November 2020
Certain Online Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Gameplay Features Will Soon Disappear
The time of elves is over. In December, the time of online features in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor will also be over.
The post Certain Online Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Gameplay Features Will Soon Disappear appeared first on Siliconera.
F-15 For Microsoft Flight Simulator Looks Awesome in New Screenshots
Third-party developer DC Designs provided another update about the development of the F-15 package for Microsoft Flight Simulator.
The update shows more exterior and interior shots, showing more progress on the model.
You can check them out below.
Lone Survivor Is Getting An Expanded Remake On Switch And PC
Lone Survivor, the hit 2012 2D horror game, is getting an expanded, improved remake in 2021. Super Lone Survivor has been announced for PC and Switch, and developer Super Flat Games has said that it's being totally rebuilt in a new engine.
The game, which has been revealed with a new trailer, will feature a new scenario called "Ascending," which we don't not much about yet. The PC version will now support gamepads and ultrawide, as well as 4K effects. The Switch version will run at 60fps.
The developer says they are "considering difficulty modes," and the Ascending content is being designed because they have no interest in making a sequel, but still want to revisit the game.
You can check out the trailer, made in-engine, below.
Continue Reading at GameSpotHalo MCC Dev Speaks About The Upcoming Series X/S Improvements
While Halo Infinite has been delayed to 2021, Halo fans are getting a treat this year when Halo: The Master Chief Collection gets an update to take advantage of the power of the Series X/S consoles.
Producer Matt Hohl has now shared some new insight on the updates, and they sound exciting. In an interview on Halo Waypoint, Hohl first reminded players that the update will land on November 17, so it won't be there at launch, but fans won't have to wait long.
In terms of the upgrades, there is a "raw performance improvement across the board," Hohl said. If you have a supported display, you can play Halo: MCC at up to 120fps/4K on Series X and 1080p on Series S. "
Continue Reading at GameSpotVampire: The Masquerade Is Getting A Battle Royale Game
A new Vampire: The Masquerade title has been announced, and it's something a bit different from the others titles. The game, a battle royale set within the universe of the RPG series, has been unveiled by developer Sharkmob on the company's project page.
The currently unnamed game has a teaser trailer and a brief description on Sharkmob's website. It promises a gameplay scenario "where vampire sects are at war across the streets and rooftops of Prague," and that players will be able to either go solo or team up with others. There will also be a hostile "Entity", which is going after all vampires on the map.
You'll have access to supernatural powers and weapons, and can tap into blood reserves to make yourself stronger as you hunt down your foes from other factions.
You can watch the teaser trailer below. It does not contain gameplay footage, however.
As some comments on the video point out, open street warfare goes somewhat against the concept of the "Masquerade" of the game's title, which is meant to keep vampire affairs secret--but perhaps the game will deal with this in some way.
The game is currently tracking for a late 2021 release. Platforms have not been confirmed.
Top New Video Games Releasing On PS5, Series X/S, Switch, And PC This Month -- November 2020
New Releases usually highlights five big games in every episode, but that would be a real disservice this time, considering the imminent launches of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. You can also read our Xbox Series X review now, as well as our PS5 review. The next generation of consoles kicks off with heavy hitters like Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Dirt 5, Bugsnax, Demon's Souls, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and Godfall. Just after the launches comes Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. And since we can't leave Nintendo out, this episode also takes a look at Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. Here are the top video game releases on all the major platforms this month.
Assassin's Creed Valhalla -- November 10 (PS4, Xbox One, Series X/S, PC, Stadia) / November 12 (PS5)
Available on: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X/S, PC, Stadia
Monster Hunter Rise Shows Off The Great Sword In New Gameplay Footage
Monster Hunter Rise is coming to Switch on March 26, and fans of the series are wondering how it will differ from past entries--including the huge Monster Hunter World. Now, in a new video, developer Capcom has shown off an example of combat using the game's Great Sword--and how some of this entry's new mechanics will work.
This video details your palamute companions, rideable dogs who will fight alongside you. While riding your palamute, you can sharpen weapons, boost stamina, or use potions, meaning that you can move towards your target while also preparing for battle. The video also shows off more of your Wirebug, which is used to gain height and traverse through the environment--but which can also be used in combat.
The video below shows the first two stages of a battle between a hunter and Aknosom, a bird/wyvern hybrid. The fight shows how the Palamute dogs will jump into the battle and fight alongside you, and how the Wirebug can be used in combat to attack from above and escape danger.
