Organizers say that uncertainties involving the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic make planning this year's event too difficult at this stage. ...
With social distancing measures in place in many parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pokemon Go developer Niantic has been making numerous tweaks to make the game easier to play. The studio will soon allow players to participate in Raid Battles from home, but before that option rolls out, it is temporarily letting you interact with Gyms from much farther away.
As Niantic explains in a new blog post, the studio is doubling the distance from which you can interact with Gyms, allowing you to spin Photo Discs and take part in Raid Battles while keeping a safe distance from other players. This change, however, only applies to Gyms; Niantic is not increasing the distance from which you can interact with PokeStops.
The distance from which you can interact with Gyms has been temporarily doubled, allowing you to be farther from Gyms and other Trainers as you challenge Raid Bosses. Learn more: https://t.co/Y9sa8WDIPf pic.twitter.com/sxXhBnuKy9
In a blog post, Lab Zero announced that a new free update is coming to Indivisible, the developer's metroidvania-inspired action platformer, on April 2. The update will add two new modes to Indivisible: new game plus and couch co-op.
Once you've completed Indivisible's campaign at least once, NG+ allows you to replay the story from the very beginning with all the abilities, weapons, and incarnations you unlocked in your previous playthrough. This will allow you to discover hidden secrets much earlier in the campaign as well as access shortcuts that require late-game abilities. Enemies and bosses will be a lot stronger though.
Couch co-op mode allows you to tackle Indivisible's campaign with up to three other players. Player 1 will always be protagonist Ajna, but the other three can take control of any of the other members of your party. While exploring, each player will be able to move independently of each other. In battle, you'll each control your individual character in the game's hybrid of turn-based and real-time combat.
Continue Reading at GameSpotDeveloper Team Ninja has dropped a brand-new update for Nioh 2 on PlayStation 4 that makes various adjustments to the game's difficulty in some areas. We've compiled the full patch notes below.
A bunch of Nioh 2 sub-missions have had their difficulty altered in order to assuage the game's nail-biting challenges. In addition to the sub-missions, some of Nioh 2's enemies have also been tweaked to make the experience a little more forgiving. Further, the drop rates of Smithing Texts and The Art of Combat tomes, items used to upgrade your created character and equipment, have been increased.
The update also makes a number of quality-of-life adjustments. These include fixing duplication item problems, addressing Yokai Realms and status effects that would not dispel, tweaking skills that would not activate, ironing out other bugs, and much more.
Continue Reading at GameSpotHumble Bundle is known for its awesome packages of games, comics, and other forms of entertainment and software, and now the company has kicked off a bundle to help with COVID-19 relief efforts. For $30, you get 44 games, over 20 books and comics, and more. All of the money goes towards charities and organizations that are working to fight COVID-19 and save lives.
Some of the games featured in the bundle include Into the Breach, Undertale, and Hollow Knight as well as The Witness and Superhot. Many of the games are from indie developers, though the bundle also has AAA-developed games like Darksiders: Warmastered Edition, Darksiders II: Deathinitive Edition, and Sniper Elite III among others. On top of all this, you get a one-month subscription to Humble Choice, which gives its subscribers a free allotment of Steam games every month.
The COVID-19 response bundle also features some great comics, including volumes of Saga, The Boys, and Spawn as well as Locke & Key and Robert Kirkman's Oblivion Song. Volume One of Fairy Tail: Happy's Heroic Adventure is also included as is a Humble Bundle-exclusive one-shot Army of Darkness comic. The bundle also has some sci-fi and self-help books that help with controlling emotions and stress relief.
Continue Reading at GameSpot
If NBA players can’t get onto an actual court for the next few months for the televised enjoyment of millions, they may as well do the next best thing.
Earlier today on our Twitch channel I checked out the Switch’s adorably chaotic Good Job! and realized I actually miss being in our office, even if it is located in Times Square. Good Job! is a pretty hilarious puzzle game that gives you simple tasks to do around an office, like setting up a projector or wrangling…
In an effort to provide relief to developers left in the lurch after the Game Developers Conference was postponed late last month, gamedev.world has partnered with several studios to release a massive video game bundle via itch.io, the proceeds of which will go towards a fund established to support affected developers.
Nab one of the strongest attackers in the game
Image: Nintendo EPD/Nintendo via Polygon
Get the iconic dog in your town every Saturday
Risk of Rain 2, developer Hopoo Games' enormously well-received co-operative rogue-like shooter sequel, will be free to play this weekend on Steam, in celebration of its first anniversary and newly released Artifacts 2.0 update.
Risk of Rain 2 initially entered Steam early access in March last year (a 1.0 release is expected this spring), and Hopoo has been steadily ploughing through its extensive early access roadmap ever since. Artifacts 2.0, one of the key milestones on that roadmap, focusses on "long-term content, replayability, and flexibility in the way you play", reintroducing the Artifacts system seen in the original Risk of Rain, albeit with a bit of an additional kick up the bum.
As you might already be aware, Risk of Rain 2 follows a similar formula to its wonderful predecessor, featuring gloriously chaotic shooting action (this time in full 3D) that grows ever fiercer - bringing tougher, more plentiful enemies - the longer players manage to stay alive. Artifacts serve as a way to amplify that chaos even further, acting as modifiers that can be toggled on or off at the start of each run.
The Street Fighter Twitter has revealed Neco Drop, a cat-themed puzzle game, for April Fools' Day, and it's surprisingly great.
The post Street Fighter Characters Turn Into Collectible Cats Fur This April Fools’ Puzzle Game appeared first on Siliconera.
Final Fantasy VII Remake has a 7-disc original soundtrack coming with a special Buster Sword design for first-print copies.
The post Final Fantasy VII Remake Soundtrack Buster Sword Package Design and Track List Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.
Seven years on and the artists and developers at Digital Extremes continue to create some of the most beautiful sci-fi art you can find in gaming. The Warframes they create are immaculate. Case in point: Titania Prime. Available now on all platforms, Titania Prime is the ultimate form of the original Titania that launched back in 2016 alongside the "Silver Grove" update.
Titania Prime is currently available as part of Prime Access and she doesn't come cheap. But come on, just look at that design:
"Oh well, I can try to catch the stringfish in Animal Crossing again tomorrow."
For several days now, that's how I've reassured myself, but it's no longer true. Tonight's the night.
If you're a Northern Hemisphere player in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you are probably all too familiar with the stringfish, a vile creature that can only be caught from December to March. Heck, you might've heard about the stringfish even if you haven't touched the game. Its misery knows no bounds.
It's not just a fish – it's a goal. The goal. It could very well be the last critter you need to donate to the museum if you're hoping to stay current with New Horizons' ongoing fish and bug schedule.
Despite loading up on Manila clams, crafting what feels like an endless supply of bait, and hitting the infamous clifftop spot with a vengeance night after night, that's the predicament I'm facing.
Now, with one solid attempt left, I'm preparing for the worst. I need to keep reminding myself that it's okay to miss out on this one blasted fish (even though I know full well that I'll be slightly less motivated to stay on top of the fishing cycle now). I need to focus on the positives. Ranchu goldfish are sweet!
Did you end up catching a stringfish in time for the March cutoff? If so, I'll live vicariously through you.
(If you want to get cracking on the new-for-April fish, here's a rundown. I love me some killifish.)
Treachery in Beatdown City looks like a new take on Double Dragon for the NES, but it actually plays a lot more like Bravely Default II or another high-level strategy turn-based RPG.
That's what's going on under the hood. In terms of the body, it's a story of underdogs who aspire to upturn the system. That's just one of the ways it reminds me of Undertale, another game that looks like one thing but is something else entirely, that boldly wore its outsider status on its sleeve. Treachery ticks all the same boxes while delivering an entirely different message: sometimes, violence is good.
The opening of the game shows shinobi terrorists wearing both turbans and traditional ninja face-masks kidnapping then-president Blake Orama, an unreal version of Barack Obama. The reason? His repeated bombing of Middle East, something that was a very real part of Obama's presidency, which has been more than carried forward by his successor.
From there, mayor Mike Moneybags, a parody of former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg, uses the kidnapping as an opportunity to install his own police force into the city, and in the process, make a few "racially insensitive" statements about the Latinx community. This doesn't surprise Lisa Santiago, the protagonist, but it does piss her off. She's at the gym watching TV when she hears the news, trying to burn her rage off on a treadmill. About a minute later, she finds a new way to let off some steam.
By now, we know exactly what to expect from Planet Zoo DLC – several new animals to care for and a whole lot of building, scenery, and foliage pieces with which to craft an extravagant themed zoo.
Planet Zoo's next DLC, the South America Pack, is coming to Steam on April 7, 2020, for $10.
Today's trailer isn't exactly forthcoming, so here's the rundown. The new habitat animals are the Capuchin monkey, jaguar, llama, and giant anteater, the latter of which I'm already obsessed with. It looks magnificent. The South America Pack will also add the iconic red-eyed tree frog for exhibits.
Even if you're planning to sit this one out (it might be best to wait for an eventual DLC bundle), April 7 is a date worth remembering. Frontier is also releasing update 1.2 on the same day. The free update overhauls the genealogy interface, attempts to stamp out the keeper feeding issues once and for all, and makes guest management and education more sensible, among other fan-requested changes.
I'm also glad to see that research will be shared across all zoos in Franchise mode.
Marvel Strike Force launched on iOS and Android two years ago, and while it has evolved in myriad ways since launch, every mode features similar gameplay where you take on A.I.-controlled teams.
For the third year of FoxNext's licensed RPG, the studio is implementing player-versus-player combat through VS. Battle mode. I spoke with creative director Jason Bender and game director Jonathan Durr to learn more about this new feature, as well as what to expect in the coming year of Marvel Strike Force.
Up to this point in the lifecycle of Marvel Strike Force, players have only had the option to take on A.I.-controlled opponents. While this has been a serviceable option so far, the A.I. in Marvel Strike Force always operates in patterned ways, simply choosing the most powerful attack available to the character at that time (with few exceptions), and often not focusing or coordinating on a single target.
Persona is bigger now in the West than it has ever been before. The 2017 release of Persona 5 sent the franchise to new heights. But that also means there are a lot of you out there who don’t know their Persona trivia.
Persona 5 Royal is finally available, so there’s no better time than the present to get caught up on the franchise with this quiz.
Do your best to get a high score and if you get a few wrong then maybe you could even use this trivia quiz to figure out where there are gaps in your Persona knowledge.
Take a shot at this quiz to see what you know about these games and don’t forget to gloat about your amazing results in the comments and on social media.
Gears 5 launched its third season of content with Operation Gridiron today, adding more characters, maps, and more alongside a huge update of changes and fixes.
Revealed last week, Operation 3 adds four new characters to earn or buy, such as Gears’ favorites Augustus Cole and Clayton Carmine, alongside a new Tour of Duty with new cosmetics.
The playable multiplayer characters can be unlocked in-game by earning 30,000 XP, bought with premium currency Iron, or purchased in the Operation 3: Gridiron Bundle which also includes the Hot Rod weapon skin set, 1000 Iron, and 30 days of boost for $19.99.
The Operation adds four multiplayer maps with returning favorite Canals, open jungle Pahanu, and two smaller maps for the 2v2 mode. The Escape mode will introduce six new hive throughout the season as well.
Gears 5 is also receiving 32 new achievements, totaled at 290 gamerscore, that can be retroactively. The list of challenges is split between Versus and the Horde/Escape modes.
Title Update 5 is dropping alongside the Operation, bringing a huge list of changes for all modes. The full patch notes include fixing Jack’s abilities in co-op campaign, improved bot behavior, physical changes to the Icebound map, and more.
The post Gears 5 Operation 3 Goes Live Alongside Huge Patch appeared first on Twinfinite.
Today Kotobukiya made a brand new plastic model kit available for pre-order that will please fans of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown.
The model kit portrays the same X-02S Strike Wyvern released last year, but this time around it’s in Osean color as opposed to Erusean.
You can find it on Ami Ami for 3,960 yen, which translates into approximately $37.
It’s prepainted and assembly can be done without glue thanks to pieces that will snap into place, so it’s a fairly easy kit. Yet, you should keep in mind that it comes with water-based decals, so that could be slightly more challenging for newbies compared to simple stickers.
Various “moving” parts like the variable wings, engine nozzles, and landing gear are simulated simply by replacement parts.
Incidentally, if you prefer the original version in Erusean colors, which has been sold-out for a while, that is also being reprinted and has its own pre-orders available.
The scale is a fairly small 1/144, while the release window for both models is August 2020.
You can check out a few pictures below.
Speaking of Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, we just learned that it’s getting more DLC aircraft, even if we still don’t know any details.
Master Chief voice actor, Steve Downes, has pledged to donate all proceeds from any paid message recordings he receives this month to Project C.U.R.E. For those who may be unaware, Master Chief is the main character of the Halo franchise, and is known for having a deep and gruff voice.
Downes can be commissioned on Cameo to record a personalized audio track or video. He uses the platform to make videos celebrating or just providing fans with some cool voice lines. This has been a stream of revenue for the voice actor, but now he intends on donating all his proceeds for the month of April.
— Steve Downes (@SteveDownes117) March 31, 2020
Project C.U.R.E focuses on strengthening health systems in under-resourced countries and is currently working on obtaining safety equipment like masks and gloves to health workers across America.
Continue Reading at GameSpotUntitled Goose Game was one of the big success stories of 2019, selling over 1 million copies and winning multiple game of the year awards. A large part of the game's success is due to its excellent, reactive soundtrack, and now you can listen to it anywhere.
The previously-announced Untitled Goose Game soundtrack is now available through Decca Classics, and it's available to stream on multiple platforms, or to buy on iTunes. You can preview each of the tracks below.
CD Projekt Red, the developer of the upcoming title Cyberpunk 2077, donated four million PLN ($950,000) to the Wielka Orkiestra Świątecznej Pomocy charity in their home country of Poland to help the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The studio made its donation public via LinkedIn and its Facebook page, as reported by IGN Poland. The board of directors and high-end shareholders split the donation with CD Projekt Red.
"We would also like to thank the entire medical service and everyone involved in the fight against the virus. Risking your own health, you fight for ours every day -- your hard work is our inspiration," said CD Projekt Red in a statement. "We also have an appeal to everyone who reads this message: take seriously what is happening around us. Listen to the recommendations of those who know about public health. Stay at home and don't let the virus spread further."
Continue Reading at GameSpotMount & Blade II: Bannerlord is now out in early access. And like many games that initially launch this way, it's got a few bugs and issues to be ironed out--which developer TaleWorlds Entertainment has already begun to tackle with a day two update.
The patch notes for the update showcase that this entire hotfix is geared towards bug fixes, including quite a few that address game crashes. Of note, the update takes care of several problems surrounding the Rival Gang quest, which has been causing issues for Bannerlord players since the game released in early access.
Patch e.1.0.1 is live, addressing some of the most pressing issues. Check the patch notes here: https://t.co/vXiSUWm0uQ
— Mount & Blade (@Mount_and_Blade) March 31, 2020
With this update, you should no longer have to worry about the bug that was causing Bannerlord to crash when attempting to do the quest or--if you managed to accept it--complete the quest. However, in the patch notes, TaleWorlds does warn that if you've already managed to complete Rival Gangs, "there is a chance your save is already broken." The developer is already working to address any future problems that a broken save might create.
Continue Reading at GameSpotGears 5 multiplayer design director Ryan Cleven has announced he's leaving Gears developer The Coalition to go on a sabbatical after what he described as six years that took a toll on him.
Writing on Twitter, Cleven said he's enjoyed his time at The Coalition but he has chosen to leave due to "personal issues" and the toll that his time at the studio took on him.
I hope you're enjoying Operation 3: Gridiron. It's been my favourite to work on and is closer to how I wished we'd launched. It's also my last with TC & Gears. Due to personal issues, I'll be going on sabbatical indefinitely. Thanks for joining me on this journey. See you online. pic.twitter.com/j8uev2RBOS
— Ryan Cleven (@nodezero) March 31, 2020
"The last six years have been amazing. Gears 4 and 5 have been the highlight of my development career, but those six years have also taken a toll," Cleven said. "Due to personal issues, I can't continue to work the way that I have. I need to [take] time for myself."
Continue Reading at GameSpotAnimal Crossing: New Horizons has an interesting economy, to say the least. If you've been playing the game for at least a few days, you've likely sold fruit, bugs, fish, and various random items to make a quick bell. This will get you by for a bit, but you'll need to get better income sources as your house payments start to balloon and you have to make larger infrastructure improvements around town. That's where the "stalk market"-- the game's take on the stock market--comes into play. Animal Crossing: New Horizons lets you trade in a high-risk and high-reward speculation system, and with interest rates recently reduced for savings, you'll need to make the most of it.
Named for the turnips you're buying and selling, the stalk market is a finicky thing. But you can stand to make major profits if you keep an eye on Timmy and Tommy's prices and know when to sell. We've rounded up everything you need to know about Animal Crossing's turnip trade, from how to buy turnips to the types of stalk market patterns you should look out for and our best tips.
For more financial tips, check out our guide to making money in New Horizons.
Continue Reading at GameSpotCall of Duty: Warzone is taking a strong stance against cheating in the free-to-play battle royale game. In a blog post, developer Infinity Ward said it has a "zero tolerance" stance for cheaters.
Infinity Ward has already permanently banned more than 50,000 players worldwide since Warzone launched. The company employs security teams that monitor gameplay and data around the clock to investigate and identify cheaters. These security teams "review all possible cheats and hacks," including aimbots and wallhacks, among other things. Looking ahead, Infinity Ward said it is aiming to improve its in-game reporting system to help speed up the process of wiping out cheaters.
Players can expect a "streamlined" UI in the future that should allow for a "more seamless reporting experience," Infinity Ward said. The studio did not share the full specifics of its plan, of course, as that could allow offenders to game the system. However, the developer said it analyzes and filters reports of potential cheating "based on key data."
Continue Reading at GameSpot
It’s spring and while new phones aren’t coming out in droves like they typically do this time of year, there is still an ever-increasing number of sleek and powerful handsets to choose from.
Gloomhaven, one of the most popular board games in years, launched its big new campaign Frosthaven today on Kickstarter. Things are, uh, going well.
Image: Infinity Ward/Activision
Image: Capcom
Image: Subset Games
