Game Informer

It's Thanksgiving in the US and Supergiant Games is wishing fans a happy holiday with the head chef from Hades himself. Is this news? No, but it's pretty obvious that we here at Game Informer have been mildly obsessed with game, and this was too cute not to share. 

The studio took to Twitter to wish a happy holiday to fans by saying, "The Head Chef of the House of Hades got wind of something called a 'Thanksgiving' today, time to break out the fancy cutlery." 

The Head Chef of the House of Hades got wind of something called a 'Thanksgiving' today? 🧐🧅🦃Time to break out the fancy cutlery.

We hope you have a safe and happy holiday if you're celebrating, and enjoy this little moment by @Thinh_Anim, @artpaiges, and @kirbyLFO. #HadesGame pic.twitter.com/UCHHQlXqmf

Click here to watch embedded media

On this week's episode of The Game Informer Show, we discuss a handful of the games we've been playing recently, including Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Kentucky Route Zero, Demon's Souls, and Pumpkin Jack. Then, we interview Josh Tsui, the director of the documentary Insert Coin, which chronicles the success of Midway during its arcade heyday, which saw the release of games like Narc, Mortal Kombat, NBA Jam, and Smash TV. It's a full show, but we make time for another fantastic round of community emails in there somewhere. So please join Blake Hester, Liana Ruppert, Alex Stadnik, and myself for another wild and ever-entertaining episode!

The success of Final Fantasy VII Remake hinged on one central question: Would Square Enix be able to respect the classic 1997 original while also creating a modern RPG that was good on its own merits? When the game released earlier this year, fans learned that the answer to that question was a resounding “yes.” The years of anticipation paid off, and the end result was a memorable journey that artfully mixed old and new. But with that matter settled, a new question has arisen: Can Square Enix do it again?

While the first game was undoubtedly a complete experience, much of the original story remains to be told. The second installment of the Final Fantasy VII remake is already in production, and the development team is undoubtedly weighing how to approach this next chapter. As much as I personally enjoyed this year’s release, the formula still has room for change and improvement. With that in mind, here’s my wishlist for what I’d like to see in the sequel to Final Fantasy VII Remake.

2020 has seen its fair share of innovative experiences. The Last of Us Part II raised new bars in interactive storytelling. Half-Life: Alyx set a standard for story-driven VR campaigns. Watch Dogs: Legion ditched NPCs for a city filled with recruitable allies. Even Final Fantasy VII Remake reinvented itself into an amazing new experience that, from a design standpoint, barely resembles its original RPG form. That’s all well and good, but I’d like to redirect some of that spotlight to a pair of games that didn’t need a dump truck of fancy bells and whistles to be barrels of fun: Streets of Rage 4 and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

As a childhood fan of both series, I had a blast playing through these games. Their nostalgic design evoked the joy of simpler days, providing a warm blanket of comfort to shield me from whatever 2020’s Crisis of the Day was. Sure, they each sport a few new tweaks under the hood, but the additions feel like garnishes meant to complement their largely familiar designs; toppings of digital crème fraiche, if you will.  

When I reviewed the Xbox Series X and S earlier this month, I talked about the controller's improvements over its Xbox One counterpart. However, if you played Xbox One using the base gamepad, chances are, it feels pretty familiar, particularly when compared to the myriad innovations present in the PS5 DualSense controller.

Thankfully, you have options if you're looking for a different experience. While all these options carry a premium price tag, they do several things the standard Xbox Series X/S controller does not. 

---

Click image thumbnails to view larger version

 

Accessibility in games is an uphill battle, but the folks over at Microsoft have been leading the charge with this initiative in an effective and powerful way. Through the adaptive controller to development tweaks, Team Green has been making positive waves in terms of how we, as an industry and a community, can make gaming available for all. 

We sat down with Microsoft's Senior Gaming Accessibility Program Manager Brannon Zahand to learn about how accessibility in terms of gaming influenced the very design of the Xbox Series X and S, in addition to what the industry needs to do next to ensure complacency doesn't settle in. 

Both the X and S have unique designs, some for hardware preservation reasons. What was the motivation behind the unique designs and how do the designs help gamers?

