November 2020

Despite the launch of three brand new titles, Electronic Arts' football sim FIFA 21 has managed to retain the top spot of this week's UK Charts, at least as it applies to physical sales.

Ubisoft's open-world sequel Watch Dogs: Legion, Nintendo remake Pikmin 3 Deluxe, and Bandai Namco's horror title Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope all debuted in the Top Ten, but failed to secure the number one spot, landing at numbers two, seven, and nine respectively. Of course, with the ever-increasing shift to digital sales, the digital charts may tell a different story.

Next week sees the start of the next generation of video gaming, a generation that will likely see digital sales further supersede physical sales. While there will always be a market for physical games sales, via online retailers and the high street, recent years have seen a constant and undeniable market shift towards digital downloads, which is very unlikely to halt anytime soon.

Earlier this year, we were given a teaser taste of Guild Wars 2's next expansion: which would later come to be known as End of Dragons.

But while we waited for the next chapter of the Guild Wars saga to begin, ArenaNet dished out some juicy news that the game was coming to Steam (sans account transfers). Well, that plan is changing, at least temporarily. According to a short post from ArenaNet, the company has made the decision to "put the Guild Wars 2 Steam release on hold for the time being."

The reason given? Their "number one priority" is focusing on the End of Dragons expansion and the "epic climax" to the current storyline, to deliver "high quality" content. In fact, the first major look at the upcoming Icebrood Saga conclusion is coming this week on November 5.

For those of you who don't play Guild Wars 2, the idea is that the game is part of a "living" world, where storyline changes can come through major or minor patches. Although other MMOs like World of Warcraft have "pre-patches" and the like to facilitate similar story arcs, Guild Wars 2 is built around its narrative at its core.

While it's a bummer that the game isn't coming to Steam anytime soon, I'm sure veterans don't mind as they can't transfer their accounts anyway.

Guild Wars 2 Steam Release News [ArenaNet]

The Indie Collective has announced a release date for the video game adaptation of George Orwell's seminal novel Animal Farm. The strategy-based adventure title will launch on PC via Steam, as well as iOS and Android platforms, on December 10.

Developed by Nerial, Orwell's Animal Farm will put players in charge of managing the resources and defense of the notorious Manor Farm, where a menagerie of barnyard animals have overthrown their human owners in an effort to make a better world for themselves. However, under the rule of pompous pig Napoleon, the other species soon come to learn that while some animals are equal, some are more equal than others.

Publisher The Dairymen has released a new teaser trailer, recounting the infamous moment when Napoleon explains to his fellow animals how it would be better for everyone if Napoleon makes all the choices befitting the governing of the farm's affairs, to save them from making "the wrong decisions".

With just a week to go until Microsoft and Sony’s anticipated next-generation consoles release, Epic Games has today provided a full overview of exactly what new performance enhancements PS5 and Xbox Series X/S Fortnite players can expect.

In a blog post over the publisher’s website, Epic Games breaks down enhancements across all three consoles:

4K Resolution At 60 FPS (PS5, Xbox Series X)

Experience Fortnite on PlayStation like never before on PlayStation 5 with stunning 4K running at a smooth 60 FPS. The Series S will run a 1080p resolution at 60 FPS.

Dynamic Visuals and Physics (PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S)

Experience a more dynamic and interactive world with grass and trees responding to explosions, enhanced fluid simulations for smoke and liquid (cooler-looking smoke and liquid effects), and all-new Storm and cloud effects.

Dualsense Controller Immersion (PS5)

Haptic feedback makes it feel like you’re holding the Suppressed SMG or Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle. In addition to general vibration support, we’ve integrated haptic trigger feedback for ranged weapons on the new DualSense controller.

Select Your Favorite Mode From the PS5 Home Screen (PS5)

Fortnite supports PS5’s Activities, starting with the ability to go straight into the Battle Royale Lobby with either Solo, Duos, or Squads selected. Once in the Lobby, choose to queue up for your selected mode!

Get Into Matches Faster (PS5, Xbox Series X)

Loading performance has been significantly upgraded, not only improving texture loading but also helping you get into a match from game start-up much faster.

Trails of Cold Steel IV is a confusing mess for newcomers of the series that somehow ends with a whimper and less with a bang.

The post The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Will Intimidate Newcomers appeared first on Siliconera.

New Atelier Ryza 2 gameplay footage and a theme song trailer were revealed during "Gust's Fall Special Program" earlier today in Japan.

