Italian Zerg phenom, Riccardo Romiti, better known in the community as Reynor, has won the StarCraft 2 Masters Championship at IEM Katowice. This marks the end of the 2020 StarCraft 2 tournament circuit run by ESL and is now effectively the grand finals of StarCraft 2 since Blizzard passed the reigns over to ESL.

Reynor went through a gauntlet of the world’s best players to secure his win, defeating Korean StarCraft II legends: Stats (P), Dark (Z), Maru (T), and finally Zest (P) in the grand finals. Reynor had to get a win in all three matchups in the playoffs before eventually facing off and beating Zest 4-2.

Reynor’s win is the second time a player from outside of Korea has become StarCraft 2 grand champion; the first time was when Serral won back in 2018.

This development shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone that has been following the StarCraft 2 esports scene closely over the last few years. He was the runner-up in the 2019 world champion losing that year to Dark.

Watari does not know what will happen to the Virtual-On series in the future.

The post Virtual-On series creator Juro Watari Resigned from Sega appeared first on Siliconera.

Grab your swords, daggers and amazing sense of fashion. We have a fight to win.

The post Bravery Network Online Switches Up The Turn-Based Genre appeared first on Siliconera.

The past six months (or more) have been a whirlwind of shit news, terrible events, and moments of pure absurdity and horror. It’s been bad, is what I’m saying. Because of this, I often get lost doomscrolling on Twitter or reading another horrible news story about something dreadful. Meanwhile, my patient Roku TV…

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Treyarch has released a new update for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and almost all of it addresses issues players have encountered since Outbreak launched with Season 2. The ambitious new mode is a large-scale spin on Zombies, complete with its own story, so it's hardly surprising that some rough edges needed to be fixed.

Outbreak received a general stability improvement as part of the update, particularly regarding objectives and both the Krasny Soldat and the Dragon Relic. You also shouldn't see Mimics teleport away after they're spawned from loot chests, nor should the HVT Megaton split when it's hit by a vehicle.

A few other fixes were also included in the update, such as UI and tooltips not showing up correctly, and a player's Operator model disappearing. It's not the largest update we've seen in Call of Duty, but we got one of those just a few days ago. In fact, the file sizes for both Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone have gotten so large that players with 500GB PS4 systems may struggle to keep the games installed. This is especially true if they're interested in playing anything else, as some of that 500GB is needed for the console's operating system and can't be used to store games.

Microsoft is reportedly testing 1080p for Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming.

According to Windows Central, anonymous but "trusted" sources sent screenshots of Hellblade running via xCloud, alleging that the streaming resolution was 1920x1080.

Up until now, the hardware had previously only been able to run in 720p, but it seems Microsoft is now planning to refresh the streaming servers from "Xbox One architecture" to that of the Xbox Series X. If successful, it will bring xCloud in line with other streaming services such as GeForce Now and Google Stadia, which already offer 1080p (thanks, VG24/7).

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Stardew Valley is a timeless game. It's something I'll be playing for decades to come, so I'm glad it's on as many platforms as possible: way easier to preserve it!

Pictured above is one of my first farms, which I started years ago and still come back to every so often. This past week, Stardew celebrated its fifth anniversary. That's...forever ago in gaming collective consciousness!

While so many projects these days are forgotten a week after release, Stardew has endured. In part, mind, due to the tireless efforts of the creator, Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone. They've been instrumental in the game's success, not only crafting free updates to keep the game interesting, but also interacting with fans, adding an allure of endearment to everything Stardew related (including a heartfelt thanks over the anniversary celebrations).

At this point it's far exceeded the reach of the PC original, with countless fan mods, pieces of merch, and most recently, a board game. The gaming sphere is better with Stardew Valley, and Barone, in it.

ConcernedApe [Twitter]

Did you hear the big news? Sit down, folks. I’m happy to tell you that the United States Postal Service is getting...NEW TRUCKS! They look kind of dorky, but cute. Let’s have some fun with them.

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Rocket Panda Games released a new gameplay video of the upcoming 2D fighting game Phantom Breaker: Omnia.

