November 2020

Reputation, trivia, and a time travel party

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Parcel Fox drivers deserve hazard pay, though

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Call of Duty: Warzone will stick with its existing engine for the upcoming Black Ops Cold War integration, an Activision employee has said.

In a post on ResetEra, a user called ShutterMunster, who is verified on the site as an Activision art lead, stepped in to say "there will not be an engine shift for Warzone". Eurogamer has asked Activision for comment.

There had been speculation about whether Warzone would move over to the engine powering Black Ops Cold War after Activision confirmed Cold War's integration with Warzone kicks off in December 2020.

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Only a few days remain until players can drop into Apex Legends Season 7 for the first time, in a season that promises a glitzy new map, clubs, a new legend and the game's very first vehicles. But if you're struggling to wait until 4th November, then hopefully this gameplay footage will keep you going.

Following the release of an official gameplay trailer along with previews and interviews on Friday, those who attended the preview session are now allowed to share their footage: so you can take a look at mine in the compilation video below. In a pool full of professional Apex streamers and QA staff, I did my best, but thankfully Season 7 also has a map preview mode which allows you to roam around without fear of being shot. Which was very much needed.

Obviously, one of the most exciting new additions is new map Olympus, which was originally a Titanfall 3 concept before the artwork was used to inspire the map for Apex Legends. In Apex lore, Olympus once hosted the best minds in the Outlands until a major explosion forced everyone to abandon the city (it's also the home town of Lifeline and Octane, and the place where Revenant murdered Loba's parents). The map boasts ramps and roads for players to test the new Trident vehicles, and is packed with glamorous shopping centres and modern homes. There's also a Hadron Collider-style portal which pops you out into a massive dome of energy, which probably gives you a clue as to why the city was evacuated.

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Microsoft has confirmed the entertainment apps available on Xbox Series X and S at launch.

Apps already available on Xbox One will be available on Xbox Series X and S, Microsoft said. These include the likes of Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Spotify, Sky Go, Now TV and Amazon Prime Video.

But also out on 10th November is the Apple TV app. That's for Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.

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The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope is available now following the launch of Man of Medan, but there is more horror yet to come. Supermassive Games has revealed the next chapter on the way with a new trailer showing off House of Ashes. While the reveal trailer is short, it does bode well for continuing on the trend seen in the anthology thus far. 

“They say the souls of the dead went deep underground to the House of Ashes, where they lived on dust plagued by the demons of the underworld,” says the foreboding narration. For those that haven't checked out the anthology's previous two games with Man of Medan and Little Hope, no worries. This is an anthology, which means it's not a continuous storyline. While each game offers something unique for horror fans, it's not required to play the previous two in order to enjoy what House of Ashes has to offer. 

Check out the official chapter story reveal in the video below: 

Within the opening moments of Watch Dogs: Legion, you learn you can equip your agents with masks. Ubisoft is using some of these in-game personas to illustrate the importance of wearing a mask during the Covid-19 pandemic. The short video (which you can see below) is on Watch Dogs: Legion's official Twitter and Instagram channels, and will hopefully be a nice reminder for people that they should wear a mask and always have one on hand when going into public spaces.

Covid-19 cases continue to surge in the United States and in other parts of the world, and we all need to do our part to limit its spread and keep the people around us safe – whether it's family, friends, or even strangers who we just happen to be standing in line with.

Watch Dogs: Legion released last Thursday on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and is the third installment in the series, set in a dystopian version of London that is ruled by a militaristic company. Enhanced next-generation versions of Legion will be available at launch for both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Halloween as a holiday may be over, but our love for some of the coolest gaming costumes lives on forever in our hearts. From one gamer's pun-y take on the "Gamer Grill" gamer girl meme to some seriously impressive Miles Morales love, here are some of our favorite Halloween costumes we've come across. 

First up, I've got to give a nod to r/the_mess_express because we've seen a million iterations of this meme, but this costume is beyond perfect: 

My Halloween costume!! I’m a gamer grill!! [OC] from r/gaming

But wait, there's more: 

There's a joke among MMO players that every single release in the same space is dubbed a "WoW Killer."

One of the more popular podcasts on the game is even based around that concept! The reality is that although there are plenty of MMOs that have carved out their own audience over the past decade and change, none of them have actually "killed" World of Warcraft. It still reigns as one of the most popular subscription-based MMOs on the planet, and based on a statement from Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, that train isn't slowing down.

Speaking on a recent earnings call, Kotick noted that the overall subscriber-base "doubled" since the launch of WoW Classic, and the pre-sales of Shadowlands are "the highest we've seen at this stage ahead of any release." Kotick also explains that this is one of the sole franchises that grants Activision "over a billion" in revenue annually: alongside of Call of Duty and Candy Crush.