The post Atelier Ryza 2 Gets a Theme Song Trailer and New Gameplay Footage From Gust appeared first on Siliconera.

It’s Monday and time for Ask Kotaku, the weekly feature in which Kotaku-ites deliberate on a single burning question. Then, we ask your take.

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Samsung T7 2TB Portable SSD | $250 | Amazon

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Tuning into Byron “Reckful” Bernstein’s recent daily Twitch streams, you wouldn’t immediately suspect something’s amiss. He’s front and center, playing World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, League of Legends, or any number of other games. Fans frequently make playful remarks, use emotes, and laugh at or with him. But the…

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A developer tweeting about an upcoming video game isn’t usually a big deal, but in the case of From Software’s Elden Ring, I’m willing to make an exception.

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Complicated, but genius, design leads the newest form of haptic feedback

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Complete tasks to get a special Pokémon encounter

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Disney Plus, Netflix, and Apple lead a list of big players

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Animal Farm, the video game adaptation of George Orwell's classic allegorical novella, is making its way to Steam and unspecified mobile devices on 10th December.

Orwell's Animal Farm, as the adaptation is officially titled, is the work of developer Nerial - the studio behind Tinder-inspired monarchy sim Reigns - and features writing by Failbetter's Emily Short and narration from Abubakar Salim, the voice of Bayek in Assassin's Creed: Origins.

Nerial describes its Animal Farm adaptation as a "narrative, choice-based adventure game that puts the player at the centre of an allegorical animal revolution", noting that players can influence critical events of Orwell's "story of absolute power and corruption" by choosing who they follow, and who is ignored or sidelined.

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Epic Games previously teased the Ghost Rider Fortnite skin but now it has been fully revealed alongside the news of the Ghost Rider Cup. For those that want this Marvel beauty, you're going to need to get in touch with your competitive side as the Knockout series continues. 

Ghost Rider is the latest Marvel character to make his way into the world of battle royale but to get this skin, you're going to want to get familiar with the Ghost Rider Cup. In order to compete, you're going to want to recruit two other friends to squad up with on November 4.

The event will take place within the Marvel Knockout Limited Time Mode (LTM) found in the Compete Tab within the in-game lobby. Here's what you need to do to make sure you're in the competition for the latest skin: 

1. Game Lobby
2. Compete Tab
3. Ghost Rider Cup
   1. Find the local time for your region
4. Must be a level 30 
5. Must have 2-Factor Authentication already set up

The Ghost Rider Cup isn't the end of the road for the Marvel competition either. Epic Games revealed that there are three more events coming up for this month: 

Over the last decade, escape rooms have become a very popular form of entertainment. Groups gather to be locked into a specifically designed room and must complete various puzzles to emerge victorious before time runs out.

But with the challenges facing the world in 2020, gatherings of this kind have become nearly impossible for most people looking to crack codes and have fun with their friends.

For those wanting to recapture the fun of solving puzzles with other people, The Escape Game has a solution. Virtual escape rooms are similar to that of the more familiar in-person versions. The difference in these experiences is that players are hosted over Zoom or Skype calls and control a "field agent" in real-time to complete the challenges instead of doing it themselves. 

While not a traditional video game by any means, we at GI were curious how the process of this live game actually worked. Join Jeff Cork, Joe Juba, Ben Reeves, and me as we take on a nefarious art dealer and try to steal back a priceless painting before he returns in our first attempt at a virtual escape room!

If you're interested in gathering your friends and trying out this digital experience for yourself, be sure to check out The Escape Game's website where you can find all the information on the different digital games they have to offer!

Among Us is an indie treat that launched two years ago, but only recently saw a second lease on life with booming popularity taking over the gaming world. This "sus" filled game centers around deception while playing a colorful and meme-ified astronaut jelly bean and honestly? It's the fun gaming adventure we deserve in 2020. It's so fun, in fact, that one YouTube channel decided to reimagine the world of Among Us as a reality show! 

The Among Us reality show comes by way of the YouTube channel 'Laugh Over Life' and it puts a realistic spin on the popular lying game. 

There are a few parts to this hilarious Among Us parody. Here's a first look at episode one's synopsis: 

Do you suppose Gabe Newell himself has earned the Half-Life 2: Episode 2 achievement for carrying a garden gnome to the end of the game? He’s planning to snag a real-life achievement, apparently, and has partnered up with Rocket Lab to blast a real Gnome Chompski into space. Not for nothing, Newell is planning to donate to Starship Children’s Hospital based on the number of folks to tune in to watch the launch.

