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Bloodhunt has a hacker problem, and it’s not even been out for a week SharkmobDespite Vampire: The Masquerade’s battle royale, Bloodhunt, only being open for Early Access since September 7, it already has a massive issue with hackers. When it comes to hackers in FPS titles, no game is safe. From Blizzard’s Overwatch to Activision’s Call of Duty: Warzone, rule breakers plague the games like locust. A similar fate has befallen Sharkmob’s new vampire battle royale, Bloodhunt. A spinoff of the popular Vampire: The Masquerade series, the horror survival adventure has only been available in Early Access form since September 7 – less than a week from the time of writing. However, just like it’s BR predecessors, the hackers are back and are irritating innocent players left, right and center. Bloodhunt hackers are ruining games Sharkmob has admitted to several different issues with their current anti-cheat, but it appears that there’s a lot more than they anticipated. The official Bloodhunt subreddit is dominated by players complaining that they’ve encountered cheaters in their games. This is made even worse by the fact that there’s no way to report Bloodhunt hackers at this time. “I am sorry, but there are way too many people using hacks,” states one angry player. “Between the people sniping at the top of the sky, the fully invisible people shooting, and what I can only assume is everything else that usually comes with that, I cannot.” Another post echoes this, detailing their encounter with a cheater and writing “I did some searching around and people on hacker forums are already sharing SDKs, bone IDs, etc… Plus there are already multiple paid cheats available. “I get that it’s early access at this point and anti-cheat is coming,” they continue, “but… I hope they don’t make us wait long. I guarantee that hackers will very quickly become a problem if the anti-cheat isn’t activated.” As the game continues to progress through its early access stages, we hope that the devs will implement a new and improved anti-cheat. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than dying all the time while you try to live your vampire fantasy.

Bloodhunt players call for KDA changes as toxic players keep stealing kills SharkmobWhile Vampire The Masquerade’s battle royale, Bloodhunt, continues to be a hit with fans, issues with the game’s KDA system is making it easy for toxic players to steal kills Totally reinventing the Vampire: The Masquerade franchise is Bloodhunt, a vampire battle royale set in the rain-soaked streets of a midnight-bathed Prague. Despite stunning visuals and a host of cool clans to join, the title has struggled to make a splash due to rampant cheaters and ongoing balancing issues. Toxicity appears to still plague the title, as players have expressed concerns over the amount of kill stealing happening when playing with others in Groups. Bloodhunt players sick of toxic teammates stealing kills When loading into groups, players are assigned two other teammates to dominate Prague with. Working as a team, you’re tasked with shredding enemy squads in the bloodiest way possible. Read More: When is Bloodhunt coming to console? – If you’ve hunted your prey, taken them down, and are just about to Diablerize them and score more Blood Resonance slots, the last thing you want is for your glory-hungry teammate to swoop in and steal the kill. Sadly, if they do so, they get the kill and you only get an assist despite doing all of the hard work. “You fight tooth and nail to knock somebody and start diablerizing them when your teammate just shoots them out of your hand and walks away with the kill and XP,” rages one angry player. “If you flush a teammates’ knock, it should be an assist.” While the comment section is awash with people echoing this sentiment, many have come up with some unique ideas to solve the ongoing problem. “I’d rather they just did away with assists all together,” notes one. “You’re playing in a team so credit the team with kills?” Another follows up by stating that “you can have the kills credited to the whole team and make the diablerizing count to the one that actually did it.” Echoing Apex Legends’ kill system, another suggests “kill to player who downed them and assist to teammate for the finish.” As the game continues to evolve it’ll be interesting to see how Sharkmob tackles this problem. With the developers immediately addressing in-game cheating and toxicity as soon as it became an issue, hopefully, they’re receptive to this idea, too.

Bloodhunt disables ranked mode after queue time backlash SharkmobDespite its successful launch, Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt’s ranked mode queue times have skyrocketed as popularity has declined, leading to the devs disabling it entirely. While Sharkmob’s Vampire: The Masquerade-inspired battle royale, Bloodhunt, ushers in a new era of BR, the game’s ranked mode has left a lot to be desired. As players stray away from playing competitively, Kindred from every corner of the globe have been stuck waiting in hour-long queues, oftentimes giving up before they actually get into the game. Following backlash, Sharkmob have completely suspended ranked, promising that it will return new and improved with Bloodhunt’s next update. Bloodhunt ranked disabled as queue times soar A brief glance at the official Bloodhunt Reddit sees hordes of players posting their insanely long wait times when trying to get a game in ranked mode. “I’m committed at this point,” writes one, whose queue time sits at a somewhat impressive 1 hour, 17 minutes, and 37 seconds. Another echoes this with “one day…” having waited 1 hour and 21 seconds. Following the mode’s rapid decline, Sharkmob confirmed in a May 25 tweet that they would be disabling it until the June Update, noting “after careful evaluation, we have decided to pause Ranked mode temporarily until the new update arrives. “We hope the new balance changes and gamepad improvements will increase the mode’s popularity again and make matchmaking viable once more.” Hello Bloodhunt Community! After careful evaluation, we have decided to pause Ranked mode temporarily until the new update arrives. We hope the new balance changes and gamepad improvements will increase the mode’s popularity again and make matchmaking viable once more. pic.twitter.com/hevBckuhSP — Bloodhunt (@Bloodhunt) May 25, 2022 “Great news honestly,” comments one fan. “I don’t think the game necessarily needs ranked unless it’s ready and enjoyable. This makes me want to play the game more.” “It was too early to bring it in to start with, so this is a good move,” replies another. “There are a lot of things that need fixing as a priority, as honestly, the game is just not as fun as it was in early access at present. The escalating queue times need addressing – maybe add back the cultist bots.” As Sharkmob continue to develop the game’s ranked system to make it more attractive to competitive players, it’ll be interesting to see how it shapes up post-June update. Until then, though, you’ll still be able to haunt the streets of Prague in Solo Bloodhunt, Duos, or Trios.

Bloodhunt devs discuss challenge of making a battle royale based on Vampire The Masquerade SharkmobVampire The Masquerade’s battle royale, Bloodhunt, is perhaps one of 2021’s most surprising titles. Blending the iconic tabletop and RPG series with the FPS genre, Sharkmob’s dev team has revealed the challenges of merging two very different universes, as well as what makes it so rewarding. When you think of Vampire The Masquerade, you likely think of the tabletop game, or the iconic Bloodlines digital RPG series: not a battle royale. Enter Bloodhunt, Swedish developer Sharkmob’s transformative take on the bloodstained franchise. Making its early access debut on Steam in September, the title has captured the imaginations of both those who lurk in the shadows, as well as the more casual FPS gamer. In an exclusive interview with Dexerto, Bloodhunt’s Game Director, Craig Hubbard, and Sharkmob Co-founder and IP & Communications Director, Martin Hultberg, explained some of the challenges they encountered when reimagining the iconic franchise for a PvP title. How Vampire The Masquerade became a battle royale While a lot of fans may not immediately connect the dots between Vampire The Masquerade and a battle royale, Hultberg stresses that they truly aren’t that dissimilar. “Vampire The Masquerade has always been a game about conflict, although the tabletop RPG tends to focus on resolution through diplomacy, deception, betrayal and so forth,” he told Dexerto. “Even so, combat has always been a viable option and for many groups of players it was still an important part of that experience. “BR [battle royale] offers a clear-cut ‘king of the hill’ type experience” he continues, explaining that the devs “thought would be an interesting thing to explore, given the competitive nature of the vampires and the idea of hunter and prey. “There were many challenges, of course… For BR we had to contextualize things like the shrinking circle, explain why the fighting takes place, translate the powers and so forth. It wasn’t an easy feat, but we worked closely with the World of Darkness brand team to find solutions that would work.” Blood Resonances: “You are what you eat” One of Bloodhunt’s most interesting features is the Blood Resonance mechanic, which allows your character to enhance different attributes depending on the mortal they feed on. With four different options, you can upgrade your cooldown reduction, melee damage, and health regeneration. “There is a saying in the tabletop RPG; ‘you are what you eat’” Hultberg states. “The idea that the blood vampires drink affects them differently based on the source you draw it from is at the core of the experience.” “Previously we’d had a leveling system where you’d gain XP by feeding on NPCs and players and unlock perks as you leveled up,” Hubbard recalls. “We tried different iterations, but the fundamental problem was that it turned feeding into a chore because you had to do a lot of it to reach max level.” “Blood resonance had several benefits,” he explains. “The big one was that it made feeding more interesting and strategic. Resonance perks are exponential rather than linear, each typically doubling the previous boost, meaning you get a lot more benefit from concentrating on one or two types than by spreading yourself thin. Another big one is that it makes diablerie more beneficial, as it not only fully heals you but also grants you additional resonance slots.” Looking to the future, he told Dexerto that “all of this said, we consider the current implementation of blood resonance to be a foundation on which to build. We feel we can explore some interesting possibilities for perks in the future.” With Hultberg promising new clans, including the Ventrue and many more, we really can’t wait to see how the game continues to grow. Right now, though, we’re hungry for more Bloodhunt. Does anyone fancy a bite?

Bloodhunt devs dismiss crossover with VTM Swansong & Bloodlines 2 Sharkmob, Big Bad Wolf, Paradox InteractiveSharkmob, the creators of Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt, have confirmed that there will be no crossover between their battle royale and other VTM titles like Swansong and Bloodlines 2. It isn’t even spooky season yet and 2022 has already cemented itself as the year of the vampire. With Sharkmob’s Vampire: The Masquerade-inspired battle royale, Bloodhunt, leading the charge, the series’ highly anticipated detective RPG, Swansong, was hot on its heels. Much to the joy of Kindred across the globe, we’ll also be seeing a sequel to classic title, Bloodlines, popping up in the near future as well, transporting the VTM saga into the modern age. As all of these new games launch in tandem, will we be seeing any crossovers between Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt, Bloodlines 2, and Swansong? Sharkmob’s Live Product Director for Bloodhunt, David Sirland, reveals all. Bloodhunt dev: Swansong & Bloodlines 2 are “separate” As the hype around the World of Darkness reaches an all-time high, Sirland has confirmed that there is no direct crossover between the games – but that there may be some breaching the fourth wall in the future. “We are completely separate products, from separate teams – essentially only sharing the IP and the world we are set in,” he told Dexerto. Going on to clarify “we love to stay current and hint at things that are happening in the world,” he concludes “so who knows what the future holds?” – a prospect that will likely bring a smile to any Kindred’s lips. There’s a whole host of potential crossovers lurking in the shadows, but we’ll have to see if any come to fruition. Imagine some snazzy Bloodlines 2-inspired skins for your Bloodhunt Archetype, or some nasty katanas for your Bloodlines 2 vampire to wield – the possibilities are endless and in the World of Darkness, anything can happen.

Bloodhunt devs confirm upcoming nerfs for Nosferatu’s “OP” Prowler & Saboteur SharkmobThe Nosferatu clan are currently top of the food chain when it comes to Vampire The Masquerade’s battle royale, Bloodhunt, but Sharkmob’s devs have promised nerfs are coming to the Prowler and Saboteur. Shrouded in mystery, the Nosferatu Clan have swarmed out of the sewers and dominated the streets of Prague in Sharkmob’s Vampire The Masquerade battle royale, Bloodhunt. Clearly the best Clan in the Bloodhunt at the moment, players have been calling for nerfs to both the Prowler and Saboteur classes, with the former being the target of most fan anger. In an exclusive interview with Dexerto, Game Director Craig Hubbard revealed that balance changes are on the horizon for the stealthy bloodsuckers, and that they’re coming soon. Bloodhunt devs confirm Prowler & Saboteur nerfs When telling Dexerto about their favorite Archetypes to play, Hubbard dropped a little hint that the Prowler and Saboteur’s reigns of terror will be coming to an end relatively soon. “Lately I’m mainly playing the Brute in solo. In groups, I gravitate to Muse or Siren,” he confessed. “I love playing the Prowler, but I’m abstaining until we can make some balance adjustments, as we agree that it’s a bit OP at the moment.” Going on to confirm that the “first tweaks should be coming soon,” we’ll likely see the powerful creatures slink back into the waters of the underground before long. The form these nerfs will take, though, remain a mystery. Players have begged Sharkmob to lower the amount of time that the Prowler’s Scouting Famulus (bats) are active for – or at least allow you to kill the swarm. So, this infamous ability may be top of the nerf list. As Bloodhunt continues to develop we can’t wait to see how the meta changes. With the introduction of new clans – including the Ventrue according to Sharkmob Co-founder and IP & Communications Director Martin Hultberg – the game will no doubt shift in a different direction. So, Toreador on top soon guys? My Muse is excited to deafen the competition!

Bloodhunt Community Patch adds duos, free loot & kill reward fixes SharkmobBloodhunt’s Community Patch will add some highly anticipated content to the Vampire The Masquerade battle royale, including a duos mode, free loot for logging in, and, finally, a new kill rewards system. As Vampire The Masquerade’s battle royale title, Bloodhunt, continues to go from strength to strength, players have been eagerly awaiting new, bloodstained content. Luckily, Bloodhunt’s Community Patch is set to leave players licking their lips. While new free loot for logging in, as well as a new kill system to combat pesky kill stealers are all worth mentioning, the headline of this patch is the highly requested Duos mode. So, here’s a detailed rundown of everything you need to know about Bloodhunt’s mammoth Community Patch. Bloodhunt duos added in Community Patch In response to a developer survey asking players whether or not they’d like to see a duos mode added to the current pool, Sharkmob have indeed decided that the ability to battle it out against enemy bloodsuckers with a friend is just what the game needs. “The community spoke and we listened,” they write. “Effective from this patch we will introduce Duos mode that will alternate with the existing Trios, supporting 42 players and speeding along matchmaking.” Additionally, the matchmaking process will be a lot smoother going forward, especially for solo players. Promising “shorter pre and post-match timers, archetype select, and deployment to get you into and out of a game faster,” Sharkmob note that “solo players can now join a new match directly, without going back to the Elysium social hub first.” New Kill system Players have also been champing at the bit to see a new KDA system introduced to the game to combat other players stealing kills, and thankfully the devs have had their ears to the ground listening to the rumblings on Reddit. “Never again will you lose a kill credit to a sneaky sniper round or unlucky drop,” they proclaim. “The player who downs an enemy is now awarded the kill regardless of how they are ultimately eliminated (red gas, another player, The Entity, a shark…) Assists are awarded for eliminating a downed player.” This system functions similarly to Apex Legends, debatably the most popular battle royale at the moment, and one to which Bloodhunt has been compared since release. Login rewards In addition to all of this new content, players will also be able to score rewards just for logging in, as well as having the opportunity to complete daily challenges which drop in-game store currency. So that’s everything that’s coming in Bloodhunt’s pretty impressive Community Patch. Looking to take to the streets of Prague and tear your enemies asunder? Here are some guides to get you started: All Blood Resonances & best types | Best clans in Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt | Bloody Roots Part 1 Quest: Item Locations | How to add friends in Bloodhunt | When is Bloodhunt coming to console?

Bloodhunt devs “amazed” that Twitch streamers shroud, iiTzTimmy & more are playing the game SharkmobSharkmob’s Vampire: The Masquerade-inspired battle royale, Bloodhunt, has captured the imaginations of Twitch behemoths like Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek and iiTzTimmy, and the devs are over the (blood) moon. In its first month, Sharkmob’s Vampire The Masquerade battle royale, Bloodhunt, has gone from strength to strength, with Kindred from across the World of Darkness taking to the shadowy streets of Prague to stalk their unsuspecting prey. Among the hordes flocking to Czechia’s capital are shroud, Kyedae, and iiTzTimmy, who all battled it out for Save the Children during Bloodhunt for Charity. With the game’s population rising exponentially according to SteamCharts, Bloodhunt Producer David Sirland has opened up how it feels to see their game picked up by some of the gaming universe’s most famous faces. Bloodhunt devs elated after Twitch success In the wake of Bloodhunt for Charity and the ever-growing interest in the game’s Twitch persona, Sirland and the team are eternally grateful for the community’s response to their take on the VTM franchise. “It’s a great feeling seeing big names, and especially skilled play at a very high level – and see how they also are enjoying themselves while playing our game,” he told Dexerto. “It gives us great hope for the future and which direction the game will take in the coming weeks and months for sure!” Read More: Vampire the Masquerade: Swansong review – Sharkmob has also been widely praised for using its platform for real-life good, with their Save the Children tournament’s success heralding possible future initiatives. “It’s amazing to be able to work in entertainment and have such a positive impact for something as important as Save The Children,” Sirland explains. “To us as a team, it is super rewarding to see this event go so well too, and hope we can do more of these in the future!” As the denizens of Prague continue to get restless and the game continues its meteoric rise, it’ll be interesting to see which bloodthirsty creators dive in next. Until then, though, you’ll find us taking each of the clans for a spin and draining some humans of their blood rocking our Bloodhunt for Charity t-shirt. Looking to dive into the night? Be sure to check out our VTM Bloodhunt guides to get ahead of the competition: Bloody Roots quest guide | All Blood Resonances & best types | Best clans in Bloodhunt ranked | How to add friends in Bloodhunt | Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt ranked guide | Octahedron guide

Bloodborne Remastered troll goes viral ahead of PlayStation State of Play FromSoftwareAs we approach Sony’s latest State of Play, Bloodborne Remastered was reportedly leaked and fans were excited at the possibility of one of the brand’s greatest games in recent memory being brought to PS5. Only, it appears that a cheeky troll may have spread misinformation. Whereas 2022 has been a phenomenal year for developers FromSoftware due to the success of Elden Ring, they’ve previously found a lot of success with the Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls games, but also with Bloodborne. The setting of Yharnam is a grotesque, gothic dystopia that players have reveled in since the game’s release in 2015. It’s been lauded since then with many people claiming it to be their favorite Souls game, and it’s ours too. Bloodborne came back into the spotlight recently when a leak suggested that the game was going to be remastered for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It appears though that there was more to this purported rumor than originally met the eye. Bloodborne Remastered leak turns out to be fake Nibellion is a popular leaker video game leaker with nearly 400k followers on Twitter and is normally pretty accurate with any rumors. So it was only natural for fans to see Nibellion’s reports that “Bloodborne Remastered is coming to PS5 in August 2022 and PC in Q2 2023” and immediately get excited about the possibility. There have been cries for a Bloodborne sequel for a long time now, so a remaster of the first game would fill that void. Only…this account wasn’t the real Nibellion, just a very similar account in terms of its profile picture and username — the first “i” being capitalized when the real account isn’t. Two things are a major giveaway that the Bloodborne Remaster leak wasn’t real. The first being that the real Nibellion actually commented on the post. https://twitter.com/Nibellion/status/1531295317752262656?s=20&t=eYjpH8ZhQNcwCEb-9incjg Also, if actually you click on the link attached to the Tweet, it takes you to an official PlayStation blog post, but from 2015, and it’s a preview for Bloodborne. A quick browse of the replies will show that many people were baited by the troll. “Well, it better be real since I fell for it then RTed and now my followers will be mad at me for sharing a fake, sorry everyone,” said one Twitter user. So if you’ve seen the rumors of a Bloodborne Remastered on the way, we’re sorry to say it’s merely a Hunter’s Dream for now, and we’d guess it definitely won’t be at State of Play June 2022.

Bloodborne remake demands hit all-time high after deleted Sony tweet Sony/From SoftwareFans of From Software’s PS4 exclusive Bloodborne have been asking for a remake for a long time. And, a very zoomed-in part of Bloodborne’s cover got tweeted and promptly deleted by Sony, fans want news on the long-awaited remake. Bloodborne is one of the most critically acclaimed PS4 exclusives, and a hallmark title of Sony’s last-generation offering. The fact that Bloodborne has maintained relevancy for over half a decade speaks volumes of its reach and following. Seeing Bloodborne trend on Twitter is fairly common, with fans of the game asking for a remake (or even just a 60FPS patch) whenever the remastering of other, newer Sony titles gets mentioned. Now, after a tweet from the Sony Twitter account depicting a small part of Bloodborne’s cover was deleted, the fires have been stoked for Bloodborne fans desperate to see the game on modern platforms. Bloodborne remake trends because of deleted Sony tweet Bloodborne was originally released in 2015, and, at the time, it was a graphical showcase for the PS4. It came pretty early on in the PS4’s lifecycle, long before developers got a feel for how to best utilize the hardware. Those who love Bloodborne and want to see the world fully realized at a smooth 60 FPS haven’t been quiet, and a tweet from the official Sony account that has since been deleted was enough to get fans excited, along with a fair bit of skepticism. The tweet had a meteoric landing at first. At the drop of a hat (literally), Bloodborne fans jumped straight to speculating whether or not the tweet meant we’d finally get a remake of the game, or a patched version that runs at a higher framerate on the PS5. With the tweet being quickly deleted, the hole has only been dug deeper. Fans have kept Bloodborne trending far past the tweet’s lifespan. What’s more, it’s already been proven that Bloodborne can run at 60 FPS on the base PS4. Modder Lance McDonald proved that Bloodborne could run at 60 FPS on the PS4 with the resolution dropped to 720p. We’ve since seen other modders take his set of changes to the PS5 and create the Bloodborne remake of their dreams through their own means. Whether or not Sony is planning to release a Bloodborne remake or remaster remains to be seen.

Bloodborne remaster reportedly doesn’t exist FromSoftwareFans are desperate for a Bloodborne remaster and have been asking for it for years. However, a journalist has addressed these reports indicating that players shouldn’t get their hopes up. FromSoftware’s latest Souls game – Elden Ring – has been a financial and critical success in every sense of the word, yet fans of the genre still yearn for a Bloodborne remaster. Some kind of Bloodborne remake has been on many players’ wishlists for years now as the dystopian world of Yharnham is a horrible place that people are eager to revisit – in crisper and sharper detail. Rumors have persisted for the longest time now, with the gaming community even falling victim to a cruel Bloodborne rumor ahead of a 2022 Sony State of Play show. However, despite constant back-and-forth rumors and reports that a Bloodborne remaster is in the works, they seem to have been shut down once and for all by a reputable journalist. Bloodborne remake not expected anytime soon According to renowned journalist Jason Schreier, a reporter for Bloomberg and responsible for many big rumors when it comes to games, fans of FromSoftware’s Bloodborne should curb their expectations for a remaster as it doesn’t actually exist. Schreier was questioned on the matter during a Twitter exchange and was asked “When u gonna leak Bloodborne remaster?” In response, Schreier simply said: “Can’t leak what doesn’t exist.” This will be a categorical hammer blow for Bloodborne and FromSoftware fans that are craving a potential remaster of the 2015 classic. It doesn’t mean that the game will never receive a new coat of polish, however, as Bluepoint Games rebuilt Demon’s Souls from the ground up to coincide with the PS5’s release in November 2020. The remake went down very well and it’s prompted speculation that Bluepoint could be assigned the task of bringing a Bloodborne remaster to life at some point.

Bloodborne player reveals ridiculous way to avoid boss attacks Bloodborne is one of the hardest games developed by FromSoftware, but one of its bosses can be beaten with the help of sitting down. The bosses in the main story and DLC of Bloodborne are difficult to defeat, but the greatest challenges in this Soulslike game can be faced in the optional Chalice Dungeons. It’s here where the fiercest bosses of Bloodborne can be found, hiding in the darkest corners of Yharnam. One of the most annoying Chalice Dungeon bosses is the Phtumerian Elder. This spellcaster can teleport around the arena at will, allowing it to evade your counters without an obvious follow-up route. It can then blast you with Pyromancy spells or its crossbow from a distance. The Phtumerian Elder also has a ridiculously high range with its melee attacks, which it can further bolster with fire magic. This means you must always be on your toes with this boss, as it can attack from any range before easily slipping away as you approach it. Bloodborne players can avoid boss attacks by sitting down mid-battle It turns out that there’s an effective tactic for avoiding some of the Phtumerian Elder’s melee attacks. A user on the Gaming Reddit has shared a clip of their battle with the boss, where they use the “Sit Down” emote to duck below Phtumerian Elder’s spear stabs. Bloodborne isn’t the only game where this happens; as one user pointed out, “Thats true of every Fromsoft game with emotes. not very practical but its fun to see really hard bosses miss every swing while you’re asleep curled up on the ground.” This move is more of a gimmick than a legitimate tactic for beating bosses, as it can switch approach at any time, with its spells targeting the player. You also need to counter Phtumerian Elder’s strikes with blows of your own, which you can’t do while sitting on the ground. There are countless rumors regarding a Bloodborne remaster or remake on modern platforms. If the game is reborn on the PS5, this tactic will hopefully remain in the game, allowing players to avoid hits via a mid-battle break.

Bloodborne may have a finished but unreleased PC version FromSoftwareKnown Bloodborne detective and Playstation modder Lance McDonald dug up data that has led many to believe there could be a fully operational but unreleased PC version of the title. Bloodborne fans have spent years requesting some love for their favorite title. Any time a smidge of news related to the title drops, the game is almost immediately trending on social media with fans excited about a possible re-release or remaster. Lance McDonald is one of many fans who has spent a great deal of time investigating Bloodborne’s game files and has discovered a great many things about the title. He even discovered that players can get Bloodborne running at 60FPS by simply changing a single line of code. Now, McDonald has shared a discovery that one of the game’s artists, Marcos Domenech, contributed screenshots to the Bloodborne wiki that Lance believes are from a fully playable version of the game on PC with the DLC included. Bloodborne expert discovers dormant PC version of the game It’s important to note that, when it comes to game development, pretty much any game will start off on the PC. Consoles are what these games eventually get optimized for, but there’s a “PC version” of pretty much any game at one point. However, there are a few crucial details in how Lance discovered this that illuminate why many believe this is from a completed build rather than just an early development version of the title. Lance explained that the file type’s name gives away that it’s from Bloodborne’s debug menu — one that allows users to detach the camera from the player model. This isn’t possible to do on the console version without modifying the game in some way, meaning that the screenshot must have been taken from the PC version. Additionally, the shot is taken from an area in the DLC for the title, DLC that came out around 8 months after Bloodborne’s initial release. That means that the build being used was much further along than early beta builds for the game that would have never seen the light of day. That, and the loading emblem used for early builds of the game isn’t present in the screenshot. Instead, it’s the one that was used for the title’s full version. With it being a screenshot taken from the debug menu on a version of Bloodborne close to the final game, this was a dead giveaway for Lance. Lance claimed in the past that the FromSoftware team had the game running on PC and that that version had just never been released. This could be due to Sony having exclusivity rights for the title. Though, with the company releasing some of their biggest exclusives on PC, it’s hard to say when or if they’ll decide to port Bloodborne to PC. Even Lance wasn’t convinced they’d ever do it, regardless of if there’s a fully-functioning PC version lying dormant at FromSoftware or not. For now, it seems Bloodborne fans will have to wait for the title to be brought into the modern day. It’s been almost a decade since its original release in 2015, but fans are still grabbing at any straw they can in hopes that FromSoftware or Sony will give an update on a possible follow-up or remaster in the near future.

Fake Bloodborne Mobile game tries scamming players for “premium” membership SonyAn unknown developer is attempting to scam Bloodborne fans by launching a mobile game boasting “premium” membership offerings. In the lead-up to the PS5’s release, many PlayStation owners had one thought on their minds – a Bloodborne 60fps patch. Since it seems that such an update will never see the light of day, players can only hope that Sony will produce a remake. But while Bloodborne faithful wait for an upgrade of some kind, an unknown developer has attached itself to the brand with a completely different experience. Don’t fall for the fake Bloodborne mobile game gag A publisher named Rock Great Games registered Bloodborne Mobile with the Australian Classification Board (via GameReactor). That’s not all Rock Great has gotten up to of late, however. The unknown developer, whose name appears in nary an internet search, also launched the mobile title in question on the Google Play store. Curious users should be mindful of what the download entails, however. Instead of just a janky Bloodborne ripoff akin to the since-deleted God of War knockoff on Xbox, Bloodborne Mobile asks players to invest in a membership. Twitter users who downloaded the game responded to a Wario64 post with a screenshot showing the “premium” prices for the Bloodborne Mobile subscription. A “Weekly Premium” costs £8.49 – the equivalent of $9.74 USD. Meanwhile, the “Annual” option boasts a £16.99 price tag (or $19.49 USD). Suffice it to say, this seems like little more than a scam, one that comes on the heels of Sony, perhaps inadvertently, stirring up excitement about Bloodborne recently. But there are legitimate indie developers keeping hope alive for those who love to frequent the bloody streets of Yharnam. Bloodborne PSX demake developer, Lilith Walther, is currently working on a Bloodborne Kart project for PC. It may be the closest thing fans get to a new game for quite some time to come.

Bloodborne finally works on PC thanks to modders but it’s not great Sony/RDPModders have finally managed to get Bloodborne working on PC, though it’s still far from approaching anything deemed playable. On August 18, YouTuber Fromsoftserve, known primarily for their work in the Soulsborne modding community, uploaded a video showcasing FromSoftware’s acclaimed title running on a desktop computer. Made possible via PlayStation 4 emulation, the in-game footage, work in progress as it was, suffered from severe slowdown and motion blur, making combat essentially impossible. This poor Hunter perished before being able to escape Iosekfa’s Clinic. Having worked on visual overhaul mods for Demon’s Souls and the entire Dark Souls trilogy previously, Fromsoftserve wasn’t deterred by the shoddy performance, promising that the dream of a Bloodborne PC port, albeit an unofficial one, “is happening.” “Some people might see this and think it’s not impressive but we’re rendering actual frames of Bloodborne,” they continued, adding, “The fact that we’re in-game, rendering the graphics in real-time, that’s massive.” The content creator was optimistic that fans following the port’s development would be “playing it next year.” The reason for all of this effort? Bloodborne remains one of the only PS4 exclusives Sony has refrained from releasing on PC. The reasons for this aren’t known, though game director Hidetaka Miyazaki is, at the very least, well aware of fans’ desire to see the Gothic horror ARPG leave its last-gen prison and reach new audiences. Kai Cenat reignited discussions around a potential remake or remaster after streaming his first playthrough earlier in August. The Twitch streamer said at the time that he intended to “push the narrative for something to happen.” Bloodborne was originally released on March 24, 2015. The hope of many is that Sony plans to make some sort of announcement on or before the revered title’s 10th-anniversary rolls around in 2025.

Bloodborne deserves a sequel before Elden Ring FromSoftwareElden Ring has been a unanimous success for FromSoftware and the genre has truly broken through to the mainstream. Instead of a sequel, we think it’s time for a long-awaited revisit to the world of Bloodborne to give it the stage it deserves. FromSoftware single-handedly coined the term ‘Souls’. A genre of game that relies on soul-crushing, punishingly difficult gameplay, a stressful risk and reward currency system that promotes a true desire to not die, spliced with oversized bosses that can kill you in two hits. I love it. There’s so much more to Souls games than meets the eye, and Elden Ring was finally the one to crack the code to wider adulation and worldwide recognition. Boasting an obscene score of 96 out of 100 on Metacritic, the magical RPG is now statistically one of the best games ever made. Capitalizing on its momentum, we think it would be better to finally give Bloodborne fans a desperately needed sequel instead of jumping straight into Elden Ring 2. Beauty and the Bloodborne The Lands Between is bright, beautiful, and has a mystical aura that cements itself as a wonderfully executed vision of George R. R. Martin’s influence. On the other hand, Bloodborne is dark, dingy, and even through a TV screen, you can taste and smell the decrepit, diseased nature of Yharnam’s dystopian plight. It’s such an unbelievable juxtaposition that it’s hard to believe they’re made by the same developers. And yet, Bloodborne’s gothic theme is arguably just as glorious as the Lands Between, if not more. After the trials and tribulations of Demon’s Souls and the Dark Souls games, FromSoftware decided to go back to the drawing board and create something entirely new — Bloodborne. It was quite a tonal shift from previous Souls games as the enemies were more grotesque, the setting was always brooding and it just made for a more fascinating game. Not to mention its faster-paced gameplay that encouraged players to roll around less and attack more frequently to recoup lost health. There’s a reason I named it my favorite Souls game after all. Even though Dark Souls 3 comfortably outsold Bloodborne, we can safely attribute this to Bloodborne being a PS4 exclusive on release, and the brand name familiarity lacking. The game was still a huge success and brought many new faces to the franchise. So much so that every subsequent E3 and Sony State of Play has generated a buzz on social media about whether or not we’d finally get an announcement for Bloodborne 2. Elden Ring can wait, Yharham beckons Elden Ring has shown that there’s plenty of room in the video game stratosphere for a monstrously difficult endeavor such as this one. Given its ridiculous early sales performances, around 15 million copies sold in its first week, there’s every chance that FromSoftware will simply forego any other option and instead dive straight into an Elden Ring sequel. But there’s so much more of Yharnam to see and explore first. What other disfigured entities lie within the bowels of this malignant, love letter to Lovecraftian legend? Elden Ring now has an established audience and has reached so many people that leaving players to wait a few years will only further any anticipation and excitement for a sequel, making it bubble over and reach fever pitch. FromSoftware are constantly striving to please their fans and they have shown that they like to mix things up with Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and now Elden Ring. Read More: 6 games you need to play after Elden Ring – Seven years after the original game came out, the time feels right for Bloodborne 2, especially with the technical capabilities of the PS5, to make horror even prettier. The Souls world is bigger and more popular than ever, and it gives returning and new players at least one more venture into Hunter’s Dream to experience a horrifying Souls-sucking experience like no other.

Bloodborne fans losing hope as remaster nowhere to be seen at PlayStation State of Play FromSoftwareBloodborne enthusiasts have been left disappointed again as Sony did not announce a remaster during the PlayStation State of Play. Bloodborne is one of the most beloved first-party games in PlayStation’s back catalog. That shouldn’t be surprising either. It comes from action-adventure maestros FromSoftware, and many still rate the game as the developer’s best Soulslike. Of course, in terms of success, Elden Ring had a much larger impact on the culture, but many adore the gothic stylings and aggressive playstyle Bloodborne promotes. For the time being though, the game is only available through backwards compatibility for PS4. While it has enhanced performance on PS5, it is still locked to 30FPS and it is starting to show its age. That’s why many have been hoping for a remake to update the title to PS5, or at least a patch to boost performance on the more capable hardware. Many had hoped that would come with last nights State of Play, but alas, fans of the game were met with familiar feelings of disappointment. Will Bloodborne fans ever be able to play the game in 60 FPS? In a Reddit thread by user jessemartin100 on the Bloodborne Reddit that has garnered 1.2k upvotes, fans are expressing their disappointment. One player responded by evoking gothic horror-flavored imagery, saying: “The problem with lining my brain with eyes is that all those eyes came with tear ducts.” Another similarly lamented, saying: “One of the greatest games ever to grace the Sony platform and this is the treatment it receives.” One player said: “I’m all out of Bloodbornium. Sony doesn’t give a sh*t about this IP”. Another pointed out that they do care about the licensing though, responding: “Until someone decides to make a fun racing game out of it. Then they care.” This is a reference to the recent development of Sony coming in to impede fan project Bloodborne Kart, forcing the project to rename. Others also pointed out that Until Dawn is getting a remaster before Bloodborne, which was announced last night. It seems for now, Bloodborne fans will be left wanting. However, with next year being the 10-year anniversary of the game – maybe, just maybe fans will get their wish.

