Nintendo bans brands from using Animal Crossing: New Horizons for politics

3 years 5 months ago

Nintendo Switch blockbuster Animal Crossing: New Horizons has become a hub for brands and businesses to attract new customers, stage campaigns, and even hold protests.

But, after seeing the game used so prominently, Nintendo has now issued a formal set of guidelines for businesses and organisations, which notably includes the line: "Please also refrain from bringing politics into the game."

The announcement of these guidelines - and that political line in particular - comes just weeks after the US election, in which the Biden campaign used Animal Crossing to release virtual yard signs and host an island with information on his campaign and details on how to vote.

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World of Warcraft: Shadowlands will have eight new dungeons at launch

3 years 5 months ago

Both Final Fantasy XIV and World of Warcraft are both getting big updates by the end of the year, especially the latter: who is hosting a major expansion for the first time in two years. As detailed over in the game's blog, Blizzard has explained how the dungeon system works, which will entail eight new locales: four for leveling and four as max-level activities.

The first one comes at level 51 (The Necrotic Wake), right near the start of the expansion: accompanied by normal, heroic, and mythic difficulty settings. Then there's one at level 53 (Plaguefall), then 55 (Mists of Tirna Scithe), and 57 (Halls of Atonement). All the dungeons are spread across the Bastion, Maldraxxus, Ardenweald, and Revendreth zones.

This sort of info is pretty useful when leveling, as you'll know exactly when you're supposed to head into a dungeon (if you haven't already) and start leveling quicker and acquiring better loot. While you can typically hit max level (now 60 in this upcoming expansion) by heading through the critical path main story quest, sprinkling in dungeons can make everything faster.

Truth be told, the start of an MMO expansion is one of my favorite gaming activities, full stop. The unknown feeling of it all (barring the collective of guides from the alpha and beta periods, which I ignore) is thrilling: diving into a whole new expansion world all alone. I can't wait to see what Shadowlands brings to the table. In all, I just hope it brings back that meta-magic from Legion. Battle for Azeroth was fun, but the general positivity around Legion made it a much more fun expansion to play on a macro MMO level.

Explore the Dungeons of Shadowlands [Battle.net]

Author
Chris Carter

EA is giving FIFA 21 Ultimate Team players a free David Beckham card - except on Nintendo Switch

3 years 5 months ago

EA is giving FIFA 21 Ultimate Team players a free David Beckham card on all platforms except Nintendo Switch.

If you play FIFA 21 at any point between 15th December 2020 and 15th January 2021, you'll get an untradeable David Beckham for use in FUT. This is a card that reflects a pony-tailed Beckham's LaLiga debut for Real Madrid against Real Betis back in the 03/04 season (he scored on his debut, too).

(Beckham's ratings on his untradeable card are reflective of his LaLiga debut for Real Madrid only, EA said. The ratings are different than those of his upcoming Icon cards, which will reflect three distinct eras of his career.)

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Marvel's Avengers is getting Kate Bishop on December 8 and Maestro is showing up in early 2021

3 years 5 months ago

Every bit of new Marvel's Avengers content has the potential to bring players back (and keep persistent fans feeling good), especially significant updates with new story missions and playable heroes. With that in mind, Kate Bishop's delay did some real damage and there are still a few weeks left to go.

The (first) arrow slinger is coming to the game for free on December 8 with the Taking AIM mission.

Nick Fury is missing, Super Adaptoid is on the scene, and time travel is afoot. Cue Kate as Hawkeye. Apart from her character trailer, there's also a new pre-recorded War Table Deep Dive video.

Beyond her bow, Kate has a sword and is "equipped with repurposed AIM tech that uses quantum energy to power her rapid movements around her enemies," according to Crystal Dynamics. "Her intrinsic attacks teleport her around enemies and deal increased sword damage. Her Blink skills lets her double jump, air dash, and traverse ledges via short-range teleportation. Kate can also parry enemies with Quantum Shift, which teleports her away from the attack to return and strike from behind."

The second slice of this story, Future Imperfect, revolves around Clint Barton, and it'll mark his debut as a playable character (to say nothing of big old Maestro). That update will be released in "early 2021."

