PDXCon Remixed News Roundup: Victoria 3, New Gangsters, and The Throne Room of Our Dreams
2 years 11 months ago
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May 2021
Using a Robotic 'Third Thumb' Can Change How Your Brain Works
2 years 11 months ago
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Using a robotic "third thumb" can change how your brain works, according to a new study published by University College London.
Specifically, when using a third thumb the human brain begins to blend each finger rather than recognizing each as its own distinctive part of the hand. The UCL and University of Oxford researchers behind this study determined this by scanning the brains of those using a robotic third thumb before use and after five days of training.
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"In our brains, each finger is represented distinctly from the others; among the study participants, the brain activity pattern corresponding to each individual finger became more similar (less distinct)," according to the UCL study.
According to one of the researchers behind the study, Paulina Kieliba, this robotic third thumb study is the first to investigate the use of an augmentation device outside of a lab. Twenty participants were trained to use the robotic third thumb over five days and during those five days, they were "encouraged to take the thumb home each day after training to use it in daily life scenarios, totaling two to six hours of wear time per day."
These 20 participants were compared to 10 control participants who did the same thing, except their third thumb was static and did not interact with their hand as the robotic thumb did. The study participants first used their thumbs to complete basic tasks like picking up multiple balls or carrying wine glasses.
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In no time at all, the participants were able to use their thumb for much more advanced things like building a block tower while solving a math problem.
Resident Evil Village's QA Department Really Didn't Like the Game's Combat At First
2 years 11 months ago
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Capcom’s Resident Evil Village launched earlier this month and is already breaking records on Steam. But according to a video released on the Resident Evil YouTube account, the game’s combat was far from perfect during development.
The video — “Making of Resident Evil Village – The Internal Struggle” — shows how the development team struggled to get the game into a state that everyone was happy with as well as the impact that COVID-19 had on development.
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According to Director Morimasa Sato, “development came to a complete stop at Capcom due to the self-isolation caused by COVID-19”, and work on Village was halted completely for a whole month.
Netflix Is Seemingly Hiring to Help it Make More Games
2 years 11 months ago
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It’s no secret that Netflix has been dominating the streaming market for a while now, even with strong competition from services like Disney+, but a new report suggests that it wants to get into the video game industry too.
The Information's report, citing "people familar with the situation", reveals that Netflix has been approaching key figures and industry veterans in the gaming industry in order to recruit an executive to oversee an expansion into video games.
The suggested approach seems to be the Apple Arcade business model, which allows consumers to pay a fixed fee to access and stream a number of games via the service. Apparently, it hasn't yet been decided whether Netflix will look to develop games itself, or with external publishers. However, it has reportedly confirmed internally that these games will not include advertising.
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Netflix has been very public about wanting to bring more Netflix content into the video games market, even hosting a panel about it at E3 2019. The streaming giant has previously released games based on the Stranger Things license, but this is the first time it has discussed streaming games from its own bespoke platform.
In response to the report, a Netflix spokesperson told The Information, "Our members value the variety and quality of our content.
Stonefly: New Gameplay Reveals More of a Unique Mech-Flying, Bug-Battling Adventure
2 years 11 months ago
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Stonefly, the latest game from Creature in the Well developer Flight School Studio, looks to be uplifting… literally. With much of its gameplay and central themes inspired by wind and every element of that, well, element, the tale of Annika Stonefly on a journey to reclaim a lost family heirloom looks to be one of mystery, intriguing gameplay, and a gorgeous, painterly world.
If you’re curious to learn more about what you’ll be doing within Stonefly’s world after our initial hands-off Stonefly preview, be sure to watch 15 minutes of exclusive gameplay IGN can debut below. And read on to hear more from Game Director Bohdon Sayre about Stonefly’s surprising inspirations, the lessons learned from developing creature, and much more.