Bloodborne 2 concept in UE5 has players buzzing for a sequel An incredible Bloodborne 2 concept built in Unreal Engine 5 has fans of the acclaimed PS4 title buzzing for a proper sequel. FromSoftware shipped Bloodborne on PS4 in early 2015, then later expanded upon the experience with The Old Hunters DLC. While it followed the same basic gameplay structure as previous Souls titles, Bloodborne flipped the script by boasting faster-paced gameplay and an emphasis on offensive maneuvers. The game’s commercial success and widespread acclaim led many to believe a sequel was a given. However, more than seven years have passed since its release and Bloodborne has yet to receive so much as a PS5 upgrade patch. Bloodborne 2 concept in UE5 warrants praise YouTube channel Enfant Terrible created a fan-made concept trailer for Bloodborne 2 using Unreal Engine 5. The two-plus-minute video features a host of Yharnam-inspired environments, many of which were created by artists such as Joaquin Perez, Daniel Martinez, and Andrea Linea. Viewers in the comments section have gushed about the concept trailer endlessly. One user, Revtale, said they hope a potential Bloodborne 2 will feature the “same world building” imagined in the video. Others like Morghan Cross and Suspended November applauded the beautifully rendered atmosphere. And DeeRant pondered what possibilities would await if FromSoftware were to build Bloodborne 2 on Unreal Engine 5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfHfLxKl1KY To the chagrin of countless fans, there’s currently no clear sign that FromSoftware and Sony intend to revisit the world of Bloodborne. That hasn’t stopped Soulsborne faithful from voicing their wishes, though. Bloodborne regularly trends on Twitter, for example, often sparking discourse about uncorroborated rumors and leaks. But the spirit of Bloodborne and other Souls games continues to live on, evidenced by FromSoftware’s successful release of Elden Ring earlier this year.

Blizzconline 2022 cancelled to focus on Overwatch 2, Diablo 4 development Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard have cancelled BlizzConline 2022 and said they’ll instead be focusing on “progressing development” for upcoming games like Overwatch 2. BlizzConline 2022 had been all set to happen in February 2022. Fans had updates for Diablo 4, Overwatch 2, and even a potential unannounced title codenamed “Iris” to get excited about. However, on October 26, 2021, Blizzard cancelled the event, explaining that the time and energy spent putting it on would be better suited elsewhere. BlizzConline 2022 cancelled In a post titled “Reimagining BlizzCon” Blizzard said they had decided to put a pause on planning the previously announced event. “At this time, we feel the energy it would take to put on a show like this is best directed towards supporting our teams and progressing development of our games and experiences,” they wrote. The developer also said they want to “reimagine what a BlizzCon event of the future could look like.” “Whatever the event looks like in the future, we also need to ensure that it feels as safe, welcoming, and inclusive as possible,” they continued. “We’re committed to continual communication with our players, and we see BlizzCon playing a big role in that going forward.” When will the next BlizzCon be? “One more thing we wanted to make clear: even though we aren’t holding BlizzConline in February, we’ll still be making announcements and updates for our games,” Blizzard added. While disappointing to some fans, BlizzConline 2022 could still happen later on in the year. After everything that’s gone on at Blizzard in 2021, really focusing on the development of upcoming games like Overwatch 2 might not be a bad idea.

Blockbuster’s gaming championship is back but will Dr Disrespect defend his crown? Instagram: DrDisrespect / Twitter: BlockbusterIt’s a well-known ‘fact’ that Dr Disrespect is the two-time Blockbuster video games champion, having won back-to-back events in 1993-1994. But with the tournament now returning for another round three decades later, will the YouTube star look to defend his crown? If you’re well-versed in Doc lore, you’re all too familiar with his Blockbuster history. Back in the 90s, long before his ascent as a content creator, Dr Disrespect allegedly ran away with multiple championship wins at major events hosted by the now-defunct movie rental company. At least, that’s how his retelling of the story goes. For years now the popular streamer has reflected on this high-point, so much so it’s become ingrained as one of his more recognizable nicknames: The two-time. His back-to-back tournament wins are now folklore in the streaming age. Despite Blockbuster filing for bankruptcy in 2010, and just one franchised store still standing today, the company appears to be showing signs of life. 28 years removed from Doc’s last gaming championship win, it seems there’s now a chance for him to become the ‘three-time’ as the Blockbuster World Video Game Championship is making a return. “In the mid-90s, at the height of the Sega / Nintendo rivalry Blockbuster held two competitions retro gamers fondly remember,” a blog post announcing the event’s return read. “The Blockbuster World Video Game Championship 3 will create new memories for a new generation.” Set to feature as part of the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, a full-scale recreation of a Blockbuster store will serve as host to the third iteration of the event. This time around, players have to compete in two rounds of retro action. Round one throws players into Saturn Bomberman while round two pivots to Downfall OG Plus. Those with the three highest scores at the end will be crowned the winners, with first place nabbing a $1,000 shopping spree at the expo. Well aware of the event’s history, along with the supposed back-to-back champ, the official Blockbuster Twitter account has already reached out to Dr Disrespect. “Are you going to answer the call?” they asked on September 22. For the time being, Doc is yet to acknowledge the challenge. But with a chance to defend his throne and claim a third title, it’s likely we’ll hear from him very soon.

BlizzCon protest organizers confirm plans are still “full steam ahead” Fight for the Future’s planned protests at BlizzCon 2019 are still “full steam ahead,” head organizer Dayton Young has confirmed, despite Blizzard’s “step in the right direction” with the reduction of Hearthstone pro Wai Chung ‘blitzchung’ Ng’s ban. The digital rights group first began planning their boycott and protests of Blizzard’s massive annual event following Blitzchung’s year ban for supporting Hong Kong live on-stream during the Hearthstone Grandmasters tournament. While Blizzard has since reduced Blitzchung’s punishment, Young has confirmed that the protests — which will see gamers and fans line the convention with umbrellas, signs, gas masks and character cosplays — will still be going ahead on BlizzCon’s opening day. Fight for the Future also confirmed that the non-violent demonstration would be beginning at the main entrance of the convention center for “maximum visibility,” and alleviated concerns about the legality of the protests with confirmation from the Anaheim Police Department. The demonstrations at the Anaheim Convention Centre this weekend would still be “moving forward full-steam ahead,” Young said in a statement first shared by Gamespot, and emphasized that the issue was about more than just the Hearthstone bans. “That Blizzard has shown a willingness to re-evaluate their decision is a small step in the right direction, but make no mistake; Blizzard continues to punish these individuals despite widespread outrage from gamers around the world,” he said. “We understand that game publishers and developers have a responsibility to moderate the content that appears on their platforms to ensure that gamers are safe from harassment, threats of violence, and other dangerous behavior. But silencing gamers who speak up about issues that affect their freedom makes us all less safe from oppression and institutional abuse.” Fight for the Future’s deputy director Evan Greer also agreed with the fact that the upcoming BlizzCon protests had become about more than “just about Blitzchung or Hong Kong.” “Blizzard’s attempt to quell this controversy is cowardly and it’s only going to backfire… they need to make a clear commitment to not act as the speech police on behalf of governments in general,” she said when the November 1 event was first announced. “Blizzard, and other companies who are engaging in censorship on behalf of an authoritarian government, are not going to get away with it. They have no idea what kind of Internet shitstorm they’ve unleashed. We’re going to make an example out of them to make sure that all companies know that throwing human rights and free expression under the bus will not be tolerated.” The impending protests are just another strike added to the backlash Blizzard has been facing ever since first banning Blitzchung on October 8. The ongoing drama surrounding the support of Hong Kong has spilled into other scenes as well, with Magic the Gathering superstar Lee Shi Tian donning a red scarf as a face mask at the Mythic Championships, and League of Legends developers Riot Games being forced to clarify their position on the topic during the ongoing 2019 World Championship. Most recently, the world-at-large took notice after several U.S. representatives and members of Congress sent a bipartisan letter condemning Activision-Blizzard’s decisions on the bans, and the company took a hit to the pocket when it was revealed car manufacturer Mitsubishi had pulled out of ongoing sponsorship agreements. Blizzard has yet to comment on the planned protests, and has not indicated whether action will be taken against the assembled demonstrators on Friday.

Blizzard President explains why Blitzchung ruling was “immature” Hearthstone star, “immature” and “challenging.” Blitzchung was initially hit with a year-long ban, and had two seasons of prize money rescinded, for publicly declaring support for Hong Kong during the Hearthstone Grandmasters, before having it stripped back to just six months. Weeks later, Blizzard’s president stepped in front of hundreds at BlizzCon 2019 and apologized for how the company handled the situation, promising to “do better moving forward” and calling on fans to hold them accountable through their actions. Now, Brack has opened up on his own thoughts on the banning and Blizzard’s reaction, and admitted to the Esports Observer that the company showed “some immaturity” in dealing with what quickly spiraled into a global issue. “We have some immaturity as an organization in terms of how to think about (this) and how to deal with it,” Brack admitted. “No one had any idea this was going to blow up to be an international incident that it has become. It’s been a challenging month for sure.” While the ban for Blitzchung — and the casters who had attempted to duck behind their desk during the post-match interview — came down in just a matter of days, Brack admitted he would have “taken more time” if he could live the moment through again. “We should have paused, we should have been more thoughtful about it, and we should have taken some time,” he said of the speed of the punishment. “And then tried to think about how do we want to move forward, and what’s the five-year decision as opposed to what’s this decision? What are the principles that we want to establish for the next five years? That didn’t happen.” “When I think about what I’m most unhappy about, it’s two things,” Brack said in his BlizzCon apology. “The first one is we didn’t live up to the high standards that we set for ourselves. “And second, we failed in our purpose. And for that I am sorry, and I accept accountability. We will do better going forward. But our actions are going to matter more than any of these words.” Brack also clarified a number of things following his statements at BlizzCon: that the six-month ban would stand for Blitzchung, that players are still allowed to use social media to discuss politics, and that Blizzard’s infamous Weibo post which suggested the ban was aimed at “defending the pride” of China was not approved by the company’s US offices. “We did not authorize it,” he told PC Gamer. “We would not have approved it had they asked.” And now, Blizzard has a long way to go to redeem themselves in the eyes of the Western audiences that turned on them following the bannings and statements. Protests across BlizzCon already showed that people aren’t planning on dropping the issue. Brack said he knows this, and admitted that the whole US division understands completely that they have a long path ahead of them to if they want to make things right. “There’s some work for us to do, to align rules and to think through all that and think about how we’re going to handle this going forward,” he said. “But this… it’s the first time for us, really. And so it exposed some immaturity for sure.”

Blizzard teases “other ways to experience” the Overwatch universe ahead of new PvE release BlizzardBlizzard has teased new ways for players to experience the Overwatch Universe in the new future, teasing new efforts beyond just the game we know and love today. Overwatch 2’s devs have always paid particular attention to the game’s broader universe, with the game’s first-ever trailer an explanation of its lore. And before its release, Blizzard was already giving us the backstories for the likes of Soldier: 76 and Junkrat, helping to flesh out the world and its characters. Ever since, Blizzard has historically not skimped on opportunities to flesh out the Overwatch universe, consistently releasing new cinematics, new Heroes, and comic books to widen the game’s story. But when Overwatch 2 was released, many fans lamented the lack of lore in the new game itself, along with the lack of certain information on the backstory of characters that was missing in the game. However, moving forward, it appears Blizzard has bigger plans in motion to make up for it. In Activision Blizzard’s most recent quarterly financial report, the publishing giant teased that the company is working on fresh “ways for new and existing players to experience the Overwatch universe longer-term.” This could mean several things. We might get more cinematics outside of new Hero Origin Stories, a new comic book exploring a character’s backstory, or an increase in PvE content to flesh out their story. It might even mean a new teaser for an animated show based on the game. Back in February 2020, there were reports of Activision Blizzard working on a TV show based on the story of Overwatch and Diablo. However, there have not been any more recent updates to this potential show. But if Blizzard ever does announce a TV show based on their game and it comes out to critical acclaim, it could very much boost the game’s player base, as it did for League of Legends upon Arcane’s release and Cyberpunk 2077 upon Edgerunner’s release. We’ll just have to wait and see what’s in store.

Blizzard survival game cancelled following Microsoft layoffs BlizzardBlizzard’s previously announced untitled survival game has reportedly been canceled amid massive layoffs at Microsoft. Microsoft has reportedly laid off 1900 employees at Activision Blizzard, with many games, projects, and personnel affected. The scale of how these layoffs affect specific developers and games isn’t immediately clear, but it’s bound to have an impact on some of the biggest titles in the world. While it will take time for news of the specific teams affected to be understood, we do know several big changes out of the gate. First of all, Mike Ybarra, President of Blizzard, has announced that he’s leaving the company today. However, that’s not the only major news out of the developer so far. In a report by The Verge, it’s said that Blizzard’s previously announced survival game won’t be continuing development. Microsoft’s game content and studios president Matt Booty said in an internal memo that personnel would be: “Shifting some of the people working on it to one of several promising new projects Blizzard has in the early stages of development.” Players will never get their hands on Blizzard’s Survival game Blizzard’s survival game was announced in 2022 in a push to try and recruit developers for the team. Not much is known about the game, including what it was called. However, in a rare move, the game was shared publicly to bolster the team working on it, including some key art and log lines. While vague, a statement in the initial blog said: “A place full of heroes we have yet to meet, stories yet to be told, and adventures yet to be lived. A vast realm of possibility, waiting to be explored.” We also saw concept art showing a group of young adults leaving a ‘real’ world setting and going into a colorful fantasy realm. There was also another image showing a high-fantasy world with some hints towards magic usage too. Blizzard doesn’t put out games based on new IP very often, and sadly it seems the wait for a new one from the publisher is going to be much longer than we thought.

Blizzard respond to backlash after Warcraft 3: Reforged launch BlizzardBlizzard have released a lengthy forum post addressing several complaints and apologizing for the state of Warcraft 3: Reforged. Blizzard’s latest release, Warcraft 3: Reforged, has gotten off to a less than ideal start after a mass of complaints swept the internet with disgruntled fans voicing their displeasure. The game’s servers are unstable, key features are missing, and many fans feel that Blizzard misrepresented the product, with some even calling for the return of the 2003 version. Blizzard address Warcraft 3: Reforged backlash After a few days of silence, the American company finally replied to fans via a post on the game’s official forums – tackling many of the issues players have highlighted. “First off, we want to say we’re sorry to those of you who didn’t have the experience you wanted, and we’d like to share our plans for what’s coming next.” They began, before getting into the key issues. The post covered many subjects in detail, such as promising fixes for the game’s ‘classic’ mode, explaining server issues and even giving a small peek into the Reforged schedule – announcing a bug fixing patch for just a week later and iconic features like the ladder and in-game clans “in the coming weeks.” Many fans were unsatisfied with the game so far and requested refunds shortly after release. So much so that Blizzard chose to offer players instant refunds, completely skipping their usual refund policy of having to talk to a member of staff. If you’re unsatisfied with the game, here’s how you can get your refund instantly. How to instantly refund Warcraft 3: Reforged The refund process for Reforged is very simple. All you need to do is head to Battle.net, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click contact us, followed by contact customer support. From there you’ll need to click on Warcraft 3: Reforged under Blizzard games, head to the “I would rather categorize the issue” option, click on payments, then request a refund, and finally click continue. If you owned the classic version, Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, you will still be able to play using the same launcher, but will default to the classic settings. While many fans have requested refunds, the community still seems to be growing as players are reliving the game’s iconic campaign and selection of custom games. ESL have even picked it up on their all-new ‘Pro Tour’ with the first LAN event set to take place in Anaheim at the end of February – perhaps it’s not all doom and gloom for Warcraft 3.

Blizzard reveals official WarCraft III: Reforged release date Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard has finally revealed the official release date for their classic RTS WarCraft III: Reforged and it’s not when a lot of fans were expecting. WarCraft III: Reforged is a complete recreation of Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne featuring a massive graphics overhaul. Blizzard said in the announcement that they had wanted to get the game out before the end of 2019, but felt they needed “a little extra development time for finishing touches.” Blizzard finally announced that WarCraft III: Reforged would be coming out on January 28, 2020 at 3 PM PST, which again, is a little later than some fans thought. For those wondering January 28 is a Tuesday, so if you’re looking to spend a few days lost in Azeroth and on Battle.net when it launches, we suggest you get your vacation days in now. A lot of people expected a full release for Reforged sometime before Christmas or the end of 2019, but it could be a good thing Blizzard is taking extra time to make sure they get it right. WarCraft III: Reforged Features In Reforged players will be able to play the full campaigns from Reign of Chaos and the Frozen Throne expansion, over 60 full story missions, which tell the story of how Arthas becomes the Lich King, the Scourge Invasion of Azeroth and more Blizzard also claims to have “rebalanced online play,” adding a number of “contemporary social and matchmaking features,” along with the return of Battle.net custom games. Players have already been sharing their Reforged DOTA maps, which will undoubtedly be one of the most popular custom games at release. There has been chatter floating around from those with early access, and from those who have taken a look at the game that the character models are difficult to see/tell apart due to not enough team coloring. Some fans even said the new landscapes looked relatively bland when compared to the original WarCraft III maps from 2001. That’s not to say WarCraft and RTS fans aren’t excited about Reforged, but the simmering discontent could have been enough for Blizzard to dedicate a little extra time to make sure they get it right, which is never a bad thing. WarCraft III: Reforged was first announced at BlizzCon 2018, where developers warned fans that the development would probably take awhile. But for WarCraft III fans who have been patiently waiting since Frozen Throne came out in 2003, that wait was really just a drop in the bucket.

Blizzard reportedly partnering with Chinese publisher NetEase again after Microsoft acquisition Blizzard/NetEaseBlizzard is reportedly renewing their partnership with Chinese game publisher NetEase once again to bring back local servers after their acquisition by Microsoft. In November 2022, Blizzard announced that most of their game services would be suspended in China as their licensing agreements with NetEase were expiring with no new deal in place. And on January 23, 2023, Chinese gamers bid goodbye to Blizzard. However, just a year after talks broke down between Blizzard and NetEase, the gaming giant is reportedly in talks with NetEase to bring their titles and servers back to China. As reported by Chinese news site 36Kr, Blizzard had been in talks with multiple domestic game publishers in China about a return and chose to partner with NetEase once again. The rekindling of their partnership will see Blizzard re-establish servers for their titles like Overwatch, World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Starcraft, which 36Kr says may take another six months to do so. Talks between the two parties broke down as NetEase criticized Blizzard’s extension offer as unequal and unfair, rejecting the proposal. 2023 has been a long and complicated year for Blizzard. They started the year with the closure of their Chinese operations as they ended their 15-year partnership with NetEase. Amidst the closure, Blizzard was also dealing with Activision Blizzard’s acquisition by Microsoft which saw the $68.7 billion deal go through complications with the Federal Trade Commission, and saw its conclusion on October 13. And towards the end of 2023, Activision Blizzard’s long-time controversial CEO Bobby Kotick announced his departure by December 29 after their acquisition by Microsoft, much to the celebrations of fans. The end of 2023 also saw Blizzard shut down its major esports league, Overwatch League, of which NetEase owned a franchise slot and operated the OWL team Shanghai Dragons.

Blizzard president shuts down rumors over NFTs & ‘play to earn’ games Blizzard/Unsplash: TezosBlizzard president Mike Ybarra has shut down rumors that the publishers will be implementing NFTs in their games, and potentially even making “play to earn” titles. As NFTs and cryptocurrencies have taken over the internet in the last year or so, they’ve slowly started creeping into the gaming space as well. Plenty of creators, game developers, and players have had their say on how NFTs could impact the space, though, to this point, they haven’t really been implemented in top-tier titles. While some smaller, indie games have incorporated NFTs and Blockchain technology, plenty of questions remain about their impact on a bigger level. Most recently, Blizzard became the latest publisher to test fan appetites for NFTs, with a survey being sent around to see just how fans feel about them. As per GameRant and VideoGamesChronicle, there were some pretty despondent replies to the survey, with plenty of fans warning Blizzard about implementing the technology in their titles. In the wake of it, Blizzard president Mike Ybarra dropped an extremely blunt response on Twitter to the replies. “No one is doing NFTs,” the former WoW dev tweeted on April 17, shutting down the concerns of some fans. Plenty of fans signaled their relief in the replies, thanked the Blizzard president for “setting things straight” in regards to their concerns. Though, others questioned why the poll had gone out in the first place if Blizzard isn’t planning on implementing NFTs. It’s not the first example of fan backlash against the technology, and likely won’t be the last. As noted, with some many questions lingering around NFT games, and players not being interested, it makes a pretty toxic combination, and that could kill off many ideas for them.

Blizzard reportedly developing new Overwatch, StarCraft & Warcraft games BlizzardA new report claims that Microsoft and Activision have formed a smaller team at Blizzard to work on new games, featuring some of the studio’s beloved IPs like StarCraft, Overwatch, and Warcraft. Fans of Overwatch, Warcraft, and StarCraft hoping for new games in each series may have finally gotten their wish. According to a new report from Windows Central, many employees from Microsoft’s King subsidiary have joined a new team designed to develop ‘AA’ titles based on existing Blizzard IPs. King is known for its work on mobile titles such as Candy Crush, suggesting that these smaller games will be designed for phones. Though, it’s unclear if they will be limited to mobile devices. For instance, Diablo Immortal was made for mobile, but it ended up becoming a cross-platform title. In its history, Blizzard has created some extremely popular franchises. However, they’ve released very few actual games in these franchises when compared to other companies. For instance, space-themed RTS StarCraft has been limited to just one sequel since its 1998 debut. A third-person FPS titled ‘StarCraft Ghost’ was canceled during development, leaving the series dormant beyond StarCraft 2 expansions. Warcraft, another RTS, saw three games released before the series transformed into the MMORPG ‘World of Warcraft.’ Overwatch, meanwhile, has had its campaign mode completely canceled to prioritize the multiplayer experience, leaving the future of its story content in limbo. As Microsoft was buying Activision-Blizzard, Microsoft Head of Gaming Phil Spencer expressed a desire to bring Starcraft to Xbox. “Not only StarCraft, but WarCraft, when you think about the heritage of RTS games that we’re talking about here, specifically from Blizzard. And I don’t have any concrete plans today because I can’t really get in and work with the teams.” Phil said during a 2022 interview with Wired. “StarCraft was a seminal moment in gaming, right? From an esports perspective, from RTS on console perspective, and from just an RTS storytelling perspective in the genre.” In 2023, Spencer replied to a tweet by Twitch streamer Lirik, who claimed the series is “dripping with ways to break out of RTS form.” Spencer agreed, saying the series has “insane potential” and is still “one of the best IPs out there.” There’s no word yet on exactly what this new team is working on first, but given the Microsoft boss’s past comments, we could very well see something new in the StarCraft universe down the line.

Blizzard President responds to LIRIK’s request for new StarCraft game Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard President Mike Ybarra is interested in doing more with the StarCraft IP and admits the series still has “insane potential” after Twitch streamer LIRIK asked for more content. The StarCraft series hasn’t seen in a new entry in years and has struggled to evolve beyond its RTS roots, following the unfortunate cancelation of StarCraft Ghosts and an unannounced FPS ages ago. However, it seems like Blizzard still wants to do more with their beloved space opera franchise as evidenced by a brief conversation Ybarra had with LIRIK. On Twitter, LIRIK and Shroud were discussing Diablo 4’s leveling system when the Blizzard President replied with a GIF. Sensing this was his moment, the Twitch streamer took the opportunity to inquire about StarCraft. Blizzard boss agrees with LIRIK on “blowing up” the StarCraft IP Wasting no time, LIRIK encouraged the Blizzard President to “blow up” the StarCraft IP and expand it past its RTS origins. “The IP is dripping with ways to break out of RTS form,” the streamer said. “I love SC, but zoomers don’t play RTS’s anymore, and boomers‘ APM just lowers. But the StarCraft universe has insane potential and is still one of the best.” It seems like Ybarra shared the same sentiment, commenting to the Twitch star that he understood what he was saying. “I agree, it has insane potential and is still one of the best IPs out there,” he replied. While this doesn’t confirm anything about a new StarCraft game or if Blizzard would ever take the series in a new direction like a Netflix adaptation, it’s interesting to see how the company views the potential of the franchise. It’s not clear if the Microsoft merger is having an effect on possible future StarCraft content. It should also be noted that Phil Spencer has expressed interest in bringing the series to Xbox. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come and fans of the series will have something new to sink their teeth into in due time.

Blizzard president J. Allen Brack resigns amid lawsuit controversy Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment president J. Allen Brack has stepped down from his role with the company, following news that Activision Blizzard is being sued by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) over workplace malpractice. On Tuesday, August 3, an email was sent to Blizzard staff announcing the major change in leadership, with Brack having joined Blizzard way back in January 2006. “Starting today, J. Allen Brack will be stepping down as the leader of the studio, and Jen Oneal and Mike Ybarra will co-lead Blizzard moving forward,” the statement read, before delving into the wealth of experience Jen and Mike share between them. “Both leaders are deeply dedicated to all our employees; to the work ahead to ensure Blizzard is the safest, most welcoming workplace possible for women, and people of any gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or background; to upholding and reinforcing our values; and to rebuilding your trust.” This seems to be a direct reference to the lawsuit, news of which broke on July 22, which describes Activision Blizzard as having a “pervasive frat boy culture,” as well as pointing to the sad story of a woman taking her own life after facing harassment within the company. In a press release, Activision Blizzard said that Brack is leaving to “explore new opportunities,” with no announcement yet as to what exactly is coming for the former president of the company. After the lawsuit became public knowledge, Activision Blizzard employees staged a walkout in response to the company’s handling of it, with CEO Bobby Kotick later apologizing for their “tone-deaf” response.

Blizzard opens door for StarCraft revival though next game may not be an RTS BlizzardA new StarCraft game is certainly in the realm of possibility, according to Blizzard President Mike Ybarra. Though there’s no guarantee the next installment will stick to the beloved Real-time Strategy (RTS) formula. It’s been 13 years since StarCraft 2 hit store shelves. While a number of expansions followed shortly after, it’s been years of silence in the community after updates were officially halted back in 2020. The franchise has largely remained dormant since, with just its most avid hardcore player base and esports competitors keeping the scene alive to a degree. But it now appears a revival of the iconic Blizzard brand could soon be in the cards. After going amiss at BlizzCon 2023, much to the chagrin of the remaining community, Blizzard President Mike Ybarra addressed the status of StarCraft in a follow-up interview with Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier. And while nothing is yet set in stone, the studio is certainly open to restoring the IP. Moving forward on the heels of the historic Microsoft acquisition, Blizzard’s priorities are still largely unchanged, according to Ybarra. The biggest dev teams will remain working on their biggest titles like Overwatch, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. But under the new regime, they’re also open to exploring “less mainstream projects,” as Schreier put it. One such project could be exploring the future of the StarCraft series. Though with dozens of original devs now gone, Ybarra isn’t set on forcing newer team members into the RTS genre. “It’s not me saying, ‘Go make a StarCraft game. I need to have someone who has the vision and passion that comes with the idea, and I’ll bet on that team.” Seemingly, just about anything is possible with the iconic IP, rather than the next entry being another standard fair. We could see anything from a revamped FPS spinoff like the scrapped StarCraft Ghost, to another mobile game in the direction of the recent Warcraft Rumble. It’s anyone’s guess for the time being. So for now, we’ll just have to continue holding our breath. Though for avid StarCraft fans, the news of any new project in development is sure to be welcome.

Blizzard patents AI-generated graphics that could be used in new games Blizzard EntertainmentA new Blizzard patent indicates that the company is looking to incorporate AI graphics into the development of new games. Artificial Intelligence has been around for decades, but its advancement in the last few years has fascinated the world. It’s also caught the attention of gaming devs, including behemoth Blizzard, as the company has patented a new type of technology that utilizes AI to create graphics. With the likes of Bing AI and ChatGPT making headlines, this development should actually come as no surprise. Especially with World of Warcraft director Ion Hazzikostas hopping onto ChatGPT for some answers for future WoW content. But Blizzard could be looking to use AI more seriously if their new patent is anything to go by. Blizzard patent targets the use of AI graphics As reported by GameRant, Blizzard is presumably looking for faster and more efficient ways to oversee game development. Their new patent was first registered on Dec 23, 2022, and was made public knowledge on April 27, 2023. It’s looking to utilize more structured and accurate AI technology to facilitate the generation of AI-created graphics. The patent essentially means that Blizzard wants to feed the AI with pre-existing images and instruct the system to create new images in the same vein as the art style presented. In principle, the concept is solid and would be a great time-saver for the company. However, the discourse surrounding AI media is quite negative as there are many lawsuits pertaining to the copyright of AI-generated images. If the presence of human input and direct, hands-on effort with regard to an AI image cannot be justified or argued, then the act of copyrighting can be rejected. Given that the practice of AI-generated images and using them in media is still in its relative infancy, it could be a while until these small details are fully ironed out. At the end of the day, a Tiktok AI face filter is one thing, but big-time AAA games utilizing this technology are quite different. It’s entirely feasible that many other developers will follow suit and embrace the use of similar strategies in creating games. With Diablo 4 on the horizon and Overwatch 2 enjoying lots of success, we could eventually see a Blizzard game fully embracing the use of AI-generated materials.

Blizzard job listings reveal new PvE game in development with “multi-season story arcs” Blizzard EntertainmentFresh off its acquisition by Microsoft, Blizzard Entertainment is currently hiring for development on its next title, and job listings give us an idea of what kind of game is in the works. Blizzard is gearing up for the development of a new game, and it could very well be the PvE experience many players were hoping Overwatch 2’s campaign would be. On May 8 and 9, numerous new Blizzard job listings popped up for an unannounced game, and it’s looking like it will be a story-focused multiplayer title where players complete missions. One of the job listings for a “Creative Director” features quite a few hints about the game Blizzard has cooking. “Fully own the process of developing our game’s IP, working with Art and Game Design leadership to develop the settings, characters, themes, and multi-season story arcs within that world,” the posting says under the position’s responsibilities. Another listing provides additional insight, asking that the candidate “shepherd a shared vision around our key aspirational character and teamplay core fantasies.” That’s not all; it also appears that this game will feature a mission structure with large-scale boss encounters. Under a listing for a combat designer, Blizzard says, “Under your care, monsters will be interesting, memorable, and challenging, from the initial threats all the way to legendary boss encounters players will talk about for decades.” Interestingly, some of the listings even suggest that this unannounced game could be for an existing IP. Blizzard has quite a few properties this could be for. For instance, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer has expressed a desire to revive StarCraft and do a lot more with the company’s famous space opera. One mission designer listing includes “combining memorable stories with compelling gameplay,” while another for an Art Director has “build a robust understanding of our game world, characters, and lore” under its responsibilities. If this isn’t a new IP, it’s possible this game is a new Overwatch title specifically designed for PvE combat. Notably, Overwatch 2 fired its staff responsible for the poorly-received first batch of story missions, and the rest of the campaign was reportedly canceled due to poor sales. In January, Blizzard also canceled the development of a survival game following massive layoffs at Microsoft. The game, codenamed ‘Odyssey,’ was meant to be the company’s first original IP since Overwatch back in 2016.

Blizzard confirms Warcraft 3: Reforged news coming this month Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard president Mike Ybarra confirmed that there will be finally news on Warcraft 3: Reforged coming sometime in June 2022. As shocking as it is to believe, Warcraft 3: Reforged was released over two years ago. Initially released in January 2020, the remake of the popular RTS was met with resounding disappointment from both hardcore and new players alike, who highlighted poor performance, server issues, and a shocking lack of single-player features. Since its release, only a handful of patches have been released attempting to fix the game’s issues. Now, Blizzard’s president has finally announced when we’ll get news about the future of the floundering remake. Blizzard teases Warcraft 3: Reforged news The RTS title has not received a single patch since April 2021, leaving players completely in the dark for over a year. Although dedicated players have continued to play the game the way they want via modding, long-time fans of the franchise have begged Blizard to fix the experience. Read More: Is Diablo Immortal cross-platform? – After an excruciatingly long wait, the president of the company Mike Ybarra shared that news for Reforged’s future is coming sometime in June 2022. A report from Bloomberg back in July 2021 shared details of Warcraft 3: Reforged’s development, which was apparently plagued by “mismanagement and financial disasters.” The RTS was released in such a poor state that Blizzard offered buyers a full refund on their purchase. When in June news will come out is not clear as of yet, but hopefully for players’ sake, Blizzard commits to fixing the game that got people to fall in love with Warcraft in the first place.

Blizzard fans call for boycott after publisher bans player for Hong Kong protest Some vocal Blizzard community members have been calling for boycotts of their products after Hearthstone pro Chung ‘Blitzchung’ Ng Wai was suspended for supporting the ongoing Hong Kong protests. UPDATE: October 8 at 9:55 PM #BlizzardBoycott trends on Twitter after growing backlash over the company’s decision to suspend Blitzchung for his comments supporting the protests in Hong Kong. Original story below: During an interview at the GrandMasters tournament, Blitzchung wore a gas mask and stated: “Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times” – a popular slogan adopted by protesters in Hong Kong. Protestors in Hong Kong are demonstrating over the introduction of the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill proposed by the Hong Kong government. This would allow local authorities to detain and extradite criminals who are wanted in countries like Taiwan and mainland China. According to Blizzard, this was in violation of Section 6.1 (o) of the rulebook regarding actions that could damage the company’s image. As a result, Blitzchung has been suspended for a year and his prize money was reduced to $0. (Timestamp 35:00 for mobile users) The online backlash for Blizzard has been swift with many criticizing the company of going out of their way to appease the Chinese government. Many online have claimed they are deleting Blizzard titles as a form of protest in solidarity with Blitzchung. On Reddit, a player named Poobs87 said that he is quitting Hearthstone despite playing since 2014. The user, clearly enraged by Blizzard’s actions was awarded Reddit Gold for his post by another member of the site. The post has 9.1K upvotes at the time of this posting. In a different post, Redditor RetrospecTuaL said that he too has played since 2014, but this was his last day on Hearthstone. Another post encouraged users to stop playing the game. The post – which is titled “Quitting HS over this nonsense. This is about more than just Hong Kong” – tells users that by continuing to play the game they’re supporting China and Blizzard’s actions. A popular post with 2.4K upvotes accused Blizzard of only caring about the Chinese market. UltimaterializerX said: “The censorship of art was bad enough. The censorship of human life is indefensible. Finding videos of what’s going on in HK is easy and I suggest everyone do so. It’s Tiananmen Square all over again.” The user went on to imply that if the comment was made about another politician, such as US President Donald Trump, Blizzard’s actions wouldn’t be as severe. Other companies have even taken shots at Blizzard for their treatment of Blitzchung. On Twitter, digital card game Gods Unchained revealed they would pay for all of his lost winnings and invite him to their $500,000 tournament. The company added that they believe no player should be punished for what they believe and accused Blizzard of caring more about money than freedom. .@Blizzard_Ent just banned @blitzchungHS and stripped his Hearthstone winnings because they care about money more than freedom. We will pay for ALL his lost winnings and a ticket to our $500k tournament: no player should be punished for their beliefs. #freegaming https://t.co/ONvtkG4x9G — Gods Unchained (@GodsUnchained) October 8, 2019 Blizzard have yet to respond to the backlash, but comments were disabled on the official Blitzchung ruling and moderators of r/Blizzard set the community to private. However, not everyone within the company seems to be on the same page. Former Blizzard employee and Guangzhou Charge social media person Kevin Hovdestad posted a photo of the “core values” outside the game studio’s office. Not everyone at Blizzard agrees with what happened. Both the “”Think Globally”” and “”Every Voice Matters”” values have been covered up by incensed employees this morning. pic.twitter.com/I7nAYUes6Q — Kevin Hovdestad (@lackofrealism) October 8, 2019 Both the “Think Globally” and “Every Voice Matters” values had been covered up. It’s unclear whether Hovdestad took the photo himself or if someone sent it to him. It will be interesting to see what actions, if any, Blizzard takes to quell the controversy.

Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime apologizes to former employees after lawsuit BlizzardMike Morhaime, the co-founder and former CEO of Blizzard Entertainment, apologized for the “terrible” experiences women had while working for the company, which came to light in their highly publicized lawsuit. It’s been a while since Morhaime was in charge of things at Blizzard Entertainment. However, he was shocked to learn about the horrific allegations that the company, now called Activision Blizzard, fosters a “frat boy” culture that has subjected female employees to sexual harassment without consequence. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) report claimed the company was “akin to working in a frat house” and included everything from unequal pay to female employees to sexual harassment and more. Morhaime described the allegations as “disturbing and difficult to read” and that “everything [he] stood for [had] been washed away,” although that pales in comparison to the fact that “real people have been harmed.” “I was at Blizzard for 28 years,” he said. “During that time, I tried very hard to create an environment that was safe and welcoming for people of all genders and backgrounds. I knew that it was not perfect, but clearly, we were far from that goal.” “The fact that so many women were mistreated and were not supported means we let them down. In addition, we did not succeed in making it feel safe for people to tell their truth. It is no consolation that other companies have faced similar challenges. I wanted us to be different, better.” Morhaime explained that harassment and discrimination are “prevalent” in the video game industry and believes it’s important to “keep all employees feeling safe, supported, and treated equitably, regardless of gender and background.” “It is the responsibility of leadership to stamp out toxicity and harassment in any form, across all levels of the company,” he added. “To the Blizzard women who experienced any of these things, I am extremely sorry that I failed you.” Morhaime concluded his statement by reiterating that he let these women down, and as a leader in the industry, he wants to hear their stories if they are willing to share them. He also promised to use his influence to “help drive positive change” and combat “misogyny, discrimination, and harassment” wherever he can. The current Activision and Blizzard presidents, Rob Kostich and J. Allen Brack, sent emails to employees describing the allegations as “disturbing” and vowed to do whatever it takes to cultivate an “inclusive environment” moving forward.

Blizzard claims exciting content news coming “next week” in statement from Mike Ybarra Activision BlizzardHead of Blizzard Entertainment, Mike Ybarra, has put out a statement centered around the company’s culture with a hope of more consistent and engaging content coming in the near future. Microsoft’s shocking acquisition of Activision Blizzard has sent the gaming community into a frenzy. Since the news broke, many have been curious about what is coming next for the developer, and if things will really end up changing for players. In a statement put out on January 20 from Mike Ybarra, the leader acknowledged the need for more content and claimed that Blizzard had exciting news coming as early as next week. Blizzard owns up to content drought, promises more is coming Towards the tail end of the lengthy statement put out by Ybarra, which was centered around improvements Activision Blizzard will be making to their culture, he mentioned some potentially big news coming next week that players should be excited about. “We also know we need to deliver content to our players on a more regular basis and innovate both in and beyond our existing games. We have some exciting things to announce, and I’ll be sharing more next week.” While it isn’t clear that the news itself will be coming next week, fans should expect to hear something in regards to what they can expect from their beloved titles. This statement likely comes as a response to the many players that have been excited since the Microsoft news broke. WoW and Overwatch players, in particular, have been dying to know what sorts of new things their games will be getting as a result. Turning over a new leaf This also potentially marks a changing of the guard at Activision Blizzard, as CEO Bobby Kotick, who has been cited as the root cause for the content drought, will likely be making his exit once the transition is over. With Microsoft coming in, Ybarra’s many cultural changes in the company being added, and promises of new content on the way, fans of the developer may have reason to hope for some exciting news next week. We will continue to provide updates as the story develops and will hopefully have more to share next week. Until then, stay tuned!

Blizzard appoints Johanna Faries as new President post-Microsoft acquisition BlizzardBlizzard has appointed Johanna Faries as President as the company transitions into a post-Microsoft acquisition era. The past year has been a busy one for Blizzard. As they finalize their acquisition by Microsoft, the company has gone through layoffs to start 2024 and a reported re-partnering with NetEase. And amid the layoffs on January 25, 2024, former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra announced he was leaving the company alongside the layoffs. Now four days after the fact, Blizzard has appointed their new President. Johanna Faries has been announced as Blizzard’s new President in a post-Microsoft acquisition era for the mega game developer and publisher. “Though my official first day with you all is February 5, I want to let you know immediately that it is an honor to join you next week in this new capacity,” Faries wrote in a blog addressing Blizzard employees. “Today also brings some mixed emotions. The loss of talented teammates in recent days is hard to hold side-by-side with the immense excitement I feel about joining Blizzard,” Faries said, addressing the recent layoffs. “I am committed to doing everything I can to help Blizzard thrive, with care and consideration for you and for our games, each unique and special in their own right,” she wrote in the blog. Faries has been with Activision Blizzard for years, first being appointed as the Call of Duty League’s commissioner in 2018. In 2020, she was promoted to become Acti-Blizz’s head of esports, overseeing the CDL and now defunct Overwatch League. And in 2021, she shifted her duties away from Acti-Blizz’s esports efforts to become General Manager for the Call of Duty franchise, exclusively working on Activision’s FPS title.

Blizzard announce end of support for Heroes of the Storm Blizzard EntertainmentBlizzard Entertainment has announced that Heroes of the Storm will be entering permanent maintenance mode and won’t be receiving any major updates moving forward. Heroes of the Storm, Blizzard’s crossover MOBA released back in 2015, received its last and final hero release with the launch of Hogger in December 2020. Since then, the game has received minimal updates and no major changes outside of small balancing alterations. Now, the game developer has revealed that they are ending major support for the MOBA. Blizzard ends major support for Heroes of the Storm The company published a blog post on July 8, both celebrating the game’s seven-year anniversary while also delivering the bad news. “Moving forward we will support Heroes in a manner similar to our other longstanding games, StarCraft and StarCraft II,” they said. They also addressed what kind of support the game was get moving forward, “In the future, we’ll continue seasonal rolls and hero rotations, and while the in-game shop will remain operational there are no plans for new for-purchase content to be added.” Heroes of the Storm, popularly known as HotS, offered MOBA players a more simplified version of a game in a genre that can be extremely daunting to new players. The game once had a thriving esports community that ended in most part due to Blizzard canceling the planned 2019 competitive events for HotS. The move coincided with a concerted effort to roll back support for the game, which will now wind down development. As a token of appreciation to players who still enjoy the game, Blizzard is releasing an “incredibly rare” Epic Arcane Lizard mount in the game’s upcoming patch. Although the mount is a nice gesture, Heroes of the Storm players are sad to see the game finally get a nail in the coffin.

Blizzard accused of making fake accounts to ask Diablo 4 devs softball questions YouTube: FGSTwitch streamer Quin69 has accused Blizzard of making fake accounts to ask Diablo 4 devs softball questions, noting how the accounts featured in the Q&A do not exist or were all brand new. Diablo 4 Associate Game Director Joseph Piepiora and Art Director John Mueller sat down to answer questions about the game from fans reportedly sourced from Reddit and Twitter. Fans are currently still mad at Blizzard after the news broke about Overwatch 2 PVE mode cancelation, so naturally they take any statements the company puts out about any of their products with a grain of salt. Twitch streamer Quin69 reacted to the video and pointed out that both usernames and the questions themself seemed suspicious so he started looking them up one by one. None of the mentioned usernames were actual profiles on Reddit or Twitter. It’s important to note that the interview was conducted by Future Game Show (FGS) for their YouTube page. This led some viewers to speculate that FGS could have faked the questions, while other users are pointing fingers at Blizzard. Although, currently, it’s impossible to tell if the questions were faked at all. The description of the video also features an epitaph stating that “some of the usernames in the video have been altered for anonymity, at the request of the user.” “Fake questions from fake users. Very transparent Blizzard,“ said one user in the comment section of the interview. In response, another user replied that: “The news site invented the questions and then asked them to D4 devs, really weird how people are misplacing blame.” Once again, neither side has solid proof of who invented the accounts and questions asked in the video, if they were indeed engineered in the first place. Regardless Blizzard once again lands in hot water, just days after being accused of lying about Overwatch 2 PvE mode cancelation.

Blizzard admits mistakes with Diablo 4 Season 1 patch, vows ‘never again’ BlizzardThe aftermath of Diablo 4’s Season 1 patch left Blizzard overwhelmed with player criticism, prompting the game developer to confess its mistake and promise ‘never again.’ The drastic reductions in player power in Season of the Malignant’s patch 1.1.0, coupled with an imbalance among classes, triggered a chain reaction of outrage among fans. Social media platforms were flooded with player protests and criticism. Negative reviews cascaded in as disappointed players openly voiced their dissatisfaction. Updated Metacritic scores reflect a similar sentiment, with many citing the patch’s nerfs and its lack of meaningful balance changes as the core issues. One disgruntled user wrote, “Patch 1.1 makes me want to uninstall,” while another stated, “I was anticipating season 1 to hopefully [bring] the missing fun, but patch 1.1 is the final nail in the coffin for me.” In response to the backlash, the Diablo team hosted a Campfire Chat in an effort to communicate directly with the community. During the live stream, Blizzard’s Diablo team admitted their mistakes and laid out their plans to revert some of the changes. Associate Game Director Joe Piepiora stated, “We don’t plan on doing a patch like this ever again. We hear you loud and clear.” He further acknowledged, “We know that reducing player power is never a good experience… Sometimes we just don’t get it quite right.” Joe Shely, the Game Director, added, “Ultimately, ARPG games are about power fantasy, and about us inviting players to break the game to some extent, and find fun toys we’ve made, do crazy things with them, and we need to make sure we’re not punishing players for doing that.” Adam Fletcher, Diablo’s Global Community Development Director, also confessed, “We know it is bad. We know it is not fun. We ourselves know that it’s not the greatest play experience for players out there.” In light of the backlash, Blizzard has revealed the roadmap for its upcoming patch 1.1.1. The new patch promises to revert many of the changes made, focusing on improving the Sorcerer and Barbarian classes, increasing monster density in Nightmare Dungeons and Helltides, and addressing inventory concerns. Furthermore, to make the game less of a grind, the patch will also adjust XP gain from level 50 to 100, making reaching level 100 feel more like an achievement rather than a chore. Blizzard has also committed to avoiding drastic changes in the future. Shely reaffirmed, “We can’t nerf those overpowered builds without providing compelling alternatives for players to pursue.” To improve communication and transparency with its player base, Blizzard will now accompany Diablo IV patch notes with developer livestreams and release them well ahead of the patch’s release day. There’s no doubt that’ll be a welcome change to the Diablo community, who clearly felt blindsided by these sweeping nerfs.

Blight: Survival – Trailer, story, platforms & everything we know Haenir StudioBlight: Survival is an upcoming co-op action-horror roguelite set in an alternate 14th century where war has ravaged the land between two rival cities, and created a deadly disease that turns the infected into vicious monsters. Here’s everything we know about the upcoming title. Developed and published by the indie game company, Haenir Studio, Blight: Survival has quickly taken the gaming world by storm after releasing its gory and creepy gameplay trailer. The combination of a medieval roguelite introduces a brand new monster-hunting experience you can repeat again and again. While it’s still early days, we’ve compiled everything we currently know about the upcoming indie horror, Blight: Survival. So, if you want to know more about this co-op experience before it comes out, our hub has you covered. Contents Does Blight: Survival have a release date yet? Unfortunately, no. Blight: Survival doesn’t currently have a release date and there is no news regarding a release window either. Players will have to wait a while to destroy monsters in Medieval times. Blight: Survival trailers While there’s not a release date for Blight: Survival yet, there has been a teaser trailer and a gameplay reveal to keep fans wanting more. The teaser trailer depicts two armored knights walking through what seems to be a land of death. You can watch it below. In November 2022, a new gameplay trailer was released and quickly grabbed many gamers’ attention. It showed the gruesome battles between a knight and monsters, as well as the looting system and the different locations available. You can watch it below: Blight: Survival story While details on the game’s story are scarce, we do know Blight: Survival will be set in no man’s land between two states at war. Within the no man’s land, a terrible disease has turned those in the land into monsters, deceased by the Blight. You and up to three other friends have been tasked to venture into the Blight and attempt to destroy it for good. Blight: Survival platforms Blight: Survival will only be available on the PC. It’s not known if this will change to cater to console players. That’s all we know about Blight: Survival. When more information is released we will be updating this article, so be sure to check back soon. In the meantime, take a look at some of these other upcoming titles: The Witcher Remake | Witchfire | Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty: Platforms | Resident Evil 4 Remake | God of War Ragnarok | The Callisto Protocol | Everything we know about GTA 6 | Assassin’s Creed Infinity | The Elder Scrolls 6 | GTA 6 | Wolverine | Spider-Man 2 | Forspoken | Wonder Woman | Avatar Frontiers of Pandora | Sonic Frontiers | Dragon Age 4 | Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Black Panther video game reportedly in development with EA Marvel StudiosA new Black Panther video game is reportedly in the works with EA and could be the next big open world, single player Marvel game for fans to sink their teeth into. While it may be early days, here everything we know about the upcoming Marvel game. It appears that the upcoming Black Panther sequel film isn’t the only content about the character that is in the works. Gaming journalist Jeff Grubb posted about the recent Wakanda Forever trailer with the caption: “Wakanda Forever trailer is great. Let’s talk about the Black Panther game.” This has obviously sent fans into speculation. However, Grubb then went on to discuss what he knew about the new game on his daily news show, Game Mess Mornings. Black Panther reportedly an open world, single-player experience Grubb reported that the Black Panther game will be developed by Electronics Arts. According to Grubb, the game will likely be worked on by a new Seattle studio that has been founded by former Monolith Productions VP and studio head Kevin Stephens. The game will be an open-world, single-player experience, he claimed. Players will take control of the new Black Panther following the death of their predecessor. However, the exact version of the Black Panther you will control is yet to be confirmed. The game is reportedly still very much in early development so it may be a while until further details or footage is shown about the project. Marvel games are coming back in a big way While Marvel is of course full steam ahead when it comes to their TV and movie content, they have also begun ramping up gaming releases. The recent Spider-Man titles have been a massive success and the Guardians of The Galaxy title took gamers by surprise in the best way possible. In Dexerto’s review of the game we called it a “damn good space opera.” However, not all recent Marvel games have been a smash hit. Square Enix’s Avengers game has been a massive flop for the devs despite the money and time being spent on the project. T’Challa is a playable character in The Avengers game and was brought in as part of the War for Wakanda expansion. Fans have stated online how much they have enjoyed playing at the Black Panther, a character whose popularity continues to grow the more coverage and exposure he gets. Given that no other big new Marvel games have been announced lately, it is very likely a Black Panther game could be the next big thing for the company. The game could serve as a standalone title or might even be a tie-in game for the MCU. When new details are released we’ll be sure to cover them on the site so stay tuned. For more on Marvel content, check out all our Comic-Con coverage here.

Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth – Setting, developers, gameplay details, more Annapurna Interactive“I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe,” like a brand new Blade Runner game more than four decades on from the iconic film’s initial release. Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth is real indeed and we’ve got the early rundown on all there is to know. Although Ridley Scott’s sci-fi epic didn’t quite connect in its initial box office run, the seminal production soon became a cult classic that inspired an entire genre in the years that followed. Ever since, we’ve been treated to the 2049 sequel alongside the Black Lotus anime, but now, a full-fledged video game is on the way too. Following the controversially poor repackaging of the 1997 Blade Runner game with the 2022 Enhanced Edition, fans are now in store an entirely new experience. Labyrinth is currently in development and while it’s early days yet, we already know a great deal about the upcoming title. From its place in the Blade Runner franchise to the unique development team leading the charge, here’s all you need to know about Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth. Contents: Does Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth have a release date? – Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth platforms – Developers making Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth – Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth trailers – Early plot details for Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth – Is there a release date for Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth? Currently, there’s no release date locked in for the upcoming Blade Runner game. Despite its reveal in June, 2023, the initial trailer didn’t come with a release date or even a rough release window tacked on at the end. So for the time being, there’s no quite telling when Blade Runner 2033 may arrive. As a result, it would be wise not to hold your breath on a 2023 release, as we’re likely looking at a 2024-2025 target at the earliest. What platforms will Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth release on? Although specifics haven’t been locked in, an initial outline of Blade Runner 2033 confirmed the game will be launching across both PC and console platforms. Though exactly which consoles remains to be seen at the time of writing. Labyrinth could very well be a current-gen exclusive, meaning only those on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X | S will have access, or it could still support last-gen hardware if it’s not all too demanding. We’re sure to hear plenty more in the coming months so check back in shortly for a clearer picture on platforms in focus. Who’s making Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth? Developers revealed Blade Runner 2033 is set to be the very first video game developed in-house at Annapurna Interactive. Historically, the company has largely served as a publisher, giving novel indie games a platform in which to captivate an audience. Smash hits like Outer Wilds, The Artful Escape, and Stray have all been backed by the team at Annapurna. This time around, however, the company isn’t helping another developer push its game. Rather, the team at Annapurna is directly responsible for the development of the Blade Runner game. While the team itself is new on the whole, individual developers certainly have plenty of experience. “Our core team is made up of senior artists, engineers, and designers with decades of shared experience making games,” Annapurna’s website outlines. Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth trailers The very first reveal trailer debuted on June 29, 2023 during the Annapurna Interactive Showcase. This roughly 90-second look gave us our first glimpse at the game’s art style though it’s yet unclear if anything shown was actual gameplay. You can watch the Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth reveal trailer in full below: Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth plot details Although we’re yet to see the full picture with regard to the story of the new Blade Runner game, we do have plenty of early nuggets of information to run with. Firstly, as you may have pieced together from the name alone, Blade Runner 2033 is set between the first film and its sequel, taking place in 2019 and 2049 respectively. Assuring previous projects remain as canon, the game takes place after the Black Out of 2022, as seen in the anime film. Following an electromagnetic pulse, Replicants were taken out of the equation in this 2022 storyline. With the Tyrell Corporation bankrupt, the Wallace Corporation takes over and begins production on a new line of Replicants in the following decade. It’s here, amid the genesis of these new machines, that this game seems to take place. Assuming the role of a Blade Runner, the exact nature of our goal remains a mystery. Having previously “lost a job” due to the Black Out, with Blade Runners no longer needed to track down and retire Replicants, something brings this one particular detective back into action. “Digging through the pieces, being someone else, in places that no longer exist, that’s where you’ll find me, searching in the land of the dead.” Thus, we can expect a good chunk of the game to focus on said detective work, analyzing photos and videos, digging to the bottom of whatever case has required the work of a Blade Runner once again. For now, that’s all we know about the upcoming Blade Runner 2033: Labyrinth game. Though we’ll be sure to update you here with any further information as new details emerge.

Black Panther game dev under fire for resurfaced comments about not hiring white devs Marvel/YouTube: Game Devs of Color ExpoOne of the developers behind an upcoming Black Panther game has come under fire after a clip resurfaced in which they admitted that they previously built a team that excluded white people to create a “safe environment” for them to create a prior game. Dani Lalonders is an associate narrative designer at Cliffhanger Games who is currently working on a game based off the Black Panther Marvel film series. Formerly, they worked on a game called ValiDate, “a romantic visual novel about 13 adults in Jercy City navigating new relationships and the harsh realities that come alongside them.” It was on this game that Lalonders said they had no white people on the team, which was a deliberate decision. “We have no white people on our team,” they said. “I did that because I wanted to create a safe environment, and I know the best way for an environment to be safe is to be around people who are just like me.” They continued, “I’m not saying white people are creating unsafe environments, I’m saying sometimes it’s hard to work with white people because sometimes they think something is okay, but it’s actually a microaggression.” Timestamp 7:10 The clip came from a talk Lalonders did in 2021 at the Game Devs of Color Expo but has been shared across social media in February and March 2024. Since the clip started to go viral, Lalonders has set their Twitter/X account, and other social media, to private, as users have called out the comments as “blatant racism.” It is not known if this policy followed Lalonders over to Cliffhanger and the Black Panther project. This development team falls under the EA umbrella and is a much bigger team. Not much is known about the Black Panther game at the time of writing, with the game still in the infancy of its development, but fans of the films will be excited to start cruising around Wakanda on their own.

Black Myth: Wukong’s Compatibility Mode explained Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong’s Compatibility Mode is exclusive to the game’s PC version, as it adjusts certain features meant for higher-end rigs. Game Science released Black Myth: Wukong on PC and PlayStation 5, both of which boast settings and modes catering to each platform’s needs. In particular, the PC version comes with a Compatibility Mode that players can select when the game boots up. Activating this setting will disable select features to hopefully help the role-playing title perform better. Here is what PC users can expect when choosing this option. What is Compatibility Mode in Black Myth: Wukong? When launching the game, PC players can enable Compatibility Mode to deactivate features designed for beefier rigs. Those who encounter problems like a black screen, game crashes, lag, and stuttering while playing Black Myth: Wukong’s default setting should consider utilizing the Compatibility option. Unfortunately, players with older or less powerful PCs have found that Black Myth: Wukong’s Compatibility setting is not a cure-all for its various performance hiccups. One PC player on Reddit says launching the standard version causes a “black screen before crashing.” The Compatibility Mode does not help in this regard, with the Redditor claiming to have received an “error message in Chinese.” Other users recommend reinstalling the RPG, verifying the integrity of game files, or launching Black Myth: Wukong’s Benchmark Tool in Compatibility Mode for Windows 7 or Windows 8. However, a few people responding to the Reddit post maintain that these supposed solutions have not helped them as of yet. At the time of writing, developer Game Science has not addressed these Compatibility Mode-related issues. For more on the fantastical RPG, be sure to read up on all of Black Myth: Wukong’s stances, beginner tips for leveling, bosses, and abilities, and check out our guide for the best PC and Steam Deck settings.

Black Myth: Wukong’s Whiteclad Noble boss is simple to defeat with this ability Game ScienceWhiteclad Noble is a major boss fight in Black Myth: Wukong and it can prove to be quite difficult depending on your level of preparation. Black Myth: Wukong has many bosses, most of which are compulsory when it comes to progression. One of the toughest early boss fights you can find is the Whiteclad Noble which can be found in Bamboo Grove, near Marsh of White Mist Shrine. Whiteclad Noble has two health bars which can be challenging for beginners, especially when your health is low and your weapon doesn’t hit very hard. However, its moves are quite telegraphic and with patience, you’ll be able to defeat it. How to beat Whiteclad Noble The most useful skill that you must have when fighting Whiteclad Noble is Force Unbound. This ability allows you to sprint while charging your heavy attack. The problem with Whiteclad Noble is that it’s quite aggressive. As a result, you won’t get much opportunity to stack up your light attack combos. Force Unbound allows you to charge up your heavy attack to launch your entire might in one blow. The second useful skill to have is Skyfall Strike. This skill allows you to land a second hard-hitting heavy attack after you have landed a Resolute Strike. The reason why this is so good is because it can stagger the boss. While the Whiteclad Noble does not topple, a stagger will open up a window for you to either heal or deal some damage. It’s important to mention that you need at least one of these aforementioned abilities to deal with the boss. The boss has two phases and you need DPS, or else you’ll keep dying over and over. If you lack Spark points, farm a bit, but unlock them before you jump in. Smash Stance is also the best since Pillar Stance takes way too much Stamina and the boss will knock you off every time. You should also ensure you have the Guangzhi transformation available before fighting the Whiteclad Noble. This is because the transformation has its own health bar and meter. Since the Noble has two phases, you can transform into Guangzhi in the middle of the fight and deal a lot of damage to the boss without wasting any of your own resources. You can use it like a second life in times of need. Immobilize is an amazing spell to have at your disposal in this fight. This is because you can pretty much stun the boss and deal some significant damage to it. In fact, if possible, you should have one point to Crash, one of the talents under the Immobilize spell. This talent increases the damage taken by the enemy when stunned by the spell and can be effective against the Noble. Don’t forget to upgrade your Healing Gourd at the Shen Monkey. You should be able to get one upgrade and it’s impossible to miss this one. The upgrade will allow you to use your Gourd multiple times, which will be crucial for the upcoming fight. Finally, Simian Agility is your best friend against this Yaoguai Chief as it reduces the Stamina cost of dodging. This boss does not hit very hard, but you will often run out of Stamina as it’s very aggressive and will often distance itself from you during combat. Closing in and performing your combos will need stamina and you should put as many points you can spare to this skill. Whiteclad Noble moves & how to counter them Here’s a rundown of the Whiteclad Noble’s move list across both phases and exactly how to counter them. It’s important to mention that in Phase 2, the boss can perform all the attacks from Phase 1 in addition to a few new moves. However, the method to counter them doesn’t change. Phase 1 Dash and swipe: The boss will jump in the air and dash at you. It will then turn 360 degrees while balancing its polearm vertically and then dash once again with a swipe attack. Counter: The moment the boss jumps up, perform a side dodge. This is because if you dodge backward, you will get hit by the 360 movement. After the boss performs the 360 movement, side or forward dodge to escape from the swipe attack. – – AoE Water swipe: The boss will occasionally charge its spear and swipe it over the water. This will create an AoE water splash in a circular shape. The attack has a decent range. Counter: Dodge backward the moment you see the boss is charging its spear. It takes a while, so you will have enough time to get away. Use this time to heal or plan your next move. – – Water blades: The boss will occasionally rotate its spear and release a barrage of water blades towards you. The move will finish with the boss charging at you after a short delay. Counter: Keep an eye out for the boss’ hands. The moment it starts rotating its spear is when the Water Blades will appear. The attack is very easy to dodge as you can side-step all of it. Once the Water Blades are over, don’t relax as get ready to dodge once again. The boss will charge at you after a short delay and you can side-dodge the attack. – – Normal Water Swipes: There’ll be times when the Whiteclad Noble will land three consecutive swipes at you. This usually happens when you’re close to the boss. Counter: You can dodge backward to get away from the AoE, even though it’s very small. The problem is the boss can often combo this one with the Dash and Swipe attack. So be careful as you don’t want to get caught in the combo. – – Phase 2 Water Blades: In Phase 2, the Water Blade attack returns once again, but this time the swipes are horizontal instead of vertical. The dash after the blades is the same as Phase 1. Counter: Similar strategy to Phase 1 where you side-dodge the Water Blades and dodge again to escape the dash attack. – – Dash: The boss will rush at you while trying to thrust you with its spear. Counter: Simply side-dodge this attack and you’ll be fine. – – Water Splash: The Whiteclad Noble will slam its spear on the ground and release a wave of water towards you. Counter: Once again side-stepping will protect you from this attack. – – Phase 1 attacks repeated: Finally, some of the Phase 1 attacks such as AoE Water Swipe also exist. Counter: Same as how you did in Phase 1. – – As a final note, it’s important to mention that the Whiteclad Noble also hints at the three bells that you need to access a hidden boss in the Black Wind Mountains. As such, pay close attention to the boss’ dialogues after defeating it. This boss also unlocks the ability to upgrade your weapon. So make sure to check out a Shrine after defeating it. That’s how you can take down the Whiteclad Noble in Black Myth Wukong. For more on the game, check out our guides for whether the Gold Ridge Beast is worth buying, The Great Pagoda, how to beat the Wandering Wight, how to get Refined Iron Sand, and how to get Silk.

Black Myth: Wukong pre-order bonus & editions Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong’s launch is almost here, and there are a couple of different editions to get along with a pre-order bonus. FromSoftware fans are almost certain to love Black Myth: Wukong, which is reinterpreting the legendary Journey to the West. It has all kinds of characters, powers, and impactful boss battles torn straight out of the mythology books and given a new coat of paint. Black Myth’s pre-orders are now available. So if you’ve just come from the Elden Ring DLC and want a new game to clash with fearsome warriors and awe-inspiring dragons, here’s what you need to know. All pre-order editions Black Myth: Wukong has two different editions available for pre-order: Black Myth: Wukong ($59.99) Includes the full game – – Black Myth: Wukong Digital Deluxe Edition ($69.99) Includes the full game, along with exclusive weapon, equipment, curio, plus the Music Library, featuring a selection of music from the game’s soundtrack – – Both editions of the game will release on August 20, 2024, however the Digital Deluxe Edition will be available to upgrade to if you decide you want the extra content later on. The Deluxe Edition comes with many incredible physical extras, including collectibles ripped straight out of the game and a stylish steel case. The Deluxe Edition artifacts are comprised of a stamp and postcard set, as well as the Thunderstone ring, Wind Chime necklace, Golden Sun Crow pin, The Constricting Headband replica headwear, and the Chaos at the Peach Banquet wall scroll. Black Myth: Wukong will also launch with a Collector’s Edition, containing everything present in the Deluxe edition and more. The Collector’s Edition also comes with an expanded steel case and the Confront Destiny protagonist figurine, as well as a Teaching of the Heart Sutra wall scroll and warranty certificate. With all eyes locked on this game since its first promising trailer, many will have already decided whether or not to dive into the world of Black Myth. Pre-order bonus By pre-ordering any edition of Black Myth: Wukong before its release on August 20, you’ll also gain immediate access to the Trailblazer’s Scarlet Gourd in-game item. This item can be obtained normally by progressing in the game, but locking in your pre-order will give you access to it immediately. To collect the Trailblazer’s Scarlet Gourd, directly claim it at the Keeper’s Shrine (Respawn Point) during the early stages of the game. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Black Myth: Wukong skill tree: What abilities to get Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong’s Destined One isn’t going to reach the power we see from Sun Wukong without a few handy skills, and some are arguably much better than others. Whether you’re fighting the many bosses or just have multiple Sparks waiting to be used up, you’ll want to invest in some abilities. However, with so many different skill trees, spells, Stances, and buffs, choosing the best ones can be pretty overwhelming. So, to help you on your leveling journey across Wukong’s storyline, we’ve sorted a deep dive into the best abilities in Black Myth: Wukong, and an exploration into all skills in the battle-heavy game. Best abilities While you’re best off choosing the abilities that best suit your playstyle, there are some you just shouldn’t miss out on: Immobilize – Stances – Spin and walk – Spells – Immobilize is a fantastic spell to keep hold of throughout your adventure. It’s the first one you get and is also one of the most useful. We suggest leveling this up as much as you can throughout, as it’ll only get more powerful. On top of this, we also suggest investing in your spells from the beginning, each will undeniably save your life in a boss fight. Investing in your Stances is pivotal in the early game. You’ll need to put in 3 Sparks to get the most out of your choices too, meaning it’s quite the investment at the start. Nevertheless, pick your favorite and dedicate a few points to it. If you’re struggling to choose, check out our best Stance guide. Mobile Spin is one of those skills you’ll likely ignore until you face four archers and can’t get past their streaming arrows because you keep missing the dodge. As you walk into chapter two you’ll find more ranged attackers, and Mobile Spin is the skill you’ll need to stay alive during those encounters. Other than the key choices, increasing your Health, Stamina, and range of light attacks is extremely useful and shouldn’t be ignored. All skills and abilities As you progress through Black Myth: Wukong, you’ll unlock more spells, abilities, and skills. So, to ensure you know what’s coming up and can plan ahead, here are all the game’s abilities. As a note, we’ll be adding more skills and spells when they’re discovered, so be sure to check back soon. Foundation Stamina Endurance: Each talent level moderately reduces the Stamina cost of Sprinting. – Everlasting Vigor: Slightly increases Stamina recovery rate when depleted. – Composure: Dodging no longer interrupts Light Attack Combo. This also applies to Perfect Dodge. – Simian Agility: Each talent level moderately reduces the stamina cost of Dodging. – Deft Evasion: Makes each initial Dodge mode agile and flexible. – Featherlight: Massively reduces the Stamina cost of Jumping. – Focused Breath: Each talent level considerably increases Stamina Recovery Rate when health is above half. – Bold Move: Each talent level moderately increases Focus gained from Perfect Dodges. – Ephemeral Shadow: Grants a considerable amount of Damage Reduction for a short duration after a Perfect Dodge. – Vengeful Mirage: Perfect Dodges leave an illusion in your wake, which explodes instantly, dealing damage to nearby enemies. – Martial Arts Swift Engage: Each talent level significantly increases the engage distance of Light Attack Starter. – Effortless Finisher: Grants more Focus when the second move of Light Attack Mobo hits an enemy. – Soaring Strike: After Sprinting, Light Attack Starter temporarily deals more Damage. – Punishing Downpour: After six successful hits with the first four moves of Light Attack Combo, Light Attack Finisher deals extra area Damage. – Sturdy: Grants significant Damage Reduction during Light Attack Finisher. – Hidden Strength: When Stamina is depleted, a weaker Light Attack Finisher can still be performed. – Mobile Spin: Moving forward while using Staff Spin initiates Mobile Spin. The Destined One spins his staff around his body, deflecting projectiles. – Intrepid Lunge: Initiate Heavy Attack during Mobie Spin to quickly engage and stagger the enemy. – Silver Lining: Increases the Focus gained from blocking projectiles with Staff Spin. – Graceful Whirl: Significantly reduces the Stamina cost of Staff Spin. – Focused Spinning: Massively increases the focus gained from successful hits with Mobile Spin. – Survival Robust Constitution: Each talent level moderately increases Maximum Health. – Rampant Vigor: Each talent moderately increases Maximum Stamina. – Bane Mitigation: Each talent level slightly reduces the duration of Four Banes effects. – Wrathful Escalation: Each talent level slightly increases Critical Hit Chance. – Rough Skin: Each talent level moderately increases Defense. – Spiritual Awakening: Each talent level moderately increases Maximum Mana. – Deep Breath: Each talent moderately increases Stamina Recovery Rate. – Surging Momentum: Each talent level slightly increases attack. – Four Banes Endurance: Each talent level slightly increases Four Banes Resistance. – Wrathful Might: Each talent level moderately increases Critical Hit Damage. – Staff Stances Focuses Attack II: Increases Maximum Focus Points from one to two. – Focuses Attack III: Increases Maximum Focus Points from two to three. – Focuses Attack IV: Increases Maximum Focus Points from three to four. The fourth Focus Point does not sustain for long and its gauge depletes over time. – Exhilaration: Each talent level slightly increases the Health recovery upon consuming a Focus Point. – Instinct: Each talent level moderately reduces the Stamina cost of changed Heavy Attacks. – Versatility: Each talent level slightly increases Damage health by all Varied Combos. – Quick Hand: Each talent level slightly increases the charging speed of all stances. – Secondary Damage: Heavy Attacks that cost a Focus Point deal additional Damage to the enemy based on their remaining Health. – Endeavor: When below 1 Focus Point, the Destined One can still perform Varied Combos, but with significantly reduced damage. – Smash Stance Force Unbound: Enables Sprinting while charging. – Ironbound Resolve: Each talent level considerably increases Damage Reduction upon a charged Heavy Attack. – Smashing Force: Each talent level slightly increases the Damage health by charged Smash Heavy Attacks. – Peace from Peril: When charging Perfect Dodges retain any Focus that has been built up. – Resolute Counterflow: Performing Heavy Attack during light Attack Combo with a Focus Point consumed, allows the Destined One to execute Resolute Strike. During Resolute Strike, the Destined One can see through the incoming enemy attacks and nullify their damage. Enemies that have been seen through are easier to stagger. – Winding Wind: Performing Light Attack upon seeing through the enemy initiates a Light Attack Combo from the third move. – Skyfall Strike: After a successful hit with Resolute Strike, performing another Heavy Attack consuming a Focus Point executes Skyfall Strike. The Destined One leverages his forward momentum, launching himself into the air with his staff to somersault forward, then unleashes a firm downward strike upon his enemy’s head. – Invigoration: Grants massive Focus upon seeing through and hitting the enemy with Resolute Strike. – Vantage Point: After seeing through the enemy, Skyfall Strike deals more Damage based on the number of Focus Points built. – Pillar Stance Pillar Stance: Switching to Pillar Stance allows the Destined One to support himself with his staff and ascend to its top by holding Heavy Attack, avoiding ground attacks in the process. The more Focus Points he builds, the higher he perches. If the staff is hit by the enemy while perching, more Stamina will be consumed to maintain balance. – Steel Pillar: Each talent level moderately reduces the extra Stamina cost for maintaining balance. – Skylarking: With over 3 Focus Points, the Destined One can use the Gourd when perching on the staff. – Towering Mountain: The Destined One no longer falls to the ground when perching but instead executes a Heavy Attack upon Stamina Depletion. – Sweeping Gale: Performing Heavy Attack during Light Attack Combo will consume a Focus Point and execute Sweeping Gale. Using it as a pivot, the Destined One grasps his staff with one hand and executes a full aerial spin, delivering sweeping kicks to all nearby enemies. – Gale’s Blessing: Grants a considerable amount of Damage Reduction when performing Sweeping Gale. – Churning Gale: After a successful hit with Sweeping Gale, performing another Heavy Attack that consumes a Focus Point executes Churning Gale. The Destined One leverages his forward momentum to execute rapid whirls, churning nearby enemies with his staff. – Collapsing Gale: Churning Gale depletes all Focus Points and deals additional Damage based on the Points consumed. – Thrust Stance Thrust Stance: Switching to Thrust Stance allows the Destined One to charge by holding Heavy Attack while remaining stationary. Upon releasing Heavy Attack, the Destined One can execute a swift thrust attack at a distant enemy. – Borrowed Strength: Each talent level increases Stamina recovery when hitting enemies while in Thrust Stance. – Whirling Thrusts: After performing a Tactical Retreat, Forceful Thrust, or a charged Heavy Attack, hold a Light Attack to unleash Whirling Thrusts. The Destined One leaps forward to engage the enemy head-on, besetting them with a barrage of staff strikes. – Force Cascade: Each successful hit with Whirling Thrusts slightly increases Critical Chance for a short duration. This effect can stack up to 15 times. – Relentless: Staggered or repelled enemies take increased Damage from charged Thrust Heavy Attacks. – Deadly Dance: When a 4 Focus Points, automatically perform a Thrust Heavy Attack immediately after a Roll (Dodge) or a Perfect Dodge. – Offense in Defense: Following Light Attack with Heavy Attack performs Tactical Retreat. The Destined One hops backward and hones his defenses while preparing for another fierce attack. Following Tactical Retreat with another Heavy Attack that consumes a Focus Point unleashes Forceful Threat. With both hands clutching his staff, the Destined One executes a fierce thrust attack with an extended attack range, directly at the enemy’s face. – Adaptability: Following Whirling Thrusts with Heavy Attack unleashes a Tactical Retreat. – Lucky Strike: Upon performing a Tactical Retreat, with the enemy seen through, executing another Heavy Attack initiates Forceful Thrust and gains bride Invincibility. – Ebb and Flow: Exempts all Stamina cost of a short duration upon seeing through the enemy in Tactical Retreat. – Mysticism Immobilize Crash: Each talent level moderately increases Damage dealt to immobilized enemies. – Evanescence: When the enemy is immobilized the moment they attack, extends the immobilization duration and massively increases the Damage the enemy takes. – Spirit Shards: Recovers a moderate amount of Mana upon crashing the immobilization on the enemy. – Time Bargain: Consumes a moderate amount of additional Mana to massively extend immobilization duration. – Stagnation: Hitting an immobilized enemy with Light Attack slightly extends the duration of the next immobilization inflicted on them. The effect can stack up to 5 times. – Easy Prey: When an enemy is immobilized, massively increases the engage distance of Light Attack Starter. – Unbroken Chain: Casting Imobilize no longer interrupts Light Attack Combo. – Ring of Fire Flaring Dharma: Each talent level slightly extends the duration of Ring of Fire. – Raging Flames: Generates additional Focus every second while within Ring of Fire – Burning Zeal: Increases Maximum Stamina while within Ring of Fire. – Consolidation: Standing within the Ring of Fire slowly recovers Health. – Flame’s Embrace: Moderately increases Damage Reduction received while within Ring of Fire. – Boundless Blessings: After staying in Ring of Fire for a short duration, its effect continues even after exiting. The Mana cost of this spell moderately increases upon awakening this talent. – Alteration Cloud Step Gallop: Moderately increases movement speed in Cloud Step. – Converging Clouds: Each talent level slightly extends the duration of Cloud Step. – Thunder Strike: When in Cloud Step, Unveiling Strike can be performed with a charged Heavy Attack. – Absolute Strike: Considerably increases the Damage of Unveiling Stroke. The Mana cost of this Spell slightly increases upon awakening this Talent. – Ruse: Each talent level considerably increases the Maximum Health of the Decoy. – Bait: When hit, the Decoy will generate a shockwave that attacks surrounding enemies. This Shockwave can trigger only once per second. – Concealed Observation: Each talent level slightly increases the Critical Hit Chance of Unveiling Strike, which stacks per second while in Cloud Step. This effect can stack up to 10 times. – Rock Solid Rapid Return: Rock Solid can be canceled at will. – Nick of Time: Grants a considerable amount of Focus upon a successful Deflection. – Bold Venture: Recovers a considerable amount of Mana upon a successful Deflection. The Deflection Window narrows upon awakening this talent. – Upper Hand: Increases the Damage of the Light Attack Starter succeeding a successful Deflection. – Rock Mastery: Moderately reduces the Cooldown of Rock Solid. – Ironclad: Grants Damage Reduction for a short duration after a Deflection with Rock Solid. – Strand Longstrand: Each talent level moderately increases the duration of Duplicates. – Synergy: After using A Pluck of Many, hitting enemies moderately extends the duration of Duplicates. This effect can stack up to 10 times. – Multitude: Each talent level grants an additional Duplicate at the cost of a considerable amount of Mana. – Volition: At appropriate times, Duplicates can use Immobilize, Ring of Fire, and Rock Solid. – Grey Hair: Moderately increases the Maximum Health of Duplicates. – Tyranny of Numbers: Moderately increases the Damage dealt by Duplicates nearby. – Harmony: Grants a moderate amount of Focus for each successful Light Attack dealt by Duplicates. – Insult to Injury: Moderately increases the Damage dealt by Duplicates when using another spell after A Pluck of Many. – Transformations Moon Roam: Each talent level moderately increases the Damage of the next attack after a Perfect Dodge. – Evergreen: Each talent level slightly reduces the Might decay while transformed. – Might Fortification: Each talent level slightly increases Might recovery speed. – Hidden Might: Each talent slightly increases Maximum Might. – Ferocious Form: Each talent level slightly increases Attack while Transformed. – Enduring Form: Each talent level slightly increases Maximum Health while transformed. – Might Reserve: Each talent level slightly increases the Might retained from De-Transforming. – So, those are all the available skills and abilities we’ve found in Black Myth Wukong. While exploring the multiple bosses, be sure to check out all the game’s achievements, how to improve your Gourd, or our top beginner tips.