Author
Jordan Devore

Sackboy: A Big Adventure review - a gentle, charming and imaginative platformer

3 years 5 months ago

This is the game 2020 sorely needs.

I know, I know. That's a bold claim, particularly from someone like me - someone who naturally shuns the bright, Day-Glo glory of platformers to shuffle around, scared and confused, in the shadows of horror games. It might be the very antithesis of what I purport to love, but Sackboy: A Big Adventure's bite-sized dollops of fun and unadulterated loveliness are as irresistible as they are charming, and, quite frankly, it's exactly what I need right now - maybe even what the world needs right now.

It won't be the story that bowls you over, though. While well-written, it's the usual fare - bad guy (Vex) is trying to take over the world; good guy (you, as Sackboy) is trying to stop him - but it's an entertaining enough romp, with Dawn French, Richard E. Grant and Simon Greenall (the inimitable Michael from I'm Alan Partridge, although you may know him better as that bloody Meerkat) all lending their voices to sculpt an affable cast of cheeky characters.

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Looks like Far Cry 6 will now launch May 2021

3 years 5 months ago

The delayed Far Cry 6 will now launch on 26th May 2021, according to a Microsoft Store listing.

Ubisoft's not-Cuba open world shooter was previously set to arrive on 18th February, before the company nudged both it and Rainbow Six Quarantine into its next financial year a few weeks ago.

What looks to be Far Cry 6's new release date is currently visible on the game's Microsoft Store page, where you are also able to place a pre-order.

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Currys calls off PS5 launch after accidentally selling consoles early

3 years 5 months ago

Currys PC World has cancelled its plans to sell PlayStation 5 today after a number of early customers were able to place orders well before the chain's official 9am release time.

These orders have now been cancelled, affected customers were told, and the chain has called off selling any more PS5s today entirely.

Currys originally said it would begin selling PS5 at 9am this morning, though some early birds found they could place orders early. There are reports on social media from a number of happy customers who state they were able to secure their PS5 from as early as 5.30am.

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Nintendo Download: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

3 years 5 months ago

The time has come! It's another first-party Nintendo game release! Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is out on November 20, serving as a prequel for the beloved modern classic Breath of the Wild.

Now that it's finally being unleashed upon the world after the time-traveling antics of the demo confused everyone thoroughly, I'm looking forward to seeing what the general public thinks. It's going to be docked for the framerate issues and the narrative is likely going to be polarizing, but I'm jazzed to finally be able to talk about it. But it's not the only big release this week.

Sniper Elite 4 is also coming to Switch, as well as the Serious Sam Collection. And some other stuff too!

Nintendo Download: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity screenshot

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Author
Chris Carter

An easy mode was considered for Demon's Souls PS5, but scrapped

3 years 5 months ago

Since...2009, when Demon's Souls was originally released, some players have been asking for an "easy mode" for any given Seki-Souls-Borne, and so far, From Software hasn't budged.

It's an interesting topic! I think it's perfectly okay if a designer's vision isn't for everyone, as not every person needs to finish a Souls game. But the concept reared up again with the development process for the Demon's Souls PS5 remake, when porting studio Bluepoint Games toyed with it.

Speaking to The Washington Post, Bluepoint creative director Gavin Moore (who has been rather chatty this past year!) confirmed that they "discussed an easy mode," but "ultimately decided it wasn't [their] place." Moore says that they were "merely custodians" for the game, and if they added that, it would "fundamentally alter its balance."

Instead, they opted for accessibility advancements that wouldn't directly impact the vision of the game, like aesthetic sliders and tips videos that work outside of the confines of gameplay. As Moore observes, Demon's Souls is "actually very fair," but the tips clips should help push some players along.

While alternate, optional modes are great, I'm glad that Bluepoint went with their gut here. If From Software decided to add an easy mode that's one thing; but I bet director Miyazaki and his team would have wanted the PS5 remake to represent the core of the original. To me, it has.

‘Demon’s Souls’ devs considered, and ultimately left out, an easy mode[Washington Post]

Author
Chris Carter

GAME now warning pre-order customers that not all PS5s will be delivered on launch day

3 years 5 months ago

UPDATE 19/11/20 9.30am UK: GAME has now followed up with an additional statement on the chain's PS5 pre-order snafu, and said the "vast majority" of deliveries would be made today, Thursday 19th November, with the remainder on Friday.

