Category: News
A free demo for Rise of the Ronin is now available on PlayStation 5 via the PlayStation store.
The demo allows you to battle it out with Gonzo (we won’t say any more in case of spoilers), giving a taste of what lies ahead.
You’ll then be able to carry your character and progress to the full game, should you choose to purchase it.
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Activision has published a 25-page white paper exploring the impact of skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) on its multiplayer lobbies, determining that SBMM is better for all players.
As spotted by indie game developer and consultant Rami Ismail, the report – which can be read in full on Activision’s official website – outlines an “amazing A/B test” where Activision “secretly progressively turned off SBMM and monitored retention… and turns out everyone hated it, with more quitting, less playing, and more negative blowouts”.
PlayStation live-service Concord won’t sell you a battle pass – would it be better if it did?
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Monster Train, the acclaimed roguelike deckbuilder from developer Shiny Shoe, is making its way to PlayStation 5 today, 25th July, some four years after its original release.
Monster Train sees players attempting to restore Hell’s inferno after it freezes over – a task requiring them to ride a train carrying a burning pyre deep into the heart of Hell.
At first glance, it’s all a bit Slay the Spire, with branching pathways providing choices on how to progress and level up each run. But the proper fun comes in combat, where the real-time card battling sees players unleashing their hellish minions against the forces of heaven – gradually moving between multiple floors of the titular train as they try and defend the pyre on top to win.
Monster Train – PS5 Launch Trailer
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The development team behind Assassin’s Creed Shadows has apologised for elements in the game’s marketing campaign so far that have jarred with some Japanese fans – and said the game will “keep evolving” as it heads towards launch in November.
Ubisoft’s statement, released via social media today in both English and Japanese, is fairly unspecific about what exactly it is apologising for – other than noting that “some elements in our promotional materials have caused concern within the Japanese community”.
Earlier this month, Ubisoft apologised for artwork featured in the game’s Collector’s Edition that included the logo of a modern day re-enactment group.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Official Gameplay – Combat and Stealth Evolved | Ubisoft Forward
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The Covid pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were the biggest setbacks in development of Baldur’s Gate 3, said CEO Swen Vincke.
Speaking to Edge magazine, Vincke discussed how Larian closed a studio in St Petersburg, Russia, and was “fighting with embassies” to relocate staff.
“I had already thought about what we were going to do if it actually happened,” said Vincke. “So the decision was instant: we can’t stay there. We needed to move people away because, as these things go, you can almost predict that eventually there’s going to be a mobilisation, and that meant that all my team was going to go to war.”
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Let Me Solo Her has once again changed their name as part of an effort to help other players defeat Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree’s final boss.
Last week, the legendary player changed their name to Let Me Solo Him to help with a certain boss encountered around halfway through the DLC.
Now they’ve turned their attention to the notoriously tricky final boss that’s had players stumped. Spoilers follow.
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Following Microsoft’s announcement it’s teaming up with Amazon to bring Xbox games to Fire TV devices via cloud streaming, the initiative is now live for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
Getting set up for console-free gaming with Fire TV is relatively straightforward; just download the Xbox app to a compatible device – Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max are both supported – then sign in with an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate account.
That’ll give you access to Microsoft’s streamable Xbox Game Pass library (a 20 Mbps internet connection over 5GHz Wi-Fi is recommended for play), with the last step being to connect a Bluetooth-enabled controller. The likes of the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, and PlayStation DualSense are all supported.
Newscast: With the death of Keystone, will Xbox give up its streaming console plans forever?
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UPDATE 7/7/24: Nintendo’s transcript of the question is reported accurately below per the company’s own translation, but it appears the company censored the question itself – which specifically related to a Mario cosplayer in Japan accused of sending lewd images to minors – alongside minor changes to others in its recent shareholder Q&A. (Thanks, OatmealDome). The original article follows.
ORIGINAL STORY 5/7/24:
Nintendo has responded to concern over the inappropriate use of its characters online and said it would take “appropriate action” against anything that would make some players “feel uncomfortable”.
Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was recently questioned by a shareholder who said they had “come across cases on social media where Nintendo IP and games are used inappropriately”. This “inappropriate” use of Nintendo’s characters “poses the risk of damaging” the company’s brand, the question continued – so what was Nintendo planning to do about it?
In response, Furukawa said Nintendo’s management policy was to “bring smiles through entertainment” (but presumably not the kind of smiles generated by “inappropriate” use).
Newscast: With…
October’s Prime Gaming content refresh is here, offering a slew of suitably spooky games this month, including BioShock Remastered, Doom Eternal, Death’s Door, Scorn, DreadOut 2, and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed Ecto Edition.
Also up for grabs are Hive Jump 2: Survivors, Scarf, and Tomb Raider: Legend.
Let’s Play Scorn Gameplay – The First 45 Minutes Of Scorn – IT’S ONLY GOOD IF YOU LOVE BUM HOLES.
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