September 2023

Weaker subscription deals have hit indie publishers, says analyst

8 months 1 week ago

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Smaller subscription deals and the underperformance of certain titles have had a severe impact on Devolver and TinyBuild, says stockbroking firm Goodbody.

Both companies floated at the peak of the games business in 2021 and have seen their share prices plummet over the past two years. Devolver has seen its share price drop 92% since its peak in January 2022, while TinyBuild's has fallen 95%

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Author
Christopher Dring

Why Ubisoft Chose Basim For Assassin's Creed Mirage

8 months 1 week ago

Assassin's Creed Mirage Game Informer Exclusive Cover Story Coverage Hub Image Screenshot

When Ubisoft revealed Assassin’s Creed Mirage last September, it also announced that Basim Ibn Is’haq, the master assassin who brought Eivor into the Hidden Ones order in 2020’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, was returning. This time, however, he would the playable protagonist. His journey in Mirage takes him from street thief to Hidden Ones order initiate and eventually to the master assassin we see in Valhalla. 

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Holstin Is A Survival Horror Game Set In The '90s With A Unique Shooter Twist

8 months 1 week ago

Holstin Survival Horror Gameplay Reveal Trailer Steam Demo

Newcomer studio Sonka has released a new gameplay trailer for its horror game, Holstin. This new trailer reveals a fun twist on the game’s shooting mechanics and comes alongside word that there’s a demo now available on Steam. 

The trailer is short, running less than a minute, but it showcases the game’s terrifying ambiance, throwback visual style, and zombie-like creatures that have seemingly infested the small 1990s Polish town Holstin is set in. It also highlights that parts of the game are playable as an isometric, third-person shooter like last year’s Signalis and as an over-the-shoulder third-person shooter like in Capcom’s recent Resident Evil remakes

Check out the Holstin gameplay reveal trailer for yourself below: 

Author
Wesley LeBlanc

Defiant STALKER 2 Developers Say War in Ukraine, Russian Hackers, and Death Threats Won’t Break Them

8 months 1 week ago

Maksym Yanchyi, lead Xbox programmer on Stalker 2, lets out a deep sigh. It’s not the first time Mak, as he’s called by his colleagues, steadies himself before revealing the horrifying difficulties the developers of one of the most anticipated shooters of 2024 face on a daily basis. Right now he’s talking about Russian hackers and their ongoing attempts to breach GSC Game World’s security systems, the constant harassment, and even death threats that have come from the theft of personal information.

“That’s a very bad thing,” he says, downbeat.

Author
Wesley Yin-Poole

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Community Review: Let's Go to Space

8 months 1 week ago

Hello, IGN Reviewers in training. As you know, Game Reviews are a big part of IGN, and they recently got a bit bigger: User Reviews were released a few weeks ago, allowing you, the IGN audience, to make your voices heard. Starting today and in the coming weeks, we will assemble a selection of games for which we encourage you to write your own reviews. The biggest and best games, based on User Review scores, will make the leaderboard showcasing what the IGN audience believes to be the best games of all time. So here is your chance to tell the world why you think a game you’ve played is the greatest – or worst – thing ever (or maybe somewhere in between).

It should be no surprise to anyone that this week’s theme is Space, and with our Starfield Review now live, it is a great time to see where you all would rank some of the other well-known games that take place in or deal with outer space. So head to the page for your favorite games and leave your reviews to help them get the attention they deserve. We've compiled a small list below of the Mass Effect, Dead Space, and Star Wars franchises to get you started, but feel free to leave a review for any of your favorites we may have missed. All you have to do is to head to a game’s page and click the Rate Game button to get started.

And when you finish Starfield in the coming weeks, be sure to come back and let us know what you would rate it! We will have more themes like this in the future, so stay tuned for those as well!

Author
Jada Griffin

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Starfield Includes At Least Two References to Skyrim's Most Famous Line

8 months 1 week ago

Starfield is finally out and, as you'd expect, there are references to Bethesda Game Studios' previous projects, most notably The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.

