beyond our control, we couldn’t launch The Last of Us Part II to our satisfaction. We want to make sure everyone gets to play The Last of Us Part II around the same time, ensuring that we’re doing everything possible to preserve the best experience for everyone. This meant delaying the game until such a time where we can solve these logistic issues.
We were bummed about this decision but ultimately understood what’s best and fair to all of our players. We’re hoping that this won’t be a long delay, and we’ll update you as soon as we have new information to share.
We wish you all, your families, and your friends the best of health. Thank you for being amazing fans and your continued support.
Stay safe!

This is the game’s next delay after its previous dates; first, it was 22nd February, then it was 29th May. At the very least, you now have some ample time to replay the first game to get yourself psyched up for part 2, whenever it’s coming out.


Prime Video July 2023: Our Picks & Highlights

I’m sure you won’t want to waste time sifting through Prime Video’s extensive catalogue of shows and movies just to decide on what to watch. The streaming site updates its site every day, week, and month with new content, so I’m here to save your precious time.
Here are my personal recommendations and highlights for Prime Video July 2023 lineup and how to fill up your free time with worthwhile content at home:
Rurouni Kenshi Season 1 AKA The Rurouni Kenshin Reboot Anime (7 July 2023)

During the turmoil at the end of the Bakumatsu Era, there was a patriot known as “Hitokiri Battosai”. With the advent of a new era, the man disappeared from public view leaving behind just his legend of the strongest Revolutionary warrior. Years later in downtown Tokyo, on the 11th year of Meiji.
Kenshin Himura, a traveling swordsman who vowed to never kill again on the sakabato (reverse blade sword) he carries on his hip, meets Kaoru Kamiya, the head instructor of the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu sword style. Kaoru ends up offering Kenshin to live at her dojo after Kenshin solves the case of a crossroad killer who was tarnishing the name of the Kasshin-ryu while claiming to be the “Hitokiri Battosai.
Meet friends such as Yahiko Myojin from the samurai-class family in Tokyo and Sanosuke Sagara who claims to be a fighter for hire, and faces off against various foes who have unfinished business from Kenshin’s past. The Meiji samurai romantic story of people who are struggling to live in the new era unfolds here!

Zom 100 Bucket List Of The Dead (9 July 2023)

Experience the zombie world with ‘Akira’, a corporate employee who is tired of working life. But then a zombie apocalypse breaks out. Instead of being afraid, Akira is glad he doesn’t have to work anymore and even sets 100 goals to achieve before turning into a zombie!

Imaginur (13 July 2023)

A man’s quotidian world is suddenly disrupted by strange events when he takes his ageing father to the hospital for a check-up. A charitable woman hands him a calling card to the future; a hostile ex unleashes a public humiliation; a new love interest suddenly whisks him off his feet. Odd coincidences segue through dream logic, patching together scenes from his past while hinting at his fate. Enigmatic signs lead him to an eccentric hypnotherapist to address his fleeting grip on reality, but it may be too late. This incredibly imaginative film explores ideas of memory, identity and time as powerful yet dangerously fragile constructs, often beyond our simple ken. Ingeniously playing with time and space, Imaginur poses bold questions about existence with stunning cinematic bravado.
Imaginur is a Malaysian film that’s definitely worth watching. It features a poignant and moving storyline with several mind-bending plot twists. It’s a mix of the non-linear narrative in Christopher Nolan’s Memento meets Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind.

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 2 (14 July 2023)

Belly used to count down the days until she could return to Cousins Beach, but with Conrad and Jeremiah fighting over her heart and the return of Susannah’s cancer, she’s not sure summer will ever be the same. When an unexpected visitor threatens the future of Susannah’s beloved house, Belly has to rally the gang to come together—and to decide once and for all where her heart lies.

