So here’s a weird thing. The next entry in the Sniper Ghost Warrior series was supposed to come out next month on PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. But now the PS5 version has been delayed with no new release date given for vague technical issues. All other versions, including PS4, will release as planned.
Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance's re-release on Nintendo Switch was delayed at the last minute.
The re-release of the much-loved 20 year-old action RPG went ahead as planned yesterday on Xbox One, where it costs a pricey £29.99, and PlayStation 4, where for some reason it costs a fiver cheaper at £24.99.
But even though the official Black Isle Studios Twitter page said yesterday that the Switch version would arrive in a couple of hours, the game failed to materialise on the Nintendo eShop.
Videogame awards are good for three things: they encourage people to continue creating new work; they direct attention towards particular pebbles among the otherwise amorphous landslide of new game releases; and they give bystanders like me something of mercifully little consequence to gripe about when nominations don't align with our personal tastes.
I'm sad to report that the Independent Games Festival has delivered only two out of three in 2021. The nominations for this year's IGF Awards were announced yesterday, but they have left me little to gripe about.
With Titanfall 2 enjoying an Apex Legends-powered resurgence, so is its superb Gauntlet.
Respawn's wall-hopping assault course tasks players with completing one lap as quickly as possible - and nearly five years after Titanfall 2 came out, speedrunners are breaking world records again.
In October 2019, speedrunner Cash Mayo set an incredible time of 11.7 seconds, shaving a fraction off Mayo's previous world record of 11.9 seconds:
Update: As of May 9, this discount code appears to be inactive. The card has returned to its full price.
Original story follows...
Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S both support expanded storage for playing next-gen games, which the PS5 does not, but doing so requires a proprietary storage card. Right now, that Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox Series X|S is on sale at Newegg, giving you more than $20 off its regular price so you can install even more games. It's the only one that works right now, so you'll rarely find a better deal.
To take advantage of the 10% discount, all you have to do is enter the promo code 93XQY65 in the code field during checkout. This will give you the discount, which drops the price down to $198. Though that is still nothing to sneeze at, the card is the only one that supports direct play of Xbox Series X|S games other than the consoles' own internal storage. Currently, other external drives, including other SSDs, only support storing these games, and they must be transferred to the internal drive to play.
Designed in collaboration with Microsoft to ensure compatibility and performance, the Seagate drive is meant to offer the exact same experience you'd get running a game off the consoles' internal NVMe SSDs. That means support for Quick Resume and very fast loading times, and with 1 TB of storage, you can put a whole bunch of games on it.
When I last wrote about Slipways, I called it the best demo of the Steam festival and lamented that it was no longer available. Good news! It's back, and in expanded form. There's now a public beta of this wonderful, pocket-sized grand strategy game which you can play via Steam until May 10th.
The World Ends With You (TWEWY) was a lot of things--an innovative RPG that put the Nintendo DS's touch screen to good use, a stylish experience that demonstrated youthful expression through fashion and music, and one of the most experimental games in Square Enix's history. But despite the game's cult status, TWEWY has not had an official follow up in the 14 years since its release. Until now, that is, with the upcoming NEO: The World Ends With You.
The original TWEWY came back around with the Switch remaster in 2018, dubbed Final Remix, albeit with mixed results from the retooled controls to accommodate the platform change. However, this upcoming sequel, NEO: The World Ends With You, is a sort of rebuild of what made the original special. I recently had a brief interview with its key developers, which included Tetsuya Nomura (creative producer and character art designer), Tatsuya Kondo (series director), Hiroyuki Ito (director), and Tomohiko Hirano (producer). And from talking with them, I have a clearer picture of how TWEWY is being modernized not just in a gameplay sense but also in its attitude.
Do you remember the film The Adventures of Milo and Otis? I don’t. It was based on a 1986 Japanese film called Koneko Monogatari. It’s not bad, I guess, if you think you can trust critics. It’s about a kitten getting lost in the wild and a pug puppy that chases after him. Both have misadventures in their efforts to not die. Sort of like Homeward Bound with better public transportation and a vending machine on every corner.
In the wake of Super Mario Bros., Koneko Monogatari was adapted into a game for the Famicom Disk System. Let’s be fair here, it was 1986. Chernobyl exploded, Microsoft went public, and developers were still struggling to figure out how to make console games that weren’t just inferior ports of successful arcade titles. There were definitely a good few 1986 releases, but Koneko Monogatari isn’t one of them.
Every Pokemon is interesting and worth talking about. I don’t play a ton of Pokemon, but I do enjoy the universe and I love learning more about the creatures in it. So, Here’s Another Pokemon! It’s Koffing!