Black Myth: Wukong system requirements – Minimum & recommended PC specs Game ScienceHere are the minimum and recommended system requirements for Black Myth: Wukong, the upcoming game by Game Science that is based on the popular novel Journey to the West. Black Myth: Wukong is one of the biggest releases of 2024. This game has attracted the attention of fans across the world ever since it was first revealed several years ago. As such, with the release date approaching, fan hype is reaching an all-time high. Sun Wukong is a popular character from Chinese mythology and a game focused around his adventures is bound to garner a massive audience. However, the game’s graphical fidelity means it is quite demanding, as expected of a big-budget AAA title. If you are interested in playing Black Myth: Wukong and want to figure out whether your PC can survive a playthrough, we have you covered. Minimum system requirements Here are the minimum system requirements for Black Myth: Wukong: OS: Windows 10 64-bit – Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 – Memory: 16 GB RAM – Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB – DirectX: Version 11 – Storage: 130 GB available space – Sound Card: Windows Compatible Audio Device – Additional Notes: HDD Supported, SSD – Recommended system requirements Here are the recommended requirements for Black Myth: Wukong: OS: Windows 10 64-bit – Processor: Intel Core i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 5 5500 – Memory: 16 GB RAM – Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT / INTEL Arc A750 – DirectX: Version 12 – Storage: 130 GB available space – Sound Card: Windows Compatible Audio Device – Additional Notes: SSD Required. – The minimum requirements are not that high, apart from the RAM requirement being 16 GB. However, the recommended requirements are definitely on the higher end, with the RTX 2060 and RX 5700 XT being relatively powerful GPUs. The storage requirement is also fairly steep, as 130 GB is on the higher end for a single-player game. You may want to give yourself some time in advance to get this one installed. Additionally, it remains to be seen how Black Myth: Wukong runs on PC considering the game is made on Unreal Engine 5. The game engine is becoming more commonplace, but, with it still being fairly new, you never know exactly how it could impact performance. This is all we know about the system requirements for Black Myth: Wukong. For more on the game, you can check out our guides on editions and difficulty.

Black Myth: Wukong shatters Steam records for players on launch day Steam / Black Myth WukongBlack Myth: Wukong has had an explosive launch and instantly cemented itself as one of Steam’s most-played games of all time, second overall for concurrent players. Black Myth: Wukong put on a masterclass in building prerelease hype. Since its initial reveal four years ago, it has been one of the most anticipated video games of the generation. Despite some concerns about PC performance from prospective players, the game launched to positive critical reception, including our own review which calls it “one of the most striking marriages of graphical prowess and artistic vision”. Now it can add another feather to its cap. Black Myth: Wukong burst out of the gate, immediately placing itself in the top ten for most concurrent players of all time on Steam. At the time of writing, it has recorded an all-time peak of 2,223,179 players – the second-highest concurrent player count ever on Steam, beaten only by PUBG, which reached over 3 million in 2018. Just after launch, Wukong registered 996,371 players. This made it the eighth most concurrently played game of all time on Steam before players had even made it past the main menu. Trouncing FromSoftware’s Elden Ring instantly, the new release has continued to climb the charts beating out giants like Cyberpunk 2077 and Dota 2 within its first two hours. Black Myth Wukong sits at number four on Steam’s all-time highest player count after clearing Lost Ark. As the first major project from indie developer Game Science, the results are staggering. It has been heavily marketed both internationally and in the studio’s home country of China which has a substantial population. Black Myth: Wukong can add a historic launch to its list of accolades and given that the game is only in the early stages of that launch, there’s every chance it will climb higher on the charts as the day goes on.

Black Myth Wukong: Release date, trailers, platforms, & gameplay Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong is a brand new action RPG by Game Science and here’s what you need to know about it including release date, platforms, plot, and other details. Black Myth Wukong is one of the most anticipated releases of 2024. It’s an Unreal Engine 5 game that’s based on the Chinese classic novel, Journey to the West. In any case, if you are eager to learn everything about the game, starting from release date to platforms, we have you covered. Black Myth: Wukong release date Black Myth: Wukong is set to release for PlayStation and PC on August 20, 2024. This was confirmed by the developers during The Game Awards 2023 trailer. Release time Black Myth: Wukong will be available at 7:00 PM PDT in Los Angeles. If you want to learn about the release times across all regions, we have listed those in the following table: Black Myth: Wukong Xbox delays Unfortunately for players on Xbox Series S/X, Black Myth: Wukong has been delayed indefinitely. Developer Game Science confirmed the delay in an FAQ on June 6, 2024. “PC and PS5 users can enjoy the full game starting August 20, 2024. We are currently optimizing the Xbox Series S/X version to meet our quality standards, so it won’t release simultaneously with the other platforms,” the FAQ stated. “We apologize for the delay and aim to minimize the wait for Xbox users. We will announce the release date as soon as it meets our quality standards.” There is no confirmed release date for Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox consoles as of yet. We’ll be sure to keep players updated when one is announced. Story and plot Black Myth: Wukong is based on the novel ‘Journey to the West’ and revolves around Sun Wukong, a legendary mythic figure in Chinese folklore. Known for his strength, agility, and ability to shift into various forms, Wukong is an incredibly powerful being. Trailers Check out Black Myth: Wukong’s 13-minute gameplay trailer below: Another trailer premiered at Gamescom 2023. Set in the 16th century, the game’s footage heavily focuses on Chinese folklore. A third trailer followed during The Game Awards 2023, locking in an August 2024 release date for the highly-anticipated experience. During the May 2024 WeGame event, Game Science unleashed yet another gameplay trailer. Stunning visuals and a few brief glimpeses at cutscenes also sit center stage. On August 8, 2024, Game Science released the final trailer for Black Myth: Wukong where they provided an overall look into the game before players get their hands on it on August 20, 2024. Platforms Black Myth: Wukong will launch on PC and PlayStation 5 on August 20, 2024. The Xbox version has been delayed. The title is not coming to last-gen hardware. The game is crafted on the Unreal Engine 5, which is quite demanding and needs the best hardware to function optimally. Based on the trailers, Wukong looks phenomenal from a visual standpoint and it would be interesting to see how well it performs on release. At this time, that’s everything we know about Game Science’s upcoming action role-playing game, Black Myth: Wukong. We’ll keep this page updated with the latest information on the game as soon as it becomes available. For more on Black Myth: Wukong, you can check our guides on editions, whether the game is Soulslike, and the expected playtime.

Black Myth: Wukong review – A beautiful stepping stone to something greater China has been an evergrowing presence in the gaming world. It’s an increasingly large playerbase, and developers are starting to produce more and more, which is hitting our shores. While there have been past breakthroughs with games like Naraka: Bladepoint, Black Myth: Wukong feels different. This is a big, AAA single-player game, that isn’t building its audience after release – no, it’s been highly anticipated for years. It has seen several showcases and every time, it’s appeared to be a really impressive boss-centric game that has people marveling at just how pretty it looks. After four years of building that hype, Game Science is ready to release its debut title. The question now becomes though – does it live up to the visual impressiveness we’ve been seeing for years? And potentially more importantly, does it have enough going on under the hood with robust systems and layered mechanics? And how does it fit into the broader genre of its contemporaries? Well, almost none of that has a straightforward answer – apart from just how beautiful this game really is. Black Myth: Wukong Key Details Price: $59.99 – Developer: Game Science – Release Date: August 20, 2024 – Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, & PC – Tech and art at their strongest marriage Black Myth: Wukong is one of the most impressive-looking games ever made. From the moment you boot up, and are thrown into a high-stakes fight featuring Wukong against the heavens, it’s clear where Game Science’s strengths lie. While too much emphasis is often placed on engines by commenters who don’t have enough knowledge to understand them (like me!), at the very least, Black Myth: Wukong is a strong advertisement for Unreal Engine 5. It’s really something to behold with the way lighting hits, the textures, the animations, and all the technical graphical power the game sports. These aren’t rigid creations either – enemies adjust their feet to different heights, and as you interrupt big hits and parry, bosses transition to a recoil nicely. Sometimes, with beautiful graphics and animations, their malleability to react to certain situations can be limited. Black Myth: Wukong doesn’t. It all honestly feels like a bit of a technical magic trick. However, it’s not just the technical side. There are lots of graphically impressive games. What makes Black Myth: Wukong sing is just how well it marries that technical power with artistic vision. Using Chinese mythology and the Journey to the West novel as a jumping-off point, the artists involved have done some brilliantly striking work that never ceases to surprise and delight. Character and boss designs are genuinely compelling, making seeing what beautiful creation is around the next corner one of the biggest pulls through the campaign. The boss-forward structure really lends itself to Game Science’s strengths here too. Boss fights provide a big showcase moment for the game to show off its visual flair, from the technical, the artistic, and the animation. For a debut game, Game Science’s biggest strength, its mastery over everything visual and stylish, doesn’t take long to emerge. Aping the best Black Myth: Wukong isn’t just things to gawk at. There is a video game under the hood here. While Game Science has been cautious to align Black Myth: Wukong with the ‘Soulslike’ genre – calling a spade a spade, it is. You navigate, through areas filled with enemies, picking up their essence, which you can use to upgrade yourself and various items and spells, while you find rest points as you progress through an environment until you eventually find a boss. There are flourishes that differ from FromSoftware’s classics, but there are clear influences on display here. Generally, Black Myth: Wukong keeps the distance between bosses much shorter than say Elden Ring, Bloodborne, or Dark Souls. While in some chapters there’s a little more exploration to be had, for the most part, the connective areas are relatively brief. Wukong knows it has strong bosses and wants you to get to them quickly. This mostly creates very linear paths, and what few forks there are, you generally just have to just finish one prong before heading back to explore the other. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It creates a strong directed feel, with Game Science trying to get you into the action as fast as possible and moving forward at all costs. However, it does sometimes create this feeling that can permeate the game. That this is a cutdown version of a much grander vision. A string of verticle slices sown together that intend to be made into something bigger. This isn’t to say every game needs to be as vast and deep as Elden Ring, which is a generational game. Nor is it to say that bloated open worlds aren’t tired and there’s a strong argument that tight, focused experiences are a lost art form we need more of. But throughout my time with Black Myth Wukong, I found myself feeling like this epic journey felt just a bit smaller than it should have and that’s almost entirely down to the construction of the world. The boss’s shadow Let’s get to the headline acts though. Black Myth: Wukong’s gameplay highlights are easily in its bosses. These are absolutely gorgeous creations, and each one feels like a flex by a development team. That all feeds into the game’s stellar presentation, which I feel like I’ve sufficiently outlined. That said, it’s worth really emphasizing – these are really something wonderful to look at. That said, they aren’t always quite as polished when it comes to how it feels to fight these hulking monstrosities. Black Myth: Wukong isn’t quite as tight as the best in the genre when it comes to hitboxes, forgiveness, dodging, and parrying. While we’ve been spoiled, FromSoftware’s top-tier has become an expected standard. That’s a tough bar to clear and Game Science stumbles a little in the fluidity of movement and how everything flows into each other. There are also certain bosses that can feel a little laborious, especially as the game goes into the latter half. While it can take a lot of tries to master a boss in a FromSoftware game, generally, your winning run is not going to be much longer than five minutes or so. Black Myth: Wukong’s bosses take a lot more to get down. It’s hard to regain mana, so often you have a finite number of spells and resources to use, meaning you have to methodically work through all of your abilities and medicines to whittle down a big health bar. Some fights just generally take a while, and can feel a little heavy-handed. At times, you feel like you’ve mostly mastered a boss’s moveset, but the thing holding you back is the pure attrition of having to avoid the attacks a greater number of times than you’d like. Again, the bar for expectation is at the ceiling due to how good FromSoftware is at making bosses. It’s a little unfair to compare, so removing that context, these are generally really spectacular and impressive boss fights – From’s shadow just looms large over this kind of game though. Just to broach difficulty for a moment too – if you never used Spirit Ashes in Elden Ring, Black Myth: Wukong will likely hit as easier than the popular title. However, if like me, you relied heavily on them to get through that game and the DLC, there are definitely some bosses that will test your might here, without the respite of a spirit taking some aggro for you. Still, if you’ve any sort of competency with games in this genre – you should be fine with a little perseverance. Losing your gourd in systems One thing you can’t accuse Black Myth: Wukong of is not having enough systems. The game is laden with various ways to improve your performance and try to define your playstyle. There are three staff stances that all have their own upgrade path. There are four spells you can have equipped at any one time, also with their own upgrade paths. You have a transformation that allows you to change your form to a previous boss, that you might want to upgrade. You have your Gourd which you can brew to have special effects when you heal. There are Spirit Ash-like abilities you collect that let you transform into enemies that you kill to do one of their attacks. Medicines. Celestial medicines. Relics. Vessels. Items. Permanent stat boosts. Weapons and armor with different effects. You get it. There’s a lot here. However, some feel more fleshed out than others. Collecting and upgrading enemies to call upon in a fight is a really nice touch. Having to run around and backtrack to farm ingredients for medicines is less so. Even with all these systems, you’re not going to drastically change the tools available to you. It’s going to instead be where you place your emphasis. For example, I preferred to up my critical chance and damage while falling back on the Immobilize spell. However, someone trying to maximize their damage reduction and transformations will still have that Immobilize and do occasional critical hits. That’s not necessarily a bad thing either. That just makes this something that, within the build process anyway, is closer to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice than Elden Ring where you can completely revolutionize how you play every time you approach it. You’re still going to be pulling from the same limited toolbox every time, and you’ll have to achieve victory through a relatively rigid constraints. Again, that can work, and largely does here – but it does make all the systems on display here feel potentially a little less impactful than they should. This smacks of a little feature creep, leaving the vague sense that the game focusing on a couple of these systems and going deeper, rather than spreading them across so many avenues thinly, might have had a stronger impact. Hitting its primate Style over substance is a phrase that can be applied to Black Myth: Wukong. It’s usually used to suggest something is definitively bad. That it’s hollow at its core, with enough sheen and flashy lights to distract you. However, there is room for subjectivity in the phrase. In fact, it can be good – even great. Black Myth: Wukong excels at everything on the presentation side. It’s an impressive-looking game, from a culture we don’t usually see flexing this kind of resource, meaning it feels distinctly unique, artistically fresh, and striking to look at. There are a few titles out there that you can boot up and be as enamored by by just looking at it. Black Myth: Wukong is the personification of style, and Game Science has, in its debut title, carved out its strength impressively. Style over substance also doesn’t mean ‘no substance’. Black Myth: Wukong’s boss fights are largely impressive, and while there are too many that don’t affect play enough, there are systems that help you define your playstyle in creative ways. They often don’t go far enough though. Ir can lead to the permeating feeling throughout the game that this is merely a blueprint for a bigger, more fleshed-out gameplay experience – but this only hinder so much. This is the obvious area for Game Science to improve in the future but you can see the vision. There is a path to greatness laid out here that experience, feedback and resources could mold into something truly breathtaking. Black Myth: Wukong isn’t quite Games Science’s masterpiece. But it’s easy to see how it could be a strong foundation to get there. The Verdict – 4/5 Black Myth Wukong is style over substance, but it has so much style and enough substance, that it largely works. It excels in what it is trying to do: making one of the most striking marriages of graphical prowess and artistic vision. And even when you get to the substance part, while it won’t rival the best in the genre, it has enough going on with enough decisions and systems to let you craft your own playstyle, even if you’re going to be pulling from the same hymnsheet with each playthrough.

Black Myth: Wukong PS5 players may be waiting a while for performance fixes Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong developer Game Science has reportedly identified performance issues on PS5, but it’s unknown when fixes will arrive. Despite the glowing praise from critics and players, Black Myth: Wukong has a few kinks to iron out. The game’s performance on PlayStation 5 is a particular sore spot for some players who have encountered stuttering hitches in Quality and Balance Modes. While Performance Mode promises more consistent frame rates, players still say they occasionally experience slow down at times. Developer Game Science is aware of these issues, but there is currently no time frame for when players can expect a patch to go live. A user on Reddit (via PlayStation LifeStyle) uploaded a screenshot of a Chinese player’s Weibo conversation with Game Science Director, Yang Qi. The Redditor’s translation claims the Weibo user asked if the developer would be able to improve the optimization and performance of Black Myth: Wukong on PS5. Qi reportedly explained, “We do have some problems with the optimizations, it’s basically bottlenecked.” While the Redditor suggests the wait for fixes could last for quite some time, there is no word on whether the developer confirmed as much in the social media exchange. Either way, Qi’s statement matches the findings of outlets like Digital Foundry, which believes the frame rate issues and graphical shortcomings in certain modes could be attributed to the Chinese developer’s unfamiliarity with game production on consoles. By comparison, the PC iteration of Black Myth: Wukong runs smoother than the PS5 version by most accounts. It’s also worth noting that Game Science previously confirmed the Xbox Series X|S version of Wukong had been delayed due to technical woes. In a statement on the matter, Game Science said, “We are currently optimizing the Xbox Series X|S version to meet our quality standards.” This and the PS5 hiccups indicate Black Myth: Wukong has optimization issues across the board on consoles.

Black Myth: Wukong New Game Plus – How to unlock & what you keep Game ScienceOnce you complete Black Myth: Wukong for the first time, the adventure isn’t done. It’s time to jump in again on New Game Plus. New Game Plus allows players to keep certain collectibles and unlockables in the second playthrough to handle a higher difficulty level than found in the initial playthrough. You won’t be a beginner anymore once you start a NG+ run in Black Myth: Wukong, so lock yourselves in for round two of this action RPG to master the combat even further. How to unlock New Game Plus You’ll unlock New Game Plus in Black Myth: Wukong after you complete all six Chapters. To access it, choose the ‘Enter a New Cycle’ option from the main menu. From there, you’ll immediately start your NG+ run from the top of the game. If you don’t want to start a NG+ save and would prefer a normal new game, you can do that by selecting the ‘New Journey’ option instead. What do you keep in New Game Plus There are quite a few things that carry over from one game to the next when starting NG+ in Black Myth: Wukong. Here’s a list of everything you get to keep: Unlocked Skills – Your Character Level – Armor (with upgrades) and weapons – Spells (with upgrades) – Curios – Vessels – Relics – While you stay at the same Character Level, have the same unlocked Skills, and own the same armor, weapons, Spells, Curios, Vessels, and Relics, you’ll have to say goodbye to any other collected items. These missing items include any consumables you’ve purchased or all the crafting materials picked up throughout your previous game. What’s new in New Game Plus The NG+ playthrough has a couple of changes compared to normal difficulty. Here are all the new features that we know about so far: New craftable weapons – Armor upgradeable through Shrines – Freed Mind Relic granted – Once you’ve started a NG+ run in Black Myth: Wukong, you can replay the adventure all over again and earn all the achievements possible in the game.

Black Myth Wukong players are getting “bodied” by one of the game’s first mini-bosses Game SciencePlayers are getting “bodied” by one of the first mini-bosses in Black Myth Wukong but refuse to back down. Black Myth Wukong has already taken the video game world by storm despite only releasing on August 20, 2024. Within 24 hours of its release, the game rocketed up the Steam’s charts and even broke player count records. Part of what has made Black Myth Wukong an instant hit is its immersive gameplay and difficulty; the title is already drawing major comparisons to FromSoftware’s Elden Ring and Dark Souls. While the challenge may be enjoyable for some gamers, others are already struggling to battle their way through the game, with one early boss particularly drawing out frustration from players. Just outside the Forest of the Wolves, a location players will encounter in the early hours of the run-through, a mini-boss battle will be available. The enemy in question is known within the game as the Wandering Wight, a small creature that is identifiable thanks to its large head. It is one of the toughest foes you will face early on. The Wandering Wight’s hard-to-avoid attacks deal heavy damage and coupled with a surplus of health at its disposal, this creature is a brutal fight for any and all. So much so that across social media, Black Myth Wukong players have been voicing their frustration at being unable to take the Wight down. On X, one player asked, “Am I the only one getting bodied by the Wandering Wight in Wukong?” Other gamers then joined in to share their own struggles with the battle. Another added that they are “right there with you bro” and admitted that they are “currently getting [their] a** kicked” by the mini-boss. A third commented, “Just beat it, holy f**k. Think I got here at level 4 and now I’m at level 9 lol sheesh.” Black Myth Wukong launched on August 20, 2024. For all the latest news, guides, and tips about the game, be sure to check out Dexerto’s coverage here.

Black Myth: Wukong mod turns the Destined One into Goku DexertoBlack Myth: Wukong modders have already been hard at work, and one new mod turns the Destined One into Son Goku from Dragon Ball Z. Black Myth: Wukong, one of the most popular games in the world right now, has over 10 million players and continues to grow. Game Science’s action RPG became popular because of its complex story based on the classic Chinese tale “Journey to the West” and Soulslike gameplay. While there are many difficult bosses to overcome, players always experiment with new playstyles to attain the highest level and expand their gameplay. On the other hand, some people use mods to either bypass the game’s difficulty settings or even transform the Destined One into a completely different character. One such mod transforms him into Son Goku from the popular series Dragon Ball Z, which looks great. In a deleted X post by Litravi2, the mod depicts Goku wearing his characteristic orange and blue outfit, clutching the Jingubang Staff, and dashing across ancient China. The video further shows Goku flying on the Nimbus Cloud from Dragon Ball. The posted clip also attracted praise from fans of the game looking for a link to the mod. One such player said, “Mod of the year.” Another chimed in, “One thing that is bothering me is a lot of people don’t seem to know Goku is based on Wukong.” A third one added, “The stuff people do with games is amazing. I would have loved mods playing Ocarina of time.” A fourth user commented, “Should’ve been kid Goku with his tail on.” Those wondering if the mod is available can find it on Nexus Mods. NorskPL created the Son Goku mod, which you may download from its page and use when playing Black Myth: Wukong on your PC. If you’re looking for some useful tips while fighting bosses in the game, we’ve got you covered with an essential consumable you’d need and how to use the Resolute Counterflow skill.

Black Myth: Wukong’s final boss battle is so hard players are “cheating” to beat it Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong players admit they used the infinite mana glitch to beat the final boss and secret final boss. Game Science’s Black Myth: Wukong presents several challenges to players brave enough to join the Destined One on his journey. Boss battles have proven especially difficult, thanks to the likes of The Scorpionlord and his aggressive attack combos. But even players who power through such encounters find themselves getting stumped by the final boss and the secret boss that comes after it. Reddit user FrozGate said they reached their wit’s end during the default final boss fight against The Great Sage Broken Shell. “I knew he was the last boss and he really tested my patience. So I started reading advice on how to beat him and someone mentioned a mana glitch. I looked it up and that is how I beat him,” the player confessed. The cheat in question refers to an infinite mana glitch that requires Black Myth: Wukong players to spam certain spells under specific circumstances. It’s known to result in hilarious boss encounters and is clearly working wonders for some users. Others joined in to say they cheated, as well. “I did too, bro! You aren’t alone. I game for relaxation, escape, and a good story. Not to be stressed or frustrated to the gills.” Another player in the thread admitted they also used the glitch to defeat Black Myth: Wukong’s secret final boss, Erlang Shen. After tediously playing through the game normally, one person said they saw the glitch in a YouTube short and “never looked back.” The user added, “I did the entire game clean apart from the last boss and Erlang Shen…” It’s unclear if developer Game Science is aware of the glitch and working on a fix. The studio’s still ironing out the kinks, though, with the August 29 patch addressing several known bugs.

Black Myth Wukong max level: How to level quickly Game SciencePlayers need to level up in order to get stronger and unlock abilities in Black Myth: Wukong, and to do so you’ll need to use some handy tricks. Sure, great weapons, armor, and some powerful spells or abilities will certainly make a tricky boss battle easier, but none of those are much use without the Sparks or the levels to back it up. Each level grants you a Spark, which lets you improve things like your Health, Stamina, Spells, Mana, Focus, and so much more. So, with that in mind, here’s the max level for the Destined One in Black Myth Wukong as well as how to level up quickly. What’s the max level? The max level for Black Myth: Wukong is 342, meaning there’s plenty of room to increase your abilities and gain more Sparks. The 342 resembles the number of Sparks you need to unlock all skills, and is also the amount of years Sun Wukong is predicted to live in Journey to the West. As such, you’ll likely reach max level pretty late into the game, unless you grind through enemies to get more powerful, which is often useful if you’re finding a particular boss tricky. How to level up fast & get more Sparks There are many ways to level up quickly, and it can be pretty useful given the extra Sparks you get for doing so. To get more Sparks and level up fast, we recommend doing the following: Grinding through easier enemies – Looking for Meditation spots – Battling bosses – The most efficient way, albeit the more repetitive solution, is to find a Shrine with enemies nearby so you can rest, grind through them, and then rest again. We recommend heading to Rockrest Flat in Yellow Wind Ridge or a simpler location Outside the Forest in The Forest of Wolves. They can be monotonous but it’s a great way to get a few more levels. Then, if it’s Sparks you’re looking for, the best option is to head to Meditation Spots. There are three in Black Wind Mountain, and six in Yellow Wind Ridge to find. Each grants you one extra Spark and will rest you, so they’re worth finding. Lastly, and likely the most obvious is to simply battle bosses and their minions. Each fight grants you more XP and bosses are usually the ones to level you up multiple times. While players can simply run away from the minions to get to the bosses, fighting and killing everything in sight is a surefire way to level up fast. So there you have it, that’s the max level for the Destined One in Black Myth Wukong, as well as how you can level up quickly and easily. While working through all the enemies and adventure, be sure to check out all the game’s achievements and the best stance to use.

Black Myth: Wukong – How to absorb Spirits & use them Game ScienceWondering how and why you need to absorb Spirits in Black Myth: Wukong? Here’s everything you need to know. Black Myth Wukong has already taken the video game world by storm despite only releasing on August 20, 2024. Within 24 hours of its release, the game shot up Steam’s charts and even broke player count records. And while the game’s bosses are proving to be a big challenge for players, others might get stuck at a particular section of the game for a completely different reason. Throughout Black Myth: Wukong, particular enemies will drop blue orbs of energy when defeated; these items are extremely useful for character progression. The Wandering Wight mini-boss is the most likely first example of an enemy that will drop a Spirit. However, when approaching the glowing orb, the message “cannot absorb Spirits without guidance” may appear on your screen. If you are unsure what this means or how to fix it, here is what is required to allow you to absorb Spirits in Black Myth: Wukong. How to unlock Will of Spirits ability You will need to continue further down the main quest if you cannot absorb spirits. Once you have defeated the giant wolf Lingxuzi from Chapter 1, head over to the Bamboo Grove Snake Trail Shrine. There should be a set of stairs right ahead, which, when followed, will lead up to a wise master standing just to the right. Interact with this master; he will upgrade your gourd to The Blessed Gourd, unlocking your ability to absorb the Wills of Spirits. Spirits can unlock unique abilities called Spirit Skills, which offer great bonuses that are particularly useful early on in the game. Players are only allowed to equip one Spirit Skill at a time, and each will include two unique benefits.

Black Myth: Wukong dev confirms 10 million global sales and another huge milestone Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong’s global sales surpassed 10 million units across all platforms in less than a week since launch, the game’s developer announced. Sharing the impressive milestone on X/Twitter, Game Science said “Black Myth: Wukong has sold 10 million copies across all platforms. (Data as of 21:00 Beijing time, August 23, 2024).” “Thanks to all players worldwide for your support and love,” the message continued, signing off by wishing all players of the ARPG a “great gaming weekend.” In addition to huge sales figures, an accompanying infographic confirmed that Black Myth recorded 3 million concurrent players across all platforms, though no breakdown between PC and PlayStation 5 was provided. The figures come amidst reports from console owners that the ambitious title suffers from performance problems on Sony’s platform. Game Science has since stated it’s aware of the issues, but a date for a fix was not forthcoming. It’s also not known when the Xbox Series X|S version of Black Myth, delayed to ensure it meets Game Science’s “quality standards,” will arrive. Based on the classic 16th-century novel Journey to the West, Black Myth casts players as The Destined One, tasked with retrieving the powerful relics of Wukong. While not a Soulslike in every sense, the influence of FromSofware’s Dark Souls series is plain to see and explored further in our review. Currently making your way through The Destined One’s 40-hour adventure? Check out our guides on how to get more Focus Points, how to absorb and use Spirits, and where to find the Wind Tamer. Likewise, if you’ve already polished off your initial playthrough and feel a second go-around is in order, see our primer on everything you need to know about New Game Plus. Not everything will carry over to a second run, so make sure you’re ready before beginning again.

