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Hands-on Preview: Sid Meier’s Civilization VII

Hands on Preview for Civilization 7

I recently had the opportunity to visit Firaxis Games studio in Sparks, Maryland, where I got to learn more about the studio behind the monumental turn-based strategy franchise as well as get a few hours of hands-on time with the upcoming Sid Meier's Civilization VII. It was great to see such a passionate team of developers pridefully showcase the next installment in the beloved franchise. As a Maryland native myself, I've always felt like Maryland game studios simply do things differently, and in a good way. And my roughly three hours of hands-on playtime with Civilization 7 only furthered that sentiment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U

History Comes in Layers

Creative Director of the Civilization franchise, Ed Beach, has been at Firaxis Games for over a decade. He kicked off our hands-on preview by telling us about the vision for Civilization 7. Instead of just making "another Civilization" game, the team instead chose a new element of focus: History Comes in Layers. Beach described this vision as akin to what we see in historical locations throughout the world. As new empires laid claim to various settlements and cities throughout the world, they would often simply build over what used to be there, still leaving behind remnants and glimpses of the past while replacing it with new ideas and technologies.

To create that same element of building on the past—history in layers—Civilization 7 features an all-new three-stage Age system: The Age of Antiquity, the Age of Exploration, and The Modern Age. A full campaign in Civilization 7 will expand across these three ages, allowing the player to change their Civilization at the start of each new wave. Oh, and for the first time ever, players will be able to choose their Leader separately from their Civilization at the start of the game. That's right, you can lead an Egyptian empire as Benjamin Franklin.

The four classic Legacy paths will remain throughout each Age. That is Science, Economics, Culture, and Military, which are the victory conditions traditionally available in Civilization. The choices and actions you make in each Age will decide which civilization you can change to as you transition into each Age. So while you may start off as a culture or science-focused civilization, if you find yourself engaging in a lot of wars due to pesky neighbors you may end up unlocking a more war-driven civilization when you reach the next Age.

It almost feels as if each Age will be sort of its own contained game inside a bigger overarching one. That being said, in my limited hands-on time I only got to experience the Antiquity Age, so I never got to see what civilizations I unlocked based on my actions.

Sprawling Cities in Civilization 7
Screenshot by 2K Games

Sprawling cities

The History in Layers mantra of Civilization 7 really shines through the progression of your cities as you advance through the game and build up your city. Builders are no longer a unit in Civilization, nor are the pre-defined districts you could build in Civilization 6. Instead, you will have Rural areas that feature the improvements you make to the nearby city, while Urban districts allow you to build up to two buildings per hex.

Of course, the visuals of the city will change as you plop down these new entities, molding your city into its ultimate vision as you continue to add and build upon it as it spreads outwards. Because my hands-on time only explored the Antiquity age, I didn't get to see what sort of changes would happen when moving towards a completely different civilization, but I can only imagine it will further enforce History in Layers.

Another big change that I actually found really promising is that you can choose to keep a Town as a Town, rather than progressing it into an actual City. Doing so allows you to give the town a specific specialization, granting it buffs while focusing on a specific task. For example, a Mining Town will get production bonuses while a Farming Town will get bonuses for food production and growth.

You can then use these towns, and the Luxury Resources surrounding them, to funnel back into your city and boost it even further. It's a unique gameplay loop on expanding which is a big part of Civilization, and I'm excited to see what players who are much better than me end up doing once they've gotten a hold of the new system.

Combat in Civilization 7
Screenshot by 2K Games

Combat is all about Commanders

Another big change is how Military Leaders, and more importantly experience from combat, work in Civilization 7. In previous entries in the franchise, each unit gained experience after combat. You could then train or purchase various generals that would provide buffs when near certain units, but they would not gain experience.

In Civilization 7, basic combat units no longer get experience. Instead, Commanders gain experience based on the combat performed by units around them. Through experience, they will level up and gain access to buffs that are also then applied to the units around them.

Furthermore, you can link or stack units into a Commander, move them across the battlefield as one single entity, and then deploy the units as necessary on the frontline. It's actually a massive change to how combat will work in Civilization, and as someone who is a more casual enjoyer of the series, I found the change to be a good one both from a quality-of-life perspective and also in terms of gameplay.

I typically often go more into Culture, Science, or Economics when I play Civilization, simply because I've never been a huge fan of the combat. But in the campaign I played, despite choosing an economic culture-favored civilization, I found myself really getting into the combat and for sure would have transitioned towards a military-favored civilization had I reached the next age.

Leaders in Civilization 7
Screenshot by 2K Games

A Promising Step Forward

With a game like Civilization, three hours is certainly not enough time to get a full grasp of the game. In fact, for a casual Civ player like myself, I might have only been halfway or so into the first of the three Ages. But the systems and elements I did get to experience—the new combat experience and Commanders, mixing Civilizations with Leaders, specializing Towns, or turning them into cities—all felt like solid meaningful changes to the Civilization franchise.

In the end, this is still Civilization. The same historical immersion and strategic depth we've come to expect from the turn-based strategy game across its many many hexagons are still very much front and center. But instead of just pushing out a prettier Civ game, Firaxis Games seems to be walking the perfect balance of adding new, impactful features and systems while being careful not to disrupt the Civilization formula that many have come to love over the decades. This was certainly a hands-on experience that left me pining for more, and I can't wait to try some crazy Civilization and Leader combinations to rewrite history in some fun ways.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII is set to release on February 11, 2025 on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.

Note: I also had the opportunity to interview a couple of developers from the Civilization 7 team at Firaxis which will be going live tomorrow. I asked some development questions, as well as some fun ones like their favorite leader/civ combos, so keep an eye out for that!

The post Hands-on Preview: Sid Meier’s Civilization VII appeared first on Destructoid.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle coming to Xbox and PC December 2024, PS5 in Spring 2025

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gameplay reveal

When Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases later this year, one thing is for sure: The Great Circle will certainly encompass a genuine rendition of Indiana Jones. During today's Gamescom Opening Night Live, developer MachineGames and publisher Bethesda Softworks showed off various elements of gameplay and confirmed the action adventure title will release on Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9, 2024 as a timed console exclusive before coming to PS5 in Spring 2025.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg

For the first time, we got an extensive look at the gameplay that will take place in the all-new handcraft Indiana Jones story coming in The Great Circle. At its core, the name of the game in The Great Circle will be stealth. Often times it looks as though there will be plenty of enemies between Indy and his destination, making the quiet unseen route the safest and most reliable option. But when things get hairy, Indy will have options.

Using his signature trusty whip, players will be able to smack around, disoriented, crowd control, and subdue enemies. Every location will also have a variety of objects that the player can interact with and use to assist them in combat as well, ranging from actual weapons including firearms to random knick-knacks to throw at the enemy.

Based on the trailer, it looks as though we'll be exploring a variety of detailed environments and solving interesting puzzles to crack the code of The Great Circle.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set to release on December 9, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S and PC. It will later release on PS5 in Spring 2025.

The post Indiana Jones and the Great Circle coming to Xbox and PC December 2024, PS5 in Spring 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Marvel Rivals release date confirmed for December

Marvel Rivals release date set for December

During today's Gamescom Opening Night Live, developer and publisher NetEase confirmed that upcoming Free to Play Hero Shooter Marvel Rivals officially has a release date. Marvel Rivals will release on December 6, 2024 on Steam, Epic Game Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a49DJ2bj9Gs

The Overwatch-inspired superhero team-based PvP shooter allows players to choose from a roster of Marvel Heroes and jump into 6v6 combat across a handful of landmark battlefields from the Marvel cinematic universe.

Marvel Rivals recently had a rather successful playtest, creating a lot of buzz around the fact that there is finally a potential competitor to Overwatch. Our very own Eric Van Allen got some playtime with the hero shooter and felt that while it wasn't necessarily revolutionary, it could put some pressure on Overwatch.

All heroes will be unlocked and free-to-play "at launch and beyond" which is certainly great news for fans looking forward to dabbling in some Marvel madness.

Those interested in Marvel Rivals can jump in when it launches on December 6, 2024 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Marvel Rivals release date confirmed for December appeared first on Destructoid.

Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 release date set for February 2025

Civilization 7 Release Date

During today's Gamescom Opening Night Live, developer Firaxis Games and publisher 2K Games revealed the release date for the upcoming grand strategy title Sid Meier's Civilization VII as February 11, 2025. That means that it will be just over eight years between Civilization 6 and the upcoming entry into the series, Civilization 7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U

Visually, Civilization 7 certainly looks improved while still keeping its classic semi-cartoony aesthetic. The city development weaved around the terrain looks better than ever, as do the various units and combat seen in the trailer.

The Standard Edition will cost $69.99 while a Deluxe Edition is available for $99.99 that grants five days of Early Access to Civilization 7, allowing players to get into the game on February 6. The Switch version for each edition will run $10 cheaper.

Sid Meier's Civilization VII will be released on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch on February 11, 2025.

The post Sid Meier’s Civilization 7 release date set for February 2025 appeared first on Destructoid.

Diablo 4 Season 5 Best Leveling Builds for all Classes

Best Diablo 4 Season 5 Leveling Builds for all classes

The fifth season for ARPG Diablo 4, The Season of the Infernal Hordes, once again changes up a lot of the build varieties for all classes while also adding the new seasonal Infernal Hordes mechanic. With all-new Legendary Items, some builds are looking better than ever. These are the best Leveling Builds for all Classes in Diablo 4 Season 5.

Best Leveling Builds for all Classes in Diablo 4 Season 5
Screenshot by Blizzard

Best Leveling Builds for all Classes in Diablo 4 Season 5

The overall markers for the best leveling builds in Diablo 4 Season 5 are those that can quickly clear out a large number of enemies in a short period of time while also surviving the onslaught of enemies in the meantime. While being able to quickly burst down bosses is also important, it's not as important as being able to mass clear enemies. Here are the best leveling builds for each class in Diablo 4 Season 5:

Barbarian

One of the best overall builds for leveling in all of Diablo 4 Season 5 is the Hammer of the Ancients (HotA) Barbarian. The build uses Hammer of the Ancients to quickly AoE down enemies via the powerful hammer slam. The addition of Charge and Lunging Strike allows you to quickly traverse the map while War Cry, Rallying Cry, and Wrath of the Berserker give you added utility in the form of damage and survivability.

Build Guide: Hammer of the Ancients Barbarian Leveling Build by Mathris

Druid

For Druid, Lightning Storm is the best leveling build due to the ability to zap down a ton of enemies quickly via Lightning Storm. Trample gives the Druid some extra mobility while Wolves, Ravens, and Poisoner Creeper add some tanky high-damage companions to the Druid's arsenal in between spamming Lightning Storm. Once you have Shepherd's Aspect, Lightning Storm is one of the highest damage burst abilities for leveling.

Build Guide: Lightning Storm Druid Leveling Build by IBoilerUp

Necromancer

The best Necromancer Leveling Build in Diablo 4 Season 5 is Minion Necro. Perhaps the easiest build in all of Diablo 4, Minion Necro allows you to essentially run around while your horde of minions quickly exterminate everything nearby. At its core, this build relies on Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and Golems to swarm your opponents. For survivability, you'll make use of Blood Mist, and Corpse Tendrils and Iron Maiden will give you a lot more crowd control and utility.

Build Guide: Summoner Necromancer Leveling Build by GhazzyTV

Rogue

Rogues actually have several strong leveling build options, but Twisting Blades is probably the best. Dash and Shadow Step gives the Rogue tons of mobility to quickly dart around the map, while Puncture, Twisting Blades, Shadow Imbuement, and Shadow Clone gives the Rogue plenty of high damage options to burst down large groups of enemies quickly. While most Leveling Builds focus purely on AoE damage, Twisting Blades Rogue actually gets some added single-target boss damage via Inner Sight.

Build Guide: Twisting Blades Rogue Leveling Build by Paryah

Sorcerer

The best Leveling Build for Sorcerer for Diablo 4 Season 5 is CHain Lightning. For several seasons this has been one of the best leveling builds in the entire ARPG, and Season 5 looks to follow suit. Using the massive AoE explosions from the Fireball Enchantment mixed with Arc Lash and Chain Lightning, this is one of the fastest AoE clear builds out there. Frost Nova adds some insane Crowd Control and added damage burst via the easily Vulnerability, while Teleport and Ice Armor give you more mobility and utility than most of the classes, especially when leveling.

Build Guide: Chain Lightning Sorcerer Leveling Build by DarkHumility

The post Diablo 4 Season 5 Best Leveling Builds for all Classes appeared first on Destructoid.

Mecha BREAK Tier List for all Mechs in Beta Playtest

Mecha Break Tier List for all Mechs in the BEta Playtest

With the launch of the Beta Playtest for the mech-centric PvPvE title Mecha BREAK, we're quickly realizing just how much of a difference there is between the 13 different mechs. We've put together this Mecha BREAK Tier List to order the raw power potential of each of the Mechs available in the Beta Playtest.

Mecha BREAK Mech Tier List
Screenshot by Destructoid

Mecha BREAK Mech Tier List

While every Mech in Mecha Break has its uses, some are certainly overall more stronger than others. However, as this is an early Beta Playtest, it's very likely that the mechs will continue to receive balancing tuning ahead of release. As such, this Mech Tier List for Mecha Break is based purely off of the state of the beta playtest.

All mechs in the S Tier category are very strong and versatile, and always a solid option for any battle on any map in any mode in Mecha Break. Those in the A Tier are overall strong as well and should be able to hold up in every scenario, but may be weaker than an S Tier counterpart. The mechs in the B Tier have specific uses that make them advantageous in certain scenarios, but overall not as versatile as those in the S or A Tier. Finally, the lone mech in the C Tier, Falcon, is a bit under tuned at the moment and needs a little bit of lover to be considered a competitive option compared to the other mechs.

Using this Tier List, you can choose which Mechs you want to focus on farming currency for in order to unlock them. Of course, be sure to pick a mech that fits with your playstyle so make sure you're having fun! Here is our Mech Tier List:

S Tier

  • Aquila
  • Hurricane
  • Panther
  • Stego

A Tier

  • Luminae
  • Pinaka
  • Skyraider
  • Welkin

B Tier

  • Alysnes
  • Inferno
  • Narukami
  • Tricera

C Tier

  • Falcon

The post Mecha BREAK Tier List for all Mechs in Beta Playtest appeared first on Destructoid.

Start Wars Outlaws Post-Launch Roadmap includes two Story Packs

Star Wars Content Roadmap

We're just a few weeks away from the launch of developer Massive Entertainment and publisher Ubisoft's open-world action-adventure game Star Wars Outlaws. In a post on the official Ubisoft blog, the publisher outlined the post-release content roadmap for Outlaws, detailing what is to come in the Season Pass which includes two Story Packs, two Cosmetic Bundles, and a launch day exclusive mission and character pack.

Star Wars Outlaws Post Season Roadmap
Image by Ubisoft

Not so Far Far Away

Players who purchase the Gold Edition or Ultimate Edition of Star Wars Outlaws will automatically get the Season Pass, which includes the Kessel Runner character pack featuring outfits for Kay Vess and her companion Nix, as well as an exclusive mission called Jabba's Gambit. The mission gives access to an additional quest from the notorious Jabba Hutt and his Hutt Cartel. Both of these are available when Star Wars Outlaws is released.

The first Story Pack, Wild Card, is set to release in Fall 2024. Players will infiltrate a high-stakes Sabacc tournament as Kay before encountering notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, before evolving into a bigger game at play. The Hunter's Legacy and Cartel Ronin cosmetic bundles will launch alongside this story pack, including additional outfits for Kay and Nix as well as cosmetics for Kay's speeder and ship.

In Spring 2025 the second Story Pack, A Pirate's Fortune, will follow Kay as he runs into veteran pirate Hondo Ohnaka, who is attempting to settle old scores with a ruthless gang of pirates.

Both of the Story Packs sound promising in terms of story, so hopefully the core gameplay of Star Wars Outlaws is enough to make the DLC feel worth exploring. We'll know for sure soon as Star Wars Outlaws is set to release on all platforms later this month on August 30.

