February 2022

Inside Pokémon's Mezo Region: The Ambitious Fan Project With More Than 150 Unique Designs

2 years 3 months ago

Fanart and Pokémon practically go hand-in-hand. Just a quick Google search will reveal dozens — if not hundreds — of passionate fan projects inspired by Game Freak's world of Pokémon. But one fan's creation is taking off within the Pokémon community thanks to its strong resemblance to the Pokémon series' original monster design philosophy. It's called the Mezo region, and it's a passion project that the creator, a DeviantArt user named Lugi-Oh, says has been in the works for over a decade.

The Mezo region is a Pokémon fan art project made up of designs for 170 unique Pokémon. Its origins can be traced all the way back to 2006, when Pokémon Diamond and Pearl came out. Lugi-Oh has always had a passion for character design, and wanted to create a Pokémon region himself. While it may seem like these characters belong in a Pokémon fan game, that's not the case; Lugi-Oh says he started drawing these Pokémon just to get the designs and ideas out of his brain and onto paper. The project was never intended to be anything more than a fun art project for Pokémon fans to enjoy.

"Character design in general is what I have the most fun doing," Lugi-Oh told IGN. "Pokémon just happens to be an endless playground for that. I loved the games and ever since they first made sequels with new Pokédexes, I wanted to make one of my own. I technically began this project back around the release of Diamond and Pearl. I would casually catalog ideas and scrap them every time a new Pokémon title came out with similar concepts. After the release of Sun and Moon I decided to revisit the idea as a personal design challenge, only this time without caring!"

Author
Logan Plant

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Google Stadia Reportedly Rebranded As Tech Giant Moves To a Fresh Strategy

2 years 3 months ago

Google is planning to repurpose its Stadia technology by partnering with companies to white-label the tech that powers the tech giant's streaming service, Business Insider reports.

According to the outlet, the new partnership will be rebranded from Stadia to "Google Stream." Several companies, including Capcom and Bungie, are among the companies expected to use the service. Bungie, which is set to be acquired by PlayStation, is "exploring" its own streaming platform.

Google is also broadening its horizons and apparently talked to other companies, such as the exercise equipment company Peloton. Business Insider reports that conversations between the two companies include whether Peloton can be a "back-end" provider for games running on its line of fitness bikes. Last June, Peloton announced it intention to launch an in-app fitness game.

This would not be the first time Google pivoted to licensing out its tech to other companies. Last October, AT&T was offering customers a chance to stream Batman: Arkham Knight, free of charge on Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome desktop browsers. IGN received confirmation from both AT&T and Google that the game was being powered by the technology that Stadia uses.

Author
Taylor Lyles

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Children Of Morta On PC Gets Long-Awaited Online Co-op On Valentine’s Day

2 years 3 months ago

Children of Morta is one of the most exceptional hidden gems of the last generation, but the cooperative dungeon crawler has woefully lacked a much-requested feature: online play. Playing with a friend locally has been great, but now you can finally play with remote buddies – or maybe even a sweetheart – this Valentine’s Day. Assuming you’re on PC, that is. 

On February 14, the long-promised online two-player co-op option finally makes its way into the Steam version game. Don’t worry, console players: the feature is coming to PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch, but developer Dead Mage doesn’t have a timetable on when that will happen. In a press release, the team states it wants to ensure online play functions well on PC before rolling it out elsewhere. 

Online co-op comes via The Fellowship Sanctuary update, the final piece of content of its eight-piece DLC roadmap. That means 11bit will be wrapping up major support for the game which was first released in October 2019 to a 9 out of 10 review score from us here at Game Informer. The dungeon-crawling action game centers on a large family of warriors, all of whom are playable, who must fight back an evil corruption. 

