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Bargain Guide – Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

Josh Lack — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 06:48:14 +0000

The cheapest copy of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon starting with local retailers and finishing off with digital-only prices. We will update with new & special prices as they come in up until launch day on August 25th.

FromSoftware have returned to bring glory to the dormant Armored Core series as Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon hits shelves on Friday the 25th of August for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC! Launch copies come with some goodies as usual and there is some pre-order DLC available.

MIGHTYAPE HAS THE CHEAPEST COPY AT $79

Physical:

Amazon – $89 including postage

JB Hi-Fi – $89

Big W – $89

EB Games – $109.95

Gamesmen – $99.95 excluding postage

Mightyape – $79 plus postage

Digital:

PlayStation Store – $99.95

Xbox Store – $104.95

Steam – $89.95

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Here’s How You Can Play The Mortal Kombat 1 Beta Starting Tomorrow

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 06:00:19 +0000

Warner Bros and NetherRealm have revealed the details of Mortal Kombat 1’s upcoming “Pre-Order Beta” which will be exclusively available to players who pre-order the game ahead of the scheduled beta dates on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

We now know exactly when those dates and times are, with the beta set to run from August 19th at 1AM AEST to August 22nd at 1AM AEST. Creator Ed Boon announced the dates in a post on X which also revealed that August 18th (the US date) is his mother’s birthday and the release date of the classic 1995 Mortal Kombat movie, for what that’s worth.

Warner Bros has opened up an FAQ page for the Pre-Order Beta with everything you’d need to know ahead of time, but we’ve copied across the most pertinent information below:

How To Play The Mortal Kombat 1 Beta

Q: What platforms will the Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta be available on?

A: The Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta will be available for those who pre-order the game on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only. The Beta will not be available for Nintendo Switch or PC (Steam / Epic Games Store) players.

Q: How can players participate in the Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta?

A: Anyone who has pre-ordered the Mortal Kombat 1 Standard, Premium, or Kollector’s Edition for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S will receive access to the Pre-Order Beta. Check with local retailers for more information.

**Q: How will those who pre-ordered Mortal Kombat 1 digitally receive access to the Pre-Order Beta?**

A: Players who pre-order digitally will automatically receive access to the Mortal Kombat 1 Pre-Order Beta through their console (PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S). Players will be able to download the Beta on August 16th at a 1AM AEST. No further user action is required.

Q: How will those who pre-ordered through a retailer receive access to the Pre-Order Beta?

A: For physical and digital pre-orders made through participating retailers, Beta codes will be provided and redeemable with a Warner Bros. Games Account until the end of the Pre-Order Beta period (Monday, August 22nd at 1AM AEST via the following process:

Log in to a Warner Bros. Games Account. To create a WB Games Account, visit Account.WBGames.com to create an account. To reset a current WB Games Account password, visit Account.WBGames.com/Reset-Password. If unable to access an account after a password reset, visit WBGSupport to submit a ticket.
Once logged in, visit Account.WBGames.com/Betas and enter the code under the [Redeem a Pre-Order Beta Code] section
Click the [Redeem] button
Read the on-screen prompt and when ready, select [Accept and Continue]
Users will then receive a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S code based on console preference that is only redeemable on August 15 at 11 a.m. EDT / 10 a.m. CDT / 8 a.m. PDT
Follow the instructions on how to redeem a console code

August 18th

My mother’s birthday.
Tobias’s mother’s birthday.
1995 MK Movie release date.

and now… the #MK1 pre-Oder beta !!pic.twitter.com/ow8bxNcOKI

— Ed Boon (@noobde) July 27, 2023

Mortal Kombat 1 releases on September 19th, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Amazon currently has pre-orders for $84 including free shipping.

WE LOVE BRINGING YOU THE BEST GAMING BARGAINS. WE MAY GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE THROUGH AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS

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New Splatoon 3 Amiibo Have Been Announced And Pre-Orders Are Live Now

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 05:53:59 +0000

Nintendo has dropped a fresh trailer for the new season of Splatoon 3 starting on September 1st, Drizzle Season 2023.

This new content drop will see a deluge of new gear, weapons, weapon variants stages and more. The Dread Wringer and Heavy Edit Splatling weapons make their debut along with the Crableg Capital and Shipshape Cargo Co. maps, and the return of Salmonid Smokeyard for Salmon Run.

The season will also introduce a new in-game band called H2WHoa with the song Ripstop & Go, and allow players to adjust the gear they’re wearing to accommodate things like oversized t-shirts and backwards caps.

Take a look at the debut trailer for Splatoon 3 Drizzle Season:

Along with the new season, Nintendo has also revealed a brand-new triple pack of Splatoon 3 Amiibo featuring the iconic Deep Cut coming on November 17th, with pre-orders already live at multiple Aussie retailers, listed below:

Splatoon 3 Deep Cut Amiibo Triple Pack Pre-Orders

The Deep Cut Amiibo will allow players to take in-game photos with the members of Deep Cut as well as get access to exclusive gear and more. Check them out:

The three members of Deep Cut will make their #amiibo debut on 17/11! Scan them in-game to snap a photo with these #Splatoon3 stars, get exclusive gear and more! pic.twitter.com/LEX9d4sDXK

— Nintendo AU NZ (@NintendoAUNZ) August 18, 2023

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Razer Has Unveiled The BlackWidow V4 75% Keyboard With Hot-Swappable Switches

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 05:24:22 +0000

Famed merchants of everything clicky and full of RGB lighting, Razer, have announced their latest gaming keyboard, the Razer BlackWidow V4 75%.

This newest entry into the BlackWidow family shrinks the iconic BlackWidow V4 into a 75% form factor while retaining some of the added media keys and also introducing a new point of difference – a hot-swappable design to allow enthusiasts to quickly and easily change the pre-loaded Razer Orange Tactical Mechanical Gen-3 switches for custom 3 or 5-pin ones.

Built into a premium, aluminium case and sporting a function row, arrow keys and media controls in its compact layout, the wired BlackWidow V4 75% also comes with a plush leatherette wrist rest and features both per-key and underglow lighting giving it an overall cutting-edge look and feel. Under the hood it’s a gasket-mounted FR4 plate, tape-enhanced PCB, lubricated stabilizers, and two layers of sound dampening foam for a comfortable and satisfying typing experience.

You can pick up the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% now on the Razer website for $349.95 in black or $369.95 for the Razer BlackWidow V4 75% White Edition, with the keyboard set to hit other local Aussie retailers soon.

We’ll have a full review up for the keyboard soon.

The post Razer Has Unveiled The BlackWidow V4 75% Keyboard With Hot-Swappable Switches appeared first on Press Start.

Warcraft Rumble Is Available To Play Now In Australia

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 04:08:04 +0000

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Warcraft Rumble (previously known as Warcraft Arclight Rumble), the new mobile action strategy game based in the Warcraft universe, has soft-launched in select regions around the world including Canada, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the Philippines and right here in Australia.

Players on either Android or iOS mobile devices can jump into the game now and play across multiple modes including a single-player campaign, PvP battles and more. It features over 60 Warcraft Minis to collect and assemble into strategic armies.

It’s free to download and play, so grab it here for Android or on iOS right here.

You can see an (admittedly old) gameplay trailer for Warcraft Rumble below:

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The Walking Dead: Destinies Is A New Action Adventure Game Coming To Consoles And PC

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 03:36:52 +0000

A brand-new The Walking Dead game has been announced, and it’s a narrative-driven third person action adventure in development for current and last-gen consoles as well as PC.

The game is set to capture the events of seasons 1-4 of the television show, starting players off as Rick Grimes across key locations from the series, but will reportedly allow players to make choices in key moments of the story that can potentially have different outcomes to the series’ canonical events.

The Walking Dead: Destinies will apparently feature over a dozen characters from the AMC show, who will have their own unique abilities, and the game will feature resource management alongside weapons like bats, swords, guns and crossbows. It’s in development for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch and PC at Flu Games and being published by GameMill Entertainment (Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, Dreamworks All-Star Kart Racing).

No release date has been announced yet, but you can watch the announcement trailer for The Walking Dead: Destinies (via IGN) below:

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Santa Monica Studio Is Seemingly Hiring For A New God Of War Game

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 01:37:40 +0000

Santa Monica Studio, the folks behind the God of War series, have a few job listings going at the moment, but one in particular has caught the internet’s eye as it seems to suggest that the studio is staffing up for a new entry in the series.

The listing in question is asking for a Combat Designer to join the team based in California for the development of a “new unannounced title.”

What makes this job listing seem to confirm that Santa Monica Studio is, in fact, working on a new God of War project is a very specific call-out in the listed requirements for the role, which says:

“Must have knowledge of God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök (2022) and be able to speak in depth about the combat systems, mechanics, and enemies.”

While it wouldn’t surprising for the studio to want someone familiar with its design ethos as a whole when looking to incorporate new talent, the language used here certainly suggests it wants someone specifically for a God of War-related project that follows in the same combat mould as the last two games.

This isn’t the first time SMS has recruited for this new project either, with a posting for a “Senior Combat Designer (Companions)” posted in May and presumably since filled featuring the exact same wording when it came to knowledge of and experience with the previous two God of War games.

Of course, there’s no surprise in suggesting that a new God of War game could be on the horizon, with Ragnarök doing incredibly well critically and commercially, selling in the tens of millions of copies and earning itself a healthy 94 on Metacritic.

Our own review scored the game a 9.5/10 and said, God of War Ragnarök is a triumph. Santa Monica Studio has successfully taken everything that was great about the last game and amplified it while correcting just about every problem area and then some.”

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Starfield’s Full List Of Achievements Has Been Revealed

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 01:00:15 +0000

With Starfield pre-loads having officially kicked off, it hasn’t taken long for the full list of the game’s achievements to appear online.

Thanks (funnily enough) to PlayStation Game Size on X and Insider Gaming, those brave enough to wade into spoiler territory can now peruse the entire catalogue of achievements they’ll be chasing when the game drops on September 6th (or September 1st for the cashed-up fans). There are 50 achievements in total, although the report doesn’t specify any of their values in Gamerscore.

You can see the achievements below, but be warned they are full of spoilers.

Seriously.

Starfield Achievements

A Legacy Forged – Complete “A Legacy Forged”
All That Money Can Buy – Complete “All That Money Can Buy”
Entangled – Complete “Entangled”
Executive Level – Complete “Executive Level”
Further Into the Unknown – Complete “Further Into the Unknown”
Guilty Parties – Complete “Guilty Parties”
High Price to Pay – Complete “High Price to Pay”
In Their Footsteps – Complete “In Their Footsteps”
Into the Unknown – Complete “Into the Unknown”
Legacy’s End – Complete “Legacy’s End”
One Giant Leap – Complete “One Giant Leap”
Surgical Strike – Complete “Surgical Strike”
The Best There Is – Complete “The Best There Is”
The Devils You Now – Complete “The Devils You Know”
The Hammer Falls – Complete “The Hammer Falls”
Unearthed – Complete “Unearthed”
Dust Off – Reach Level 5
Traveler – Reach Level 10
Elite – Reach Level 25
Space Opera – Reach Level 50
Reach for the Stars – Reach Level 100
Back to the Grind – Join Ryujin Industries
Deputised – Join the Freestar Rangers
One Small Step – Join Constellation
Rook Meets King – Join the Crimson Fleet
Supra et Ultra – Join the UC Vanguard
For All, Into the Starfield – Enter Space for the First Time
Home Sweet Home – Build an Outpost
Shipping Magnate – Connect 5 Outposts with Cargo Links
I Use Them For Smuggling – Successfully Smuggle Contraband
Chief Engineer – Modify a Ship
Fleet Commander – Collect 10 Ships
Another Bug Hunt – Eliminate 300 Creatures
Boots on the Ground – Land on 100 Planets
The Stars My Destination – Visit all Star Systems
Stellar Cartography – Visit 20 Star Systems
Cyber Jockey – Bypass 50 Digital Locks
Dark Matter – Eliminate 300 Human Enemies
Fixer – Complete 30 Activities
Privateer – Complete 30 Terminal or Misc. Missions
Industrialist – Produce 500 Total Resources from Outposts
Jacked In – Access 50 Computers
Life Begate Life – Gather 500 Organic Resources
Replicator – Craft 100 Items
Rock Collection – Gather 500 Inorganic Resources
Soldier of Fortune – Mod 50 Weapons
Thirst for Knowledge – Read 20 Skill Magazines
War of Angels – Collect 20 Quantum Essence
The Family You Choose – Recruit 10 Separate Companions
Starcrossed – Reach Maximum Relationship Level with a Companion

Starfield launches on September 6th for Xbox Series X|S and PC and will be included with Game Pass from day one. You can pre-order the Digital Premium Upgrade on Amazon or the Xbox Store if you have Game Pass and want to get started five days early on September 1st, as well as pick up the other versions of Starfield below:

STARFIELD PRE-ORDERS

Physical

Digital

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The Jak And Daxter Movie Could Reportedly Star Tom Holland And Chris Pratt

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:28:54 +0000

It looks like we could be getting none other than Tom Holland and Chris Pratt as the co-leads in the in-development Jak and Daxter live action film.

X/Reddit user MyTimeToShineHello, who has previously been a solid source of movie leaks – going as far as leaking the entire scripts for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – has made the claim in a post that the live action film adaptation of Jak and Daxter could feature Holland as Jak and Pratt as Daxter with the two actors currently being eyed for the roles.

We know very little else about the Jak and Daxter movie, other than the film is coming from Sony and has Uncharted director Ruben Fleischer attached to direct once again and with Andrew S. Gavin and Jason Rubin listed as writers.

Tom Holland had told Gamespot just last year, “I would like to make a Jak and Daxter movie, and I would play Jak, but I would make it at A24 so that it’s really weird and dark. I would do a really weird live-action version of Jak and Daxter.”

Tom Holland to play Jak, Chris Pratt eyed to voice Daxter in live action Jak and Daxter movie from Sony directed by Ruben Fleischer (Venom, Uncharted) pic.twitter.com/2gYdo5YzZs

— MyTimeToShineHello (@MyTimeToShineH) August 17, 2023

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Here’s When You’ll Be Able To Read Our Starfield Review

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:04:20 +0000

Starfield is very nearly here, launching next month on September 6th (or September 1st for the high rollers picking up various special editions), and we’ve just begun taking our first steps in Bethesda’s massive new sci-fi RPG epic in order to bring you our detailed thoughts in a review of the game as soon as the review embargo allows.

Luckily for those hoping to read up on reviews as soon as possible, we’re also able to share when Starfield reviews are set to go live:

When Do Starfield Reviews Go Live?

Reviews for Starfield will begin to go live at outlets across the globe on Friday, September 1st at 2AM AEST.

This is the earliest that we can publish a review, and although this is going to be an enormous game we will endeavour for it to be a full review on that date.

Where Can I See The Review When It’s Published?

You’ll see the review front-and-centre on the Press Start homepage when it’s ready, or in our Reviews tab. We’ll also drop the link on our social channels, so make sure you’re following us on X, Facebook and Instagram to catch it the moment it lands. You can also sign up to our mailing list to get the review in your inbox and give us a cheeky subscribe on YouTube where we’ll be discussing the game on the Press Start Podcast.

Where Can I Pre-Order Starfield?

STARFIELD PRE-ORDERS

Physical

Digital

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Alan Wake 2 Has Been Delayed Slightly

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:32:48 +0000

Alan Wake II has been delayed – but only by 10 days. The team at Remedy has announced the delay on ~~Twitter~~ X, saying that it’s hopeful the delay will give players more space to enjoy their games in what has become a stacked October, stopping short of revealing whether there were any other reasons for the short delay.

The tweet reads, “An update from the Alan Wake 2 team: we’re moving Alan Wake 2’s launch from October 17th to October 27th.

“October is an amazing month for game launches and we hope this date shift gives more space for everyone to enjoy their favorite games. We can’t wait to show you what everyone’s favorite novelist is up to in the Dark Place next week. Thanks for your patience!”

An update from the Alan Wake 2 team: we're moving Alan Wake 2's launch from October 17 to October 27.

October is an amazing month for game launches and we hope this date shift gives more space for everyone to enjoy their favorite games.

We can't wait to show you what everyone's… pic.twitter.com/GpLxyr2xvY

— Alan Wake 2 (@alanwake) August 17, 2023

October’s schedule of new game releases already includes (but isn’t limited to) Assassin’s Creed Mirage on the 5th, Detective Pikachu on the 6th, Forza Motorsport on the 10th, Lords of the Fallen on the 13th, Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 on the 19th, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the 20th, Cities: Skylines II and the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection on the 24th, Alone in the Dark on the 25th, and of course Alan Wake II at its new release date of October 27th.

We recently got the chance to see an in-depth, behind closed doors look at Alan Wake II with the team at Remedy and came away suitably impressed and ready for more, you can read about that right here.

We’ll also be seeing more of Alan Wake II at Gamescom’s Opening Night Live showcase hosted by Geoff Keighley.

Gamescom Opening Night Live is taking place on Wednesday, August 23rd at 4AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

4.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
2.00 AM AWST (Perth)
6.00 AM NZDT (Wellington)

Alan Wake II releases digitally on October 27th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

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Here’s The First Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Gameplay And Pre-Order Details

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 23:08:31 +0000

As promised, Activision has revealed its latest entry in the Call of Duty series in full, debuting a brand-new gameplay trailer as well as giving fans more concrete info around its release.

Launching on November 10th for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is a direct continuation of last year’s Modern Warfare 2, with a full suite of modes and an all-new campaign developed by Sledgehammer Games in partnership with Infinity Ward.

The campaign is set to feature the iconic, cinematic gameplays sequences the series is known for along with more free-form “Open Combat” missions for more player choice than ever, and the game will also feature the largest ever Call of Duty Zombies map for squads to team up and take down zombies in, with the Modern Warfare Zombies mode developed by Treyarch.

And of course, there’ll be a robust multiplayer offering featuring modernised versions of all 16 maps from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), along with three huge new Battle Maps and an enormous War Map and brand-new modes including a competitive 3v3v3 experience called Cutthroat.

There’s a heap more to learn about Modern Warfare 3, so check it all out over on the Call of Duty blog and watch the slick-looking new “gameplay” trailer below:

Activision has also revealed the various editions of the game that are available to pre-order now, with two different digital versions available and a standard physical release.

Here’s what’s in each one:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Digital Vault Edition – $159.95

Includes:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III game
Open Beta Early Access (for pre-orders)
Campaign Early Access (for pre-orders)
Soap Operator Pack
Nemesis Operator Pack
2 Weapon Vaults
BlackCell (1 Season)
30 additional Tier Skips

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Digital Standard Edition – $109.95

Includes:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III game
Open Beta Early Access (for pre-orders)
Campaign Early Access (for pre-orders)
Soap Operator Pack

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Physical Standard Edition

Amazon – $79
JB Hi-Fi – $79 / $99 SteelBook Edition
EB Games – $109.95
Mightyape – $79

The post Here’s The First Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Gameplay And Pre-Order Details appeared first on Press Start.

Bargain Guide – Immortals of Aveum

Josh Lack — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 22:37:25 +0000

The cheapest copy of Immortals of Aveum starting with local retailers and finishing off with digital-only prices. We will update with new & special prices as they come in up until launch day on August 22nd.

Start slinging some spells on Tuesday the 22nd of August as Immortals of Aveum hits physical and digital shelves for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC! Pre-order DLC is also available as usual.

THE CHEAPEST SHIPPED COPY IS AT AMAZON FOR $83.99 INCLUDING SHIPPING / MIGHTYAPE FOR $78 PLUS $5.99 POSTAGE

Physical:

Amazon – $83.99 with free shipping

JB Hi-Fi – $89

Big W – $99

EB Games – $109.95

Gamesmen – $89.95

Harvey Norman – $88

Mightyape – $78 plus $5.99 postage

Digital:

PlayStation Store – $109.95

Xbox Store – $109.95

Steam – $89.95

The post Bargain Guide – Immortals of Aveum appeared first on Press Start.

The Xbox 360 Digital Store Is Closing For Good Next Year

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 13:13:52 +0000

After a false alarm earlier in the year, Microsoft has announced that now it’s officially planning to shut down the Xbox 360 digital store in July next year, meaning that 360 console owners will no longer be able to buy games, or any DLC or other media content on their consoles or through the web store – not including backwards compatible content on Xbox One and Series X|S. They will, however, still continue to be able to access any already-purchased content from before the shutoff date on their 360 console.

Here’s exactly what’s happening as per the Xbox Wire blog:

On July 29, 2024, Xbox will stop supporting the ability to purchase new games, DLC, and other entertainment content from the Xbox 360 Store on the console and the Xbox 360 Marketplace (marketplace.xbox.com)
Related to this change, the Microsoft Movies & TV app will no longer function on Xbox 360, which means TV and movie content will no longer be viewable on your Xbox 360 after July 29^th, 2024.

VGC has done the math, and estimated that – after taking out the games that will remain available via Backwards Compatibility and those that were pressed to physical disc at one point or another – around 220 Xbox 360 games will be forever “lost” to this shutdown.

Microsoft says multiplayer games will still continue to function as normal, provided the game’s publisher continues to support the online servers, and cloud saves will still work as per normal. There’s more information on the changes in the form of a Q&A below:

Can I still play my Xbox 360 games after July 2024?

Yes, you will still be able to play the games you purchased on Xbox 360. If you purchased the game digitally or have a physical disc, you can still jump in and play. If you’ve deleted a game that you have purchased, but you want to play again, you’ll still be able to re-download it.

What about multiplayer games via the Xbox network? Can I still play with my friends?

Yes. Even after July 2024, you will still be able to play games and connect with friends through multiplayer on the games you purchased, as long as the publisher still supports the online servers. You can still save your games and progress to the cloud, and if you choose to continue any of those available games on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, those cloud saves will transfer over.

Can I still buy and play Xbox 360 backward-compatible titles?

There is no impact to purchasing or playing backward-compatible Xbox 360 titles. After July 29, 2024, you will still be able to purchase hundreds of great backward-compatible Xbox 360 and Original Xbox games and DLC on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox.com. We believe in celebrating gaming’s rich history and have worked hard to preserve as many games as possible through our backward-compatibility program. You can find the full list of backward-compatible titles here.

For those who wish to continue playing Xbox 360 games on Xbox Series X|S, we’ve taken the time to enhance those titles so they look and play better than ever before, while staying true to the original version. You can play those Xbox 360 titles with FPS Boost, Auto HDR, and faster loading times.

How can I continue to stream and download Microsoft Movies & TV content I purchased on Xbox 360?

The Microsoft Movies & TV app is available on Windows devices running Windows 10 or later, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Any content that you’ve purchased from the Xbox 360 Store will remain in your library and be available to view on such devices. In addition, all purchased Movies & TV content eligible for Movies Anywhere can always be streamed and downloaded on the Movies Anywhere app or site.

The post The Xbox 360 Digital Store Is Closing For Good Next Year appeared first on Press Start.

Red Dead Redemption (Switch) Review – Once Upon A Time in the West

Steven Impson — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 08:59:50 +0000

I don’t know how it happened, but I played Red Dead Redemption on Xbox 360 back in the day, got about 90 minutes in and dropped it entirely. I wish I could explain why, but I just don’t know. When the Switch port came along though, I thought it might be an opportunity to give this game another try – I like the Wild West as a setting, it’s got action, politics, human stories and some real depth to explore that I might appreciate more now than I did a decade ago.

After finally playing through Red Dead Redemption in its new Switch version, what I’ve found is a technically-strong port of a game from 2010, with all the baggage that comes from a game that’s now thirteen years old. It’s one I’m glad I finally got around to playing, but that wasn’t without its issues.

Red Dead Redemption drops you right into the declining American frontier of 1911. The Wild West idea is still alive, but is threatened by a looming ‘federal government’ and industrialisation. The feds have asked our protagonist and ex criminal gang member, John Marston, to hunt and kill the gang mates of his past life in exchange for the safety of his wife and child. As John, you’re unleashed onto the expansive open world of America amidst a time of great change, where cars and factories are changing the world.

While the game’s Grand Theft Auto DNA is immediately apparent in the way characters move and the mission-centric structure to its open world – Red Dead’s setting lends it quite a different feel to its modern forebears. The overall play area is fairly vast, being set near what is now the USA-Mexico border and allowing you to explore a pretty sizeable (especially for the time) area full of towns, cities and other locations of interest.

The feel of actually playing Redemption though is the first hint that this ground-breaking game from 2010 is beginning to show its age. Moving John feels rather clunky, he has a certain heft to him that makes small movements feel overly heavy. His animations (and those of pretty much every human in the game) look positively wooden by modern standards. Movement on a horse feels a bit more natural, but when combat is mixed in can become a bit messy. Combat generally is fairly imprecise, though this is helped out massively by the generous auto-aim which is on by default. It’s nothing bad enough to kill my enjoyment of the game, just something to get used to.

Redemption’s story was a little all over the place for me. I quite liked John Marston as a character. He’s ineffably cool in any situation and willing to do what must be done to complete his mission and ensure the safety of his family. The open nature of the story can introduce some real strange dissonance in his character, however. A major part of the story involves two warring factions in Mexico, a group of revolutionaries and a military force they oppose. RDR has John helping them both out – it’s a little bizarre to go from one mission helping the revolutionaries fight their oppressors and build relationships with important people in the revolution, but then the very next mission start murdering the very revolutionaries you were helping a moment ago without the slightest acknowledgement by the game of how utterly strange this is.

The overall arc of the game’s core characters is damned compelling though. The main antagonists especially get a chance to shine as people who made a name for themselves in a world that is rapidly disappearing. Seeing giants of the old west manage their identity through the death throes of the way of life that defined them is a highlight.

I found myself getting pleasantly lost in Redemption’s rendition of the American frontier. It’s an intriguing setting that allows larger-than-life characters to shine and show how they either adapted to a changing world or were left behind by it. Riding across vast deserts, helping people in distress, assaulting gang compounds and just taking in the beautiful environments of America and Mexico was great fun.

Even with this vast environment to explore, I found the Switch port never missed a beat performance-wise. It’s a 30-frames-per-second presentation, but that 30FPS felt solid and consistent throughout, making gameplay pleasantly smooth and responsive as a result. I did encounter occasional bugs that forced me to close and re-open the game to progress, which is disappointing, but a generous auto save meant I never lost too much time.

Conclusion

The Switch port of Red Dead Redemption is a faithful way to get into the world of Red Dead. It looks good as long as you adjust expectations and consider the game’s age, and performs consistently well in both handheld and docked modes. While many aspects will feel dated, I still had a fun time exploring the old west with John during the last gasps of the American frontier.

Positives

American Frontier setting is fun to explore and allows for interesting stories

Varied cast of characters

Performs well on Switch

Negatives

Political commentary is toothless

Edginess of characters might be on the nose for some

Dated controls take some getting used to

7.5

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Lenovo’s PC Gaming Handheld Looks A Lot Like A Switch In Apparent Leaked Images

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 07:00:08 +0000

Update: Windows Report has shared what it claims are images of Lenovo’s apparent entry into the rapidly-growing PC gaming handheld market and, well, it’s definitely got some similarities to another iconic handheld…

The device, which is still reportedly dubbed the Lenovo Legion Go, doesn’t look all too dissimilar from competing devices like the Steam Deck, Ayaneo range or the ASUS Rog Ally, with the one distinction that it features very Nintendo Switch Joy Con-like removable controllers on either side.

It’ll apparently be running Windows 11 on its 8-inch screen, powered by AMD’s new Phoenix chips, but none of that seems as exciting as the potential of those split controllers – it also has a very Switch OLED-style stand built into the back. Of course it’ll be going above and beyond the Switch’s capabilities with AAA PC gaming, and even has a Steam Deck-style touchpad on the right ~~Joy Con~~ controller.

Take a look at a couple more images shared by the outlet:

Image: Windows Report

Original Story:

Windows Central is reporting that Lenovo could be next in line to enter the steadily-swelling handheld PC gaming market with a device apparently called the Legion Go.

The outlet’s sources say it’s a Windows 11 handheld sporting an 8-inch display and AMD’s new Phoenix chips, processors designed to be ultra-thin and focused on gaming, AI, and graphics for ultrabooks. Lenovo reportedly had an Android-based device in the works that it never took to retail, with prototypes having surfaced a few months ago, so this could represent a pivot from that to something more competitive in the space, but even if these reports are true there’s no guarantee this device will see a public release either.

If accurate, the Legion Go will face some stiff competition with all manner of brands entering the fray from the recently-released ASUS Rog Ally to long-time staples like the Ayaneo devices and of course Valve’s Steam Deck. With more devices, and especially more Windows-based devices, it’ll hopefully continue to push Microsoft to better the experience for users of these devices.

EXCLUSIVE: According to our sources, Lenovo is working on a Steam Deck competitor too. ?

Details: https://t.co/NTtTHJIrrO #PCGaming #SteamDeck #Steam #ASUSROGAlly #ROGAlly

— Windows Central Gaming (@WinC_Gaming) July 31, 2023

Lenovo’s closest competition in the space would likely be the ASUS Rog Ally, which launched just under a couple of months ago at $1,299 and sporting the full Windows 11 experience along with impressive specs.

We said in our review of the ROG Ally, “All-in-all, the release of the ASUS ROG Ally feels like a significant step forward in this category. It’s the second major company to join the space, and provides something totally different to that of the Steam Deck. It’ll be exciting to see where this space goes in the coming months and years, and I really hope ASUS continue to tinker with things and improve this device, as I feel like there is so much potential to still be realised, even beyond the fantastic experience that it is whilst gaming.”

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Bargain Guide – RIDE 5

Josh Lack — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 06:30:44 +0000

The cheapest copy of RIDE 5 starting with local retailers and finishing off with digital-only prices. We will update with new & special prices as they come in up until launch day on August 24th.

After the previous release wowed the internet with realistic looking riding back in 2021 we see RIDE 5 hit shelves on Thursday the 24th of August for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC! Day One copies come with some DLC.

MIGHTYAPE HAS THE CHEAPEST SHIPPED COPY AT $79

Physical:

Amazon – $99 with free shipping

JB Hi-Fi – $99

Big W – $104

EB Games – $114.95

Gamesmen – $99.95

Mightyape – $79 plus postage

Digital:

PlayStation Store – $114.95

Xbox Store – $114.95

Steam – $84.95

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Here’s Every Major Gamescom 2023 Showcase And When And Where To Catch Them

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 06:27:36 +0000

It’s Gamescom time again, which means that not only are folks over in Cologne, Germany about to attend one of the world’s biggest and most exciting gaming events but those playing along at home are being treated to a new line-up of showcases packed with game announcements, updates and new trailers.

While the Gamescom schedule isn’t as packed with livestreamed showcases as something like Summer Game Fest, there are still a few to look forward to – led by Geoff Keighley’s big Opening Night Live showcase. While the big GK has already stressed that this year’s show will focus less on new game announcements, it’s still sure to be worth watching, provided you can stomach the early wake-up.

Keep reading for all the local, converted times for Aussies to catch ONL as well as the other confirmed showcases happening next week (we’ll update this if/when more are announced):

WHEN IS GAMESCOM OPENING NIGHT LIVE IN AUSTRALIAN TIME?