Stone Turtle (27 July 2023)

A refugee and a researcher are embroiled in a devious game of deception in this spellbinding island folk horror. A wild and dynamic film that unfolds through unconventional storytelling including an animated segment, featuring local folklore.
Zahara (Asmara Abigail), a stateless refugee, lives on a small remote island in Malaysia, where she makes a living selling turtle eggs. One day, Samad (Bront Palarae), claiming to be a university researcher, visits the island, wanting to employ Zahara to show him around. As the day goes on, Zahara and Samad become entangled in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception.
It’s a Malaysian folk horror film like you’ve never seen before.

Good Omens Season 2 (28 July 2023)

Originally based on Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s international best-selling novel,Good Omens 2 explores storylines that go beyond the original source material to illuminate the ineffable friendship between Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), a fussy angel and rare-book dealer, and the fast-living demon Crowley (David Tennant). Having been on Earth since The Beginning, and with the Apocalypse thwarted, the duo are getting back to easy living amongst mortals in London’s Soho.
That is, until the archangel Gabriel (Jon Hamm) turns up unexpectedly at the door of Aziraphale’s bookshop with no memory of who he is or how he got there. While Crowley is leery as to why the archangel has come to the bookshop, Aziraphale is keen to solve the mystery behind Gabriel’s condition. However, hiding the archangel from both Heaven and Hell quickly disrupts their lives in unforeseen ways. To solve this mystery and thwart Heaven and Hell in the process, the duo will need more than a miracle; they’ll need to once again rely on each other.

For RM25 per month, after a seven-day promotional trial, customers in Malaysia can sign-up for Prime Video and enjoy a great selection of entertainment, from local Originals and local licensed titles to global Amazon Original movies and TV series. To get started, you can visit https://www.primevideo.com/, or download the Prime Video app on your mobile device.


Gamescom 2019: Disintegration Shows What Former Halo Co-Founder Has Been Working On

V1 Interactive is an independent game studio founded Marcus Lehto who formerly worked at Bungie as the creative art director and also co-created the Halo universe. The 30-man studio has just revealed their first game: Disintegration.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npnbNYdGm4Y&w=560&h=315]
The game will put players in the robotic shoes of Roamer and pilot a hovering space-motorcycle called a Gravcycle. Judging by what I’ve observed in the reveal trailer, players will command a three allies while shooting and deploying skills on the Gravcycle.
During his presentation at the Gamescom 2019 Opening Night Live, Lehto explained that the game is an FPS with elements of real-time tactics as well. There will be a full-fledged single player campaign and a “huge” multiplayer component.

To be honest, the game reminds me too much of both Destiny and Anthem. The first moment I saw the squad-based gameplay, I thought to myself “Oh, they’re just remaking Destiny but with more varied character designs.”
Hopefully, it’s more than just another looter shooter.
Disintegration is scheduled for release in 2020 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Gamescom 2019 attendees can get a taste of the game’s multiplayer mode at the exhibition floor.


Lionsgate & Wargaming Team Up For  World Of Warships Midway Mission

With that new Roland Emmerich historical drama movie Midway coming out soon, it’s only fitting for World of Warships devs Wargaming to dedicate a specialÂ  Midway battle mission to pay tribute of sorts.
This being a joint venture with the film’s producer Lionsgate, the special stageÂ  features the following:

More than 30 historical ships that took part in Midway operations
Special battle missions to commemorate the Battle of Midway and the movie release. By completing certain tasks within the game, players will be able to try out IJN Kaga and IJN Saipan.
Accurately-detailed and crafted ships based on historical documents and blueprints that were acquired from archives and naval museums.
Timely finds in-game. These include shipwrecks of WW2 Japanese aircraft carriers IJN Kaga and IJN Akagi that were sunk during the Battle of Midway.

The battle missions will be up from now until 5th December.Â  Check out the historicalÂ  ship porn below. Don’t forget: our review of the Midway film will be out this week.