Author
Marcus Stewart

Activision Blizzard Allegedly Wouldn’t Let Call Of Duty Twitch Streamer Run A Team Due To ‘Oversexual’ Posts

2 years 3 months ago

Activision Blizzard, a publisher under a government investigation revolving around sexual harassment at the company, allegedly stopped a Call of Duty personality from leading her own team within a tournament held by her own organization. The reason? She’s claiming that the publisher was uncomfortable with her…

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Author
Ari Notis

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Five Years of Fire Emblem Heroes: The Good, Bad and Still Missing

2 years 3 months ago

fire emblem heroes 5th anniversary

Nintendo mobile hit Fire Emblem Heroes is celebrating its fifth anniversary this week. It’s a great time to look back at what it’s accomplished, good and bad, and what we’d still like to see from the game. Let’s hear from you too! Drop by the comments and share your thoughts.


fire emblem heroes good

The Good

STREAMLINED STRATEGY: Heroes strikes a good balance between the tactics of traditional Fire Emblem and a friendlier, mobile simplicity. Battles are short and fit easily on a phone, but they also still feel tactical. This wasn't the easiest thing to manage. — Graham

GACHA THAT WORKS: Fire Emblem Heroes really distilled the key appeal of Fire Emblem — its characters — into that most character-focused of games: The gacha hero collector, and made it work. The latter chapters also introduced a number of interesting wrinkles to its multiversal lore, and added appealing original characters of its own. — Josh

DISCOVERING CHARACTERS: I love that Fire Emblem Heroes exposes people to characters from games we didn’t get. The Binding Blade? Roy’s our boy and here! Thracia 776? Leif’s leading his army into our lives! By doing so, maybe it is also encouraging players to look up details about the Japan-exclusive titles. — Jenni

Author
Siliconera Staff

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Tales of Arise Zoom Backgrounds Feature Lords’ Thrones

2 years 3 months ago

With telecommuting and video conferencing prevalence increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of developers and publishers shared backgrounds for services like Zoom. The latest is Bandai Namco. It offered an assortment of Tales of Arise backgrounds with Lords' thrones designed to appear behind a person while perhaps in a Google Meeting or Zoom call. There are also no spoilers in any of them.

Each of the Tales of Arise backgrounds features thrones like the one the Renan Lords on Dahna sit in. While each one will be recognizable to those who played the game, there are no “hints” as to who they belong to. There aren’t any spoilers regarding regions or people’s identities. Rather, they seem like a series of elegant chairs from throne rooms. For example, one of the more recognizable ones is the Glanymede Castle throne from Calaglia

[gallery columns="4" ids="915131,915132,915133,915134" link="file"]

In the past, other Zoom backgrounds for games and series like Bleach, Naruto, Final Fantasy XI and Kingdom Hearts appeared.

Author
Jenni Lada

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Star Citizen making dev roadmap more vague to reduce disappointment

2 years 3 months ago

Nine years and over $434,000,000 (£320m) after starting crowdfunding, space sim Star Citizen and its singleplayer spin-off Squadron 42 are still very far from completion. They're sustained by fans' hopes and dreams of what the games might one day become but this is a double-edged sword. The developers, Cloud Imperium Games have now decided to make their public development roadmap for future updates more vague, because some players get dead narked about delays. I can see that happening after nine years.

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Author
Alice O'Connor

What’s New in Genshin Impact 2.5 Update? Everything We Know So Far

2 years 3 months ago

The Genshin Impact 2.5 Special Program stream has come and gone, so we have a ton of new info on what’s on the way when the new version arrives on Feb. 16. Yae Miko is finally joining the roster as a playable character alongside a new world boss, weapons, and events. Here’s a rundown of everything we know about what’s coming in the Genshin Impact 2.5 update.

Author
Ethan Anderson

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Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 English Dub Begins This Month

2 years 3 months ago

Earlier today, Crunchyroll confirmed that the English simuldub of Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2 is almost here. Fans of the dubbed version of the series will only have to wait for a little over a week, as it will air on Funimation and Crunchyroll Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022.

The news came by way of a press release, which you can check out for yourself below:

Voiceover booths have been rumbling in excitement over the much anticipated English SimulDub™ release of Attack on Titan Final Season Part 2, which is set to premiere Sunday, February 13, 2022 on Funimation and Crunchyroll. All available episodes of the series simulcast from Japan are currently subtitled in all of Funimation’s global territories and in more than 200 countries and territories on Crunchyroll, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and on Funimation’s European streaming service Wakanim. The Spanish and Portuguese dubs will also be made available on February 13.

In the epic continuation of the worldwide anime phenomenon, starting with episode 76, the lines between friends and enemies become even more blurred. The War for Paradis explodes in Shiganshina and as battle rages on and the true intentions of the masterminds behind the current state of the world become clear…

Based on one of the best-selling manga series of all time, having sold over 100 million volumes of the manga in print across the world, the award-winning franchise was created by Hajime Isayama. The anime series is currently produced by MAPPA (Banana Fish; JUJUTSU KAISEN; ZOMBIE LAND SAGA) and licensed from Kodansha (AKIRA; FAIRY TAIL; Fire Force; That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime). 