Gamescom Opening Night Live is taking place on Wednesday, August 23rd at 4AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

4.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
2.00 AM AWST (Perth)
6.00 AM NZDT (Wellington)

WHERE TO WATCH GAMESCOM OPENING NIGHT LIVE

You can watch Opening Night Live on YouTube HERE or below:

OTHER GAMESCOM 2023 SHOWCASES

Into the Infinite: A Level Infinite Showcase

Level Infinite is bringing its first independent showcase to Gamescom 2023. The show will reveal exclusive updates from Level Infinite and Tencent’s Global Partner Studios, with games like Assassin’s Creed: Codename Jade, GTFO and Wayfinder.

The Into the Infinite: A Level Infinite Showcase is taking place on Thursday, August 24th at 4AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

3.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
2.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
1.00 AM AWST (Perth)
5.00 AM NZDT (Wellington)

Watch it on the official Level Infinite YouTube channel.

Future Games Show: Gamescom Showcase

Hosted by Troy Baker and Erika Ishii, the Future Games Show: Gamescom Showcase will feature over 50 games from publishers and developers such as Frontier Developments, Raw Fury, Thunderful Games, Nacon and Crunching Koalas. The packed show will include world premieres, exclusive trailers, a VR showcase and a ‘Ones to Play’ segment featuring titles with demos available to download and play immediately after the show.

The Future Games Show: Gamescom Showcase is taking place on Thursday, August 24th at 4AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

4.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
2.00 AM AWST (Perth)
6.00 AM NZDT (Wellington)

Watch it on the official FGS YouTube channel.

Team17 Gamescom Livestream

The Team17 Gamescom Livestream is taking place across two days on Wednesday, August 23rd and Thursday, August 24th at 7PM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

7.00 PM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
6.30 PM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
5.00 PM AWST (Perth)
9.00 PM NZDT (Wellington)

Awesome Indies 2023

This year’s exciting Awesome Indies showcase will be hosted by Shay Thompson, journalist and presenter known in the gaming industry for her work with BAFTA and BBC. During the 90-minutes long livestream, viewers will get to see exciting new game announcements, eye-catching trailers and gameplay reveals.

The Awesome Indies 2023 Showcase is taking place on Thursday, August 24th at 4AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

4.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
2.00 AM AWST (Perth)
6.00 AM NZDT (Wellington)

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The Cosmic Horror Firefighting Game Quantum Error Has Secured A PS5 Release Date

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:43:32 +0000

First announced almost exactly three years ago for the PS5 and PS4, the Unreal Engine 5-powered cosmic horror game Quantum Error has finally secured a release date – this time solely on PS5.

Quantum Error thrusts players into the space fireman boots of Capt. Jacob Thomas in a third or first-person sci-fi horror experience where you’ll face dangers both alien and environmental, using the tools of the firefighting trade like extinguishers and jaws of life (or death?) to survive. It looks appropriately spooky and well-rendered using the Unreal Engine 5’s capabilities on PS5, so it should hopefully prove a treat for horror fans.

The game is also planned for an Xbox Series X|S and PC launch, though no date or release window has been set. A few weeks ago we learned that the PS4 version of the game was ultimately canned, with the studio saying “A PS4 version would require too much downgrading and changing of assets, lighting, and much more to function, and with the difference in memory and the slower HDD speed, it would be a very different experience that would not compare to the PS5 version and would not be fair to PS4 players.”

You can check out the Release Date Story Trailer for Quantum Error below, as well as a chunky 20 minutes of gameplay here.

“Experience the mysticism of a cinematic story driven First Person/Third Person shooter game set in the coming of the Quantum Age. Explore and descend deep into the high tech yet esoteric Monad facility and beyond, to interstellar travel, encountering enemies and bosses from the familiar to the inexplicable. Ride a rollercoaster of cosmic horror as you fall deeper and deeper into the unknown.”

Quantum Error is coming exclusively to PS5 on November 3rd. You can wishlist the game on the PlayStation Store right here.

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DC Universe Online Is Coming To PS5 And Xbox Series X

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:20:25 +0000

Daybreak Games has revealed that DC Universe Online, the MMO set in (you guessed it) the DC Universe that’s been running strong since 2011 and somehow still has active players on legacy hardware like the PS3, is making its way to modern platforms this year.

The game is slated to release for both PS5 and Xbox Series X “this holiday season,” although curiously the Xbox Series S isn’t mentioned, and will debut alongside gameplay and quality-of-life improvements for the game. Those playing on current platforms like PS4, PS4, PC, Xbox One or Switch will be able to continue their game on the same servers, with the same characters as before when these new versions arrive.

Here’s what was said in the news post on the game’s official blog:

“DCUO is headed to the latest-generation of consoles with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X this holiday season!

“Along with the performance gains found playing natively on the latest and greatest hardware, the team is also working on gameplay and quality of life improvements to match. This initiative is a long-term endeavor that is already underway. You will see some of these improvements launch over the next few months prior to release on the new consoles, some of them at launch, and some of them following over the course of next year. Stay tuned for a future update with more information.

“Now, you may be wondering what this means for playing DCUO with your friends, and let us assure you right away that whether you choose to move to the latest console or stay on your current one, you will still be playing on the same servers with your same characters and friends, and with all of your purchases and achievements seamlessly intact. All you need to do is log in with the same PSN or Xbox account once you have downloaded the game on your new system.”

Here’s a roadmap outlining the content plans for the game over the coming months:

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Hi-Fi RUSH Has Racked Up An Impressive 3 Million Players

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 05:03:26 +0000

Tango Gameworks and Bethesda have announced that Hi-Fi RUSH, the gorgeous rhythm-action game from the Evil Within studio that surprise-dropped earlier in the year, has officially found its way to three million players since launch.

No doubt helped along by its inclusion in the Game Pass catalogue, but also just down to being a genuinely refreshing and exciting release that gained critical acclaim right away, it’s a huge achievement. The game’s also been nicely supported since launch with added features like a photo mode as well as a major update that released in June with new modes and content for free.

If you’re yet to be counted among those 3 million people who’ve experienced the RUSH, you can grab Hi-Fi RUSH on Xbox Series X|S and PC either upfront or via Xbox Game Pass.

3 million players have turned up to ROCK in #HiFiRush! ? Thank you from everyone at Tango Gameworks! pic.twitter.com/0XXtzAXMv7

— Hi-Fi RUSH (@hifiRush) August 16, 2023

You can learn more about Hi-Fi RUSH’s Arcade Challenge! Update! in the trailer below:

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All The Aussie Times For Gamescom’s Opening Night Live 2023 And Where To Watch

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 04:39:43 +0000

It’s time for another one of Geoff Keighley’s streams, with Gamescom’s Opening Night Live set to kick off live in Cologne, Germany and be beamed across the globe as it happens. Unfortunately for the Aussie audience it’s taking place at 4AM AEST, which is extremely early (or late if you’re brave) but we’ll be up and will have a roundup when you wake up in the morning.

WHEN IS GAMESCOM OPENING NIGHT LIVE IN AUSTRALIAN TIME?

Gamescom Opening Night Live is taking place on Wednesday, August 23rd at 4AM AEST. Here’s how that shakes out around the nation:

4.00 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
2.00 AM AWST (Perth)
6.00 AM NZDT (Wellington)

WHERE TO WATCH GAMESCOM OPENING NIGHT LIVE

You can watch Opening Night Live on YouTube HERE or below:

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM GAMESCOM OPENING NIGHT LIVE

We don’t yet know how long this year’s Opening Night Live showcase is expected to run for, but we do already know that it’ll feature new looks at both Alan Wake 2 and Black Myth: Wukong. We’d also expect to see games that will be on the show floor at Gamescom like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, Sonic Superstars, Like a Dragon Gaiden and maybe even a Nintendo title or two?

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Activision Has Confirmed COD: Modern Warfare 3’s Zombies Mode And Open Combat Missions

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 02:09:21 +0000

Activision has dropped a brand-new blog post with even more juicy info around Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ahead of its full reveal early tomorrow morning and November 10 launch, sharing some exciting details including the return of Zombies, new Operator customisation options, Open Combat campaign missions and more.

Here are the bigger points shared in the blog post:

For the first time ever, a direct sequel in back-to-back years delivering an all new Campaign that marks the return of Makarov.
With Carry Forward, players can continue to enjoy player inventory and weapon progression from last year’s Modern Warfare II into this year’s all-new, Modern Warfare III.
Did someone say Zombies? More information coming soon on the new Modern Warfare® Zombies: The largest Zombies offering to date.
New Open Combat missions in Campaign; new Combat Vests and Perk system for customizing your Multiplayer Operator; new Tac-Stance movement; new After-Market Parts for unparalleled Gunsmith customization and more.
One access point for your future Call of Duty content. Starting with Modern Warfare II and Warzone, and now with Modern Warfare III and beyond, players can navigate all their content in one place, we call it Call of Duty HQ – making it easier to select which game and modes you wish to play.
New additions to Ricochet Anti-Cheat as well as new anti-toxicity plans to continue to deliver a fun, fair and welcoming online experience for all players.
Roadmap of post launch live seasons of additional new content.

Similarly to when Call of Duty: Vanguard was promoted in 2021, the reveal for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is happening inside Call of Duty: Warzone, so if you’re keen to be a part of the action you’ll need to log into Warzone at the right time. The action kicks off at the ripe hour of 3.30AM tomorrow though, so it’s going to take a degree of dedication. Here’s how that shakes out in other local timezones:

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 REVEAL EVENT AUSTRALIAN TIMES

3.30 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.00 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
1.30 AM AWST (Perth)
5.30 AM NZDT (Wellington)

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SEGA’s Hero Shooter HYENAS Is Getting A Closed Beta This Month

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:46:41 +0000

HYENAS, the hero-based multiplayer extraction shooter where players compete to steal pop culture memorabilia (that’s the actual premise) is a game that seemingly keeps dropping off of the radar, but SEGA has announced that it’s bringing it back to Gamescom this year and with the opportunity for the public to get hands-on with the game at the show. It’ll be featured in Hall 8 at the Koelnmesse from August 23rd to 27th.

For everyone not casually showing up to Cologne, Germany next week though, the good news is that the game’s first proper Closed Beta is set to kick off very soon after on August 31st, and will run for a good chunk of time through to September 11th.

The Closed Beta for HYENAS will feature eight playable specialists and one of the game’s massive Plundership maps, Earth Vintage. If you’re keen to check it out, you can register your interest on Steam right here.

SEGA also dropped a fresh new gameplay trailer for the game, which you can check out below:

“HYENAS is a hero-based, multiplayer extraction shooter. Choose a Hyena to play as – each with their own unique weapon, ability, and personality – to form a crew of three and steal valuable Merch. The action takes place on vast, themed ‘Plunderships’ returning to Mars from Earth, loaded with salvaged Merch for you and your crew to steal.

“Competing with four other raiding crews, your goal is to find and crack secured vaults, then steal enough Merch to make your escape. Standing in your way are not only rival players but also the “MURFs” – security forces who will fight to the death to protect the precious cargo.”

HYENAS will be coming to PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Windows and Mac and is available to wishlist now on Steam.

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The First Trailer For The Scott Pilgrim Anime On Netflix Is Here Along With A Release Date

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:28:18 +0000

After being announced earlier in the year, we’ve finally gotten our first proper look at the animated Scott Pilgrim series coming to Netflix thanks to the first proper trailer, which also brings it with the show’s title and release date.

Dubbed Scott Pilgram Takes Off, the series is set to debut on Netflix on November 17th, and once again tells the story of the titular Scott Pilgrim doing battle against the seven evil exes of his new crush, Ramona Flowers. It’s seemingly both an adaptation of the original comics by Bryan Lee O’Malley, who acts as writer and executive producer on the show, as well as the 2010 Edgar Wright film – with the movie’s cast including Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Brie Larson, Kieran Culkin, Aubrey Plaza and more all returning to voice their characters and Wright himself sharing executive producer duties.

The show looks cool as hell, as well, crafted by anime studio Science Saru – which brought us the excellent Devilman Crybaby among other iconic productions. It’s got all the hallmarks of what made the film adaptation great, and the comics, while naturally setting up a killer soundtrack and hyper-energetic visuals.

Check out the Official Teaser for Scott Pilgrim below:

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EA Legit Got The Saddle Club Back Together To Recreate An Episode In The Sims 4

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:25:59 +0000

Here’s one I didn’t expect to wake up to – EA Australia has gone and bloody done it, and they’ve reunited everybody’s favourite horse girlies The Saddle Club for a special video promoting The Sims 4’s new Horse Ranch expansion.

Aussie TikToker, Starr McGowan, gets to live out her childhood dream of being in The Saddle Club by recreating one of the show’s episodes – and brings along the OGs, Lara Jean Marshall, Keenan MacWilliam and Sophie Bennett to reprise their iconic roles (while doing a bang-up job of playing everyone else herself).

It makes the first time in 17 years that the main cast have reunited, which is pretty neat for fans. Check it out below:

“Reuniting with the gang to embark on a nostalgic journey while launching The Sims Horse Ranch was an absolute delight,” the trio said in an accompanying press release. “Bringing to life a scenario with a dedicated fan of The Saddle Club, like Starr McGowan, highlights how the show still brings happiness to people after all these years, which is incredibly heartwarming. Moreover, witnessing the immense creative possibilities within The Sims was awe-inspiring – it genuinely felt like we had entered a simulated Pine Hollow experience.”

“Collaborating with the original cast members for The Saddle Club to celebrate the release of The Sims Horse Ranch has been an actual dream come true” added McGowan. “Seeing Keenan, Sophie and Lara all together again reprising the roles that brought me so much joy as a kid was wild and getting to actually play a scene alongside them was a real pinch me moment. It’s amazing what we’ve been able to achieve using The Sims as an animation tool to bring our little scene to life so I really hope people enjoy the content and find some inspiration about what they can actually create in The Sims with this latest expansion.”

The Sims 4’s Horse Ranch expansion pack is available now, head here to learn more and pick it up if you’re keen to go on your own Saddle Club adventures.

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Here Are All The New Starfield Details From Bethesda’s Huge Q&A

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 00:10:03 +0000

Overnight, Bethesda took to the Starfield community to engage with fans and answer 16 burning questions from Discord users about various aspects of the game and its development. With the game having now gone gold, the studio seems ready to talk about quite a few new things, which is exciting.

There was a lot discussed, but a few key takeaways include the fact that there are over 20 companions for players to recruit and have follow them around, there will be non-lethal weapons and “pacifist” style options available to players although a completely violence-free playthrough is off the table. Players will also be able to buy properties in the main cities, and assign crew members to work for them, and you’ll have to watch your behaviour in settled areas as an Elder Scrolls-like jail system is in place here as well.

Now you could join up to the official Bethesda Discord server, head into the channel where this all took place and dig through the questions and answers or you could keep reading below, where I’ve provided them all for you!

Starfield Bethesda Q&A

Can we buy houses or property in main cities?

Will Shen: Yep! There’s housing in different cities that the player can get. Some you have to purchase and some are rewards for specific quests.

Emil Pagliarulo: Sure can! You can purchase a dwelling in all the major cities in the game. And there’s at least one that you get specifically for completing… something.

If we get the Kids Stuff trait, will our parents be generated based on our characters look or are there standard parents put in place? What benefits might there be?

WS: Our programmers on our new face tech were excited to make a function that could try to match your custom face and then create the two parents. So they are based on what your character looks like, although the specific math involved is a bit beyond me. We had similar tech in our previous games.

EP: Yes, totally. Just as we did in Fallout 3 with your dad, and in Fallout 4 with your son, in Starfield, if you take the Kid Stuff Trait. your parents are based off of you. No spoilers, but I think fans will really appreciate the actors we got to play those roles. And they just get SO into it, it’s awesome. (Oh, and yeah, you can get… stuff)

For those of us who have never played a BGS game and will be starting with Starfield, what information should we know that will make the experience more impactful right from the start? How deep should we go into creating our character’s backstory before we start the game?

EP: Hmmm… Well… We always make our games for fans both old AND new. So you can jump in without ever having played a Bethesda title before.

WS: While we do start you off in the same spot, what happened to you before the game starts is totally up to you and your head canon.

EP: But we like to look at it less as playing a game, and more about living in the universe we created. So settle in, go at your own pace, and pretty soon you’ll learn all the systems and be adventuring through the Settled Systems the way you choose.

WS: There is a Trait and Background system that will let you specify more about yourself, but you can also select an anonymous background and no traits if you want. In terms of if you’ve never played a BGS game before: Try anything! We’re a simulation as well as a roleplaying game, so we try to support the player doing what they want as much as we can.

EP: As for going into a character’s backstory, that’s entirely up to you. I’m all about that head canon. For example, my latest character is a working shlub named Mitch Dombrowski. He’s a husky, good-natured space trucker, and while he’ll do whatever he needs to defend himself, he’ll never shoot first. He’s like Han Solo’s sweeter older brother. And yes, there are Traits and Backgrounds that support that kind of thing.

How will the smuggling cargo system work? Can we hide it somewhere on the ship and sell it for more currency later?

WS: Certain items are considered “Contraband” and you’ll need to smuggle them past security ships that are in orbit of major settlements.

EP: There are specific items that are considered Contraband, meaning they’re pretty much illegal everywhere. And yes, you can hide them using special ship modules you can purchase. So, you know, don’t get caught with those harvested organs. The economy is fixed, but prices of bought and sold good can change based on the Skills you choose.

Follow-up Question: Are there any particular items that have backstory? Like skooma for instance.

EP: There are items with backstories, yeah. But can’t be specific.

Will there be a jail system if we committed crimes?

WS: Yes, you can elect to go to jail or pay a fine when you’re arrested (or even resist arrest and try to escape).

EP: Yup. The Settled Systems is more like Skyrim than Fallout 4’s Commonwealth in that regard. Ya bancha criminals! There’s civilization, there’s government, and there are laws. And in a couple cases, we actually explore the themes of crime and punishment in our futuristic universe.

Will time pass when not in the game? For example, will my trade routes, outposts, and mining operations continue to produce or does that only occur while actively playing?

WS: The sim only runs when you’re actively playing. No sleeping on the job!

EP: Only when actively playing.

Can you be a double agent in the game? For example, if you join the United Colonies, can you also join the Crimson Fleet and give the United Colonies information? And what factions have that feature if they do?

WS: All of the playable factions can be completed independently.

EP: Ha! That is exactly what you can do – infiltrate the Crimson Fleet for UC SysDef! It’s specific to that questline.

WS: The Crimson Fleet storyline does feature you being an undercover agent inside the Fleet on behalf of UC SysDef (a specific military branch of the United Colonies), but whether you betray the Fleet or UC SysDef is a choice you will get to make.

EP: In the studio, I have been (half-jokingly) accused of referencing movies that some folks have never seen, because I’m old. So with this particular plotline, the inspiration was very much the movie Donnie Brasco, which is the true story of an FBI agent who infiltrates the mafia. HOW FAR WILL YOU GO?!

Depending on traits selected during character creation, will it at all be possible to play through the game in a ‘pacifist mode’, i.e. without killing anyone, or even potentially, anything?

WS: I can’t guarantee every mission can be completed in pacifist mode, but we do have a couple of systems that will help.

EP: So, we talked about this very early on during pre-production, whether or not we would fully support a “non-lethal” playthrough. We realized that, for various reasons, that wasn’t totally feasible.

WS: One system is our Speech Challenge game, where you can persuade someone to do something like not fight you.

EP: Now, that being said, there are some good non-lethal options, whether through dialogue or by using a non-lethal weapon. Those can be used in certain situations, honestly a lot of situations, though I couldn’t comfortably say you can complete the entire game without any killing whatsoever.

The Settled Systems is mostly civilized, but it can be a dangerous place if you’re going off the beaten path. And you’re absolutely going off the beaten path!

WS: The speech challenge game is added in specific scripted moments, and we try to add one in to most quests where important characters confront you.

What are the beliefs and basic history of the religions we can join (Sanctum Universum, Enlightened, Great Serpent)?

EP: Okay, so this one…

WS: Yeah

EP: Existing, IRL religions are part of the Starfield universe, (with folks of all religions and denominations out there) but we don’t really focus on them. Instead, we highlight three new ones specific to the game.

WS: The Sanctum Universum is only a couple decades old in our timeline, but has gained a lot of prominence. They believe that God is out there, somewhere in the universe, and that humanity’s ability to travel the stars brings us closer to God.

EP: Sanctum Universum – The members, called “Universals,” believe that God very much exists somewhere in the universe. That a higher power is guiding us all. Specifically, they believe that humanity’s ability to travel the universe and grav jump is God’s way of saying, “I’m out here. Come find me.”

WS: The Enlightened are an atheist group that focus on humanitarian and community work. They believe that life is something every person has to take responsibility for, so that if we want the world to be a better place, we have to do it.

EP: The Enlightened – These folks are essentially organized atheists. They don’t believe in any kind of higher power. Rather, they teach that human beings have to take care of each other, and they practice what they preach through various community outreach programs. House Va’ruun – Ho boy. So, in the game, you’re not really sure what the complete truth is, but…

The gossip among the guards is this: a colony ship sets off for a new world, making grav jumps along the way. After one of the grav jumps, one of the passengers claims he spent that time communing with a celestial entity known as the Great Serpent. What was a few seconds for everyone else was… much longer for him. And he brought back a mandate, which is basically, “get onboard, or be devoured when the Great Serpent encircles the universe.”

Is it true?? I ain’t sayin’. So in the game, you sometimes face off against House Va’ruun Zealots (as an enemy group), and that’s their motivation. I recently got the House Va’runn logo tattooed on my wrist. So yeah, I dig them.

How many companions total will we be able to recruit?

WS: There are over 20 named characters who can join your crew.

EP: Over 20 total, and we really focused on the members of Constellation. What Will said. lol

WS: Four of them are from Constellation and have the most story and interaction with the player, but all of the named characters have their own backgrounds and can follow you around (and carry your stuff).

EP: When we first began Starfield pre-production, we looked back at our previous games, and realized how popular and effective the companions were. So they were a big priority for us, and we really wanted to tie them directly to the main quest. There are some really big moments with them specifically.

I should also mention that our companion voice cast is amazing. We haven’t released the list yet, but you can be sure there are a lot of talented actors bringing those characters to life. (Same for Constellation in general)

Follow-up Question: Also Will companions be able to walk along side us while exploring planet surfaces or will they always stay at the ship?

WS: You can ask a crew member to follow you around. They’ll stay at your side like our previous games.

When we assign crew members to work at outposts, do we have to pay them salaries?

EP: You just pay them once. We actually experimented with paying them regular salaries, but ultimately decided to just have the one cost up front.

WS:Yep. One time payment (that you can use the speech challenge game to negotiate over. Some traits also affect the cost)

EP: There’s a lot to do in Starfield, and we wanted to minimize what the player had to constantly keep track of.

Will our companions be able to level up their perks? Will their perks stack with ours?

WS: All crew start with a set of skills at specific ranks.

EP: They don’t level up, but they come at different ranks, depending on the companion.

WS: So you might meet a character that’s especially good at rifles, and you hire them to watch your back. Or you might meet an Astrodynamics expert that will increase your grav jump range when assigned to your ship.

EP: Well, we call them Skills in Starfield. And they do stack with yours, when relevant. Some are there for flavor, to highlight the companions’ backgrounds and interests. But you’ll really feel the benefit of the ship- and combat-related ones. Getting a boost to your shields, or seeing your companion laying down fire with a weapon they’re proficient in, are pretty sweet moments.

What are your favorite parts of the game?

EP: Shipping it! But seriously, folks.

WS: I love finding content that I haven’t seen yet or forgot about. Our games are so big that no one person is likely to have seen it all, even after all our passes and levels of review.

EP: Because of my position, my experience is a little different than yours. I won’t speak for Will, but personally, I’ve seen every questline, every city, every major piece of content in the game at every stage of development. So my answer is colored by that.

For me, the real pleasure is seeing how they’ve all evolved into the versions they are today – the versions everyone here will play. I have a real soft spot for Neon. Getting that city nailed down took a lot of work by a lot of different people, and the result is, really, the cyberpunk settlement I always hoped it would be. I also love all the questlines. I think they’re the best we’ve ever done. The designers on this project totally killed it.

WS: Our quests really evolve over development and its great to see how everyone adds to them (designers, animators, voice actors, lighting, everything).

What books or movies had a big influence on some of the quests?

WS: I’m a history nerd, so I actually listen to a lot of podcasts like Hardcore History and The History of Rome.

EP: Well, I’m a child of the late 70s-early 80s, and I have very fond memories of the sci-fi of that time. So, let me think…

WS: While our game is science fiction, I like how historians can tell you about how human beings react to extreme circumstances (like war, famine, and technological breakthroughs), and you can imagine how we’d react to similar circumstances in a fictional setting (just at a grander scale).

EP: Star Wars, OG Battlestar Galactica, Space: 1999, Buck Rogers, Battle Beyond the Stars, Ice Pirates… and let’s not forget the classic that is Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jaryd Syn. I think I actually saw that one in 3D. But also much “headier” sci-fi stuff, like the writings of Arthur C. Clarke and Robert Heinlein, or films like Contact, Interstellar, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and even Event Horizon.

In all of those examples, you realize that outer space is two things: 1.) A source of mystery and wonder, sometimes terror AND 2.) A giant blank page on which you can write any story. And we have written a lot of VERY different stories in Starfield.

What are some favorite small details in Starfield to add to the immersion?

EP: I think what I really love is that, although humans are living in space, and our aesthetic is very much “NASApunk,” this is a very lived-in universe. And you can see it everywhere.

WS: I look really closely at all our outfits. You can see seems, materials, especially on the spacesuits (Constellation members have patches on their spacesuits and they’re tied to what skills they have).

EP: You know, everyone loves the sandwiches. But it’s the books that are lying around, the notes on bulletin boards, the environmental storytelling that our level designers and world artists are so good at.

WS: We also love buttons. There’s a lot of buttons.

EP: Totally love the work from our voice actors, too. And the music. And sound effects. And clothes. Buttons! We do love our buttons. Oh, I do want to mention this, if you haven’t heard about it. Adam Savage and team are building a filming model of the Frontier:

And that ship, man. And all the ships – the level of detail is insane.

What is the history of the mechs?

EP: Oooooo the mechs. Good one. So, we showed this a bit in one of the animated shorts. The mechs are leftovers from the Colony Wars. (Note it’s Colony War and not Colony Wars. Singular). Both sides, United Colonies and Freestar Collective, had mechs. But the Freestar Collective really mastered them. The United Colonies had mechs, too, but they also relied on the controlled alien beasts from their Xenowarfare division. Both of those were outlawed with the Armistice that ended the Colony War.

I’m not saying there’s an old mech battleground in the game. I’m typing it.

The post Here Are All The New Starfield Details From Bethesda’s Huge Q&A appeared first on Press Start.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge’s DLC Expansion Has A Release Date

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:36:34 +0000

Update: Dotemu has finally revealed when fans can get their hands on the huge DLC expansion for the excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, and it’s soon!

The Dimension Shellshock DLC, which adds two new fighters in Karai and Miyamoto Usagi along with a dimension-jumping new Survival game mode, new music from Tee Lopes and extra colour schemes for the game’s playable cast, is set to launch on August 31st.

A new trailer has also dropped, showing off more of the Dimension Shellshock expansion:

Original Story: Dotemu and Tribute Games have announced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock, a brand-new DLC expansion to 2022’s excellent retro brawler.

Although details including a release date are still scarce, Dimension Shellshock will reportedly feature an all-new game mode, new character colour palettes, new music tracks from Tee Lopes and new playable characters – one of which has been revealed to be the iconic samurai rabbit, Usagi Yojimbo.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock will be coming to all of the game’s original platforms including PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC at a to-be-confirmed date. We gave the base game a stunning 9/10 in our original review, saying “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is the gaming revamp equivalent of the time Donatello took a perfectly good Volkswagen bus and upcycled it into the high-tech, tubular AF Turtle Van. Hitch a ride, dudes.”

Check out the debut trailer below and wishlist the DLC on Steam here.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge unveils a brand new Dimension Shellshock DLC, coming later this year to Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, as well as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S via backward compatibility.

In addition to a new game mode and character colors, Dimension Shellshock brings new playable fighters, including the razor-sharp Usagi Yojimbo. The steely rabbit samurai is ready to hop across dimensions to fight evil and witness a new style of otherworldly battles awaiting the Turtles!

The post Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge’s DLC Expansion Has A Release Date appeared first on Press Start.

Here’s When Baldur’s Gate 3 Preload And Early Access Starts For Aussie PS5 Players

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:27:13 +0000

Developer Larian Studios has revealed the exact dates and times that PlayStation 5 owners will be able to start pre-loading one of this year’s most celebrated ~~bear romancing simulators~~ RPGs, the one and only Baldur’s Gate 3.

The game will be releasing across two separate dates, depending on whether players are picking up the standard flavour of the game or the Digital Deluxe Edition, with the latter going live a full four days early. Thankfully, the studio has shared the exact times we can expect to see the game drop, so we can convert those to the Aussie equivalent and start practicing our best “I’m just don’t feeling great, y’know?” lines for the inevitable call to work:

Baldur’s Gate 3 PS5 Australian Release Times

The times below apply to September 3rd for Digital Deluxe Edition owners and September 7th for standard owners.

2 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
1.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
12 AM AWST (Perth)
4 AM NZDT (Wellington)

Along with release timing, Larian also shared the dates and times that players on PS5 who’ve pre-ordered the game digitally will be able to begin pre-loading it – it’s a big game, so anyone hoping to get stuck in as early as possible should definitely be thinking about pre-loading the game:

Baldur’s Gate 3 PS5 Australian Preload Times

The times below apply to September 1st for Digital Deluxe Edition pre-orders and September 5th for standard pre-orders.

2 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
1.30 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
12 AM AWST (Perth)
4 AM NZDT (Wellington)

PS5 players, prepare for adventure.

Pre-loads for @baldursgate3 begin August 31st for Digital Deluxe Edition owners.

Not Pre-Ordered? There's still time: https://t.co/XPEHAxzByn pic.twitter.com/AjP4ccotFN

— Larian Studios (@larianstudios) August 16, 2023

We’ve been enjoying Baldur’s Gate 3 and are working away at a review, but you can already read all about our chaotic exploits with the game’s excellent co-op functionality right here.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is out right now on PC, with PS5 release is set to launch on September 3rd/September 7th, both with online co-op for up to four players along with two player local co-op.

The post Here’s When Baldur’s Gate 3 Preload And Early Access Starts For Aussie PS5 Players appeared first on Press Start.

Starfield Has Officially Gone Gold And Preload Begins Today

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:04:20 +0000

Bethesda has announced that after many years of development and multiple delays, Starfield has officially gone “gold,” meaning that the game is content-complete and finally ready for the public to play pending any last-minute issues or bugs squashed between now and the inevitable launch-day update/s.

It also means that preload for the game can finally begin, at least on certain platforms. Bethesda says that’ll be available starting today, August 17th on Xbox Series X|S and Windows – though adjusting for timezones that’s likely very late today or possibly tomorrow for Aussies – while those picking the game up through Steam will have to wait until the day before early access starts on August 30th.