Bethesda's space RPG includes at least two references to one of the most iconic lines in Skrim. As reported by VG247, redditor sKinevi1 noted the first reference is a Colonist NPC that states how he used to be an explorer, too, but needs to dive more into details.

The quote refers to the line in Skyrim where guards and soldiers tell a brief yet tragic story of how an arrow in the knee cut their adventurer lives short. At the same time, redditor Mr_Abs725 points out how Starfield's Level 4 "Crippling" skill shows an arrow in a knee, which can be seen below.

Author
Taylor Lyles

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Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Is Up For Preorder

8 months 1 week ago

For those anxiously awaiting to get their hands on Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth, the second installment in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, we have exciting news. Preorders for the game are now live at Amazon and Best Buy. GameStop and the PlayStation store also have links up, but are yet to go live with preorders. However, we’ve listed them below anyway and will update them the second they’re ready!

Check out the links below to preorder your copy today.

Preorder Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth

Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth Trailer

What is Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth?

As stated above, Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth is the second entry in what is now known as the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. It continues on from the end of Final Fantasy 7: Remake, with our favorite party stepping outside the walls of Midgar to continue their journey. While much of the plot is still being kept under wraps, we did dig into the trailer that was released this year during Summer Games Fest to find 7 major details included in it to help point fans in the right direction.

Author
Hannah Hoolihan

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Starfield Includes a Tribute to a Bethesda Fan Who Passed Away Before Launch

8 months 1 week ago

Bethesda Game Studios added a sweet tribute in Starfield dedicated to a fan who passed away before the game's release.

As reported by PC Gamer, redditor HunterWorld posted on the Starfield subreddit their discovery of "Alex Hay's Note", which says: "To all my friends and fellow explorers. I'm always with you, out there in the starfield. Love Always, Alex Hay."

If you are unfamiliar with Alex Hay, he was a fan of Starfield who passed away earlier this year from cancer. When Bethesda announced in early March it had delayed Starfield to September, Hay went on the game's subreddit to express his disappointment in Starfield getting pushed back, stating he would not be able to play the game.

Author
Taylor Lyles

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Bethesda Exec Defends Starfield's Bugs: 'We Embrace Chaos'

8 months 1 week ago

Bethesda games like Skyrim and Fallout are known for being epic open world RPGs and for being a bit buggy, but these smaller issues in Starfield also allowed the game to be so grand according to one developer.

Speaking to GI.biz, head of global publishing Pete Hines said making a smaller, cleaner game is always an option for Bethesda but the studio instead chooses to push the limits of what's possible, accepting the game might burst at the seams a little as a result.

"We embrace chaos," Hines said. "We could make a safer, less buggy, less risky game if we wanted to. But what we try to lean into is player freedom.

"Yes, there's going to be some little things here and there where your companion might stand a little too close to you sometimes. Yet the freedom you get, and the things that happen because of that, we absolutely love and embrace.

"Of course there are bugs. But does it take away from your experience? Or do you have a consistent, fun game that you just can't stop playing and experimenting with?"

Starfield launched into early access today, September 1, ahead of its full launch on September 6. The game does run well on all platforms, including the Xbox Series S, but lacks some features like DLSS support and a field of view slider (that players have already modded in).

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE and NieR: Automata Team Up For an Exciting Event

8 months 1 week ago

Level Infinite’s third-person shooter GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE has launched to get an exciting collaboration with SQUARE ENIX’s award winning NieR: Automata on September 1, 2023, and it looks to bring the game’s characters 2B, A2, 9S, and Pascal into the world of NIKKE. The event will officially run from September 1 through September 27 on PC and mobile and will come with a story that explains how these two universes collide

Both NIKKE and NieR: Automata feature androids fighting against impossible odds to save humanity and their homes, so it will be interesting to see what happens when they finally meet. Will 2B, A2, and 9S cause the NIKKEs to obtain self-consciousness? Will they grow together for good or will problems arise that threaten everything?