Sent to pre-order customers late last night, including Eurogamer staff members, it's a less finger-pointy message than the one originally sent.

"We wanted to follow up on our previous communication to you around Yodel deliveries to confirm that the vast majority of orders will be delivered tomorrow with any outstanding orders being delivered on Friday," GAME wrote.

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These new Monster Hunter movie trailers are a little more convincing

3 years 5 months ago

Sony International has released new Chinese and Japanese trailers for its upcoming Monster Hunter movie adaptation. The 90-second, fast-paced previews give fans a new look at some of the characters, locations, and beasties that will feature in Paul W.S. Anderson's fantasy epic.

Alongside multiple shots of protagonist Cpt. Artemis (Milla Jovovich) in action, we get our first footage of Tony Jaa's hardened hunter as he stalks an unseen prey and cooks up a meaty feast. Also featured in the trailers is Ron Perlman's seafaring Admiral, another one of the mysterious allies who will help Artemis as she picks her way through the vast and hazardous new dimension. There's even a Palico! At last!

These new Monster Hunter movie trailers are a little more convincing screenshot

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Author
Chris Moyse

Treyarch nerfs Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's overpowered MP5 just days after launch

3 years 5 months ago

If you've been playing Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War's competitive multiplayer since the game came out on Friday, you've probably noticed one gun in particular pop up more than any other: the MP5.

This devastating full-auto submachine gun was widely considered the best weapon in the game, and outperformed other classes of guns in situations it really shouldn't.

With the right attachments, the MP5 could drop an enemy quickly from the kind of distances Assault Rifles should excel in - and sometimes even farther - and this, coupled with its extremely low recoil, made it the face-melting machine of choice in Black Ops Cold War.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War review - solid action with the potential for greatness

3 years 5 months ago

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, the latest in Activision's annual first-person shooter series, is a solid effort. Playing through its campaign, multiplayer and zombies modes - Call of Duty's golden triangle - there is a lot to like. And I do believe Black Ops Cold War is probably the best game it has any right to be under the circumstances - circumstances that were troubled even before the pandemic forced the developers at Raven and Treyarch and the enormous quality assurance effort that goes into a Call of Duty to switch to work from home. Like a Black Ops operation behind enemy lines, Cold War is something of a miraculous rescue job, the result of what I have no doubt was a crushing effort to meet Activision's launch deadline. That there is a solid game to play at all is a fantastic achievement. But, every now and then, you can really tell Black Ops Cold War wasn't the smoothest op ever.

Black Ops Cold War is a clunky name for a fun setting. Treyarch's previous COD, Black Ops 4, suffered from a lack of a campaign, so it's good there's one this time around. COD campaigns, apart from offering solo players a handful of hours of explosive entertainment, ground each game, help solidify their aesthetic and hammer home their tone. Black Ops Cold War, a Black Ops 1 sequel set in the early '80s, certainly does that.

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Now You Can Video Chat In Fortnite Through Houseparty

3 years 5 months ago

Epic Games acquired the Houseparty app in 2019 and now the company has finally revealed how that will positively impact Fortnite. For those interested, you can now voice chat in Fortnite thanks to this app, adding yet another layer of social connectedness to the battle royale game. 

The update for video chat compatibility is live beginning today, allowing players to enjoy in-game events and Victory Royale hopefuls a chance to be even more social while playing this online experience. With in-game concerts, end-of-season special events, and so many more components beyond simple running and gunning, this additional component brings the community together in yet another way. 

According to Epic Games, Housparty video chat will be available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC players that have an iOS or Android mobile device with the app installed. Once the app is active and the Epic Games account is linked within it, the video chatting party can commence. 

Here's how to get started: 

Author
Liana Ruppert

Star Wars: Squadrons Free Update Will Add New Starfighters, A New Map, And More

3 years 5 months ago

We're are cruising fast into the holiday spirit and Motive is getting into that festive spirit with some new freebie content on the way for Star Wars: Squadrons. The team previously said that no new content would be coming post-launch, but we're thinking they should have specified no paid-content because this is the latest in DLC that will be totally free. 