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Finding the Lightness of Stonefly
Published by MWM Interactive, Stonefly introduces players to Annika as they set off on an adventure while piloting a miniature mech around its naturalistic world, contending with bugs on a search for her main goal, as well as resources and upgrades. Though much of her story obviously remains hidden for players to explore on their own, Sayre noted how foundational it is to the entire game. "We wanted to go story first, and it was a pillar that we started with. We want more characters that are more developed and more character animation," Sayre said. The story also allowed the developers to get a sense of the world they were building, both from a macro level and literally in how it allowed them to map out the flow of Stonefly's adventure. "The thesis of this game is going and searching for something that has been lost, and you don't know where you're going to go. That laid the foundation for what is the framework of the game. We're traveling to different biomes," Sayre explained.Overwatch Pro Players Fear for Their Jobs After PvP Updates
2 years 11 months ago
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Blizzard yesterday announced that Overwatch will see its PvP mode reduced from 6v6 to 5v5 when Overwatch 2 is released – and its a move that's left many professional players of the game worried about their future in the esport, and dismayed about the way it was announced.
In a 2-hour livestream, the Overwatch team announced the change, which will see one Tank class role removed from PvP games. At the same time, the Tank role as a whole is being adapted for Overwatch 2, with many characters seemingly due to receive major changes to their playstyle.
Following the announcement, multiple Tank players in the official Overwatch League signalled their dismay not just at having to relearn their chosen characters for the highest levels of play, but also at the potential for being dropped from their rosters. Many also pointed out that they weren't consulted by Blizzard ahead of the changes being made or announced.
Philadelphia Fusion player Poko summed up the feeling: "Any fellow tank player scared for their job ?"
Any fellow tank player scared for their job ?
20-Year-Old Original Xbox Easter Egg Revealed
2 years 11 months ago
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The original Xbox came out nearly twenty years ago this year, and a credits Easter egg on its dashboard has lain undiscovered for that entire time.
Kotaku received a tip from a developer who worked on the original Xbox console, who explained how to trigger the secret, which displays a credits scene listing those who worked on the Xbox Dashboard. Kotaku tested out the trick and confirmed it does, in fact, work.
To access this newly discovered Easter egg, you will need to go to "Music," and insert an audio CD. On the Audio CD screen, you'll need to select "Copy," then click "Copy" again and then choose "New Soundtrack." It will then ask you to rename the soundtrack title, which you need to rename 'Timmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!' (yes, with exactly 26 Ys)
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Once the console finishes copying the tracks, head back to the main menu on the console's dashboard, click on "Settings," then "System Info." A new screen listing will appear that was not previously there, and it contains a list of four members that were a part of the "Xbox Dashboard Team."
This is not the only Easter egg you can find on the original Xbox. There is a more commonly known Easter egg, which you can activate by going into the audio CD ripping screen on the console, and naming the new rip "<<Eggsβox>>" which would trigger a hidden credit roll. However, according to the original Xbox creator Seamus Blackley, there appears to be at least one more undiscovered Easter egg for the console.
Red Dead Redemption 2 VR Conversion Mod Gets Early Access Release
2 years 11 months ago
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A VR conversion mod for Red Dead Redemption 2 has been created and is now available in early access.
If you own Red Dead Redemption 2 and a capable gaming PC, you can try the mod for yourself via the Patreon of developer Luke Ross. Those who subscribe at the £8 a month tier will be able to download an early version of the mod and any future prototypes. Bear in mind that Red Dead Redemption 2 mods might not play well with Red Dead Online, and could get you banned. This is strictly for the single-player component of the game.
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Ross previously created the R.E.A.L. virtual really mod for Grand Theft Auto 5, and this Red Dead conversion is similar, allowing players to experience the whole game in virtual reality. "Red Dead Redemption 2 can now be played in VR from start to finish," Ross's Patreon reads. "50 to 160 hours of amazing gameplay that can finally be experienced the way we VR fans always wanted!!"