The video showcases a match between Mikoto and M, providing a good look at what the game looks and plays like.

You can watch it below.

If you want to learn more about Phantom Breaker: Omnia, you can read an official description below and check out the original announcement.

The western release will come in 2021 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC

A lot of people have probably forgotten by now, but in December of 2018, it was announced by studio Forever Entertainment that both Panzer Dragoon and the sequel, Zwei, would be getting full remakes. That latter bit was lost in the shuffle, as we haven't seen nor heard anything from the project since then.

Thankfully, the outfit changed that this past week through a Twitter announcement. As plain as day, Panzer Dragoon Zwei remake is slated for release "this year," in 2021. It's still vague, but at least we know that work is heavily underway and it is coming.

Although the original Panzer Dragoon remake started out rough, the team laboriously patched it until it was in a better state. With the hindsight they have now, it stands to reason that Zwei will be in better shape.

It would behoove them to put their best foot forward on this, too, to avoid a hit to their reputation.

Panzer Dragoon [Twitter]

Third-party developers are continuing to work hard to bring new scenery to the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Today we get to take another look at Macau International Airport (VMMC) from SamScene3D, with plenty of rather iconic surrounding landmarks.

Apparently, it will release “very soon.”

They both actively tear down the ‘secret powerful family connections’ fantasy trope

Continue reading…

Be the Chocolate Guy!

The post Raise Your Flag for Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans Apparel appeared first on Siliconera.

Hamilton is one of the most popular musicals in the world. Animal Crossing is one of the most popular games around right now. I guess it only makes sense that someone would combine them, but I didn’t expect it to be so damn good.

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Riot Games has revealed a new agent for Valorant, Astra, and she's poised to change up the game with astronomy-themed abilities and a move that will let you truly control the battlefield. The agent, originally from Ghana, acts as a controller in matches and should help to keep the other team from making coordinated strikes. She'll be live in the game on March 2.

One of the most unique aspects of Astra is her ability to soar above the map in order to get a better perspective, though you'll be leaving her actual, physical body at risk of being attacked while you do so. Using her Astral Form, she's able to place down stars that can then be turned into a Nebula, powerful Nova Pulse, or a Gravity Well that traps and damages those caught inside.

A new battle pass is also on the way, giving you more cosmetic unlockables for Valorant's characters. It costs 1,000 VP, with the paid track giving you a Prism III Axe melee, Cavalier Vandal, Cavalier Operator, Make Some Noise spray, and Versus // Sova + Cypher card. A few freebies are available, too, including a Prism III Classic pistol and a Dumpster Fire spray.

Konami’s output on the Famicom was simply amazing. While we certainly got some good games on this side of the pond, such as Castlevania and Contra, there were a plethora of great titles that stayed in their homeland.

They were once a playful company with a cohesive catalog. Many games in their early days made reference to their other releases, and they even pioneered the idea of crossover titles with Konami Wai Wai World. I really, badly miss those days that I was too young and also in the wrong country to really experience. Creativity was rampant among those titles, and it wound up giving us some really memorable concepts.

A 4-pack of Nutale Findthing trackers and a 50-pack of 3-ply colorful face masks lead Sunday’s best deals.

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Sega has revealed new videos of the upcoming MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis.

The videos were, as usual, provided by the official community Twitter account Rappy.Commu.

The first video showcases the use of the new traversal abilities to climb a mountain.

The second focuses on a value called “Combat Power.” You can increase it by leveling up, strengthening equipment, and unlocking class skills.

The closed beta allowed you to participate in emergency quests if you had a combat power over 950.

Love Jujutsu Kaisen's Megumi, Nobara, or Gojo? Kotobukiya has your back with newly announced ARTFX figures featuring the three.

The post Kotobukiya Announces Three New Jujutsu Kaisen Figures appeared first on Siliconera.

Hello! It’s time for Kotaku’s Sunday Comics, your weekly roundup of the best webcomics. The images enlarge if you click on the magnifying glass icon.

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Doom Eternal reportedly generated over £323 million ($450m) in the first nine months of its release.

