Rogue Company Will End Services On Switch 20 June

Rogue Company, the free-to-play team-based multiplayer shooter, is ending its service on the Nintendo Switch on 20 June. The developer, Hi-Rez Studios announced that all in-game real money purchases will also end today. Sad news for Switch players, but fear not, the game will still be available on PS5, Xbox Series X | S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

According to the developer, this decision wasn’t made lightly. They realized that the Switch port wasn’t up to their standards and that they couldn’t provide the level of support their players deserved. They want to focus on providing better support and updates for players on other platforms.
Switch players, if you want to continue playing the game, you can utilize Hi-Rez account linking to pick up your progress where you left off on another platform. In-game purchases for real money will no longer be available on Switch starting today, and Nintendo eShop purchases will turn off as soon as possible.
For PC, PlayStation, and Xbox players, don’t worry, the developer will continue to provide full support for these platforms. They appreciate your support and understanding during this transition. You will still be able to play and utilize the in-game store on Switch until 20 June but make sure to read the full statement below for more information on any nuances.

After a lot of discussion, thought, and conversations across our team, we’ve made the difficult decision for Rogue Company to end support for our Nintendo Switch version, with our final date of support being June 20th. This choice wasn’t made easily or without concern for our community, however we realized that the performance of our Switch port was not up to our standards, and we were unable to provide the level of support our players deserve.t. This shift allows us to provide players on other platforms better support & focus for their specific issues, as well as deliver updates with more flexibility and frequency whenever needed.
As of April 11th, in game purchases for real money will no longer be available and Nintendo eShop purchases will turn off as soon as possible. If you’re a Switch player and wish to continue playing at any point in the future, we highly recommend utilizing Hi-Rez account linking to pick up your progress where you left off on another platform. For more information on account linking, check out this FAQ.
We understand the impact this decision may have on our community and would like to assure you that we have worked diligently to find workarounds for various Switch-specific issues in the past. Unfortunately, significant technical and process challenges prevent us from continuing support for this platform, and we believe this is the best choice for Rogue Company.
For our communities on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to providing full support for these platforms. We appreciate your continued support and understanding, and please note that you will be able to continue playing and utilizing the in-game store on Switch until June 20th. This will not impact anyone who has linked their account and is playing on another platform, but please read the linking article for more information on any nuances.


Who Is The Best FFVII Remake Waifu & Heroine? Japan Answers…

When it comes to Final Fantasy VII Remake top male heroes, every female fan will say the same thing: Cloud Strife is awesome and loveable. The stoic cold warrior who eventually warms up a bit while kicking ass with his oversized sword is top choice in that regard. But what about the plethora of females in the game?
The stars of the female cast get to shine in their own way in our playthrough, particularly with one significant improvement. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves: Japanese website Inside Games (via Sora News) created a poll asking people who their favourite FFVII Remake heroine is.
Here are the top results. Try not to act too shocked at the top two.
9. Scarlet, Madam M

Tied at last place are Shinra’s incredibly-stacked weapons development lead and courtesan-style kimono masseuse with a temper. The only way they can climb higher is if they can showcase their obvious trademark “cries”:
https://www.facebook.com/1217891358315277/videos/1385445928226485/?__cft__[0]=AZXcnCCwJRQv8VeG8b5dA4dqsDVG4bFRSacGEvV7A5MuC4A0OMAjLBGoDFM9mxh6Sx9d8uRqvGI19O1D3tnWvrwTRdbsj5nbUcAaDVcuThxHDvF2XrQ7rXEXdehnFnJ26UCrKhJYytwNVZ5ORo27176sNlcGxDZA3RUzXffsxSCunA
8. Betty
Bitch, please. I run SoundScape.
The young girl who asks Cloud to go search for cats and music CDs in the Midgar slums as side-quests. Not sure why she’s ranked lower though.
7. Barret

I think a good chunk of Japanese folks secretly want to date him when they reach the Gold Saucer romance portion in FFVII Remake Part 2.
6. Marlene

Gotta admit; that kawaii magic works when you give Barret’s daughter a bit more screen time.
5. Kyrie (35 votes)
A shoe-in to work in SPH.
Not-Yuffie fills in the minor role of kleptomaniac fake news spreader just fine.
4. Cloud In Drag (76 votes)

Square Enix delivered this pivotal 1997 scene with grace and perfection. How can he NOT be one of the best heroines of FFVII Remake?
3. Jessie (298 votes)

From throwaway side character to fleshed-out failed actress-turned-terrorist, this lady gets some top billing due to her gung-ho attitude and her never-ending thirst for some blonde ex-SOLDIER action.

Now we’re down to the top two. Guess who they are?
2. Aerith (635 votes)

She gets the best character and personality upgrade while still conveying a sense of mystery, especially in the last 10 hours of the game. Our video below explains why it works.

Still, that’s not enough to dethrone…
1. Tifa (892 votes)

Bar owner, martial artists, mother hen archetype to AVALANCHE and the eventual party; all that makes for a godlike waifu combo. I thought this might be a close contest with 2020 Aerith, but it helps that she won the battle for Cloud’s affection by default in the original game storyline.
I’m still waiting for the Remake’s version of Dolphin Blow. The world needs to see this in Square Enix Remake glory.
Are you a fan of this FFVII Remake heroine ranking? Let us know either on this page or on Facebookif you are/are not.


Death Trash Is Disgusting Post Apocalypse Goodness, But Don’t Get It Yet

Platforms: PC, Xbox, PS4
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic Isometric Action RPG Pukefest
As if you cannot tell from locations called Festering Gorge, Woundland, and the Puke Bar, Death Trash thrives on its fleshy and gorey broken future-filled visuals. If it wasn’t for the pixel art, many would be grossed out by the sheer volume of raw meat and upchuck after-effects present here.
But Death Trash is more than just blood and guts; it’s an isometric action RPG where you fight crazies and mutants in real-time combat with your sword/club/assault rifle/shotgun. You also can use the power of persuasion to talk your way out of trouble, though you have an always-active stealth device that lets you sneak up and away from danger. Death Trash’s combat can be brutal, and you can die from even skirmishes with two to three bandits and/or mutants who clearly are more packed than you.
Garbage In…
Beyond the fighting and kinda funny dialogue between the weird denizens of the scorched earth you’re on however, there aren’t any quests or objectives that have multiple approaches beyond “head to dungeon A and kill everything there, then get the thing”. Compare this to an Early Access game like Encased, which has multiple solutions to problems, and you can see where Death Trash is lacking.
Still, the game looks gorgeous with its animation and pixel art. From the green shimmer from your puking to the blood-red pool from your visions, there’s a lot of love laid out bare for CRPG fans to see and witness.

Should you enter Death Trash’s violent Mad Max-inspired world this early? Probably not. Apart from a main quest and some side stuff that will last you for a few hours, there isn’t much to do and see. It’s still a work in progress, the character customization seems limited for now, and there aren’t many opportunities to flex your non-combat skills. You really need to put your skill points to guns and melee to survive this build of the game.
Still, there’s a lot of promise in this pixel art mashup of desolation and upchucking. Perhaps when it’s more fleshed-out and in a more complete state, then it’s an enticing purchase on Steam. As for now, you’re paying for a clear work-in-progress. Death Trash is available now for PC (Steam), but in Early Access form. There’s no word on its release date as of yet.


Marvel’s WandaVision Unveils First Official Clip

Disney Plus has unveiled the first official clip from Marvel’s WandaVision. It was revealed during an exclusive interview between Elizabeth Olsen and Jimmy Kimmel on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
The brief 45-second clip shows Wanda and Vision getting awake by a bump in the night. This startles Wanda and prompts her to use her powers to turn on the bedroom lights. Vision approaches the window to survey the streets below but then jumps back to bed when another bump shocks him.
WandaVision will be influenced and is a homage to different sitcoms from bygone eras. The black-and-white footage in the new clip is inspired by sitcoms of the ’50s and ’60s such as I Love Lucy and The Dick Van Dyke Show.
WandaVisionÂ is slated to premiere onÂ 15 January 2021.
The WandaVision clip begins at mark 4:25 in the interview video below:


New Gundam Breakers’ Franken-Gundam Concept Is Marred By Many Faults

Platform: PS4
Genre: Action, Gundam Gunpla Grindfest
These days, the only successful toy franchise that is killing it with video games is LEGO. From the LEGO Star Wars titles to whatever the hell LEGO can grab nowadays -see LEGO Dimensions- you can’t help but enjoy these games because of their “klik klak” collectable appeal that is worked into the co-op mechanic of these games. The fact that they’re accessible with all ages too helps make the love and fanfare universal.
So what does LEGO have to do with the concept of Gundam miniatures and Gunpla? Simple: Bandai Namco is putting in the collectable aspect of Gundam miniatures into their games the same way LEGO is doing with the many licenses they are working with.
Case in point: New Gundam Breaker for the PS4. In this third-person action game where you team up with two other Gunpla pilots to complete objectives for the highest amount of points, you can collect Gunpla parts from slain Gundams/Gunplas and add them to your collection. Each pilot can hold up to 5 and can swap them around/discard them with the d-pad, but there’s a giant box in the arena where you can dump them for safekeeping.