It’s one small piece of the overall design, but I think our tactile indicators on the back of the console are a great example of being intentional and inclusive in design. Whether you are a user who has low or no vision, or simply someone like me who has their console in a position where it makes getting to the back of the device difficult, those bumps can help you figure out which cord goes where. Another example is the textured grip you’ll find on the new controllers, something that helps gamers whether they have a fine motor disability that makes it harder to keep a grip on the controller or just tend to get sweaty hands during a heated match. 

Click to watch embedded media

Earlier this month, I dove into red lyrium, the mysterious idol from Dragon Age 2, and why I think Solas purposefully tainted himself for the setup of Dragon Age 4. Now, let's dive into the significance of the Mortalitasi may have from the most recent sneak peek at the road ahead in Thedas. 

What is the Mortalitasi? 

First things first, what is the Mortalitasi? The Mortalitasi is a group of Nevarran mages that not only are incredibly powerful in their own right, but also wield a significant amount of political power in Nevarra (a location in Dragon Age's Thedas and the home to Inquisition's Cassandra) as well. Often called "Death Mages," this line that was divined from royal blood is incredibly well respected in this region, though the rest of Thedas sees this death magic as macabre and a little too close to blood magic for comfort. 

Miles Morales has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He’s adjusting to becoming the man of the house after the death of his father. He’s moved from his native Brooklyn to Harlem. Oh, and he’s also a fledgling superhero – a new Spider-Man training to live up to his mentor, Peter Parker. 

When Miles isn’t doubting himself, he’s overcompensating to make up for his inexperience. He’s hard on himself for making understandable rookie mistakes. As I watched Miles mature throughout Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, it was impossible not to feel a kinship beyond the fact that he looked the same as me. Like me, he’s a new guy trying to live up to expectations of his peers. Expectations partially inflated by his own insecurities and fear of failure.  

It’s been a little over a month since I started working at Game Informer. As someone who grew up a fan of the magazine, that in itself is surreal. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, but I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t wake up most mornings weighed down by a Rhino-heavy cloud of anxiety. Being the new guy is always nerve-racking, and it feels even more pronounced because it’s my dream job. I chased it for years and, now that I have it, I don’t want to lose it. I want to prove everyone who said I deserve the job right. Most of all, I still feel a need to prove to myself that I’m good enough. That sounds ridiculous given I wouldn’t have been hired if I wasn’t up to snuff, but imposter syndrome doesn’t operate on logic. 

Kentucky Route Zero is, unsurprisingly, a game about Kentucky. But it's not a game that romanticizes the state or makes it something it's not. If anything, it places Kentucky under a microscope, revealing its many socio-economic flaws. Debt, addiction, communities destroyed by corporate expansion, a healthcare system fundamentally designed to destroy the poor – all of this and more, displayed on a tiny Nintendo Switch screen; my home state, spread out for me to see and agonize over.

In Kentucky, everyone lives hard – the coal miners, the drug dealers, the people that starve and break laws just to survive. I have friends who do drugs first thing in the morning, friends who aren't ready to face their own demons, friends who will always be poor – victims of a system they had no choice but to live under. I also have friends from the program who I lost contact with, and sometimes I wonder if they're still sober or still alive. Some aren't. Kentucky Route Zero makes me think of all these people. It makes me think of myself, too.

My average gaming sessions are probably between two and four hours. The lower number for competitive play and the higher for everything else. In between these sizable time commitments, I like to throw in what I call palate cleansers; games that are every bit as rewarding, yet don't demand as much time. Over the course of 2020, these "diversions" range from roguelikes to simulations, some possibly landing in my Top 10 list for Best Games of the Year.

Each one of these titles allows you to make meaningful progress in just 10 to 20 minutes. For years, I would bring out my phone whenever I have a short window of free time on my hands, but I now find myself diving into various games, depending where I am at. If I'm on the go or am lying in bed, I usually have my Switch handy. If I'm home, I'll boot up my Xbox or PlayStation. Yes, I am still hopelessly addicted to my phone (and love Clash Royale and Pokemon Go for short game sessions), but have thoroughly enjoyed using it less to focus on other games that released this year. Here's what I'm currently playing in short bursts:

A powerful titan of legend has launched a massive assault on the Greek gods of mythology, severing them from their essence, smashing open cracks to the underworld, and infesting Earth with corrupted beings from the afterlife. A setup like this isn't uncommon in the world of video games, but when it comes to comedy, a dark premise such as this isn't the first thing you might think of. However, that's exactly the direction Ubisoft Quebec went with Immortals Fenyx Rising.

