June 2020
Games industry speaks out in support of black communities amid violence in US
Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion news coming June 2
The first expansion is slated for release in late June, so it’s time to find out more about it
Animal Crossing: New Horizons wedding season event guide and rewards list
Help out the happy couple to get some cute items
Games that feel like going outside
Nothing can replace the actual experience, but this is as close as it gets
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics review: an embarrassment of riches
The perfect way to play — and learn — all sorts of games
These are the new fish and bugs for June in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
It’s shark season for Northern Hemisphere players
The Last Of Us Part II Interview – Adding Depth, Staying Grounded, And The Cost Of Revenge
15 Things I Learned From Two Hours Playing The Last Of Us Part II
Best guns in Warzone [Season 3]: Call Of Duty Warzone weapon tier list
Knowing the very best guns in Warzone like the back of your hand is a key skill in Modern Warfare’s uber-popular Battle Royale mode – and we’re here to help you hone that skill. Below you’ll find our tier list of all guns in Modern Warfare, along with detailed explanations and tips on the very best guns in Season 3 of Warzone.
Warzone weapon stats [Season 3]: recoil patterns, damage profiles, and more
If you’ve searched far and wide for up-to-date, concise, reliable Warzone weapon stats, then breathe a big sigh of relief: they’re waiting for you just below. This Warzone weapon stats guide features tables of data for each gun class, covering everything from damage profiles to handling stats, recoil patterns, damage dropoff values, and much more.
Warzone loadout guide [Season 3]: best loadouts for Grau, M13, MP5, M4A1, and more
Looking to create a new Warzone loadout for your favourite gun? You’ve come to the right place. Our Warzone loadout guide features top-tier loadout choices for 10 of the most popular weapons in Modern Warfare’s Battle Royale, from the Grau and M13 to the ever-popular HDR – and even one or two surprise weapons you might never have expected to be top-tier. We’ll go through all the attachments you’ll need for each loadout, and why these particular combinations make these weapons some of the very best weapons Warzone has yet seen.
Minecraft Dungeons guide: 30 top tips for beginners
In Minecraft Dungeons, you are a hero tasked with stopping the Arch-Illager and his army of monsters from taking over the Overworld. The journey will be a long one, spanning multiple difficulties, but there is plenty of loot out there to help you along the way.
If you are used to Minecraft’s focus on building and exploring, then the RPG style of this new game might be as alien to you as an Enderman in daylight. Help is at hand though as we will guide you through the monsters and the hidden treasures of Minecraft Dungeons. (more…)
Best Buy has two budget gaming laptops on sale today, but only one is worth buying
If you want a gaming laptop, but don’t want to go spend more than a grand doing so, then Best Buy is well worth a look today. The site has cut $130 and $150 off two gaming laptops which were both under $1000 to begin with, but take a closer look at their specs and you’ll see that one is much better value than the other.
Minecraft Dungeons multiplayer guide: crossplay explained
Minecraft Dungeons is a lot more fun, albeit a lot more challenging, when you’re playing with friends. Teaming up with another player is rather simple to set up, whether you’re playing with friends online or family members in the same household.
You do need to do a few things first in order to set up multiplayer, but once you have, you’ll be exploring levels with family and friends in no time. Just make sure to have each other’s back, as the monsters do get tougher when playing with other people.
But one of the bigger questions that Minecraft Dungeons players have asked is: when is crossplay coming to the game? Sadly, not yet. But if you’re using the same PC we have all of the tips you need to get started.
Minecraft Dungeons emeralds guide: best farming locations
When you kill an enemy in Minecraft Dungeons, there is a high chance that green gems will scatter everywhere. These are emeralds and they act as the game’s currency. So why do you need emeralds?
Well the main reason is to exchange them with the Blacksmith or the Wandering Trader at the camp for a random weapon, random armour piece, or random artefact. Since they are randomised and you’ll have the chance to get unique weapons quickly this way, you’ll want as many emeralds as possible.
Paradox have opened a new studio focused on grand strategy games
Paradox Interactive today announced the opening of Paradox Tinto, a new Spanish studio who will focus primarily on grand strategy games. Led by a Paradox veteran with two decades of gran estrategia under his belt, the studio based in Barcelona will initially help out with ongoing work on Europa Universalis IV then later start making new grand strategies of their own. No hints yet at what they might have in mind.
Wildfire review
Stealth games tend to come in two flavours. Nowadays most are systemic playgrounds, in which players are presented with a range of options for how to deal with any given situation, and errors are forgiven after the few seconds it takes a guard to decide it was probably rats. A handful of others are more rigid, with only one correct way to play, and each stumble from the shadows punished by death and loading screens.