Author
Andrew McMahon

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Hit Co-Op Platformer It Takes Two Surpasses 5 Million in Sales

2 years 3 months ago

Developer Hazelight Studios celebrated yet another sales milestone for its award-winning co-op action/adventure game It Takes Two. As of today, the game has officially sold over 5 million copies.

The news comes courtesy of a recent tweet from the developer’s official account, which you can check out for yourself right down below.

If you’re keeping track of the sales timeline, It Takes Two exceeded 1 million sales back in April, 2 million in June, and then 3 million in Oct.

Author
Andrew McMahon

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Sims 4 wedding-themed Game Pack detailed in new leak

2 years 3 months ago

Nearly eight years into the Sims 4's life and the DLC show no sign of slowing. Following the arrival of this week's vibrant Carnaval Streetwear Kit, a new leak has seemingly revealed extensive details on the life sim's previously teased new wedding-themed Game Pack.

Suspicions were raised that a new wedding-focussed pack was coming back in January, when EA teased its upcoming Sims 4 content plans for the first three months of 2022. That reveal promised a "game pack that throws a party for love", and fans' immediate thoughts of wedding bells now appear to have been by confirmed by a series of leaks on Twitter.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Hideo Kojima Is Starting His Own Podcast

2 years 3 months ago

If you've ever wanted to get to know the brilliant mind behind Death Stranding and the Metal Gear series, Hideo Kojima, now's your chance. The game director has started his own podcast called "Radioverse." However, you'll also need to understand the Japanese language because it's exclusive to Amazon Audible in Japan.

The podcast description on the website reads, "Each time, we welcome a variety of guests to talk about deep topics related to games and movies that cannot be heard anywhere else."

His first guest on Radioverse is a let's play Youtuber named Otsuichi, who is part of the channel 2Bro. In the debut episode, they talk about the Metal Gear franchise, Death Stranding, Kojima's aim for each of his titles.

The reviews of Radioverse have been unanimously positive so far. In the three categories of "comprehensive evaluation," "narration," and "story," the podcast has almost all five-star reviews across the board, with one four-star review.

One reviewer states that the episode was funny, saying, "I enjoyed listening to it very much! I would like to hear more behind the story of MGS production! Looking forward for next time!"

Author
George Yang

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Phil Spencer: Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal Was Fueled By One Big Question

2 years 3 months ago

Microsoft's planned $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision-Blizzard is a massive undertaking like nothing we've seen thus far in the gaming industry, and it certainly wasn't a decision the company came to overnight. In fact, discussion at Microsoft internally seems to have begun as far back as when the board gave approval to acquire ZeniMax, at which point they asked Phil Spencer a critical question:

"What's next?"

According to an interview with Spencer conducted by Axios, the answer was that Xbox needed to make a move in a new direction, a space where it didn't have any strong investments. "The constant conversation had always been about mobile and casual."

Though most people think of Activision-Blizzard most immediately for, well, Activision and Blizzard, the third arm of the publisher is King, maker of Candy Crush and a number of other wildly popular mobile titles. With King under its banner, Xbox has finally picked up a major name in mobile gaming.

In that regard, the acquisition is well in keeping with Xbox's philosophy of recent years: to be on as many platforms as possible and to reach as many users as possible. As Spencer told Axios, he is currently focused on raising player counts for Microsoft games, and will consider the Activision-Blizzard deal a success if it allows him to do that.

Author
Rebekah Valentine

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Dying Light 2 Server And Co-op Problems Are 'Top Priority' For Techland

2 years 3 months ago

With Dying Light 2 officially releasing today, the new action game is facing the sort of online issues that often plague new multiplayer games. Players on social media are currently reporting network disconnects, co-op problems, and other online issues, leading developer Techland to put out a statement saying that addressing these problems are at the "top of our list."

In a statement echoed by Dying Light's official Twitter account, a Techland rep told IGN, "Thank you to gamers for your feedback! Disconnects in co-op mode and problems with redeeming awards, codes, and other in-game content (including Twitch Drops from TechlandGG) are at the top of our priority list. Our team is on it. We will update you on the progress."

