Dune Awakening is a survival online MMO that sets players within the Dune world where Spice is power, and we get to see what players can do to fight for that power with the first actual gameplay footage of the game in action during 2024' Gamescom’s Opening Night Live event, as the video is roughly 5-minutes long.

More gameplay footage of Dune: Awakening during Gamescom Week

Fortunately enough, this is just a taste from developer Funcom as they plan to show 30 minutes of additional gameplay throughout Gamescom week. Those at the show floor will be able to witness new gameplay of the game when you visit the developer’s booth, but for those online, the game will be showcased further through various content creators this week.

“Revealing gameplay for the first time is always a big moment, especially in a game where the interplay between all these systems can create completely unexpected moments, but the team has done an incredible job and we can’t wait to see how the community reacts.” says Joel Bylos, Creative Director of the game at Funcom.

Working closely with both the Herbert Estate and Legendary, Funcom’s Dune: Awakening introduces an alternate history in which Paul Atreides was never born, giving players the opportunity to put the future of Arrakis in their own hands.

Third Dune: Awakening Direct Dated

Funcom is set to show more of the game beyond Gamescom 2024 as they announced a third Dune: Awakening Direct, an online show focused solely on showing more of the game with new gameplay footage and more details about specific features.

A beta for the game is coming but no concrete date has been revealed, but if you’re interested in being part of the beta, you can register through the game’s official website for a chance at getting in.

Dune: Awakening is a long way to go as it’s currently set to release in early 2025 on PC, with the PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S versions to be released at a later date.

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During Gamescom 2024’s Opening Game Night Live event, Capcom revealed a new gameplay trailer that showcases new characters, a new locale called the Scarlet Forest, and a new massive monster Lala Barina.

With this trailer, Capcom also confirms the return of Support Hunters as players that prefer a solo and offline experience can still call out for Hunter NPCs to join your hunt.

Capcom also provided new details about Support Hunters and key details about the game.

New Hunting Ground: The Scarlet Forest, a newly revealed locale in the Forbidden Lands, is a lush setting with towering greenery contrasted by waters dyed a crimson hue. Like the other ecosystems in Monster Hunter Wilds, the Scarlet Forest is a dynamic environment that undergoes periods of Plenty, Inclemency, and Fallow that transform the landscape and wildlife residing within it.

New Monster: One creature that calls the Scarlet Forest home is Lala Barina. Part of the Temnoceran class of monsters rarely seen in the series, the Lala Barina possesses sharp, spindly limbs and can unfurl its thorax into a massive, rose-like form that is as treacherous as it is beautiful.

Apex Spotlight: Each region in Monster Hunter Wilds is ruled by an apex monster. Downstream from the Scarlet Forest in the previously revealed Windward Plains, a monster known as Rey Dau reigns supreme. Initially glimpsed at Summer Game Fest, the Flying Wyvern was unveiled today in its full glory. The apex predator of the Windward Plains is adapted to the harsh conditions of the Sandtides that transform its dusty grassland and can unleash destructive electrical strikes that pose a threat to even the most experienced hunters.  

Support Hunters: Whether playing solo or online, Support Hunters can fill openings in players’ hunting parties. These helpful NPCs include Olivia, a hammer-wielding member of the Forbidden Lands Research Commission, who will also play a key role in the story along with her elite Palico, Athos.

More Moves: In addition to new allies, hunters can also engage with adversaries in fresh ways. These include the Power Clash, where blocking certain attacks can lock hunters into a physical struggle, and Offset Attacks, where a well-timed hit can interrupt a monster. Succeeding with these new abilities can knock monsters off balance to provide critical openings or trigger powerful special attacks.

Windsong Village: The latest trailer also introduced Kunafa, a settlement hunters will visit in the Windward Plains. One of multiple communities in the Forbidden Lands, this village has existed here for generations and possesses its own unique culture. Shaped by its surroundings and local wildlife, Kunafa raises livestock for cheese production and is also home to Seikrets, the trusty mounts hunters will soon discover to be indispensable companions when exploring the wilds. 

Seamless Exploration: When away from base camp, hunters can embark on expeditions with a number of objectives in mind. Quests can begin by targeting a monster in the area using their map or simply by striking one when out in the field. Players can also prepare for their next hunt without returning to base by using their portable BBQ grill for a stat boost or by taking a rest at a Pop-up Camp. These forward operating bases are convenient spots to manage items and equipment, serve as return points after fainting, and can be used as fast-travel destinations.

Monster Hunter Wilds still has no release date as it’s slated to release sometime in 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, but marketing has been ramping up since the start of this year. Recently, they released short videos featuring each weapon type that will be available in the game as a built-up to the eventual release of the new gameplay trailer shown above.

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During the 2024 Gamescom Opening Night Live event, Developer NetEase and Marvel Entertainment announced that their upcoming team-based online game Marvel Rivals will launch on December 6, 2024.

It was also revealed that all heroes and heroes added after will be free.

A new trailer for the game was released to reveal the game’s release date and showcase two new characters joining the roster — Winter Soldier and Captain America.

Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 team-based competitive online game played in a third-person perspective and was first announced back in March for PC, but was later confirmed to release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. A closed beta was released on PC.

So far, the Marvel characters confirmed for the game are Star Lord, Hela, Namor, Loki, Magik, Groot, Rocket Racoon, Luna Snow, Black Panther, Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Magneto, Mantis, Peni Parker, Venom, and Adam Warlock.

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Announced during 2024 Gamescom’s Opening Night Live event, Borderlands 4 was unveiled with a short teaser for the next title in the looter shooter series. It will be released sometime in 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store.

“The team and I at Gearbox have a lot we’ve wanted to do with Borderlands since we first introduced the looter shooter genre to the world with our original game,” said Randy Pitchford, founder and President of the Gearbox Entertainment Company in a press release published by 2K.

“All of us at Gearbox have massive ambitions for Borderlands 4 and are putting everything we have into making everything we love about Borderlands better than ever before while taking the game to new levels in exciting new directions.”

The teaser doesn’t show much but we can expect a sequel filled with crazy guns to loot with at least up to four characters with their unique set of skills and perks.

The Borderlands franchise has sold-in more than 87 million copies to-date as the last title set in the Borderlands universe was a spin-off title called Tiny Tina’s Wonderland which was released back in 2022. The last mainline entry was Borderlands 3 back in 2019.

This reveal comes after the release of the Borderlands live-action movie, which isn’t doing so well with critics as it sits at a 10% critics rating in Rotten Tomatoes and an audience score of 53%. It isn’t also doing well financially as it’s already considered a movie bust with just 18.6 million earned during its first weekend worldwide. The movie had a budget of 110-120 million.

Because of this, Borderlands is already hitting streaming platforms as WhentoStream revealed that the movie already has a digital streaming date of August 30, weeks after it was released in theatres.

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During the start of Gamescom 2024, Bethesda and MachineGames revealed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch on December 9, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and on Xbox Game Pass. It was also revealed that it will be time-exclusive as it will eventually come to PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025.

This is an interesting revelation considering that Xbox started the year by making four games come to multiple platforms — Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, and Grounded. With a big ticket item like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it gives the impression that any title from Bethesda and anything under the Xbox umbrella could be available on PlayStation and other platforms. Doom: The Dark Ages, is also coming to PlayStation 5.

We were able to see a hands-off preview of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and learned new details about MachineGames’ next title and Indy’s next adventure.

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I recently attended a closed-door digital event hosted by Bethesda, where they showcased new gameplay footage of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. I gained some key insights into MachineGames’ take on Indy’s next globetrotting adventure.

Update: During Gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live, it was revealed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will release on December 9 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Xbox Game Pass. It, will also release on PlayStation 5 sometime in 2025.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Preview Event

The gameplay presentation wasn’t live but featured a lengthy guided playthrough, highlighting various points in the campaign. This was also the first time we got a glimpse of the game’s UI during gameplay. The interface is clean and simple, displaying essential information: Indy’s primary weapon is shown at the bottom right, while an icon at the bottom left indicates the game’s disguise mechanic, which I’ll discuss further later on.

The Tools of Indiana Jones

At the start of the presentation, the developers explained Indy’s tools, each of which plays a crucial role in the overall gameplay. One standout is Indy’s camera, used to capture key moments during exploration. Players are tasked with taking specific shots, which reward Adventure Points. These points can be used to unlock new perks for Indy. With this mechanic in mind, I can already see myself scouring ruined temples, eagerly snapping photos to rack up points.

As you capture key figures or environmental elements, a pop-up appears on the screen, similar to gaining experience after completing a quest. This seems to be the game’s primary progression system, although MachineGames didn’t go into much detail about what exactly can be unlocked with these points, nor did they show the menu where these points are spent.

Next up is Indy’s iconic whip, which plays a significant role in both traversal and combat. In the new playthrough, the whip was primarily used for swinging Indy across gaps in third-person view. In one instance, the player threw a spear into a wall, creating a makeshift anchor that Indy could use to swing across. While the whip is mostly used for traversal, we also saw it in action during combat, similar to what was shown in the first gameplay trailer released months ago.

Speaking of combat, Indy has his trusty revolver ready for when gunfights break out. The new gameplay footage prominently features gunfights, with Indy even picking up a machine gun dropped by a downed enemy. We also got a closer look at the melee system, which allows players to block incoming attacks and counter with a series of humorous head smacks. It was thrilling to see new footage but I hoping to see more of the combat in it’s most raw form as it wasn’t enough to show off how gunfights will feel in the end.

From what I saw so far, combat in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle feels more subdued compared to other adventure games, giving the impression that this isn’t a game where Indy will be taking out 20 Nazis in one room. I’m not expecting a one-man army BJ Blazkowics situation, but I was hoping to see how thrilling combat can be in this game considering that this is being worked on by the folks that worked on the latest Wolfenstein games. This preview didn’t give me that, and while I do concede this is more of an adventure than a true action shooter, I was hoping MachineGames would flex their gun combat expertise to showcase that when the bullets start flying, it will be a fun ride.

Lastly, we saw Indy jotting down information in his journal, which will serve as the player’s reference point for solving puzzles and understanding key details. The journal seems to function similarly to those found in other adventure games like Uncharted or the Tomb Raider reboot, and can be brought up at any time.

Disguises – Dressing for the Occasion

One of the biggest reveals during the gameplay was Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s approach to stealth. Players will have the opportunity to disguise Indy in various outfits that help him blend in when navigating hostile territory. In the presentation, Indy meets up with his partner Gina after discovering the entrance to some ancient ruins. They quickly realize they need an ancient key, but was unfortunately in the hands of the nazis and is heavily guarded. The gameplay then skips ahead to show Indy backtracking and disguised as one of the workers at the excavation site. He sneaks into a tent to steal the key but is briefly interrupted by a guard who asks him to pass a bottle of wine—Indy complies to avoid suspicion. This disguise mechanic seems to play a significant role, with the Indy icon at the bottom left of the game’s UI indicating the current disguise in effect.

