At the end of November 2023, Nijisanji Vtuber Selen Tatsuki announced a HoloNiji Apex Custom Apex Legends tournament for members of Anycolor’s company and Hololive and Holostars performers, and now we know the 16 teams participating. It will be held on December 9, 2023 at 7pm PT/10pm ET.

Many of the teams are mixed ones. This means there could be both Hololive and Nijisanji Vtubers playing Apex Legends on the same side. As a notable aside, Team 1 is Team Snake Bite (TSB), which features Selen with Axel Syrios and Regis Altare. This is the group that participated in V-Saikyo in April 2023. As a reminder, this is an EA-supported Apex Legends tournament. 

Here’s the full list of every HoloNiji Apex Custom team. 

• Team 1: Axel Syrios, Selen Tatsuki, and Regis Altare
• Team 2: Kureiji Ollie, Airani Iofifteen, and Alban Knox
• Team 3: Kaede Higuchi, Yuki Chihiro, and Takamiya Rion
• Team 4: Gwelu Os Gar, Seto Miyako, Kanda Shoichi

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The latest character to be revealed for the mobile game Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator is Master’s Right-Hand Ryza. In this new design, she’s wearing a monocle over her left eye.

New artwork showing off this version of Ryza was uploaded to the official Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator social media account. Check out the new character design from the official post below:

An animated character promotional video was also uploaded to the official Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy and the Polar Night Liberator YouTube channel. In it, we get a glimpse at how this version of Ryza operates in battle and can see her special attack.

Watch the new Master’s Right-Hand Ryza character trailer below:

Starbreeze, the studio behind games such as Payday 3, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, and The Darkness, has announced a partnership with Wizards of the Coast to develop and publish a new cooperative multiplayer game set in the world of Dungeons & Dragons.

The title is codenamed Project Baxter and is slated to arrive in 2026. In a press release, Starbreeze states that Baxter is being developed in Unreal Engine 5 and “will carry the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of co-operative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service-Model, community engagement and a larger than life experience.” Although D&D is a role-playing game, it's unclear what genre Project Baxter will be. 

We are excited to unveil Dungeons & Dragons® as the IP for our next game, codename ”Project Baxter”. A co-operative multiplayer title to be released on all major platforms in 2026!

Read more here: https://t.co/JROgMApCzl pic.twitter.com/2SIOUZycyV

— Starbreeze Entertainment (@StarbreezeAB) December 4, 2023

Project Baxter is slated to launch on all major platforms and will feature cross-play. Starbreeze released a piece of concept artwork, posted above, as a small visual hint of what's to come.

Last week, we asked y’all what you’d like to see from GTA VI now that we know Rockstar Games will drop an official trailer on December 5. Any response was welcomed here. You could get creative, tossing out ideas that are probably less than likely. Or you could keep it realistic, presenting features that might be more…

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Paramount’s Halo series was divisive when it premiered in 2022. Much to the chagrin of long-time fans who wanted a straightforward adaptation of the iconic video game franchise, it did its own thing, unmasking the iconic Master Chief and even giving him a romantic subplot. Based on the trailer for season two, it looks…

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Universal Studios Japan revealed that it will hold a My Hero Academia event for the first time ever. New exclusive attractions based on the action manga and anime franchise will be available from March 2024 to August 14, 2024.

Barely any details about the collaboration are known about as of this announcement. Universal Studios Japan so far teases that visitors will be able to immerse themselves in battles between the franchise's heroes and villains. It also published a key art showing the protagonist Izuku "Deku" Midoriya preparing an attack with the Universal Pictures logo as a background.

Endure The Swarm, which launches on Friday 8th December, takes that most abstract and respectable of game genres, the block-pushing puzzler, and fills it with ghastly, flesh-eating insects. There’s no amount of pesticide that can stay this tide, nor (sadly) is there the option to stand on a chair screaming and waving a broom. Rather, you must call upon your mammalian mastery of spatial reasoning to survive. The insect hivemind, you see, is incapable of grasping the complexities of block positioning.

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Starbreeze, the studio known for the likes of Payday, is developing a game based on the Dungeons and Dragons IP.

Codenamed Project Baxter, the upcoming game is expected to release across platforms in 2026. It is being produced in Unreal Engine 5.