King Of Fighters XV To Get Awakened Orochi Team This August

To distract us from the fact that SNK is dabbling in NFTs, the company has announced a new team in its new fighting game The King of Fighters XV.
Or rather, a kinda-new team in the form of the Awakened Orochi team. This team consists of the “awakened” versions of Yashiro, Shermie, and Chris. Yashiro has Earth grapple powers, Shermie has lightning powers ala Benimaru, and Chris has flame powers ala Kyo. They’re also decked in their former boss Goenitz’s uniform, hence the new look. And yes, this is the most covered-up Shermie has been in her lifetime.
There’s no gameplay for the trio yet, but that should pop up closer to their release date.

On a related note, The King of Fighters ’98 Ultimate Match Final Edition is out now. It features a slew of new modes to choose from and rollback netcode.


E3 2019: Mobile Version Of Super-Popular MMO Black Desert Coming Out In English This Year

Black Desert, the Korean MMORPG by Pearl Abyss, is slated for a global mobile phone title release this year as, creatively enough,Â Black Desert Mobile.
The game is already available in South Korea and Japan a few years ago. The English version will be out on the Play Store and App Store in the coming months. Here’s a trailer that showcases all that hot sweet-looking Black Desert action in top-down hack-and-slash portable form.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TXvEAaBeko]
For the uninitiated, Black Desert Online had an early life as a Korean sandbox MMORPG for the PC. It’s a popular MMO in the Eastern region, hence receiving a remastered version in 2018.
The mobile version will still retain some of its MMORPG elements and gameplay found in the original, albeit with some limitations since it’s still a mobile game.
The game will also see a PlayStation 4 release as Black Desert with preorders starting from 2 July. It’ll retain all of the original game’s features and updates, for which there is a boat-ton of.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXyWJlN0-go]
Black Desert Mobile will most probably be released as a free-to-play game with in-app purchases, much like how it was in Japan and Korea. So far, details regarding the global launch are slim; we’ll hopefully see a solid release date soon.


Hideo Kojima Clarifies His Role In The Death Stranding Movie Adaptation

In December 2022, Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions officially announced that a live-action Death Stranding movie adaptation is in development. Now, Kojima himself has finally clarified what his role and involvement in the upcoming Death Stranding movie will be.
Kojima posted on Twitter:
Just to be clear, I am deeply involved in producing, supervising, plotting, look, design and content of the film adaptation of DS, just not in charge of directing.

Just to be clear, I am deeply involved in producing, supervising, plotting, look, design and content of the film adaptation of DS, just not in charge of directing.
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) June 18, 2023

However, he did not reveal who the director of the Death Stranding movie will be. The cast of the movie also remains unannounced at the time of writing.
The film is fully financed by Hammerstone and will be produced by Kojima and Lebovici, with Kojima Productions US and Allan Ungar serving as executive producers. The Death Stranding movie will introduce new elements and characters within the Death Stranding universe.
Lebovici’s Hammerstone Studios has financed, developed and produced independent films across all genres, including the 20th Century Studios horror film Barbarian and Bill & Ted Face The Music.


Overwatch World Cup Group Stage Tickets On Sale; Features Thailand

Man, Thailand is on a roll when it comes to major video game events, eh? First, it’s the PlayStation Experience SEA 2018 expo, and now this Overwatch World Cup bombshell of an announcement.
Blizzard recently announced that it is now selling tickets for the Overwatch World Cup Group Stages event. And one of the locations that it will take place in is at our own Southeast Asian backyard: Bangkok, Thailand, where the home team will be facing off against Spain, Denmark, China, Australia, and Sweden.