However, the presentation didn’t show what happens if Indy is spotted by guards or if he acts suspiciously. Will a fight break out, or will the game reset before he’s caught?

At this point, MachineGames also hinted at side activities that players can encounter, which feel similar to side quests. We saw Indy walking through a bustling market and being approached by a vendor with information about a secret that piqued his interest. Although they didn’t show how these side activities play out, it suggests that Indiana Jones and The Great Circle won’t be strictly linear, allowing players time to explore and discover hidden content.

Third-Person Perspective – When the Camera Steps Back

MachineGames opted for a first-person perspective for this game, which initially seemed like a choice driven by the studio’s expertise in this viewpoint. However, Game Director Jerk Gustafsson and Creative Director Axel Torvenius emphasized during the Q&A session that they chose this perspective to bring players closer to Indy’s adventure, especially when solving puzzles and examining discoveries up close.

Despite this, the third-person perspective does make appearances. We’ve seen it in the first gameplay trailer, and in the new footage, it triggers when Indy uses his whip to swing across gaps or during climbing sequences. Once the climbing is done, the game quickly switches back to first-person.

So far, these are the only instances where the perspective changes. As for cutscenes, the crucial ones play out in full cinematic style, letting us see Indy in all his glory, interacting wth all the key characters in the story.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle: MachineGames’ Longest Adventure Yet

During the Q&A session, the developers discussed the game’s length, confirming that Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is MachineGames’ longest game to date. While they didn’t provide a specific timeframe, I compared the length of their previous games with similar titles, leading me to believe that the game’s duration would be a reasonable length.

Motion Capture was all done in-house

One of the more interesting revelations during the Q&A session was that all the motion capture and design of Indiana Jones were handled entirely in-house by MachineGames, with LucasFilm providing guidance and their blessing. Despite LucasFilm having existing references for Harrison Ford’s likeness, especially with their de-aging work for the latest film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, MachineGames chose to create their own assets, performing their own scans to recreate a young Ford for the game.

In the presentation shown, we witness more cutscenes and from what I’ve seen, they’ve done a fantastic job of respecting the source material, delivering moments that could rival the movies, with Troy Baker delivering a commendable performance as a young Indy. While there are moments where Troy’s natural voice comes through, he does an impressive job of capturing Harrison Ford’s tone, especially in more intense situations where Indy’s stress levels rise.

Final Thoughts

This presentation focused heavily on mechanics, with no big set pieces that one might expect from an adventure game. It offered a glimpse into the various elements of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle but lacked the kind of thrilling sequences that would make players eager to dive in. The combat footage, while intriguing, didn’t leave me thinking, “I want to play that right now” as everything feels interesting yet safe.

It’s worth noting that while new gameplay elements were shown, the presentation felt somewhat lacking in selling what to expect from this title to make it stand out beyond it being a known iconic franchise. I guess I was expecting a massive showing as MachineGames is still set to release the game this year. With the “Ber” months just weeks away, I’m starting to suspect that a November or December release is more likely if the 2024 release sticks. They’ll need to ramp up their marketing efforts and showcase a bit more of the game to convince players that it’s worth a subscription on Game Pass or a day-one purchase.

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Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is the return of Indy to video games in a long time, and during a closed-doors digital preview event for MachineGames’ upcoming action-adventure title, Game Director Jerk Gustafsson and Creative Director Axel Torvenius confirmed that this is MachineGames’ longest game to date when asked about the average time it will take to complete.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle game length

The question was straightforward, and while Jerk and Axel didn’t provide an exact duration, they did confirm that this would be the most extensive experience they've created. How long Indiana Jones and The Great Circle remains a mystery, but the developers’ emphasis on the game’s length suggests a substantial adventure.

Looking back at MachineGames’ previous titles, particularly the new Wolfenstein series, we see that Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus can be completed in roughly 11 hours, according to How Long to Beat if you focus solely on just the campaign.Similarly, Wolfenstein: The New Order takes about the same time, while Wolfenstein Young Blood, a spin-off title of their series, and the standalone prequel Old Blood, are shorter, at 9 Hours and 6 Hours respectively.

MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game is expected to offer more exploration, side content, and puzzles than their previous titles, aligning with the adventure genre’s typical gameplay. It wouldn’t be surprising if players spent significantly more time in this game, given its broader scope.

The Sweet Spot

It’s tough to pinpoint exactly where their new game will land in terms of game time as it can be longer by just a few hours I feel roughly 15 hours for an adventure like this seems like a nice sweet spot to avoid the feeling that they are dragging game time.

For additional context, looking at similar games like Uncharted vs Indiana Jones game length shows that Uncharted titles range from 9 to 15 hours, while the Tomb Raider reboot series clocks in around 11 to 13 hours. This comparison further supports the idea that MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game could follow a similar timeline.

For added comparison, we looked through the Uncharted series, and as Uncharted can be completed in roughly 9 hours, Uncharted 2 in 10 hours, with Uncharted 4 takes 15 hours. In the latest Tomb Raider series reboot, the 2013 Tomb Raider can take 11 hours while the next two sequels can take around 13 hours to complete.

It’ll be interesting what MachineGames has landed in terms of game length as you should remember that this is the studio stepping out of its comfort zone and doing something entirely different. From a fast-paced first-person graphic shooter like Wolfenstein to a globetrotting adventure in the shoes of the iconic Indiana Jones.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle still doesn’t have a concrete release date but it’s still slated for a 2024 release and will be available on PC, Xbox consoles, and Xbox Game Pass.

I’ve made a rundown of the key information from the preview event and my impressions of what I saw.

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In less than 24 hours, Black Myth: Wukong, the new action RPG from Chinese developer Game Science, has hit the Steam charts and quickly rose to becoming the most-played single-player game of all time on the platform. As of this writing, Steamdb shows that the game was able to amass a concurrent player count of over 2.2 million players on the Steam platform alone, beating records made by single-player titles such as Cyberpunk and Elden Ring.

Black Myth: Wukong was released on August 20 on PC and the PS5. This is all done on day one.

At this rate, Wukong might even reach the number 1 spot, making it the most-played game on Steam overall. But to reach the top, they will have to surpass the current king which is PUBG: Battlegrounds with an impressive 3.2 million all-time concurrent peak, roughly a million shy as of this writing. I wouldn’t be surprised at this point.

Everything is going well for developer Game Science as Black Myth: Wukong’s reception from critics is most positive as it has a Metacritic score of 82 for the PC version of the game. As for Steam user reviews, it currently sits at ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ with over 7k user reviews.

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Square Enix made a surprise announcement to reveal that the PC version of their action RPG Final Fantasy XVI is finally releasing on September 17 on Steam and Epic Games Store with a demo now available for free on the Steam platform. We are also given the recommended PC system requirements for the game.

Here’s a breakdown of the requirements according to the game’s Steam Page.

Minimum Requirements

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

• OS: Windows® 10 / 11 64-bit

• Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 5 1600 / Intel® Core™ i5-8400

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

• Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 5700 / Intel® Arc™ A580 / NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070

• DirectX: Version 12

• Storage: 170 GB available space

• Additional Notes: 30FPS at 720p expected. SSD required. VRAM 8GB or above.

Recommended Requirements

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

• OS: Windows® 10 / 11 64-bit

• Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 7 5700X / Intel® Core™ i7-10700

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

• Graphics: AMD Radeon™ RX 6700 XT / NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2080

• DirectX: Version 12

• Storage: 170 GB available space

• Additional Notes: 60FPS at 1080p expected. SSD required. VRAM 8GB or above.

With how visually stunning Final Fantasy XVI looked like on the PS5, it’s surprising to see the PC version show some flexibility in the minimum system requirements category in terms of the GPU suggestion. It’s going to be a tough one as at the minimum you’ll be working with 720p at 30 FPS, which, quite honestly, won’t do the game justice, especially during it’s intense set pieces. There’s also a recommendation to use an SSD as most games struggle without a faster hard disk space, especially with a game like Final Fantasy XVI.

Final Fantasy XVI was first released as a PS5 exclusive in June 2023 and will finally be available on PC on September 17. If you’re wondering how well your rig will run the game, you should consider downloading the demo version now available on Steam as that will be the best benchmark, allowing you to play the first chapters of the game. Its also worth noting that your progress in the demo can be carried over to the full game when it goes live in September.

Final Fantasy XVI PC starts at $50

The other pleasant surprise is that the game will start selling on Steam and Epic Games Store at $50 (PHP 2,490). The kicker here is that this is just for the base game as Square Enix did release two DLC story packs post-launch and if you want to get the full package, the Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition comes with all DLCs for the full price of $70 (PHP 3,490).

Based on how the DLCs are broken down in Steam, you can buy each DLC separately or buy the expansion pass to get both DLCs in one purchase. Regardless, the base game starting at $50 is a great starting point that I highly recommend it at the base as the DLC packs are content for when you are at the tail-end of the game, so it’s best to consider if you want more from this work after finishing the base game.

When I went through the game last year, it was an easy 5/5 (10/10) if you’re someone who can accept this title’s shift to being more of an action game than the traditional JRPG you’d expect from the Final Fantasy series. It was an action-packed game that killed it as a visual spectacle, with likable characters and satisfying gameplay making it one of my favorite titles released in 2023.

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A new Age of Empires is releasing this October but not one you expect. Age of Empires Mobile will be launching globally on iOS and Android devices on October 17.

This iteration of the famous real-time strategy series was co-developed by TiMi Studio Group (Call of Duty: Mobile, Pokémon Unite) and World’s Edge, a studio under the Xbox Games.

Here’s a rundown of the game’s features.

• Multiple single-player modes built on the Age of Empires lineage and featuring iconic elements from the original series 

• Options to build your empire in a lively, realistic medieval world, featuring stunning civilizations, imperial cities and historical figures 

• Immersive battlefields offering one of a kind original gameplay with large-scale castle sieges, featuring realistic weapons taking on multi-dimensional defenses in a fight with thousands of players worldwide 

• Opportunities to be strategic as you encounter realistic and interactive terrain and weather and manage multiple troops with real-time micro-control

“We expect players to mystify, mislead and surprise their enemies through the realistic, immersive, medieval gameplay featured in Age of Empires Mobile,” said TiMi Studios team leader and studio general manager Brayden Fan.

“We’ve already seen alliances form and alliances crumble through our multi-month playtesting. Through it all, players have shown strategic wit, savvy teamwork and a passion for an entirely new Age of Empires experience.”

