With Dragon Age: The Veilguard just around the corner, now might be the time to revisit the world of Thedas and brush up on the ancient lore of the Chantry and the old g??ods that preceded it.

If there's one thing BioWare always does in the superlative, it's worldbuilding. The world of Dragon Age, while certainly inspired by many fantasy works that came before it (including Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time—es??pec??ially the latter) is sprawling with riveting stories, compelling characters, and a fantastic history going thousands of years back.

Dragon Age has also branched out into other mediums over the years, comprising not only ?three amazing games with dozens of hours of content, but also several boo??ks, more than ten comic series, a few tabletop games, and recently, an anime adaptation on Netflix.

But as we know, the beating heart of every great fantasy universe is in its books. Even Dragon Age, originally conceived as a video game series and despite taking full advantage of RPG elements to world-build, can't help but fall under the same enchantment. If you want lore and details, you'll have to inevitably approach the Dragon Age books and comics, and since most of them hav??e been written by BioWare's own writers who also worked on the games, they are must-reads for ardent fans of Thedas.

Barring the two-volume World of Thedas, which is little more than a companion encyclopedia with entries detailing different characters, factions, countries, and events, here is every Dragon Age book and comic ranked worst to best.

All Dragon Age Books

There have been seven major books in the Dragon Age series, all of them canon. Some expand on the lore already established in the games, and some give fans much-needed context on the inner workings of Thedas and what goes on? behind the scenes in this politically-charged high fantasy world. Here we’ve ranked them from worst to best based on significance, the quality of the narrative, and the o??verall community reception.

7. Dragon Age: Hard in Hightown

We all know that Varric is an accomplished and best-selling author renowned across Thedas, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to read a book penned by him? Hard in Hightown expands on the character’s noir detective story found in the Dragon Age: Inquisition codex entries, and BioWare has also marketed the book as being written by Varric himself. The other contributing author is Mary Kirby, who worked in the studio from 2006 to 2023 and is credited for her writing chops in all four Dragon Age games, including the upcoming Veilguard.

6. Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne

The first novel by David Gaider as well as the first Dragon Age book, The Stolen Throne takes place before the events of Origins in the country of Ferelden. We follow the tale of the rebel queen Moira, who has just been assassinated through a plot orchestrated by the nobles in her court. Her son Maric escapes unharmed, and now with Ferelden under occupation by the Orlesian Empire, Maric has to fight for the revival of his nation with the help of Loghain, whom fans will recognize as one of the main characters in Origins. If you always found Loghain intriguing and were desperate to learn more about his past and motives, then The Stolen Throne is a must-read, even if it’s not exactly the best Dragon Age book out there.

5. Dragon Age: The Calling

Taking place eleven years after the events of The Stolen Throne, this is David Gaider’s second literary outing in the Dragon Age universe. The story chiefly revolves around the Grey? Wardens, who had been exiled from Ferelden for 200 years, before King Maric revoked that ban and welcomed them back. The Grey Wardens come to the king’s court with dire news, however, of one of their rank escaping into the Deep Roads and aligning himself with the Darkspawn. The Grey Wardens ask the king to lead them through the Deep Roads, which he traversed years before, to save the kingdom from peril, little realizing the dangers that lurk in these uncharted dwarven territories.

4. Dragon Age: Asunder

The Mage-Templar War is one of the defining conflicts in the entire Dragon Age chronology, and it is explored in depth in Dragon Age: Asunder by David Gaider. This is arguably the author’s best novel in the series, and his nuanced storytelling, whether it be compelling character arcs or even a deft hand at weaving political intrigue together, shines in Asunder. Other than explaining in detail why the Seekers of Truth and the Circle of Magi broke off from the Chantry, the story also features Wynne, who is one of the fanbase’s favorite companions in Origins.

3. Dragon Age: Last Flight

Last Flight by Liane Merciel is arguably one of the best stories in the multi-media Dragon Age franchise. The narrative once again brings the Grey Wardens to the forefront. After the events of Origins, this ancient group of warriors are once again being hailed as heroes across Thedas. The Darkspawn has been driven underground and the threat of extinction has been snuffed out. Not all is well in the continent, however. A young elven mage named Valya, who has recent??ly been recruited into the organization??, is tasked with studying historical records to gain insight into previous Blights, research that leads her to question what she knows about the so-called heroic Grey Wardens and learn the truth about the fate of griffons.

2. Dragon Age: The Masked Empire

Trick Weekes wrote for the three Mass Effect games as well as Dragon Age: Origins, Dragon Age: Inquisition, and the forthcoming Dragon Age: The Veilguard. The Masked Empire is a tie-in novelization for Dragon Age: Inquisition released in April 2014, and it deals with the Orlesian Civil War. The events of the novel paint a starkly different picture of Orlesian politics for fans, and many of you might end up regretting the decisions you made during Inquisition, or replaying the game so that you can change it. Some of the characters in The Masked Empire include Briala, Celene Empress of Orlais,? Felassan, Gaspard de Chalons, and our own bard-turned-spymaster Leliana.

1. Dragon Age: Tevinter Nights

Tevinter Nights is an anthology series written by nine different BioWare staff writers, and some fans already consider it to be a tie-in to Dragon Age: The Veilguard. You’ll find many familiar faces in the course of reading this novel, which consists of fifteen short stories mostly set in the Tevinter Imperium, as well as other areas like Nevarra, Rivain, the Anderfels, Orlais, and the Free Marches. The novel also goes into events such as the Qunari invasion and Solas�defection from the Inquisition. If you don’t want to bother with the rest of the Dragon Age books before The Veilguard, Tevinter Nights can thrust you back into the political and historical landscape of Thedas before the fourth main entry comes along.

All Dragon Age Comics

Dragon Age has maintained a steady and prominent line of comic strips since the release of Origins in 2009. Some might even argue that because Dragon Age is a video game, comics are an even more co??ngruent medium for expansion. There are close to a dozen comic book series in Thedas, and we’ve ranked them all in this list. Here are which publications you should prioritize before October 31.

8. Dragon Age: Until We Sleep

This three-issue comic series focuses on Varric and gives fans more insight into his past life. It is written by David Gaider and illustrated by Chad Hardin, featuring amazing artwork and a grim story that chooses BioWare’s own canon, meaning that in Until We Sleep’s timeline, Alistair is the king of Ferelden.

7. Dragon Age

There's something irresistibly charming about the first proper Dragon Age comic strip, which came out monthly in 2010 in six issues. The story expands on the lore already established in Origins, and deals with the inner workings of both the templar and mage orders in Thedas. The art style is very unique, perfectly fitting that dark aesthetic the franchise had going for itself back in the old days, even if there are also lore inconsistencies a??bound, something that eagle-eyed fans will no doubt pick up on with ease.

6. Dragon Age: Magekiller

Released in five issues from December 2015 to April 2016, Magekiller tells the story of Marius, the titular mage killer, and his handler Tessa Forsythia. It’s set during the events of Inquisition and centers around the rise of the Venatori cult. The art style is pretty neat, but for pacing issues as well as a shallow storyline, Magekiller often finds itself very low in the list of fan-favorite Dragon Age stories.

5. Dragon Age: Those Who Speak

Following the events of The Silent Grove, King Alistair continues to travel across Thedas to learn what happened to his father. On this journey, he's assisted by everyone's favorite pirate Isabela, and second-favorite n??ovelist Varric Tethras. The journey is wrought with danger, but nothing that the trio can't handle, especially when you realize that they've been through worse than a band of cultists hindering their way.

4. Dragon Age: Wraiths of Tevinter

This is actually a compilation of three Dragon Age comic series released in a single volume. It includes Deception, Blue Wraith, and Dark Fortress, all involving the Tevinter Imperium to one degree or another. In Deception, we follow a failed actress turned con artist who targets the heir of a wealthy family in Tevinter. The second and third series are more closely linked, with the former dealing with a Qunari plot against Tevinter and featuring Fenris, and the latter starring her as the main character as she's joined by a band of Inquisition agents to assault a seemingly impregnable fortress. All great short stories in the sprawling Dragon Age universe.

3. Dragon Age: The Silent Grove

The first Dragon Age comic series to be published by Dark Horse, and arguably one of the best even now, The Silent Grove depicts the Alistair, Varric, Isabela trio in another era-defining adventure. The party travels to Antiva City, and there they attempt to stage a prison break, getting swept up in a tale that ends up unveiling one of the darkest secrets in the history of Thedas. The Silent Grove was originally published in 2012 in six issues.

2. Dragon Age: Knight Errant

What is a Dragon Age story without the universe's meta storyteller around to shake things up? Knight Errant is the tale of an elven thief named Vaea, who arrives in Kirkwall just in time to witness the appointment of its latest viscount, Varric Tethras. The artwork in Knight Errant is very enthralling, and you'll find yourself drawn to look at the pages even if you're not a fan of the story itself. Still, there have been theories in the community circles about Knight Errant possibly tying into The Veilguard, so ?the title is worth picking up for that reason alone.