The post Start Wars Outlaws Post-Launch Roadmap includes two Story Packs appeared first on Destructoid.

Star Wars Outlaws looks like an authentic open-world adventure staying true to its universe

Star Wars Outlaws Ubisoft Forward

I recently took a look at three different missions from developer Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft's upcoming open-world adventure title Stars Wars Outlaws. It feels like Star Wars is getting a ton of game releases lately, which while good as a whole, has also led to a few missing the mark. Thankfully, it looks like Star Wars Outlaws is staying true to the Star Wars universe, and I'm excited to explore it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_O1eqWWbe4

In Star Wars Outlaws, players will adventure to various planets in the Star Wars universe, each one with unique gameplay elements and environments to explore. Throughout the three missions I saw many elements that have become staples all things Star Wars front and center in Outlaws. From zipping across the desert-like planet of Tatooine on a speeder to walking around a bustling cantina trying to get a meeting with a Hutt cartel.

In one mission, players engage in a dogfight in space while piloting a ship called the Trailblazer with the nearby planet looming in the background. The space combat seemed very similar to that of Star Wars: Squadrons, which isn't a bad thing. Dodging asteroids and space debris while flying around and dealing with enemies is always a good time, and it looks like the systems for doing so are a big part of Star Wars Outlaws rather than just an added sub-feature.

An important aspect of Star Wars Outlaws is going to be the story. The premise is solid, but I'm still looking forward to the opportunity to dive into the massive open-world and explore the side quests and off-the-beaten path areas of Outlaws. But after seeing a few gameplay missions, it looks as though Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft are going in the right direction with the world design and level of immersion that very important to a Star Wars game.

Star Wars Outlaws is set to release on August 30 on PC Ubisoft+ Premium, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Star Wars Outlaws looks like an authentic open-world adventure staying true to its universe appeared first on Destructoid.

A one-shot collection from Spy x Family author Tatsuya Endo is coming this spring

Anya, Loid, and Yor in Spy x Family

Viz Media announced today that Spy x Family creator Tatsuya Endo has a collection of one shots coming this Spring titled Four Lives Remain: Tatsuya Endo Before Spy x Family. As you might have guessed from the name, it's giving serious Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man vibes and will surely give a look inside the creations of Endo before the release of the popular Spy x Family manga.

https://twitter.com/VIZMedia/status/1796585941605155077

Like Tatsuki Fujimoto Before Chainsaw Man, Viz Media will be publishing the Tatsuya Endo collection. As of just a couple of months ago, the Spy x Family manga had over 35 million copies in circulation making it one of the best-selling manga series of all time.

Following Viz Media's tweet that confirmed the collection would be dark and gritty, fans have already started drawing comparisons to TISTA, a 2007 series by Endo that followed a young assassin named Tista Rockwell. If you've not seen it, it may be hard to picture Endo getting overly dark and gritty, but if you've seen TISTA, you know it's certainly in his wheelhouse.

Four Lives Remain: Tatsuya Endo Before Spy x Family will be released in Spring 2025.

The post A one-shot collection from Spy x Family author Tatsuya Endo is coming this spring appeared first on Destructoid.

How to get Elf Wizardess in Anime Defenders

How to get Elf Wizardess in Anime Defenders

One of the strongest units in Anime Defenders since the latest update is the Elf Wizardess. The Mythical quality unit requires an evolution to be acquired, which can be tricky to figure out. Here is how to get the Elf Wizardess unit in Anime Defenders through evolution.

How to get Elf Wizardess in Anime Defenders
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to get Elf Wizardess

The Elf Wizardess is a Mythical quality unit that can only be acquired via Trading with other players or Summoning from the Summon Circle. Mythical units are extremely rare and you only have about a 0.5% chance of summoning one when using the Summon circle. It costs 50 Gems to do a single summon, or 500 Gems to summon 10 at a time, so the cost for trying to get the Elf Wizardess can stack up pretty quickly.

The Elf Wizardess is an extremely powerful unit with the potential to evolve into the even stronger Elf Hero Here are the Wizardess stats:

  • How to obtain: 0.5% chance to Summon
  • Evolves into: Elf Hero
  • Deployment Cost: 11,350
  • Total Upgrade Cost: 64,750 over 11 upgrades
  • Attack Patterns:
    • Level 1-5 – Ground Flame Line
    • Level 6-7 – Destructive Lightning
    • Level 8-11 – Circle AoE

How to evolve into Elf Hero

You can get the Elf Hero unit by using 3 Flame Grimoire items to evolve the Mythical quality Elf Wizardess unit. Once you've crafted 3 Flame Grimoire's at the Crafting Circle in the Summon shop at the main hub, you can then head to the Evolve Circle in the same shop to complete the evolution. Use the three Flame Grimoire's and you can evolve your Elf Wizadess into the Elf Hero.

In order to craft each Flame Grimoire you need the following materials:

  • 8,500 Gold
  • 3 Blue Star Rifts
  • 3 Red Star Rifts
  • 3 Green Star Rifts
  • 3 Purple Star Rifts
  • 1 Rainbow Star Rift

The post How to get Elf Wizardess in Anime Defenders appeared first on Destructoid.

How to fix Star Citizen stuck loading forever bug

Star Citizen Forever Loading bug fix

As Star Citizen continues to grow and evolve, several annoying bugs have started to occur. Some players have recently had trouble actually getting into the game due to a bug that causes Star Citizen to get stuck loading forever. These are several solutions that have been confirmed to fix the Star Citizen stuck loading forever bug that can occur.

Star Citizen loading forever fixes
Screenshot by Destructoid

Star Citizen loading forever fixes

There appear to be three separate issues that can trigger the Star Citizen stuck loading forever issue or infinite loading screen bug. First, is some sort of connection issue, either on your end or with the Star Citizen servers. Second, is the inability to properly load data from your storage device. And third, is a specific isolated issue that can occur if your character gets stuck in a persistent "in-between" state of being logged in and out. Here are all the ways you can fix when you get stuck loading forever in Star Citizen:

  • If you installed Star Citizen on an HDD, try reinstalling it on an SSD. There have been some issues getting the game to load properly when using an HDD.
  • Verify there are no current server issues. When certain servers are offline you can get stuck loading infinitely due to being not able to connect.
  • Make sure you have a stable connection. Run a Speed Test to confirm your internet is working properly. If it is not, contact your ISP. If you are using a wireless connection, try switching to a wired one as it can yield much better results.
  • Enter the Arena Command module, play a single game, and then try going back to the Persistent Universe. You can do this from the main menu screen, and it will sometimes refresh your character status in the PU.

In the event you're able to get to the main menu screen before the issue occurs, hit your Tilda (~) Key and type r_displayinfo 2 in the console, and hit Enter. Look for the Entities field in the top right and check if the number beside is increasing or staying the same. If it is increasing, it means your game is still loading, although it may be slower than usual. If the number stays the same for an extended period time, it means you will not load and are safe to close Star Citizen as it will not load without fixing the issue.

The post How to fix Star Citizen stuck loading forever bug appeared first on Destructoid.

How to fix Star Citizen Transaction Cost Mismatch bug

How to fix the Star Citizen Transaction Cost mismatch bug

The biggest update to Star Citizen is here bringing in a ton of new content, reworks, and system balances all across the universe. If you're trying to dabble in trading/hauling commodities to make some extract aUEC, you may have encountered a pesky new message when trying to trade. Here is how to fix the Star Citizen Transaction Cost Mismatch bug that can occur when trying to sell various commodities.

How to fix Transaction Cost Mismatch in Star Citizen
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to fix Transaction Cost Mismatch

You can fix the Transaction Cost Mismatch bug when trying to sell commodities by splitting the stack size of the goods you are trying to sell into sizes of 3, then selling them each one stack at a time. The new update brought back a pesky bug that caused the sale of high volumes of commodities to result in the Transaction Cost Mismatch bug due to it not being able to properly calculate prices based on future sales, which results in the error.

This error message has occurred before and was fixed by the developers, so it's likely it will be fixed again. However, if you need the aUEC and can't wait for the bug to be resolved, this temporary workaround will work on all items you may be trying to sell including gems. Break it all down into stack sizes of 3 or less.