Continue Reading at GameSpotActivision Blizzard Made $1.2 Billion From Microtransactions In Just Three Months
Activision Blizzard has reported new financial numbers for the July-September period, and it was a gigantic quarter for the gaming publisher. One section of the company's business that did particularly well was microtransactions. For the three-month period, Activision Blizzard made $1.2 billion from microtransactions, which are called "in-game net bookings."
This is a dramatic 69 percent improvement over the same period last year, when Activision Blizzard made $709 million from in-game net bookings.
Microtransactions are very big business for Activision Blizzard. For the latest reporting period, Activision Blizzard made $1.95 billion in revenue from all of its business combined, so the $1.2 billion figure from microtransactions represents more than half of the company's total revenue.
Continue Reading at GameSpotThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope's End Credits Reveal House of Ashes
Sega Releases New Trailer for Phantasy Star Online 2 Senran Kagura Crossover
No word on a western release, yet.
The post Sega Releases New Trailer for Phantasy Star Online 2 Senran Kagura Crossover appeared first on Siliconera.
Mary Skelter Finale for PS4 & Nintendo Switch Gets New Trailer Showing Story & Gameplay
Today Compile Heart released another trailer of the upcoming dungeon-crawling JRPG Mary Skelter Finale.
The video is titled “Story Trailer” but it actually shows more gameplay than cutscenes.
You can check it out below.
Mary Skelter Finale has been delayed to November 5., 2020, It’ll come for PS4 and Nintendo Switch.
The game includes the adventure mode of both Mary Skelter: Nightmares and Mary Skelter 2, on top of the visual novel Love Prison Tower Mary Skelter, which was a pre-order bonus of the second game. This way, those who haven’t played the other games can still get the full experience.
At the moment, no western release has been announced, so we’ll have to wait and see whether Idea Factory international will announce it down the line.
If it does come west, it’ll also be interesting to see whether it’ll end up losing the PS4 version in the west, as it happened with its predecessor.
All Voice Commands and Phrases for Phasmophobia
Star Citizen Players Have Elected Their New Imperator
Star Citizen developer Cloud Imperium Games has announced the results of the Imperator election deciding who will lead the United Empire of Earth going forward.
The election allowed players to pick among several candidates and elect the new Imperator, directly influencing the upcoming lore of the game as its timeline continues.
The winner is the independent candidate Laylani Addison, known for her support of education and AI research.
Below you can read her inaugural speech.
“Thank you, Commissioner Salonen. Let me start by thanking my campaign staff all across the Empire. There are too many people to name, right now, but none of this would be possible without your hard work and dedication. Truly, I cannot thank you enough for helping turn our improbable dream into a reality. My love and thanks to my dedicated partner and campaign manager, Jesse. I am here now because of your belief in me. To our daughter Finley, thank you for your patience and the joy you bring me every day. I also want to thank the people of the UEE. Words fail to express the deep sense of pride and gratitude I’m feeling right now. Serving as your Imperator will be the honor of a lifetime, and I promise to dedicate myself to building a better Empire for all.
Make no mistake, I’m under no illusions that this will be easy. For years I was told that the deeply rooted political parties and corporate interests were too powerful, too entrenched, for an independent voice to be heard. Well, we sure proved them wrong and showed everyone where the true power lies in this empire — with the people!
Have you played… Fortnite: Battle Royale?
The top 10 games coming to PC in November
Sure, you could drop a few hundo on one of those spang new consoles to play all the games coming out in November, but why would you? Every exclusive’s been delayed and all the best November releases are coming to PC anyway.
What’s that? You don’t know what video games are coming out during the penultimate month of this hell year? Well, let me tell you!
Cyber Monday 2020 CPU deals: the best Intel and AMD deals
There weren’t many good [cms-block] CPU deals this year, but today’s Cyber Monday sale has luckily brought us a few more, including a sizeable discount on Intel’s entry-level 10th Gen Core i3 processor. To help you get the best price on your new Intel or AMD CPU, we’ve rounded up all the best Cyber Monday CPU deals happening in the UK and the US. Most of this year’s Cyber Monday CPU deals are limited to the premium end of the price spectrum, unfortunately, but if you’re looking to pick up one of Intel’s new 10th Gen Comet Lake CPUs this is still a good time to do so.
