One of the first choices you’ll make in Cyberpunk 2077 is that of your character’s appearance. There’s a fairly deep suite of customisation options to play with, and given that you’ll see your character every time you open your inventory you’ll want to put some time in. Once you’ve started your story in Night City you’ll probably be wondering whether you can change your appearance after the initial section. Here’s what you need to know.

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This year's Final Fantasy XIV mahjong tournament will feature loads of guests like Yoshi-P, Yasumi Matsuno, and Yosuke Saito.

The post FFXIV Mahjong Tournament Guests Will Include Yoshi-P and Yosuke Saito appeared first on Siliconera.

Telenet Japan's classic adventure Valis is the latest in a long line of retro franchises considering lacing up the boots one more time. The action-adventure series, which will see its 35 anniversary in 2021, has just received a shiny new website in Japan, complete with the potential teasing of a brand new entry.

Originally launching on the PC-88 and MSX home computers in 1986, Valis: The Fantasm Soldier, told the story of a modern-age schoolgirl - Yuko Asou - who is designated by fate to protect three spiritual realms from invading monsters. Shocked by this dimension-hopping revelation, young Yuko nevertheless picks up the legendary sword "Valis" and heads into battle against the demon lord, Rogles.

While Valis itself is fairly clunky and rudimentary, it has been praised for its surprisingly layered story, use of cinematic cut-scenes, and great, old-school soundtrack. Valis would be followed by no less than five sequels in the ensuing years - appearing on PC, Famicom, Mega Drive, and FM-77 - before finally an unfortunate comeback as hentai series Valis X in 2006.

Still, with Valis' 35th anniversary on the horizon, a swanky new website, and the current trend of long, forgotten game series making a comeback, there is a strong possibility that Yuko might be donning the armor and taking it to nightmare-inducing monsters once again - proving, as if proof was ever needed, that you can't keep a good gal down.

Super Valis IV will be joining the SNES: Nintendo Switch Online app on December 18.

Valis: 35th anniversary website launched [Gematsu]

Vaccine development takes time. Earlier this spring, we learned that the previous record for vaccine development was four years from sample to approval, and that we might not see a COVID vaccine for years, if at all. But here we are, barely one year past the discovery of the novel coronavirus, and we already have a…

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This year was a culmination of LGBTQ representation in all-ages animation

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The number of video streaming applications on U.S. Nintendo Switches jumps from two to three today, as previously-released Hulu and YouTube apps are joined by Funimation, delivering fresh anime to all the good boys and girls.

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Kojima Productions is celebrating its five-year anniversary on December 16 and to celebrate, Hideo Kojima's own studio is teasing some special announcements on the horizon. 

Could we be seeing what's next for Kojima Productions post Death Stranding? Unclear, but entirely possible! There have been many rumors regarding what Kojima-san will be doing next. From Death Stranding DLC to a newly found ownership of Silent Hill to continue on his horror legacy, speculation about the next step for his studio has been high. 

In a recent Twitter post, Kojima Productions outlines when fans can tune in as it delivers "some exciting updates you won't want to miss." 

December 16ᵗʰ marks the 5ᵗʰ Anniversary of #KojimaProductions !

Keep an eye out tomorrow on our social channels at 12AM (NYC), 5AM (UK), 6AM (CET) and 2PM (JP) as we'll be delivering some exciting updates you won't want to miss! #KJP5 pic.twitter.com/WZ3WP9q2Qp

Studio executives answered investor questions during a conference call

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There are a ton of cars in Cyberpunk 2077‘s Night City, a lot of them made by the fictional manufacturers in the game. There’s one car that stands out, though, and that’s Johnny Silverhand’s Porsche 911. That’s right, a real-life car managed to make it into the game, as the former rock star’s beloved pride and joy. But that got us thinking just what other real-life cars would fit right into Night City’s aesthetic and style.

The list takes a number of things into account, but it’s primarily all about that retro-futuristic design, or the ability to finetune and modify the car with plenty of futuristic tech to keep it ticking in 2077. So, without further ado, let’s dive right on in.

In this article, I discuss the patterns, process, and spatial design principles that I am using for my non-linear retro dungeon crawler, Kudzu. ...

Not that you need an excuse to binge-watch your favorite anime, but Funimation just made that decision easier to justify because the anime-only streaming app is available on Nintendo Switch starting today. 

Following a previous tease that anime and the Switch would be combining their powers, the streaming service confirmed that it would be arriving this week; today, in fact. 