Age of Empires Mobile is already available in certain regions like the Philippines in an early access state, but it will officially be out worldwide on October 17 on Android and iOS devices.

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Bethesda Game Studios announced a new mobile called The Elder Scrolls Castles, a construction and management simulation game from the team that delivered the free-to-play mobile and PC title Fallout Shelter.

This is an Elder Scrolls spin on the Fallout Shelter formula as you manage a castle and his subjects as the ruler as you build your dynasty as each ruler steps down and carries on your legacy.

You have the role to manage and build your castle as you see fit, maximize your ruler’s rule in the land, and ensure you have future sucessors’s to continue your family’s rule.

There will be automated combat in the game as you can send out subjects to take on quests for rewards that would benefit your kingdom. There’s an even a rogue-like mode where players take on waves of enemies to see how far they can go to earn bigger rewards.

The Elder Scrolls Castles Deep Dive

Here’s a quick description for The Elder Scrolls Castles.

Build your Dynasty – Tell your story for generations - each day in real life covers the span of an entire year in The Elder Scrolls: Castles. Train your subjects, name heirs, and maintain order to help your kingdom flourish. Will you keep your subjects happy and ensure a long life for their ruler? Or will they grow discontent and plot something sinister?

Manage your Castle – Customize your castle from the ground up, adding and expanding rooms, placing lavish decorations and inspirational monuments. Assign subjects to workstations to ensure your castle has the resources to thrive for years to come!Rule your Kingdom – Make key decisions that impact your legacy. Will you risk a limited supply of food to aid a group of subjects? How should a heated spat between your subjects be settled? Your choices determine if your dynasty will inspire prosperity or lead your castle to peril.

Take on Quests – A kingdom can’t thrive without strong warriors. Send your subjects on quests to battle against classic Elder Scrolls foes and collect loot to bring back home.

Pre-registration Rewards

Just like most free-to-play mobiles games today, pre-registration is a thing and with enough pre-registrations, those who register will earn in-game rewards when hitting each milestone set by Betheseda.

The first milestone will reward players 100 Gem, and 1 Blessing of Great Dynasty if the game recieves 500K pre-registrations. If it reaches 1M, players will also receive a legendadry pack and 3 banner decorations. At 2M, players will get a legendary subject called Ulfric Stormcloak.

Just like Fallout Shelter, The Elder Scrolls Castles will be free-to-play when it goes lives on Android and iOS on September 10.

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HoYoverse announced that their free-to-play open world gacha game Genshin Impact is getting a major update at the end of the month. Version 5.0 will add the sixth nation of Teyvat which will come with various content and new areas to explore.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect from the 5.0 update, which is titled ‘Flowers Resplendent on the Sun-Scorched Sojourn’.

• New Nation: Natlan, the Nation of War, and Nation of Pyro, reveals the first three of six tribes

• Open to early and mid-game players: Map unlock criteria – complete all Mondstadt Archon Quests and reach AR 19; Archon Quest unlock criteria – complete all of Liyue's Archon Quests and reach AR 28.

• Transform into Natlan's Saurians: Tepetlisaurus (burrow underground, climb cliffs), Koholasaurus (swim), Yumkasaurus (reach great heights)

• Tribes: Children of Echoes, Scions of the Canopy, People of the Springs

• Characters: Kinich (5-star, Dendro, Claymore), Mualani (5-star, Hydro, Catalyst), Kachina (4-star, Geo, Polearm)

• Banner: 1st – Mualani, Kachina, Kaedehara Kazuha; 2nd – Kinich, Raiden Shogun

• Bonus to celebrate the anniversary
  

The new nation is called Natlan, and HoYoverse provided a good description of the new region.

The road to Natlan will open with an unlocked Teleport Waypoint that is accessible to players, even beginners and intermediates, who have completed the Prologue of the Archon Quest in Mondstadt.

Known as the Nation of Pyro, Natlan is located west of the Sumeru desert. The people of this nation are divided into six main tribes. The dragons of Natlan, more commonly called Saurians, are the result of a long evolution and have evolved to coexist with humans, and they have even become their faithful companions. With Version 5.0, players will be able to explore three of the six tribes, as well as encounter three types of Saurians who live together with the locals.

Mastering the abilities of the different Saurians can prove decisive in exploring the towering cliffs and flowing springs, and players can transform into a Saurian by indwelling them. The Tepetlisaurus are Saurians good at tunneling undergrounds and climbing cliffs, and they are the companions of choice for the Children of Echoes who call the canyons their home. The Yumkasaurus can pull themselves in the chosen direction and reach great heights with ease. They have taken up residence among the Scions of the Canopy, a tribe living suspended from the walls of steep cliffs. As for the Koholasaurus, they can move quickly on water and liquid Phlogiston, which explains why they are commonly seen with the People of the Springs near the sea.

Natlan, also known as the Nation of War, honors her warriors at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame, where the Champion of each tribe is chosen through a tournament. This is where the main story unfolds, as the player, accompanied by local warriors Kachina, Kinich, and Mualani, travel to the Stadium. To begin Natlan's Archon Quest, players need to reach Adventure Rank 28 and above, and have completed all of Liyue's Archon Quests.

New Characters

Those looking forward to the new characters will get to play around with Mualani and Kachina the moment Version 5.0 is in the first phase along with the Kaedehara Kazuha rerun. The new 5-star Kinich will debut during the second half and come with the Raiden Shogun. The stories for Natlan’s new characters will be available through the Tribal Chronicles, the new three-act quest chain.

Genshin Impact 4th Anniversary Celebration

The game’s 4th anniversary is just around the corner and HoYoverse is bringing back the special daily login event as players can earn up to ten Intertwined Fate, 1,600 Primogems waiting in their in-game mail, two exclusive gadgets — the Firstborn Firesprite and the Kabom Box, and more.

Furthermore, players can also invite a 5-star character from the Standard Wish lineup to their team for free. More updates on the Character Event Wish, Weapon Event Wish will be announced at a later date.

Genshin Impact’s Version 5.0 goes live on August 28, 2024.

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Publisher Level Infinite and developer Sharkmob (Blood Hunt) finally revealed gameplay footage of their long-awaited extraction shooter, Exoborne.

Here’s a quick description of the game.

Exoborne drops you into a hostile world turned upside down. Players take on the role of Reborn, extraordinary survivors able to use the powerful Exo-Rigs. They thrive in a world plagued by warring factions, deadly elemental chaos, and other hostile Reborn. Utilizing their Exo-Rig abilities the Reborn not only survive the fierce forces of nature but channel that raw power into combat and movement.

Big risks can yield big rewards, and that has never been truer than when players enter the heart of a storm to find the best possible loot – but will they be able to bring it back home? Exploring the fading remains of society and scavenging for gear and tech is the only way to survive and prepare for the unforeseen challenges ahead. Meanwhile, the stakes will constantly be raised and the fear of losing it all is always present.

Features

- Forces of Nature: Fight through elemental chaos in a world that constantly changes the conditions

- Exo-Rigs unlock powerful abilities and flowing movement through the broken world. Also, when chosen wisely, allowing harnessing of the raw powers of nature to the player’s advantage

- Verticality is key in a world twisted upside down, allowing for all new exploration and combat experiences

- Scavenging, trading and customization allow players to truly survive their own way, unlocking new gear and equipment as they progress through the world of Exoborne

- Public events and missions raise the stakes and opportunities, allowing players to choose their own challenge

- Extraction gameplay intensifies the thrill and reaches a peak at the end of the players’ session – risk it all or wait for a better opportunity – the choice is up to you

- Thrilling evolving story builds the stage for future content updates and mysteries in the world to discover

Gameplay Presentation at Gamescom 2024

Sharkmob developers will be present at this year's Gamescom in Level Infinite’s booth to show a gameplay presentation of their extraction shooter.

Sharkmob has been slowly teasing their next game since they’ve halted the development of new content for their battle royal online game Blood Hunt as they’ve shifted their talents in working on a battle royale to a extraction shooter.

Extraction shooters have slowly gained popularity since Escape from Tarkov was introduced, and studios are slowly picking up the interest as there are now a variety of titles that provide a similar experience seen in Tarkov, which remains the king thanks to their realistic and punishing gameplay design.

Extraction shooters are more intimidating than traditional shooters as players go into a game to gather resources or equipment in a game filled with players doing the same thing. The catch is that if players die, they lose all the equipment and loot they’ve picked up and brought into the game, so the tension and pressure can ramp up rather easily.

Playtests are coming

As for Sharkmob’s Exoborne, they are providing a sci-fi spin to the extraction shooter that also seems to incorporate devastating weather elements into their game. They had their first closed test back in May and plan to provide more playtest sessions in the future. If you like what you see in Exoborne so far and wish to participate in upcoming playtests, interested players, can sign up on the game’s official website for information on future tests and how to participate in them.

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Sega and Two Point Studio announced Two Point Museum, the third iteration of the studio’s strategy management simulator.

From the announcement trailer alone, you can tell the signature quirky humor and character design remains as Two Point Museum will deliver a similar experience found in Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus, only this time with a museum flavor.

Sega provided a bit of information about the game as beyond creatively making your museum cater to specific visitors, Two Point Museum will feature exhibitions to retrieve rare artifacts to fuel your museum.

Exploring for Exhibits

Send your team of specialists on daring adventures to locate and retrieve rare artifacts across a range of exhibit types to varied levels of quality. As your team embark on more expeditions, you’ll begin unlocking locations hiding exciting new exhibits in many themes and styles, ranging from prehistoric to… well, let’s keep it a surprise!

Display these finds in your museum, keeping them well protected from the elements, vandals, thieves, and mischievous children. Keeping frozen cavemen on ice, security cameras alert and artifacts well-guarded to ensure your museum runs well.

Creative Curation

Unleash your creativity as you design your museum from top to bottom. With deeper customisation options, there are more ways than ever before to maximise your guest’s happiness, from tweaking the decorations to arranging the perfect gift-shop display.

Once you have set the perfect ambiance, organise guided tours led by engaging experts to give your guests the perfect day out. You can even highlight exhibits with the highest buzz - those that are show-stopping, informative, and aesthetically pleasing are sure to attract the most donations!

Guest-ertainment

Guests know best! Catering to the needs of your guests is key to keeping your museu moving and donations flowing. The different types of visitors who will tour your museum with their own interests, but they do have some things in common... they expect the place to be clean, have plenty of refreshments, ample toilets, and a gift shop filled with goodies.

Two Point Museum has no release date but the game will be available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox X|S.

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Philippine-based studio CMD Studios announced that they are officially launching the Kickstarter campaign for their 2D Metroidvania action game Fallen Tear: Ascension on August 27.