You can see footage of the mod in action as part of this video from Virtual Reality Oasis, who plays the games seated while using a Valve Index HMD and a gamepad.
Mass Effect's Normandy Is Now in No Man's Sky
2 years 11 months ago
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A mysterious Expedition within No Man's Sky has led to a very unexpected discovery - Mass Effect's iconic ship, the Normandy SR-1, is now inside the game.
As part of the new Expeditions feature, players have been taking part in a new timed event, the Beachhead Expedition. That expedition has taken players across multiple planets, solving puzzles and, eventually, receiving a mission called "Anomalous Research", which calls for players to track "a pattern in time, a strange signal emerging across multiple realities".
It turns out, that signal has been coming from the Normandy. By completing the Expedition's five stages, players will earn the ship as an S-class freighter. Sadly, it's not a directly pilotable ship, but it's likely to become the jewel of many players' fleets.
Destiny 2 Crossplay Beta Coming Next Week
2 years 11 months ago
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If you’ve been patiently waiting for Destiny 2 to finally receive crossplay, you’ll be glad to know that we’re one step closer to that happening. Developer Bungie has announced a crossplay beta consisting of unique Vanguard Strikes will be available from the 25 to 27 of May, on its weekly blog.
Whilst this isn’t a full-on crossplay drop, it does suggest that the long-awaited feature is still on track to be rolling out later this year. Bungie will use the data it receives back from this beta to continue its development of the Destiny 2 crossplay, polishing it up for its eventual release.
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The beta will be open, meaning anyone that plays the game on any of the game's supported platforms (Playstation, Xbox, Steam, and Stadia) will be able to join in on the crossplay beta. Perhaps the coolest thing about the beta test for fans is that anyone who takes part and completes three Vanguard Strikes will receive an exclusive Star Crossed emblem as a result.
However, this is very much a beta test, and therefore not all of the features of crossplay will be available during the beta period. Unfortunately, players won’t be able to add friends or form fireteams in the beta, though this will be available when the full crossplay update is released.
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Of course, this isn’t the first taste of crossplay that Destiny 2 fans have had, as a bug previously caused crossplay to go live months ahead of its scheduled release, before being manually disabled.
Every Game Announced at NetEase Connect 2021
2 years 11 months ago
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Partner content by NetEase
NetEase is one of China’s biggest developers and publishers and is responsible for such games as Knives Out and Onmyoji. The company recently held its NetEase Connect 2021 event and it shared with the world what new games fans can expect from the company in 2021, including EVE Echoes, Frostpunk: Rise of City, and Naraka: Bladepoint.
IGN Japan was on hand to get the drop on every NetEase game coming to your phone, PC, and tablet this year, and we’ve gathered each and every one featured at NetEase Connect 2021 below:
Infinite Lagrange
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2021/05/20/infinite-lagrange-official-trailer"]Infinite Lagrange is a sci-fi space strategy mobile game. Immerse yourself in high-fidelity graphics while building an intergalactic space transportation network, forming alliances, and travelling between star systems. Through mining, building, trade, and negotiations players can amass a fleet of starships that suits their playstyle—from piracy to exploring the frontiers of space. The ability to customize and upgrade each ship allows players to create endless combinations and deployment strategies.
New Overwatch 2 Map Includes a Tribute to Jeff Kaplan
2 years 11 months ago
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Blizzard's latest Overwatch 2 breakdown features not one, but two Jeff Kaplan tributes in the game's new New York map.
Blizzard previewed new Overwatch 2 content today and you can read IGN's breakdown of everything revealed during the stream, including the new maps, gameplay changes, and more, but eagle-eyed fans spotted two tributes to Kaplan, Overwatch 2's former director. Kaplan left last month after nearly 20 years at Blizzard, but now his legacy will live forever in Overwatch 2.