In today’s digitally-based world, protecting your sensitive information is paramount. By now, you've undoubtedly heard of compromising data leaks or cyber thieves who can pull credit card, bank account, or even social security numbers from your laptop or smartphone just using shared public Wi-Fi.
A common solution for combating the perils of cybersecurity is a VPN, but often these are not fully effective. In fact, it's been reported that as much as 84% of user data is at risk of theft or leakage when protected by traditional VPNs. Thankfully, there's a solution to take control of your cybersecurity and surf the internet comfortably with the Deeper Connect Nano Decentralized VPN Hardware, available for only $255 when you use the coupon code GSDEALS15.
The Deeper Connect Nano is the next generation of the Deeper Connect Mini, a hardware VPN that's highly rated for its security and ease of use, with all of the same features in a more portable package. It's a decentralized VPN that works without a subscription. Simply buy the hardware, plug it in, and surf the internet with confidence that your sensitive information is secure.
The Deeper Connect Nano is more than just peace of mind in a seven-layer firewall — it also enhances your web experience. A web filter effectively blocks ads, trackers, and malware, and there's no bottlenecking as more users log on to your network. Plus, it offers seamless connectivity to worldwide IPs, meaning no regional content is blocked.
Take-Two has been a fairly big supporter of the Nintendo Switch, with multiple big-name franchises available on the console. Many of those games are currently on sale via the Nintendo eShop, offering enormous discounts, and many of the titles are actually bundles containing a few games. BioShock, Borderlands, and XCOM are among the games with their prices slashed, so don't delay if you want them.
BioShock: The Collection is one of the biggest deals during this sale, with its price dropping from $50 down to $20. The bundle includes all three BioShock games, with the first two being remastered versions, and it also has all single-player DLC--the multiplayer from BioShock 2 was omitted from the collection. If you prefer to get BioShock, BioShock 2, or BioShock Infinite on their own, you can do that, too. They are $8 each, down from $20.
After going a little shmup-happy in recent weeks, the retro-loving folk over at Hamster have returned to the world of fantasy platformers for this week's Arcade Archives release, having re-released Jaleco's hack 'n' slash adventure The Astyanax on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
Originally released in arcades back in 1989, before being ported to the NES one scant year later, The Astyanax tells a typical tale of a super-macho, axe-wielding barbarian, Roche, chopping their way through a fantasy world packed out with strange, mythological creatures. Players can also pick up a host of power-ups to increase Roche's command of lightning as he battles his way through the game's six stages. A second player can join in the fun as a palette-swapped version of the muscle-bound hero.
Check out the action in the video below, courtesy of YouTuber World of Longplays.
What to watch on Prime Video, from a horror classic to Dredd and an anime masterpiece
Is it ever a bad time to replay your Resident Evil favorites? Not really, no!
But those crucial last few weeks leading up to a new mainline game, especially one as collectively attention-grabbing as Resident Evil Village, can heighten that urge to revisit. I've been there — I've pregamed Resident Evil with more Resident Evil — and I know plenty of you have too.
It's always fun to chat about our ongoing experiences with these games — how certain moments or details might stand out in one playthrough compared to prior runs, or how old stances can soften in light of current gaming trends and player sensibilities. Our takes are always gaining nuances.
So let's do it. With Village just days away from launching, let's recount our recent RE outings.
The Yakuza series remains a turn-based RPG, whereas the Judgment spin-off series is where the action's at, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has said in a new interview.
Speaking to IGN, Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi and producer Kazuki Hosokawa confirmed the plan for the two series:
"The Yakuza series has been transformed into a turn-based RPG. On the other hand, over the years, Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has accumulated resources and know-how of making flashy and exhilarating action games that are effortless to enjoy. We decided that we should let our signature action gameplay live on through Lost Judgment."
Resident Evil Village is off to a flyer on Steam.
It saw 101,726 peak concurrents on launch day, 7th May.
That makes Capcom's latest comfortably the biggest PC launch for any Resident Evil game. According to SteamCharts, Resident Evil 7 managed an all-time peak of 18,211 concurrents, Resident Evil 6 peaked with 11,836, and the most recent release, the Resident Evil 3 remake, hit 32,635. Only the Resident Evil 2 remake, which saw a concurrents peak of 74,024, comes close.
We're just over a month away from the next release in what could prove to be Square Enix's magnum opus, Final Fantasy VII Remake. The publisher has released a "final" trailer for the incoming Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, which launches on PS5 June 10.
It should be immediately noted that the trailer opens with ending spoilers for Final Fantasy VII Remake, as well as featuring plenty of footage — of both characters and events — taken from the all-new Episode INTERmission side-chapter. So consider yourselves warned, friends.
Call of Duty: Warzone developer Raven has said it is close to a "balance homeostasis", where most weapon options are "at the very least viable" - leaving it to focus on raising the skill ceiling of the game.