Besides the blended storyline, players will also be rewarded for participating in this collaboration. Some of the exclusive rewards include Pascal as a free SR character, 2B and A2 costumes that will unlock after players get them as playable characters, two free Avatars (white frame and YoRHa frame), and free wallpaper. 2B and A2 will also be getting their NieR: Automata Metamorphic Damage Costumes that will be unlocked as long as 2B and A2 are in their recruitment. Fans of NieR: Automata will be delighted to know their favorite characters will also be getting an updated look that retains the original NieR’s style and applies it to NIKKE’s dynamic technology that will make the characters even more vivid. 2B will get a brand-new weapon design that can only be seen in NIKKE.

Author
Kenny

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Producer Wants to Inspire the Next Generation of Nintendo Developers

8 months 1 week ago

Super Mario Bros. Wonder producer Takashi Tezuka has a resume that would make him a household name at just about any other game developer or publisher. But at the famously secretive Nintendo, individual developers are rarely given a chance to speak publicly. Instead, the games are left to speak for themselves. But this week in New York City, I had the distinct privilege to speak to Tezuka-san, who joined Nintendo in 1984 and was a game designer and producer on the original Super Mario Bros., the original Legend of Zelda, and the Super NES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Read that again. Three of the greatest games of all-time!

As such, I was curious if he felt he commanded instant respect from the rest of the development team. “Well, I don’t know if that’s true or not…” he began with a laugh, before Mouri-san, who himself has been with Nintendo since 1997, interjected. “It’s definitely true,” Wonder’s director said.

Tezuka-san proceeded to tell a story: “But there are a lot of people who want to talk to me. Within our development area we have some small tables with snacks on them, and those are really just traps to entice me to come into that area.” Both men laughed. “So when I’m lured in to take a snack, that’s when they pounce and start talking to me. And they don’t need to do that because I really want to speak with and interact with as many of the younger staff members as I possibly can. And I’m always telling them very frankly, ‘If you have something you want to ask me or something you want to talk about, just come on up.’”

Author
Ryan McCaffrey

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Gunbrella’s release date sees its Murdery Poppins float down to shoot monsters in the face later this month

8 months 1 week ago

Gunbrella continues to look top-notch, the side-scrolling action-adventure serving up a does-what-it-says-on-the-tin approach to combining the floaty platforming of an umbrella with the shoot-everything-in-the-face simplicity of a gun. Now we know when we’ll be able to actually play it - and it’s soon!

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Author
Matt Jarvis

Did you know that DDR5 is available in 48GB kits - and this G.Skill option is $130 at Newegg?

8 months 1 week ago

Normally we see a straight doubling in RAM module sizes. Around the turn of the millenium, 1GB sticks were commonplace, and by doubling that amount over time we've gradually worked our way up to 8GB, 16GB and 32GB sticks of DDR4 and DDR5 being common sizes. Now though, DDR5 manufacturers are also producing an intermediate 24GB size, allowing for 48GB kits of two sticks each.

This new capacity requires a BIOS update for most motherboards, but pricing on it can be quite good - and that's what we're seeing today, with extremely rapid DDR5-6400 CL36 RAM available in a 48GB capacity for $130 after a $18 price drop.

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Author
Will Judd

Verne: The Shape Of Fantasy's cool world is kinda wasted on an adventure game

8 months 1 week ago

Sometimes I open with "I hate x" because it's funny (and I'm right), but sometimes it's because I'm not sure if that's the source of my mixed feelings about a game. Verne Colon The Shape Of Fantasy is, at least in part, an adventure game, and weaker for it. Taken as 'pure' interactive fiction, it'd be shorter and simpler, but might allow its premise, atmosphere, and intriguing world to shine the way they ought to.