You can check out the Kickstarter page here. As of this writing, the full details of the total goal of the campaign, its stretch goals, and a breakdown of what this campaign will provide in the development of the game have not been revealed.

It was also announced that those willing to support the campaign can get a 20% discount in the first 24 hours of the campaign.

🚀 Official Announcement! 🚀

The Kickstarter for Fallen Tear launches on August 27, 2024! 🎉 Get 20% off in the first 24 hours of the campaign. Sign up on our website to get notified on launch!

We’re honored to be tagged as "Projects We Love" by Kickstarter.

See you on Aug… pic.twitter.com/gkmdZbVkEX

— Fallen Tear: The Ascension (@FallenTearGame) August 7, 2024

The Kickstarter campaign will officially go live at 10:00 PM GMT +8 on August 27.

From what we saw when the game was showcased in an ID@Xbox virtual session, it is shaping rather well as it aims to release sometime in 2025. Xbox is providing support for this homegrown project as this is the studio’s first attempt at funding its own title. The developers consider Fallen Tear a fusion of JRPG elements with Metroidvania elements, with a large map containing a variety of enemy types, biomes, and various skills to unlock.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect from Fallen Tear: Ascension

• Each graphic element, animated sprite, and music note has been lovingly hand-crafted to ensure the best audiovisual experience.

• Over 150 enemies and epic bosses to combat.

• 26 interactable biomes (Silent Spring, Lilac Mire, Godspire Ruins, and more)

• 22 Fates Bonds, each with its own unique abilities, storylines, and quests.

• Different combat and skill trees to unlock (Elemental Imbuements, Ascension skills, and more)

• Take a break from saving the world with Monster hunts and minigames.

• The game’s intended length: on average = 20 - 40 hours

Interview with Fallen Tear: Ascension developers

We talked to the developers of Fallen Tear: Ascension as Fallen Tear is a bold leap for the company to develop their own title and was fortunate enough to be recognized by Xbox and is making waves overseas.

Fallen Tear: Ascension is aiming to release on PC and consoles.

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Virtual Alchemy, A new indie studio based in Warsaw Poland, announced its debut title called Band of Crusaders, a Witcher-esque strategy RPG that’s set in a corrupted version of medieval Europe where you recruit warriors, develop your camp, and fight the demons that roam the land.

Band of Crusaders is a mix of party management and RPG strategy as the player manages a group of warriors that grow into facing various threats from bandits to archdemons that are freely out in the land set in 1350 A.D. medieval Europe.

“Band of Crusaders is about a company of warriors you will raise from peasants to heroes against the forces of chaos. The Knights Templar are gone, and Archdemons are at the door, threatening the already fragile peace that European smallfolk have come to cherish,” says studio CEO Dominik Sypnicki. 

“Our artistic approach to Band of Crusaders merges historically authentic representations of medieval tools, armor, and weaponry, with demonic creatures inspired by biblical descriptions and European folklore,” shares Art Director Kamil Mickiewicz. “We wanted to see what the world of The Witcher would look like if you removed all the Witchers.” 

Band of Crusaders is coming out on PC as its Steam page is now live. No release date was announced.

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I had the chance to play a preview build of The Casting of Frank Stone, an interactive horror game developed by Supermassive Games. Set within the Dead by Daylight universe, the demo took around 45 minutes and left me with the impression that Behaviour Interactive has given Supermassive the freedom to do what they do best. The game echoes their previous work, both in gameplay and in how choices and events shape the overall story.

The demo begins with you playing as Sam Green, a police officer investigating a child's disappearance, which leads him to a steel mill in the dead of night.

Nods to Dead by Daylight

This brief introduction effectively sets the stage, featuring a few nods to the Dead by Daylight universe with plenty of Easter eggs for dedicated fans. However, The Casting of Frank Stone is primarily played like any other Supermassive Games title, where you make choices that influence key events and outcomes, with quick-time events adding further nuance, from subtle shifts to severe consequences.

The demo offered a glimpse of the various possible outcomes. Dialogue choices are limited to two options, a similar approach to titles like The Quarry as multiple A or B choices lead to a web of possibilities.

Choices and Outcomes

In terms of gameplay mechanics, Supermassive stays within their comfort zone. You explore areas in a third-person perspective and control multiple characters throughout the story. In the demo, you only play as Sam, exploring the mill, examining key objects, climbing fences, and squeezing through tight spaces to progress. Quick-time events are present, and the first one caught me by surprise. The game has integrated Dead by Daylight’s Skill Check system, where you must press a button to spot the dial to land on the right spot of in the dial. I wasn’t expecting this Dead by Daylight-inspired twist, and I failed to press the button at the right time, resulting in Sam injuring himself and losing his flashlight.

This injury didn’t affect much, as it only slightly altered how one scene played out. On a second playthrough, I discovered that if Sam hadn’t been injured and still had his flashlight, he could have used it to try and blind the threat, a slight change that didn’t completely change the outcome, though it does hint at the potential for varied experiences in the full game, making the player second guess whether their success or failed attempts are either major or minor changes.

The demo also showcased various quick-time events, none too complex, which is expected as the fun in these games lies in shaping the story.

Overall, the demo gives just a glimpse of how the game will play out. It’s another story-driven game with the classic Supermassive touch, which is a win in my book. I’ve always appreciated their approach to horror storytelling, even when it veers into typical clichés or B-movie territory. Some of their games are so bad they’re good, delivering humor and entertainment. As for The Casting of Frank Stone, it’s hard to tell if it will evoke the same feelings with less than an hour of content to sample, but knowing that Supermassive is doing what they do best is a promising sign.

Based on my experience with other Supermassive Games titles, I expect The Casting of Frank Stone will follow a similar pattern — offering a mix of major and minor consequences that shape the narrative, encouraging multiple playthroughs for different outcomes.

At most, this preview suggests that Supermassive isn’t attempting anything new or groundbreaking with this title. The difference here is the game’s setting within another developer’s established world.

The Connection to Dead by Daylight

The real question is whether The Casting of Frank Stone will add meaningful context to the Dead by Daylight universe. Behaviour Interactive has been steadily expanding the lore with each update, giving us more insight into the Entity, the Survivors, and the Killers. Will this game provide new lore for Dead by Daylight enthusiasts, or is it simply a spin-off filled with Easter eggs for dedicated players? It’s hard to tell if this game is more for Dead by Daylight fans or Supermassive Games fans, but hopefully, it strikes a balance between the two.

It’s also worth noting that The Casting of Frank Stone will feature a couch co-op mode for 1-4 players, where each participant controls the actions and decisions of one character. This feature adds an extra layer of unpredictability and replayability to the experience and is how I prefer to play games like it as I’ve done this even way back in 2010’s Heavy Rain, my first introduction to games like these.

The Casting of Frank Stone is set to launch on September 3, 2024 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

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Publisher Krafton, best known for publishing games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and the survival horror The Callisto Protocol,, has acquired the Japanese studio Tango Gameworks as well as the intellectual property rights to their latest title Hi-Fi Rush from Microsoft Gaming.

You can read the announcement from the publisher here, but simply put, Krafton is investing in the Japanese market by giving the studio a second life further to pursue the famed rhythm action game Hi-Fi Rush.

As part of this strategic agreement, KRAFTON intends to collaborate with Xbox and ZeniMax to ensure a smooth transition and maintain continuity at Tango Gameworks, allowing the talented team to continue developing the Hi-Fi RUSH IP and explore future projects. KRAFTON intends to support the Tango Gameworks team to continue its commitment to innovation and delivering fresh and exciting experiences for fans. There will be no impact on the existing game catalog of The Evil Within, The Evil Within 2, Ghostwire: Tokyo, and the original Hi-Fi RUSH game.

This move comes months after Microsoft made the decision to shutter four studios multiple studios within the Bethesda company and one of them was Tango Gameworks.

The studio was founded in 2010 and was formed by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and the was responsible for projects such as The Evil Within series, Ghostwire Tokyo, and Hi-Fi Rush, which was shadow-dropped on PC and Xbox consoles when it was revealed in 2023.

Xbox acquired the studio in 2021 as part of the massive $7.5 billion purchase of Bethesda’s parent company Zenimax.

The Krafton acquisition is the company’s attempt at “expanding its global footprint and enhancing its portfolio with innovative and high-quality content.”

What does this mean?

Tango Gameworks will be given the support to keep the studio running and will likely work on more Hi-Fi Rush projects. It will take a while before we hear anything concrete from the Tango, nor do we have a full picture of what this deal entails and how much freedom Krafton will provide the studio.

For those that haven’t played Hi-Fi Rush, I highly recommend the title as it was the biggest surprise in 2023, a charming action game with a unique mix of action and rhythm gameplay that was easily my 2023 game of the year, giving it an easy 5/5 when I reviewed it last year.

Before Microsoft’s announcement to close Tango Gameworks, Xbox released Xbox titles like Hi-Fi Rush on multiple platforms to expand the game’s player reach. Those also no longer Xbox exclusives are Sea of Thieves, Pentiment, and Grounded.

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Capcom revealed that their fresh new IP Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess has reached over 500,000 players since it was released on July 19, 2024, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass on day one.

New Mazo Talismans

To celebrate Kunitsu reaching this milestone, Capcom will be updating the game with three new Mazo Talismans: Jubilee, Dancing Crane, and Amaterasu

As a token of our gratitude to all players, we are giving away three Mazo Talismans which can be equipped on the main character Sou: Jubilee, Dancing Crane, and Amaterasu, which is a collaboration with "Okami". This gift is open to all players, including those who have already played Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess as well as those who will purchase the game in the future.

These new Mazo Talismans are more for fun and cosmetics as it doesn’t actually affect gameplay beyond wasting a Talisman slot that are usually used to give player advantage in a stage.

Here’s what these new Mazo Talismans do if a player equips it:

• Jubilee – the villagers near the player start dancing in turn.

• Dancing Crane – normal attacks are replaced by dancing and fireworks are shot off during the dancing technique.

•  Amaterasu – flowers bloom at Soh’s feet as he moves.

The update also comes with a few bug fixes to improve the game even further.

Together with the new milestone and game update, Capcom released a developer series with the first video giving insight on the game’s setting.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is one of those unique and satisfying titles released from Capcom in years. The art direction and musical score does this game justice as it elevates a satisfying action tower defense gameplay loop with so much enemy and strategy variety that when I finished the game I easily spent over 20 hours.

For those interested in giving this game whirl, you can do so for free as there’s a playable demo now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC that gives you a great idea of the game.

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Capcom is slowly rolling out new details for their upcoming action RPG Monster Hunter Wilds by dropping quick videos describing the game’s new combat mechanics as well as featuring the new features of each weapon type available in the game.