Preload will be important too, given the game is going to be at least 125GB in size.

Prepare for launch.#Starfield has gone gold! Preloads begin tomorrow for @Xbox X|S and Windows PC and August 30 for Steam. pic.twitter.com/LC8xJnI8WN

— Bethesda Game Studios (@BethesdaStudios) August 16, 2023

STARFIELD PRE-ORDERS

Physical

Digital

The post Starfield Has Officially Gone Gold And Preload Begins Today appeared first on Press Start.

COD: Modern Warfare 3’s Reveal Event Is Tomorrow So Here’s How And When To Take Part

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 22:00:09 +0000

Activision is gearing up for a big reveal event for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, this year’s entry and direct sequel that was officially unveiled last week. Although we’ve already been given the game’s release date of November 10 and had confirmation that it will indeed be a full-priced premium release this year, there’s still a heap left to learn at tomorrow’s event.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Reveal Event Australian Times

3.30 AM AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
3.00 AM ACST (Adelaide, Darwin)
1.30 AM AWST (Perth)
5.30 AM NZDT (Wellington)

Otherwise, we’ll no doubt have all the news ready to go for you later on in the morning.

It was also revealed that those taking part in the Modern Warfare 3 reveal event will be able to unlock a set of in-game rewards in Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone (which should also carry over into MW3) including the AR M13C weapon, a new charm, emblem, vehicle skin and more.

Gear up for Shadow Siege, Operators ?

Take part in the Modern Warfare III Reveal Event on August 17 at 10:30 AM PST and earn special rewards for your contributions to the battle in Al Mazrah #MW3

? Call of Duty: Warzone pic.twitter.com/mrxswGxQJu

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) August 15, 2023

From the official Call of Duty blog:

Assemble a four-person fireteam and be ready to drop into Call of Duty: Warzone starting at 3:30 AM AEST on Friday, August 18. Double XP begins at this time, shortly before the commencement of the Shadow Siege Limited Time Event, scheduled to begin at 3:30 AM AEST. The exact operation is shrouded in secrecy, but intel interceptions from Commander Phillip Graves seem to indicate the battle you should prepare for:

“This is an airborne to ground assault of the Konni-occupied Zaya Observatory.”

— Commander Phillip Graves, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

The post COD: Modern Warfare 3’s Reveal Event Is Tomorrow So Here’s How And When To Take Part appeared first on Press Start.

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood Review – Fresh From The Coven

Brodie Gibbons — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 15:59:08 +0000

Along with their ability to earnestly tackle grave subject matter, one thing that has always grabbed me about the catalogue from Deconstructeam is how concise, to-the-point, and economical they are in telling their stories. Although they might dance about to fill in the periphery of the main conflict, the way they’re effectively one-act stage plays grabs my attention. The Red Strings Clubs had its eponymous bar, the thrilling Gods Will Be Watching served a number of one-scene scenarios, and their latest title, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is set almost entirely upon an asteroid in the lonesome void of space.

This isn’t a sisterhood of the travelling pants variety, what we’re presented in The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a witches’ coven on the verge of a leadership spill. You play as Fortuna, who has been relieved of her Tarot deck and condemned to the outer reaches of space for millennia. Early in the piece, and restless from serving a couple of centuries of her sentence, Fortuna breaks Magical Law to summon Abramar, an all-powerful Behemoth, to her beck and call. And like a spoiled brat, inconsiderate of the cost, she signs a pact with the Behemoth and is granted the faculties to craft a deck of her own and peer behind fate’s curtain once more.

It wouldn’t be a Deconstructeam game if it didn’t have something to say, and Cosmic Wheel’s big themes include identity, living with a community, and, of course, the destructive results that trail in the wake of those irresponsible with their power. Framing all of that within the context of a witches’ coven makes for an ingenious premise that I couldn’t get enough of. Further to that, as witches are inherently women the cast is refreshingly made up almost entirely of strong, literally powerful, women even if a few take unconventional, mythical forms like the deer folk and the coven’s eldest who is an actual tree.

I always love how hands-on and personal the game mechanics feel in a Deconstructeam title. They never for a second feel at odds with the often-deeply private conversations that serve as the foundation for the game’s narrative and core loop. In fact, it’s often specifically entwined.

This time, instead of mixing drinks and hand-moulding implants out of genetic clay, you’re crafting, card-by-card, a new divination deck. By combining a number of pre-designed elements like backgrounds and arcana, you can create some truly unique designs that can bring on feelings of confrontation, confoundment, and all things in between. The game will spit out a charming title for your card along with a vague horoscope that stitches together the elements used to create something that feels forbidden and yours. Each of the pieces has a cost attached that, when placed, will draw from the four elements of magic held close in your grimoire: air, water, fire, and earth.

Although time becomes another “currency” you spend in the game’s last act, think of your grimoire as your magical bank balance. You can withdraw from the power source to devise new cards, and make deposits through readings with the many visitors that darken your door. Eventually, as you grow more powerful and are gifted more ominous arcana, you’ll be able to dispel old cards at your cauldron. Think of this function as a respec that returns all spent points back to your kitty, which I think is great because you’re never stifled by a lack of resources to hop in and create a new card.

Creating a deck is just one part of the puzzle, it’s ultimately worthless without susceptible folk to give hope to. Fortunately, Abramar’s pact grants visitor privileges to Fortuna to soften the remaining cycles of exile she faces and, as such, serves her with a lot of opportunities to practice her art. Old friends, arbiters, and familiar faces from Fortuna’s pre-ascension years, all witches alike, interchangeably cross the cosmos to visit your little pit stop to talk shop and get a glimpse at the future that awaits them.

Like is so often the case, the conversations feel like the centerpiece of the experience. They’re really esoteric exchanges that lean full-weighted on philosophical ponderings about big concepts like defining the self, power abuse, Spider-Man’s great ethos about responsibility that’s even referenced tongue-in-cheek in-game, and, in the last act especially, communal politics.

It was hard not to adore the insightful dialogue and writing in Cosmic Wheel, it’s brilliant and clever and never misses its mark with the message it’s hammering home. During the last act, as the pre-election campaigning to replace the coven’s figurehead rages on, all of the chatter is framed with the limits of a ticking clock that corners the player into a brief bout of time management that feels like an odd departure compared to the rest of the game’s chill pace.

For a narrative reason I won’t spoil, the implied stress of managing these resources is kind of artificial which does undercut the intended tension. It feels like a cut scene from Gods Will Be Watching, which does all of the things the last act tries to do but better.

Of all the interpretations we’ve had of witches in popular culture, I do wholeheartedly think The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood’s take is the most quirky and special I’ve perhaps ever seen. They don’t entirely do away with the pointy hats and bubbling cauldron, but having the story be a centuries-spanning tale told largely aboard an asteroid roving against a star-speckled backdrop felt note-perfect and grand in a way most supernatural stories don’t.

I’m certainly glad the team didn’t do away with their signature art style for this game. In fact, keen-eyed players will notice several nods to the team’s back catalogue whether it’s the Red Strings Club itself or the elderly gardener from Essays on Empathy. While the cards we’re able to make in-game feel like they’re limitless in terms of creative potential, it’s impressive that the game’s established universe can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with just about anything I could conjure up.

More than any of Deconstructeam’s other titles, I feel as though lore is packed into, and realised through beautiful pixel art, every inch of space here and it’s a story simply bursting with originality.

Conclusion

In a market with so many deck-building games, leave it to Deconstructeam to turn the paradigm upright and create a card-builder, a brilliant outlet for player expression. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a stimulating crash course in coven politics of all kinds: identity, community, and straight up politics-politics.

Positives

Card creation is a wonderful outlet for player expression

A sharply written story with strong themes

Astonishingly beautiful setting and art

Negatives

Pacing of the final act falls kind of flat

8.5

The post The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood Review – Fresh From The Coven appeared first on Press Start.

Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed PS5 Wireless Earbuds Review – Pure Comfort

Shannon Grixti — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 09:12:38 +0000

I’m a big earbuds wearer in my everyday life, taking a pair of AirPod Pro 2 with me everywhere I go, but for obvious reasons, in the gaming world, I’d often stuck to bulky over-ear headphones. Ahead of Sony’s official wireless earbuds dropping later this year, Razer has dropped officially licensed PlayStation earbuds in the Hammerhead Hyperspeed earbuds that do a pretty fine job.

As far as connectivity goes, the earbuds connect to the PS5 via a USB-C dongle that means that latency is actually quite good when gaming. They can also simultaneously connect to a mobile device via Bluetooth which is great for taking calls or watching TikToks whilst gaming, but also great as it means you can take them out of the house to use for everyday life.

From a comfort level, they’re a little bit bigger than most in-ear earbuds, but they’re light and fit nicely with a range of tips included in the box.

You can’t have a premium audio experience without active noise cancelling and the Hammerhead Hyperspeed earbuds have both active noise cancelling with the ability to also use a transparency mode to let audio in at a heightened rate. It’s not the best noise cancelling that I’ve experienced, but it does a decent job due to the good fit of the earbuds.

BUY IT FROM: RAZER FOR $285.95

Similarly, there’s dual noise cancelling microphones, which again, are pretty serviceable but not the best that you’ll find in a gaming headset, but you’re choosing comfort over having the best of the best.

The audio quality is pretty fantastic with a wide soundstage and decent bass listening to a range of games and music, I was pretty happy with the audio coming through the buds, but my only minor criticism being it was maybe on the softer side.

What I really love about Razer products is that they have great app connectivity, and the Hammerhead is no exception. You can connect to an app on your phone to quickly swap between ANC modes, change EQ settings and also a range of other settings and function on the fly.

This is especially useful in this case, as the controls on the Hammerhead aren’t the most intuitive and often a little hard to use, but this becomes a non-issue with the app being connected with Bluetooth.

It wouldn’t be a Razer product without RGB, and the Hammerhead earbuds both have the signature Razer logo with fully customisable RGB, which is a little over the top, but there if you want it.

@shannongrixti

The first wireless PS5 earbuds have arrived in the Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed earbuds #PS5 #PlayStation5 #PlayStation #Headphones #Earbuds #Razer

? original sound – Shannon Grixti | Gaming & Tech

You can expect to get roughly 5-6 hours of charge with each earbud, and an additional 30 or so hours with the case, which makes for fairly long gaming sessions. Obviously, you can just put one of them back in the case to charge whilst gaming with the other as well.

Really, at $270, if you’re looking for a comfortable wireless earbuds experience, I recommend the Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed earbuds, at least until we have more information about Sony’s official wireless earbuds.

Conclusion

The Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed are a great set of wireless earbuds for your PS5. They're comfortable, offer dual connectivity and premium features such as active noise cancelling.

Positives

Super Comfortable

ANC Is A Much Welcomed Addition

Dual Connectivity

Great App Integration

Negatives

Controls Are A Little Bit Finicky

Buy It From

Razer

The post Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed PS5 Wireless Earbuds Review – Pure Comfort appeared first on Press Start.

The PlayStation Store’s Big August Sale Has Arrived

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 06:19:16 +0000

It’s been a hot minute since we’ve had a refreshed PlayStation Store sale, with the big Winter promo taking up a lot of room. That’s set to wrap up now though, and in its place comes a brand-new and extensive list of digital discounts to check out.

The full sale page is now live on the PlayStation Store, so you can browse the full thing right here if you’re keen to look through nearly 2000 items on sale, but we’ve also picked out a few of the better-looking deals which you can check out below.

And don’t forget! Amazon Australia now sells PlayStation Store gift cards which are instantly added to your Amazon Games Library, so you could save more money on top if you’ve got any relevant promo codes or Amazon credit, and you can also use alternate payment methods like Zip. Grab them here.

PlayStation Store August Deals Sale

Note that, as usual, some of these titles may be even cheaper for PlayStation Plus subscribers, and some may be included in the PlayStation Plus Extra or Deluxe game catalogues. The below prices all end on end August 31st at 8:59 AM AEST.

Deals On Banger* Games

Deluxe Edition And Bundle Deals

PlayStation VR2 Game Deals

The post The PlayStation Store’s Big August Sale Has Arrived appeared first on Press Start.

This Year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live Will Focus Less On New Game Announcements

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 05:21:46 +0000

Gamescom is nearly upon us, with just a week until things kick off in earnest. As is tradition, known man Geoff Keighley will be taking to the stage to share a news and new trailers for a bunch of games under the banner of Opening Night Live. It’s always an exciting look into the future and if you’re lucky enough to be present at Gamescom a night worth showing up to. For everyone else, of course, you can expect to catch all of the action streamed across the globe as it happens.

What you maybe shouldn’t expect though, is much in the way of brand-new game announcements at this year’s event. Ol’ Geoffrey loves a “World Premiere” almost as much as he loves holding a microphone, but in a chat with VGC about Opening Night Live 2023 he was quick to temper folks’ excitement for fresh reveals.

“It’s going to be an exciting show with new looks at many announced upcoming games like Alan Wake 2, and Black Myth: Wukong,” Keighley told the outlet. “This year’s ONL is less about announcing brand new projects, and more about giving fans updates on some of the biggest games due out over the next year.”

Just over one week until we are live in Germany for @gamescom Opening Night Live on Tuesday, August 22.

Thousands of fans, lots of games — it's going to be a fun night! pic.twitter.com/mSmIMZa5aM

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) August 13, 2023

Keighley cited the challenge of producing a show in Germany – the only European event his team is responsible for – as well as the synergy needed between ONL features and the games and teams actually present on the show floor for Gamescom as some of the reasons why this particular showcase is a unique challenge versus something like Summer Game Fest or The Game Awards.

The appearance of Black Myth: Wukong is certainly going to excite anyone who’s been holding out for more information on the action RPG from Chinese indie developer Game Science. The game was announced back in 2020 but new looks have been sporadic, and the game’s release window has been pushed back from 2023 to 2024 – though it’s also been the subject of scrutiny after remarks from the Game Science’s CEO and evidence of the studio’s work culture caused Chinese players and internet users to push back on a male-dominated gaming culture in the country.

The post This Year’s Gamescom Opening Night Live Will Focus Less On New Game Announcements appeared first on Press Start.

Has Baldur’s Gate 3 Set Too High A Standard – The Press Start Podcast

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 03:53:22 +0000

The Press Start team debates whether or not Baldur’s Gate 3 should be treated as the new benchmark for RPGs, discusses the alleged video leak of a new PS5 model, assesses the official announcement of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, and tries to understand why the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) is a full-price release despite being initially intended as an expansion.

Listen on LiSTNR
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Omny

You can also watch the video version of the podcast below:

00:00 – Intro
00:33 – Has Baldur’s Gate 3 Set Too High A Standard?
12:59 – New PS5 Model?
19:56 – TMNT: The Last Ronin
24:39 – What’s Wrong With The New Call Of Duty?
37:13 – Will You Play Assassin’s Creed Mirage?
41:35 – What The Wiki?!
53:17 – Outro

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Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Will Let Players Slow Gameplay All The Way Down To 30% Speed

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 03:01:27 +0000

According to a new update found on the official PlayStation website (shared by Insider Gaming) for the upcoming Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, developer Insomniac is (unsurprisingly) focused on further improving its efforts towards accessibility and approachability in the highly-anticipated sequel, which includes one of the best features from its last game – Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

In Spider-Man 2, players will have the ability to slow down gameplay to speeds of 70%, 50% and even 30% of the standard, making it easier for players who struggle with the reaction speeds and/or dexterity required to tackle things like traversal and combat. In Insomniac’s own Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart this could be mapped to a quick button press, making it simple to dip in and out of slow motion as needed without having to fiddle with settings, so hopefully this remains true for its implementation in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.

This is the brief amount of information that the game’s website listing had to offer regarding the improvements being made in player access and comfort:

Building on the accessibility improvements in previous titles, these features allow the game to be enjoyed by more players of different abilities:

Audio: screen reader support will read aloud all on-screen text in menus.
Captions: on-screen captions and audio descriptions are available for cinematic scenes.
Gameplay: you can choose to slow down the action to 70%, 50%, or 30% of the full speed; switching back to regular speed at any time.

Insomniac is yet to fully reveal the entire suite of settings that will be available, but presumably it’ll be as extensive and considered as previous games and most of the PlayStation first-party stable. We’re just about two months out from release now, so more information should definitely start to come trickling through over the next weeks.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 releases exclusively for PS5 on October 20, 2023. Amazon has pre-orders for $99 with free shipping.

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These Starfield-Themed Seagate Game Drives Are Out Of This World

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 01:56:03 +0000

Seagate has revealed a new range of officially-licensed Starfield Game Drives and Game Hubs, designed for Xbox and Bethesda-approved.

Featuring exclusive an art wrap that commemorates Starfield and its striking visual identity and Constellation iconography, along with the requisite customisable RGB lighting to match, these drives are not only a great way to make room on your PC or your Xbox Series X/S console’s internal storage to make room for Bethesda’s upcoming RPG epic (at a cool 125GB install size, you’re going to need it), but they also just look super schmick.

There’ll be a Starfield Game Drive in both a 2TB and 5TB capacity, along with a Game Hub in an enormous 8TB capacity available, with pre-orders kicking off on August 18th in Australia and wider availability at local retailers starting September 6th – the same day that the game itself launches. Here’s what you can expect to pay for each:

Seagate Starfield Special Edition Game Drive for Xbox 2TB – $179
Seagate Starfield Special Edition Game Drive for Xbox 5TB – $309
Seagate Starfield Special Edition Game Hub for Xbox 8TB – $419

These drives join the likes of other Starfield-themed goodies for fans to collect, like the Starfield Limited Edition Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller and Starfield Limited Edition Xbox Series X/S Wireless Headset.

STARFIELD PRE-ORDERS

Physical

Digital

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WD’s Cheaper Xbox Series X|S Expansion Card Is Finally Available

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 01:34:49 +0000

Update: The WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox is available now in local stores, starting with JB Hi-Fi as well as Amazon via international delivery.

The 1TB Expansion Card retails for $289, which is a match for the Seagate alternative (depending on where you shop) even after Seagate has been reducing the prices on their previously-exclusive expansion card since it launched.

You can pick one up at JB Hi-Fi now for $289, or grab it even cheaper from Amazon at $251 with free shipping.

Original Story: Xbox Series X|S owners finally have at least one alternative option when it comes to expanding the high-speed storage on their consoles, with WD officially joining the fray with its new WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox – confirming a leak from back in April.

The new card comes in a 500GB or 1TB capacity, and retails for $79.99 USD (approximately $120 AUD) or $289 AUD, respectively. With the previously-exclusive Seagate option becoming much cheaper recently, it looks like the introduction of new options is finally driving the exorbitant prices of added Xbox Series X|S storage down.

These drives have launched in the US and UK but don’t seem to have any local availability yet, but we’ll certainly be keeping an eye on it,

It's finally here – Introducing the WD_BLACK C50 Expansion Card for Xbox. Get it now at https://t.co/tVTUKwzGSF pic.twitter.com/LbgyXnnzNk

— WD_BLACK (@wd_black) June 6, 2023

Those interested in picking up extra storage for their console now can grab the 1TB Seagate Expansion Card for Xbox for around $250 on Amazon, which is still a lot better of a deal than the launch pricing.

By comparison, storage prices for PlayStation 5 owners are coming down every day thanks to the PS5’s non-proprietary M.2 SSD slot, which lets users buy any compatible Gen 4 NVMe that has an appropriate heatsink and slot it into the console’s internals.

Right now, the PS5-compatible Samsung 980 Pro SSD is going for only $250 for a 2TB capacity.

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The Batman Arkham Trilogy For Nintendo Switch Has A Release Date

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:37:46 +0000

One of the more surprising announcements at the recent Nintendo Direct in June was the reveal that the Batman: Arkham Trilogy would be making its way to Nintendo Switch, bringing the triple-threat of Arkham Asylum, Arkham City and Arkham Knight to the little handheld that could – each for the first time ever.

The trilogy, which comes bundled with all of the previously-released DLC, is set to launch on October 13th. At the time of writing the package still isn’t listed on the Nintendo Switch eShop, so pricing details are still scarce.

It’ll definitely be interesting to see how these games hold up on the Switch, with Arkham Asylum and Arkham City originating a couple of generations ago but Batman: Arkham Knight remaining a visually-impressive title that launched on PS4 and Xbox One. The port effort is being handled by LA’s Turn Me Up Games, who also worked on the Switch versions of It Takes Two, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 and Borderlands: Legendary Collection – all of which similarly run on versions of the Unreal Engine.

Here’s the trailer for the Batman: Arkham Trilogy revealed during the June Nintendo Direct:

“Become Gotham City’s ultimate protector across the iconic Batman: Arkham Trilogy.

“Face off against notorious DC Super-Villains: The Joker, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, and more in Batman: Arkham Asylum. Step into the shadows of Batman: Arkham City’s open world, the new maximum security “home” for thugs, gangsters, and insane criminal masterminds. In Batman: Arkham Knight, tear through the streets of Gotham and take on the ultimate threat in the trilogy’s epic conclusion.

“Experience critically acclaimed gameplay & AAA original storytelling across all 3 games, PLUS all DLC, in one complete package.”

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Xbox Is Introducing A New Strike System For Player Enforcements

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 00:07:58 +0000

Xbox has unveiled an all-new update to how it manages player enforcements – actions taken against those who display inappropriate behaviours like harassment and bullying. With the introduction of a new “strike” system, it’s providing players with a more systemic and transparent approach to its enforcement outcomes.

Under this new demerit point-like system, every player will be able to receive a total of eight strikes, with strikes being applied alongside enforcements that result in temporary account suspension and in amounts that depend on the severity of the action. For example, the use of profanity or cheating might result in a single strike, working out to a one-day suspension, while hate speech is an automatic three strikes and a resulting three-day suspension. Each strike stays on record for six months, and they stack with increasing suspension lengths, so if you received two strikes for something one week and three the next week, you’d have five strikes total which results in a 14-day suspension.

The maximum of eight strikes against a player will result in a full year of suspension from Xbox social features like multiplayer, parties and party chat, messaging and more, but not have their account fully banned so as to remain useable for single-player experiences and keep any purchased content – unless in more serious cases such as those involving anything strictly illegal. Players will still be able to appeal enforcements and, if successful, have strikes removed. Everyone will also have access to their enforcement history and strikes, including being able to see current strikes eligible for an appeal, completed and expired enforcements and direct access to Community Standards documentation.

There’s a fancy diagram to make more sense of if all below:

You can also read up more on the new Xbox strike enforcement system on the Xbox Wire blog right here.

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The Next Batch Of Xbox Game Pass Games For August Has Been Revealed

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 22:44:17 +0000

Update: Microsoft has now revealed the rest of the games headed to Game Pass in August, and it’s just a handful more titles – some of which we already knew about.

It’s also worth noting that there’s not much longer to wait for Bethesda’s next RPG epic, Starfield, to hit Game Pass on September 6th, and Xbox is offering Game Pass members 10% off the Starfield Premium Edition Upgrade which allows keen fans – including those playing via Game Pass – to get in five days early on September 1st.

Take a look at everything that’s arrived and still to come to Game Pass in August:

Xbox Game Pass August 2023

Celeste (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available Now
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.

A Short Hike (Cloud, Console, PC) – Available Now
Hike, climb, and soar through the peaceful mountainside landscapes of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. Follow the marked trails or explore the backcountry as you make your way to the summit. Along the way, meet other hikers, discover hidden treasures, and take in the world around you.

Broforce Forever (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available Now
Broforce is an action-packed side-scrolling run ‘n’ gun ode to freedom, putting you in control of an under-funded, over-powered paramilitary organization dealing exclusively in excessive force. Included is the long-awaited Broforce Forever content, which offers an improved and expanded campaign with new unlocks, along with six new ultra patriotic bros, and four new democracy-spreading challenge levels!

Limbo (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available Now
Limbo is an award-winning indie adventure, critically acclaimed for its captivating puzzle design and immersive sound and visuals. Its dark, misty spaces and haunting narrative will stay with you forever.

Airborne Kingdom (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available Now
Airborne Kingdom is a stunning airborne city building and management game. Grow your unique town among the clouds and fly it across a wide-open landscape. Explore the skies to restore serenity to the world below!

Quake II (Cloud, Console, and PC) – Available now
Quake II is back with a vengeance with an all-new, enhanced release of id Software’s legendary 1997 shooter on Xbox! Battle the monstrous Strogg in blistering-fast single player and co-op shooter action or take your skills to the arena with online and local multiplayer. With upgraded graphics, modern updates, cross-play functionality and so much more, there’s no time to wait – experience the enhanced Quake II on Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC today. Read more about the release of Quake II on Xbox.

Everspace 2 (Cloud and Xbox Series X|S) – Available Now
Available now on PC and coming soon to Xbox Series X|S and Cloud gaming! Step into the pilot seat in this fast-paced single-player space shooter where brutal challenges stand between you and epic loot. Embark on a sci-fi adventure where massive, handcrafted areas are packed with secrets, puzzles, and perils! Level up, craft, and loot better gear to survive on the edge of space.

Firewatch (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 17
Making a return to the Game Pass library, Firewatch is a single-player, first-person mystery set in the Wyoming wilderness, where your only emotional lifeline is the person on the other end of a handheld radio. You’ll explore a wild and unknown environment, facing questions and making choices that can build or destroy the only meaningful relationship you have.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 18
Take on the role of one of the notorious Slaughter family, or their victims, in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, a third-person asymmetrical horror experience based on the groundbreaking and iconic 1974 horror film. Experience the mad and macabre for yourself in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Sea of Stars (Cloud, Console, and PC) – August 29
Available on day one with Game Pass: Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

Gris (Cloud, Console, and PC) – September 5
Gris is a hopeful young girl lost in her own world, dealing with a painful experience in her life. Her journey through sorrow is manifested in her dress, which grants new abilities to better navigate her faded reality.

Leaving Xbox Game Pass August

The following games are leaving the service on August 31st:

Black Desert (Cloud and Console)
Commandos 3 – HD Remaster (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Immortality (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Nuclear Throne (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Surgeon Simulator 2 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
Tinykin (Cloud, Console, and PC)

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August’s PlayStation Plus Extra/Deluxe Games Are Available Now

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 08:01:19 +0000

PlayStation’s fresh line-up of PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe catalogue games for August has just gone live, with 16 new titles added to the selection available to subscribers across both tiers now, and one more coming towards the end of the month.

August includes a couple of brand-new launches, with Moving Out 2 and Sea of Stars both entering the PlayStation Plus Extra catalogue on release. Moving Out 2 becomes available alongside the rest of the additions, but those eager to get stuck into Sea of Stars will have to wait until the game’s release date of August 29th before they can play. From the folks behind The Messenger, Sea of Stars promises to be an instant classic with a modern and player-first approach to the nostalgia of classic 16/32-bit era RPGs.

We recently reviewed Moving Out 2 which launches today, saying “Moving Out 2 is an accomplished sequel, building on what made the first game great and really honing in on its presentation and content offering. It’s not a radical departure, and not all of its levels are designed equally, but overall this is another feather in SMG Studio’s cap.”

This month also gives us three new PSP classics for those subscribed to PlayStation Plus Deluxe, in the forms of MediEvil: Resurrection, Ape Escape P and Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice.

PLAYSTATION PLUS EXTRA/DELUXE AUGUST 2023

Click through to any of the below to add them to your PlayStation library:

PlayStation Plus Extra Game Catalogue

PlayStation Plus Deluxe Classics

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It Looks Like Tekken 6 And Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny Could Be Coming To PlayStation Plus Deluxe

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 07:18:38 +0000

Spotted by the folks over at Gematsu, it looks like the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee has once again spilled some T and let slip a couple of potential new additions to the PlayStation Plus catalogue of classic games.

Both Tekken 6 and Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny have received new ratings for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 which, given these are new ratings and the latter was a PSP exclusive while the former had a PSP version, would seemingly indicate that both are new PlayStation Portable games being added to the library available to players on the higher, PlayStation Plus Deluxe (or Premium in other regions) tiers.

[Image via Gematsu]

Of course this isn’t a direct confirmation of anything at all, and if these titles are indeed slated for a PlayStation Plus showing there’s also zero indication of when that might be. Both are fighting titles, which may or may not account for anything.

Tekken 6 originally launched in arcades in 2007 and then arrived on console for PS3, PSP and Xbox 360 in 2009. Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny was a PSP exclusive that also released in 2009 and lifted features from the then-still-new Soulcalibur IV. It also brought the iconic Kratos from the God of War series into the roster.

Looking toward the more immediate future, the next drop of PlayStation Plus Extra and PlayStation Plus Deluxe games arrives tonight, bringing with it the brand-new Moving Out 2 as well as a smorgasbord of other great titles and not one, not two, but three PSP classics. You can check out the full line-up right here.

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Starlight Week Is On At EB Games And You Can Win Massive Prizes Just For Donating

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:54:31 +0000

It’s Starlight Week once again at our mates EB Games, running from August 11th to August 20th, and as usual there’s a heap of activity and opportunities to raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation – which helps kids (and their parents or carers) with serious illnesses overcome what would be a scary and overwhelming time in their lives through the magic of play, creativity and human connection.

This year, EB is running a number of different campaigns in support of Starlight Week, including Game Changers 2023 streams from some of the nation’s best and brightest streamers like Pestily, RubeePlays, jurdman and ZoeTwoDots along with the opportunity for viewers to donate all month long.

There are also special Starlight Week eBay Auctions where punters can bid on a wide variety of stuff – including some rare and unique items – with proceeds going to the cause. Check out what’s on offer here. On top of that you’ll find bonus donations for trade-ins, free pins for donations in-store and all manner of other fun ways to get behind the cause.

Starlight Week is ON NOW! Donate now to receive an Exclusive Collector Series pin and enter our MEGA prize giveaway! ??

Give the gift of happiness: https://t.co/slVbv1gzkP

Collector pins only available for instore donations. T&C's: https://t.co/IPd8NVrvRq @Starlight_star pic.twitter.com/UjKzJ6DtR3

— EB Games Australia (@EBGamesAus) August 15, 2023

In case you needed any more reason to chip in a few bucks to support this great cause, EB Games is also giving way over $150k in prizes for those that donate and fill out a pretty simple entry form. Prize packs include an $8000 VISA gift card, a huge PlayStation 5 pack with a console and PlayStation VR2, a Palm Cove holiday package, Starlight-themed Allied gaming PC pack and heaps more.

You can donate in denominations of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, and every donation gets you an entry code to throw your name into one of the exciting prize pools – plus you’ll be doing a good thing!

You can read up on everything to do with EB Games’ Starlight Week, the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and get involved yourself right here.

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Here’s Your Guide To Every Moving Out 2 Trophy And Collectible

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:16:36 +0000

Moving Out 2 has finally launched (and it’s included with PlayStation Plus Extra!), and once again it’s an absolute treat for anyone looking to perfectly and realistically simulate the act of moving a bunch of junk from one building to another, complete with heated and potentially violent arguments amongst family, friends and paid contractors.

If you’re getting stuck into SMG Studio’s fantastic sequel, you might also want to know how to score the ultimate bragging rights and unlock every single trophy (or achievement) on offer. There are more than a few of ’em! Luckily for you, I’ve dug the ol’ typing fingers out of storage and slapped together a handy guide to anything you could want or need to know about every trophy/achievement in the game and how to unlock them.