The premise actually takes some explaining. Jules Verne himself takes the place of Aronnax, the protagonist of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Seas, and instead of mere hermitry, his new submarine home/prison is devoted to a guerrilla war against The Nation, a Prussian-ish empire you might be able to stop using a techno-magical gubbins that allows you to edit reality. Intriguing, right?

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Author
Sin Vega

Review: Norn9: Last Era Is as Packed as the Original Game

8 months 1 week ago

Review: Norn9: Last Era Is as Packed as the Original Game

Norn9 Var Commons is a big game. I mean, there are three heroines, with three love interests for each, and a major overarching, science fiction plot. It’s a lot. (Even if there are some plot holes.) With the Norn9 Last Era fan disc, it really does the game justice. It’s still just as big as before, with lots of character stories and new insights. However, it is still a lot and, depending on how much you like certain characters, your mileage of how much you’ll enjoy it will vary.

Author
Jenni Lada

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Square Enix TGS 2023 Games Lineup and Stream Schedule Revealed

8 months 1 week ago

Square Enix TGS Tokyo Game Show 2023

Square Enix updated the TGS 2023 website, revealed the lineup of games that will appear at this year’s event. Four new titles will have playable demos at the Square Enix Tokyo Game Show 2023 booth. Additionally, the company has detailed the streams and broadcasts that will be available on the Square Enix YouTube channel and at the TGS 2023 stage.

Out of all the Square Enix games appearing at the event, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, Star Ocean The Second Story R, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, and Foamstars will have playable demos at the Square Enix TGS 2023 booth. Final Fantasy XIV will have some playable content as well.

Here is the full lineup of Square Enix games present at the upcoming Tokyo Game Show 2023 event:

Author
Daniel Bueno

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PowerWash Simulator Back to the Future DLC Announced

8 months 1 week ago

PowerWash Simulator Back to the Future

PowerWash Simulator will be getting Back to the Future DLC. Developers FuturLab announced the collaboration with a teaser trailer. The new DLC pack is currently in development and has no release date.

Here's the first trailer showing it off.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPCUaU935Ec

Like previous PowerWash Simulator crossovers, the Back to the Future DLC will offer players the chance to take a pressure washer to iconic vehicles and places from the beloved movie trilogy. The teaser trailer has confirmed that the DMC DeLorean time machine from the 1985 movie will of course be featured in one of the levels, caked in residue from its time traveling. Players will also get to clean the Hill Valley clock tower, Doc Brown's van, the Holomax Theater from Back to the Future Part II and the Time Train from Back to the Future Part III.

Author
Leigh Price

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Genshin Impact Freminet Trailer Shows His Love for Pers

8 months 1 week ago

genshin impact freminet

Ahead of the Freminet Genshin Impact debut on September 5, 2023, HoYoVerse shared a trailer and new details introducing the four-star. This four-star, Cryo claymore user is part of the same family as Lyney and Lynette. As the video shows, he's also very attached to Pers, a mechanical penguin that always accompanies the diver.

First, here’s the Freminet Genshin Impact trailer showcasing him and Pers. It suggests the character is unsure of himself, as he notes he’s only good at diving. He also notes that, “Whenever I feel lonely at night, Per is the one who’s always there for me. Pers, I’ll keep you safe.” This leads into a gameplay showcase that shows the various claymore attacks he can use. At the end, we see him and his penguin back in Fontaine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdFtOZNcj9Y&ab_channel=GenshinImpact
He’s voiced by Paul Castro Jr. in English, with him providing the narration for the video. In Japanese, he’s played by Shunichi Toki. Castro previously played Rindo in NEO TWEWY and Ryota in The First Slam Dunk. Toki played Kento in Lost Judgment, Alek in Astria Ascending, and Rui in Hatsune Miku: Colorful Stage.