For as much talk as there was among some of the playerbase that Battle for Azeroth "ruined" WoW, it seems like Classic was there to pick up the slack, and the hype is present yet again for a new expansion. Will WoW ever die? Well, nothing lasts forever! I've been wondering how Blizzard will approach a potential "WoW 2" for ages now, but it seems like the gravy train is going to keep rolling for years to come.

It really begs the question of whether or not Overwatch needed a sequel (hey, remember Overwatch 2 kind of just exists right now?), and has me curious as to how that project will play out. I can see them scrapping it and just incorporating it into the base game.

This weekend saw the Splatoon 2 community take to the ink-stained arenas once again in a replay of another classic splatfest. Entering into the spirit of the season, players battled it out over the most important Halloween question of all: Trick or Treat?

Once the dust had settled, Marina's Team Treat successfully retained the crown, once again securing the victory over Pearl's Team Trick. While Team Trick won 58% of the public vote, Team Treat captured both Normal and Pro play points for the 2 - 1 victory, cementing - once and for all - that Splatoon players are all about getting hold of those sweet treats.

In addition, Nintendo released some fun new artwork showing Marina and Pearl, along with squid sisters Callie and Marie, chilling at the dining table in what appears to be a spooky mansion. To be frank, it doesn't look like our pals are enjoying themselves, I'd hazard a guess that someone "edgy" brought Cards Against Humanity to the shindig. Regardless, we didn't know how much the planet needed Goth Marina until this very moment.

We knew it was coming, but thanks to a recent trailer from Sega, it's more real now.

Phantasy Star Online 2 will be hosting a Senran Kagura crossover this month. Like most of the lighter crossovers that don't involve significant bits of content, this one is mostly cosmetic, offering outfits, emotes, and items. You can get a quick look at the crossover stuff in the first few minutes of the below video. In truth, this month is also a dual-crossover period, featuring scenarios from the kaiju anime SSSS.Gridman.

I kind of love that Sega will go to any lengths to include basically anything even remotely anime related in PSO 2, without letting it completely dominate the tone of the game. These crossovers are generally fleeting, with the exception of having to see some of the more popular out-there outfits regularly in the Ark Ship hub.

But while I'm still enjoying myself, I'm really anxious for Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis next year on Series X. Given that the game is nearly eight years old at this point (and still good!), it'll be nice to catch a complete refresh.

In a surprising announcement, Swedish studio Sharkmob has revealed it's currently at work on an all-new battle royale title set within the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. The untitled new project is currently in development for a late-2021 release, although no specific platforms were announced.

"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 an outline on Sharkmob's website. "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."

This odd endeavor is one of a number of titles set in the Gothic tabletop world of Vampire: The Masquerade. Last month saw the launch of the next chapter in Draw Distance's visual novel series Shadows of New York, while 2021 will also see the long-awaited release of Paradox's open-world RPG Bloodlines 2, which was recently pushed back from its initial winter 2020 release date.

You can check out a teaser trailer for Sharkmob's  new title below.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor was a really strange game that came out of nowhere in 2014.

Although many designers hit considerable roadblocks making big changes to Middle-earth source material, Warner Bros. coasted into massive departures from Tolkien's legendarium with ease; both from a practical and thematic standpoint. It was a weird release, made even stranger by a controversy regarding some content creator's failure to disclose that they couldn't disparage the game in exchange for cash. Whatever the case may have been some people enjoyed it; but come December 31 of this year, future generations may enjoy it a bit less.

An ominous message recently apparated on various digital marketplaces for the game, warning that come that date, several features will be removed from the game (presumably because WB doesn't want to keep paying for online features). Those features include the Nemesis Forge mechanic (read: you can't transfer your nemesis enemies into the sequel) and a lack of Vendetta missions (hunting orcs via your friends list) and leaderboards. WBPlay is also being removed, but as a pity prize you're getting "Orc Hunter" and "Gravewalker" epic runes.

I always felt that the nemesis system was half-baked, but come 2021 it'll be even less appealing. You can find the full rundown of the removed features below. For now, the follow-up release Shadow of War is not impacted.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor [Steam]

A release date was announced, then redacted for Final Fantasy IX physical Switch copies. Check out the details, dates, and shop links.

The post Final Fantasy IX Physical Switch Carts Might Release Soon (Update) appeared first on Siliconera.

Ion, short for Ionasal.kkll.Preciel., stars in the first trailer for Ciel nosurge DX and Ar nosurge DX.