Get around it:

Moving Out 2 Trophy Guide And Collectibles

Gone Platty

Do everything we asked for and more! (Platinum)

See below (and below, and below, and below, and below, and below, and…)

Open The Portals

Pass your first day at Smooth Moves (Bronze)

You’ll get this as part of playing through the opening portions of the game. If this trophy doesn’t pop for you, it might be due to an error where you’ve booted up the game and then changed your mind and commandeered a small ocean vessel to sail off into the horizon with nothing but the clothes on your back and the clothes on your front. Otherwise, this should work as intended.

This is not a dream!

Complete the Fantasy Dimension (Silver)

Aside from the starting world of Packmore, this game is split up into a number of other dimensions, each with their own selections of stages and four Tech Gnomes to rescue. You’ll get a trophy for finishing each one, and this is one of those trophies.

I want Candy!

Complete the Candy Dimension (Silver)

See the above, it should still make sense here.

Welcome to the Future!

Complete the Future Dimension (Silver)

See above, or above the above. Whichever works for you. I’m not fussy. What do you want for dinner?

Call All Tech Gnomes

Find all the Tech Gnomes (Silver)

These little tech support friends are the main goal of Moving Out 2’s campaign, you won’t be able to see it through to the finale until you’ve rescued all of them. Like so many other trophies in this list, this trophy should be a given, provided you’re not a quitter. If you’re a quitter, that’s still perfectly fine and valid, you just won’t get the short-lived dopamine hit associated with popping trophies like this one. I can’t imagine living like that, but to each their own.

A Job Well Done

Complete all the levels (Gold)

Do the levels. All of them. There’s like, 50-something I reckon. I didn’t do an official count, so I’m sorry if it turns out there’s actually 20 levels or 700 levels, but those numbers definitely don’t seem right. 50 levels seems more right. Just keep doing levels until you run out of levels and if this trophy doesn’t pop then there’s more levels.

I’m Moving In!

Complete a Moving In level (Bronze)

The Moving In levels are some of my favourites. Rather than have you ~~invade~~ attend ~~an unsuspecting person’s~~ a customer’s home and ~~take all of their stuff~~ move their belongings into your truck, you’re tasked with doing the opposite and delivering your truckload of items into their specifically-requested locations within the stage. You’ll definitely do at least one while you’re playing the campaign, so this trophy ain’t difficult.

Score Attack!

Complete a Score Attack level (Bronze)

The Score Attack levels give you a break from Moving Out or Moving In with minigame-esque challenges that ask you to do things like catch falling candies or lob big balls into hoops with giant slingshots. These are also fun, and likewise will pop up while you’re working your way through the campaign, so don’t sweat this one too much. Don’t sweat at all, if you can help it.

1st F.A.R.T

Reach F.A.R.T level 1 (Bronze)

You’ll gain F.A.R.T. ranks by earning stars in levels, through completing them in pass time, making it in “PRO” time or completing any of the number of optional objectives per level. You’ll reach most of the F.A.R.T. ranks simply by playing through and completing the campaign. F.A.R.T. level 1 is unremarkable and unavoidable, like the little silent toots that slip out when I walk down flights of stairs.

F.A.R.T to the power of 3

Reach F.A.R.T level 3 (Silver)

As above, you should be reaching these early F.A.R.T. levels naturally by playing through the campaign jobs. F.A.R.T. level 3 shows effort, but little follow-through. Which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your angle.

I see F.A.R.T movers

Reach F.A.R.T level 6 (Silver)

F.A.R.T. level 6 is approaching the big leagues. People will start to take notice of your F.A.R.T. rank now, so don’t be surprised if you start getting looks on public transport. You’ll need to think about hitting those PRO times and optional objectives to get to the upper echelons of F.A.R.T.

Max F.A.R.T

Achieve max F.A.R.T rating (Gold)

This is it. You’ve done it. By smashing all of those PRO times on jobs and satisfying the optional objectives in a veritable buttload of stages, you’re now Top F.A.R.T. Not to gas you up too much, but you’ve now achieved the kind of F.A.R.T. status that clears the room when you walk in. You deserve the Brown-down-low Medal.

Totally Optional

Completed all optional objectives on a level (Bronze)

Each level in Moving Out 2 has a total of five objectives to complete to earn stars towards your F.A.R.T. rating. All you need to do for this trophy is complete all of the optional ones in any level, which is easiest one any of the earlier levels but more fun as things get trickier and more cryptic. One time I wrote a guide on how to achieve every one of the optional challenges in the original Moving Out, and I thought I’d be able to do the same again here but I severely underestimated how much I wouldn’t want to do that – so you get a trophy guide instead.

I Cart Therefore I Am

Find an arcade cart (Bronze)

Arcade Carts in Moving Out 2 are very special because they unlock trophies. They also unlock new and challenging Arcade levels, I guess. But more importantly – trophies! If you’re here looking for help with achievements, I’m sorry I keep saying trophies. It’s the same thing, right? Everybody get along xoxo.

Cart Boss

Find all arcade carts (Gold)

Guess what? I’ve put in the work to guide you to each and every one of the Arcade Carts you’ll need to find in Moving Out 2. Isn’t that nice of me? I did screenshots and all. So high tech! Take a look:

Click/Tap To Expand

Baldur’s Gate 3 Speedrunners Are Seeing How Quickly They Can Get Their Bone On

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:15:47 +0000

I may have only just brought you the story of a Baldur’s Gate 3 speedrunner by the name of Mae, who has set a world record run for “finishing” the game in less than 10 mins (you can read about that here), but it seems that’s not all there is to report.

Right underneath that video, Mae also drops another hot run, this time swapping out the Any% game completion goal for a far more titillating “Sex%” challenge. That’s right, folks are trying to set the quickest time from go to woah and see how fast they can get freaky with one of the game’s characters.

The run in question right here, once again from Mae, shows them reaching carnal satisfaction in another record-setting eight minutes from the start of the game, climaxing in them rubbing naughties with the Githyanki Fighter, Lae’Zel.

Watch it below:

If the idea of a quick roll in the virtual hay with a cast of incredibly well-realised fantasy characters is something you’re interested in, you should also know that Baldur’s Gate 3 hides your sins from your co-op partners by default, so nobody has to sit through any awkward romance scenes they didn’t ask for.

It’s just one of the neat ways in which the game makes the co-op RPG experience an intuitive, pleasant and exciting one. You can read all about our co-op adventures in Baldur’s Gate 3 and why we think it should be high on your list of games to play with friends right here.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on PC and releases on September 6th for PlayStation 5.

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Someone’s Already Beaten Baldur’s Gate 3 In Just 10 Minutes

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 06:00:07 +0000

Warning: Some mostly mild, early-to-mid-game spoilers below.

Okay, so “beaten” is a bit of a stretch given that they’re racing to a failed ending for the game, long before the actual conclusion, but someone’s already close to cracked the 10-minute mark for an unmodified playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3.

The ridiculous, world record achievement comes from Speedrunner, Mae, who posted the attempt to YouTube and offered some clarity on how this was made possible.

In a follow-up comment under the video of the run, Mae explains that there’s an “ending” that can be achieved in Act 2 of the game after a sequence of choices and events involving the companion character, Gale. Without saying too much, Gale’s unique attributes can result in a very permanent choice made that pretty much spells the end of the game.

This event is still a fair way into the game, potentially taking a “standard” player a few dozen hours to reach, but Mae uses some known tricks in combination with frantic dialogue skipping and some new time-shaving tactics to make Gale quite literally leap toward his unfortunate and world-changing demise.

You can watch the very impressive full run below, it’ll only take 10 minutes of your time, after all:

Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on PC and releases on September 6th for PlayStation 5.

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Armored Core 6’s PC Requirements Have Been Revealed

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 03:08:53 +0000

FromSoftware has revealed (via Steam) the PC hardware requirements for its looming new release, Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon, giving keen players an idea of the kind of rig they’ll need to be packing to comfortably play the game.

All told, it looks fairly approachable for most folks’ equipment, asking for a reasonable (well, compared to other recent releases) 60GB of storage space, 12GB of RAM and some more basic, legacy CPU and GPU options at the Minimum spec. On the Recommended front, it’s still not much worse, asking for a NVIDIA GTX 1060 6GB, Radeon RX 590 or equivalent along with the same RAM recommendation.

Here’s what you’ll need:

MINIMUM:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790K | Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 7 1800X | AMD Ryzen 5 2600
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 4 GB or AMD Radeon RX 480, 4 GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 60 GB available space
Sound Card: Windows Compatible Audio Device

RECOMMENDED:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10/11
Processor: Intel Core i7-7700 | Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | AMD Ryzen 5 3600
Memory: 12 GB RAM
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 590, 8GB or Intel Arc A750, 8GB
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 60 GB available space
Sound Card: Windows Compatible Audio Device

We recently had the chance to check out a few hours of Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon for ourselves and came away suitably impressed, saying “It was burned into my brain for days after playing, my mind constantly trying to process its esoteric story and deeply layered combat and mech customisation. During my time with the team, it was noted that FromSoftware felt as if the ten-year gap between titles came down to the hardware not being quite ready for its true vision of Armored Core. With its 4K, 60FPS fidelity, decade of gameplay lessons learnt, and our own world teetering on the edge of an AI disaster itself, it seems like no better time for these slumbering giants to wage war once more.

Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon releases on August 25, 2023. Amazon has pre-orders for the Day 1 Edition for $84.99 with free shipping.

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Pokémon Scarlet/Violet’s DLC Expansions Are Bringing Back All Of The Starter Pokémon

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:33:47 +0000

The Pokémon Company took the opportunity, during the closing ceremony of the Pokémon World Championships 2023, to reveal another new trailer for the two-part expansion to Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero, which dropped some pretty big news for longtime Pokémon fans.

In the trailer, titled “Many Surprises Await in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero!’ it’s revealed that all 24 previous-generation starter Pokémon will be appearing in the second DLC expansion for the games, The Indigo Disk. The video also introduces some new moves and Terastellize mechanics and Pokémon, so check it out just below:

The Indigo Disk is set on the mostly underwater Blueberry Academy, housing a terrarium made up of four biomes filled with Pokémon and new trainers as you get to grips with life as a student at Blueberry Academy. The BB League looks to be the biggest draw of The Indigo Disk, offering up a new gym-like challenge with its very own Elite Four. Each one has their own Elite Challenge that has to be undertaken before battle, one of which lets you fly around on Miraidon and Koraidon temporarily, which is a cool addition to the mountable legendaries.

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is set to kick off on September 13th with the release of Part 1 – The Teal Mask, with Part 2 – The Indigo Disk to follow in the tail-end of this year. If you’ve got a hankering for Pokémon right now, new titles are available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

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The Pokémon Company Is Thinking About How Often It Releases New Games

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:07:54 +0000

Takato Utsunomiya, COO at The Pokémon Company, has spoken to ComicBook.com in an interview during the Pokémon World Championships in Yokohama, Japan, during which it was hinted at that the idea of slowing down the pace of new Pokémon game releases has – at the very least – been floated within the company.

“I think in general, if you look at the past, the path we’ve taken up until now has been this constant release, always regularly releasing products on a fairly fixed kind of a cadence, you might say,” Utsunomiya told the outlet via a translator.

“Always having these products able to be introduced and new experiences for our customers, and that’s how we’ve operated up until now. I think we’re still operating in that way, but there’s more and more conversations, as the development environments change, about how we can continue to do this, while making sure that we’re ensuring really quality products are also being introduced.”

While the angle of the reporting on these comments has leaned toward the idea of slowing down new game releases for the series, it could also be inferred that TPC is thinking about how it can stick to the established pace while improving the quality of the games it’s releasing.

These comments come following last year’s somewhat-bungled release of Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, which were both plagued by poor performance on the Switch along with a long list of issues and fear-inducing visual bugs. The games still sold exceptionally, but its certainly shone a spotlight on the rapid speed at which developer Game Freak is expected to pump new titles out.

Said cadence has already shifted to a degree, with both these newer titles as well as the previous Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield receiving DLC expansions supporting their releases in the year after their initial launches. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s first expansion drops next month on September 13th.

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Netflix Is Currently Beta Testing Cloud Gaming On TVs And Browsers

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 00:06:22 +0000

Netflix has revealed that it’s kicked off beta testing for a new cloud gaming feature on its service, which will work across compatible TVs as well as Windows and Mac computers via the Netflix website.

Right now, testing is happening in the US and Canada with a “small number” of participants on TVs, but will be rolling out to browsers over the following weeks. The two games featured are Oxenfree and Molehew’s Mining Adventure, with players controlling the games via smartphone app. The devices that Netflix currently has the service working on are Amazon Fire TV Streaming Media Players, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs and Samsung Smart TVs.

“We’ve been focused on creating a great gaming experience for our members since 2021 when we added mobile games to Netflix. Our goal has always been to have a game for everyone, and we are working hard to meet members where they are with an accessible, smooth, and ubiquitous service. Today, we’re taking the first step in making games playable on every device where our members enjoy Netflix — TVs, computers, and mobile,” Netflix said in its press release.

“By making games available on more devices, we hope to make games even easier to play for our members around the world. While we’re still very early in our games journey, we’re excited to bring joy to members with games. We look forward to hearing feedback from our beta testers and sharing more as we continue on the road ahead.”

Netflix has just published a sequel to Oxenfree in Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, which we reviewed and scored an 8.5/10, saying “What impresses me the most about Lost Signals is how it takes everything Oxenfree did and dials it up, delivering a bigger story within a grander, still familiar, framework that keeps player choice at the centre of it all. Riley’s story is a brilliant footnote to the strange things that have returned to plague small town Oregon once more.”

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The Publisher Of Firewatch And Untitled Goose Game Is Hosting Its Own Showcase This Month

Kieron Verbrugge — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 23:50:48 +0000

Panic Inc, the folks behind that charming little yellow, crank-based gaming handheld the Playdate, and publishers of indie gems like Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game, have revealed that they’re hosting their very own Panic Games Showcase at the end of this month to give gamers a fresh look at some of their upcoming games as well as brand-new announcements.

The Panic Games Showcase will run at 3AM AEST on Wednesday, August 30th and run for around 20 minutes. Panic will have new game announcements to share, as well as a “fun” update on Nour: Play With Your Food and an in-depth look at Despelote. The publisher has also confirmed that the showcase will not feature any Playdate news.

Nour: Play With Your Food was one of our favourite demos from the recent Steam Demo Fest, an experimental “food art” game that’s full of unique and surprising interactions and neat things to discover. You can play the demo for yourself right here. Meanwhile, Despelote is a slice-of-life adventure about childhood and soccer with a striking aesthetic coming to PlayStation, Xbox and PC next year.

You’ll be able to watch the showcase at the following times, right here:

PANIC GAMES SHOWCASE AUSTRALIAN TIMES – AUGUST 30

3.00 AM (Melbourne/Sydney/Hobart/Canberra/Brisbane)
2.30 AM (Adelaide, Darwin)
1.00 AM August 7th AWST (Perth)
5.00 AM on August 8th NZDT (Wellington)

“A lot of people out there know us as makers of Mac software like Transmit and Nova,” Panic’s co-founder Cabel Sasser said in a press release. “And some people know us as the creators of the Playdate handheld video game system. And honestly, not very many people know us as the publisher of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game. We thought it’d be fun to put on a little show and let the world know about the wonderful games we’ve been working on publishing, from amazing developers all around the world. Please tune in, as we’re pretty confident you’ll find a neat game or two that speaks to you.”

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Amazon Australia Is Now Selling A Range Of Digital Games And Gift Cards

Kieron Verbrugge — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 21:59:16 +0000

Amazon Australia has revealed that, as of now, Aussie shoppers can purchase digital codes for full games on console and PC platforms for the first time, as well as a range of digital currencies and pre-paid memberships.

It’s obviously not the first retailer to offer Aussie customers the option to purchase pre-paid digital game downloads, but where previously a smattering of games would pop up from time to time in Aussie stores as a redeemable code option this is a much more widespread offering that’s built into the Amazon shopping ecosystem and hugely increases the online retailer’s range when it comes to gaming.

You can find the full range of Digital Video Game products on Amazon right here, but below are some of the examples of what’s available so far:

Digital Video Games At Amazon

Nintendo Switch Full Games

Nintendo Switch Downloadable Content

Digital Currencies

Memberships

Xbox Digital Games

The new additions not only encompass full game downloads, but a range of digital currencies, add-ons, memberships and more, giving customers the ability to buy codes through Amazon and manage them through their account, gift them to others and potentially find them in bundles and sale activity in the future. For most games that have a digital equivalent offering, now when looking at the title on Amazon on any platform the digital code will also show as an option.

As of the launch, things like PlayStation and Roblox currencies, Xbox Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online memberships and a range of digital Nintendo Switch first-party games are available, with games for other platforms and a wider range of currencies and add-ons hopefully on the way.

Head of Consumer Electronics and Media at Amazon Australia, Matthew Benham, said of the new launch, “Our new Digital Video Games offering represents an exciting addition to the gaming range available on Amazon Australia. We know that our customers come to Amazon.com.au looking for great prices, a large selection and convenience. We can now provide Australian gamers with the opportunity to purchase an extensive range of digital PC and console games, free-to-play games, digital game currencies and other digital gaming content, with the added convenience of finding this and everything else they might need on Amazon.com.au, from gaming accessories through to the ultimate home entertainment set up.”

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Activision Has Confirmed That COD: Modern Warfare 3 Is A Full-Priced Premium Release

Brodie Gibbons — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 21:00:24 +0000

Hot on the heels of news surrounding Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III’s beta period and its brief PlayStation exclusivity, Activision has affirmed that the release is expected to be a full-priced, premium game that’ll be priced at $70USD.

This seems like an attempt to curve the narrative after previous reports suggested the release began its life as a story expansion for last year’s Modern Warfare II.

The confirmation came via a statement from Activision to CharlieIntel, a popular source for Call of Duty news.

“As stated in numerous Activision Blizzard quarterly conference calls, Modern Warfare III is a premium release,” explained an Activision spokesperson. “It will be price accordingly at $70 USD.”

I think everyone should chill out and wait till Thursday, see the trailer and all of the news about the game, before going crazy about if its an "expansion" or "full game" or whatever. We haven't even see all the details on the game yet! Form an opinion after you do!

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) August 14, 2023

While the game is listed as an add-on on Steam, CharlieIntel explained in their Twitter thread that it’s due to Call of Duty HQ, the publisher’s app that’ll be used to streamline and house all of the series’ releases going forward. So while “add-on” might suggest it’s a truncated release, it’s not the case according to Activision.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III releases on November 10, 2023 for PC, PlayStation consoles, and Xbox consoles.

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Assassin’s Creed Mirage Has Gone Gold And Had Its Release Date Moved Up By A Week

Brodie Gibbons — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 20:45:42 +0000

In an industry that’s becoming so prone to delays, it’s incredibly rare to see a game’s developed so streamlined that it manages to move its release date forward.

But that’s what has happened with Assassin’s Creed Mirage which, along with wrapping development and going gold, has moved up from its previously confirmed date of October 12 to October 5, 2023.

Despite not being the lead creator on Mirage, the news was revealed on Twitter by Ubisoft Montreal. Mirage is being headed up by Ubisoft Bordeaux, whose previous work on the franchise includes the Wrath of the Druids expansion pack for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Assassin's Creed Mirage has gone GOLD! ? The game is now ready to go! ? We congratulate our teams who worked on the game alongside our friends at @UbisoftBordeaux! Thank you for your passion and incredible talent! ?

But we have another BIG news for you, dear fans…

?… pic.twitter.com/Q1ASrg1Mhj

— Ubisoft Montréal (@UbisoftMTL) August 14, 2023

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is seeking to recapture the focus on stealth that made the original games so popular, and it certainly seemed on track to achieve that goal based on our hands-off preview that we got to see at Summer Game Fest.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage will now release for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S on October 5, 2023.

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Generation Games 2024 Is A New Sydney Gaming Expo From The Folks Behind Oz Comic-Con

Kieron Verbrugge — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 04:53:13 +0000

Expertise Events, the group responsible for organising Oz-Comic Con, has announced a brand-new Australian gaming event coming to Sydney next year, dubbed Generation Games.

From April 20th to April 21st next year at the International Convention Centre Sydney in Darling Harbour, Generation Games 2024 promises to bring gamers of all kinds together under one roof to share in their passions for video games, tabletop, retro, eSports and more.

While the full line-up of activities and exhibitors is still yet to be revealed, it sounds like Generation Games is hoping to capture some of the PAX Aus experience in a format and location accessible to folks in NSW who may not be able to make the trek over to Melbourne for the PAX festivities.

Some of the features that Aussie gamers can expect to find when they attend Generation Games are:

Console & PC Freeplay Zones
Tabletop Library and Scheduled RPGs
The best locally developed Indie Games
Community and Esports Tournaments
Shopping from leading Exhibitors
Retro and Arcade Gaming
Arena Presentations & Community Meetups

Lenovo Legion has also been revealed as the Presenting Partner for the inaugural Generation Games 2024, underlining Lenovo Legion’s ongoing commitment to supporting the growth and development of the Aussie gaming industry and its diverse communities.

Eager attendees can head to the Generation Games 2024 website now to learn more about the event, what to expect, register for updates on activities and ticket sales and more. Find all of that right here.

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Tennis On-Court Is Bringing Realistic Tennis Action To PlayStation VR2 Soon

Kieron Verbrugge — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 04:30:08 +0000

Perpetual and developer Decathlon Games have announced that Tennis On-Court, a VR tennis simulator focused on providing the most realistic and immersive virtual tennis experience, is headed to the PlayStation VR2 on October 20th.

The game will feature the option for arcade-like or “realistic” playstyles, across five different training modes, solo play against AI in 1v1 matches as well as online play with real opponents in 1v1 singles or 2v2 doubles matches – including online championships for players to prove they’re the best.

Tennis On-Court will also feature fully customisable player avatars, multiple racket types, six stadiums with different surfaces to play on, different assist and VR movement options and – perhaps most excitingly – the ability to “play with your ball before serving.”

(That’s genuinely what it says here.)

Take a look at the release date announcement trailer for Tennis On-Court below:

Tennis On-Court (PSVR2)

It’s not only a video game, it’s real tennis thanks to the experience of Decathlon & Artengo engineers, working every day on the design of tennis equipment : rackets, balls, accessories, … used by top players on the ATP & WTA tours.

Lift, slice, dropshot, retro, perform all those effects and feel like a real tennis player..

Foundations

– Gameplay : Arcade or Realistic, choose your side!
– 3 different types of moving: Teleport, Automatic, Manual
– Fully customizable 3D male & female avatars
– 13 rackets with different characteristics to match with your style.
– 6 incredible stadiums with different evolutive surfaces : clay, grass, hard…
– 5 assists to help you to perform: service hit assist, position assist, ball trajectory correction, …
– Spectator mode to watch your friends or future opponents performing in live.

Realism

– Play with your ball before serving
– 1 handed or 2 handed backhand ? That works!
– Umpire and linesmen are present on the court to follow your matchs
– Playing in a crowded out stadium is perfect for immersion!
– AI is almost human thanks to all motion-captured animations in match.

Game modes

– Play against AI in 1vs1 with 4 difficulty levels
– Bonus : choose if your opponent is left or right-handed
– Play with your friend in singles (1vs1) or doubles (2vs2) online match
– Find perfect opponents thanks to matchmaking feature
– Prove your are the best thanks to the online championship
– Improve your skills with 5 training modes.

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Bargain Guide – Madden NFL 24

Josh Lack — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 02:27:46 +0000

The cheapest copy of Madden NFL 24 starting with local retailers and finishing off with digital-only prices. We will update with new & special prices as they come in up until launch day on August 10th.

Footy season is almost upon us again as Madden NFL 24 hits shelves on Friday the 18th of August for PS5/XS/PS4/X1/PC! Pre-order DLC!

AMAZON HAS THE CHEAPEST SHIPPED COPY AT $79.99 / MIGHTYAPE AT $79.99 WITH SHIPPING ADDED

Physical:

Amazon – $79.99 including postage

JB Hi-Fi – $89

Big W – $89

EB Games – $109.95

Gamesmen – $89.95 plus postage

Mightyape – $74 plus $5.99 postage

Digital:

PlayStation Store – $109.95

Xbox Store – $109.95

Steam – $99.95

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Forza Motorsport Won’t Have Some Features At Launch Including Split-Screen

Kieron Verbrugge — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 23:56:57 +0000

In this month’s official Forza Monthly broadcast on YouTube, Forza Motorsport‘s creative director Chris Esaki has revealed some insight into features that haven’t made the cut in Turn 10’s long-awaited new entry – at least at launch.

First of all, Esaki revealed that players won’t be able to spectate races or race against AI in its “Featured Multiplayer” modes, which now rely on a brand-new matchmaking model that uses machine learning to match players of similar skill as well as a Safety Rating that groups players together who have similar racing behaviours.

“Having players come into a featured multiplayer event and taking player slots, and then spectating? It’s not really the racing we had intended,” the creative director explains in the video. “Similarly, racing with AI in featured multiplayer with all its potential impacts on your safety rating also didn’t make a whole lot of sense to have and is not going to be available for us at launch.”

Will Forza Motorsport Have Split-Screen Multiplayer?

Perhaps more interesting/concerning to fans of the Motorsport off-shoot of the Forza franchise is the lack of any split-screen multiplayer feature at launch, something that’s been present in every game in the series since Forza Motorsport 2. It’s seemingly a result of the studio’s push to make this the most realistic and cutting-edge racing simulator to date, with Esaki explaining, “Our heavy investment in pushing our new graphical features and our complete overhaul of the rendering engine unfortunately made split-screen really difficulty to implement and is also not going to be in for launch.”

Forza Motorsport is launching on October 10, and will be available day one as part of Xbox Game pass, along with the following editions:

FORZA MOTORSPORT PREMIUM EDITION – $149.95

The Forza Motorsport Premium Edition includes the full game with 5 days of early access, the Race Day Car Pack, Car Pass (30 cars delivered to your game weekly, one per week), VIP Membership and Welcome Pack.

FORZA MOTORSPORT DELUXE EDITION – $139.95

The Forza Motorsport Deluxe Edition includes the full game and Car Pass (30 cars delivered to your game weekly, one per week).

FORZA MOTORSPORT STANDARD EDITION – $119.95

The Forza Motorsport Standard Edition includes the full game.

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COD: Modern Warfare 3’s Beta Dates Have Seemingly Been Revealed And It’s On PlayStation First

Kieron Verbrugge — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 23:14:59 +0000

Thanks to a collaborative effort between the folks at Insider Gaming as well as the PlayStation Game Size ~~Twitter~~ X account, the beta dates for Activision’s just-revealed (but long since leaked) sequel, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 have seemingly been revealed, and as is tradition it looks to be coming to players on PlayStation platforms first.

According to the (as yet unconfirmed) information uncovered, the first beta weekend for Modern Warfare 3 looks to be kicking off on October 6th and running up to October 10th exclusively for PS5 and PS4 users. A follow-up beta weekend will then occur from October 12th to October 16th for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC. It’s unclear at this stage if these dates will include both a pre-order exclusive beta and open beta component like previous years, but we’ll no doubt find out more from the official source when the game is revealed in full on August 17th. According to court documents released in regards to Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, this year is the last year of Sony’s marketing agreement for Call of Duty.

Here are the key dates that Insider Gaming and PGS are reporting, including a date for Campaign Early Access on all platforms as well as the launch of its first season and a new Warzone map in December:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Beta And Release Dates

Beta weekend 1 (PS4/PS5) – October 6, 2023 – October 10, 2023
Beta weekend 2 (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC) – October 12, 2023 – October 16, 2023
Campaign Early Access (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC) – November 2, 2023
Full Release (PS4/PS5/Xbox One/Xbox Series X|S/PC) – November 10, 2023
Season 1 Launch / New Warzone Map – December 5, 2023

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is set to launch on November 10, with more information to come in the August 17th reveal. Activision has dropped the first proper promotional trailer, which focuses on iconic Modern Warfare villain, Vladimir Makarov, and also includes small snippets of in-game footage showing some intriguing-looking scenarios, like underwater segments and a rainy stronghold breach. Check it out below:

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STALKER 2’s Release Date May Have Been Revealed Early

Kieron Verbrugge — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 22:53:52 +0000

Those who’ve been waiting patiently for the release of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, the long-in-development sequel to GSC Game World’s 2007 cult hit S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl (and its two follow-ups), may finally have cause to be excited with a release date for the game potentially revealed a little early – and it could still be coming out this year.

First spotted by Wccftech, the official PLAION store in Germany has the game listed with a December 1st, 2023 release date. While the natural assumption would be to call this a placeholder date, it’s been noted that this particular store uses a December 31st placeholder for all of its other games pending release dates, and that the German PLAION store has leaked release dates like this in the past. It also acts as the distributor for physical versions of this game, so it’s not a random retailer taking a stab at a date but the game’s own distributor.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is also set to be playable at the Xbox booth at Gamescom this month, which is its first publicly playable showing and should imply that it’s definitely coming along. The game was originally slated to launch in December last year (after originally being slated to launch multiple times since 2010) before it was delayed and development relocated due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl is currently pegged for a release on PC and Xbox Series X|S exclusively, and will be available through Xbox Game Pass from launch. It’s believed that the Xbox console exclusivity period is set to be a minimum of three months.

Amazon has the Standard, Limited and Collector’s Editions available for pre-order now:

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Baldur’s Gate 3’s Co-op Play Is Intricately Chaotic In The Best Way

Harry Kalogirou — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 11:39:34 +0000

Baldur’s Gate 3 is best experienced as blind as possible. While there are some very light early game spoilers in this feature, there are no major story, character, or gameplay spoilers to worry about.

There was a moment early on during my cooperative playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3 that had my group lost in confusion and uncontrollable laughter. Shortly after completing the game’s prologue, we stumbled across someone being held prisoner while exploring the overworld. After a short discussion on how to proceed, I deceived the captors and sent them on their way. We quickly realised the character in question was Lae’Zel, one of the game’s many companion characters.

After running into Lae’Zel during the aforementioned prologue, we felt some obligation to free her from her suspended cage. While I got to work on destroying the bottom of the cage, one of our party members mistakenly targeted her with an ability, instigating combat. After a chaotic back-and-forth on what to do next, Lae’Zel was dispatched just as we realised we could disengage. We cut our losses, looted the body of our accidental adversary, and checked out the rest of the camp.

After our resident dwarf went ahead and equipped her gleaming armour, it dawned on us that we could use a Revivify Scroll on Lae’Zel to bring her back from the dead. We didn’t stop to think twice, opting to raise the Githyanki as we eagerly awaited to see how she would react. Alive but stripped down to her undergarments, we instigated conversation with Lae’Zel, only to watch her exchange pleasantries with a dwarf donning her very own equipment. We’re reminded of this hilarious whirlwind of events every time we return to camp, where a half-naked Lae’Zel waits to be brought into the fray.

It’s moments like these that capture the potential absurdity that can happen with Dungeons and Dragons in a tabletop setting. A moment of sheer hilarity that would’ve been impossible to experience in a solo playthrough. Organic, player-created stories lie at the heart of Baldur’s Gate 3, and the expansive list of options available to you in any situation feels tailor made for this purpose.

