March 2021

Twin Breaker studio Lillymo Games has had to abandon its plans to release a project for PlayStation Vita in the wake of Sony's confirmation it will shutter the handheld's online store on 27th August.

The game is still at least six months from release - and so will simply not have time to launch before Sony closes the Vita store in August, following similar closures of the PS3 and PSP stores on 2nd July.

Lillymo Games posted on Twitter of discovering the news at the same time as it was revealed publicly:

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I'm delighted to announce that Felisha Dela Cruz has joined the team as a comments moderator.

Felisha is part of our parent company RELX's marketing department that is based in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, and is moderating comments on Eurogamer as well as our sister sites Rock Paper Shotgun, VG247 and Dicebreaker.

So, a little bit about Felisha. I asked her about her interests and here's what she had to say:

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It's only been six weeks since the arrival of No Man's Sky's pet-themed Companions update, but already developer Hello Games is back with more, this time introducing seasonal, galaxy spanning Expeditions and accompanying rewards.

Launching today on all platforms, No Man's Sky's Expeditions update is intended to give players a new way to experience the ceaselessly expanding space sim, with each new Expedition depositing players - armed with a "wild and varied" collection of technology, customisations, ships, and weapons - onto the same planet.

An accompanying Expedition chart plots a course across the galaxy, which players are then encouraged to follow, completing challenges (known as Milestones) along the way.

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Take one look at Studio Koba's retro platformer Narita Boy and you could easily mistake it for a new kind of Tron game. It's awash with neon blues and rainbow-coloured light refractions, and the edges of the screen even flicker and bend like you're playing it on a CRT television. But this is no mere nostalgic landgrab for those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s. Narita Boy's retro roots run deep. It's a game that's as much about old tech as it is indebted to it, and anyone who's ever tinkered about with their PC and still reminisces about the 2D action side-scrollers of their youth will find a lot to love here.

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After six years, The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth has finally launched its final expansion (though the previous one was supposed to be its last). Repentance is a huge send-off, adding loads of newness while improving the old too. I cannot tell you how much it is killing me to have to 'work' and write this post rather than sack it off and go play right now.

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We speak to a number of developers to talk about the advantages of using Patreon, the challenge that comes from trying to keep a consistent number of subscribers, and whether or not it can be considered a viable option depending on your project. ...

505 Games has acquired the Ghostrunner IP from Polish publisher All In Games for €5 million. ...

A hard drive sale and PlayStation Store gift cards lead Wednesday’s best deals.

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It’s either one of the most elaborate April Fool’s brand-o-jokes of all time, or today marks the last day Nintendo will be selling Super Mario All-Stars, either in physical form or via the Switch’s electronic shop. From April 1, they still maintain it’s to be taken behind Miyamoto’s barn and shot.

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The Last of Us Part II | $30 | Best Buy

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If this past February marked TV’s first steps toward its previous densely packed state, then April represents a leap. There are nearly as many promising returns as there are intriguing premieres (in the case of Dick Wolf’s latest spin-off, a combination of the two). Along with new episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale, A…

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Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is set to debut on May 25 on PC, PS4, and Switch.

It's great, because these sorts of things can sometimes only hit one platform: and at that point, a wide variety of people (basically everyone) can experience it. And you should! Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne is an absolute classic, and bolstered the RPG genre far more than the "Dante from the Devil May Cry series" memes.

You can get a look at a new primer today too, as Atlus just debuted a new trailer called "The World's Rebirth." It helps ease players into the idea of a hellscape Tokyo, and reminds us that the "easier difficulty level of Merciful" is free DLC for all, and that it has suspended save options (anywhere) and Japanese and English voiceovers.

It's a small miracle that SMT III is returning like this, as the treasured PS2 release is something I talk about a lot with folks, but never really get to show them in earnest. At this point Atlus could basically remaster every SMT game and people would eat it up. Persona is the darling, but SMT deserves its day again.

[Update: The PlayStation Blog had the honor of showcasing more PS5 port news this morning, and we know have a firm date: April 28. As previously announced it will support 4K visuals and enhanced textures, as well as the typical PS5 bells and whistles like faster loading via SSD.]

