Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin DLC Wanderer Of The Rift Launches Next Month

Square Enix and Team Ninja have announced that Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin DLC Wanderer Of The Rift will launch on 26 October 2022.
Players who already purchased the Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Season Pass will receive Wanderer Of The Rift at no additional charge, as well as the previously-released DLC such as Trials Of The Dragon King and the upcoming “Different Future” missions.
In Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin DLC Wanderer Of The Rift, players will fight their way through the Labyrinth Of Dimensions, a dungeon that randomly configures your path to unlock pieces of the story. Wanderer Of The Rift will introduce a new job, Blue Mage, and special monsters you can fight and summon into battle with the use of a Summoning Stone.
There will also be new equipment that unlocks new abilities, and a new class of enemies called “Chaotic Monsters”.
Stranger Of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin is available now for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC via Epic Games Store.
Check out the trailer below:


Steven Yeun Makes History As The First-Ever Asian-American Best Actor Nominee

Steven Yeun has made history by being the first-ever Asian-American nominee in the Best Actor category. Yeun was nominated due to his amazing role in Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari.
Yeun is also best known for his roles as Glen Rhee in The Walking Dead TV series, Keith in Netflix’s Voltron Legendary Defender and Mark Grayson in the upcoming Invincible animated series on Amazon Prime.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter about his role in Minari, Yeun said:
“It was a truthful rending and honest rendering of people, of humans, that also resonated to me in a way that I could identify with culturally. I was like, ‘This is it. This is the one that my generation dreams of making about our parents.'”

Check out the rest of the Oscar 2021 nominees below:

Best Picture

The Father

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

Minari

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Directing

Thomas Vinterberg,Â Another Round
David Fincher,Â Mank
Lee Isaac Chung,Â Minari
Chloe Zhao,Â Nomadland
Emerald Fennell,Â Promising Young Woman

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Viola Davis,Â Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Andra Day,Â United States vs. Billie Holiday
Vanessa Kirby,Â Pieces of a Woman
Frances McDormand,Â Nomadland
Carey Mulligan,Â Promising Young Woman

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Riz Ahmed,Â Sound of Metal
Chadwick Boseman,Â Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Anthony Hopkins,Â The Father
Gary Oldman,Â Mank
Steven Yeun,Â Minari

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Maria Bakalova,Â Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
Glenn Close,Â Hillbilly Elegy
Olivia Colman,Â The Father
Amanda Seyfried,Â Mank
Yuh-Jung Youn,Â Minari

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Sacha Baron Cohen,Â The Trial of the Chicago 7
Daniel Kaluuya,Â Judas and the Black Messiah
Leslie Odom, Jr.,Â One Night in Miami
Paul Raci,Â Sound of Metal
LaKeith Stanfield,Â Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Original Screenplay

Judas and the Black Messiah

Minari

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Adapted Screenplay

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm

The Father

Nomadland

One Night in Miami

The White Tiger

Best Cinematography

Judas and the Black Messiah

Mank

News of the World

Nomadland

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Film Editing

The Father

Nomadland

Promising Young Woman

Sound of Metal

The Trial of the Chicago 7

Best Animated Feature Film

Onward

Over the Moon

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon

Soul

Wolfwalkers

Best Animated Short Film

Burrow

Genius Loci

If Anything Happens I Love You

Opera

Yes-People

Best Live-Action Short Film

Feeling Through

The Letter Room

The Present

Two Distant Strangers

White Eye

Best International Feature Film

Another Round

Better Days

Collective

The Man Who Sold His Skin

Quo Vadis, Aida?

Best Documentary Feature

Collective

Crip Camp

The Mole Agent

My Octopus Teacher

Time

Best Documentary Short Subject

Colette

A Concerto Is a Conversation

Do Not Split

Hunger Ward

A Love Song for Latasha

Best Original Score

Da 5 Bloods

Mank

Minari

News of the World

Soul

Best Original Song

“Fight For You,”Â Judas and the Black Messiah
“Hear My Voice,”Â The Trial of the Chicago 7
“Husavik,”Â Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
“Io Si (Seen),”Â The Life Ahead
“Speak Now,”Â One Night in Miami

Best Sound

Greyhound

Mank

News of the World

Soul

Sound of Metal

Best Costume Design

Emma

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank

Mulan

Pinocchio

Best Makeup and Hairstyling

Emma

Hillbilly Elegy

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank

Pinocchio

Best Production Design

The Father

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Mank

News of the World

Tenet

Best Visual Effects

Love and Monsters

The Midnight Sky

Mulan

The One and Only Ivan

Tenet


[Rumour] Massive GeForce NOW Leak Mentions Final Fantasy IX Remake, FF Tactics & Chrono Cross Remasters

Recently there has been a massive leak of data inside the Nvidia GeForce NOW cloud gaming service, which reveals a crazy amount of games that may be in development.
According to a Reddit thread that’s documenting the list (via Push Square) These include a couple of JRPGs like a Chrono Cross remaster, a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster, and a Final Fantasy IX remake. This is essentially a 90s Square fan’s wet dream coming true.
The GeForce NOW listing also lists a number of Xbox and Capcom titles, with the latter company titles being ones from a previous Capcom ransomware hack. Here’s the full list:
Square Enix:

Chrono Cross Remaster
FF Tactics remaster
FF7 Remake
FF9 Remake
FF 16
Tomb Raider Anniversary (2021)
Unannounced title by Square Enix
Kingdom Hearts IV

Capcom:

Resident Evil 4 Remake
Street Fighter 6
Dragons Dogma 2
Monster Hunter 6

Take Two:

GTA 3, Vice City and San Andreas Remasters
Bioshock TRX remaster
Bioshock 2022

EA:

Mirrors Edge RTX Remaster
Untitled Respawn Game
Titanfall 3

Bandai:

Tekken 8

Curve Digital:

Human Fall Flat 2

Devolver Digital:

The Talos Principle 2

Crytek:

Crysis 4

D3 Publisher Inc:

Earth Defence Force 6

Sega:

Bayonetta 3
Judgement

Atlus:

Catherine Full Body
Shin Megami Tensei V

WB:

Batman: Arkham Knight RTX Remaster

Valve:

Half-Life 2 Remastered

Paradox:

Project FPS

These are just rumours, and for all you know these titles may not be in active development and may have been cancelled at one point. So yeah, approach this with skepticism.


All the Season 2 Map Changes We Spotted in the New Apex Legends Gameplay Trailer

Respawn and EA dropped two spine-tingling trailers for Apex Legends’ upcoming Season 2 last night and we just can’t stop wondering what’s in store for us come July 2nd. While everyone else have been discussing loads about the skydive emote, new skins and a potentially new legend, we had our eyes fixated on the new changes Respawn has given to King’s Canyon.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsUd40fvFm8&w=560&h=315]
So without further ado, here are the changes we’ve spotted done towards King’s Canyon (so far).
Cascades

The village that’s built on the river which cuts through Cascades is now pretty much wiped out. As shown later in the trailer, the destruction was caused by the leviathans which invaded the island and while this incident reduced the number of indoor hiding space, it creates an uneven terrain granting spots for sneaky players to pull off flanking maneuvers.
Cascades – River

One of the most memorable moments in the trailer saw Mirage getting stomped on by a leviathan. Apart from the stomping foot, you can also spot the hind leg of supposedly the same behemoth in the background. We aren’t sure how does the leviathans affect an actual round but if we are to guess, they will spawn randomly throughout the map, slowly moving across the map in a preset path. In this case, Mirage happens to be standing in its way.
Cascades – North

With the destruction of the village, (we think) a new installation will be erected near the path connecting Cascades to Slum Lakes.

This installation will have several cages housing the fliers – whether these beasts pose a threat to players remains to be seen but from the quick screenshot above, you can spot one of the orange variety in captive instead of the blue ones which was seen trying to attack Wattson in the cinematic trailer.
Cascades – East Hill

And lastly, in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, a new complex overseeing Cascades seems to have been built along the hills.
Bridges

The bridges are gone, as well as that huge arch which separates the area from the southern part of the island. As you can see from the screengrab above, the Repulsor platform is clearly visible, dwarfed by two leviathan legs.

In the area linking Bridges to Hydro Dam, a leviathan ribcage once lie will soon be replaced with a tower which should be a sniper’s haven. However, since there’s no natural cover for those perched at the top of this structure, this could also be a deathtrap as enemy squads can pop up from any direction.

From this angle, we can see that the balcony which oversees the cave is now gone and you should also be able to spot a leviathan in view.
Repulsor

We’ve seen this in the trailers so this part does not come as a surprise. The destruction on Repulsor seems to focus more on the tower itself, rather than the surrounding compound so we don’t expect too much of a change here.
Shattered Forest

What was once a barren wasteland is suddenly thriving with life as the greenery from the the Wetlands and Swamps creeps into the Shattered Forest.

This is definitely NOT a tree though.

Works seem to be close to completion for the two construction sites in the middle of the area and with the elevated areas surrounding the compound, we anticipate this area to be the next hot drop spot.

So to recap, here are the altered locations on the map we’ve spotted so far and the projected path of the leviathan(s) in the green dotted line.

These changes don’t only change the overall look and feel of the map, but will change how the game is played as well. We applaud developers Respawn’s decision in revamping sections of the map without disrupting the core experience of Apex Legends.
Did we miss any? Tell us if you spot something we didn’t in the comments section below!
Apex Legends’ Season 2 Battlepass drops July 2nd.


DC FanDome: Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom Reveals New Black Manta Suit

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom was featured during DC FanDome 2021, but nothing much was revealed. The movie is still in production, so there’s no new teaser or trailer as of yet.
However, we did receive our first look at Black Manta’s new costume in the upcoming movie.
Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom will premiere on 16 December 2022.
Check out the new Black Manta costume below:


Femme Fatale Favourite Returning In Mortal Kombat 11

NetherRealm Studios has confirmed yet another returning character for the upcoming Mortal Kombat 11, and this time it’s a classic femme fatale from the earliest days of the iconic fighting game franchise.
Who is it? It’s none other than the adopted daughter of the evil emperor Shao Kahn and the ‘good’ twin sister of Mileena, the fan-wielding assassin named Kitana. What’s weird is that she wasn’t revealed in a gameplay trailer or something like that.
Instead, she was unveiled in a live-action TV spot, which ends with a cinematic animated fight scene between her and Scorpion. The developer will probably release a proper trailer for her soon, but for now, you can check out the one-minute long TV spot below.
Kitana joins Noob Saibot and Shang Tsung, as well as many others, in an exciting roster for the upcoming game. Mortal Kombat 11 is slated to release for the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on 23 April 2019. In the meantime, check out our first impressions of the game thanks to the recent demo.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkeSxeph3F4&w=560&h=315]


Ryu Hayabusa Joins Warriors Orochi 4; Out February 2020

Continuing the trend from Warriors Orochi 3, the fourth entry in Koei-Tecmo’s popular Orochi series will also be getting an Ultimate version. It will come with a number of returning characters like Joan of Arc from Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War and Ryu Hayabusa from Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mllkiNM9FI&w=560&h=315]
Warriors Orochi 4: Ultimate will also introduce a new character, Gaia, the Greek personification of the earth which brings the total character count in the game to 172 characters.
Ryu first appeared in the Warriors Orochi universe back in Warriors Orochi 3, together with other Ninja Gaiden characters Rachel, Ayane, Momiji, and Kasumi. It seems that we won’t be seeing them in Warriros Orochi 4: Ultimate.
Warriors Orochi 4: Ultimate is scheduled to be released in December 2019 for Japan and February 2020 for the rest of the world. The game will be playable on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).


