Twinfinite

Booting up the pre-release version of EA Sports FC 24, I was strangely excited and curious to find out what was waiting. I’ve played every FIFA since about 2010 so, despite being more taken with some and less with others, there’s always been a degree of certainty about what you’re going to get from a new one. Sure, there’ll be upgrades and tweaks, but seasoned players know what to expect. With EA FC 24, there was little of that.

I was immediately reassured by the menus (bear with me). The FC 24 logo comes up first, clean and minimalist. The more I’ve thought about this branding and name change, the more I’ve liked it. Especially as the largest portion of the player base (myself too) spends most of their time with Ultimate Team, recent FIFA iterations have felt more and more like building your own football club. What better name than FC, then?

The developers at EA Sports have responded to criticism of FC 24’s graphics following the release of the Ultimate Edition cover. 

EA Sports’ FC 24 will usher in a new era for EA’s football simulation games, replacing the FIFA series after the company’s exclusivity partnership with the FIFA governing body ended.

After much anticipation and the gradual inclusion of women’s football into the FIFA series, EA’s FC 24 will officially incorporate female players into its ultra-popular Ultimate Team mode. Speaking at the game’s official reveal, the developers have explained why now was the time to make the significant change.

Women’s football has been growing in prominence in the FIFA series for some time, with the Women’s UCL dropping in FIFA 23. Women’s national teams first debuted in FIFA 16 and, with the baton passing from ‘FIFA’ to ‘EA FC 24’ it’s been confirmed that over 1,600 women players will be joining Ultimate Team. 

Fortnite and Overwatch 2 are two of the most significant free-to-play multiplayer games across various platforms, with many fans of the titles holding out hopes for a collaboration or crossover event between the two. While the lack of such an event remains a sad tale for the hopeful, there are more similarities between the games than one may anticipate, especially between a handful of characters from each title, with their designs striking an uncanny resemblance.

Undoubtedly, this will happen occasionally in the video games industry – that’s the joys of character design, especially in live service games that release such frequent cosmetics. However, there are a few matchups where these two characters could appear to be related! Without further ado, here are 10 Fortnite skins we spotted with a strong visual similarity to Overwatch 2 characters.

Last season, we saw the release of Conquest mode in Marvel Snap. This is a tournament-style mode where players duke it out with each other, using the same deck, and with 10 points of health. The mode gives you the chance to earn Medals, which can then be used to purchase Credits, Gold, variants, and boosters.

This week, Second Dinner has launched a new event called Conquest Frenzy, which makes it easier for players to rack up Gold Conquest Tickets. Basically, you’ll be able to claim one Gold Ticket per day after winning 10 matches in either Ranked or Conquest. This event will run till July 24, and should make it much easier for players to accrue Gold Tickets, as you won’t need to grind through Proving Grounds or Silver Conquest for them.

The Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for all sorts of multiplayer shenanigans, whether you’re enjoying local or online co-op and competitive play. Here’s our take on the best multiplayer Switch games of all time.

Mario Party Superstars

Not to be confused with Super Mario Party, Mario Party Superstars is a remastered collection of the best and most iconic maps from the original Mario Party games. And yeah, they still hold up incredibly well. Maps include Peach’s Birthday Cake and Horror Land, and the mini-games are still fun and challenging in the best possible ways.

One of the highest-selling video game systems of all time, the Nintendo Wii revolutionized motion-controlled gaming for a mainstream audience. It was also home to some generation-defining titles that still stand tall among the greatest in Nintendo’s storied history.

Between all of these comes titles that are still massively hard to find. If you’re a stickler for an authentic experience and want the original versions of some of these games, you’re gonna have to shell out quite a bit of money to get them. Here are 12 of the rarest and most valuable Wii games that’ll cost you a pretty penny to get.

When playing Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, you’ll notice many differences and similarities from its hit predecessor, the Danganronpa series. While some elements are reminiscent of its past features, others exhibit brand-new concepts that make the game stand on its own.

To commemorate both titles, we’ll look at the differences and similarities between the Danganronpa franchise and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code, showcasing classic tropes and the famous murder trials.

The Nintendo Switch has established itself as a beloved gaming platform over the past six years, offering a diverse library of games with unique gameplay experiences. While many of these titles provide hours of entertainment right out of the box, there are several games that leave players longing for more. They have the potential to be elevated to new heights through the addition of DLC. This would offer expanded content, fresh challenges, and enhanced replay value. Here are 10 games just begging for DLC to further immerse players in their worlds and keep the adventure going.

The Sims 4: Horse Ranch Expansion Pack live stream introduces a plethora of new content for the series to commemorate the latest beloved animal.