More specialized announcements appeared for some of his abilities as well. First, here’s his Pressurized Floe Elemental Skill:

Author
Jenni Lada

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FFXIV Patch Letter from the Producer Live for 6.5 Part 2 Will Be at TGS 2023

8 months 1 week ago

FF14 Letter from the Producer TGS 2023

Square Enix announced that there will be a Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live presentation at Tokyo Game Show 2023. It will be taking place on September 24, 2023 at 3pm local time in Japan, which is 7am BST/2am ET/11pm PT. It will be streamed on YouTube.

The focus of the presentation will be on the content of FFXIV Patch 6.5 Part 2. There will be gameplay footage of the patch’s new additions, along with announcements of some smaller updates. Square Enix have advised viewers that while the presentation slides will feature text in English and Japanese, all the audio will be Japanese only. It will be part of a larger selection of Final Fantasy XIV content at Tokyo Game Show. There will also be playable content at Square Enix’s booth.

The contents of Final Fantasy XIV Patch 6.5 Part 1 were previously detailed in a presentation in July 2023. This presentation also confirmed that Part 1 will be released in late October 2023, following the London Final Fantasy Fan Festival. This presentation also confirmed the length of the free trial would be increasing.

Final Fantasy XIV is out now for PC, PS4 and PS5. The Tokyo Game Show will be held on September 21-24, 2023. The Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live presentation taking place on September 24, 2023.

Author
Leigh Price

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Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 2 Notes Add Karlach Moments, Withers’ Wardrobe

8 months 1 week ago

Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch 2 Notes Add Karlach Moments, Withers' Wardrobe

Larian Studios released Baldur's Gate 3 patch 2, and the notes reveal more Karlach moments and Withers' Wardrobe of Wayward Friends. Both are new features. Karlach gets four additional scenes and changes. Meanwhile, Withers' Wardrobe affects co-op party members.

The four Karlach changes involve new opportunities to interact with her. In some cases, you’ll talk about her current situation. However, there is an endgame situation where you can now choose who goes to a certain thing.

As for the Withers' Wardrobe of Wayward Friends, the Baldur’s Gate 3 patch 2 notes don’t get too detailed about how it works. It only mentions now people can dismiss co-op avatars with it. It only works for custom character companions.

Editor's Note: There are spoilers in the Baldur's Gate 3 patch 2 notes.

Here are the full Baldur's Gate 3 patch 2 notes from Larian Studios, as shared on Steam.

Author
Jenni Lada

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Starfield Chat: Our First Few Hours With Bethesda’s Space Epic

8 months 1 week ago

Starfield is officially out in Early Access for those who got one of several special editions of Bethesda’s long-awaited sci-fi RPG. Though everyone else will have to wait until September 6, several Kotaku staffers decided to shell out for the Early Access editions and spent the first night of launch zipping around…

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Author
Alyssa Mercante, Ethan Gach, Levi Winslow, Carolyn Petit, Claire Jackson, and Zack Zwiezen

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Wow, Starfield's Lockpicking Minigame Is Really Fun

8 months 1 week ago

For as long as RPGs have had locked doors, video game designers have developed ways to let players unlock these doors without a key. Some of these unlocking minigames are fine, but many are annoying or boring, and some are downright bad. Starfield might be one of my favorite lockpicking minigames ever. Really.

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Author
Zack Zwiezen

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Starfield’s Companions Are A Blessing And A Curse

8 months 1 week ago

Starfield is a big-ass video game with a lot of stuff to do and see. We are exploring the far reaches of space, the final frontier, after all. So, naturally, you would maybe want a bestie on your crew as you fly through the cold cosmos looking for loot to pillage and planets to explore. Unfortunately, the companions…

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Author
Levi Winslow

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Devolver's brolly-meets-bullets platform shooter Gunbrella is out this month

8 months 1 week ago

Gunbrella, the 2D platform-shooter from developer Doinksoft and publisher Devolver Digital that very much lives up to its title, finally has a release date and will be unfurling onto Switch and PC with a dramatic fwap on 13th September.