I’ll have to admit, I was spending way more time destroying enemies, harvesting parts, and then heading to the box to keep my spoils, main missions be damned. The replayability aspect of just looking for parts is enough for hardcore fans and collectable-hounds to be invested in the game.
It’s the LEGO video game effect in Gunpla form: the New Gundam Breakers devs purposely add more green flair to dropped parts, making it more attractive for players to say “eff it” to whatever they’re doing and then collect as many of them as possible. And to say nothing of the extensive Gunpla customization page where you get to paint individual sections with different colour schemes and shader type, as well as pose them in different stances for your digital photographing need. If you want to get into Gunpla but don’t want to burn your wallet due to real-life Gunpla prices, this game’s a great substitute as any.
Unfortunately, Bandai Namco fudges everything else with the actual game itself.
Broken Pieces

Unlike the LEGO games where they just make fun of the franchise’s stories in clever and non-demeaning ways, New Gundam Breakers’ story is pretty typical if you are familiar with your shonen anime storylines down to a tee. You play a prodigy Gunpla builder/pilot studying in a Gunpla University (because of course) whose goal is to take down the current Gunpla Student Council who are throwing their weight around.
Also, the majority of your AI pilot partners are female and are based on anime tropes like the childhood friend with a past involving the Student Council, a regular-looking girl who gets wet at the sight of a Gunpla battle, and the bookish girl who prefers studying than fighting. Clearly, Bandai Namco knows its market.
Simply put, the devs could have been a bit more creative with its storytelling but all I ended up with is another shoehorned “young upstart and his female entourage taking down the big bad predecessors” storyline. But you’re not really here for the narrative; you’re here to find out if (a) this is a great entry point in the Gundam Breaker video game franchise and (b) if you need to buy this sequel as a hardcore Gundam Breakers fan.
For the latter, let’s just hope you still have your copy of Gundam Breaker 3, because New Gundam Breaker is quite a step back.
One Step Forward, Too Many Steps Back
As I mentioned before,Â  you team up with two other AI Gunpla pilots in 3v3 battles where the battlefield’s objectives change over time and range from “break 10 boxes” to “kill x Gundams or neutral enemies”.Â Whichever team earns the most points wins.
If this is your first-ever Gundam Breaker game, you’ll be pleased to know that this game takes it easy on its players since you have pretty competent AI partners during the majority of the game. As fighting and battling go, the controls are pretty easy to follow and the movement is quite flexible.
There will be many instances where you’ll be overwhelmed, so you need to learn how to weave and dash out of the way, or even just jump and boost upwards and then re-enter the fray again. But pretty soon, it gets a little easy and manageable; you only have to worry about playing online with other players who may already have better kits and Gunpla parts than you.
There are three major problems though. Firstly, you’re doing the same battle mode over and over again only with different pilots. It doesn’t deviate much from that formula; the enemy Gunpla pilots change but the battles remain the same.

Secondly, the game moves and plays like an unfinished product. Yes, the controls are fine and all, but there are a ton of frame rate issues mid-game, stuttering and drops when dealing with a lot of Gundams, and half the time the game pauses for a second or two before it loads up another scenario or wave of enemies to kill. While the controls are decent, the auto-lock mechanism is garbage -you’re better off targeting enemies manually. And the less said about the clunky user interface in and out of the game, the better.
You’d think with previous Gundam Breaker games since the PS3 days they’d have this down to a science, but nope. The thrill of breaking apart a messload of Gundams is made sullied by the technical incompetence of the game engine. If the main crux of your play experience is this broken, it’s hard not to turn this game off in favour of another loot-hoarding dungeon crawler.
Thirdly, and this applies to the older Gundam Breaker players: Gundam Breaker 3 is basically the superior game. Don’t be fooled by the “New” heading of this new Gundam game; New Gundam Breaker strips apart all the good things from previous titles and feels watered down.
However, if you’re the kind of guy who thinks the Odaiba Gundam statue is as sacred as the Christ The Redeemer statue in Brazil -and can as differentiate between the Thunderbolt Gundam and the Unicorn Gundam, and chastise me for not calling these mechs by their proper names- then you might want to buy this just to see what the hubbub is about.
But for SG$79.90, you might as well get Gundam Breaker 3. It’s older, but at least it has a stable foundation that doesn’t need fixing.
Pros
-The graphics look nice.
-Controls are good.
-Simple-yet-collectable-addled gameplay…
Cons
-…marred by its game engine & execution.
-Shallow story.
-Not a major improvement over Gundam Breaker 3.
-Too expensive for what you’re getting.
FINAL RATING: 5/10

Review copy provided by Bandai Namco Asia.


E3 2018: That Devil May Cry 5 Trailer Song Is Mad Popular (In UK So Far)

When was the last time a video game song or a tune from a video game trailer reached number 1 in a country’s top pop rock song listing in a short time span? You can now add Ali Edwards’ “Devil Trigger” in that really rare and empty list.
No doubt most of you action game fans saw that sweet Devil May Cry 5 trailer. Let’s remind you:

You may also remember that really cool pop techno song that played where the lyrics went like this:
All of these voices inside of my head!
Binding my sight in a curtain of red!
Frustration is getting bigger!
Bang, bang, bang!Â
Pull my Devil Trigger!
I’m probably paraphrasing, but those lyrics and the overall beat is catchy as heck. It’s so catchy that it’s number 1 on the iTunes UK Top Songs list.

Thanks to all of you Devil Trigger is the No.1 Rock song in the UK! #DMC5 pic.twitter.com/qOXkl3nOwT
— Capcom Dev 1 (@dev1_official) June 13, 2018

If you want to hear the song in all of its cheesy techno pop-esque glory, check out the official music video below. The song is available on iTunes Southeast Asia and also on Spotify for streaming.

The video looks like a PG version of a Marilyn Manson video if it crossbred with a goth-phase version of Avril Lavigne. Which is all kinds of awesomeness if you think about it.
The song is essentially the video game equivalent of an annoying pop song made in 2017 in, er, Devil Trigger form. Its association with the Devil May Cry series help boost its credibility since by and large the series is known for exploiting its corniness and action movie cliches.
So yeah, frickin’ check it out and play the hell out of it during E3 week. Or even on the bus so you can share the cheesiness to the unenlightened masses.
Also, if you’re interested in Ali Edwards’ music, she also lent her vocals on a few Killer Instinct tracks.


The Pokemon Arceus Anime Series Will Start This May

The divisive Pokemon game Pokemon Legends: Arceus is getting a short anime series. And it’s airing sooner than you think.
The show, Pokemon: Hisuian Snow, will starting airing online on 18 May 2022. There will be three episodes total.
The show starts a man named Alec who is friends is a Hisuian Zoroa. The series showcases a time when humans and Pokemon live separately from one another, with the two forming a bond of sorts within the three episode runtime.
Pokemon: Hisuian Snow will be available to watch on Pokemon TV and YouTube.


Why Magia Record’s First Season Is A Lacklustre Madoka Magica Spin-Off

Note: Some Madoka Magica and Magia Record spoilers ahead.

The first season of Puella Magi Madoka Magica spin-off Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story ends with some promise. In the final episode, a familiar face appears to do battle with a former ally, implying larger involvement from the original cast. Meanwhile, the show’s antagonistic faction announces their grand plan, a likely sign of an increase in the story’s pace and urgency, and the most interesting villain of Magia Record is hinted to be a major player in future events.
Then there’s that name drop before the credits drop: Walpurgis Night. Madoka Magica fans will be familiar with that entity, but how will it factor into Magia Record‘s story, which offers significant divergences from the original’s? Those who’ve played the mobile game will know already, but for anime-only viewers, this is an intriguing mention.
These new developments offer me hope of a more exciting second season, which has already been announced. But it’s just a small glimmer of hope. While the season finale was one of Magia Record‘s stronger episodes, it far from absolves the show’s issues, and I’m not sure if the second season will be a marked improvement.
A Tale Of Despair
The original Madoka Magica was released in 2011 as a dark take on the Magical Girl genre. I’m not sure if it was the first to explore darker themes with the genre, but it does feel like the reason “dark magical girl anime” is somewhat of a label now. After its release, we’ve had shows like Day Break Illusion, Yuki Yuna Is a Hero, Magical Girl Raising Project, Magical Girl Site, and Magical Girl Spec-Ops Asuka offering different takes on the dark magical girl concept, with varying degrees of success.

While I didn’t devour every one of those shows, just hearing about them was enough to make the subgenre feel tired and saturated to me. My initial worry that Magia Record would fail to match its predecessor largely stemmed from this. But now that I’ve watched the show, it’s clear that even in a non-saturated environment, this would have still been a lacklustre dark magical girl anime and a disappointing entry in the Madoka Magica series.
First, let’s delve a bit into Madoka Magica. The series stood out not because of gore, but for its psychological horror. After meeting an experienced Magical Girl called Mami Tomoe, our heroine Madoka and her friend Sayaka develop an interest in becoming one themselves, but they soon discover that it is not a rosy experience when what seemed to be a major character is killed in just the third episode.
More troubling revelations follow. It turns out that Magical Girls unknowingly have their souls separated from their bodies and placed into containers called Soul Gems, with the girls losing consciousness if there’s too much distance between their bodies and the Soul Gems. And when the Soul Gems are fully corrupted by darkness, an inevitable process that can only be slowed by using Grief Seeds dropped by creatures called Witches, the Magical Girls turn into Witches themselves.
Kyubey, the being that grants girls wishes and turns them into Magical Girls, explains that all this serves to save the universe, but its words aren’t exactly soothing. As part of a race called the Incubators, Kyubey cannot fathom human emotion, and so it looks upon the Magical Girls’ psychological suffering and emotional strain with apathy. There’s also the issue with it keeping mum about what’s really in store for the girls when they sign their contract.