1. Dragon Age: The Missing

The Missing directly ties into The Veilguard and features Varric Tethras and Lace Harding (who is going to be a companion in the upcoming game) as they descend into the Deep Roads in pursuit of Solas. We already know Solas and his shenanigans are going to play a huge part in The Veilguard, and The Missing not only serves as a story that bridges the gap between this fourth entry and Inquisition, but also a perfect primer to get you into the mood for some Dragon Age in November.

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The Witcher is now a multimedia franchise consisting?? of an extremely popular and acclaimed video game series and a live-action television adaptation by Netfl?ix, but the story of Geralt traces its roots back to more than three decades ago, and in book format, no less.

Reading the books is a must if you're a fan of The Witcher games. The Netflix show also doesn't do any of the stories justice by a long stretch, so forget everything you've seen from the Henry Cavill-led ensemble so far. Below are all The Witcher books ranked worst to best.

Warning: The following paragraphs contain sp?oilers for the overall plot of each book.

8. The Lady of the Lake (book 5)

The last book in The Witcher saga is arguably the worst-paced entry in the series. The writer seems to have given up on the idea of a satisfying conclusion halfway through, opting t?o depict a drawn-out battle between Nilfgaard and the Northern Kingdoms that doesn’t really have anything to do with the main story. Geralt is absent for most of the tale, and Ciri doesn’t experience any more palpable character growth. The ambiguous and open-ended nature of those final chapters is also something that many fans might find confusing or disappointing, especially since all it does in effect is make allusions to the Arthurian legend.

It's a great thing CD Projekt Red decided to continue Geralt’s tale in the video game trilogy because as far as satisfying endings go, The Lady of the Lake is subpar. That said, the final confrontation between Ge??ralt and Vilgefortz, and Ciri and Leo Bonhart, is always a joy to read, paying off 3 books worth of buildups in an explosive action sequence.

7. Season of Storms (prequel)

The reception to Season of Storms has always been mixed in the fandom. This spinoff prequel is set somewhere between The Last Wish and stars Geralt of Rivia as he takes on a contract with none of his conventional weapons at hand. Yennefer of Vengerberg is also a character in the story, but other than the familiarity of Geralt getting down to the task of hunting and killing monsters �what he does best �there isn’t much that makes Season of Storms stand out.

If you’re finished with the main saga and want to see a Geralt side quest with all of the usual charms of the series, then reading Seasons of Storm is recommen???ded. Just go in expecting Andrzej Sapkowski’s prose and storytelling chops to be a little flimsier than they usually are.

6. The Tower of Swallows (book 4)

The story of The Tower of Swallows mostly centers around Ciri, who is living a new life under the care of the Rats. The mercenary group is being tracked by a vicious killer na?med Leo Bonhart, who eventually finds and slaughters them all, taking Ciri as a prisoner. Geralt and Yennefer a??re still looking the Continent over for Ciri, with the former’s hansa getting entangled in a war in Rivia and the latter confronting Vilgefortz but failing to overpower him.

The Tower of Swallows ends with Ciri reawakening her powers and besting the people who are looking to capture or kill her. She enters the mystical Tower of the Swallow and begins to travel across time and space, thus setting up the events of The Lady of the Lake. The story in this installment can feel dragged out at times, but the overall narrative is rivetin?g in scale and rife with epic moments.

5. Blood of Elves (book 1)

The first book in the Witcher saga after the two collection of short stories, Blood of Elves begins with the entire Continent in upheaval over the destruction of Cintra and the death of Queen Calanthe. Ciri is undergoing Witcher training at Kaer Morhen under the guidance of Geralt, Vesemir, and the rest of the monster hunters when Triss Merigold arrives to help w?ith the ward’s magical training. She learns that Ciri is a “Source,�and asks Geralt to find her old flame Yennefer so that she can properly train Ciri to control her powers.

The company sets out for the temple of Nenneke in Ellander, their forebodings reaching a treacherous degree as they learn that all is not well in the world, and a “time of contempt�is nigh. Blood of Elves also marks the first time Ciri meets Yennefer, and the two develop a mother-daughter attachment. There’s political intrigue, there’s great action sequences, and there’s amazing character work in Blood of Elves, but most ?importantly of all, there’s a whole lot of Geralt badasser?y which fans of the saga will find most gratifying to read through.

4. Baptism of Fire (book 3)

Baptism of Fire picks up the story after the disastrous events of the Thanedd coup, where Gera??lt was mortally wounded in his fight with Vilgefortz. Our main protagonist is recovering from his physical traumas in Brokilon Forest, but one of the great things about this turn of events is that he’ll never be the warrior he used to be. Fantasy has always been about heroes who only grow in power, so having Geralt, once a mountain of resoluteness in the face of adversity, brought down ?to an almost broken warrior who needs to rely on the help of others, was a great twist for the character and his future in the world.

Baptism of Fire is the book where Geralt’s hansa forms for the first time, consisting of Dandelion, the archer Milva, the vampire Regis (whom you’ll recognize from the Blood & Wine DLC) and the Nilfgaardian who?? isn’t a Nilfgaardian named Cahi?r.

3. Time of Contempt (book 2)

This is my favorite book in the novel series, because the build-up of tension as soon as Geralt, Yennefer, and?? Ciri walk into Aretuza is done exquisitely well. It all boils ov?er by the end of the novel, and every faction in the Northern Kingdom and beyond starts fighting with one another in a bid to take power, all orchestrated by Vilgefortz and Emhyr var Emreis.

It also gives us more time with this unconventional famil??y before they’re separated until the end of the story. Having Geralt, Ciri, and Yennefer inte??racting in the same space tugs at everyone’s heartstrings, making you shed tears for the things that could’ve been had Ciri been a normal child, Geralt an inconsequential player in the politics of the Continent, and Yennefer not a part of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.

2. The Last Wish (anthology 1)

The Last Wish introduced the world to the story of Geralt, a stoic monster-hunter with a proclivity for philosophizing unbidden. It introduced fans to the world of the Continent, where monsters roam freely and it is up to mutated warriors like Geralt to stop them from killing innocent people, the same people who would shun these protectors, calling them “freaks.�Lastly, it introduced us to unforgettable characters l?ike Julian Alfred Pankratz aka Dandelion and Yennefer of Vengerberg.

I believe Andrzej Sapkowski was at his best when he didn’t write elaborate narratives that span several books. Every short story in The Last Wish is self-contained and a joy to read, not to mention quite effective at building up this?? fictional world and the character of Geralt as unforge?ttable additions to fantasy literature.

1. Sword of Destiny (anthology 2)

The second batch of short stories featuring Geralt, Sword of Destiny introduces Ciri as Pavetta’s daughter (from “A Question of Price�in The Last Wish) and knits her fate tightly together with her ward. The collection features some of the best and most emotionally potent stories from The Witcher world, like “Shard of Ice�dealing with Geralt ?and Yennefer’s strange bond, “A Little Sacrifice�discussing the unrequited love of Essi Daven, and “Something More�reuniting Geralt and Ciri a??t a time where they need each other the most.

It might not be much of a compliment to say Sapkowski peaked here, but it is nevertheless the bitter truth about The Witcher saga. This story was originally conceived as a series of interconnect?ed short stories, and it’s no surprise to see it works best when it sticks to that formula.

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Honey, wake up. A new update just dropped for the PC version of Killer7. But this isn’t just housekee??ping, it actually makes some substantial quality-of-life improvements.

Getting Killer7 on PC back in 2018 was important in its own right. Previously, it was only available on PS2 and GameCube, and the game is just too weird and important to languish on those consoles. The port was decent. More than just a lazy transplant, it allowed the graphics to ??run in higher resolutions and widescreen. T?here were some drawbacks, however.

One of the biggest issues has now been addressed: the FMV cutscenes have been remastered based on the GameCube originals. Previously, they were jarringly c?o??mpressed. You’d go from the clean cell-shade visuals to anime that looks like it was taken from 2006’s YouTube. Want to see a comparison? Here's the header image versus a screenshot I took of a similar frame from the pre-update version.

That’s the good stuff, right there. B?ut that’s not ?all. Here, have some bulletpoints:

• more reload animations now use 60fps
• added MSAA support (it can be enabled in the config tool)
• added framerate limiter support (it can be configured in the config tool)
• upscaled more fonts
• upscaled more textures
• added BC7 texture support
• enabled DPI awareness to allow proper 4K resolutions (please disable custom DPI overrides!)