Playing with friends adds a layer of consideration and delineation not found in solo play. Differing playstyles and approaches to build crafting lead to dynamic combat encounters and puzzle solving. It isn’t just combat that’s affected , as conversation choices are made by the player who initially spoke to the NPC. While other party members can vote on which response they want to be chosen, you’re ultimately victim to whoever’s representing the group.

An early game quest showcased this to us first-hand. Our search for a lost druid led us deep into goblin territory, patrolled by countless guards who report to three goblin generals. After my charismatic warlock swayed the gatekeepers to let us through, we quickly found one of the generals; Priestess Gut. After some small talk, Gut took an acute interest in the mind flayer tadpole infecting the head of our troublemaking dwarf, separating him from apart from the rest of the team.

Priestess Gut quickly offered to remove the parasitic pain from the dwarf’s head on the condition he drinks a suspicious potion. The writing was on the wall at this stage, nothing good could come from a mystery liquid concocted by a goblin priestess. Despite having every reason to turn down Priestess Gut’s offer, our dwarf opted to drink the potion in the name of comedy and morbid curiosity – reasoning that we couldn’t fault. Unsurprisingly, the dwarf fell unconscious and was briskly whisked away to the basement’s holding cells, leading to an impromptu prison break.

That isn’t to say that things can’t come together in a satisfying fashion in coop. Another early example of our collaborative escapades saw some unfortunate positioning instigating a combat encounter we were very much ill-prepared for. Loading our most recent save meant losing almost half an hour of progress, so we chose to buckle down and attempt to overcome impossible odds. Through smart use of abilities, communication, and target prioritization, we were able to survive a gauntlet we presumed would spell our doom from the start. While this is relatively standard fare for Dungeons and Dragons regulars, seeing roll after roll play out on-screen as we held our breaths in uncertainty was an experience to behold.

What’s remarkable about co-op combat in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the way it forces you to work together and find optimal strategies. As a warlock, I have to be constantly aware of my area of effect spells and how they can damage my teammates. I also have to be mindful of how one of my main Cantrips, Eldritch Blast, can knock enemies back, potentially moving them out of the melee range of my allies. This is all without considering turn orders, de-buffs, ability cooldowns, items, and so much more. The flexibility Baldur’s Gate 3 affords in so many of its systems, means you have to work together to find the synergies that your group has.

There’s also the way in which our builds and classes leave the team feeling like each member has their own skills and specialties. Where my warlock can provide a historic lens to the investigation of certain objects and conversations, our monk can lend a more level-headed and peace-minded approach. It often has us thinking about who is best for any given interaction in Baldur’s Gate 3, both in combat, and general exploration.

The differentiations in classes also leads to less conflict over who gets what gear. If you’ve got a wide selection of classes and subclasses, you’re bound to be proficient in different weapon and armour types. Similarly, you’re all going to be looking for accessories that bolster your strengths and shore up your weaknesses. Not once have we wasted time trying to decide who gets what – a far cry in comparison to some of the irreparable damage done by other co-op games with shared loot.

If you’re worried about missing out on content due to the flexibility afforded to each player, fret not. There’s plenty of systems in place to ensure everyone gets a piece of the pie no matter what’s happening in-game. From the aforementioned dialogue choice voting, to the ability to watch conversations from anywhere, a staggering amount of consideration and thought has been put into how co-op impacts every aspect of the game. These countless quality of life inclusions cement Baldur’s Gate 3 as the de-facto way to experience Dungeons and Dragons in a video game format.

One of the best inclusions is the ability to make your conversations private. This defaults to off in public settings, but automatically turns on during scenes that only involve your character. Not only does this allow romance decisions and intimate scenes to be kept close to the chest, but it also enables players to act as agents of chaos in their runs. Sowing the seeds for future conflict without other players realising until it’s far too late. This goes a long way to making your character feel like their own amongst the group, reinforcing that each of you are defined pieces of a larger puzzle.

After 15 or so hours, it feels like we’ve barely scratched the surface of what Baldur’s Gate 3 has to offer. All of our solo runs on the side have sounded markedly different from our collaborative experiences, which keeps us coming back for more. It’s a more thoughtful and mature co-op offering that’s unrivalled in scale and player choice.

What makes it all the more enticing, is its tendency to descend into utter chaos, presenting situations you simply wouldn’t find in more structured and defined co-op experiences. It’s hilarious, chaotic, tactical, and rewarding all at the same time.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is out right now on PC, and aPS5 release is set to launch on September 6th, both with online co-op for up to four players along with two player local co-op.

The post Baldur’s Gate 3’s Co-op Play Is Intricately Chaotic In The Best Way appeared first on Press Start.

A TMNT: The Last Ronin Game Is Coming And It’s A Current-Gen Only, AAA Title

Kieron Verbrugge — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 03:46:51 +0000

After word of its existence first appeared way back in March this year, THQ Nordic has finally acknowledged and officially announced an upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game based on one of the franchise’s more dark and gritty comic runs – The Last Ronin.

Doug Rosen, senior vice president for games and emerging media at Paramount Global, told Polygon earlier this year that the game would be a third-person action role-playing game inspired by the likes of Sony’s recent God of War titles, also saying it would be authentic to the story of The Last Ronin arc, which is set in a future where only one of the turtles has survived.

Fans hoping for a truly cutting-edge TMNT video game might be in luck as well, with The Last Ronin in development solely for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. A release date hasn’t been locked in, or even a release window, but you can see the reveal trailer below (which very not-subtly seems to confirm that this is a one-turtle affair):

Who is the Last Ronin? In a future, battle-ravaged New York City, a lone surviving Turtle embarks on a seemingly hopeless mission seeking justice for the family he lost.

From the minds of the creators of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and based on the best-selling comic book event by Eastman, Waltz, Bishop, Delgado, and the Escorza Brothers: the official video game adaptation of TMNT: The Last Ronin.

The post A TMNT: The Last Ronin Game Is Coming And It’s A Current-Gen Only, AAA Title appeared first on Press Start.

A Video Of The Alleged New PS5 Model Has Been Shared By An Aussie Developer

Kieron Verbrugge — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 03:32:19 +0000

After months of rumours and speculation, and the surfacing of a blurry image over the last couple of days claiming to depict the new PS5 “slim” model, more reported “evidence” has arrived in the form of a video showing the unit in question.

The video seemingly corroborates rumours that Sony is planning to release a new model of the PS5 that unifies both current designs into a single, disc drive-free body with the option to attach a separate USB-C disc drive for those still wanting to keep a physical library.

In the video, we can see the current look of the console and its top and bottom covers remains pretty much intact, and the overall footprint of the PS5 doesn’t look radically different, but the covers are now split – and you can see that the disc drive seems to affix to the console itself where you’d expect to find it, adding a bit more of the bulk back.

The alleged new model also seems to feature dual USB-C ports at the front, replacing the current one USB-C and one USB-A, presumably to make up for the fact that the drive will take up a USB-C port (though this could also be an added one at the rear, the video doesn’t really show any of the back). It’s seemingly designated the CFI-2016 model.

Here’s the footage in question, which actually comes from @BeW_Dev, a Brisbane-based PS5 technician and independent PlayStation software developer who says it was given to them from a factory source, hence the console featured seemingly being a shell only. The poster also stresses that they themselves don’t know of the veracity of the leak and have simply shared what they were given:

CFI-2016 PS5 Case pic.twitter.com/udFyQbVpz8

— BwE (@BwE_Dev) August 11, 2023

The user also then shared a photo of the console’s PSU, which appears to also be smaller than in the current model:

Can confirm the CFI-2016 will have a smaller PSU, but it does not appear to be more power efficient.

Model ADP-400GR pic.twitter.com/XcFibKpTF3

— BwE (@BwE_Dev) August 12, 2023

Insider Gaming, which has been reporting on this new model since last year, shared the video and says it lines up with their claims and the information they’ve reportedly been given. The outlet reiterates though that the video is unverified, and shouldn’t be taken as factual or a genuine leak at this stage.

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South Park: Snow Day! Is A New 3D Co-Op Action Game Coming Next Year

Kieron Verbrugge — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 03:08:23 +0000

During its showcase that aired in the early hours of this morning, THQ Nordic revealed South Park: Snow Day!, a new co-op game for up to four players that looks to be an action brawler set (naturally) during a snow day in the town.

Interestingly, the trailer and taglines seem to make a pretty big deal out of the fact that this game is in 3D, as opposed to Ubisoft’s somewhat-recent Obsidian-developed RPGs that really nailed the 2D look of the TV series. It might not be what fans would prefer but it does look striking enough in the small glimpses we’ve seen.

South Park: Snow Day! is headed to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and PC next year, and here’s that first Reveal Trailer: for

“An all-new South Park game is coming… in 3D. Join Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny, in three-dimensional glory, to celebrate the most magical day in any young child’s life – a snow day! Grab up to three friends and battle your way through the snow-piled streets of South Park on a quest to save the world and enjoy a day without school.”

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Moving Out 2 Review – Boxed Office Smash

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 11:59:38 +0000

The original Moving Out was not only one of the more successful and charming runs at the “chaotic co-op sim” crown worn at the time by the likes of Overcooked, but it was a neat little Aussie success story with the folks at SMG Studio behind the wheel of the world’s hardest-working removalist truck. Fast forward three years and the team is back with a full-on sequel, revisiting the concept with an itemised list of new ideas and an already-solid foundation to build on and around.

As someone who’s just done the end-of-lease moving dance, a journey I had the distinct privilege of paying what might have been the world’s worst professional movers to accompany me on, I was excited to jump back into Moving Out to prove that I could have done an infinitely better job at it myself. Forgetting, of course, that the poor folks at Smooth Moves Inc. have a lot more to deal with than millennials with too many overpriced gaming collectibles to fret over.

Moving Out 2 opens with an excellent animated intro that perfectly captures the vibe of its 80s setting, before launching into its sizeable campaign. The team at Smooth Moves has run into a spot of bother after their boss, a sentient cardboard-box-person, accidentally rips open the fabric of time and space during an attempt to boost company efficiency by 90% with 90% less employees – a classic workplace caper. With the town of Packmore sporting some fresh new gaping portals into alternate universes, it’s up to you and the Smooth Moves crew to put everything back in its rightful place and restore order to the moververse, one truckload at a time.

The game’s campaign follows a pretty similar structure to before with a handful of “worlds” containing multiple levels (over 50 in total this time around) to play through, gradually unlocked as you complete objectives and raise your F.A.R.T. (Furniture Arrangement and Relocation Technician) ranking.

Each level presents its own spin on the task of loading up your truck with the correct bits of furniture, appliance and decor within a time limit. Like last time, what starts out as a mad dash to get everything in the truck as fast as possible while fighting intentionally-wobbly physics and physical conundrums in early stages quickly becomes so much more with out-of-this-world levels adding new opportunities and challenges outside of the realm of good customer service.

One level might see you and your team attempt to sort magical baubles onto their corresponding freight trains, or use drones to carve out new paths or cross chasms, there are even levels designed around moving in which challenge players to put items from the truck into their correct places within a building. Without spoiling too much, the situations in Moving Out 2 get a lot more wacky a lot faster than in the original, almost to a fault. There were times when I’d be flinging giant candies into basketball hoops with a slingshot or jumping through magical portals and wished I was just hilariously trying to drag an L-shaped couch through a narrow hallway or flex my Tetris skills to fix the horrendous packing job my partner had done on the truck.

It’s ultimately a good problem to have though, as the majority of Moving Out 2’s gimmicks make for a perfect blend of problem solving, teamwork and laugh-out-loud catastrophe when playing with others – which remains the undisputed best way to play this game. Whether you’re playing in couch co-op or (for the first time in this sequel) cross-platform online with up to three others, the game does a great job of scaling the challenge of its frankly loopy concepts for all team sizes and skills. I did find that a few levels veer wildly into overly punishing or absurdly easy territory seemingly at random, but with so many on offer a couple of duds doesn’t hurt too much.

GET IT ON AMAZON FOR $54.99 WITH FREE SHIPPING

There are also some great assist options on-hand to help smooth things out if the team isn’t gelling or on even ground in terms of capabilities, like extended time limits, lighter items or even the ability to have objects disappear into the ether once they’re on the truck to make packing easier. I can’t speak so much to the actual accessibility of the experience but the settings there are fairly basic. With increased gameplay and visual complexity in the sequel it might still present some insurmountable hurdles, but the assists are definitely a welcome feature. The game manages to get a pass on some frustratingly inconsistent control and collision stuff as well, purely by virtue of frustrating inconsistency being its whole schtick, but it does wear a bit for anyone genuinely trying to achieve those Pro times and extra challenges.

SMG has absolutely nailed the presentation though, building on the visual blueprint set out by its predecessor and polishing it up to a sheen to be much more lush, vibrant and dynamic. It feels much stronger in its identity too, coming across as an overall more high-quality production. It looks nicer, but also more cohesive, and far richer. There’s plenty to unlock again as a reward for completing a litany of optional objectives in levels as well as discovering hidden secrets, including challenging new Arcade levels and over 30 characters to play as once you’ve unlocked them all.

Massive props has to go to Moving Out 2’s writers, who’ve really out-punned themselves in this effort. In fact, I reckon this game probably has the highest per-page saturation of puns in a video game to date, and the dialogue as a whole is thoroughly entertaining at every step of the way.

Conclusion

Moving Out 2 is an accomplished sequel, building on what made the first game great and really honing in on its presentation and content offering. It's not a radical departure, and not all of its levels are designed equally, but overall this is another feather in SMG Studio's cap.

Positives

Still a whole lot of fun with friends, and now online!

Overall presentation and content offering is much stronger this time

The writing and humour are A+

Scales well to different group sizes and abilities

Negatives

Could have done with just a few more "traditional" Moving Out levels

Decent music that gets old real fast

BUY IT HERE

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What To Play This Weekend

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 07:07:56 +0000

The weekend is upon us! And for many people, that means it’s time to kick back, crack open a cold can of Monster Energy Superdry and get into some video games.

If you’re like me and the decision to sit down and play something comes easy but the idea actually deciding what to play is completely paralysing, I have good news! We’ve taken the time put together a real quick look at just a few of the games you could potentially fire up this weekend, hopefully narrowing down the choices at least a little bit for you.

(If you like this and would like to see these more often, let us know!)

How About A Visual Novel? Or A Musical Visual Novel??

Fans of rich narratives presented through static, or mostly-static art and a bit of weekend reading have a heap of great options this week with Steam’s Visual Novel Fest sale bringing discounts on some classics plus demos of new and upcoming VNs to sink your eyes into.

You could practice your best “Objection!” and make your way through The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles at half price, or take a more relaxed approach and sip some hot bean juice in Coffee Talk for just $11.37. If you’re excited for Devolver and Deconstructeam’s upcoming The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood (and you should be) there’s also a playable demo of that to check out ahead of its August 17th release date.

Or, might I recommend you check out Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Music, the just-released gem from Melbourne’s own Summerfall Studios that breaks new ground by offering a choice-driven narrative adventure in the form of a whole-arse musical. It’s gorgeous, the characters are fresh and wonderfully-realised takes on Greek gods and there’s an obscene amount of work poured into its branching musical concept. Stray Gods is out now on basically every platform.

What’s On Xbox Game Pass?

If you’ve got an Xbox console, a PC, or just a device capable of accessing the enormous Game Pass library via cloud streaming, there’s a world of possibility for your weekend gaming sessions.

This weekend, you could jump into the enhanced port of Quake II, which just dropped as a surprise release for QuakeCon. It’s got visual improvements, heaps of content including a brand-new expansion and even comes with Quake II 64. You can find it on Game Pass right here.

If you want something much more chill, A Short Hike is an indie classic that just landed on Game Pass earlier this month across PC, console and cloud. It has you hike, climb and soar through a peaceful mountain landscape, making your way to its summit as you meet folks, find hidden secrets and just enjoy the world around you. Find it here.

I’m cheating a little bit with this last recommendation because it’s actually not on Game Pass, but did just arrive on Xbox after being a PlayStation and PC exclusive for a bit, and that’s Stray. It’s an unmissable third-person narrative adventure starring an adorable cat in a cybercity populated entirely by robots. Find it here with a launch discount.

Something For The Pokémon Tragics

In case you missed this week’s Pokémon Presents showcase, and you’d be forgiven for having skipped it, Nintendo just dropped two Pokémon classics on Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Switch Online members can now play the Game Boy Colour’s timeless digital take of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, including support for playing your friends online!

For those with the higher-tier Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, you can also play Pokémon Stadium 2 for the N64. Battle your friends on the same console or online with all of the Pokémon from the first two generations in this 2001 classic.

Or, You Know, Baldur’s Gate 3

I almost wasn’t going to add this one in as a suggestion because it seems like every person and their dog is playing this game already, and if so they already know exactly where their weekend is heading. If somehow you haven’t joined the hundreds of thousands of people already playing Baldur’s Gate 3 and you have a PC capable of running it, get around it here!

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Baldur’s Gate 3 Is Currently Beating Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom As The Highest-Rated Game Of 2023

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 05:25:51 +0000

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, despite its mighty and incredible Metacritic Score of 96 out of a possible 100, has been dethroned as 2023’s highest-rated game so far by none other than Baldur’s Gate 3.

Commanding a score just one point above Nintendo’s masterful sequel, Larian Studios has managed to do the unthinkable in a year where Tears of the Kingdom has dominated much of the GOTY conversation since it launched in May.

Of course, with a game as big as Baldur’s Gate 3 and given that it looks like review access has been quite late and sporadic among most outlets globally, the game still only has 18 reviews polled from Metacritic-approved outlets at the time of writing. That’s a far cry from TotK’s 145 reviews, so this victory could very well be short-lived.

Still, it’s held that 97 score continually as more reviews have trickled, so there’s still a chance it keeps its position or close to it – and either way, it’s clearly very quickly made its way into the pantheon of instant video game classics for 2023, and probably this entire generation. Even the User Score, usually a vitriolic cesspool of a corner of Metacritic, is rocking a healthy 9.4.

While we haven’t published a review yet ourselves (there is one on the way!), the praise is out there. Guardian gave the game a perfect score, for example, writing “Baldur’s Gate 3, like its titular city, is a towering landmark of an RPG. Bustling with life, brimming with scope, and bursting with imagination.”

Meanwhile Game Rant went with a slightly-more conservative 9/10, saying that, “It has heart, it has style, and it has the multi-year effort of a studio that obviously loves its source material. The mind-blowing size of the game itself and everything contained within is a testament to Larian Studios’ dedication to its craft and commitment to bringing something incredible to the gaming public.”

If your definition of a perfect game requires that all characters keep their genitals tucked firmly in their trousers unless advised otherwise, you’ll also be happy to know that Larian has put a stop to those that weren’t.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is out now on PC, and is coming to PS5 on September 6th.

The post Baldur’s Gate 3 Is Currently Beating Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom As The Highest-Rated Game Of 2023 appeared first on Press Start.

The Successor To Lance Reddick’s Iconic Destiny Role Has Been Announced

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 03:52:25 +0000

Bungie has announced which actor it’s chosen to replace the late Lance Reddick’s iconic role as Commander Zavala in Destiny, tapping long-time Hollywood and video game actor Keith David for the part.

The studio says that David’s voice will be heard in the upcoming Final Shape expansion for Destiny 2 and beyond, though it’s not planning to go back and retroactively update Reddick’s original lines, leaving them in the game as is.

David will take the mantle after Reddick tragically passed away at his home in Los Angeles earlier this year, aged 60. His work as Zavala was beloved, along with his many other contributions to video games, with Bungie paying tribute to the late actor as it introduces his replacement in a blog post announcement (which you can read in full here).

Hello Guardians! Speculate no more; the future of Zavala is nigh.@DestinyTheGame pic.twitter.com/RBq6VZixkK

— KeithDavid (@ImKeithDavid) August 10, 2023

“Earlier this year, we lost Lance Reddick, the English language voice actor of Commander Zavala. The passion and professionalism Lance brought to the role over the last decade was unmistakable and loved by all. Lance’s iconic voice led us through the most intense moments in Destiny’s history and his impact on our Guardians, our community, and Bungie as a whole will never be forgotten,” the post reads.

“Keith David, a prolific actor on the stage and in television, film, and games, will assume the English language voice of Zavala in The Final Shape and beyond. Separately, Lance’s existing lines in-game will remain untouched for the upcoming release.”

David adds, “I am honored to continue the great work of Lance Reddick as Zavala. Lance captured the character’s sense of integrity so wonderfully. It is my intention to continue that work.”

Bungie and David have worked together in the past, on the Halo series, and is also notable for his work on other video game franchises such as Mass Effect and Saints Row.

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The Lollipop Chainsaw Remake Has A Title But Has Also Been Delayed

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 03:18:10 +0000

Dragami Games, the folks behind the upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw remake, now known to be titled Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP, have revealed that the game is being delayed from its original 2023 release window to a Winter 2024 target.

Producer Yoshimi Yasuda, who was the CEO of Kadokawa games when it originally published Lollipop Chainsaw in 2012, said in a post:

“The official title is Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP.

“We are working hard on game development, but we need a little more time. We will do our best to create the game that you will love, so we ask for your continued support.”

????????”Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP”
??????????????????,?????????????????
?????????????????????????,?????????????????…!!!
Apologies for the inconvenience.
Please see attached message in English. pic.twitter.com/zTRbIffe3X

— ???? Yoshimi Yasuda (@yasudaD5) August 11, 2023

The studio originally announced the Lollipop Chainsaw remake last year, sans the new title, describing that the game will have “a more realistic approach to graphics” along with a brand new soundtrack (due to licensing reasons). The game is being developed by a combination of original staff and brand new staff.

Yasuda said at the time, “Unfortunately, various factors resulted in things making it so that fans can no longer easily play Lollipop Chainsaw, and it has been some time since players have not been able to access the game on current consoles.

“We, the original development staff on Lollipop Chainsaw, think of the game as very precious to us, and did not want to leave it in limbo, where players who want to play it cannot. As such, we purchased the Lollipop Chainsaw intellectual property from Kadokawa Games, and decided to develop a remake. We have already contacted Warner Bros. about development, and are being supported by them in this endeavor.”

Lollipop Chainsaw was originally develop-ed by Grasshopper Manufacture (of No More Heroes fame) with writing from James Gunn and a fairly star-studded cast. It launched in 2012 for PS3 and Xbox 360 and was extremely divisive critically, but grew a cult audience among fans.

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A Free Portal Expansion Is Coming To Escape Simulator

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 01:31:17 +0000

Pine Studios has announced a somewhat surprising expansion to its co-operative escape room game, Escape Simulator, bringing the world of Valve’s iconic Portal franchise to the game in an all-new room inspired by the designs of Aperture Science.

It’s a big one too, with the developers estimating it’ll take players a good 30 to 60 minutes to complete, and is so large that a brand-new checkpoint system has been implemented as well.

The DLC will even pack Aperture Science Laboratories-styled character skins, and will be playable for up to 10 players (though Pine says it’s best played with 1-4). The best part is this DLC will be free for all owners of the base Escape Simulator game when it arrives on September 8th. If you need a reminder for when it drops, you can wishlist Portal Escape Chamber on Steam right here.

Here’s an exciting trailer for the Escape Simulator: Portal Escape Chamber DLC:

“Your services are required in this new Portal Escape Chamber on September 8th. This chamber is approved by Valve and based on the Aperture Science Enrichment Center from the Portal games! We are of course incredibly thankful to the entire team at Valve for letting us create this new free DLC, which is truly a wish come true for all of us at Pine Studio!

“In this free-to-play DLC for Escape Simulator, you and fellow ~~subjects~~ scientists (up to nine) were part of a minor workplace incident, causing the place to go into a state of complete lockdown. Now that you’re trapped in this laboratory, it’s up to you all to stay calm and escape.

“Solve puzzles, repair the Personality Core, reunite with some familiar cube-shaped friends, and break the Aperture Laboratories’ safety protocols to gain your freedom. And to make your escape a little bit sweeter. we promise that there will be cake. No lie.”

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Nintendo’s Patents And The Red Dead Redemption Re-Release – The Press Start Podcast

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 01:14:31 +0000

This week, we discuss patents ruining game development and the importance of backwards compatibility, react to the Pokémon Presents announcements and the news that Red Dead Redemption is getting re-released, and review Stray Gods and the Gran Turismo movie.

Listen on LiSTNR
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Omny

You can also watch the video version of the podcast below:

00:00 – Intro
00:46 – Gran Turismo Review
02:52 – Stray Gods Review
08:10 – Pokemon Presents Reactions
12:30 – Nintendo Patents Zelda Game Mechanics
21:22 – Is Backwards Compatability Essential?
24:31 – Red Dead Redemption Re-Releases
31:08 – Could GTA 6 Be A Year Away?
32:25 – Will You Play Modern Warfare 3?
33:09 – What The Wiki?!
38:22 – Outro

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EA Sports FC Mobile Has Been Revealed Along With Its “Cover” Star

Kieron Verbrugge — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 00:03:12 +0000

EA is keeping the hype train going for its rebranded, post-FIFA football series, EA Sports FC, with the announcement of a new mobile entry – aptly titled EA Sports FC Mobile.

This new game is set to launch next month on September 26th, and will come as an update to the existing 100 million people who EA says actively play FIFA Mobile already, as well as a free download for everyone else across Android and iOS.

EA Sports FC Mobile even has a “cover star” in Real Madrid’s Vini Jr., who will presumably feature heavily on the game’s app icon and/or in its menus. EA said in a statement, “We are pleased to announce Vini Jr. as the official cover athlete of EAS FC Mobile. A global star who’s burst onto the footballing scene with Real Madrid, Vini Jr. exemplifies the values of energy, skill, and creativity, while also having a knack for the spectacular.”

“I’m excited to be featured as the cover star for EA SPORTS FC MOBILE and look forward to sharing this excitement with fans worldwide,” added Vini Jr himself. “Football is more than just a sport, and to play a part in inviting more people into this celebration is a dream.”

EA Sports FC Mobile promises over 18,000 players across 650 teams and more than 30 leagues, with enhanced on-pitch gameplay, a centralised customisation hub and “immersive broadcast experience.”

You can check out a short promotional trailer for EA Sports FC Mobile below:

“Experience unrivaled authenticity in EA SPORTS FC Mobile with a true-to-life mobile experience of The World’s Game featuring football’s biggest stars and teams. With 18,000+ players across 500+ teams and over 25 leagues, EA SPORTS FC Mobile is the only place on mobile where you can play the iconic UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Europa Conference League, Premier League, Bundesliga, and LALIGA EA SPORTS.”

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A Quake 2 Remaster Just Got A Surprise Release

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 23:24:23 +0000

After plenty of leaks and rumours, Bethesda has finally revealed – and subsequently dropped – a new and enhanced version of the classic 1997 FPS, Quake II at QuakeCon 2023.

Developed in partnership with Nightdive Studios (the same people behind the remaster of the first Quake in 2021 and the recent System Shock remake), Quake II is out right now across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch and PC.

It’s an impressive effort in both feature set and content as well, with the game itself given new life thanks to performance upgrades, widescreen support, lighting and shader enhancements, rebuilt animations, improved bot AI and a whole lot more more while still preserving the original game experience and its kick-arse soundtrack from Sonic Mayhem.

On top of just the overall enhancements though, this new release also includes the game’s original expansion packs, previously-cut content, a whole new expansion pack created by the talented folks at MachineGames (the studio responsible for the modern Wolfenstein games and upcoming Indiana Jones game) and packing 28 new campaign levels plus a brand-new Deathmatch map. And to add to all of that, the package also includes Quake II 64 at no extra cost, complete with its own enhancements.

Quake II is available now for just $14.95 via any of the below digital storefronts, and it’s also available as part of a Game Pass subscription across both Xbox and PC!

You can also read more about this new release of Quake II right here and watch the trailer below:

You are humanity’s last hope to stop the Strogg, a hostile alien race waging war against Earth. Play this iconic military sci-fi FPS, now enhanced for modern platforms and feature-complete with all-new campaign content, Quake II 64, online multiplayer and co-op support, and more.

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We Went Hands-On With Overwatch 2’s Invasion Update

Harry Kalogirou — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:59:02 +0000

Ahead of Overwatch 2: Invasion’s launch today, we got to go hands-on with the game’s behemoth update. From the highly anticipated story missions, to running Flashpoint matches with Illari, we got to play with everything new coming to Overwatch 2’s sixth season. While I’m unsure if Invasion offers enough to warrant a reinstall for returning players, there’s a lot of good content to get into here for Overwatch regulars.

The biggest allure of the Invasion update is undoubtedly its PvE components. Serving as the start of Overwatch 2’s canonical narrative, Invasion brings three unique story missions set in Rio, Toronto, and Gothenburg respectively. It also brings what’s to be the first of many event missions in Underworld, set on the King’s Row map.

At its core, the story being told here is about the reformation of Overwatch in the face of Null Sector. Overwatch is a shell of its former self, comprised of only a few members who were present during its glory days. The team moves through regions affected the most by Null Sector, recruiting heroes both new and old to their cause so they can take the fight to the enemy.

The writing and world building is the unquestionable highlight of these introductory missions. Members of the team banter back and forth in a fashion that establishes prior relationships as believable and storied. Private journals and communications between heroes flesh out beloved characters and add layers of humanity to their personalities.

The broader narrative is also one of intrigue and conflicting ideologies. Without spoiling too much, the conclusion of the third mission makes the direction of this narrative very clear, and it does a great job of hooking you into the premise. Furthermore, each mission is punctuated by Blizzard-quality cinematics, and previously released shorts are recontextualized within the broader narrative being told here.

Where these opening missions stumble the most is in their gameplay. One dimensional objectives and linear mission design leave these first three levels feeling a little too simplistic. There isn’t much more to do than dispatch Null Sector baddies, push payloads, and defend points. Playing with friends can ease some of the mundanity, but I doubt many players will come back for seconds after a first run through.

Null Sector as an enemy force do manage to keep things feeling mostly fresh. Each mission introduces at least one new enemy type with unique mechanics and roles that require some prioritization. Fighting these adversaries is made even better by a dynamic dismemberment system that sees robotic limbs being torn from chassis, limiting their capacities for combat.

Out of everything offered in this update, the content I had the most fun with is undoubtedly Flashpoint. Overwatch 2’s new game mode stands alongside Push as one of the best the game has to offer, focusing more on dynamic team play and adaptation as opposed to turtling up on a point or payload.

The gargantuan size of the maps Flashpoint is set on goes a long way to help with this. They feel colossal in size, but never maze-like or overbearing in navigation. The way momentum can swing between teams at a moments notice makes for an unpredictable and fluid gameplay loop is consistently exciting and engaging. It’s at its best when teams are at two points each, contesting each other in a final scramble for victory where ultimate abilities are going off left, right, and center in a bid to keep control of the point.

As a damage player, it isn’t often that supports do much for me outside of a few exceptions. I’m pleased to say that Illari was promptly added to that short and sweet list. Healing Pylon allows for passive healing that lets Illari focus on putting out damage and keeping enemies away. The healing beam in her alt fire means you can always go hard on healing when the time is right, and her ultimate ability has the potential to put an explosive end to team fights.