You’ll never put it down again. Anime arrives on the Nintendo Switch for the very first time via the refreshing new look of the Funimation App. Coming tomorrow! @NintendoAmerica

Read on: https://t.co/TetOe3OP18 pic.twitter.com/x5rC5b0Wm1

— Funimation (@FUNimation) December 14, 2020

This is the first streaming app for anime to arrive on the hybrid console if you don't include Hulu's limited lineup (and the fact that it's not anime-exclusive). In addition to the new home, Funimation also made some key changes to how its app functions and its overall design. According to the company, this new update includes the following: 

All In! Games has revealed that the cyberpunk action game, Ghostrunner, is getting a winter DLC pack that adds two new cosmetic items to the game. The Cold Snap Katana and the Cold Blood Glove will certainly put you in a holiday mood as you slash your way to the top of the Dharma Tower.

The DLC pack only costs $1.99 is now available for all platforms. The developers have also added a new Hardcore game mode that allows you to start a new game with all of your abilities but with a much harder difficulty level.

Considering that Ghostrunner is already a very difficult action game, this will surely raise the stakes a bit for the hardcore players out there.

You can check out the gameplay trailer down below that shows off the DLC items in action.

Ghostrunner is now available for PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and you can, of course, play it via backwards compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Ghostrunner will be getting a next-gen update sometime in 2021, so players can experience it with high frame-rates and higher resolution.

New Monster Hunter Rise merchandise includes a series of limited release jackets.

The post Capcom’s Making Monster Hunter Rise Jackets appeared first on Siliconera.

It's a little sadist of Team Meat to make the masochists wait an extra month. But, I guess the masochists will appreciate that punishment.

During last week's Game Awards, we found out that Super Meat Boy Forever is launching on the Epic Games Store on December 23. It spurred us to email PR and ask about timing of the console versions. We got a big ol' "We're not talking about [that] right now." With this morning's announcement that Super Meat Boy Forever will be a Switch exclusive at launch, the vague non-answer made a lot more sense.

Other platforms won't have to wait too long to jump in the grinder. PlayStation and Xbox versions of Super Meat Boy Forever are expected about one month later. That presumably means either late January or early February.

I, for one, am fine waiting another month. My reflexes go into hibernation at the end of the year. I just want to wrap up December with the least stressful games you can imagine. Then, once the new year hits, I'm back to peak performance. In fact, I might just wait until summer. Super Meat Boy Forever feels like it has big June vibes (or maybe my Vibe-O-Meter isn't calibrated correctly).

Cyberpunk 2077 is a game all about player choice, and that includes romance options. Aside from one-night stands and hiring prostitutes, there are a handful of more fleshed out characters who you can get to know and, if you play your cards right, you can start a more meaningful relationship with them. Our Cyberpunk 2077 romance guide will walk you through how to romance Judy, Panam, River, Kerry, and Meredith, so you don’t have to worry about whether you’re making any wrong decisions during your journeys.

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Call of Duty Cold War

features a huge range of rewards and cosmetics on offer, but one aspect getting keen COD veterans excited is the return of the Prestige system. It works slightly differently compared to previous iterations of the game though, so here’s what you need to know about Call of Duty Cold War’s Prestige system.

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Following a delay due to COVID-19, the Mortal Kombat movie reboot officially has a new release date. Warner Bros. Pictures and director Simon McQuoid confirmed that the new live-action take will be releasing this April.

First announced back in 2018, the upcoming reboot is led by producers Todd Garner and James Wan starring names like Josh Lawson, Ludi Lin, Joe Taslim, Mehcad Brooks, Tadanabu Asano, and more. Garner confirms that a trailer for the film will be arriving early next year ahead of the movie's April 16, 2021 release date. 

Trailer in the new year. Sorry it took so long to get this out. pic.twitter.com/Jku86FYKo2

— Todd Garner (@Todd_Garner) December 14, 2020

The upcoming reboot is based on the popular fighting game series, making it the third live-action Mortal Kombat movie that began its legacy back in 1995. This movie will mark the first time director for Sim McQuiod, with James Wan bringing his The Conjuring and Insidious magic to the fighting genre. 

As far as the cast goes, here are the names we know of at this time: 

It’s finally time. Cold War and Warzone are integrating to form one single, beautiful progression system, allowing us to bring our pro play to the big leagues. As Gary Barlow once said, today this could be the greatest day of our lives. But when does the day begin? We’ll be getting that patch downloaded as quickly as possible, so here’s the release time of the Call of Duty Cold War and Warzone Season One update.

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Today IO Interactive released a new trailer of its upcoming game Hitman 3, showing its opening cinematic.

The cutscene focuses on Lucas Grey and Agent 47 as they set off to hunt down the partners of Providence.

