EVO 2019 May Be This Year’s Biggest Fighting Game Tournament Yet [Update]

If you love fighting games on a competitive level, chances are you’ve already registered for the Evolution Championship Series 2019 tournament (or EVO 2019 for short), which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA on 2nd-4th August (PST). And since you can’t register for the tournament anymore, you may as well watch it on-stream here.
This year’s tournament is sounding more like a big deal. Here’s why:

7 out of the 9 games in the official lineup have more than a 1,000 entrants. They are Mortal Kombat 11, Samurai Shodown, Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Dragon Ball FighterZ, and Under Night IN-Birth Exe: Late[st].
Out of all the games above, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has the highest number of entrants, clocking in at 3,000+ people duking it out to be the best Smash player in the world.
(Update) Here’s the full tally of entrant numbers:

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 3,492
Street Fighter 5: Arcade Edition – 1,929
Tekken 7 – 1,885
Samurai Shodown – 1,719
Mortal Kombat 11 – 1,567
Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[st] – 1,156
Dragon Ball FighterZ – 1,191
Soul Calibur 6 – 742
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle – 640

EVO founding father Joey “Mr. Wizard” Cuellar said that the event is getting such an overwhelming response that the organization is contemplating on overhauling its payout structure. He posted a public poll on Twitter to ask if the event should split the pot up more to benefit more players.

https://twitter.com/MrWiz/status/1150088794059599872

This will also mark the weekend where Capcom will break the silence concerning Street Fighter V‘s next big update and seasons. My guess? Super Street Fighter V and a ton of old and new characters. Still, it’s up in the air as to what current Street Fighter guy Yoshinori Ono has planned before EVO 2019’s Street Fighter V Grand Finals fight.
Speaking of fighting game announcements, publishers may announce new content for their existing fighting games.

The Players
Here’s a quick list of pro players who will be attending the tournament. It’s going to be a big one, as Terry Bogard would say before his Engrish mangles it.

Tokido (SFV)
Punk (SFV)
Fuudo (SFV)
Problem-X, last year’s EVO SFV champion
Arslan Ash, EVO Japan 2019 Tekken 7 champion

Knee (Tekken 7)
GO1 (Dragon Ball FighterZ)
Shen Chan, top player in Southeast Asia (SoulCalibur VI)
Xian, top player in Southeast Asia (SFV)

MKLeo (SSBU)
Tweek (SSBU)
Marss (SSBU)
Dabuz (SSBU)

Justin Wong (Samurai Shodown, SFV)
ChrisG
SonicFox (DBFZ, MK11)
Aroo (Samurai Shodown)
Cory Bell (Samurai Shodown)
Resurgence Nicholas “SEO” Choo (Dragon Ball FighterZ, UNIST)
Resurgence Shen Yuan (SoulCalibur VI)

https://www.facebook.com/RSGResurgence/photos/a.1724200547885736/2087158644923256/?type=3
Stay tuned to Kakuchopurei as we will cover the ins and outs of this upcoming fight fiesta.
Top image credit: Robert Paul @tempusrob


Shazam 2 Suits Get A Helluva Update

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (or Shazam 2) just unveiled the show’s new costumes worn by the heroes in the upcoming DC Comics movie sequel.
Film director David F. Sandberg posted a set picture featuring Shazam and the Marvel Family in their new suits. They look less exaggerated in the muscle department and seem more natural, if we’re being honest. The costumes has more gold accents and a sleek look in comparison to the last film.
The Twitter post was meant to get ahead of any potential leakers which would definitely happen for a high profile project like this.
The photo spotlights Zachary Levy as Shazam/Billy Batson front and centre, standing together with Adam Brody’s Freddy Freeman,Â Meagan Good’s Darla Dudley, Ross Butler’s Eugene Choi, Michelle Borth’s Mary Bromfield, and D.J. Cotrona’s Pedro PeÃ±a.

Don’t know how long we can keep the new suits from leaking so here’s a pic I took the other day pic.twitter.com/41wStJ6oe2
— David F. Sandberg (@ponysmasher) June 21, 2021

What’s the plot of Shazam 2? We have no idea save for the fact that the aforementioned actors will reprise their roles from the first film. Based on the title, we may learn more about the six gods who gave their powers to the Shazam Family. Also, we know that the show’s next villain will be a psychic-powered caterpillar named Mister Mind. No, really; the fiend was teased in the post-credits Shazam! film. With that villain in the picture, it’ll only be a matter of time until we get a live-action adaptation of the Monster Society of Evil.
Shazam 2 will be out in cinemas 2023.


Yacht Club Games Will Tease “Megaton Announcement” This 2nd February

Yacht Club Games, the folks who made Shovel Knight and published 2021’s awesome 2D action game Cyber Shadow, will be sharing some big news next week.
The indie game maker/publisher will be hosting its third official Yacht Club Games Presents livestream on the following date and time:
Date: 2nd February (GMT+8)
Time: 6am GMT+8
Livestream: G4TV’s Twitch Channel
The livestream show will run for 60 minutes and feature a lot of new updates of its gaming catalogue. These include “never-before-seen gameplay sneak peeksâ€ and downloadable content for a selection of games, as well as â€œa hair-raisingly exciting MEGA ANNOUNCEMENT!â€
Would we be getting a follow-up to the much-cherished Shovel Knight? Or will they have a slew of new IPs on tap? Guess we’ll find out next week after the first day of the Lunar New Year.


OlliOlli Worldâ€™s Soundtrack Unveiled During The Golden Joystick Awards 2021

The 39th Golden Joystick Awards took place on YouTube yesterday, and developer Roll7 took the opportunity to reveal selected highlights from the soundtrack of the upcomingÂ skateboarding action-platformer OlliOlli World.
During the live stream, Roll7 co-CEO Simon Bennett said:

â€œMusic has always been a key component inÂ OlliOlliÂ games as it constitutes an integral part of the flow-state gameplay of the series.
We are thrilled to share these captivating tunes created by outstanding independent musicians from around the world.â€

OlliOlli WorldÂ comes with a whopping 32 tracks of lush electronic beats featuring artists like Fardust, Adam Swim, Midflite, and more. You can actually already listen now to the OlliOlli WorldÂ Spotify playlistÂ which presents a selection of eight songs from the forthcoming soundtrack:

ShimmerÂ by Fardust
ArpsÂ by Nikitich
Darling GardensÂ by Midflite
PanoramasÂ by Woodwire
AvalancheÂ by Fardust, Azureskye
Canâ€™t SleepÂ by Adam Swim
Leaps and BoundsÂ by Cotton Claw
Not so MuchÂ by Nikitich

OlliOlli World is a skateboarding action-platformer thatâ€™s bursting with personality and great aesthetics. You can flip and flow through the vivid and vibrant world of Radlandia, meeting colourful characters as you grind, trick, and air your way to discover the mystical skate gods on your quest for Gnarvana.
It is slated to launch digitally sometime this winter in Q1 calendar year 2022 on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. You can check out our hands-on preview of the game by heading over here, or checking out the video below:


Disney+ Hotstar Day Arrives Next Month With New Content, Fan Experiences & More

Disney+ Hotstar Day arrives on 12 November 2021 in Malaysia, bringing The Walt Disney Companyâ€™s global Disney+ Day celebration to the region.
As part of the celebration, subscribers to Disney+ Hotstar will be treated to new content releases across the serviceâ€™s iconic brands, Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and Star in international markets, along with a special presentation on Disney+ Hotstar for fans with sneak peeks into whatâ€™s to come. Additionally, the service will continue to engage new audiences around the world, as Disney+ expands into new Asia-Pacific markets on November 12.
As part of the global celebration, Disney Parks and Resorts around the world and Disney Cruise Line will roll out the blue carpet for fans with some surprise and delight moments including photo opportunities, character moments and more; shopDisney.com will have special offers; popular network shows and syndicated series will join in the celebration along with talent and series across ABC, Disney Channel, ESPN and ESPN+, Freeform, FX, Hulu, National Geographic in the U.S., and on owned channels abroad.
Disney+ Hotstar Day Content Premieres from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic
Disney+ Hotstar Day will feature content premieres from all of the marquee brands on service, including:

The streaming premiere of Marvel Studiosâ€™ â€œShang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Ringsâ€.
The beloved Disney family-friendly adventure film â€œJungle Cruiseâ€.
The new Disney+ Original movie â€œHome Sweet Home Alone,â€ a reimagining of the popular holiday franchise
An all-new original series of shorts from Walt Disney Animation Studios called â€œOlaf Presents,â€ which sees Frozenâ€™s beloved snowman retelling several classic Disney tales as only he can.
An animated short film â€œCiao Albertoâ€ from Pixar, featuring characters from this summerâ€™s animated hit breakout film â€œLucaâ€.
A new short from The Simpsons that pays tribute to Disney+â€™s marquee brands.
The first five episodes from season 2 of â€œThe World According to Jeff Goldblumâ€ from National Geographic.
A special celebrating the origins and legacy of Star Warsâ€™ legendary bounty hunter, Boba Fett.
A special celebrating the Marvel Cinematic Universe on Disney+ Hotstar with an exciting look towards the future.
â€œDopesick,â€ an original series starring Michael Keaton, which will be released in international markets as part of the Star general entertainment content offering.

Subscribers to the service will be entertained with an inaugural Disney+ Day fan celebration on Disney+ Hotstar, which will include breaking news, first looks, new trailers, exclusive clips, and appearances from Disney+ creators and stars.
Global Launches in South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong
Disney+ will make its debut in South Korea and Taiwan on November 12, and in Hong Kong on November 16, bringing Disneyâ€™s iconic characters and stories into the homes of new audiences around the globe.
More exciting content premieres, consumer offers, and news will be announced leading up to Disney+ Hotstar Day.


[Report] Sony PlayStation’s PC Push Is A-Go

Recently, Steam users have noticed that their PlayStation 4 PC ports had their Steam company names changed from PlayStation Mobile to PlayStation PC LLC.
Seems like Sony Interactive Entertainment is serious about its PC push, from the looks of it. Sony registered the PlayStation PC name in April this year according to a recent Corporation Wiki update. While this may seem like a formality, it does show that Sony intends to increase its PC platform gaming and porting output. At least according to SIE boss Jim Ryan who said that making more games for PC was “a fairly straightforward decision” for the company.
This also means that the dream of having a 60fps PC port of Bloodborne is close to becoming a reality. Maybe. I don’t know.
Sony’s recent PC ports were Horizon: Zero Dawn in August 2020 and Days Gone in May 2021. Uncharted 4 and Uncharted: The Lost Legacy will be out on PC in 2022, with God of War (2018) following suit.