While the inspiration drawn from games like the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Studio Ghibli films like Howl's Moving Castle is evident in the gameplay and visual style, it was a different genre of film that dictated the tone Ubisoft Quebec employs with Immortals Fenyx Rising. "I felt like a lot of video games are incredibly dark, and I had missed this feeling from childhood that movies like the Princess Bride or Naked Gun or Airplane had given me; I felt like, 'Why can’t a video game have that kind of tone?'" says narrative director Jeffrey Yohalem. "It got tipped in that direction by the fact that Greek mythology is actually full of comedy. Unlike our religion today, which is seen as a moral compass where everything is very serious and is how you should act if you were a perfect person or a perfect deity. For the Greeks, their mythology was like their soap opera or their reality television, where you’re seeing people who are just like us making mistakes and you’re learning from the things in the stories that result in tragedy."

In any given year, no matter how hard you try, staying on top of all the games that come out is nearly impossible. As an RPG fan, this is an especially difficult feat since the majority of these experiences are long hauls, demanding patience and focus. It’s hard to even have time to think about the latest and greatest, let alone have the time to really indulge in them.

I often like to look back on the year and see what the genre offered, and I’m always surprised at how many RPGs seem to fall to the wayside shortly after their release. Here are some RPGs from this year I felt faded from the public eye much too quickly and shouldn’t be overlooked. Who knows? You just might find your next great RPG here, or at least a few titles to add to your wishlist.

Microsoft is one of the major companies currently advocating for more accessibility in the gaming space, including hardware changes and how it interacts with the community. Making gaming available for all is an important initiative, but that doesn't mean these efforts are immune to getting hate borne of misconceptions and — let's be honest — ignorance. 

When speaking with Microsoft's Brannon Zahand, the senior gaming accessibility program manager helping to lead this charge, he opened up to Game Informer about some of the backlash Xbox has received for putting a spotlight on backing up its advocacy. 

"There is a misconception that exists that making games accessible makes them less ‘hardcore’ or challenging," says Zahand. "There is also a misconception that building features for a ‘small’ group of individuals takes resources away from making the game better for the majority of users.

"As someone who has worked in game development, I can tell you that inclusive design, when considered early in a product’s development, is not expensive and the end result is that it makes the experience better for everyone."

Xbox, and Microsoft on a larger scale, continues to pioneer accessibility in the gaming space with peripherals like the Xbox Adaptive Controller, internal philosophy shifts, and continued advocacy by listening to the voices of the community impacted the most itself. That being said, there is still so much more work to be done, a fact that Microsoft recognizes and continues to keep in mind as we dive into a new generation of gaming.

We recently sat down to speak with Brannon Zahand, Microsoft's senior gaming accessibility program manager, to learn more about the areas previously ignored in the gaming space regarding accessibility. 

"We’re always exploring new ways where we can innovate in the accessibility space, whether it’s hardware, games, the platform itself or our services," he tells Game Informer. "While we don’t have anything new to announce, personally, I think advances in machine learning and AI will inform how we all think about gaming and game platforms. I can see a future where games adapt to the individual user based on their abilities and preferences to ensure a challenging but enjoyable experience. For me, this is what accessibility is all about: making games more inclusive and accessible for everyone, based on their individual wants and needs."

He also adds that Microsoft is constantly in talks with the community regarding any areas needing improvement, or areas overlooked altogether. 

I’ve been playing a lot of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla over the past few weeks and have had a pretty good time tracking down targets, finding secrets in the vast open world, and calling over my friends to help me open chests of supplies because sometimes those lids are really heavy, okay!? In many ways, it’s like a greatest hits of the contemporary Assassin’s Creed games, pulling in elements that have worked in the past and scaling back on others. However, Ubisoft decided to surprise us by bringing back something terrible from past games. No, I don’t mean Layla – we knew she was returning. I’m talking about one of the worst objectives in all of gaming: chasing after something that’s trying to flee from you.

This has never been fun. It was bad when you were chasing pages of Poor Richard’s Almanac in Assassin’s Creed III, and when you were chasing lyrics to sea shanties in Assassin’s Creed Rogue. Heck, it was bad when you had to chase down runaway orbs in Crackdown 2 or the egg thieves in Spyro. It’s an annoying activity in the best of circumstances, capturing the same feeling as when your hat blows off on a windy day and you have to run after it and all the neighborhood kids laugh and when you finally get it back you put it on angrily which is admittedly very silly looking and the kids laugh even harder. You know, video game stuff.