This serves as a countdown of sorts as Capcom will be showing Monster Hunter Wilds in a big way at Gamescom 2024 as this will be the first time the game will be playable to the public, so it only makes sense to release small snippits of how each weapon will work in Wilds as many will get their hands on them from August 21 to August 25 in Colongne, Germany.

Here’s a quick rundown of what was released so far.

Focus Mode

Basic Weapon Mechanics

Greatsword Feature

Heavy Bowgun Feature

Insect Glaive Feature

Gunlance Feature

Hunting Horn Feature

Long Sword Feature

Charge Blade Feature

Hammer Feature

Light Bowgun Feature

Sword & Shield Feature

We’ll update this as more videos are released from Capcom.

Monster Hunter Wilds is the next mainline entry in the famous Monster Hunter franchise and will launch sometime in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam.

Capcom’s lineup isn’t focused on Monster Hunter Wilds at Gamescom as they will also setup demo stations for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, and Street Fighter 6 to showcase DLC character Terry Bogard for the first time.

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Ubisoft revealed what to expect from the season pass of their upcoming open world game Star Wars Outlaw, which is set to release on August 30, 2024.

If you’re familiar with Ubisoft’s season pass offering, you won’t be surprised with the contents of this package as this features new content that will be released soon after the game launches.

Here’s how Ubisoft describes the two Story DLCs planned for Outlaws.

Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card – Coming Fall 2024

Kay is hired to infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament, but as she crosses paths with the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, she soon learns that another game is being played.

When this first story pack is released, Season Pass owners will also get the Hunter’s Legacy Bundle and the Cartel Ronin Bundle with additional outfits for Kay and Nix plus cosmetics for Kay’s speeder and her ship, the Trailblazer.

The release of the Wild card Story DLC will also come with more cosmetics bundles — Hunter’s Legacy, and Cartel Ronin,

Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune – Coming Spring 2025

The Trailblazer’s reputation precedes Kay as she runs into veteran pirate Hondo Ohnaka, who is looking to settle old scores with a ruthless gang of pirates.

The season pass also features some added content for early purchasers of the package as you get an extra mission on launch day titled ‘Jabba’s Gambit, and character cosmetic pack for main character Kay and Nix. More cosmetic.

Star Wars Outlaws is the next open world game offered by Ubisoft as it will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC.

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HoYoverse announced that on August 14, Zenless Zone Zero Version 1.1, titled "Undercover R&B," will launch, introducing a wealth of new content and features. The update delves into the intricate stories of New Eridu Public Security (N.E.P.S.) and their struggle against the Mountain Lion Gang, focusing on characters Qingyi, Jane, and Seth.

New Characters and Storyline

The update highlights the conflict between N.E.P.S. members Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and Seth and the elusive Mountain Lion Gang, led by the enigmatic Jane. Players can explore New Eridu, take on commissions as Jane, and uncover her complex past with N.E.P.S.

Qingyi is one of the new S-Rank characters. She is an electric Stun character and will be available in the game once version 1.1 goes live. It seems like her role in a team would be her ability to easily stun enemies and inflict electric damage.

The update will also add Seth, an A-Rank Electric Defense character, who provides team buffs with his shield and wields a large sword for offensive maneuvers. Additionally, a new S-Rank Bangboo, "Officer Cui," will assist in the Hollows.

New Gameplay: "Inferno Reap"

The new "Inferno Reap" gameplay mode allows players to engage in time-limited battles with Nineveh. After completing the "Withering Garden" stage, players can repeatedly attempt the challenge to earn various in-game rewards.

Themed Event: "Camellia Golden Week"

Version 1.1 also introduces the "Camellia Golden Week" event, offering Polychromes, A-level W-engine, and various materials as rewards for completing event commissions. Additional features include the Immersive Tactical Drill, First-Class Customer Service, and an upgraded camera function with new filters and selfie options, providing players with fresh ways to enjoy the game.

Zoneless Zone Zero went live as a free-to-play game on July 4 on PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile phones as Version 1.1 is the game’s first major update since the game launched.

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Bandai Namco Entertainment announced the second Open Network Test (ONT) for their upcoming game Gundam Breaker 4, which features new modes, missions, and an interesting collaboration content with an iconic video game figure.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2nd Open Network Test.

Dates

• Pre-Download: From 00:00 SGT on Wednesday, 7 August 2024

• Day 1: Saturday, August 10, 2024 (Session 1: 17:00 SGT to 22:00 SGT)

• Day 2: Sunday, August 11m 2024 (Session 2: 08:00 SGT to 13:00 SGT, Session 3: 17:00 SGT to 22:00 SGT)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4

New Features

• Diorama Mode: Available for trial during the ONT

• Two Additional Missions

• Seven New Mobile Suits: Expanded roster for a more dynamic experience

Pac-Man x Gundam Breaker 4 Collaboration

Bandai will be doing a unique collaboration between Gundam Breaker 4 and the iconic Pac-Man as players will face a giant Pac-Man-themed Gundam RX-78-2 and can earn a special Emblem to customize their Gunpla.

Check out the trailer for the collaboration content below.

Early Purchase Bonus for Southeast Asia

Lastly, Bandai announced that early purchasers of the physical editions for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch in Southeast Asia will receive a limited-edition Gundam Breaker 4 mouse pad (shown below), available at select retailers while stocks last.

Gundam Breaker 4 is set to release on August 29, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.

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Developer 11 Bit Studios announced that they will be delaying their upcoming city builder sequel Frostpunk 2 to simply polish the game even more and enhance game mechanics based on player feedback gathered during the game’s latest beta tests. So, from a July release, they’ve decided to now release the game on September 20, 2024.

Based on a Steam post from Design Director Jakub Stokalski and Art Director Lukasz Juszczyk, they shared what resulted in their decision to push the game my roughly two months.

“Based on the surveys we received after playing Beta, the average rating you gave us was 8 out of 10. We’re super grateful for that! At the same time, it was only a small slice of a work-in-progress, still-growing game. While our backlog is plentiful, it was an opportunity for us to listen to what you enjoyed, and what didn’t quite land yet”.

“This allowed us to prioritise things better, and bring upfront the features and modifications we were already working on. But we also realised that to guarantee the best possible experience on launch, we need more time to finish the development of Frostpunk 2. That’s why we made the difficult decision to postpone its release to September 20th, 2024”.

The added time to work on the game isn’t only focused on just polish as they plan to work on new additions to the game’s mechanics, such as an ‘extensive” UI and UX enhancement, and a new city feature called Zoom Stories where you can zoom-in specific parts of your city to see the day-to-day life of your people.

Feedback is generally positive, but the team things they can improve it even further based on feedback, and i’m all for it.

Frostpunk 2 will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC through Steam and Epic Games Store. The post-apocalyptic city builder will also be available on PC and Xbox Game Pass on day one.

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PGDX 2024 featured numerous developers, big and small, showcasing their titles during the 3-day event. On day 2, Atlus and Sega took center stage to present their upcoming JRPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, with Atlus’ game designer Naoto Hiraoka leading the showcase.

A Message from the Game Director

The showcase began with a video of Metaphor’s game director, Katsura Hashino, sharing a few words about the JRPG. He provided a quick overview of the concept and vision for the title, which takes a high-fantasy route instead of the modern setting familiar from the Persona and Shin Megami series.

Hashino emphasized that Metaphor marks a return to the basics of JRPGs while retaining the distinctive art style seen in recent Atlus titles. If you’ve played Persona 5 or Persona 3 Reload, you know what I’m talking about.

The Development Team

During the showcase, Hiraoka highlighted the impressive development team behind the game:

• Director: Katsura Hashino (Shin Megami Tensei 3, Persona 3)

• Character Design: Shigenori Soejima (Persona 3, Persona 4, Persona 5)

• Composer: Shoji Meguro (Persona 3, Persona 4)

• Concept Art Designer: Koda Kazuma (NieR: Automata)

• Gauntlet Runner Design: Ikuto Yamashita (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

• Archetype Design: Yujio Himukai (Etrian Odyssey series)

Atlus, Sega, and Southeast Asia

While the showcase was mainly focused on Metaphor: ReFantazio, Hiraoka then shared the importance of Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines as Atlus titles have a strong fanbase in the region.

Filipinos have been feeling the presence of Sega recently as the region was treated with multiple events hosted by Sega to promote Persona 5 Tactica at Moon Rabit Cafe back in October 2023, then Persona 3 Reload at High Grounds Cafe at the start of this year. Sega was also present at previous events such as ESGS 2023 where they had theirbooth featuring their recent and upcoming titles for con-goers to give their titles a try.

With Metaphor: ReFantazio being a new IP for the company, Hiraoka hopes it will receive similar enthusiasm from Filipino fans.

Soon after, giveaways were given to those in attendance.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is set to release on October 11, 2024, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC (via Steam). You can learn more details of the game’s combat here, or if you’re interested in the different editions available, Altus is offering an Atlus Brand 35th Anniversary edition that comes with tons of bonus items.

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Despite the success of Destiny 2’s The Final Shape expansion, which concluded the 10-year-long light versus dark saga, developer Bungie has been hit with another major layoff wave. This is their second layoff wave since being acquired by Sony in 2022. This decision affects 220 employees, which is 17% of the studio’s workforce.

Destiny 2 The Final Shape received an impressive 89 critic score and a 7.8 user score in Metacritic, the franchise’s highest score to date. According to Steamdb, Destiny 2 reached its second all-time peak as the launch of The Final Shape expansion garnered 314,634 concurrent players on one platform, a couple of thousands shy from it’s all-time peak on Steam.

“These actions will affect every level of the company, including most of our executive and senior leader roles,” said Bungie CEO Pete Parsons in an announcement post at Bungie’s official website.

Parsons then explained how the company reached this decision:

“For over five years, it has been our goal to ship games in three enduring, global franchises. To realize that ambition, we set up several incubation projects, each seeded with senior development leaders from our existing teams. We eventually realized that this model stretched our talent too thin, too quickly.  It also forced our studio support structures to scale to a larger level than we could realistically support, given our two primary products in development – Destiny and Marathon. “

“Additionally, in 2023, our rapid expansion ran headlong into a broad economic slowdown, a sharp downturn in the games industry, our quality miss with Destiny 2: Lightfall, and the need to give both The Final Shape and Marathon the time needed to ensure both projects deliver at the quality our players expect and deserve. We were overly ambitious, our financial safety margins were subsequently exceeded, and we began running in the red.”

Another major change within the company is that one of Bungie’s incubation projects, described as an “action game set in a new science-fantasy universe,” will be transferred out of Bungie, with development continuing under a newly formed studio within PlayStation Studios.

What does this mean for the Future of Destiny and Bungie?