Jump Force Digital Version To Be Discontinued In February 2022

Bandai Namco has announced that they will be ending all sales of the Jump Force game, DLC, and virtual currency starting from 9am GMT+8 on 8 February 2022 across all available platforms. Meanwhile, Jump Force online service will end starting from 24 August 2022.
After 8 February 2021, the following content will no longer be available for purchase digitally:

Jump Force for PS4, Xbox One, and PC (Steam)
Jump Force Deluxe Edition for Switch
Jump Force Character Pack 1 to 14
Jump Force Character Pass 1 to 2
JF Medal

After 24 August 2021, the following online services will no longer be available:

Logging in to the multiplayer lobby
Online events
Clan functions
Viewing the Notice Board
Viewing the leaderboards
Accepting Rewards from the Reward Center
In-game Store
Premium Shop (only this function will be available until August 1, 2022)
Online Ranked Match

However, offline content, online battles (except Ranked Matches), and DLC (purchased before they are discontinued) will still be available for use.
Jump Force is available now for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. Check out our review here.


The New Forza Motorsport Launches This October

During the Xbox Games Showcase, Playground Games announced that the new Forza Motorsport reboot will launch for the Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass and PC on 10 October 2023.
Players can look forward to a career mode, multiplayer and more than 500 cars on world-famous tracks with cutting-edge AI and advanced physics.
Check out the trailer below:


[Rumour] We Know When 2020’s Call of Duty Will Be Out

It’s no secret that the Call of Duty series is an annual release from Activision. But we don’t know when the next one will come out this year, except take a stab that it’ll be out close to 2020’s end. Now, we sort of know.
According to a recent leak via Charlie Intel, the upcoming first-person shooter that comes with the mouthful “Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War” moniker will be out 13th November. It’s also a direct sequel to the original Black Ops.
Datamined description below (via ModernWarzone Twitter):

The iconic Black Ops series is back with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warâ€”the direct sequel to the original and fan-favorite Call of Duty: Black Ops.
Black Ops Cold War will drop fans into the depths of the Cold Warâ€™s volatile geopolitical battle of the early 1980s. Nothing is ever as it seems in a gripping single-player Campaign, where players will come face-to-face with historical figures and hard truths, as they battle around the globe through iconic locales like East Berlin, Vietnam, Turkey, Soviet KGB headquarters and more.
As elite operatives, you will follow the trail of a shadowy figure named Perseus who is on a mission to destabilize the global balance of power and change the course of history. Descend into the dark center of this global conspiracy alongside iconic characters Woods, Mason and Hudson and a new cast of operatives attempting to stop a plot decades in the making.

The game’s multiplayer reveal is slated for 9th September, so you’ll know how the game’s key features will pan out.
We suspect it’s just going to be an extension of 2018’s Black Ops IIII, but we could be wrong. Oh, and probably a beta just before November for the whole “servers testing” phase of things.


Here’s Your First Look At The Witcher Anime, Out This August

The Witcher is going anime this August.
The Netflix anime movie The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf is coming out on 23rd August. The film is focused on Geralt’s witcher mentor Vesemir, with animation from Studio Mir. You may remember them for creating the gorgeous animation and fight scenes in Legend of Korra and Dota: Dragon’s Blood.
Check out the trailer in action below, as well as the official poster.


One Of The Last Surviving 2020 Movies Gets A New Trailer

Most of the remaining scheduled movies in 2020 have been postponed or delayed to next year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, 20th Century Studios and Disney still have one movie left to release in cinemas this year; Free Guy.

In Free Guy, Ryan Reynolds stars as a bank teller who discovers he is actually an NPC (non-player character) in an open-world video game and decides to become the hero of his own story. Now in a world where there are no limits, he is determined to be the guy who saves his world his way, before it is too late.

Directed by Shawn Levy, the upcoming movie also stars Jodie Comer, Joe Keery, Lil Rel Howery, Utkarsh Ambudkar and Taika Waititi. It is produced by Ryan Reynolds, Shawn Levy, Sarah Schechter, Greg Berlanti and Adam Kolbrenner with Mary McLaglen, Josh McLaglen, George Dewey, Dan Levine and Michael Riley McGrath serving as executive producers.
Free Guy is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 10 December 2020. In the meantime, check out this awesome new trailer:


Ragnarok Origin Is Adding New Content For Malaysian Players

Ragnarok Origin, a popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Gravity, has announced the upcoming release of a highly anticipated update that introduces brand-new gameplay and exhilarating content for Malaysian gamers.
The update focuses on five areas:
1)     Brand New Gameplay
The latest update will include an entirely new gameplay experience which will keep things fresh and exciting for the current player base in Malaysia.
2)    Introducing New Level 90 Content
Ragnarok Origin players can now advance to Level 90. This will enable them to unlock a range of exciting features and challenges that will push their skills to the limit. Features of the Level 90 expansion include:
·        New equipment providing enhanced abilities and strategic advantages.
·        A captivating new storyline specifically tailored for Level 90 characters.
·        The addition of the Helheim dungeon filled with formidable enemies and valuable rewards.
·        4-star Extreme Challenges: Enabling players to test their skills and endurance
·        Endless Tower: Additional 50 floors unlocked for players to challenge
3)      Nightmare Temple

Players will now be able to enjoy the introduction of the new Nightmare Temple which features five formidable bosses and the ability to earn Level 90 Divine Realm equipment.
4)  GvG (Guild vs. Guild) Castle Seige

The highly anticipated GvG Castle Siege mode from the original game is now available. GvG Castle Siege allows all guilds to compete for control of five castles. The guild that successfully defends the Crystal from attacks by members of other guilds for 10 minutes, or the guild that possesses the Crystal when the 60-minute battle concludes, will claim ownership of the Castle for one week. Proper preparation prior to engaging in GvG is crucial. Guilds that possess a Castle can enjoy special benefits, including access to an exclusive dungeon.
5)    Poring Chest Gameplay

During the 100-day celebration, Ragnarok Origin players will be thrilled to learn that the highly anticipated Poring Poring Go! Go! Go! event is making a comeback. Through this event, players will have the opportunity to unlock a wide range of in-game rewards, including valuable equipment and coveted costumes.
Overall, Ragnarok Origin’s latest update delivers thrilling new gameplay and content. With fresh experiences, Level 90 advancements, the formidable Nightmare Temple, the anticipated GvG Castle Siege mode, and the exciting Poring Chest event, players are in for an exhilarating adventure. Enhanced abilities, captivating storylines, challenging dungeons, epic guild battles, and valuable rewards await in this evolving world of Ragnarok Origin.
Facebook SEA?https://bit.ly/3NE1Ep3
Discord: https://bit.ly/3pBX2HJ
Apple Store Google Play: https://bit.ly/3rekVWf


Scream Unveils New Poster & Young Blood Featurette

United International Pictures Malaysia has unveiled a brand new poster for the upcoming Scream, the fifth entry in the long-running horror franchise first created by the legendary Wes Craven.

The synopsis reads:
Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer has donned the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the townâ€™s deadly past.
Neve Campbell (â€œSidney Prescottâ€), Courteney Cox (â€œGale Weathersâ€) and David Arquette (â€œDewey Rileyâ€) return to their iconic roles in Scream alongside Melissa Barrera, Kyle Gallner, Mason Gooding, Mikey Madison, Dylan Minnette, Jenna Ortega, Jack Quaid, Marley Shelton, Jasmin Savoy Brown, and Sonia Ammar.
Scream is slated to premiere in Malaysian cinemas on 20 January 2022. The last instalment was 2011â€™s Scream 4, which was the last to be directed byÂ ScreamÂ creator Wes Craven himself before he passed away in 2015.
In the meantime, check out the featurette below:
[videopress 1iV6lksU]


Riot Games’ Cross-Game Star Guardian Event Will Be Monumental

Riot Games have announced the details of this year’s Star Guardian event that will span across 10 weeks and three different games starting today, 14 July this Thursday.
This will be Riot’s fourth iteration of this event but for those who may be unaware of Riot’s past, the Star Guardian event aims to bring together global players and anime fans alike with immersive in-game content and out-of-game events.
How exactly? Well, Star Guardian draws inspiration from maho shojo or the magical girl genre of anime that generally empowers young women, shows the importance of good friends, and celebrates authentic representations of one’s self.

Riot aims to embody that same message through the contents of this event with its otherworldly vibrancies that centres on a young cast of champions who navigate school relationships by day and the responsibilities of magical warriors by night.
“Star Guardian is a world our players love and have been wanting to see more of for so many years,
We’re so excited to be bringing it back in this big way, across multiple titles and parts of Riot, and working with so many amazing partners to really show the potential of this universe to our players, as well as potential new fans who love this kind of magic just as much as us.”
– Jeremy Lee, Executive Producer on League of Legends
In celebration of the event, Riot have gone and made another song accompanied by a music video as the anthem to this event. The song is titled “Everything Goes On” by acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, and producer Porter Robinson. Robinson wrote, produced and sang on the track. “Everything Goes On” tells the story of two Star Guardians, each independently coming to terms with their loss and finding the will to move on with their new comrades.

Okay but how about in-game content and rewards? Well below you will see listed out all that the event entails for League of Legends, Wild Rift and Legends of Runeterra.
League of Legends: Wild Rift

Skins: Star Guardian Orianna, Seraphine, Ahri, Senna, Xayah, Rakan, and Miss Fortune; Redeemed Star Guardian Rakan and Xayah
WR Star Guardian Event Pass
In-Client Narrative Experience (WR Exclusive)

Players will witness Xayah’s journey to save Rakan first-hand with the help of some brand new Star Guardians. They’ll level up their squad and their familiars through a series of in-game missions, battle chaos monsters in combat encounters, and follow the fearless Guardians as they learn to forgive and forge new friendships.

Legends of Runeterra

Skins: Star Guardian Gwen, Kai’Sa, Jinx, Senna, Quinn, Taliyah, Lulu, Soraka
Additionally, Star Guardian Kai’sa debuts as LoR’s first Legendary skin, complete with exclusive card art, new voice lines, and a unique level-up animation
Guardians: Star Guardian Drake and Gwen Doll
Board: Starlight Stage Legendary Board
New Emotes & Cardbacks

League of Legends

Champion Launch: Nilah the Joy Unbound (ADC)
Skins: Star Guardian Akali (Legendary), Kai’Sa (Legendary), Ekko, Sona, Taliyah, Quinn, Nilah, and Rell; Star Nemesis Morgana and Fiddlesticks; Prestige Star Guardian Ekko and Syndra
LoL (and TFT) Star Guardian Event Pass
Ultimate Spellbook game mode returns
New Emotes, Chromas, and Wards
In-Client Narrative Experience: Star Guardian: Another Sky (LoL Exclusive)

Through games of LoL and TFT, players will progress through a compelling story of love and loss, forgiveness and friendship through the eyes of a brand new crew led by Akali and Kai’Sa. At the same time, by completing in-game champion missions, they’ll increase their “bond” with the various Guardians, unlocking rewards and discovering new stories along the way.

To add to this already jam-packed event, Riot are also releasing their third album for content creators to use freely aptly named “Sessions: Star Guardian Taliyah.” The previous two “Sessions” have accumulated over 43 million streams on across all major streaming platforms. Players and fans can expect a suite of dance and electronic music in the third album that also plays in the glitch pop, future funk, and kawaii bass spaces. Contributing artists are as follows:

3D BLAST
bear bear & friends
chromonicci
ev.exi
FIBRE
Hyleo
leon chang
Mélonade
Mere Notilde
Rob Robinson
Semoothe
Snail’s House
Strawberry Station
suteki
Synthion
TANUKI

Riot’s nonprofit organisation, the Riot Games Social Impact Fund will also activate during Star Guardian to support nonprofits around the world by giving players multiple ways to give back throughout the event.