Everything we know about Black Myth: Wukong’s DLC so far Game ScienceReports claim Black Myth: Wukong DLC could become available sooner than players think. Here’s what we know about Game Science’s supposed plans. As a runaway success that sold 10 million units in three days, Black Myth: Wukong has many wondering how developer Game Science will expand on the Journey to the West-inspired experience. The studio itself remains mum on the matter, though credible sources maintain that an expansion of some kind is in the works. While it’s unclear when official details will start circulating, one piece of information indicates an expansion could release sooner rather than later. Is Black Myth: Wukong DLC in development? In an early September 2024 interview with Bloomberg, Daniel Wu, the CEO of Game Science investor Hero Games, said the development team is working on a Wukong expansion. Wu withheld specifics but hinted that Game Science’s plans go beyond DLC. Apparently, the outfit wants to turn Wukong into a series of games centered around Chinese Mythology. Again, it’s worth noting that the developer itself has not formally corroborated any of the above details as of writing. Does Wukong’s expansion have a release date? No, there is no official launch date scheduled for the unconfirmed Black Myth: Wukong expansion. However, China-based games consultant and journalist Daniel Camilo claims “very reliable first-hand sources” told him the DLC will become available near the Chinese New Year in 2025, which is “right at the end of January or very soon after.” In a subsequent tweet, Camilo noted that internal plans could change at any moment given the regularly shifting nature of game production. Since Game Science is keeping quiet, there’s no word on what players should expect from the supposed DLC release for Black Myth: Wukong. But if the studio does have an early 2025 launch window on the cards, concrete details could make the rounds in the coming months. Those still exploring the world of Black Myth: Wukong should check out where to find all of the game’s bosses and read up on the best abilities in the skill tree.

Black Myth: Wukong fans concerned about PC version’s potential performance issue Game ScienceThe PC version of Black Myth: Wukong features a Benchmark Tool that uses Denuvo, leading to concerns about the game’s performance. Anticipation for Black Myth: Wukong began building as soon as Chinese developer Game Science revealed the first trailer in August 2020. All these years later, the title is gearing up for its debut on PC and consoles, but some hopeful players have started expressing reservations. Steam listings previously confirmed the action RPG would launch with anti-piracy software Denuvo attached. Now that the game’s official Benchmark Tool has become available on PC, fans noticed that it, too, makes use of Denuvo. This has raised concerns about Black Myth: Wukong’s potential performance troubles due to claims suggesting the divisive DRM technology hinders performance. Responses beneath a post from Pirat_Nation about the DRM tool indicate many players believe Denuvo could hurt Black Myth: Wukong’s chances of running smoothly. Reads one reply, “I mean, if Denuvo decreases its performance in the real game, it [has] to decrease [it] in the benchmark too.” Another user commented the following, “It makes sense tho. If the benchmark doesn’t have Denuvo, it would perform much better than the game that has it.” The suggestion that Denuvo directly impacts a game’s framerate remains speculative on a game-by-game basis. However, parent company Irdeto insists the system has “no perceptible effect on game performance nor is anti-tamper to blame for any game crashes of genuine executables.” In the past, DRM versus DRM-less tests run on experiences such as Devil May Cry 5 and Resident Evil Village have shown Denuvo marginally impacts performance. But at the time of writing, there is no concrete answer on how Denuvo will affect Black Myth: Wukong on PC. Game Science’s long-awaited role-playing title hits PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on Tuesday, August 20.

Black Myth Wukong beginner tips: How to level up, defeat bosses & best abilities Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong may not have the difficulty of a souls-like, as explained by the developer, but it’s by no means an easy fight, especially for beginners. Whether you’re looking to be prepared before diving into the boss-heavy adventure, or you’re stuck on a section and just can’t figure out how to move forward, it’s always worth gathering some key tips before loading up the game. So, to ensure you get off to the best start and have the right tactics under your belt, here are some top beginner tips to help you on your way. Choose skills carefully, but not too carefully The first thing to note in Black Myth Wukong is that your skills, which are brought with Sparks are completely changeable. By heading to a Shrine, you can choose to respec your Sparks allowing you to change something that’s not working, or adapt your loadout based on the boss you’re fighting. That being said, there are a few we recommend choosing first: As a note, we haven’t added any Stance recommendations here as they’re personal. Check out our best Stance overview for more guidance. Simian Agility: Dodging is pivotal so it’s handy to reduce the amount of Stamina it uses. – Swift Engage: Being able to hit from further away is great, keeping you safe and letting you engage when needed. – Mobile Spin: Ideal to use when you come across ranged enemies. – Robust Constitution: Health is always handy. – Rampant Vigor: As is Stamina. – Rough Skin: Keeping your defense high is as useful as Health. – Immobilize: Stick as many points in here as you can, this is a game-changing spell. – Cloud Step: One or two Sparks are useful here, but don’t go mad. – Transformations: Stick Sparks into Moon Roam, and Evergreen. – While the above choices will keep you alive, it’s important to adapt your skills based on your own gameplay. If you prefer using the spells, then pump Sparks into that, if you’re more interested in honing your critical damage or base health, then that should be the focus instead. Leveling is a priority if you’re struggling To unlock those abilities and better the Destined One, you’ll need to level up. While it’s not meant to be the primary point of the story, if you find yourself struggling then working on leveling is pretty important, and can make those battles a little easier. There are three ways for you to gain Sparks in Black Myth: Wukong: Leveling up: Fighting minions and bosses as you explore. – Meditation Spots: These don’t level you up but they do grant more Sparks. – So, if you’re struggling then the best thing to do is to ignore the boss you’re fighting and explore the world around you. The best-case scenario is that you level up by fighting the minions and find all the game’s Meditation spots, granting a nice amount of levels. Alternatively, we suggest grinding away at a few specific locations, as these contain a good few minions for you to fight, rest, and repeat. If you’re right at the beginning of the game, then Outside the Forest is a great location, alternatively, try exploring Snake Trail. Both of these have plenty of minions near the Shrine. On top of this, keep an eye on leveling up your gear. As you progress, your weapons and armor will be upgradeable which gives players a massive boost to attack damage, defense, and more. Bosses require careful consideration and a good potion Once you’ve leveled up and assigned your Sparks, it’s time to dive into the game’s bosses, otherwise known as Yaoguais. While Black Myth Wukong isn’t exactly a Souls game, these bosses can still be extremely tough. So, we suggest airing on the side of caution when diving into the battle for the first time. The best thing to do when starting the fight is to map out the bosses movements and attacks. It’s vital to see how they hit, what special moves they have, and when their openings are, as those are when you need to strike. As such, dodge around them for a few attacks, and then move in for the kill when you can. Keep your spells to hand On top of this, the Destined One has spells for a reason, always keep these in mind and use them whenever you can. As you progress in the game, you’ll unlock duplicates, freeze spells, defensive movements, and even transformations that almost act as free health, use these whenever you can. However, your Mana doesn’t recover as quickly as your Stamina, far from it in fact. So use them tactically rather than spamming through everything in the first three seconds. Potions are your best friend As well as spells, Potions are a key aspect for a particularly tricky boss. Players are given multiple options, and it’s wise to use them if you’re struggling. The Tonifying Decoction (Stamina), Longevity Decoction (Health), and Tiger Subduing Pellets (Damage) are great choices. But you’ll also want to keep Bane effect potions on hand too, in case the enemy inflicts Poison, Burn, or Shock damage. Ultimately, Black Myth Wukong might be more forgiving than the likes of Elden Ring, but it’s far from a walk in the park. Play your battles carefully, keep going, and if something’s not working, increase your power and run it again. While diving into the game to wipe out that one boss that never seems to die, be sure to check out all the game’s achievements, how to improve your Gourd, or the game’s length so you can see how far into the adventure you really are.

Black Myth: Wukong’s difficulty will be more forgiving according to leak Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong will reportedly boast several dozen bosses and enemy types, with a gameplay difficulty that’s easier than Soulsborne games. Chinese developer Game Science unveiled Black Myth: Wukong in a lengthy trailer that took the internet by storm in 2020. The studio has shared information piecemeal in the years since then, but the anticipation is building given its August 2024 due date. Adding to the excitement is a leak from Lunatic Ignus (via Insider Gaming), who claims the action RPG will launch with 160-plus different enemy types and more than 80 boss encounters. The leaker further alleged the title will include a New Game Plus mode on day one and allow players to chase after “multiple endings.” That Black Myth: Wukong developers built an experience “slightly easier than Soulsborne games” will likely raise a few eyebrows, too. Game Science hasn’t corroborated any of the above details, so it’s best to take this information with a grain of salt. Still, compared to Soulsborne games, the leak suggests Black Myth: Wukong sits somewhere between Bloodborne and Elden Ring in terms of its number of bosses. FromSoftware’s Victorian-esque adventure included over 60 enemy types, 17 bosses, and 21 Chalice Dungeon boss characters. Meanwhile, Elden Ring included a whopping 238 bosses and pitted players against well over 100 types of regular enemies. Elden Ring’s upcoming Shadow of the Erdtree expansion will add even more foes to the open-world experience. During the 2024 WeGame event, Game Science unleashed another gameplay trailer for Black Myth: Wukong. In addition to offering a closer look at its Chinese mythology roots, the new information also reconfirmed the RPG’s August 2024 release date. Black Myth: Wukong hits PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms on August 20.

Black Myth: Wukong August 29 patch notes: Boss nerfs, bug fixes & enemy changes Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong may be fully released, but there’s still polishing to be done, especially with a few tougher bosses or frustrating bugs. Developed by Game Science, Black Myth: Wukong tells the tale of the Destined One, in an homage to the classic story, Journey to the West. Throughout, you’re tasked to battle vicious bosses, gaining power as you go. However, the release hasn’t been without its bugs. Luckily, plenty of those are being fixed in the August 29 patch. Namely, Captain Wise-Voice is getting its stats reduced in this patch, which will hopefully make it an easier battle. On top of this, the Lantern Warderns in the Pagoda Realm won’t be able to push and trap players onto a wall. Multiple crash issues are being eliminated with the patch, as well as a fix for an issue is being added where the progress display for collecting Portraits in Journals was incorrect. Black Myth: Wukong August 29 full patch notes The full Black Myth: Wukong v1.0.8.14860 patch notes have been listed below: Major Updates: Fixed an issue where enabling FSR could cause crashes for some players during startup or the prologue. – Fixed a crash issue in certain areas of the Webbed Hollow when NVIDIA Full Ray Tracing is enabled. – Fixed an issue where hair would stretch abnormally. – Optimized the hair effects for Yaoguai King “Lingxuzi”. – Fixed an issue where certain enemies could get stuck in motion in specific situations. – Slightly reduced the stats of Yaoguai King “Captain Wise-Voice”. – Fixed an issue where the attack from Lesser Yaoguai “Lantern Warden” in Pagoda Realm could push players into walls. – Fixed an issue where the Destined One could get stuck in performing “Whirling Thrusts in Thurst Stance” and become unresponsive. – Fixed an issue where the Destined One could not switch stances properly in the sixth chapter. – Fixed an issue where the Destined One could encounter stats errors in specific situations. – Fixed an issue where the icon for the quest related to Yaoguai Chief “Daoist Mi” would still appear on the Travel menu after the quest became unable to complete. – Fixed an issue where the progress display for collecting Portraits in Journals was incorrect. – Fixed some text errors in Chinese. – Added translations for Portraits in several languages and optimized existing translations. – Added translations for song titles and lyrics in the Music library in several languages and corrected display errors in English lyrics. – Optimized translations for Talents, Equipment, and Inventory in several languages and fixed some text errors. – Improved the layout of subtitles in several languages. – Optimized the translation of loading screen tips in several languages. – Additionally, the devs have identified an issue where setting the system language to Turkish on PS5 causes the game to crash on launch. Similarly, on the PC version, setting the Windows system language to Turkish may lead to occasional crashes during certain boss fights. If you encounter this issue, the current temporary workaround is to change the console language to English or another language via the PS5 main menu: Settings > System > Language > Console Language. For the PC version, please change the Windows display language to English or another language via the operating system settings: Settings > Time & Language > Language & Region > Windows display language. Game Science has also said they are actively working to resolve this issue and will fix it in an upcoming patch and further issued an apology for the inconvenience to players. Once you’ve updated Black Myth: Wukong, be sure to check out whether you’ve missed anything on your adventure, or how to get hold of the powerful Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff.

What is Black Lotus? MTG’s most valuable card Black Lotus is one of the priciest trading cards in the entire world. We’ll break down exactly what has earned this MTG card its absurd price tag. Unlike many other TCGs suffering from power creep, a number of Magic: The Gathering’s earliest cards – especially the Power Nine – are among its most powerful and sought-after. But even within those early offerings, Black Lotus stands apart. So, what exactly is it, and what makes it so powerful and costly? MTG’s Black Lotus explained To date, Black Lotus has only ever been printed in MTG’s first three sets; Alpha, Beta, and Unlimited. Its place on the reserved list ensures that the existing copies of the card are the only playable versions of the card that will ever be available. This scarcity is part of the reason for the card’s exorbitant price, along with its overwhelming power when played. Black Lotus is a zero-cost card that can be tapped and sacrificed for three mana of any color. Playing a card for free and getting three mana out of it is an overwhelmingly useful tradeoff that has never been repeated since. While subsequent cards have echoed the design, they come with significant limitations to curb their power. A clever early use of it can quickly put its player into a commanding lead that the opponent may be unable to catch up to. If it weren’t for its prohibitive cost and scarcity, the majority of all MTG decks would be running as many copies of it as possible. How much does a Black Lotus cost? TCGplayer lists the current price of the Black Lotus from the Beta set as $29,995.00 – and that’s for a copy listed as damaged. The median price of a Beta version is recorded by TCGplayer as $44,650.00. The current highest price a copy has sold for is 540,000.00 at auction. This was an Alpha variation, the rarest of the bunch. While the hype around it may have been temporarily eclipsed by Post Malone’s multi-million buyout of The One Ring, rest assured that Black Lotus remains the king of valuable MTG cards. The One Ring is singular by design, but dwindling copies of it are out there to be sold and collected.

Black Myth Wukong Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff: How to get & crafting recipe Game ScienceBlack Myth: Wukong is filled with powerful weapons and armor to help you along your journey, but few are as useful as the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff. This staff is a Mythical weapon that grants the Destined One the ability to slightly recover health every time they spend a Focus Point after a successful charged heavy attack. On top of this, it also attacks nearby enemies with spines that shoot from the staff, making it a fantastic weapon to wield, if you can get hold of it. However, just like the many missables or bosses in the game, getting hold of the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff isn’t exactly explained. So, here’s how you can get hold of it, and its crafting recipe, to ensure you can actually make it once you unlock the weapon. How to get the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff To get the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff, you’ll need to complete Black Myth Wukong, as it’s only obtained in New Game Plus. Once you complete the game and head into your New Game Plus, you’ll want to upgrade to the Spider Celestial Staff. The Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff serves as an upgrade to that weapon, so you’ll need it beforehand. Crafting recipe To craft the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff, you’ll need the following materials: Will x 45,000 – Sky-Piercing Horn x 4 – Gold Tree Core x4 – Kun Steel x2 – While unlocking it isn’t too tricky (aside from battling all those bosses), crafting it can be a bit frustrating, especially if you don’t have the resources. Luckily, Will isn’t too hard to get. Sure, getting 45,000 is a bit of a slog, but as you go through your adventure, you’re sure to get enough for this upgrade. If not, smash some pots and vases, and battle some smaller minions. Sky-Piercing Horns are found by defeating the bosses Fuban and Scorpionlord. These are found in the Kingdom of Sahali secret area (chapter two) and the Purple Cloud Mountain secret area (chapter four) respectively. Thankfully, getting hold of Gold Tree Cores isn’t too tricky. You’ll get some by completing chapters three, four, and five. Alternatively, you’ll also get Gold Tree Cores by defeating the Violet Spider, The Second Sister, and The Scorpionlord. Kun Steel is found much later on in Black Myth Wukong and is granted by completing chapters four and five. You can also defeat The Duskveil, Yellow Loong, the Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, and Erlang, the Sacred Divinity too. For more information on where to find all these bosses, be sure to check out our guide on all their locations and any you may have missed. Once you have all the resources, head over to the nearest Shrine and craft the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff, then, test it out on a few nearby enemies. So, there you have it, that’s how to get and craft the Adept Spine-Shooting Fuban Staff in Black Myth Wukong. While testing it out, be sure to check out our guides on how to get more Focus Points or all the Shapeshifting forms, just in case you’ve missed anything.

Black Desert Online codes (September 2024): Claim free BDO loot Pearl AbyssAwesome in-game resources like Cron Stones, Enhancement Kits, Memory Fragments, and more are up for the taking with active Black Desert Online (BDO) codes. Thrusting players into a world torn apart by war, this MMO pits fans against one another in a never-ending battle for glory, honor, and, of course, bragging rights. To topple your rival nation, you’ll need to have some seriously good gear behind you. While you can accumulate treasure troves full of loot throughout your in-game travels, you can also use a host of promo codes to top up your inventory. All Black Desert Online rewards (September 2024) There are 8 available active codes that we’ve checked in-game as of September 4, 2024. JINN-AIIS-BIRT-HDAY – 1x Wanderer’s Star, 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll, 5x Memory Fragment, 15x Cron Stone – MAIN-LEAG-UE2V-2024 – x100 Ancient Spirit Dust, x1 Premium Elixir Box – AOSWITHFRIENDS – x60 Seal Of Solare – HYPE4PVP100 – [Event] x3 Glory Of Solare Box – BLAS-IANX-MUTT-BDAY – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Wanderer’s Star, x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – BIGB-UDDY-BIRT-HDAY – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Wanderer’s Star, x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – MERMRAVEBDAY2024 – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Wanderer’s Star, x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – 10YE-ARSO-UTFI-TBOX – [Event] x1 Choose Your 10 Years Outfit Box – BALLHELDINHEIDEL – x1 J’s Hammer Of Loyalty, x1 J’s Hammer Of Loyalty, x1 [Event] Choose Your 10 Years Outfit Box – How to claim BDO codes When it comes to claiming your codes, there are three different ways to do so: Use the ‘Codes’ page on Black Desert Online’s official website. Ensure that you are on the right region, and are signed in on the character you want your rewards on. – Enter a code in the box and click on the Use button to get your free rewards. – – Use the official BDO App Open the Menu and go to the ‘Coupons‘ page. – Enter an active code in the box and redeem it. – – Redeem in-game Click ‘Esc,‘ then Adventurer Support (F11), and select ‘use coupon‘. – Now, type a code in the box and redeem it. – – All expired codes WAKABDAYGIFT2024 – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Wanderer’s Star, x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – THAN-KYOU-DADS-2024 – [Event] x2 All We Need Is Love (Combat) – BIRT-HDAY-ZECC-T024 – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Wanderer’s Star, x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – CAARLCELEBRATION – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll, x1 Wanderer’s Star – MELODINIAJUKEBOX – [Jukebox] It’s My Adventure Now – REISREALBIRTHDAY – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll, x1 Wanderer’s Star – HAPPYBDAYANFEELS – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll, x1 Wanderer’s Star – CELEBRATE3000DAY – [Event] x30 Artisan’s Memory, [Event] Enhancement Help Kit III, [Event] x3 Advice of Memory, [Event] x3 Advice of Immortality, [Event] x3 Advice of Safety, [Event] Special Celerity Box – BLADENZSBIRTHDAY – x15 Cron Stone, x5 Memory Fragment, x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll, x1 Wanderer’s Star – 2023-WITH-CALP-HEON – [Event] x1 Choose Your 2023 Outfit Box / x4 J’s Special Box / x1 Weapon Exchange Coupon Box / x1 Sub-weapon Exchange Coupon / [Event] x1 Choose Your 2023 Outfit Box – THAN-KYOU-MOMS-2024 – [Event] x2 All We Need Is Love (Life) – HAPP-YBDA-YTOK-ARYN – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star – FROS-TYGE-TTIN-GOLD – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star – FIND-THEE-ASTE-REGG – [Event] x1 Rainbow Flondor Goose Egg / [Event] x1 Raindrop Flondor Goose Egg / x1 [Event] Star Pattern Flondor Goose Egg / x1 Flondor Goose Egg Table Décor / x1 Flondor Goose Egg Basket / x1 Flondor Goose Egg Chandelier / x1 Flondor Goose Egg Pot – DOOM-ARDU-ANAT-T331 – x10 Capturing Rope / x5 Lump of Raw Sugar – KONT-AGIO-USBD-AY28 – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Wanderer’s Star / x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – LOON-YSTO-RMBI-GDAY – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll Wanderer’s Star x1 – BDOA-NDAD-VANC-EDGG – [Event] x1 Finto’s Juice Box O’Plenty / [Event] x3 Energy Tonic (L) – WILD-HORS-EDIN-E324 – x10 Capturing Rope / x5 Lump of Raw Sugar – STPA-TRIC-KDAY-2024 – x1 Merv’s Palette (1 Day) / x1 Small Four-leaf Clover / [Event] x3 Cold Dark Beer / x5 Sour Green Grape Juice – BAIR-OGBD-ROUL-ETTE – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll Wanderer’s Star x1 – EUYO-USHA-LLNO-TPAS – x4 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x4 Wish Lantern of Happiness / x4 Firecracker (4) – NAIT-SABA-RROW-ROLL – x4 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x4 Advice of Valks (+40) – GMCH-ADAR-TENJ-OYER – x444 Cron Stone – XBPS-GAME-RSUN-ITED – x444 Cron Stone / x1 Mystical Artisan’s Memory Bundle – FOUR-YEAR-TOGE-THER – x800 Cron Stone / x1 Advice of Valks (+80) / x1 Golden Sunset Supper Set / x4 Firecracker – DAVI-NABD-AYDE-BUTE – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star – VELI-ASVO-GUEE-UVRT – x2 Oasis Box of Secrets / x3 Advice of Memory – VELI-ASVO-GASI-AVRT – x1 Arcana of Fate Box / x3 Advice of Safety – ZETH-TURN-INGF-ORTY – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Wanderer’s Star / x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – 8YEA-RANN-IVER-SARY – x800 Cron Stone / x1 Advice of Valks (+80) / x1 Golden Sunset Supper Set – CAPT-URET-HEMO-MENT – [Jukebox] Party in Florin / Choose Your Luxury Prop Box / x4 Item Collection Increase Scroll – 2024-NEWA-DVEN-TURE – x1000 Cron Stone / x3 Special Food Box / x1 Blessing of Old Moon Pack / x1 Advice of Valks (+100) / x24 Artisan’s Memory / x1 Enhancement Help Kit II / x5 Courser’s Aura / x2 Stonetail Wind’s Meal / x3 Firecracker (HappyNewYear) – 1ONE-2TWO-3333-FOUR – Enhancement Help Kit II / Big Garnier Firecracker Box – DUOD-ECIL-BIRT-HDAY – Cron Stone / Memory Fragment / Item Increase Collection Scroll / Wanderer’s Star – MACS-XMAS-SHOW-CASE – x2 Lara’s Warm Black Tea / x2 Hot Chocolate / x1 Christmas Carpet – DISC-ORD3-0KME-MBER – x1 Shakatu’s Shiny Box (combat) / x1 Shakatu’s Shiny Box (life) / x1 Shakatu Decorated Furniture Set – AFES-TIVE-GIFT-2023 – x1 Advice of Valks / x100 Cron Stone / x2 Blue Christmas Bundle / x1 Christmas Interior Set / x1 Christmas Tree / x4 Choose Your Scroll Box / x2 Energy Tonic (L) / x1 Winter Cosplay Box – CALP-HEON-CLAS-H023 – x100 Ancient Spirit Dust / x2 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x1 Winter Cosplay Box – BLUE-SQUA-DRON-CHEF – x15 Cron Stone / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Wanderer’s Star – CHRI-STMA-SPRE-SENT – x1 Cronar Furniture Box / 1x Christmas Interior Set / x1 Christmas Tree / Winter Night Crystal – DOWN-DOWN-DOWN-DOWN – x1 Magical Elixir / x1 Advice of Valks (+25) / x2 Item Collection Increase Scroll – GETA-TORS-SHOE-SNOW – x3 High-Quality Draught Box / x3 High-Quality Food Box / x5 Item Increase Scroll / x3 Premium Elixir Box / x1 Old Moon Fortune Scroll Box – ZERO-DENS-OULS-TEAL – x3 Giant’s Draught / x3 Superior Whale Tendon Potion – PMCV-ELIA-ROOF-TOPS – x2 Dawnlight Lamp (Event exclusive) / x5 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x2 High-Quality Nacre Cabinet / x2 Morning Muntin Floor Lamp / x2 Ink Wash Painting Folding Screen – BANQ-UETF-ORTH-ANKS – x1 Golden Sunset Food Set / x5 High-Quality Food Box / x3 Moodle Gukbap / x3 Dalbeol Gukbap / x3 Byeot County Gukbap / x200 Cron Stone – NUCT-OURN-EYEU-2023 – x1 Premium Elixir Box / x100 Ancient Spirit Dust – NAVS=EUAT-ORAX-XION – x10 Finto’s Assorted Juice Box / x1,000 Loyalties / x1 Big Garnier Firecracker Box / x3 Crispy Roast Turkey – NAMI-KOSP-ECIA-LDAY – x15 Cron Stone / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star / x5 Memory Fragment – NOVE-MBER-FALL-2023 – x1 Secret Book of Florin / x1 Lara’s Warm Black Tea / x1 Oasis Box of Secrets – AUTU-MNLE-AVES-2023 – x1 Secret Book of Florin / x1 Lara’s Warm Black Tea / x1 Oasis Box of Secrets – 2311-2NDW-EDNE-SDAY – x1 Secret Book of Florin / x1 Lara’s Warm Black Tea / x1 Oasis Box of Secrets – ARSH-ALEA-GUEN-A023 – x100 Ancient Spirit Dust / x1 Premium Elixir Box – ARSH-ALEA-GUEE-U023 – x100 Ancient Spirit Dust / x1 Premium Elixir Box – 1029-CHAM-PION-SHIP – x50 Advice of Valks / x10 Artisan’s Memory / x5 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x1 Supreme Old Moon Scroll / 1,000 Loyalty – CHAM-PION-SHIP-1029 – x300 Cron Stones / x5 Premium Elixir Box / x5 Magical Elixir / 1,000 Loyalty – HAPP-YHAL-LOWE-EN23 – x100 Cron Stones / x3 Black Spirit’s Purple Die / x3 Black Spirit’s Orange Die – GMHA-LLOW-EEND-RIPP – x1 Choose Your Halloween Lighting Box / x1 Enhancement Help Kit II – MAST-ERAR-TIST-SGMS – x3 Black Spirit’s Purple Die / x3 Black Spirit’s Orange Die / x5 Item Collection Increase Scroll – GHOS-TLYH-ALLO-WEEN – x100 Cron Stones / x3 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x1 Enhancement Help Kit III / x3 Halloween Gosphy Cookie / x1 Black Spirit’s Purple Die / x1 Black Spirit’s Orange Die – TOUR-NEYH-YPEN-A023 – x5 Oasis Box of Secrets / x1 Advice of Valks (25-35) – CHAM-PION-SHIP-2023 – x300 Cron Stones / Championship Beer / x1 Advice of Valks (50) / x2 Lara’s Warm Black Tea / x1 Enhancement Help Kit II – 2023-CHAM-PION-SHIP – Championship Beer / Premium Elixir Box / Magical Elixir (Event-exclusive) / Whale Tendon Potion / Loyalty – ASIA-CHAM-PION-SHIP – x100 Cron Stones / x20 Championship Beer / x1 Advice of Valks (40) / x3 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x1 Enhancement Help Kit II / x3 Blessed Message Scroll (120 minutes) – HAPP-YBDA-YCRO-C110 – Wanderer’s Star / Item Collection Increase Scroll – JINN-NAII-BIRT-HDAY – x15 Cron Stones / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star – CELE-BRAT-EFLO-WERS – x15 Cron Stones / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star – WOOT-HEWI-NNER-BDAY – x15 Cron Stones / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll / x1 Wanderer’s Star – HPYB-IRTH-DAYI-GUTI – x15 Cron Stones / x5 Memory Fragment /x1 Item Increase Collection Scroll – TAST-EOFA-DVEN-TURE – x15 Cron Stones / x5 Memory Fragment / x1 Wanderer’s Star / x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll – ONEM-OREJ-HAMM-ER4U – Swimsuit Selection Box, Shudad’s Courier Tier 4, Lollipop Accessory Box – RAID-ELOB-IRTH-DAY1 – x1 Wanderers Star / x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x5 Memory Fragment / x15 Cron Stones – RAID-ELOB-IRTH-DAY1 – x1 Wanderers Star / x1 Item Collection Increase Scroll / x5 Memory Fragment / x15 Cron Stones – CHOI-CE24-HOUR-BDAY – J’s Hammer of Loyalty / – MORN-INGL-IGHT-0614 – x1 Supreme Old Moon Box / x1 Enhancement Help Kit III / x1 Advice of Valks (+70) / x1 Urimok Furniture Set – WOOS-AAWK-CMNG-SOON – x1 Haetae / x1 Choose Your 7-Day Box / x1 Supreme Old Moon Box / x1 [Event] Enhancement Help Kit III / x1 Advice of Valks (+70) – PANS-YSNO-DEEM-PIRE – 3x Energy Tonic (L) – ERIY-ANBD-AYST-REAM – 15x Cron Stones / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll / 1x Wanderer’s Star – DONT-TYPE-RAPO-CODE – 15x Cron Stones / 5x Memory Fragments / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll / 1x Wanderer’s Star – SMAR-TERT-HANT-CHAT – 50x Cron Stones / 3x Item Collection Increase Scroll / Enhancement Help Kit III / 2x Advice of Memory – BDOC-REAT-ORFI-ESTA – 1x Enhancement Help Kit II / 2x Premium Elixir Box / 3x Combat & Skill EXP 300% Scroll (60 minutes) / 5x Red Box of Honor – ANDE-RSBI-RTHD-AYYY – 15x Cron Stones / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll / 1x Wanderer’s Star – TAKE-ACLO-SELO-OK41 – GM’s Letter / 401x Cron Stone – IAMM-AEGU-IAMW-OOSA – 3x Advice of Destiny / 3x Advice of Memory /1x Combat or Life Box / 1x Combat or Life Box – AFTE-RPAR-TYMO-DEON – 20x Artisan’s Memory / 2x Courser’s Aura / 70x Cron Stone / 10x Valks’ Cry / 2x Lara’s Warm Black Tea – FALL-ENBA-IROG-HAAN – 15x Cron Stones / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll (60 min) / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Wanderer’s Star – SAIN-TPAT-RICK-2023 – 2x Cold Dark Beer / 1x Merv’s Palette (1 Day) / 1x Small Four-leaf Clover / 5x Sour Green Grape Juice – 7YEA-RANN-IVER-SARY – 1x Advice of Valks (+77) / 1x Choose Your Shakatu Box / 300x Cron Stone / 1x Enhancement Help Kit III / 1x Mystical Artisan’s Memory Bundle – 7YEA-RBSA-DVEN-TURE – Advice of Memory / 1x Advice of Valks (+40) / 50x Ancient Spirit Dust / 500x Loyalties / 1x Supreme Old Moon Scroll / 1x Whale Tendon Potion – 7777-DISC-ORDE-VENT – 7x Blessed Message Scroll / 7x Item Collection Increase Scroll / 1x Sealed Book of Combat (7 Days) / 1x Sealed Book of Life (7 Days) – HUNT-LERS-BDAY-CODE – 15x Cron Stones / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll (60 min) / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Wanderer’s Star – DAYN-ASBD-AYST-REAM – 15x Cron Stones / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll (60 min) / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Wanderer’s Star – MAEG-UWIT-HAHA-MMER – 1x J’s Hammer of Loyalty – ZETH-ISUN-DERW-ATER – 15x Cron Stones / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Wanderer’s Star – VALE-NTIN-ESGI-FT4U – 3x All We Need Is Love (Combat) / 3x All We Need Is Love (Life) / 1x Valentine Chocolate Pack – CALP-HEON-GIFT-4YOU – 1x Advice of Valks (+150) / 2023x Cron Stone / 1x Haso Teaware Prop Set / 1x J’s Hammer of Loyalty / 500x Marni’s Unstable Fuel / 1x Nostalgia Classic Box / 1x Promise Gift Box Key / 20x Radiant Shakatu’s Seal / 1x Sub-weapon Exchange Coupon / 20x Shining Shakatu’s Seal / 1x Thankful Premium Outfit Box / 1x Urimok Furniture Set / 1x Weapon Exchange Coupon Box – CALP-HEON-QUIZ-SHOW – 10x Giovan Grolin’s Support Scroll / 1x Golden Blessing of Agris Box / 20x Item Drop Rate Increase Scroll / 1x Rare Courser Training Box / 1x Sealed Book of Combat (20 Days) / 1x Sealed Book of Life (20 Days) – ALOO-BDIT-SSTO-OPZZ – 1x Advice of Valks (+40) / 2x High-Quality Food Box/ 1,000x Loyalties / 50x Refined Magical Black Stone / 100x Time-filled Black Stone / 50x Tuvala Ore – JONL-AW30-BIRT-HDAY – 15 x Cron Stones / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll (60 min) / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Wanderer’s Star – MAEG-UHAS-COME-TOUS – 1x Advice of Valks (+50) / 50x Cron Stone / 10x Najunchilgi Chest / 1x Master of Training Box / 3x Special Food Box x3 / 1x Special Rabbit Goody Bag – LAFI-RYKY-ENDL-AIVE – 3x Advice of Safety / 5x Glory of Solare Box / 3x Superior Whale Tendon Potion / 2x Tough Whale Tendon Elixir – NODE-WARS-WITH-RYKY – 3x Advice of Memory x3 / 1x Advice of Valks (+40) / 2x Premium Elixir Box / 5x Red Box of Honor / 5x Valks’ Cry – HAPP-YBIR-THDA-YUNI – 15x Cron Stones / 1x Item Collection Increase Scroll (60 min) / 5x Memory Fragment / 1x Wanderer’s Star – DELO-PHEZ-AROA-RMIN – Glory of Solare Box / Premium Elixir Box / Superior Whale Tendon Potion / Tough Whale Tendon Elixir – 2023-WITH-BDTH-ANKU – Free rewards, including 100x Cron Stones, Firecracker, Megaphone & more – SEAS-ONDR-AKAN-IAGO (Console only) – x1 Combat & Skill EXP 300% Scroll, x1 Splendid EXP Elixir, x1 Enhancement Help Kit II – FIND-OUTY-OURC-LASS – x1 Enhancement Help Kit II, 1x Advice of Safety – SUMM-ERNI-GHTI-NBDC (Console only) – 1x Arcana of Fate Box, 1x Black Spirit’s Special Dice Box – LIFE-SKIL-LLEV-ELUP (Console only) – [Event] 2x Energy Tonic (L) / 1x [Event] Heartwarming Spring Draught / 1 Secret Book of Florin – CHEC-KMYC-HARA-CTER – Advice of Destiny Enhancement Help Kit I – TUVA-LACU-PROU-ND16 (Console only) – 50x Cron Stones, 3x Combat or Life Box – MEMO-RIES-TOGE-THER – 1x Advice of Valks / 10x Combat & Skill EXP 300% Scroll (60-min) / 2,000x Cron Stone / 1x J’s Hammer of Loyalty / 2x J’s Special Box / 2,000x Loyalties / 1x Thankful Premium Outfit Box / 20x Shining Shakatu’s Seal / 500x Marni’s Unstable Fuel / 1x Today’s Fine Steed Training Box / 1x Nostalgia Classic Box – LIFE-SKIL-LTIM-ENOW – [Event] 2x Energy Tonic (L) / 1x [Event] Heartwarming Spring Draught / 1x Secret Book of Florin – JUMP-INTO-ABYS-SONE – 1x Black Spirit Essence / 1x Custom Storage Box / 1x Item Brand Spell Stone – NOWL-IFES-KILL-TIME – 1x Energy Tonic (L) / 1x Perfume of Swiftness / 1x Sealed Book of Life (1 Day) – WHEE-LBAR-ROWR-ACER – 1x Ancient Spirit Dust / 1x Premium Elixir Box / 1x Wanderer’s Star – KRYS-YS1V-1PIC-KUPS (Console only) – 1x Ancient Spirit Dust / 1x Wanderer’s Star / 1x Premium Elixir Box – WHIC-HGUI-LDIS-BEST – 2x Advice of Destiny [Event] / 2x Advice of Safety [Event] / 1x Crystal Extraction Tool / 2x Elion’s Tera [Event] – TIME-2HAV-EFUN-INLA – 1x Book of Life (1 Day) / 1x Giovan Grolin’s Support Scroll [Event] – CALP-HEON-BALL-SOON – 2x Item Collection Increase Scroll / 1x Blessed Message Scroll (120 min) – READ-YFOR-BIGF-IGHT – 2x 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Bizarre Overwatch 2 bug seemingly leaves players “in debt” with a negative balance Blizzard EntertainmentOverwatch 2 players are reporting an issue where – after purchasing skin packs or individual cosmetics – their in-game coin balance goes into negatives and leaves them “in debt.” With Overwatch 2 moving over to free-to-play, a bigger emphasis has been put on the in-game game store. While the first Overwatch gave players the chance to grind out games for cosmetics and different character skins in loot boxes, Overwatch 2 is making most of these items only available via direct purchase. However, it appears that issues with the in-game store are already beginning to pop up. Across Reddit, players are reporting that after purchasing an item, a bug then places them “in debt,” with the implication that they then need to purchase more coins in order to settle up their account. One player commented that a way to “temporarily fix” the issue is by simply restarting the game when this issue pops up. But for the moment, there appears to be no permanent patch or fix at this point in time. Others have been highlighting that this could be a result of players refunding currency, a method that the likes of Diablo Immortal use in similar scenarios. However, the player who reported the problem replied and stated that they hadn’t refunded anything. This isn’t the only bug to plague Overwatch 2. Since launch, the game has faced server issues, problems with merging accounts, and long wait times for those queuing up. Time will tell if developer Blizzard addresses this new in-game currency issue and if there will be a more permanent fix for the negative balance problem in Overwatch 2.