Here’s Your First Look At Amazon’s Invincible Animated Series

Invincible, one of Robert Kirkman’s long-running comic book series and the one that’s on superheroes, is getting an animated adaptation slated for 2021. And we’ve got a first look at it via New York Comicon 2020.
The teaser shows key characters like Mark Grayson (the title character himself voiced by Steven Yeun), Nolan Grayson (his dad VO’ed by J.K. Simmons), and a few key scenes & characters from the series like Monster Girl.
  Â

This is looking sweet; hopefully the real trailer shows off other prominent characters like Robot, Rexsplode, Atom Eve, and Allen the Alien. As well as the series’ more “visceral” moments; this show is dubbed an adult animated series for a very good reason.
Full teaser below.


Halo Infinite Multiplayer Technical Preview Happening Over Next Two Weekends

Update [1/10/2021]: The Halo Infinite multiplayer technical preview/beta is live right now this weekend (1-3 October). Go play it now.
343 Industries has announced that Halo Infinite will be holding two more multiplayer technical previews during the next two weekends.
According to the official blog post, the first Halo Infinite multiplayer technical preview will take place from 24 September 2021 to 27 September 2021. However, keep in mind that this beta will only be open to Halo Insiders who registered before 13 September 2021. Players who are eligible will have received confirmation emails.
The second Halo Infinite multiplayer technical preview takes place from 1 October 2021 to 4 October 2021. More specific details on who will be eligible for the second weekend of tests will arrive next week. There will also be a Halo Infinite live stream on 23 September 2021 on the Halo Twitch and YouTube channels, which will feature a new look at the 12v12 Big Team Battle mode.
During the multiplayer technical previews, players will only have access to multiplayer from 1am GMT+8 to 5am GMT+8 from Friday to Sunday during both weekends. Training Mode, Weapon Drills, Battle Pass, and Customization are the only modes that will be available.
The reason for is because:
“[The Halo: Infinite tests’] matchmaking will only be up for a set amount of time each day in order to help us test our servers against the highest concurrency possible.
While this does mean shorter time for players to go hands on, itâ€™s critical to our primary goal of ensuring that our online services are ready for launch.”
Halo Infinite is slated to release for the Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC on 8 December 2021.


Cobra Kai Creators & Cast Are Not Involved With New Karate Kid Movie

Recently, Sony Pictures announced that that they’re working on a new Karate Kid movie. However, fans of the franchise have been wondering if this new film will be related or connected to the currently-ongoing Cobra Kai series on Netflix. Unfortunately, there’s no good news on that front.
Cobra Kai co-creator Jon Hurwitz addressed the issue on Twitter, and whether the cast and crew will be involved in the new Karate Kid film from Sony Pictures that’s slated to premiere on 7 June 2024.
In his tweet, he said:
“The guys and I would love to make Karate Kid and Cobra Kai movies and hope to someday. But this one isn’t from us or focused on the Cobra Kai cast. Don’t know much about it, but wish it well.”

The guys and I would love to make Karate Kid and Cobra Kai movies and hope to someday. But this one isn't from us or focused on the Cobra Kai cast. Don't know much about it, but wish it well. #KarateKid #CobraKai https://t.co/pd2aYYAF0A
— Jon Hurwitz (@jonhurwitz) September 17, 2022

As of now, there are no directors or actors attached to the new Karate Kid film. However, there’s still a chance that Sony Pictures might hire the Cobra Kai cast and crew in the near future.
Cobra Kai is a series that was developed for YouTube Red by Sony that is a direct sequel to the original Karate Kid films by Robert Mark Kamen. Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprised their roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from the original films released in 1984. After two seasons on YouTube Red, the series moved to Netflix where it has aired for three additional seasons.
The series takes place 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. All five seasons of Cobra Kai are currently streaming on Netflix. Check out our review of Season 5 here.


Overwatch SEA Invitational 2019 Is Happening This Weekend [Update]

We’ve been covering the progress of Malaysia’s Overwatch Team who will be competing at the Overwatch World Cup (OWWC) 2019. Coming up next is the SEA Invitational presented by Overwatch Contenders which will be happening on 21 and 22 September 2019.
Blizzard is partnering with The Foundry to bring us this tournament. Eight teams will be competing in a single elimination format and the winning team will get round-trip flights to compete in the OWWC in Anaheim, California.
The participating teams (arranged according to seeding):

Thailand
Taiwan / Chinese Taipei
Japan
Hong Kong
Singapore
New Zealand
Malaysia
Philippines

The first day of the tournament will consist of the single elimination rounds (round of 8) and the second day will focus on the semi-finals and grand final. Matches start each day at 11AM UTC+8 and run until all scheduled matches are over.
Match schedules are as follows:
Day 1
QF1 – 11:00AM – Thailand vs. Philippines
QF2 – 1:00PM – Hong Kong vs. Singapore
QF3 – 3:00PM – Chinese Taipei vs. Malaysia
QF4 – 5:00PM – Japan vs. New Zealand
Day 2
SF1 – 11:00AM – QF1 vs. QF2
SF2 – 1:00PM – QF3 vs. QF4
GF – 3:00PM – SF1 vs. SF2
Malaysian fans should definitely tune in and give their full support to our team who will be doing their best! #MYtime
You can watch the English livestream here.


Hideo Kojima Releases Death Stranding Director’s Cut Final Trailer

Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions have released the final trailer for Death Stranding Directorâ€™s Cut.
It looks like more of the weirdness and bizarro world that Kojima introduced in the base game.
In the future, a mysterious event known as the DEATH STRANDING has opened a doorway between the living and the dead, leading to grotesque creatures from the afterlife roaming the fallen world marred by a desolate society. Take on the trials of Sam Bridges with advanced combat, explore new locations with extra missions and minigames, experience an extended storyline and much more.
Key Features

Remastered for the PS5 Console â€“ Take on the trials of Sam Bridges with advanced combat, more character actions and a competitive ranking system for special player challenges in this definitive Death Stranding experience.
Expanded Content â€“ Experience an extended storyline through new missions in an expanded area. Make use of additional weapons and vehicles, take on new enemy types and explore new locations such as the Firing Range and Racetrack, featuring extra missions and minigames.
Unique Social Strand System â€“ Stay connected with other players from around the globe. Donate valuable resources to rebuild structures in your world and others, and offer likes in support of player structures that appear in yours to reward them for their contributions.

PS5 Features

Haptic Feedback â€“ Experience environment effects with the DualSense wireless controllerâ€™s haptic feedback. Adaptive triggers: Get closer to the world of Death Stranding with bespoke adaptive trigger resistance.
Tempest 3D AudioTech on Compatible Headphones â€“ Hear sound effects come to life in 3D Audio (requires compatible headphones).
Fast Loading â€“ Get into the action quickly with the PlayStation 5 consoleâ€™s ultra-fast SSD and near-instant load times.

Stunning Visuals â€“ Choose from two picture modesâ€”Performance Mode with upscaled 4K and up to 60 frames per second or Fidelity Mode in native 4Kâ€”both with ultra-wide and HDR support.

This version of the game costs RM209/S$67.90 on PS5 (standard version) and RM249/S$79.90 (Digital Deluxe Edition), but you can buy an upgrade for RM50/S$18 if you have the PS4 version of the game.
Death Stranding Directorâ€™s Cut releases for the PS5 on 24 September 2021.


Rick & Morty & Lebron James To Join MultiVersus Roster

During San Diego Comic-Con 2022, Warner Bros. Games announced that Lebron James is joining the MultiVersus roster on 26 July 2022, while Rick & Morty will join later in Season 1.
This news is interesting because both Lebron James and Rick & Morty were mentioned in the leaked roster additions back in May. Fingers crossed that we might be getting the others from the same leak as well, including:

Joker (DC)
Raven (DC)
Gizmo (Gremlins)
Marvin the Martian (Looney Tunes)
Scooby-Doo (Scooby-Doo)
Daenerys (Game of Thrones)
The Hound (Game of Thrones)
Wicked Witch (The Wizard of Oz)
Samurai Jack (Samurai Jack)
The Powerpuff Girls; all three of the girls as one fighter (The Powerpuff Girls)
The Animaniacs; all three of them as one fighter (The Animaniacs)
Duck Dodgers/Daffy (Looney Tunes)
Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
Sub-Zero (Mortal Kombat)
Ben 10 (Ben 10)
Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso)

What do Lebron and Rick & Morty have in common? They're both joining #MultiVersus! Lebron swings in July 26th, and Rick & Morty arrive in Season 1. #SDCC pic.twitter.com/XHYAWPijhy
— MultiVersus (@multiversus) July 22, 2022

MultiVersus is an all-new free-to-play, platform fighter videogame. With an ever-expanding cast of iconic characters and legendary universes, MultiVersus will feature multiple online modes, including a team-based 2 vs. 2 format, 1 vs. 1 matches and 4-player free-for-all, along with upcoming content-filled seasons.
MultiVersus will launch on 26 July for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC (Steam). In the meantime, check out our guide on how to join the game’s beta and more by heading over here.


Gematsu Calls Out English Site For Plagiarism [Update]

Update 19/12/19
Niche Gamer editor-in-chief Brandon Orselli has announced that he will be stepping down from his EIC position to handle a back-end role with the site. Orselli admits that he lied about the existence of ghost writer being responsible for the plagiarism.
Orselli states that “sheer overwork” and “lack of delegation” were the primary causes of these unlawful actions. The “ghostwriter” tweets have been deleted after his statement was published. The site is now in the process of finding new staff to replace Orselli.
https://twitter.com/gematsucom/status/1207418754646335489?s=20
The man who runs Gematsu, Sal Romano, isn’t buying it. In a Twitter thread responding to the article, Romano calls the apology “hollow” and points out that Orselli tried to worm his way out of being the culprit despite all evidence pointing to him.
You can read Orselli’s full statement here.

Update 17/12/19
Niche Gamer has responded to Gematsu’s accusations through a series of tweets. The site claims that a ghostwriter is the culprit behind the plagiarised and unsourced content. According to Niche Gamer, said writer has been terminated.
https://twitter.com/nichegamer/status/1206592745394995202?s=20
Judging by evidence provided by Gematsu, the ghostwriter wasn’t writing under just one name but actually two. Articles by Niche Gamer’s editor-in-chief Brandon Orselli and writer Ryan Pearson seem to contain writing formats copied straight from Gematsu’s own articles.
Gematsu isn’t buying this explanation. In a Twitter thread of their own, Gematsu claims that Niche Gamer has been “stealing content” from Gematsu since December 2015. This makes the “ghostwriter” claim look flimsy at best since it basically means Niche Gamer has overlooked this issue for about four years.

So yeah, don't believe this "ghost writer" scenario. I was super nice about it back then and kept it under the radar, even when it happened a second time. And with folks finding content dating back to 2016, it looks like it never stopped.
— Gematsu (@gematsu) December 16, 2019

Niche Gamer has issued an apology and promises to be more strict in checking the work of their writers. However, Gematsu have made it clear that they don’t believe this scenario.