In League of Legends, from 14 July to 15 August, Riot will contribute 20% of proceeds from the Star Guardian Event Pass to the Riot Games Social Impact Fund in partnership with Impact Assets. From 28 July to 29 August, Riot will contribute 100% of proceeds from Star Guardian Taliyah and all related bundle sales to the Riot Games Social Impact Fund. Qualifying in-game items below:

Star Guardian Taliyah (skin only)
Star Guardian Taliyah Border Set
Star Guardian Taliyah Chroma Bundle
Star Guardian Taliyah All-Star Bundle

In Wild Rift, for every 10 chaos monsters defeated by players between 14 July and 11 August in the inclient narrative experience, Riot Games will contribute US$1 to the Riot Games Social Impact Fund, up to US$2 million. And finally, players will be able to represent their love of everything Star Guardian with official Riot Games Merchandise plushies, apparel, jewelry, and more starting 14 July. The official collection also includes Riot-designed partner goods from companies like Good Smile Company and Secretlab:

Good Smile Company

Star Guardian Zoe 1/7 Scale Figure (Preorder)
Star Guardian Jinx 1/7 Scale Figure (Preorder)

Secretlab

Star Guardian Edition Pillow
Twilight Star Guardian Edition Pillow (August)

RockLove Jewelry

Star Guardian Soraka Wand Pendant
Star Guardian Ina Ring
Star Guardian Secret Locket
Star Guardian Kiko Pendant
Star Guardian Friendship Bracelets (Preorder)

Star Guardian Kai’Sa Friendship Bracelet
Star Guardian Akali Friendship Bracelet


Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart Trailer Showcases Various Planets

Ratchet & Clank: Rift ApartÂ is less than a month away at this point, and developer Insomniac Games is keeping up the hype. A new videoÂ narrated by Zurkon Jr. shows off the gameâ€™s variety of planets that players can visit.
Our heroes will travel across a variety of planets in Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart, including both new and old ones. Thanks to the PS5 consoleâ€™s ultra-fast SSD, you can traverse a variety of planets and their interdimensional counterparts near-instantly. These near-instant load times defy expectations by introducing dimensional variants of beloved classics that contain new twists and stories to tell.
Check out the electrifying off-the-wall nightlife of Nefarious City, or take a riveting Speetle ride through the exotic and acidic swamps of Outpost L51 on Sargasso â€“ or perhaps the treacherous, off-the-rails excitement of Molonoth Gulch is more your speed.
The previous trailer focused on the game’s various weapons. Ratchet & Clank Rift ApartÂ is slated to release for the PS5 on 11 June 2021. You can check outÂ more details here. The game will also apparently be around 42.183 GB (before the day one patch), and pre-load will begin on 4 June 2021 for those who pre-ordered.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Psychological Horror Game Unholy Launches Next Month

HOOK, the indie label of global video game publisher Digital Bros, and Polish developer Duality Games have announced that Unholy, the new first-person psychological horror experience will launch on 20 July 2023 for PC. The PS5 and Xbox Series S/X versions will follow later.
Horror fans have the opportunity to get hands-on with Unholy as a playable demo is now live on Steam. The Unholy demo will also be promoted in the upcoming Steam Next Fest from 19-26 June opening up the horrors facing the protagonist Dorothea, as she traverses two parallel worlds in her search to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her son.
Unholy follows the disappearance of a young child from a run-down, unwelcoming post-soviet town. Using exploration, puzzle solving and intriguing combat mechanics, players will traverse between reality and a twisted Unholy world to unveil the terrifying truth. It’s an intense psychological horror experience driven by a deep, dark narrative storyline played out with captivating visuals based on the works of reputed dark artist Tomasz Strza?kowski (Duality Games Art director and founder).
Players will experience a unique gameplay blend that combines meticulous exploration, intriguing puzzle-solving, infiltration and stealth with intriguing shooting dynamics.
Check out the trailer below:


Saudi Arabia Acquires US$3.3 Billion Stake In Activision Blizzard, EA, and Take-Two

Saudi Arabia, not content with buying a 1/3rd stake in SNK for future King of Fighters games, has utilized its Public Investment Fund to invest over US$3.3 billion in the world’s biggest video game companies.
They are Electronic Arts (EA), Take-Two Interactive, and Activision Blizzard. This move was orchestrated by Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (or MBS), and equates to millions of shares in each company, but a small fraction of ownership for each of the game makers. This is not explicitly part of MBS’ overall Saudi Vision 2030 plan, but it does follow the same pattern of investments the regime has made in sports, esports, and professional wrestling.
This move might rub people the wrong way. While MBS has made some changes and reforms in Saudi Arabia, he is alleged to have given the order to assassinate journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and the continued genocide of the Yemeni people, with assists from the USA and the United Arab Emirates for the latter.
In related news, I just finished watching the documentary The Dissident, so I’m having very, VERY mixed feelings about these recent developments. When you think about it, isn’t the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 plan basically a money-laden propaganda campaign to portray the country as a progressive nation? In any case, Blizzcon 2021 might turn out very, VERY interesting with these recent turn of events.


Infinity Strash Dragon Quest The Adventure Of Dai RPG To Get Simultaneous Worldwide Release

Square Enix, Game Studio and KAI GRAPHICS have announced that Infinity Strash Dragon Quest The Adventure Of Dai will launch for the PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam as a simultaneous global release.
However, a release date has yet to be announced.
The publisher and developers are slated to premiere gameplay details and a first look at the “Temple of Recollection” and “Memento Bonds” gameplay footage during the “Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai Game Project Tokyo Game Show 2022 TremenDAIs Edition” live stream on 18 September 2022 at 11.45 am GMT+8, which you will be able to watch on YouTube (English, Japanese), Niconico, Twitch.
Infinity Strash Dragon Quest The Adventure Of Dai was originally announced during another live stream in May 2020.
In the meantime, check out the trailer below:


Mobile Legends Teams Up With Cadbury For Zip-Filled Promo

This May 2022, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is back with another collaboration. This time with Cadbury Zip.
With the re-launching of Cadbury Zip last year, featuring an improved recipe entailing 20% more Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate, Cadbury Zip is looking to help you improve you in-game experience as they team up with MLBB to help provide in-game purchases with the purchase of a Cadbury Zip bar.

To take part in this partnership, all you have to do is buy one unit of Cadbury Zip. Next, visit Cadbury Zip’s website and submit your details along with proof of your purchase. And just like that you’ll then be in the running to win 100 MLBB diamonds.
Furthermore, Cadbury is also partnering with 7-Eleven to bring even more deals and prizes to you MLBB players. To be a part of this, spend a minimum of RM9 on Cadbury Dairy Milk products, including at least one unit of Cadbury Zip.
Again, visit Cadbury Zip’s website and submit your details and proof of purchase. For this instance, you’ll then be in the running for 1 × Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Special Skin and 1 × Razer Kishi controller.

The multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) is one of the biggest mobile games in the world which is in thanks to their competitive esports league the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL). The MPL needs no introduction in Malaysia and Singapore as the domestic MPL league is one of the most regularly viewed esports leagues in and among Malaysian and Singaporean residents.
But even if you’re not interested in esports or gaming in general, MLBB has 5 million registered Malaysian players, so if there’s no doubt that you’ve at least heard of the mobile game. At the very least, you can score yourself a Razer Android/Xbox controller for your troubles.


Mortal Kombat Is Releasing In Malaysian Cinemas Two Weeks Earlier Than The US (Update)

The release of Mortal Kombat in the US has been delayed to 23 April 2021.
However, the movie will still premiere on 8 April 2021 in Malaysia, which means that we’ll be getting the movie two weeks earlier than the US.

GET OVER HERE for your tickets!
Tonton #MortalKombatMovie minggu hadapan, DUA MINGGU awal sebelum tayangan di US bermula.
?? Jualan tiket kini dibuka: https://t.co/Gsslka7mWi pic.twitter.com/oM2GbQ3x4u
— TGV Cinemas | #TontondiTGV ?? (@TGVCinemas) March 31, 2021

Malaysians will be able to watch the upcoming new Mortal Kombat movie a week earlier than those in the U.S. In the U.S. and on HBO Max, the movie is slated to release on 16 April 2021.
GSC Cinemas has announced earlier today that Mortal Kombat will premiere in Malaysia on 8 April 2021.

GET OVER HERE!!!#MortalKombat di pawagam GSC 8 April ini! pic.twitter.com/IRwqvx4r66
— GSC x Mat Kilau ?? (@GSCinemas) March 11, 2021

Directed by Simon McQuoid, the ensemble cast includes:

Mehcad Brooks as Jackson â€œJaxâ€ Briggs.
Chin Han as Shang Tsung.
Hiroyuki Sanada as Scorpion.
Joe Taslim as Sub-Zero.
Tadanobu Asano as Raiden.
Ludi Lin as Liu Kang.
Sisi Stringer as Mileena.
Josh Lawson as Kano.
Jessica McNamee as Sonya Blade.
Max Huang as Kung Lao.
Lewis Tan as Cole Young.

In the meantime, check out our breakdown of the latest Mortal Kombat trailer here, or watch the trailer again below:


Here’s How Xbox Plans To Make Starfield The Most-Played Bethesda Title Ever

Microsoft and Xbox gaming boss Phil Spencer has said that he wants to make Bethesda’s upcoming sci-fi RPG the most-played game to date.
We’re referring to Starfield, the next RPG from Bethesda whose last single-player RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has sold more than 30 million copies since its 2011 release. Here is Phil’s plan according to an Axios interview:
“So, when I look at the teams, when Todd and I talk about Starfield, itâ€™s: â€˜How do we make sure this is the most-playedÂ Todd HowardÂ game ever?’
[Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5] are the most played games in those franchises because we made them available on more screens than we ever have, through more business models than weâ€™ve ever made them available.
Yeah, I want more people to be playing WoW in five years that are playing today, I want more people to be playing Call of Duty in five years, more people to be playing Candy Crush in five years, because weâ€™ve made it more accessible to more people.”
That’s pretty much Phil Spencer’s plan: make Starfield available on more screens and through more business models. So is there a chance it’ll be out on PlayStation consoles later down the line since Bethesda is owned by Microsoft and Xbox? Maybe, but having the game on PC and Xbox -along with its cloud and Game Pass ecosystem- already is more than enough in the game’s initial release though.