The developer shared its balance change philosophy as part of the patch notes for a Warzone update that went live this week.
Raven spoke openly about the difficulty it faces making sweeping changes to the Warzone meta, as popular guns are inevitably affected.
Closed Hands is a game about a fictional terror attack, a bomb, and about how the lives of five unconnected strangers become connected by it. But it's also about the society they live in. It's about the years before and the years after. It's about context and about how they got to that point in the first place. Closed Hands is a game about understanding.
And to understand it, you need to understand a bit about where it comes from. Closed Hands is created by Dan Hett, a man who lost his brother in the Manchester arena bombing in 2017. This game is the culmination of years of many smaller projects and knee-jerk experimentation as he processed why.
But it's not anger that fuels this game, it's questions. Questions Hett sought to answer as he became swept up in the aftermath of the event, speaking at schools, speaking to the press, and finding himself in the public eye. Closed Hands, in a sense, represents his answers, and so much of his personal experience can be felt across the game.
Apparently in the UK May is National Walking Month, neatly coinciding with me being in a tiny village with no wired internet, where the chief entertainment is "going for a walk." Well, I refuse. You can't make me, dammit. Instead I shall stay as inside-sitting-still as possible, and play games while ignoring my mum periodically coming in to tell me I'm going to get blood clots because that's the sort of thing she routinely does.
Let's find out what the rest of the cheery ol' RPS gang are playing this weekend, eh? I predict a few mentions of Resident Evil Village.
Hello, friends, welcome to the weekend! I hope it has been a pleasant week for all of you. Whatever it is you have lined up for the next couple of days, I hope you are able to find the time for a little R'n'R, some good company, some good entertainment, some good food, or whatever is needed to lift your spirits and keep you smiling. Keep pushing, folks, we're doing great.
I've struggled to stay focused on a single title this week. Having hit NieR: Automata a mere couple of weeks ago, I've also fired up Housemarque's Returnal — a title I've been waiting on for many moons. These two hefty releases offer more than enough gameplay to keep me occupied, but I'm still struggling to stay away from Juri and Rose in Street Fighter V, Outbreak mode in Call of Duty: Cold War, and the Apocalypse event in Rainbow Six Siege. If that's not enough, I'm currently hovering over a store basket containing, of all the games, Fire Emblem: Three Houses!
It was so much easier in the '90s when I was a kid and only got access to two console games a year. This problem that I'm facing right now is the single biggest problem being faced by any human being on the planet. Break out the violins, friends.
Well, I might be struggling to stay focused, but I'll bet y'all are not. Jump into the comments below and fill us in on the video games that are currently occupying your free hours. I don't care whether they're old or new, good or bad, on the PS5 or on the Atari Jaguar — please share with us your current gaming obsessions. Once again, thank you for making this article such a pleasure each and every week.
Have a wonderful weekend, from all of us at Destructoid.
Compact keyboards are the fastest-growing segment of the mechanical keyboard space, a reversal of the traditional wisdom that gamers want full-size boards with tons of macro keys, media controls and other exciting doodads. Instead, these 60 percent, 65 percent, 75 percent and TKL boards focus on a clean aesthetic that's super-portable and takes up minimal desk space, while still providing all of the keys you'll need for 99 percent of modern games. In this round-up, we'll share our recommendations for the very best compact keyboards on the market based on our extensive testing.
Indie keyboard makers have been making 65 percent, 60 percent and even smaller sizes for the enthusiast crowd for years, but now the bigger brands are starting to get involved - the Razers, Corsairs and Logitechs of the world. If you wanted to see what the fuss is about with these smaller boards without losing creature comforts like synchronised RGB lighting and well-developed software packages, this is a great time to jump aboard the mini keyboard bandwagon. Of course, smaller vendors have their advantages too, and we'll try to cover both ends of the spectrum - while still focusing on boards that are readily available.
Oh, and the by the way - if you're interested in seeing our picks for full-size keyboards too, do check out our round-ups of the best gaming keyboards and best mechanical keyboards, both of which have some unique options worth knowing about!
Is there porn on the Epic Games Store? Seems like a pretty easy “yes” or “no” question. Today, however, the ongoing, increasingly contentious Epic v. Apple court case showed us that actually it’s possible to have a nearly 10-minute argument about it.
This past month was Backlog Month at Kotaku. April, our thinking went, would be fairly slim in terms of new games, bookended by two blockbusters (Outriders and Returnal) but devoid of tentpoles in the interim. What better time to play the games we already have?
Resident Evil Village is available now and many are preparing to start their journey as Ethan Winters. For those getting ready to take on the latest Capcom horror adventure, there are a few things you need to know before diving in. Luckily, we're here to help. Here are our Resident Evil Village tips and tricks!