It’s hard to have a clear idea of the future of Destiny 2 as the game is coming off the final conclusion of a narrative they’ve been telling since the franchise started back in 2014. After the conclusion of The Final Shape expansion, new stories are slowly being told to carry the effects of the saga’s conclusion, but many, including myself, are unsure if Bungie’s plans for the series will be able to replicate the same success.

As for Bungie as a studio, it’s incredibly sad that the success of The Final Shape expansion didn’t stop the bleeding. It seems that the layoffs were inevitable, and the success of the expansion merely determined the extent of the impact. The loss of 220 employees is significant, more than double the number of layoffs from October 2023 when the company laid off 100 employees. This is demoralizing to see, especially since Bungie was acquired by Sony in 2022, with leadership promising no layoffs post-acquisition. This is obviously not the case.

The future of Destiny 2 is now uncertain within its community. Some players remain optimistic, while others consider The Final Shape expansion as the “true end” of the game. For players who have committed to the game for years, it’s a hard pill to swallow seeing such an amazing expansion followed by job losses. As of this writing, 850 employees remain at Bungie, focusing on Destiny 2 and continuing development on their next shooter title, Marathon.

Are you a player of Destiny 2? What do you think about the layoffs and the future of the franchise?

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The next live service content drop for the action RPG Diablo IV is Season of the Infernal Hordes, which launches on August 7 at 1 a.m. SGT (GMT +8).

Hell is the theme for the fifth season of Diablo IV as players head to hell once more and face the Fell Council, a familiar entity for you Diablo 2 veterans. The Season will come with a new endgame content called Infernal Hordes which sounds like a wave-based horde mode best played with a group of players. On top of this, there will be new unique and legendary gear to spic up and the build craft meta.

What to Expect in the Season of the Infernal Hordes

Infernal Hordes: This wave-based feature can be tackled solo or with friends. Between waves, select Infernal Offerings—boons or banes—to increase the challenge and enhance the final rewards. The Infernal Hordes feature is accessible on both Realms, interwoven through a Seasonal Questline on the Seasonal Realm, and unlocked after a brief Questline on the Eternal Realm at World Tier III.

Fell Council Showdown: At the end of each Infernal Hordes run, face off against the Fell Council. With 5 members in total, 3 are randomly selected for each encounter. Prepare for unique abilities and various combinations that will keep you on your toes.

Hellbreach Dungeons: Available in the Seasonal Realm, these dungeons offer a glimpse of what’s to come in Infernal Hordes. Complete these dungeons to earn Burning Aether, which can be spent on chests at the end.

New Gear: Over 50 new Uniques and Legendaries are being introduced this season, and they’ll be available beyond the season’s end. Collect these powerful items by defeating enemies across Sanctuary and in the Infernal Hordes.

Seasonal Progression: Collect caches dropped by powerful Hell servants to unlock Seasonal Progression. The Infernal Hordes feature is one of the best ways to boost your reputation and earn caches throughout the season.

Battle Pass: Progress through the Season Journey and complete the new Battle Pass, which includes 28 Free Tiers and 62 Premium Tiers, for even more rewards.

The current season, called Loot Reborn, is a turning point for the game’s live service offering as the game’s itemization was completely overhauled, making it a more streamlined but satisfying experience, especially those that grind hours on end at endgame. So far, the reception of the four season has been rather positive compared to the first three seasons.

Developer Update Livestream

Blizzard will discuss more about Season of the Infernal Hordes this Friday, August 2, at 2 AM PHT (GMT +8).

It’s a long list of changes coming next week, so if there’s one item in particular you wish to read on, you can see the full rundown here on Blizzard’s post.

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Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed a limited edition DualSense controller that pairs nicely with the upcoming action platformer Astro Bot coming out on September 6.

It’s a nice combination of blue with a perfect finish of Astro Bot’s expressive eyes resting on the touch pad. I’m not a fan of the joysticks being colored so the fact that both sticks are white in this design gets a few points in my preferences.

Astro Bot DualSense price and pre-order details in the Philippines

Those interested in this version of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller can opt to pre-order starting August 9 as you can expect this custom controller to be available once the Astro Bot launches in September. Be sure to check your local retailers to secure one.

If you do plan to get it, it will cost you PHP 4,590 in the Philippines. It’s called a limited edition for a reason, so expect limited quantities of this particular controller in your respective regions in Southeast Asia.

For those in other SEA regions, the Astro Bot Limited Edition controller is priced as follows:

• Singapore - SGD 114

• Malaysia - MYR 399

• Indonesia - IDR 1,449,000

• Thailand - THB 2,690

• Vietnam - VND 2,299,000

About Astro Bot

For those unfamiliar, Astro Bot is an entirely new game to follow the Astro Playroom platformer that is free for every PS5 owner. The follow-up title is bigger and much bolder as it features over 50 planets to explore, new powerups, tons of enemy variety, multiple PlayStation-infused characters, and more.

Ever since Astro Bot was revealed a few months ago the reception throughout the internet has been generally positive as the game’s first gameplay trailer envokes pure fun. No gimmicks or visual realism to push hardware, just a video game that is charming, fun, and is appealing to all ages. It also helps that Astro’s Playroom was experienced by almost all PS5 owners as it was generally a fun platformer given entirely for free.

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I was fortunate to sit down and talk to Ranida Games’ CEO and studio head Ben Banta, along with the head of business development, Walter Manalo. Ranida Games participated in the recently concluded Xbox Game Camp Asia event, and they shared their experiences and also gave us a glimpse into the current state of video game development in the Philippines.

Ranida Games, based in the Philippines, started in 2015 and is known for infusing Filipino culture into its games. Their notable titles include the mobile game PBA Basketball Slam, which features official PBA licensing, and Bayani, a PC and mobile fighting game inspired by revered Filipino historical figures like Jose Rizal and Andrés Bonifacio.

What is Xbox Game Camp?

The program, which started in 2020, aims to "empower people from traditionally marginalized communities and non-traditional backgrounds to realize their potential in the gaming industry and grow thriving games communities and industries around the world." It has had different iterations in various regions, including Africa, Sweden, Korea, and now Asia.

Opportunities for local Filipino game studios to gain such exposure are rare. Banta and Manalo shared that they eagerly embraced this opportunity despite their years of experience in the industry. The team was "hungry to learn".

"Even if we are veterans, it doesn’t mean we know everything," Banta said. The program allowed them to be mentored by industry professionals, providing insights and advice on game design, narrative, and marketing. Banta was particularly thrilled to be mentored by veterans like Ken Lobb, known for his work on the original Killer Instinct game. This was an event that took place over a few weeks through online sessions.

Xbox Game Camp as a Creativity Catalyst

At Xbox Game Camp Asia, participants were tasked with either enhancing their current projects or starting something new. Ranida Games, known for fighting and sports games, stepped out of their comfort zone to pitch a narrative-driven cooking simulator game called Soul Food.

They produced a trailer for Soul Food and polished the concept for Xbox Game Camp Asia. The game features a cyberpunk-like setting where players create food that can potentially bring back customers' lost memories. It’s a crazy mix of ideas and concepts developed in a short time but showcases how programs like Game Camp can inspire creativity.

Ranida Games plans to reveal this project to the public at this year’s PGDX but time will tell if it's a project the studio will pursue to completion.

Xbox's Support for Southeast Asia

Xbox’s presence in the region and its outreach to local studios like Ranida Games provide developers like Banta and Manalo with more confidence in the future as they continue tackling new projects.

"Xbox being in Southeast Asia gives us the confidence to know there’s someone we can reach out to and ask for help,"

Both Banta and Manalo emphasized the value of Game Camp, highlighting how the studio can revisit previous sessions and utilize the resources provided to elevate their game development process.

Related articles: Fallen Tear: The Ascension — CMD Studios’ Bold Leap into Indie Development

Addressing Industry Challenges

With Xbox’s growing support for developers worldwide, it puts a spotlight on the other challenges in the Philippine video game industry. Studios like Ranida Games have been fortunate to operate for years, but much is still lacking.

Mentorship and Learning: One of the critical needs identified by Banta and Manalo is the importance of mentorship. Despite their experience, they emphasized the value of learning from industry veterans. "We want to learn so we can teach," they said, highlighting the necessity for continuous education and knowledge sharing within the industry. Programs like Xbox Game Camp greatly help here.

Accessibility to Development Kits: Accessibility remains a significant issue. Although Ranida Games specializes in mobile and PC platforms, they face challenges in expanding to consoles due to limited access to development kits. This barrier hampers their ability to diversify and reach broader audiences, or have the opportunity for their developers to learn development in those platforms.

Budget Constraints: Budget constraints are another major hurdle. While Ranida Games aspires to develop its own titles, financial limitations push teams to juggle outsourcing projects to support larger endeavors abroad. This issue is prevalent across many local studios in the Philippines, where outsourcing services are often the primary source of revenue. The need for financial support and investment is critical for these studios to thrive independently.

Public Perception and Comparisons: Banta and Manalo also shared that local developers often face unfair comparisons to triple-A titles. With their games, such as PBA Basketball Slam and Bayani, being compared to franchises like NBA 2K or Tekken, there is a need for greater public awareness of the unique challenges and achievements of local game development. Increased recognition and understanding can help shift perceptions and garner more support for homegrown talent.

Despite these challenges, there is optimism for the future. Banta and Manalo believe that showcasing Filipino innovation and creativity is key to advancing the industry. Events like the 2024 PGDX, which feature sections for indie developers, provide much-needed exposure and opportunities for local talent to shine. The presence of foreign visitors from the video game industry at such events further enhances the potential for international recognition and collaboration.

The Road Ahead

The experience of Ranida Games at Xbox Game Camp Asia highlights the transformative potential of such programs for game developers in the Philippines. Through valuable mentorship, creative challenges, and exposure to industry veterans, studios like Ranida Games are gaining the tools and confidence needed to innovate and grow.

Ranida Games soldiers on. I’ll keep an eye on Soul Food and see how that project materializes. As for other projects, they did mention development on Bayani stalled but is now back on track to release a new character for their fighting game. Bayani is still in Steam’s Early Access program since 2019.

Despite the significant hurdles of limited access to development kits and budget constraints, the passion and talent of Filipino game developers remain undeniable. For Banta and Manalo, mentorship and support are critical in bridging the gap between potential and realization. 

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Arrowhead Game Studios has unveiled the next big update coming to their 4-player co-op game Helldivers 2. Titled Escalation of Freedom, this update adds new content for the live service game in a major way as this isn’t another Warbonds release update like previous content drops.