First Bond No Time To Die Trailer Is Coming This Week

A new teaser trailer has been released for James Bond 25, or No Time To Die, which will be the 25th movie in the long-running spy franchise, as well as what will likely be Daniel Craig’s fifth and final portrayal of Agent 007.
The tease is only 14 seconds long, but it shows glimpses of Bond’s new Aston Martin with what seems to be mounted machine guns, and new supporting characters played by Captain Marvel star Lashana Lynch, Knives Out star Ana de Armas and the new villain portrayed by none other than Mr Robot star Raimi Malek.
Set to be the most expensive Bond movie ever made (reportedly costing US$250 million), No Time To Die is slated to premiere on 9 April 2020.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMrGxC60vzk&w=560&h=315]


God Eater 3 For The Nintendo Switch Malaysia Release Date Confirmed

 Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia has announced that God Eater 3 will be coming to the Nintendo Switch on 12 July 2019 for Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, and Indonesia).
Originally released for the PS4 and PC on 8 February 2019, God Eater 3 is an action JRPG with gameplay similar to that of Capcom’s Monster Hunter, where players hunt down giant creatures called Aragami. It features a post-apocalyptic setting and a unique cel-shaded anime style, with special animated sequences produced by renowned animation studio Ufotable of Fate/Zero fame.
Pre-orders for the game will include an exclusive download code for costumes and hairstyles inspired by Tales of Vesperia characters Yuri and Estelle. In the meantime, check out our review of God Eater 3 here, or watch the announcement trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6Yn686S8MI&w=560&h=315]


The Mario + Rabbids Sequel XCOM-Style Title Will Be Out This October

Nintendo and Ubisoft Milan announced that it’s selling Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope later this year.
The XCOM-style turn-based strategy game will be out on 20th October for Nintendo Switch and will be available in standard and Gold editions. The latter version will have the following:

The base game.
A season pass with upcoming downloadable content packs like story content with new heroes, quests, and battles.
The Galactic Prestige Pack that come with three exclusive weapon skins unlockable from the get-go.

Check out the game’s plethora of features below. You’re essentially playing a strategy game featuring Mario, Luigi, and a bunch of Rabbids cosplaying as Mario characters, so if you liked the first game Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, you’ll probably like this upcoming title.

An Extravagant Team Galore! – Meet Mario and the Rabbids Heroes and build your dream team with three Heroes among an eclectic roster of nine, including all-time favorites Rabbid Peach, Luigi, Rabbid Mario, Princess Peach, and some unexpected newcomers. Take advantage of Heroes’ special abilities to outwit even the strongest enemies in battle.
Tactical Meets Action – Use your Heroes’ skills in an innovative combat system, mixing turn-based tactics and real-time action. Take control of your Heroes to dash your enemies, team jump on your allies, hide behind cover… and make the best out of your turn. Specialize your Heroes with the Sparks you choose. Use all the exotic powers and tools at your disposal to craft your own strategies and prevail against all odds.
A Galactic Adventure Like No Other – Embark on an epic journey through the galaxy with your spaceship to help bring order back to the galaxy. Free each planet you cross from Cursa’s evil influence. Explore each one of them, meet their curious inhabitants to uncover mysterious secrets. Face surprising bosses, familiar enemies from the Nintendo universe and exceptional Rabbids enemies in your cosmic quest!
Save the Sparks to Earn Their Help and Powers! – Rescue the uncanny Sparks, born when Lumas and Rabbids merged, before Cursa gets a hold of them! Use their special abilities and powers in battle, ranging from energy barriers to fire rain to gain the upper hand in combat. Each Spark has a distinct power and personality. There are dozens of Sparks throughout the galaxy to locate, save, and join your journey.
Post-Launch Content – Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is only the beginning to your cosmic adventure as more content will come in post-launch.


Netflix Announces The Witcher Blood Origin Live-Action Prequel

The Witcher Season 1 was one of Netflix’s biggest exclusive shows ever. Now the streaming giant has announced a new live-action prequel set in the same universe titled The Witcher: Blood Origin.
The Witcher: Blood Origin was announced via Twitter, and it will be set a whopping 1200 years before the time of Geralt Of Rivia. It will apparently be an origin story for the entire Witcher profession as a whole, featuring the first-ever Witcher in the franchise’s lore.

1200 years before Geralt of Rivia, the worlds of monsters, men and elves merged into one, and the first Witcher came to be.
Announcing The Witcher: Blood Origin, a 6 part live-action The Witcher spin-off series from Declan de Barra and Lauren Schmidt Hissrich.
â€” NX (@NXOnNetflix) July 27, 2020
The Witcher showrunner Lauren S. Hissrich will be helming the prequel series, alongside Declan de Barra. The first season will consist of six episodes, but that’s all we know for now.
Hissrich herself tweeted about the news, confirming that The Witcher creator Andrzej Sapkowski himself will be involved.

This has been the toughest secret to keep! I’ve always wanted to dive deeper into the myth and lore of the Continent, and now fans will have a chance to explore it with @declandebarra in a prequel series, THE WITCHER: BLOOD ORIGIN. Elves, and enemies, and the end, oh myâ€¦ https://t.co/SGzrf4WbxZ
â€” Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) July 27, 2020

Hell yes.
â€” Lauren S. Hissrich (@LHissrich) July 27, 2020

No release date or casting have been announced as of yet.


Marvel’s Wonder Man Disney+ Series Is In The Works

Wonder Man is finally entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings director Destin Daniel Cretton has teamed up with Andrew Guest, a writer-producer on sitcoms like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community, for a Wonder Man Disney+ series.
Guest will be the head writer of the series, while Cretton will executive produce the series (and maybe direct one or more episodes). Development of the show is still in early stages, but filming might begin sometime in 2023.
Simon Williams AKA Wonder Man is a classic Marvel character, having been created by Stan Lee and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby in The Avengers #9 (October 1964). In the comics, he is notable for being one of the earliest Avengers (and West Coast Avengers) but he started out as a villain. Notably, his brain patterns was used as a template by Ultron to create Vision (yes, Ultron created Vision in the comics, and Hank Pym created Ultron, while Tony Stark was NOT involved at all). Wonder Man was also once romantically involved with Wanda Maximoff AKA the Scarlet Witch.
Wonder Man is extremely powerful. He’s basically made of ionic energy, which means that he’s virtually indestructible, super strong, can fly, and project energy. It’s somewhat similar to the powers of Monica Rambeau AKA Photon/Spectrum, but based on ionic energy instead of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The many costumes of Wonder Man over the years.


Human Fall Flat Laboratory Level Is Now Live On Android & iOS

Global publisher 505 Games, alongside partners Curve Games and developer No Brakes Games, have announced the addition of the new Laboratory level in the iOS and Android version of the puzzle-platformer Human Fall Flat.
Curve Games and No Brakes Games continue to celebrate its wonderfully creative fans with this Worldwide Workshop-winning stage from â€œBuler.â€ As the 18th level in the game, the Human Fall Flat Laboratory level stands out with its experimental exploration of magnetism and electricity.Â
Players can wobble around a secret lab filled with new playthings demonstrating the hilariously chaotic results of these scientific concepts. You can gather up to three friends and independently operate the arms of adorable characters to interact with these experiments, each adding a new wrinkle to Human Fall Flatâ€™s signature physics-based gameplay.Â
Gary Rowe, VP of Franchise at Curve Games, said:
â€œBulerâ€™s level is a favorite for Human Fall Flat fans on PC, so weâ€™re beyond pleased to introduce it to the mobile version today. We plan to continue to grow No Brakes Gamesâ€™ smash hit with even more awesome free post-release content over the next year.â€
Human Fall Flat is available on iOS and Android in North America, Europe, Oceania and parts of Asia. For more information about the game, players can visit the App Store and Google Play.
[videopress rTk8ec5w]


Free-To-Play Medieval Warfare Game Warlander Drops On Consoles Next Month

Toylogic and PLAION have announced that the free-to-play, third-person, online multiplayer warfare game, Warlander, is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on 16 May 2023. The game will feature cross-play across all platforms, including PC.
Warlander features a new genre of competitive gaming which is a hybrid between hack-and-slash, shooter and strategy with up to 100 players divided into five armies with the goal of destroying each other’s castles. Boasting three different classes: the warrior, the mage or the cleric, players can choose their preferred playstyle including the use of catapults, siege towers, battering rams and cataclysmic idols capable of potentially changing the tide of the battle or securing victory.
In preparation for the console launch, there are:

Two new maps:

Dawn Bridge B is an alternate version of the original Dawn Bridge map but covered in fog and with the number and location of the towers and siege weapons.
Moonlit Temple allows players to experience battles under the moonlight and features four catapults in the center which can play an important role in pushing the frontline. Additionally, siege battles utilize two routes requiring new strategies for both defense and attack.

Two new skills:

The Divine Hammer builds up the cleric’s power that can be unleashed in a mighty hammer blow. It blasts nearby enemies away and heals allies at the same time. The skill can be charged up in three stages with the higher stages boosting range, damage and knockback.
Phoenix is an ultimate skill exclusive to the new Rank 5 Mage title, Inferno. Players can summon a phoenix to fly over the battlefield raining down fire, destroying siege weapons and other structures.

Warlander combatants finished over 400,000 battles on Steam so far slaying over one million players in the process.
It is now the perfect time to join Warlander with the start of Season 1 of the season pass which will contain new armor skins, new weapons, new emblems, new titles and more. The shop will also receive an update with new items becoming available at the start of the season.
Warlander is free-to-play right now on Steam. To find out more, check out the official Warlander website or join the discussion and connect with the Warlander community via the game’s Official Discord server.


Half Of Final Fantasy XIV Is Entirely Free To Play

It took about 7 years to reach this point, but it’s damn well worth the wait, F2P MMO fans!
Square Enix’s current online multiplayer money-maker Final Fantasy XIV is now offering an incredibly packed and generous Free Trial mode starting 11th August. Here are the most noteworthy changes:

Level cap raised to 60.
The game is free up to Heavensward (through Patch 3.56).
Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist are available next to the other 10 free classes.
Au Ra race now playable alongside the Hyur, Elezen, Lalafell, Miqo’te, and Roegadyn.
A Realm Reborn/Starter Edition copies to be upgraded with the above.

The #FFXIV Free Trial is being expanded to include:
?? Level cap raised to 60?? Heavensward (through Patch 3.56)?? Dark Knight/Astrologian/Machinist?? Au Ra
A Realm Reborn/Starter Edition owners are also being upgraded with the above! pic.twitter.com/1nGXFJjPpa
— FINAL FANTASY XIV (@FF_XIV_EN) July 22, 2020

The game’s in-game currency and marketplace restrictions are still in place though. Still, that’s a lot of free content for players who want to dip their toes into FFXIV before committing full-time to it, right?
FFXIV is currently available for PC and PS4.


ESPN Lands Big Names To Play For The EXP Pro-Am Apex Legends Event

Respawn Entertainment’s magnificent battle royale game, Apex Legends, is taking its first step into major esports with the help of ESPN and its upcoming EXP Pro-Am Apex Legends Presented by The Real Cost exhibition game.
ESPN is taking it to greater levels by teaming up pro players, celebrities, internet personalities and athletes in squads of three to duke it out on King’s Canyon.
Competitors will play across three games for a chance of a total prize of US$25,000 (RM103,547) donated to the V Foundation for Cancer Research on behalf of the winning squad.
Who’s Joining?
There will be a number of big names in the game such as DrDisrespect, Mendokusaii, and Dizzy from NRG Esports. There will also be athletes such NFL player Marcus Williams from the New Orleans Saints, X Games gold medalist Ryan Decenzo, WWE Superstar Xavier Woods, and UFC strawweight Tatiana Suarez.