Author
Joseph Knoop

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The Steam Deck Is Big, Like Really Really Big

2 years 3 months ago

Valve Steam Deck

Valve announced the Steam Deck in July of last year and it was met with cautious excitement. Its premise is great – play your Steam games on the go in a Switch-like fashion – but many were confused at the actual layout of the device. Its buttons seem to be running off the edge, the analog sticks are quite high (and not offset like they are on the Switch) and there are two very-large touchpads. 

Oh, and it looked quite big. With excitement continually ramping up for the device, Valve announced last week that the Steam Deck would launch on February 25 (for those who preordered the first wave, of course). That release date is close and it seems some people have already got their hands on the device. They’ve posted some comparison pictures, too, that reveal the Steam Deck is chonky. 

Here’s what it looks like compared to Sony’s PlayStation Vita, a relatively small handheld device:

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Kit Ellis And Krysta Yang Talk Nintendo Minute And Working At Nintendo | All Things Nintendo

2 years 3 months ago

The Nintendo Minute was never a minute, and neither is this week's episode of All Things Nintendo! This week, Brian is joined by Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, the two former hosts of Nintendo Minute, Nintendo's in-house YouTube show. However, their time at Nintendo extends far beyond simply hosting that show. In fact, when you combine how long Kit and Krysta worked at Nintendo, it's almost three decades of experience. On this special episode of All Things Nintendo, Brian chats with the two former Nintendo employees about their long-running show, what it's like working at the company, and hints of what could be next for them.

If you'd like to follow the people from this episode on Twitter: Brian Shea (@brianpshea), Kit Ellis (@kitosan), Krysta Yang (@breath0air)

The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we can celebrate, discuss, and break down all the latest games, news, and announcements from the industry's most recognizable name. Each week, Brian is joined by different guests to talk about what's happening in the world of Nintendo. Along the way, they'll share personal stories, uncover hidden gems in the eShop, and even look back on the classics we all grew up with. A new episode hits every Friday!

Author
Brian Shea

Elden Ring: The Game Informer Cover Companion

2 years 3 months ago

elden ring

Did you get a chance to check out the 18-page cover story on From Software’s Elden Ring? Join Dan Tack and Alex Van Aken to discuss 10-hours with the game, diving into various features, mechanics, and details. During the conversation, we chatted about some new information that didn’t make it into the cover story itself, along with some broad takeaways from the game.

Be advised there are topics that some may consider spoilers in this conversation, so if you’re looking to go into Elden Ring completely unknowing, check out another video instead. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Author
Daniel Tack

US Govt Wants To Imprison Nintendo Hacker Bowser For 5 Years

2 years 3 months ago

The U.S. government suggested to a federal judge on Thursday that Nintendo hacker and modder Gary Bowser receive five years in prison after he pled guilty to two charges involving the selling and creation of mod chips that could allow people to play pirated games on their Nintendo Switch.

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Author
Zack Zwiezen

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New Calliope Mori x Gura Gawr and Deco*27 Song Debuts

2 years 3 months ago

New Calliope Mori x Gawr Gura and Deco*27 Song Debuts

There's a new Calliope Mori x Gura Gawr song out now, and Vocaloid music producer Deco*27 is involved. Mori and Deco*27 worked together on the lyrics for "Q," while Deco*27 handled the music. The music video is immediately available. However, it won't be available to purchase or stream via various services until February 5, 2022. When the song is available, it will cost ¥250 (~$2.20) for the single song or ¥500 (~$4.30) for the single that includes an instrumental version.

Here's the full "Q" music video. The lyrics appear in English and Japanese while the two Hololive Vtubers "fight."

This is the second recent Calliope Mori x Gura Gawr track. They also did a cover of Kanaria’s “King” back in August 2021.

Author
Jenni Lada

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Hogwarts Legacy: Two Signs That Could Point Toward Harry Potter Game's Release Date

2 years 3 months ago

Despite Warner Media CEO Jason Kilar reiterating that Hogwarts Legacy is still on track to release this year, the publisher has yet to give a firm release date on when the game is due. However, new evidence suggests the open-world Harry Potter game could be out as soon as September.