For example, if you have 60 Dolvine and are getting the Transaction Cost Mismatch error in Star Citizen when trying to sell, try breaking it into 20 stacks of 3 Dolvine, and selling each stack one at a time. This appears to be the only workaround at this time, so if you have a really big stack of items that would take a long time to split up into stacks of 3, you may want to just hold off on selling until a bug fix is implemented.

The post How to fix Star Citizen Transaction Cost Mismatch bug appeared first on Destructoid.

Review: 1000xRESIST

1000xRESIST Review

Many games these days tend to have a predictable and run-of-the-mill plot. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a unique and well-told narrative, but Sunset Visitor has taken that challenge and fired on all cylinders with its debut title1000xRESIST.

On the surface, 1000xRESIST is a story about surviving an apocalyptic alien incursion. But in unraveling its approximately 1,000-year timeline, 1000xRESIST delves into numerous meaningful themes including family, humanistic nature, and the adaptivity of the mind. I even learned a thing or two about myself along the way. It's still a sci-fi tale, but it's not afraid to get a bit deep as the story unfolds.

Those expecting intense or difficult gameplay in any form won't find it here. In fact, for the most part, 1000xRESIST is mostly an adventure game with some light gameplay elements sprinkled throughout. But those elements serve the exact purpose you'd hope for in an experience like 1000xRESIST: to enhance the narrative. After experiencing this roughly 15-hour journey, I don't think I'd want it any other way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISmiWUpiDs4

1000xRESIST (PC [reviewed], Switch)
Developer: Sunset Visitor
Publisher: Fellow Traveller
Released: May 9, 2024
MSRP: $19.99

Game of Clones

The story of 1000xRESIST starts over 1,000 years after an alien species known as The Occupants visits Earth, bringing with it a weapon; a disease that leads to the near-extinction of the human race. The disease is brutal. People start to cry, before all their bodily fluids are eventually forcefully expunged from their bodies. Certainly not a pleasant end for humankind.

A group of six sister clones, all named after their purpose—Principal, Knower, Fixer, Healer, Bang Bang Fire, and Watcher—reside in an underground bunker serving their creator, the ALLMOTHER. We play as the Watcher, who has the especially unique role of being able to observe the memories of the ALLMOTHER through a process called Communion. We can observe the memories and learn more about life before the Occupants arrived, as well as the last 1,000 years since they got to Earth.

At the time of the Occupant invasion, ALLMOTHER—whose name was Iris—was in high school. In your first communion as Watcher, you experience the trials and tribulations of Iris, going about her high school life. The Occupants appear and the disease starts infecting everyone at her school, except her. But before you can finish your first Communion, Fixer finds a way to interfere with the memory; to alert you that things in the bunker, and more specifically with ALLMOTHER, may not be as they seem.

For a narrative-driven experience like 1000xRESIST, the story is the most important part. And thankfully the story here does not disappoint. 1000xRESIST utilizes a variety of forms throughout the telling of its story, mixing laughs, cries, scares, and confusion. The early chapters drip-feed you enough to satiate your appetite for answers, while also prompting more questions about what's going on in this world. In the end, you get the answers to most of the questions, and the unanswered parts feel intended for the player to fill in the cracks with their own theories.

1000xRESIST Review Screenshot 2
Screenshot by Destructoid

Clonesome Dove

I usually struggle a bit getting through dialogue-heavy games. It's not that I don't like them. Who doesn't love a good story? But whether I want to or not, I eventually find my mind wandering a bit. 1000xRESIST finds multiple ways to prevent that from happening.

From a story perspective, there are tons of comical laughs and subtle third-wall-breaking segments that keep it feeling fresh. Sunset Visitor's writing had me genuinely looking forward to each and every line. To make it even better, each line of dialogue from every character is fully voiced with a superb cast of voice acting whose stellar performances only make the narrative even more surreal.

Then there's the gameplay. For most of the game, each chapter goes through a similar cadence. You'll start in the underground bunker in the present day. You'll walk around and talk with the other sisters, then perform a Communion where you experience a memory of Iris. During the Communion, you'll walk around solving very light puzzles with a handy technological device that allows you to jump forward and backward through various times on demand. For example, you may want to enter a room that's blocked off in your current time. You can simply jump to another time where the entrance is open, walk in, and then jump back to your current time.

None of the puzzles are difficult in any regard, and mostly just serve as a fun little gameplay element between the storytelling. There are also several Gravity Rush-style segments where you must look around you and right-click on specific highlighted points of the area you are in, jumping from one to another to quickly climb to high areas or cover larger distances quickly.

Gameplay is supplemental to the actual drive here, to progress the story and explore the narrative in detail. You can't fail or get a game over screen, and you probably won't find yourself searching for a difficult puzzle solution on your phone or anything like that. But it does offer a nice change of pace between the sometimes hard-hitting narrative at play.

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Rolling Clones

At the end of each chapter, you'll end up back at the underground bunker where you can run around and explore the bunker, called the "Guarden," and interact with your other sisters to gain even more insight into what's going on, as well as get their input on your observations. The character design of all of the sisters is really well done. Each sister's namesake describes their purpose in the Guarden, which also molds their personality based on what they are tasked with doing in the bunker.

You'll only scratch the surface at the start. Each sister will start to open up and show you more and more of their personality as you progress through 1000xRESIST. Even though the sisters are clones, they all have their own personalities. It's a lineup of characters I didn't expect to care much for when I first met them, but by the end, I appreciated each of them for different reasons.

The Sword in the Clone

Though small in the grand scheme of things, there are some minor issues I had with 1000xRESIST. First is how the save system works. At the end of each chapter, you're presented with the option to save. However, you can also save during the game as well—right in the middle of the chapter, for example—as long as you aren't currently in a dialogue segment. Simply open the menu and click Save Game. But that save doesn't seem to save the actual point you're at. Instead, it just creates a save point at the beginning of that chapter.

The first time I experienced this, I had no clue. I was a couple of hours into a chapter, nearing the end, when suddenly I had something come up and had to step away for a while. I went into the menu and saved my game, only to come back later, and upon loading the save had to start over at the beginning of the chapter. I tried this several more times just to see if it was a fluke, but every save just loaded at the beginning of its respective chapter. It's an unclear option that could lead to some annoyances for players taking a break.

I also had a bit of frustration trying to navigate the Guarden, which you spend a lot of time in. It's pretty massive in size, which is important, seeing as it's the last bastion of the apocalypse. But you only get a simple compass-style indicator at the top of your map to find certain characters to interact with. Even after exploring the corridors and multiple levels of the Guarden throughout my 15-ish hour playthrough, I still found myself running around lost, trying to figure out how to get somewhere due to the somewhat maze-like flow of it. It's a cool setting and I can certainly appreciate the detail that went into it, but traversing it (which you will do often) can be quite a pain at times.

Screenshot by Destructoid

The Twilight Clone

1000xRESIST is a narrative masterpiece. It's a testament that games can be light on the gameplay, but still tell a story that rivals all other types of media if done properly. It's clear that Sunset Visitor drew inspiration from other sci-fi story-heavy titles like NieR: Automata. Narratively, 1000xRESIST holds its own and tells a captivating, intriguing, and thought-provoking story, paying homage to the titles that inspired it as opposed to relying on them.

If you enjoy a good story that can make you laugh one minute, hold back tears the next, then audibly mumble "WTF?" right after that, do yourself a favor, and check out1000xRESIST. I'm incredibly impressed with Sunset Visitor's ability to tell a story with its debut title. It's one that will stick with me for a while, and I've already caught myself still thinking about it, despite having finished it a few days ago. I can't wait to see what Sunset Visitor does next. Hekki ALLMO.

The post Review: 1000xRESIST appeared first on Destructoid.

Stellaris Traditions Tier List

Stellaris Traditions Tier List

Choosing the right tradition in Stellaris is extremely important. And while it's typically dependent on your build, there is a good rule of thumb of which traditions you should even consider going with. We've put together a Stellaris Traditions Tier List for the most recent Machine Age expansion and 3.12 major content update.