The world of games journalism is seeing another controversy forming up today. Japanese video game news site Gematsu is currently calling out an English site for blatant plagiarism on top of not citing Gematsu as a source of information.

Popular “enthusiast gaming site” Niche Gamer is currently under attack from Gematsu for apparently plagiarising multiple articles worth of content. Gematsu is well-known in games journalism for being a great source of English-translated Japanese video game news so it’s not uncommon for them to be cited and quoted.
A side-by-side comparison of an article for The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III posted by Gematsu (left) and Niche Gamer. Image from Gematsu.
Unfortunately, it seems that Niche Gamer have been copying exact paragraphs from Gematsu’s articles. In instances where a little more is introduced, Niche Gamer only rearranges words or replaces them with synonyms while still maintaining the original structure written by Gematsu.

Going to stop tweeting regarding the NG stuff for now and handle some other work, but just FYI there are examples that go at least a year back, probably more. Annnd it's a lot of stuff.
— Gematsu (@gematsu) December 16, 2019

According to a tweet from the official Gematsu Twitter page, the examples of plagiarism done by Niche Gamer can be found all the way back since last year. Niche Gamer and its editor-in-chief Brandon Orselli have yet to release any statements regarding this debacle.
In the meantime, check out these other examples of alleged plagiarism and copied content provided by Gematsu:
Article on Stygian Zinogre in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne by Gematsu (left) and Niche Gamer.

The fact that Strictly Limited Games isn’t handling publishing of a digital version is something that I had a few back-and-forth e-mails with their PR to get confirmed as the press release didn’t say. Also press copy is copy-pasted from mine + slightly edited
â€” Gematsu (@gematsucom) December 16, 2019

Ah, seems like you accidentally removed the exclamation point that follows the game title in the description just like I did. What a coincidence!
â€” Gematsu (@gematsucom) December 16, 2019


Wild Rift Patch 2.2b Adds Two New Champions & More

Riot Games hasÂ revealedÂ the full patch notes forÂ League Of Legends Wild Rift Patch 2.2b.
Rengar and Khaâ€™Zix join Wild Rift later in this patch, along with their Masters of the Hunt event. Keep the rivalry going with the God-Kings, Darius and Garen. Lastly, check out the balance changes aimed at underperforming Duo Lane carries, enchanters, and the elemental drakes.
NEW
NEW CHAMPIONS
RENGAR, THE PRIDESTALKER

Rengar is a ferocious vastayan trophy hunter who lives for the thrill of tracking down and killing dangerous creatures. He scours the world for the most fearsome beasts he can find, especially seeking any trace of Khaâ€™Zix, the void creature who scratched out his eye. Rengar stalks his prey neither for food nor glory, but for the sheer beauty of the pursuit.
Rengar will be released on May 6 at 0:01 UTC.
KHAâ€™ZIX, THE VOIDREAVER

The Void grows, and the Void adaptsâ€”in none of its myriad spawn are these truths more apparent than Khaâ€™Zix. Evolution drives the core of this mutating horror, born to survive and to slay the strong. Where it struggles to do so, it grows new, more effective ways to counter and kill its prey. Initially a mindless beast, Khaâ€™Zixâ€™s intelligence has developed as much as its form. Now, the creature plans out its hunts, and even utilizes the visceral terror it engenders in its victims.
Khaâ€™Zix will be released on May 6 at 0:01 UTC.
NEW SKINS

Forecast Janna
Program Nami
God-King Darius
God-King Garen
Death Blossom Khaâ€™Zix
Night Hunter Rengar

All skins will be released throughout the patch. Future 2.2 skins will be released in subsequent patches.
NEW ACCESSORIES
You can earn or purchase accessories from a bunch of different sources. Please check the relevant page in game for more information on how to get â€˜em!

Icons: The Voidreaver, The Pridestalker, Apex Predator*, King of the Rift**
Emotes: Heh!, GameTime, Adorable Assailant
Spawn Tags: The Voidreaver, The Pridestalker
Icon Borders: The Hunt Begins
Baubles: The Wolf Knight, The Celestial Lion, Void Wing, Trophy Collection

* Released if Khaâ€™Zixâ€™s team wins during the event
** Released if Rengarâ€™s team wins during the event
All accessories will be released throughout the patch.
NEW EVENTS
MASTERS OF THE HUNT
Ever shrouded by the fog of war, the jungles of Wild Rift can prove deadly to even the bravest of champions. Yet two natural-born hunters now claim this savage battleground as their domain, each intent on making a trophy of the other.
The Masters of the Hunt event will begin on May 6. More information available soon.
NEW SYSTEMS
NEMESIS DUEL
These two ferocious champions are bringing their vendetta to Wild Rift with a new high-stakes mechanic:Â Nemesis Duel! This feature is a permanent part of the game that will continue even once the event ends. A Nemesis Duel event can trigger when the respective champions meet all the following conditions:

Both are at or above Level 13
Neither have dealt or taken champion damage within 5 seconds
Both are alive
Both are at least 16 units apart

A Nemesis Duel wonâ€™t happen every game these conditions are met, but when it does, everyone in the game will know through an in-game announcement. A champion wins the Nemesis Duel event when the opposing champion dies within 3 seconds of taking damage from the winning champion.
The first Nemesis Duel in Wild Rift isÂ The Hunt is On!

If Rengar wins, Rengar automatically gains Ferocity during (Ult) Thrill of the Hunt.
If Khaâ€™Zix wins, Khaâ€™Zix gains an extra evolution point.

More information on Nemesis Duel will be available soon!
CHAMPION CHANGES

DARIUS
Darius is able to beat down his opponents with his raw stats. Weâ€™re giving him a bit less health to play with in lane.
Base Stats

Base health: 650 HP â†’Â 610 HP
Base health regen: 9 â†’Â 7

DRAVEN
Now that yâ€™all seem to have better mastered Dravenâ€™s axe-catching shenanigans, heâ€™s strutting into a more unhealthy spot. Weâ€™re toning down his damage so that we can still encourage his heavy AD playstyle, but opponents should have more space to fight against him before he snowballs outta control.
(1) Spinning Axe

Damage: 55/60/65/70 â†’Â 45/50/55/60

EVELYNN
Evelynnâ€™s ultimate is up too frequently, allowing her to both escape sticky situations and execute people without enough downtime. Nerfing its cooldown should increase windows for opponents to make plays against her, especially in the early-mid game.
(Ult) Last Caress

Cooldown: 100/80/60s â†’Â 120/95/70s

GALIO
We went a bit too hard on Galio, and also discovered a bug that may have skewed our assessment of his power. Weâ€™re buffing back some things that support Galioâ€™s tankiness, but also reverting some changes we felt had higher value in making him more fun.
Base Stats

Health per level: 115 â†’Â 125

(P) Colossal Smash

Cooldown: 5/4.5/4s â†’Â 5/4/3s

(1) Winds of War

[BUGFIX] Fixed an issue where Galioâ€™s (1) was dealing its initial damage twice
% Health Damage per AP ratio: 1.5% â†’Â 2%

KATARINA
Katarina is a bit strong, especially at higher levels of play. Weâ€™re taking some power out of the parts of her kit that skilled players are able to more consistently take advantage of.
(P) Voracity

Damage: 72 to 240 (based on level) â†’Â 62 to 230 (based on level)

(3) Shunpo

Range: 6.5 â†’Â 6

LEONA
Leona should be shining in lane against ranged supports in the Duo Lane, but sheâ€™s getting overshadowed. These changes are intended to make her better at finding those fights and winning against squishies.
Base Stats

Base health regen: 7.5 â†’Â 9

(P) Sunlight

Damage: 25 to 137 â†’Â 33 to 145

(3) Zenith Blade

Range: 7 â†’Â 7.5

TEEMO
You didnâ€™t see anythingâ€¦
(3) Guerrilla Warfare

[BUGFIX] Camouflage duration per rank up now correctly displays as 3/3.5/4/4.5s instead of 3/4/5/6s (duration unchanged, tooltip fix only)

ZIGGS
Ziggsâ€™ early game is too explosive.
(1) Bouncing Bomb

Cooldown: 6/5.5/5/4.5s â†’Â 7.5/6.5/5.5/4.5s

DUO CARRY CHANGES
The Duo Lane meta is close to being very healthy. Weâ€™re taking this opportunity to buff the slightly underperforming duo carry champs to help them catch up.

ASHE
Compared to her PC counterpart, Wild Riftâ€™s Ashe has way fewer arrows going BRRRR, so weâ€™re giving her a way to keep up with more Volleys.
(2) Volley

Cooldown: 14/11/8/5s â†’Â 13/10/7/4s

TRISTANA
Weâ€™re amping up Tristanaâ€™s burst damage so that she can find better opportunities to go for the big plays.
(3) Explosive Charge

Active base damage: 65/80/95/110 â†’Â 70/90/110/130

(Ult) Buster Shot

Base damage: 300/400/500 â†’Â 350/450/550

VARUS
Varus could still use a bit more of a nudge to make him stronger in higher skill levels. We are amping up his execute so that players who can capitalize on his Blighted Quiver/Arrow combo are better rewarded.
Base Stats

Base Mana: 345 â†’Â 390

(2) Blighted Quiver

Missing health damage:

Level 1: 6.5% to 9.75% â†’Â 6.5% toÂ 13%
Level 15: 13.5% to 20.25% â†’Â 13.5% toÂ 27%

VAYNE
Vayneâ€™s ultimate, while strong overall, is pretty weak in the early game. Weâ€™re making Final Hour a reasonable option for her to help her in lane duels.
(Ult) Final Hour

Bonus AD: 20/30/40 â†’Â 30/40/50
Cooldown: 90/75/60s â†’Â 80/70/60s

XAYAH
Xayahâ€™s cooldowns feel quite long in Wild Rift due to the lack of AD + Ability Haste options. Additionally, her Bladecaller has room to be more rewarding players who can trap her opponents.
(2) Deadly Plumage

Mana: 60 â†’Â 50
Cooldown: 20/18/16/14s â†’Â 19/17/15/13s

(3) Bladecaller

Root duration: 1s â†’Â 1.25s

ITEM CHANGES
ARDENT CENSER
Enchanter supports are overperforming, so weâ€™re looking to normalize the cost of their items to be in the same area as their tankier counterparts.

Total cost: 2600g â†’Â 2800g
Combine cost: 650g â†’Â 850g

HARMONIC ECHO

Total cost: 2800g â†’Â 2900g
Combine cost: 850g â†’Â 950g
Ability Power: 80 â†’Â 75

RUNE CHANGES
CONQUEROR
Oftentimes, weâ€™re seeing poke champions able to stack Conqueror before even entering a fight. This was a bit too forgiving, and we want Conqueror to be more of a long-term commitment, not a flight of fancy.

Stack duration: 8s â†’Â 6s

SPELL CHANGES
BARRIER
Barrierâ€™s frequent uptime often meant it was always the right choice no matter what lane opponent you were facing. Weâ€™d like Barrier to be more of a strategic counter than a guaranteed pick.

