Sunday, January 31, 2021

Battleborn Goes Offline For Good Today

Rest in peace, Battleborn--we hardly knew you ... or played you. Gearbox Software's hero shooter is going offline today for good, rendering the game unplayable more than four years after its launch. The writing has been on the wall for quite a long time now, with digital currency being removed from sale and the game already being pulled off digital stores. However, up until today, players who were still interested in Battleborn could play the game normally. That's over, with not only peer-to-peer multiplayer matches being unplayable, but also the single-player campaign. Battleborn's fate was sealed almost immediately, as it launched at nearly the exact same time as Blizzard's Overwatch. The two games are quite similar, with heroes sporting a variety of unique moves and weapons, but it was Blizzard's game that caught on. The price of Battleborn quickly fell, and Gearbox shifted, well, gears, to other games like Borderlands 3. That was a much more successful project for the studio, releasing on everything from Xbox One to Google Stadia and receiving several DLC packs.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Leak Seemingly Confirms MLB The Show 21 Is Headed To Xbox

It appears we have our first confirmation that MLB The Show 21 will be releasing on Xbox systems this year. Box art for the game has leaked, and it shows the PS5 and Xbox One versions of the game complete with the PlayStation logo. This must be how Mario and Sonic felt when they finally teamed up for the Olympics. MLB The Show 21 boxart has leaked The crazy part? Seeing a big PlayStation Studios logo right on the front of the boxart of an Xbox Game Case MLB The Show is consistently a high selling title and now it's going multiplatform will be even bigger pic.twitter.com/Yzh8zrVzKu — Benji-Sales (@BenjiSales) January 30, 2021 The covers, which Sony has yet to officially confirm, feature San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatís Jr. He was in the running for the National League's MVP award in 2020 during the shortened season, and The Show franchise has sometimes given rising superstars an opportunity to grace the cover in the past. It hasn't always gone the way Sony probably hoped, such as when Yasiel Puig was the 2015 star and ended up with one of the worst seasons of his career. At least for the Xbox version, it doesn't appear it will be eligible for a free next-gen upgrade. The box art only lists the Xbox One, though we presume there will also be an Xbox Series X|S version. It would certainly be a little bit of a flex for Sony to only offer the "best" version of the game on its own system.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Yakuza 5, Yakuza 4 and Yakuza 3

'Remastered Collection' out on Xbox One / Game Pass and PC. Irvine, Californie. Le 28 janvier 2021 –  SEGA  et Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio invitent les joueurs à flâner dans les rues dangereuses de Kamurocho pour (re)vivre les aventures de Kazuma...
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Is All Fair In Love And Rule 34? The Eternal Debate Of Sex And Modding

Earlier this week, we reported that CD Projekt Red banned a Cyberpunk 2077 mod that allowed players to retexturize in-game assets to virtually have sex with Keanu Reeves' character, Johnny Silverhand. The reason behind the ban was because the studio felt it was inappropriate to recreate explicit sexual encounters with a real person who did not give their permission (despite the character himself having numerous scenes throughout the game that were graphically sexual in nature). The conversation surrounding that previous coverage, and similar instances when a recognizable name is used in a game, prompted a desire to explore this topic further. For as long as I've been covering mods in my career, the ethical debate of fiction vs. reality has always been a subject that has two clear and opposing stances. But to understand the Great Debate Of Modding, we have to dive a bit deeper into the conversation surrounding this community.  What is rule 34?  First, let's talk about the ever-present rule 34. Rule 34 isn't an actual rule; it's just a term commonly used online to reference the fact that anything – absolutely anything – can be made into pornographic material via modding, fanart, etc. This is specifically true for things in entertainment that aren't inherently sexual, but any attempt to thwart possible sexualization actually gives even more power to this created rule of the internet. When we shared the Cyberpunk 2077 mod ban, some comments brought up rule 34 – but it's just one piece of the eternal debate on the ethics of modding sexual content.  What's the debate?  So what's the "big deal"? The topic of modding is split between two major groups: the first group being "it's just a game," with the second group usually citing a deeper connection to the real world. There are a few facets of this conversation beyond just protecting someone like Keanu Reeves. In fact, the "deeper connection to the real world" is something that I briefly touched on with another Cyberpunk 2077 mod we shared concerning an in-game modification that allows for Judy (a canonically lesbian character) to be romanced (fully voiced) by a male V.  In the instance of the Keanu Reeves sex mod, the conversation surrounds consent. While Johnny Silverhand isn't a real person, Reeves is, and Reeves - as an actor - only agreed to scenes that he explicitly signed off on. With players taking content in their own hands by putting Keanu's likeness on a sexbot, the age-old "is it or isn't it" debate came back in full force: Silverhand vs. Reeves, is consent required or do we separate fiction from reality entirely despite how fiction shapes our lives daily?  The deeper side of romance.  In the article about Judy, the argument about the ethical standards of tampering with storylines representing marginalized communities came up quite a bit. The reasoning against those particular mods is that same-sex relationship options are so few and far between in games, the number available is usually much smaller than heterosexual relationship counterparts and that messing with that type of representation is a form of erasure. For this side of the reactionary spectrum, it can be seen as a moral issue beyond simple fiction, an issue that flared up in a transformative way when a Dorian mod for Dragon Age: Inquisition went viral; a mod that made his sexuality straight despite his entire storyline being a gripping tale of "coming out" when society wanted him dead or buried just for preferring men.  With Dorian, being gay was a part of his story. It was the very basis of why this character was written to be so protective of himself when his own father tried to harm him in order to force him into a heterosexual relationship with the hopes that he would carry on the family name by being forced into a loveless marriage. With that being expressly written into his story, making that a huge part of his identity as a character, the mods out there that immediately made him available as a female love interest superseded being "just a game." Why? Because that narrative was written with those vulnerable experiences that fans have expressed through the years where their parents and loved ones abandoned them for simply being who they are. It's those stories from fans that inspired Dorian's creation as a character, and others like him. Therefore, changing who he is seemingly projecting the notion that those real-life attempts at changing those players that resonated with his story are also okay. The heart of this debate centers around one core focus point: What is considered ethical and what isn't when looking at fictional worlds, especially games that are meant to be tailored to the ideal player experience on an individual basis.  In relation to romantic pairings in general, not just a famous person's face, the conversation about what is ethically acceptable regarding putting expressly written homosexual characters into heteronormative relationships usually gets incredibly heated with two clear ends on the reactionary spectrum. On one hand, you have people that don't understand why this is even a conversation. The more extreme side of this perspective oftentimes ends with something along the lines of "get over it" and "it's just a game." The other side of that dialogue centers on not the games themselves, but their impact and why changing certain aspects of representation can be intentionally, and unintentionally, harmful to aspects of our society that are often erased. This is especially true when looking at the gay and trans community being represented in games, more so when looking at our recent history in the United States where gays couldn't even get legally married until 2015 and the trans community continuously in a position of fighting for their lives and their rights.  But it's just a game.  It is, absolutely.  Ultimately, if players want to use mods to change storylines and alter romantic relationships, they have that right. When having conversations like this, it's vital to be open to both sides. Not to acquiesce, but to see where each person is coming from; it's important to understand each side so that both can share their perspective more effectively and potentially come to an agreeable conclusion. For example, I can't say whether or not Keanu Reeves would be offended by the Cyberpunk 2077 sex mod, but the fact that I can't say that means that I can't just assume he wouldn't be. Similarly, if you have never had to come out to your friends and family or faced punishment just for being honest about your sexuality and who you are, then you don’t know the power that sort of representation in games can have. For a person like that, seeing themselves in a strong character like Dorian and other similar stories means everything. To see that meaning be stripped away for the sake of a five-second sex scene brings up a lot of internal feelings that someone who hasn't been there simply cannot even begin to understand. But through this conversation, and understanding can be found if the conversation itself is hard and it doesn't devolve into embittered and defensive fighting. This is the case especially with RPGs when the premise of most of these games is for a player to feel like their best self in a game world environment, or simply to experience something they would never be able to in real life. This is why many women like to play as male characters and why many men enjoy playing female characters. By altering these relationship standards in games through the power of modding, that desire to create an almost "optimized" world for personal reflection can be seen through changing the original artistic direction of a character.  Is it wrong?  There are two extremes when it comes to the ongoing conversation of ethics and their place in the modding community. We've seen it with mods that turn POC characters white, we've seen it with mods that turned underage characters "legal" for less than pure reasons. In some cases, it really is just a game. Let people create the experience they want to create. In other cases, however, there is a deeper conversation rooted in very real, very prevalent real-life issues, especially concerning marginalized groups that feel erased in their daily lives, only to see "themselves" erased in the medium they enjoy through gaming.  In the real world, no one agrees 100% about everything. That's not realistic. What we can do, however, is listen to one another instead of caving into that knee jerk reaction to say "I'm right" or "you're wrong" and listening when people open up about any potential deeper meanings behind their part in this ongoing conversation.
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Saturday, January 30, 2021