The first update on the way brings a fan-favorite new map into the game. This update arrives on November 25 and will include Fostar Haven. This new area will be available in both the Dogfight mode for Squadrons and in Fleet Battles. According to Motive, this new area is going to be something longtime fans will love: 

Set in a remote, lawless area of space under the light of twin stars, this map has been updated from its story mode counterpart to provide a new experience that should fit well with the other six maps. In the Prologue of Squadrons, which is set at the height of the Galactic Civil War, Fostar Haven was an isolated trading station that welcomed smugglers and pirates. Helix Squadron was sent there to search the cargo docks for Alderaanian refugees.

 This update will also offer a few new ship components as well, including Prototype Piercing Torpedoes, Anti-Material Rocket Turrets, Rockets, and a Boost Extension Kit. 

The second content drop arrives sometime in December and will focus on community-requested features and two new starfighters: 

Author
Liana Ruppert

Patrick Söderlund's Embark Studio Has A Team-Based Shooter In The Works

3 years 5 months ago

Industry veteran Patrick Söderlund and his team at Embark have a team-based shooter in the works. The former DICE CEO and Chief Design Officer at EA left the publisher in 2018 to form Embark with Nexon as its publisher.  

Söderlund’s post on Embark’s blog explains that the recent job openings for the studio are for a PvP team-based shooter in development. In addition to sharing a piece of character concept art (above) Söderlund, who says he thought he was “done” with making competitive shooters, says the pitch for this project was “too irresistible to ignore”. He adds that the game heavily emphasizes teamwork and  “puts dynamism, physicality, and destruction front and center”. It’ll likely be a while before we see much of substance from this project given that Embark is currently staffing up for it, but it’s cool to get a glimpse of what’s going on over there.

Author
Marcus Stewart

Ubisoft removes Skull & Bones studio managing director named in sexual misconduct allegations

3 years 5 months ago

Ubisoft has reportedly removed another member of its senior management team - this time Hugues Ricour, the managing director of the publisher's Singapore studio, which is currently working on Skull & Bones - following the result of a "leadership audit".

Ricour was one of those singled out over the summer when multiple Ubisoft employees came forward with allegations of serious sexual misconduct aimed at senior members of staff. In reports by Gamasutra and Kotaku, sources accused Ricour of bullying, demeaning comments, retaliatory action, and sexual harassment - he's said to have made suggestive comments about female employees' clothing, and encouraged staff to kiss him at work events.

In a new email to Ubisoft staff seen by Kotaku, the publisher has now confirmed Ricour's removal from his current position, writing, "Effective immediately, Hugues Ricour is no longer Managing Director of Ubisoft Singapore. The results of the leadership audit that was conducted in the last few weeks by our external partners makes it impossible for him to continue in this position." It's unclear if Ricour remains with the company, however.

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The Cobra Kai Video Game Serves Up '80s Cheese In A Fun Way

3 years 5 months ago

I recently started watching Cobra Kai on Netflix. When I say "watching," I mean "binging." It only took me a couple of days to get to through the first season (which is excellent), and I'll probably watch most of season two tonight. If you haven't watched it, or the Karate Kid films that are essential prequels, you're missing out on a fun, heartfelt drama that does a fantastic job of making you care about each character. It's also about karate and an old rivalry being reborn.

As you would expect, Cobra Kai's video game adaptation from developer Flux focuses mostly on the karate, but it's also surprisingly authentic, both in bringing in the actors from the show and nailing its humor. The big difference between the two is the tone. The game shuns realism to deliver fireball attacks, comical takedowns, and the belief that everyone in the world is born to solve their differences by punching each other in the face. The show does embrace that last point to a degree, but everyone fights everyone in the game.

Click here to watch embedded media

Author
Andrew Reiner

Crash Bandicoot 4's Official Soundtrack Is A Real Bop

3 years 5 months ago

Click to watch embedded media

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time may be a tough game to beat, but at least it had catchy tunes to help soften the blow of your 87th death. Those who’d rather enjoy the game’s music without the stress of white-knuckle platforming, however, should check out the game's official soundtrack, which is now live.  