Here are the details:
Venue: Royal Paragon Hall (5th floor, Siam Paragon),991 Rama I Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
Date: 14-16 September
Ticket Sales Link:Â https://www.universe.com/events/overwatch-world-cup-group-stage-bangkok-tickets-CW0FP6
We also have all the full details of the other Overwatch World Cup group stages tournaments.
Incheon, South Korea

Venue: Paradise City Hotel
Date: 17-19 August
Teams: Russia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taipei, Finland
Ticket Sales Link: http://ticket.interpark.com/Ticket/Goods/GoodsInfo.asp?GoodsCode=18007111
Los Angeles, USA

Venue: Blizzard Arena Los Angeles
Date: 7-9 September
Teams: USA, Canada, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland, Norway
Ticket Sales Link: http://www.axs.com/series/6680/overwatch-world-cup-tickets?skin=blizzardarena
Paris, France

Venue: Espace Grande Arche Parvis de la DÃ©fense 92044 La DÃ©fense
Date: 21-23 September
Teams: France, Netherlands, UK, Germany, Poland, Italy
Ticket Sales Link: https://www.universe.com/events/overwatch-world-cup-group-stage-4-tickets-ZYW691


Alienware & Dell’s Latest Gaming Laptops Features Mechanical Keys & RGB Touchpads

No CES 2023 tech expo would be complete without a slew of expensive desktops and laptops, and Alienware has the latter sorted with its new X and M lines, along with a few surprises from Dell.
Let’s start with the big ones: the Alienware x16 and x14. These innovation-focused gaming laptops feature high-end GPUs and CPUs, Dolby Atmos 6-speaker audio, RGB touchpads and keyboards with Cherry MX mechanical keys, and a sleek design to cram all those features in.

Here’s a list:

Customisable next-gen laptop GPUs and CPUs (13th Gen Intel Core i9, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™, AMD Ryzen™, Radeon™) enabled by Alienware Cryo-tech™.
Dolby Atmos 6-speaker audio with dual woofer configuration for spatial audio experience.
100 micro-LEDs enhanced with new AlienFX Scanner, Loop and Rainbow lighting mods.
Customisable per-key RGB keyboard lighting with optional CHERRY MX mechanical keys.
Type-C USB charging.
New two-fan design increases cooling performance with Cryo-tech cooling design and Element 31 thermal interface as additional option.

The Alienware m18 and m16 come with much-needed updates from their past year counterpart(s):

Customisable next-gen laptop GPUs and CPUs (13th Gen Intel Core i9, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™, AMD Ryzen™, Radeon™) enabled by Alienware Cryo-tech™.
Element 31 thermal interface material is now used on both the CPU and the GPU.
Vapor chamber now covers the GPU and CPU, helping to increase thermal capacity by 35%.
Seven heat pipes.
Quad fans with ultra-thin fan blades increase airflow by 25%.
Optional CHERRY MX mechanical keys.
dual user-replaceable DDR5 SO-DIMM slots.
Up to 9TB total storage.
Display: 165Hz QHD or 480Hz FHD with Dynamic Display Switching, G-Sync and FreeSync support.
m16 offers similar capabilities to the m18 as a compact option.

The Dell “not-quite-gaming-but-kinda” G15 and G16 models at CES 2023 feature the following upgrades, cribbing off some Alienware features:

Available in eye-catching colourways with an appreciation for retro ‘80s pop aesthetics featuring G-mode key, macro keys, and toggle audio keys.
G15 offers one-zone and four-zone RGB keyboard options with numpad.
G16 offers one-zone RGB and Cherry MX keyboard options.
Powered by the latest Intel, AMD and NVIDIA technology.
Includes Alienware-inspired Vapor Chamber Cooling and Element 31 thermal interface.

Last but not least is the Alienware Aurora R15 desktop, which is all about dishing out gaming power for its users.

13th Gen 65W Desktop or AMD Ryzen™ 7000 Series processor options.
Chassis crafted with clear side doors with up to 8 AlienFX lighting zones.
Available in Lunar Light and Dark Side of the Moon colourways.
Custom Alienware motherboard AMD AM5 B650 Chipset.
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon RX.

For more on Alienware’s CES 2023 highlights, check out what they have to offer with its Concept Nyx.