Free Madden NFL 21: The Pro Football Game Is $0.00 On PS4, Xbox One, And PC Right Now

As part of an effort to promote the NFL's virtual Pro Bowl this year, EA Sports' professional football game Madden NFL 21 is now free for a limited time. The free play weekend started on January 28 and it runs through January 31. During this time, anyone on Xbox One or PS4, as well as PC, can download and play the full game until January 31. In addition, Madden 21's Superstar Edition is 60% off.Free is a nice price EA historically discounts the newest Madden game around this time, hoping to piggyback on the increased level of interest in football in general due to the forthcoming Super Bowl.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Save Big On This Excellent LG OLED 4K TV For PS5 And Xbox Series X

The LG CX OLED is the best 4K TV for PS5 and Xbox Series X, thanks to its gorgeous display, 4K resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate. The HDMI 2.1-capable 4K TV is expensive, but with all these things considered, it's well worth your time and money. If you're interested, there are a number of great deals that discount the price of the LG CX OLED, including one that comes with a free $400 gift card. Amazon has the 65-inch LG CX OLED for $2,000--down from its regular price of $2,800. BuyDig has the same deal, but it also has the 77-inch LG CX OLED for $3,300 and it comes with a $400 Visa gift card. Amazon has the 77-inch LG CX OLED for $3,250 after a coupon, but it doesn't come with a gift card or any other bonus. If you go with the Amazon deal, make sure to apply the coupon on the product page before checking out. 65-inch LG CX OLED $2,000 (was $2,800) See at Amazon 77-inch LG CX OLED $3,300 + free $400 Visa gift card (was $5,000) See at BuyDig 77-inch LG CX OLED $3,250 (was $5,000) See at Amazon Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Destiny 2 Is Getting New Trials Of Osiris Armor Next Season

We're nearing the end of Destiny 2's current content season, the Season of the Hunt, which means a bunch of new changes are on the way. Bungie is adjusting how it'll dish out weekly rewards in the next season and returning some weapons and armor to the rotation to make past destinations and activities more enticing. And now we know that Destiny's toughest multiplayer challenge, the Trials of Osiris, will get new rewards with the next season as well. Bungie showed off new Trials of Osiris armor on Twitter with a few slick-looking teaser shots. It's tough to get too good a look at it--there's a lot of shadow in each of the shots to add some mystery--but it looks like the armor will be very different (and perhaps a lot darker) than the current armor offered in Trials of Osiris. The Trials event carries an Egypt theme (it's all about the Destiny character Osiris, who's named after the Egyptian god of the underworld), so expect that to continue with this armor. Take a look at the shots below. Trials of Osiris. Season of the *REDACTED* Armor. Coming soon. pic.twitter.com/ifhIEXZEmA — Destiny 2 (@DestinyTheGame) January 29, 2021 Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Friday, January 29, 2021

The Lord Of The Rings: Viggo Mortensen Reveals A Scary Moment When He Had Vertigo During Filming

Actor Viggo Mortensen was praised for his performance as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings, but as it turns out, his acting was even more impressive than we might have known. That's because Mortensen has now revealed he suffers from vertigo, and he had an episode during the filming of a key scene in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Speaking to Lord of the Rings superfan Stephen Colbert, who also experiences vertigo, Mortensen said he rarely gets hit with a bout of vertigo but it happened during the filming of a scene for the Battle of Helm's Deep in Two Towers. This took place while he was filming a scene involving climbing a structure and hacking at Orcs. In between takes, high up on the wall, Mortensen began experiencing vertigo; he became frozen and could not get down from the trestle. "The first time it hit me badly [as an adult] was during The Lord of the Rings. I was doing a scene, the Battle of Helm's Deep, all these scenes were at night and it was rainy. And there was a stairway that was about a foot wide, no railing, going up the side of a wall. There's a scene where I'm fighting my way up, trying to get up to the top. And there's all these Orcs coming down with their weapons. And I'm fighting them all the way up. One throws a spear sideways, and I leap over and swing my legs over the precipice, and keep going."Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Hitman 3 Developer Isn't Stepping Away From The Franchise Anytime Soon