Cooldown: 90s â†’Â 120s

GAME SYSTEM CHANGES
DRAGONS
Infernal and Cloud Dragon are running a little hotter (andâ€¦ windier) than Mountain and Ocean. Weâ€™re lightly nerfing them to close the gap. These adjustments should make them still worth taking, but less game-deciding.
INFERNAL DRAGON

Damage bonus: 8% â†’Â 6%

ELDER INFERNAL DRAGON

Damage bonus: 12% â†’Â 9%
Damage bonus per stack: 4% â†’Â 3%

CLOUD DRAGON

Movement speed bonus: 7.5% â†’Â 6%

ELDER CLOUD DRAGON

Movement speed bonus: 11.25% â†’Â 9%
Movement speed bonus per stack: 3.75% â†’Â 3%

FREE-TO-PLAY CHAMPION ROTATION
April 29 – May 5Â : Ezreal, Jarvan IV, Jhin, Leona, Lee Sin, Malphite, Orianna, Seraphine, Rakan, Teemo
May 6 – May 12: Amumu, Camille, Draven, Katarina, Kennen, Lulu, Nami, Rammus, Vayne, Zed


Demon Slayer Uniqlo Collection Is Coming To Malaysia Later This Month

Hype for the Demon Slayer (or Kimetsu No Yaiba) manga and anime are currently at an all-time high, due to the fact that the anime is now available on Netflix and that its first movie is releasing later this year.
As part of the Manga UT collection, Uniqlo is bringing the Demon Slayer collection to Malaysian stores later this month on 24 August 2020.
Whether you’re a fan of Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu or even the big bad Muzan himself, there’s something for all fans of the Demon Slayer franchise.
Take a look at the designs below (via the official website):

Previously, Uniqlo already featured franchises like Gundam, Ultraman and more in their Manga UT collection. Some of them are probably still available if you’re lucky. In case you missed it, Malaysian fans can look forward to the Demon Slayer movie coming to cinemas later this year.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzkpTfQpsnA&w=560&h=315]


Original Malaysian Series Special Force Anarchy Premieres On Disney+ Hotstar Next Week

Special Force Anarchy is a new Malaysian Original series debuting exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar on 14 January 2023.
This seven-episode Original series follows Iman (Puteri Aishah), a courageous young police officer from the fictional country of Tenggara as she investigates a planned bank heist and unexpectedly comes face to face with a dangerous underground group, uncovering a secret along the way that could change everything if exposed.
Special Force Anarchy also stars the legendary singer, composer and actor Dato’ M. Nasir as Umar, the mastermind behind the planned Bank Tenggara heist and the leader of Anarchy. Rounding off the star-studded cast is Hasnul Rahmat, Alvin Wong, Johan As’ari as well as the up-and-coming Fify Azmi (winner of the 31st Malaysian Film Festival’s Most Promising Actress award), Chacha Maembong, Yusuf Bahrain, Anas Ridzuan, Elizabeth Tan, Dynas Mokhtar and Steve Yap.
Helmed by Syafiq Yusof, winner of the Most Promising New Film Director award at the Malaysian Film Festival 2012 and the Best Film Director award in 2017 by PROFIMA (Professional Film Workers of Malaysia), Special Force: Anarchy is produced by Skop Productions.
You can stream Special Force Anarchy exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar starting from 14 January 2023.
Check out the trailer below:


NIKKE Collabs With Chainsaw Man Anime, Begins Next Week

Developer Shift Up has announced that the NIKKE x Chainsaw Man collaboration will begin next week on 22 February 2023. However, no details have been revealed as of yet.
Produced by Mappa, the Chainsaw Man anime originally premiered in October 2022 on Crunchyroll. It is now available on Netflix as well. In Chainsaw Man, when his father died, protagonist Denji was stuck with a huge debt and had no way to pay it back. Thanks to a Devil dog he saved named Pochita, he’s able to survive through odd jobs and killing Devils for the Yakuza. Pochita’s chainsaw powers come in handy against these powerful demons. When the Yakuza betrays him and he’s killed by the Zombie Devil, Pochita sacrifices himself to save his former master. Now Denji has been reborn as some kind of weird Devil-Human hybrid. He is now a Chainsaw Man.
The PC version of NIKKE also launches on 15 February 2023. The PC version is launched! Accounts, servers, and game content are synced between the PC and the mobile version, so you’ll be able to experience the world of NIKKE anytime on any device.
In the meantime, check out our guide for the best characters in NIKKE.


Politiko Review: The Game of Malaysian Politics

Update 17th May: The app is now available for download on iOS as well.

The next General Election is just around the corner, as Malaysians from all over the nation prepare to vote once again in order to determine the fate of their country. Maybe you’ve heard of the Politiko card game, which is based on the local political scene here. There is actually a mobile game version of Politiko, developed by Centaur Games in collaboration with NightMorning. It is currently available to download for free on the Google Play Store for all Android users.
The goal of the game is simple, you have to win more seats than your opponents and you are given only 8 turns to do so. The game is played on a map of hexagonal shapes, with each building representing voters and a group of them representing a seat. The player controls a seat when they gain control of at least half its voters. The color of each voter represents different demographics like Malay Rural or Chinese Urban. The party you choose determines which demographic of voters that can be controlled.

Players also get schemeÂ cards, just like in the original card game. You can only play 2 schemes per turn. These scheme cards are the main gameplay element of Politiko, as you use different cards to either gain voters or inflict a handicap towards your opponent.
Players can choose between the United Nationalists Front or the People’s Hope Coalition. You can probably guess from the description asÂ to which parties they are analogous in real Malaysian politics. Even the logo is only slightly altered from their real-life counterparts.

What I liked best about Politiko were its funny and charming scheme cards. They were totally the highlight, giving me chuckles every time I see a new card. Each party has its own unique scheme cards, which are extremely hilarious to anyone who understands the local political machinations and keeps up with the latest political scandals. I’ll show you a few examples I came across while playing the game.
*cough* Uncanny resemblance there.
They’re not holding back, are they?
There are over 50 scheme cards in the game, which reflects the real-life political tactics used by local parties. The fun comes from discovering new cards and recognizing the meaning behind each card.
The game is simple and it only took me a game or two to understand the mechanics of the game. It might be a lot simpler compared to the original card game but that could possibly bring in even more players.
Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t say the game was extremely easy or anything. I still lost several matches when my opponent surprised me with some good scheme cards, leaving me with nothing to counter with. The AI is competent enough that the tables could be turned against us at any time. With only 8 turns per game, you have to make your choices count.
A totally accurate representation and simulation of Malaysian politics.
One thing that could improve Politiko is the addition of multiplayer or the ability to play against human opponents. For now, you can only play against AI opponents, which could get tired fast for some. In the comments section on the game’s Play Store page, many players are requesting for multiplayer and it looks like we might receive the feature soon if there are enough players to justify it. The game is limited to Android devices for now, but an iOS version is coming soon.
Any Malaysian would have a hoot playing Politiko, especially with the next General Election due next week. Even if you’re not well-versed in local Malaysian politics, the game offers a simple enough premise which provides you with something fun and charming to play in short bursts. If you’re a big political nut, Politiko is totally the game for you. You can also check out our review of the original Politiko card game here, if you’re into the physical stuff.
Score: 75/100
Now you’re ready to enter Malaysian politics. Umm…


ILLEGEAR Unveils New 17.3-In S Series Variant, S7 Elite

Acquiring a brand new gaming laptop is such a challenge nowadays and in most cases, a costly one as well. If you are to spend at least twice your monthly salary on a gaming laptop, it better be on one that ticks all the right boxes, performs when required, future proofed and most importantly, stands out from other machines. A decent gaming laptop requires a substantial investment and wouldn’t you want a unique rig that is possibly one of a kind after splashing about RM8000 on it? Well look no further; Enter ILLEGEAR.
Custom gaming laptop producers ILLEGEAR yesterday unveiled the new 17.3â€ variant under their S series product line, the S7 Elite. Measuring a a sleekÂ 24.89mm in thickness, the new S7 Elite sports a 3.1kg chassis and is 5mm slimmer than its predecessor â€“ the S7.
Under the hood, the S7 Elite is powered by Intel Core i7-7700HQ processor with the option to upgrade to i7-7820HK.Â The default display for the S7 Elite is 17.3â€ Full HD IPS/AHVA Anti-glare Display and just like all ILLEGEAR products, comes with an option to upgrade to a 4K QFHD Anti-glare Display at RM1,499.Â

The S7 Elite can be customized with either Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB or GTX 1070 8GB graphics card and up to 32GB DDR4 RAM (dual ram slots).Â In a move to future proof it, ILLEGEAR equipped the S7 Elite with Thunderboltâ„¢ 3 port, enabling users to connect to an external GPU enclosure. It also comes with one SATA 3.0 slot, one M.2 SATA slot and one M.2 PCIe slot for usersâ€™ big storage needs.
An improvement from the old S7, the S7 Elite comes with a tri-zone RGB programmable backlit chiclet keyboard and SoundBlasterXÂ® Pro-Gaming 720Â° sound tuning software. An upgrade from the usual 3w subwoofer is the 4w subwoofer with the S7 Elite as well as a larger 66Wh battery in spite of its weight and size.
The S7 Elite retails from RM7,299 which boasts an i7-7700HQ processor, GTX1060 6GB GDDR5, 8GB DDR4 2400MHz and 1TB 7200RPM Hitachi 2.5â€ Hard Drive and can go up to RM10,796 which comes with the following specs;Â 17.3â€ 4K QFHD (G-Sync) screen, i7-7820HK, GTX1070 8GB GDDR5, 8GB DDR4 2400MHz, with 1TB 7200RPM Hitachi 2.5â€ Hard Drive.Â
You can check out all the variants of the S7 Elite at ILLEGEAR’s official site here, and can even customize your rig to suit your likingÂ to suit your fancy.

For more info on the S7 Elite and other ILLEGEAR products, head over to their website here.


Esports For Dummies: Malaysian Edition

So you want to get into esports but know nothing about the teams and players of their respective esport. Well, luckily I’m here to help you all out.
Now the concept of esports may baffle boomers but in this day and age, esports is easy to understand. For those who just can’t wrap their heads around watching esports I simply say:
“You watch professional footballers play right?”
It’s the exact same concept. Yes, you can play yourself but if you’re passionate about the game then you a part of you will want to watch the best compete against the best.
Esports is an industry coming out of its infancy as more and more money is getting put into it, and more and more attention is being garnered. So much so that many may even consider esports “mainstream” by now. According to an article done by Christina Gough, in 2021, the global esports market was valued at just over US$1.08 billion, an almost 50% increase from 2020. Furthermore, its value is forecast to grow as much as US$1.62 billion by 2024.
I understand that my saying that esports is coming out of its infancy can be seen as misinformed but you need to understand how fast the majority of this money has come in. In only five years the market value of this industry has more than doubled.
But I’m getting ahead of myself, I’ve been talking about numbers that domestically don’t mean much. Yes, esports is big internationally, but how about domestically here in Malaysia? Well, I’m happy to say that we Malaysians are pretty into our esports. We have many successful teams and players across a multitude of titles whether it be Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA) or First Person Shooters (FPS). So here’s a guide on what esports are popular, who you may want to support and which esports are the most entertaining to watch.