Her design is also excellent. Blizzard continues the trend of bringing diverse and unique characters to its roster with each new addition. Her mannerisms and dialogue also feel distinct for her age, cluing you in to her scarred and traumatic past.

Hero Mastery missions add a bit of replayable fun to Overwatch 2’s suite of content, especially given the inclusion of leaderboards. It’s unfortunate then, that Hero Mastery is only available for a handful of heroes at launch. While there are more to come, it can be hard to care much about them if they don’t encompass any of your mains.

While I don’t think Invasion will do enough for many lapsed players, there’s loads of great stuff on offer here for players who frequent Overwatch. The story missions do a great job of expanding the lore, characters, and world of Overwatch. Flashpoint and Illari are excellent additions that shake-up the game, and Hero Mastery is a good time despite its limited offerings.

For a seasonal update, Invasion is jam-packed with content, hopefully marking the start of continued support for evergreen PvE modes, increasingly creative hero designs, and more expansive maps in Overwatch 2. Invasion is live right now on all platforms. We have more details on what’s coming in Overwatch’s largest content update yet right here.

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Everything You Need To Know About Overwatch 2: Invasion

Harry Kalogirou — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 18:59:02 +0000

Despite the axing of Overwatch 2’s ambitious PvE mode earlier this year, the game has just received its most comprehensive content update yet in the form of Overwatch 2: Invasion. Invasion brings all-new PvE content, a new game mode in Flashpoint, improved player progression systems, and Overwatch’s latest support hero; Illari. There’s a breadth of stuff to sink your teeth into here, so let’s break down what to expect when you login to Invasion for the first time.

New PvE Content Marks the Beginning of Overwatch 2’s Canonical Narrative

Story missions are the hallmark inclusion of the Invasion update, marking the beginning of a narrative being told in Overwatch 2. Able to be played in coop or as a solo player, each mission takes you to the homes of different heroes as they attempt to fight against the looming threat of Null Sector. Invasion is launching with three missions out of the gate, each fitted with cinematics, new enemy types, and difficulty settings for added replay value. A unique set of heroes are available for each missions to fit within the narrative context at hand.

Each character combination brings with it unique interactions and lines of dialogue offering up even more replay value. Blizzard poised Invasion’s three missions as the start of a specific story arc, with plans to expand for many years to come. Null Sector are more dangerous and capable now than they were in Uprising. New systems have also been put in place to support these new missions and map sizes. Most impressive is a destructible limb system with the Null Sector enemies, where parts are blown off in combat, limiting their functionality.

On top of this, players can also expect Event Missions to be released seasonally, alongside the addition of Hero Mastery Missions. These replayable single-player experiences are built to hone and refine a player’s skills with specific heroes in Overwatch 2. Invasion brings the first courses for a selection of heroes, with more to follow in future seasons. Hero Mastery Missions are also scored and placed on a leaderboard against other players, incentivizing you to flex your abilities as you compete against one-another for the highest scores.

Illari is a Peruvian Support Hero Powered by the Sun

Touted as an attack-centric support, Illari is Overwatch’s second South American hero. Hailing from Peru, Illari is a young and fierce solar warrior with new healing mechanics and a focus on precision play. Her design is heavily inspired by Peruvian culture, with a strong focus on the sun motif as well as culturally significant details like her hair. She’s also Overwatch’s youngest hero thus far, but her trauma has hardened her into one of the more mature heroes to be found among the cast.

Her main source of healing comes in the form of Healing Pylon; a deployable piece of tech that attaches to any surface and single-target heals allies with low health. Her Solar Rifle allows for long-range precision shots that automatically recharge, with an alt-fire that functions as a healing beam. Outburst acts as a much needed keep-away and repositioning tool in moments of peril. Illari’s Ultimate is unique in that she’s the first support hero with an ultimate that targets enemies. Captive Sun fires off an explosive ball of solar energy that slows enemies when hit, and also triggers an explosion after they take significant damage.

Flashpoint Brings Overwatch’s Biggest PvP Maps to Date

Overwatch 2’s latest PvP mode, Flashpoint, is also launching with Invasion. Invasion is played on Overwatch 2’s biggest maps yet; Suravasa and New Junk City, where teams compete over rotating capture points. Capturing three of them before your opponents do results in victory. Available in both Open and Role queues, Flashpoint is set to become a staple game mode within Overwatch 2. New maps and a Competitive Queue for Flashpoint are also set to be implemented into the game at later dates.

Bigger maps also allow for new locations and deeper representation previously unexplored in Overwatch. Suravasa and New Junk City are massive in scope to accommodate the total of three capture points, simultaneously improving spawn locations and preventing excessive amounts of steamrolling. Much like Push, Flashpoint looks to be a game mode built around momentum swings and more fluid gameplay loops as opposed to the more static nature of modes like Escort.

New Player Progression to Flex Your Skill

The last major inclusion brought with Invasion is a new player progression system. Hero Progression tracks the way you play heroes through individual categories. As your heroes level up, so does your account, earning you emblems and name card upgrades that show-off dedication and skill in a particular character, as well as your playstyle. These bonuses can even be earned in PvE, and are exclusively unlocked through levelling heroes.

All in all, Invasion is a beefy update for Overwatch players to get into in full, while also offering a PvE component for players who don’t gel as much with the PvP side of things. Illari is also charting new ground as far as support hero design goes, offering a particularly offensive playstyle not found with other heroes of her type. Overwatch 2: Invasion is live right now on all platforms, including Steam! You can also check out our hands-on impressions of the update right here.

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Lords Of The Fallen Hands-On Preview – Any Soul Is The Goal

James Wood — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:59:22 +0000

We don’t get many games like Lords of the Fallen 2023. This industry is saturated with IP reboots and sequels but rarely does a developer and publisher sit down and just say, you know what, let’s take another run at this. The “this” in this case being Lords of the Fallen 2014, one of the first major studio swings at the then-relatively fresh Soulslike genre. Co-developed by Deck13 and CI Games, it was a largely forgettable fantasy action outing that attempted to recapture the, uh, soul, of FromSoftware’s booming Dark Souls franchise, a monumental task too great for such a green concept. But a lot can change in a decade, and while Deck13 carved its own niche, CI Games never quite let go.

That dedication to the series has finally borne fruit, though not without years of tumultuous growth and pruning. Originally planned as Lords of the Fallen 2, the game I got to play a few hours of earlier this month now emerges from Hexworks, a CI Games internal studio formed in 2020 to fulfill the publisher’s vision for the series. A vision that passed through both Deck13 and the now-shuttered New York based Defiant Studio, before finally finding its footing some five years later back in the CI Games fold.

In many ways, it feels like Hexworks has made its best approximation of Dark Souls 4; a relentless blend of FromSoftware’s past decade of ideas and aesthetics, cobbled together with its own ambitions and Euro-centric fantasy vibe. Which is, frankly, pretty bold; the original Lords of the Fallen made a name for itself with its proximity to Dark Souls and the newly imagined version seems to have distinctly doubled down on the connective tissue. But where FromSoftware has garnered a reputation for deliberately considered design, Lords of the Fallen sprints in the other direction, opting for decadent art and a stacked array of mechanics that majorly impact everything from combat to exploration. It’s big, brash, and hard to not find kind of compelling.

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Things begin as they often do in these affairs, with a crunchy character creator followed by a mysterious, solemn awakening in a prison. There are a handful of potential classes to choose from with some banger names like Udirangr Wolf, Hallowed Knight, and my personal favourite, the Blackfeather Ranger, a multifaceted build that was doing their best at a Bloodborne cosplay, right down to the silly little hat. Classes followed the basic archetypes of strength, agility, magic and so on, each sporting a fun bit of worldbuilding and lore. Once you’ve chosen your class, you’ll be stirred awake in a gloomy cave by a mysterious figure talking in riddles about your “sacrosanct flesh” before asking you to find him in the world.

The overall onboarding of Lords of the Fallen can be a little much as the game is tasked with not only teaching you the basics of combat but the mechanics of its signature idea, the Lantern. This cursed object always hangs from your hip and is somewhat clumsily equipped by holding both LT and LB in a crab-like grip. With it you can peer into the Umbral Realm, a shadowy mirror of the real world that hides new pathways through levels, different enemy types and an all-seeing ominous eye that gets wider the longer you spend in Umbral. You can fully enter the Umbral by holding X and tearing your soul from its flesh, giving you decreased defences but the ability to exist within the realm for lengthy periods of time. Conversely, if you’re downed in the “real” world, the Lantern will give you one final chance at life in a form neither corporeal nor spirit, dramatically altering your health pool.

It’s a neat trick, and one that the game will be using regularly to help you navigate world puzzles, obscured pathways and take on increasingly gruesome foes. Aesthetically the Umbral is a bit washed out, layering existing gameplay areas with a blueish grey filter, and littering them with piles of corpses and congealed fleshy goo. But the details really make it sing, those same piles covered in eyes that follow your movements, heightening the feeling that you’re not supposed to be here, and somebody knows it. Imagine the Insight endgame of Bloodborne and you’re halfway there, only now those mammoth Lovecraftian horrors are everywhere and waving at you.

Soulslike combat is also impacted by the Lamp, giving you the ability to rip souls from bodies for increased damage strikes and strip enemies of otherworldly protections. Baseline is exactly what you’re imagining; light and heavy attacks assigned to bumper and trigger respectively, a dodge roll, block, parry, and stance swapping all tethered to a limited pool of stamina. There’s a lightness to the combat that does raise an eyebrow from time to time, your character feeling a little less grounded in the world and the swings of weapons than I’d like for the genre. But the primary concern with combat was the camera, which swung wildly between functional in open spaces and frustratingly clumsy in tighter, smaller arenas. I died to one boss about half a dozen times thanks to the camera and lock-on system breaking, something that will hopefully be tweaked before launch.

Lords of the Fallen closes this gap through sheer force of will though, papering over its limitations with a collage of weapon and build variety, a generous parry window, and fantastic enemy diversity. My Ranger was positioned as a dual melee/ranged build, capable of wielding a swift one-handed axe and switching to a long bow with the press of a button. Both would prove vital and fun across my few hours with the game, as I could easily pick off foes from a distance with a variety of arrows (even in boss arenas) before rolling in with my axe and shield for a more traditional bout.

Parrying is kind to the player too with a rather wide window of opportunity but the trade-off being much less of a stun on the enemy when successfully done. Damage is mitigated by blocking but not entirely done away with too, leaving a greyed-out portion of your health bar that you can claim back by hitting foes, encouraging more aggressive play. And while I didn’t have time to try them out, I also picked up a bevy of cool weapons to skill up into, and even found a little freak to sell me powerful Umbral spells for a magic build.

The world of Lords of the Fallen is actually packed with little freaks come to think of it. This is a vaguely Dark Fantasy, Pagan-esque shitshow of a land drowning in bloody ritualistic magic and colliding power systems. To try and recount the full table of proper nouns and plotting I saw would take most of the day but essentially the citizens of Mournstead have been locked in an endless war to prevent the return of a tyrannical demon overlord and they’re losing. Begrudgingly sanctioned to use dark magic to prevent the end of the world, you’re enlisted as a Dark Crusader by the Church of Orius to become hero of the Radiant God and stop Adyr’s army of demonic beasts. In practice this means you’ll be running operations from a central church hub that can be used to connect to various corners of the world in which you’ll find giant beacons to destroy. But the true Lords are the friends you’ll make along the way.

Over time the church becomes more populated with folks you find in the overworld and even former bosses. After the first major boss encounter wraps up, your foe is reborn from a spewing mass of blood (I know) and later shows up at the church to be your maiden of sorts, allowing you to level up and purchase items. I explored this church for a good while, finding secret alcoves with strange figures happy for a chat and another vendor menu. Though many of them would recoil at the Lantern and call me a heathen, I still appreciated how far Lords of the Fallen goes to make this space feel inhabited. Down some stairs I found sleeping quarters even, and raising the Lamp revealed a room-sized creature who was actually rather nice if you got to know them.

It all coalesced into a dense experience that had me hanging out for just a bit more time in the world, out of both sheer curiosity for its oddities and a need to poke at its systems a little longer to better understand where it’s all headed. Lords of the Fallen is clearly winding up for a major swing, layering its own unique concepts on top of years of genre staples and aesthetics, and these hours with the game at least hint at it all paying off. With some combat refinement and polishing, this could easily be one of the cooler action fantasy experiences of the year, even if it took a second run at it to find solid ground.

Lords of the Fallen releases October 13th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Amazon has pre-orders for $84.99 including shipping.

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EB Games Is Taking Orders For These Radical 1/4 Scale Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade Cabinet Replicas

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 06:38:28 +0000

EB has announced it’s taking pre-orders for a new range of fully licensed arcade cabinet replicas created by Numskull, including a couple of classic machines featuring the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time.

Both small-scale replica cabinets will be available starting in November this year, and will feature their respective games on lovingly-recreated hardware, with up to four players and some neat bonus features like hidden USB ports for external controllers and rechargeable internal batteries. Pre-orders are on now and require a $50 deposit, and you can find them just below:

Now, these aren’t actually the first TMNT arcade cabinet replicas available recently, with Arcade 1Up slinging their own version since a couple of years back. The main difference with the fully licensed Numskull-branded job that EB is offering is a much smaller version at just a 1/4 scale versus the original Konami cabinet, making it better suited to bedrooms, desks, that kind of thing. At $699 they’re not exactly cheap for their size but definitely a neat bit of collectible nostalgia for anyone with fond memories of these machines.

It sounds like an impressive effort to replicate the original arcade experience in a much smaller form factor as well. Here’s what each of these cabinets has to offer:

Fully playable replica using the original arcade ROM
Realistic replica – made from wood and everything from the artwork, shape and buttons matches the original cabinet
Light-up marquee
Four-player simultaneous play
4x front USB ports (hidden behind the coin doors) allow the use of USB gaming controllers (sold separately)
High-quality: made for durability, playability, and portability
6” TFT screen with 4:3 ratio featuring a new CRT lens screen cover
Original sound positioning via 3W built-in speaker with volume control
Powered via USB-C (cable included)
Internal rechargeable lithium battery
Dimensions: 44.5 cm H x 23.4 cm W x 24 cm D

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Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis Has A Release Date And It’s Real Soon

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 06:01:28 +0000

Following the end of the game’s limited Closed Beta Test, Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis will launch on Android and iOS devices soon – less than a month from now, in fact.

Fans and first-timers eager to begin their journey through the entire timeline of Final Fantasy VII via the brand-new mobile experience will be able to do so as soon as September 7th. Pre-registrations for both Android and iOS are available now and can be found right here.

Release Date Announcement!

FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS will be officially released on iOS and Android on September 7 2023! Don't forget to pre-register now!

Pre-registration: https://t.co/k7x3hnUBgF #FF7EC #FF7EverCrisis #FF7 pic.twitter.com/5GLzXA2LGN

— FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS_EN?FF7EC (@FFVII_EC_EN) August 10, 2023

Along with revealing the date for the game’s wider launch, Square Enix also shared quite a bit of fairly interesting insight into the Closed Beta Test via survey results, revealing what early players thought of their time with the game.

You can read the publisher’s report in full right here, but some key takeaways include 87% of players giving the game an overall rating of four or five out of five stars, as well as 90% of participants saying they “want to play” or “definitely want to play” the game when it launches. Players praised the impressive visuals, atmosphere and music while the major criticisms revolved around the game’s free-to-play mechanics like stamina and enhancement materials as well as buttons and text that were too small.

In response, Square Enix has already outlined a few of the steps it’ll be taking to improve the player experience based on this feedback, which include:

UI adjustments
Removal of the limit on stamina tonics
Removal of the maximum number of stamina boosts
Adjustment of the type and amount of materials required for various types of growth

CBT participants have also been promised a special weapon unlock in the full game in response to the better-than-expected response to the closed beta test, which is exclusive to the character Glenn and amusingly named the “5? Apology in Hell.”

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Fast. Friends. Forever. Is A New Campaign Celebrating The Sonic The Hedgehog Community

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 05:24:19 +0000

SEGA has announced what it calls a first-of-its-kind initiative with a new campaign dubbed Fast. Friends. Forever. in which it aims to celebrate the Sonic the Hedgehog fandom and community values.

The campaign has been designed to show how Sonic and friends live by the strong principles observed in the franchise’s extensive community, including friendship, teamwork, inspiration and loyalty, whether in the Sonic the Hedgehog video games or in other avenues.

It all starts with a delightful launch trailer created to kick off the initiative, which includes original music written to inspire the same themes that the Fast. Friends. Forever. campaign revolves around. You can check it out below:

“Through the power of teamwork, together we can accomplish anything! We have launched a new Fast. Friends. Forever. campaign to celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s amazing fans.”

Following that, SEGA has outlined some more of what fans can expect to see in celebration of the wonderful world of Sonic, which includes the following:

An upcoming four-panel digital comic series by Sonic’s community of friends featuring talented artists from around the world with the first issues available today. Fans can look forward to 14 more releasing in the coming months
The Sonic Symphony World Tour featuring Sonic and friends alongside popular music from the games including Sonic Superstars launching this fall. Stops include Los Angeles, London and more. Details around upcoming dates and locations can be found HERE
Season Two of TailsTube featuring Sonic’s two-tailed sidekick, Tails and a variety of new stories
Dedicated website showcasing all campaign activities alongside character bios, spotlights, digital comics and additional content. More details can be found HERE

More activities are promised beyond these, so keen Sonic fans should definitely be keeping an eye on SEGA and the blue blur’s socials to see what else the gang gets up to.

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Nintendo Has Patented A Bunch Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom’s Mechanics Including Its Loading Screens

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 01:45:45 +0000

Almost two years after Nintendo outed a bunch of Link’s new abilities in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom early via a patenting spree, even more patent filings have materialised relating to the game – including a few fairly questionable claims to some pretty innocuous features.

As reported by Automaton Media, a heap of Nintendo’s registered patents relating to Tears of the Kingdom, not previously made public, have surfaced and reveal that the company went pretty hard on locking down some of its ideas and concepts for the game.

Some of these, like companion character Riju’s lightning attack, seem heavy-handed but at least somewhat specific to the game. Others though, point to some interesting under-the-hood stuff that shows some classic Nintendo ingenuity, but that you might not think could or should be patented.

One example is the way that the game calculates Link’s own movement when standing on a moving object. As revealed by a patent for this very specific circumstance, the game skirts any potential weirdness in an already physics-heavy game by not calculating Link’s movement based on his physical interaction with the object – instead the dynamic movement of the object he’s standing on is simply applied to Link as well.

One of the spicier patents uncovered though, relates to Tears of the Kingdom’s loading screens, which occur during fast travel and dynamically depict the player’s original position on the world map before transitioning over to the new position as the new area loads in. It’s something most players would barely take notice of, and even when they do would hardly expect it to be a groundbreaking feature – but it’s something Nintendo is seemingly protective of enough to want to legally lock it down.

Automaton points out that, in a study by Patent Result, it was found that Nintendo’s patents had been cited as ground for rejection of other companies’ patents in a whopping 180 cases during the year 2022, and a large number of the company’s filings are related to Tears of the Kingdom.

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Twisted Metal Has Set Streaming Records For Peacock

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:48:35 +0000

Deadline has reported that Twisted Metal, the recent TV adaptation of the old-school PlayStation combat racing franchise, has been a fairly decent success for NBCUniversal’s Peacock streaming service.

The series, which in Australia is available on Stan, has apparently become Peacock’s “most-binged” comedy premiere to date, with the average viewing knocking out three episodes per viewing and many consuming the entire 10-episode run in one go.

NBCUniversal also says that it’s been one of the most successful Peacock original series’ so far, earning a place in the top five along with Bel Air, The Best Man: Final Chapters, Poker Face and Based on a True Story. Data from Nielsen shows that the series drew 400 million “viewing minutes” in its first post-premiere weekend.

Twisted Metal stars Anthony Mackie, Stephanie Beatriz, Will Arnett, Samoa Joe, Neve Campbell and more in an original story based on the classic franchise. All 10 episodes are available to stream on Stan in Australia, right here.

If you find yourself with a taste for more Twisted Metal after watching the show, the first two games recently arrived on PS5 and PS4 via the PlayStation Plus Deluxe classics catalogue.

Official Synopsis: Twisted Metal, a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game series, is a high-octane action comedy, based on an original take by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and written by Michael Jonathan Smith, about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, he’ll face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck.

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Exoprimal’s Director Reckons Dino Crisis Content Could Happen With Enough Demand

Kieron Verbrugge — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:21:22 +0000

Capcom fans who’ve been clamouring for something, anything new in the Dino Crisis universe may have got the tiniest of bumps off of the company’s recently-released online multiplayer joint, Exoprimal, if only for the very tangential connection in the featuring of dinosaurs as humanity’s number one enemy. If that wasn’t enough though (and it wasn’t), Exoprimal’s director, Takuro Hiraoka, has gone on record in an interview with Siliconera to say that the idea of Dino Crisis-related content coming to the game isn’t necessarily off the table.

While it wasn’t an overly direct answer, it was certainly a cheeky acknowledgement of fans’ thirst for more Dino Crisis, delivered in the context of the world of Exoprimal. When asked bluntly, “Could we see more Dino Crisis content come to Exoprimal?” the director simply responded:

“Leviathan is the type of entity that will go to any means to collect a variety of useful combat data. If there’s enough demand from players, Leviathan very well could make this a reality.”

Leviathan is, of course, the AI that governs the exosuit combat tests that form the basis of Exoprimal’s simulated dino-slaughtering gameplay. Hiraoka isn’t wrong in suggesting that the game’s gimmick of being set inside a combat simulation could certainly open the doors for all manner of interesting crossover content – hell, there’s already Street Fighter stuff on the way.

The rest of the interview is well worth a read, going into Hiraoka’s history with video games and industry journey, the development of Exoprimal and how fan feedback helped shape the game, as well as the developer’s plans for future content and support – including the potential for crossplay. Check it out here.

We gave Exoprimal an 8/10 in our review, saying “Exoprimal earnestly attempts to bring together engaging single-player style encounters that Capcom is known for with an unexpectedly solid multiplayer offering reminiscent of games like Lost Planet. It’s a joy to play and a great melding of PvP and PvE elements. While it’s a shame that what it has to offer is dealt to players so opaquely, Exoprimal is a pleasant surprise that’s well worth a look and not to be underestimated.”

Exoprimal is available now for $74.99 on PS5 from Amazon, and is also available via Game Pass on Xbox and PC.

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Here’s How Your Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Content Will Transfer To Modern Warfare 3

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 23:38:44 +0000

Activision has finally begun opening up about its upcoming sequel and this year’s new entry in the franchise, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Along with revealing the logo and release date, and dropping the first trailer, it’s also detailed one of the features that fans have been keen to know more about since it was first hinted – content transfer from last year’s Modern Warfare 2 to the new game.

Dubbed “Carry Forward” this system will allow for the majority of players’ arsenals, their Operators and other cosmetic content to transfer from MW2 to MW3 – a first for the series. It’ll be a pretty seamless transition from the looks as well, with things like Operators and weapons all being brought across with any added skins and progression in-tact – weapon progress will even continue between both games so if, for whatever reason, you jump back into MW2 for a bit you’ll still see your gains from MW3 and vice versa.

Here’s a complete rundown of how the system works along with a detailed FAQ, from the Call of Duty blog:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Carry Forward

What is “Carry Forward”?

The term “Carry Forward” simply refers to content currently available to players in Modern Warfare II and the current version of Call of Duty: Warzone (such as weapons and cosmetic content, including Bundles, Operators, and other rewards and unlocks from the game), and how much of it will be accessible in Modern Warfare III.

Topline Intel: What will “Carry Forward” into MWIII

Content previously described — weapons and cosmetic conten — that has been previously unlocked or is currently available to players in MWII, will carry forward between MWII and MWIII.

Now for the caveats:

A small amount of content may be unavailable if gameplay offerings are different in Modern Warfare III. For example, if MWIII doesn’t have the Tactical Amphibious Vehicle, or a specific piece of Tactical or Lethal Equipment in any game modes, any Skins you’ve unlocked for these items in MWII won’t be in MWIII. In addition, Wartracks (music) will not carry forward from MWII to MWIII.
This blog does not reference the impressive amount of planned MWIII-specific weapons and cosmetic content; this is simply explaining the MWII content available in MWIII.
There will be no “Carry Back” (from MWIII to MWII).

Does Carry Forward also apply to Call of Duty: Warzone (MWII)?

Yes.

You should expect Modern Warfare III content to be integrated into Call of Duty: Warzone at the start of Modern Warfare III Season 01, including all the Modern Warfare II content specified in this blog, where applicable. Content is additive, so none of the previously described MWII Carry Forward content acquired in Call of Duty: Warzone will be taken away.

Is Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III Content accessible in Call of Duty Warzone Mobile?

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile will include shared progression across Modern Warfare II, the current iteration of Call of Duty: Warzone, and Modern Warfare III as one of its key features. We intend to make all Operators, Weapons, Blueprints, and cosmetic equipment accessible, as well as integrating Player Level, Battle Pass access, and Weapon progression among these games. We’ll have more details to share on this as we near the worldwide launch of Warzone Mobile.

Operators

How does Carry Forward work regarding any Operators I may have acquired?

For Modern Warfare II players, all unlocked Operators and Operator Skins will carry forward into Modern Warfare III. This essentially means that every Operator a MWII player has unlocked, obtained via challenge, or purchased (including the PlayStation® Exclusive Oni Operator), will be available in MWIII.

For MWIII players who do not own MWII, MWII Base Operators will not be available.

Note: “Base Operator” means the Operator with their default Skin, which may require a challenge to unlock.

Note: Unless otherwise specified, “Modern Warfare II” content also applies to content you’ve obtained during the second iteration of Call of Duty: Warzone that launched with Season 01 of Modern Warfare II.

What happens to MWII Operators who are no longer available as a Store Bundle or who are obtained due to a timed exclusive window (e.g., a Season Operator)?

For Modern Warfare II and Modern Warfare III players, timed-exclusive MWII Operators and/or Skins are not available if they haven’t been unlocked or purchased. This mainly relates to Battle Pass Operators and Skins, as well as BlackCell Operators and Skins.

Does all cosmetic Operator Skin content carry forward?

Yes.

Store Bundle Skins for all MWII Operators will carry forward.

What happens to Operators who exist in both MWII and MWIII? For example, assuming Captain Price appears in both games, are “MWII Price” and “MWIII Price” two separate Operators?

No.

If Captain Price appears in both games, he is regarded as the same character and is selected in the same Operator menu screen, with any MWII and MWIII Skins and other content available in this selection menu.

Weapons

Do all weapons in Modern Warfare II and their Blueprints carry forward to Modern Warfare III?

Yes.

All Modern Warfare II weapons will be available for Modern Warfare III players, although each weapon’s associated unlock challenge must be completed before it becomes accessible in MWIII. Any Blueprints also carry forward, and certain MWII Blueprints available via Store Bundles will also be available to purchase in MWIII.

Some Base MWII weapons were available for a limited time during MWII’s Seasons of content, and are initially inaccessible to MWIII owners, unless the specific Weapon Unlock Challenge for that weapon has been completed.

To reiterate: If you haven’t played MWII and pick up MWIII, the full complement of MWII weapons will be available, but only after the associated weapon challenges in MWIII are completed.

Therefore, Modern Warfare III players should expect the following Base weaponry accessible in the Gunsmith, at launch:

An extensive and impressive number of Modern Warfare III–specific Base weapons (not revealed yet).
The Base weapons available at the launch of Modern Warfare II at the level you progressed them to in MWII. If you do not own MWII, the same MWII Base weapons will be available in MWIII, ready to be unlocked via a challenge, and leveled up.
Any Base weapons unlocked during a MWII Season, Event, or other unlock challenge (e.g., the Tonfa Base Melee weapon, available only as part of the Vondel Event in Season 04).

Do all attachments in Modern Warfare II also carry forward? Can I use MWII attachments on Modern Warfare III weapons?

Yes.

All Modern Warfare II attachments will be available in Modern Warfare III and can also be used on MWIII weapons, assuming they are attachable to the weapon in question.

Will Modern Warfare II Weapon Camos, including Mastery Camos and those awarded for completing Events, be carried forward?

Yes.

All Weapon Camos will carry forward into Modern Warfare III. Limited-time Event Camos that were available only during a certain period are accessible if you unlocked them in Modern Warfare II at that time.

Can a player use a Modern Warfare II Camo on a Modern Warfare III weapon? Can a player use a MWIII Camo on a MWII weapon? What about “completionist” Camos?

No.

Modern Warfare II Camos cannot be equipped on Modern Warfare III weapons, and vice versa. However, you can equip a previously locked MWII Camo onto a MWII weapon in MWIII if you fulfill the unlock criteria in MWIII.

Can a player level up a Modern Warfare II weapon in both games?

Yes.

Weapon progression will continuously update between games.

If a Tactical or Lethal Weapon has a Skin (like the “Wumpa Grenade” from “Tracer Pack: Crash Bandicoot”), do they carry forward?

Yes, provided the tactical or lethal is accessible and available for use in MWIII.

Is there a reason to purchase Modern Warfare II if all the weapons are available in Modern Warfare III?

Yes.

You would be able to have some or all of your Modern Warfare II weaponry arsenal fully leveled up and unlocked, along with their associated Camos, ready for Modern Warfare III launch, providing you put in the appropriate time to unlock and level up this content in MWII, prior to – or even after – playing MWIII.

Cosmetics

Do Weapon Charms (including Weapon Mastery Charms), Weapon Stickers (including Decals), Emblems, and Loading Screens all carry forward?

Yes.

What about Vehicle Skins, Wartracks, and Calling Cards?

Generally, yes.

Caveat: Some MWII vehicles, and Wartracks will not be available to use in Modern Warfare III.

Note: Challenges within MWII (e.g., Seasonal Prestige Challenges allowing Calling Cards to be unlocked) can be unlocked only in MWII, but unlocked Calling Cards (including those you go back and unlock in MWII) will carry forward.

Are there any Modern Warfare II cosmetics that won’t be supported in Modern Warfare III?

Generally, no, aside from the following caveats:

Some vehicle Skins may not be available (see Question 15).

Wartracks will not carry forward.

Some Tactical and Lethal equipment may not be available depending on the removing of those items in MWIII, to be replaced with MWIII-only equipment.

Exact Tactical and Lethal equipment within MWIII will be revealed at a later date.

Otherwise, all this Modern Warfare II cosmetics will be usable in Modern Warfare III. However, as with Operators and Weapons, any cosmetic item with a limited time unlock won’t be available unless it was unlocked in MWII at the appropriate time.

General Questions

How do I know whether a Modern Warfare II Store Bundle features content that can be used in Modern Warfare III?

Due to the labelling denoting that the content is usable in both games. This labelling is scheduled to be visible in the MWII store starting on August 16.

In general, what happens if I purchase Modern Warfare III first, and then purchase Modern Warfare II? Will the MWII content still be shared?

Generally, yes.

If you own both games, you’ll have both sets of content, no matter when you purchase. Weapon progression will continuously update between games (see Question 11), and if an Operator is unlocked in Modern Warfare II (via a Campaign, Multiplayer, or a Special Ops Challenge), that (Base) Operator will then become available to use in Modern Warfare III as well.