What’s new in Escalation of Freedom

In the Escalation of Freedom, they are adding new objectives, new planets to explore, and new enemy types to spice up the gameplay even more. In the trailer above, we got a glimpse of the new Impaler enemy type for the Terminids, a massive creature that can erupt massive tentacles to stop your team in your tracks They also have a new variant of the Charger called the Spore Charger which is simply a moving spore tower that obscures the view of players. They will also have a deadlier Brood Commander who seems to be spawning more deadly reinforcements when given a chance.

The Automatons also have new creations to deploy on the field as one of them teased in the trailer as Helldivers will have to watch out for a tank that shoots a lot of rockets at your direction, another artillery type that can ruin anyone’s day from long range.

As for objectives, they are adding new ones, and one of them mentioned is where you are tasked to extract a Terminid larva that constantly attracts nearby Terminids to whoever holds the Larva container.

The update will also add new weather conditions and new planets such as a spooky swamp biome. Also, expect bigger outposts from both enemy sides when the update goes live. As for the new difficulty, they are simply ramping up what you’re feeling in Difficulty 9 even more. What does that mean? It’s hard to say at this point but expect crazy enemy spawns and enemy density in Difficulty 10.

No new weapons were mentioned in this update, but that’s to be expected considering the Warbond drops are usually the developer’s way of expanding the player’s arsenal.

What was shown in the trailer for the update is very much not the only thing to expect as Helldivers 2 tends to keep a few surprises hidden for players to stumble upon.

The Escalation of Freedom updates go live on August 6 for all players.

Helldivers 2 still block for some regions

Despite the backlash for requiring PC players to like a PSN account with their Steam account (no longer required), Helldivers 2 has been a big success story since it was released back in February. Things have slowed down to normal levels as the game continues to get updated months after release.

Thanks to the controversy surrounding the requirement, they may have reverted the PSN requirement but has remained blocked for select regions that do not have PSN support, such as the Philippines. This remains the case up to now with recent PlayStation-published games released on Steam with multiplayer features. Games like Helldivers 2, Ghost of Tsushima, and even the upcoming team-based hero shooter Concord will not be available in certain countries via Steam.

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Warner Bros. Games has officially acquired Player First Games, the developer behind the recently launched MultiVersus, a free-to-play platform fighter video game.

Player First Games will continue its operations under the leadership of its co-founders, Tony Huynh and Chris White. Huynh, the Head of Player First Games, and White, the Head of Technology at Player First Games, will now report to Carlos Barbosa, Vice President and Studio Head of Warner Bros. Games San Diego.

David Haddad, President of Warner Bros. Games, expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition:

“We have worked with Player First Games over several years to create and launch MultiVersus, and we are very pleased to welcome this talented team to Warner Bros. Games. The bright and creative team at Player First Games adds to our extensive development capabilities.”

Tony Huynh also shared his excitement:

“Our team is excited to join the Warner Bros. Games family, and we feel that this will be great for MultiVersus overall. We are working to make the MultiVersus game experience the best it can be and having our development team integrated with the publisher is optimum for the players.”

About MultiVersus

MultiVersus, developed by Player First Games with production support and live management by Warner Bros. Games San Diego, features an ever-expanding roster of popular characters from Warner Bros. Discovery franchises. The game is available now as a free download for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles, and PC.

The fighting game will soon enter its second season as it was announced in Evo 2024 that Samurai Jack and Beetlejuice will be joining the fighting game

Why This Acquisition Matters

This acquisition could be a double-edged sword. For Warner Bros. Games, this bolsters their portfolio even more, especially in the fighting game genre considering they have Mortal Kombat in the mix. For Player First Games, this could either bolster their efforts in supporting the game in the long run or struggle to meet both expectations from Warner Bros. and the community that has stuck with them during the open beta phase.

Only time will tell but Warner pushing through with this acqusition shows promise with the developer’s potential in the long run, beyond MutiVersus.

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Developer Kuro Games announced that their free-to-play open world gacha game Wuthering Waves is coming to PlayStation 5 in the future. No release date was given when it was announced.

Dear Rovers,
We are excited to announce that the PS5 version of Wuthering Waves is now officially in development. We'll provide updates on the official launch time of the PS5 version in the future. Please stay tuned for more information!#WutheringWaves pic.twitter.com/6qwzHsJXEH

— Wuthering Waves (@Wuthering_Waves) July 23, 2024

Wuthering Waves first launched on PC through the game’s official client, mobile, and in the Epic Games Store on May 22, 2024. If you’ve played Genshin Impact, then you have a good idea what you’ll be getting into, but in case you want a better understanding, here’s a quick rundown of the game based on the game’s store page.

Wuthering Waves is a story-rich open-world action RPG with a high degree of freedom. You wake from your slumber as Rover, joined by a vibrant cast of Resonators on a journey to reclaim your lost memories and surmount the Lament.

Key Features

• Desolated by the Lament, Civilization is Born Anew / Delve Into an Expansive World – Embrace high degrees of freedom in immersive overworld explorations. Utilize grapple and wall dash to travel great distances and overcome obstacles with little strain for stamina consumed. As the world of Solaris-3 unfolds, your lost memory begins to see its recovery through this ceaseless quest.

• Strike Fast and Unleash Your Inner Warrior / Engage in Smooth and Fast-paced Combat – Avail against enemy attacks in smooth and fast-paced combat. Apply easy controls of Extreme Evasion, Dodge Counter, Echo Skill, and unique QTE mechanisms that allow the fullest possibility of battle experience.

• Forte Awakened, Journey Alongside Your Companions / Encounter Resonators – Compose a harmonious battle concerto with Resonators of different abilities. Their unique Fortes revealing distinctive personalities will be your strong assets for the journey ahead.

• Power of Your Foes at Your Command / Collect Echoes to Aid You in Battle – Capture lingering phantoms of Tacet Discords to harness your own Echoes. Upon this mystic land of everlasting reverberations, a diverse array of Echo Skills will strike enemies with powerful responses.

The PlayStation 5 version of Wuthering Waves will be playable at ChinaJoy 2024, which is happening from July 26 to 29 at Shanghai New International Expo Center in Shanghai, China.

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Evolution 2024, the biggest open fighting game event to ever be organized has once again concluded its 2024 edition last weekend as it was a weekend filled with ups and downs, excitements, upsets, and success stories only the fighting game community can produce.

There are so many great moments that are hard to point out. The unexpected split from a 40+-year-old Street Fighter 3rd Strike player is one of those moments you wished you were there to see it unfold.

I can't believe I had to work a full time job, earn enough money, went thru flight cancelation, flew 20+ hours, walked in rain in Vegas out of all places, and watched 3rd strike finals where I got hype for 40 year old grown mans leg split.

Best money spent ever.#Evo2024 pic.twitter.com/ewASr56iV0

— BurnoutFighter 번아웃파이터 🕹 (@burnoutfighter) July 21, 2024

We even greats like SonicFox still being on top of the Mortal Kombat world to PunkDaGod finally getting his first ever Street Fighter Evo win. For Punk, it was probably the hardest way to win as a bracket reset happened and it went down to the final round to the point that it was simply a coin flip as both players in the grand finals was even and deserved the top podium.

He did it.

Congratulations to @PunkDaGod for winning Street Fighter 6 at #Evo2024. pic.twitter.com/kshVafraJF

— Evo (@Evo) July 22, 2024

The Big Annnouncements

Evo is a big stage, and any fighting game developer knows this as it’s literally a direct line to their target market, so it’s only natural that Evo 2024 has yet again become a platform for the biggest announcements and reveal for the latest and upcoming titles in the fighting game genre.

Here’s a quickfire rundown of all the big announcements.

Tekken 8’s next DLC character is Heihachi Mishima

First Look at Terry Bogard in Street Fighter 6

Guilty Gear Season Pass 4 Filled with updates and new characters, including Cyberpunk 2077 Edgerunner’s Lucy

Granblue Fatasy Versus’ Next Character is Versusia

Samurai Jack and Beetlejuice is coming to MultiVersus

KOF XV Adding Mature and Vice

Next year’s Fatal Fury” City of Wolves Adds Kevin Rian to Roster

SNK vs Capcom: SVC Chaos Coming to Modern Consoles

Upcoming 3v3 Hunter X Hunter game released a new trailer for Meruem

Under Night In-Birth to Be Updated with The Black Monger this July

Evo will be back again next year as Evo is going even bigger in 2025 as the next Evo event will be in Los Angeles in February 2025, Japan in May 2025, then France in October 2025. They even announced that Evo is coming to Singapore in 2026.

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In a recent Blizzard livestream, Blizzard and various Diablo IV team members unveiled our first good look at Diablo IV’s upcoming new class called the Spiritborn debuting when the Vessel of Hatred expansion goes live later this year.

It’s an entirely new class based on the new region called Nahantu, where the expansion will take place. It’s a unique class that calls up four Spirit Guardians to help him fend off the hellish monstrosities found in Sanctuary.

Here’s what to expect from the new class:

SPIRITBORN

• The Spiritborn are an entirely new class in the Diablo series that call upon the strengths of four Spirit Guardians: Jaguar, Gorilla, Eagle, and Centipede. They are masters of hand-to-hand combat with a versatile playstyle that allows them slay demons with the aid of spirit energy.

• Hailing from the brand-new Nahantu region, the Spiritborn have a rich history that revolves around their dedication to protecting the Spirit Realm, a ghostly reflection of Sanctuary where the souls of the jungle have a purpose beyond life.

• The Spirit Guardians represent the connection between humans and the natural world. The warrior sees her strength in the Gorilla, the hunter sees his speed in the Jaguar, the strategist sees their vigil in the Eagle, and the apothecary sees her practice in the Centipede and the decay it devours.

• Utilize the new Skill Tag, Incarnate, to embody the traits of a Guardian and receive a passive bonus.

• New Legendaries and Uniques tailored to the Spiritborn will be available with the Vessel of Hatred expansion. These items can lean into different playstyles of the Spirit Guardians, augment or amplify skills, or amplify a player’s inherent power.

• A new class quest will be available for the Spiritborn once players have reached Level 15. Embarking on this quest will allow players to become attuned to the ways of the Spirit Guardians and unlock the Spirit Hall.

• Use the Spirit Hall to enhance a Spiritborn build by choosing a Primary Spirit for a special bonus and the addition of the Spirit’s Skill Tag to all Skills. At Level 30, players can choose a secondary bonus from the same Guardian or a different one that will either strengthen the bond or intertwine it with another Guardian’s mechanics.

Diablo IV’s first expansion, Vessel of Hatred, will launch on October 4, 2024 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.

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Grinding Gear Games revealed the 3.25 update of their ever-popular action RPG Path of Exile. Titled Settlers of Kalguur, the July expansion contains various balance improvements set to shape up the meta and add new content when the expansion goes live on July 27.