Bethesda had already trumpeted that the launch of Doom Eternal was the series' best-ever in terms of opening week sales, but at the time the publisher didn't give exact figures, instead only confirming the game had doubled the launch weekend revenue of Doom's 2016 reboot.

Now, however, a statement on a former id Software developer's LinkedIn profile has revealed those numbers translated to $450 million in revenue (thanks, ResetEra) - that's £323 million.

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Today Focus Home Interactive released a new trailer of its upcoming multiplayer medieval heist game Hood: Outlaws & Legends.

The trailer showcases one of the playable classes, the Ranger, who is basically Robin Hood not Robin Hood.

The Ranger is the master of the longbow, basically making it your medieval sniper. He also has plenty of other gadgets and abilities to bring to bear against enemies.

You can check him out in action below.

Hood: Outlaws & Legends releases on May 10 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Pre-orders grant an early access period starting on May 7.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, you can read an official description below and check out a series of previous trailers.

MSI 27" Full HD 144Hz Gaming RGB Monitor | $235 | Amazon

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Third-party developer Aeroplane Heaven isn’t content with the upcoming Spitfire. Apparently, they’re gearing up to be the masters of the Rolls-Royce Merlin, as today they announced that they’re working on a North American P-51D Mustang for Microsoft Flight Simulator as well.

We get both screenshots and a video, showing a very much work-in-progress look at both the exterior and interior models.

No information was provided about release windows and pricing, but we know that this American purebred with a British heart is coming, and it’s likely going to look great.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is on just about everything now. Well, almost everything. Modiphius Entertainment sees one more platform it can be on: cardboard. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - The Board Game is in the works, and it appears the company will be seeking crowdfunding to make it possible.

In a listing on the crowdfunding site Gamefound, Modiphius described The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - The Board Game as an "epic cooperative board game" that will be playable by one to four players. It's honestly baffling that it took this long for a Skyrim board game to be made at all. Presumably, the game will involve one of the quests we saw in the video game, as well as dragons. We could do without any "arrow in the knee" jokes.

Today, during the 6th-anniversary livestream dedicated to the popular BanG Dream! franchise, Bushiroad announced that it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch.

We hear that there have been many requests to see the popular rhythm game BanG Dream! Girls Band Party on a big screen, so the developers thought about giving it a try.

Of course, the game will include support for the Switch’s joy-con controllers, so it’ll feature a way of playing unique to Nintendo’s console.

The release is scheduled to come (at least in Japan) within 2021. Of course, no information has been provided, for the moment, about a possible western release.

That being said, the mobile game is localized in English, so there is certainly hope. It’ll be interesting to see if this will pave the way ta console version for Bushiroad’s newest idol franchise, D4DJ.

For those unfamiliar with it, BanG Dream! is a multimedia franchise launched as a manga in 2015 before spawning all sorts of spin-offs including the BanG Dream! Girls Band Party mobile game, several more manga, light novels, anime TV series, and films.

Ghosts 'n Goblins is an absolute retro classic.

It kind of embodies the old school, no holds barred feel of some old game development philosophies: you're either in or you're out. And even if you're in, you might eventually be out, after the game tells you to replay the entire story to see the "true final boss."

It was maddening back then, but it was a battle cry and a direct challenge. Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection captures a lot of that same raw spirit, while making things a little more accessible in the process.

SimulaM’s upcoming game “I Am Jesus Christ” is continuing to progress toward its Kikstarter campaign. Today, the developer revealed a new video.

The video showcases several aspects of the game, including tutorials that will let you learn to use your divine powers.

We also get to see the map, including markers that will let you see your objectives and red circles indicating “corrupted areas” that you’ll need to clean up by performing miracles.

Incidentally, the developer mentions that a version of the map with a sort of “fog of war” is being considered.

Last, but not least, the video showcases a refined version of the fight to cast out a demon showcased in January, this time rewarding the player with an animation playing when the demon is defeated.

We already know that the Kickstarter campaign is coming in May.

We were certainly hoping things would change enough for it not to be the case, but it seemed largely inevitable. E3 2021 has been canceled, at least in its traditional form, with the Board of Los Angeles Department of Convention and Tourism Development Commissioners planning some sort of digital replacement to be broadcast from the city.