I like both of these kinds of stealth games, though I prefer the former. My frustrations with Wildfire can largely be traced to not knowing which kind of stealth game it’s going to be in any given moment.
This 16GB Corsair RAM kit is the cheapest it's been for ages
If your after some more RAM for your PC, then you’d do well to have a gander at this 16GB Corsair Vengeance LPX set over on Amazon UK, where it’s the lowest price it’s been for months. Sure, at £65, the discount on Amazon’s product page only says you’re saving a fiver at the moment, but our price trackers show that you would have paid around £80 for it a couple of weeks ago, if not nearer £85 at the start of April. Indeed, the last time this 3200MHz set cost £65 was all the way back in January, making this a great time to snap it up if you’re in the middle of upgrading your PC.
Minecraft Dungeons armour guide: every perk listed
Without decent armour, it’s going to be quite difficult to survive the labyrinthine levels of Minecraft Dungeons. There’s a surprising number of different types of armour available, and they all give significant bonuses.
Some armour is focused on allowing your hero to take more hits from foes, while others give bonuses like give extra arrows or reduce cool down for artefacts. If you’re trying to make a particular build, it’s important to know which kinds of armour will bolster the abilities you want to improve.
Minecraft Dungeons weapons guide: every melee and ranged weapon listed
There are two types of weapons in Minecraft Dungeons: melee and ranged. Your hero will be using both in battle, either to attack hard-hitting enemies from afar or to slice up weaker foes up close.
There’s a big variety in the types of weapons you can wield: sickles that attack enemies up close very quickly, giant hammers that smash the ground, and ranged weapons that shoot arrows at a steady pace.
Outward’s Soroboreans DLC Launching This Month on PC, Console in July
After having been delayed from its original May 26 launch earlier this year, Nine Dot Studios has today confirmed a new release date for Outward’s anticipated Soroboreans DLC. The content is now due to launch on PC later this month, June 16, then PS4 and Xbox One, July 7.
If you’re not up to speed, Soroboreans is set to add 25% more content onto the base game, including a brand new open-world section of the overworld to explore that features a sprawling city inhabited by all-new NPCs to interact with.
There’s also new gameplay mechanics to learn, too, such as the corruption mechanic, and both an enchantment and new progression system. You can also expect more weapons and new enemy types. As with the base game, you’ll of course be able to experience it all co-operatively should you choose.
For an overview, check out the dev diary below narrated by Guillaume Boucher-Vidal, CEO at Nine Dots Studio.
Outward’s fusion of fantasy RPG and hardcore survival gameplay has proven a huge hit for Nine Dot Studios and publisher Koch Media, with the game selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. Back in February, Guillaume Boucher-Vida remarked that the game had been an “outstanding success.”
13 Very Good Video Games With Very Divisive Endings
Assassin’s Creed III
The first divisive ending that causes a lot of discussion has nothing to do with our boy Connor Kenway in Assassin’s Creed 3. His ending was more or less fine. Desmond’s, on the other hand, is one that gets mixed reviews.
The fact that he had no other choice but to sacrifice himself in an effort to save the world from the apocalypse would be fine if the actual modern-day plotline was fleshed out a bit more. All of this seemed a bit rushed and you can argue that killing off the main character when a series isn’t done never really goes well.
Codemasters Regains WRC License After 18 Years
The Last of Us Part 2's Combat Cycle: Beating Hearts and Butchery
Blizzard just published a free short story about one of World of Warcraft's coolest zones
The story of World of Warcraft marches ever on, into its inevitable....conclusion?
When will World of Warcraft "end" anyway? And will Activision give it the chance to bow out gracefully after all these years if the subscriber base starts to slip to unacceptable numbers? God I hope they'd give it the respect it deserves. For now I'm rambling: WoW is still going strong.
That aforementioned story continuation comes in the form of a short story called "A Moment in Verse," which deals with Suramar: one of the most interesting World of Warcraft zones in years (from a lore perspective). Suramar was introduced in the Legion expansion as a giant player hub, dealing with a whole new race of elves. This time around the focus is on a visitor and First Arcanist Thalyssra: who is an NPC in the game and a pivotal figure for Suramar's culture and historical record.
For reference, the story was penned by Madeleine Roux, who will be handling the Shadowlands prequel novel Shadows Rising, due in July before the "TBA 2020" expansion hits.
A Moment in Verse [Battle.net]
Sony says The Last of Us Part II spoilers have not affected pre-order momentum
Sony has said that upcoming sequel The Last of Us Part II continues to see huge demand in the way of pre-orders, despite recent leaks which spoiled the narrative of Naughty Dog's upcoming sequel for many players.