You can watch it below.

If you’re unfamiliar with the game, you can check out an official description below. You can also enjoy the original announcement and the latest gameplay.

Agent 47 returns as a ruthless professional in Hitman 3 for the most important contracts of his entire career. Embark on an intimate journey of darkness and hope in the dramatic conclusion to the World of Assassination trilogy. Death awaits.

Experience a globetrotting adventure and visit exotic locations that are meticulously detailed and packed full of creative opportunities. IOI’s award-winning Glacier technology powers Hitman 3’s tactile and immersive game world to offer unparalleled player choice and replayability.

The Vergil DLC is here for the original DMC 5, giving people a chance to wield Beowulf, Mirage Edge, and Yamato.

The post DMC 5’s Vergil DLC Is Here and Has a New Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.

You've heard of game delays. Now let me introduce you to subscription service delays.

In terms of sheer bulk, access to the whole EA Play library is a pretty good reason to subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. That partnership was announced earlier this year. EA was just hitching its wagon to Game Pass Ultimate, making all of its subscription service offerings available to Ultimate subscribers.

It's already implemented on consoles, but PC is behind schedule for some reason. Today, the two sides needed to announce that EA Play for PC won't be coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate until sometime in 2021. There's no word about the cause of the delay apart from "We need more time."

A lot of EA's best stuff is on EA Play, and that's certainly valuable for people who subscribe to Ultimate. The website lists about 60 PC games, with stuff like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and the Dead Space games standing out. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on PC will find out all about that next year.

Update on EA Play: Coming to Xbox Game Pass for PC in 2021 [Xbox Wire]

At one time, SNK made what was considered the Roll Royce of video game consoles. As a kid, I remember thinking that the Neo-Geo was the most amazing game hardware I had ever seen. And now earlier today, the company announced that it making a new game machine.

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Cyberpunk 2077 went from being the most talked-about game in gaming to being the most talked-about game in gaming in a span of a week, the only difference being the former in a more positive light and the latter being a harsh juxtaposition. Following the news that stock has seen an noticeable decrease since the perceived 'failed' last-gen launch of the game, a conference call at CD Projekt RED has gone public revealing no plans in place to actually deliver the promised refunds, and how the oversight happened with such a dramatic decrease in performance on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 systems, despite numerous promises to the contrary. 

The call begins with joint-CEO of CDPR, Adam Kicinski, talking about the post-launch decline of the game's standing with consumers. Joined by Piotr Neilubowicz, the studio's CFRO, co-founder Marcin Iwinski, and board member Michal Nowakowski, the conference call covered an array of topics, including how there is no actual plan in place to deliver the promised refunds that the studio offered on Monday. 

Regaridng how "it is even possible that it has come to this" regarding fan perception, the call opened up by saying: 

The third part of this analysis will cover Gears, Weapons and Vigors. We'll draw to some conclusion analysing each element progression's curve. ...

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (PS5) | $40 | Amazon
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate (XSX) | $40 | Amazon

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The fifteenth door of the calendar is incredibly stylish, and you can hear some amazing tunes on the other side. But, er, there also appears to be blood seeping out from the other side. Oh dear…

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Time to see what two more Monster Hunter Rise weapons can do. This time, Capcom showed off the Long Sword and Lance's Unique Actions.

The post Monster Hunter Rise Weapon Videos Focus on the Long Sword and Lance appeared first on Siliconera.

Looking back on 2020, I'm having a hard time fathoming that Dreams and Spider-Man: Miles Morales – to say nothing of the PS5 in general – all came out in the same year. It's been a long one. Too long.

Even if there is a new console on the market (if you can beat the scalper bots), the PlayStation 4 had a fantastic "final" year, though I hesitate to even call it that; it's not going anywhere. As someone who luckily did manage to get a hold of a PlayStation 5 at launch, I have to say, I'm truly splitting my time – I'm just as likely to boot up a PS4 title on this beefy boy than an honest-to-goodness PS5 game.

In some cases, like Ghost of Tsushima hitting 60fps, these games run substantially better on the new hardware. I hope that continues. I get the distinct feeling that even as true only-on-PS5 exclusives ramp up throughout 2021, I'll still be revisiting the PS4 hall of fame. That, to me, is a sign of staying power.

The PlayStation 4 was (and still is!) a hell of a machine, and this year's lineup brought it.

From the creative whimsy of Dreams, to the effortless flow of Miles Morales, to the harrowing terror of Last of Us Part II, and everything in between, PlayStation fans weren't short on memorable experiences.