Genshin Impact. The name has become a new titan in the gaming industry.

It completely took hold of its free-to-play gacha scheme and made bank across the PC, PS4, and mobile platforms: and now it's adding another feather to its cap. We knew the PlayStation 5 version was coming eventually, and now we have confirmation that it's nearly ready to go.

This morning developer miHoYo announced that the PlayStation 5 port of Genshin Impact is "coming soon," and gave us a quick look at it with the trailer below. Here's a summation of the improvements: "The PlayStation 5 version aims to deliver an even richer and more immersive open-world experience. Running in razor-sharp 4K resolution with enhanced textures across every part of the game, the world of Teyvat will look more detailed and vibrant than ever before, while faster loading times will allow players to enjoy a more seamless experience as they travel between the diverse and beautiful in-game environments."

As a reminder, the game does currently run on PS4, but you can tell it's not a native version. The enhanced visuals and load times will do wonders in terms of shoring up some of the busywork and open world stability problems. The studio also confirms that you can use the same save/account and the PS5 version is still free, so the upgrade will be seamless.

I've actually been holding off from playing it as much as I normally do because of the promise of the PS5 version!

It's a very important day for those who worship at the altar of Isaac. Today sees the long-awaited release of The Binding of Isaac: Repentance, the "final" chapter in the grim, gross, and skin-crawling twin-stick series that has been entertaining freaks 'n' geeks since the franchise' inception back in 2011.

Described by creator Ed McMillen as "the best version" of the unholy roguelike, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance sees the title fine-tuned to as close to perfection as the series can get. Repentance is jam-packed with content, adding new playable characters, paths, and chapters alongside, over 100 new enemies, a new final boss, seven extra challenges, four-player co-op support, and "an impossible number" of gameplay tweaks, mechanic adjustments, and visual improvements.

Announced during the PlayStation showcase a while back, Knockout City is a new dodgeball-inspired multiplayer game from Velan Studios and EA. The game looks vibrant and colorful, and it’s getting an open beta on all platforms this weekend.

The beta will run from April 2 to 4, and it’s already available for pre-load on PC and consoles. In addition to that, the beta will also support cross-play and cross-progression across all platforms, so you’ll be able to play on whichever platform you want, and switch between them as you wish.

Here are more details about the beta:

“In the Cross-Play open beta, players will have access to everything they loved from the first beta — the Moon, Cage and Bomb Balls, the Concussion Yard, Rooftop Rumble, and Knockout Roundabout locations and Team KO playlist — with even more new content. This weekend will introduce the Sniper Ball, Back Alley Brawl map, 1v1 Face-Off and Diamond Dash playlists and fresh style options.
With a total of four maps, five playable balls, three playlists and a ton of customization options, this second beta will have dodgebrawlers on their toes all weekend long. Private Matches will also be available to set up custom matches against friends, or some foes.”

Here is the playlist schedule for the upcoming weekend:

Developer miHoYo has today pledged to launch an improved version of its popular F2P RPG Genshin Impact for PS5 consoles later this spring.

The announcement comes by way of Tweets from both PlayStation and miHoYo alongside a new trailer teasing the upgrades to come. That includes enhanced visuals, faster loading, and DualSense support. Although, specific details are yet to be confirmed.

Genshin Impact comes to PlayStation 5 with enhanced visuals, fast loading, and DualSense controller support.

Face (and wield) the elements of Teyvat this Spring. pic.twitter.com/y9QQGID8Js

— PlayStation (@PlayStation) March 31, 2021

As for the trailer, I’ve embedded it below, but there’s not a great deal of information or context as to what we’re seeing. It’s more of the same if you’re a Genshin Impact player. After all, Genshin Impact has long been playable on PS5 via backward compatibility, and the current version already plays substantially better on the new console than it does on PS4.

Still, you can check out what is presumably a glimpse of the new and improved action below.

The first half of the final season of Attack on Titan has just aired, culminating in another thrill ride of an ending that left fans on the edge of their seats. And while there is still plenty more to come for the anime in the future, with around 16 more episodes planned, fans are giving thanks to the show’s creator, Hajime Isayama, via Twitter to thank him for 11 years of hard work.