No, wait, it doesn’t end there. Have some more:

• junctions can now be selected faster when using the mouse
• it's now possible to select all skills in the TV menu when using the mouse
• Kess Bloodysunday's cutscenes are now skippable
• replaced fixed Xbox button references with dynamic button glyphs
• - properly displays customized buttons
• - added support for keyboard and mouse buttons
• removed references to the "Memory Card" when saving or loading
• the config tool now checks for incorrect duplicate bindings
• added DualShock 4 & DualSense support

Like I said, substantial. Upscaled fonts, increased framerate for some animations, upscaled textures, proper 4K resolution; this basically upgrades Killer7 from a decent port?? to a Hella Remaster. I’m reinstalling it ??right now.

If you’ve never played Killer7, then you’ve never played anything like it. It was the game t?hat essentially put Suda51 on the map for a lot of Westerners. It features a strikingly terrific artsty?le, a vague, nebulous plot (don’t listen to anyone who says it makes sense), and a whole lot of blood. It’s the most game thing to get released in the �0s. When you think about it, it’s kind of shocking that it exists at all.

Killer7 is a????vailable right now on PC. Hopefully this signifies that we might finally get a port to modern consoles.

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Helldivers 2 studio Arrowhead Games is once more preparing to celebrate Liberty Day, the fictional in-game holiday where the whole family can get together, eat hotdogs, and watch traitors be executed. Arrowhead brings Liberty Day home for Helldivers 2 players with free armor and a weapon from the original game.

That's right. Arrowhead is gifting Helldivers 2 fans the most-requested armor set: The DP-00 Tactical, inspired by the original armor from Helldivers 1. The armor is paired with the R-2124 Constitution, a modernized take on the classic. In case you were wondering, the rifle comes equipped with a bayonet �for close encounters.

Liberty Day 2024 starts on O??ctober 26, and all a??re invited to join. Or else.

Time to salute and execute: Liberty Day 2024 is coming

Arrowhead Games shared a list of highlights coming to Liberty Day as part of the faux celebrations. The day starts with a Strohmann News 24-hour livestream followed by the reciting of the Super Earth Anthem. For your entertainment, Dissident Executions are scheduled for 0700. Don't worry if you miss out because there will be another set of surprise executions starting at 20:00. You better hope you weren't doing anything treasonous lately.

For those new to Helldivers, Liberty Day is a fake holiday taking place every October 26. It's the day the Starship Troopers novel was released in 1959 and also coincides with the birthday of the studio head Johan Pilestedt (it can't be a coincidence). The first Liberty Day was celebrated on October 26, 2016, for the original Helldivers. Player?s were rewarded three new capes and the M2016 Constitution rifle, based o?n the 1903 Springfield.

How to get the classic HD1 armor and Constitution rifle in Helldivers 2

The video may suggest you have to play Helldivers 2 on October 26 to get the armor and weapon, but that's n?ot the case. All you need to do to get the rewards is?... nothing. As confirmed by Arrowhead on its Discord, all players will be gifted the items on October 27 regardless of participation.

Beyond Liberty Day 2024

Helldivers 2 players have more to look forward to after Liberty Day. Another Warbond is coming next week, just in time for the spooky season. Helldivers 2: Truth Enforcers launches on October 31, bringing two new armor sets and more weapons. It'??ll finally add an??other SMG to the mix with the SMG-32 Reprimand, paired with a new shotgun and a plasma pistol. There's also a new 'At Ease' emote that's ripe for meme-ing.

It's going to be a long week for Helldivers 2 players, and it all starts on October 26.

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Over t?he past few years, Microsoft has ditched the concept of console exclusives, as it released a fair share of its games on the systems of its two main competitors: Sony and Nintendo. And it seems that the company will keep this new business model for the next few years.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently shared an annual letter on his per???sonal LinkedIn page, where he gave a rundown of the company's recent performance and its future evolution. In the "Gaming" section of the text, Nadella stated: "Finally, we brought four of our fan-favorite titles to Nintendo Switch and Sony PlayStation for the first time, as we continu??e to extend our content to new platforms", further confirming that Microsoft plans to release even more games on systems of the competition.

Nadella reiterated this statement on the annual investor's?? report posted on the company's of??ficial website, where, among many other things, he said "We are focused on growing the platform and expanding to new ecosystems to engage as many gamers as possible". This all means that Micro??soft is looking to reach a? new audience by releasing its games on other consoles, and that it doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.

Has Microsoft completely stopped making Xbox exclusives?

The four games that Nadella is referring to are Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, Grounded and Sea of Thieves, which were all released on PlayStation 5 and/or Nintendo Switch throughout 2024. All of these titles were originally Xbox and PC exclusives, but they eventually made their way into the competitors' consoles. As weird and unexpected as these ports were, gamers reacted positively to this decision, and most of these IPs definitely managed to expand their audiences on these new platforms.

Of course, this has left a burning question among Xbox fans: Is it worth buying an Xbox Series X if Microsoft won't ma?ke full exclusives anymore??? Right now, Starfield seems to be its last AAA exclusive since it's only available on Xbox and PC, with no plans of releasing it on PlayStation 5. But Microsoft was not lying when it said that it plans to keep expanding the brand on other systems since the company already confirmed that it will also release some of its other games, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle or DOOM: The Dark Ages on PS5. Maybe the age of the great Xbox exclusives is truly over, although you could argue that it ended a long time ago, considering Microsoft also launches all?? of its exclusives on PC via ?Steam.

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There aren't many games that mix heavy-handed literature with first-person shooting. BioShock is one example that springs to mind. Not so much Half-Life 2, but someone is in the midst of creating a mod for Valve's iconic FPS that seems to take cue??s from the classics.

ModDB user GRÆMAMËTH is currently working on "Goethe's Last Laugh," a full-conversion modification for Half-Life 2 that, from the images alone, looks wonderfully bizarre. Oh, hell. I don't think I could do it justice, so here's what the creator has to say about the project (after you've checked out the footage be?low, of course):

In the abs??tract, ?it’s a working class power fantasy about addiction and revolution...

Take control of Jackson Ian Faust, a 300 year old, self destructive, misanthropic vampire, and investigate ?the many unusual phenomenon of Gondolas city, a fictional civilization set on the sinking monster island of Duciano.

No mention of a Mephistopheles-inspired gravity gun

It's still in development at the moment, with no release date yet. However, you can keep an eye on progress from the ModDB page linked above, or follow it on Itch.io. This one definite??????????????????????????ly seems too go??od to miss out on, especially with its proposed themes.

Now, I've never read Faust, so I can't say how certain this Half-Life 2 mod will ma??tch up with the original text. But I do know that it must have inspired the project, given that it's titled after the play's author, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and has you play as someone literally called Faust.

It's also where we get ??the term "Faustian" from, to refer to any kind of deal or barter that leads to dire consequences. I'm hoping there'll be some of tha?t in GRÆMAMËTH's mod. If not, at least we get to play as a cynical vampire that's three centuries old. That's always dope. Do people say "dope" these days?

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As part of the Dread XP stream, Disordered Media has announced that their demo for the upcoming OS Sim horror game, Oneway.exe is releasing today. It’s available for PC.

I got early access to the demo, and I’m going to be honest: it’s not ??for me. That’s not a gentle way of saying it sucks; it’s just not my kind of game. It doesn’t gel with me. It’s not the sort of thing I find appealing. That’s it. I’m not referring to its quality.

On the surface, it kind of looks like my thing. It’s an OS Sim, sort of like Hypnospace Outlaw or The Operator. It revolves around this unfinished piece of software known only as untitled.exe. When you st?art this program up, you find yourself in a hallway with various doors marked by characters. 7 in all, apparently. You click on one of them, and it takes you to a room themed around the character, and you gather hints of their past and why they’re in this haunted program.

I checked out two before I decided I wasn’t?? going to proceed. The first was Anita, who is presented as this cutesy cartoon cheerleading. Through the process of solving a few simple puzzles (some of which required jumping into the source files), she screamed in my face. I think that kind of jumpscare is more for the streaming crowd.

I then went to another character and fed cake to a pig. I didn’t finish that one, because it was at that point that I realized that this was an ARG sort of game for fans of Creepypasta stories. Which, again, it may sound like I’m being dismissive, but I don’t have anything against it. Telling you ?why I don’t enjoy it would sound disparaging; there’s no way around it. I think the root of it is that I can’t assimilate into that community. I don’t like the speculation. But I understand why people do, and that’s fine.

In terms of the demo itself, it’s the sort of narrative that tells you the bare minimum upfront and leaves you to dig for the rest. I mentioned an ARG, and there is a related ARG that you can also check out. I found myself kind of getting stuck occasionally and had to wander around until something happened. I’m just�It’s not my ?thing, chum.

It does have some great things going for it. This is from the press release in regards to the first chapter that’s launching in 2025: “featuring fully voiced dialogue, frame-by-frame animated cutscenes, and original music by Marcy Nabors (DELTARUNE).�So, that’s cool, if this is the sor??t of experience you’re into.