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Today Sega announced another AC Scratch collection for the western version of its popular MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2.

This time around the “Proud Monarch” set pretty much gets you ready to go to a toga party in style.

You can check out a video introducing them below, and check out the official post for the full list.

The collection will be available starting on November 4 and untilDecember 2.

If you’re unfamiliar with AC Scratch, that’s basically the game’s loot box-like mechanic that you can get through tickets purchased with Arks Cash.

Phantasy Star Online 2 is available in the west for Xbox One and PC. A few months ago, we heard that the western version enjoyed a “strong start” and that it passed one million players.

Mondays are the absolute worst, am I right? Hopefully this compilation of funny gaming memes will help to put a pep in your step on this, the low-tier day of the week.

Enjoy!

Today Bethesda and  Zenimax Online Studios revealed a new trailer of the upcoming expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online dubbed “Markarth.”

We while the trailer is defined as showing “gameplay,” it definitely comes with a cinematic cut, showcasing characters and locations, not to mention plenty of monsters.

Markarth is be the conclusion of the “Dark Heart of Skyrim” saga. It releases today for PC, Mac, and Stadia and will come on November 10 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

You can watch it below.

Here’s how the expansion is described by the developers. You can also check out the previous trailer.

“The Dark Heart of Skyrim epic concludes with The Elder Scrolls Online: Markarth. Explore a dangerous new zone with the Reach, gather a band of unlikely allies, and confront a Vampire Lord and his ancient army. Markarth also introduces a new solo arena, Vateshran Hollows, designed to test the strength, wits, and resolve of players with challenging bosses, multiple unlockable paths, and powerful, hidden secrets.

Markarth will release on November 2 for PC, Mac, and Stadia and November 10 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and it will be available free as part of an ESO Plus membership or available from the in-game Crown Store.

"My kingdom for a horse." King Richard III would've done well to live 500 years later because Kingdom is free and it comes with a horse.

Humble is doing that thing again where it gives away games for keepsies. This time it's Raw Fury's Kingdom, the side-scrolling simulation game where you ride a horse and everyone tries to steal your gold and your crown. Kingdom is good enough that it spawned two highly-regarded sequels.

Anyway, go hit up Humble if you want a no-strings-attached freebie. The promo ends on November 9. I promise to never bastardize the words of Shakespeare like that again. That first paragraph was far more tragedy than comedy.

Kingdom: Classic [Humble]

Ever since I created my Orc Warlock 16 years ago, I've been playing World of Warcraft annually. That sounds pretty crazy out loud now that I think about it.

Nearly two decades of playing the game same: a sentiment that many have eye-rolled over the years as they waxed poetic about the "good days" of WoW and how they no longer play it (or in the case of several people, have gotten out of games entirely). People change, and so has World of Warcraft.

Blizzard is cashing in on that nostalgia, as they do every year, with a 16th anniversary celebration in-game that lasts until November 22. Check your Azeroth mailbox for a gift package, which includes: 200 Timewarped Badges, an experience and reputation boost item (16% for one hour) and a "Letter from the Timewalkers" questline item. There's also an event that involves WoW trivia if you head to Historian Llore in Stormwind or Historian Ju'pa in Orgrimmar.

Oh, plus "level 30 and above" characters can fight Lord Kazzak, Azuregos and "one of the four Dragons of Nightmare" each day for extra loot and 50 Timewarped Badges. You may recall the former name from one of the first WoW viral videos where he was kited to Stormwind. Ah, back when YouTube videos were harmless and in glorious 240p.

Some of the first big PlayStation 5 games we saw this year – Sackboy, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and even Horizon Forbidden West – will also be playable on PlayStation 4. But that should be it, at least as far as Sony-backed titles go. Another big-hitter, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, will only launch on PS5.

It's easy to point to Rift Apart's SSD-dependent dimension-hopping design and shrug off the notion that this game could ever possibly get an inferior PS4 version, but if Horizon Forbidden West can make a dual PS4/PS5 release happen (which I'm curious – and anxious – to see play out), then who's to say?

Well, how about Insomniac itself? The studio reiterated Rift Apart's PS5-only status on Twitter.

It’s a PS5 exclusive

— Insomniac Games (@insomniacgames) November 2, 2020

We weren't led to believe otherwise, but on the off-chance there were any lingering doubts, there you go. (The responses to this tweet, as with all tweets about any conceivable topic, are pretty ridiculous.)

As an aside, as much as the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are in the spotlight right now, it's nice to consider folks who are sticking with their current consoles that will still have a few more (seemingly) great games to look forward to. The PS4 has had such a strong "final" year – if you even want to call it that.