The giveaways keep on coming! Today we have for you No Straight Roads CE that is currently sold out in North America! 

From the publisher
Take back Vinyl City - with rock! Embark on a music-based action-adventure as indie rock band members Mayday & Zuke and lead a musical revolution against EDM empire No Straight Roads. After being unfairly rejected in their audition to join No Straight Roads, Mayday & Zuke uncover the evil intentions behind the NSR empire. It’s now down to them to save their city from corruption. Enjoy frenetic combat with a musical twist as these two aspiring rock artists fight back with the power of music!

Click here to watch embedded media

Microsoft has been making positive changes to Xbox in the name of accessibility, including how the consoles themselves are designed and added tools for players to use to ensure they can dive into whatever adventures that suit their fancy. The Xbox Adaptive Controller was a huge step in the right direction for this initiative, but that doesn't mean that the peripheral hasn't seen a unique evolution before it made its way into gamer hands. 

We recently sat down with Brannon Zahand, Microsoft's senior gaming accessibility program manager, to learn a little bit more about the Xbox accessibility movement. On interesting thing we learned was how the Adaptive Controller changed since it was in simple concept phase, including how it looks "nothing like" how it did on the drawing board. 

When asked about how the controller has changed and if more changes were on the way, Zahand replied: "Absolutely, the Xbox Adaptive Controller looks absolutely nothing like the first prototype created. It changed many, many times over the course of development. The reason was that we built the device with the Gaming & Disability Community, not for them. As such, feedback constantly was rolling in that forced us to continually re-examine the design of the product during development. That’s why I think the community gave the Xbox Adaptive Controller such a warm reception; the end result was reflective of our long-term partnership with them on the project."

As is the case with any new console launch, the PlayStation 5 has encountered a few issues with its hardware. Luckily, Sony just rolled out a new PS5 update that tackles a few important bugs in addition to the usual performance enhancements generally seen with this sort of drop. 

While both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5 have had issues, there is one particular bug with the new PS5 (outside of the noise complaints) that has been deleting disc-installed games. Between that, and the issue surrounding the DualSense controller not being able to charge while the console is in Rest Mode, the new PS5 update comes at the perfect time. 

Sony outlines that a few general areas of improvement were enhanced with the latest update, though specifics on what those changes do aren't detailed. That being said, the DualSense charging issue is one that many will be happy to see alongside the deleted games, though still no word on what Sony is doing about the reports of "overclocking" and overheating that has resulted in loud platform noises. The latter is something several of our team members here at Game Informer have encountered, though nothing severe enough to warrant a send-off for repairs. 

This marks the second update for the PlayStation 5 system, you can see the full patch notes below for the previous fixes: 

We're nearing the end of the year and just like every month prior, Sony is offering two free games for those that have an active PlayStation Plus membership. As November comes to a close, the free PS Plus December 2020 games lineup has been revealed and includes a pretty stellar lineup for those that like chaos, with an additional title that the usual two. 

PS Plus December 2020 Games

The upcoming month of free games includes two fun and quirky titles and one really fun and chaotic one. Just Cause 4 is the perfect recipe for destruction. Take to the open-world with an arsenal of tools at your disposal to wreck the havoc you were always meant to dish out. 

The team over at 4A Games has confirmed that a new single-player experience for the Metro franchise is currently in active development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. 

A new blog post on the game's website confirms that a new adventure is on the way, and while 4A Games couldn't go into details about what the new tale will tell, the studio did tease some powerful improvements. 

We’re currently hard at work on bringing Metro Exodus to Xbox Series X| S and PlayStation 5 next year. While we can’t share all the details just yet, you should expect major enhancements including faster frame rate, increased resolution, reduced loading times, and stunning Ray Tracing features made possible by the new hardware. The new consoles are amazing and will allow us to deliver visual enhancements and performance only possible on state of the art PC hardware and RTX enabled cards - until now. 

We’re happy to confirm that these enhanced versions will also be made available as a free upgrade to all existing owners. That means if you already own Metro Exodus on Xbox One or PlayStation 4, whether digitally or on a disc, you will be able to upgrade to this enhanced version on the next generation on consoles for free.