The post First Trailer for Ciel nosurge DX and Ar nosurge DX and New Gameplay Featuring Ion Revealed appeared first on Siliconera.

Final Fantasy XIV is getting a new set of Eorzea School Uniform costumes set to debut in Korea next month.

The post Final Fantasy XIV Eorzea School Uniform Revealed and Coming First to Korea appeared first on Siliconera.

Rift Apart will be a generation apart as well.

The post Insomniac Confirms Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart Will Be a PS5 Exclusive appeared first on Siliconera.

Log in for some food and enchancement material following the Genshin Impact Amber AR Event!

The post Genshin Impact Packs Lunches and Merch for Amber AR Contest Winners appeared first on Siliconera.

While carved pumpkins and turnips have barely begun to rot on windowsills, Christmastime is in full swing as far as the shops are concerned. There’s nowt else on this year so sure, let’s break out the old Christmas traditions already. And where better to start than Skeal? Pop on your mittens, brew a flask of cocoa, and hit the slopes in this free game to experience the snow, sleigh bells, power, pleasure, and pain of the Yuletide season. It’s the best bit of daft wordplay this side of a Christmas cracker.

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Horror anthology The Dark Pictures is apparently jumping even further back in time for its next spook story. Little Hope just launched last week, taking a group of students and their professor to a town haunted by the ghosts of witch trials past. A post-credits scene in Little Hope contains a teaser trailer for the next chapter: House Of Ashes, which will haul some modern-day military folks out to be haunted by Sumerian myths.

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Fans are always finding new and interesting ways to blend their favorite properties, and one in particular has brought True Detective and Ghost of Tsushima together in an amazing way.

In a video posted to YouTube on Nov. 2, user Fieldhouz offered a reimagining of the True Detective opening from season one using characters from the game.

As with the original, images can be seen in silhouettes of the title’s primary cast, with the images relating to key moments or events from the story. Images of Jin’s past memories of growing up beside his uncle play out over his silouhette, while Yuna’s contains images of her younger brother Taka following his rescue from imprisonment by the Mongols.

Not only that, but the credits for the game play in place of the credits for the show. Vocal talents like Daisuke Suji, Sumalee Montano, Leonard Wu and the rest of the English cast are all given their proper due, with their names appearing next to the silhouettes of their characters or alongside images of key moments they appear in during the game.

To top it all off, the original theme song – “Far From Any Road” by The Handsome Family – is playing all the while, and fits perfectly with the morose tone of the characters.

It’s an outstanding video, and any fan of Ghost of Tsushima will want to check it out in full down below.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

It’s been a long time since we got a brand-new Crash Bandicoot game, but that’s exactly what 2020 and developer Toys for Bob has brought us

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is only a few weeks out from its launch, and Ubisoft has released a new cinematic T.V. spot to make sure fans’ hype is to the max.

Streamed by the publisher and developer via YouTube on Nov. 2, the spot sees a narrator detail the basic premise of the game’s plot to images of the main character’s Viking tribe. Following an unknown disaster, the tribe found their idyllic life thrown into disarray. Fortunately, they were guided by a sign from their gods to travel toward new lands where they might once again find a peaceful life.

This appears to be easier said than done though. Right after the narrator completes his explanation, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’s main character and their tribe is seen in combat with an army from the lands they wish to settle on. Flaming arrows are set loose, weapons clash in scattered battles, and bodies litter the ground as far as the eye can see.

The Vikings push on though, with the narrator chiming in to say that they will show their gods that they will achieve victory and claim their new home.

It’s a grand introduction to the premise of the game, and the cinematics used certainly paint the concept in the best light possible. Those looking forward to the game will want to check out the full spot below.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition will be coming soon to PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

To learn more about the upcoming release, Twinfinite interviewed director Masato Yagi and producer Hokuto Okamoto.

The developers talked about the new release, its features, the work on the voice-overs, and more.

Giuseppe: Many PS4 and PC players already have the original Dragon Quest XI and have already played them to completion, me included. What would you say are the most important factors that should tempt us to buy the Definitive Edition?

Masato Yagi: We have made many adjustments that make playing all aspects of the game more convenient, from movement to battle, to crafting, etc., so players will be motivated to explore every corner of Dragon Quest XI’s world.

There are also additional new stories featuring your allies, so players will be able to delve even deeper into their various personalities.

On top of that, the 2D mode doesn’t just let you enjoy a retro feel but also allows you to make new discoveries about things you wouldn’t have noticed in the 3D mode, so I really want existing players to have a go on that too.

Giuseppe: Many JRPG series have shifted toward action, while Dragon Quest XI has remained faithful to its turn-based roots, which I personally love. Do you think today’s audience is still receptive to turn-based RPGs?