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As originally reported by Polygon, Overwatch 2's New York map features two tributes to Kaplan. In order to understand these two tributes, though, you have to be familiar with a fairly innocuous tweet from 2017. Jeremy Craig, a former lead feature designer for Overwatch, tweeted a photo of Kaplan with a Starbucks coffee cup in his hand that reads "Jeph," as you can see below.
Starbucks opened on campus today. This made my morning. pic.twitter.com/lDDiVpaGBm
SMT III Nocturne Is Constantly Building Up to Its Endings
2 years 11 months ago
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Throughout SMT III Nocturne and its HD Remaster, people can constantly see the narrative laying groundwork for all its endings.
The post SMT III Nocturne Is Constantly Building Up to Its Endings appeared first on Siliconera.
Colors Live Switch and Its Pen Will Debut in September 2021
2 years 11 months ago
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Colors Live and its Sonarpen peripheral will both make their Switch debut in September 2021.
The post Colors Live Switch and Its Pen Will Debut in September 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.
Fate/stay Night Heaven’s Feel III Returns to Theaters Ahead of Blu-ray Release
2 years 11 months ago
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Fate/stay night Heaven’s Feel III will appear in theaters in July 2021 ahead of its August 2021 Blu-ray debut.
The post Fate/stay Night Heaven’s Feel III Returns to Theaters Ahead of Blu-ray Release appeared first on Siliconera.
Riolu and Lucario U-Treasure Rings Will Come at Varying Prices
2 years 11 months ago
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The prices will range from around $160 to $1,000 depending on the material used.
The post Riolu and Lucario U-Treasure Rings Will Come at Varying Prices appeared first on Siliconera.
The Heroes of the Storm team walks us through how they made the new Overwatch skins
2 years 11 months ago
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I really miss the days when Heroes of the Storm was more active than pretty much any other MOBA.
The team has always killed it, giving it their all when developing content of any kind, and they're still killing it, even with a smaller scope due to Blizzard's cutbacks. But it's a real treat when we get a peek inside the window every now and then and see how the sausage is made: like the recent breakdown of the new Overwatch skins.
In case you missed it, Heroes just got its first big patch in months, in the form of "Overwatch Cosplay." And thankfully, senior artist Andrew Kinabrew stopped by the Blizzard blog to give us some insight as to what actually went into making those skins happen.
Blizzard won't be hosting a BlizzCon this year
2 years 11 months ago
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Blizzard has confirmed today that there won't be plans to try and return to an in-person BlizzCon this year. The company announced today that it will not be hosting a BlizzCon this year.
Today's statement notes the amount of preparation large events like these entail, from both inside Blizzard and organizing the production and competition side as well.
"The ongoing complexities and uncertainties of the pandemic have impacted our ability to properly move forward on many of these fronts," wrote Saralyn Smith, executive producer of BlizzCon. "And ultimately we’re now past the point where we’d be able to develop the kind of event we’d want to create for you in November.
While there won't be any in-person festivities, Blizzard does say it's still planning for something online similar to its recent BlizzConline event, albeit not this year. Blizzard says it's planning a global event for the early part of next year, combining the online show aspect of BlizzConline with "smaller in-person gatherings," and that it will share more as plans come together.
This isn't too surprising, and likely the best choice, as many events are still opting to host online virtual experiences. Plus, it seems like the games most would want to see from Blizzard, like Diablo IV and Overwatch 2, are still a ways out.
Relayer is an epic mech battler coming to PlayStation from Kadokawa Games
2 years 11 months ago
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[Header image via Famitsu]
Japanese developer Kadokawa Games, (of Metal Max and God Wars fame), has announced a brand new strategy RPG. A self-proclaimed "New age space opera", Relayer is currently in development at the studio for release on PlayStation platforms at some point in the future.
A feature in the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu offered up the sci-fi title's preliminary deets. Set in Stardate 2049, humanity has come into contact with a new alien life-form known as "Relayer". At the same time, a supernatural phenomenon is reported across the planet, seemingly brought about by the arrival of a "Star Child" known as "Terra". Understandably perturbed by the increasingly unnerving events, world governments and military factions become entangled in the situation's escalating drama.