Click here to watch embedded media

The soundtrack is composed by award-winning composer Walter Mair, whose credits include providing music for the series such as Grand Theft Auto (IV, San Andreas), Killzone: Shadow Fall, and the Total War series. The composer spoke about Crash 4's musical influences and how it combines different sound profiles to give the game a unique audio flair: 

Author
Marcus Stewart

Going From Assassin's Creed To Immortals Fenyx Rising

3 years 5 months ago

Immortals Fenyx Rising

When you rattle off the biggest and most well-known franchises in the video game industry, you don't have to go far down the list to find Assassin's Creed. Since its debut in 2007, the series has spawned more than 20 video games, a theatrical film starring Michael Fassbender, an upcoming live-action Netflix series, and several comics and novels. As the studio behind two of the well-received recent games, Syndicate and Odyssey, Ubisoft Quebec was ready to spread its wings and fly with new IP.

While the team at Ubisoft Quebec is excited about the opportunity to start fresh, it was actually a glitch that occurred during Assassin's Creed Odyssey's development that was the first kernel of inspiration for what would become Immortals Fenyx Rising. "There was a bug at the time where you’d be sailing on your trireme and instead of having a normal human crew, you’d have a crew of cyclops," game director Scott Phillips says. "We knew that was wrong for Odyssey, but it also sparked this idea of, ‘Actually it would be quite cool if we can break those historical bonds and just go full force into mythology.'"

Author
Brian Shea

Monster Hunter's Chinese Trailer Serves Up Some Meowscular Chef

3 years 5 months ago

Click to watch embedded media

The first Monster Hunter trailer looked promising but also garnered a lot of flak for appearing more like a bland action film than a fun monster-slaying adventure. Those looking for something more faithful should watch the new trailer for the film’s Chinese release, which looks a lot more fantastical and even gives us our first look at a certain culinary gifted Palico. 

The new trailer shows off a few more of the titular monsters (including creepy spider-like creatures), which still look pretty darn good. The set design looks great, and it’s nice to see swords and bows take center-stage as opposed to guns and grenades. Perhaps most importantly, the film’s humor is on display, showing the film doesn’t seem to take itself as seriously as the initial trailer perhaps insinuated. Monster Hunter looks cheesy and fun, and it should be, given it’s about people wielding oversized bone weapons and hanging out with talking cats.

Author
Marcus Stewart

Star Wars: Squadrons is getting B-Wings and TIE Defenders in December

3 years 5 months ago

Star War: Squadrons will be getting a pleasant helping of post-launch content after all, despite EA assertions to the contrary prior to release, and the publisher has now revealed it's prepping two juicy content updates for November and December, introducing, among other things, B-Wings and TIE Defenders to the multiplayer game.

We've seen EA deviating from its no-post-launch-content plans once already, of course, in the form of Mandalorian-themed cosmetics to celebrate the TV show's second season; EA's next additions, however, will be significantly meatier, beginning with a new update next Wednesday, 25th November.

This one starts by reworking Squadron's single-player Fostar Haven map for multiplayer skirmishes, and will be available in Fleet Battles and Dogfight modes. "Set in a remote, lawless area of space under the light of twin stars," explains EA, "this map has been updated from its story mode counterpart to provide a new experience that should fit well with the other six maps." Its action plays out across both crowded dockyards and open space.

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Here Are The Nominees For The 2020 Game Awards

3 years 5 months ago

The pandemic hasn’t stopped the Game Awards from taking place and now we know which 2020 games are up for top honors. Gaming’s biggest awards show airs December 10 and fans can vote now to see their favorite games get the nod. 

Geoff Keighley and Kimmie Kim will host the virtual event from Hollywood, Calif. with special segments broadcasting from multiple locations including the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London. Nominees consist of 95 games, studios, and individuals. A global jury of 95 media publications (Game Informer included) and influencers helped determine this year’s nominees. This year, Sony Interactive Entertainment boasts the most nominations at 22, making it the second-highest nomination count behind Nintendo’s 23 nominations at the 2017 awards. 