The Top Esports GAMES In Malaysia
Everyone has their preference. Personally, I am more of an FPS fan though I do dip my toes in a couple of MOBAs. But that’s the beauty of esports, there’s almost one for everyone. If you’re one for fast-paced chaos then you’ve got Call of Duty or Overwatch. If you prefer micromanagement then there are real-time strategy games such as Starcraft II.
DOTA 2

Now if you’ve lived in Malaysia within the past decade then you’ve probably heard of Defence of the Ancients 2, more commonly referred to as simply Dota 2. Considered by many to be Malaysian’s best esport both watched and played, Dota 2 is a MOBA game with a top-down view that pits two teams of five against each other on a map. Both teams are given the objective to destroy a structure that is located in the heart of the opponents’ base, and whoever completes this objective first wins.
Teams

OG – The most decorated team in the world
Fnatic – Most known for their all-Malaysian roster
RSG – Biggest esports organisation in Singapore
Team SMG – One of the biggest esports organisations in Malaysia
Royal Never Give Up – One of the best teams in the world right now

Players

iceiceice – Singaporean
SumaiL – Pakistan-American
MidOne – Malaysian
inYourdreaM – Indonesian
Arteezy – Canadian

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS

Often abbreviated as LoL, League of Legends is extremely popular amongst Malaysians, I can’t confidently say that we Malaysians are considered to be the best. Not even internationally but regionally, Malaysians have struggled in competition against the likes of Vietnam and Taiwan, let alone the giants that are Korea and China.
For those who may not be familiar, LoL is often compared to Dota 2 because it’s also a top-down view MOBA but also because they both have similar character concepts. Just like Dota, there are two teams, both are given the objective to destroy a structure that is located in the heart of the opponents’ base, and whoever completes this objective first wins.
Teams

T1 – Most decorated team in the world and has Faker, 3 x World Champion
Royal Never Give Up – Current best team in the world
Team Liquid – Has Bjergsen, fan favourite player
G2 Esports – Most decorated team in Europe
SEM9 – Only professional Malaysian team

Players

Faker – Korean
Bjergsen – Danish
Perkz – Croatian
jojopyun – Canadian
Xiaohu – Chinese

Counter-strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike is one of the oldest esports there is with international competitions all the way to the early 2000s. Global Offensive or CS:GO is the 2012 renditon of the tactical FPS where two teams of five are pit against each other, with one team given an objective to plant a bomb at one of the two bomb sites, and the opposing team tasked with preventing that.
Teams

Natus Vincere – Has s1mple, one of the best players ever
Team Vitality – Has ZywOo, one of the best players in the world right now
FaZe Clan – Current best team in the world
G2 Esports – Has NiKo, one of the most skilled players ever
Team Liquid – Best North American team right now

Players

s1mple – Ukrainian
Twistzz – Canadian
kaze – Malaysian
ZywOo – French
NiKo – Bosnian

VALORANT

VALORANT’s probably the most popular esport in Malaysia at the moment with thousands of people regularly tuning into the domestic leagues. With that said, the Singaporean-Indonesian-Malaysia roster of professional team Paper Rex is also considered to be one of the best teams in the world at the moment.
Similar to CS:GO, VALORANT is also made by the same people behind League of Legends and is a tactical FPS but with abilities that are typical of a MOBA like LoL or Dota 2. Just like CS:GO, there are two teams, one given an objective to complete, and the opposing team tasked to prevent that from happening.
Teams

OpTic Gaming – Current best team in the world
Paper Rex – Fourth best team in the world with a Singaporean-Indonesian-Malaysian roster
Fnatic – Best European team
Sentinels – Has TenZ, most popular player
100 Thieves – Most popular organisation

Players

TenZ – Canadian
trent – American
f0rsakeN – Indonesian
Boaster – British
nAts – Russian

MOBILE LEGENDS: Bang Bang

The biggest mobile esport in the world, Malaysians stand in the upper echelon of players globally. Played casually by millions of Malaysians, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang or MLBB for short, is a top-down view MOBA much like League of Legends or Dota 2. So alike, that Riot Games, the makers of League of Legends have attempted to sue MLBB and their developers multiple times for copyright infringement.
Teams

RSG Philippines – One of the best teams in the world
Blacklist International – Most recent World Champions
Todak – Best Malaysian team
RRQ Hoshi – Best Indonesian team
Falcon Esports – Fan favourite underdogs

Players

OHEB – Filipino
CikuGais – Malaysian
Alberttt – Indonesian
OhMyV33NUS – Filipino
MobaZane – American

PUBG Mobile

Now if you haven’t heard of PUBG Mobile then you’ve definitely been living under a rock. PUBG: Battlegrounds (formerly PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) spearheaded the Battle Royale genre that we know and love today. They went a step further and developed a mobile version which revolutionised mobile gaming industry as a whole.
Teams

D’Xavier – One of the best teams in the world
Box Gaming – Best Vietnamese team
4Rivals – Best Malaysian team
Team Secret – Former best Malaysian team
Vampire Esports – One of the best teams in the world

Players

Order – Chinese
paraboy – Chinese
TOP – Mongolian
BiuBiu – Malaysian
nOOzy – Thai

Call of Duty: Mobile

Probably one of the smallest fanbases in the mobile esports scene, Call of Duty: Mobile is a mobile version of the Call of Duty you know and love. Only difference is that its 5v5 instead of 4v4.
In Southeast Asia at least, the fanbase for the esports is booming in comparison to its forefather. There are multiple tournaments a year that SEA fans can tune into to watch and support their favourite teams.
Teams

Omega Esports – Current Southeast Asian Champions
ALMGHTY– Best Singaporean team
SEM9 – Top 2 Malaysian team
Tribe Gaming – Most dominant team in the Western hemisphere
DG Esports – Best Indonesian team

Players

Heaven – Singaporean
BoLu – American-Russian
Derp – Malaysian
Clove – Indonesian
Vague – American

Call of Duty

Unlike Call of Duty: Mobile, it’s pretty safe to say that the Asian scene is dead in terms of tournaments. Activision seem to be prioritising the West more than the East and in doing so we’ve been neglected and now there very few tournaments throughout Asia.
With that said the Call of Duty League (CDL) is one of the most interesting leagues to watch, due to the fast gameplay and chaotic comms from the players. The trash-talk is also something that can only be compared to as a work of art. If you’re interested in more of a “Jock” kind of esport then CoD is it for you.
Teams

OpTic Texas – Has Scump, organisation with the biggest fanbase
Atlanta FaZe – One of the best teams right now
New York Subliners – Has Crimsix, also has the funniest social media
Los Angeles Thieves – Owned by 100 Thieves
Boston Breach – Has Methodz, one of the funniest players in the CDL

Players

Scump – American
Crimsix – American
Simp – American
Dashy – Canadian
HyDra – French

Overwatch

The Overwatch League (OWL) is the place for you to watch the best of the best compete. With Overwatch 2 on the horizon, the league has already made the switch meaning that instead of 6v6 they now compete with the 5v5 format.
Unfortunately, as Malaysians, we have no one to support as we are still waiting for a local prodigy to make a name for themselves. The best next thing is Partiphan from Thailand. Once considered a prodigy, he moved to VALORANT due to the age restrictions of the OWL but has now made a return to the Overwatch.
Teams

San Francisco Shock – Winningest team in Overwatch
Los Angeles Gladiators – Has Patiphan, most anticipated player of the year
Shanghai Dragons – Most recent OWL Champions
Dallas Fuel – Owned by OpTic Gaming
New York Excelsior – Former best team in the world

Players

kevster – Swedish
Patiphan – Thai
AlphaYi – Korean
Kai – British
s9mm – American

How To Keep Track & Watch Esports In Malaysia?
Apart from our site which has features and schedules for esports tournaments, as well as results and highlights? There are plenty!
There are specifically two sites I would recommend to keep track of teams, players, and results: Liquipedia and Esports Wikis by Fandom. Which one you choose really depends on what esport you’re wanting to follow. Liquipedia is probably the best option as they have almost any and every game constantly up to date.
On either of these sites, they show ongoing events with match times and links to the streams.

As for where to watch, that really depends. Most competitions regardless of the esport will be streamed on both Twitch and YouTube as well as other popular streaming platforms. There are some exceptions in the likes of the Overwatch and Call of Duty League where they have exclusivity deals with YouTube.
Other games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that don’t have a specific league and have multiple tournaments run by different organisations throughout the entire year. That’s where a site like Liquipedia comes in handy as they track everything for you and you’re able to just see what ongoing or upcoming tournaments are on the horizon.


Overwatch Contenders Exclusive With Xavier Esports Coach, Headhawk

Coaching is no mean feat and it’s an even more arduous task when it involves young and driven young adults. We managed to get hold of Headhawk, headcoach of Thai-based Overwatch Contenders team Xavier Esports who discussed about his players, coaching and views of the current Overwatch Contenders scene.

Questions by Intan ‘Megikari’ Suria
Replies were submitted in Thai and translated into English.

Q: The current team you’re coaching, Xavier Esports, have quite a number ofÂ youngsters between the age of 15 & 16 (THK, Pathipan, QueEn, Olivier). How challenging is itÂ for you to coach them, with them mostly still in school?
Age is not a problem. The most important aspect is self discipline. If the player have this, anything is possible. The hardest part of coaching is instilling this value. Everyone have the desire to win so what is left is to focus and practice as much as we can.
Q: You also coached Team Thailand for the Overwatch World Cup this year. Is thereÂ any significant difference coaching a World Cup team and a Contenders team?
The difference between the World Cup and the Contenders is mostly down to the team composition. The biggest issue with the World Cup team is more of team comps andÂ  compatibility since it is made up of players from different teams, each with different play styles and philosophies.
Xavier Esport is my Contenders team. I spent a long time with this team so I know how to play everyone. (With Xavier) I know what best comp to play, and the players believe in and are more willing toÂ  listen.
Q: Going into Contenders Season 3, do you have a different strategies when facingÂ different teams or just stick with one strategy throughout the whole season?
Most of the time, we may run GOATs Comp, which consist of 3 supports and 3 tanks. Personally, I think this (GOATs) comp is a good approach in this meta, but it does not mean that other heroes are not viable. We have already proved in the Season 3 contenders whereÂ  use the GOATs strat when needed. As a coach myself, I will be analysing the team and our opponents, using it on specific maps.
Q: The Tier 2/Tier 3 scene will always be online effectively starting from 2019. There have been much discussion around this especially with many teams from the Pacific are based in Korea. Trill had a 330 ping while playing for Trials back in November. Team Young & Beautiful had to drop 1 series due to internet issues; Does this new regulation concern you that Xavier at one point could face the same problem? Or have you face the same problem before?
Playing out of Thailand, whenever have to go to a server other than the SEA, we face the issues of up to 80-120 ping, which is a very serious problem when competing online. While some Korean teams are playing at about 30-40 Ping, we have to play in the 80+ Ping. I prefer offline setups, just like at the World Cup. It provides an even playing ground, which significantly improve our chances.
Q: Lastly, there has been a concern from the community that there are too many Korean based team in the Pacific division when they have their own Contenders Korea which they could compete in. Blizzard has announced that starting in 2019, there will be soft-region locking; What do you think about the soft-region locking rules & how will it affect Pacific Contenders?
I think the soft-region locking is a very good approach. I really want the soft-lock to work with the Open Division because there needs to be a separation between Contenders Pacific Zone from Contenders Korea. There are too many Korean players in Contenders Pacific and because of this, theÂ PAC zone players have a hard time developing and standing out. Since network speed and stability is one of the main issues here, perhaps we can make it an offline tournament where everyone plays on equal conditions.

At point of writing,Â Xavier Esports is competing in Overwatch Contenders Season 3: Pacific division are currently second in their group having won all four of their group matches so far.