Rooting its characters, narrative, and arc within Greek mythology, Relayer will see players pilot platoons of mechs — known as "Stella Gear" — in a variety of small-and-large-scale battles. Relayer is a turn-based strategy title, and will feature numerous classes, maneuvers, weapons, and ally patterns, tasking the player with creating efficient attack patterns to win the day and become one step closer to God... quite literally. Oh, and of course, all of the Stella Gear pilots are sexy and stylish anime characters, each of which has their own sub-stories to be explored as the main campaign progresses.
Overwatch 2 will 'almost certainly' get a beta, Switch version will have 'compromises'
2 years 11 months ago
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Nothing is a given in the world of Blizzard. The phrases "soon" and "Blizzard Time (tm)" aren't just jokes, they're a reality.
While the "gameplay first" mantra wanes a bit from project to project in modern times, for the most part, Blizzard gets a decent chunk of time to create their games, with the aim of supporting them for long periods of time. And as we wait for Overwatch 2, people have a lot of questions.
So is there going to be a beta? It seems like it! On the recent Overwatch 2 AMA, technical director John Lafleur confirmed just that. Lafluer states, plainly, "Almost certainly, yes. If I knew when, I couldn't tell you. If I told you, I'd have to kill you. But u/blizz_akeller [Game Director Aaron Keller] is our resident secret-leaker, so you might give him a try! :)."
He also reminds us that the sequel is making some technical strides, noting: "Yes, we've had a lot of changes to the game engine. Many optimizations, better lighting, and many new features have been added. PvE has also allowed us to look much more at how our environments tell our story, so we've added many features that help with that."
However, he also says that "Switch is a little more challenging than some, and we'll have to make some compromises there." He further explains the situation by stating: "For that reason, some of the higher end visual enhancements might not be visible, there. We'll focus on making sure all of the gameplay-related features get in, first, and then accentuate with additional features as much as possible."
Mayhem Brawler will bring its knuckle-dustin' Streets of Rage 4 vibe this August
2 years 11 months ago
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You might remember, back in the fall of 2020, we sent word of a sexy-looking street scrapper, Mayhem Brawler, in the works at indie outfit Hero Concept. Well, the comic-book style brawler has a release date, and will bring its titular mayhem to PS4, Xbox One, PC, iiRCADE, and Nintendo Switch August 18.
Set in a self-styled "urban fantasy", Mayhem Brawler sees a city that has spiraled wildly out-of-control, with its avenues and alleyways dominated by a super megacorp and its army of mutated minions. While the thugs roaming the streets are trouble enough, things get really out of hand once you throw werewolves, wizards, vampires, and other fantasy creatures into the mix. Fucking wizards, I tell ya.
Into this burned-out berg stride three agents of the Stronghold enforcement division, for whom a routine investigation is about to become a real bad day. While they may be hopelessly outnumbered, our protagonists Star, Dolphin, and Trouble are loaded for bear with amazing martial-arts abilities and super-powered special moves, redressing the balance somewhat against the horde of bad dudes that stand in their way... Including the wizards. Again, Do Not Forget the Wizards.
Blizzard cancels BlizzCon 2021, is planning digital and physical event early next year
2 years 11 months ago
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Blizzard has officially cancelled its BlizzCon live event for the second year running, citing the "ongoing complexities and uncertainties of the pandemic".
Last year's real-world BlizzCon was cancelled due to coronavirus-related "health and safety considerations", and its long-awaited digital-only replacement - formally titled BlizzConline - eventually took place in February this year. Since then, it's been unclear if Blizzard was still planning to press ahead with a proper large-scale physical gathering in 2021, perhaps around the early November weekend usually reserved for its BlizzCon shows.
In a new post on the BlizzCon website, however, show executive producer Saralyn Smith has now confirmed the 2021 event will not be going ahead.