While further details on this project are still thin, the studio has said players can expect "the signature Starbreeze game cornerstones of co-operative multiplayer, lifetime commitment through a Games as a Service-model, community engagement and a larger than life experience" on release. When Project Baxter launches, Starbreeze will also act as the game's publisher.

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Sunrise announced that Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance will appear worldwide on Netflix. It also published a new teaser trailer that shows a sneak peek of the main characters and Mobile Suits. The trailer also shows a Gundam-type Mobile Suit that will appear as the antagonist from the viewpoint of Zeon's pilots.

The new teaser trailer is available to watch on multiple official YouTube channels, such as GundamInfo and Netflix Anime:

Sunrise first revealed Requiem for Vengeance in July 2023. It is using Unreal Engine 5 to produce the film, and Erasmus Brosdau is also working as the director. The new title will take place in Europe during the One Year War in the year 0079 of the Universal Century timeline. Celia Massingham will voice the female protagonist who pilots a Zaku for Zeon's attack forces.

This week's DF Direct Weekly kicks off with our 'hot take' on the state of Batman: Arkham Trilogy on Nintendo Switch. We film the show on Friday morning and so only had an hour or so with the game before we sat down to record, but we had to know the answer to one burning question: can Nintendo's handheld hybrid really run Batman: Arkham Knight? Hopes were high for another 'impossible port' but alas, the final game is practically a disaster, brutally cutback in every conceivable way and plagued with profound stuttering problems.

Lighting is savagely downgraded, texture quality is a total mess, shadows take a trip back to PS2 era standards and geometry is culled. Arkham Knight routinely fails to hit its 30 frames per second target, often lingering in the low to mid-20s but worse than that is the pervasive stuttering problem. Most strongly evident in the Batmobile sections, Arkham Knight is clearly facing system-level bottlenecks at every turn: streaming environmental detail at speeds has a clearly measurable impact on the CPU, while the addition of collision physics stacks on top of that, taking performance into the teens.

Nightingale developer Inflexion Games has announced it'll be conducting stress tests for the game's servers in early 2024.

The "gaslamp fantasy" survival game is currently in closed testing, but the stress test will be an open playtest.

Inflexion Games is inviting players to help "break the portal network" and all you need to do if you're interested in taking part is request access to the playtest on Nightingale's Steam page.

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Update: Rockstar has now confirmed that the trailer was leaked and has released the trailer itself. Check out our rundown here. Original story follows.

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On December 4, 2023, a new line of gothic lolita Sanrio sweatshirts will be available to purchase at the clothing store Uniqlo retail locations and the online store in Japan, and this lineup features the mascot characters Cinnamoroll, My Melody, and Kuromi.

Each of the three featured Sanrio characters is re-imagined with a gothic lolita theme for the merchandise. These new illustrations inspired by Harajuku fashion are featured on the new sweatshirts. The Cinnamoroll and My Melody sweatshirts also include a ribbon print on the sleeves, while the black Kuromi sweatshirt features an airbrush-style design.

Here’s a list of all of the new products, along with the prices:

• Black Kuromi Sweatshirt: 2,990 yen ($20.36)
• Cinnamoroll Sweatshirt: 2,990 yen ($20.36)
• My Melody Sweatshirt: 2,990 yen ($20.36)

A seven-second TikTok reverberated across the internet over the weekend, after it claimed to show the “first look” at in-game footage of a city in Grand Theft Auto VI, the open-world blockbuster whose official trailer is just a day away. Frantic speculation about whether the footage was real or not ensued, including…

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Once in a while I have to figure out how to recommend a game I know I'm never going to touch again. Orten Was The Case is an adventure game, which triggers a reflexive "ugh", and it's a big elaborate puzzle, which I have limited patience for, and it's a time-loop game, making it a cool and well-realised concept that happens to be a poor fit for my scattered brain. I wish I enjoyed it as much as some of you will, because it's clearly a bit special.

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Next week, Mortal Kombat 1 is getting its second DLC fighter in the form of the Nether Realm’s favorite wizard, Quan Chi. His gameplay trailer makes no bones about the fact that he’s an extremely formidable fighter.

Quan Chi sports his usual arsenal of necromancy-based offense, such as summoning skeletons and firing skulls, but he can now conjure giant tentacles from presumably another reality. He also tag teams with upcoming Kameo fighter Khameleon, who becomes available in January. We particularly enjoy seeing Quan Chi and Shang Tsung make perhaps the most delightfully eye-rolling Deadly Alliance reference ever, plus the bonus tease of another impending guest fighter, Peacemaker, who arrives in February.  