The Old And The New
The last thing I’d want is for Magia Record to copy its predecessor’s story, and that’s fortunately not the case. In fact, the spin-off’s approach is great, in theory. The plot is brand-new but is still influenced by the original series’ elements; for example, the main antagonistic faction called the Wings of Magius is driven by a desire to save Magical Girls from being transformed into Witches.
Unfortunately, while Magia Record makes use of the original’s dark aspects, it doesn’t use them well. Although the very first episode mentions a rumour about how Magical Girls can be saved in Kamihama City, the truth of the Magical Girls’ fate and what the Wings of Magius’ plans are is only revealed in the penultimate episode.

It’s a revelation that has absolutely no impact for those who’ve already watched Madoka Magica, and unlike Madoka Magica, which explored the psychological impact of its revelations on its characters, Magia RecordÂ uses this mainly as plot development.

It’s possible that the second season will feature more of the cast’s reactions to this news, especially when there are signs that some supporting characters have been swayed by the Wings of Magius’ promise of salvation. In terms of this first season, however, there’s not much of a psychological aspect, meaning that Magia Record lacks the very thing that made Madoka Magica so great.
Magia Record isn’t as dark either. It’s still largely serious business (although with more room for humour and relaxation) since battling Witches is no joke. There are also Uwasa (Japanese for rumour), which are Witch-like entities that have been popping up around Kamihama City and who draw people to them through the spread of rumours (appropriately enough).

Investigating these Uwasa forms a big part of the show, but it’s hardly as interesting as it sounds. Madoka Magica wasn’t a fast-paced show, but it had a tight focus. Magia Record’s pacing feels unhurried and lacking in urgency instead, and at times it even feels like a slice-of-life anime in comparison.
At other times, Magia RecordÂ resembles more of a conventional action series, as there seems to be a larger number of battles here compared to its predecessor. But while the action here offers spectacle and lots of surreal imagery, they fall short of Madoka Magica‘s which were more subdued but had greater style, better choreography, and were often underpinned by strong emotion.

The one exception is an epic clash between two Madoka MagicaÂ characters during the final episode’s battle. Aside from these moments being well-animated and just generally awesome, it was the reasons for the duelists’ clash that elevated their fight scene beyond its peers in Magia Record.

Most of the time though, I struggled to stay engaged with the show even when its Magical Girls were engaging in battle.
When Magical Girls Get Boring
The loose plotting and underwhelming action would’ve been less of an issue if Magia Record‘s characters made up for it, but they don’t. Many characters either look too bland or are too similar to the Madoka Magica cast; main hero Iroha Tamaki has pink hair like Madoka, while veteran Magical Girl Yachiyo Nanami resembles Homura Akemi with her facial features, stern demeanour, and hairstyle. Magia Record has a number of shots that immediately grab the eye, but it’s harder to say the same for its characters.

Their personalities aren’t standouts either, with only a couple of the main supporting characters being fairly memorable simply because they are livelier and thus provide more entertaining company. I may struggle to remember the name of Chinese restaurant worker Tsuruno Yui, and the mercenary Felicia Mitsuki may only be supporting girl material, but I sometimes wish they were the stars of the show instead.

The largely uninteresting characters are an issue because the show often requires investment in them. A couple of early episodes sees the friendship between two Magical Girls being tested, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

One of the central mysteries of Magia Record is the whereabouts of Iroha’s younger sister Ui, but aside from that plot thread being uninteresting in general, I struggled to empathize because Iroha is so bland and seems to be nothing more than a nice girl.
The second half of the show introduces a Magical Girl called Sana Futaba who wished to become “invisible” due to her family circumstances, and who ends up befriending an AI-like Uwasa. Sana’s backstory and friendship with the Uwasa are meant to result in an emotional episode, but the issue is that we have no prior investment in Sana, who’s also pretty dull outside of her backstory. Madoka Magica‘s feisty Kyoko Sakura had a tragic backstory too, but it was only revealed after we’d spent a couple of episodes with her, and there was more to Kyoko than just her past.
I preferred the original characters so much that all it took was cameos from familiar faces like Mami and Kyoko to stop me from dropping the show (which I considered several times). Although Mami is sent to investigate Kamihama City by Kyubey, she ends up joining the Wings of Magius. A brief scene where she expresses her despair and anger about the fate of Magical Girls is easily more compelling than anything involving the main characters.

It’s generally not good if a show has to rely on fanservice to be engaging, especially when it doesn’t seem necessary for Mami and Kyoko to be present so far (plus their presence might be a little confusing to newcomers). That said, I honestly wouldn’t have minded more fanservice here. I found out thatÂ the Magia Record anime deviates from the mobile game by leaving out the involvement of Madoka and Homura in the events of the first season’s second half, and I wished that it didn’t.

I can see why the anime left them out, given the first season’s length and how it’d be more impactful if they only showed up later. Still, including them in the first season would’ve made the show much more interesting, at least for those familiar with the original.

The main saving grace among the new cast is Alina Gray, a green-haired member of the Wings of Magius who boasts an instantly eye-catching design, oozes danger, and might be slightly deranged. While I usually have to exert effort to pay attention to the show, every scene with Alina in it (which isn’t a lot overall) kept me glued to the screen. Although I listed several reasons as to why  Magia Record‘s first season ends with promise, Alina’s involvement is the main reason I’m entertaining the possibility of watching the second season.
Whether Magia Record‘s faults are purely because of the adaptation, or whether the mobile game deserves some blame too, I can’t say. Nevertheless, Magia Record‘s first season shows how having the Madoka Magica name doesn’t automatically result in a good dark magical girl anime.
Right now, simply watching clips of Madoka Magica on YouTube offers a far better dark magical girl experience.
FINAL SCORE: 60/100


[Report] Here’s What We Know About The New 80s-Influenced Need For Speed

We reported a while ago that EA will be releasing a new Need For Speed game later this year. And guess what? It’s going to be neon-filled with 80s filters according to a recent leak.
The Resetera folks managed to grab a few images from the yet-to-be-revealed trailer via EA’s teaser site and came up with the feature image you see on this post. The next game will be called Need For Speed Heat and it will be paying a nod to the glorious aesthetics of the 80s.
Let’s break down what we know so far.

The game will be open world, not unlike Burnout Paradise, and will be set in Miami.
The game’s narrative will be a bit darker and serious this time around, if you cared about such things as plot in an open world racing game.
Control-wise, the brake to drift mechanic will be coming back but will be tweaked to make it better this time around.
Mechanics-wise, speed cards and off-road segments will be removed.
Just like any online game similar to your Destiny 2s, you can level up. Doing so will unlock parts you can customize your car(s) with.
If we’re comparing it to past NFS games, it’s going to be a combination of the 2015 NFS and NFS Rivals.
The game’s classic cop chases will be back. These free-roaming action segments will have heat levels tailored with an 80s flair and helicopters too.
Other returning features include rain, damage bars, petrol stations, and pro street legal races.
Developers Ghost Games will be using NFS Heat as a base for future NFS titles.

Sounds exciting? Sure, but let’s pray that EA’s grubby microtransaction-ey hands aren’t going to smear this already-promising racing venture.


Total War Three Kingdoms Review-Bombed Following Final Update

Creative Assembly recently announced that Total War Three Kingdoms will no longer receive DLC or future updates after the latest Fates Divided DLC and recently-released 1.7.1 patch (check out the patch notes here). As a response, Total War fans have been review-bombing the game on Steam, resulting in the game going from Mostly Positive to Overwhelmingly Negative.
The angry responses from players aren’t just because the developer is stopping development on the game, but because Creative Assembly previously promised that a future map update that would “focus on building out the North of the map”, according to a blog post from July of 2020.
Check out the original developer announcement video below:


Here Are The Top 25 Game Companies That Earned More Than $100 Billion in 2018

In the previous year, the top 25 public game companies generated a combined revenue of US$107.3 billion, a 16% increase from 2017. This is the first time the industry has exceeded the 100-billion-dollar mark. Together, these companies accounted for almost 80% of the $134.9 billion global games market.
According to our friends at Newzoo, Tencent single-handedly contributed to almost 15% of the entire games market, generating US$19.7 billion in revenues,Â and was the worldâ€™s #1 public company by game revenues for the sixth year running. Tencent is followed by Sony, Microsoft, Apple, and Activision Blizzard, respectively.
Mobile Madness

If you noticed from the graph above, Apple and Google are now dipping their toes and preparing to dive into the proverbial gaming pool.
Google recently announced their new streaming-slash-gaming platform, Stadia. The Stadia allows consumers to stream entire games off of Google’s server. All the processing is done on the server, which means consumers don’t have to own powerful hardware, they only need adequate hardware (and a blazingly fast internet connection, I assume). Google also announced that there will be Stadia-exclusive games.
Tech giant Apple is also working on Apple Arcade. It will be released later in 2019. The subscription service gives users access to a library of 100 new games for a monthly subscription fee. Interestingly, the platform features no ads and no in-app purchases, key drivers for growth in the mobile games market in past years.
Console Platforms Leading The Charge