Animal Crossing New Horizons is going cheap at John Lewis right now
Perhaps in anticipation of all the Black Friday sales on their way, John Lewis have lowered the price of Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Switch down to a very reasonable £36.99. Considering that New Horizons was one of 2020's biggest games, isn't exactly old, and that Nintendo hates lowering its prices, this might be the best price we see on it for the foreseeable future.
New Horizons took the world by storm back in March with its dependable gameplay and lovable characters, in which players build and maintain their own little island community in real time. If you ever needed a nice escape to get through long holidays or winter nights, this would be it.
John Lewis haven't made it clear how long this deal will last for, but it's worth grabbing because it seems unlikely you'll get a copy for a significantly lower price at any time in the immediate future.
Vampire: The Masquerade is spawning a battle royale?
While Bloodlines 2 is the big Vampire: The Masquerade game folks are waiting for, it’s far from the only game in the tabletop RPG setting, with the newest and weirdest being… a battle royale? Huh. Sharkmob, a Swedish studio founded by former The Division devs, this weekened announced a yet-unnamed battle royale that’ll see vampires scrapping through the streets and over the rooftops of prague. Huh. A surprising use of the license. It’s due next year, and all they have to show for now is a cinematic trailer.
Halloween Was Supposed To Be Virtual In Tokyo But Wasn't
In years past, massive crowds descended on Tokyo’s Shibuya. But this year, with the global pandemic, things were supposed to be different. They were supposed to be virtual.
Man Defies The Odds, Figures Out How To Enjoy Cheese With Chicken
Times are tough. The world needs inspiration. The world needs a hero. YouTuber Tasty Hoon’s time has come.
Vampire: The Masquerade Battle Royale Revealed For 2021
PS5 Custom Plate Maker Cancels All Orders After 'Discussions' With Sony Legal Team
PS5 DualSense Doesn't Work Natively With PS4... But It Does With PS3
Someone imagined a way to adopt abandoned Among Us children
Given the enormous amount of murder that takes place in the average Among Us game, I can't say its spaceships are particularly child-friendly, but apparently that's not enough to stop some crewmates from bringing their kids to work. One of the cosmetic items in Among Us is a mini crewmate pet that follows you around until you die - and will then sit sadly on the floor while you fly around as a ghost. As a result, some games end up littered with orphaned children after their parents have been murdered: but one Among Us fan decided to get creative and imagine a better future.
Unity developer Ahmad Creations has made a video showcasing an "adopt" mechanic for Among Us, which was created by partially remaking the game using the Unity engine. Ahmad Creations then added custom art and coding to get the adopt function to work - and then, of course, edited the final video together. The end result is a trail of little Among Us children, looking significantly happier than when they were abandoned on the cold Skeld floor.
"I hate to admit how long this took me to make", Ahmad Creations said in a hugely popular Reddit post sharing the video. Naturally, I asked how long it took to make.
Leaked video shows PS5 Spider-Man: Miles Morales loading in just seven seconds
A video has emerged showing Spider-Man: Miles Morales loading in just seven seconds on a PlayStation 5.
That's from pressing play on the PS5 home screen to the game's main menu popping up. From there, loading a save and getting back into the game itself takes just under two seconds.
The origin of the low quality video is unclear, although it was posted to reddit over the weekend and has already seen nearly 4m views on Imgur. EDIT: It looks like it's Norwegian.
Shops look to click-and-collect to save next-gen console sales during lockdown
Shops are this morning scrambling to work out how to sell next-gen consoles during the impending second lockdown.
The new four-week lockdown comes into force in England from Thursday. The Xbox Series X and S goes on sale on 10th November, with the PlayStation 5 following on 19th.
According to the new rules, non-essential shops must close to the public, but they are allowed to stay open for deliveries and to offer a click-and-collect service.
How a visually impaired streamer hunts shiny Pokémon
Shiny hunting is a task only the most dedicated Pokémon players dare undertake. Shiny Pokémon are an incredibly rare phenomenon, identical to their regular counterparts in all but colour. In pre-internet times, they were nothing more than a playground myth, but nowadays self-confessed "shiny hunters" spend hundreds of hours hatching eggs to the extent they even have representation in the anime.