Owners of Mortal Kombat 1’s Premium Edition or Kombat Pack get access to Quan Chi early on December 14. Everyone else will have to wait until December 21. Quan Chi follows Invincible’s Omni-Man, who hit the game last month, on the DLC character roadmap, leaving Ermac, Takeda, Peacemaker, and The Boys’ Homelander. 

For more on Mortal Kombat 1, you can read our review here.

Last year, I bemoaned the lack of Mac-friendly mechanical keyboards in my review of the Das Keyboard MacTigr. It seems that someone heard my calls, as I've got the Wombat Pine Professional sat on my desk to review. It may not be from a brand many of you know, but the parent company of Wombat, KSI (not that one) first made peripherals to pair with Apple's IIe four decades ago. Now they've released a full-size wireless mechanical keyboard that, on paper, looks like a solid option for Mac users looking to upgrade their typing experience without giving up the benefits of Mac-specific designs.

The Pine Pro, in its grey and black colourway here, looks classy and purposeful. The grey chassis keycaps and metal top plate match the Space Grey of my MacBook Pro nicely, as well as being a near-match to my Logitech MX Master 3S mouse I use for work, meaning everything ties together nicely. Considering Apple has always valued aesthetics, that's a big win for the Pine Pro. If this grey colourway isn't for you though, the Pine Pro is also available in other colourways including blue, green and pink for something a little more funky.

This is a sturdily built keeb too, especially with the combo of a half-plastic, half-anodised-aluminium case which offers no deck flex to speak of and a reassuring heft. The two level feet on the bottom of the keyboard also feel good; it's nice to have a choice of typing angle even if the default feels comfortable.

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Following two years in early access, roguelite citybuilder Against The Storm has finally reached its 1.0 milestone. It’s a combination of genres that seem to pair together as naturally as sausages and strawberry jam. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of both of these things as separate entities, but together? My assumption was that they would prove too strange to stomach, but much like the cursed pork and berry snack that became a staple of my university diet, the result is a thrilling concoction that delights the palette. I’ll say it right up top: Against The Storm is one of this year’s best.

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Ahead of the release of the upcoming move Spy x Family CODE: White, a special collaboration will begin in Street Fighter 6 on January 9, 2024. An animated short featuring Yor Forger and Chun-Li teasing the crossover was uploaded to YouTube on December 3, 2023.

In the special animation, Yor can be seen using her skills as an assassin in battle with Chun-Li. This is based on the Street Fighter 6 version of the character.

You can watch their fight in the video below:

After years of waiting, Amazon Studios has released the first trailer for its upcoming TV adaptation of Fallout. The series is set to premiere on April 12 on Amazon Prime, and this teaser proves that visually speaking, the series appears to faithfully capture the essence of Bethesda’s beloved RPG.

Fallout is brought to life by Westworld showrunners Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, with Bethesda head Todd Howard serving as executive producer. The cast includes Ella Purnell as a freshly emerged Vault 33 dweller named Lucy and Walton Goggins as a gunslinging ghoul aptly dubbed “The Ghoul,” and the series synopsis reads as follows:

The trailer packs in what a lot of fans would expect from a Fallout adaptation: power armor, vaults, irradiated, mutated creatures, exploding headshots, and a dark sense of humor. Here's hoping it can live up to recent live-action success stories such as The Last of Us and Twisted Metal.

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the Release Calendar for December is so delightful. Catchy isn't it? OK no it's not, but it is partially truthful in that there are still games to come this year. And when better to submerge yourself in them?

What to Play This Month brings you both a list of games you might have missed from the previous month as well as a list of what's coming in the month ahead. Our aim is to cut through the noise for you to give you a clearer picture of what's out there. So, without further ado, here's What To Play This December.

Availability: Out now on PC, PS5, Switch and Xbox Series X/S.

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Earlier this week, we asked you all to give us your choice for the best video game sequel. Any sequel would count and everyone was free to suggest any game they wanted, no matter how old, obscure, or divisive. And we tallied up all the answers, crunched the numbers, and figured out your top ten sequels.