And if you’ve yet to pick up the game on Gen 8, you can do so safe in the knowledge you will get the enhanced version for free should you upgrade your console in the future.

Click to watch embedded media

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands is here. With the latest World of Warcraft expansion, players take on beautiful new environments and deadly new foes as they pass through to worlds full of spirits, past heroes, and fallen foes. Come join us as we explore some of the dungeons, zones, and systems in Shadowlands. Each covenant faction confers different benefits, players must decide who to ally with as they enter the endgame after navigating through a curated quest chain that shows off the nature of each realm.

While the big four realms all have an associated faction, there's also the Maw - a dangerous zone full of terrifying creatures and the Torghast tower. Torghast attempts to realize one of the great MMORPG dreams by offering a different dungeon every time, incorporating procedural generation aspects and different powerups in each run.  Does it succeed? Come explore with us, and be sure to check out the full review when the time comes!

Click here to watch embedded media

As the Spider-Men reflect on their most recent run-in with Rhino overlooking the snowy streets of the Big Apple, the original web-slinger drops a bomb on our young hero. Peter Parker is traveling to Symkaria with MJ for work and is leaving the city's safety in the hands of the inexperienced, yet qualified Miles Morales. With a nervous assuredness, Miles quietly repeats to himself that he's now New York's only Spider-Man as he accepts the greatest responsibility of his young career.

This exchange sets the tone for the rest of Insomniac's sequel, as Miles continually has to prove that he's capable of being his own hero not only himself but to his new home of Harlem and those looking to sow the seeds of chaos throughout the city. But after the high bar set by the original 2018 game, does this more personal story hit the same highs? Are the new villains a proper challenge both thematically and gameplay-wise? Did we enjoy how this sequel sets up what's to come for Insomniac and its next game in the series? We answer these questions and more on the latest episode of Spoiled!

The multiplayer in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War wouldn’t be complete without Nuketown popping up in some form or fashion. After all, the fan-favorite map has appeared in every Black Ops title since the series’ inception. The latest version of the map, Nuketown ‘84, is available now in Black Ops Cold War, and it isn't your daddy’s Nuketown. Actually, maybe it could be since the map is set in the '80s. The point is that this is a different spin on the classic location, okay? 

How different, you ask? For one, Treyarch says this '80s variation isn't the same map, but rather a sister site to the Nuketown we know and love. Dubbed “Site B”, this previously undiscovered area had once been pegged for nuclear testing before the government pulled out at the last minute for budgetary reasons. The site was then abandoned for decades before a group of “social misfits” found it and set up shop, transforming the faux idyllic neighborhood into a graffiti-laden den of junk, guns, and debauchery.

Click here to watch embedded media

Taking a flight across the United States in Microsoft Flight Simulator just got better thanks to a new, free update. World Update II: USA is available now and boasts new airports and visual enhancements to make the long trips even more scenic. 

The update brings the following enhancements:

• An improved digital elevation model (with resolution up to one meter)
• New and improved aerial textures for several states
• Visual improvements to 48 airports 
• 50 new, high-fidelity interest points-of-interest
• Four new hand-crafted airports: Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, Friday Harbor, and New York Stewart

Additionally, players can indulge in new activities such as a Discovery Flight as well as a new Alaskan wilderness Bush Trip (sightseeing flights through remote areas). Although this update is somewhat less robust as the first World Update (which centered on Japan), it’s cool to see improvements coming to what’s arguably the best simulation experience of 2020. Players can grab World Update II: USA by visiting the in-game marketplace.

I'm honored. It's as if Ubisoft clicked on the Orlog piece that I wrote last week and decided to grant my wish. But in all seriousness, it's exciting to see that Orlog is getting a physical release next year. Board game-enthusiast site Dicebreaker sat down with Ubisoft co-development game director Benoit Richer to talk about the processes behind Orlog's in-game implementation and its bright future. For those of you that haven't played Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Orlog is a game of chance that includes dice-rolling, combat with axes and bows, and ultimate abilities called God Favors. I go into more detail about the game in the piece I mentioned above so click on that link (in the top line) for clarity.