If you dig stuff like Oneway.exe, then you can try out the demo for free today. The plan is?? for the first chapter to launch sometime in 2025.

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Beyond Good & Evil 2 is definitely one?? of gaming's biggest mysteries since Ubisoft originally revealed this game back in 2009, rebranded and re-announced it in E3 2017 and yet, the company still hasn't disclosed much information about it, let alone a concrete release date.

Most gamers believed that Ubisoft cancelled Beyond Good & Evil 2, especially after the game's Creative Director, Emile Morel, sadly passed away in June 2023. But, in reality, this hasn't stopped the company from continuing to pursue this ambitious project, and the company has now assigned a new person to the role: Fawzi Mesmar, who announced it on his personal LinkedIn page.

"I have been working with those peeps for years now on this ambitious game and witnessed their talent firsthand. I am standing on the shoulders of creative giants that have supported the team before me, and I look forward to continuing to craft a game that is truly unique for players to enjoy" said Mesmar on his announcement post. When taking a look at his personal portfolio, it's clear that Beyond Good & Evil 2 is in good hands, since he has experience working on some of Ubisoft's best titles, like Mario & Rabbids: Sparks of Hope, Star Wars Outlaws, and even Beyond Good & Evil - 20th Anniversary Edition.

The tumultuous development history of Beyond Good & Evil 2

Mesmar's post confirms that Ubisoft is still trying to complete Beyond Good & Evil 2, which goes along with the recent claims that the company took part of the disbanded Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown team and assigned them to this project. However, you can't blame people for thinking that this gam?e got canceled, because, so far, its development hi??story has been both messy and controversial.

Ubisoft first revealed Beyond Good & Evil 2 back in 2008, with a fascinating trailer that showcased Jade and Pey'j from the first game, confirming that this was going to be a sequel. While Ubisoft showed bits & pieces of this pro?ject during the following months, the company eventually went on full radio silence, making people wonder if it had cancelled it.

But things suddenly changed in E3 2017, when Ubisoft unveiled a brand-new Beyond Good & Evil 2 trailer that confirmed the game had gone through a major overhaul: It now has a new cast of characters, it's an ambitious open-world adventure, and it's going to be a prequel,?? instead of a narrative sequel. Af??ter an impressive E3 presentation, both fans and journalists suddenly had high hopes for this upcoming game.

Unfortunately, the development of Beyond Good & Evil 2 went through a series of setbacks that would keep the game under wraps for a few more years, including the firing of director Michel Ancel and the aforementioned sudden passing of Emile Morel. However,? Mesmar's enthusiasm and years of experience indicate that there's still hope for this infamous project, so Ubisoft may be finally able to release it in the near future.

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Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will keep you sailing the high seas far longer than expected. The game will have a lengthier story campaign than Like a Dragon Gaiden, as confirmed by its developer.

The news was revealed in an interview between Ryu Ga Gotoku boss Masayoshi Yokoyama and Famitsu. As translated by GameRant, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii's story will be "1.3 - 1.5 times" longer than that of Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Gaiden's story was about 12 hours on average, so we'?re looking at an increase of about 3.6 to 6 hour??s. Math!

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will boast a longer voyage than expected

Remember that this is for the story, not the entire swashbuckling experience. As most games in the series also contain heaps of side content, Pirate Yakuza should be able to hold your attention for much longer. Hell, even LaD Gaiden could keep you locked in for around 30 hours depending on how much of the game you chose to explore. It included dozens of side missions and a Coliseum, where you could spend many hours recruiting fighters and winning ?events in a ??rough-and-tumble blood sport.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spin-off that takes place after the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the eighth mainline game in the series. It'll likely fill in some gaps between the game and Like a Dragon 9, or at the very least give us a wacky misadventure starring Majima. Some prior allies do appear in some form or another, so it won't be the boggle-eyed lunatic sailing alone without any familiar faces. Either way, it could make for an exciting time with plenty of action and sailing. The game launches on February 21, 2025.

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Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 developer Saber Interactive has confirmed that Public Test Servers a??re to be added to the game in a future update.

In a message spearheaded by Game Director Dmitriy Gr??igorenko, it was confirmed that this will allow players to "try out major balancing updates and make your voices heard befor?e they are pushe??d onto public branches."

Space Marine 2 rolls back balance changes, Public Test Servers confirmed

Last week, Space Marine 2 released its 4.0 patch, and to say players weren't happy is an understatement. Unpopular weapon nerfs and a higher difficulty curve all around had gamers up in arms, leading some to take to the virtual streets in a form of protest as old as time: Steam revie??w bombing.

Space Marine 2 fans can officially put down their pitchforks; the new 4.1 update to the game rolls back those controversial changes, with Grigorenko claiming he "forgot that once the game c?omes out, it's no longer a dev's game. It's yours first and foremost.??"

To avoid repeating the mistake with future balance updates, Saber Interactive confirmed that the aforementioned Public Test Servers will be coming to Space Marine 2 in "early 2025." However, no furthe?r?? timeline has been given for this as of yet.

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The Wolf Among Us 2 has been listed as "Coming Soon" on its Epic Games Store page for so long that it's not surprising folks are getting noticeab??ly concerned over it. Following a recent rumor that it got dusted, Telltale had to confirm that it's (yes) still in development.

The rumor apparently began on a Reddit thread, where a supposed whistleblower reported that the game was on the brink of cancellation. They wrote that The Wolf Among Us 2 was "at a critic?al point" and Telltale may have "no choice but to shelve it??."

Development on The Wolf Among Us 2 'continues', confirms Telltale

As the rumor grew wings, developer Telltale Games had to step in. Speaking to Eurogamer, the company confirmed that development on The Wolf Among Us 2 "continu??es" and that more will be revealed later.

"As a rule, we don't comment on rumours and unsubstantiated reddit threads," a Telltale Games rep told Eurogamer. "But development on The Wolf Among Us 2 continues and we're excited to share more about the game with Telltale fans and o??ur community when the time is right."

The reply should be enough to satiate fans of the troubled series for now, although rumors like this tend to crop up during times of uncertainty for games long in development. Bigby Wolf's next adventure has been cooking for a long time, even before Telltale shut its doors in 2018. The developer made a surprising comeback in 2019 and announced that the game is still on the way. It was delayed from 2023 to this year, however, and we haven't seen hide nor hair of the ??wolf man.

Hopefully, we'll hear more about a possible release date soon. I?? need more Bigby in my life, as ?do we all.

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For Honor is set to receive a crossover event for Halloween, bringing the Destiny universe into the game. At the same time, Destiny 2 players will soon partake in the yearly Festival of the Lost, the in-game Halloween celebration that has remained nearly identical since 2021. And yet, there's been no confirmation as to whether Destiny 2 will see any new content to benefit from the For Honor collab. It's a stark reminder of how Destiny presents itself from the outside looking in.

Bungie is no stranger to partnering with other studios to crossover Destiny to other franchises. This has happened several times in the past, with The Witcher, Mass Effect, Ghostbusters, and even Dungeons & Dragons being recent examples. In most cases, new content enters Destiny 2 to coincide with the collaboration, but this time, Bungie has been oddly quiet about whether this would be the case with this most recent partnership -- especially considering the extent of Destiny's presence in For Honor's Halloween event.

New Guardians rise For Honor

For Halloween, For Honor is getting a Destiny-themed event called Light of the Guardians. It will run from October 24 until November 14, adding enemies based on the Scorn from Destiny in a new mode alongside Destiny-themed cosmetics. The most iconic cosmetics are "The Crucible Lord" Lord Shaxx skin for the Centurion and "?The Violet King" Saint-14 skin for Lawbringers.

The new mode for the crossover event is based on the existing Domination, but it makes a few changes to spice things up. The Scorn have invad??ed the map, with a Baron and its retinue taking up residence within the Cathedral map. Players won't have minions to help, so each match is a warzone between the new Scorn and the enemy team.

During the three-week event, players will earn weapons inspired by Destiny, and more are available through the in-game store. That said, players will receive a free event pass for Light of the Guardia??ns, allowing free rewards to be unlocked through participation.

Festival of the Lost is getting tired

While For Honor players are getting an entire Halloween event built around the Destiny franchise, Destiny 2 players are getting the same old Halloween event they've been getting for four years. Of course, it's not as if Destiny 2 and For Honor share development teams, but it's still a little demoralizing to see an admittedly cool Destiny Halloween event appearing...not in Destiny 2.

Festival of the Lost is set to start on October 29, bringing back Haunted Lost Sectors yet again. The event has players enter decorated Lost Sectors to fight the unique Headless Ones enemies. All the while, Guardi??ans collect Candy to use as a currency for event rewards. There's nothing specifically wrong with Festival of the Lost itself, but it's basicall?y been unchanged for years.