Masato Yagi: You do have to adjust with the times, but there are ways to play other than action, so I feel that this style is still something that modern gamers can appreciate.

Today Gearbox Publishing and Counterplay Games revealed the system requirements for the PC version of Godfall.

The reveal was made via the official Twitter account of the game, showcasing both the minimum and recommended specs.

While the game’s demands are fairly modest in terms of CPU and GPU, it’s quite hungry in terms of memory.

You can check everything out below.

Regardless of where you live in the world, 2020 has been a trying year. Fires, floods, pandemic, and civil unrest are just some of the hurdles we have all had to try and overcome, and so it would be nice to end the year on a more positive note. For many gamers, securing Sony’s eagerly anticipated new console, the PS5, offered just such an opportunity.

But alas, demand is high, and supply is limited. Pre-orders for the console went live Sep. 17 and sold out within hours worldwide. Even for those lucky few that got in early, actually receiving the console on launch day (Nov. 12 for the U.S. and select territories Nov. 19 for the rest) isn’t exactly a given, what with the state of logistics in 2020.

Here in Australia, EB Games (a subsidiary of GameStop) are one of the major suppliers of the new console and have, for a long time, been the most recognizable video game retailer in the country. It was through EB that I placed a pre-order of my own.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was employed by EB Games in a casual capacity back in 2013 and actually worked on the day the current generation of consoles, the PS4 and the Xbox One, launched.

It was an exciting and fun experience, in that special kind of chaotic way that anyone who has worked retail sales on a holiday can attest to, but I’ll admit that might just be nostalgia speaking.

I was a part of a fantastic team, and we had enough stock to meet the number of pre-orders sold, but even then, we still had to turn away dozens of disappointed customers, and not all of them went quietly.

I think most people understand by now that the current state of things is far from usual, and that actually getting a next-generation console is going to be more difficult this time around, at least for the first few months.

Today Square Enix announced with a press release the launch of a demo of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition.

The demo is rolling out today for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

It offers up to ten hours of content from the beginning of the game.

The demo serves to showcase the features added in the Definitive Edition, which may be useful for fans who previously player the game on PS4 and PC.

Progress from the demo will transfer to the final game and completing its story will grant you three Seed of Skill that can be used either in the demo or in the final game. These grant an extra skill point upon use.

You can check out a trailer celebrating the demo below.

If you’d like to learn more about Dragon Quest XI, you can check out our review of the original game.

Today Microsoft announced the streaming services that will be available on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S at launch.

First of all, all the apps available for Xbox One as of now will also be on the two new consoles when they release.

These include Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NBC Peacock, Vudu, FandangoNow, Twitch, Sky Go, NOW TV, Sky Ticket and more.

On top of that, today we learn that Apple TV will also come to Xbox when Xbox Series X and S launch on November 10, and will be available on Xbox One as well.

Users will be able to subscribe to Apple TV+ directly on their Xbox console for  $4.99 per month with a seven-day free trial.

The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will release on November 10.

Recently, we read that the two consoles will be the only ones in the next-generation to fully support all the RDNA 2 capabilities revealed by AMD.

We also heard from Microsoft’s executives about their predictions for the launch of the new consoles.

On top of that, we know that Microsoft will host a launch celebration for its new consoles on their release day starting at 11:00 am PST/2:00 pm EST.

The post Apple TV And More Streaming Apps Coming on Xbox Series X & S at Launch appeared first on Twinfinite.

Apex Legends Season 7 is going live this week, on Nov. 4. It’s right around the corner, so EA is keeping the trailers rolling. Today’s trailer gives us a detailed look at all of Horizon’s abilities before she joins the rest of the Apex Legends roster.

A gameplay video showcasing the new map, Olympus, was released recently, and now, the focus is on the new Legends, Horizon.

Horizon’s tactical ability allows her to throw down a device that launches anyone near it high into the air. It’s a bit like Octane’s jump pad, except the lift is vertical.

Her passive ability allows players to gain more control over how they land and maneuver in the air, so it works well if you’re the one stepping into the tactical.

Horizon’s ultimate ability creates a small black hole that sucks opposing Legends into it, making them easy targets for you and your teammates to make short work of in the Apex Games.

Check out the trailer below to see all of Horizon’s abilities in-game before you get to use them in Apex Legends Season 7:

A mod for the PC port of Silent Hill 2 recently got a big update that adds new features, improves graphics, and most importantly makes the fog look just as dense and spooky as in the original PlayStation 2 version of the game.