Doinksoft's "gritty noir-punk action-adventure" follows the adventures of a gruff woodsman armed with the high-calibre brolly of the title as he embarks on a request for revenge. Soon, because this is very much one of those games, players become embroiled in a conspiracy involving ghouls, gangsters, cops, cultists, and, of course, a corporation run amok.

In more practical terms, that manifests as a side-scrolling action-platformer in which players take on the might of their foes using a brolly that's simultaneously a gun - enhanceable with munitions and upgrades fashioned from gathered scrap - plus a handy all-in-one shield.

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Author
Matt Wales

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder Preview, Sea Of Stars Review | All Things Nintendo

8 months 1 week ago
<p><img src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/body_default/public/2023/08/25/c4bb4dca/allthingsnintendo_099.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="" typeof="foaf:Image" class="image-style-body-default" /></p> <p>This week on All Things Nintendo, Brian delivers his in-depth impressions of his hands-on time with perhaps Nintendo's most highly anticipated release for the rest of the year, Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Then, Kyle Hilliard gives his review of the exciting retro-style RPG Sea of Stars, which is out this week. Finally, the show wraps up with some hands-on impressions of the co-op play of Sonic Supestars.&nbsp;</p> <iframe width="560" height="315" frameBorder="0" allow="autoplay" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ypnkvMo_Qfc" width=""></iframe> <p>If you'd like to follow Brian on social media, you can do so on his Instagram/Threads&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/brianpshea/" target="_blank">@BrianPShea</a>&nbsp;or Twitter&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/brianpshea" target="_blank">@BrianPShea</a>.&nbsp;You can follow Kyle on Twitter:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KyleMHilliard" target="_blank">@KyleMHilliard</a>&nbsp;and BlueSky:&nbsp;<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/kylehilliard.bsky.social">@KyleHilliard</a>.</p> <p>The All Things Nintendo podcast is a weekly show where we 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.
Author
Brian Shea

Starfield Interactive Maps Are Live: Helpful City Maps, a Searchable Star Map, and More

8 months 1 week ago

Starfield is a vast game taking place across multiple stars and systems, and despite its vision of a highly technological future, there are no maps for cities, planets, or interior areas – anywhere. We can tell you where all the good stuff is in our handy Walkthrough, but you might not want to follow a guide page-by-page. That's what maps are for! While much of the planet surfaces, bases, and spaceships are randomly generated, the core settlements of Starfield, with their many vendors and side quests, are set locations and remain static across all players' games. We’ve got Starfield settlement maps right here:

We are working on maps for Neon, Akila Map, Red Mile, and Paradiso, as well.

As for the rest of the universe, Starfield offers a very neat Starmap in the pause screen that you must use to navigate much of the game, however, it’s not searchable. That’s really annoying when you need to go to, say, Indum III and don’t have a waypoint – this happens a lot. IGN’s map is fully searchable. And if you can’t remember where Cydonia is (it’s on Mars!) and whether it has a Doctor (it does, walk straight down the main corridor then look for doors the lower left side of the landing just before the Face of Mars) you can look that up, too. And see, wouldn't have that been easier if you just had a map?

Author
Samuel Claiborn

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CD Projekt Details Cyberpunk 2077's Revamped Police System Coming Alongside Phantom Liberty

8 months 1 week ago

CD Projekt Red has shared what changes are coming to Cyberpunk 2077's police system alongside the Phantom Liberty update.

Detailed in a blog post, CD Projekt Red made clear these changes are coming to the base game on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC, and not just to those who purchase Phantom Liberty. Several changes will be released in a free update alongside the expansion in what's known as Cyberpunk 2077 2.0.

"We rebuilt the system on clear, simple rules: criminal activity is punished, runners are chased, and cyberpsychos are flatlined, no questions asked," CD Projekt Red said. "All features in the system are designed to support clarity and the simple but expanded prevention loop."

"All features in the system are designed to support clarity and the simple but expanded prevention loop."