While some rewards and the yearly Halloween costume cosmetics change, players have been diving into the same Lost Sec??tors, fighting the same enemies since before The Witness made its first appearan?ce in-game. On top of this, the timing for Festival of the Lost feels off this year. With the event starting two days before Halloween and running for an assumed two or three weeks, the majority of the celebration is happening after Halloween has already come and gone. 

The timeliness of Festival of the Lost hasn't gone unnoticed by players either, with some taking to platforms like Reddit to voice their frustration and confusion. One commenter said, "So we get festival of the lost literately 2 days before Halloween. I think that is way too late it looks like I'll be playing other games Halloween events instea?d."

Bungie acknowledges For Honor crossover

While keeping Festival of the Lost nearly identical to previous years and starting it so late may be questionable, excitement could be rekindled with a snazzy focal point to get players excited about Destiny 2's Halloween event beyond its new wizard costumes. In this sense, bringing some of For Honor to Destiny 2 would make sense, but Bungie hasn't noted that's in the c??ar??ds.

Acknowledging the crossover happening in For Honor, Bungie posted, "Knights, Samurai, Vikings, Wu Lin, and Outlanders prepare to upgrade your armory. Equip your favorite warrior with gear delivered straight from The Last City, during the Light of the Guardians Halloween event. Available Oct. 24 to Nov. 14. Dates and content may change." Notably, the studio did not mention that any content would be coming to Destiny 2; instead, Destiny content would be featured in For Honor.

While it's not impossible that For Honor content could come to Destiny 2 later, it would have made sense for Bungie to note that kind of news during this communication if it was official. As it stands, For Honor players can jump into a cool and unique Halloween event based on a more fantastical franchise. For Destiny 2 players, well, once F??estival of ?the Lost actually starts, just keep running those Haunted Lost Sectors, I guess.

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Thanks largely to the recent Shattered Space DLC, Starfield has been enjoying something of a resurgence. SteamDB shows there has been a bit of an uptick in player count on PC, even if the ga??me overall is not exactly beaming with universal praise.

All that aside, people are still playing it and modding for it. A recent bit of fan-made content �as spotted by DSO Gaming �injects a little bit more realism into Starfield, t??hanks to NPC schedules and business opening hours.

Created by user FlippingEggs, "NPCs Have Routines and Stores Have Schedules" doesn't exactly roll off the tongue as a mod title, but it does exactly what it say?s on the tin. It effectively gives a bunch of non-playable characters a bit of vim, which uses custom AI to give them their own schedules.

"Sorry, bud. I'm closed now."

It should be noted that not every Starfield character has been given ?the gift of a timetable. The description over on Nexus Mods has the following to say:

36 named characters now have daily schedules
4 unnamed but unique characters now have daily schedules
10 new robots work in various stores, so you can buy stuff when the store owner isn't there (Styx included)
57 data slates added to various store countertops and NPCs' personal spaces. Some of these slates are simple notifications of business hours, while others offer you a window into the lives of characters and where you can find them when they aren't working.
1 of these data slates i??s an Easter egg for The Expanse

Oh, yeah. That's the other thing. Because the mod gives many businesses in the game actual opening hours, robots can be on-hand to work through the night while the proprietor gets some much-needed rest. ??You'll find that stores and their owners in places like New Atlantis, Akila City, Neon, and more have been given these schedules.

The creator goes on to say:

If you find a shopkeeper while they're away from their store, or sleeping, their no??rmal dialogue tree will not be available and you won't be able to trade with them.

They've a?lso been careful to make sure the mod doesn't interrupt vanilla quests and should be compatible with a lot of other installations you hav??e installed. But it's best to check beforehand.

I don't know why, but "NPCs Have Routines and Stores Have Schedules" puts me in-mind of Oblivion. Remember in the early 2000s when Bethesda was promoting its upcoming Elder Scrolls 4? Todd Howard and his team were so excited about its new "Radiant AI" system, which essentially gave NPCs their own daily routines, including eating, sleeping, and practicing their archery. Ah, to be young again. And also a non-playable character in ??a role-playing game.

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Folks, it's finally happening. The long-awaited SteamOS 3.6 build for the Steam Deck is now out and about on the 'Stable' download pipeline, an??d it introduces some hugely important new boons. Battery, performance, and stabi??lity improvements are all included, with lots more to account for on the LCD Deck.

Sure, we've been getting a minor OS update for the Steam Deck here and there, but virtually none of those hold a candle to the gargantuan bundle of upgrades that is SteamOS 3.6. Now, to be perfectly fair, many of those ??are backend improvements that aren't all too flashy. They are very much necessary and very welcome, however, especially if you're using the LCD Steam Deck, which now gets to enjoy some of the OLED Deck's battery optimizations for improved uptime.

SteamOS 3.6.19 Stable is available for download and has become a must-have for LCD devices

If you're interested in the nitty-gritty of your device's operation, I highly recommend going through Valve's full changelog over on Steam. If not,?? however, ??here are the most important highlights of the SteamOS 3.6.19 build:

• Updated Linux Kernel to V6.5 (improved hardware compatibility, system performance, security, and stability).
• Updated Desktop Mode to KDE Plasma build 5.27.10.
• Mesa 24.1 GPU driver build (performance improvements).
• Improved Steam UI responsiveness.
• Improved performance and stability in situations of higher memory pressure.
• Mura compensation improvements.
• Improved Steam Deck LCD battery life by up to 10% in light load operation.
• Added overclocking controls to the LCD Deck.
• Added Windows Bluetooth driver for the Steam Deck OLED.
• It is now possible to set the SD card as the default boot device.
• Substantially improved Bluetooth pairing setup for certain devices.
• Various external display support improvements.
• Improved SD card reliability and SanDisk detection operations.
• Resolved an OLED 3.5 build memory leak.

This is just scratching the surface of the full patch details, and I'm reasonably sure this is one of the biggest operating systems we've yet received for the Steam Deck. Possibly the biggest, actually. Combine this with the variety of unofficial improvements that the community's been working on in the background, specifically in the areas of game compatibility and third-party launcher support, and you've got a winner.

The big question that remains is whether the full release of the SteamOS for third-party devices is at all close to happening. Valve did say a while back that SteamOS would eventually be available as a free download for anyone to peruse at their own disposal. This official availability hasn't been brought up yet, though options s?uch? as BazziteOS do exist for those who just can't wait for Valve to make up its mind on this front.

Curiously, the patch notes for this specific update specifically introduce support for ROG Ally inputs, as well as a number of other third-party controller devices. Co??uld this be a sign that SteamOS might soon release as an actual alternative to Windows? I wouldn't hold my breath just yet, but you never know.

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The Silent Hill 2 remake may have dominated much of the October survival horror discourse, but Crow Country remains an indie gem you should check out if you haven't had the chance. Plenty of folks have already, to ?the tune of 100,000 copies sold. 

This not-so-macabre milestone comes just a week after Crow County made its debut on Nintendo Switch, and roughly six months after it? first launched on Steam. There are still more monetary med kits in store for the folks at SFB Games, too. In fact, the game hit 100k prior to? this week's launch on PlayStation 4.

According to the press release, over two-thirds of the copies sold so far were on Steam. The rest were divided between the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch?? ??versions. 

The numbers clearly blew SFB Games' Tom Vian's mind, too. "100k copies in under 6 months is far beyond our highest hopes for Crow Country," he said. Before thanking everyone who has played so far, he added, "It’s been incredible to see so many people e??njoy the game and recommend it to each other, especially now in the runup to Halloween."

It's true; now is undeniably the very best time to play Crow Country. If you have fond memories of PS1-era survival horror, it'll scratch that itch in both fresh and familiar ways. For those who have already plumbed its horrifying yet oddly comforting depths, there's also a bunch of merch on the way?? from Fangamer. The first round of items is set to launch on October 29, with m?ore �including physical releases for PS5 and Switch �following some time in 2025. 

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There's no denying that Ubisoft Montpellier's Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is one of the biggest surprise hits of 2024. As a result, g??amers were hoping that?? the company would announce a sequel soon, but unfortunately, it seems that this is not going to happen.

Yesterday, the French YouTube channel known as ORIGAMI reported that Ubisoft disbanded the team behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown because the game failed to meet sales expectations. But there wasn't any concrete confirmation on the matter until today, when Ubisoft reached Eurogamer for a statement.

The game's senior producer, Abdelhak Elguess, said: "Most of the team members who worked on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown have shifted to other projects that will benefit from their expertise" and thus, officially conf?irmed the disbandment of his team. He also recognized the game's success by stating, "I'm extremely proud of our team's work and passion at Ubisoft Montpellier to create a ?game that resonated with players and critics alike, and I am confident in its long-term success".