Sonic the Hedgehog voice actor announces surprise return to role four months after departure
2 years 11 months ago
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Sonic the Hedgehog voice actor Roger Craig Smith has surprised fans by announcing he'll once again be voicing the iconic character, four months after Sega confirmed his departure.
Smith - whose other notable video game roles have included Ezio Auditore da Firenze in the Assassin's Creed series, Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil series, Batman in Batman: Arkham Oranges, and Mirage in Apex Legends - had voiced Sonic since 2010, even lending his vocal talents to the character in the Wreck-it-Ralph films.
However, back in January, Smith tweeted, "Welp, 10 years was an amazing run. Onward to new zones!", alongside an image of a broken blue heart. Sega later confirmed what fans had already suspected, announcing Smith's departure from the Sonic role.
Apex Legends' Valkyrie will no longer be able to take mid-air "coffee breaks"
2 years 11 months ago
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There's normally a bit of tuning work to be done when a new legend is introduced to Apex Legends, and jetpack-wielding hero Valkyrie is no exception. Some of her flights are lasting a little longer than Respawn would like, it seems, and the developer has decided to clip her wings.
As explained by associate live balance designer John Larson, players figured out that hovering with Valkyrie's jetpack currently costs very little fuel - and were using this to "take coffee breaks above the final fight in scrims". It reminds me a bit of when Fortnite players used planes to stay out of battles until the very last moment.
In any case, the 10 percent fuel cost for hovering is now being removed entirely, and from Thursday onwards it will cost you the full 100 percent to hang around in the air. When asked why it was being removed rather than nerfed, Larson said that Respawn experimented with a 50-75 percent fuel cost, but found that this "didn't feel meaningfully different and still allowed Valk to stay airborne for too long in certain final rings.
BlizzConline will live on but BlizzConInPerson is cancelled again
2 years 11 months ago
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We may be well into pandemic act two, but cancellations of in-person events are probably going to keep rolling in for a while yet. To that tune, Blizzard have announced that, as with last year, they won't be hosting an in-person BlizzCon event. Also like last year—or rather this year—they're planning to replace it with the internet-only BlizzConline in early 2022.
Gorgeous detective adventure game Backbone has pilfered a release date
2 years 11 months ago
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Detective adventure game Backbone has at last sleuthed itself a release date and it sure has snuck up. This super stylish mystery is set in a dystopian Vancouver populated by animal folks with some mid-century fashion flair. I and multiple other RPS minds have been looking forward to this one for its lovely looks and swell dialogue. You can catch a bit of both here in its new trailer which announces Backbone's June 8th release date.
Xbox-Bethesda E3 2021 Showcase Dates Set, Xbox FanFest Registration Now Live
2 years 11 months ago
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We're less than a month away from E3 2021, and Microsoft has already confirmed that a part of that will be a joint Xbox-Bethesda showcase in place of the usual BethesdaLand event. With so many rumors surrounding Starfield, fans are eager to learn more about what the two companies have in store following the ZeniMax acquisition that became official earlier this year.
The Xbox-Bethesda E3 2021 showcase is officially set for a special live stream event that will take place on June 13, Sunday, at 10 a.m. Pacific. Xbox games general marketing manager Aaron Greenberg has confirmed a few details regarding the event via the Xbox Wire blog, offering a small tease as to what gamers can expect.
In the latest blog post, Greenberg confirmed that the show would focus on Xbox Game Studios, some neat projects that Bethesda is working on, and a showcase of talent from the game creators who share their passion globally. The show is estimated to last about 90 minutes, packed with reveals, more details about the cemented partnership, a holiday release schedule, and some more surprises.