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Just what everyone needed

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From Marvel to DC Comics and beyond, Polygon’s Monday Funnies is a bite-size recap of the latest happenings

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With next-gen practically in smelling distance, Epic has unveiled a host of technical enhancements coming to Fortnite as a part of a free Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 update, including the ability to hop directly into a specific mode lobby on Sony's console.

As you'd imagine, many of Fortnite's next-gen enhancements are shared between Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, including 4K support at 60fps and what Epic is referring to as "dynamic visuals and physics". The latter will manifest as a "more dynamic and interactive world", including grass and trees that react to explosions, enhanced fluid simulations for smoke and liquid, plus all-new Storm and cloud effects.

Xbox Series S, meanwhile, will run "most" of these enhancements (Epic isn't being any more specific than that at the moment, unfortunately) at 1080p/60fps. Notably, all platforms will support 60fps during split-screen play, and will feature improved loading said to impact both texture loading and the time it takes players to get into a match.

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PlayStation 5's DualSense controller looks to enhance the future of interactive console gaming. An unanticipated consequence of its adaptability is twitter user BrokenGamezHDR's short video of the DualSense working with the Nintendo Switch. Of course an adapter — namely, the 8BitDo — was used to optimize everything but, it's definitely interesting to see. BrokenGamezHDR even shows off some short menu footage from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for all the skeptics out there. Funnily enough, the DualSense can be used on a plethora of consoles and devices, but it won't work with the PlayStation 4. You can see the video below.

Dualsense works on the Nintendo Switch pic.twitter.com/jQhSwUbUbE

— BrokenGamezHDR (@BrokenGamezHDR_) November 2, 2020

The PlayStation 5 drops on November 12. Be to watch our unboxing video to see how massive the console is and what equipment comes along with your purchase.

The Mandalorian season 2 has begun and the Baby Yoda show is back in full force. The debut episode for the new season was met with immense positivity, marking a successful return to Disney Plus for Star Wars fans. While the new episode has a ton of Star Wars nods across books, movies, and comics, Knights of the Old Republic fans may have noticed a neat little nod to the BioWare game as well. 

The Mandalorian season 2 spoilers ahead 

It should be obvious, but we can't talk about an Easter egg without talking about the actual Easter egg, so there will be spoilers below. For those still on the fence, we won't be going in deep with dialogue or anything like that, but the nod does relate to an important part of the returning season. 

This is your last chance, no angry comments at me, I tried to warn you. No seriously. (Click on the lines below to reveal the Easter egg content)

One of the coolest moments of the first episode is the Krayt dragon. This creature is one that has made a pretty epic showing in various mediums of the Star Wars universe, including the movie A New Hope, books, and the expanding comics. While the Krayt itself is cool, it's what is hidden within him that makes a cool KOTOR nod. 

Turns out, Watch Dogs: Legion is pretty good. Legion's hook is that everyone walking around its open-world London can be recruited to your hacker terrorist cell Dedsec. Not only that, but you can also play as every person you recruit, each bringing their own special abilities and traits to your team. Personally, I think that Legion is a pretty run-of-the-mill open-world game, but its “recruit anyone” mechanic is truly impressive. 

Rather than hand-make the thousands of people you encounter and potentially recruit to your team, Legion seems to mix and match from a variety of phrases and keywords (some mundane, some deeply strange) to make its individual citizens. Because of this, you can find some real freaks walking around London. I love them all. 

After many, many hours scanning every person I can in Legion, here are the weirdest, funniest, and most disturbing characters I found.

Xbox already has an astronomical amount of streaming apps for players to choose from and engage with: Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Spotify, YouTube, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, NBC Peacock, Vudu, FandangoNow, Twitch, Sky Go, NOW TV, Sky Ticket and many more. In a new post on the official Xbox blog, Microsoft announced that Apple TV will be joining the expansive collection too and that it will be available on the Xbox Series X/S at launch. 

Apple TV comes with Apple TV+, Apple TV channels, and a bevy of movies for you cinephiles to get lost in. You can purchase a subscription to the app for $5 a month through your Xbox console or test the waters with a 7-day free trial when the Series X/S drop on November 10. 

Red Dead Online

went on a bit of a dry spell earlier this year before its Naturalist role was added this summer. Rockstar have now said players won’t be waiting too long for another update. This time around they’ll be focusing on an action-oriented update to a current role, which sure sounds like Bounty Hunting. With RDO’s Halloween event still ongoing, it’s good to hear Rockstar already talking about what’s next.

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Steam accidentally cooked up something truly frightening for the end of its Halloween sale. At some point today the store’s payment system appears to have crashed, preventing users from making purchases around the time the sale was scheduled to end. Sorry to you last-minute shoppers. The ability to purchase games through their store seems to currently have mixed results.

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