Hitman developer IO Interactive has indicated that it is not done with the franchise yet, teasing ongoing DLC support for Hitman 3 and a potential sequel. Hitman 3 launched earlier this month, with strong launch sales allowing IO Interactive to recoup all development costs in just a few days. This is the biggest launch the studio has experienced since going independent, and the largest for the series. With that in mind, executive producer Forest Swartout Large says there's more to come for Hitman. "We're continuously working on Hitman so we are already looking to the future," said Large in an interview with The Gamer, when asked about the potential for another Hitman sequel.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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11 Best Games For Couples To Play Together On Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is coming up, and for those who would normally schedule a date night out, things are going to look pretty different this year due to the pandemic. However, there are still plenty of ways to spend quality time with your loved one indoors this Valentine's Day, and one of the best options is finding a co-op video game you can both enjoy together. To that end, we've rounded up the best games for couples to play this Valentine's Day, but of course, these are great games to play together any night of the year that you want to spend some time together. For the purposes of this roundup, we've focused on games that offer local co-op so you can cuddle up on the couch while you play. We recognize that in some couples, one person may have more gaming experience than the other, so keep that in mind when picking a game. None of the titles we've included here are particularly taxing, but some of them may be more suited for people who are already comfortable using a controller. (We have a separate guide on games to play with people who don't normally play games if you find yourself needing more options.) While quality time can often be the best gift someone can ask for, others like to receive physical tokens of affection on Valentine's Day. If you're still pondering what to get your partner, see our suggestions for the best Valentine's Day gifts, with ideas for gamers and more. We also have recommendations for cozy, feel-good Valentine's Day movies to watch with your loved one this year.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Thursday, January 28, 2021

Latest Cyberpunk 2077 Patch Fixes Common Game-Breaking Bug

Cyberpunk 2077 has received a new hotfix that directly addresses a game-breaking bug introduced in the game's first big update since launch. Patch 1.1 for Cyberpunk 2077 addresses numerous performance and gameplay issues, as developer CD Projekt Red laid the foundation for a series of updates scheduled for the coming weeks. The patch inadvertently also broke the game in a new way, preventing progress during a quest that left some players without a way to continue playing. Although a workaround was posted shortly after the bug was discovered, Patch 1.11 fixes the issue outright while also adjusting some aspect of loot drops.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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PSN Kicks Off New PS5 And PS4 Sale Filled With Remasters And Retro Games

The PlayStation Store has kicked off a new sale focused on remasters and retro games for PS4 and PS5. The Remasters and Retros sale runs until February 11 and includes steep discounts on a wide of variety of games, including Resident Evil's Raccoon City edition, Devil May Cry HD Collection, and the Castlevania Anniversary Collection. There are a bunch of notable PlayStation exclusives featured in the sale. Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, which compiles the first three games in great action-adventure series, is only $10. Ratchet and Clank, a remake of the first game in action-platformer franchise, is also on sale for $10. You can snag the excellent remake of Shadow of the Colossus--one of the best PS2 games--for only $13. Meanwhile, the gorgeous action-adventure Gravity Rush Remastered is down to $9.89. If you're in the mood to play some retro games, the sale offers great deals on a bunch of different anthologies and collections. The Mega Man 30th Anniversary Bundle gets you the best bang for your buck at $40.19. This bundle comes with all 11 mainline Mega Man games and all eight Mega Man X spinoffs. Other notable collections on sale include the Castlevania Anniversary Collection and Contra Anniversary Collection for $5 each as well as Metal Slug Anthology for $6.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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First Trailer For New Mighty Ducks Disney+ TV Show Game Changers Released Alongside Release Date

Disney has released the first trailer and announced the release date for its new Mighty Ducks TV show for Disney+. The show, which is called The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, will premiere on the streaming service on March 26. That's nearly 30 years after the first movie premiered all the way back in 1992. The show brings back Emilio Estevez in his iconic role as coach Gordon Bombay, while Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham plays a new character who is at the heart of the story. Check out the first trailer below. Game Changers takes place in Minnesota and follows the youth hockey team the Mighty Ducks who are now an "ultra-competitive, powerhouse" compared to the original movies where the team was always the underdog. Now, the Mighty Ducks are the bad guys.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Persona 5 Strikers Trailer Shows Off Phantom Thief Combat Abilities

Set six months after the conclusion of Persona 5, Persona 5 Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves of Hearts for an all-new adventure. Rather than focusing on Tokyo, Persona 5 Strikers expands the adventure to include a road trip to various regions across Japan. Not only is the scope of the journey expanded, but the combat is completely different from the turn-based fare of Persona 5.  This time around, the Phantom Thieves traverse dungeons and encounter Shadows, triggering action-packed, hack-and-slash battles. However, the turn-based inspiration carries through to Persona 5 Strikers, as Joker, Ann, Ryuji, and company can still summon their Personas for pause-and-plan sequences that stop the action while you navigate the menus. Just as each character has their own Personas with unique abilities, each member of the Phantom Thieves has their own special abilities and affinities. Today, Atlus released a new trailer highlighting some of the combat abilities of the Phantom Thieves. Whether you're talking Ann's ability to use fire attacks or Makoto's nuclear affinity, so much of Persona 5 Strikers' combat relies on exploiting enemy weaknesses to trigger Follow-Up opportunities and All-Out Attack sequences. You can see the team reunited and battling it out with Shadows in the new trailer below. Click here to watch embedded media Persona 5 Strikers hits PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC on February 23. However, you can access the game starting on February 19  if you purchase the Digital Deluxe edition. This bundle comes with a digital art book, a digital soundtrack, a behind-the-scenes video showcasing the making of the music, and special background music from past Persona games.  For more on Persona 5 Strikers, check out my early impressions of my time with the game here. If you've missed the boat on Persona 5 to this point and want to start at the beginning, the enhanced re-release Persona 5 Royal is the way to go (even if Strikers serves as a follow up to the vanilla version). To learn about that game, you can read my review, or check out associate editor Jason Guisao's opinion piece on why it's a game worth playing – even if you already experienced the original.
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Meet Full Circle, The New Studio Making The Next Skate