The top three consoles, Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, were the main contributors of strong console performance. Â Sony generated revenues of US$14.2 billion, a year-on-year growth of 41%, which marks the highest in the top 10. With titles such as Marvel’s Spider-Man, God of War, and Red Dead Redemption 2, it strongly boosted Sony’s presence and revenue through PlayStation Network.
Microsoft had a party as well, jumping one position from last year to #3, overtaking Apple. The company generated revenues of $9.8 billion in 2018, a 32% increase from 2017. This is thanks to the numerous services offered, such as XboxÂ subscription services, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox Live. Owing to this success, it is unsurprising that the company is starting to position Xbox as a service rather than a hardware platform.
Nintendo also gained a revenue of US$4.3 billion, an increase of 36% from 2017. This was driven by the popularity of the Nintendo Switch. The company was boosted thanks to an appealing lineup from Nintendoâ€™s strong IP roster.
An Ever-Shifting Landscape
As the gaming market is a dynamic market with continuously changing business models, and high consumer expectations, a number of traditionally large console publishers such as Activision Blizzard, EA, and Ubisoft have struggled to keep pace with the growth of the platform holders.
Activision Blizzard (#5) earned revenues of US$6.9 billion, a growth of 6% over last year. Its console revenues were up year on year but were partly offset by declining mobile revenues. To counterbalance this, Activision Blizzard is looking to bring its strong IP to mobile in the coming years, with titles such as Diablo Immortal.
Meanwhile, EA (#8) generated revenues of US$5.3 billion in 2018 with year-on-year growth of just 4%. Similarly, Ubisoft (#13) produced US$2.2 billion in revenues, growing 3% year on year. In the face of growing slower than some of the competition, Activision Blizzard, EA, and Ubisoft have all strived to diversify their release lineup over the past few years, especially their games-as-a-service offerings.
Capcom had a strong year too, standing at #25, with revenues of US$809 million, a 49% growth. This is mostly attributed to Monster Hunter: World which is popular in Japan and finally penetrated the Western market. The companyâ€™s success will likely continue into this year, thanks to the successful launches of Resident Evil 2 and Devil May Cry 5 in Q1 2019.
Conclusion
With mobile gaming taking the number one spot in the market, it’s pretty exciting to see console gaming still thriving. As a matter of fact, the entire gaming industry is booming, despite multiple layoffs here and there.
At the end of the day, the gaming industry is set to skyrocket if growth levels continue to maintain the current trend.


ASUS TUF DASH F15 2022 Gaming Laptop Announced For M’sian Market

Malaysian TUF fans can breathe a sigh of relief as ASUS Malaysia has finally announced the local pricing for the new 2022 ASUS TUF Dash F15 Gaming laptop.
Originally launched in 2021, the TUF Dash was ASUS’ attempt at producing a laptop that featured TUF Gaming’s core principle of providing gamers with fantastic performance without breaking the bank. The 2022 edition aimed to continue that tradition by offering high-end hardware and a chassis design that’s more refined than previous generations. The entire TUF Gaming family has been refreshed for 2022 with all-new designs and processors. The lineup also includes a new MUX switch, unlocking even more GPU performance for gamers.

The laptop comes with a slew of features:
Made to last
The 2022’s FX517 model has been updated and upgraded with the latest hardware while keeping the thickness of the chassis under 20mm.
With its eye-catching design and the FX517 has been tested for long-lasting durability as it has been exposed to drop and vibration tests, high temperature, and high humidity environments to ensure its resilience. The revamped design comes with an aluminium lid, slim bezels for maximum immersion and a compact 19.95mm body. The FX517 improved design features a 26% bigger trackpad in a smaller chassis. The slim bezels and 80% screen-to-body ratio ensure an immersive content consumption experience.
Updated Hardware
Featuring up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12650H processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX3060 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch, this machine is an exceptionally capable gaming machine in a thin and light chassis. Brand new DDR5 memory running at 4800MHz can easily breeze through even the most intense multitasking, and dual PCIe® 4.0 capable SSD slots ensure that gamers will have more than enough high-speed storage while on the go.
Fast-paced visuals
The Malaysia variant is paired with an FHD144Hzdisplay panel with response times as low as 3ms and Adaptive-Sync support for a smooth, fast-paced gaming experience. With Thunderbolt™4 support, adding an external dock or high-speed storage drive is simple.
On-the-go
All ASUS TUF Dash F15 variant is equipped with a 76Whr battery ensuring consistent long hours of continuous video playback. For peace of mind while on the move, the TUF Dash also supports USB Type-C Power Delivery up to 100W, keeping the machine topped up through a wide variety of compatible chargers and battery packs.
seen & heard
As requested by the ASUS laptop community, the new 2022 ASUS TUF Dash F15 Gaming laptop is now equipped with a 720P HD camera is a nice addition for impromptu video calls, or video conferencing while on the go. Improved audio experience thanks to Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Audio support. The 2D Mic Array and CPU-bound AI Noise Cancellation function ensure smooth, crystal-clear communication without sacrificing performance.
Work hard & Play Hard
Keep high levels of productivity thanks to the 2 Type-C USB ports (1x Thunderbolt 4 and 1x USB 3.2 Gen2), DDR5 support, up to 2x PCIe 4.0 slots and WiFi 6. With both RAM and SSD slots available for expansion you can upgrade your system specs in a snap.

Model Name
Main Specifications Comparison
SRP

FX517Z-MHN145W
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12650H
RTX™ 3060 6GB GDDR6
16GB DDR5-4800 512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
720P HD camera
RM6,299

FX517Z-MHN144W
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12450H
RTX™ 3060 6GB GDDR6
8GB DDR5-4800
512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
720P HD camera
RM5,499

FX517Z-EHN091W
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12650H
RTX™ 3050Ti 4GB GDDR6
8GB DDR5-4800
512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
720P HD camera
RM5,399

FX517Z-CHN113W
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-12650H
RTX™ 3050 4GB GDDR6
8GB DDR5-4800
512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
720P HD camera
RM5,199

FX517Z-EHN090W
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12450H
RTX™ 3050Ti 4GB GDDR6
8GB DDR5-4800
512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
720P HD camera
RM4,899

FX517Z-CHN152W (Moonlight White)
FX517Z-CHN112W (Off Black)
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12450H
RTX™ 3050 4GB GDDR6
8GB DDR5-4800
512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD
720P HD camera
RM4,699


New Call Of Duty Is Coming In 2020, Confirms Activision

In their latest earnings call, Activision Blizzard announced that a new Call Of Duty title will be released in 2020. However, for the first time in a while, they have decided to conceal the identity of the developer for now, but it’s possible to make a calculated guess as to whom it might be.
Activision COO Coddy Johnson said (via IGN):

“The franchise has never been better positioned for growth and thereâ€™s more to come, including entirely new experiences within the Modern Warfare universe and then of course, in Q4 this year, a new premium Call of Duty release which is already generating excitement in our playtests.”

There are three Call Of Duty studios who take turns developing the annual entries in the long-running FPS franchise, including Infinity Ward, Treyarch, and Sledgehammer Games. Last year’s Call Of Duty Modern Warfare was developed by Infinity Ward while 2018 saw Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 by Treyarch.
Sledgehammer Games’ last title was 2017’s Call Of Duty WW2, which means that it’s likely their turn next on the rotation. However, they also assisted Infinity Ward on last year’s Call Of Duty Modern Warfare, so they might get a pass this year.
If that’s true, then it will probably be Treyarch who will once again be taking the reins for 2020. They have developed all four Black Ops entries, so a new instalment in the same series would be expected unless they decide on doing something new.
In addition, Activision has also confirmed several â€œremasteredâ€ and â€œreimaginedâ€ titles to be announced later in 2020, as well as Diablo Immortal alpha testing in mid-2020 and new content for World of Warcraft Classic. Perhaps one of those titles could be the Crash Bandicoot reboot?
It’s going to be an eventful and ‘active’ year for Activision in 2020, that’s for sure.


Amazon’s Crucible Is Shutting Down

PublisherÂ Amazon Game StudiosÂ and developerÂ Relentless Studios only just launched their free-to-play team-based PvP online multiplayer shooter, Crucible, in May 2020. However, it’s already shutting down merely months after its release.
According to a final blog update, the development team wrote:
That evaluation led us to a difficult decision: weâ€™ll be discontinuing development on Crucible. We very much appreciate the way that our fans have rallied around our efforts, and weâ€™ve loved seeing your responses to the changes weâ€™ve made over the last few months, but ultimately we didnâ€™t see a healthy, sustainable future ahead of Crucible. Weâ€™ll be transitioning our team to focus on New World and other upcoming projects from Amazon Games.
They also confirmed that they will be offering full refunds for any Crucible purchase and that the game can actually still be played until 9 November 2020.
It’s not surprising that Amazon’s first major game has stumbled right out of the game, considering how crowded and fierce the competition is. This year alone, we’ve seen the launch of Riot Games’ Valorant and Ubisoft’s Hyper Scape, not to mention existing games like Blizzard’s Overwatch and Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends.


Macross & Robotech Will Finally Release Worldwide After Decades

The originalÂ Super Dimension Fortress Macross premiered in 1982 and has since spawned a long-running franchise with sequels and movies. The Macross franchise is also known as Robotech in the West, but most of the sequels and movies haven’t been released outside of Japan for decades.
That will now change, as rights holders Big West Co. LTD., Studio Nue, INC. (who were both involved in the original creation of Macross) and Harmony Gold U.S.A. (who createdÂ Robotech) have reached a new agreement, which will allow the immediate international distribution of â€œmost Macross television sequels and films”.
They will cooperate on the international distribution of future MacrossÂ andÂ Robotech projects post-2021.