Moon Knight Series Adds Another Big Name To Its Cast

It looks like Oscar Isaac will already have a nemesis in tow. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ethan Hawke has joined the cast of Disney Plus’ Moon Knight as the main antagonist or villain. However, the name of the character wasn’t specified.
Moon Knight is slated to begin production in March 2021. What’s interesting is that Ethan Hawke has never been in a comic book movie, and he’s even shown derision for the whole genre in the past. Perhaps he wants a share of that MCU money.
Moon Knight is often described as Marvelâ€™s answer to DCâ€™s Batman, but heâ€™s actually more complicated. Moon Knightâ€™s real name is Marc Spector, and heâ€™s also a wealthy millionaire with gadgets and stuff. However, what distinguishes Moon Knight is that he also suffers from dissociative identity disorder, which means that he has multiple personalities.
Not only that, but heâ€™s not just named Moon Knight for no reason. He has superhuman powers due to his connection to the Egyptian god Khonshu, which gives him enhanced strength, endurance and reflexes. He also wears an all-white costume at night, so you know that heâ€™s not exactly all there mentally.
Most recently, he fought against the Avengers to steal their powers for Khonshu (in the Age Of Khonshu arc, check it out). He actually defeated the likes of Thor, Doctor Strange, and Ghost Rider, so we now know that he has the capacity to be more powerful than just a â€˜crazy Batmanâ€™.
Moon Knight is one of several Marvel series in the works on Disney Plus.


What’s The Most Popular Anime Song To Karaoke In 2020 So Far?

These days it’s easy to find karaoke spots with a Japanese playlist and Japanese tunes from the anime you love so you can belt it out. But what’s the most popular song for anime fans and closet weabs to sing to on-screen and (mostly) inebrieted?
According to a press release from company XING who runs popular online karaoke services JOYSOUND and UGA, it’s LiSa’s “Gurenge”, the OP theme for the popular shonen anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The track finally beat long-time champion “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” (from Neon Genesis Evangelion), a popular karaoke pick in Japan’s Heisen era.
LiSa herself is no stranger to making awesome catchy anime OPs and EDs, but her theme in Demon Slayer is already certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for surpassing 750,000 downloads.
I only saw a few episodes of Demon Slayer, but that OP is incredibly catchy and hits all the right uplifting rockin’ notes like Yui’s “Again”, Makoto Kawamoto’s “1/2”, and Shoko Nakagawa’s “Sorairo Days”. It’s a noticeable banger, alright.
Here’s the full top 20 list, along with the vids to accompany each one. In case you want to sing along or hear what’s the top pick the next time you have a hankering for Japanese karaoke. Unsurprisingly, some famous Disney songs made it onto this illustrious top 20.
1.”Gurenge” by LiSA (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)

2. “Cruel Angel’s Thesis” by Yoko Takahashi (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

3. “Yesterday” by Official Hige Dandism (Hello World)

4. “Himawari no Yakusoku” by Motohiro Hata (Stand By Me Doraemon)

5. “Sugar Song to Bitter Step” by Unison Square Garden (Blood Blockade Battlefront)

6. “Let it Go – Ari no Mama de” by Takako Matsu (Frozen Japanese dub)

7. “Inferno” by Mrs. Green Apple (Fire Force)

8. “Peace Sign” by Kenshi Yonezu (My Hero Academia)Â

9. “Single Bed” by Sharam Q (DNA2)

10. “Touch” by Yoshimi Iwasaki (Touch)

11. “Into the Unknown -Kokoro no mama ni” by Takako Matsu feat. Aurora (Frozen 2 JP dub)

12. “God Knows…” by Ara Hirano (The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

13. “Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari” by Supercell (Bakemonogatari)

14. “Haruhoni” by Aimyon (Crayon Shin-chan Honeymoon Hurricane – The Lost Hiroshi)

15. “Sekai ga Owaru Madewa” by WANDS (Slam Dunk)

16. “Butter-fly” by Koji Wada (Digimon Adventure)

17. “unravel” by TK from Ling tosite Sigure (Tokyo Ghoul)

18. “A Whole New World” by Tomoya Nakamura and Haruka Kinoshita (Aladdin JP Dub)

19. “Doraemon” by Gen Hoshino (Doraemon the Movie 2018 Nobita’s Treasure Island)

20. “Uchiage Hanabi” by DAOKO x Kenshi Yonezu (Fireworks, Should We See It From The Side or the Bottom?)


Here’s How The Malaysian Budget 2020 Will Affect Gaming & Esports

At the time of writing, the Malaysian Budget 2019 / Belanjawan Negara 2019 is currently being presented and tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. Two particular contents of the Budget has caught the attention of many Malaysians, directly/indirectly affecting those who are gamers and/or heavy user of digital entertainment services.

The Malaysian Government will allocate funds of RM20 million EACH via MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) to support and develop both the local esports and digital content industries in 2020.

RM20 million for esports
RM20 million to promote digital content creation

They will also be allocating funds to the following:

RM25 million to promote more digital application pilot projects utilising fibre optic and 5G infrastructure.

Every Malaysian (who are 18 years of age and above and earn less than RM100,000 a year) will receive RM30 e-wallet credit in an effort to getÂ Malaysians to familiarize themselves with making digital payments through e-wallets.
The RM30 will be credited on 1 January 2020 and will be valid for two months from that date. Khazanah Nasional has been given RM450 million for this.

While it’s great that the Government is once again supporting the local esports industry by allocating more funds (RM20 million), the state of esports in Malaysia is pretty much the same now as it was a year ago, which begs the question; where exactly did that RM10 million go into?
If the Government truly wants to develop esports in Malaysia, they will need to be more transparent in where to funnel the allocated funds into. The money should primarily be used to support the local grassroots community, especially those (semi-professional and professional esports athletes) in need of financial support.
What should be applauded is that the Malaysian Government is finally realising the importance of the games industry and to promote the creation of digital content. This will probably include a wide range of products, from animation to video games.
RM20 million will go a long way to supporting the many local game developers in Malaysia, especially those who are struggling with the hardships of game developing and publishing. We have already begun to see the fruits of this labour from companies like Metronomik’s No Straight Roads and Magnus Game Studio’s Re:Legend.


Ghost Of Tsushima Legends Guide: How To Be The Best Mongol Slayer

Sucker Punch recently added one of the best multiplayer additions to a single-player game in recent memory with Ghost Of Tsushima Legends. There are essentially two different modes, including a two-player narrative missions mode and a four-player survival mode where players have to defend against waves and waves of enemies.
Don’t Worry About Which Class To Choose First

At the very beginning of Ghost Of Tsushima Legends, the game will ask players to choose from four different classes; Samurai, Assassin, Hunter, and Ronin. Of course, this is after the tutorial which already lets you try each class briefly to test out their unique abilities.
Even then, you might find it difficult to choose just one at the very start. Don’t worry though. For one, all the classes generally play the same, beyond their unique unlockable skills and cosmetics. Every class can perform assassinations, shoot with a bow and arrow, or do anything else a Ghost can do.
After you choose your first class, the game will lock you out of the other three classes, but only for a short while. For every eight Ranks (levels) that you gain as any class, you can unlock another class. For example, my first class was Ronin. When I reached Rank 8, I unlocked the Samurai class. I only need to get another eight Ranks with either Ronin or Samurai to unlock another class.
However, it’ll be easier and faster to do so with the Samurai, since I’ll be starting from Rank 1 to Rank 8 again, which requires less experience. Rinse and repeats for each class, and you’ll gain access to all four classes in no time.
Ki Level Is Key

There aren’t really any traditional stats in Ghost Of Tsushima Legends. Instead, it works sort of like 2018’s God Of War, in which the sum of the quality of the gear that you have equipped determines your overall strength. In the case of this game, they’re called Ki.
Higher Ki not only means that your character is stronger, but it will also unlock higher difficulties of both playable modes. The default and lowest difficulty is Bronze. To play on Silver, you need to reach a certain Ki level to access it and avoid being under-levelled. Playing on higher difficulty means better gear and rewards.
All Classes Share (Most Of) The Same Gear

You don’t have to worry about classes getting redundant and under-levelled if you don’t play them often enough. That’s because most of the gear that you collect can be shared between classes.
However, there are a few exceptions. For example, longbows can only be equipped by a Hunter class. Also, many of the cosmetic items are unique to each class, though these don’t affect gameplay so it doesn’t matter as much.
What matters is that your classes can all share the same sword, charm, or Ghost Weapons. There’s no need to pray to the RNG gods to get the same piece of gear for another class.
Rarer Swords Will Unlock More Stances

Switching between the four stances for different enemies is a core mechanic of combat in Ghost Of Tsushima. It’s the same for Ghost Of Tsushima Legends. Stone stance defeats swordsmen, Water stance destroys shields, Wind stance annihilates spearmen, and the Moon stance is the Kryptonite for the bigger brutes.
However, early on in Ghost Of Tsushima Legends, you’ll be limited to a single stance, since this time around, stances are locked to the particular sword that you’ve equipped. Don’t worry though, because you’ll unlock swords which allow for more stances as when you obtain rarer swords.
Still, you’ll still be limited to two or so stances for each sword, so it’s best to choose the best stances that compliments your playstyle or to cater for enemies that you’re least comfortable fighting with.
How To Heal

In the single-player campaign, Jin Sakai can heal at any time by using any Resolve that the player has accumulated. That’s no longer possible in Ghost Of Tsushima Legends. However, there are actually multiple ways to heal in multiplayer as well.
One way to restore health that the game actually tells you is by hitting any of the Healing Drums that are situated around the map. Unfortunately, these aren’t as common as you’d think and they’re often far apart, not to mention that each drum is only usable once.
One hot tip is that the Healing Drum doesn’t just heal the person that hits it, but also has a brief pulsing zone that gradually restores the health of any team mates who comes near. The Ammo Stations also restore a bit of health alongside resupplying your arrows.
Another way to restore health is by equipping your characters with Healing Gourds or Flasks. Also, some unique class abilities can also restore health. For instance, the Samurai class can siphon and absorb the health of enemies through their L1 skill. On the other hand, the Ronin class is meant for support, and you can upgrade his/her ultimate ability of reviving team mates to also offer a healing effect as well.
You Can (And Should) Dismantle Your Gear…

Once you play Ghost Of Tsushima Legends and accumulate a bunch of gear, you’ll soon run out of space. Green is for normal gear, Blue is for Rare gear, and so on and so forth. Dismantling gear will earn you Essence and Honor.
Or You Can Reroll Them As Well

There’s also an alternative to simply dismantling your gear. If there’s any particular piece of gear that you like, you can reroll your gear in the modifications menu.
For the price of resources (Essence, Honor, Shrines), you can reroll the specific perks of a piece of gear. You can also choose to reroll properties of a piece of gear or even all the aspects of that same gear. Rerolling your gear won’t be cheap, but they could ensure that your favourite piece of Gear is closer to your current Ki level.
Always Remember To Claim Your Daily Rewards

It’s easy to ignore the Daily Challenges at the bottom of the main menu for Ghost Of Tsushima Legends, but completing them will net you Shrines, the rarest resource in the game. They’re usually stuff like â€œPerform 30 assassinations from aboveâ€ or â€œKill enemies with ranged weapons 100 times”.
If you’re stuck with Daily Challenges, you can reroll one of them for free per day. Rerolling more than one will require resources. It’s also important to note that you have to actually manually claim the rewards of your Daily Challenges. Not doing so will mean that you’re missing out on getting your reward and it won’t change into the next Daily Challenge.
Bombs Are More Powerful Than Bows