The uncertain future of the Prince of Persia series

The team's disbandment practically confirms that Ubisoft has no immediate plans for a sequel to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, but Elguess assured that the company would keep the IP alive when he said: "We know players have a love for this brand and Ubisoft is excited to bring more Prince of Persia experiences in the future". It is important to keep in mind that Ubisoft released The Rogue of Prince of Persia in May, and that the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is still in development.

Even though Ubisoft's statement was relieving because it confirmed that the company didn't fire or lay off any of the talented developers involved in the creation of The Lost Crown, fans of the g??ame are still understandably frustrated by this information. Many of them criticized Ubisoft for not immediately greenlighting a sequel for such a refreshing, critically acclaimed game, while many of its othe??r projects have remained in development? limbo for many years.

So, what did Ubisoft do with the team that developed The Lost Crown?

Unfortunately, Elguess didn't disclose to Eurogamer what the members of the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown team are currently working on. But, according to Insider Gaming, Ubisoft rejected the pitch for a sequel to The Lost Crown and assigned around a dozen of its members to the development of an announced Rayman ??Remake code-named "Project Steambot". For the moment, this is all just a rumor and the company still hasn't confirmed anything on the matter.

That's not all, because it seems that Ubisoft assigned another part of the team to the development of the next Ghost Recon game, while it sent the rest to work on Beyond Good & Evil 2, an infamous game that has been in development since around 2007. Hopefully, all the developers who worked on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will get to display their talents in these other projects and ??maybe someday they will reunite in order to make a follow-up to this beloved 2.5D Metroidvania adventure.

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If you're looking to check out Monster Hunter Wilds ahead of its February launch, Capcom is ready to roll out an open beta. The company announced the official schedule for the round of te?stin??g, which starts with early access for PlayStation Plus members on October 28.

PS Plus members testing on PS5 will get their exclusive run until October 30, with the rest of the platforms following on October 31. You'll be able to spend your Halloween night in the world of Monster Hunter PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam from October 31 to November 3. The beta will ??support crossplay between the three platforms. 

Here's a breakdown:

Monster Hunter Wilds open beta start times

PlayStation 5?? - PlayStation Plus Exclusive Early Access:

• Starts: Monday, October 28, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. PT

• Ends: Wednesday, October 30 at 7:59 p.m. PT

Pl?ayStation 5, Xbox Seri?es X|S, and Steam (with Crossplay):

• Starts: Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. PT

• Ends: Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 6:59 p.m. PT

According to Capcom's overview, the beta will let players tinker with character creation, and the resulting Hunter and Palico data can be carried over to the full version. There's also the Do?shaguma Hunt, which involves taking down the alpha of the Doshaguma pack, and a trial of the story that includes the opening cutscene an?d the Chatacabra Hunt with tutorials to help along the way.

Rounding out the announcement is a new trailer, The Black Flame. This one introduces the third loc??ation in the Forbidden Lands, the Oilwell Basin.

Monster Hunter Wilds launches in full on February 28, 2025.

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Blizzard has released the need-to-know details about Diablo 4's upcoming Halloween event, which will run between October 29 and? Nov??ember 5.

Diablo 4 recently released the Vessel of Hatred expansion, which has reinvigorated interest in the game. The new Spiritborn class is some of the most fun Diablo content in years, so it's a gre?at period to hop back into the action.

Diablo 4 Halloween event details

In a Blizzard blog post, Diablo 4's Halloween event was ??c??onfirmed as starting at 10 AM PT on October 29. The spooky celebrations will run until 10 AM PT on November 5. Throughout this period, you can log in and claim some limited-time cosmetic goodies for free, as detailed below:

• October 29: The Recluse’s Host Mount
• October 30: Ichorflame Torch Mount Trophy
• October 31: Recluse’s Flask Mount Trophy
• November 1: Reclusive Trappings Mount Armor

If you miss the cosmetics on the above dates, don't worry - you can still log in before the ?event finishes on November 5 and claim them from the in-game store.

While the Diablo 4 Halloween event is active, Dungeon ??runs will be much more interesting, thanks to Meat or Treat. This "harrowing game of chan?ce" allows Shrines to apply a surprise effect on top of its usual effect when activated. As Blizzard puts it, "Will the Shrine bestow unexpected riches upon you, or will your Dungeon run go up in smoke?"

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Each year, October 23 is deemed Fallout Day, and this time around, Bethesda is celebrating in style. To kick off ce??lebrations, the developer has made its multiplayer prequel free-to-play for a limited time.

It's fair to say that Fallout 76's 2018 launch was nothing short of a disaster. Controversy after controversy marred the release of what should have been an exciting period for the franchise. A multiplayer Fallout game - what could possibly go wrong? As it turns out, quite a lot, but Bethesda in the years since has released plenty of updates and expansions to make Fallout 76 a worth entry into the franchise.

Fallout 76 goes free-to-play until October 29

You've got until October 29 to try Fallout 76 for free across Xbox, PlayStati??on, and PC, after which it will become pay-to-play again. This should be plenty of time for you to decide whether Bethesda's multiplayer open world is for you.

Throughout Fallout 76's free-to-play period, the game is available at a steep 75% discount on all platforms, bringing it down to just $9.99. If you've sat on the fence about trying Fallout 76 over the last few y?ears, now's a great time to take the ??plunge.

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MMORPGs are no strangers to seasonal events, and it seems that the recently released Throne and Liberty from NCSoft and Amazon Game??s is no exception. From October 24, Halloween w?ill very much come to Solisium. 

The Haunted Harvest event is set to run from Octobe?r 24 until November 13, so you’ll have plenty of time to dive in and experience absolutely everything on of?fer. Here’s the official trailer for the event:

The sheer amount of Halloween-themed things on display in the trailer can be a little overwhelming, but don’t worry, let’s take a look at everything that will be available to try during the Haunted?? Harvest event. 

Get scared by event duties and tasks

It is an event-only Dungeon, home to a giant Jack-o�lantern with murderous intentions. In the trailer, you can see a player shapeshifting into a pumpkin to roll around obstacles and AOEs. According to the official post from Throne and Liberty, we’ll be defeating fiendish pumpkins and devouring Candy Corn for a chance to win rewards such as cosmetics, buf??fs, and? Ornate Coins. 

You’ll also get Dimension Pum?pkins, a special item that can be exchanged for spoils at event merchants, including:

• Ghastly Gourd cosmetic
• Jack-oâ€?lantern Izzy Amitoi
• Hallow-Knight shapeshift

Speaking of event merchants, they’ll be located in special event villages, specifically added to the map in celebration of the spooky season. Candy Corn will be the main currency during the event, and you’ll not only earn it through participating in themed tasks such as greeting costumed villagers but they will ?also be rewarded for daily login. 

If you're lucky, you'll be able to get the Phantom’s Prank buff, which increases both Sollant and experience gain.???? 

Go fishing for gummies

During the event, you’ll be able to fish in various spots around Solisium in the hopes of reeling in a range ??of gummy fish. Each fish comes w??ith buffs that last 15 minutes:

• Red, Yellow, or Blue Gummy Fish

  • Increased movement and attack speeds

• Pumpkin Taffy

  • Increased boss hit rate
  • Damage boost against undead and demon enemies
  • Damage resistance against undead and demon enemies

Cooking up a fright

There will also be new recipes available to cook, both of which come with ?their own useful 15-minute perks when consumed:

• Spooky Pumpkin Pie

  • Increased mastery gain
  • Increased abyss consumption efficiency

• Choco-Spider Cookie

  • Increased critical hit chance and damage

Special Shop gets haunting additions

One of the standout items from the trailer is the Grin Reaper outfit, complete with a backlit pumpkin-face mask. This item will be avai??lable in the Special Shop as part of the Wicked Enchanter bundle, the cost of which has not yet been ?revealed. 

There will also be other cosmetics available for purchase, including the skeleton outfit and witches hat on display in the trailer. Further cosmetics will become available when the new Battle Pass begins, carrying the theme of “P?hantom Assassin’s Starâ€? 

Overall, this looks like an incredible first seasonal event for Throne and Liberty. As a long-time MMO pl??ayer, this has left me slightly overwhelmed with the amount of things to do, an?d I can’t wait to dive in and experience the first-ever Solisium Halloween. See you there, if you dare!

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The Game Boy Color wasn’t exactly the best platform for horror unless you count, like, Resident Evil Gaiden and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare. Anyway, now’s a good time to get into some indie Game Boy Color horror, like what’s packed into the Metamorphosis Collection. You can even get a physical cartridge if youâ€?™re in??to that sort of thing (I am).

The three games included are Opossum Country, Decline, and Specimen 134, all by Ben Jelter. Two of these games, Opossum Country and Decline are available already on itch.io, so you can play them right now for free. They were created for game jams. Specimen 134, on the other hand, is a completely new game. It’s also supposedly a lot longer th??an the other two. Howeve?r, there is a demo of it that you can try.