The update will seemingly be a contrast to the current police system. Only committing fairly egregious crimes gets players noticed by police at the moment, with stars slowly building up until the player flees without much issue.

Upon reaching the maximum heat level in Cyberpunk 2077 2.0. players will be presented with a Max Tac mini-boss, which comes in different architypes. The Night City Police Department will otherwise show no mercy when catching a player, not accepting bribes or a surrender.

Author
Ryan Dinsdale

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The Soulslikes of gamescom 2023 Show the Genre Has Grown Up

8 months 1 week ago

In 2014, three years after FromSoftware caused an industrial quake with Dark Souls, Lords of the Fallen was released. Created by Deck13 and CI Games, it was a middling attempt at recreating the punishing magic of FromSoft’s masterpiece. In the years since it has fallen into obscurity; a largely forgotten B-tier relic from the dawn of the eighth console generation. But while Lords of the Fallen isn’t notable for its quality, it will always be an important part of gaming history. It was the first significant ‘soulslike’. An entire genre of FromSoftware copycats began here.

Almost ten years later, gamescom 2023 was the stage for a trio of important soulslike games. Spearheading the show was Black Myth: Wukong, the incredibly slick reinvention of China’s classic Journey to the West story that – based on the hugely excited audience reaction – may be the most important soulslike so far. Alongside it was Lies of P, the big hitter from last year’s gamescom, which once again proved itself as an elegant interpretation of FromSoft’s best designs. And then there was Lords of the Fallen, CI Games’ and new developer Hexworks’ follow-up to the original mainstream Dark Souls clone.

Between the three of them, it’s never been clearer as to how much the formula has evolved and flourished. No longer just an attempt to cash in on FromSoftware’s brutal-but-intricate RPG design, the soulslike is a fully-fledged genre in its own right, and a fascinating space for diverse challenges.

Author
Matt Purslow

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Great tutorials don't just teach - they open your eyes to a game's untapped potential

8 months 1 week ago

This week's news that the amazing Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew will be Mimimi Games' last hurrah has left me absolutely devastated. As the kids might say, I am shook. Besides being a bestest best in class tactics game with great characters, a witty script and deviously designed stealth puzzles to blast and backstab through, Shadow Gambit did that very rare thing that's seemingly eluded both other types of strategy game I've played recently (*cough*The Lamplighters League*cough*), and even Mimimi's own work in the past - and that's teaching you how to actually have fun with its large cast of murder pirates through its brilliantly-conceived bespoke tutorial missions.

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Author
Katharine Castle

Capcom Conference Will Offer Insights Into the RE Engine

8 months 1 week ago

Capcom Conference RE 2023

Capcom announced dates for the Capcom Open Conference Professional RE:2023. This online conference will be aimed at industry professionals, giving them an insight into the RE Engine. It will be a two-day event held on October 26-27, 2023.

The Open Conference Professional RE:2023 will feature a number of Q&A sessions from developers within Capcom. The event will offer insight into how the RE engine is being used for multiple projects, along with Capcom’s perspectives on studio culture and design philosophy. The sessions include talks about ray tracing, motion capture, and UX. There will also be a discussion about hair physics in Resident Evil 4, allowing us to get a deeper look into every strand of hair on Leon’s head.

Capcom is currently accepting entries for participants who will be able to ask questions directly to developers during the conference. However, all presentations will additionally be streamed to YouTube and will be available for anyone to view.

The RE Engine is Capcom’s in-house engine that’s been used for many of their recent projects. It was originally built for Resident Evil 7 but has since been used for games such as Devil May Cry 5, Monster Hunter Rise, and Street Fighter 6.

The Capcom Open Conference Professional RE:2023 will take place on October 26-27, 2023.