Stellaris: The Machine Age 3.12 Traditions Tier List
Image via Paradox Interactive

Stellaris: The Machine Age 3.12 Traditions Tier List

The recent Stellaris: The Machine Age expansion changed up some Traditions, as well as performed some balance changes across the board. While most builds remain relatively intact, some traditions are a lot more useful than others compared to previous versions. Here's our updated Traditions Tier List as of the Stellaris 3.12 update:

S Tier

  • Statecraft
  • Supremacy

A Tier

  • Discovery
  • Harmony
  • Unyielding

B Tier

  • Domination
  • Enmity
  • Prosperity

C Tier

  • Adaptability
  • Aptitude
  • Espionage
  • Expansion
  • Mercantile
  • Politics

For the most part, you're going to want to stick with the traditions in the S Tier and A Tier, as they are viable enough for most builds. This means you should always consider going with Discovery, Harmony, Statecraft, Supremacy, or Unyielding.

Domination is a solid early tradition for Lithoid Slavers, but not useful for others. Enmity works against certain opponents but is also useless in others depending on the build of your rivals. If you have three rivals each focusing specifically on Economy, Research, and Military, Enmity allows you to gain the benefits of all three. Of course, this isn't a common scenario.

Prosperity has typically been one of the best Traditions in Stellaris. However, as of the Machine Age 3.12 update, Prosperity has been extremely nerfed making it nowhere near as viable as the traditions in the S and A tiers.

All of the traditions in the C Tier are extremely lacking at the moment, making them poor options when considered against the alternative options.

The post Stellaris Traditions Tier List appeared first on Destructoid.

V Rising: Simon Belmont boss location and strategy

V Rising Simon Belmont location and guide

The recent 1.0 launch of V Rising brought a ton of new content including some new boss encounters, items, and more. One of the new encounters is Simon Belmont, a mysterious new vampire hunter on a mission to eradicate Monster and Vampire alike. Here's the location where you can find Simon Belmont as well as how to defeat him, and the rewards for doing so.

V Rising Simon Belmont location
Screenshot by Destructoid

Simon Belmont location

You can find the Simon Belmont the Vampire Hunter boss roaming between the northwestern area of Farbane Woods and the southern area of Silverlight Hills. Simon Belmont spawns either in a canyon in Silverlight Hills, or at a crossroads in Farbane Woods, and then will continuously patrol back and forth along the main road between those two locations.

Your best bet for tracking him down is to head to his spawn point in Farbane Woods as indicated by the red circle in the map above, and then follow the road north all the way to the canyon in Silverlight Hills. Just stick to the main road as indicated by the red line in the map, and you will come across Simon Belmont eventually in one of those two zones.

How to kill Simon Belmont

It's recommended you're at least Gear Level 84 to take on Simon Belmont, which can only be achieved with the new high-level gear added in V Rising 1.0. Even at Level 84 it will be a challenging encounter, so if you want to have an easier time, you can go even higher before taking on the encounter.

Simon Belmont will be the toughest boss you encounter yet, so you want to make sure you're prepared to do so. Do not encounter him during the day, as dodging his attacks while also avoiding sunlight will be near impossible. Once it's nighttime, head to the location above and start the encounter with Simon Belmont the Vampire Hunter.

Belmont will consistently throw AOE fire damage abilities at you, so be sure to keep moving out of the attacks. It's best to fight Simon Belmont at a range, overall, using skills like Chaos Valley and the Phantom Aegis. Make sure of your Dash and use a versatile mobility weapon like Dual Axes.

Eventually, Simon will shoot beams in four directions and spin around, healing him in the process. You can't really do anything about this, so take this opportunity to heal yourself as well as buff up by drinking flasks and getting prepared for the rest of the encounter.

Defeating Simon Belmont will earn you his V Blood as well as the power new Sanguine Whip weapon.

The post V Rising: Simon Belmont boss location and strategy appeared first on Destructoid.

Bankai Tier List for Type Soul

Bankai Tier List for Type Soul

As Type Soul has received more updates recently, the total number of possible Bankai options has increased by quite a bit since its release. With some recent balance changes as well, some Bankai are certainly better than others. We've put together this Bankai Tier List for Type Soul so you know which ones to pick up including all rarities.

Full Element Bankai Tier List

Bankai Tier List

We've put together this Bankai Tier List for Type Soul to highlight the best elements to roll for as a Bankai. Keep in mind that Bankai and Shikai share the same elements, but this tier list focuses exclusively on each element's power potential for Bankai in particular. We've taken into consideration the level of power compared to its rarity as well, including Common, Rare, Legendary, and newly introduced Mythic.

As such, what might be an S Tier for Bankai may be a D Tier for Shikai, and vice versa. While there is some overlap, overall you should consider the power of each element as it applies specifically to Bankai with this tier list. For example, the only Mythic element, Benihimi, is extremely powerful as Shikai. But as Bankai, it's a bit lackluster and does not feel representative of the only Mythic element.

Here is our updated Bankai Tier List for Type Soul as of May 2024:

S Tier

  • Blood (Legendary)
  • Flower (Legendary)
  • Ink (Legendary)
  • Lightning (Common)

A Tier

  • Fire (Rare)
  • Theatre (Legendary)
  • Water (Common)
  • Wind (Rare)

B Tier

  • Benihime (Mythic)
  • Creation (Common)
  • Shadow (Common)
  • Suzemebachi (Legendary)

C Tier

  • Berserk (Common)
  • Zangetsu (Rare)

D Tier

  • Confusion (Common)
  • Judgment (Rare)
  • Poison (Rare)

Bankai Element Rarities

Typically the rarity of each element for Bankai is indicative of its overall power. However, it also constitutes the actual chance of obtaining that element when rerolling. Here's all the current rarities and their respective obtain chances for all Bankai elements:

  • Common - 86.5%
  • Rare - 10%
  • Legendary - 3%
  • Mythic - 0.5%

The post Bankai Tier List for Type Soul appeared first on Destructoid.

How to complete Helping Hand in Gray Zone Warfare

How to complete Helping Hand in Gray Zone Warfare

Once you've completed the first four tasks that Handshake has to offer, he'll give you the task Helping Hand. Handshake believes local criminal forces are getting some outside help, and sends you into the local town to gain proof of the situation. Here is where you need to go and how to complete the Helping Hand task in Gray Zone Warfare.

Where to get the intel in the restaurant

You can complete the Helping Hand task in Gray Zone Warfare by visiting the restaurant in the local town. Similar to the task Medical Detective, Helping Hand requires a key in order to enter the restaurant. You'll want to start by killing enemies around the area and looting them until you get the Restaurant Storage Key for your town. When you are looting the key off an enemy, it will show up as your town's initials and then Attic for some reason, but upon inspection, it will say Restaurant Storage Key. Here is where you can find the restaurant in each town and the key that is required for each faction:

  • Mithras Security Systems - 170, 116 in Nam Thaven, requires NT Attic Key
  • Crimson Shield International - 141, 164 in Kiu Vongsa, requires KV Attic Key
  • Lamang Recovery Initiative - 203, 163 in Pha Lang, requires PL Attic Key

If you look at the coordinates on the town map for your faction, the building has a bright red roof. The screenshot at the top of this guide shows the restaurant from the outside, which is what you want to be on the lookout for. Once inside, head up the stairs and you will find a locked door leading to the attic. This is where you use the Restaurant Storage Key. Inside you will find a brownish Intelligence Folder item on a blue foldout chair, which is what you need for this task. Make sure you have one inventory slot open and loot the intel.

How to complete the Helping Hand task
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to complete the Helping Hand task

With the intel in hand, head to the nearest LZ and extract back to base camp. Once there, hit the Tab key to open your UI and click the Vendors tab, then Handshake, then Tasks. Select the Helping Hand task and you should have the option to Hand over the intel you got from the restaurant by clicking the yellow button, which will then unlock the yellow Complete button which you can use to complete this task.

Completing the Helping Hand task for Handshake will earn you the following rewards:

  • 1x Scorpion Backpack with 20 slots
  • $4,500
  • 400 Experience
  • 100 Reputation with Handshake

The post How to complete Helping Hand in Gray Zone Warfare appeared first on Destructoid.