Ubisoft's Benoit Richer stated that a lot of Orlog's mechanics emerged from many rounds of playtesting. Eventually, some designers made a sample version of the game in Tabletop Simulator and it took off from there. Ubisoft is working alongside collectibles company PureArts to bring a physical version of Orlog to board game fans at some point next year. I couldn't be any more excited to see how the rules and features change or bend outside of Orlog's digital games version. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Much like the Xbox Series X footage that came before it, Cyberpunk 2077 looks great on the PlayStation 5 (although it is going to be a PS4 backwards compatible version until next year). CD Projekt Red released a shorter, 6-minute gameplay trailer that showcased the opening minutes of the Nomad class. Players get to bypass the coupling in a car engine (that sounds complex but it seems as if you just detach one thick cable and replace it with another), drive to and undergo a series of interrogations at a Night City Border Patrol Outpost, and watch local law enforcement enact their cruel justice upon a group of car-jackers. Trust me, it's much cooler to look at than to read about, so check out the trailer for yourself above.

1995’s Mortal Kombat is probably the best video game movie ever (in this editor’s humble opinion). Netherrealm Studios clearly recognizes this objective fact and released a skin pack of costumes from the film to celebrate its greatness. Starting today, Mortal Kombat 11 players can rock Johnny Cage’s $500 sunglasses and enjoy Raiden’s sarcastic rasp. 

The Klassic MK Movie Skin pack not only gives Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage, and Raiden their cinematic outfits but they even sport the actors’ likenesses and voices (Bridgette Wilson, Linden Ashby, and Christopher Lambert, respectively). While it’s disappointing to miss out on Robin Shou’s Liu Kang, this pack acts as a great accompaniment to Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa’s Shang Tsung, who served as the central character of the Aftermath campaign expansion. It’s a great idea that somehow hasn’t happened before, and I’d love to see this trend continue with Kitana, Kano, and the ninjas. All that’s left now is to finally get the film’s iconic theme song into the game. While you try in vain to get that song out of your head, you can download the Klassic MK Movie Skin Pack right now for $5.99.

Click here to watch embedded media

Click to watch embedded media

'Tis the season and for those with an Xbox Live membership, the Xbox Games With Gold December 2020 free games lineup has been revealed. From Saints Row goodness to something for the kids, here are the December free games Live members can scoop up. 

First things first: Volition's standalone Saints Row 4 expansion. Gat Out of Hell is nothing short of ridiculous, and everything you'd expect out of Saints Row DLC. It's hilarious, it makes zero sense, and it's a great get for those that missed out on buying it on the Xbox 360. 

As for the rest of the games, there is something to be said about The Raven Remastered! One good thing about the Xbox Games With Gold program, outside of freebies, is that it also showcases titles that maybe didn't get the spotlight they deserved. The Raven Remastered, I feel, is one of those games. If you like detective games, this one is for you! 

Xbox Games With Gold December

For the full lineup: 

Red Dead Online is the multiplayer cowboy experience that branches off of Rockstar Games' Red Dead Redemption 2. For those that want to live out that cowboy fantasy with friends without paying for Red Dead Redemption 2, Red Dead Online will be launching as a standalone game next month for a small fee. 

Beginning on December 1, 2020 until February 15, 2021, Red Dead Online will be available to purchase by itself on both the Epic Games Store and on Steam for $5, as well as the PlayStation and Microsoft Stores, in addition to the Rockstar Game Launcher itself. 

For those that choose to purchase Red Dead Online as a standalone, they will have access to all of the past and current content immediately with future content updates included. Become a Bounty Hunter, become one with the wild as a Naturalist, or become a Naturalist's worst enemy as a Trader; players can do all of that and more within Red Dead Online.

In addition to the content players know to look forward to, the announcement also reveals that a new Bounty Hunters expansion is also on the way, allowing Bounty Hunters to retweak their experience as necessary alongside the new Legendary Bounties and the 100 Rank Outlaw Pass (battle pass). 

World's First is a raid that the Destiny 2 community participates in via livestreams to try to be the very first team to successfully beat new raids that come into the game. It's a huge event that the devs themselves have a lot of fun in and with the Deep Stone Crypt cleared and a First winner declared, there are even more Guardians are diving in right at this moment. This was my first year that I was able to participate due to a cleared schedule and while our team couldn't cross that finish line after 19 hours (don't judge), I wouldn't trade it for anything. 

What makes this event unique is that Bungie places certain modifiers and restrictions for the contest mode, which makes an already challenging experience even more so. Taking that challenge even further, everyone participating goes in completely blind; no guides, no video help — nothing. It's a competitive experience that brings the community together and being able to take part in that made me fall in love with my D2 family even more. 