In case you missed it, developer Iggymob gave us a detailed look at the new Gungrave game (that's still scheduled to be released on PS4 by the end of this year in Japan). Yes, I said "new Gungrave game."

Despite the misstep with the VR game, Gungrave G.O.R.E is decidedly not a VR title, nor is it a retread. Instead, it's the first mainline release in the series in many years; following the 2002 release of the PS2 original, the 2003 anime, and the 2004 Overdose sequel. It's a monumental moment for fans, like if the Trigun game Planet Gunsmoke was suddenly revived out of the blue. In the tease we get to see Beyond the Grave himself (albeit with his back to us) facing down an Orgman enemy, as well as a new look for the Death Hauler coffin weapon.

But is this thing actually coming out by the end of the year? And what about a potential PS5 release, given that so much has changed since we had our last development update? Well, we still aren't getting more info on that just yet; as the official Twitter account for the game asked people to stay tuned.

Uh, I think I will. Given how little pure character action games are released these days, I'm going to follow it until the end.

Gungrave G.O.R.E [Twitter]

There's a lot of hours of gameplay to enjoy in regular ol' Dragon Quest XI. There are many more in this edition. Definitively.

The post Save Progress from New Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition Demo will Transfer to Full Game appeared first on Siliconera.

Kotobukiya announced a new wave of Fate/Grand Order Saber Alter figures. Check out the full gallery and preorder links here.

The post More Fate/Grand Order Saber Alter Figures Are on the Way appeared first on Siliconera.

Although millions of people have already voted, plenty more are expected to stand in line at their local polling places tomorrow. Sure, Republicans relied upon voter suppression tactics in 2016, but this time, the president has issued multiple calls to action to his supporters, requesting that they serve as “poll…

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It is Election Day and perhaps, if things go as well as expected, the beginning of Election Month. On both sides of the political chasm, the rhetoric is fierce and anxiety is spiking. The mess has people reevaluating their plans to stayed connected as the results roll in (or don’t). Some aim to unplug social media, go…

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Monday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals

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The Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity demo plays like a game that inherited more from its Zelda: Breath of the Wild parent than its hack-and-slash parent Hyrule Warriors. Developer Koei Tecmo repurposed major elements of Breath of the Wild’s gameplay—from the Sheikah slate, to cooking, crafting, and even Korok…

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What’s the saying? “With great horsepower comes great framerates?” The next generation of gaming sure promises some great horsepower, which will allow many games from across generations to hit a framerate of 60 frames per second (fps). But some games will be able to run at double that, achieving a very pleasing 120…

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Newell and Rocket Lab team up for charity/science

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‘Being hopeful means believing that when things break down, we can rebuild them.’

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Developer Jasper Byrne's acclaimed indie horror Lone Survivor is getting a remake, complete with a brand-new scenario, and will be making its way to PC and Switch next year.

Lone Survivor initially launched back in 2012, combining distinctive 2D visuals with a thread of exploratory survival horror - in which players must stay alive and stave off madness in a world ravaged by a mutagenic infection - tonally reminiscent of Silent Hill, with a splash of woozy David-Lynch-like surrealism thrown in.

"Lone Survivor never once made me jump, nor did it especially disturb me, but I can't think of another game that's made my heart race quite so much upon opening a door," wrote Eurogamer contributor Lewis Denby back in 2012, "It achieves this primarily through some incredible sound design...but also through immaculate pacing, abject confusion, and some tremendous artistry crammed into the few pixels it possesses."

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Back in October, we shared a really awesome recreation in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 that brought the Super Smash Bros. Hyrule stage to life in a unique, new way. Now the community has done it again, though this time with a bit more magic with this faithful Hogwarts homage from Harry Potter. 

While there is an official Harry Potter game coming out on the horizon, one player decided that they just really wanted to shred in the magical world of Hogwarts. Kickflip off of He Who Shall Not Be Named's face for extra cred (not really, but that would be cool). 

This is one of the many ways skate fans have shared how incredible the level creator truly is with the right motivation. While not limitless freedom, the tools provided allow for a surprising amount of creative freedom for those that want to blend the best of two worlds with one epic park. 

The same person that created this Hogwards nod also created the previous Hyrule Stage. The creator is 'Skyramblez' on YouTube and he's no stranger to creative twists. It is important to note that this creation is for the PC version of the game, just mosey on over to the Create a Park browser and search 'Hogwarts'.