Does all Carry Forward content work in a “Carry Back” capacity? For example, can I use unlocked Modern Warfare III content in Modern Warfare II?

No.

There is no “carry back” from Modern Warfare III to Modern Warfare II. No MWIII content will be playable in MWII.

Stay one step ahead and prepare for additional and detailed intel over the course of the coming weeks regarding all aspects of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

The post Here’s How Your Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Content Will Transfer To Modern Warfare 3 appeared first on Press Start.

The First Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Trailer Has Dropped With A Full Reveal Next Week

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 23:38:22 +0000

Activision has just dropped the first proper promotional trailer (outside of Tuesday’s teaser and release date announcement) for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III.

Focusing on iconic Modern Warfare villain, Vladimir Makarov, the trailer blends live action scenes depicting Makarov being escorted out of a jail cell to get a new tattoo (is that normal? I feel like that’s not normal) with snippets of in-game footage showing some intriguing-looking scenarios, like underwater segments and a rainy stronghold breach. There’s also a scene with the burning wreckage of what looks like an airliner, potentially connecting the events of the end of the previous game.

You can watch the new trailer below, and be sure to mark August 17th (potentially 18th in AEST) for the game’s full, Worldwide Reveal.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is set to launch on November 10, with more information on platforms and release editions likely coming in the August 17th reveal.

Activision has also clarified in a blog post some of the content that players will be able to carry over into Modern Warfare 3, which you can read more about here.

The post The First Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Trailer Has Dropped With A Full Reveal Next Week appeared first on Press Start.

Disney Plus Is Also Planning To Crack Down On Password Sharing

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:52:27 +0000

Disney has revealed that it’s planning to crack down on the practice of password sharing on its Disney+ streaming service in an attempt to stem its hemorrhaging of money on the platform.

Likely after seeing the success Netflix has had with its own implementations of password-sharing restrictions and the option for subscribers to add additional users for an extra fee, with nearly 6 million new subscribers added in the second quarter of this year, Disney’s CEO Bog Iger stated the company’s plans to look into similar action in a recent earnings call, saying:

“We are actively exploring ways to address account sharing and the best options for paying subscribers to share their accounts with friends and family,” Iger said. “Later this year, we will begin to update our subscriber agreements with additional terms and our sharing policies. And we will roll out tactics to drive monetization sometime in 2024.”

“In calendar 2024, we’re going to get at this issue,” the CEO added.

Iger stressed that streaming is still a relatively young business, especially for Disney, and that it’s still a core focus for the company, saying “…moving forward, I believe three businesses will drive the greatest growth and value creation over the next five years. They are our film Studios, our Parks business, and Streaming – all of which are inextricably linked to our brands and franchises.”

Disney also announced a price increase for Disney+ for its US customers with prices going up from $10.99 USD per month to $13.99 USD per month for Disney+ Premium, which is its ad-free equivalent to the only subscription option here in Australia. The service’s cheaper, ad-supported to is also being rolled out to some new regions soon, including in Canada and the EMEA. It’s not clear at this stage how or if any of these changes will affect us locally but we’ll update when we have more.

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August’s PlayStation Plus Extra/Deluxe Games Have Been Revealed

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 22:00:25 +0000

PlayStation has revealed the line-up of games coming to PlayStation Plus Extra and Deluxe subscribers for August 2023 and it’s a pretty solid month with a couple of great new indie releases in the mix in Sea of Stars and Moving Out 2, plus some bangers like Lost Judgment and Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition.

On the classics front, Medievil Resurrection, Ape Escape: On The Loose and Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice all make their way over from the PSP.

Take a look at everything that’s coming for the month starting Tuesday, August 15th:

PlayStation Plus Extra/Deluxe August 2023

Sea of Stars | PS4, PS5

Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

Developer Sabotage aims to modernize the classic RPG in terms of turn-based combat, storytelling, exploration, and interactions with the environment, while still offering a hearty slice of nostalgia and good old, simple fun.

Moving Out 2 | PS4, PS5

Moving Out 2 will take players back to the breakneck, breakback (and break-knee) world of Smooth Moves’ Furniture Arrangement and Relocation Technicians (F.A.R.Ts), as they pack furniture, technology, and everything including the kitchen sink across increasingly bizarre locales, with increasingly deadly challenges.

Moving Out 2 will see the introduction of online co-operative, cross-play enabled gameplay to the series, allowing F.A.R.Ts around the world to team up and creatively move furniture from point A to point B and beyond!

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen | PS4, PS5

Delve into Savathûn’s Throne World to uncover the mystery of how she and her Lucent Hive stole the Light. Learn the secrets to crafting new weapons, the new Glaive, and survive the truth within her web of lies.

A twisted wonderland of corruption and splendor, Savathûn’s Throne World plays host to a fragile balance of power. From her palace to the swamp, all that she hides can be found here.

Create custom weaponry with unique mod, shader, and stat combinations. Master the new Glaive weapon type and unleash powerful melee combos, projectile attacks, and a deployable energy shield.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen will be available as a download-only title and requires Destiny 2: PS4 & PS5 base game to play.

Lost Judgment | PS4, PS5

Lost Judgment once again puts players in the sneakers of lawyer turned street-fighting detective Takayuki Yagami. Joined by his partner, ex-yazuka Masaharu Kaito, the crime-fighting duo is called on to investigate a seemingly perfect crime whose lead suspect has an airtight alibi. What starts out as a tale of revenge reveals a tangled web of conspiracy involving several unlikely factions taking advantage of a broken law system. But as victims pile up and Yagami unravels the truth, he must choose between defending the law or exacting justice.

Destroy All Humans 2 Reprobed | PS4, PS5

The alien invader Crypto returns, groovier than ever. Experience the swinging ‘60s in all its psychedelic glory and take revenge on agents for blowing up your mothership. As you uncover the schemes of your enemies, you’ll have to form alliances with members of the very species you came to enslave.

Two Point Hospital: Jumbo Edition | PS4

Put your management skills to the test! Start with nothing and design a bustling, efficient hospital as you improve the lives of Two Point County’s unfortunate residents. Place wards, treatment rooms, break areas, and more to handle any wacky ailment that comes through the door – from people with lightbulb heads to patients suffering from cube-shaped limbs. Expand your organisation across the whole of Two Point County as you build new hospitals, balance the budget, and train your staff to take on more complicated diseases.

Source of Madness | PS4, PS5

Source of Madness is a side-scrolling dark action roguelite set in the Loam Lands, a twisted Lovecraftian inspired world powered by procedural generation and AI machine learning. Take on the role of a new Acolyte as they embark on a nightmarish odyssey. Uncover the cosmic secrets of the Loam Lands and The Tower of Madness, the moon’s mysterious Citadel.

Cursed to Golf | PS4, PS5

Cursed to Golf offers a fresh take on the golfing and roguelike subgenres. Make your way through a hole within the PAR Count or your curse will take you back to the beginning of the course! To add to the challenge, these courses don’t just have bunkers and rough spots but are also chock full of mad obstacles like high-powered fans, spikes, TNT boxes, teleporters and a whole load more. It’s all par for the course in this twisted take on the classic game.

Dreams | PS4

Dreams is an extraordinary, ever-expanding game universe from the award-winning Media Molecule, creators of LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway, where you can discover community-made games from around the world… and learn to make your own. The latest evolution of the studio’s Play, Create, Share maxim, Dreams gives you the opportunity to unleash your creativity. Bring your ideas to life with innovative, easy-to-use tools, then share them with a global community. Whether you want to create games, music, paintings, animation, sculpture, movies or anything in-between, Dreams is an extraordinary digital playground where anything is possible.

And that’s not all! As part of Dreams coming to PlayStation Plus, Media Molecule’s latest game, Tren will be available to play in Dreams. Tren is a nostalgic adventure that puts you in the driving seat of a remarkable toy train, and tells a personal tale about growing up – and the transformative power of play.

PJ Masks: Heroes of the Night | PS4, PS5

Who goes into the night to save the day? You do! Get your PJs on and become Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko. Set off from Mission Control HQ on a platforming adventure for little heroes. Use your superpowers – like Catboy’s speed, Owlette’s flying, and Gekko’s muscles – to stop the night-time baddies. And explore eight PJ Masks locations, from Mystery Mountain all the way to Moon! With PJ Robot’s help, you’ll discover a world of friendship, teamwork, and secret collectibles.

Hotel Transylvania: Scary-Tale Adventures | PS4, PS5

Explore classic fairy tale worlds with your favorite characters from the Sony Pictures Animation films in Hotel Transylvania: Scary-Tale Adventures! Take control of Drac and Mavis and play through unique worlds with their own spooky spin, including Little Red Riding Hood, The Emperor’s New Clothes and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.

Faced with fearsome foes and fiendish puzzles, you must brave your way through and utilize your special abilities to dash, glide and jump through these spook-tacular storybook worlds. You’ll even get to meet iconic Hotel Transylvania characters like Johnny, Murray, Wayne and more, who’ll guide you to complete exciting quests and solve devious challenges, along with a coffin-full of collectibles for you to discover. With so much at stake, Drac and Mavis are Count-ing on you to save the day.

Lawn Mowing Simulator: Landmark Edition | PS4, PS5

Busy residential streets, vast castle grounds, quaint cottage greens, and large equestrian fields are just some of the locations that await your mowing blades in this mowing simulator, as you ride an authentic and expansive roster of real-world licensed lawn mowers from prestigious manufacturers as you manage your business. Build your own lawncare business from the ground up. Purchase and upgrade your headquarters, hire employees, purchase advertising and balance the books as you grow and expand your business. The Landmark Edition includes the Lawn Mowing Simulator – Ancient Britain DLC and Lawn Mowing Simulator – Dino Safari DLC expansions.

Lawn Mowing Simulator: Landmark Edition will launch into the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog on August 28.

Spellforce III Reforced | PS4

SpellForce III Reforced is a unique mix of an epic RPG storyline blended with accessible real-time strategy elements, designed to offer a riveting console experience to fans and newcomers alike. Create your own hero and choose between distinct skill trees, Raise your own army and fight epic mass battles and Immerse yourself in a rich world – Unravel the secrets behind the current situation in Nortander. Explore Eo, a fully-realized world filled with interesting characters and heart-wrenching stories.

Midnight Fight Express | PS4

An unexpected hero emerges on the city’s darkest night. You’re Babyface, a former member of the criminal underworld lured back into “the life” by a mysterious AI drone. Your mission against impossible odds: Fight your way across the city before sunrise, and prevent a citywide criminal takeover together. Engage in a brutal and hyper-kinetic brawling ballet, using every environmental tool and street fighting technique at your disposal. Level up your abilities to take down the mounting onslaught of bozos, cronies, and crime lords.

PlayStation Plus Deluxe Classics August 2023

MediEvil: Resurrection | PS4, PS5

The realm of Gallowmere needs a hero. Has anyone seen Sir Daniel Fortesque? Join Sir Dan’s brave quest to thwart the evil sorcerer Zarok. Bludgeon your way through bucketloads of battlefields with masses of weapons and gazillions of combat moves in your journey ahead. Experience MediEvil Resurrection originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.

Ape Escape: On the Loose | PS4, PS5

A horde of crazy apes has stolen the Professor’s time machine and travelled back through history to alter the past and ensure that monkeykind rules the world. It’s up to Spike – and his collection of incredible gadgets – to save the day. Experience Ape Escape: On the Loose originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.

Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice | PS4, PS5

Capital City is plagued by crime. Vicious new gangs are on the rampage and the Chief of Police has had enough. There’s only one solution to the mindless degeneracy on the streets… It’s time to fight fire with fire and let the elite Pursuit Force unit unleash its own brand of Extreme Justice. Explode into bigger, faster battles as bullets fly across tanks, trains, helicopters – and even the wings of an airplane! Meet the new Pursuit Force recruits, including a daredevil pilot, trigger-happy gunner and rubber-burning driver. Experience Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice originally released on the PSP, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.

The post August’s PlayStation Plus Extra/Deluxe Games Have Been Revealed appeared first on Press Start.

Atlas Fallen Review – Sinking Sand

James Wood — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 17:59:04 +0000

There’s a lot of friction in Atlas Fallen. Some of this is intentional; grinding across sand dunes and slamming overpowered attacks into fantastical creatures that are hungry for your blood to stain the earth below. Some of it isn’t; those same overpowered attacks in a constant wrestling match with the game’s camera while its overarching plot and writing catch like sand between gears. A slow but undeniable churn of grit in the machine that undercuts the game’s best ideas and brings an otherwise cool set of mechanics low.

I can always see the vision in a Deck13 game. The German developers have spent the better part of a decade emulating the FromSoftware house style, transplanting challenging action combat systems into fresh settings on a much leaner budget. The Surge games, both of which adhere much closer to the team’s inspiration points in terms of structure and theme, also embodied some of its best work. Tightly crafted experiences that introduced unique layers to the formula and successfully lifted it all into a gritty sci-fi world. Atlas Fallen pivots in almost every way; deliberate play spaces traded for open-zones, discreet encounters for bombastic rumbles, sharpened storytelling for genre pastiche. It goes on, but for the pockets of fun I had in Atlas Fallen, I struggled to see the vision.

Atlas, the titular world, has fallen. A harsh and arid land of rocky mountains, sandy dunes and dying pockets of forest, this primordial plateau has been the stage of a centuries long holy war. In the process, the land has been systematically strip mined of its Essence, a glittery sand-like substance that fuels the magic of the realm and is now solely meant for Atlas’ looming god, Thelos. Having taken the form of a massive stone idol that floats above the land, tracking its denizens like a fucked up Mona Lisa, Thelos has weaponised humanity’s belief systems and forged a religious army to do his bidding. You play as a Nameless, an underclass of people who form the worker backbone of the continent with very little in the way of compensation or basic respect.

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Once you’ve customised your hero from a decent enough selection of hairstyles, you’ll be quickly introduced to the game’s central idea – the Gauntlet. Found during a disastrous trip across the country and quickly wielded to set herself free from servitude, the Gauntlet is 2023’s third sentient, magical handheld that cracks wise at the player while offering them access to escalating powers to use in combat. Atlas Fallen’s Gauntlet houses Nyall, a Na’vi-looking blue man with a vendetta against Thelos and a tremendous arse to boot. Nyall will be with you across your whole journey, granting access to a plethora of RPG systems, traversal tools, plotty dialogue and game hints, the latter of which can be thankfully toned down in the game’s settings.

From here, Atlas Fallen is a pretty straightforward action RPG affair. You’ll be sent out across Atlas to collect pieces of the Gauntlet to power it up enough to progress to the next story beat, each portion of the map a discreet but interconnected series of open zones that house side quests and challenges to complete. The Gauntlet allows the Nameless to shift the sands of Atlas, raising platforms, activating timed magical puzzles, and best of all, propelling themselves across the sand like an ice skater. Deck13 use this to great effect, turning any open space into a slip and slide for the Nameless, and solving the open-world traversal slowdown effortlessly, if not seamlessly. You can only glide if the game registers sand beneath your feet, making some areas a clumsy stop/start experience as a small rock abruptly stops your flow in frustrating ways.

These flow issues are writ large in the game’s combat, an uneven and sporadically fun collision of systems. Atlas Fallen gives players an impressive arsenal of tools to play with, layering basic weapons like axes and whips with several types of modifiers and an underlying risk/reward micromanagement in Momentum. Landing consecutive blows against enemies raises the Momentum meter, unlocking evolved versions of your base weapon along with tiered special abilities, but also making you much more vulnerable to damage. Momentum can be expelled through critical strikes that deal massive damage and lower the bar again, making for a constant and engaging push and pull between power and limitations. It’s also consistently undercut by an unstable camera that pulls focus in frustrating ways during group encounters, endlessly fighting with the lock-on function to make for a disorientating experience.

Doubly so when camera control is essential to fully engaging with Atlas Fallen’s enemy designs, most of which require targeting specific body parts to deal meaningful damage. In concept it rules, harkening back to The Surge and allowing you to incapacitate certain attacks or cleave off new weapons by focusing on armoured limbs and the like. In practice, it wears thin, as to actually defeat a foe you’ll need to focus damage but the camera makes this an exercise in frustration. Atlas Fallen’s menagerie is detailed but limited, a rotating door of Wraiths who escalate over the course of the game but never vary all that much. It’s a combination of issues that take a baseline solid combat system and dulls its shine like sand slowly but surely burying a treasure.

Elsewhere there is a loose set of RPG systems churning away, most of which can be ignored to no real peril. There are a few currencies to collect to spend on vendors, leveling and perk slots; a crafting system that requires you to collect plants and ores from the world; a bunch of side quests and NPCs; armour customisation; the list goes on. The bulk of essentials will be given to the player via the main questline, but what really makes these systems forgettable is the overarching world of Atlas Fallen. It’s not bad, as such, but it’s shockingly dry. Voice acting and dialogue is about as unenthused by it all as I am writing this, and the repetition of the game’s missions and puzzle challenges quickly dispels any real sense of adventure.

Which is a shame because Atlas Fallen is partway to being exactly the kind of elevated action experience the genre deserves right now. A comforting throwback to design ethos of old, happy to let the player just wail on some monsters in a cool looking world. And there are elements of that kind of fun buried in here. Atlas feels grand, a massive playground to whip across the sands on and marvel at the imposing natural beauty of it all. Claiming it back from an evil god with these particular tools should be a great time. Instead, for the moments of fun I had at this beach, I just feel sunburnt and ready to wash the sand off.

Conclusion

Atlas Fallen layers interesting and engaging combat systems onto a lacklustre world and frustrating camera controls making for an uneven and forgettable fantasy action outing. Deck13 continues its work of innovating the genre in interesting ways but there’s just a little too much going on for Atlas Fallen to ever find solid ground.

Positives

Fun and innovative traversal method

Layered combat systems

Impressive sense of scale to the world

Negatives

Clumsy combat camera

Dry RPG systems

Uninspired fantasy setting

Limited enemy variety

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Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical Review – A Pitchy Performance

Brodie Gibbons — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 14:00:30 +0000

Once known as Chorus, Stray Gods is the ambitious debut title from Summerfall Studios, a new independent studio spearheaded by David Gaider, who cut his teeth in the industry taking the lead writing a number of BioWare games. The fashion in which it tells a fantastical story within a regular, urban setting reminded me a bit of Fables—the graphic novel on which The Wolf Among Us is based. However, it remains a novel experience by delivering much of its story through song.

We’ve seen television veer into musical theatre from time to time, as shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Scrubs have produced big, lavish episodes brimming with catchy songs and dance numbers. The results often speak for themselves, but they’re a creative, light-hearted departure from the main story arcs. I’ve not played every game ever so I won’t confidently declare Stray Gods to be a trailblazing first. However, given the team at the helm, it’s undoubtedly the highest-profile title to make the jump from game to musical.

After the idol Calliope is unceremoniously killed under mysterious circumstances, her eidolon, the essence of an idol’s godlike powers, passes to Grace following a chance encounter the pair share during the latter’s band auditions. Calliope’s death becomes the subject of Grace’s trial at the hands of Athena and you’re tasked with proving your innocence before your trial and likely execution. I think the story is clever, especially the way it presents these gods within the context of a mortal world, and how the fatigue of their constant transmigration weighs heavily on them.

Though it’s a big cast, with the likes of Laura Bailey and Troy Baker in the lead roles of Grace and Apollo respectively, you’d be forgiven for thinking Stray Gods is top-heavy in terms of talent. I’d argue that the game has a deep bench in terms of voice talent, even if they’re not as capable on the microphone as the leads—Rahul Kohli, who plays a bashful and bumbling Minotaur, remains a baffling choice as his singing chops are non-existent, leaving his comedic timing as his singular attribute in this particular performance. Similar deficiencies can be heard during harmonies, or in any of the many call-and-response phrasings involving more than one singer. There’s a lack of confidence that is audible from certain performers, whether it’s the material itself or their own hesitance; it does stick out like a sore thumb.

It’s evident that representation was a focus when pulling the ensemble together, the team even went as far as to reflect their actor in their god, where appropriate. For example, voiced by Erika Ishii, Hermes is presented as a gentle, genderfluid emissary, while Apollo is a shirtless surfer bro—so perhaps they’re not all one-for-one. It feels like an ensemble of angsty millennials, except the dialogue isn’t remotely as exhausting as that makes it sound.

Though it is billed as a roleplaying musical, Stray Gods delivers more on the latter than the former. While you shouldn’t expect skill trees and stat distribution, your choices, and how you attempt to curry favour with the gods, can branch the narrative off in some significant ways which should come as no surprise for anyone familiar with Gaider’s work on Dragon Age and Knights of the Old Republic. Rather than accruing stats or having your choices ultimately unlock dialogue options, you’ll choose from a few proficiencies to carry with you throughout. I opted for charm and, later on when the option presented itself, I went for a more abrasive, ‘kick ass’ attitude adjustment. Like a lot of other narrative-driven, choose-your-own adventure-likes, these choices will open up dialogue options that, without providing much story craft, fill out the narrative’s flavour.

Stray Gods is also a very horny game. In fact, my biggest takeaway was that these idols have likely spent their era-spanning existence on the mount and the invitation is definitely extended in bulk, and accepted by, in my instance, Grace throughout her investigation. That said, pursuing these romantic interests didn’t really feel earned during my play through and felt like something of an afterthought and a means to fog the windows up a bit.

Another area where choices can create a bit of flavour is within the songs themselves. During a bunch of the numbers, Grace is able to interject or steer the arrangement in a particular direction, whether that’s an aggressive or passive path is up to the player. Not only does this provide a replay value, but it’s also a neat feature to offer a bit of agency over how a song pans out. I can’t help but feel that the songwriters might have been spread a bit thin considering every permutation, however. Except for a select few, the songs in Stray Gods don’t get their hooks in and are fast forgotten as you advance the plot. I do think the songs they choose to reprise and use as motifs throughout are well-picked, particularly Grace’s first solo which features prominently throughout.

The game’s story unfolds similarly to a visual novel, serving the player with beautiful, hand-drawn frames that have small flourishes of expression to help make the cast feel alive. Excluding the few that don’t reside among mortals, the design of these idols remains pretty grounded throughout, though I would say their appearance reflects their personalities. One touch I loved was how the aspect ratio shifts to letterboxed for any of the musical numbers, it gives it a cinematic quality that flouts its low-cost presentation.

I also feel like Stray Gods aimed to present itself as a non-linear game all about choice but fails to deliver a compelling way to get from place to place. Picking whether to visit Apollo or Persephone from an over world map, for example, isn’t exactly an exciting transition. In fact, this game’s strengths from a visual design perspective definitely do not extend to the UI and UX, which is rather drab and had me wishing the team managed to implement a more appealing means to present the player with choice.

The most damning thing I can say about Stray Gods is that it’s a musical with very few memorable tracks. Otherwise, it’s well-written and offers up a novel way to experience the gods among us trope.

Conclusion

Stray Gods might be a well-written, narrative-driven murder mystery that drags us to Olympus and back again, but it fails to deliver anything remotely close to an earworm after hours of forgettable melodies. Though Bailey and Baker do enough to earn their flowers, the production itself does little to land Stray Gods a place among the musical pantheon.

Positives

A fine cast within a cool urban fantasy setting

Constructing a musical number's tone mid-song is a great mechanic

There's replayability in seeing each song's edit and variant of choice

Great diversity and representation in characters and cast

Negatives

For a musical there isn't many catchy tunes

A noticeable chasm in talent within the cast's singing chops

Strong sense of style doesn't extend to the UI/UX

Very light on the role playing aspects

6.5

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PlayStation Had A Huge Quarter For Hardware Sales And Active Players

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:58:21 +0000

Sony has released its latest financial results from the first quarter in its Fiscal Year 2023, revealing that sales of PlayStation hardware and software are going strong while active monthly users has also seen a significant bump up from the same period last year.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that we reported Sony had crossed the 40 million units sold threshold for the PS5 console, and its latest results show that number is now an impressive 41.7 million. In the last quarter alone, 3.3 million PS5 consoles were sold which is a big step up from the 2.4 million sold in the same three months last year.

Adding to that, it’s managed to rack up a combined 56.5 million units of software sales between PS5 and PS4 in just the three months ending on June 30th, 2023, which includes 6.6 million units of first-party titles. PlayStation also revealed that the ratio of digital download sales compared to physical sales was a massive 72% which is slightly lower than the same period in FY2022 but the highest it’s been since.

The supplementary materials for the report also reveal that PlayStation had 108 million active users on the PlayStation Network as of June 30th, which is an increase of five million from the same period last year.

You can read the full report from PlayStation as well as the accompanying materials here, if you’re a nerd for statistics and financials and quarters and all that stuff.

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TUNIC’s Gorgeous Physical Release Hits Aussie Stores This Week

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 07:26:20 +0000

TUNIC, one of the most celebrated indie efforts in recent years, is special for a lot of reasons. Most of all though, it’s memorable for how it riffs on video game staples of old, like printed instruction manuals of biblical scope. It’s a crucial part of the game’s design and its charming, retro-but-fresh experience, and the folks behind the design of the game’s gorgeous physical release haven’t forgotten that.

Crafted by fabled nerd merchants, Fangamer, the physical edition of TUNIC goes beyond just slapping the game on a PS4 disc or Nintendo Switch cartridge and calling it a day, offering a chunky box stuffed with printed goodies, including an actual instruction booklet based on the pages players find in-game (and thus kind of a spoiler, but read it at your own peril I guess) along with a beautiful map, sticker sheets, and a less-spoilery instruction leaflet among other things. Here’s what you get in totality:

TUNIC Physical Edition (PS4/Switch)

Full-length staple-bound manual with the full contents of the in-game manual (full of spoilers!)
Mini-manual with basic instructions (and no spoilers)
Foldout map of some areas and dungeons
Sticker sheets with iconography from the game
Digital download code for a copy of the complete soundtrack by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan

The best part is it’s out in Aussie stores this week! Both the PS4 and Switch physical copies of TUNIC RRP at $79.95 and are due for release on August 11th at most of the usual video game retailers.

If you’re after a discount, Amazon also has the game available on both formats for a cheaper $69 with free shipping, so grab that here while it’s still around – this one isn’t likely to be restocked!

Explore a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers, and ferocious monsters in TUNIC, an isometric action game about a small fox on a big adventure. Stranded in a ruined land, and armed with only your own curiosity, you will confront colossal beasts, collect strange and powerful items, and unravel long-lost secrets.

WE LOVE BRINGING YOU THE BEST GAMING BARGAINS. WE MAY GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE THROUGH AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS

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Samba De Amigo: Party Central’s DLC Roadmap Includes Sonic Adventure, Like A Dragon And K-Pop Tracks

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 05:37:42 +0000

We already know that Samba de Amigo: Party Central, the exciting upcoming series entry for Nintendo Switch, is getting a buffet of excellent pop tracks for players to shake their Joy Con-powered maracas to in the base game, including the likes of Rina Sawayama, Carly Rae Jepsen and Miley Cyrus, but SEGA has revealed a little more detail on what we can expect from its paid post-launch DLC.

So far eight different music packs are planned in total for the game, starting with two at launch, a third down the line and the rest still with details to come. The Sonic the Hedgehog Music Pack and Japanese Music Pack arrive on August 29th along with the game and will include the following tracks:

Sonic the Hedgehog Music Pack ($4.99 MSRP)
- “Open Your Heart” from Sonic Adventure
- “Reach For The Stars (Re-Colors)” from Sonic Colors: Ultimate
- “I’m Here” from Sonic Frontiers
Japanese Music Pack ($4.99 MSRP)
- “Kaikai Kitan” by Eve
- “MATSUKEN SAMBA II” by Ken Matsudaira
- “KING” by Hatsune Miku

Following these a third pack will be made available on September 27th with more music from SEGA franchises, including a Ryu ga Gotoku classic:

SEGA Music Pack ($4.99 MSRP)
- “Baka Mitai (Taxi Driver Edition)” from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
- “Go Go Cheer Girl!” from Space Channel 5: Part 2
- “Rhythm Thief Theme” from Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure

A “K-Pop Music Pack” will also be released on this day, but no track listing has been revealed yet.

The game’s Digital Deluxe Edition will also include the Sonic the Hedgehog and SEGA music packs, along with a number of SEGA-themed costume and accessory packs.

Alternatively, Amazon has the standard edition of the game available at a discounted price of $49 with free shipping, and a Digital Deluxe Upgrade will be available.

In our recent hands-on preview of Samba de Amigo: Party Central, we said, “t looks like there are enough options to keep things from getting stale whether you play alone or with others and the soundtrack is full of hits that I can see myself trying to defeat on harder difficulties. It’s going to be a long wait for the August 29th release date but I’m looking forward to shaking my maracas some more when the time comes!”

Samba de Amigo: Party Central comes to Nintendo Switch on August 29th. The cheapest pre-order is $49 at Amazon with free shipping.

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Five Assassin’s Creed Games Will Be Free To Play This Weekend

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 02:11:57 +0000

Seems it’s not only Crash Team Rumble giving up the goods for gratis this weekend with a free-to-play event, with Ubisoft also running its own Free Weekend for the Assassin’s Creed franchise – across a total of five games.

Starting August 10th and ending on August 14th (time zones permitting), players will have access to the some or all of the following five games depending on their chosen platform/s:

Assassin’s Creed II
Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
Assassin’s Creed Revelations
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

The Free Weekend will be available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC with the titles differing between each. Xbox players get access to all five, while PC players via Ubisoft Connect get everything but Black Flag, and PlayStation players only get Valhalla.

A friend referral program will also allow existing Assassin’s Creed Valhalla players to invite their friends to play during the Free Weekend and earn rewards, plus a Twitch Drops campaign will reward players for watching the streams of any creator playing Assassin’s Creed main titles, with up to three cosmetic rewards to redeem in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

For anyone who wants to continue their Assassin’s Creed journeys after the Free Weekend, there’ll also be a huge sale on the series across multiple platforms, including the following:

PC via Ubisoft Connect: From August 9^th until August 17^th, players can get up to 75% off Assassin’s Creed Games as well as receive an additional AU$7 credit in their Ubisoft Store Wallet to spend on any item in the Ubisoft Store until October 19^th, including Assassin’s Creed Mirage at launch.
PlayStation: From now until August 15^th, players can get up to 80% off Assassin’s Creed Games.
Xbox: From August 10^th to 14^th, Xbox will have a unique “Buy One Get Two free” offer on select Assassin’s Creed games, including Black Flag and Valhalla. After that, between August 15^th and 28^th, players can get up to 85% off select Assassin’s Creed titles, including the games available in the Free Weekend.

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Baldur’s Gate 3’s Latest Patch Has Fixed Its Errant Penises

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 01:49:46 +0000

As any penis-owner with a C or D type wang would know, having it suddenly and unceremoniously peek out from beneath your githyanki clothing is an awkward and embarrassing situation.

Luckily for anyone playing the epic RPG and current game-of-the-moment, Baldur’s Gate 3, their characters will no longer have to suffer that same fate. Larian Studios has just dropped its second Hotfix for the game which promises to fix a number of issues that users have noticed since launch, including tucking away its out-of-control willies.