As with all things, many dedicated players livestream their hunts to legions of avid fans. Tony Olabode, better known on Twitch and YouTube as Saiyan4414, is one such streamer. He mostly hunts legendary Pokémon, which involves resetting the game after encountering the Pokémon for hours on end, because each time there is a 1/4000 chance for it to be shiny. It's a test of patience for any player, but for Tony, it's also a test of skill. Tony is partially sighted, so while he can see some shapes, he struggles to read the game's text and make out colours - especially when a shiny Pokémon doesn't look that different from its regular counterpart.
So, he shiny hunts by sound. When a shiny Pokémon appears, it sparkles and glows. However, most players won't notice that these sparkles also let out a unique noise. That's what Tony is listening for, and that's how he knows if he's found a shiny Pokémon or not.
Demon’s Souls Soundtrack Will Have a Physical Release in November for Japan
Japanese audiences will be able to get their hands on a Collector's Edition of the Demon's Souls original soundtrack soon.
The post Demon’s Souls Soundtrack Will Have a Physical Release in November for Japan appeared first on Siliconera.
Octopath Traveler: Conquerors of the Continent Has Surpassed 5 Million Users
A special campaign is now underway in Octopath Traveler Conquerors of the Continent to celebrate this milestone.
The post Octopath Traveler: Conquerors of the Continent Has Surpassed 5 Million Users appeared first on Siliconera.
Ciel Nosurge DX & Ar Nosurge DX for PS4, Switch, & PC Reveal New Trailer & First Gameplay
Today, during a livestream from Japan, Koei Tecmo revealed new footage of the remasters of the Surge Concerto series, Ciel Nosurge DX and Ar Nosurge DX.
We get to see the first trailer related to both games, and then we move on to the first gameplay of Ciel Nosurge DX.
After that, we also see gameplay of Ar Nosurge DX, including exploration and battle.
Atelier Ryza 2 Reveals New Gameplay, Theme Song, Digital Deluxe Editions, & Inevitable Season Pass
Today, during a livestream from Japan, Koei Tecmo revealed new footage and details of its upcoming JRPG Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy.
We get to see a look at dungeon gameplay on top of plenty of costumes and even battle.
You can check both videos out below on top of the reveal of the theme song “Somewhen, Somewhere…” that came at the same time from the western arms of Koei Tecmo.
Dirt 5 Review – Stripped-back Racing
Dirt 5 on PlayStation 4
Codemasters‘ Dirt series has seen its fair share of changes over the years. From the Colin McRae beginnings through to a separation into two sub-series, it’s a franchise with a lot on offer. For Dirt 5, it’s more accessible than ever, leaving traditional rallying to its sister, but still ensuring you hit the asphalt for more than a second or two.
With the introduction of the Dirt Rally series, the core Dirt series is now more casual by design. The former is the home of long, intense events that test your focus, precision driving, and tight control. Rally is now the hardcore simulation series, leaving Dirt to offer the more traditional, pick-up-and-play racing experience.
As a result, Dirt 5’s gameplay has been tweaked from what Dirt fans might expect. It’s not nearly as punishing, with throttle control and precise braking things of the past. You can hurtle around every track at full pelt, flooring the accelerator between each corner.
Cars also stick to the track perfectly, allowing you to satisfyingly get the back out around corners – as it should do on dirt tracks – yet not forcing you to contend with too much under or oversteer. Every vehicle in Dirt 5 feels sturdy; you can throw them around and be confident that they won’t bite back.
It still feels like a Codemasters game though. Driving isn’t floaty like it is in the likes of Need for Speed; you still have to correct steering and fight around icy corners at times, but it’s not demanding. A great balance has been found between making the gameplay engaging but accessible.
Get RGB RAM on the cheap with this 16GB Crucial Ballistix kit
The early [cms-block] deals continue this week, and one of today’s highlights is this 16GB Crucial Ballistix RAM kit clocked at a nippy 3000MHz for £65 over on Amazon UK. This is the cheapest this set has ever been, according to my Amazon price tracker, as it’s cost £78 or more for most of 2020. If you’ve ever wanted some rainbow RAM on the cheap, this is definitely worth considering.