EA answered years’ worth of prayers when it announced the return of the Skate franchise last July. The reveal offered no trailer, gameplay, concept art, or much of anything because the game was very early in development. How early? Well, as of today, EA has announced the formation of a new studio that will helm development of the next Skate game. Meet Full Circle, a Vancouver based team led by Daniel McCulloch, formerly Head of Xbox Live at Microsoft. Fans will be pleased to know that Deran Chung and Cuz Parry, who helped create the Skate franchise and worked on all three mainline games, make up the creative leadership on the new title. “We’re so stoked to be back working on Skate,” says Chung and Parry in a press release.  McCulloch offered his own statement as well:  “The fans wished Skate back into existence and we want them to feel involved in the process from development to game launch and beyond. We want them to feel like they are a part of Full Circle. We’re all about having fun and making great games that people want to play with their friends. And, we’re looking for more developers to help us build compelling worlds for players to explore.” Full Circle is still staffing up with positions open for designers, artists, and engineers among other jobs, so if you are skilled in such things, go apply and help make Skate happen faster, darn it! Still, Full Circle seems like it’s off to a solid start. Unfortunately, this also signifies that the new Skate is further away than fans may have realized. But, after spending over a decade waiting with little more than hope and a prayer, at least fans have something tangible to look forward to now. While you're waiting you can satisfy your Skate cravings with our Replay episodes of Skate 2 and Skate 3.  What do you think of the new team and what are you looking for in a new Skate game? Sound off in the comments!
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The Elder Scrolls Online: Oblivion Is The Next Step To Adding Romance In-Game, Confirms Bethesda

Bethesda Softworks just revealed an in-depth first look at Oblivion, the next expansion to hit The Elder Scrolls Online. A year-long event will take players to places they have never been before, but denizens of Tamriel have more to look forward to than new locations and the return of Mehrunes Dagon; the introduction of companions is another major feature of this expansion, and it's a bigger deal than you might realize. Why? It all comes down to one ever-popular aspect of RPGs: romance.  In the single-player Elder Scrolls games, players have a select amount of characters they can build relationships with. Some of those relationships can even lead to in-game marriage. In the MMORPG of Elder Scrolls Online, however, the lack of companion characters provided no meaningful way to get attached to the many faces met throughout the game's adventures. Now that companions are making their way into the online world to help make ESO even more single-player friendly, I couldn't help but ask if that addition meant romance was on its way in the future. The short answer? Yes.  I recently sat down with Creative Director Rich Lambert to learn more about Oblivion and the tales it has to tell. When I asked if the relationship with companions could go deeper than just a battle buddy, Lambert said yes – but not in the typical romantic fashion, and not right out of the gate. He said the introduction of this mechanic in Oblivion is setting up for a goal the team has in mind for further down the road.  Click here to watch embedded media "With these companions, they have their own likes and dislikes," Lambert says. "You can go up one side and down the other side with your relationship to them. There is going to be something special that unlocks when you max out that relationship spectrum as well, though initially, romance won't be a part of it." He adds, "Down the line, though, romance is definitely somewhere we want to get to. We just want to make sure when we add it that we do it right."  For now, there are two companions who players will get to know: Bastion and Mary. "Bastion is kind of this chivalrous Knight kind of personality," Lambert says. "And he was the son of a noble there was a little bit of strife with his history that you'll learn more about while adventuring with him. He ended up becoming a servant to another noble family and is essentially being the protector of this rich sniveling idiot. The questline that you go through with him to unlock him as a companion covers one of those adventures. And then once you unlock him, you find out a little bit more about who he is and what his personal tragedy is."  Mary, on the other hand, is a Dunmer thief who Lambert describes as having a "stab you in the back" kind of personality. Lambert mentions that she has an interesting twist in her storyline, but wasn't willing to tell me more no matter how much I was intrigued to hear everything.  Essentially, the introduction of companions is meant to lay the groundwork for more personal relationships going forward in future expansions. That being said, the team wants to make sure they don't rush adding something like this, ensuring that the highly requested feature is done in a way that will leave players feeling fulfilled with their story experience.  Another interesting thing about these companions is that they are more than just pretty faces. Players can spec them out to suit their playstyle, and solo players can take them into instances that usually require additional players, such as dungeons.  "So companions are there if you choose to use them – your permanent adventuring buddies – so you unlock them by doing quests in the Blackwood chapter," Lambert says. "Once you have them, you can level them up, you can equip gear on them, you can assign them to a specific role; so if you need a tank, you can have them go tanky, or healer or damage dealer. You can set their skills that they use and the order they use them in. Each companion also has its own series of likes and dislikes. There's a report system associated with this. This system will change as a player progressed through the story to unlock new quests to get to know each companion." Lambert adds, "We're still going through how this all works within the world and figuring out exactly where you can use different companions as well. We know we don't want them used in PvP, so we've taken that option out, but outside of that, we want you to be able to use them everywhere else." Is romance in games like this necessary? Absolutely not. But it does make for a more enriching experience for those that crave an even more detailed and immersive experience to get lost in. The lovey-dovey mechanic was optional in the Elder Scrolls single-player games, and making it that way in the online experience just further connects ESO to the larger Elder Scrolls franchise.  What do you think about what we've learned thus far about Oblivion making its way into The Elder Scrolls Online? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! 
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Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Animal Crossing: New Horizons January Update Revealed, Super Mario Crossover This March

January is coming to a close, but that doesn't mean that it's over quite yet for Animal Crossing fans. In a new video, Nintendo revealed what players can expect from the upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons January update alongside a small tease of what's ahead for the next big drop coming in March with a special Mario crossover.  The upcoming update that goes live on January 28 provides a ton of new updates but also heralds in the arrival of Festivale. Festivale is a carnival-style event that will go down on February 15 and brings with it the arrival of Dancer Pavé. Click here to watch embedded media According to Nintendo:  Dancer Pavé will arrive to your island’s plaza to usher in some confetti and carnival spirit. On the day of the event you can capture colorful feathers floating on your island with your net and trade them to Pavé to receive a passionate dance number in return. Rainbow feathers seem to be an especially rare sight, so be sure to catch them and trade them with Pavé. New Horizons players can also look forward to even more clothes to style themselves to perfection, as well as new reactions to better convey those inner thoughts and feelings while living that island life to the fullest.  The above trailer also teases a few new events on the way, including new themed items for holidays like Valentine's Day and Groundhog's Day before the next big event that is slated for March.  While a small teaser, Nintendo also confirmed its upcoming March update, which will include a special Super Mario crossover.  From carnival to Super Mario, the next few months are going to be exciting for Animal Crossing: New Horizons fans. While the game has been out for just shy of one year, Nintendo has done a phenomenal job at ensuring the experience never grows stale with a constant rotation of events and new items to explore.  What do you think about the January and March updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Shout those thoughts out loud and proud in the comment section below! 
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Lawbreakers Deserved Better