“Penises C and D no longer clip through some githyanki clothing,” reads the line in the patch notes, sorting out a rare instance where that particular combo of fashion and phallus would result in more than the tip of a character’s blade glinting in the Forgotten Realms’ sun.

Apparently, male sorcerer gnomes will also no longer be “missing their undies,” which they may or may not be happy about.

Hotfix #2 is now live for Baldur's Gate 3.

This hotfix tackles almost 300 bugs and issues, including giving Gnome Sorcerers back their underwear.

Read more: https://t.co/78A00vizcg pic.twitter.com/OagpdpgGwW

— Larian Studios (@larianstudios) August 8, 2023

Here are the full, extensive patch notes for Hotfix #2:

Baldur’s Gate 3 Hotfix #2 Patch Notes

CRASHES AND BLOCKERS

Fixed an issue causing you to get stuck in dialogue.
Fixed a potential crash when reloading a savegame made mid-dialogue.
Fixed being unable to enter the Shadowfell if you saved while the prompt was on screen.
Fixed a crash caused by the UI.
Fixed a potential crash when saving while standing on a surface during combat or in Turn-Based Mode.
Fixed a rare blocker when loading a savegame made in camp that would cause a party member to spawn outside of camp.
Fixed a potential crash when choosing to stop listening in on a dialogue.
Fixed a potential crash when applying dye to an item outside of the inventory or through non-conventional means, such as the Reward panel.
Fixed a potential multiplayer crash when the client touches the transponder on the nautiloid and leaves the party, and then the host tries to open Party View.
Fixed a potential crash caused by the game trying to load the Character Creation UI when you are no longer in Character Creation.
Fixed a potential crash related to the tooltips of items that grant skill advantages but don’t have an owner.
Fixed a rare PhysX crash.
Fixed a rare crash related to moving items.

MULTIPLAYER

Fixed long fade-outs when listening in on dialogues in multiplayer.

GAMEPLAY

Penises C and D no longer clip through some githyanki clothing.
Male gnome sorcerers are no longer missing their undies.
Fixed an infinite loop that could occur with spells like Minor Illusion, where the enemy and the illusion would repeatedly enter and leave combat.
Fixed necromites not joining the combat with Ketheric.
Fixed enemies on the upper floor of Moonrise entering combat with those on the lower floor.
Fixed Voss’ dragon reappearing after the githyanki scene near the Mountain Pass.
Fixed a book in Moonrise Towers showing an internal variable name instead of the correct content.
Fixed an issue preventing the boss fight with Ketheric from progressing.

Removed the version number that was below the minimap.
Improved UI stability by preventing possible crashes and possible savegame corruption.

ENGINE

Fixed issues with rendering on Vulkan when minimising the game.
Added additional multiplayer servers and server scaling support.
Fixed an issue causing the wrong refresh rates to be applied if the game was not running in fullscreen.

CINEMATICS

Fixed pauses and long silences in over 200 dialogues.
Companions no longer block the camera in some dialogs.
Fixed a camera issue where you see the back of Gale’s head when he asks you to place your hand over his chest.
Fixed a pop on Shadowheart when she hears the voice of Shar.
Fixed Gale’s paddle hands in one of his dialogues.
Fixed Guex looking at the floor in his dialogue in the Emerald Grove.
Fixed a blocked camera in the dialogue with Benryn at Waukeen’s Rest.
Fixed clipping and other issues in the scene where you hear the voice of the Absolute when approaching the Goblin Camp.
Fixed a camera issue and a pop in the dialogue with the owlbear in its cave.
Fixed players’ feet sliding around in the dialogue with Jaheira after combat at Last Light.
Fixed one of Astarion’s lines getting cut off in a camp dialogue.
Fixed several animation issues in the dialogue after some acquaintances of Astarion visit camp.
Fixed a pop for players using Body Type 4 in the scene with poor Liam at the Goblin Camp.
Fixed a camera issue in the dialogue with Edowin, Andrick and Brynna in the forest.
Fixed Kagha’s eyes rolling backwards à la Exorcist after the goblin leaders are defeated.
Fixed a positioning issue with Lorin in the hag’s lair.
Cleaned up some mocap in conversations with Astarion.
Fixed a head pop in the scene with the ogres in the Blighted Village.
Fixed Wyll’s head animation in the dialogue with Florrick at Last Light.
Fixed Sceleritas Fel standing a little too close for comfort when he tells the Dark Urge to commit a certain misdeed.
Fixed a camera issue in the scene with Radija at Moonrise.
Fixed a minor pop when rescuing Zariel’s asset for Mizora.
Fixed a clipping issue with a certain hag’s arms and leaves in the Blushing Mermaid.
Fixed some character placement issues in an endgame scene.
Fixed a camera issue for female gnomes in a dialogue at Moonrise involving something coming through a wall.
Fixed a pop for the flesh golem when speaking to Balthazar.
Fixed a camera issue when talking to one of Therezzyn’s dire wolves in Crèche Y’llek.
Fixed character placement issues in the lanceboard scene with Mol and Raphael at Last Light.
Fixed a character placement issue that caused Lae’zel to float off the edge of the nautiloid.
Fixed several issues in the dialogue with Bernard at the Arcane Tower.
Fixed a camera issue in the boat scene where you’re heading to a particular pool.
Fixed a minor mocap issue with Fist Rowan at Wyrm’s Crossing.
Fixed Minthara looking to the side with suspicion the night after the celebration at camp.
Fixed characters’ heads popping downward when throwing a coin into the well in the Blighted Village.
Fixed a minor pop when Shadowheart tries to convince you that you need her at the Goblin Camp.
Adjusted Astarion’s expression in dialogue with Gandrel in the Sunlit Wetlands.
Fixed Blurg being invisible and Astarion being stuck in the wrong animation in the Myconid Circle.
Fixed several issues in the dialogue with the monk’s amulet.
Fixed several issues in the dialogue with Dammon and Karlach about her heart.
Fixed several issues in the dialogue with Fortuno Dibbs at Wyrm’s Crossing.
Fixed several animation issues in the dialogue with Kansif and Warrior Vez in the Shadow-Cursed Lands.
Fixed a minor timing issue with a Dream Visitor line when talking to Therezzyn in the crèche.
Fixed issues with several voice-over lines.
Fixed characters’ eyes looking in the wrong direction in the ambush scene in the Shadow-Cursed Lands if you side with the Harpers.
Cleaned up some mocap in conversations with Gale.
Cleaned up some mocap in the dialogue with Astarion about illithid powers.
Added some pained grunts for the player in a scene about Wyll in the Colony.
Added grunts in a scene for Dark Urge players after they resisted the allure of their Urges.
Drenn is no longer invisible in the scene at Moonrise when Minthara has to defend herself.
Fixed a very long pause in a dialogue with Halsin after the endgame fight.

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Grand Theft Auto 5 Has Sold More Than 185 Million Copies

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 01:38:13 +0000

During its latest quarterly earnings report, Rockstar has revealed a strong start to its Fiscal Year 2024 with “net bookings” of $1.2 billion USD, a result it says was at the high end of its expectations with NBA 2K23, Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online exceeding the company’s expectations.

In fact, the publisher also confirmed that GTA V has now sold-in over 185 million units since launch, solidifying its place the second-best selling game of all time behind Minecraft, obviously helped along by the number of re-releases it’s seen since 2013 and the continued success of GTA Online. More players were recorded in GTA Online this June than any other outside of the peak of the pandemic.

Looking ahead for its FY24, Rockstar has the recently-announced new conversion of Red Dead Redemption from Double Eleven Studios on PS4 and Switch to count on, as well as the upcoming release of NBA 2K24. With this duo of launches, Rockstar is expecting to book from $1.4 billion USD to $1.45 billion USD in its second quarter this Fiscal Year, though the company reckons a huge portion of that cash is still going to come from GTA and its mobile portfolio.

On August 17, the beloved Western experience Red Dead Redemption and its horror companion Undead Nightmare arrive together for the first time on the Nintendo Switch and modern PlayStation systems.

Add Red Dead Redemption to your wish list now: https://t.co/kB4TjexkKn pic.twitter.com/lc46gZqqwA

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) August 7, 2023

In its closing remarks, Rockstar also reiterated a stance that previously had punters speculating on a GTA 6 launch coming before March 2025, saying:

“In closing, we are confident that the actions our teams are taking this year are preparing us for a strong trajectory of growth. Through our collective efforts, we continue to believe that we are positioning our business for a significant inflection point in fiscal 2025 that will culminate in us delivering new record levels of operating performance next year and beyond. We thank all of our stakeholders for their continued support, and we look forward to delivering on this exciting next chapter.”

You can read the full release of Rockstar’s quarterly results and comments on the future here.

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Crash Team Rumble Will Be Free To Play This Weekend

Kieron Verbrugge — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:41:52 +0000

Activision and Toys For Bob have announced that Crash Team Rumble, the recent competitive multiplayer spin-off for ~~everyone’s~~ most people’s favourite anthropomorphic bandicoot is holding a special free weekend for anyone to jump in and give it a spin.

The free weekend is running from Saturday, August 12th until Monday, August 14th AEST when the game will be free to download across PlayStation and Xbox consoles – including cross-play. Trial players will have access to a “sample” of the game’s character, cosmetics and power, but will be participating in the same matchmaking as those who own the game, and can play as much as they want.

Any progress and unlocks earned during the trial will also carry over to the full game for those who decide they want to buy it and keep playing.

In our review, we praised the game’s core mechanics, saying “Crash Team Rumble is a surprisingly competent online multiplayer arena game that’s easy to get into and well-balanced, leading to some tense and exciting games,” while noting the overall lack of content and grindy battle pass progression.

For its part, Toys For Bob has been supporting the game nicely with new characters and powers, new maps and modes. For the game’s second “season” players will have access to a brand-new co-operative game option as well as a rotating selection of experimental modes available.

You can read up more on the free trial and the exciting updates coming to the game right here.

You can also grab the game at a discounted price of $33.71 on both the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store right now.

“Crash Team Rumble takes Crash Bandicoot in a brand new direction, placing the series’ iconic heroes and villains into a 4v4 team-based competition. Players will duke it out across diverse and dangerous maps as both teams race to be the first team to collect and bank enough Wumpa fruit to claim victory!”

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Prime Big Deal Days Is Another Big Amazon Shopping Event Coming Later This Year

Shannon Grixti — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 00:04:15 +0000

Not content with just one Prime shopping day a year, Amazon has today announced Prime Big Deal Days, which is another Prime exclusive shopping event coming to Australia in October.

We don’t know a lot about the event including exact dates and because this is the first time it’s being held, really don’t know what to expect in terms of deals, but October is a great time to be having a sale like this with the latest games just dropping.

You will need to be an Amazon Prime member to access the deals although if you’re not (for whatever reason), we’d recommend holding off on that 30 day trial until a little closer to October. You can grab that HERE.

WHEN IS AMAZON PRIME BIG DEAL DAYS TAKING PLACE

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is taking place in October 2023. Exact dates haven’t yet been revealed.

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Xbox’s $1 Game Pass Ultimate Trial Has Been Reduced To 14 Days

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 23:31:33 +0000

Xbox has been tinkering away at its subscription products for a few months now, updating and renaming things as well as adjusting its pricing. Despite firming up its overall schedule recently with the decision to can Xbox Live Gold in favour of a new, entry level Game Pass Core subscription, it seems like it’s still chisel-to-stone on its offerings with players having recently picked up on a slight change to the classic Game Pass $1 trial.

It was only a month ago that Xbox decided to bring the trial back after retiring it in March this year to look into “different marketing promotions for new members in the future”, at which point the deal remained the same as ever, but now it’s had a bit of a trim. Instead of the usual one-month peek into the wonderful world of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for the low introductory price of $1, punters will now get just 14 days to have a feel around before they’ll be shuffled onto the full-priced subscription.

We’ve checked it out for our Aussie pals and yes, the jig is up locally as well:

A fortnight to spend with a buffet of excellent games for the low price of one dollarydoo definitely isn’t a bad deal by any stretch, and arguably the Game Pass library is far stronger than when Xbox first decided to start slinging month-long entry for pennies. Still, the timing is hard to look past with Starfield’s launch less than a month away now. If you’re brave enough to attempt to blitz through Bethesda’s latest RPG behemoth in less than two weeks, you’re definitely welcome to try.

Those with Xbox Live Gold subscriptions stacked for long periods of time should still be able to upgrade to Game Pass Ultimate with the $1 offer and have it converted at “the current conversion ratio” up to a max of 36 months. Those conversions are below:

Xbox Game Pass Upgrade Conversion

Xbox Live Gold and PC Game Pass conversion ratio: Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 3:2 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of Xbox Live Gold or PC Game Pass will convert to 60 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.
Xbox Game Pass for Console conversion ratio: Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 4:3 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of Xbox Game Pass for Console will convert to 68 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.
EA Play conversion ratio: Any remaining time will convert to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time at a ratio of 3:1 and be rounded up to the next full day. For example, 90 days remaining of EA Play will convert to 30 days of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time.

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Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’s First Expansion is Launching Next Month

Harry Kalogirou — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 14:22:48 +0000

Today’s Pokémon Presents provided a load of new details regarding The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expansion pack for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet set to launch later this year. Split into two parts, each one explores a new region beyond Paldea, offering up new Pokémon, regional variants, and returning Pokémon not found in the base games.

Taking part in a joint school trip, you’ll journey to the land of Kitakami in Part 1 – The Teal Mask. With a huge mountain landmarking the center of the region, Kitakami is surrounded by an abundance of nature inspired by rural Japan. Each year, The Festival of Masks is held in Kitakami, inspired by an old folktale, which you’ll seek to uncover and understand as you explore Kitakami. The folktale revolves around three new Pokémon; Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, who are said to have saved Kitakami from an ogre in ancient times.

Some other neat new features include a side adventure that sees you taking photos of Pokémon, Ogre Oustin’ which is a minigame based around popping balloons while riding Koraidon/Miraidon, and Mochi, which can improve the stats of Pokémon. There’s even a Mochi that resets base stats, giving you more control over your team. There’s also the Roto-Stick, which allows for wider angled photos, new poses, and added variety in your shots.

Part 2 – The Indigo Disc is set on the mostly underwater Blueberry Academy, housing a terrarium filled with 4 biomes filled with Pokémon and new trainers as you get to grips with life as a student at Blueberry Academy. The BB League looks to be the biggest draw of The Indigo Disc, offering up a new gym-like challenge with its very own Elite Four. Each one has their own Elite Challenge that has to be undertaken before battle, one of which lets you fly around on Miraidon and Koraidon temporarily, which is a cool addition to the mountable legendaries.

The League Club is a new extra-curricular activity with a club room you can redecorate as you see fit. You can change up the way you throw Pokéballs, and you can even invite trainers from Paldea to train and battle with. Everything comes full circle as you journey back to Paldea to discover the hidden treasure of the mysterious Area Zero.

Mew and Mewtwo are also coming to the games as an event, where you can add Mew into your team and challenge Mewtwo in a Tera Raid Battle. You can get your own Mew right now, with Mewtwo following shortly after with Tera Raid Battle events arriving over the course of August and September.

The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is set to kick off on September 13th with the release of Part 1 – The Teal Mask, with Part 2 – The Indigo Disc to follow in the tail-end of this year. If you’ve got a hankering for Pokémon right now, new titles are available to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.

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Two More Classic Pokémon Games Have Arrived On Nintendo Switch

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 14:03:12 +0000

During today’s Pokémon Presents presentation, The Pokémon Company revealed that two new classic Pokémon games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online right bloody now.

Firstly, The Pokémon Trading Card Game for the Game Boy Colour has arrived for those with either a standard or Expansion Pass subscription to Nintendo Switch Online, and also dropping now is Pokémon Stadium 2 for the Nintendo 64, for those with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass.

You’ll be able to access both via their respective apps on the Nintendo Switch, which you can download from the eShop right below:

You can check out the reveal trailer for both of these games below:

Pokémon Trading Card Game

Available: Right now!

Requires: Any Nintendo Switch Online membership

The greatest Pokémon Trading Card Game players of all time—The Grand Masters—are looking for one player worthy of inheriting the four rare Legendary Pokémon Cards! Build decks with the Auto Deck Machine, hone your skills on the Challenge Machine, and test your ability in the Challenge Hall. Expand your card collection, duel your way through eight Club Masters, and earn the right to challenge the Grand Masters in the Pokémon Dome! Shadowy figures, wise instructors and powerful opponents await you in this trading card game adventure!

Don’t forget that games in the Game Boy – Nintendo Switch Online library have added online play. Yep, that means you can battle your friends online as well!

Pokémon Stadium 2

Available: Right now!

Requires: Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership

Hundreds of Pokémon enter the 3D arena!

Released for the Nintendo 64 console in 2001, this battle arena features all the Pokémon from the Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Gold, Pokémon Silver, and Pokémon Crystal games. Decide on your strategy and stand back while your Pokémon battle it out! Up to four players* can join in and play 12 minigames, like Egg Emergency and Delibird’s Delivery! And there’s a Quiz mode that includes three difficulty levels, so Pokémon novices and experts alike can enjoy it.

Of course, this version of the game also has added online play.

(Please note you will not be able to transfer Pokémon from Game Boy games to this title.)

The post Two More Classic Pokémon Games Have Arrived On Nintendo Switch appeared first on Press Start.

WIN: Copies Of Atlas Fallen On PS5/Xbox Series X

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:24:48 +0000

Thanks to Five Star Games we’ve got a handful of copies of the new sand-slinging fantasy action RPG, Atlas Fallen, to give away to celebrate the August 10th launch of the game!

Deck13 Interactive’s new title takes players to a dangerous and desolate land ruled by corrupt gods, where they’ll command the very sands themselves to conquer the land, fight fearsome monsters and rise up from the rank of Unnamed.

Five lucky winners will receive a copy of the game on their choice of either PS5 or Xbox Series X. Simply enter below to be in the running.

ATLAS FALLEN PS5/XBOX SERIES X GIVEAWAY

Enter below by answering the question, “If you had the power to bend any natural material or phenomena to your will, what would it be?”

WIN: Copies Of Atlas Fallen On PS5/Xbox Series X

CLICK HERE TO ENTER IF THE FORM DOESN’T LOAD. THIS COMPETITION WILL END ON AUGUST 20TH AT 11:59PM AEST. OPEN TO ANZ RESIDENTS ONLY.

Rise from the dust and liberate mankind from the oppression of the corrupted gods.

Glide the sands of a timeless land, filled with ancient dangers, mysteries and fragments of the past. Hunt legendary monsters, using powerful, shape-shifting weapons and devastating sand-powered abilities in spectacular, super-powered combat.

Target and gather the essence of your enemies to shape your own custom playstyle, forging a new era for humanity in a fully cooperative or solo story campaign.

Rise from the dust. Unleash the storm.

The post WIN: Copies Of Atlas Fallen On PS5/Xbox Series X appeared first on Press Start.

The Metal Gear Series Has Crossed Over 60 Million Copies Sold

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 04:55:03 +0000

In an update on its digital entertainment business, including games and development under its banner both in Japan and the rest of the world, Konami has revealed some staggering numbers from some of its key franchises – including the Metal Gear series.

According to Konami, the series as a whole has moved over 60 million units between the launch of the original Metal Gear for the MSX2 in July 1987 and the end of June 2023. And although it’s been a good five years since the franchise’s last proper release (the ill-fated Metal Gear Survive), that number is set to get a bit of a boost with the upcoming launches of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 and the MGS3 remake, titled Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

Elsewhere in the report, Konami called out some incredible results from its eFootball (previous Pro Evolution Soccer) series, which has reached 100 million sales on console along with 600 million downloads of its mobile versions. Both its baseball properties like Power Pros, and Yu-Gi-Oh! mobile games have also been download a whole lot.

You can read the full report here.

The next release for the Metal Gear series is the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 collection, which features the first three Metal Gear Solid games, as well as the original two Metal Gear games and a bunch of other neat extras, which is set to launch for PlayStation, Xbox, Switch and PC on October 24th this year.

Following that, at an unannounced date, is the company’s remake of 2004’s iconic Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, which is in development at Konami with help from Virtuos. The company says Metal Gear Solid Delta will offer fans and newcomers “The same gripping story and engrossing world, but now with cutting-edge graphics and 3D audio, which bring the jungle to life.”

The post The Metal Gear Series Has Crossed Over 60 Million Copies Sold appeared first on Press Start.

Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Acquisition Has Been Approved In New Zealand

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 02:43:58 +0000

In a small but locally noteworthy bit of progress in Microsoft’s ongoing bid to buy out Activision Blizzard to the tune of a very nice $69 billion USD, New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has given the company their green light.

Microsoft President Brad Smith shared the news, saying “With today’s approval from New Zealand, we’re cleared to move forward with our acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 41 countries. We will continue to work to resolve outstanding concerns and bring this deal to a close.”

With today’s approval from New Zealand, we’re cleared to move forward with our acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 41 countries. We will continue to work to resolve outstanding concerns and bring this deal to a close. https://t.co/PwoJj490Ah

— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) August 8, 2023

A spokesperson from Microsoft also added, “We appreciate the thoughtful consideration by the New Zealand Competition Commerce Commission of our acquisition of Activision Blizzard and welcome their its decision to clear the deal unconditionally. This acquisition will ultimately benefit the gaming industry and gamers and we will continue to work toward closing the deal.”

The full statement from the Commerce Commission can be read below:

Both Microsoft and Activision are developers, publishers and distributors of video games for personal computer (PC), gaming consoles and mobile platforms. In addition, Microsoft produces and sells the Xbox range of video-game consoles, as well as PC hardware and peripherals, and offers cloud computing services.

In reaching its decision, the Commission focused on the importance of Activision games (such as Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft) to New Zealand gamers, and whether Microsoft would be likely to stop rivals like Sony and NVIDIA from offering those games on consoles and on cloud platforms.

Commission Chair Dr John Small said the Commission was satisfied that the merger is unlikely to substantially lessen competition in any New Zealand market.

“While Activision games, in particular Call of Duty, are popular with New Zealand gamers, our enquiries did not find that they are likely to be ‘must have’ in order to compete with Microsoft in New Zealand.”

A public version of the written reasons for the decision will be available on the Commission’s case register in due course.

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PlayStation’s PS5 Game Streaming Feature Is Starting To Roll Out And It’s 4K

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 02:00:48 +0000

Update: It looks like testing for PlayStation’s new PS5 game streaming feature is kicking off now for select PlayStation Plus Premium members, with users receiving invites and sharing their experiences over on ResetEra.

According to user ArashiGames, the feature supports both cloud saves and resolutions up to 4K, the latter of which is a pretty big deal and point-of-difference for Sony’s service if it works well. Sadly, with no access to PlayStation Plus Premium or any form of game streaming outside of Remote Play in Australia, this is one we won’t be able to try out for ourselves.

Games available on the service include God of War: Ragnarök, Horizon Forbidden West, Death Stranding, Sackboy: A Big Adventure, Fortnite, Fall Guys, Destiny 2, Returnal, Demon’s Souls and Destruction All Stars — with trials available for both Resident Evil Village and Demon Slayer.

Anyone else get invited to try the new #PS5 game cloud streaming preview / beta?

Just got an email inviting me to download the latest beta system software but also to try the ability to stream PS5 games….#PlayStation pic.twitter.com/3KNDYpDXzW

— rdmetz (@rdmetz) August 7, 2023

Alongside announcing the line-up of new games being added to the PlayStation Plus Extra/Deluxe catalogues, PlayStation has also revealed that it’s currently working on adding PS5 game streaming features to the PS5 console, giving owners a new way to instantly jump into their games.

The feature is in testing right now, and with no cloud gaming functionality for Australia PS5 owners right now it’s more than likely not going to become a reality for us when it launches, but PlayStation says it’ll have more to share on it in the future. The current plan is to offer cloud streaming for the PS5 games that are available through the PlayStation Plus catalogue as well as supported PS5 games that players own digitally, exclusively for PlayStation Plus Premium (the sort-of-equivalent to our Deluxe) subscribers.

VIDEO PRESENTED BY FINAL FANTASY XVI: COMING EXCLUSIVELY TO PLAYSTATION 5 ON JUNE 22ND. DOWNLOAD THE FREE DEMO AND PRE-ORDER NOW

When it does eventuate, it’ll be a great way for PS5 owners who want to try out a game from the PS Plus library to quickly jump in and see if they like it before committing to the download and storage required to play it natively. It’ll be especially helpful for the Game Trials offered through PlayStation Plus, allowing players to instantly boot up games like God of War Ragnarok and play for the allotted trial time before making a purchase and downloading the full title.

In the blog post announcing the move, PlayStation said, “We’re currently testing cloud streaming for supported PS5 games – this includes PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as supported digital PS5 titles that players own. When this feature launches, cloud game streaming for supported PS5 titles will be available for use directly on your PS5 console. That means as a Premium member, it’ll be easier to jump into your favourite games without downloading them first onto your PS5 console. Our goal is to add this as an additional benefit to PlayStation Plus Premium as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the value of PlayStation Plus.

“We think it’s important for Premium members to be able to enjoy as many games as possible via cloud streaming. As more games continue to launch on the PS5 console, we look forward to adding cloud streaming capability for PS5 titles in addition to the PS3, PS4 and classic titles that are already available for Premium members to stream. We’re in the early stages right now, and we can’t wait to share more details when we’re ready, including a launch time frame. Stay tuned!”

Again, although this is cool to see, we’ll not likely be able to take advantage in Australia – at least until PlayStation decides to finally announce bringing its cloud streaming services to our shores.

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WrestleQuest Has Been Delayed Due To A Progress-Halting Issue Discovered At The Last Minute

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:37:40 +0000

Skybound Games and developer Mega Cat Studios have made the eleventh-hour announcement that their long-anticipated wrasslin’ RPG, WrestleQuest, will be delayed from its original release date of August 8th (ie, today) until August 22nd on all platforms, following the late discovery of an issue that could’ve had a massive effect on players’ progress.

The full statement on the delay from the studio reads:

“When performing final checks on one of our launch platforms, we discovered it was possible for players to lose their save game progress when playing WrestleQuest on multiple different devices. Because this is a game filled with hours of content and player progress is so important, we could never body slam our fans like that.

“We are truly proud of this game and believe that we have a product that delivers on all counts. We’re blown away by the support we’ve seen from players excited for WrestleQuest and we can’t wait to share the finished game with everyone on August 22nd”

WrestleQuest will be coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, PC and mobile device (via Netflix) on that new August 22nd release date. You can download and play a demo on Steam right now.

Powerbomb and piledrive your way through a massive pixel art universe where professional wrestling and RPG fantasy collide. Take a hero’s journey …in tights! Upgrade from aspiring rookie to world champ by training, learning, glamming, and SLAMMING to the top of the pro wrestling food chain. Draw inspiration from wrestling icons like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Jake the Snake Roberts and even Andre the Giant. Explore worlds based on their lofty careers.

Classic RPG combat meet wrestling moves, match styles, and gimmicks galore. Wild realms, exotic monsters, action figure fighters, and spandexed allies await as this fantasy goes beyond the ring.

The post WrestleQuest Has Been Delayed Due To A Progress-Halting Issue Discovered At The Last Minute appeared first on Press Start.

Square Enix Reckons Slow PS5 Adoption Hurt Final Fantasy 16’s Sales

Kieron Verbrugge — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 01:22:55 +0000

Square Enix’ share prices have taken a tumble in Japan this week, with a drop of almost 15% between the Tokyo Stock Exchange closing on Friday and re-opening on Monday. The ¥909 yen plummet from ¥6,366 to ¥5,457 comes after the company revealed its year-on-year operating profits had declined by a whopping 79% in its Q2 2023 earnings.

Bloomberg claims that, according to three separate sources in attendance at a post-earnings call, although Square Enix was counting on its recent PS5-exclusive blockbusters RPG, Final Fantasy XVI, to drive software sales, the game’s sales “did not meet the high end [read: within expectations but not at the peak] of the company’s expectations.”

Square Enix President Takashi Kiryu reportedly told the analysts that the company believes “slow adoption” of the PlayStation 5 console was a limiting factor in how many units of the game it could move, but that it’ll be putting plans in motion to boost sales of the game again now that stock of the PS5 hardware is plentiful.

Final Fantasy XVI didn’t exactly sell poorly, moving over 3 million units in around its first week of sale, but in comparisons it falls quite short of the last mainline entry in the series, Final Fantasy XV, which was a multiplatform release that enjoyed a higher total install base and moved about 5 million units in that time. While Square Enix didn’t reveal what those “high end” expectations were, there was definitely a lot riding on the game’s success as one of the PS5’s more high-profile exclusives in 2023.

We gave Final Fantasy XVI a very solid 9/10 in our review, saying “Final Fantasy XVI is an epic in every sense of the word. Consistently sharp writing, a captivating cast of characters, exhilarating combat, and a timeless soundtrack coalesce into an experience that showcases what the PlayStation 5 is capable of at the highest level. It constantly finds ways to top its own scale in remarkable fashion, but never loses sight of the intimate journey its built around.”

Final Fantasy XVI is available now with Amazon selling copies of the game for $84.99 with free shipping.

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The Bloodborne At 60FPS Dream Is Alive On PS5 (Kinda)

Kieron Verbrugge — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 23:57:34 +0000

They’ve done it! Thanks to recent breakthroughs in the PlayStation hacking scene, modders have finally been able to get notorious frame-misplacing FromSoft joint, Bloodborne, running at 60FPS on a PS5 console – along with other games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Gravity Rush 2.

The achievement comes via a combination of advances in getting exploits to run on games on retail PS5s and allow for things like editing memory or loading and executing unsinged code, as well as Lance McDonald’s previous efforts in producing 60FPS patches for games like Bloodborne on hacked PS4 Pros. The result is that the doors have been opened for a number of games to run (albeit via unsupported means) at a glorious 60FPS on PS5 where previously they were beholden to their old limits.

Take a look at Bloodborne running at 60FPS via X user “illusion” below:

Here it is, Bloodborne at 60 FPS from @manfightdragon on a hacked PS5 (Firmware 3.00-4.51) pic.twitter.com/LbApmT6wDK

— illusion (@illusion0002) August 7, 2023

“Illusion has done it,” McDonald responded in a repost. “My Bloodborne 60fps patch has been ported to run within the current state of PlayStation 5 hacking [and] exploitation: real retail PS5 hardware running Bloodborne at locked 60fps in full 1080p.”

You can also see Rockstar’s Western epic, Red Dead Redemption 2, in similar fashion (and right before a PS4/Switch release was revealed for its predecessor) below:

Red Dead Redemption 2 60 FPS on hacked PS5 (Firmware 3.00-4.51) pic.twitter.com/BsXoAVBguo

— illusion (@illusion0002) August 7, 2023

Of course, all of this is unofficial and less than advised for most players to start attempting to exploit their PS5s in this fashion (and likely not possible on a system that’s up-to-date) in the name of playing some old games at a higher-than-intended framerate.

It does throw a bit of extra salt in the wound that these games haven’t already been updated to run more nicely on modern hardware, though we’re not going to pretend to know the inner workings of the developers and publishers that are currently responsible for these games. C’mon, though, folks! Do itttt.

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