The Rowling Library, a literary website that is devoted to promoting "the life and works of J.K. Rowling," officially announced a release date for the official artbook of Hogwarts Legacy. According to the website, The Art and Making of Hogwarts Legacy will release on September 6. Coincidently, September 1 is "Back to Hogwarts Day," which marks the day when the fictional characters of the wizarding world return to Hogwarts.

Nevertheless, it is important to note that neither of these things confirms that Hogwarts Legacy will actually release in September. And there is always a chance that the game may get delayed into next year. Yet, we will not know for certain until Warner Bros. officially shares a firm release date for the highly anticipated title.

Author
Taylor Lyles

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Sol Cresta by PlatinumGames Reveals Characters, Editions, DLC, & New Gameplay

2 years 3 months ago

Today, during a livestream from Japan, Hideki Kamiya himself presented more information and footage of PlatinumGames’ shoot ’em up Sol Cresta.

We get to take a look at the character design with a presentation of the cast. Interestingly, we also learn that the game will be sold digitally with the arcade mode for $39.99 and a “dramatic DLC” launched on the same day for $10. Basically, those who don’t want the story mode can get only the arcade mode and save a bit.

If you want both, you can grab the bundle for $49.99.

Text is both in English and Japanese, but the voice acting of the Dramatic DLC is only in English.

If you want the game on a disc or cartridge, Limited Run Games is going to sell the physical edition for PS4 and Nintendo Switch, with pre-orders starting today.

On top of that, a Limited Collector’s Edition priced at $129.99 will also be available, and you can see its content in the last picture of the gallery below.

The clips below also show some new gameplay including the Dramatic DLC and the caravan mode.

Author
Giuseppe Nelva

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What are we all playing this weekend?

2 years 3 months ago

Spring is coming, gang. From Tuesday, for me at least, sunset will no longer occur during working hours. What a joy! To once more see daylight on my personal time! It'll be ages before I have time for long bike rides and swims after work again, but it will come. It all comes back around. Until then, what are you playing this weekend?

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Author
Alice O'Connor

Games that avoid capitalistic design

2 years 3 months ago

In November 2021, narrative designer Megnha Jayanth posted a transcript of a talk entitled "White Protagonism and Imperial Pleasures in Game Design" online. In it she argues that games are deeply rooted in Anglo-American and European imperialism. It's a complex argument, and I highly recommend you read the whole essay, but there is one point in particular I latched onto - games, according to Jayanth, are difficult to extricate from capitalism and colonialism, seeing as the tastemaking cultures in the industry are both.

There are many ways in which capitalism has an influence on the industry; here I'm going to focus on design. Monetisation and play-to-earn structures are two especially egregious forms of capitalism that are hotly debated, but less obvious forms of capitalism exist in most popular video games. There are obvious examples in which games put us to work, like the cycle of work and consumption in Animal Crossing that many memes make fun of even as we enjoy it, or management games and city builders. But work is also inherent in filling a skill tree, or a progress bar. The satisfaction you feel at levelling up is engineered by an inherently capitalist reward loop - you've worked hard for something, so as a reward you're granted something with which to do more work.

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Author
Malindy Hetfeld

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Friday 'Nite: The Real-Life Fortnite Zero Point Is Even Weirder Than It Looks

2 years 3 months ago

I was out of commission last week, so I could only watch from a hospital bed as the world reacted to the real-life Fortnite Zero Point that was discovered some 4,000 light-years away from Earth. I thought it was so cool, but couldn't share in the strangeness of the moment. Thinking I had missed the boat, I moved on with my Fortnite week, finishing Foundation challenges and whatnot. But when I was feeling better, I caught up on the details of the mysterious space object and realized there's even more to it that's bizarre. Beyond the way it looks stunningly like the Zero Point, it also behaves like it.

For the uninitiated, let's catch you up quickly on what exactly the Zero Point even is. I mentioned it a few weeks ago when I compared Fortnite to ABC's hit drama-adventure series of yesteryear, Lost. That's because, like the heart of the island on Lost, the Zero Point rests at the center of the Fortnite island, Artemis, and appears to be the life-giving force for all beings in the omniverse.