The official statement reads:
â€œTokyo based BIGWEST Co. LTD. and Los Angeles based Harmony Gold U.S.A. announced an agreement regarding the worldwide rights for the legendary Macross and Robotech franchises. This expansive agreement signed by both companies on March 1, 2021, ends two decades of disagreements and will allow Big West and Harmony Gold to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential of both the Macross and Robotech franchises worldwide.
The landmark agreement immediately permits worldwide distribution of most of the Macross films and television sequels worldwide, and also confirms that Big West will not oppose the Japanese release of an anticipated upcoming live-action Robotech film.Â Â The agreement also recognizes Harmony Goldâ€™s longstanding exclusive license with Tatsunoko for the use of the 41 Macross characters and mecha in the Robotech television series and related merchandiseÂ throughout the world excluding Japan.
Moving forward, both parties will cooperate on distribution regarding future Macross and Robotech projects for the benefit of both franchises.â€
Big West representative director, Kaya Onishi said:
â€œStories that feature Valkyries, a transformable realistic mecha, in action among the galaxies while divaâ€™s sing in the background, as well as love triangles involving the pilots and singers.
That was and continues to be the concept behind the Macross series, and I am happy that I can now help bring Macross to people all over the world on the 40th anniversary of the series.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Harmony Gold Chairman, Frank Agrama for his courageous decision in this matter.â€
Harmony Gold USA chairman, Frank Agrama added:
“This is an incomparably historic moment for both Harmony Gold and Big West and the anime industry overall. This is also an exciting moment for fans of Robotech and Macross worldwide.
I thank my friend, Big West Representative Director, Kaya Onishi for her hard work to help us reach this long-desired resolution that protects both of our franchises while building a better tomorrow for both our companies.â€
However, it remains unclear where exactly these Macross and Robotech content will be available to watch.


Justin Bieber Will Be In Garena Free Fire

Garena Free Fire is coming up on their fifth anniversary, and in celebration they are collaborating with global icon and singer Justin Bieber.
No, this isn’t a joke. Justin Bieber is really coming to Garena Free Fire this August. To celebrate Free Fire‘s fifth anniversary, Garena will bring back players’ favourite themed contents, exclusive rewards and giveaways, and a series of collaborative events and activities, both in-game and beyond.
“I’m excited to partner with Garena Free Fire to have this opportunity to entertain my fans across the globe,
This collaboration with Free Fire has allowed us to explore various dimensions in which we can integrate my music with games and I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy what we have worked hard on behind the scenes.”
– Justin Bieber
If you aren’t familiar, Free Fire is a mobile survival battle royale with each game lasting around 10 minutes. The game places you on a remote island where you are pit against 49 other players, all seeking survival. Players freely choose their starting point with their parachute, and aim to stay in the safe zone for as long as possible.
For now, all we know is that the event will take place on 27 August 2022 and will entail a virtual performance from Justin Bieber where he is set to debut an exclusive track as part of the fifth-anniversary celebrations. Players can look forward to immersing themselves in an interactive set-up, groove along to custom emotes, participate in minigames and potentially even perform with Justin Bieber’s avatar on stage.
“The tremendous support we have received from our global community of fans and players over the years has made Free Fire what it is today and this celebration is for them,
We are excited and humbled to partner with a global icon such as Justin Bieber, whose influence in fashion and music has undoubtedly inspired many worldwide, including our Free Fire community which expresses their own creativity through battling in style. Free Fire’s fifth anniversary celebrations will be the biggest yet and I’m sure the lineup of events we have planned will thrill our fans and players.”
– Harold Teo, Producer of Free Fire, Garena

We’ve seen virtual performances take place before, most notably with Marshmello and Travis Scott in Fortnite. It’s safe to assume that this event is coming to fruition due to the overwhelming success of Fortnite’s events.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if more and more games will partake in this trend of having singers, rappers and DJs hold in-game performances in the not so distant future. An obvious choice for the next game to replicate this would be League Of Legends. Having such a close relationship with performers like the band Imagine Dragons, I can imagine Riot Games has at least thought about the possibility of doing a collaboration with them in a similar fashion.


iam8bit Resigns From E3 2020 Creative Director Role

Creative production company iam8bit has announced that they are resigning from their role as E3’s Creative Director.
“Weâ€™ve produced hundreds of gaming + community events and it was a dream to be involved with E3. We wish the organizers the best of luck,” they wrote on their Twitter page.

It’s with mixed emotions that @iam8bit has decided to resign as Creative Directors of what was to be an evolutionary #E32020 floor experience. We’ve produced hundreds of gaming + community events and it was a dream to be involved with E3. We wish the organizers the best of luck.
— iam8bit (@iam8bit) March 5, 2020

It wasn’t too long ago that their participation in the event was announced, with their role being to “reinvigorate the show and, frankly, to shake things up”. With their tweet making no mention of the Covid-19 coronavirus, it’s unclear what their reasons for departing are. The company remained silent on the matter when approached by GamesIndustry.biz, saying only that they had “every confidence with the parties involved with E3”.
Following the confirmed absence of Geoff Keighley for this year’s E3, things don’t seem to be looking too great for the event. We’ll see if E3 2020 proves us wrong when it kicks off on 9 June 2020.


Indonesian-Made RPG Anuchard Will Be Out This April

If you need an action RPG that hearkens back to the Quintet titles like Illusion of Gaia and Terranigma, you may want to check out this indie title named Anuchard.
Billed as a civilization restoration action RPG from Indonesian developer stellarNull and international publisher Freedom Games, the game features a unique art style, a ton of creative dungeons and puzzles, and the everlasting goal of restoring civilization back to your quaint village of Orchard.

You also don’t have to wait long; Anuchard will be out on 21st April for PC (Steam and Epic Games), Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PS4, and PS5. Check out the gameplay trailer below, which oozes 90s style action JRPGing right down to its music.

For more on Anuchard, check out our preview of the upcoming action RPG.


Ghostbusters Remastered Announced; Will Make You Forget About That Godawful Sony Reboot

Let’s be honest, the recent Ghostbusters remake movie was a total disaster, and there’s nothing to cleanse the palate from the bad after taste.
Until now.
Sony has just announced that the 2009 Ghostbusters: The Video Game developed by Terminal Reality will be remastered on the PlayStation 4 with high-resolution visuals. We assume there will be more bells and whistle as development progresses.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPwJ2Hmxa0I]
The game will feature cutscenes from the original source material remastered into 4K with enhanced textures and lighting.

But most importantly, the spirit of the 80s Ghostbusters is retained. The original cast consisting of Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson still remains voice and likeness-wise. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis were also involved in the writing of the original game, which has been preserved in the upcoming remaster.

For those who haven’t played the original, you’ll be playing as a new member of the team, but will work alongside the main characters of the movie franchise. You’ll be using tools seen in the movie like the PKE meter and the Proton Pack, wrangling ghosts around New York City’s iconic locations such as Time Square and Central Park.
So far the trailer only provides a vague release window of ‘coming 2019’. I’m guessing it will be released around the end of this year.


Here’s Your PS Plus Asia May 2019 Lineup

Asian gamers will have two new games to look forward to in theÂ PS Plus May 2019 lineup. From 9 May to 4 June 2019, PS Plus Asia subscribers will be able to redeem Metal Gear Survive and The Witness.
This marks a rare occasion where the PS Plus Asia lineup is actually announced earlier than the US.

Metal Gear Survive is the much-maligned franchise spinoff that released in 2018 to almost universally-negative reactions. It has since been regarded as one of the worst games in 2018, or even in the current gaming generation. No matter what you think of Metal Gear Survive, at least it’s going to be available for free soon so you can check out why the game is regarded so badly.

The Witness is a puzzle game from developer Thekla, Inc., featuring the exploration of an open-world island where the player progresses by solving puzzles based on interactions with grids presented on panels around the island or paths hidden within the environment.
Additionally, there will also be a new PS Plus exclusive Toro dynamic theme for the months of May and June 2019, as well as a unique Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2 theme.

Here’s a treat for all PS Plus members! Metal Gear Survive and The Witness will be FREE to download from 9th May to 4th June! pic.twitter.com/MW7N8kGmWA
â€” PlayStation Asia (@PlayStationAsia) April 26, 2019


Redfall Story Trailer Teases The Game’s Creepy Premise

Arkane Austine has revealed a brand new story trailer for Redfall.
What is happening in Redfall? Where did the vampires come from? Uncover the mysteries of Redfall as you explore the island. Delve into the dark history of the sinister company that created the monsters stalking the streets and face off against the terrifyingly powerful vampires that some survivors worship as gods.
There’s a lot more to the charming island of Redfall than meets the eye. The scientists at Aevum HQ have been working on something world-shattering. People are going missing; there are dead bodies and blood everywhere; the sun has been eclipsed; and vampires rule the town. Were the vampires just an experiment gone horribly wrong or something far more disturbing? Who are the vampire gods? The only thing to know for sure is that everything is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.
Redfall, will launch for Xbox Series X/S, PC and Xbox Game Pass on 2 May 2023. Redfall was originally announced back during E3 2021 in June 2021.
Check out the trailer below:


The Outer Worlds Is A Glorious & Dark Humored Space Adventure You Shouldn’t Miss

Platforms: Xbox One, PC, PS4
Genre: Space Action RPG Imagined By A 50s Pulp Writer Influenced By Futurama
The Outer Worlds is about choice. It also comes attached with consequences and repercussions from your decisions, because in the game’s not-so-black-and-white 50s-inspired turn-of-the-century sci-fi setting, you’re not going to make everyone happy.
Unless somehow you have the right stats and modifiers for the situation. See, without that Persuasion buff IÂ  got from my armour and from my current companion, I wouldn’t be successfully arranging a parlay between two rival factions with bad blood within them.
At the same time, I had to get my hands dirty just getting to this point; I murdered one of the faction’s leaders after the person stated that ideals are worth dying for. So I obliged.
Coupled with a bug or two that may crash your game, and you’ve now witnessed an Obsidian RPG tailor-made for 2019.Â  And it’s a long time coming, considering that their last first-personÂ  3D RPG with open-ended choices and endings was 2010’s Fallout: New Vegas.
The fact that this whole project is led by OG Obsidian Entertainment folks & Troika/Black Isle/Interplay alumni Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky gives this the Western RPG pedigree. But does it really earn it?
Undoubtedly.
To Infinity And Beyond

The premise is as such: you are a colonist freed from cryogenic sleep by one Phineas Welles in a last-ditch attempt to free everyone in the ship you’re in: the Hope. See, a few hundred years ago, the ship contained cryogenically-frozen scientists and bright minds who have yet to be released due to a corporate-level eff-up.
Years have passed and you’re now in a semi-dystopian galaxy called the Halcyon where corporations governed countries. Colonists in different planets are treated as assets, and food is being rationed, while the promoted higher-ups and governing bodies are living the high life in other pristine sectors.
What you do after you’re free is entirely up to you.Â  You could help the total stranger in liberating the colonists. Or you could turn him in as soon as you’re given the option. Or you could just help out the town of Edgewater out of its woes and let it be taken over by a glorified anarchist hippie. Or explore the galaxy ofÂ  Halcyon and do what missions you see fit that ties into the main plot of salvaging the corporate mess you’re thrust upon.