If you’re playing in the game’s four-player Survival mode, I recommend that you trade those bow and arrows for bombs. Arrows require more precision and skill to use efficiently, and enemies in Survival mode tend to attack in groups or hordes.
Unless you’re a Hunter class, using bombs can make things a lot easier. Bombs can inflict tons of damage on group of Mongols, and disorient them to make them more vulnerable to your slashes.
Don’t Forget To Spend Your Magatama In Survival Mode

In Survival Mode, every kill and defense point (that you successfully defended) will earn you Magatama points. They’re gone at the end of every match, but the game doesn’t really tell you what they’re for. Heck, I only found out after seeing what my own team mates did.
Every map in Survival Mode contains a shrine with purchasable Gifts. There are only a few choices, but the ones that stand out are the ability to summon Spirit animals like bears and dogs to help you in battle or unlock a short time of regenerating health for your entire team.
Keep in mind that each of these Gifts have cooldown periods, and that each Ghost can only buy one of any Gift at any one time. If you’ve bought the Spirit Bear gift, your team mates can purchase it until you’ve used it.
These are the Gifts and their corresponding costs:
Refill all Ghosts’ Ammo â€” 200 Regenerate Ghosts’ Health â€” 400Summon a Spirit Bear â€” 500Summon Spirit Dogs – 500Ignite Enemies Near Ghosts â€” 400
These Gifts can often mean the difference between winning and dying in Survival Mode, especially when you’re being overwhelmed by powerful Mongol Oni hordes in the last few waves. In the hectic heat of the moment, it’s easy to forget to use your Magatama at the shrine, but it only takes a few seconds.
Trust me, it’s worth it. Oh, and those bears and dogs that you can summon? You can also pet them just like you can pet the foxes in the single-player campaign.
In the meantime, you can check out our review of the game here.


Valorant Champions Tour 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – The Full Schedule [Updated]

With Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 2 Masters is underway in Copenhagen some may find it hard to keep track of all the games and scores. So worry not, as I’m here to give you all a rundown of the event, matches, and teams.
The latter part includes a good number of top Asia Pacific and Japanese teams, so Asian Valorant fans can look forward to supporting their respective home talent and wish them the best of luck.

VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – FPX Are Crowned Champions
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – FPX Get Revenge On Fnatic
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – Paper Rex Secure Grand Final Spot
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – FunPlus Phoenix Get A Rematch Against Fnatic
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – Fnatic Claw Their Way Into Top 4
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – OpTic Defeat DRX Yet Again
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – Paper Rex Take Down Fnatic While Handicapped
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – Paper Rex Are Looking Dangerous
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – Can OpTic Repeat Stage 1 Masters Run?
VCT 2022: Stage 2 Masters Copenhagen – LOUD Sent Packing

DATE & VENUE

Date: 10–24 July
Venue: Forum Copenhagen, Julius Thomsens Pl. 1, 1925 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Prize Pool: US$650,000
SCHEDULE

GROUP STAGE

Date: 10 – 14 July
Start Time: 9:15 PM (GMT+8)

KNOCKOUT STAGE

Date: 14 – 24 July
Start Time: 11:00 PM (GMT+8)

RESULTS

PLACEMENT
$ USD
POINTS
TEAM

1st
$200,000
1000
FunPlus Phoenix

2nd
$120,000
750
Paper Rex

3rd
$85,000
500
OpTic Gaming

4th
$65,000
400
Fnatic

5th-6th

$40,000

300

DRX

Leviatán

7th-8th

$25,000

250

Guild Esports

XSET

9th-10th

$15,000

200

KRÜ Esports

Northeption

11th-12th

$10,000

150

LOUD

XERXIA

TEAMS

Fnatic* – Europe, Middle East and Africa
Paper Rex* – Asia-Pacific
XSET* – North America
Leviatán* – Latin America
FunPlus Phoenix – Europe, Middle East and Africa
Guild Esports – Europe, Middle East and Africa
DRX – South Korea
OpTic Gaming – North America
XERXIA – Asia-Pacific
Northeption – Japan
LOUD – Brazil
KRÜ Esports – Latin America

(*) – Top-seeded teams / skip group stage
GROUPS & RESULTS

GROUP A

1.
Guild Esports
2–0
70-59

2.
OpTic Gaming
1–1
60-62

3.
KRÜ Esports
1–1
70-73

4.
LOUD
0–2
65-71

GROUP B

1.
DRX
2–0
60-34

2.
FunPlus Phoenix
1–1
61-69

3.
Northeption
1–1
46-60

4.
XERXIA
0–2
69-73

MATCHES
GROUP STAGE
DAY 1
9:15 PM, 10 July – DRX [2] vs. [0] Northeption (Group B)
11:45 PM, 10 July – LOUD [1] vs. [2] KRÜ Esports (Group A)
3:35 AM, 11 July – OpTic Gaming [0] vs. [2] Guild Esports (Group A)

DAY 2
11:15 PM, 11 July – FunPlus Phoenix [2] vs. [1] XERXIA (Group B)
2:50 AM, 12 July – KRÜ Esports [1] vs. [2] Guild Esports (Group A)

DAY 3
9:15 PM, 12 July – DRX [2] vs. [1] FunPlus Phoenix (Group B)
12:15 AM, 13 July – Northeption [2] vs. [1] XERXIA (Group B)
4:10 AM, 13 July – LOUD [1] vs. [2] OpTic Gaming (Group A)

DAY 4
11:00 PM, 13 July – FunPlus Phoenix [2] vs. [0] Northeption (Group B)
2:00 AM, 14 July – KRÜ Esports [0] vs. [2] OpTic Gaming (Group A)

BRACKET STAGE
DAY 1
11:00 PM, 14 July – Paper Rex [2] vs. [0] Guild Esports (Upper Quarter-Finals)
2:00 AM, 15 July – Fnatic [2] vs. [0] FunPlus Phoenix (Upper Quarter-Finals)

DAY 2
11:00 PM, 15 July – Leviatán [1] vs. [2] DRX (Upper Quarter-Finals)
2:00 AM, 16 July – XSET [0] vs. [2] OpTic Gaming (Upper Quarter-Finals)

DAY 3
11:00 PM, 16 July – Guild Esports [1] vs. [2] FunPlus Phoenix (Lower Round 1)
2:00 AM, 17 July – Leviatán [2] vs. [1] XSET (Lower Round 1)

DAY 4
11:00 PM, 17 July – Paper Rex [2] vs. [0] Fnatic (Upper Bracket Semi-Finals)
2:00 AM, 18 July – DRX [1] vs. [2] OpTic Gaming (Upper Bracket Semi-Finals)

DAY 5
11:00 PM, 18 July – Fnatic [0] vs. [1] Leviatán (Lower Bracket Quarter-Finals)
2:00 AM, 19 July – DRX [0] vs. [2] FunPlus Phoenix (Lower Bracket Quarter-Finals)

DAY 6
11:00 PM, 22 July – Paper Rex [2] vs. [1] OpTic Gaming (Upper Bracket Final)
2:00 AM, 23 July – FunPlus Phoenix [2] vs. [1] Fnatic (Lower Bracket Semi-Finals)

DAY 7
11:00 PM, 23 July – OpTic Gaming [1] vs. [3] FunPlus Phoenix (Lower Bracket Final)

DAY 8
11:00 PM, 24 July – Paper Rex [2] vs. [3] FunPlus Phoenix (Grand Final)

STREAMS
Watch On: YouTube / Twitch


Game Critic Totalbiscuit Passes Away At 33

It’s a sad day for games journalism and video game critiques. Longtime game critic John Bain, also known as Totalbiscuit and CynicalBrit and also that man who created the “WTF Is…?” videos, has passed away according to a tweet from his wife Gemma Bain. He was 33 years old.

Rest in Peace my Dearest LoveJohn @Totalbiscuit BainJuly 8, 1984 – May 24, 2018 pic.twitter.com/hg9ytHsItJ
— Genna Bain ? (@GennaBain) May 24, 2018

Previously in 2014, he was diagnosed with bowel cancer. While it went into remission, it resurfaced and spread to his liver and spine. Earlier this month, he announced his retirement from game criticism due to this condition, with plans to continue streaming and video-making, as well as letting his wife take over his channel in case the worst should happen.
Rest in peace, Totalbiscuit. Your legacy will not be forgotten. I will cap this news off with my personal favourite features from the man himself.


New PlayStation 5 & DualSense Edge Controller Update Out Now

Sony Interactive Entertainment has released new software updates for its mainstay devices.
The PlayStation 5 and DualSense Edge controller has received new updates that include usability improvements. The PS5 update version 23.01-0.7.20.00 has improved the messages and usability on some screens. Meanwhile, the DualSense Edge wireless controller software’s update is meant to improve stability.
The PS5 received a bunch of major updates back in March, which includes Discord voice chat, the ability to start or request a Share Screen session with a friend directly from their profile, a Variable Refresh Rate support for displays that support 1440p resolution, and more.


[Report] Janemba Will Be Appearing In Dragon Ball FighterZ

Update: Janemba will be available on 8th August. Here’s his EVO 2019 debut alongside Gogeta SSGSS (from the Dragon Ball Super: Broly film).

A much-requested Dragon Ball Z villain will be making his appearance soon in the 2D 3v3 fighting title Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Janemba, the “demon of pure evil” will be joining the fight as an upcoming DLC character and will most likely be announced during EVO 2019. This is based on a screencap of the Nintendo U.K description page for the game that’s already been taken down (via Eventhubs).

Janemba essentially a more colourful version of Majin Buu, but with demon horns in his more badass form. He’s not quite an innovative character but his design and crazy-looking fights involving him are more than enough to make him a standout among fans. Check out his potential in-game moves below:

Previously, Microsoft casually leaked Janemba’s inclusion in the game back in May. This recent news proves that the fan-favourite Buu clone will really be available for DBFZ fans and pro players in the near future.


Xbox Series X Gets November Launch, Halo Infinite Delayed To 2021

Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Series X will definitely be launching sometime in November 2020, instead of the previously-generic Holiday 2020 release window. However, it’s still not a specific release date yet, and with good news comes bad news as well.
In addition to that, Microsoft and 343 Industries have also announced that Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021. It was previously slated to release for the Xbox Series X and Xbox One in Holiday 2020.

Halo Infinite Development Update pic.twitter.com/TFZvXhRN9f
â€” Halo (@Halo) August 11, 2020
The absence of Halo Infinite means that there’s effectively no major launch title for the Xbox Series X later this year. Instead, in their blog post, Microsoft is choosing to highlight the Xbox Game Pass, along with â€œmore than 50 new gamesâ€ that are launching with optimizations for Xbox Series X.
More than 40 existing games will also be optimized for the Xbox Series X, including hardware-accelerated DirectX ray tracing, 120fps frame rates, faster loading times, and Quick Resume support.
Existing backward compatible games across Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One will also run on the Xbox Series X when it launches in November. Now, we just have to wait for the official price of the Xbox Series X, as well as its definitive release date.
In the meantime, stay tuned on Kakuchopurei for all the latest news on the Xbox Series X, and check outÂ all the latest updates and developments on all things Xbox to date here.