Scalpers are nothing new. These are people that buy high-demand products, usually limited in quantity, to sell at a much higher rate than retail value. In recent years, bot technology has given this practice a lot more of a root in consumerism and this generation of gaming consoles is the latest victim of this predatory practice. In fact, one UK group of scalpers are actually bragging about botting 3,500 PS5 systems to sell at up to three times the retail value. 

With the holiday season now here and the pandemic still roaring, the desire for a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X system is at an all-time high. This means fertile ground for scalpers to get the most out of their buying deals. As reported by Business Insider, there are entire Discord seller groups filled with people that have the sole purpose of reselling consoles at much higher prices. 

One such group goes by CrepChiefNotify and the manager of this group boasts that they have almost 2,500 consoles between their members for resale currently, with over 1,000 right at the first pre-order wave back in September, with more as more offers trickled out. Between the first wave and now, this seller group has accrued almost 3,500 PS5 systems. 

Earlier this month, Epic Games sent out a survey asking if fans would be into a subscription service for Fortnite. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and now we've got our first look at what this new service will have to offer in Chapter 2 Season 5 with Fortnite Crew. 

Fortnite Crew is the new subscription service that will make its way into the free-to-play battle royale game with Chapter 2 Season 5. This membership will run $11.99 a month and will include the following perks: 

• Battle Pass Included for the full Season - As a member of the Fortnite Crew, you’ll always have access to the current season’s Battle Pass
• 1,000 V-Bucks Each Month - Fortnite Crew members will receive 1,000 V-Bucks every month. Spend it on your favorite Item Shop content
• Get A New Monthly Crew Pack! - Get an exclusive Fortnite Crew Pack, an always-new Outfit Bundle that only Fortnite Crew members can get

The new service will become available on December 2. For those that join up when it first launches, an exclusive Galaxia Outfit (seen at the top of the article) will be awarded in addition to the Cosmic Llamacorn Pickaxe and Fractured World Back Bling. 

Click to watch embedded media

The Winter update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons is here and gives players a chance to increase that needed house storage. For those with Big Time Plans for those islands, here is how you can increase your house storage in New Horizons. 

How to increase your house storage in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Look, I'm not here to judge. The house storage in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a lot, but if you went to your limit already? It's OK, boo, we're here to help. With so many events happening back-to-back with new DIY recipes, new characters to impress, and creativity expanding, it's pretty easy to reach max capacity. Luckily, you can increase that house storage if needed. 

The previous limit for storage was set for 1600 items, but the new Winter update has upgraded that to 2400. So how do you get that 2400 total space when looking to let that creative flag fly? It's not terribly difficult, but there are a few necessary prerequisites. 

First things first, you're going to need to make sure that your house is fully upgraded with the three rooms outside of the walk-in area. This will also include an upstairs room and a basement (but not the creepy kind, unless you want it to be the creepy kind). 

CD Projekt RED has been sharing a lot about Cyberpunk 2077, especially since the game has seen several notable delays. From the open world of Night City to the dangerous outlands seen outside of those neon borders, CDPR's newest game looks to be massive. While we don't know how much time it will take to complete Cyberpunk 2077, we do have a better idea of its scope because one dev has tanked in over 175 hours and still hasn't run the credits. 

Łukasz Babiel is a QA lead on Cyberpunk 2077 and he took to Twitter to provide his own take on the "how it started vs. how it's going" meme that continues to trend: 

How it started How it's going pic.twitter.com/b4JL6bIVBf

— Łukasz Babiel (@pjpkowski) November 21, 2020

He also confirmed that this isn't even a full playthrough trying to 100% the game. 

While he is QA, the "not trying to 100% the game" kind of negates the every nook and cranny approach, but it's still important to note that it was previously confirmed that the main quest line would be shorter than the main story of The Witcher III. That being said, there are a ton of side quests. 

One modder did the tried-and-true method of modding Doom onto something it's not supposed to be on. And just like every other time, it's awesome. One Doom fan decided to try taking to the hellish experience in a different way by playing it on the very compact Game & Watch handheld. 