Speaking in an interview with CNET, PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan stated that European pre-order numbers for The Last of Us Part II currently exceed the pre-order numbers for 2018 mega-seller Marvel's Spider-Man, a title would eventually go on to become one of the best selling games of the year, as well as becoming the best selling super-hero adventure of all-time.
While there were concerns that the spoilers would lead to people changing their mind about purchasing Naughty Dog's utterly brutal-looking title, these concerns appear to be unfounded. The Last of Us Part II already looks set to be an incredible success for the studio. This is hardly a surprise, given the almost messianic love many players have for the original release and its cast of downtrodden characters.
Read more...
Review: Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is going to be a must-play title for a certain type of Switch owner. It's a successor to the quietly awesome DS collection with shades of Wii Sports and Wii Play.
Coming in skeptical of Clubhouse Games' longevity more than its bang-for-your-buck value, I wasn't sure I fit the bill, but after a few weeks with this Nintendo-produced compilation, I'm convinced.
It's not just the game selection, which is wide-ranging enough to reach beyond the usual board and card games with activities like darts, bowling, golf, and tank battles. It's not just the fact that I can play alone against multiple AI levels, or locally, or online, although that is a huge part of the appeal. It's the little details, too – the narrated game introductions, the super-chill soundtrack, and the glossy presentation.
You can tell Nintendo sunk serious time into this project as soon as you poke around the menus.
Read more...
3 New Animal Crossing: New Horizons Seasonal Items Are on Sale
3 Animal Crossing New Horizons seasonal items designed to celebrate Father's Day and Children's Day are now available in-game.
The post 3 New Animal Crossing: New Horizons Seasonal Items Are on Sale appeared first on Siliconera.
The Pokémon Company Announces 14.8% Increase in Profits, Marking Its Second-Biggest Year
Pokémon GO and Pokémon Sword/Shield boosted The Pokémon Company to $142.7 million earned in profit, marking its second-biggest year ever.
The post The Pokémon Company Announces 14.8% Increase in Profits, Marking Its Second-Biggest Year appeared first on Siliconera.
Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Gives a Tour of the ‘Dream School’ in Its First Trailer
The Yo-kai Watch Jam - Yo-kai Academy Y game's first trailer takes us on a tour of the 'dream school' and its many facilities.
The post Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Gives a Tour of the ‘Dream School’ in Its First Trailer appeared first on Siliconera.
Next Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Announcement Will Arrive on June 2, 2020
Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass news is on the way, with the Japanese Twitter account confirming a June 2, 2020 announcement.
The post Next Pokemon Sword and Shield Expansion Announcement Will Arrive on June 2, 2020 appeared first on Siliconera.
Get Wedding Season Items in Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ New Event
Get special Wedding Season items with the latest Animal Crossing: New Horizons event.
The post Get Wedding Season Items in Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ New Event appeared first on Siliconera.
Zynga acquires Toon Blast and Toy Blast developer Peak for $1.8 billion
CSR Racing and Words with Friends publisher Zynga has acquired Turkish mobile game company Peak for $1.8 billion. ...
Codemasters secures FIA World Rally Championship license from 2023
Dirt Rally developer Codemasters has secured the rights to the FIA World Rally Championship license from 2023. ...
Blog: Understanding open world level design - Part 3
Until now, I've mainly approached this subject from the angle of game and level design. But there is another angle that is gaining more importance in game design today: storytelling. ...
Pokémon Battle Academy Turns The Trading Card Game Into A Board Game
Learning a trading card game that’s been around for a couple of decades can be daunting. Learning a board game, with a box filled with everything one needs and succinct rules, is much easier. So The Pokémon Company made the Pokémon Trading Card Game into a board game.
Get up to £75 off games consoles, 4K TVs and more in today's Ebay sale
Stop me if you've heard this one before: Ebay UK is offering 20 per cent off goods from a range of retailers, including TVs and appliances from Hughes and refurbished games and consoles from Music Magpie. This isn't the first time we've seen this sale, but it's always worth checking because of the wide range of deals on offer and the opportunity to get some of the hottest tech at up to £75 off.
We've done most of the hard work for you too, with some of the best retailers and most promising deals highlighted below. Here's what you need to know!
Rules: The sale runs until 11:59 UK time on the 4th of June, but expect the most prized tech deals to go faster than that. The minimum spend is £20 and the maximum discount is £75, so the best deals are around the £375 mark (where you'll see the full 20 per cent discount and the full £75 off). Full terms and conditions are here, if you'd like to run the numbers yourself.