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Square Enix shared a new video on the company's YouTube account that shows a preview of the Steam version of FFVII Ever Crisis, and in the description it stated that the Steam version of the game can link to mobile version. [Thanks, Wario64!]

The video description noted that due to the ability to link data between the smartphone version and the Steam version, players can enjoy playing FFVII Ever Crisis on both systems. The process for data linking has not yet been explained.

The video shared by Square Enix focuses on Final Fantasy VII, Chapter 1, Main Section 2 "Meeting the Flower Girl". This covers the first meeting between Aerith and Cloud in Sector 8 on Loveless Street when she gives Cloud a flower. After Cloud meets Aerith, he is surrounded by Shinra Security Officers and must fight them off to leave the sector. The footage shows off the keyboard inputs for the various buttons on the game's UI which have been retooled to work without a touchscreen. Each button has been replaced with a specific key on the keyboard. The video of the Steam version of FFVII Ever Crisis did not show off any footage of mouse inputs.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E25MT5bMd0k[/embed]

The PlayStation Access Controller is a bold statement by PlayStation that the platform holder understands the importance of hardware accessibility. Players previously excluded from enjoying PlayStation games due to the lack of hardware choice now have the freedom to expand their gaming horizons.

It's important to note upfront that, while the Access Controller may have similarities to the Xbox Adaptive Controller, it's designed to be a full controller solution without needing external input devices. It's supported by robust accessibility software, rather than acting as a switch hub, like the XAC. There are positives and negatives to this.

The controller itself is aesthetically pleasing, matching the white and black colour scheme of the PS5 and DualSense controller. The rubber grips on the base are a firm foundation to ensure stability when the device is placed on a table or a wheelchair tray, and it also has four attachment points for different wheelchair mounting solutions. The plastic feels durable, surviving a drop test on both carpeted and wooden floor - and it's certainly going to be dropped on occasions if it rests on a knee. Buttons have a satisfying tactile click, making sure you feel and hear a click without glancing down at the controller. The circular design fits perfectly in your hand allowing you to reach the eight buttons, and the sticks can also retract and extend by holding the lock button.

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The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is often heralded as one of the best adventure games of the past 25 years. With the nefarious Ganon once again scheming to conquer the land, it’s up to Link to traverse through time, space, and yet another aggravating water temple to save the Kingdom of Hyrule. While the epic for…

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Publisher THQ Nordic has announced Outcast: A New Beginning will release on 15th March, 2024.

The sci-fi action-adventure sequel sees original protagonist Cutter Slade return to the alien planet Adelpha in a bid to help the local Talans fend off invading humanoid robots and discover why he was sent back there.

The game was announced back in 2021 as Outcast 2: A New Beginning, but developer Appeal Studios dropped the 2 to make the game more approachable.

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In 2023, Stern Pinball moved to a new location in Illinois, worked on tables based on Godzilla, Foo Fighters, and Venom, and launched its Insider Connected app to bring players together. To learn more about the company and its plans, Siliconera spoke with CEO Seth Davis about the company and its latest moves.

Jenni Lada: When did you first start here with Stern?

Seth Davis: I've been here for a little over two years. So, couple years ago I I joined and it's been a lot of fun. 

What made you decide you wanted to join?

Davis: Stern makes the best pinball machines in the world. I've always been a big gamer. I came from Disney most recently, where I had worked on video games and all that. I’d grown up in an 80s arcade, like a lot of people my age, and, went between video games and pinball machines and all of that. So, having the opportunity to join a company that makes the best products in the world at what they do is just a really unique opportunity. So I moved out to Chicago and joined up.

Every weekend, indie devs show off current work on Twitter's #screenshotsaturday tag. And every Monday, I bring you a selection of these snaps and clips. This week, my eye has been caught by games touching on chat around GTA 6 and Furiosa, along with spaceships, fungal horror, and the developer's dog. Come admire all these attractive and interesting indie games!

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Waluigi creator Fumihide Aoki shared designs of a Wario-style Princess Peach for the first time at the weekend, before pulling them shortly after.

Aoki posted the designs to his Instagram page, which he has since set to private. The images have been reuploaded by others, including gosokkyu on X (née Twitter), who brought attention to "Walupeach" in January this year.

The images included both concept art for the character and an early 3D model. However they are no longer available to view.

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The fourth game in our 2023 Advent Calendar is really carrying the world on its back.

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