Here are just a few of the categories fans can vote for: 

Game of the Year

  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons
  • Doom Eternal
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Ghost of Tsushima
  • Hades
  • The Last of Us Part II

Best Performance 

Author
Marcus Stewart

The Coolest Pokémon Sword & Shield – Vivid Voltage Cards We Pulled From Booster Packs

3 years 5 months ago

The Pokémon Trading Card game continues to roll on with its latest expansion, Vivid Voltage. This most recent update adds more than 185 new cards to the already massive collection that has been growing since the first edition was published in 1996. While this continues to focus on Pokémon found in the Galar region, including Galarian forms of pre-existing Pokémon, you can also expect plenty of familiar faces from past gens to make an appearance.

I was fairly lucky in my pulls in the booster packs I was sent, snagging a few awesome V cards. My particular favorite was the Pikachu V, which has 190 HP and can deal 200 damage with Thunderbolt. Not only is it capable in dealing a ton of damage, but I love the art. I'm also always a fan of the Eeveelutions, so it was nice to see Vaporeon and Jolteon emerge from the packs, though I'm bummed I didn't pull Flareon as well. I do, however, love the Zacian and Zamazenta cards I was lucky enough to get.

Check out my favorite pulls from the Pokémon Trading Card Game Sword & Shield – Vivid Voltage below.

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

Author
Brian Shea

Paul W.S. Anderson's Monster Hunter movie finally looks like Monster Hunter in new trailer

3 years 5 months ago

It really shouldn't be hard not to screw up a Monster Hunter movie. After all, there aren't any fan-favourite characters to ruin, and there certainly isn't much of a story; all it really needs are big monsters, big weapons, lavish scenery, and, yes, big cats. So it's gratifying to see Paul W.S. Anderson's Monster Hunter movie finally being presented, in a new trailer for its Chinese release, as the kind of Monster Hunter movie fans of the series might actually want to watch.

Gone is the inexplicable emphasis on the US military seen in Sony Pictures' last Monster Hunter trailer, which largely seemed to suggest that everyone involved hadn't got even the faintest clue what Monster Hunter actually was, and in are a host of familiar elements that finally makes this cinematic spin on Capcom's long-running franchise feel like part of the same universe.

There are sweeping, fantastical landscapes that go beyond 'brown desert', there's a heaving menagerie of creatures that indicate Anderson did more research than a cursory glance at a Monster Hunter box cover, and we also get a brief tease of the Palico chef in his natural cooking habitat. There's even a welcome bit of humour, notably absent in the previous stony faced trailer, to go with all the prerequisite big weapons and action set-pieces.

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Holiday Headset Round-Up

3 years 5 months ago
As the holidays approach, people are looking for gifts for the gamer in their lives. Any of these headsets would be a great addition to anyone's setup.
Author
Julian Harris

Amazon's New World Devs Open Up About The Supernatural, Romance, And Longevity Concerns

3 years 5 months ago

Amazon has a few different games in the works, one of them centers around a tale of conquest and the supernatural. New World is set in the Age of Exploration during the 16th century. While on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth, players are instead dumped unceremoniously into a world filled with dangers both natural and supernatural. We sat down with a few members of the team after some more hands-on time with New World to learn more about what the new adventure has in store.

Sitting down with Mike Willette, head of world experience, David Verfaillie, head of player experience, and Scott Lane, the game's director, Game Informer learned more about the different modes, possible raid content, and addressing longevity concerns that naturally come with an MMORPG of this nature. 

The story is rooted in the supernatural with some subtle underlayers that look like they will play a bigger role later on in the narrative, can you tell us a little more about that? 

Author
Liana Ruppert

Apple is halving App Store fees for "vast majority" of developers

3 years 5 months ago

The very public spat between Apple and Epic Games over App Store fees has taken a particularly interesting turn today, as Apple has announced it's reducing its fees for some developers: but only for those earning less than $1m (£754k) in revenue per year.

The App Store Small Business Program comes into effect on 1st January, and will see fees reduced from the standard 30 per cent to 15 per cent for developers that qualify. The decision to halve fees should significantly benefit indie and small developers, with Apple saying the change will impact the "vast majority" of developers (via The Verge). New developers will qualify immediately, while others will need to apply based on their proceeds in 2020.

It's a major change for the App Store, but it's worth noting this will likely make only a tiny dent in Apple's earnings. App analytics firm Sensor Tower estimates that while the change will cover 98 per cent of companies that pay Apple a commission, these developers accounted for less than five per cent of the App Store's revenues last year (via The New York Times).