The full list of esports pros, streamers, athletes, celebrities, and ESPN talents are as follows.
Pros and Streamers

Casper, Team Liquid
Dizzy, NRG Esports
DrDisrespect, Gaming Personality
Dropped, Rogue
Tennp0, FaZeClan
Fedmyster. Gaming Personality
Gigz, 100Thieves
HusKers, Rogue
Jericho, Gaming Personality
Jessica Chobot, Gaming Personality
Kingrichard, NRG Esports
Malik Forte, Gaming Personality
Mendokusaii, Gaming Personality
Naomi Kyle, Gaming Personality
Nick EH 30, YouTube Creator
Stonemountain64, Facebook Streamer
Sweetdreams, Rogue
Sydnee Goodman, IGN Host
Teenage, 100Thieves
Viss, TSM
Xchocobars, Gaming Personality

Athletes and Celebrities

Bernardrick McKinney, Houston Texans
Blake Cashman, New York Jets
Breanna Stewart, Seattle Storm
Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins
Connor Ball, The Vamps
Darius Miles, Former NBA Player
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Dillon Francis, electronic musician
Eli Apple, New Orleans Saints
Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos
Jey Uso, WWE
Jimmy Uso, WWE
Joejuan Williams, New England Patriots
Kenneth Faried, Houston Rockets
Kenny Omega, AEW
Marcus Scribner, Actor on Blackish
Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints
Martellus Bennett, Former NFL Player
Mike Davis, Chicago Bears
Mitchie Brusco, X Games gold medalist
Orlando Scandtrick, NFL Player
Quentin Richardson, Former NBA Player
Rasheem Green, Seattle Seahawks
Ryan Decenzo, X Games gold medalist
Sam Witwer, Actor on The Walking Dead
Stephen Weartherly, Minnesota Vikings
Shawne Merriman, Former NFL Player
Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears
Tatiana Suarez, UFC
Tom Schaar, X Games gold medalist
Troy Gentile, Actor on The Goldbergs
Xavier Woods, WWE
Zach Moore, Arizona Cardinals

ESPN Talents

Clinton Yates, ESPN Host
Israel Gutierrez, ESPN Host
Jack Mitrani, X Games Host
Marcus Spears, ESPN Host
Maria Taylor, ESPN Host
Sarah Spain, ESPN Host

*Please note the list of competitors is constantly being updated and subject to change.
How To Watch?
You can catch the live stream on the ESPN app, ESPN Esports Twitch Channel, ESPN Esports YouTube Channel, or the Apex Legends Official Twitch Channel. The streams will also be on Twitter, and Caffeine.
The games will begin thisÂ Friday, 9 am to 12 pm, 12th July local time.
I bet you it will be an exciting game to watch as pros, celebrities, athletes and all try very best to beat each other in the name of glory and charity.


Ms. Marvel Episode 1 Breakdown & Easter Eggs

The first episode of Ms. Marvel is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. l’ll be discussing heavy spoilers so if you haven’t seen it or want to avoid spoilers, now’s your chance to stop reading. Head on over here for my spoiler-free review of Ms. Marvel, or check out my interview with Ms. Marvel showrunner Bisha K. Ali.
Marvel Studios’ Ms. Marvel is a new, original series that introduces Kamala Khan, a Muslim American teenager growing up in Jersey City. An avid gamer and a voracious fan-fiction scribe, Kamala is a Super Hero megafan with an oversized imagination, particularly when it comes to Captain Marvel. Yet? Kamala feels like she doesn’t fit in at school and sometimes even at home, that is, until she gets superpowers like the heroes she’s always looked up to. Life gets better with superpowers, right?
Check out my breakdowns of Moon Knight Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6 here.
You can check out my previous breakdowns of Hawkeye Episodes 1 and 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here and Episode 5. and Episode 6 here.
In addition, you can check out my previous breakdowns of Marvel’s What If? Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9 here.
If you haven’t, you can check out my previous breakdowns and easter egg articles for WandaVision Episode 1 and 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8 and Episode 9.
For The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, you can check out my previous breakdowns for Episode 1, Episode 2 and Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5 and Episode 6.
For previous breakdowns of Loki episodes, check out Episode 1 here, Episode 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here, Episode 5 here and Episode 6 here.

Scott Lang Did Podcast Interviews, Which Is how The World Knows Details About The Battle Against Thanos

Kamala reveals that she learned a lot about Captain Marvel from Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man’s podcast interviews. This somewhat solves the previous plot hole of how exactly the general public knew details from the battle against Thanos in Avengers Endgame. Scott Lang spilled the tea, guys.
The Comic Book Creators Who Worked On Ms. Marvel Comics

This school plaque is a tribute to all the comic book writers and artists who have worked on a Ms. Marvel comic, including the creators of the character. The creators of Ms. Marvel include editors Sana Amanat and Stephen Wacker, writer G. Willow Wilson, and artists Adrian Alphona and Jamie McKelvie.
Bruno Is A Genius Like In The Comics

In the series, Matt Lintz’s Bruno Carrelli is a tech expert who even created his own smart home appliance named Zuzu. This is interesting and true to his character in the comics, who is also a genius and tech expert. In the comics, he even went to a university in Wakanda.

Aunt Ruby Is The Voice Of Symmetra In Overwatch

The Aunt Ruby who is speaking with Muneeba Khan (Kamala’s mom) is played by none other than Anjali Bhimani.
She’s best known for voicing multiple video game characters, including Symmetra in Overwatch and Rampart in Apex Legends.
Rampart (above), Symmetra (below).
The Bangle Gives Kamala Her Powers

In the series, it seems like the bangle that gives Ms. Marvel her hard light construct powers were passed down from her great grandmother. That’s all we know about the bangle so far. However, I have some theories.
In the comics, Kamala is an Inhuman, which is how she gets her powers to embiggen and alter her body mass to stretch and change her physical form. However, the MCU version is clearly different.
Plus, her powers now look like they’re closer to DC Comics’ Green Lantern. She can seemingly create blue hard light constructs.
Let’s see who in the comics can use hard light constructs or use bracelets to draw their power.
There is one Marvel hero who uses hard light constructs like these and his/her name is Quasar. In the comics, Quasar is an individual given cosmic powers via the Quantum Bands (which are bracelets) by an entity named Eon. There have been multiple Quasars, including Wendell Vaughn and others.

Another bracelet-wielding hero was the original Captain Marvel in the comics, the Kree hero named Mar-Vell. The Nega Bands gave him his powers. However, the MCU version of Mar-Vell already appeared and he’s different, though the Nega Bands can still potentially appear in the MCU.

Photon

Bruno gives Kamala ‘Photon’ gloves for her Captain Marvel cosplay.
Fun fact: Photon is one of the many superhero names and monikers used by Monica Rambeau in the comics. Others include Spectrum, and of course, Captain Marvel.

Agent M Is At Avengercon

Ryan Penagos is the host/announcer at AvengerCon.
To those unfamiliar, he is Vice President & Creative Executive, Marvel New Media.
There’s A Post-Credits Scene

Surprisingly, there’s a post-credits scene in the first episode. Arian Moayed reprises his role as Agent Cleary from Spider-Man No Way Home, while Alysia Reiner plays Agent Sadie Deever. Both of them work for the DODC (Department Of Damage Control), which is a government agency set up with the aid of Stark Industries in order to clean up superhuman disasters after the Battle Of New York (they first appeared in Spider-Man Homecoming.
However, the DODC is now something different, as they had the power to apprehend Peter Parker and interrogate his aunt and friends after his identity as Spider-Man was made public in Spider-Man No Way Home. Now they’re suddenly hunting superhumans for some reason?
There will be six episodes in Ms. Marvel Season 1, and we have five episodes left. Until next week, excelsior!


Mighty Morphin Power Rangers To Reunite For 30th Anniversary Netflix Special

The original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers were part of many childhoods, especially the 90s kids. Now, Netflix has announced Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Once And Always to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the franchise. It will premiere on Netflix on 19 April 2023.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the returning cast includes Walter E. Jones (Zack, the Black Ranger), David Yost (Billy, the Blue Ranger), Catherine Sutherland (Kat, the second Pink Ranger), Karan Ashley (Aisha, the second Yellow Ranger), Steve Cardenas (Rocky, the second Red Ranger), and Johnny Yong Bosch (Adam, the second Black Ranger). Barbara Goodson will also reprise her role as the voice of their arch nemesis Rita Repulsa.
The late Thuy Trang played the original Yellow Ranger, Trini, but she passed away in a car accident in 2001. Charlie Kersch will play Minh, Trini’s daughter. It’s all a bit bittersweet considering that the legendary Jason David Frank (the original Green Ranger and White Ranger) recently passed away several months before this announcement. Let’s hope there’ll be a tribute of some sort to him in the upcoming anniversary special.
For now, check out the images below:


The Batman Arkham Trilogy Comes To Switch This Fall

During Nintendo Direct June 2023, Rocksteady announced that the Batman Arkham Trilogy, consisting of Batman Arkham Asylum, Batman Arkham City and Batman Arkham Knight, will launch for the Nintendo Switch sometime in fall 2023.
Players will be able to experience the definitive versions of Rocksteady’s Arkham Trilogy games, including all post-launch content, in one complete collection.
Check out the trailer below:


Final Fantasy XV Director’s Studio Working On Two Major Gaming Projects

JP Games, the video game studio led by Final Fantasy Type-0 and Final Fantasy XV director Hajime Tabata, will be working on two new game projects.
According to a Famitsu report, JP Games will be collaborating with a major company to get these games underway. Tabata states that both games are large-scale titles. The first game has finished pre-production; it’s a high-speed RPG that’s experimental and is the evolution of Final Fantasy Type-0. The game will be a condensed RPG experience and is playable multiple times via multiplayer.
The second title is a global triple-A nomadic RPG that’s essentially an evolution of Final Fantasy XV, focusing on free exploration. Guess you can’t stray too far from what you’re previously good at. As for who the major company is, we can guess that it may be either Bandai Namco or Sega (by extension, Atlus).


Bookend: TellTale Games Is Closing Down; The Wolf Among Us 2 & Stranger Things Game Cancelled

Oh man, this news is going to be hard to bear for fans of narrative/visual novel-style/adventure gaming, especially on a Saturday morning.
TellTale Games, the folks behind the Walking Dead adventure games, the recent Monkey Island and Sam & Max games, and the very recent Batman adventure games, are facing a “majority studio closure”. There will be 25 employees left in the company to “fulfil the company’s obligations to its board and partners,” essentially to finish up the final chapters of The Walking Dead Telltale game.
This also means that the Stranger Things game and the sequel to The Wolf Among Us are cancelled.
Here’s a statement from the studio’s CEO Pete Hawley (via GamesIndustry.biz)

It’s been an incredibly difficult year for Telltale as we worked to set the company on a new course.Â Unfortunately, we ran out of time trying to get there. We released some of our best content this year and received a tremendous amount of positive feedback, but ultimately, that did not translate to sales. With a heavy heart, we watch our friends leave today to spread our brand of storytelling across the games industry.

In related news, Netflix has issued the following statement regarding their recent partnership with Telltale Games.