With over 30 breeds, horses will include 11 traits in Create a Sim, as well as unique attributes that can only be unlocked through breeding. For instance, a Brave steed will more likely develop Horse Jumping and Barrel skills, while Defiant ones will be much harder to train.

The original Xbox was punching well above its weight class back in the day. Sure, it didn’t sell nearly as many consoles as Sony did with the PS2, but Microsoft created one helluva foundation for the future, especially with its online gaming with Xbox Live. It started a legacy that many think back on with nothing but love, so let’s take a trip down memory lane and check out some of the best original Xbox games, shall we?

Even though the smash hit CBS television show ended back in 2019, The Big Bang Theory still remains one of the biggest sitcoms ever created.

From the loveable camaraderie of the ragtag bunch of pals at the heart of the series to the geek-speak gags that helped bring nerd culture slap bang into the mainstream zeitgeist, The Big Bang Theory was a thoroughly enjoyable turn-off-your-brain comedy with some surprisingly relatable characters. Plus, it also helped to scratch that Friends-shaped itch in our souls, which is another massive boon.

Right, I’ll make no bones about it: the PS3 is my favorite Sony system of all-time. Why? Because, personally, I believe it remains the golden age of the Japanese company’s most creative and inventive era to date. The embryonic beginnings of downloadable games was beginning to take shape with the advent of PSN, an industry in flux was on the cusp of its big shift to online gaming, and once the cutting-edge tech of the cell architecture finally started hitting its stride, we were blessed with some bonafide classics in the form of Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, The Last of Us, and many more.

During the PS3’s tenure, plenty of huge games launched, but the interesting thing is, many of the system’s rarer titles are largely not amazing games. Sure, there are one or two exceptions to that rule (I’m looking at you Ni No Kuni!), but many of the more desirable and valuable games in the PS3’s library are usually rare for a reason.

Overwatch 2’s Summer Games event has returned for 2023, alongside the mid-season Hero balance patch update. With the arrival of this event, the return of everything Summer Games has to offer has been implemented back into the game, including cosmetics from previous years of the event, a new Winston’s Beach Volleyball limited-time game mode, and of course, the fan-favorite Lucioball game mode.

However, while many have been eager to jump right into Lucioball’s action on the pitch and start scoring goals, it seems the game mode isn’t playing exactly how it’s supposed to. Players quickly began to notice a bug regarding Lucio’s ‘Boop’ ability, failing to interact with the movement and trajectory of the ball as intended.

EA FC’s reveal livestream confirmed that, in line with leaks surrounding EA Sports’ brand new football simulation series, the Ultimate Edition will launch a week before the Standard Edition. There was no word on prices, but they have been leaked and would put the FC as the most expensive iteration from EA yet.

For the first time in decades, the new football season won’t bring a new FIFA video game. Instead, we’ll receive the first installment of the EA Sports FC series.

Amazingly, Valve has deployed a brand-new update for one of its most beloved multiplayer titles, giving it a mighty boost in concurrent players. More specifically, the video game in question is Team Fortress 2, which is undoubtedly one of the most iconic games in the publisher’s portfolio.

Dubbed the Summer 2023 update, the new patch isn’t just a bog standard list of bug fixes. Instead, it adds a bunch of new content 16 years after its original release. That’s right, the new update includes 14 new community maps, 25 community-contributed items, six new taunts, 20 community-created Unusual effects, 10 new war paints, and much more. Pretty impressive, eh?

Announced back in May of this year, Enshrouded is the latest title from Keen Games, the team behind 2017’s Portal Knights. Currently scheduled to launch into Early Access later this year, the highly anticipated third-person action-RPG is shaping up to be a promising fantasy adventure. Luckily, we had an opportunity to sit down virtually with the game’s Creative Director, Antony Christoulakis, who showcased a chunk of hands-off gameplay with some additional commentary as well.

While Enshrouded shares a lot in common with the aforementioned Portal Knights — it’s another co-op survival RPG, after all — it appears to be a departure from the cutesy, cartoonish aesthetic found in its predecessor. Instead, it features a more realistic art-style and is set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world that has been plagued by a mysterious fog.

Overwatch 2 has a wide variety of different Hero skin cosmetics to collect, with every character having their own set of various themes and outfits to unlock or purchase as you play the game. However, some of these hero skins have only been available for a limited time or have since skyrocketed in value, making them some of the most exclusive items in Overwatch 2 that players would do anything to get their hands on.

In no particular order, we’ve rounded up 10 of the rarest skins in Overwatch 2, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for any hidden gems you may have stored in your Hero Gallery.

DMZ’s Plea for Help system continues to be one of the most favorable mechanics in the game, as fallen Operators gain one more shot at a successful Exfil. Now, this interaction just got a whole better thanks to the changes implemented from Season 4 Reloaded.