How to complete Medical Detective in Gray Zone Warfare

How to complete Medical Detective in Gray Zone Warfare

The Medical Detective task is the third task you can get from the Vendor Gunny in Gray Zone Warfare, after completing the Leave No Man Behind task. For this task, you must find some evidence that hints towards the location of some missing medical supplies in the nearby town. We've figured out how to complete the Medical Detective task in Gray Zone Warfare and where to find the needed evidence.

Where to find evidence of the missing medical supplies for Medical Detective in Gray Zone Warfare
Screenshot by Destructoid

Where to find evidence of the missing medical supplies

You can complete the Medical Detective task in Gray Zone Warfare by exploring the doctor's office in your nearby town. In order to access the doctor's office, you'll need the Doctor's Office Key. Each starter town (Nam Thaven, Kiu Vongsa, and Pha Lang) has its own doctor's office with its own key needed to unlock and enter it.

The doctor's office key has a chance of dropping from any criminal that you take out in the respective starter town. Keys drop about 1 in every 5 kills, but there are several keys for each town that drop. You can loot the key from your enemy's backpack, pockets, or tactical slot. Keep killing criminals until you see your town's doctor's office key then head to your town's doctor's office based on the coordinates below. Here's where you can find the medical supplies and complete Medical Detective for each faction:

  • Mithras Security Systems - 169, 116 in Nam Thaven, requires NT Doc Key
  • Crimson Shield International - 141, 166 in Kiu Vongsa, requires KV Doc Key
  • Lamang Recovery Initiative - 205, 163 in Pha Lang, requires PL Doc Key

How to complete the Medical Detective task

The doctor's office you need to head to has a big greenish sign and the medical symbol on it inside a white circle on top of the building, as seen in the screenshot at the top of this guide. Once you reach it, as long as you have the town's Doc Key you will have the option to unlock the door when interacting with it. Head inside and you will see ransacked medical supplies and a stretcher with blood on the floor.

Your task objective Search for the missing supplies will be completed, and you will receive a new objective to locate any evidence that could pinpoint the culprit. Head into the backroom of the doctor's office and you will see a desk with a computer on it. On this desk is the Doctor's Diary, which is just the evidence you need to complete the Medical Detective task. Make sure you have at least one free inventory space and pick it up.

With the Doctor's Diary in hand, head back to base camp and open your Vendors Tab then Task Tab. Choose to hand over the Doctor's Diary to Handshake by clicking the yellow Hand over button which will finally complete the Medical Detective task. Now click the yellow Complete button for the task to earn the following rewards:

  • 1x Scorpion Backpack with 20 slots
  • $4,500
  • 400 Experience
  • 100 Reputation with Handshake

The post How to complete Medical Detective in Gray Zone Warfare appeared first on Destructoid.

How to complete Rat’s Nest in Gray Zone Warfare

How to complete Rat's Nest in Gray Zone Warfare

The fourth task the vendor Handshake offers in Gray Zone Warfare is Rat's Nest. You can acquire this task after completing Restoring Order by checking the task list for Handshake when at base camp. You're tasked with obtaining two separate pieces of intelligence from two different criminal hideouts located in the nearby town. Here's how you can complete the Rat's Nest task in Gray Zone Warfare and where to find both pieces of intel.

Where to retrieve intel from the hideouts for Rat's Nest
Screenshot by Destructoid

Where to retrieve intel from the hideouts for Rat's Nest

You can retrieve the intel from hideouts at specific locations for each faction in order to complete the Rat's Nest task. Both locations are marked by red spray-painted graffiti as shown in the screenshot at the top of this guide. Once you head to the proper location at your local town as indicated by the below coordinates, kill the criminals outside and then head inside to find the intel.

The first piece of intel is in a double-room one-story building with red graffiti on the wall. Inside is the Convict's Notepad evidence on the small table that also has a phone on it. Pick up this Convict's Notepad for the first piece of intelligence.

The second piece of intel is on the second floor of a two-story building and is the Thug's Smartphone sitting on the desk with the computer. There is a wall surrounding the building that also has the same red graffiti on it. This intel also requires one inventory slot, so make sure you have room to pick it up.

Here are the locations of both pieces of intel for each faction:

  • Mithras Security Systems - 169, 119 in Nam Thaven for the first Intel, 172, 118 in Nam Thaven for the second Intel
  • Crimson Shield International - 141, 162 in Kiu Vongsa for the first Intel, 143, 162 in Kiu Vongsa for the second Intel
  • Lamang Recovery Initiative - 202, 160 in Pha Lang for the first Intel, 201, 163 in Pha Lang for the second Intel.

How to complete the Rat's Nest task
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to complete the Rat's Nest task

Once you have both pieces of Intel in your inventory, it's time to head back to base camp. Make sure you do not die on the way back, as there's currently a bug where if you die with the Rat's Nest Intel in your inventory, and lose it, you cannot reacquire it and therefore cannot complete the task. The only way to fix this is to abandon the task and contact support so they can reset it completely for you.

Once you are back to Base Camp, open your interface by hitting Tab and go to Vendors then Handshake then Tasks. Hand in both pieces of intel via the yellow button in the bottom right, which will complete the task for you. Finally, hit the complete button to officially finish the task earning you the following rewards:

  • 1x Patrol Backpack with 20 slots
  • $3,600
  • 400 Experience
  • 100 Reputation with Handshake

The post How to complete Rat’s Nest in Gray Zone Warfare appeared first on Destructoid.

Content Warning 1.10a May 2 Update patch notes, details, and features

Content Warning May 2 Update Patch Notes and Details

About one month since its release, the first major update for Content Warning is here. The major addition to this update is an all-new map including new monsters for players and their friends to access via the diving bell, and film some exciting new content. We've put together this post including all of the Content Warning 1.10a May 2 Update patch notes as well as all the new content it features.

Content Warning 1.10a Update Details and New Content
Screenshot by Destructoid

Content Warning 1.10a Update Details and New Content

The new content and features added in the May 2 Update for Content Warning include an all-new map, bringing the total map count to two, as well as new monsters. Other major new content includes a new item, the Rescue Hook, a hat shop, and the ability to get sponsored video deals that grant you a new currency, MetaCoins, used to purchase upgrades around the island.

This is all the new content added in the Content Warning May 2 Update:

  • New Level
  • New Monsters
  • New Item: Rescue Hook
  • Hat Shop
  • Unlockable Sky Island Upgrades
  • Sponsored Video Deals that are unlocked after your first week
  • MetaCoins currency used to purchase Island Upgrades and Hats
  • New Rare Cursed Item in the Old World
  • A Mirror in the House

Full Patch Notes for May 2 update

Alongside all the new content added in the Content Warning 1.10a update, there were also a handful of changes, improvements, and bug fixes. Due to the scope of the changes, the new update is not compatible with old save files, and they will be automatically deleted when you start the game. This means you'll have to start over from the beginning when playing the new update.

Here is the Content Warning 1.10a update patch notes:

Changes and Improvements

  • Changed level selection to random
  • General Monster Balancing
  • Various audio improvements
  • Slightly boosted player voice range
  • Reworked modding matchmaking
  • Optimized video network performance to get faster extractions in some cases

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed VSync not working after using the dive bell.
  • Fixed some sound issues including the sound echoing too much
  • Fixed issue where players would fall through the map when sleeping on the ceiling
  • Fixed issue where the camera would sometimes not go into the video extraction machine
  • Fixed issue where the game would end when you surface with only the broken camera
  • Fixed issue where the boom mic would extend your body’s hit-box
  • Fixed issue where the shock stick would only work once on monsters or team-mates
  • Fixed issue where holding an item when going up or down with the diving bell would cause issues picking up other items
  • Fixed issue where holding an exploding bomb would delete the player holding it
  • Fixed issue when the last player alive left you would not return to the surface
  • Possible fix for the dive bell door bug
  • Possible fix for the audio popping issue
  • Possible fix for defibrillator speed bug

The post Content Warning 1.10a May 2 Update patch notes, details, and features appeared first on Destructoid.

Valheim Patch Notes for Ashlands update

Valheim Ashlands update patch notes

Just over 3 years since it was originally released into Early Access, Valheim has finally received a pretty hearty content update in the form of Ashlands. Officially Patch 0.218.9, Ashlands introduces an all-new fiery biome with a slew of new weapons, armor sets, creatures, buildables, and more. Here are the full Valheim Patch Notes for the Ashlands update that released on April 22.

https://youtu.be/XSVbXgBJIuI

Valheim Ashlands new content

For players who have completed all the existing content Valheim has to offer, the Ashlands update brings a bunch of new content specifically around the new Ashlands biome for players to enjoy. While there are also some bug fixes and game optimization improvements in this patch, the focus is on adding new content. Here's all the new content in the Valheim Ashlands update:

  • New Biome - Ashlands
  • 30+ New weapons
  • New bombs and ammunitions
  • 3 New armour sets
  • New capes
  • 10+ New creatures
  • 70+ New buildable items
  • New crafting station upgrades
  • 30+ New crafting materials
  • 15+ New food items and potions
  • New locations
  • New music
  • New events
  • New mechanics
  • Fixed Mead materials
  • Standardized texts throughout the game

How to access the Valheim Ashlands update

Technically the Valheim Ashlands update isn't on the live branch, but rather accessible through the beta branch. This means you can play Valheim Ashlands on both Steam and Windows/Game Pass for PC versions. Here is how to access the Ashlands update on each platform:

How to play Valheim Ashlands on Steam

  • Right-click Valheim in your Steam Library and choose Properties
  • Click Betas on the left
  • In the Private Betas box, insert this code: yesimadebackups
  • Click Check Code then choose the Ashlands update from the Beta Participation dropdown
  • Steam will now download the Ashlands update, after which you can launch the game and access Ashlands

How to play Valheim Ashlands on Game Pass for PC

  • Download and launch the Xbox Insider Hub app
  • Login to your Xbox Game Pass account
  • Go to the Previews section on Xbox Insider Hub
  • Look for Valheim Public Test and then click Join
  • Launch the WIndows Store and install the Valheim Public Test
  • Once downloaded, you can now launch Valheim and access the Ashlands update

The post Valheim Patch Notes for Ashlands update appeared first on Destructoid.

How to get Vizard in Type Soul

How to get Vizard in Type Soul

In Type Soul there are plenty of secrets such as the hidden Vizard race, a powerful playable race that is part Soul Reaper and part Hollow. It's an extremely powerful race, so you're going to want to know how to get Vizard in Type Soul so you can become a stronger Soul Reaper.

How to unlock Vizard in Type Soul
Screenshot by Destructoid

How to unlock Vizard in Type Soul

The process to get Vizard in Type Soul is a lengthy one, so be prepared for a bit of a grind. It's certainly a worthwhile one if you like playing as a Soul Reaper, because you also get the powers of a Hollow, making it a true force to be reckoned with. Here is how to get and become a Vizard in Type Soul:

  • Change into a Soul Reaper by dying as a Human and purifying yourself
  • Obtain 10 Hogyoku Fragments via 1v1, Clan Wars, Faction Raids, or Trading
  • Head to Hueco Mundo and find and kill the Vizard boss
  • Complete 1 of 3 possible Vizard-specific quests

Change into a Soul Reaper by dying as a Human

First, you need to be a Soul Reaper in order to start the quest to become a Vizard. Becoming a Soul Reaper is easy and simply requires you to die as a Human in Type Soul, and then speak to a Shinigami. Choose the option to Purify yourself while you are dead and a Lost Soul, and you will become a Soul Reaper.

Obtain 10 Hogkoyu Fragments

Now that you are a Soul Reaper, you need to accrue 10 Hogkoyu Fragments. While 10 may not seem like that many, these fragments have an extremely rare drop chance and will require some serious grinding. There are four ways to get Hogkoyu Fragments:

  • Win 1v1 Ranked Matches - This is without a doubt the best method, provided you are decent at PvP in Type Soul. The drop rate of the Hogkoyu Fragments for winning 1v1 Ranked Matches is the highest.
  • Win Clan Wars - While not as good as 1v1 matches, you can still get Hogkoyu Fragments at a decent rate for completing Clan Wars.
  • Faction Raids - Completing Faction Raids in Type Soul has a less than 1% chance of rewarding you with a Hogkoyu Fragment. If you go with this method, I recommend creating a team of other players to farm out these 10 Hogkoyu Fragments, or else it will take a really long time.
  • Trading - You can always trade with other players, as Hogkoyu Fragments are in fact a tradable item.

Find and Kill a special boss NPC in Hueco Mundo

Once you have the 10 Hogkoyu Fragments, use them to progress to the next part of the process. Now you need to head to Hueco Mundo and look for a special NPC that can spawn anywhere in Hueco Mundo. Unfortunately, both their name and location are randomized, but they are guaranteed to be in Hueco Mundo. Defeat the boss NPC and you will get a special mask which is required to unlock Vizard.

Complete your random Vizard quest

Equipping the mask will cause your character to start hearing whispers that pop up on your screen. These whispers are actually hints from the mask as to which quest you must do next in order to unlock Vizard. Regardless of your quest, you must complete it while having the mask on. Here are the three possible quests you can receive:

  • Defeat 200 Shinigami/Soul Reapers - If you see whispers talking about killing Shinigami, you need to kill 200 Shinigami to complete your quest. This includes both NPC enemies and other players, and can even be farmed in raids.
  • Win 10 Raids - Whispers talk about raids in Waeco Mundo and other areas. This means your quest is to simply win any 10 raids. This includes Karakura Raids and Faction Raids.
  • Kill your Vizard Shikai - This one seems to be the rarest of the three, but requires you to meditate to reach the Shikai World and find and defeat a boss NPC which is your Shikai in Vizard form.

Once you have completed whichever quest you receive, you will get Vizard. Vizard is certainly worth getting as it allows you to utilize Hollow Skills and where a Hollow Mask, giving you a lot more potential and versatility when it comes to being a Soul Reaper. You will still retain your Zanpakuto, and have access to your Soul Reaper skills as you are still a Soul Reaper. Also, if you want, you can also get Shikai and Bankai as a Vizard.

The post How to get Vizard in Type Soul appeared first on Destructoid.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 Character Creator is available now, transfers to full release

Dragon's Dogma 2 Character Creator

Update: The Character Creator appears to be live on all platforms.

During the Capcom Highlights Day 1, Capcom revealed that the Character Creator for Dragon's Dogma 2 is available now. Players interested in getting started creating their character as well as their Main Pawn can do so and then transfer the data to the full game when it releases in a couple of weeks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8MP3KyZX_4

Up to five Arisen & Pawns

Instead of spending hours on release day figuring out exactly what Race and Class you want to make your character and Main Pawn, you can do so now and jump right into Dragon's Dogma 2 when it releases on March 22. According to Capcom the data can be saved and then easily transferred to the full game on release.

The Dragon's Dogma 2 Character Creator & Storage tool can be downloaded for free on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players can create five designs for their Arisen and Main Pawn and then instantly transfer them to the same platform on release day.

The download page for the Character Creator is online, and it can be downloaded on all platforms.

Also shown during Day 1 of Capcom Highlights were new official Capcom support Pawns that will be in Dragon's Dogma 2. Created by renowned content creators, players will be able to invite these official Pawns into their party directly through the Pawn Network.

We also got a brief look at how relationships with other characters will work in Dragon's Dogma 2. Decisions you make will impact other character interactions, and unlock creative solutions to avoiding altercations. The example provided showed that you can use exquisite counterfeit items in place of the real thing when turning in quest items. Each decision affects a complex web of relationships between over 1,000 characters throughout the game world, each with their own objectives and motive.

Dragon's Dogma 2 releases on March 22 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

The post Dragon’s Dogma 2 Character Creator is available now, transfers to full release appeared first on Destructoid.

Poker deckbuilder Balatro is dealing with ratings board frustrations and delistings

Balatro Rating Board

Playstack, the publisher of popular roguelike deckbuilder Balatro confirmed on Twitter that the game has been temporarily removed from some digital storefronts due to a sudden rating change. Apparently, the UK rating board PEGI changed the rating from 3+ to 18+ overnight due to "prominent gambling imagery" which prompted the sudden delistings. The problem here is that there is literally no gambling in Balatro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgrv9giaNO8

According to Playstack, they specifically addressed this topic with PEGI back in October after it was originally rated 18+. And, after some communication, PEGI changed the rating to 3+. PEGI even went as far as to assure Playstack that "we have reviewed your product and determined that the disclosure of gambling themes was unwarranted." Playstack says that the content in Balatro has not changed since that discourse took place, so it doesn't make much sense.

The solo developer of Balatro, LocalThunk, also responded to the rating board issue.

"I do not condone gambling (staking something personally valuable on an uncertain event) nor do I believe that Balatro contains gambling. I did add risk/reward mechanics and RNG to Balatro, but these are core mechanics to the genre at large."

- LocalThunk, Solo Developer of Balatro

One platform not affected by this travesty is Steam, which does not carry any sort of age rating based on rating boards.

I haven't had a chance to play just yet simply due to lack of free time at the moment, but our own Eric "The Cardmaster" Van Allen can attest that even a cursory five minutes in the world of Balatro makes it clear: this is not a game about gambling, whatsoever. This seems like a classic case of someone just glancing at a screenshot from Balatro and seeing that standard card decks are used, and there is a currency, and automatically associating it with gambling. Not a good look, PEGI.

Balatro, which has no gambling mechanics whatsoever, is currently available on PC via Steam, as well as PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch depending on your region.

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Diablo 4 Gauntlet and Leaderboards finally coming next week

Diablo 4 New Gauntlet

Exactly nine months after the release of Diablo 4, the action RPG will be receiving its new Gaunlet and Leaderboards features. Both features were supposed to come out earlier in Season 3 but were delayed four times before receiving the new release date of March 5.

Diablo 4 Gauntlet and Leaderboards
Image via Blizzard

Hopefully the Gauntlet provides new end-game goals

Diablo 4 has a pretty big end-game content problem right now. There's not really much to do and hardly a reason to level all the way up to 100 other than just to say you did the grind. However, that might change with the introduction of the Gauntlet.

Accessible for both Normal and Hardcore characters, the Gauntlet unlocks for players on the Seasonal Realm once they've gained access to World Tier IV. However, the monsters in the Gauntlet are over Level 100, so it's recommended players hit Level 100 themselves before giving it an honest try.

The Gauntlet will be a fixed layout and non-linear dungeon that changes weekly. The goal is to get the highest score possible, which is based on the number of Proofs of Might you obtain in the Gauntlet. They are acquired by killing Monsters and opening chests during the eight minutes you are in the Gauntlet. Even though it changes weekly, you can run it as many times as you want, allowing you to learn a weekly layout and get better and more efficient with each attempt.

Each week the Gauntlet will close on Tuesday at 11 a.m. EST and then reopen with a new layout at 1:15 a.m. EST.

Enter the Hall of the Ancients

Leaderboards are finally coming to Diablo 4 and will be centered around progress in the Gauntlet. There are separate Leaderboards for each Class, Party Size, and Normal vs Hardcore character. You can also filter the Leaderboards to only show your Clan members or Friends to see how you rank against those you know.

Those who reach the Top 100 in any Ladder will receive a Conquerors Crest Mount Trophy. But for those who master the Gauntlet even further and reach the Top 10, you can immortalize your character in the Hall of Ancients.

In the Hall of Ancients, your name and character are immortalized with a permanent spot in the Hall, allowing future players to see how you did.

Both new features will be added as part of the Diablo 4 midseason update that goes live on March 5 on all platforms.

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PlayStation Plus for March includes brawler masterpiece Sifu and more

Playstation Plus March games

In a post on the official PlayStation Blog, the monthly PlayStation Plus games for March have been revealed. Headlining the additions is developer Slowcap's stylish and gritty beat-em-up Sifu. For racing fans, EA Sports F1 23 is one of the other games being added in March. Hello Neighbor 2 and Destiny 2: Witch Queen are the other two titles joining the lineup. All four games are are being added for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.

PlayStation Plus for March includes brawler masterpiece Sifu and more
Image via PlayStation

A good month because of Sifu alone

If you haven't had the opportunity to play Sifu, this is your chance. Our very own Eric "Queen's Blood Master" Van Allen gave it a solid 9/10 when it was released two years ago, praising Slowcap's ability to tread the line between challenge and reward. According to Eric, "Sifu is a challenge worth taking on and overcoming. It’s a story of vengeance with a little heart at the end, and though it might not land perfectly, it’s got a lot of style and action to back it up."

As for EA Sports F1 23, I'll admit I'm not a racing game fan myself. But just yesterday EA confirmed F1 24 will launch in May, so it makes sense to see this last year's release joining PS+. According to the PlayStation Blog, F1 23 features a new "Braking Point" story mode with high-speed drama and heated rivalries in the realistic racing simulator.

Next up is developer Eerie Guest and tinyBuild's sequel to the hit stealth-centric title Hello Neighbor. In Hello Neighbor 2, players must investigate the seemingly quiet town of Raven Brooks to uncover the dark secrets of their neighbors and solve the case of Mr. Peterson, the infamous antagonist from the first game.

Rounding out the new additions for March is Destiny 2: Witch Queen. The Witch Queen is the Year 5 major expansion for Destiny 2 that released in 2022. The standalone expansion does not require any dependencies on previous DLC, and you only need to have the original Destiny 2 which is available free of cost to all PlayStation Plus members.

All four games above will join the PlayStation Plus lineup on March 5, and be available through April 1.

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Viking survival builder ASKA getting a closed beta in April

ASKA Clsoed Beta

Developer Sand Sailor Studio and publisher Thunderful Games revealed today that the upcoming Viking sandbox survival builder ASKA will be getting a Closed Beta test in April. The Closed Beta will run from April 15 through April 21, with sign-ups open now through April 5.

https://youtu.be/QzWcnOEUxWs

Players can embark on a Viking expedition solo or with up to three friends as they work together to build a Viking empire. Collecting resources, building a thriving settlement, and summoning intelligent NPC villages are some of the tasks required to do so. Players will also need to automate, manage, and defend their tribe especially to survive the bitter cold winter.

"ASKA stands as a testament to what a dream-team of just 10 people can achieve over the course of 4 years: an ambitious co-op survival tribe builder where you're never alone, where you work alongside lively AI villagers that are almost indistinguishable from players, all woven into a deep city builder-like economy system. We’re entering the final phase of our beta testing period and we can't wait to give players the power to build their very own truly functional Viking village, who knows what they'll build."

- Cristian Diaconescu, Creative Director at Sand Sailor Studio

We've seen quite a few survival builders released recently. But honestly, all you had to say was Viking and I'm in. Based on the trailer it looks like you can get pretty creative with actually building out your settlement. And hopefully, they mean it when they say intelligent NPC villagers. I've seen several games in the genre recently add NPCs to help players with tasks like gathering, building, and even fighting. But none of them have quite gotten it right.

Those interested in participating in the Closed Beta that runs from April 15 through April 21 can ASKA Discord server before April 5.

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Electronic Arts announces it’s laying off 5% of its employees

Star Wars Jedi Survivor soundtrack brings home a Grammy

When will it end? According to GamesIndustry.biz, Electronic Arts announced today that it will be laying off approximately 5% of its workforce which equates to around 670 people. In a note sent out to EA staff, CEO Andrew Wilson indicated the move is part of the company "moving away from development of future licensed IP that we do not believe will be successful in our changing industry."

Another sweeping layoff in our decimated industry

The moves are part of a larger restructuring plan at EA which includes the closing of some offices and sunsetting of several live games. According to GameIndustry.biz, major external IP games based on Black Panther and Iron Man remain in development.

This is the second time in the last year that EA has performed restructuring plans resulting in hundreds of layoffs after EA cut 6% of staff in March 2023.

Literally one day ago, Sony announced it was cutting almost 1,000 jobs by cutting its workforce by 8%.

We're not even a quarter of the way into 2024 and over 7,000 jobs have been lost in the games industry just these last two months. This is immediately after an equally brutal 2023 where over 10,000 jobs were lost. At this point, we're looking at an industry that will take years to recover as that amount of jobs will not be created overnight, though they seemingly have been eliminated that quickly.

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