The Zero Point is often the target of ne'er-do-wells who seek to control it or even destroy it for their own personal power, but to date, no one has snuffed it out for good--despite a few close calls. The Zero Point has a distinct look. It's a perfect sphere, made up in blue and purple hues, with a wispy tail that spins around the sphere in different directions. It emanates energy and the essence of total enigma at once. Here's a picture of it for reference:

Author
Mark Delaney

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Iron Banter: This Week In Destiny 2 — It's A Worm Gun, Jerry

2 years 3 months ago

The hype train is gaining a dangerous amount of speed as Destiny 2 barrels toward The Witch Queen. This week, Bungie detailed a bunch of changes coming to the weapon sandbox, while showing off some new Exotic weapons coming with the expansion. One of those guns is a grenade launcher, only the grenades are the worm larvae from which the Hive derive their dark powers. I have spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about this.

But first, let's check out some of the changes to guns coming in The Witch Queen.

Brand loyalty

The details on weapons are pretty extensive in the latest TWAB, and I have to say, they all sound like solid changes. The best-sounding aspect of the whole deal is the addition of Origin Traits, which are apparently intrinsic to guns based on elements like where you get them, or who manufactured them. For instance, guns from the Trials of Osiris will have Origin Traits similar to the Celerity and Bottomless Grief perks, where they gain boosts when the rest of your teammates fall in battle. Nightfall weapons get traits that boost them against Champions. Crucible guns are better at reloading out of fights, to help you prep for your next engagement.

The more customization options Bungie brings to Destiny 2 loadouts, the more interesting that whole side of the game becomes. I really like the idea of having guns that you get for doing certain things and that reward your specific playstyle. If you're into PvE activities, hitting up Nightfalls gets you better tools for PvE--that's a cool idea that helps make repetitive activities more rewarding.

Author
Phil Hornshaw

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Dying Light 2 Guide Hub: Repair Weapons, Fast Travel, And More

2 years 3 months ago

After four years, a few delays, and a lot of trailers, Dying Light 2 is here. We've already put in dozens of hours with it ourselves, which you can read about in our Dying Light 2 review. But if you're already playing, it's guides you need, and we've got plenty to help you on your journey in the parkour-friendly shoes of Aiden Caldwell as he searches for his long-lost sister, Mia. Here's a central hub of every Dying Light 2 guide on GameSpot. If you like it, bookmark it and keep checking back as you play. We'll be adding to it as more secrets are discovered, tips are needed, and content is added to the game.

Dying Light 2 beginner's guide

For a great headstart that we only wish we could've had too, use our Dying Light 2 beginner's guide to hit the ground running once you get to Old Villedor. It's got tips that should help you stay above the hordes and ahead of the renegades.

How long to beat Dying Light 2?

Something always on the forefront of players' minds is how long their next game will take them to beat. In Dying Light 2, like a lot of sandbox games, that number varies a lot based on how you play the game. Here are our estimates across different play styles.

Author
Mark Delaney

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Dying Light 2 Safe Codes: Bazaar, Broadcast, And More

2 years 3 months ago

In Dying Light 2, safes will be found early and often. Secrets are locked away all across Villedor, so it's important to know how to get into them. Thankfully, these safe codes don't seem to change from one save file to the next, meaning we can share the safe codes we've found so far and you can skip some of the work yourself. If you're looking for valuables such as Inhibitors inside, here's how to open all locked safes, plus a tip for when you don't have a code at all.

Dying Light 2 safe codes

There are many safes hidden in Villedor, so we're still discovering all of them. We'll update this list as needed, though, so bookmark it if you've found it helpful in your early or post-game travels, and we hope it will eventually fit every locked safe code in Dying Light 2.

  • Bazaar safe code (in the Church belltower): 5-1-0
  • First Biomarker safe code: 9-7-3
  • Nightrunner's Hideout safe code: 1-0-1
  • Treasure Hunt safe code: 3-21-67
  • Moonshine safe code: 14-9-2
  • Downtown bandit camp safe code: 3-1-3
  • Broadcast safe code: 3-1-4

How to open safes without the code

While we're still seeking out more safe codes, it's also worth noting that the game uses a bit of controller feedback to hint at a safe's code even if you don't have the code on hand. When turning any safe's dial, do so very slowly and, if you're using a standard controller, you'll feel a slight rumble when you pass one of the three digits. You won't know the correct order, but there are only a few possibilities once you've got the numbers, so you can brute-force it from there.