One of the first notable alterations is the Plea for Help’s extension improvement, increasing the time from 15 seconds to 20. Those who play DMZ know that every second counts, so this addition can help make the experience much more accessible.

A major change with Warzone Season 4 Reloaded will see DMZ players punished for killing too many real-life opponents, in a serious shake up to the extraction mode.

When the Season 4 Reloaded overview dropped on July 11, Activision promised changes to DMZ’s ‘Plea for Help’ mechanic, as well as to ‘squads specifically hunting other players’. We now know the form those changes take thanks to the full patch notes.

There’s been many mainline Pokemon games released over the years, each containing unique aspects or inclusions of new functions and features. Unfortunately, not all of these features have been consistently included in the following titles, leaving them in the dark limbo of old consoles and Pokemon game generations.

While there’s no doubt that not every game mechanic will be a winner, some of them continue to stand out against modern Pokemon titles, leaving a hole in the hearts of Trainers who have been dreaming of their return. Keeping this in mind, we’ve gone ahead and caught 10 of the most deserving Pokemon game mechanics that need to make a comeback.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals on PlayStation 5

Video Game sequels can be tricky to pull off, especially when they offer a continuation of their predecessor’s story. Not only do they need to offer a continuation or conclusion to what came before them, but they also need to innovate on what came before them to show their potentially lengthy development time was worth the wait. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is no exception to these factors, but fortunately for fans, it proves itself more than capable of meeting these expectations.

Set roughly five years after the events of the series’ first game, Night School Studio‘s title places players into the shoes of a new protagonist: Riley Poverly, a vagabond who has returned to her hometown after several years to work a job installing transmitters for a local survey project. She’s joined by Jacob Summers, a local with unfulfilled aspirations and his own inner demons to deal with.

The Spotlight Cache system was announced for Marvel Snap a while back, and we’ll finally see it get implemented in-game this week. Second Dinner has announced via their official Discord server that they’ll be pushing out on a patch on July 12, which should include some major card balances and updates as well.

The new Spotlight Cache system will feature four different cards each week, and when you open the Cache, you have a chance of getting one out of those four cards. The newly released card for that week will always be included. Second Dinner has also announced all cards for the rotation for this season, as listed below:

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code for Nintendo Switch

I’ve been a fan of the Danganronpa series for quite some time, from the games to the anime to the manga series. Since its conclusion, there’s been a void left by its bittersweet ending, that is, until the announcement of Master Detective Archives: Rain Code.

If you’ve been missing Danganronpa (like I have) or have been looking for a fresh new take on the detective narrative, then Rain Code is the right title for you. Every time you think you’ve got it all figured out, the storyline seems to always go in a completely different direction, with ridiculous amounts of twists and turns. 

Warzone’s DMZ playerbase have been responding to the reveal of Season 4 Reloaded (S4R) on July 10, with one new item in particular coming in for some criticism.

Activision’s reveal of S4R, two days before it is expected to launch on July 12, featured little on DMZ. Instead, it focused on The Boys crossover, a new automatic shotgun and a new Vondel Waterfront map.

It’s safe to say that both Friends and The Big Bang Theory are two of some of the most iconic TV shows of all time. No small feat, right?

Blending endearing characters with poignant and touching storylines, while peppering in a healthy dose of laugh-out-loud hijinks, both CBS and NBC’s stellar duo of sitcoms are full to the brim with laughs, romance, friendship, and nerdy gags.

Sony’s PlayStation 2 is one of the most beloved consoles in history, given its vast collection of classic games that are still renowned today. Yet, as time passes, more and more titles are becoming scarce in the modern age, increasing the value of various installments.

While some titles have only garnered a limited capacity in copies, others are witnessing a resurgence due to revivals or the success of the developer’s newest projects. So, whether you are holding on to that old box of games or are in the market to purchase some high-valued collectibles, we’ll show the rarest PS2 games that are worth a considerable amount of loot.

Like godrays emanating from the heavens, we’ve often placed a video game we really, really want atop a pedestal and waited patiently for it to release… only to be kicked in the crown jewels like the foolish suckers we truly are. Yes, there’s nothing worse than having your hopes dashed by promise and potential. I mean, we’ve all been there, right?

So, as we cross over into the latter half of 2023, we thought that now would be an ideal time to round up the top ten most disappointing titles of the year so far. In some ways, these are worse than straight-up terrible games as they at least had a shot at being great…

Expansion Packs have come and gone throughout Sims’ history, broadening the game’s basic mechanics considerably. They’ve generally been well-received by the fan base, with a few hit-and-misses that are ultimately forgettable. 

But, despite the franchise’s numerous DLCs, fans (like me) continue to want more, in which they’ve come up with their own ideas to branch out the series further. So, if EA is looking for another direction, here are 10 expansion ideas for The Sims 4 that could make the series even better.