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art of rally's slick predecessor is coming to Switch

3 years 5 months ago

It's been a bit of a bumper year for racing games, with the likes of Hotshot Racing and Inertial Drift bringing back some arcade thrills - and up there with them was art of rally, the brilliantly stylish ode to Group B and beyond. You might well have seen that coming if you'd played developer Funselektor's Absolute Drift, which came out back in 2015 on PC before coming to other platforms - and it's finally coming to Switch early next month.

Absolute Drift Zen Edition is launching on Nintendo's system on December 3rd, and there's plenty you'll find familiar from art of rally, including a gorgeous minimalist style and a love for going sideways. It's a lovely thing, and I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted with it in a couple of weeks' time.

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This Baldur's Gate 3 Mod Lets You Play As A Mindflayer

3 years 5 months ago

Don't let your dreams be dreams, be the Mindflayer you were always meant to be. While this isn't a choice in the character customization screen in the vanilla Baldur's Gate 3 Early Access experience, this mod allows for you to let those face tentacles fly all willy nilly like. 

Baldur's Gate 3 is currently in Early Access on PC and while we don't have a full release yet, we do know that our saves won't carry over into full launch. You know what that means? Permission to go ham on basically any choice you want in-game because in the end? It doesn't matter, it all wipes anyway. 

Because this is an Early Access game that is going to constantly be changing as the team works towards completion over at Larian, this mod that allows players to become a Mindflayer takes a little additional work. For starters, you're going to need to use another program called ShadowChild's Candor Mod Manger (found here). 

Author
Liana Ruppert

The New Consoles Load Too Damn Fast

3 years 5 months ago

Instantaneous load times have been one of the primary selling points for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. How could it not be? Since gaming switched from cartridges to disc-based media, we’ve become accustomed to twiddling our thumbs waiting for games to boot up. Over time we evolved to find creative methods of filling that time. 

As great as it sounds, the near-extinction of loading may be a curse in disguise. I developed entertaining and integral rituals designed to make load times fly by, and those parts of my life will be erased forever, maybe. Granted, I don’t yet have a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S so it hasn’t happened yet. Still, anecdotes of Spider-Man: Miles Morales launching in the blink of an eye are as frightening as they are impressive. Here are some extremely general and relatable activities I won’t be able to partake in because the new consoles load too damn fast. 

Shatter High Scores In Threes

Author
Marcus Stewart

Assassin's Creed Valhalla PS5 vs Xbox Series X - which copes best with 60fps?

3 years 5 months ago

For many, this is the most crucial of the next generation cross-platform comparisons. The new Assassin's Creed is a big game, cross-gen in nature for sure, but apparently built with the new wave of machines at least partly in mind. Valhalla also represents a generational shift for the franchise as this is the first time a new series entry arrives on consoles with a 60fps target - on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X at least, delivered with varying levels of success. Ubisoft Montreal aims for complete platform parity between Sony and Microsoft's premium consoles, but the results when they do diverge are perhaps unexpected.

Anvil Next gets a revamp, but there is the sense that much of Valhalla's shift in aesthetic comes from the art side. In fairness, this can tap into the engine's strengths: a sizeable enough proportion of the rendering budget is spent on the volumetric clouds system, and there are some spectacular vista shots delivered in the new game. The inclusion of wintry terrain also sees the introduction of snow displacement, similar to what we've seen in the past in titles including Horizon Zero Dawn's Frozen Wilds expansion. Ultimately, the engine continues to provide the beautiful landscapes seen since the franchise shift that began with Assassin's Creed Origins, but hopefully the dense cityscapes of Unity can be revisited with the shift to next-gen. One bonus feature we're happy to see though: per-object motion blur arrives in Assassin's Creed for the first time.