New From Kotaku's Reader-Run Community: A Higurashi When They Cry Retrospective, And More
Today’s selection of articles from Kotaku’s reader-run community: More Than Deformed Murder-Poppets: A Higurashi When They Cry Retrospective • TAY’s 2020 Scary Story Contest Winner • TAY Retro: Mega Drive - Daimakaimura (Ghouls ‘n Ghosts) [TV Commercial (JP)]
I Love How Banjo-Kazooie’s Music Changes As I Play
Welcome to Morning Music, Kotaku’s daily hangout for folks who love video games and the cool-ass sounds they make. Today we’re hopping into a blue backpack that is…being carried by a bear?
PSVR On PS5 Seemingly Currently Available Only Via Backwards Compatibility
Dirt 5 review - enjoyably old school arcade racing
Dirt has been many things in its lifetime, but here's a first: a mainline entry developed outside of Codemasters' Southam campus as its Cheshire studio takes point, giving us the series' trademark raucous off-roading through an all-new filter. The results are fascinating, if not always entirely convincing. With the Dirt Rally series picking up the more serious and sim-minded point-to-point action, Dirt 5 is a pure arcade racer, packed full of spectacle and a smattering of smart ideas, and while some parts ring a little hollow, others can still leave one hell of an impression.
It's a multidisciplinary racer, and a patchwork of different influences, but by far the biggest is Dirt 2 - that loudest, most raucous of Dirt games, with its music festival framework that the original Dirt 2 team would go on to develop further with the Forza Horizon series. In Dirt 5, that festival vibe pervades - you're given a customisable lanyard and access to a lattice of various events split over five chapters, all underscored by a light story headed up by Nolan North and Troy Baker.
Don't run away just yet, though. If it sounds a little off then it most definitely is, and if you were concerned that Dirt 5's initial announcement led with this bizarre little inclusion, I totally get it. So I'm pleased to say it's almost entirely inconsequential, confined to some light babbling in the background hosted by Donut Media's James Pumphrey and Nolan Sykes, with North and Baker making what amounts to cameos in a series of podcasts (there's a further cameo from W Series champion Jamie Chadwick, who does a sterling job of pretending to phone in from a festival in Nevada). It all builds to a showdown that can't help but feel a mite anti-climactic, though I'm more than okay with that.
A Battle Royale Vampire: The Masquerade Game Announced
With the future of Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 less clear than before, a new vampy experience is rearing its head for a chance to shine. In a move no one really could have predicted, a battle royale Vampire: The Masquerade game has been announced.
The teaser trailer for the vampire-driven battle royale experiences comes by way of Sharkmob with a teaser trailer showing off what the new game will have to offer. “Experience the next thrilling evolution of Battle Royale multiplayer action games set in the cult classic Vampire: The Masquerade universe where vampire sects are at war across the streets and rooftops of Prague,” reads the description. “Choose your playstyle, go solo or together, battling rivals and the hostile Entity who’s hellbent on exterminating all vampires. Use your supernatural powers, weapons and blood to become stronger in order to hunt, fight and survive the night.”
Click here to watch embedded mediaThe battle royale Vampire: The Masquerade game will be Sharkmob's first major game following the studio's debut back in 2017. Sharkmob is made up of a pretty impressive dev team, including names from both IO Interactive and Massive Entertainment.
Ubisoft walks back statement that several of their games won't work on PS5
While our eyes are collectively on Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which we knew would work on the PS5, Ubisoft delivered some bad news (in a now-defunct Ubisoft Connect news post) regarding a few legacy titles last week: noting that they would not be compatible with the PS5.
Now, like several publishers in regards to the mystery of PS5 backward compatibility, it wasn't exactly clear what that meant. Would it boot at all? Are there unsupported bugs? Who knows at this point, as Ubisoft has pulled the list entirely.
Following a bevy of inquiries over the weekend regarding this list, Ubisoft has informed The Verge that they have removed it with the following statement: "We have pulled the Ubisoft Connect article and forum post regarding backwards compatibility for the time being as there may be inaccuracies involving the Ubisoft titles that will be playable on PS5." Allegedly, Ubisoft will have a "correct list of games" this week. So...they don't know right now?
This whole situation is very odd and a lot less black and white than it is on the Xbox ecosystem. While Smart Delivery and "500K+ hours of testing" reign on Xbox, Sony had been far more vague in terms of what will work since backward compatibility was announced.
I think what's happening is that a lot of compatibility checks are coming down to the wire on PS5. Developers seem to be scrambling to try and make sense of it, so hopefully we don't have more of these strange blog posts now that we're roughly a week away from the next-gen launch.