And that’s the beauty of The Outer Worlds: you get to create the character you want and adhere to the playstyle you’re comfortable with. However, you need to commit to it from start to finish.

If you want to be the smooth-talking diplomat who’s crap with guns and fisticuffs, you have to play this all the way because you’re only given a good chunk of skill points to buff up the skills you’re focused at. You’re not punished for trying out new ways to solve problems and obstacles, but you will fall behind if you choose to change up your playstyle drastically in the mid-game.

Conversely, you also have to commit to being a brawler if you put more emphasis on defense and close-quarter combat while forsaking engineering and science. If you’re familiar with a Fallout game from Obsidian, you know the drill: no backsies. This does encourage multiple playthroughs once you’re done with your first run through Halcyon.
Challenge-wise, the game will throw a lot at you, from tough enemies and mobs for the combat-savvy to high skill checks for non-combat situations. Faced with marauders when on the open road? Better recruit a companion or two so that you have a fighting chance. Want to lie and sneak your way through a factory to steal special documents? You need to bust out that Holographic Disguise and not waste time lest your device’s energy runs out, and make sure your speech checks are high enough to warrant a recharge.
This twist in sneaking mechanics is pretty welcome and is a breath of fresh air; though there are times when you need to bust out the big guns in case your lies and intimidation doesn’t pull through.
Speaking of fighting your way out of aÂ  bad situation, the game’s Tactical Time Dilation system (TTD) is the replacement to the Fallout New Vegas V.A.T.S.Â  system but for the more action-savvy audience in this day and age. Frankly, it totally helps!

Never have I felt such invigorating power just going up to a group of Raptidons, firing parts of my magazine at their general direction, and then activating TTD to shoot them in the eyes (to blind them) and legs (to cripple them). Followed up with a coup de grace from my companion’s special attacks I can activate with either the left or right d-pad input.

Sure, the initial moments of combat feel stiff when you have jack all to work with. But once you get your appropriate skills, companions, and weaponry that you will mod the heck out of, you’ll be clocking in killing time and making use of TTD in style during the later bits of the game.
Protip: just get your ranged or melee skills past 40 and you’ll do fine for the most parts. Spread the rest of your points for hacking and speech skills; but hey, you do you.
At World’s End

While not as huge as The Witcher 3, The Outer WorldsÂ makes up for it by being focused and wrapping up its story in a good 20-hours or so (my personal time) thread filled with intrigue.
The sidequests that waylaid my playtime are also distracting in a good way. I actually want to find out what happened to the missing foreman worker from a colony in Monarch. I want to go out of my way to put on a fashion show for some high-class tailor in Byzantine.Â And I want to find out more about Nyoka’s former ties with a group calledÂ  CHARON; she’s my tracker-slash-companion who drinks like a fish and breaks out her minigun like a champ. More on her and my crew later.

The point is, every bit of dialogue and written log is entertaining and fleshesÂ  out this bleak-yet-colourful corporate-run “hellhole”. This is fully backed up with the game’s stellar aesthetics.

In comparison to New Vegas, I’d say that The Outer Worlds’ map is on par location-wise but more direct. Instead of a sprawling map filled with random nonsense like the Mojave Desert, you visit different parts of 6 or more major planets, with their own quirks and “hooks”.
Go to Scylla and you’ll see a dark blue sky and a bunch of terraformers all across the landscape, with Primal aliens sleeping within the hills. Monarch is an “alienified” Amazon and badlands mixed into one hotbed of danger. Edgewater and Byzantine are as close as you can get when it comes to normal-looking Earth settings;Â  one’s a small town while the other is a bustling metropolis.
Even with its plethora of saturated colours, the Halcyon is anything but paradise.Â  The aforementioned Edgewater is run in a corporate-like manner, with people deserting its 24/7 factory worker lifestyle for a bohemian life. The planet Monarch is a rabid sci-fi wasteland; full of fauna trying to kill you and a couple of outposts that have seen better days.
Did I also mention that they’re in the midst of killing each other?
There’s a lot of detail and care put in each town and area, to the point where half the time, you can get immersed with the area’s politics and philosophy of life under corporation rule. From your corporate-shilling townsfolk and bartenders to even the mannerisms of NPCs giving you missions and even backstabbing you at times, everything here is a melting pot of charm and bleak nihilism.

As far as memorable gaming landscapes go, the Halcyon system is up there with your Britannias, Midgars, Skyrims, and Northern Kingdoms. You’ll be immersed and engrossed in no time flat.

My God, It’s Full Of Stars

Being a brand new IP, The Outer Worlds is great at accommodating new RPGÂ  players into its world, yet at the same time caters to the old-school Fallout and Baldur’s Gate fans. You eventually get your own ship with a crew to explore Halcyon and its many messed-up planets, either helping people out or just burning things to the ground. Your companions will either follow you to the letter or ditch you, depending on what you do and whether you pay attention to them to help out with their personal quest.
So far, I’ve played the safe route and spent more time with my companions and their little missions. Apart from the aforementioned Nyoka, I also helped out mechanic Parvati in hooking up with a Groundbreaker engineer captain in a relationship of sorts. It’s a long chain of quests but it’s cute to see Parvati all nervous-like underneath her can-do attitude and seeing the results, success or failure, reflect upon the game’s closing bits
Besides, I could use the XP boost and skill points. The emotional tangents you have with your crewmates also help too. And it’s also cool to have them chime in their two cents in the current gravitas of the plethora of situations I’m in. Ellie the doctor does bring in her brand of “every person for him/herself” doctrine to whatever’s happening while your cleaning robot SAM just spouts sanitation-slash-casual-murder euphemisms. I adore that bit of self-preservation; it keeps my conscience and rationality in mind.
Even with its new approach to a non-linear RPG experience, hardcore fans aren’t left out in the airlock. Inventory and companion management is streamlined and made better. No longer do I have to individually manage everyone’s backpack and storage; it’s all lumped up in one screen. All companion bonuses are made clear and added to your base stats, so it pays to buff up your lying by bringing Nyoka along should the need arises.

The companion screen lets you manage their gear, their behaviour, and their perks. All commands are relegated to either attack, defend, or be passive, and you can determine their combat range behaviour.

They even come equipped with special moves that deal a ton of damage and debuffs to enemies, with the only drawback being their cooldown timers which can be mitigated if you have the right perks. Speaking of which, the flaws system also pops up now and then to spice up your gameplay a tad; once in a while you get a pop-up choice of getting debuffs (called phobias) when fighting certain enemies for an extra perk point. Since the game dishes these out only when you level up a certain number of times, it’s a good trade-off if you can find some clever way around your new phobia.
Of course, if you feel that the regular difficulties aren’t cutting it for you, masochists can play Supernova mode. You have to sleep, eat, and rest, while other modifiers come into play like non-revivable party members, limited save options, and limited fast travelling. Perfect for old-school players looking for a challenge or streaming fodder. So basically, there’s something for everyone who loves RPGs with a pretty in-depth plot.
Spacer’s Choice

The Outer Worlds is a triumph, if we’re talking about stellar RPGÂ  experiences in 2019.

Even with Obsidian’s penchant for bugs in their system – your experience may vary depending on the platform- they do little in stifling the creativity and insightful narrative they’ve crafted and spun.

It’s no surprise that this sci-fi tale of corporation culture gone horribly wrong and overblown to planet-sized proportions (figuratively AND literally) would end up being relevant in this day and age thanks to the team’s witticisms in their script-writing and world-building.
But to be told in an engrossing manner with so many charming players and a fun RPGÂ  setting, while also showing other Western RPG companies how it’s really done? That’s just as rare as a supernova going off.
Thank goodness Obsidian took to the challenge and delivered us a masterpiece that rivals their past works.
Pros

Charming cast of characters, companions, & NPCs.
Fun yet bleak game world, ripe for exploration.
Oodles of sidequests.
Engrossing 20+ hour main story with moral twists and turns.

Cons

Annoying game bugs, especially at the late game.