I’ve played Decline and Opossum Country. They’re creepy short-form adventure titles. Decline is about a police detective on the verge of retirement solving a supernatural mystery. Opossum Country, on the other hand, is about a gig food del?ivery person riding up to a creepy trailer park full of evasive peo?ple.

A lot of development for Nintendo’s old handheld platform has been spurred by GB Studio, a development suite that makes creating games on the platform a lot more accessible. It’s pretty neat. I’ve only done a bit of dabbling in it, but it seems pretty intuitive and simple to use. It’s resulted in some interestingly designed games that wouldn’t have been marketable during the handheld’s life, gi??ving the platform new life.

For Metamorphosis Collection. You can get the digital version for $13.99. But the real fun is with the physical cartridge, w?hich comes with a box, instructions, and a sticker sheet for $59.99. If you order before Hallowe’en, you’ll get a translucent blood-red cartridge instead of the usual smokey black. Either way, it’s pretty neat. I’m on the verge of pulling the trigger o??n a purchase.

Preorders for Metamorphosis Collection are open now, a?nd physi?cal editions will ship later in November.

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Masahiro Sakurai recently ended the content he planned for his YouTube Channel "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games." Sakurai spent just over two years posting videos about his views on game development. In his final video,? he broke down what it took to make each video for the channel. This includes the roughly $630,000 (90,000,000 yen) he spent to make it a reality.

Sakurai, known for creating franchises like Super Smash Bros. and Kirby, also explained the rather intense process he set for himself. He starts the video by asking if we thin?k he looks older than he does in his other videos. It seems like a silly thing to ask, partially because the man hasn't aged since 2001. But it turns out, everything that has aired on the channel over the last two yea?rs was scripted out and recorded in 2022. The exception to that is this current video. He's known for his attention to detail and thorough planning, but even this is kind of crazy.

In his video, he ??explains how he got to this $630,000 price tag. For starters, Sakurai does not monetize any of the content on his channel. He states that it's all on here to help uplift the game industry as a whole. Whether your a game developer, manager, or even just a fan, he hopes that his channel can help you appreciate and create better games.

The bulk of the costs came from editing. While he recorded the videos in 2022, they didn't receive the slick visual pack??aging all at once. That's where the work has been going into over the last 2 years. Another company, Hike, was given the responsibility of editing his videos with footage and a shiny presentation. The cost shows in the editing, which has been extremely pro??fessional-looking from the start. That doesn't mean Sakurai was hands-off, however, as he would go through each video and request changes. This was work he did at night when his day job was over.

By the way, Sakurai has been working on an unknown game since 2022. Just in case you thought he would rest on his laurels after Smash Bros. Ultimate.

As for the rest of the budget, localization was the second biggest piece. While he thought about only doing the channel in Japanese originally, he decided to do an English version as well. For that, he enlisted the help of the well-known localization company 8-4 Play. The company has helped with a number of incredible games including Fire Emblem, Deltarune, and so many more. The final sliver in his budget was marked "other." That includes some special events he hosted with Retro Game Master and a few other licensing bits.

Overall, this money is being considered a donation to the industry at large. He considers his time to be volunteer work. Sakurai knows he's getting older, and wanted to give something that could help the industry for years to come, rather than just make another game. If you haven't seen the channel, it's a great look at the video game industry from one of the best to do it. He even did a video all about his cat, as any good pet owner would do.

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Ever since Nintendo revealed Mario & Luigi: Brothership in?? June of this year, fans have been wondering which studio was actually working on this colorful new RPG adventure, especially since the company is infamous for keeping this information under wraps. After months of speculation, it seems we finally have a concret??e answer.

After many months of theories and speculation, it seems we have a concrete answer. Twitter/X user Nintendeal recently discovered copyright text for Mario & Luigi: Brothership that seems? to confirm that Acquire is developing the game. This is the studio behind the Tenchu series and the Octopath Traveler series? (which it developed alongside Square Enix). Although, it is important to point out that Nintendo hasn't officially confirmed this information yet.

Nintendo fans previously thought that ILCA (The studio behind Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, One Piece Odyssey, and Sand Land) was developing Mario & Luigi: Brothership, but this new revelatio?n apparently c?onfirms that they were wrong, and that it was Acquire all along.

Fans reacted to this news with both excitement and relief, since the studio has previous experience with solid turn-based RPGs. Acquire has big shoes to fill, because AlphaDream, the studio that created the Mario & Luigi series and developed all the ??previous entries, sadly went bankrupt in 2019.

Based on Acquire's previous experience, Mario & Luigi: Brothership is in good hands

Acquire is not a random small team that Nintendo hired but is actually a remarkable and important development studio within the industry, with tons of previous experience developing iconic and successful video games. Acquire ??has recorded its entire history on its official website, and it's quite interesting.

The studio rose to fame with the release of the first two Tenchu games on PlayStation 1, which revolutionized the stealth genre. After that, it went on to develop the Way of the Samurai series on PlayStation 2 and subsequent consoles, but its biggest and most recognizable IP is undoubtedly Octopath Traveler, which it developed in collaboration with Square Enix. These are a pair of critically acclaimed turn-based RPGs that brought back the essence of the classic 2D Final Fantasy games. So, when taking Acquire's entire history into consideration, it's evident that Mario & Luigi: Brothership is in great hands, but we won't be 100% sure until the game launches on N?intendo Switch on N?ovember 7.

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It’s been a long time coming, but Dotemu has confirmed that Metal Slug Tactics will l??aunch on November 5, 2024 on PC, Switch, PS4/5, and Xbox S?eries X|S.

Not only that, they’ve also revealed that three Ikari Warriors characters are being added to the mix, including Clark Still, Ralph Jones, and Leona Heidern. The likelihood that any of them will land on my team is essentially nil unless I’m forced to for some reason. It’s not that I don’t like Ikari Warriors. It’s that I love Metal Slug. Though, all three characters have appeared in Metal Slug games. If you’re wondering about Leona, she was DLC for Metal Slug XX.

It’s been a bit of a protracted wait for Metal Slug Tactics. It was first announced at the 2021 Summer Games Fest. Development was quiet for a long time as the developer was working on multiple projects. Back in June, a demo of it was released, and I enjoyed it. It took a while, but it eventually clicked with me. The Metal Slug dressing feels more cosmetic, as the tactical gameplay is?? a pretty far cry from the typical run-and-gun format. However, as a simple?? turn-based tactical strategy game, I think it works pretty well.

It does have a strong roguelite feel to it. You make runs through regions to take o??n bosses, and gain permanent upgrades. The good news is that this makes the game more skill-based, and you can’t just level up your units. The bad news is that it has roguelite elements. I don’t personally hate that progression style, but it does give me a bit of pause.

Truthfully, I’d play just about anything with Fio i??n it, so I’m already on board, though this month has been very busy, and the beginning of next month is looking as though it will be the same. I’ll probably get to it eventually, even if it’s not right away.

Metal Slug Tactics launches on November 5, 2024. It will be released on PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series ?X|S. There will be a?? physical edition coming later on.

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One Piece's official accounts recently announced the anime's six-month hiatus. However, fans of the series will not be left unattended. A special episode called One Piece Fan Letter and One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga will take the anime's time slot. The former has already been released, whi?le the latter is set to air the week after.

Unfortunately, official One Piece channels just announced that the remaster will be postponed to make way for Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series' live broadcast. One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga was originally set to release on October 27. The first episode's release date has now changed ??to November 3.

The remaster will revamp the Straw Hat Pirates' adventure on the kingdom under the sea. It will not only improve upon the shading, animation, and special effects, but also compress the original 58 episodes into 21 episodes. Doing so will likely improve the anime's pacing, which One Piece is notoriously known for. Furthermore, the saga will feature a Dolby Atmos soundtrack, offerin?g a contemporary retelling of the Straw Hats�underwater journey.

A complete recap of the Fish-Man Island Arc's most notable moments can be found here. But to put it briefly, the Fish??-Man Island Arc will see the Straw Hat Pirates return after their two-year training. Stronger and more skilled than ever, the crew is finally ready to take on the New World. However, their first challenge lies beneath the ocean in the mys?terious and politically fraught Fish-Man Island.

One Piece Log: Fish-Man Island Saga will be available for streaming via Crunchyroll. Other seasons of One Piece can also be streamed through Crunchyroll and Netflix. However, availability may vary dep?ending on region.

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Ah, Skyrim. If it weren't for the fact that you were a genuinel??y good (albeit buggy to hell) game that stays afloat thanks to the modding community, you probably would have disappeared into obscurity long ago. Also, hey, here's something you never, ever hear in the game: "Oh no! Look out for that tank!"