Author
Leigh Price

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Danganronpa x Rain Code Character Merchandise Coming in November

8 months 1 week ago

Danganronpa Reload x Master Detective Archives: Rain Code Collab Cafe characters

The Spike Chunsoft online store is now selling character merchandise originally sold exclusively at the Danganronpa x Master Detective Archives: Rain Code cafe in Japan. The lineup of available items include pins, acrylic stands, acrylic panels, mini sticker sets, and clear files all featuring people from the games drawn in a chibi art style. WorldShopping is providing a service to ship the items worldwide. Shipments begin early November 2023.

Below is a complete list of the Danganronpa x Rain Code character merchandise and their prices:

  • A4 Clear File 2-pack Set: 1,100 yen (~$7.53)
  • Mini Sticker Set Volume 1: 1,320 yen (~$9.03)
  • Mini Sticker Set Volume 2: 1,320 yen (~$9.03)
  • Trading Acrylic Panel Volume 1: 4,180 yen (~$28.61)
  • Trading Acrylic Panel Volume 2: 4,180 yen (~$28.61)
  • Trading Acrylic Stands Volume 1 (13 variants): 990 yen (~$6.78) each
  • Trading Acrylic Stands Volume 2 (15 variants): 990 yen (~$6.78) each
  • Trading Can Badges Volume 1 (13 variants): 501 yen (~$3.43) each
  • Trading Can Badges Volume 2 (15 variants): 501 yen (~$3.43) each

Here’s a closer look at all of the merchandise:

[gallery link="file" ids="981929,981930,981931,981932,981933,981934,981935,981936,981937"]

Author
Lauren Palmer

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Persona 5 Royal Shujin Academy Cosplay Sewing Pattern Recreates Joker’s Look

8 months 1 week ago

Persona 5 Royal Shujin Academy Cosplay Sewing Pattern Recreates Joker’s Look

Atlus and First Stop Cosplay announced a Persona 5 Royal Shujin Academy Joker uniform sewing pattern. Sales for it will start on September 2, 2023. It will cost $35. It will include a full sewing pattern and other materials to help in creating the outfit.

There are 14 different size options for the Persona 5 Royal Shujin Academy Joker uniform cosplay pattern. They range from A, which is smallest, to P. These are all “men’s” sizes but could likely be used for unisex wear. It is also possible to only buy the top or bottom patterns on their own, with the prices for each of those listed as $35 as well. The patterns only offer the details needed to make the school uniform’s blazer and pants.

The item is listed as a three-and-a-half-star difficulty item. There are instructions for beginners included, as well as video tutorials to cite for different elements of the outfit’s design. The pattern is also designed to be reused.

Here’s a series of images showing how this Joker school uniform blazer and pants would look when complete:

[gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="981910,981908,981907,981909" link="file"]

Author
Jenni Lada

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Final Fantasy XIV Thancred Side Story Released for 10th Anniversary

8 months 1 week ago

FFXIV Side Story 2 Final Fantasy XIV thancred

One of the celebratory events Square Enix planned for the 10th anniversary of Final Fantasy XIV is a collection of side stories starring characters from the game. The collection is titled “Tales under the New Moon,” and the second one appeared on September 1, 2023. This new FFXIV installment is titled “Bringer of Shadow, Bringer of Light” and follows Thancred. It, the first story, and all of the ones yet to be released will be available to read on the game's official website. Two more stories are to be released sequentially in September 2023.

“Bringer of Shadow, Bringer of Light” is told from Thancred Waters’ perspective as he recounts the legacy of Ran'jit and Minfilia Warde. He just fought off an assassin - one of the members of the Reapers - in it..

There are two side stories still to be released on the website. Their debut dates are as follows:

Author
Lauren Palmer

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28 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Playing Starfield

4 months 1 week ago

Starfield is finally here and it is big, complex, and often overwhelming. There’s a lot of stuff in this game and it’s easy to get lost trying to do it all and see everything the game has to offer. So to help you avoid getting lost in space, we’ve collected over two dozen tips and tricks to help you get started in…

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Author
Ethan Gach and Zack Zwiezen

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