The news, shared by VGC and available as part of an 84-page presentation on the city's official website, lists E3 2021 as a "canceled live event in 2021," with potential broadcast options at LA Live and/or the Los Angeles Convention Center. The same update says the city is still working on the license for the next two years' conferences.

We did already know that the ESA was considering doing a very different sort of E3 for 2021, per a statement it gave to GameSpot earlier this month. The organization said it was "transforming the E3 experience for 2021" and added that it would share details on publishers' involvement in the event soon.

Apex Legends has hit an all-new concurrent user peak on Steam.

The free-to-play battle royale game - which released on Steam in November 2020 after almost 18-months as an EA Origin exclusive - hit 198,235 simultaneous players on Steam yesterday, its highest ever concurrent user peak according to SteamDB (thanks, Dexerto).

The recent surge in new and returning players checking out Season 8 means Apex Legends is currently the fifth most-played game on Steam right now, making it more popular than GTA 5, Rainbow Six Siege, and Team Fortress 2.

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This week's retro re-release certainly offers something a little different, history-wise, as the retro fans over at Hamster having chosen SNK's on-foot jungle shmup Guerrilla War as its newest Arcade Archives entry, now available to download on Nintendo Switch.

Originally released in arcades in 1987, before being ported to numerous home computers, Guerilla War follows two UNNAMED commandos as they fight through an UNNAMED Caribbean island in order to free it from an UNNAMED dictator. Similar in style to SNK's earlier Ikari Warriors, gameplay sees one or two players battle through the undergrowth against an army of enemy soldiers. The arcade was notable for featuring rotatable joysticks allowing for simultaneous eight-way movement and directional fire.

Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber GameingfromTwo.

Modiphius Games is developing an "epic co-operative board game" based upon The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

While the project has been announced as a "campaign preview" on Gamefound, a new crowdfunding platform for tabletop games that says it's "the bridge between backers and game creators", currently there's no further information about the project other than it'll be for one to four players (thanks, Polygon).

Players interested in knowing more are encouraged to sign up for "design updates in the lead up to launch".

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It was the best of times, it was the blurst of times. I don't need to write another lengthy, misty-eyed intro on how my entire formative life years were spent squinting in the noisy din of the arcade, breathing cigarette smoke into my young lungs, straightening out fivers to feed into antsy change machines, and to trying leave as broad-shouldered as possible through sinister gangs eyeing you up for 50p coins... Well, I guess I just did write another, but without rose-tinted glasses I have nothing.

Still, the good folk over at Capcom are offering you younglings the opportunity to relive the excitement of those halcyon days. All of the games without the constant feeding of quarters, long wait in lines, or graduation from The School of Getting The Shit Kicked Out of Me. Capcom Arcade Stadium brings together a bevy of coin-guzzling classics in one easy package, offering a veritable hall of entertainment crammed into a single handheld device.

I'd love to accurately convey how the very idea of having over 30 arcades - that at the time felt like the most complex and compelling video games of all-time - packaged as a simple, carry-around piece of casual entertainment seemed like the stuff of a madman's dream back in 1992, but the last thing I need is more clock-spinning self-reflection. Let's just get to the action, folks.

When the Japanese technology and design company Qute Corporation released the WonderWitch game development kit a little over two decades ago, the team likely never guessed it would set them on a path to become one of the defining boutique studios of the modern shooting game form.

Qute may not court the attention from the mainstream that genre heavyweights Cave and Treasure so capably attract, but its creations are celebrated by genre devotees, and include some very sought after shmup collectibles. Yet behind all their cult status, Qute's library of releases remain relatively accessible in terms of their game and scoring systems, and are increasingly more available in the West. In fact, the team are still at it, having just taken their latest title Natsuki Chronicles to the PlayStation 4 and PC on these shores. It presents a remarkable, energetic horizontal shooter that is both a prequel and sequel to Qute's earlier game Ginga Force - and its story really begins at a fateful game development contest hosted back when bullet hell was increasingly asserting dominance over the wider genre.