A brief update on upcoming indie games for Nintendo Switch

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Yesterday, CD Projekt Red had a big emergency call with investors discussing the state of Cyberpunk 2077, and what it means for its DLC and multiplayer plans. It’s no secret that the game’s launch came with a helluva lot of bugs, I’ve experienced a ton myself on PC – but for players on last-gen consoles, Cyberpunk is in an even sorrier state. CDPR say their focus is now on improving the base game, but there are concerns the amount of work involved could impact new content planned for the next couple of years.

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Black Rock Shooter The Complete TV Series Blu-ray and new English voice cast have been revealed.

The post Black Rock Shooter Anime Blu-Ray Will Include an English Dub appeared first on Siliconera.

The time has come for Wizards of the Coast to pull back the curtain on Magic: The Gathering's next viking-themed set: Kaldheim.

Billed as the most metal set yet, Wizards is kicking off preview/spoiler season on January 7 at 9AM PT, at which point we'll start to see the flavor and mechanics of the set come together. After that, it arrives on Magic: Arena and Magic Online (yep, that's still around!) on January 28, which marks the official launch of the set. From there it'll be available in pre-release form on January 29 (physical cards) and fully on February 5.

For now Wizards has given us a preview of some of the art, and it's pretty glorious: truth be told the art for the presumed land cards/environments are lovely! Wizards is also leaning hard into the metal aspect for the set's promotional materials, including a very stylized poster and collector booster set pack art. You can see all of that in the gallery below.

As a reminder; Throne of Eldraine, Theros: Beyond Death, Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths, Core Set 2021, and Zendikar Rising are still in standard. When Kaldeim hits, standard play is going to get even more complicated as deckbuilders will be able to draw from a huge pool. 

I'm looking forward to a hopeful shakeup beyond Gruul Adventures and Dimir Control decks! And on a personal level, some more staple mono-Red cards.

Kaldheim [Wizards of the Coast]

Season one of Call of Duty Cold War is integrating the game with Warzone Battle Royale, meaning you’ll now be able to cross-progress thanks to all the sweet guns available in both modes. That means weapons will be usable in both games too, so you’ll want to unlock the new gear as quickly as possible. One such new addition is the Sledgehammer, so here’s how to unlock the Sledgehammer in Call of Duty Warzone and Cold War.

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Veteran developer MK-Studios just released its rendition of Dublin Airport (EIDW) for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Dublin is the gateway to Ireland, and it’s the perfect base for those who like to fly airliners across almost every continent. We still don’t know if the upcoming World Update dedicated to the UK will actually involve Ireland as well, but this airport is still a good starting point to enjoy the new scenery regardless.

The add-on, priced at $19.51 on Orbx Central, can take advantage of the publisher’s client for ease of installation comparable with Microsoft Flight Simulator’s internal market.

It focuses exclusively on the airport, without additional landmarks or buildings outside of its perimeter. That being said, this is a large international airport, so it brings a lot to the table.

If you want to see what it looks like in extreme detail, you can find a large gallery of screenshots here and enjoy a full flyover video below.

As some of you know, Rogan was banned from Warzone on stream tonight. The Team and us are currently trying to handle the situation and will keep you guys updated. Thank you for all the support. #FreeRogan pic.twitter.com/df1B28Fa8R

Following on from a statement addressing the messy state of Cyberpunk 2077 on base Xbox One and PlayStation 4, CD Projekt yesterday held a board meeting to discuss the game's launch issues, revealing a little more about the development process immediately before the game's release. And, perhaps surprising no-one, it seems those last-gen versions came in pretty hot.

The call began with a statement from CD Projekt president Adam Kiciński, in which he reaffirmed the company's commitment to fixing Cyberpunk on last-gen consoles with a patch in the next seven days, with further big updates in January and February. "We'll do everything possible to prove that we stick to our values," Kiciński said. "We truly hope that our efforts will let us rebuild the trust we have lost."

The opening statement also addressed why the game had released in such a mess on last-gen consoles.

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Today Hideo Kojima’s studio Kojima Productions teased news coming tomorrow.

According to the announcement, made on the studio’s social media account, tomorrow they will be “delivering some exciting updates” that fans “won’t want to miss.”

The reveal will be made directly on social media at midnight EST, 5:00 am GMT, 6:00 am CET, and 2:00 pm Japan Time. This means that it’ll still be today for you if you’re on PST, precisely at 9:00 pm.

The announcement will celebrate the 5th anniversary of the foundation of Kojima Productions.

At the moment, no further information has been provided on what we should expect, but this is certainly promising.

You can check out the tweet below.

SNK announced that a brand-new console is coming from the company in 2021. 

The post SNK Will Reveal a New Console in 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.