Valorant’s 7.01 Patch follows on from June 27’s update, which ushered in Act 1 of Episode 7. Releasing on July 11, here are the full 7.01 update patch notes, including the launch of Ignition Stage and player behavior changes.

Valorant’s 7.0 Patch dropped back on June 27, seeing the commencement of Episode 7. Among the swathes of changes were a new Agent, Deadlock, a new Team Deathmatch mode and major updates to the shooter’s progression system. 7.01 is smaller, building on the new Episode as we’ve come to expect.

If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a bit of a platinum trophy hunter, then you’re probably familiar with spending an unfathomable amount of time tapping mayonnaise jars, running over chickens, or collecting pointless knick-knacks. (Don’t worry, no judgement here!) 

But did you know, there are plenty of fun, easy-to-unlock and respectable platinums out there that don’t require you to take a cold shower afterward? In fact, if you’re looking to boost your trophy cabinet but would prefer to keep some semblance of street cred at the same time, we’ve got a handy list of suggestions that may help. 

Lightsabers are one of the staple trademarks within the Star Wars universe, causing fans to purchase variations of the weapon in real life. The tool’s wielders, whether a Jedi or a Sith, are also a massive component of the franchise because of their original fighting styles and techniques. So, which character boasts the best lightsaber stances? We’ll explore this idea by ranking these poses solely based on awesomeness.

DMZ has relatively catered to squad players with each passing update, making the experience almost unbearable for solo players. However, a new development could alleviate the stress for independent players, as the mid-season introduces helpful mechanics for Assimilation, Plea for Help, and the latest contract.

The Assimilation mechanic has been a massive problem for many DMZ fans, given that it allows Operators to establish a six-player team over time instead of the initial three-solider group. Thus, players have been overwhelmed by the large amounts of enemy squads, especially those who track down independent players.

Call of Duty Season 4 Reloaded will officially welcome the chaotic characters from The Boys as they take a break from their “heroic” roles and step in as Operators.

During a fictional press conference, Black Noir was the first to confirm this development in his own unique way, in which he answers questions through his expressions. One of the first major announcements is the characters featured in the crossover, including Starlight, Homelander, and Black Noir.

After three years, Destiny 2 has received a new element in the form of Strand. Strand is the second darkness element to be added to the game, and like Stasis, there’s only a handful of weapons for players to use. However, with the arrival of Season of the Deep, many new Strand weapons were added to the game. So today, we’re going over the top 10 best Strand weapons in Destiny 2 during Season of the Deep.

Visual novel games utilize unique visual approaches and heavy story formats paired with simplistic, minor gameplay elements, meaning they’re perfect for playing on the go or even from the cozy comfort of your couch or bed. Of course, this makes the Nintendo Switch the ideal console to enjoy this genre on, thanks to the easy portability of the handheld mode and the addition of touchscreen controls in many titles. If you’re looking for some more visual novel games to enjoy on your Switch, look no further; we’ve rounded up and listed 10 of the best experiences available on the system.

The world of Pokemon is a fascinating one. Not only are their countless regions, a surprising amount of copycat ‘gangs’ of bad guys trying to take over the world, and nearly a thousand of the cute, tough, creepy and cuddly creatures to catch, it’s also teeming with secrets and mystery. That’s why the community has frequently come up with their own conspiracy theories to answer some of the Pokemon world’s biggest unanswered questions. Sometimes, it’s to do with the all-powerful legendary and mythical Pokemon, other times, it’s just a random thing that doesn’t make sense. Whatever it may be, we’ve compiled 15 of the most interesting Pokemon conspiracy theories in this post, so you can get your sleuth on.

Ever since Wordle exploded in popularity some years ago, comparable word, geography and maths games have emerged to play on a daily basis. In the geography category, Globle is one that has been teasing the brains of players everywhere. Here’s the answer to the Globle today.

Globle Hints and Clues

Before we reveal today’s answer, here’s three hints to help you narrow it down without needing it given to you on a plate.

Waffle is a bit like Wordle in that it requires players to figure out words in a finite amount of time. Instead of guessing words and using feedback to narrow down, you’ve got to swap tiles as smartly as you can. Here are today’s answers.

Today’s (July 10, 2023) Waffle Answers Are…

Here are the answers to the Daily Waffle:

Digits is a brand new daily maths puzzle released by the New York Times, refreshing daily at 12am and posing players a series of new brainteasers. Below, we’re going through how it works, the best ways to solve it and, most importantly, the answers and calculations for today’s (10 July 2023) Digits game.

Digits Answers Today (July 10, 2023)

Here are the answers and calculations to the 07/10/23 Digits puzzles: