Developer Ustwo Games has revealed its widely acclaimed Escher-esque puzzler Monument Valley will return for a third outing on 10th December, and it'll be exclusively available to Netflix subscribers on Android and iOS devices.

Monument Valley 3 is described as protagonist Noor's "most extraordinary adventure yet", and it'll see players searching for a new source of power before the light of the world fades forever.

It promises "stunning new art styles and impossible landscapes", alongside "innovative mechanics and fresh ways to approach challenges". And one of its biggest new features comes in the form of sailing, with players able to roam the world - and solve some of its puzzles - by boat.

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Those Xbox players among us who have been waiting to get their hands on open-world adventure RPG Genshin Impact, I have good news.

At this evening's Gamescom Opening Night Live, the team revealed Genshin Impact will be making its way to Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass on 20th November. It is available to wishlist now on the Microsoft Store.

The news was shared along with a new Natlan gameplay trailer (below). Earlier this year, Genshin Impact was once again accused of cultural appropriation from fans and voice actors in response to the reveal of its new cast of Natlan characters.

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Sony is pulling Horizon Forbidden West from its PS Plus subscription service in the coming weeks.

The first-party Sony game is now listed under the 'Last Chance to Play' section on PS Plus, along with the likes of NieR Replicant, Marvel's Midnight Suns and Alien Isolation.

This upcoming removal of Forbidden West comes just a few months after Horizon Zero Dawn was also removed from the service, which as Tom wrote at the time seemed a surprising move by Sony.

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A flurry of Pokémon news has confirmed a launch date for the long-awaited Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket, and a look ahead at what's next for Pokémon Go.

Pokémon TCG Pocket, a digital version of the phenomenally-popular trading card game, will go live via the iPhone App Store and Google Play for Android worldwide on 30th October.

As previously announced, you can open two packs of Pokémon cards for free per day - just enough to get you hooked - and it's interesting to see the pack-opening mechanic front and centre in the game's trailer below.

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Modern military shooters are in a strange place at the moment. Battlefield is licking its wounds after stepping on the landmine that was Battlefield 2042, while Call of Duty is running around like the dog that caught the car, the massive success of Warzone leaving the mainline series at a loss with what to do with itself.

It's a chaotic, uncertain time in one of multiplayer gaming's biggest spheres, and the various shenanigans of EA and Activision have left room for something new to make its mark in the genre. Enter Delta Force: Hawk Ops, which you'll be shocked to hear is not a Trauma Team-style game about performing surgery on birds of prey. Instead, it's a free-to-play military shooter in the Battlefield/CoD mould, based on the series that predates either, and it could be the shot of competence and stability that the genre sorely needs.

Currently running a month-long Alpha, Hawk Ops provides access to two of its three game modes. The first of these, Havoc Warfare, is a classic large-scale attack/defence scenario similar to Battlefield's Rush, with the attacking team trying to capture a linear sequence of control points, and the defending team attempting to hold back the tide until the attackers' collective pool of lives runs dry.

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Dead Cells today has received its final major update, The End is Near, after seven years of development.

This will be the 35th update to the game, which has received a number of DLCs to expand gameplay and reference other popular games, from Castlevania to Hollow Knight.

The End is Near expands on the curse mechanic, with three new mobs, three new weapons, and three new mutations.

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Vampire Survivors' free Darkasso update is now available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox, and mobile devices.

"It's been a while since we added a new major feature, so we tried not to spoil the contents of this patch immediately," Poncle teased in the patch notes. "Hope it worked to keep the contents a bit of a surprise."

New additions include nine new extra achievements, a new challenge stage and relic, two new "special character skins", and five new Arcanas to spice up your experience.

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If you cast your minds back to October 2021, you may recall the news that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was set to make its way to the VR headset, Oculus Quest 2. While details on the project were thin on the ground at this time, it was said to have been "many years in the making".

However, not quite three years since that initial announcement, Meta has now said work on the VR port is "on hold indefinitely".

In response to a YouTube commenter inquiring as to the whereabouts of GTA: San Andreas VR, the official Meta Quest Vr account replied: "GTA: San Andreas is on hold indefinitely while we both focus on other projects."

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The Elder Scrolls mobile game, The Elder Scrolls: Castles, is set to launch on 10th September.

The Elder Scrolls: Castles - which was quietly released into early access in September 2023 - is now open for pre-registration on both Apple and Android.

From the same "award-winning team" behind Fallout Shelter, The Elder Scrolls: Castles lets you reign supreme over your very own castle and dynasty within The Elder Scrolls universe.

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Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney has said he has "no regrets" over his company's decision to break Apple and Google's terms of service back in August 2020 - something that saw the hugely-popular Fortnite booted off both iPhone and Android storefronts.

The carefully choreographed stunt sparked four years of legal wrangling over Apple and Google's app store policies - and has ultimately led to Epic Games launching its own mobile store today on Android worldwide and on iPhone in mainland Europe, thanks to policy changes demanded of Apple by the EU.

"We've probably lost a billion dollars not having Fortnite on iOS the past four years," Sweeney said, in a briefing to press ahead of the Epic Games Store on mobile going live. "But what's the price of freedom?"

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Genvid's experimental choose-the-outcome, episodic Silent Hill series, Ascension, has won an Emmy.

Genvid CEO Jacob Navok marked the award with a heartfelt post on Twitter/X, stating the Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Innovation in Emerging Media Programming for Silent Hill: Ascension was a "testament to the dedication" of the team.

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The enhanced version of classic point-and-click adventure Broken Sword - Shadow of the Templars now has a release date: 19th September.

This "Reforged" version will be available across PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Series X S, Nintendo Switch and PC (Windows, macOS and Linux).

The game's redrawn visuals have been upgraded to 4K, but there's also a new story mode UI including subtle hints aimed at new players.

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Among Us developer InnerSloth has announced a collaboration with Dungeons and Dragons web series Critical Role.

This collaboration means players can now bedeck their little space beans with a number of items worn by those intrepid members from Vox Machina, Mighty Nein, or Bells Hells. I am talking about Artagan's Incredible Brows Visor or the Dust of Deliciousness Nameplate, to name but two.

"Getting to work alongside the wonderful crew of the hit TTRPG show Critical Role to bring some of their magic to Among Us for Gilmore's Curious Cosmicube has been mind blowing," InnerSloth said. "Be sure to go to our in-game store and spend some Stars before the Cosmicube is gone."

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1Um_nLH2pY

Not all flavors of Android are made equal, but which ones are actually the best, and which ones are at the bottom of the pile? Well, we decided to rank the major Android skins.

We took several factors into account when ranking these Android overlays, namely aesthetics, the level of polish, the number of features, and the OEM’s update policy. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t an authoritative ranking; it’s more for fun than anything else.

So with all that in mind, let’s get on with it, going from worst to best!

11. Tecno HiOS

I’ve heard some people call Xiaomi’s MIUI a bad Android skin, but these people really have no idea what a bad Android skin is if they haven’t used Tecno’s HiOS.

The Transsion-owned brand might be a number five player globally today, but HiOS is the worst Android skin in our ranking. That’s due to a derivative aesthetic akin to MIUI and iOS, separate dropdowns for notifications and quick toggles (my pet peeve), and plenty of obscure bloatware. Compounding matters is the fact that you’re also forced to install some bloatware after booting up.

Last year’s TECNO Phantom V Fold even shipped with a forum app that displayed NSFW images. There aren’t a ton of features, either, although we had fun with the “plump butt” camera filter. Finally, TECNO is only promising up to two major OS updates and three years of security patches for its high-end phones. That’s basically the bare minimum.

10. Xiaomi MIUI/HyperOS

If this ranking was purely about functionality, Xiaomi’s MIUI and HyperOS would definitely be in the top three. Between per-app volume controls, slick gallery features, and shutdown confirmation (requiring a PIN to turn off the device), Xiaomi has always delivered in this regard. Unfortunately for the Chinese brand, there’s more to a good Android skin than the number of features.

The biggest issue with MIUI and HyperOS is the amount of bloatware and ads. Making matters worse is that Xiaomi doesn’t actually make it easy to disable system ads in the first place. The company has eased up in recent years, but its phones still offer plenty of bloatware, app “recommendations,” and a GetApps store with persistent notifications. At least you can uninstall most of the bloat and disable these notifications, but do you know what would be better? Not dealing with this stuff in the first place.

Another major issue with Xiaomi’s software is the iOS-inspired look and feel, with my biggest complaint being (again) the split notification shade and quick settings menu. The company offers a respectable four major OS updates and five years of security patches on its flagship phones, but Samsung’s mid-tier A series still beats the Redmi line for updates.

9. HONOR Magic OS

It was a tough battle for ninth place, as we couldn’t decide between HONOR’s Magic OS and Xiaomi’s Android skin. Fortunately for HONOR, we decided to place Magic OS above MIUI and HyperOS.

HONOR’s Android software fails to stand out from a visual perspective, bringing to mind HUAWEI’s EMUI and Apple’s iOS. The skin brings a healthy variety of features, but there are also some gimmicky additions (e.g. Air Gestures, AI app recommendations, Yoyo Assistant), Apple-inspired features (e.g. Magic Capsule), and some bloatware. It’s also worth noting that top HONOR phones only ship with three years of OS updates and five years of security patches. Even rivals like Xiaomi and OnePlus do a little better than that with a 4+5 update policy.

There’s still a lot to like here, though. Magic OS brings some great eye protection features, text extraction capabilities, and the Magic Portal feature to quickly share content between apps. But HONOR needs to learn that it’s okay to say “no” to a feature suggestion.

8. vivo Fun Touch OS

Fun Touch OS used to undoubtedly be one of the worst Android skins around, but vivo’s software has made major improvements since then. It’s just that the skin is largely inoffensive and drab rather than exciting.

The aesthetic is similar to stock Android in many places, such as the app drawer and home screens. Fun Touch OS brings brisk performance, a great camera app, and a healthy list of features, although it’s not quite on par with HyperOS or Color OS in terms of the latter.

The biggest issue with Fun Touch OS has traditionally been the copious amount of pre-installed apps. Things improved somewhat with the X100 Pro, but the company isn’t out of the woods yet. Vivo phones also top out at just three major OS updates and four years of security patches. Even HONOR has it beat in this regard, but at least it’s ahead of Sony. Again, it’s an inoffensive, merely adequate experience that won’t make you say “wow.”

7. ASUS Zen UI

Zen UI has made some meaningful improvements over the years, ditching the bloated, visually horrid approach of bygone years in favor of a relatively lean, stock-like experience. You’re not getting a lot of features here, although the ability to choose your quick-setting tile style (see above) is a welcome addition. The company has also added a couple of trendy AI features to the recent Zenfone 11 Ultra, namely audio recorder summaries and call translations.

Easily the biggest issue with ASUS software is the update situation, as you’re only getting two major OS updates and four years of security updates. That’s way behind most of the brands on this list. What’s even worse is that ASUS has dragged its feet in actually delivering these updates. A real shame.

6. Moto My UX/Hello UI

Motorola used to have one of the best software overlays in the game, and Hello UI (formerly My UX) still delivers a good experience in 2024. This Android skin effectively looks and feels like pure Android with a few tweaks. This approach has the added benefit of smooth performance as it isn’t encumbered by years of legacy crud.

The skin maintains beloved features like gestures (e.g. chopping your hand for the flashlight) and attentive display functionality, but has also introduced welcome new additions in recent years. This includes the well-received ReadyFor desktop mode, Spot Color camera functionality, and Google’s own Material You customizations. Motorola’s foldables even outdo Samsung when it comes to cover screen functionality.

There are two significant issues that drag things down, though. The first problem is that Motorola’s update policy varies wildly, from just one major OS update on its budget Android phones to three OS updates and four years of security patches on high-end phones like the Razr Plus 2024. But the policy for its flagship phones still lags behind the likes of OnePlus, Samsung, and Google, while the pace of updates is glacial too. The other issue with Motorola’s software is that its cheap phones are often filled with ads, “recommendations” masquerading as ads, and a horrible weather app.

5. Sony Xperia UI

Much like Motorola, Sony’s Android overlay builds features on top of stock Android rather than offering a full-blown overhaul. The result is a performant, lightweight Android skin for Xperia phones.

Sony’s Android skin brings an almost unparalleled variety of multimedia and camera features to high-end phones. This includes PlayStation remote play, loads of advanced photo/video controls in the camera app, a Video Creator app, and streaming your gameplay to YouTube. In saying so, those hoping for more general features and customization options seen in the likes of One UI might be a little disappointed. The Xperia UI also ships with a few bloatware apps, although it’s not as bad as others on the list.

The biggest issue with Xperia UI has historically been Sony’s pathetic update commitment, topping out at two major OS updates and three years of security patches. That’s poor form when Sony is regularly charging ~$1,400 or more for its top phones. The good news is that the recent Xperia 1 VI will receive three OS updates and four years of patches — still far behind the best in the industry but an improvement nonetheless.

4. Nothing OS

It’s a huge achievement for Nothing OS to be in the top five after just a few years on the market — most good Android skins usually require years of iteration.

The best thing about Nothing OS is its distinctive aesthetic, which features heavy use of monochrome colors, dot-matrix effects in places, and a few neat widgets. This skin would be higher on the list if we were judging things by looks alone. Nothing’s software also brings plenty of visual customization options as well as customization for the Glyph lighting seen on its phones. It doesn’t hurt that there’s little in the way of bloat here.

Unfortunately, the biggest issue with this software skin has to be the dearth of features. Sure, Nothing Phone 2 owners get stuff like ChatGPT integration, app locker functionality, and clone apps, but it lags behind pretty much every other major OEM in this regard. Nothing also promises three major OS updates and four years of security patches for its top-flight phones. That’s solid but a long way off OnePlus and OPPO, let alone top dogs Google and Samsung.

3. Color OS (OPPO/OnePlus)

OPPO’s Android skin — which also forms the basis for OxygenOS on OnePlus phones and Realme UI on Realme devices — is the best Android software from a Chinese smartphone brand in our book. One big reason for its high ranking is due to the variety of customization options. This includes changing the shape of quick setting tiles, tweaking system colors and icon name sizes, and the ability to adjust the speed of app launching/closing animations.

There are also plenty of useful everyday features, such as image clipper functionality, auto-pixelation of sensitive info in shared images, and some AI features (e.g. webpage summaries, object erasing). Color OS doesn’t beat Samsung and Google in terms of the all-important update policy, but you’re still getting four major OS updates and five security patches.

OPPO’s skin isn’t without flaws, though. For one, the sheer amount of bloatware and recommendations in some cases. This is usually restricted to Realme UI in some markets, but we noticed bloatware recommendations upon setting up the OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open too.  The software also lags behind Samsung One UI as far as foldable-specific features are concerned.

2. Samsung One UI

Is it any surprise that Samsung’s all-conquering Android skin is placed so highly? The Galaxy maker continues to offer a dizzying variety of features, including much-loved additions like Dex, Samsung’s Expert RAW camera app, lock screen widgets, and Bixby Routines. Samsung also brought a ton of Galaxy AI features to recent phones, covering everything from recorder summaries and webpage/file summaries to generative AI editing and live translations during calls.

Samsung is tied with Google when it comes to all-important updates, offering seven years of updates on its latest high-end phones. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention its Good Lock suite of modules too, offering an unparalleled level of official customization options for every facet of your phone.

One UI just misses out on the top spot due to a ton of bloatware. It’s seriously hard to look past the sheer variety of pre-installed Samsung apps, Microsoft apps, and third-party bloatware. But nobody — not even Google itself — matches One UI for the sheer number of features.

1. Google Pixel UI

The Pixel UI has long been one of the best Android skins in the game, borrowing stock Android’s look and feel while offering some truly innovative features. Long-time Google Pixel features include call screening, a Now Playing feature that passively recognizes music around you, the ability to select text and images from the Recents menu, and the Google Recorder app. More recent additions include the Best Take photo mode, using your phone as a PC webcam, and webpage summarization smarts. One major downside is that some Pixel features, such as call-related capabilities, aren’t available around the world.

Another point in the Pixel UI’s favor is that there’s virtually no bloatware, unlike Samsung, Xiaomi, and others on this list. Google also offers an impressive seven years of OS and security updates for recent phones — in line with Samsung.

Perhaps the only significant issue I have with Google’s own Android skin is that it lags behind Samsung One UI when it comes to foldable-specific capabilities (e.g. per-screen customization). The Pixel UI lacks some traditional features compared to rivals, such as floating app windows and auto-pixelate functionality for shared images. Nevertheless, you’re getting plenty of exclusive features in return.

Do you agree with our Android skin rankings? What’s the best software in your book? Let us know via the poll below!

nds4droid does not collect or transmit any personal or sensitive user data. The android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO permission is used only to emulate the microphone on the Nintendo DS, which some games use.

2016 brings us an update for nds4droid! Nathaniel D. was nice enough to provide a new German translation. In addition I went ahead and converted the code to an Android Studio project and moved everything away from Sourceforge (15 years too late, amirite) and over to GitHub. The code can now be found there: https://github.com/jquesnelle/nds4droid.

Go ahead and grab the latest APK or get it straight from Google Play.

When looking for a new phone, your eye might be drawn to the top iPhones, but there are some exciting Android phones out there, especially foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Flip 6. However, a premium phone will need some serious protection. Naturally, you'll need a good case.

I've been an Android user since I bought my first smartphone back in 2013 (miss you, Xperia L). I went around the block since then, using a couple of OnePlus phones, a Realme one, and finally, the Google Pixel 7, my current daily driver. Although there's a lot to love about this phone, from the cameras and software to the design, I have a lot of regrets as well.

When you buy a new phone, one of the first things you should do is get a good case. Few devices deserve high-quality protection as much as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. The new sixth-gen Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a premium phone with a price tag to match, and if you're looking to nab one of the best cases for it, read on. We've rounded up the best protective shells for the Galaxy Z Fold 6 that not only look great but will keep your pricey dual-screen gem looking shiny and new for years.

A Genshin Impact leak has revealed more details about the upcoming story tied to the new Natlan region. Developer HoYoverse has already released multiple teaser videos confirming that Travelers will soon be able to step foot into Genshin Impact's Pyro nation, better known as Natlan.

During GamesCom 2024, Netflix Games officially announced Squid Game: Unleashed, a new mobile multiplayer battle royale inspired by viral Korean show Squid Game. The title places players to a brutal competition, during which they must outlast their opponents in a series of deadly challenges both familiar from the original series and new. While a specific release date has not yet been announced, the game is expected to launch "soon."

You can watch the official announcement trailer from gamescom 2024 below:

Squid Game: Unleashed will feature ragdoll physics and cartoon violence, adding an exaggerated twist to the gameplay based on the deadly series. Players will compete in online multiplayer matches, navigating through various twisted contests based on the original show’s deadly games, as well as new games inspired by classic childhood activities.

This release comes as part of Netflix's broader push into gaming, which includes the formation of its first in-house game studio in Helsinki, Finland, led by former Zynga and EA executive Marko Lastikka. Netflix has been expanding its game library, which includes titles like Before Your Eyes and Into the Breach.

Squid Game: Unleashed is set to be released on mobile platforms through the Netflix Mobile App. The first season of Squid Game is on the service now, with season 2 debuting on December 26, 2024. The reality show based on the property is also on Netflix.

The post Squid Game Mobile Game Announced by Netflix appeared first on Siliconera.

During GamesCom 2024, HoYoVerse released a new trailer for Honkai: Star Rail, teasing new character Feixiao and the upcoming Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works collaboration. More details on both will appear closer to the release date.

You can watch the Honkai: Star Rail GamesCom trailer here:

It’s also available in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

The trailer starts with Guinaifen describing Feixiao’s exploits on the battlefield, though she can’t really remember everything. Feixiao actually appears to defeat a borisin about to attack, but she’s just asking for directions. Then, the trailer temporarily shifts to an anime style to show Pom-Pom, Caelus, March, and Dan Heng on the Astral Express. They hear a kind of explosion noise and though you can’t see who appeared on the train, it’s most likely to be EMIYA between his voice and the line he says.

The Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works collaboration event will come out some time in Summer 2025. At this point in time, we don’t know if the crossover will only be skins, or if we will actually get a playable character like how Aloy appeared in Genshin Impact. As for Feixiao, she will be a 5-star Wind Hunt character. Before her debut though, we have her subordinate Jiaoqiu coming out in the second phase of Version 2.4. He’ll be a 5-star Fire Nihility who specializes in a unique DoT.

Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. Feixiao will appear as a playable character in Honkai: Star Rail Versioin 2.5.

The post Honkai: Star Rail GamesCom Trailer Teases Feixiao and UBW appeared first on Siliconera.

Of the many upcoming open-world games, Papergames is touting Infinity Nikki as the coziest. While its last trailer focused on changing outfits and navigating the massive world of Miraland, the latest is about many of the creatures that inhabit its world. And what better way to showcase this than with a musical number? Check it out below.

It’s not just about cats, sheep and odd-looking chickens, though. Some creatures, like the massive grounded bird with a crown and buttons for eyes, look downright threatening. Other smaller creatures run around, causing chaos, and a giant bird swoops over fields. The development team hasn’t clarified its purpose, though it could be a flying mount.

Infinity Nikki is in development for PS4, PS5, PC, iOS, and Android. It doesn’t have a release window, but a beta has been announced for Q3 2024. Stay tuned for more details and check out some extensive gameplay from ChinaJoy 2024.

During GamesCom 2024, HoYoVerse released a new trailer for Honkai: Star Rail, teasing new character Feixiao and the upcoming Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works collaboration. More details on both will appear closer to the release date.

You can watch the Honkai: Star Rail GamesCom trailer here:

It’s also available in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

The trailer starts with Guinaifen describing Feixiao’s exploits on the battlefield, though she can’t really remember everything. Feixiao actually appears to defeat a borisin about to attack, but she’s just asking for directions. Then, the trailer temporarily shifts to an anime style to show Pom-Pom, Caelus, March, and Dan Heng on the Astral Express. They hear a kind of explosion noise and though you can’t see who appeared on the train, it’s most likely to be EMIYA between his voice and the line he says.

The Fate/stay night: Unlimited Blade Works collaboration event will come out some time in Summer 2025. At this point in time, we don’t know if the crossover will only be skins, or if we will actually get a playable character like how Aloy appeared in Genshin Impact. As for Feixiao, she will be a 5-star Wind Hunt character. Before her debut though, we have her subordinate Jiaoqiu coming out in the second phase of Version 2.4. He’ll be a 5-star Fire Nihility who specializes in a unique DoT.

Honkai: Star Rail is readily available on the PS5, Windows PC, and mobile devices. Feixiao will appear as a playable character in Honkai: Star Rail Versioin 2.5.

The post Honkai: Star Rail GamesCom Trailer Teases Feixiao and UBW appeared first on Siliconera.

During gamescom 2024 Opening Night Live, HoYoVerse announced a Genshin Impact Xbox Series X release date. The game will come to the console on November 10, 2024, following the 5.0 launch on August 28, 2024.

The Xbox Series X version of Genshin Impact came up in the gamescom 2024 trailer for the title. For the most part, the video focused on the 5.0 update. We got to see the three new characters joining in August 2024 in action. These are the five-stars Mualani and Kinich and four-star Kachina.

This is the second Genshin Impact trailer to appear recently. On August 19, 2024, there was a Natlan-focused one. It highlighted certain areas we’ll visit and creatures we’ll encounter in the new region.

This announcement means Genshin Impact is only missing on one major console. The Switch version of the title was announced not long after launch. However, it’s since been absent over the years with no updates. It is unknown if this means it might not appear on a Nintendo platform until a Switch successor appears.

Genshin Impact is available on the PS4, PS5, PC, and mobile devices, and the Xbox Series X release date is November 10, 2024. 

The post Genshin Impact Xbox Series X Release Date Set at Gamescom appeared first on Siliconera.

One of the best roguelikes on PC is getting a farewell of sorts this week. Twitchy slashfest Dead Cells received its final major update, introducing new enemies, fresh weapons, and a few mutations. Unfortunately, all this new stuff is very cursed. In other words, it all toys with the game's "curse" status effect, a hex that causes you to be killed if you take even a single hit. You'll probably die a few times as a result of this update, which in some ways is a fitting finalé for this fast-paced jar smasher of a game. You can see the new features in the trailer below.

Read more

There you are, rambling through the woods of Interactive Entertainment with an empty pack and a spring in your step. Here I am, lying in wait behind a tree. Wham! Bam! You reel back in consternation as I bounce into the path and clobber you with a sack containing no less than eight venerable RPGs, from Baldur's Gate to Warhammer 40,000: Rogue's Trader - well over a thousand hours worth of dungeons, dragons, dicerolls, dwarven shopkeepers and many other things I refuse to spend time alliterating, all of which will (currently) set you back just £32.07.

Were you planning to spend this weekend playing some cute two-hour artgame sideshow, without any levelling at all? Shut up, you DOLT. You will play what the nice journalist tells you to play! Best lay in extra caffeine tablets, because it's going to take you till Monday just to get through the character creators alone.

Read more

Among the many, Gigery beauties of 2014's Alien: Isolation is that you save using an in-game, wall-mounted Emergency Phone - a maddeningly analog process of slotting a keycard into the machine and waiting for three beeps. Doing this requires you to stand upright in full view, with your back turned upon an entire space station's worth of shiny domed technology and guttural industrial noises. Delightful!

Amongst the players harrowed and compelled by this fixture is Fede Álvarez, director of the 2013 Evil Dead remake, 2016's Don't Breathe and, most recently Alien: Romulus - the seventh and avowedly "back to basics" Alien movie. Isolation is the Alien experience that convinced Álvarez the Alien could still be scary, after decades of milking the creature's dugs for spin-off movies and making it share a screen with the Predator, the Pepsi Max to Alien's Dom Pérignon 1921. In possibly self-defeating homage to Creative Assembly's work, he's filled the movie with Emergency Telephones, turning them into a straightforward-sounding form of foreshadowing.

Read more

One of the best roguelikes on PC is getting a farewell of sorts this week. Twitchy slashfest Dead Cells received its final major update, introducing new enemies, fresh weapons, and a few mutations. Unfortunately, all this new stuff is very cursed. In other words, it all toys with the game's "curse" status effect, a hex that causes you to be killed if you take even a single hit. You'll probably die a few times as a result of this update, which in some ways is a fitting finalé for this fast-paced jar smasher of a game. You can see the new features in the trailer below.

Read more

There you are, rambling through the woods of Interactive Entertainment with an empty pack and a spring in your step. Here I am, lying in wait behind a tree. Wham! Bam! You reel back in consternation as I bounce into the path and clobber you with a sack containing no less than eight venerable RPGs, from Baldur's Gate to Warhammer 40,000: Rogue's Trader - well over a thousand hours worth of dungeons, dragons, dicerolls, dwarven shopkeepers and many other things I refuse to spend time alliterating, all of which will (currently) set you back just £32.07.

Were you planning to spend this weekend playing some cute two-hour artgame sideshow, without any levelling at all? Shut up, you DOLT. You will play what the nice journalist tells you to play! Best lay in extra caffeine tablets, because it's going to take you till Monday just to get through the character creators alone.

Read more

Among the many, Gigery beauties of 2014's Alien: Isolation is that you save using an in-game, wall-mounted Emergency Phone - a maddeningly analog process of slotting a keycard into the machine and waiting for three beeps. Doing this requires you to stand upright in full view, with your back turned upon an entire space station's worth of shiny domed technology and guttural industrial noises. Delightful!

Amongst the players harrowed and compelled by this fixture is Fede Álvarez, director of the 2013 Evil Dead remake, 2016's Don't Breathe and, most recently Alien: Romulus - the seventh and avowedly "back to basics" Alien movie. Isolation is the Alien experience that convinced Álvarez the Alien could still be scary, after decades of milking the creature's dugs for spin-off movies and making it share a screen with the Predator, the Pepsi Max to Alien's Dom Pérignon 1921. In possibly self-defeating homage to Creative Assembly's work, he's filled the movie with Emergency Telephones, turning them into a straightforward-sounding form of foreshadowing.

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Six years ago Epic Games launched mobile versions of popular game Fortnite for Android and iOS. And two years later the company intentionally violated the rules for Apple and Google’s mobile app stores by offering an alternate payment method. Both Apple and Google kicked Fortnite out of their respective app stores, and a long-running legal […]

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Title: My Friend Pedro
Type of Game: 2D Action-Shooter Platformer
Developer: DeadToast Entertainment
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Released: June 20, 2019
Platforms Available: iOS, Android
Platform Reviewed: Android
Level of Maturity: Teen (Violence, Blood, Crude Humor)
Reading Time: 8 minutes

“My Friend Pedro” is a game that came out in June 2019. It’s a 2D Action-Shooter Platformer. As you already know, I love platformers. On top of that, it is an offline, no-WiFi game, and I needed something to play on my way to work. In the game, I was guided by a talking banana, Pedro, who led me on a mission to shoot through waves of enemies and jump over all sorts of obstacles. It sounds weird, and it is, but in a good way.

Quirky Storytelling and Bananas

The story is simple: I was saving Pedro’s family from crates of fruits. The funniest bit for me was when I saved an apple rather than a banana, and Pedro informed me that it was an adopted child. In the second instance, he sends his banana son to get him a pack of cigarettes. I loved these funny bits in the story.

Mastering the Art of Slow-Motion Combat

I noticed immediately that the game is very smooth (after you get used to the slider commands if you never played this type of game before). The controls are simple enough, but there’s a learning curve until you get used to it. Two joystick pads are on both sides, but you can also use only one. I used only the right one because my left hand was unfriendly with the slide-down command. I managed to get three stars on most levels, so I am guessing it is designed so you can play with it without the second pad. You can slow down time while in mid-air, which significantly helps.

Even with no obstacle, you can jump up and aim/plan your next move in slow motion. On top of it, I was able to easily overcome the faster-paced missions, where you are on a skateboard, using this feature. I spun through the air, dodging bullets while returning fire in slow motion. It feels like a mix between a John Wick movie and a skateboard trick video. The genre has nothing new, but it is very well executed if you ask me!
I was pleased to see motorcycle action after each chapter. I got to drive a bike from one chapter to another, dodging crates and shooting other bikers or a truck running away with crates, which was one of Pedro’s children. This detail is somewhat polished, but I still loved it.

Visuals and Sound: The Pulse of Pedro

The visuals are stylish but not overly detailed, which works for this game. Everything is smooth and fast, with a lot of emphasis on how your character moves. It’s not the game that’s trying to wow you with graphics. It’s more about the action and keeping everything running smoothly. There’s a good use of color wildly when contrasting the backgrounds and the enemies, so you always know where to focus. The music is another strong point. It’s an upbeat, electronic soundtrack that perfectly fits the game’s pace. The sound effects are also on end, with satisfying gunfire and explosions.

Replayability and Performance

My Friend Pedro is a single-player-only game, and you can play without WIFI, which also works for ad avoidance. You must watch an ad every time you die unless your wifi is turned off. The game focuses on creating a specific experience where you constantly try to outdo yourself with better combos and wilder moves, which will reward you with three stars if you execute it flawlessly. I found some missions pretty hard, but with some trial and error, I got three stars on almost all of them. This added to the replay value, too, not only for the stars but sometimes just for fun. I replayed certain sections to see if I could pull off something more extraordinary or efficient, even when I had the three stars already.

A Smooth Ride with Minor Glitches

Another thing I appreciated was the simple interface. There’s not a lot of clutter on the screen, so that you can focus on the action. The accessibility options are essential, but I found no barriers to playing the game. Performance-wise, it runs smoothly, which is crucial given how fast-paced it is. I did encounter minor bugs or, better said, glitches, where I would fly through the edge of the platform when I was not supposed to or miss a landing where it was supposed to be possible to land, but it is infrequent, and nothing that will ruin your gameplay.

Conclusion:

My Friend Pedro is a game that knows its strengths and plays to them perfectly. It delivers an exhilarating, stylish platforming shooter experience without getting bogged down in unnecessary complexities. The smooth, acrobatic gameplay, intuitive controls, and slow-motion mechanics allow creative and satisfying combat scenarios.
While the story is simple, its quirky humor adds personality to the intense action. The game’s artistic direction and energetic soundtrack create an immersive experience that complements the fast-paced gameplay. The three-star rating system and inherent joy of perfecting runs provide excellent replay value. Despite minor glitches and some less polished elements, My Friend Pedro stands out as a focused, well-executed game. For fans of the genre or anyone seeking a unique, action-packed experience, it’s an easy recommendation that delivers hours of bullet-dodging, banana-guided fun.

Where to Buy My Friend Pedro?

• App Store (iOS): Available for Free! Download it from the App Store.
• Google Play (Android): Available for Free! Purchase it from Google Play.

Official Page: Visit the official My Friend Pedro page for more information here.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the My Friend Pedro Subreddit.

The post Bananas and Bullets: The Wild Ride of My Friend Pedro appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.

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