FINAL SCORE: 90/100


[Rumour] Armored Core 6 Confirmed To Be In The Works

From Software is not only busy finishing up Elden Ring, it seems.
The video game developer might be going back to the customizable mecha 3D action gaming well via its Armored Core series according to a recent consumer survey. Posted by ResetEra user Red Liquorice, the survey featured first details and screenshots for a new Armored Core game. The survey included a description, screenshots, and two short gameplay videos: one of a boss fight and one of a snowy area.
Here’s the official description of what seems to be Armored Core 6:
Melange, an unknown substance that could dramatically advance human society. In the past, this substance caused a cosmic catastrophe on planet Bashtar that engulfed the surrounding star systems, and eventually its very existence was lost. Decades later, the Melange reaction was confirmed again on planet Bashtar. In search of the unknown substance that should have been lost, various speculations begin to swirl. Various parties are getting involved; The government, corporations, cultists, and unknown mercenariesâ€¦ The protagonist is one of them.
The game is a TPS (third-person shooter) mecha action title that lets you move around an overwhelmingly scaled map that represents a unique sci-fi world with dynamic mech action. You will face strong enemies and fierce battles both long and short range using guns and blades.
Here are the game’s features:

The Sci-Fi World Created byÂ Hidetaka MiyazakiÂ â€“Â FromSoftwareâ€˜s unique and deep sci-fi worldview and multi-layered story. Set on the planet Bashtar, a sci-fi world devastated by a planet-wide disaster, with an overwhelming sense of scale that only mecha can provide.
A Vast Field that Represents a Multi-Layered WorldÂ â€“ In a massive and three-dimensional map, you can feel the scale of the mecha universe. A wide variety of maps offer an array of challenging enemies and carefully crafted situations that are worth taking on again and again.
Feel the Tension, in Long and Short Range BattlesÂ â€“ This game offers not only long-range combat with guns, but also short-range combat elements such as blade and shield, that add a sense of urgency to gameplay. Decide between defensive tactics during tense and challenging battles against powerful enemies.
Three-Dimensional, DynamicÂ ActionÂ â€“ The gameâ€™s dynamic, three-dimensional movement is something no human can imitate. You can move freely around the vast map with the unique mobility of a mech.
High Degree of Freedom in Customization â€“ Reconfigure body parts and weapons in order to upgrade your mech. With a high level of customization, you can build a mech to suit your play style; from a build that focuses on close-range combat and mobility, or a build that emphasizes firepower to wipe out swarms of enemies at once.

Red Liquorice shared details about the game, stating that the boss fights seem Soulslike in terms of speed and style. As of now, there are no details about Armored Core 6; there’s no release date or platforms confirmed.


The Only Thing Cold In This Year’s Call of Duty is In Its Name

Platforms: PS4, Xbox Series X, PS5, PC, Xbox One
Genre: Next installment in Call of Duty’s military first-person shooter
Coming off a brilliant year thanks to 2019’s version of Modern Warfare, I don’t blame the folks at Activision if they faced sleepless nights leading up to the release of their Call of Duty game for 2020, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Since the last game produced by Treyarch and Raven software, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 released to mixed reviews from most critics due to its goofier-than usual presentation and total absence of the campaign portion. Despite Black Ops 4 being THE game that officially introduced Call of Duty to the world of battle royale goodness, it missed the mark in so many areas making it one of the most forgettable CoD games in recent memory.
This means the next Call of Duty Black Ops shooter, subtitled Cold War, has big shoes to fill. Did Treyarch and Raven Software fix their past errors and learn from their mistakes? Read on, soldier.
When Two Tribes Go To War…

Our first dance with Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War was via the Alpha test not long ago, followed by two subsequent bouts of Beta tests – all with mixed results. My early thoughts of it were lukewarm at best. Since I was so used to Modern Warfare’s super-polished and modern-day presentation, being dropped smack into the swinging 80s aesthetics isn’t my typical definition of fun.
However, just like how that decade has a unique way of embedding into someone’s psyche, so did Cold War. I grew to like it, gradually through my many rounds of the beta. Despite the many complaints mostly aimed at overall presentation, sound profile and an apparent downgrade in graphics fidelity, it was still a breath of fresh air.
To everyone’s delight; be it Reddit posters, CoD YouTubers, streamers, pros, and casuals alike; developers Treyarch listened to the community. Gripes and issues pointed out during the beta were addressed, and Treyarch has presented a solid start which any CoD player – current and returning would be happy with. I did not encounter any connectivity issues over the course of playing. Save for the sporadic moments where I was lumped into a game midway, matchmaking has been a breeze.

I am happy to report that there is a healthy amount of players within the Southeast Asia region populating the servers regardless of whichever mode you play in.

Hammer To Fall
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the mantra Treyarch has undertaken when implementing the most popular feature from Modern Warfare – the Gunsmith. Now displaying much clearer weapon values and statistics, building your perfect weapon still require finesse. However, it is aided with better indicators to reflect how specific attachments affect the overall build.
As opposed to Modern Warfare where almost everyone ran with several meta builds – maximum bullet velocity and effective range while suppressed – that choice & style of copy-pasta play is much harder in Cold War. The trade-offs are more than merely adding a few frames to your aim down sight speed are now met with essentially this conundrum. You can’t have it all.
In Modern Warfare, the “Monolithic Suppressor” not only keep you off the minimap when firing your gun, but it also adds damage range to your weapon. In Cold War however, suppressors carry the opposite effect. While they still keep you hidden in the minimap when your fire your gun, it penalizes your bullet velocity and effective range – thus forcing you to consider whether this tradeoff is worth the risk.
Expect to see less issues with overpowered assault rifles beaming people from afar whilst remaining stealth in the battlefield in Cold War. Treyarch seemed to have studied the habits and tendencies of Modern Warfare’s player base to create a more balanced gunplay, even at launch. And that’s a pretty rare feat in this day and age of mandatory Day One patches & multiplayer balances out of the gate.

Red Skies
The reintroduction of Wildcards adds more variance into the mix. Players who favour up close and personal approaches with SMGs and shotguns can go full stealth mode by equipping Ghost, Cold Blooded & Ninja perks, while those who prefer to sit back and pick their enemies from long range can opt to utilize perks that maximize intelligence gathering.
Treyarch seems to have found that sweet spot when it comes to the pace of levelling up your account or weapons level too. This year’s emphasis on Scorestreaks instead of Killstreaks rewards players who play to the objectives rather than chasing for kills and as long as you maintain a good balance between the two, you’ll be calling in your Assault Helicopters and Napalm Strikes in no time.

Despite gripes from certain sectors who claim this Scorestreaks-centric approach reward less skilled players, I disagree with this sentiment. Scorestreaks incentivizes and reward overall good team players. Everyone gets a chance to use their Scorestreak at some point in the game, and by using kills as a multiplier currency, encourages newbies to be more brazen and in that process improve.

Consistent with what we experienced from the Alpha and Beta tests, the time to kill in core multiplayer modes are generally noticeably longer than on Modern Warfare. Gone are the days where the victors of firefights are usually the one who spots their enemies first. You now have a substantial window to react either by returning fire, ducking for cover or simply abandoning that fight altogether.
Of course, headshots will take you out almost instantly but considering how clunky most of these 80s weapons feel, going for body shots may be the best approach for many. I don’t know what Treyarch has done on their end, but character models now stand out slightly better in the final release compared how muted and easily they blend in with the environment during Alpha and Beta test periods.
Christmas At Ground Zero
[videopress nfs8eKMA hd=”true”]
One of the biggest complaints since Cold War’s launch is the limited maps available. I would not be worried about this, as I am positive that like in Modern Warfare, more maps will be added into the rotation as the seasons progresses. Plus, the limited number of maps at launch is a good approach to ensure faster matchmaking and filled lobbies.
I welcome the return of the map voting system, and you can call me whatever you want. I’ll always vote for Satellite (my personal favourite) followed closely by Moscow and a map fresh at launch, Checkmate.
Speaking of matchmaking, the ugly head of SBMM (skill-based matchmaking) again takes centrestage. The developers can deny it, but we know it is there. Completing a round with an impressive 24-8 k/d (by my standards) will instantly reward me with a new lobby filled with, what I suspect, Mountain Dew or G-Fuel chugging teenagers looking to make the next starting spot in Faze Clan.
Sometimes I feel punished for being slightly above average in this game, though your mileage may vary. The only solution for this is to create a specific ranked mode where the sweats can go to duke it out. Let us casuals linger about in Quickplay – getting stomped by pros once in a while is not that bad if I too, have an oft-chance of stomping on players worse than I am.
For those who enjoy grinding for achievements and camos, you’ll be pleased (or not) to know that Prestige mode is back. This time, tasks required to achieve the rarest weapons camo level, the Dark Matter, is less punishing compared to what’s required to obtain Obsidian in Modern Warfare. And since the game rewards players who play to the objective more than those who simply hunt for kills, hitting max rank should be easier for us casuals.
A View To A Kill

While I’ve always been an avid student of wartime history – from both World Wars to the more modern ones like the 2003 invasion of Iraq- I can’t say I was much of a fan of the Cold War period. Because it was an era where posturing, espionage, and counter-espionage were used instead of bullets or rockets, it was indeed a hard sell for me. Then again, that period is a goldmine for historians and conspiracy theorists as the line between truth and propaganda are blurred, and fearmongering reaching stratospheric heights. To the benefit of Treyarch and Raven software, this setting accords them the room to design a game where a player’s decision plays a very significant role in how the story, or what sort of information, unfolds.
Do you choose to free the captured colleague of your informant, or do you stick to your mission brief? How do you interact with your captors – cooperate, or berate them? All this have repercussions that ultimately affect how you end the game as newly-discovered intel may open up or assist you in your future missions.
The pace of the gameplay varies, with a good mixture of your standard CoD levels; run-and-gun segments, medium-scale battles within open and confined spaces and my least favourite of all, stealth-oriented set-pieces. It may not be as cinematic as Modern Warfare,
but trust me when I say this – the Cold War campaign is easily one of the best ones in CoD history, giving last year’s spectacle a good run for its money.