Author
Mark Delaney

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Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance - Patch Notes, Crypto Buff, And Everything To Know

2 years 3 months ago

Apex Legends Season 12: Defiance is right around the corner and kicks off Year 4 for developer Respawn's battle royale. Year 3 proved a transformative year for Apex Legends--alongside the usual new weapons and characters, it saw the introduction of Arenas and a tighter narrative focus on the legacy of Titanfall 2. Respawn doesn't seem to be letting up for Year 4, with Season 12 introducing a whole bunch of new content. Below, we go over everything Season 12 is changing about Apex Legends or adding to the game, including legend and weapon rebalancing, map changes, new modes, and events.

Start date

Apex Legends Season 12 is set to start February 8. If Respawn keeps to the same start time as Season 11: Escape, Season 12 will kick off at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. However, Respawn has not announced a start time yet.

Patch notes

Respawn has not yet released the full patch notes for Apex Legends Season 12. Patch notes for the major seasonal updates traditionally get revealed the day before a new season starts. So the Season 12 patch notes will likely be posted on February 7.

Author
Jordan Ramée

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Pokemon Legends: Arceus: Alpha Pokemon Explained

2 years 3 months ago

Pokemon come in many shapes and sizes, especially in Pokemon Legends: Arceus. This open-world Pokemon spinoff incorporates a variety of Pokemon ranging from teeny-tiny to elephantine. Alpha Pokemon just happen to be the largest of them all, and the game recognizes them as such with the special name. Naturally, because alphas are new to the series, even long-time fans have plenty of questions. Here are the basics of what you need to know about alphas in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

What are Alpha Pokemon?

A domesticated alpha Floatzel cries out in might

Alpha Pokemon are the largest possible Pokemon in the game for their respective species. Just in case you don't realize it, they remind you with their unique traits and looks; they're red-eyed, aggressive creatures that attack you on sight. Thankfully, they lose that aggression and their eyes fade to a normal color once you catch them.

Author
Jess Reyes

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The Best (And Worst) Part Of Each Sims Game

2 years 3 months ago

There aren't many series that can claim to have created an entire language, and even fewer that can proudly state they got Katy Perry, Carly Rae Jepsen, and My Chemical Romance to sing some of their most iconic songs in it. But then again, there also aren't too many series like The Sims.

First released 22 years ago today, The Sims is one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time and for good reason. Not only did the simulation game revolutionize the genre upon its release and act as a major entry-point into games for so many, the series keeps improving upon it, and remains one of the most inclusive and inviting gaming experiences around. However, while many of The Sims' innovative changes seen throughout the series' 22-year run have been winners, we can't deny there's been a few duds in there as well--such is the cost you pay when constantly reimagining one of gaming's most beloved series. So, here's a list of all the features we simply can't get enough of, as well as the parts we've been glad to see go.

The Sims

The Sims

The best part? Its progressiveness.

Author
Jessica Howard

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How To Get The Grappling Hook In Dying Light 2

2 years 3 months ago

In Dying Light 2, the grappling hook changes the way you get around the world almost as much as the glider, greatly increasing your reach across gaps where your hands and feet just couldn't be enough on their own. You'll get the grappling hook at a particular moment in the game, so here's what you'll want to look out for so you know the game is ready to finally give it to you.

Dying Light 2 grappling hook - how to unlock

The grappling hook is unmissable in the main story of Dying Light 2. You'll get it during the mission called Broadcast, which sees you heading into the Garrison Electrical Station, fighting with renegades, solving the building's complex platforming puzzle, before eventually scaling the building with your new grappling hook.

This comes about 20 hours into the main story on a typical playthrough with some sightseeing and side-questing, though if you wanted to dash to the grappling hook, you could reasonably get there in about 10-12 hours. It's one of several Nightrunner Tools that Aiden adds to his toolbelt throughout the game, though it behaves quite differently from the grapple bow Kyle Crane had in the first game of the series.

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Mark Delaney

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PlayStation VR 2 Preorders: You Can Sign Up For Notifications Now

2 years 3 months ago

While it's unclear when the PlayStation VR 2 will launch, it's a safe bet that PSVR 2 preorders will sell out quickly. If you're a PS5 owner anxiously awaiting the next-gen VR headset, you should sign up for Sony's mailing list that just went live on the official PlayStation website. Sony will send PlayStation VR 2 news, including details on when you can preorder, directly to your inbox.