Currently, Isayama has two different hashtags trending on Twitter thanking him for his dedication, as he finished the Attack on Titan manga recently with chapter 139. We’ve compiled the best ones for you to take a look at right down below.

(Featured Image Source: KazureishWhite)

Riot Games has published the list of upcoming changes set to arrive with the launch of Valorant’s Patch 2.06, and there are major buffs on the way for two of the games least picked Agents: Viper, and Yoru.

Viper has continued to struggle in Valorant ever since the beta, and nearly a year down the line her pick rate still hasn’t improved. As a controller, her utility is bested by other Agents, such as Omen and Brimstone, who are more mobile and have the option of using their kit offensively as well as defensively.

Yoru, meanwhile, one of the newest additions to the Valorant roster, has had almost no impact on the meta whatsoever despite the early promise of his flashy-looking kit. Too often his teleport and ultimate are too easy to counter, while his fake footsteps and flashes aren’t particularly subtle.

Both Agents have long been in need of improvement (though Viper for considerably longer, of course), and this week’s patch certainly seems as though it’s set to deliver.

In the case of Viper, in fact, the changes could prove meta-shifting given just how much “decay” damage is now inflicted for anybody who touches her utility. Here’s the overview:

No Man’s Sky pushes out a big content patch today with the expeditions update, which essentially adds seasonal experiences to the game. In expeditions, everyone starts fresh with a number of milestones to seek. Some are very simple and get you involved in the phase structure, while others are far more advanced. Completed milestones offer rewards to let you speed along your journey, and each completed phase (set of milestones) offers a unique, special reward. Basically, if you’re looking to capture the experience and the essence of playing No Man’s Sky anew, expeditions are exactly the kind of system that you’re looking for. Will you capture that “first time playing” feel over and over again?

The expedition update contains numerous other additions and enhancements, further adding to the story of No Man’s Sky’s redemption arc. The frequency and relevance of the numerous updates since launch is a thing to behold. 

The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 was chaotic, messy, and for so many more reasons than simply bugs. The road leading up to launch was filled with talk centering around "crunch," meaning a work-culture fostered by toxicity and a complete disregard for the developers themselves, and mixed messaging regarding what Cyberpunk 2077 wanted to be. Then it launched, and it was revealed that the demos given to press prior to launch weren't actual representations of the game and that the PC-only review model hid a very broken experience when on consoles. This resulted in Cyberpunk 2077's removal from the PlayStation Store, but as CDPR continues to work hard to make improvements, the team thinks the game is ready to make a comeback. 

Sony removed the game from its store when the number of reports came pouring in about how badly Cyberpunk 2077 played on PS4 systems. Game-breaking bugs around every corner, streets conspicuously devoid of NPCs, and a plethora of other problems that made the final picture not line up with what was marketed all pooled together to justify the removal from the PlayStation Store. Sony said that the game can only return when it has met certain consumer standards. This point was driven home even more when numerous investigations launched in polish regarding the studio. 

Sony and the development team over at miHoYo have announced that the PS5 version of Genshin Impact is almost ready to enjoy with a brand new trailer. The latest video for the game shows off the improved features with the next-gen update, including faster loading times, better resolution, and more. 

"The PlayStation 5 is an ideal platform to enhance the vast open-world featuring in Genshin Impact, allowing the team to incorporate more thoughts and ideas into the game, both now and in the future," said Forrest Liu, President of miHoYo, in a recent press statement. "That's why we've been working to bring the native PlayStation 5 version of the game to our players as soon as we could."

With 4K visuals and fine-tuned performance, this open-world action RPG will create an even better experience for players ready to take on the world of Teyvat. The next-gen update will not change the fact that the game is free-to-play. While there are microtransactions, our own Dan Tack mentioned that their inclusion doesn't impact the way the title can be experienced as many feared. 

The Pokemon Trading Card Game Chilling Reign expansion, which will add Calyrex and Galarian versions of the legendary birds, will appear in June.