Xbox and Bethesda Games E3 showcase coming June 13
2 years 11 months ago
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Microsoft promises 90-minute show featuring Xbox and Bethesda lineup
Æon Flux is ‘adult animation’ that actually treats the audience like adults
2 years 11 months ago
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Master of None’s third season is a slow build to a stunning finish
2 years 11 months ago
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Aziz Ansari cedes the stage in his Netflix series, which turns from comedy to drama for season 3
Call Of Duty Has Banned Over 350,000 Players For Racism And Toxicity In The Past Year
2 years 11 months ago
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Mass Effect Legendary Edition Review Part 1: Mass Effect
2 years 11 months ago
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Unsurprisingly, EA’s 4K remaster of the first Mass Effect is a night-and-day difference from the 2007 original. One look at a side-by-side comparison tells you most of what you need to know about this upgrade: textures, character models, and effects have been retrofitted and everything runs at 60 frames per second or more, though animations show their age in places, especially on human faces. But to find out how this famed but notoriously uneven game plays in 2021, factoring in the gameplay tweaks in the Legendary Edition, I spent 30 hours on a full playthrough. Revisiting an RPG I hadn’t played since 2008 turned out to be a fantastic refresher on one of gaming’s best original science-fiction universes, and also a reminder of the mechanical weaknesses a lot of us were willing to overlook at the time because of how revolutionary Mass Effect was back then.
In general, Mass Effect looks good at 4K. (I played on Xbox Series X.) Environments are a tad on the sparse side when it comes to how spread out everything is, but textures are sharp and detailed and the lighting effects look respectably modern. Its biggest weakness – visually – is its facial animations, which are hard to ignore considering how much you see of them. In contrast to their detailed and well-lit skin, a lot of human characters look like their faces are paralyzed between their upper lip and their eyes. Sometimes those eyes have an uncomfortable, unblinking gaze. It’s not terrible but it definitely stands out next to current games. However, the nice thing about aliens is that they’re immune to the uncanny valley effect because for all we know that’s how their faces are supposed to look – so they mostly look excellent.
Special Report: The Inside Story of Blizzard's Departures and a Company at a Crossroads
2 years 11 months ago
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The news came as a shock, but it also wasn’t exactly a surprise.
One month ago, Jeff Kaplan announced that he would be leaving Blizzard. His departure ended a 19 year career at Blizzard in which he helped develop two of the most important games ever made — World of Warcraft and Overwatch. A beloved figure at Blizzard, Kaplan’s departure sparked an outpouring of emotion from fans and developers alike.
"He was sincere when he bid the team farewell and let them know how proud he was of everything that we were all able to accomplish together and how confident he was in what a lot of us consider to be one of the greatest development teams in the industry," said Aaron Keller – who succeeded Kaplan as Overwatch 2 director — in an interview with IGN. "It was an emotional moment to hear that from someone who you knew meant it and believed it."
But underneath the emotion of Kaplan’s departure was a more troubling narrative that had been brewing since at least 2018. If you’ve been following Blizzard for any amount of time, it’s hard not to notice the outflow of talent from every part of the business. While Blizzard says its voluntary turnover is significantly under industry average and that departures among developers who have been with the company for longer than 10 years are in fact decreasing, several high-profile departures have contributed to the sense among fans, media, and many within the company that Blizzard is experiencing an exodus.
Crusader Kings 3's Royal Court Expansion Adds A Full 3D Throne Room
2 years 11 months ago
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Paradox has announced the first full expansion for Crusader Kings 3, and it's going in a very different direction from its predecessor. Royal Court will add a new, full-screen throne room in which you can display treasures and interact with petitioners from across your kingdom. They're also bringing back the character inventory from Crusader Kings 2: Monks and Mystics, including culture-specific weapons that will be displayed on your character and used in animated duels.
Dragon Star Varnir Switch Version Will Appear in English
2 years 11 months ago
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Idea Factory International confirmed a Dragon Star Varnir English Switch release is on the way. There will even be physical copies.
The post Dragon Star Varnir Switch Version Will Appear in English appeared first on Siliconera.
Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase Will Be Held During E3 2021
2 years 11 months ago
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Microsoft confirmed the combined Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase will be held in June at the start of E3 2021.