Games like Doom and Quake shaped my childhood in such a profound way. The run-and-gun shooter type is a go-to for me, almost a comfort genre, and it's a genre that Boss Key Productions' Lawbreakers slid into perfectly. Unfortunately, the launch was anything but successful and the studio behind the first-person shooter faded away into memory. But as we go into a new year and I look forward to seeing what other fresh adventures we can dive into, I can't help but reflect back on how much joy Lawbreakers gave me and how sad I am that it didn't last.  What I loved Lawbreakers was released back in August 2017 and its goal was to challenge the more traditional FPS experience by implementing a gravity-defying mechanic that was ridiculously fun. While including some of the more expected features like an objective-based competitive experience, I truly believe that Lawbreakers had something truly special; something that spoke volumes of the passion the team had and the passion of Cliff Bleszinski, Boss Key's co-founder and CEO.  The overall setup of Lawbreakers surrounded the idea of two teams of five going toe-to-toe to complete the game's objective. One team played the "Law" aspect of Lawbreakers while the other team — you guessed it — played the "Breakers" role. There were a few modes to enjoy but my favorite was Turf War. Capturing three objective points is a pretty standard formula for this genre but the anti-gravity thrown into the mix made Turf War downright thrilling. With an objective being set to clear as many points as possible until the end of the match, this entire mode was a recipe for one giant mass of delightful chaos.  The anti-gravity also made modes like Team Deathmatch uniquely fun. The entire pacing of the game was chaotic and freeform. It offered a lot of freedom to the player in a market where gameplay is more often than not restrictive. It's why I like Destiny 2's PvP so much, being able to manipulate the very air around you for an edge in combat is exhilarating and Lawbreakers nailed this formula down to perfection.  The different roles for each faction offered a variety that genuinely kept the experience fresh. Rolling up as a Juggernaut was beyond satisfying, ripping through enemy players like rage incarnate. Being able to just casually throw off players like they were gnats was manically fun. Though obviously slower-moving, I think the Juggernaut was my favorite role to play because the damage was delicious and the destruction was bar none. The Gunslinger was fun, too, and I think a subtle reason why I went back to being a Hunter main in Destiny, and they operated similarly to rogues (like the Assassin role), which is usually my go-to when getting down on some RPG action.  Another way that Lawbreakers exceeded my expectations is how dying felt. As an avid Battlefield, Medal of Honor, etc. lover, dying in a match freaking sucks. I feel like a noob, I resentfully watch the kill cam with my teeth grinding dangerously, and I just want to murder out of a place of frustration (in-game — easy there, killer). With Lawbreakers, the very environment was teeming with life and vibrance, and that luster made the act dying more bearable than many other shooters on the market. The roles were allocated evenly and fairly, making death feel less like a failure of skill and more of a strategy misfire. Was that the case? Probably not, I have the precision of a walnut, but the game did make you feel better about those regretful moments of gravity-defying death.  Click here to watch embedded media What went wrong  The game itself was met with positive critical reception, but sales did not reflect that eye in the slightest. What led to the poor sales that eventually caused the game's servers to shut down just one year later? There are a few contributing factors to bear in mind.  Firstly, Lawbreakers had a hard time finding its place among other huge releases like Overwatch and the then-dominating battle royale experience PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Despite positive reception, people were just playing other games. Lawbreakers, much like similar games around that time like Battleborn, just couldn't carve out the player niche needed to make it a competitor in a saturated shooter market.  Some have contributed the aesthetics of the game to be a reason for its demise, but games like Apex Legends prove that this isn't necessarily the case, because Respawn's battle royale shooter has a very similar style and even similar anti-gravity mechanics on a much lower scale.  Another crux was expectations and, let's be honest, pre-launch boasting. Bleszinski has even noted this in the past, having been incredibly upfront about what led to the studio's closure, and even how his own politics became a hindrance when being open about his own beliefs. In an effort to experience similar levels of success games like Warframe and Rocket League had, Bleszinski has stated in the past prior to launch that shipping Lawbreakers was "a marathon and not a sprint," which is true but not within the market that it was released into. When going up against already dominating games in the same genre, a clear strategy to show players what Lawbreakers does differently was key. While the pre-launch trailers did hype up the gravity aspect and gave sneak peeks at a few of the different roles, it's clear in hindsight that a more aggressive push was needed.  The previous goal leading up to launch included maintaining just the right amount of concurrent players to ensure a decent matchmaking experience, hoping that the ease of access would make the game more playable — and enjoyable — for those hopping in a match. With that being a cornerstone of the strategy going into launch, the lower player count and failure to hook newcomers in thrusted everything else off the rails.  In a last-ditch effort to bring in new players and to save the studio behind Lawbreakers, Boss Key released its own take on battle royale when Fortnite was just being introduced (at the time, no one predicted Fortnite would become the massive hit it is today) from the team at Epic Games, which was Bleszinski's previous employer. Radical Heights failed to compete against the heavy hitters dominating that particular market, making two titles in a row with low concurrent players and not enough revenue to keep the doors open.  Since then, Bleszinski has left games entirely (even though I'd love to see him return, but I understand the desire not to) while Boss Key co-founder Arjan Brussee returned to his former employer at Epic Games. While there were many stories spun from the rise and fall of the studio on social media, Bleszinski launched two games under his own studio and followed his passion. That's something to be proud of. Unfortunately, that passion led him and his team into an already oversaturated market that only became more so in the following years.  While Lawbreakers couldn't make it until the end, it's a shooter that I genuinely love and I miss far more than is probably smart. I wish more people would have given it a chance and I wish that it could somehow get a second lease on life. That team did something beautiful and I will always treasure the small amount of time I had with it.  What were your thoughts on Lawbreakers and the Boss Key lifespan? Would you be interested in seeing a revival? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below and tell me what you thought of the shooter that dared to defy gravity. 
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BioWare Teases A New Mass Effect Garrus Statue Coming Soon