The post Pokemon Trading Card Game Chilling Reign Expansion Will Arrive in June appeared first on Siliconera.

The Genshin Impact Contending Tides event is on the way and involves daily challenges with objectives and Primogems as rewards.

The post Genshin Impact Contending Tides Sends You to Dadaupa Gorge appeared first on Siliconera.

Atlus' latest English trailer for SMT III Nocturne HD Remaster offers people a chance to see "The World's Rebirth" and major changes again.

The post SMT III Nocturne HD Remaster Trailer Shows ‘The World’s Rebirth’ appeared first on Siliconera.

Sony and miHoYo announced the Genshin Impact PS5 release is set for this Spring and take advantage of the console's features.

The post Genshin Impact PS5 Release Set for Spring appeared first on Siliconera.

Just family bonding things!

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The 50 GB patch also includes a few bug fixes

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‘You wanna hear a story about how me and this bitch fell out?’

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‘Enhanced visuals, fast loading, and DualSense controller support’

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Sony has announced April 2021's PlayStation Plus titles, all of which will be available to download from 6th April to 3rd May.

First up, Oddworld: Soulstorm, which as we knew already will launch on 6th April directly into PlayStation Plus.

Soulstorm is the second chapter in Abe's quintology (Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty, a full HD remake of Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, is considered the first game in the quintology). You reprise the role of Abe the Mudokon, the accidental hero turned leader of a growing revolution.

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A selection of Microsoft's backwards compatible Xbox and Xbox 360 catalogue is now available to stream via xCloud.

Banjo-Kazooie, Fable 2, Gears of War 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are among the first 16 back compat games you can stream to Android phones.

Three of these - Jetpac Refuelled, Viva Piñata, and Viva Piñata: Trouble in Paradise - have also had touch controls enabled.

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Perhaps we'll come to see these years as a golden age of destruction. Between the roguelikelike witchery of Noita and the heists of Teardown, it's a great time for games where simulated materials and physics come together for destruction that's so much more than decorative. Now, after leaving early access in October, Noita has released its final major update, and it's another big'un with more ways to destroy and be destroyed.

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During CD Projekt Red's company strategy video yesterday, the studio covered all sorts of ways in which they feel they got things wrong during Cyberpunk 2077's development. Not just development, but Cyberpunk's marketing too. In the future, they say they'll wait until much closer to a game's launch to start firing up trailers and demos and in depth looks at gameplay. That means if there's another big Witcher game out there on the horizon, we may not hear about it for quite a while yet. Honestly? Good.

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When Graham asked me to write a strategy games column, my first challenge was of course to think of how to annoy as many people as possible. "I won't stretch the definition of 'strategy'", I thought, "I'll warp spacetime itself until all points within it are 'strategy'". You have to set goals with these things. But what game would irk the most readers? "The hardcore strategy of Among Us", maybe. Is there a Mario game on PC? I could get dark gags out of lives as strategic resources. Call Of Duty would surely make it too obvious?

I left those questions to my brain while I had a go at something I'd had my eye on already anyway. It's called Shadow Empire. It is a grand strategy 4X wargame. I have been playing it almost every day since. It is as strategy as strategy gets, and it is so excellent it has ruined everything.

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External SSDs such as the excellent Crucial X8 or Seagate Barracuda Fast SSD are great devices for taking your files on the go, especially if you don't want to worry about whether every knock, bump or jostle is going to accidentally break your drive as it rattles round in your bag. They sure are expensive, though, which is why many of us still opt for external hard disk drives (HDDs) when it comes to transporting or backing up our files. They might be slower, but they're much, much cheaper. Indeed, whereas a 2TB Crucial X8 will set you back well over £200 / $270, you can currently pick up a 2TB Seagate Game Drive for Xbox for just £63 / $92.

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It's time to register for GDC 2021! Sign up today to get the best price. ...

PUBG Lite, a low-end version of the popular battle royale shooter designed for those without access to expensive hardware, is being shut down. ...

A joint operation between Chinese police and Tencent has busted what's being described as the "world's biggest" video game cheating ring. ...