Less John Wick but more of a The Man From U.N.C.L.E, Cold War manages to capture the heights of paranoia from the spy vs spy period, leading you to second-guess your fellow agents, informants and even whether you are fighting for the ‘right’ side.

The shooting mechanics are as solid as one could expect from a Call of Duty game. Some may complain how most of the weapons sound dated, they are mostly accurate to the period, with more modern weapons can be assumed to be the prototype versions of their present-day grandchildren. The soundstage – regardless of which mode you are playing – is good although I would recommend playing with a decent pair of headsets. And despite the complaints about the graphics, I thought they were on par with what was presented in 2019’s Modern Warfare which was already stellar to begin with.
Oh, did I mention you get to “create” your very own spy, complete with specific perks, a redacted past and a unique psychological profile? While it does not change the fact that you’ll be always be referred to as ‘Bell’ by your supporting cast, this is indeed a nice touch by the developers in providing unique experience for everyone who gives the oft-overlooked campaign mode a pass.
The end may come as a surprise to many due to the potentially controversial nature of the campaign but it does contribute to the larger picture and lore of Call of Duty, since Cold War is set in the same timeline as last year’s Modern Warfare game.Â  In all, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War picks up where Modern Warfare left off, digging deeper into the lore while simultaneously expanding the Call of Duty experience.
The integration between Cold War and Modern Warfare also goes beyond the storyline, as gun blueprints and operator skins acquired in the multiplayer can be brought into the Call of Duty battle royale portion, Warzone, once Season 1 starts. The amalgamation of 80s arsenal with modern-day firepower in Warzone will indeed be interesting, especially with the Gunfighter wildcard which allows players to equip up to eight attachments onto their weapons.
We Didn’t Start The Fire
Whether it was intentional or not, I applaud Activision’s move of positioning the free-to-play Warzone as their core product, with Modern Warfare and Cold War serving like paid DLC content. Think of the latter two as avenues where paying customers can go to quickly level up their accounts and unlock weapons, with several hours worth of tutorials labelled as “Campaign Mode” tacked on for good measure. The addition is worthwhile for the money you’re paying, so I won’t be knocking them down too much.
Is Cold War a step up from Modern Warfare? It is hard to say considering we are very much at the peak of first-person shooter games, and that Call of Duty games always tread the line between realism and arcade-style shooting gallery. All things considered, is a great game by its own right, confidently taking the baton from Modern Warfare and confidently making the race its own.
Pros

Great gunplay set in an unfamiliar era.
All-round improvements from the previous Call of Duty game.
New and improved Gunsmith mode.
Solid soundstage.
Engaging campaign section.

Cons

Campaign section a wee bit too short.
Skill-based matchmaking is still very much present.

Final Score: 80/100
We received our Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War review copy courtesy of the folks at Activision. The game was reviewed and played on PlayStation 4 Pro.Â


New 16 Player Co-Op PvE Starship Troopers: Extermination Enters Early Access

With the announcement of Overwatch 2’s PvE Hero mode being scrapped, you may be looking for another co-op PvE fix. Then you’ll be happy to hear that Starship Troopers: Extermination has just entered into early access!
Starship Troopers: Extermination is a co-op FPS with 16-player PvE combat that drops you, a Deep Space Vanguard, into battle on the far front lines against the Bug Menace! Choose from three different Trooper classes, build and defend your base, gather resources, complete objectives, and try to kill every Bug in sight!

What’s Starship Troopers: Extermination about?

Starship Troopers: Extermination is an adrenaline-pumping, team-based, first-person shooter that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Join the Deep Space Vanguard, a top-tier Special Forces unit within the Mobile Infantry, and fight against the menacing Bug threat to secure victory for humanity!
The Arachnids have wreaked havoc on the deep-space mining colony, PE-59, located on Planet Valaka. It’s up to the Vanguard to reclaim the colony, and as soon as your dropship touches down, your reliable Morita Assault Rifle, essential building tools, and fellow Vanguard Troopers will be your lifeline as you navigate the treacherous surface of Valaka.
Reclaiming and reconstructing bases, setting up refineries, and accomplishing various side objectives are crucial to wrest control of the map from the Bug menace. The expansive and intricately designed map, featuring distinct zones, ensures endless replayability. Engaging in swarm-based combat with hordes of enemy Bugs intensifies the feeling of participating in a monumental struggle for the planet!

Select from the Hunter, Operator, and Bastion classes that best suit your preferred playstyle and provide valuable support to your squad. Stay connected with your teammates using the intuitive “Ping” system to highlight points of interest, enemy sightings, and more. As you progress, you’ll unlock new weapons, equipment, and perks for each class, evolving into an elite warrior of the esteemed Deep Space Vanguard! Expect further customization options as the game continues to evolve.
As the missions progress, the Bug threat intensifies, introducing larger and more dangerous enemies. To survive, you’ll need to fortify your position and prepare for a relentless assault. Utilize resources gathered from refineries on the planet’s surface to construct walls, towers, and ammo stations, effectively pushing back the Bug onslaught until Fleet arrives to extract you. Early Access will introduce enemy Bugs such as Drones, Warriors, Gunners, Plasma Grenadiers, and Tiger Elites, with even more formidable foes to be added!
Starship Troopers: Extermination is a game built hand in hand with the community. With a reduced entry price during the Early Access phase, we encourage Troopers like you to join the ranks of the Vanguard. We value our community’s input and are committed to working closely with them as we transition the game from Early Access to a full launch. Together, we’ll create an unforgettable gaming experience!


Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice Is The Biggest Steam Launch This Year

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is another masterpiece brought by our favourite death-simulator developers, From Software. With ninjas and crazy prosthetics, it’s bound to be popular despite immensely difficult compared to its predecessors.
And guess what? It has.Â Spiel Times has reported that the game has one of the biggest launches on the platform, clocking in 125,000 concurrent players on its release date. That makes it the highest launch players of any game on Steam in 2019.

The game sold over 100,000 copies on PC in the first 24 hours of release and hit a peak of 125,315 concurrent players. For comparison, Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5, an insanely fun action game and Steam’s second biggest launch this year, had only 88,894 concurrent players.
It’s also worthy to note that Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is the third most popular Japanese game on Steam. The first being Monster Hunter World with around 227,644 concurrent players at its peak after launch, and the next game on the list is another From Software game, Dark Souls III.
It’s quite surprising to see a single player game trumping many big names, especially those with multiplayer, such PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Dota 2,Â and CS:GO. This shows that the gaming industry is going strong and I hope it can maintain this momentum.
On a related note, check out From Software’s past action games on our special feature.


The Last Worker Set To Release Mid-October

In a joint announcement between publisher Wired Productions and developers Wolf & Wood and Oiffy, they revealed that The Last Worker is slated to release on 19 October on Steam, Epic Games Store and GOG.
The first-person narrative adventure game is also planned for release on PS5, Xbox Series X | S, Switch and Oculus Quest.
KEY FEATURES

A collaboration between writer/director Jorg Tittel (The White King, Ricky Rouse Has a Gun) and virtual reality pioneers Wolf & Wood (A Chair in a Room: Greenwater, The Exorcist: Legion, Hotel R’n’R).
Hand-painted 3D art based on concepts by comics legend Mick McMahon (Judge Dredd, 2000 AD).
Hours of narrative, immersive gameplay in an environment the size of the sunken city of Manhattan.
A unique blend of core gameplay mechanics seamlessly interwoven into a narrative game unlike any other.
Rich characters performed by an all-star cast in a story filled with heartfelt drama, biting satire and intense action.


Nintendo Officially Confirms Absence At E3 2023

Nintendo has officially confirmed that they will not be attending E3 2023.
Speaking with IGN, a Nintendo spokesperson said:
“We approach our involvement in any event on a case-by-case basis and are always considering various ways to engage with our fans. Since this year’s E3 show didn’t fit into our plans, we have made the decision to not participate. However, we have been and continue to be a strong supporter of the ESA and E3.”
This partly confirms our previous report that major game companies PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo would be skipping E3. Nintendo has already confirmed their absence, so now we’re waiting for official statements from PlayStation and Xbox.
E3 2023 is slated to take place from 13 June to 16 June 2023 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. With Nintendo out of the picture, E3 will need to do something drastic to make sure they are still relevant this summer.


The Wolf Among Us 2 First Trailer Will Debut In A Live Stream This Week

In a recent tweet by Geoff Keighley, he announced that heâ€™ll be hosting a behind the scenes live stream for The Wolf Among Us 2: A Telltale Series on 10 February 2022.
From his Twitter, Geoff Keighley, of Video Game Awards hosting fame, announced that he will be hosting a live stream for the game The Wolf Among Us 2: A Telltale Series, giving players a behind-the-scenes look into the gameâ€™s development and what to expect from the sequel.

Wednesday, it's finally time: Greetings from Fabletown!
You’re invited to join me for a behind-the-scenes look at The Wolf Among Us 2 #TWAU2
Streaming live Wednesday 2/9, 10am PT on Twitch and YouTube#TheWolfIsBack pic.twitter.com/GoBIUWutMn
— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) February 7, 2022

The live stream is set for 2am GMT+8 on 10 February 2022Â and will be available to watch on YouTube and Twitch. Geoff later teased in a follow-up tweet that a new trailer will also be revealed.
This brings great news to fans of Telltale Games after the studio tragically shut down in 2018 and cancelled all their games in development including this one, but weâ€™ll get to see Bigbyâ€™s fuzzy mug pretty soon. Itâ€™s definitely a comeback story worth keeping an eye on.
Excited to return to Fabletown? Do set a reminder for the live stream!