I'm not Commander Shepard but Garrus is my favorite companion on the Citadel. This glorious Turian can be your best bro or the apple of your eye in the Mass Effect trilogy and to celebrate the upcoming launch of the remaster, BioWare just teased our first look at the upcoming Garrus Vakarian statue coming soon to its store. If you heard a terrifying pterodactyl-like scream, don't worry — it was just me.  In its unpainted glory, BioWare showed us our first look at the upcoming Garrus statue. Unlike the previous statue of the same character by Gaming Heads (which has been sold out for years), this particular collectible takes on a more dynamic pose with the renegade Turian ready to prove he's the best shot around. Sure, Shepard may have let him win the shoot-off when hanging out in Mass Effect 3 on the Citadel's skyline, but that doesn't take away from him being a beast when it comes down to sighting through a scope with killer precision.  Can it wait for a bit? We’re in the middle of some calibrations. Garrus will be ready in February. https://t.co/FQVk62DqHD pic.twitter.com/5IbSrjaS3G — Bioware Gear Store (@BiowareGear) January 25, 2021 While no information was given at this time other than a sassy caption with Garrus' favorite catchphrase, the construction of the piece itself looks like it will be handled by the same company that has made most of the previous statues: Gaming Heads. When this bad boy will go live to pre-order is unknown, but it looks like it could be dropping soon and will likely cost between the $370-500 range (judging off of previous statues of similar builds from the same store and the $499 price tag of the original Garrus statue).  Excited to see what the above statue will look like for the full reveal, fully colored? You can check out the BioWare Gear store right here and sign up for email notifications the moment it goes live. Just don't tell C-Sec. 
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Monday, January 25, 2021

Major GTA Online Cheats Site Shut Down After Pressure From Take-Two

A well-known site that specialized in selling cheats for the popular online game GTA Online has shut down following "discussions" from publisher Take-Two. As reported by Eurogamer, LunaCheats now contains a single text message, saying that the site will "immediately cease all maintenance, development, and distribution of our cheat menu services." The message goes on to say that the site will donate all proceeds of its hacks to a charity designated by Take-Two. Despite being released almost a decade ago, GTA Online continues to maintain its position as one of the most popular games in the world. GTA Online will get a standalone release for PS5 and Xbox Series X sometime in the second half of 2021, with special content exclusive to those versions of the game. Popular online games like GTA Online have always had their cheaters, but big-name video game companies have been mounting legal campaigns against major cheating sites over the past few months, with Call of Duty cheaters being a particular focus. Activision shut down the notable cheats site GatorCheats with a series of cease-and-desist letters, but that didn't stop a team from getting removed from a $250,000 Call of Duty tournament after being caught cheating. Recently, both Riot and Bungie sued cheat-peddlers for Destiny 2 and Valorant.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Live-Action Harry Potter TV Show Could Happen At HBO Max, But It's Early Days

Warner Bros. is in the planning stages for a live-action Harry Potter TV show. This is according to The Hollywood Reporter, which says the program is in "early development" for the streaming service HBO Max. A Harry Potter TV show had been rumored for years, but this is the first time we're learning about some of the specifics. THR says executives from Warner Bros. have taken meetings with potential writers who are pitching "various ideas" for the show. Don't get too excited yet, however, as it sounds like it's still very early days. "Sources say broad ideas have been discussed as part of the early-stage exploratory meetings," the report said.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Konami Announces Corporate Restructure, Effect On Gaming Unclear

Konami has announced a corporate restructure that will consolidate many of the company's internal departments on February 1st. According to an official translation of the announcement, this means that the company's three "production divisions" will be dissolved, though its "production departments" remain unchanged. According to financial professionals, this is a move that will have an unclear impact on the company's gaming operations. Analyst Daniel Ahmad suggests that this restructure is similar to the one that Konami undertook in 2015, and that the company is not "shutting down" their gaming operations, as fans have often accused it of doing in recent years. Others noted that companies like Sega and Square Enix have gone through similar restructures in the past. So no, Konami is NOT shutting down their gaming division. They probably have NOT sold their IPs to a company you like more than them either I get the frustration with how Konami handles their gaming business these days, but that company is bigger than people think — Nibel (@Nibellion) January 25, 2021 Correct. It's just a restructure similar to the one they did in 2015. Essentially they want to have teams focused on growth areas of the industry. — Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) January 25, 2021 While it's true that Konami doesn't release that many games these days, it still owns some of the most beloved gaming franchises in the world, including Metal Gear and Castlevania. For context, the last major Castlevania game was Lords of Shadow 2, which came out in 2014. Metal Gear has fared a bit better, with 2018's Metal Gear Survive releasing without longtime director Hideo Kojima at the helm. Kojima left the company years ago due to a dispute over the production of Metal Gear Solid V.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Sunday, January 24, 2021

Godzilla Vs. Kong Trailer Rises Into View--Watch It Here

As promised earlier this week, the trailer for Godzilla Vs. Kong has arrived. Watch it in all its epic, heightened kaiju glory below, and then get excited thinking about the fact that GVK is currently scheduled to hit theaters and HBO Max on March 26. Legendary Pictures teased the trailer earlier this week when they tweeted the first image of the movie's poster, to which fans reacted positively. The studio also posted a sneak peek teaser of the trailer on Saturday, because it's 2021 and teaser trailers for movie trailers is definitely a thing. The trailer itself gives us our first real glimpse at the brewing battle between Godzilla, a giant lizard, and King Kong, a giant ape. According to the film's official plot synopsis, "an enraged Godzilla" is "cutting a swath of destruction across the globe" when King Kong, on a spirit journey to find his true home with his orphan friend Jia, gets in its way. Unsurprisingly, the legendary monsters subsequently collide "in a spectacular battle for the ages, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance." But "the epic clash between the two titans--instigated by unseen forces--is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the Earth."Continue Reading at GameSpot
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New Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic Game Reportedly Being Made Without BioWare