The post Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase Will Be Held During E3 2021 appeared first on Siliconera.
CDPR doesn't know when Cyberpunk 2077 will return to PlayStation Store
2 years 11 months ago
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CD Projekt RED cannot offer a date for when its troubled RPG Cyberpunk 2077 will return to the PlayStation Store. The hi-tech, hi-issues title was pulled from the PSN platform by Sony following the game's incendiary launch, which saw the PS4 edition plagued with problems and subject to thousands of refunds from disappointed players.
"We are still in discussions and with every patch the game gets better and there is a visible progress," said CDPR Co-CEO Adam Kicinski in a shareholders' meeting. "As we said, the decision is an exclusive decision of Sony. We are waiting for the information about the fact that they took the decision to bring back this game. Until then I am not able to tell you anything more."
Work continues at CDPR to improve the state of Cyberpunk 2077 on both PS4 and Xbox One, with numerous patches and hotfixes applied since the game's notoriously rough release in December of last year. The publisher has previously stated that abandoning the port is "not an option". Cyberpunk 2077 is scheduled to launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X this year, but these releases are obviously now mired in a queue of damage control and after-market repair on its platform predecessors.
June's PlayStation Plus games include spies, squadrons, and Virtua Fighter
2 years 11 months ago
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Sony has announced its PlayStation Plus lineup for June, the month of E3 2021, and it's a good mix of both old and new.
On the PlayStation 5 side, Plus subscribers can pick up Operation: Tango, a new upcoming co-op infiltration game. One player acts as the spy on the ground, infiltrating a locale in-person, while the other player is their hacker-in-the-chair, navigating firewalls and helping them solve puzzles.
Face zero-grav dogfights in Star Wars Squadrons, go head-to-head with legendary brawlers in Virtua Fighter 5 or team up for a spy adventure in Operation: Tango, your PlayStation Plus games for June: https://t.co/nzsEzyJtg2 pic.twitter.com/226uhQnNE4
— PlayStation Europe (@PlayStationEU) May 26, 2021
It's launching on June 1, and it supports both cross-platform play and Friend Pass play. If you're not getting it through PlayStation Plus' PS5 offering, you can also pick it up on PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or PC via Epic or Steam.
Xbox and Bethesda games showcase set for June 13
2 years 11 months ago
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Xbox and Bethesda have both confirmed their plans for their summer games showcase. The two will be hosting a joint Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase stream on June 13 at 10 a.m. PT.
The stream will focus on games from both Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda, as well as other partners around the world. Now that Bethesda is under the Xbox umbrella, the two will share the stage for a 90-minute show that will run down upcoming holiday launches and additions to Xbox Game Pass.
Games, Games, Games ð£ï¸
— Xbox (@Xbox) May 26, 2021
World Premieres ð¬
New titles on @XboxGamePass â«
Save the date for the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase: https://t.co/ezcMtO6JM6 | #XboxBethesda pic.twitter.com/WHVbgZl5Fo
The show will be airing on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, and Xbox will also be hosting a digital FanFest this year as well.
Get a taste of Guilty Gear Strive's Absolute Bangers, fellow kids
2 years 11 months ago
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As much as it is typified by its wild fashions, awesome artwork and litany of fairweather players, Guilty Gear Strive is known for its relentless, teeth-gnashing soundtrack. A veritable melody of metal and mayhem combined, GG's guitar-squealing riffs and sub-Mike Patton wailing has become as iconic to the brand as anybody on its colorful roster of characters.
Guilty Gear Strive is apparently no exception, with each and every one of the starting roster's 15 characters being blessed with their own bespoke theme song. Dramatic to the point of operatic, and packing more adrenaline than Eric Stoltz in a dirty bathrobe, the GG Strive soundtrack looks to be the series' most ambitious to date, and will hopefully help each and every fight feel like a world-ending battle for the ages.