Bizarre PS5 controller possibly revealed in new patents Newly uncovered patents have revealed that Sony could have a rather strange controller in the works for the PS5 – something that is a major change from the usual Dualshock pad. The PlayStation 4 has been going strong ever since it was first announced back in 2013, and subsequently released later that year. It has outsold its rivals in the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch by staggering amounts, and while it is still holding steady, the new generation consoles is almost upon. As the Xbox One gives way for Project Scarlett, Sony will return serve and launch its PS5 over the holiday period of 2020. Dev kits have been spotted in the wild for the new console, as well as its controller, but it appears as if Sony may have something else in the works as well. https://twitter.com/Alcoholikaust/status/1200796076535623681 New patents were uncovered by Let’s Go Digital, revealing that the console giant may have plans for a brick-shaped controller that would allow you to use your console on the go. According to Let’s Go Digital’s findings, the patent was submitted back in July, but took until the end of November to be publicized. It contains an image that shows the layout of the controller – which would include a small screen, the traditional D-Pad, and the button layout that fans have come to know and love. There are also three different menu options, some allowing you to listen to music and check emails, with others saying watch TV, play game, and play downloadable mini-game. Of course, this patent filing isn’t to say that the usual Dualshock controller is dead, but more that Sony may have plans for more functionality – say you’re on the go, like Microsoft’s Project X Cloud. It remains to be seen as to if this controller comes to life, or it’s just something that Sony wants locked down in case they have similar plans down the line.

Bizarre bootleg RPG with Smash Ultimate fighters is making fans lose their minds Super Fighter M – All StarWith the success of Super Smash Brothers, it’s easy to see why some games may try to copy it. Sadly, getting such an incredible cast together is no easy feat to accomplish, unless of course you’re a weird mobile title that doesn’t care about following the law. Super Fighter M – All Star isn’t just a game with an absurd title, it’s also absolutely hilarious with how it takes fighters from Smash Ultimate and adds in ridiculous voices for each one. A series of videos from the game have begun spreading on Twitter and fans are losing their minds over how their characters are portrayed and how they sound. For instance, when scrolling past Link from The Legend of Zelda, the character will say “I don’t like talking very much” in the most non-Link voice imaginable. “Your friend is waiting for you in the garage” This is my new favorite thing lmfao pic.twitter.com/MCGyY7jbOE— PooruBoy (@Pooru_Boy) April 5, 2021 There is some meta humor here though, as Link doesn’t really talk in his own games, minus those infamous CD-I titles from the 90s. Others are even stranger. Wario just shouts “treasure box is mine” and Kirby (yes Kirby) talks in a soft voice about how he “can’t be separated” and Donkey Kong asks about “banana butter pie” – it’s really weird. Perhaps the most bizarre voice line, however, comes from Rosalina who simply says “your friend is waiting for you in the garage.” Considering this line has absolutely no context, it’s easy to see why fans are confused and amazed. While not all of the characters are from Smash, it’s hard to think of another game that featured Mario, Link, Megaman, Cloud, Sonic Pikachu, Mewtwo, Fox, and other gaming mainstays. According to tvtropes, the game was kicked off the Google Play Store and was eventually terminated on March 8, 2021 after failed appeals. Additionally, there were issues with bypassing disabled in-app purchases. The game has since seen a bit of a resurgence in popularity after a tweet showing off the voice lines spread online, racking up nearly 300,000 views in just one day.

BioWare GM reveals how they will speed up Anthem for launch day Electronic ArtsAnthem might have got off on the wrong foot with its slow and not-so VIP demo weekend, but BioWare’s General Manager has confirmed that they intend to speed things up in the game before launch day. Those who played the demo were left shocked many problems with the game, such as infinite loading and entitlement issues, but the most striking was to see how slow things were in Anthem’s social hub, or Tarsis. However, BioWare GM Casey Hudson revealed to GamesRadar that there definitely be a change to the movement of characters in the game before the full version is released. The closed demo limited players to slowly walking around the Tarsis, making what should be a simple route towards their Javelin’s a drag. Anthem’s Executive Producer Mark Farrah claimed that this wasn’t a bug, but rather an intentional move in testing. He said they wanted to make characters feel a “bit underpowered, so you really felt that strong difference between out of the suit and in the suit.” “If you look at most video games, you’re sprinting everywhere and we gave you a jet pack machine for when you’re out in the world, and we really want it to feel like you’re just a person walking around and now you are that person in Iron Man armor.” Despite efforts to create that contrast effect, with a consensus already established to be in favor of a sprint option among potential players, its inclusion in the full game has been confirmed. “There was a run speed that was in [the game]. Then, for some reason, it was out of the game for when that particular build was made. It is back in the main game, anyway” Farrah explained. There’s no guarantee that freelancers will be able to run around Tarsis in the final demo, however, which will be available to all players between February 1-3 – with the full game set for a February 22 release. In the meantime, BioWare will be focusing on fixing server problems which Anthem players experienced in the VIP demo, as well as some other hotfixes to ensures its actual launch is not plagued with the same issues as the demo.

BioWare layoffs have fans worried for Dragon Age & Mass Effect BiowareThe announcement that BioWare has laid off dozens of employees, including a writer responsible for iconic characters, has fans wondering if the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect games will live up to expectations – if they release at all. BioWare, the developer responsible for Dragon Age, Mass Effect, the first two Baldur’s Gate games, and so many other iconic titles, has made a disappointing announcement. In a message from the studio’s general manager, Gary McKay, BioWare announced it has eliminated around 50 positions at the company, including several senior staff members. The news has fans and other developers sharing their support for those who were laid off. Beyond that, though, it’s raising some serious concerns about the future of the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, both of which have new entries in development. Fan are concerned about Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and Mass Effect 4 Those laid off include writers Luke Kristjanson, who worked on the original Baldur’s Gate, and Mary Kirby, who was responsible for many elements of the Dragon Age series, such as Varric Tethras. The announcement prompted a reaction from Dragon Age creator David Gaider, who left the studio in 2016. Gaider also shared his support for others impacted by the layoffs. Fans have also reacted with concern for those impacted, developers still at the studio, and what this means for BioWare’s franchises. Many have had their concerns about the studio and how its owner, Electronic Arts, was steering it. EA is known for favoring live service and multiplayer games over single-player experiences like the ones BioWare is known for. Following the latest update, even those who had remained optimistic are voicing concerns. Tell Gary McKay that Dragon Age and Mass Effect shouldn’t be named as such going forward if you are laying off the great individuals who helped put them together. — Marcus (@MrEverything__) August 24, 2023 You laid off the woman who wrote the damn Chant for crying out loud. Wake up BioWare. This is disgraceful. Some are even theorizing that the layoffs are a sign of BioWare’s impending demise. The last few years have also seen a lot of turnover at BioWare, including senior staff members like Mass Effect creator Casey Hudson and Dragon Age executive producer Mark Darrah. On top of that, Mass Effect: Andromeda and Anthem were not nearly as well-received as past titles from the studio. Fans hoped Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the next Mass Effect would represent a return to form for BioWare. Both series have been dormant for a while, and despite key developers leaving, announcements like Mass Effect remaining a single-player experience were viewed as positive signs. While Dragon Age: Dreadwolf is pretty far along in development, with the latest rumors suggesting it will release between mid-2024 and early 2025, Mass Effect still being in pre-production has fans wondering if the new game will actually happen. Regardless of what happens next, so many of the people who made Mass Effect or Dragon Age what they are have left or been pushed out of BioWare, and it’s clear the franchises will never be the same again.

BioWare dev reveals incredible social hub feature for Anthem Electronic ArtsBioWare has added an incredible social hub feature to Anthem and many fans are getting excited about it already. The feature, which was revealed by the project’s lead producer Michael Gamble, shows that players will have two options to choose from once they’ve completed missions. Instead of just pursuing their next adventure, he revealed that you’ll be able to stop off at two different locations. “After a mission, you can head back to the Tarsis and catch up with some of the amazing characters we’ve created for you, or head back to the brand new Launch Bay” he tweeted. Launch Bay is a location that will allow you to communicate with up to 16 other online players in a social hub setting, perhaps to stop off to grab another contract with friends before starting the next chapter of the game’s story. The video below gives us an idea of not just how the place looks, but also see the ways in which characters will move in this environment. After a mission, you can head back to Tarsis and catch up with some of the amazing characters we’ve created for you…OR…head back to the brand new Launch Bay, hang out with your friends, use the forge, reload and grab a new contract. Yeah, we listened to you… details soon! pic.twitter.com/m5sp96IpDh — Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) January 23, 2019 He ended his tweet with: “Yeah, we listened to you.” Judging by the reaction to this addition, people seem very pleased with Gamble and his team right now. Anthem has already been showcased in a number of gameplay livestreams, but BioWare has been particularly careful in terms of not giving too much of the story away. Yeah. We gutted it for the demo so not everything is story spoiled https://t.co/7ki5gL0dud — Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) January 24, 2019 The chief producer also revealed that this same careful approach has been taken with the creation of the game’s demo, of which there will be two versions. The VIP demo, which is available to everybody that has pre-ordered the game or has EA Access between January 25-27, or the basic demo which will be live between February 1-3. We’ve also put together a list of everything we know about Anthem so far, including trailers release dates and rumors. Follow @Dexerto on Twitter to keep up with all of the latest news.

Everything we know about BioShock 4: Open-world leaks, platforms, setting, more 2K Games10 years have passed since the release of BioShock: Infinite, meaning BioShock 4 gets closer every day. From the setting of the next entry to leaked details of an open-world twist, here’s everything we know about the future of the franchise. From the gloomy depths of Rapture to the astonishing heights of Columbia, BioShock has taken players far and wide throughout its three mainline titles. What started in 2007 as a standalone release came to an end in 2014 with the final episode of Burial at Sea. Ever since, the franchise has remained dormant. After years of development hell and reported internal reboots, the next BioShock was officially made real in 2019. However, the public announcement doesn’t seem to have stopped further troubles from compounding internally. While details remain scarce on the next entry in the BioShock franchise, here’s a rundown of everything we know thus far. Contents: Is there a BioShock 4 release date yet? – BioShock 4 platforms – BioShock Isolation & open-world leaks – When and where is BioShock 4 set? – Is there a BioShock 4 release date yet? Today, 2K announced the founding of Cloud Chamber, its newest development studio. This team of storytellers has begun work on the next iteration of the acclaimed @BioShock franchise, which will be in development for the next several years. Learn more: https://t.co/L5hMVADxvY pic.twitter.com/SPvVVZoFCQ — 2K United Kingdom (@2K_UK) December 9, 2019 There is no release date for the next BioShock game just yet. Despite confirming its existence in a 2019 announcement, BioShock 4 had seemingly only just begun development at that stage. No exact timeline was provided along with this reveal. Instead, 2K Games outlined that the project “will be in development for the next several years.” Given it’s a brand new studio taking the reins, it could also take longer than a typical AAA timeframe. This means we’re more than likely looking at anywhere from 2024 onwards as a safe bet. Considering previous delays in the franchise to boot, don’t expect to have your hands on the next BioShock for quite some time. Furthermore, supposed leaks in 2023 claim the title is still in “development hell” to this day. According to a prominent insider on Twitter, the project was once again rebooted in 2022, its fourth restart all up. “The game is currently being drastically rewritten,” they claimed. “The narrative team has faced the biggest challenges, as they have been ‘unable to write a script worthy of a renowned franchise’ over these years. This became a key factor of the reboot,” the leaker claimed. Additionally, the pointed to a reliance on contractors and “very high staff turnover” as signs of disorganization within the studio. BioShock 4 platforms Since the next BioShock is still a few years out, that all but confirms what platforms we’ll be seeing it on. There’s a very slim chance that the PS4 and Xbox One hardware will support the title. As a result, it’s safe to assume BioShock 4 will launch across the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, and PC. BioShock Isolation & open-world leaks As Cloud Chamber looks to bolster its development team, the studio has been hiring for all manner of roles. While little is known about the game itself, a number of these job listings have revealed some major details. A Senior Writer was previously in hot demand as the team is looking to “weave impactful, character-driven stories in an open-world setting.” Not only that, but an AI Programmer’s role required the development of a new “urban crowd system.” Additionally, mission content has been listed as “primary and secondary,” further hinting at the notion of a broader game. #Bioshock Isolation (title may change) logo variant – Set in a new-to-franchise isolated dystopian city – Unreal Engine 5 – Developed by Irrational Games veterans and people who worked on Watch Dogs: Legion, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Mafia 3, Deus Ex: MD – Announcement Q1 2022 pic.twitter.com/BwyXKp1LKK— Oops Leaks (@oopsleaks) November 17, 2021 Additional leaks have teased the name ‘BioShock Isolation’ as a possibility. While there’s no verifying these claims just yet, not only did the source provide a potential logo, but also further details that align with previous leaks. Bioshock Isolation may be set in “a new-to-franchise isolated dystopian city,” according to the leaks. In fact, this dystopia could even be split in two, according to an alleged slide from a Bioshock pitch. A slide from the new #Bioshock game pitching presentation. There might be two cities with radically different ideology, one of them located underground right below the other, both sharing a “flipside” border zone with an unleashed “vertical war”. pic.twitter.com/Cy6fddJmV1 — Oops Leaks (@oopsleaks) November 27, 2021 “There might be two cities with a radically different ideology,” leaks claim. “One of them located underground right below the other, both sharing a ‘flipside’ border zone with an unleashed ‘vertical war.’ It’s obviously worth taking this information with a grain of salt for now. When and where is BioShock 4 set? The BioShock series stood out in large part due to its idyllic man-made locations. Where might the next daring leader carve out their utopia? We’ll just have to wait and see what 2K has in mind. But according to a report by VGC and their sources: “BioShock 4 will take place during the 1960s in a fictional Antarctic city. Narratively, the game will be tied to the previous BioShock games. “We want you to help us breathe life into a new and fantastical world,” one such listing read. While it doesn’t help us pinpoint the next title, we know for definite that earlier locations are off-limits. We’ve been sky-high and deep underwater, so what does leave for the next entry? If BioShock 4 is to follow its roots, a brand new community could take over and establish its borders just about anywhere on Earth. After all, wherever there’s a lighthouse, there’s always going to be a city. Perhaps it’s even time for the series to take us into a futuristic city out in space. We’re sure to have an exact date and location locked in well before release, so we’ll keep you updated.

Bioware confirm next Mass Effect game will be single player Electronic ArtsMass Effect developer Bioware have confirmed the newest Mass Effect title will follow in the same footsteps of its predecessor’s and be a big single player experience. While Bioware appears hard at work on developing the newest entry in the Dragon Age series, the company is still slowly chipping away at development for their brand new Mass Effect game. In the latest Dragon Age: Dreadwolf update, Bioware General manager Gary McKay briefly spoke at the end about their other big gaming franchise, Mass Effect. McKay said that there is a team “hard at work envisioning what the future holds for a new single-player Mass Effect game.” From the sounds of things, the game is still very much in early pre-production and it is likely the development team will shift their focus on Mass Effect after they are done working on Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. While the new Mass Effect game was first teased back in 2020, not much else has been revealed about the game. The brief teaser trailer hints at the return of Shepard and fan-favorite character Liara T’Soni. However, Bioware are yet to confirm if the next Mass Effect will be a continuation of Shepards journey, the events of Mass Effect Andromeda or tell a completely fresh story all together. While Mass Effect: Andromeda was unable to live up to the success of the original Mass Effect Trilogy, the franchise is still a beloved video game universe. It has been reported that EA and Amazon have been working on cementing a deal that will lead to the latter then developing a TV series set in the Mass Effect universe, demonstrating the love fans have. Bioware — and the Mass Effect community — also celebrate the gaming series of November 7 every year. With November right around the corner, time will tell if Bioware will choose this year’s N7 day to provide a new and exciting update on the next Mass Effect instalment.

BioWare reveals depth of Anthem’s story with incredible new gameplay video Anthem Game, YouTubeBioWare has kicked off their gameplay series of videos for their upcoming Anthem title, giving potential players a closer look at the role they will play in the story. Players will be able to fly, swim, fight and explore anywhere across the futuristic planet, working together as a group of pirates, accepting quests to battle against many of the different evils that the world has to offer. This interesting new video – which has been uploaded to Anthem Game’s official YouTube channel – showed not only how the story mode would look, but gave us some more insight about the specialists, weapons and other customization that it has to offer. “Before you head out, you have a choice on a number of objectives and ways to play” the narrator explains. “Continue your critical story mission, pick up quests from people in the fort – including people in your crew – enter one of the formidable strongholds or explore the open world in free play.” Players will start out by having the chance to customize their four base javelin suits, creating loadouts for different play styles. This will all contribute towards the effectiveness of their javelin. Read More: Dr Disrespect declares unexpected final verdict between Fortnite and PUBG There are two weapons that feature in-focus during this gameplay video. The first is the Hammerhead assault rifle, which has the lowest rate of fire of its class, but has “great striking power” according to its description. Alongside that, there’s a semi-automatic Sniper Rifle called a Wyvern Blitz, which can be seen below. Anthem will also have matchmaking in every one of its activities, according to one of the lead producers Ben Irving, who has already revealed that it will be a default option. While that looks to be great news for solo gamers that might not have a squad ready to play with in time for the February 22 release date, should you not want to use matchmaking, there will be the option to disable it.

Biggest hero buffs & nerfs in Deadlock’s August 29 patch ValveValve has dropped Deadlock’s August 29 update, and it’s a massive one with a lot of nerfs and buffs to heroes. So, here are the biggest winners and losers from the patch. Being in its early Alpha stage, Deadlock is bound to keep getting a lot of updates. Nonetheless, this one takes the cake, adding in new movement mechanics like wall jumping, a whole host of item changes, and more. Half of the game’s hero roster wasn’t immune to changes either, with most getting buffs, nerfs, or balance changes to their kit, and this will undoubtedly shake up tier lists. So, we will rundown through each hero and the changes they received to see if they won or lost with the new patch. Note: We have skipped Paradox as he only got a bug fix Winner and losers from Deadlock’s August 29 update Abrams Despite the joke from Valve claiming that Abrams doing pulls ups on the zipline is a buff, the hero really did get a slight buff. Now, his Infernal Resilience regeneration time will be upped to 18 seconds, rather than its old 16 seconds. This means you’ll get healing from it for a slightly longer time, which is a plus. Other than that, Abrams mostly got some bug fixes to his Shoulder Charge and Seismic Impact, so don’t expect Abrams to suddenly become dominant. Bebop When it comes to Bebop, he got a slight buff to his weapon, with its range increasing from 30 meters to 32. Other than that, Bebop didn’t get any other significant buffs, other than quality of life changes to his hook now targeting enemies by default and Hyper Beam now being cancellable by using Parry. So, Bebop is yet another hero who may have got a buff, but won’t be soaring through tier lists just yet. Dynamo Dynamo took quite the hit with this patch, with a whole host of nerfs being made to the lovable scientist. His base bullet damage has been reduced from 15 to 13, and not only was his Singularity’s cast time increased from 0.1 to 0.2, but its range was reduced from 9 meters to 8. Although he got a few quality-of-life improvements – being able to cancel Rejuvenating Aurora with parry and fixing Kinetic Pulse’s hit range – overall it’s still a nerf. It may not be the nastiest nerf on the list, however, it’s still a downgrade from before. Grey Talon Grey Talon got a balance change and it sees him get quite the shake up, although it’s hard to say if it’s a total nerf or buff. His Charged Shot took quite the nerf, with its collision size reducing by 8%, its base damage reducing from 105 to 100, and its level 2 upgrade reducing its buff from +70 to +65. Other than that, his Immobilizing Trap received a change, with its duration being reduced from 2 seconds to 1.25, but will now apply a 50% movement slow for a second after the root. Additionally, its level 2 upgrade got buffed from +1 second to +2. On top of this, his fire rate scales with your Spirit Power by x0.25 and you can use multiple air dashes while using Rain of Fire. Overall, it’s quite tricky to say if Talon got a nerf or buff. If you’re just looking at his poke potential, especially in his Charged Shot, it’s a significant nerf, but the rest of his changes were quite the buff. So, Talon really just got a balance change rather than a nerf or buff, but you may need to change up how you’re playing him now. Haze If there is winner from the patch, Haze may be it. Sleep Dagger got quite the buff, with its impact damage now happening immediately rather than after the brief drowsy period, and its cooldown has been reduced from 27 seconds to 25. Although the drowsy period was increased from 0.25 seconds to 0.35, it isn’t enough to be very noticeable. Bullet Dance now also gives +2 Weapon Damage at its base and combined with the slight increase to her Bullet Damage from 5.3 to 5.6, this makes it a great buff. Additionally, Fixation’s level 2 max stacks have been increased from +30 to +40, meaning you’ll be able to shred through health bars much quicker. To top it all off, Haze’s Smoke Bomb radius has been reduced from 20 meters to 18, meaning you can get closer to enemies while invisible. Overall, Haze is a winner of this patch and should help her weak laning phase. Infernus Infernus may not be the biggest loser this patch, but he definitely took quite the hit. Much of his nerfs focused on his Flame Dash. Now being affected by slows and its vertical reach being reduced, with its level 1 upgrade’s Fire Rate slow being reduced from 7 seconds to 6. Although as a consolation, the trail will now get wider with Ability Range. Additionally, Catalyst had a few changes, with its base damage amplification being reduced from 30% to 25% and its level 2 upgrade’s lifesteal being reduced from +20% to +15%. Although, level 3’s damage amplification was buffed from +10% to +15%. Overall, these changes are meant to shift his oppressiveness from the early game and more into the late game, but it still comes with some nerfs. Ivy Ivy may be the biggest loser from the patch as Gargoyle has been given quite the hefty nerf. The biggest hit she took was to her Air Drop. Its self-cast time was increased to 2 seconds from 1, and its max speed was reduced from 20 to 18, meaning you’ll be more vulnerable. Additionally, the strat of becoming a horrifying attack drone with Seven with your Air Drop has been massively nerfed as allies will deal 50% less damage while being carried, although they are no longer silenced. The ult also got a fair few quality-of-life changes in its movement and to its bomb, now being able to go up and down while in flight. Ivy’s Watcher’s Covenant also got a slight nerf to its level 2 upgrade from +3 m/s to +2 m/s. Overall, Ivy has taken quite the nerf which will no doubt see her current place in tier lists, and potential ult combos, go down with this patch. Kelvin Kelvin wasn’t exactly the greatest hero pre-patch, luckily he has gotten much-needed buffs. He saw a good amount of buffs to his Arctic Beam, with an increase to its max slow from 60% to 80%, and it now has the ability to secure and deny Soul Orbs. But as a balance, its level 3 upgrade’s range was reduced from 15 meters to 13. Additionally, Frost Grenade’s level 2 healing increased from 135 to 145, which should make him a slightly more viable healer for your team. And with an increase in his bullet radius from 5 to 6 and an increase in health growth per boon from 60% to 80%, Kelvin is eating well. Although just how much better he will become in the meta remains to be seen, so we’re reluctant to really say he won big in this patch. Lash Lash got one of the smallest changes in this patch, mostly quality of life changes if anything. The devs improved his firing arm so it doesn’t obstruct the reticle too much and Grapple no longer gives a stamina charge when used, which was a feature of grapple that doesn’t look to have been intended in the first place. Overall, he didn’t really gain much or lose much, although losing the ability to gain a stamina with grapple is a shame. Despite Pocket being quite the menace, it seems the devs like their current place in the meta, only giving a small change. Barrage’s damage amplification has been reduced from 8% to 7% per stack, which is a slight nerf. Other than a bug fix to Barrage’s amp visual, they didn’t get much change. Even though they received a slight nerf, it is tiny and will mostly not have an effect on their place in the meta. Seven For the most part, Seven got a few buffs, making it a nice update for him. Static Charge sees a small buff in its radius increasing to 6 meters from 5 and its level 2 upgrade’s radius increasing to 8 meters. Storm Cloud is where we see a nerf, as its Spirit Power scaling has been reduced from 1.1 to 0.8. Other than that, its time to reach max radius has reduced to 3 seconds from 6, and it now provides +20% at its base, making you less vulnerable. This means Seven most definitely won in this update as you’re now less vulnerable when you’re using Storm Cloud. Shiv Shiv got a fair few nerfs in this patch, although it doesn’t make him completely irrelevant. Slice and Dice’s level 2 damage upgrade was reduced from +100 to +85, and now only considers creeps as half value for your rage meter. Additionally, Bloodletting’s deferred damage has been reduced to 30% from 35%. He also got some slight nerfs to his bullet damage and health regen. However, Shiv got a buff to his weapon with a reduction in its fall-off range. Overall, Shiv lost quite a bit in this patch, especially in his Slice and Dice, but still remains quite strong under the right hands. Vindicta Vindicta also only got a fair few changes in this update, with these just being some slight nerfs. Stake’s duration was reduced from 2.25 seconds to 2, and Crow Familiar’s Spirit Power duration scaling was reduced from 0.05 to 0.04. Other than a quality of life change, this is it, and even though she has gotten a nerf, it’s honestly not enough for most players to even notice. Viscous Viscous got a lot of changes in this patch, with even ability upgrade changes as well, but for the most part was a buff. The worst part of his kit was his weapon, which has now been reworked. The primary first has been redesigned with better damage and scaling, and now has an alt-fire that deals non-headshot AOE damage. Splatter’s damage also got some changes, with its Spirit scaling increasing to 1.5 from 1.4, and the damage on the second and third hits increased to 70% and 50% from its old 66% and 33%. Puddle Punch sees the most changes out of all the abilities. Its level 2 and 3 upgrades have been changed. Level 2 will now give +50 damage and +20% movement slow from its old -10 second cooldown, and level 3 will now give a -12 second cooldown from its +80% damage and +20% movement slow. It also sees a damage increase as it’s dealt 110% of light melee rather than 100%. Goo Ball also got a buff, with its acceleration, spirit scaling, and turn radius being increased. Overall, this is a fantastic change and makes our lovable slime ball the absolute winner from this patch. Warden Warden got some slight nerfs, although nothing too drastic. His base movement speed was reduced to 6 from 6.5 and his fire rate scaling with Spirit damage was reduced slightly from 0.375 to 0.3 fire rate per spirt. Overall, this is a very small nerf and will most likely not have much of an effect on most players. Yamato Yamato got some small buffs in the patch, although nothing to go crazy about. Power Slash’s max damage time was reduced to 1.4 seconds rather than 1.5 seconds, and its collision radius was reduced by 8%. Crimson Slash’s radius was reduced from 12 meters to 13. Other than a few bug fixes, it isn’t much of a buff. Although these small changes are nice, they won’t be breaking the meta any time soon. That’s all there is when it comes to hero changes from the August 29 patch folks! For some heroes, things have changed drastically, but for many others, not much has changed. Obviously the meta will undoubtedly shift over time, so we will have to wait and see how it transforms. For now, you can check out our hero tier list here.

12 huge Hollywood stars you didn’t know appeared in video games Ubisoft / Konami / Sony Computer EntertainmentCelebrities have been making appearances in video games for decades, like Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker on the Sega Megadrive and Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out on the NES. It’s a sure-fire way to get people talking. As production quality improves and games continue to dominate the entertainment world, more A-listers than ever are being tempted to make appearances in the most exciting top-tier releases. Just recently, we’ve seen Norman Reedus and Conan O’Brien in Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding, and Keanu Reeves will star in Cyberpunk 2077 (when it finally comes out) as Johnny Silverhand. But not all celebrity appearances are as well-remembered or widely-regarded as those above. We’ve rounded up 9 of the biggest Hollywood stars who you might not know appeared in video games. Rami Malek in Until Dawn Before he became a household name, playing hacker Elliot Alderson in Mr Robot and Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek starred in PS4 interactive horror drama Until Dawn, from the creators of The Dark Pictures Anthology. He played Josh, for which both his likeness and voice were used, and starred opposite Hayden Panettiere in the game. You might remember her as Claire ‘The Cheerleader’ Bennet in Tim Kring’s superhero series Heroes. Matthew Perry in Fallout: New Vegas Matthew Perry rose to fame playing Chandler Bing in 90s sitcom Friends, but he also voiced a secondary antagonist called Benny in Fallout: New Vegas. Perry’s love for Fallout 3 is supposedly what landed him the role, after he appeared on The Ellen Show with a copy of the game in 2009. “I played this video game so often that I injured my hand so severely that I had to go to a hand doctor and get injections in my hand because I love this video game so much,” he said at the time. Snoop Dogg in True Crime: Streets of LA Snoop Dogg – formerly Snoop Doggy Dogg, and briefly Snoop Lion – has had a long and varied career. He’s been a rapper, an actor, a chef alongside Martha Stewart, and the face of UK food delivery app Just Eat. He was also a playable character in 2003 open-world game True Crime: Streets of LA, which tasked the player with heading up an undercover task force to stop Russian and Chinese gangs overtaking the City of Angels. Snoop was unlocked after the player collected 30 Dogg Bones scattered throughout Los Angeles (or by entering a cheat code). He also came with his own mini-game called Dogg Patrol, and even recorded music for the soundtrack. Kristen Bell in Assassin’s Creed She’s probably most well-known as the voice of Princess Anna in Disney’s behemoth of a franchise, Frozen, but The Good Place star Kristen Bell also contributed her vocal talents to Ubisoft’s popular Assassin’s Creed series of games. Bell first lent her voice and likeness to the character Lucy Stillman in the original 2007 game Assassin’s Creed, and later reprised the role in 2009’s Assassin’s Creed II and 2010’s Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood. Patrick Stewart in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow He’s got one of the most recognizable voices in Hollywood thanks to roles as Charles Xavier in X-Men and Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek, so it’s no surprise that Patrick Stewart is in high-demand for video games like Lego Universe and The Elder Scrolls. Stewart’s biggest video game roles were in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 1 & 2. As well as taking on the role of narrator, he played Zobek, a founding member of the Brotherhood of Light and one of the Lords of Shadow who aids protagonist Gabriel. Ice Cube in Call of Duty: Black Ops Ice Cube has found success in various forms of entertainment, from music to movies and TV, and in 2010 he tried his hand at video game voice acting in Call of Duty: Black Ops, where he portrayed Chief Petty Officer Joseph Bowman. Bowman appeared in almost every mission played by protagonist Mason, until he was killed by a Spetsnaz Operative in the campaign mission Payback. Chloë Grace Moretz in Dishonored Chloë Grace Moretz rose to fame at just 13-year-old when she played Hit-Girl in 2010 superhero movie Kick-Ass, and has gone on to star in several big-budget movies including Dark Shadows, 2013’s Carrie remake, and the upcoming live-action Tom & Jerry adaptation. She also found time to voice the young princess Emily Kaldwin in Bethesda’s Dishonored. The game had a star-studded cast of voice actors, including Oscar-winner Susan Sarandon and Star Wars actor Carrie Fisher. Gary Oldman in The Legend of Spyro We all know him as Commissioner Jim Gordon in Christopher Nolan’s acclaimed trilogy of Batman movies, but British actor Gary Oldman has also lent his voice to a number of video game franchises including two Call of Duty entries. Lesser known, however, is his work on the Legend of Spyro trilogy games, where he voiced fire dragon Ignitus opposite Elijah Wood’s iconic hero Spyro. Ricky Gervais in Grand Theft Auto IV With the help of British sitcom The Office and his recent smash hit Netflix series After Life, Ricky Gervais has become arguably one of the world’s most famous comedians-turned-actors. But his stand-up roots remain in Grand Theft Auto IV, where his likeness was recreated in the game. He can be found at the Split Sides comedy club performing an original routine that players could watch in full. Christina Aguilera in The Sims: Superstar The Sims is one of the most well-known and beloved video game franchises in the world, and has often partnered with celebrities like Katy Perry and Carly Rae Jepsen to promote their games. But you might not remember that singer and actor Christina Aguilera appeared alongside a number of other pop stars including Avril Lavigne, Jon Bon Jovi, and Jennifer Lopez in a 2003 expansion pack called Superstar. Phil Collins in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Another unlikely celebrity cameo in Grand Theft Auto was Phil Collins, the chart-topping soft rock icon and former member of the band Genesis. He appeared in the 80s-centric Vice City Stories, and was the first celebrity to ever play themselves in a Grand Theft Auto game. There’s even a quest named after him, the appropriately-titled In The Air Tonight. Gary Coleman in The Curse of Monkey Island As well as a bizarre appearance as himself in Postal 2, actor and comedian Gary Coleman also voiced Kenny Falmouth in The Curse of Monkey Island, the third installment of LucasArts’ iconic point-and-click Monkey Island series and the first to feature voice acting. Falmouth ran a lemonade stand with a sneaky ‘bottomless mug’ policy before starting a new business selling cannons for the player’s pirate ship, all while speaking with Coleman’s inimitable voice.

Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants – Should you buy the D&D book? Wizards of The CoastBigby Presents: Glory of Giants is the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons sourcebook, bringing players and DMs a deep dive into all things Giant and Giantkind. If you’re wondering whether you should buy it for your collection or game, here’s what we thought. 2023 has been a whirlwind for Wizards of the Coast and Dungeons & Dragons. But, despite being more than halfway through the year, five exciting new books are on the horizon, bringing a new campaign, adventure, sourcebook and so much more. One such upcoming sourcebook is Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants which grants fans an in-depth look into the world of the tall, featuring new feats, monsters, lore, subclasses, and so much more. So, is the book worth buying? Well, here’s what we think. Cementing Giants into the world of D&D Dungeons & Dragons has moved on dramatically from its original subject matter. Sure, few experiences match getting together with friends and taking down a deadly dragon, but now, there are new enemies or friends in town. Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants seems to represent that new era of the popular TTRPG, bringing fans a detailed account of an often undiscovered realm and introducing a goldmine of new features along with it. The new elements and features are truly where this sourcebook shines. One of the primary features present are the additions to character creation, including a thrilling subclass for the Barbarian, plenty of Giant-themed backgrounds, and eight powerful feats to help players looking to create a larger-than-life experience within their character, or granting them the power of these fantastical creatures. On top of this, Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants features over 60 brand new beasts to take on or design, each proving more ferocious and exciting than the last. Then there are the helpful adventure aids to create your own one-shot or encounter, Giant Enclaves to set the scene of battle or conversation, and Giant Treasures to give players everything they might need to navigate the exciting realm. Perfect for players and DMs alike One of the best elements of Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants is its transferability. Whether you’re a player or a DM looking to run a new Giant-themed campaign, or even stick Giants into your adventure, this book is ideal. It comes with imperative character-building and feats for players and a treasure trove of content for a DM. That being said, however, when taking into consideration the pure amount of lore, art, and details laced within this book, it doesn’t really matter who you are around the D&D table, this book is worth a read. Especially if you want to dive into the rich history behind these majestic creatures. Who knows, you may even be inspired to create your own adventure based around Giants. Ultimately, with rich lore scattered throughout the beautiful artwork and the features from character creation to adventure hooks, it becomes clear this book is perfect for both DMs and players alike. The Alt cover Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants comes in two different versions, the traditional cover, featuring Bigby stealing a Giant Goose’s golden egg, and the alternative cover, depicting Bigby playing a giant version of chess. It’s worth noting that the inside is exactly the same for both, so you won’t get any difference if you purchase the traditional cover or the alternative design. That being said, sure, the Alt book is no different really when compared, but the artwork on the Alt cover is just outstanding. If you’re looking to use this as both a display piece and a useful sourcebook, then the Alt cover is the purchase you need to make. In fact, even if you weren’t looking to make this a display piece, then you will likely make space once you purchase it, it’s exactly what I did. The Alt cover has a beautiful matt design, making certain elements look almost 3d in the right light. Ultimately, we recommend purchasing the Alt cover of Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants, purely for that beautiful design and premium quality – and that’s without even mentioning the back of it. Should you buy Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants? So, should you buy Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants? Ultimately, yes. This book is stunning on the inside and out, is packed with exciting new tools to upgrade your D&D campaign, and works perfectly for all those sitting around the physical or virtual table. Whether you’re looking for a way to step up your D&D game or if you’re a DM thinking about introducing your players to a world run by Giants instead of Dragons, then this is the book for you. If anything, it’s worth grabbing for the artwork alone. The physical copy of Bigby Presents: Glory of the Giants releases on August 15, 2023. If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Report: Beyond Good and Evil 2 is still “years away” UbisoftSources allegedly familiar with Beyond Good and Evil 2’s development claim the sequel is still many years out from release. Ubisoft and its Montpellier-based production team formally unveiled the title during E3 2017. A teaser trailer accompanied the news, as did a few details about the story and co-op features. Nothing of substance has come out of the project since then, however. And its internal development woes have critics and players alike wondering if it’ll ever see the light of day. Notably, series creator Michel Ancel resigned in 2020, reportedly due to allegations of workplace misconduct. The claims, which Ancel denied, insist his toxic behavior directly impacted Beyond Good and Evil 2’s troubled production cycle. Though Ubisoft noted in a July 2021 financial report that development was “progressing well,” new details indicate the wait for the sequel won’t end anytime soon. Beyond Good and Evil 2’s release is still years out Writing for eXputer, industry insider Tom Henderson said the sources he’s spoken to believe the game is “years away” from launch and in desperate need of direction. Another of Henderson’s sources claimed they had “no idea what [they were] doing when playing.” Having seen footage and screenshots of the work-in-progress, Henderson thinks the final product is out at least two years out. This particular update comes weeks after Beyond Good and Evil 2 reportedly began external playtesting. And just last week, former WoW Narrative Designer, Sarah Arellano, announced she’d joined the BGE2 crew as Lead Writer. If there’s still story content to be written, it makes sense that Beyond Good and Evil 2’s release won’t soon grace store shelves. Hopefully, those who’ve waited for nearly 20 years can stand to hold out for a little while longer.

Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition officially announced following leaks UbisoftBeyond Good & Evil is getting its second remaster with news regarding the sequel still quiet. After some initial leaks, Ubisoft officially announced the Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition. Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil is one of the most beloved video games of all time and fans have been desperate for a sequel. Beyond Good & Evil 2 was revealed in May 2008, but since then its development has languished. The last official news of the sequel was a report that the game is still “years away” according to sources close to the developers. Less officially, Beyond Good & Evil 2 entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest development period for a video game. Take that Skull & Bones. Well, fans may still have years to wait for a sequel, but a remaster of the much-loved original is on its way. Following a major leak, Ubisoft announced the Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Edition via the Beyond Good & Evil 2 X account. Referencing the initial leak, the company responded openly about the upcoming remaster. “Well, looks like the cat’s out of the bag, dagnammit. Happy 20th anniversary to Beyond Good & Evil!” it said. The announcement was in response to an internal mistake that uploaded an early version of the game to the company’s Game Pass-like subscription service. Certain Ubisoft Plus subscribers were even able to download and play it before Ubisoft took action. “An early development version of Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition was recently released to some Ubisoft Plus subscribers by mistake,” the company explained. “We apologize for any confusion and want to assure our community that this version is not indicative of the final game.” Ubisoft reiterated that they were investing significant resources into ensuring that fans would be happy with the remaster. “As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Beyond Good & Evil, our commitment to delivering a game that meets the high expectations of our fans is unwavering.” Fans responding to the post seemed genuinely excited about this new remaster given the most recent version of the game released in 2011, although some would have preferred sequel news. “I was 18 years old when it was revealed and now I’m 33,” one player pointed out. Ubisoft has said more information about the remaster will be revealed in early 2024, though an early Xbox store page that has since been removed gave some description. Read it in the tweet above.

Beyond Good & Evil 2 breaks Guinness World Record but it’s not good news UbisoftThe long-awaited Beyond Good & Evil 2 recently broke a Guinness World Record once held by Duke Nukem Forever, which took 14 years to release. 3D Realms initially unveiled Duke Nukem Forever in 1997. Its protracted production cycle wouldn’t allow the shooter to hit store shelves until more than 14 years later. Thus, it’s not hard to believe that Guinness recognized the Duke Nukem 3D follow-up as having the “longest development period for a video game.” But another sequel with a lengthy development cycle has taken the crown from the poorly-received first-person shooter. Beyond Good & Evil 2 beats Duke Nukem Forever record GamesIndustry.biz’s Brendan Sinclair recently pointed out that 5,156 days (14-plus years) passed between Duke Nukem Forever’s 1997 reveal and its 2011 release date. Guinness World Records will soon need to update its stats because there’s a new record-holder in town – Beyond Good & Evil 2. Ubisoft showcased a teaser trailer for the sequel during a May 2008 press event, complete with a then-new look at Pey’j. As of writing, approximately 5,240 days have passed since that date, meaning Beyond Good & Evil 2 now holds the Guinness World Record for a game with the longest development period. After showcasing the CGI teaser in 2008, Ubisoft and series creator Michel Ancel kept mum about the project for years on end. Beyond Good & Evil reentered the spotlight during E3 2016, however, with Ancel and the publisher reasserting their commitment to its completion. Ancel departed the production team and the industry in late 2020, with the intent of working full-time at a wildlife sanctuary. Later reports, which Ancel denounced, alleged he actually exited amid an investigation into toxic workplace behavior. The most recent update on the project itself came from an industry insider who claimed Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still years out from release. Beyond Good & Evil 2 still lacks a firm launch date.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 development update is bad news for fans UbisoftBeyond Good and Evil 2 might be the only currently announced game to release after Elder Scrolls VI and GTA 6 thanks to a devastating new report. All the way back in 2016, Ubisoft announced that Beyond Good and Evil 2 was in development and a cinematic trailer was unveiled at E3 one year later. At E3 2018, Ubisoft showed off a pre-Alpha walkthrough with some rather stunning gameplay that left fans eager for more. Sadly, according to Insider-Gaming, all that gameplay has been completely undone. Several sources have indicated that Beyond Good and Evil 2 is in the “blocking phase” and still considered to be “early development.” Beyond Good and Evil 2 still in “early development” The report claims that videos and images shown of the in-development Beyond Good and Evil 2 look nothing like the 2018 footage shown to fans at E3. This suggests that the game has undergone a reboot with only spaceships resembling their appearance in the 2018 build. Even more worrying, Insider-Gaming states that planets had “blocked structures for buildings” and appeared to be in extremely low quality. It’s not clear how much work is currently being done on the project. Ubisoft, however, has reiterated that the game’s “development is underway” and that the developers are “hard at work to deliver on its ambitious promise.” This news follows a report from earlier this summer that warned the long-awaited sequel was still “years away.” On top of that, earlier this year, Beyond Good and Evil 2 set a new Guinness World Record for having the “longest development period for a video game” beating out Duke Nukem Forever.

Bethesda’s Todd Howard hints Elder Scrolls 6 could be his final game as boss YouTube: XboxBethesda Game Director, Executive Producer, and overall industry icon Todd Howard has hinted that he may be finishing up with the studio after Elder Scrolls 6 is released out into the wild. When it comes to big open-world role-playing games, many think of the likes of the Elder Scrolls franchise and the Fallout series. Both of which have come from the creative minds of Bethesda. As well as this, the gaming developer has a brand new IP on the way in Starfield, with the 2023 release set to be the biggest Xbox exclusive since the Xbox Series S & X launched. However, for Bethesda boss Todd Howard, his time with the company managing all the new content may be drawing to an end, though perhaps not for the reasons you think. When speaking with IGN, Howard broke down what the future of Bethesda will look like and what fans can expect in regard to the timeline of new releases following Starfield. While no exact dates were revealed, Howard did explain that Elder Scrolls 6 will likely be the next big title, followed by Fallout 5. Following these comments, he did tease that when Elder Scrolls 6 drops, he might be taking a step back from Bethesda and moving on from the company he has been leading for many years now. “So our ability, like we talked about, to support Starfield… Whereas maybe in the old days, you would put it out and then you’d go on to a sequel, now we can support that game for a much longer period of time, which is what our plan is. “And then as we look to an Elder Scrolls 6, that is one where… I probably shouldn’t say this. But if I do the math, I’m not getting any younger. How long do people play Elder Scrolls for? That may be the last one I do. I don’t know.” Given that Elder Scrolls is a game that players spend months and months playing, with Bethesda then supporting it for years on end with new content and updates, odds are Howard will still be sticking around for quite some time before calling it quits with Bethesda. But in terms fo full-fledged game launches, given the scale in this generation, and the years of development required to get them off the ground, he implied it could be his final steering the ship. Want more news and details from the recent Xbox Showcase? Check out Dexerto’s full coverage on the recent gaming event here.

Indiana Jones & the Great Circle: Platforms, trailer, release date BethesdaAfter a period of immense quiet surrounding Indiana Jones & the Great Circle, things have finally come into view at Gamescom, as fans finally got confirmation about an official release date and which platforms the title will be on. A Machine Games-developed Indiana Jones game was announced all the way back at the start of 2021. Since the initial teaser trailer though, not much else was been revealed about what to expect from the game for a long time. The Xbox Showcase 2024 on June 9 changed that, offering a lengthy look at what players can expect from the game. It features all of the usual fare that fans of the associated movies would come to expect, including perilous situations and over-the-top Nazi antagonists for the ever-rugged Indy to get past. Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024 went one step further by showing off more gameplay and finally confirmed a release date. Release date Indiana Jones & the Great Circle comes to Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9, 2024. After a period of exclusivity, it will launch for PlayStation 5 in Spring, 2025. Plot & cast Indiana Jones & the Great Circle starts when the museum at Marshall College is broken into. Indy, who is working late that night, attempts to thwart the robbery of what appears to be an insignificant artifact but is unsuccessful. We hope you’re excited to experience an amazing adventure through the eyes of the iconic adventurer. We can’t wait to share more about #IndianaJones and the Great Circle before its release this year. pic.twitter.com/9EaYj0XstI — Bethesda (@bethesda) January 18, 2024 Indy must don his hat and whip once again to set out to find the artifact. In the process, he discovers a mystery larger than he ever could have anticipated. The adventure takes him across the globe, fighting evil forces in an effort to reclaim the artifact. Along the way, he’s joined by a journalist, Gina, who is trying to solve the mystery of the artifact as well. Serving as a foil will be new villain Emmett Ross, whom Machine Games call the perfect counterpoint to Indiana Jones. They described him as an “intense, highly intelligent figure.” For the game, Indiana Jones will be voiced by The Last of Us star Troy Baker. No other voice actors have been announced as of this writing. Platforms Indiana Jones & the Great Circle will be released on Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam. It will then come to PS5 at a later date. The game will also be coming to Game Pass on day one for those who are subscribed. As Microsoft’s strategy for games under the Xbox umbrella shifts, with many former exclusives seemingly set to jump across to new platforms, Indy is the latest to arrive on PlayStation. Originally, a deal was struck between Bethesda and Disney to make the game before Microsoft entered the picture. As we learned through legal hearings, the agreement was specifically for a multiplatform Indiana Jones game, opening the door for PlayStation. Trailers At the Developer Direct 2024, the full name of the game was revealed, along with a trailer showcasing the game’s exploration and combat mechanics. The trailer was accompanied by a more in-depth behind-the-scenes discussion, which showcased how they went about capturing the authentic feel of an Indiana Jones adventure. 2024 plans: 1) Become Indiana Jones 2) Uncover one of the greatest mysteries of all timeGet a glimpse of your future adventures in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle | #IndianaJones #DeveloperDirect pic.twitter.com/jh9B3ykPcO — Xbox (@Xbox) January 18, 2024 Next, a trailer at the Xbox Showcase 2024 shows off a much more extensive look at the gameplay and story. Then, at Gamescom, the reveal trailer goes behind the scenes with Troy Baker to learn more about his portrayal of Indiana Jones and shares more gameplay footage. Gameplay and features Indiana Jones & the Full Circle gameplay will blend action, stealth, and exploration. The gameplay gives players the freedom to decide how they want to approach situations, be it going in guns blazing or attempting to sneak past enemies. The game will primarily be from a first-person perspective and aims to put an equal focus on exploration and action, just like a true Indiana Jones adventure. The camera will also adjust during exploration segments, pulling back to a third-person view to show Indy in action. A major component of the gameplay will be Indy’s trademark bullwhip. The whip can be used in combat, but also functions as a traversal item. For players aiming to be a little sneaker, the sound of the whip’s crack can be used to distract guards, allowing Indy to slip past guarded areas. The first-person perspective shouldn’t be a surprise. Machine Games, who are best known for the Wolfenstein reboot and its sequel, are revered for their work with First Person Shooters. Of course, franchises like Tomb Raider and Uncharted, have carried the mantle of Indiana Jones in the gaming medium with a third-person adventure, so some fans may be disappointed. However, the first gameplay trailers don’t seem to indicate Indy will be held back by first-person, with some huge set pieces on display. When does Bethesda’s Indiana Jones take place? #IndianaJones and the Great Circle takes place in 1937 between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. Our story begins with a break-in in the dead of night. You’ll soon set out to discover the secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. pic.twitter.com/bXp9W3oB3D — Bethesda (@bethesda) January 18, 2024 On the game’s website, Bethesda explains that this new adventure will take place at the “height of the career of the famed adventurer.” Sorry, Young Indiana Jones, you’ll have to sit this one out. During the January 18 Developer Direct, it was revealed that Indiana Jones & the Great Circle will take place between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom. Specifically, the game takes place in 1937. That’s everything we know about Indiana Jones & the Great Circle so far! While you wait, check out our hubs on other upcoming games such as Grand Theft Auto 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, and Dune: Awakening.

Bethesda just quietly launched a new Elder Scrolls game in early access BethesdaA brand new game in the Elder Scrolls franchise just went live in early access without a word from its developers at Bethesda. The Elder Scrolls: Castles is now live on the App Store, here’s what we know. It’s been 12 years since the last mainline entry in Bethesda’s mega-popular Elder Scrolls series hit store shelves. Since then, Skyrim has become a cultural phenomenon on its way to being ported to every platform known to mankind. And while we’ve known for a few years now that Elder Scrolls 6 is indeed on the horizon, albeit, still very far in the distance on said horizon, the franchise has been rather quiet of late while Starfield soaks up the spotlight. However, that just changed in September of 2023 as a brand new Elder Scrolls game just went live without any fanfare. Seemingly cloning the Fallout Shelter gameplay model, The Elder Scrolls: Castles is now live in early access on the App Store. While it may not be a AAA release fans have anxiously been waiting for, Elder Scrolls Castles is nonetheless a new entry in the series, one that appears to replicate Fallout Shelter for Bethesda’s other hit franchise. The game’s official synopsis describes it as a new mobile title that “puts you in control of your very own castle and dynasty.” And as an attached gameplay screenshot reveals, a number of similar systems are in place here as well. Players have a leveling system to grind through as they expand their castle as they see fit, ensuring that its inhabitants are well-fed, entertained, and prepared to defend their home against any opposition looking to overthrow your family. Castles lets players continue the family tree for years to come, seeing “new rulers take the throne” as generations pass by. For now, Elder Scrolls Castles is only available to those with Apple devices, and it’s worth noting the game is indeed in early access, meaning you may encounter the odd bug or two. Bethesda is yet to formally unveil the title, nor market its early access launch, but that’s sure to change in the near future as thousands of fans begin jumping in.

Bethesda reveals Starfield map details, plus big win for Xbox Series X/S The next blockbuster RPG to come from Bethesda Game Studios finally has some new information. Starfield has been in development for some time now with no information to speak of, until now. Howard Todd – Director of Bethesda – recently did an interview where he revealed details about Bethesda’s plans, Starfield Map Details, and Xbox content. [jwplayer FcWdjVVq] Bethesda’s first intellectual property in over 25 years has had nothing concrete known about it until now. The only thing Bethesda fans had to go off was that the game was going to be made and released before The Elder Scrolls VI. But thanks to an interview at the Develop:Brighton 2020 conference, some juicy details are now available to dissect, including if the game is a single-player or multiplayer experience, the size of the game, and much more. What is it? Starfield is another RPG, similar to Bethesda’s successful Elder Scrolls and Fallout franchises. Only Starfield will be a complete Sci-fi adventure. One of the big takeaways from Todd Howard’s interview is that it will be a completely single-player experience. There’s no mention if it will have any form of online crossover e.g. Fallout 76. But it seems like the game will be a more traditional solo experience. How big is it? From the sounds of it, Starfield is going to be a gargantuan game. Howard revealed that the game has between four and five times the number of developers working on it as they’ve had for previous games. This includes Skyrim and Fallout 4 – which are already large games as it is. In a nutshell, Starfield’s area is expected to be bigger than Fallout 76’s map. Cities in Starfield are apparently going to be even bigger than ones from previous games too. The game should also receive a nice technical upgrade too. Starfield will be operating on an updated version of the Creation Engine. This should alleviate some fears that it will look a bit outdated like some their most recent RPGs. When is it coming out? Howard was hesitant in giving any indication as to when we can expect to see anything from it, as Bethesda doesn’t want any major details, or footage, being shown-off until Starfield is a lot more concrete and closer to completion. This is expected, especially given the less-than-stellar reception Fallout 76 had to endure. Xbox Game Pass Whenever Starfield is released, it will be a day one launch title on Xbox Game Pass. This is to be expected given Microsft’s recent acquisition of Bethesda. If you didn’t know, Xbox did confirm a $7.5b deal for Bethesda. Although it’s not clear whether or not the game is going to be an exclusive title. The only information that we can take with a degree of certainty is that Starfield will still come first. The Elder Scroll VI is still a big project of course, but Starfield is the priority. Interview with Todd Howard If you’d like to check out the full interview with Todd Howard, then you can watch it here. Time stamp – 30:12 We’ll update you as we find out more information about Starfield.

Bethesda job listing sparks Elder Scrolls 6 multiplayer speculation Bethesda Game StudiosThe Elder Scrolls 6 is one of the most highly-anticipated games of all time and a new Zenimax job posting has players speculating about a potential multiplayer mode. Few games have ever drummed up as much interest years before their release as The Elder Scrolls 6. Fans still don’t know much about the next entry in the franchise but as the follow-up to one of the most beloved games of all time, Skyrim, the bar is at the ceiling and Bethesda is tasked with figuring out how to go higher. While there have been early hints and speculation about the details of the game, a Zenimax job listing has them dreaming about what taking on Tamriel with their friends could be like. Zenimax job posting stirs multiplayer Elder Scrolls 6 speculation The speculation started around a few specific lines in the listing. Both “strong familiarity with a variety of open-world multiplayer games” and “familiarity with The Elder Scrolls Construction Set” caused ears to perk up around the community. For those that don’t know, The Elder Scrolls Construction Set is a program that allows users to access internal pieces of games like Oblivion and Skyrim and edit the internal data. It’s primarily a dev tool but is released to the public as well. An observant fan shared the listing, saying it “looks worth something” and inviting people to piece together the puzzle. Unfortunately for anyone who got their hopes up by those intriguing keywords, it’s very unlikely that this has anything to do with TES6 at all. The full posting is for a position at Bethesda Game Studios and goes on to talk about “maintaining legacy content”, which likely indicates that this position is actually for the Fallout 76 team. This may seem odd, but F76 is editable in the Construction Set just like the Elder Scrolls games. Zenimax has already taken their shot at an MMO with The Elder Scrolls Online and it seems like fans will have to make do with that to satisfy their urge to explore the world together.

Best Yujin build in The First Descendant: Skills, Weapons, Reactor & Modules Yujin is a descendant centered almost entirely around healing allies and supporting the fireteam in The First Descendant. If that sounds like the ideal role for you, we’ve got the best build that will make him shine. Yujin is a perfect Descendant for healing teammates, and while he’s not a big damage dealer he’s a crucial character to try for anyone who wants to take up the support role. He’s currently sitting in the A-tier of our tier list, but you’ll need a great build to get the most out of him. So, here are the skills, weapons, modules, and reactors we’d recommended running with Yujin. Best Yujin build in The First Descendant – Recommended Best Yujin Skills All of Yujin’s skills are effective at what they’re trying to do, but the main ones to make use of are: Solidarity Healing: This ability summons a drone that locks on to allies and heals them. This a hugely useful tool that requires little to no maintenance on the player’s part. It dishes out significant healing and increases the target’s ATK stat when dismissed. You’ll want to maintain this as much as possible, rotating between allies to keep them healthy and buffed. – Hyperreactive Healing Ground: This is a large circular heal that is very effective if you need to get multiple members of your party back up to full health. It also grants Purification and Immunity, which removes negative status effects and stops teammates from accruing new ones. Yujin also gets the Hyperactivity effect, which buffs his base ATK and Skill Power – All Yujin Skills These are the five available skills on offer for Yujin players: Stop Overreacting (Passive): Significantly reduces the time to rescue allies. Targets rescued by Yujin increase Max HP for a certain period of time. – Solidarity Healing: Summons a Recovery Drone that attaches to allies to heal them. Recovers target and increases their ATK through an Accelerant effect upon dismissal. – Restructure Serum: Fires a Restructure Serum forward, decreasing DEF and inflicting Allergy. When attacking enemies with Allergy, heals nearby allies and grants additional healing to allies who kill the enemy. – Stimulant Spray: Grants Stimulation to allies. While Stimulation is active, incoming DMG is reduced and recovery is received when Stimulation ends. – Hyperreactive Healing Ground: Heals self and allies, granting Purification and Immunity to remove and prevent debuffs. Additional recovery is based on the number of allies and enemies within range. Yujin is granted Hyperactivity effect, increasing his ATK and Skill Power. – Best Weapons for Yujin The best weapons for Yujin are: Divine Punishment (Assault Rifle) – Nazeistra’s Devotion (Hand Cannon) – Afterglow Sword (Sniper Rifle) – The absolute best weapon for Yujin and other healers in The First Descendant is Divine Punishment. It’s a solid Assault Rifle that fits well into the current meta, but its true strength comes from its unique ability, Prayer: Prayer: Granting a buff to allies excluding yourself will grant the Meditation to yourself. Recovering an ally’s HP, Shield, MP or Resources will grant the unique ability Praise to yourself. Inflicting a debuff on an enemy will grant the unique ability Glory to yourself. Meditation: Increases DEF by a base of 10% for 30 seconds. This effect stacks up to 3 times and increases DEF by 5% per extra stack. – Praise: Reduces Skill cooldown (amount dependent on Skill). – Glory: Increases the base stat for Firearm ATK with each equipped weapon. – – The all-encompassing nature of the buffs that Divine Punishment provides put the gun well clear of its nearest rivals as the weapon of choice for Yujin and other supports. Assault Rifles are great damage-dealing guns, so it’s nice to also have that to fall back on in a pinch. Alternatively, Nazeistra’s Devotion and Afterglow Sword also work well with Yujin’s best build. Best Reactors The Reactor mechanic is an interesting one, allowing players to give their Descendants general buffs to Skills and stats. Yujin is a character who relies on Non-Attribute Skills, so you want to be on the lookout for Reactors with Materialized in the title. The best options are: Materialized Mixture: Improves Non-Attribute and Fusion Skills. – Materialized Singularity: Improves Non-Attribute and Singular Skills. – Best Modules for Yujin The Proliferating Allergy module does a great job of giving Yujin offensive options where he otherwise wouldn’t have them. Many of the rest of the module choices are centered around giving Yujin survivability to allow the Descendant to get his abilities off in the first place. The negative HP effect of Conditional Recharge is offset by the other modules, so it’s worth keeping around for the Shield boost. Best External Components External Components are one of the more grindy elements in The First Descendant, with much of their usefulness beholden to the RNG gods. The best ones to go for when playing as Yujin are: Max HP – HP Recovery – Max Shield – DEF – As with our module choices, we’re looking to give Yujin as much survivability as possible. Health regeneration and overall health pool are critical to success as the character, mainly because you won’t be able to rely on anyone else to stay topped up. DEF and Shield are all extra bonuses on top, allowing for further survivability in the game’s most difficult activities. How to unlock Yujin Like other Descendants, you’ll need to collect specific items and materials to unlock Yujin in the game. These resources are: Enhanced Cells Flectorite (422) – Reverse Charging Coil (455) – Divided Plasma Battery (22) – Yujin Enhanced Cells Blueprint – Gold (200,000) – – Stabilizer Compound Coating Material (239) – Carbon Crystal (544) – Pure Energy Residue (40) – Yujin Stabilizer Blueprint – Gold (200,000) – – Spiral Catalyst Hardener (386) – Ceramic Composite (408) – Anode Ion Particle (27) – Yujin Spiral Catalyst Blueprint – Gold (200,000) – – Code Echo Swamp: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Echo Swamp Muskeg Swamp – Fortress: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Fortress Fallen Ark – Sterile Land: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – Sterile Land Restricted Zone – White-night Gulch: Abyssal Void Fusion Reactor – White-night Gulch Observatory – – After you’ve got everything, just speak to Magister Anais and you can research Yujin for a cost of 400,000 Credits. That’s the best build for Yujin in The First Descendant. For more builds, check out our guides for Enzo, Lepic, Bunny, Ajax, and Sharen.

Bethesda confirms Elder Scrolls 6 has entered early development BethesdaBethesda’s Head of Publishing, Pete Hines, has confirmed that the Elder Scrolls 6 has officially entered early production ahead of Starfield’s release. Bethesda fans are undoubtedly excited for the upcoming release of Starfield, the first new IP developed by the studio in 29 years. While players are gearing up to explore the cosmos in Starfield, many are even more excited about the return of Elder Scrolls 6 — first revealed in 2018. Though news surrounding the next entry in the critically acclaimed fantasy action RPG has naturally been scarce, a key member of Bethesda recently confirmed the game has officially entered early development. Pete Hines confirms Elder Scrolls 6 development has begun In an interview with Vandal during Gamescom 2023, Bethesda’s Head of Publishing, Pete Hines, confirmed that Elder Scrolls 6 has left the pre-production phase. When asked about the game’s current development status, Hines said, “It’s in development, but it’s in early development.” Unfortunately, that was the only major update Hines was willing to share about the highly anticipated title, as he confirmed the team’s current focus was on Starfield and its impending release. While it’s great news to hear that ES6 has officially entered the development stage, it’s important to remember that this likely hasn’t changed the lengthy release window the studio set for its release. Todd Howard recently confirmed Bethesda currently has ES6’s release window in 2028. Howard also added that he probably would have announced the title in a much more casual way, compared to its original 2018 teaser. For those who may not remember, Bethesda announced ES6 with a brief cinematic teaser that simply showed off a sprawling landscape and the game’s logo. Considering it’s been five years since that initial reveal, Elder Scrolls fans are naturally chomping at the bit to hear any new information about the game. Hopefully, it won’t be another five years before more concrete details are revealed.

Best Yoo Soohyun Solo Leveling Arise build: Stats, skills, weapons, Artifacts NetmarbleHere are all the best Yoo Soohyun skills, stats, weapons and Artifacts to create the ultimate build for the hunter character in Solo Leveling: Arise. Yoo Soohyun has been released as a brand-new SSR hunter by Netmarble via their July 10 update for Arise. The Korean Fire Mage from the original Solo Leveling manhwa series is a famous model and is even the cousin of Sung Jinwoo’s best friend and fellow hunter Jinho. Best Yoo Soohyun stats Attack, Defense Penetration and Critical Hit Damage are the most important stats to upgrade when creating the best Yoo Soohyun build in Solo Leveling: Arise. Although you can’t use points to directly increase stats as you can with Sung Jinwoo, it’s still important to continually level up these stats with your item choices to buff Soohyun’s strengths as a high DPS dealer. These include getting, equipping, and constantly upgrading the best-suited skills, weapons, and Artifacts. Best Yoo Soohyun Skills Yoo Soohyun’s best skills are Perfect Shot, Kill Shot, Pulse Fire, and her Zeroed-in Blast Ultimate Skill. Best Yoo Soohyun weapons Overdrive is by far the best weapon for Yoo Soohyun to equip. This is her own hunter-exclusive weapon that grants unique benefits during fights, making it easily the best choice. The hunter is always the best option for any Arise character. For non-exclusive weapons, the Steel Bow is the highest Critical Damage dealer, so it’s a strong substitute if you still need to get Overdrive. Best Yoo Soohyun Artifacts The Armed (Black Lion) Armor set and Expert (Beast) Jewelry set are the best Artifacts you can equip to make the best Yoo Soohyun build in Solo Leveling: Arise. Executioner (Behemoth) is also a strong choice for a Jewelry Artifact set in her build due to its superior Attack buffs that will greatly boost her overall DPS. Whether you choose Expert or Behemoth, these will still ensure Soohyun becomes a damage dealing machine against any Gate enemies she faces. How to get Yoo Soohyun in Solo Leveling: Arise To get Yoo Soohyun in Solo Leveling: Arise, you will need to draw the SSR hunter from her Glamorous Model Hunter Rate Up banner. You will be able to draw the character from the banner using Draw Tickets from July 10, 2024, until the banner ends on July 31, 2024. For Solo Leveling: Arise, we have also provided the best build for Sung Jinwoo and best Artifact sets and weapons for every hunter character. If you need free Arise codes or are wondering what the current and next banners are, then we have you covered.

Best XDefiant settings for keyboard & mouse: Optimal sensitivity & keybinds UbisoftTo play your best in XDefiant, having the most comfortable settings is important, so here’s what you need to know about the best keyboard and mouse settings for the new Ubisoft title. XDefiant is a First Person Shooter and a fast-paced one at that, so having good control of your mouse and keyboard is important to winning, which means you’ll need to know what the best settings are to get started with. Most players’ mouse settings can vary wildly, but to start tweaking it to your preference, you’ll need to start from a baseline. With this in mind, here are the best keyboard and mouse settings for XDefiant. Best mouse settings for XDefiant Below you can find the best mouse settings for XDefiant: Mouse Sensitivity: 48 – Mouse ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (Low Zoom): 1.00x – Mouse ADC Sensitivity Multiplier (High Zoom): 1.00x – Mouse Acceleration: Off – Inver Vertical Axis: Off – Right Click Back: Off – Lock Mouse to Game Windows: On – The setting that you’ll need to fine-tune to your preference is the mouse sensitivity. Our mouse setting is used with a mouse on 400 dpi, which lets you do a 360 in 27.5 cm, a sweet spot for most players. However, you may be using a higher dpi than that, which means you’ll need to lower the in-game mouse sensitivity. For dpi you exponentially go up from 400, you should divide the mouse sensitivity by two and do the opposite if it’s lower. Therefore, if your dpi is 800, you should set your mouse sensitivity to 24 and if it’s 1600, it should be at 12, and vice versa. If you feel it’s too fast or slow for you, you can always fine-tune it. As for the other settings, it’s good practice to set the ADC sensitivity multipliers at 1.00x as you want your sens scoped in the same as your hipfire, however, you can always fine-tune it to your preferences. Mouse acceleration is also best turned off as you don’t want your sensitivity controlled by how fast your mouse is moving. Best keybind settings for XDefiant Below you can find the best keybind settings for XDefiant: Move Foward: W – Move backward: S – Move Left: A – Move Right: D – Sprint/Hold Breath (ADS): Shift – Fire weapon: Left mouse button – Aim: Right mouse button – Reload: R – Jump/Mantle: Space – Crouch/Slide: CTRL – Interact: F – Melee: V/Mouse button three – Select Primary Weapon: 1 – Select Secondary Weapon: 2 – Cycle Weapon +: Mouse wheel up – Cycle Weapon -: Mouse wheel down – Ultra: Q – Activate Ability: E – Deploy Device: G – Force Walk: X – These settings will of course change depending on what you’re used to in other games, however, this is generally a good starting point. Firing and aiming your weapon is best kept as default, as is cycling your weapons with the scroll wheel. If you’re someone who is used to using your scroll wheel to jump, you can bind two keys to one action to use both space and scroll wheel. It’s also best to double bind the melee to mouse button three to be able to quickly melee enemies. The default crouch button is bound to C, however, it’s best to rebind it to CTRL as most players are going to be more familiar with it, and it’s quicker access to it. It’s important to note, that these settings we have listed should be taken as suggestions rather than gospel. So be sure to experiment and try out different keybinds and mouse sensitivities to see which suits you the best.