Settlers of Kalguur will add a long list of balance work, but just like previous seasons, a new league will be introduced.

Here’s what you need to know about the Settlers of Kalguur Challenge League:

“In the Settlers of Kalguur Challenge League, players will help Kalguuran pioneers build the town of Kingsmarch and establish trade between Wraeclast and their homeland. Players will focus on mining exotic resources, hiring and protecting skilled workers to construct and defend the town, and build out a harbor to establish and manage trading. Once the town is constructed and trade is underway, players will be able to buy and sell currency and other stackable items in the Currency Trade Market, and craft and recombine powerful weapons and items on the Runesmithing Table.

Ascendancy classes will be refreshed with the addition of the new Warden class, as well as a rework of the Gladiator. The Warden will replace the Raider class, focusing on elemental attacks, damage mitigation and a specialization in Tinctures, which can now be found throughout the land. The Gladiator class maintains powerful skills for Bleeding and Block, along with receiving newly designed skills including the opportunity to invest in Retaliation Skills, a new type of skill that allows you to unleash devastating damage upon meeting certain conditions in combat.

Endgame content will see changes to many Scarabs, a 6th Map Device Slot, new encounters in Tier 16 and Tier 17 Maps, updates to Blight and Ritual and more. There will also be a set of new Chisel types and a massive increase in the drop rate of Valdo's Puzzle Boxes.“

The developers shared the patch notes for update 3.25 and as expected, it’s quite extensive as it tackles various changes to certain skills concepts and even adds quality-of-life changes. For those interested in deep diving into the changes one by one, patch notes are right here.

Console Love

The reveal of 3.25 also came with the developers improving console performance on PS5 and Xbox Series X as the action RPG is now taking “full advantage of PS5 and Xbox Series hardware” as you can expect a huge reduction in load times and texture pop-in. Good news as console performance has been criticized as of late, especially players on the PS5.

Path of Exile 2 Closed Beta coming soon

Grinding Gear Games also announced that they are hard at work in developing Path of Exile 2 and that the first closed beta test for the sequel will happen soon, encouraging players to sign up for a chance at being the select few to try out the game before launch.

The Settlers of Kalguur expansion goes live on July 27, at 4 AM (GMT+8).

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Developer Microbird and publisher Curve Games has officially released their action RPG Dungeons of Hinterberg today on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Windows and Steam), and is available for Xbox and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Here’s a quick rundown of the game and its features.

In the small Austrian village of Hinterberg, a tourist destination with lush scenery, crisp mountain air, and magical dungeons full of Alpine mythical monsters, adventurers from all over the world come to conquer dungeons, find epic loot and hang out at Hinterberg’s famous apres-slay bar. Players can explore different biomes, solve puzzles, slay huge bosses - then have a Schnitzel with the locals and other slayers from around the globe. Building deep relationships can unlock special abilities and gameplay systems or give players key items, helping them find their way through a daunting dungeon. 

Dungeons of Hinterberg features: 

• 25 Dungeons, each with either combat, puzzle or boss fight focus 

• 20+ enemy types and numerous bosses 

• 4 visually distinct biomes with 5-7 dungeons each 

• 10+ unique locations to hang out in Hinterberg 

• 20+ Locals and residents to interact with and forge relationships 

Dungeons of Hinterberg is priced at $29.99/£24.99/€29.99. If you’re curious to try the game before purchasing it on Steam, you can download the free demo on the game’s Steam page.

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The theme park simulator Park Beyond was just updated recently with its fourth DLC release called Beyond the Skies of Arabia, a new pack that adds new options for players to customize their ideal park.

The DLC pack comes with new theme park maps, entertainers, flat rides called the Star Map and Power Loop 1.0, and shop-building prefabs inspired by the tales of Scheherazade. The highly requested coaster type called the Spinning Coaster was also added, as well as over 230 themed scenery items to customize your future parks around the new DLC.

Park Beyond has been out since 2023 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Those who own the game’s annual pass will get the Skies of Arabia for free, including the two other DLC packs released so far — Beyond Extreme, and Beyond Depths. With Skies of Arabia out, this completes the content planned for those who own the annual pass for 2024.

No word if more content will be played for the game for the rest of 2024 and beyond.

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Bandai Namco Entertainment and FromSoftware have delivered an expansion for their blockbuster action RPG Elden Ring that hits all the spots and chews up any player naive enough to think that their overpowered characters stand a chance against the new content. It’s roughly 20-30 hours long, depending on a player’s eagerness to explore and their skill in dealing with the most difficult encounters. This is no picnic. This is no half-baked add-on to satisfy the masses. This is a true expansion in every sense of the word, and despite a hefty price point, it’s probably the best piece of DLC ever released.

A DLC meant to frustrate and push your skills past your limits

Off the bat, it’s smart for FromSoftware to gatekeep the Shadow of the Erdtree by requiring players to defeat a specific boss on the main path, plus an optional boss that’s guarding the entrance to the DLC. The optional boss, whom less than half of players defeated before the DLC’s release, was a great test for players thinking of rushing into the new content, as the area where said boss resides is normally only reachable after 50+ hours of game time (faster for veteran players, of course). With this in mind, I had to replay the game to prepare myself for the new content as I made a new character and also revisited my old characters, since the last time I played Elden Ring was back in 2022.

I was rusty, and with good reason. But no matter how much I prepared for the DLC, it wasn’t enough. I never felt a sense of ease while exploring this new area. The bosses were unforgiving, something that I and most of the soulslike community greatly appreciated. There’s no sense of respite or big opening, as once you enter the boss' domain, you’ll need to bring your best as they’ve tailored these fights with the expectation that players engaging with them are seasoned and well-equipped. 

The little things make these DLC bosses far more difficult in comparison to those in the base game. Foes that dual-wield are the worst, as there’s always a lingering second attack that punishes those too reliant on the i-frames of their character’s dodge, or who find refuge in their high-poised shield block. Some combos feel like they go on forever, something that personally tested my stubbornness while learning their move sets. Every major boss felt like a massive roadblock. I’ve spent hours on several encounters, resulting in this review coming out rather late as I’ve been struggling with some of them, and this is exactly what I wanted and expected from the DLC. 

“Git gud?” Definitely. As in any soulslike game, the feeling of finally achieving victory over these monstrosities brings a unique high that I’ll always appreciate. It feels like a heavy fog has lifted, resulting in a new path filled with other encounters ready to deliver a similar feeling.

Messmer the Impaler was one of the toughest bosses that stood out for me, but what I appreciate about FromSoftware’s boss fight philosophy is that some bosses feel difficult or easy depending on the player’s playstyle and build. As I progressed through the DLC, I saw colleagues and friends express that one particular boss or another was far more difficult than the ones I personally found challenging. I had a conversation where I was saying that Messmer and the final boss tested my limits, but Rellana and another boss were far more punishing for them. Each boss brings a new set of challenges, either forcing players into familiar places or uncomfortable positions through sheer pressure. You need to keep adapting.

An open world that’s beautiful and knows how to inflict pain

Beyond the boss encounters, Shadow of the Erdtree’s open world delivers yet again with a strong sense of exploration, rewarding those eager to upturn every rock in the hopes of finding something rewarding. The quality of the environments is on par with the base game. Some might even argue that the art direction has improved. FromSoftware’s design philosophy has emphasized how exploring is king, and each new weapon or item entices me to give it a shot, and since I’m using a character with a crazy amount of materials, upgrading them to make them viable for the DLC content was a breeze.

My new favorite is the Milady weapon, equipped with a unique moveset that somehow decimates new enemies, breaking their poise and leaving them open for easy punishment. The DLC not only provides new weapons but also new Incantations, Spells, crafting items, armor sets for flair, and a lot more.

When you explore and gain the new DLC items, don’t think it’ll be a breeze going from one new boss to another, as the open world has its fair share of crazy enemies that could be mini-bosses in their own right thanks to their crazy move patterns. I never felt safe despite being over level 150+, as they designed the DLC to make every hit and every damage taken mean something, keeping the tension. The unfamiliar will be punished by this world, and no amount of health or leveling up will prepare you for ambushes and traps found in either the new dungeons or locations.

New upgrades - Scadutree Fragments and Spirit Ash Blessings

There’s a sense of balance in the DLC as the game gets a bit more manageable if players pick up Scadutree Fragments and Spirit Ash Blessings found in the new map, another major incentive to explore the land.

As mentioned in my initial impressions on the DLC, you will come across items called Scadutree Fragments as you explore the new location. These items increase a player’s damage output and enhance their damage mitigation. Spirit Ash Blessings improve your summons and increase the life total of your trusty steed, Torrent, making them all more resilient against the expansion’s most deadly foes.

Simply put, there will be more room for error with these upgrades. It doesn’t necessarily make the game easier, but it will make the difference whether your character can survive three boss attacks instead of two. I like the additions, as it brings the experience back to its roots - ergo, despite your level and weapons, these encounters will always feel like you’re always a few seconds away from revisiting the ‘You Died’ screen for the nth time.

Planting more lore seeds for the diehards

The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion also has its fair share of storytelling in the most FromSoftware way. Things are still vague, but there’s a series of new characters introduced that provide more context to this part of the world, with new details that will entice lore enthusiasts that pieced the Elden Ring world together. Remember those living pot creatures? We get more information about them. You might find a piece of added lore by simply stumbling upon a deep dungeon complex with a short boss waiting at the end. 

I was never much of a fan of the storytelling style of FromSoftware’s soulslike games, and if you’re on the same boat, don’t expect much to change here, as they embrace their style and deliver it the same way as they did in the base game. 

This is one of the meatiest expansions I’ve ever encountered in a video game. It could be its own game. All of the additions Shadow of the Erdtree makes are everything a Soulsike fan could hope for, as they’ve delivered a challenging experience with fresh ideas not only in the boss encounters, but in the environments, enemy variety, and even new items that freshen up the co-op and even player versus player space. While many think the price point for the DLC is a bit steep, I can clearly say what you get here more than justifies the asking price, and if you love Elden Ring, you should definitely not skip Shadow of the Erdtree.

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Verdict: 5/ 5 (Exceptional)

PROS

• Fascinating boss battles that are challenging and unique

• A massively beautiful new location filled with novel surprises, enemy types, and encounters

• New equipment and spells freshens up the two-year-old game, encouraging new builds revolving around them

• Scadutree Fragments and Spirit Ash Blessings are a great solution to preserve the game’s unique experience

CONS

• Price point might feel a bit steep for some

• The requirements to access the DLC are necessary but intimidating

What I’ve Played 

• Beaten all of the key bosses (missing some optional)

• Explored most of the new location (I think)

• Played the DLC through two characters

*This review is based on a review copy provided by the publisher

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