Fortnite Dunks With NBA To Add Team Jerseys & Cosmetics

Ahead of the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the league is joining Fortnite for the first time ever. Coinciding with the debut of the State Farm NBA Play-In Tournament, Fortnite x NBA: The Crossover brings basketballâ€™s best into the Item Shop and Fortnite Creative, and with Team Battles, a unique experience featuring all 30 NBA teams in Fortnite.
DEBUT OF NBA OUTFITS
Debuting on 22 May at 8am GMT+8, players can suit up and rep any of the league’s 30 teams. The In The Paint Set includes 31 uniforms, including all 30 NBA teams.

Also available, grab the Shoot & Score Pack to get the Hookshot Emote and Mini Hoop Back Bling, which can feature the logo of all 30 NBA teams. When other players have the Mini Hoop Back Bling equipped, youâ€™ll be able to call your shot.
If youâ€™re more of a point guard, show off your handles with the Dribblin’ traversal Emote.
PLAYER LOCKERS
Some of the leagueâ€™s best are ready to share what they wear when they escape into Fortnite. Starting next week, Locker Bundles personally selected by NBA guards Donovan Mitchell and Trae Young will arrive in the Item Shop.

Donovanâ€™s Locker includes: Cozy Chomps Outfit, Sharky Shawl Back Bling, Stark Splitter Pickaxe, Dynamic Fire Wrap, Fire Spinner Emote

Traeâ€™s Locker includes: Scarlet Commander Outfit, Gold Digger Pickaxe, Happy Stars Wrap, and Baller Emote
FORTNITE X NBA TEAM BATTLES
Just as the NBA Playoffs tip off this week following the State Farm Play-In Tournament, Fortnite x NBA: The Crossover heats up with a five-day competition featuring all 30 NBA teams. Welcome to the Fortnite x NBA Team Battles!
Taking place from 19 to 23 May 2021, visit the Fortnite x NBA Team Battles official page to sign up and support your favourite NBA team, plus have a shot at earning in-game rewards and V-Bucks.
For a deeper dive on Fortnite x NBA Team Battles, check out the dedicated blogÂ andÂ official rules.
COMING SOON: FORTNITE CREATIVE
And thatâ€™s just the beginning. Coming next week, the NBA crosses over into Fortnite Creative. Look for a new blog update showcasing the new NBA Welcome Hub on 25 May 2021.


Why Is The Internet Talking About Killing Mario?

On 31st March PST time, Mario meets his demise.
That’s an exaggeration, but the internet seems to think so. This is because of a recent Nintendo practice that has been recent and has been mocked time and again. Let’s break down why that is so.
See, 31st March US time is when Nintendo’s latest game Super Mario 3D All-Stars (a collection featuring Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy) will be discontinued from the Nintendo eShop. If you didn’t buy the collection, then tough luck: you won’t be getting it after 31st March. In fact, the company seems committed to pull physical copies of Super Mario 3D All-Stars from shelves.
Why do this? This is because Nintendo wishes to make Mario’s anniversary feel special and unique. Hence, the limited time offer element. Here’s what Nintendo of America CEO Doug Bowser said:
“Super Mario 3D All-Stars has sold over 2.6 million in the US alone. And so clearly, consumers have been able to jump in and enjoy that. And it’s not a strategy that we’re going to be using widely, but it’s one we thought was very unique for the actual anniversary.”

Thank you to everyone who joined us in commemorating the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. We hope you continue to Power-Up and enjoy Mario and friends’ adventures! #SuperMario35 pic.twitter.com/gwZDUaXiSF
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) March 31, 2021

This does beg the question: will the collection make a return after some time of absence? Probably not, but a new collection might take its place to celebrate Mario’s next major anniversary. Anyway, this is why the internet is declaring 31st March the death of Mario.
This is why you see the memes below:

Mushroom Kingdom law dictates that Paper Mario must also be executed. Please look away. This isn’t pretty. #SuperMario35 pic.twitter.com/c2K4ta17rN
— Baldy (@TheBaldEmperor) March 31, 2021

Is March 31st! Mario dies today 🙁#myart #digitalart #mario #??? #luigi #???? #supermario #mario35 #SuperMario3DAllStars #nintendo #fanart pic.twitter.com/WQgwHM43KN
— Mystar?21 (@Mystar_21) March 30, 2021

Everyone's talking about how Mario dies today, but no one remembers that he actually died in 2003 pic.twitter.com/kCTCnA1f1U
— Muz ? (@MuzYoshi) March 31, 2021

Mario dies March 31 #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/g0kGEhyxYw
— Bones (@tyybones) March 22, 2021

March 31 pic.twitter.com/AYNGz95FGh
— ????? ?YORA (@yoracrab) March 30, 2021

AH YES…. THE DAY THAT MARIO DIES… pic.twitter.com/IL05xbiTbx
— ? ? KIRSTEN CANDELORE – VOICE ACTRESS ! (@lovejinkles) March 31, 2021

Mario is dead…..NOW ITS LUIGI TIME??? pic.twitter.com/eRLQtcaqY3
— Jordan (@SSJordan_SSB) March 31, 2021

https://twitter.com/_Winter_Warlock/status/1377276764926410752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1377276764926410752%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnerdist.com%2Farticle%2Fmario-dead-twitter-reactions%2F

Sorry Mario, It's March 31st… pic.twitter.com/9pWm6bBaL7
— Aurum (Team Wither!) (@AurumArt_) March 31, 2021

Mario is dead. Humanity’s collective vision goes dark and a simple message flashes before us all: pic.twitter.com/MSVgQ1CZBW
— Gene Park (@GenePark) March 31, 2021


Borderlands’ Psycho And Claptrap Are Coming To Fortnite

Fortnite is developed and constantly updated by Epic Games. Earlier this year, we were told Borderlands 3 will be an Epic Games Store exclusive. Put two and two together, and you get Fortnite X Mayhem, a crossover event of the two games.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vxb0AaKidBs&w=560&h=315]
The event starts today and will end on 10 September 2019, just three days before the release of Borderlands 3. As per usual of most Fortnite events, there will exclusive items and aesthetics to unlock and purchase such as skins, sprays, and more.
No Borderlands game would be complete without the infamous Psycho and it looks like he’s found his way to the world of Fortnite through one of those inter-dimensional portals. Him and and a Claptrap backpack are part of the Psycho Bundle which you can get for free if you buy Borderlands 3 on the Epic Games Store.

A new location called the Pandora Rift Zone has also been introduced and with it comes a new set of challenges and loot. There’s also the Pandora Prefab for you to mess around with in Fortnite Creative.
Fortnite is available for free on PC (Epic Games Store), PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Borderlands 3 comes out on 13 September 2019 for PC (Epic Games Store), PS4, and Xbox One.


His Dark Materials Season 2 Is An Improvement But Still Lacks A Magical Spark

The second season is finally here. While the first season was pretty impressive, it felt a bit bland and suffered from pacing issues, but most importantly, for a fantasy series, it lacked a certain amount of magical spark.
His Dark Materials Season 2 opens up the series a little bit more, both literally and figuratively, as everyone now realizes that the portal/window of light that opened at the end of Season 1 actually leads to other parallel and alternate worlds in the multiverse. That’s the main crux of the series, and thankfully, more fantasy elements come into play as a result.
Welcome To The Multiverse

What makes the plot flow more freely this time around is because of the two young protagonists, Lyra Silvertongue (Dafne Keen) and Will Parry (Amir Wilson). We learn more about each world organically through the experiences of (and exposition from) these two protagonists.
It’s much more intriguing now that every world has its own set of rules. For instance, the first world that Lyra and Will enters is almost devoid of adults. Why? Because ‘spectres’ go after older people and turn them into zombified husks.
Lyra is still reeling from the death of her friend, Roger, from the end of last season. It’s a testament to Dafne Keen’s incredible emotional range and performance that we see her desperation and determination to learn more about Dust, the mysterious substance that’s vital to how the multiverse works.
Meanwhile, Will is looking for his father, and somehow his quest is intertwined with that of Lyra’s. As the plot progresses, we learn more and more about how they’re both connected to each other.

Lee Scoresby (Lin-Manuel Miranda) is as charming as ever and Marisa Coulter (Ruth Wilson) is as menacing as she was in the first season. The performance of the supporting cast are all mostly fine, but the biggest MVP remains Dafne Keen as Lyra. Without her, I don’t think His Dark Materials is really compelling enough to watch.
We were introduced to the magic-wielding witches near the end of Season 1, but Season 2 gives them a bigger role to play in the narrative. Of course, His Dark Materials is not exempt from popular tropes of the genre, including the role of prophecies, the technologically-superior antagonistic empire (the Magisterium), and more.
However, the Magisterium is distinguishable from other evil empires from other fantasy stories in that they’re a religious authority that imposes its will on everyone else, which is a direct criticism by author Phillip Pullman against the real-life Roman Catholic Church.
Due to the introduction of other worlds, we’re treated to more variety in locales and settings than the previous season. Though, we’re still spending most of the screentime in Oxford, London.

Halfway through the first season, we discover that there’s a MacGuffin, and it’s this MacGuffin that drives the narrative forward in the second half, rather than simply everyone else looking for Lyra.
There’s nothing wrong with focusing on world-building rather than character development or narrative, but the series takes too long to reach the exciting parts.
Not Enough Magic

Unfortunately for those who couldn’t stomach the first season, the second season still suffers from similar problems as the first. His Dark Materials just feels less epic than it should be, especially from HBO, the same network behind Game Of Thrones and Lovecraft Country.
Maybe that problem can be attributed to the fact that His Dark Materials is a co-production between HBO and BBC, which might mean that it can’t take as many risks as other HBO shows normally could. Sure, the source material isn’t R-rated, but they’re not specifically for children either.
For those who don’t know, Phillip Pullman intended his original trilogy of novels to be anti-religion of sorts. While that doesn’t mean they’re for adults by default, it should mean that they’re not meant to be like usual fantasy fare such as Narnia or The Lord Of The Rings.
As it is, His Dark Materials feels too tame and doesn’t know who its target demographic is supposed to be. It’s too slow for younger viewers, and like I previously mentioned, too tame for older ones. It’s a shame, considering the huge potential of the series.

Another major issue is the glaring absence of a character that’s mentioned throughout the season but doesn’t appear even once. James McAvoy’s Lord Asriel is MIA. He was initially slated to appear in a special episode, but that won’t be happening any longer.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the second season will only be seven episodes long, instead of the original planned eight. After being given access to five out of the seven episodes in Season 2 for the purpose of this review, it’s difficult to say for sure how the omission of Lord Asriel will ultimately impact the second season as a whole.
Apparently, though, it appears that the book on which Season 2 is based on (The Subtle Knife) doesn’t actually feature Lord Asriel at all, so fans of the books will be happy that this new season will be a faithful adaptation, at least.
His Dark Materials Season 2 has better pacing and is overall an improvement on the first season. Returning fans will enjoy what’s on offer, but those who didn’t find anything to like in the first season probably shouldn’t bother.
FINAL SCORE: 70/100
His Dark Materials Season 2 will premiere on 17 November 2020 at 10am GMT+8 on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Channel 411 HD) with an encore at 10pm GMT+8 on HBO. New episodes premiere every subsequent Tuesday at the same time.