BioWare's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is widely considered to be among the best Star Wars games ever made, as well as one of the best licensed role-playing games. Since the second game released in 2004, we've been in the dark on any follow-ups, but a new game is reportedly coming from a completely different company. That's according to VGC as well as Star Wars insider Bespin Bulletin and Nate Najda--better known online as Shinobi602--the new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game isn't being made by Electronic Arts or BioWare. Those sources didn't say who would be developing the new game, though Najda seemed to indicate it wasn't going to be a well-known studio. Electronic Arts had been publishing console and PC Star Wars games exclusively for the last several years, beginning with Star Wars: Battlefront in 2015 and eventually leading to games like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars: Squadrons. The company seemed to be finally hitting its stride with the franchise, though it had also canceled several Star Wars games. However, with Ubisoft's Massive studio now creating an open-world Star Wars game, it appears nearly anyone could be in charge of this apparent new Knights of the Old Republic.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Stardew Valley Update 1.5 Submitted For Certification On Consoles

After arriving to PC players in December, Stardew Valley's big update 1.5 is nearing release on consoles, as well. Developer Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone shared the news on his Twitter account, saying he has submitted the update for certification on the platforms. Once that process is complete, it should be available. Console players: the update is being submitted to certification today. That can take a variable amount of time so I can't make any guarantee about release date. I still feel that my original estimate of late this month or early next month is likely, though. — ConcernedApe (@ConcernedApe) January 23, 2021 Barone stressed that this process doesn't always take the same amount of time, so it will likely still be either late January or early February when players can enjoy the new content. Given how long it took to develop Stardew Valley in the first place, however, what's another week or two on this update? Stardew Valley's update 1.5 is the biggest update for the game to date. It includes new character creation options, a new Beach Farm, a variety of advanced game options like remixed bundles, new hairstyles, split-screen cooperative play, new music, home renovations, and many more additions. Since it came out, the update has received a few patches to fix some newer issues, which will hopefully already be fixed when the content comes to consoles.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Saturday, January 23, 2021

Vicarious Visions Merges Into Blizzard

Vicarious Visions has moved from the Activision side of the company to the Blizzard side moving forward, reports Gameindustry.biz. This shift also places the studio head, Jen Oneal, on the Blizzard leadership team where she will report to Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. Vicarious Visions has a wealth of work on Activision titles under its belt, most recently the Tony Hawk game resurrection in the form of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, which was well received. "Forget the weird peripherals, bad sequels, and questionable ports that defined Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater in the series’ later years," says Game Informer's Brian Shea in our review.  "Instead, remember the glory days of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, because that’s where you’re going with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 and 2. By returning to the first two games in the franchise and modernizing them with changes large and small, developer Vicarious Visions reminds us why we fell in love with this series in the first place." Over the years, Vicarious Visions has been involved with myriad Activision properties, including the Skylanders and Guitar Hero franchises. The list of games Vicarious has touched is huge, but also includes Call of Duty, Destiny, and Crash Bandicoot. Whew! This shift is not expected to move the 200-ish person Vicarious Visions team out of their New York company headquarters. What role Vicarious will play at Blizzard and what projects they will be working on isn't yet known, but they will be working on existing Blizzard games and initiatives, as far as the initial scope goes. What do you think about the change for Vicarious Visions? Is this an opportunity to buff up some Blizzard titles that could use some extra power? Are you lamenting the potential loss of more Tony Hawk titles? Let us know what you think of the merger in the comments below! [Source: Gameindustry.biz]
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Genshin Impact's Xiao Arrives On February 3

Genshin Impact continues rolling along with another big content drop coming February 3. The open world free-to-play gacha game is bringing a character that you may have met much earlier in your journey in as a new playable 5-star character. Yep, I hope you've been saving your primogems, because Xiao is here! Xiao is an Anemo (wind) character that uses polearms, with the ability to siphon his own life force to do more damage. Also, he has a freaking cool mask. Yeah, basically I've been saving up my primogems since before Klee came out, so I'm ready to take a bunch of rolls on Xiao's banner.  No idea how to get started in Genshin Impact, what gacha is, or what any of these weird terms mean? Check out our guide to getting started here. Okay, on to event news! During the Lantern Rite event, players can get 10 free Intertwined Fates per day via a login event and pick up 1600 primogems by completing various event activities. Players also get to pick a free 4-star character from the Liyue roster to add to their team, which may or may not give you some valuable constellation boosts or round out your team. The event brings a smattering of special activities and quests to complete focusing on Liyue, so look for food stalls and other festive fare around town. Get a taste of everything coming in 1.3 in the trailer below! Click here to watch embedded media A new tower defense strategy activity is available during Lantern Rite called Theater Mechanicus, so that will be interesting to try out. Are you drowning in resources you don't want but never have the ones you need? This patch also adds the Parametric Transformer, which allows you to morph your excess resources into sutff you actually want. "Genshin Impact is light on story and big on exploration, encouraging players to peek under every rock, glide from every precipice, and bash through every camp of goblins. This free-to-play, open-world action/RPG is an incredible amalgamation of stylish art and sound, easy-to-learn combat, and magical adventure around every corner," I said in my review of the initial Genshin Impact release. "As you climb the highest peaks, take on titanic bosses, and spare moments of tranquility to take in the scenery, you are inundated with dozens of possibilities. Plenty of games serve up unending tasks, but Genshin Impact provides a sense of unyielding enchantment and desire that I rarely ever feel." 
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Play Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening In Minecraft With This Mod, Because Why Not?

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was a treasure when it first released, and when a modernized version later arrived on Nintendo Switch, the journey got even better. If you're like us and are always on the hunt for an excuse to re-play through the iconic adventure Link himself, might we suggest pointing that sword at Minecraft next?  Minecraft players are among the most creative in gaming, taking the sandbox world and truly turning out incredible creations. From full-on replicas to fan-driven content, Minecraft is a flourishing world of creativity and wonder. It's also now the home of another new way to experience Link's Awakening because two Redditors banded together to faithfully recreated the Nintendo classic within the world of Creepers and mining.  [LA] So a while ago I posted some progress on Hyrule minecraft and it got a lot of traction - so I thought I'd show off what me and u/thelasteddieonearth are making: a fully playable and functional Link's Awakening map on Minecraft Java Edition. you can find it and play on Planetminecraft :) from r/zelda Redditor Pickledscones took to the Zelda forums to share the two-teamed recreation, showing off some progress shots of what an experience in a Hyrule-ified Minecraft looks like. In conjunction with u/TheLastEddieOnEarth, the Link's Awakening Minecraft experience will be fully playable, completely integrating the map of the Nintendo darling within the Minecraft Java Edition. Interested? You can find this passion project over on PlanetMinecraft, the demo is completely free to play and is available now on PC. Keep in mind, this mod is still a work in progress, but what's been done so far looks wildly impressive.  Want more mods? Check out a few of my other favorite Mod Corner picks below:  * The Most Hilarious Fallout Mods You Need Right Now * Among Us Invades Star Wars Battlefront II, Because Why Not?  * Bring Dragon Age's Thedas Into Elder Scrolls' Tameriel With These Mods Thoughts on playing Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening in Minecraft? What other games would you like to see faithfully recreated? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! You can also hit me up if you're looking for a specific game for mod recommendations! 
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Friday, January 22, 2021