We are saddened by the closing of Telltale games – they developed many great games in the past and left an indelible mark in the industry. ‘Minecraft: Story Mode’ is still moving forward as planned. We are in the process of evaluating other options for bringing the ‘Stranger Things’ universe to life in an interactive medium.

This sad news started earlier today via the plethora of social media posts from various Telltale Games concerning mass layoffs at the studio. The laid-off staff will not receive severance pay according to USGamer.


Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Discovery Tour Viking Age Launches Next Month

Ubisoft has announced that Discovery Tour: Viking Age, an educational experience allowing players to explore and interact with the history and culture of the Viking Age world, will release on 19 October 2021.
Discovery Tour: Viking Age will be free for all owners of Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla, available on the same platforms as the main game. The PC standalone version of Discovery Tour: Viking Age will be available via Ubisoft Connect and on the Epic Games Store.
For the very first time in the Discovery Tour franchise, Discovery Tour: Viking Age will also release as a standalone on PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in early 2022.

Local prices are as follows:

SG$
RM

PHP

IDR

US$Â

Discovery Tour: Viking Age Standalone

26.90
65
750
205,000
14.99

Following Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt and Discovery Tour: Ancient Greeceâ€™s line, the brand-new chapter of the Assassinâ€™s Creed educational expansion will shed light on the Viking era and allow players to discover more about the history and traditions of the time. Designed in close collaboration with historians and archaeologists, this non-violent, interactive learning experience is an engaging deep dive into the Viking Age in ninth-century Norway and England.

For this new opus in the series, the development team in Ubisoft Montreal has changed the formula to make the experience even more fun and informative. Discovery Tour: Viking Age puts the narrative and storytelling at the heart of the experience; players will step into the shoesÂ of Viking and Anglo-Saxon characters of the time and live their big and small stories. During their memorable adventure, they will interact with the world and its inhabitants while discoveringÂ many details and anecdotes about the time period.

Since its beginnings, the Discovery Tour Team has always worked with a wide variety of partners. The immersive approach of the Discovery Tour, the knowledge of our experts and historians, and the featuring of real artefacts from our partnersâ€™ collections give rise to many collaborations and projects. The museum partners that have contributed images for Discovery Tour: Viking Age include:

Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) is Ubisoftâ€™s main partner for Discovery Tour: Viking Age, managing 23 museum and arts attractions across Hampshire and caring for 2.5 million objects relating to Hampshireâ€™s rich and internationally important heritage. The Discovery Tour provides a unique glimpse into the lives of ordinary people in and around Winchester through a selection of rare objects, including the exceptional Winchester Reliquary, the sole surviving holy relic in Britain from the time. In addition to this collaboration with the Discovery Tour: Viking Age, Ubisoftâ€™s strategic partnership with HCT will bring history to life in spring 2022 in Winchester through a unique, immersive cultural experience, which will blend real action with video projection,Â storytellingÂ and objects from the trustâ€™s collections; the experience will be complemented by an Augmented Reality tour of Winchester in the lore of Assassinâ€™s Creed Valhalla produced by Sugar Creative, one of the UKâ€™s leading creative studios.

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It has a vast collection of items including artefacts from every age of written civilization. A partnership with the British Library was key to Ubisoft to give players the best access to medieval manuscripts and illustrations directly linked with the Viking Age.

The RÃ©union des MusÃ©es Nationaux – Grand Palais photo agency is a public industrial and commercial institution under the authority of the French Ministry of Culture. It has been officially responsible for promoting collections of Franceâ€™s national museums. Each year, it captures more than 20,000 new on-site shots to further expand the agencyâ€™s collection, which is universally available online. They have been an essential partner since the very first Discovery Tour. Their vast collections have been key in supporting Ubisoftâ€™s artefact driven approach to the Discovery Tour: Viking Age, enabling players to look at items such as the Bayeux Tapestry or the Sutton Hoo helmet.

York Archaeological Trust operates the Jorvik Viking Centre in the UK, which has interpreted the archaeology of York’s Coppergate dig for the benefitÂ of all audiences. The Discovery Tour has allowed Ubisoft to present some of these finds in a new medium, adding authentic period detail to the immersiveÂ environment of the Discovery Tour and demonstrating the importance of the city during the Viking Age as a commercial, religious and political hub.Â

The National Museum of Denmark, Nationalmuseet, consists of a network of 20 museums all over the country with a collection of unique items covering a large part of Danish history. Putting artefacts under the spotlight from the National Museum of Denmarkâ€™s collections truly added depth to the Discovery Tour, demonstrating amazing crafting skills and esthetics and a chance to see how reputation, family and social bounds are described as such vital elements.

Preston Park Museum & Grounds is the local Museum serving the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. Preston Park Museums & Ground gave the Discovery Tour team the unique opportunity to highlight two key elements from the Viking Era; the new Anglo-Scandinavian culture that emerged from funerary art, and one of only two near-complete Viking era helmets in the world; the Yarm Helmet. Preston Park Museum has a special Viking touring exhibition arriving early 2022 in which there will be events that incorporate the Discovery Tour: Viking Age.

In the meantime, check outÂ our full review ofÂ Assassinâ€™s Creed ValhallaÂ here, orÂ head on over here for our guideÂ on how to be the best Viking in the game.


Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Is A Helluva JRPG Epic That Needs Your Due Diligence

Platform: Nintendo Switch
Genre: JRPG Epic Bookend From The Guy Who Made Xenogears & Xenosaga
You know like in recent Marvel Cinematic Universe movies where a supposed standalone story is great on its own, but requires a ton of past lore research for all of its climactic bits and resolution to make the experience whole? That’s pretty much the impression we got after playing a lot of Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
There IS a reason the game has “3” in its title, after all. But Nintendo and developer Monolithsoft made sure that new players aren’t turned off by the “3”. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is both a standalone JRPG game you can enjoy on its own merits and also the third entry of a long-spanning adventure that ties a lot of its previous entries together with a bowtie.
The X Factor

A brief synopsis if you will: two warring factions seem to have their own insurgents in the ranks, determined to find out the truth and why the war happened in the first place. Also, the world’s denizens somehow have a lifespan of 10 years, and those who performed well in said war will get to ascend to a higher plane. You play the insurgents from both nations: Noah leads the Keves group while Mio leads the Agnus group.
With both them and the other party members -Lanz, Eunie, Sena and Taion-, they team up and are on the run from both factions hunting them down, while they figure out the entire mystery of the world they’re stuck in. Without going into spoilers, the game touches upon the horrors war pretty quick and to the point, while also injecting a bit of anime tropes to fit its aesthetics. It’s not as tone-shifty and “perverted” as Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and it’s more disciplined and restrained in showcasing the character’s stakes and situation.
In other words, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an anime RPG you can play in public without shame.
The fact that Nintendo and Monolithsoft remade the first Xenoblade Chronicles game for Nintendo Switch is proof that part 3 is going to cater to fans of the Xenoblade saga who stuck around since 2010. However, you won’t need much prior research since 90% of the game’s plot is self-contained. You just might miss out on some payoff that links this with the previous games, but that’s only 10% you can close one eye to if you do not have the time for the past titles.
Besides, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is going to take up a lot of your 2022 since it’s a 100-hour RPG filled with tons of quests and enemies to fight. True, you can beeline the main quests and get some of the game’s heroes in about 40 hours or so, but Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is not a game you want to rush through.
Battle Of The Bulge

Much like its story, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 goes all-out with its combat system and mechanics. Four characters on-screen too little for you? How about all 6 party members (plus 1 extra hero) who can change classes and jobs to suit the occasion, fighting and yelling their anime attacks with full aplomb? A  job system that lets your 6 party members become whatever they want be it a healer, defender, or attacker? A combat system with auto-attacks coupled with special moves, chain combos, and a power-up that fuses two characters to become one mecha-like badass named an Ouroboros? A gem and skill system that’s customizable from head to toe? Yes, and more!
It’s a lot to take in, sure, but the game’s 8-hours will make you get accustomed to everything the RPG has to offer. Is it all fun though? The first 8 hours can get a bit dull and can test your patience. And the majority of the quests are all about fetching items, talking to the right people, and fighting a bunch of monsters and bosses. But once you’re given all the tools at your disposal, you can play the game and explore to your heart’s content.
Much like the best open-world games with easy and mundane quests, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 does give you some free reign even during the earlier chapters. The game’s art style and amazing music (literally the same people who composed the memorable Xenoblade Chronicles 2 score) help accentuate the exploration and faffing about aspects further. You are going to enjoy the rest of your hours sorting out the best classes to play, the heroes you want to recruit, and the many sidequests that will lead you to further buffs and powerups.
Want to get the fastest running speed when on the map and getting the furthest radius for auto-collecting stuff on the map? Go help out that nearby colony with its chores and menial tasks. At the very least, cashing in most of these does not require you to trek so much, and you can fast travel to any point in the game as long as you’re not in the middle of a story quest.
Having said that, the game does suffer some slowdown, weird pathfinding issues, and a few graphical glitches here and there. This is more on the Nintendo Switch hardware than the game itself, but some optimization tweaking would help make the experience a little less choppy.
Art Of War

Despite a few of its technical flaws, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a huge win for Monolithsoft and Nintendo simply for its ambition. The fourth entry (we’re counting Xenoblade Chronicles X) did not need to do a lot to win me over and keep us invested for more than 50 hours.
Its cast of charming characters, its high-stakes plot, its combat system, its exploration, and its freedom of gameplay (for a JRPG) are more than enough to satiate the most jaded of us all. Simply put, this masterclass of a JRPG experience is worth getting a Nintendo Switch for.
Pros

Great epic story with some payoff for Xeno fans.
Amazing and creative world design.
Deep and rewarding combat system.
Heartwarming and memorable cast.
Godlike music.

Cons

Some technical issues & slowdown.
Takes a while to get going; at least 8 hours.

Final Score: 90/100


[Report] Call Of Duty 2020 To Be Black Ops 5

Call Of Duty 2019Â (it could be Modern Warfare 4) hasn’t even been officially announced yet but there are already reports of what next year’s entry in the long-running annual franchise would be. According to various sources (via Kotaku’s Jason Schreier), studios Raven and Sledgehammer are no longer leading the project, but it is now Treyarch who has taken over the reins.
Treyarch was responsible for all the Black Ops titles, including 2018’s Call Of Duty Black Ops 4. Activision is now assigning the developer to Call Of Duty Black Ops 5 for 2020. Here are some details about the reportedly upcoming game by those same sources:

It will feature a single-player campaign set during the Cold War, building and expanding on the work already done by Raven and Sledgehammer
It will be a cross-gen game, releasing for the PS4 and Xbox One as well as the next generation of those consoles

There are conflicting reports on what the developers at Treyarch actually feel about this turn of events. This is because the company will now only have two years to develop the next Call Of Duty game, instead of the usual three years.
Some are already bracing themselves for a brutal crunch like they previously experienced with Call Of Duty Black Ops 4, while others are actually excited at the prospect of another game so soon, as they purportedly have a concrete plan now.
Meanwhile, one possible primary reason for why Activision removed Raven and Sledgehammer from Call Of Duty 2020 is the tension between the staff at both companies, which turned the project in development into a “mess”. They will now support Treyarch in developing Call Of Duty Black Ops 5.