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Next Gen Console Limbo and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla Impressions | Final Checkpoint Podcast Ep. 63

3 years 5 months ago
This Week, Joel and Ben discuss the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 launch. They dive into how both consoles faired, the reported issues consumers are experiencing, and retail supply issues. Ben gives his first hand impressions of the Xbox Series X and his impressions so far of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Joel talks about the …

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Joel Ramirez

Former Bungie Dev David 'DeeJ' Dague Joins Iron Galaxy Studios As Head Of Communication

3 years 5 months ago

When David 'DeeJ' Dague announced he was leaving Bungie after being such a massive point of contact for the Destiny franchise, fans were curious as to where he was headed next. Onto new adventures and beyond, because Iron Galaxy Studios has announced Dague is joining the team as the new Head of Communications. 

In addition to Dague's inclusion into the team, a shift in leadership has also been revealed for the studio. Chief Operating Officier Chelsea Blasko has been promoted to the role of co-CEO alongside Adam Boyes. The recent shift and addition is all poised to have the perfect team to work on launching an original IP from the studio, one that focuses on a multiplayer melee combat experience. 

Dague was a massive pillar for the Bungie franchise. With his powerfully friendly voice within the gaming space and a passion for the Destiny series made it easy to get swept away in the community love, so seeing what he does for Iron Galaxy is going to be exciting. 

Author
Liana Ruppert

Report: Netflix's The Witcher Season 2 Resumes Filming After More Positive COVID-19 Cases

3 years 5 months ago

After filming was halted once more when yet another round of positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed on set, it looks like the team behind Netflix's The Witcher season 2 is back on set as the show resumes its course set for completion. With four team members, none of the core cast (according to the previous statement), having tested positive for the virus earlier this month, it looks like quarantining worked because everything is back on schedule. 

As reported by Redanian Intelligence, a reliable source that has supplied numerous on set photos and details regarding the show's progression, Netflix's The Witcher season 2 resumed filming on November 16 in Arborfield Studios, UK.

While production has picked up once more, season 2 is still reportedly a long ways off from completion given the numerous delays and the work from home orders issued earlier this year. While it's good that the team feels safe enough to be on set once more, this isn't the first round of COVID tests to come back positive. With a production crew and cast, it's difficult to mitigate the level of contact spread that occurs, so hopefully this latest scare will help implement better safety measures for the months ahead. 

Author
Liana Ruppert

AMD RX 6800 and 6800 XT: limited pre-orders have begun

3 years 5 months ago

The RX 6800 and RX 6800 XT are now officially available for pre-order. Our RX 6800 and 6800 XT review shows that AMD's promise of high-end performance has been achieved, so expect a lot of demand for the new cards. In this article, we'll share the best places in the US and UK to pick up your new RX 6800 series card now that we've reached the 2PM GMT / 9AM ET November 18th release date.

So why is this card so hotly anticipated? Put simply, it's the first card in a long time that actually threatens to challenge Nvidia's dominant position in the graphics card market, the first cards that will actually go toe-to-toe with Nvidia's high-end cards. If you're building a mid-range to high-end rig, these are great choices with a reasonable degree of future-proofing, thanks to HDMI 2.1 support, 16GB of VRAM and RT capabilities too. There are also some neat features, like Smart Access Memory and Rage Mode which could boost performance further.

All that is to say that this card is expected to go fast, so here's what you need to know - and the web pages you should probably bookmark!

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Valhalla is the biggest Assassin's Creed launch ever

3 years 5 months ago

Assassin's Creed Valhalla shifted more copies in its launch week than any other game in the long-running series to date.

It has also been Ubisoft's best PC launch ever, with an "all-time record" for sales directly from Ubisoft's own digital store.

Valhalla is the 12th mainline Assassin's Creed game, and the third since it shifted genres and adopted a biannual release schedule.

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The newest Humble Bundle is full of indie darlings

3 years 5 months ago

One of the newest Humble Bundles contains a whole range of acclaimed indie games, including adorable platformer A Hat in Time, time-bending FPS Superhot, and relaxed barista-sim Coffee Talk. There really is something for everyone and every mood here, and the proceeds go towards Sweet Farm, a charity based around sustainable, compassionate farming on a global scale.

Of course, there's more than just those three games. As with many Humble Bundles, you can pay as much as you want, but there's tiered rewards based on how much you do choose to pay (these tiers are decided by how much people donate). They're outlined below as follows, though these numbers may change over time. If these look good to you, you can find the Bundle itself right here.

Pay £0.76 or more to earn:

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