The Game & Watch 'system' fits into a singular palm, that's how small it is. The hand-sized platform is a fun way to relive classic Nintendo titles, but one gamer decided that it needed some Doomification, so that's what they did. They played Doom on the Game & Watch's tiny little screen because why not? It's 2020, things are weird...don't let your dreams be dreams: 

Click here to watch embedded media

So how do you make this work? Officially, we don't recommend it. Any time you mess with a system and tinker with it beyond its original programming, you run the risk of destroying it. That being said, the video above does talk about the process for those that throw care to the wind in the name of Doom.

According to the modder, they duped the firmware of the main processor before prepping the new software. There's some talk about pins, creating custom codes, and basically an entire walkthrough of the process that we're skimming over because of legal reasons. 

With the Game Awards nomination list live and players able to vote, we can see Animal Crossing: New Horizons facing off against the beauty that is Hades. Hades was a surprise success that took over the community, with many already declaring it their GOTY already. With two very incredible experiences up for the win, this fan art combining the two franchises is not only perfect, it's also adorable as all heck. 

@Denebolart on Twitter is someone I stumbled upon when I was doing the dreaded 2 AM Twitter Doom Scroll and her art style immediately charmed me, there is almost a Tank Girl influence seen in her linework. If I wasn't so broke, I'd commission the crap out of her, but I can share this adorable little Hades x Animal Crossing: New Horizons crossover in the meantime: 

I actually suck at fishing in both games! #HadesGame #ACNH pic.twitter.com/UZx6yeAFTq

Meet Rell, the latest Champion to make her way into League of Legends from Riot Games. One thing is for sure is that she's no dainty princess. 

Rell, also known as the Iron Maiden, has a horrific backstory that proves her resistance. According to Riot Games, she is "the product of brutal experimentation at the hands of the Black Rose. Rell is a defiant, living weapon determined to topple Noxus. Her childhood was one of misery and horror, enduring unspeaking procedures to perfect and weaponize her magical control over metal until she staged a violent escape, killing many of her captors in the process.

"Now branded as a criminal, Rell attacks Noxian soldiers on sight as she searches for survivors of her old "academy," defending the meek while delivering violent death to her former overseers." 

But who is Rell in terms of League of Legends? She's a new Support character with connections to LeBlanc and Samira. Hailing from Noxus, the powers behind her capture have labeled her as a dangerous criminal. Even the Trifarion Legion is worried about her should she come after them. 

Did we mention that she's also only 16 years old? 

A story bred for vengeance and justice, Rell is an incredibly interesting addition to the growing Champion roster, but what does she bring to the table play-wise? 

Click here to watch embedded media

Square Enix dropped a new trailer today revealing Neo: The World Ends With You, a sequel to the original 2007 Nintendo DS hit. In the trailer above, you can see a new cast of characters fighting monsters in and exploring the residential and financial districts of a full 3D city. The original game followed Neku Sakuraba, a reserved and cold hero. Alongside a colorful group of characters, Neku was tasked with surviving the Reaper's game – a competition for the recently deceased that could potentially return its competitors to life or erase their existence completely. Neo: The World Ends With You stars Rindo who, like Neku, must overcome the trials of the Reaper's game. 

Click here to watch embedded media

Additionally, Square Enix announced that The World Ends With You's anime adaptation is dropping in April 2021. While the anime was originally announced back in June, you can see some new trailer footage above. Neo: The World Ends With You launches for PlayStation 4 and Switch during Summer 2021. 

The latest raid for Destiny 2: Beyond Light dropped this weekend as part of Season of the Hunt, and Guardians all over the world gathered to see who could be the first to beat it. Going in completely blind, there were tears, frustration, laughs, and elation as many raced to be the first to cross the finish line. While my squad sadly didn't make it, one winner has been declared after the run was verified to be clean! Congrats to Team Luminous for being the first to clear Deep Stone Crypt! 

Bungie took to the game's Twitter account to share the good news with Aoterra, Claw, Flux, Schendzie, SiegeDancers, and Sotosolice taking the crown: 

After verification we're proud to congratulate our Deep Stone Crypt World First winners of clan Luminous!

💠 Aoterra
💠 Claw
💠 Flux
💠 Schendzie
💠 SiegeDancers
💠 Sotosolice pic.twitter.com/3a6GJPi7oK

— Bungie (@Bungie) November 22, 2020

Every time a World First event happens to celebrate a new race, there are rewards on the line and a sense of accomplishment as well. Luminous is celebrating an incredible victory, but not everyone is happy about it.