XDefiant best guns: Meta weapon tier list UbisoftOur ultimate XDefiant weapons tier list ranks all of the best guns in Ubisoft’s shooter game and, based on the current meta, there are seven weapons to choose from in the top tier. Right now, XDefiant‘s arsenal has 27 weapons in total. That includes primary and secondary guns to build out loadouts as you see fit. While some of these weapons are considered ‘meta,’ of course, others aren’t going to be as easy to get value out of. The meta weapons are what you want to consider using as they either deal the most damage, have the best movement speed, or can one-shot an enemy from a long distance. XDefiant weapons tier list: Best guns ranked Best gun in XDefiant (July 2024 meta) – Recommended Of the seven weapons featured in our S-tier, we recommend the ACR 6.8 if you want to use an Assault Rifle and an MP7 for those running an SMG. Our tiers explained Here is a short-hand for how each tier breakdown: S: The best guns in the game – A: Very good weapons offering an alternative to other options – B: There might be situations where these weapons can perform well – C: Best to avoid unless you find yourself drawn to them – Now, we’re going to do a deep dive into each weapon in our XDefiant weapons meta tier list, ranking them from the top to bottom. S-Tier weapons in XDefiant ACR 6.8 – Assault Rifle The ACR 6.8 is the best of the best when it comes to what you want out of an Assault Rifle. It’s got low recoil no matter what you put on it, a high fire rate, enough bullets in each mag to take down at least two targets before reloading, and consistent performance at any range. Though you may get outtraded up-close by an SMG and at long-range by Marksman Rifles or Snipers, you’ll stand a good chance at any range with a weapon that’s strong in any situation. If you’re looking for the jack-of-all-trades workhorse rifle, this is the gun for you. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the ACR 6.8, check out our guide. M16A4 – Assault Rifle Burst weapons tend to be hit or miss when it comes to competitive multiplayer shooters; they’re always either really good or really bad depending on where their TTK lies between bursts. As you can probably tell by its placement, the M16 is a top-tier rifle. With body shots hitting for 24 damage apiece, you can easily take down a target in two bursts. That, combined with a small delay between bursts and high accuracy, makes the M16A4 an absolute menace if you’ve got the accuracy to use it. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M16A4, check out our guide. MK 20 SSR – Marksman Rifle Marksman Rifles are exceptionally good in XDefiant, and the MK 20 is the crown jewel of the class. 69 damage per hit on a body shot up until 50 meters makes it an incredibly consistent two-shot kill. And, considering leg shots hit for 49, you only need one body shot as long as you’re getting hits on target. This combined with low recoil, a decent rate of fire, and a forgiving 10 round mag makes the MK 20 SSR a meta staple. This Marksman Rifle is strong enough to be effective even at close range if you’re landing shots, making it an obvious S-Tier choice. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MK 20 SSR, check out our guide. MP7 – Submachine Gun Out of every SMG in XDefiant, the MP7 has the best balance of strengths that you’d want out of the weapon class without many of the drawbacks. While it still has low range like other weapons in the category, it’s also got low enough recoil and a high enough fire rate to counteract its low range. Meanwhile, the MP7 has a lightning-fast TTK up close and some of the best hipfire in the game. Considering how inconsistent shotguns are in XDefiant, this is your best close-range option and outshines the other options with the right attachments. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MP7, check out our guide. P90 – Submachine Gun It’s hard to hate on the P-90. It’s an iconic gun, one that’s known for having a massive, 50-round mag that can put a ton of rounds down range. That’s no exception in XDefiant; the P-90 is absolutely, 100% busted in this game. Low recoil, more rounds than any other SMG, the least damage falloff in the class, good hipefire. The P-90 has it all, and it’s a clear step up from every other SMG in the category. Where other SMGs have strong hipfire, a high fire rate, or more accuracy at range, the P-90 takes all of those niches and does them better than the other guns. This is the SMG you’ll want to run. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the P90, check out our guide. L115 – Sniper Rifle Introduced in Season 1, the L115 is arguably the best sniper rifle in the class as it is easier to move around with than the TAC-50, and hits harder than the M44. Players can use this gun at range in modes like escort, or dive into the front lines like you’re using an M44, it all depends on how you build its loadout. The sniper is the most versatile weapon in the class and almost as consistent as the TAC-50 with some attachments added on top. If you’d like to see the best loadouts for the L115, check out our guide. AK-47 – Assault Rifle The AK-47 is a very different Assault Rifle from the others in the category. Unlike the standard AR identity as a consistent and accurate weapon that functions at all ranges, the AK is a slow-firing, high-damage rifle with a fast TTK that’s balanced by how difficult it is to handle. Some recent balance changes nudged the AK-47 up a tier, and it’s currently one of the best guns in the meta. Once you hone in on the right loadout and get the hang of controlling its recoil, this rifle shreds. Not to mention this weapon has some of the best ironsights in the game. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the AK-47, check out our guide. A-Tier weapons in XDefiant SVD – Marksman Rifle The SVD is worse than the MK 20 in terms of recoil and is a bit harder to use, and it still doesn’t quite reach that one-shot kill threshold despite having higher damage. However, there’s one trick you can do to put this gun all the way into S-Tier: Running the Cleaner faction. Headshots hit for 98 with the SVD, just under the 100 HP most factions have. However, that burn tick passive on shots from the Cleaner faction pushes this gun over the edge into that one-shot territory when you land a headshot. The only reason the gun is not in S-Tier is because it relies on which faction you’re using to get the most out of it. If you’re not running Cleaner, the MK 20 is the better choice. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the SVD, check out our guide. LVOA-C – Assualt Rifle The LVOA-C assault rifle was added to XDefiant in Season 1 and has quickly become a top weapon in the game thanks to its crazy fire rate. This weapon is closer to the MDR than a classic rifle and does need to be rained in with attachments to be useful in matches. It is described as having similar damage to the M4A1, but its high fire rate makes it so much easier to use. Once players master the recoil, and get some attachments to mitigate its vicious kick, it becomes a monster at medium range. It beats out most assault rifles in its class at the middle range thanks to its fire rate, and can even beat SMGs since it has more damage per bullet. Check out our guide if you’d like to see the best loadout for the LVOA-C. 93R – Pistol In most cases, the 93R is the best sidearm you can take. It’s got a consistent 2-burst kill that can out-DPS some of the rifles in this game and rival SMGs if you’ve got the accuracy for it. And, though its small 15-round mag doesn’t leave too much margin for error, extended mags go a long way with this weapon. The 93R’s aggressive damage falloff and diminishing accuracy at long range keep it from having the power level of a primary, but it’s a great sidearm. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the 93R, check out our guide. MDR – Assault Rifle The MDR hits that sweet spot right between an Assault Rifle and an SMG, boasting a high fire rate that comes with equally high recoil and a high level of effectiveness at close range. While this means it suffers a bit beyond 20-25 meters when it comes to consistent accuracy, this gun excels within its niche. It’s got the exact same damage profile as the M4A1 up close (24 to the head, 17 to the chest), but it has better mobility like an SMG. It’s a solid option and deserves its A-tier placement, but not worthy of that S-tier rating. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MDR, check out our guide. Vector .45 ACP – Submachine Gun The Vector is, on paper, a fantastic SMG. It’s got a low time to kill and dishes a ton of damage at close range, and it sounds like exactly the type of weapon you’d want in this category. However, two huge drawbacks put this gun in the A-tier. One, it’s got some killer recoil. This thing kicks like a mule, and getting accurate shots on anyone at longer ranges isn’t worth trying. Two, a mag size of 25 is too small for how fast this weapon fires. To turn this gun into the best version of itself, you’re going to need a ton of attachments. However, the Vector can still outperform the other options in its class outside of the two SMGs ranked above it. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the Vector, check out our guide. M60 – Light Machine Gun Light Machine Guns in general aren’t the best in XDefiant due to how bulky they are and how often they get outperformed by other weapon classes when it comes to DPS and mobility, but the M60 is a special case due to the way TTK thresholds work in this game. It’s got 25 damage to the chest, meaning a consistent 4 shot kill to the chest while putting 100 rounds down range before having to reload. You’ll have to adjust your playstyle and keep yourself from running around to get the most out of this gun, but it’s unrivaled when it comes to holding down one area with a constant rain of bullets. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M60, check out our guide. Sawed-Off Shotgun – Pistol The Sawed-Off Shotgun was introduced in Season 1 as a powerful option for a secondary weapon, and its major drawbacks earlier in the season were dealt with in later patches to bring it to a higher tier. This gun has the highest damage output in the secondary weapon class, but it has very limited range and can only put out two shots before needing to reload. Its in-game description says it’s like having a primary weapon in the secondary slot, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that players should try to run this gun like a primary weapon. Some balance changes pushed this weapon to a higher tier since its reserve ammo increased to 10, while its sprint-to-shoot time was reduced to 150ms. This makes it a great secondary weapon to run alongside a Marksman or Sniper Rifle to finish off low-health enemies or deal with people rushing in too close for comfort. If you want to see the best loadouts for the Sawed-Off Shotgun, check out our guide. M249 – Light Machine Gun The M249 is the fastest-firing LMG in the class, as it makes the most of its 100 rounds and puts them downrange as fast as possible. However, that also gives it the most recoil out of the bunch and makes it a bit difficult to control. Additionally, it doesn’t deal quite as much damage as the M60 and comes with all the drawbacks associated with carrying around a big ol’ machine gun. Luckily, a recent update increased the reload speed bonus when using certain Magazines, granting you an even better reload time. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M249, check out our guide. TAC-50 – Sniper Rifle All of XDefiant’s Sniper Rifles are very powerful in the right hands. They’ve got enough punch to one-shot most targets, and the game’s extremely fast scope speed allows for some MW2-esque quick scoping (talking the 2009 one here). XDefiant is a quickscoper’s paradise. However, the August 14 balance changes have made snipers like M44 gain increased spread reduction duration. Now it should take a bit longer for snipers to focus on the scope so you can’t snipe an enemy before fully scoping in. It’s still a great weapon for a slower playstyle but these nerfs still affect it in the meta. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the TAC-50, check out our guide. B-Tier Weapons in XDefiant 686 Magnum – Pistol If you fancy yourself a deadeye shooter, the 686 Magnum may be for you. The 93R puts a bunch of rounds down range, but the 686 packs a serious punch. It’s a consistent 3-shot kill at most ranges, 2 if you can land a headshot, and it’s got much less recoil than the D50 despite having higher damage. The 686 isn’t for everyone, but those who are confident in their aim stand to get a lot of value out of this pistol. In the right circumstances, you can out-perform a rifle or SMG with it. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the 686 Magnum, check out our guide. Double Barrel – Shotgun The Double Barrel is certainly the most consistent out of all the shotguns. Though it’s got the obvious drawback of having 2 shots before you need to reload, it’s also got the most range, the tightest spread, and the highest damage of any shotgun. That said, if you’re running this, make sure you’ve got a decked-out pistol you’re comfortable swapping to. You’ll be getting a lot of mileage out of your sidearm considering just how slow this Shotgun’s reload is. This gun is the definition of a situational weapon and should only be run on small maps. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the Double Barrel, check out our guide. D50 – Pistol Ah, the Deagle. A tried and true gaming classic when it comes to big, impractical pistols that kick hard enough to cover half your screen after they shoot. They’re a bit hit or miss with how strong they are in competitive multiplayer games, and XDefiant’s Deagle is on the weaker side. It deals 45 damage at close range, falling off to 33 at just 10 meters. This gun was purposely kneecapped, when it comes to TTK, with it only being a consistent 3-shot kill if you’re using the Cleaner Faction. That said, this gun is incredibly rewarding if you can land headshots with it, and it’s got that fun factor that may make it worth using for some. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the D50, check out our guide. M9 – Pistol The M9 pistol is the epitome of a reliable sidearm. It doesn’t do a ton of damage per shot, but it’s got a high fire rate, decent mag size, and generally low recoil. Nothing worth writing home about, but it’ll do the job in a pinch. If you’re looking to have a sidearm on you exclusively to finish off targets and get those last few shots in on a target with low health, this is the gun for you. It lacks the panache of the flashier sidearms, but it’ll never do you wrong. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M9, check out our guide. RPK-47 – Light Machine Gun The RPK-47 is fine in every sense of the word. It’s between an Assault Rifle and an LMG in terms of how it feels to use, shaving off some of the clunkiness and slow aim speed for less ammo per reload. Smaller mag means quicker reloads, and its recoil is fairly easy to control with its low fire rate. However, that control comes at the cost of less DPS than the M249. It still suffers from the low mobility and slow aim speed of an LMG, but not to the extent of other weapons in the category. But, at that point, why not just run an Assault Rifle? If you’d like to see the best loadout for the RPK-47, check out our guide. AA-12 – Shotgun Shotguns are hilariously inconsistent in XDefiant, with them having dramatic damage dropoff beyond spitting distance against an opponent. Additionally, they’ve got a wide pellet spread that makes it difficult to get a solid grouping on any target. However, the AA-12’s high fire rate tries to make up for some of these issues. With a drum mag and a choke, the AA-12 does alright. The weapon also received some huge balance changes on July 31 which bumped it up a tier. Its improved range and reduced spread make the AA-12 a decent shotgun to play with. However, you’re still better off running an SMG in most situations if you want something that performs up close. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the AA-12, check out our guide. M44 – Sniper Rifle This gun has the best movement speed and maneuverability of the sniper rifle class. Faster scope-in speed and more mobility make this the premiere montage weapon for players who are confident in their skills. However, it got pushed down a tier due to being nerfed in recent patches. Its sprint-to-shoot time and hip-fire spread increased, while the time it would take to focus on the scope to gain the best accuracy was decreased. We still recommend that you swap to a sidearm to finish the kill at times, or add attachments to compensate for its lack of finishing power for the bulky class. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M44, check out our guide. C-Tier Weapons in XDefiant MP5A2 – Submachine Gun The MP5 is one of the more iconic SMGs in gaming, and it’s known for having a bit more accuracy and range than its counterparts in the category. However, while the MP5 is sold that way in XDefiant, it’s got some fairly aggressive damage falloff. Once a target is beyond 10 meters away from you, this gun’s damage falls off a cliff. This isn’t all that abnormal of SMGs in this game, but the MP5 lacks a lot of the perks of guns like the MP7 and P90 like a large mag size and good hip fire. This weapon is certainly usable, but their are three other guns better in the class. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the MP5A2, check out our guide. M4A1 – Assault Rifle The M4A1 is essentially just the ACR 6.8, but worse. While it has slightly lower recoil, the ACR’s recoil is low enough to be controllable at most ranges. The M4A1 also does 17 damage per shot in comparison to the ACR’s 21, giving it a slightly higher TTK despite having a higher fire rate. The two are very close in terms of damage output, but running the ACR will put you at a distinct advantage. It’s not a bad starter AR, and that high fire rate gives you a bit more room to miss shots, but there are so many better options in the class. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M4A1, check out our guide. M1911 – Pistol There aren’t many outright bad weapons in XDefiant, but the 1911 is one of them. It lacks the mag size to keep up with the M9, lacks the power to keep up with the Magnum, and still has some pretty aggressive kick. It feels powerful like you’d expect a 1911 to feel, but the damage just isn’t there. Considering it requires four shots on target to take down most targets (5 against the Phantom faction), you don’t have much room for error with 7 rounds in a mag. The 1911 isn’t unusable, but it’s definitely the worst pistol in the game. If you’d like to see the best loadout for the M1911, check out our guide. M870 – Shotgun Shotguns aren’t great in XDefiant, but the M870 is definitely the worst. It’s got the lowest fire rate between the three of them, yet it also lacks the range and spread to one-shot consistently. Running this weapon will put you at a disadvantage against anyone who isn’t within spitting distance. And, while attachments help this issue, it’s truly not worth the trouble. That said, you can check out the best loadout for this weapon in our guide if you’re feeling so inclined. That’s our XDefiant weapons tier list with the best guns you can use based on the meta. Be sure to check our PC settings for maximum FPS, and the best keyboard and mouse settings. To stay in the loop on upcoming content in the game, we’ve got everything you need in our Season 1 hub.

Best XDefiant Sawed-Off Shotgun build: Class loadouts for high damage & low recoil UbisoftWith Season 1 of XDefiant here, the battle pass has brought with it three new weapons to unlock and use. This includes the new Sawed-Off Shotgun, a new sidearm that is a great complement to many of the game’s best weapons. While the range of this gun is not anything to write home about, it brings a solid punch that can quickly take an enemy out when fighting in close quarters. To learn how to kit out the Sawed-Off Shotgun in XDefiant Season 1 for recoil, damage, and the best overall experience, we have the rundown of how to do each. Best XDefiant Sawed-Off Shotgun – Recommended loadout The Sawed-Off Shotgun is a basic weapon to build a loadout for thanks to it only having one attachment slot: the Rear Grip. This makes kitting it out pretty easy when needing to choose the right attachments. For the best overall experience, we recommend using the Quick Draw Grip. This attachment will give you better Sprint-to-Fire speed, as well as greater ADS Speed. Given that the Sawed-Off Shotgun is a Secondary weapon, you are most likely going to be using it in a situation where you have to pull it out quickly and get your shots off. Having this attachment to help you do that faster is key to survival. Best Sawed-Off Shotgun build for high damage While there is no Rear Grip attachment that will boost the damage done by the Sawed-Off Shotgun, you can use the Heavy Grip to help deal the most damage possible. This attachment will reduce your horizontal recoil and provide you with better flinch control when you are aiming down the sights. Using this gun in close quarters guarantees that you will be under fire when aiming it so you will want to be able to keep from flinching too much and missing your shots. Landing shots means dealing more damage, which leads to more wins. Best Sawed-Off Shotgun build to reduce recoil For recoil, the best attachment to use is the Grip Tape which will give you better vertical recoil control and excellent recoil recovery. This means that you can regroup and get a more accurate shot off easier than if you weren’t using this grip. This won’t make the Sawed-Off Shotgun a long-range threat, but it will certainly help keep your shots on target. How to unlock the Sawed-Off Shotgun in XDefiant To unlock the Sawed-Off Shotgun, you will have to progress through the Season 1 Battle Pass to Tier 80. Once you have completed this tier, the weapon will be unlocked. Luckily, it is on the free track for the battle pass, so you won’t have to purchase the Premium version to unlock this weapon. The Sawed-Off Shotgun is one of three new weapons that have come to XDefiant in Season 1, so you can learn how to unlock the LVOA-C Assault Rifle and the L115 Sniper Rifle here.

Best XDefiant meta loadout for every game mode & map UbisoftXDefiant has 15 maps and seven modes in Season 1 that all promote diversity in builds, loadout, and Faction choice. However, some are more optimal than others when playing specific modes. The best XDefiant players utilize every loadout slot to optimize their experience in-game. Some modes in the Ubisoft FPS require bruising builds with LMGs or Sniper Rifles, and others reward mobile loadouts for keeping up with the constant action. One thing is consistent in this game: a single loadout for every scenario won’t cut it. Below you will find what loadout we suggest for every mode in XDefiant using the best weapons in the game. Contents Best loadout overall – Occupy – Domination – Hot Shot – Escort – Zone Control – Team Death Match – Capture The Flag – Best meta loadout in XDefiant The ACR 6.8 has quickly become a jack-of-all-trades weapon in the XDefiant meta that can be run across any map and any mode thanks to its versatility and overall power. Below are the attachments we recommend using: Muzzle: Muzzle Booster – Barrel: Heavy Barrel – Optic: Reflex – Front Rail: Small Vertical Grip – Rear Grip: Heavy Grip – The Heavy Barrel will increase the damage of every shot coming from the weapon, allowing it to compete at long ranges, and the Muzzle Booster negates the fire rate drop that the barrel attachment brings. The Small Vertical Grip boosts the ACR’s ADS speed and the Heavy Grip stops the annoying aim flinching from damage to impact your gunfights. Other ACR 6.8 loadouts can help you achieve almost zero recoil, but this build should give you a fighting chance across any map in each mode using a Faction of your choice. Best loadout for Occupy The P90 is one of the best SMGs in the game and is a great option across all 11 Arena maps you can load into for a game of Occupy. Barrel: Rapid Fire – Front Rail: Leather-Wrapped Foregrip – Optics: Reflex – Magazine: Fast Mag – Muzzle: Muzzle Booster – The Rapid Fire Barrel attachment increases the gun’s already high rate of fire by 5% and Muzzle Booster bumps that up by another 2.5%. Fast Mag makes the P90’s unwieldy reload animation much shorter, decreasing the time you are vulnerable to enemy fire. Lastly, the Reflex optic and Leather-Wrapped Foregrip help you aim down sights and control the gun’s kick. This loadout makes the P90 unbeatable at close range and gives you a fighting chance at medium and long ranges. Occupy is a game mode where constantly moving around is key, which is good for SMGs. However, it sometimes requires you to take down multiple enemies in quick succession to claim an area. This makes the P90, with this build, the optimal choice thanks to its giant clip, high fire rate, and maneuverability, which are all useful for dominating Occupy. We recommend running the Libertad Faction to better capture points. If you want to know the best loadout overall for the P90, check out our guide. Best loadout for Domination The MDR can dominate Domination matches as its mix of SMG and Assault Rifle attributes lends itself to the high-octane mode. Barrel: Heavy Barrel – Front Rail: Vertical Grip – Rear Grip: Heavy Grip – Optic: Reflex – Stock: Padded Stock – One of the biggest drawbacks of the MDR is its recoil, so running the Vertical Grip and Heavy Grip are a must on the weapon to make longer-ranged fights easier. The Padded Stock also aids in this regard while also softening the impact for flinch. Heavy Barrel helps boost the gun’s damage by 5%, making it a little closer to traditional AR damage, and the Reflex sight is a must for the MDR, as its iron sight is not the best. Domination is another mode where you don’t want to sit in one place too long but also can find yourself in long-ranged fights where an AR is best. Thus, using the MDR makes the most sense along with a Faction like Cleaners. If you want to see the best loadout overall for the MDR, check out our guide. Best loadout for Hot Shot Hot Shot is a variant of Team Death Match with just some slight tweaks, so the ACR is overwhelmingly the best option for this mode. Muzzle: Muzzle Booster – Barrel: Rapid Fire – Front Rail: Leather-Wrapped Foregrip – Rear Grip: Leather Wrapped Grip – Stock: Lightweight – This build tweaks the most optimal build for the Assult Rifle to tailor it to the intense mode that is Hot Shot. The Muzzle Booster and Rapid Fire attachments increase the gun’s already decent fire rate while the Leather-Wrapped ForeGrip and Leather-Wrapped Grip mitigate the recoil increase. The Lightweight Stock also boosts the gun’s movement speed in general and while ADS walking. This build increases the gun’s time to kill immensely and also increases its ADS movement speed so you can take down enemies to become the hot shot and stay that way. We recommend using the Echelon Faction to make it easier to find opponents with their Intel Suit. If you’re looking for another variation of this ACR 6.8 build, check out how a Call of Duty pro approaches his loadout. Best loadout for Escort Escort is a unique game mode that sometimes requires you to rain down bullets at the objective and the M60 is one of the best weapons for doing just that. Muzzle: Muzzle Booster – Barrel: Lightweight – Front Rail: Superlight Grip – Stock: Lightweight Stock – Optic: Reflex – The Muzzle Booster will increase the gun’s already decent fire rate so it will be able to compete with ARs while also doing more damage per shot. Lightweight, Superlight Grip, and Lightweight Stock all increase the M60’s movement speed and ADS speed so it no longer feels like a chore to trek around the map. The last attachment we recommend is the Reflex optic as it improves aiming with this weapon tenfold since its iron sights are not all that useful. There are a lot of options for you to choose from in terms of weapons for Escort, but the M60 with this build is mobile, can rain bullets on enemies, and is useful for attack and defense. We recommend using the Phantom Faction for this loadout to make use of their shields. If you want to see the best loadout overall for the M60, check out our guide. Best loadout for Zone Control Zone Control’s linear maps all have long sightlines and verticality that you can take advantage of while using the TAC-50. Magazine: Quick Mag – Barrel: Lightweight – Optic: Sniper Scope – Rear Grip: Fabric Grip – Stock: Reinforced – The Lightweight Barrel and Fabric Grip attachments both increase ADS time for the Sniper Rifle, making it even easier to quick scope with. The Reinforced Stock mitigates any flinch you might encounter if an enemy manages to shoot you first, giving you a fighting chance even if you shoot last. Quick Mag decreases the time you have to duck around corners to reload, allowing you to return to the action faster, and the standard Sniper Scope is perfect for the weapon. This build allows you to sit back and use the TAC-50 on defense in Zone Control while still being able to jump onto the front lines when needed. We recommend using DedSec with this build to hinder opponent gadgets during the fight. If you want to utilize the best loadout overall for the TAC-50, check out our guide. Best loadout for Team Death Match Team Death Match is a mode that requires a kitted-out weapon that can take on an enemy at any range, and take them down fast. One of the best weapons that can be made to excel in this mode is the AK-47 using this loadout. Muzzle: Muzzle Booster – Barrel: Lightweight – Front Rail: Leather-Wrapped Fore Grip – Magazine: Fast Mag – Stock: Padded Stock – The Leather-Wrapped Fore Grip and Lightweight Barrel increase your movement speed when using the weapon and its overall ADS handling. Adding a Muzzle Booster to the weapon drastically increases the gun’s time to kill, and allows it to compete against SMGs at close range. Padded Stock compensates for the recoil added by the booster and Fast Mag is an all-around great attachment for the slow reloading weapon. This build makes you incredibly light on your feet with the assault rifle, which is needed in the fast-paced mode, and also allows you to win fights at long range. We recommend using the Echelon Faction with this loadout so you can locate opponents with their Intel Suit to take them down. If you want to utilize some different loadouts for the AK-47, check out our guide. Best loadout for Capture The Flag Capture The Flag requires you to run around either defending your flag, or infiltrating enemy space to capture there’s. The best weapon for the job is the best SMG in the class thanks to its incredible movement speed and fire rate with this loadout. Muzzle: Muzzle Booster – Barrel: Rapid Fire – Front Rail: Superlight Grip – Magazine: Fast Mag – Stock: Removed – This build increases the MP7’s already impressive fire rate thanks to the Muzzle Booster and Rapid Fire attachments. Instead of trying to compensate for the increase in recoil, the rest of the build is focused on increasing the gun’s maneuverability with the Superlight Grip and Removed Stock. Lastly, Fast Mag allows the gun to have very little downtime when reloading. We recommend running the Libertad so you can heal yourself and your allies while running away with the enemy flag. If you want to utilize other loadouts for the MP7, check out our guide. For more tips on weapons to try out across XDefiant’s game modes, take a look at our best SMGs and Sniper Rifle lists. We also are staying up to date on everything coming to Season 1 once that content is revealed for XDefiant.

Best XDefiant PC settings: FPS, performance, visibility and more UbisoftThe best XDefiant graphics settings for PC will give you a huge advantage in multiplayer, while also increasing your FPS and overall stability. Finding the best Xdefiant graphics settings is incredibly important. Not only does it enable you to increase your FPS, but it can also drastically improve your in-game visibility. Whether you’re looking to increase your in-game performance or just wish to improve your KD, then adjusting the graphics settings is imperative. By utilizing the best FOV settings and controller settings, you’ll be picking up more kills in no time. Best XDefiant graphics settings for high-end PCs The best XDefiant graphics settings for high-end PCs are those that keep the game looking sharp, while also not negatively impacting your FPS. Of course, you can always tune things up, but we don’t recommend increasing shadow quality and vegetation quality, as these can inhibit your ability to spot enemies. Once you’ve used these best XDefiant high-end PC settings, be sure to make any adjustments to fit your own preferences. Gameplay settings Field of View: 120 – ADS Field of View: Consistent – Video settings Windowed Mode: Fullscreen – Resolution: Your monitor’s resolution – Refresh Rate: Refresh rate of your monitor – Monitor: The monitor you game on – Enable Reduced Latency: Yes – NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: Enabled – Brightness: 15 – Contrast: 15 – Graphics settings Enable DX12 Renderer: Yes – HDR: Off – Graphics Quality: Custom – V-Sync Mode: Off – Framerate Limit: On – Framerate Limit: Refresh rate of your monitor (e.g. 144) – Shadow Quality: Medium – Spot Shadows: Medium – Spot Shadow Resolution: Medium – Contact Shadows: All Low – Resolution Scale: 100% – Sharpening: 8 – Particle Detail: High – Volumetric Fog: Medium – Reflection Quality: Medium – Local Reflection Quality: Medium – Vegetation Quality: Low – Sub Surface Scattering: On – Parallax Mapping: Yes – Ambient Occlusion: High – Object Detail: 100 – Extra Streaming Distance: 5 – Lens Flare: Off – Water Quality: Medium – Chromatic Aberration: Off – High-Resolution Sky Textures: Yes – Terrain Quality: High – Best XDefiant graphics settings for low-end PCs The best XDefiant graphics settings for low-end PCs lower the graphics and visual clutter of the game, improving visibility and performance. While you may be able to increase certain settings, we recommend using the below to ensure you have the smoothest gameplay experience. Gameplay settings Field of View: 120 – ADS Field of View: Consistent – Video settings Windowed Mode: Fullscreen – Resolution: 1920×1080 – Refresh Rate: Refresh rate of your monitor – Monitor: The monitor you game on – Enable Reduced Latency: Yes – NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: Enabled – Brightness: 15 – Contrast: 15 – Graphics settings Enable DX12 Renderer: Yes – HDR: Off – Graphics Quality: Custom – V-Sync Mode: Off – Framerate Limit: On – Framerate Limit: Refresh rate of your monitor or lower (e.g. 60) – Shadow Quality: Low – Spot Shadows: Low – Spot Shadow Resolution: Low – Contact Shadows: Off – Resolution Scale: 85% – Sharpening: 8 – Particle Detail: Low – Volumetric Fog: Low – Reflection Quality: Low – Local Reflection Quality: Low – Vegetation Quality: Low – Sub Surface Scattering: On – Parallax Mapping: Yes – Ambient Occlusion: Low – Object Detail: 50 – Extra Streaming Distance: 5 – Lens Flare: Off – Water Quality: Low – Chromatic Aberration: Off – High-Resolution Sky Textures: No – Terrain Quality: Medium – XDefiant preview | XDefiant system requirements | XDefiant: Gameplay, platforms & everything we know | Will XDefiant feature a battle royale mode?

Best XDefiant LVOA-C build: Class loadouts for high damage & low recoil UbisoftThe LVOA-C is a lethal new Assault Rifle in XDefiant Season 1, though with its insane fire rate, you’ll need to right build to tame this beast. Here are the very best LVOA-C builds to help you master this gun in no time. The LVOA-C Assault Rifle arrived in XDefiant Season 1 alongside the L115 Sniper Rifle and the Sawed-Off Shotgun Secondary. As the sixth Assault Rifle in the game today, it stands out as the fastest firing in the category, and thus, comes with plenty of recoil. If you’re leveling up the new weapon, your priority should be attachments to work around its rapid fire and lack of accuracy in comparison to other options in its class. So with that in mind, we’ve put together the very best loadouts to do just that. Here are the best LVOA-C builds in XDefiant to hone in its recoil pattern and make the most of its devastating firepower. Contents: Best overall LVOA-C build – Best LVOA-C build for damage – Best LVOA-C build for recoil – How to unlock the LVOA-C in XDefiant – Best XDefiant LVOA-C build – Recommended loadout Muzzle: Compensator – Front Rail: Pistol – Magazine: Extended Mag – Rear Grip: Heavy Grip – Stock: Padded – For the most well-rounded LVOA-C build in XDefiant, you’ll want to start with the Compensator Muzzle. While it comes with a slight detriment to ADS speed, we’ll be countering that later and the 7% boost to vertical recoil control is a game-changer. From there we go with the Pistol Front Rail, the last unlock in the category. This attachment provides multiple enormous benefits, including a 20% improvement on minimum and maximum spread accuracy, an ideal solution for the LVOA-C’s tougher recoil spray. Not only that, but it bolsters your sprint to shoot time as well. While this third pick is purely personal preference, we recommend the Extended Mag in the Magazine slot. With an AR in hand, having to reload every few seconds is far from ideal. Using this attachment gives you additional rounds in every mag, letting you shoot longer and rack up more kills. Next comes the Heavy Grip in the Rear Grip slot, the only option without a negative effect on the overall build. With a 10% boost to ADS flinch control, your shots will remain on target far more often with this option. Rounding out the best overall build is the Padded Stock for a whopping 15% improvement to recoil recovery, a further 10% buff to ADS stability, and 5% to ADS flinch control. With this selection, you’re reducing the downsides of holding down the trigger and letting the LCOA-C go to work. Best LVOA-C build for high damage Muzzle: Barrel Extender – Barrel: Chrome Lined – Front Rail: Superlight Grip – Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip – Stock: Padded Stock – If you’re looking to optimize the LVOA-C’s damage above all else, there’s no looking past the Barrel Extender Muzzle to start your loadout in XDefiant. With a 10% damage increase at short and medium range, it’s the best pick in the category by a considerable margin. Next, you’re going to want the Chrome Lined Barrel for the same reason, to further boost short and medium-range damage by a staggering 20%. While both of these attachments severely impact mobility and accuracy, you’re going to be near-unstoppable at closer ranges. The Superlight Grip in the Front Rail slot comes in next to somewhat counter the downsides of the first to attachments, boosting ADS speed and movement speed to balance things out. From there we’ve selected the Quick Draw Grip to improve sprint-to-shoot speed and ADS speed by 10% each, ensuring you’re not slow to the draw in every gunfight and thus, making all our damage redundant. Last but not least is the Padded Stock option as the best in its class. Improving recoil recovery, ADS stability, and flinch control, this pick keeps your reticle on point as best as possible, countering the downsides of build. Best LVOA-C build to reduce recoil Muzzle: Compensator – Barrel: Stabilizing Barrel – Front Rail: PEQ-15 Laser – Rear Grip: Grip Tape – Stock: Reinforced Stock – In order to optimize accuracy for the LVOA-C and its higher-than-normal recoil, we’ve gone with the Compensator Muzzle to start the loadout. With a hefty 7% boost to vertical recoil control, this counters much of the gun’s kick right away. Next comes the Stabilizing Barrel to, as the name implies, help stabilize our build a little more. Improving horizontal and vertical recoil control, this attachment does come at a cost of some mobility, but it’s well worth the tradeoff. The PEQ-15 Laser stands out as the most important attachment of the build. This Front Rail provides a staggering 40% buff to minimum and maximum spread accuracy, honing in your crosshairs a great deal. Then comes the Grip Tape attachment in the Rear Grip slot and while it reduces ADS speed slightly, it further improves recoil recovery by 15% and vertical recoil control by 5%, adding to our already impressive accuracy. Topping it all off is the Stock attachment, and while we’ve selected the Reinforced Stock, there is an alternative. The Reinforced stock effectively makes you a turret, vastly improving flinch control and ADS stability, though at a huge cost of ADS walking speed. If standing still isn’t your style, use the Padded Stock for a less significant downside. How to unlock the LVOA-C Assault Rifle in XDefiant The new LVOA-C Assault Rifle can be found at Tier 20 of the Season 1 Battle Pass. Having gone live on July 2, Season 1’s Battle Pass is now in focus, and this new AR is the first free weapon you can claim just by playing the game. When Season 2 starts up, however, there’s no quite telling how the LVOA-C will be unlocked from that point on. We’ll be sure to update you here once we have further details.