Next GameStop Pro Day Sale Set For Saturday—Here Are The Deals To Expect

GameStop's first Pro Day sale of 2021 is kicking off this Saturday, January 23, offering PowerUp Rewards Pro members the chance to save on games, accessories, and collectibles. As usual, the sale will run for a full 24 hours, and only Pro members who are signed into their account will be able to take advantage of the online deals. The Pro Day deals will also be available in stores. The new Pro Day sale brings discounts on games for Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, and Xbox One. There are some nice deals, but for many of these games, it's worth noting we've seen them cheaper in recent months than they are in the Pro Day sale. That includes Cyberpunk 2077, which will be $40 for Pro members on Saturday but was $30 as recently as this week. (We don't recommend buying Cyberpunk 2077 for last-gen consoles anyway unless you're holding out for the next-gen upgrade.) Persona 5 Royal sees a drop to $40 as well, and while we highly recommend the acclaimed JRPG, you'll likely find it cheaper in other sales if you're willing to wait--it was just $20 during Black Friday. The sale also offers first-party Nintendo Switch games for $50 instead of their usual $60. While this would have been notable in years past, $40-$45 is increasingly becoming the standard discount range for games like Super Mario Party, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Just check out Walmart or Best Buy right now, for instance, and you'll find some of these games for less than $50.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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New Microsoft Patent Could Create AI Chatbots For Dead People

Microsoft has been given the green light on a new patent that allows the company to revive dead people by turning their digital and real-life footprints into artificial intelligence chatbots. According to the patent--which was filed on December 1, 2020--the tech allows Microsoft to cull "images, voice data, social media posts, electronic messages, and more personal information" to create a digital profile of someone to build a chatbot of them. While the most obvious application is "to make a chatbot using the personal information of deceased people," the patent notes that it could also "correspond to a past or present entity (or a version thereof), such as a friend, a relative, an acquaintance, a celebrity, a fictional character, a historical figure, a random entity, etc." The tech could even be used to create an AI chatbot of onself. The patent goes on to say that "living users could train a digital replacement in the event of their death." Should it come to fruition, Microsoft will basically allow people to live forever in cyberspace.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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The Pokemon Company Is Cracking Down On Sword And Shield Cheaters

The Pokemon Company is implementing stricter measures to deal with cheaters in Pokemon Sword and Shield. The company released a statement in Pokemon Home addressing the issue and outlining some of the ways in which it plans to penalize those who alter game data or use hacked Pokemon. "We are aware that some users are playing Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, as well as using Pokemon Home, with altered data," the statement begins. "Additionally, certain users have been causing issues that impair the function of games or apps or that cause problems for others." The statement goes on to list the measures The Pokemon Company will take against users suspected of using altered data, including banning them from online play in Sword and Shield and preventing them from using Pokemon Home's trading features. The company says it may even suspend hackers' Pokemon Home access entirely on both Switch and mobile devices.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Thursday, January 21, 2021

Thanks To Resident Evil 3 And Monster Hunter, Capcom Expects To Make A Lot Of Money

Japanese gaming publisher Capcom has announced that it expects to make even more money than anticipated for its latest financial year due to the big success of a few key titles. In a news release, Capcom said it is increasing its forecast for revenue and profit for the financial year ending March 31 due in part to big sales of Resident Evil 3 and ongoing sales of catalog titles like Monster Hunter World. Capcom said its efforts to grow digital game sales have paid off, and that is also part of the reason why the company is increasing its revenue and profit forecast. On top of that, Capcom said preorders for Monster Hunter Rise for Nintendo Switch are "off to a promising start." All of these factors, in addition to a presumed boost due to COVID-19, is why Capcom is raising its performance estimates for the financial period.Continue Reading at GameSpot
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Just Cause Developer Worked On Alternate History 1950s Game

Avalanche Studios, the developer of the Just Cause series, was once at work on game that took place in an alternate-history version of the 1950s. A game writer who worked on the project recently revealed the scuttled game, along with what ultimately happened to it. In an interview with the YouTube channel Wassup Conversations, writer Mikael Saker recalled when Avalanche had to make severe studio cuts to both personnel and projects, including the alternate-history game. "The publisher cancelled all their games except one, and it was a big publisher," Saker said. "But had been working on this awesome open-world game set in an alternative reality version of 1950s. It was insane! We had this huge version of London that looked spectacular. We didn't have skyscrapers, but we had, like inverted heights, so the city grew downwards, to the ground. You could fly ziplines, airships, planes and jump down to these really, really deep holes in the middle of the city. So it was visually, and world-building wise spectacular and it had some really great gameplay ideas."Continue Reading at GameSpot
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This Life-Sized Thanos Bust Looks Amazing, Is Very Expensive, And Is Missing An Arm

An immaculate-looking life-size bust of Thanos is available to purchase, but it is very expensive and it's missing one of the villain's arms. Queen Studios is now selling the limited-edition collectible, which features a half-body Thanos bust (the top half) based on his look from Avengers: Endgame as he wields the Infinity Gauntlet. Check out this amazing looking #AvengersEndgame #Thanos Life Size Bust coming from @studios_queen: https://t.co/0eF84ghFpi pic.twitter.com/hsffJwoJfY — The Toyark (@Toyark) January 19, 2021 "Painstakingly sculpted, this movie-accurate polystone bust features the genocidal warlord wearing his battle scarred armour and helmet," reads a line from the description (via SlashFilm). "With his fist clenched and Gauntlet in hand, he stares forward menacingly. The beast of a bust is perfect for Avengers fans and collectors with the space for one of Marvel's most iconic villain."Continue Reading at GameSpot
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