Publisher 505 Games To Attend Gamescom 2022

Leading video game publisher 505 Games has announced their intention to attend this year’s Gamescom 2022, the world’s largest B2C event for computer and video games and Europe’s leading business platform for the games industry, marking the company’s return to physical expos in just over two years.
The publisher is further committing to Gamescom by welcoming more media, partners, and guests than ever before in a space which has been especially designed for 505’s partners and Europe’s media to come together, share ideas, and have hands-on time with some of 505’s upcoming projects in comfort.
Neil Ralley, President of 505 Games, said:
“It’s with an immense sense of optimism for the future that we make this announcement. We have a diverse line up of product that we’re excited to share with our partners, and the return of Gamescom is our opportunity to show our ambition and direction for the company. Everyone in attendance from 505 Games looks forward to seeing the wider gaming community again.”
However, 505 Games has yet to disclose the titles on show, but further announcements will be made in the lead up to August’s event. 505 Games’ business booth will be in HALL 2.1, at ‘Marketpoint’, Booth Number C029-A010.
Gamescom 2022 will take place in Cologne, Germany, from 24 August to 28 August 2022. In the meantime, check out our coverage of the Gamescom 2021 Opening Night Live event from last year.


The Best Moments & News Of EVO 2018

This story is still in development…
This year’s Evolution Championship Tournament boasts a number of cool finishes, upsets, and surprise moments. If you’re a fighting game fan, you should know that these moments will echo in the annals of FGC history worldwide.
Full disclosure: I recently got into BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, which is possibly the second game that will replace the Marvel vs Capcom series in the “tag team fighting game” void. It’s currently filled up by Dragon Ball FighterZ, but BBCTB comes in a close second. Naturally, I was hyped up for Arc System Works’ recent efforts.
It’s also cool that there are other fighting games to care about next to Street Fighter V. Many of us veterans are still bummed out that SFV is nowhere near as integral and deep as Street Fighter IV, but at least the top players are still making the game look good with their winning plays and clutches. Begrudgingly so since they’re doing it for the obvious Capcom Pro Tour pot and to meet up with FGC veterans, but it’s better than nothing.
That’s not to say that there aren’t any merits to Street Fighter V’s EVO run this year; far from it. We should be thankful variety is the keyword for this year’s EVO.
So what were the best bits of this year? Read on and find out, dear readers. We’ll recap our favourite bits.
The Earlier Fights Leading Up To The Last Day

https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1525847347519675/
Daigo getting kicked out in a mirror match. Xian getting kicked out, first by a persistent Fuudo and then by a crazy Cool Kid 93 Abigail play. Last year’s SFV runner-up Punk getting kicked out early. Street Fighter V has seen its fair shares of upsets, and this one is no exception. While not as drastic as the game’s killers getting knocked out too early before the top 32 bout, it’s still noteworthy.
BlazBlue CTB Finals

Even if this took place a day before the main top 8 fights, that fact does not take away the prestige and hype of the BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle fight in EVO 2018. With crazy plays from Kazunoko and the persistence of KojiKOG, not to mention the Grand Finals between Japan’s Heiho and US’s Fame96 that screams future rivalry on a worldwide scale, we’ll definitely see more top tier play from BBCTB in the near future.
And I’ll be maining Ruby and Gordeau after this.
1. Heiho (Ruby, Gordeau)
2. PAG|Fame96 (Yu, Jin)
3. BE|DoraBang (Hazama, Î½ -No.13-)
4. KojiKOG (Tager, Waldstein)
5. GGP|Kazunoko (Ruby, Gordeau)
5. CO|Fenrich (Jin, Hyde)
7. Gouda (Gordeau, Î½ -No.13-)
7. DettyWhiteRock (Yang, Waldstein)
Love Blooms On The Battlefield

#EVO2018 pic.twitter.com/tDq5RzTyAX
— HiFight(??????) (@HiFightTH) August 4, 2018

Tayson Defas gets a kiss from his lover Sol (a BlazBlue and SFV competitor) just before a Marvel vs Capcom Infinite finals fight. Not sure how that will fly with the already-controversial internet FGC groups, but it’s nice to know that love is all around us regardless of shape & form.
Marvel’s Still Not Dead
Despite the exclusion of MvCI on the main stage due to “low attendance rate”, the community is still supporting the supposedly dead game.Â This Kotaku report is worth sharing, seeing as this tournament is being run like a true side game, right down to the “standing only” finals in a corner somewhere.
Here’s an excerpt.

During the final match of theÂ Marvel vs. Capcom: InfiniteÂ competition, fans rallied in support of Hector â€œMachoâ€ Cajigas, hoping to to spur the Chicago competitor to victory against CyberJapanAgent. At one point, attendees even raised their hands as a mock Spirit Bomb, but the foreign player easily dispatched his grand finals opponent. In so doing, CyberJapanAgent made history by becoming the first Japanese player to win aÂ Marvel vs. CapcomÂ game at Evo. His victory, while incredible, was marred by scheduling issues that pushed theÂ InfiniteÂ finals back by three hours.
“I knew we were going to face a lot of challenges,â€ organizer Armando â€œAngelicâ€ Mejia told me afterwards. â€œThey told us we had to be ready by 7 PM, and we absolutely killed it. We busted our asses to get done as quickly as possible. We didnâ€™t want anything to be [held up] on our end. The matches were great, the players were great. Everyone came through and it was a great time.”

Oh and here are the results in case you’re curious:
1. CJA|Cyber (Dante, Dormammu)
2. MG|Macho (Dante, Dormammu)
3. TLT|Tayson (Gamora, Ultron)
4. TPC|NotEnoughDamage (Ultron, Dr. Strange)
5. NB|DualKevin (Hawkeye, Dante)
5. NoelBHungry (Gamora, Rocket Raccoon)
7. Taekua (Ghost Rider, Nova)
7. Stealth (Zero, Dante)
ArcRevo World Tour 2018-2019 Announced

Speaking of which, Arc System Works just revealed its upcoming pro tournament league called the ArcRevo World Tour which will feature games such as BlazBlue Central Fiction, Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator 2, and BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. The tournament will take place all over from North America to even Southeast Asia (via South East Asia Major 2018). The finals for this circuit will take place in Fall 2019 in North America.
Did we forget to mention that you can win over US$100,000 in cash prizes? That’s quite an incentive for you to practice the heck out of these anime fighters.
The Soul Still Burns

Just before the Tekken 7Â  finals, we get to see new character reveals for Soul Calibur 6. Well, “new” is a relative term because we’ve seen Seung Mina and Astaroth in past SC games. Still, seeing them in the new SC6 engine is nice.Â October can’t come soon enough.
Tekken 7 Grand Finals
Yes, we know the South Koreans are going to take the top two spot. But what surprised us was a US player placing pretty high in a major EVO tournament. American player Lil Majin really gave his all; he was in third place using King, a grappler you don’t see often in a sea of Dragunovs & Jack-6s. I’m also happy to see a Panda user placing pretty high in this year’s Tekken 7 extravaganza.
[twitchÂ https://clips.twitch.tv/DifficultTastyRadishLitty]

1. Fursan|LowHigh (Shaheen, Bryan, Kazuya)
2. UYU|Qudans (Devil Jin)
3. ITS|Lil Majin (King)
4. FOX|JDCR (Dragunov)
5. Fursan|Rangchu (Panda)
5. AR|Book (Jin)
7. COOASGAMES|Noroma (JACK-7, Dragunov)
7. AMD|Chirichiri (Shaheen)
Negan From Walking Dead Joins Tekken 7… And Some Other Veterans

Anna and Lei Wulong will be in the game; they’re both fan favourites in the series, one being the sister of Nina Williams and the other a lax and goofy drunken kung fu expert detective. But you know what? We’re getting Negan from the Walking Dead, which means fighting game esports sites can post about The Walking Dead for that sweet traffic in the future even though they’re not a pop culture site.
You can get all that with the Season 2 Pass. Essentially this is Street Fighter V all over again, even down to a new version of the game with balance changes and new mechanics.
A Pretty Bizarre Way To Cap Off Smash Bros Wii U

I don’t play Super Smash Bros Wii U and even I know how broken Bayonetta can be. But this? The fact that both players were just dicking around more than fighting (at least from where I’m watching) and that whole standoff with the charge at 15:00 is pretty ballsy on their part.
A Little Bit Of Smash Bros Melee For You

Whatever that stunk up Super Smash Bros Wii U was quickly eradicated when it came to this grand finals between Leffen and Armada.
1. TSM|Leffen (Fox)
2. Alliance|Armada (Peach, Fox)
3. PG|Plup (Sheik)
4. Liquid|Hungrybox (Jigglypuff)
5. C9|Mango (Falco)
5. Wizzrobe (Captain Falcon)
7. OG|Swedish Delight (Sheik)
7. Tempo|S2J (Captain Falcon)

An American Furry Wins Dragon Ball FighterZ
You knew it was going to happen. The EVO 2018 DBFZ tournament was boiled down to two pro gamers: SonicFox and Go1. Either one was going to take home the gold, despite us wanting guys like Kazunoko winning it. Still, having SonicFox winning a game everyone is playing -instead of with titles like Injustice 2 and MKX- must have been refreshing for the young player.

1. FOX|SonicFox (Bardock, Fused Zamasu, Android 16)
2. CO|Go1 (Cell, Bardock, Vegeta)
3. CO|Fenrich (Cell, Bardock, Vegeta)
4. Ponos|Moke (Kid Buu, Cell, Trunks)
5. GGP|Kazunoko (Kid Buu, Adult Gohan, Yamcha)
5. W2W|KnowKami (Android 21, Cell, Goku Black | Cell, Fused Zamasu, Kid Buu)
7. NRG|Supernoon (Kid Buu, Cell, Vegeta)
7. Yoshimoto|Kubo (Adult Gohan, Android 16, Goku)
Cooler Will Be In DBFZ
We’ve already known this for a long while since the data mine, but it’s nice to have this finally confirmed. Frieza’s older brother Cooler will be a playable character in DBFZ, and he’ll retain his Shredder-esque look.

[twitchÂ https://clips.twitch.tv/ApatheticInexpensiveWaterCeilingCat]
Some Guy Cosplays As G To Hype Up Street Fighter V DLC
Yes, it’s kinda cringeworthy. Yet somehow it’s awesomely bad not to watch, Southern accent and all.

Also, G and Sagat will be out tomorrow. Long story short: G’s mid-ranged moves get more powerful via a Presidentiality meter (up to Level 3). He also has a V-Skill barrier that can solve some anti-air problems.

Sagat plays like his SFIV counterpart- his Angry Charge is now a V-Skill.Â We’ll have a separate report on these two on a later day when they’re out, so stay tuned!