If you're familiar with Resident Evil, then you already know there will be puzzles to solve and enemies to slay. We've got a few helpful puzzle guides here and here, but what about more generalized tips? The good news is that there really is no "wrong" way to play, but there are a few pointers on how to make your time in this creepy journey a little more efficient and fully optimized.
Whether you're in the village, in the castle, or in the later parts of the story, you'll see certain areas on your map that are either blue or red. Red means there are parts of a certain area that you haven't explored completely. This is great to pay attention to, because some of the items found can be a little hidden. You might need to crouch down to find it, or break glass to get to it, but the goal should be to turn all of the red areas blue. Once blue, you'll know you've cleared it and you're good to move on.
"What games should I get for my PlayStation 5?" This is the question we've been asked the most since Sony's new generation of gaming arrived last November. People want to see what games are the best showpieces of PlayStation 5's power, and also which ones take their beloved medium to new heights. Although the PlayStation 5 is still in its infancy, it has already amassed a nice library of games, including a few titles that you can't play anywhere else.
The Game Informer staff has selected 10 games that we consider to be the PlayStation 5's absolute best. Over time, this article will be updated with the latest releases that we think crack the top 10.
Please note that while the list below contains 10 entries, we aren’t ranking them. If a game has made it this far (and managed to stay here), it’s a must-play, period. As such, we’ll be listing entries in reverse chronological order. Also, with future updates, you’ll find a rundown of previous entries at the bottom of the list. While those titles have gotten bumped over time, they are still all great games in their own right and worth exploring if you’re already caught up on the latest hits.
Here are Game Informer’s picks for the top 10 games on PlayStation 5:
Resident Evil Village has a few puzzles that players will encounter, including one that involves stone statues. This one is tricky at first, but it's definitely one of those that once it clicks? It clicks. Without further ado, here is what you need to know in order to solve the Resident Evil Village abandoned stone statue puzzle.
Getting out of Lady Dimitrescu's castle is.. a pain in the butt. You've got murderous vampires, you've got hallways that all look the same, decrepit floors that also want to kill you because life sucks. It's a lot. Luckily, the puzzles don't have to be an added frustration for those that may be looking for some help so that they can carry on with the (amazing) story.
For this particular puzzle, you'll find it on the second floor of the castle, an area you will be annoyingly familiar with during your time in Village. The area you need to be in is called the Hall of Ablution, a place that you'll find once crossing the courtyard after exiting the main hall. There is a door to the right of the courtyard, make it up towards that and you'll find a set of stairs. Follow the stairs up, go down the hallway and enter the third door on your left.
On August 14 last year, just 24 hours after Fortnite was removed from the App Store over Epic's bypass of Apple's internal payment system, Epic launched Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite. The video, a parody of an old Apple ad from the titular year, positioned Epic as a hero fighting back against the Orwellian Big Brother Apple, destroying the "App Store Monopoly" with a sledgehammer. All of this was accompanied by the hashtag "#FreeFortnite" as a call to action to its playerbase: Fortnite, the beloved video game players love, was in danger. And Epic had arrived to stop the bad guys who wanted to take it away.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/13/fortnite-1984-apple-parody-video-short"]
The very put-together and professional-looking Nineteen Eighty-Fortnite did not come together as some kind of knee-jerk response to Apple doing something completely unexpected. The video was clearly a planned, calculated move from Epic, prepared months in advance in case Apple made the decision to show Fortnite the door. In fact, the entirety of #FreeFortnite and its associated video propaganda, in-game character skins, and competitions to win hats was a movement to turn public sentiment against Apple and force the multi-trillion-dollar corporation to do what the multi-billion-dollar corporation wanted it to do. With the game removed from mobile storefronts and smartphone players unable to play any longer, Epic wanted to make sure the audience knew who to blame. Epic, the sledgehammer-wielding hero, was here to beat up the mean ol' monopoly.
Like most online games, Final Fantasy XIV is what you make of it. You can dedicate yourself to hitting the level cap in every job, focus on completing tough raids on max difficulty, or simply cultivate a second life through role-playing with your friends. But Chungo Humongo, a level 80 Roegadyn Paladin, has a much…
It sure feels like deck-based games are having a moment right now, and if that's something you're into maybe spare one of your moments to look at Cross Blitz. The developers of this RPG card-battle game say it's inspired by the likes of Dragon Quest and Slay The Spire, among other games. Oh and it's got concerningly burly lion pirates too, which might be another thing folks are into. The developers have just announced Cross Blitz with a new trailer and are planning an early access launch later in 2021.
Harmonix is seeking a senior generalist software engineer to join one of the teams developing creative and unique game titles. ...