PlayStation VR 2 preorders

Considering how quickly PS5 preorders sold out when they went live, you'll definitely want to know exactly when the headset is available to order. In addition to preorder details, Sony will send updates on the headset's development, game announcements, and release dates. You have to be logged into your PlayStation account and click the button at the bottom of the page to sign up.

The new PlayStation website page for the PSVR 2 also outlines the headset's features as well as a myriad of tech specs.

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Steven Petite

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How To Unlock The Glider In Dying Light 2

2 years 3 months ago

The Dying Light 2 glider was featured heavily in the game's run-up to launch, so naturally players are eager to get it for themselves. We played Dying Light 2 for dozens of hours already, and we can attest to the glider being one of the best new additions to the series. Here's what you need to know about how and exactly when you'll get it for yourself.

Dying Light 2 glider - how to unlock

The glider in Dying Light 2 is unmissable, thankfully, though it also comes with the caveat that you can't get it any sooner than when it's required for the story. After about 10 gameplay hours in the game's first open-world section, Old Villedor, Aiden will travel to Central Loop, the downtown section of the ravaged city.

Central Loop looks marvelous thanks to its skyscrapers that add a totally new level of verticality to the series. You can see the city from new angles with your glider too, which is a journey that begins with the mission A Place To Call Home. This is the first mission in Central Loop and will see Aiden and Lawan, a character you'll meet on your adventure, practicing with the new glider right as you get downtown.

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Mark Delaney

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Voice Of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden Is Nier Creator's Latest Game

2 years 3 months ago

Yoko Taro plays by his own rules. That meant serving as creative director on a card-based role-playing game called Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars in 2021, despite everyone assuming his next project would be Nier-related. It apparently also means releasing another one of those games just a few weeks after announcing it, as Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is coming out in just two weeks.

Announced with little warning today, Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is a completely separate game from The Isle Dragon Roars, and it's not a direct sequel. Both games are designed as standalone titles, though you'll have some idea of what to expect gameplay-wise if you've played The Isle Dragon Roars.

Square Enix calls the game a "standalone experience for both old and new fans of the series," and by "old fans," the company means people who played the first one like three months ago. The world moves quickly these days.

As an unnamed hero, you must save a group of islands facing destruction, joining a failed maiden venturing into the seas. Because it's a Yoko Taro project, expect some depressing and unexpected turns, along with music director Keiichi Okabe's signature melancholy tunes.

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Gabe Gurwin

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Best Nintendo Switch Deals In February 2022

2 years 3 months ago

It used to be unheard of for first-party Nintendo games to be discounted outside of major sales events, but nowadays it happens regularly. While Nintendo Switch games don't get the same steep price reductions we see on Xbox and PlayStation, you can still find notable exclusives for at least $10 off. And if you're looking for accessories such as controllers or headsets, there's a near-endless supply to choose from on Switch, which means you can almost always get a good deal. We've rounded up the best Nintendo Switch deals available in February. Our roundup features big discounts on entries in some of Nintendo's most popular franchises, including Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.

In addition to the Nintendo Switch deals below, make sure to check out our series of roundups covering all things Nintendo Switch. We have lists featuring the best Nintendo Switch games, best Nintendo Switch games for kids, and best Switch multiplayer games. If you're looking for some great Switch accessories, we've rounded up the best Nintendo Switch controllers, carrying cases, grips, and skins.

Author
Steven Petite

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Watch Someone Play Toto's Africa Using Virtual Instruments In Zelda: Majora's Mask

2 years 3 months ago

The creativity and determination of people on the internet continues to surprise and impress. The latest example comes from YouTube user Bigfatfrown, who published a video recently in which they play Toto's iconic song "Africa" on instruments from within The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

The 3DS version of the popular RPG lets you play virtual instruments--including the five-button Deku pipes--and Bigfatfrown put it all together with a combination of stylus and fingers in a wonderful performance of Toto's karaoke favorite. It is seriously impressive--check it out below (via Polygon).

Commenters showered Bigfatfrown with praise. One person wrote, "This guy has more musical talent in his stylus than I do in my entire body." Another said, "A true magician at work." But perhaps the best summation in the comments came from someone who said, "This is it. The best video."

Bigfatfrown also wrote what is pretty much the perfect description for the video, "I bless the rains down in Termina."

If you're looking for more Majora's Mask covers of famous '80s songs, Bigfatfrown published a video of A-Ha's "Take on Me" played with Deku pipes.

Author
Eddie Makuch

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