Here’s something else for you to ponder:

UK Solves Street Fighter V Japan Epidemic With Problem X
The main event turned out to be spectacular, especially if you’re rooting for a longtime non-Japan player to win. Despite Luffy and crowd favourite Cool Kid 93 getting knocked out in the top 8, UK’s Problem X found the solution with his deft use of M.Bison and Abigail.
Just when you think guys like veteran Fuudo and Last year’s winner Tokido we’re going to steak first place, along comes this UK guy who’s been in the SFV scene for quite a while. It wasn’t a walk in the park: Fuudo had R.Mika mixups and corner games while Tokido is on point with his fireball and demon flip spacing game.
Luckily, Problem X persevered with high-priority mid-attacks, well-timed V-Trigger dashes to combos, and letting loose a Dictator Slide when anyone least expected it. It’s refreshing to know that UK and Europe can still play hard and well against Japan’s finest.
1. Mouz|Problem X (M. Bison, Abigail)
2. FOX|Tokido (Akuma)
3. CYG|Fuudo (R. Mika)
4. Gachikun (Rashid)
5. RB|Luffy (R. Mika)
6. FD|Fujimura (Ibuki)
7. CoolKid93 (Abigail)
8. Rise|Caba (Guile)
https://www.facebook.com/kakuchopurei/videos/1528964407207969/?hc_ref=ARTZSDhsRboZ_T4LuZwtLIWsw66eSSLytUusgimWM9J73fbQMmtltJmduAFA5wUt37w&fref=gs&dti=145709472235467&hc_location=group
All The Other Odd Fighting Games On The Show Floor
The aforementioned main games (and the two other Smash Bros titles) weren’t the only ones being played during the weekend of EVO 2018.
There was a preview of SoulCalibur 6 in tournament form. There were classics like Windjammers, Under Night In Birth, Dead or Alive 5, Fighting EX Layer, KOF XIV, Super Turbo, Ultra SFIV, Melty Blood, Vampire Savior, and a couple more.
Hell, there were even tournaments for Sailor Moon S and TMNT Tournament Fighters for the SNES. Talk about old-school!
These Kids In The Rashid Getup
The master of SFV’s winds has a fan who happens to be good at breakdancing. You bet your sweet ass this will be in our obligatory highlights vid.

So this just happened #Evo2018 pic.twitter.com/UxqxIkvxVy
— KiraFlax (@KiraFlax) August 3, 2018

???????????????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/TzmbmqpKvK
— Anna Sakagawa? Tarnished ????? (@ahsakagawa) August 3, 2018

(top image credit: Robert Paul, EVO 2018)


Borderlands 3 Will Have 25 Times More Gun Sounds Than Part 2

As touted on its reveal trailer, the upcoming loot-and-shoot action RPG Borderlands 3 will have 45 bajillion guns (or more), which includes guns that cut down enemies while insulting their pride, guns that fire volcanoes, and guns that deal radiation damage. Said guns will be noisy, and according to Gearbox Software senior sound designer Joshua Davidson, it’ll pack in more sounds than Borderlands 2.
How many .wav files are we talking about? Try 7,500, with more on the way. For comparison’s sake, Borderlands 2 had 300 individual sounds.

So yeah….#Borderlands3 is currently sitting at just over 7,500 individual .wav files for the weapon firing sounds.
For perspective, BL2 shipped a little over 300 .wav files to cover all the guns and their manufacturers.
And yes, we're still not done. Pew pew! #GameAudio
— Joshua Davidson (@JoshuaDav) April 26, 2019

Will this help Borderlands 3 feel more unique in terms of gunplay? I hope so. As fun as every other online shooter like Warframe and The Division 2 is, the Borderlands series exhibit that je ne sais quoiÂ that its “successors” lack. Namely over-the-top weaponry that doesn’t give flying hoots about logic and (certain grounds of) reality.
Find out more about Borderlands 3 from our past coverage; game’s out 13 September.


You Can Already Pre-Order PS5 Games In Malaysia

The Malaysian version of the PlayStation Web Store has already changed its layout as of this morning (27 October 2020). It will take time to navigate through this new layout but the most interesting bit about it is the new category which allows you to pre-order PS5 games.
That’s right, folks. We still don’t know when the PS5 will be available in Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia, but we can already pre-order PS5 games if we want to.
For example, here are the Malaysian prices for several PS5 games:
Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales – RM209Marvel’s Spider-Man Miles Morales Ultimate Edition – RM299Godfall – RM299Far Cry 6 – RM289Demon’s Soul – RM299
Here’s a screencap of the page as proof, and you can head to this link to check it out now:


Find Your Flow With OlliOlli World Newest Expansion Finding The Flowzone

OlliOlli World is getting a new expansion in OlliOlli World: Finding the Flowzone which will release on 2 November for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, & PC via Steam.
The original game came out back in February of this year and was developed by the BAFTA and multi-award-winning studio Roll7 and published by Private Division on the aforementioned platforms.

Finding the Flowzone is the second and final expansion where you will glide and grind above the clouds as you ride the winds to the lost skate-cropolis in the sky: Radlantis. Journey through the five Flowzone Layer regions: from the cotton candy clouds of Cirrus through the lucid midnight woods of Cumulus on your quest to the lost city in OlliOlli World’s final expansion.
Join the fearless Radmospheric Three – Squid, Licht, and Professor Planks – unified to prevent B.B. Hopper the business frog from exploiting the rumoured hidden city in the sky. As you traverse these incredible heights, collect map pieces unlocking the path to the legendary lost island built by the skate gods themselves. Courtesy of the tempest skate god Gail Force, ride the new Windzones to perform the gnarliest aerial tricks. Get ready to embark on the raddest quest in OlliOlli World’s final ascending adventure: Finding the Flowzone.

Key Features:

Journey to Radlantis – Grab your board and begin the epic expedition alongside the Radmospheric Three, dedicated to reaching Radlantis before their archnemesis, B.B. Hopper. Collect scattered map pieces within each of the five Flowzone layers to unlock the true location of the ancient city. Retrieve all the pieces of the map and take your final journey through the lost metropolis in the clouds, Radlantis.

There She Blows! – Get ready to catch some serious air as you take on Gail Force’s powers with the latest challenge of Windzones. Be prepared to face massive gusts of winds propelling you upwards or pushing you off your course in a multitude of directions throughout each level. Employ the winds to elevate you and perform sick aerial tricks as you sail through the skies.
Burly Routes – Think you know your way around the track? Think again. Rise to the challenge to rack up points on the insane Burly Routes! You can choose to skate along the safe regular routes, the adventurous Gnarly Routes, or try the Burly Routes for an extra layer of complexity. Conquer these sick routes and maybe you’ll find yourself worthy to enter the Hall of Rad.
Travelling Trendsetter – Hit the altitude with attitude! Gear up for the gnarliest exploration ever with a fresh range of customizations. Can’t roll up to Radlantis without looking awesome, right? Express your true self with more signature OlliOlli fashions to finish each course, in your unique style. But don’t forget to suit up…we hear it’s pretty windy up there.

Guess What
In commemoration, the team behind the game went the extra mile and aptly made a sea shanty to promote the new expansion which you can find below.


DC FanDome: New The Batman Trailer Teases A More Vengeful Dark Knight

Warner Bros Pictures has released a new trailer for The Batman during DC FanDome 2021.
According to director Matt Reeves, The Batman is set during the Caped Crusader’s second year as a crimefighter. It will feature an inexperienced Batman/Bruce Wayne (Pattinson) investigating a series of murders committed by the Riddler (Paul Dano). Batman is working alongside his Gotham Police officer James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright).
Batman will tangle with cat burglar Selina Kyle/Catwoman (Kravitz), with a romance between them. The Batman cast also includes Andy Serkis as Alfred Pennyworth, Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, aka the Penguin, and Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham DA Gil Colson.
The trailer shows more of the new Batmobile in action and a darker version of the Caped Crusader than we’ve seen in live-action before.

The Batman will premiere on 4 March 2022.
Check out the trailer below:


Professor Hulk Hot Toys To Assemble Alongside Fat Thor

Weâ€™ve already seen several Hot Toys figures for Avengers Endgame, including Thanos the Mad Titan himself,Â Iron Man,Â Black Widow, Captain America,Â Hawkeye/Ronin,Â Pepper Potts Rescue, and evenÂ Rocket Raccoon. The most recent of these was Fat Thor, but now another Avenger joins the fray.
Hot Toys have officially announced a new Hot Toys figure for Professor Hulk, Smart Hulk, Banner Hulk, or whatever else you call him. The Professor Hulk 1/6th scale collectible figureÂ fromÂ Avengers Endgame will arrive wielding the Nano Gauntlet, which was used to bring back everyone back from the Snap/Decimation/Blip.
While the company has yet to reveal the full figure, here’s a sneak peek courtesy of the Hot Toys Twitter account.

â€œYou saw what those stones did to Thanos, they almost killed him. None of you could survive.â€ Wields the Nano Gauntlet, Hulk in 1:6 figure inspired by #AvengersEndgame is expected to smash Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series. Stay tuned as more collectibles are about to arrive! pic.twitter.com/06DYgS1AVC
â€” Hot Toys (@hottoysofficial) July 17, 2019
Stay tuned for the full unveiling of the Fat Thor figure in the future.
For more onÂ Avengers Endgame, check out our spoiler-free review ofÂ Avengers: EndgameÂ here, our discussion for whatâ€™s next post-Avengers EndgameÂ here, or the upcoming movies you can look forward to in the MCU Phase Four (4) post-Avengers EndgameÂ here, or what the future holds for the MCU cast we all know and loveÂ here.


This New PS VR Game Lets You Fight Off Robot Oppressors With A Falcon

Outerloop Games has announced the release date for their new game, Falcon Age. It will feature optional PlayStation VR support, so that means gamers will have the choice of also playing it conventionally with a Dualshock 4 controller instead.
Falcon Age is a first-person, single-player action adventure, where players assume the role of protagonist Ara. With the help of her pet falcon, she will need to fight back against her robotic colonizers. Here are some highlights of the features in the game:

Players can name, pet, feed, teach, and even customize their falcon in a variety of ways (even a cute little cowboy hat)
Some of those falcon accessories can also affect gameplay, such as equipment for sonar and armor
Hunt animals for materials, with which you can cook snacks to feed, buff, heal and strengthen your falcon
Players can also opt for the Challenge Free Mode, a story mode without combat
A dedicated pet button that allows players to fist-bump with their falcon

How cool is that?
The story in Falcon Age boasts veteran writers Cassandra Khaw (Wasteland 3) and Meg Jayanth (Horizon Zero Dawn). Falcon Age is slated to release for the PS4 on 9 April 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHgY8BBoHbs&w=560&h=315]


Here’s Our First Look At The Upcoming NieR Mobile Game

Square Enix have dropped a new gameplay video for NieR Re[in]carnation, the upcoming NieR mobile game. The video was first revealed during the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2019.

It’s more of a tease than an in-depth look at the mechanics since the footage simply consists of the protagonist and her flying companion traversing along a linear path. But the ruined world looks grand and mysterious, and the accompanying track continues the series’ tradition of having fantastic music. This could simply be a walking simulator and I’d still play it, probably.
According to Famitsu, Yoko Taro revealed that the game will have gacha, while director Daichi Matsukawa said that it won’t be like a mobile game and will surprise players.
NieR Re[in]carnation will be “coming soonâ€ to iOS and Android. Here’s the first trailer.