Until now, that is. If your WW2 artillery needs are not being met by Skyrim, perhaps this mod will scratch that battle scar. As reported by DSO Gaming, Nexus Mods user MixedMartialArtist brings "World of Tanks" to The Elder Scrolls 5.

It is, as you can imagine (and as the above clip shows), a mea??ns of combining the fantasy world of Bethesda's creation with the ability to �and I quote �"partake in The Greatest Tank Battles in history." Did I mention the destructive tanks? I'm pretty sure I mentioned the destructive tanks. It sort of answers the question of what would happen if you mashed up fanciful role-playing elements with world war re-??enactments.

"You're finally awake. Here's a Mauser."

To put it in the creator's own words:

Now Skyrim can be played as a War-Tank Battle Game with an endless amount of epic battles. Skyrim is now full of action and chaos as armies of both sides continue to press into enemy territory with their squads of infantry and armored vehicles. Take part in the war by joining the civil war, and destroy your enemies with the plethora of weapons at your disposal - guns, rockets, tanks, bombs, artillery, you name it. Build your army with new troops and tanks at forts, or simply use your abilities to take control of nearby patrols to follow you. Shoot your machine gun from your commander's ??cupola, mowing down hordes of bunched up infantry, and fire your main gun to eliminate enemy armor.

I haven't had a chance to download and try "World of Tanks" myself yet, but the clips are putting me in mind of the old Medal of Honor games. Remember those? The idea that we can inhabit a fictional realm whe??re World War 2 tanks and dragons can duke it out for moral?? supremacy is the sole reason we keep on gaming, I feel.

That and The Elder Scrolls 6 still feels like a long way off from releasing. Yeah, yeah. I know. Change the record, already. Or change the Instagram Reel. I'm not sure how to modernize retro sayings. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes. Skyrim.

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Sam Barlow, the director of the highly acclaimed Immortality and Her Story, has recently teased his new work. I'm talking about the mysteriously titled Project D████. That's not the result of monitor burn-in, but seemingly Barlow's attempt at captivating fans via some sort of viral detective call-to-action. At first, details seem scarce, but he's clearly making references to Silent Hill. Let's dive into what we have:

Right now, we only know that Project D???? will be a survival horror title directed by Sam Barlow and published by Half Mermaid Productions. It's possibly set i?n 1983, involves one or more nurses, and it warns players about a nightmare. I know it looks like I'm not saying anything, so feel free to read the official release and see what you can make of it.

"Project D███â??–ˆ is a ████â–?â–?survival horror ██â–?Sam Barlow ██ Half Mermaid.

██████ ████â–?██ 1983 ??██ â–?████████â–?████ ████ ████████, ██â–?████ ████ ██████ ██████ nurse ████â–?██â–?████ ██████â–?████â–?████ ██████â–?in ██████â–?██â–? Be careful ██â–??ˆâ–ˆâ–ˆâ–ˆâ–?████ ██â–?████ ████ â–?nightmare."

It's all very intentionally vague, but it gets more interesting when you realize Barlow's tweet also makes mentions of shattered memories. That, along with the previous reference to nurses, can't help but make fans reminisce about Silent Hill. I get that Barlow could be making a Silent Hill reference to coast on the brand's rebirth, but he was actually the lead writer and designer of Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Many already know the silly rabbit hole we could fall into, in suspecting a game of being a secret Silent Hill project. If you're out of the loop, you should totally check out the story of Abandoned, a vaporware game that became popular, then infamous, as its director attempted to sneakily lead the Internet to believe it was a new Silent Hill game.

Is D really a new secret Silent Hill project, is Barlow just flashing his horror credentials, or is he messing with a type of fire he might not be?? able to put out?

Barlow's Twitter name also makes reference to a "Project C," of which he'??s yet to reveal any details.

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If you’ve been into gaming for a few decades, you’ll have fond memories of Saturday m??ornings diving into the latest releases on Nintendo 64. While the likelihood of you having a Nintendo 64 still available to play is slim, the Switch offers a limited number of titles from the i?conic console. 

It’s been 28 years since the Nintendo 64 first hit TV units across the world, and 22 years since the final game was released for the console in North America (Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, for those interested). That’s a long time to go without playing some of the classics that we??re available during the console’s six-??year tenure. 

However, if you’ve got a Nintendo Switch Online+?? Expansion Pack membership, ther??e are a few of those classics available to play. While some of them are definitely more niche, here are 10 of the best titles available to play. Apologies in advance if this list reminds you that we're aging up a little too fast...

Super Mario 64

I can’t begin this list without mentioning Super Mario 64. It was one of two games that were released alongside the launch of the N64 in North America (alongside Pilotwings 64), so it’s one of the first games that springs to mind when I think back to?? queuing outside ?my local video game store to get the console on launch day in 1996. 

I don’t feel like I need to explain Super Mario 64 too much, but just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the last 39 years, let me give you the TLDR (which goes for most of the games): Mario is invited to ??visit Princess Peach, only to find Bowser has infiltrated and kidnapped her. Cue a mad dash across the realm to locate and rescue the Princess, and take down Bowser. 

Pokémon Snap

If you want an updated version of this classic 1999 Pokémon title, then you can get New Pokémon Snap??, which was released specifically for the Switch back in 2021. However, nothing quite touches the original in terms of nostalgia and cl?assic design. There’s something really special about curling up and snapping shots of Pokémon as remembered from childhood. 

What tips the original over the successor, personally, is the lack of pressure to complete tasks. Admittedly there isn’t much in the new one either, but if you face a lot of pressure on a daily basis, being able to simply focus on taking photos rat??her than needing a rea??son to is actually really nice. 

Paper Mario

First reaching North America in 2001, Paper Mario is the first in a series of six games (or seven, if you count Paper Jam) to feature Mario and associated characters in their â€?.5Dâ€?forms. Again, the plot is familiar to all Mario fans - Bowser has Princess Peach, and Mario must battle through the ?Mushroom Kingdom to get her back and kick some overgrown turtle butt. 

What makes the Paper Mario series incredibly special, and especially the first, is not only the art style but the puzzles and cooperation with other characters as well. The RPG?? elements and turn-based combat moments are tense, but not overly so. 

GoldenEye 007

GoldenEye 007 is an absolutely guaranteed memory for anyone who grew up in the 90s, whether you actually played or simply knew other people who did and desperately wanted to but your parents thought it was too graphic. ?The idea of the latter is laughable now, considering the current gaming graphics we’ve become so used to, but the 90s were a different time. 

Regardless, the cover art of GoldenEye 007 is enough to trigger some childhood memories for most, featuring Pierce Brosnan as Bond and Izabella Scorupco as Natalya Simonova. It’s based on the story from 1995’s GoldenEye, and as Bond, it’s up to the player to take down a crim??inal syndicate and prevent them from using a satellite weapon. It also had multiplayer?? options, which would usually result in an argument or two. 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Released in 1998, Ocarina of Time was the first of the Zelda game series to feature 3D graphics. It is, arguably, among t??he best and most iconic video games of all time, and at the time of release, it received far more pre-orders than any other game before it. 

As with most other Zelda ??titles, you take the role of Link and have all of his usual weapons in your arsenal, including the iconic sword and shield. The story is hard to explain if you’ve never played, but in short, Link must awaken? the five Sages, defeat Ganondorf, and protect the kingdom of Hyrule. 

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards was released in 2000, and as with the previous Ocarina of Time, The Crystal Shards was the first Kirby title to have 3D graphics. For most people of a certain age, Kirby is one of ??those games that invokes a huge amount of nostalgia and has come to many platforms in the time since it was first released, including the Wii, Wii U, and now the Nintendo Switch. 

The story of The Crystal Shards involves Kirby having to reassemble a sacred crystal that has been shattered by Dark Matter. If you’ve ever played a Kirby game, you’ll know what to expect - explore 2.5D levels and devour your enemies to gain their powers. However, The Crystal Shards also introduced Power Combos, allowing you to mix and match po??wers to create n?ew and much more powerful ones. 

Banjo-Kazooie

As far as platformers go, Banjo-Kazooie borders on being wildly underappreciated. The first in a line of five titles, Banjo-Kazooie was released back in 1998. Banjo, the honey bear in fetching yellow shorts and always in possession of his trusty backpack, was first introduced in 1997 as part of the cast of Diddy Kong Racing. Kazooie, the Breegull who can be found sheltering inside the aforementioned backpack, was introduced?? in t?his game and the pair became a beloved duo. 

Together, Banjo and Kazooie must track down Banjo’s kidnapped sister, Tooty, who has been kidnapped by the evil witch Gruntilda. Gameplay is a mix of delightful (althou?gh often frustrating) platform levels, puzzles, and boss fights. There’s something incredibly satisfying about collecting music notes and Jiggies that open doors to new worlds. 

Yoshi’s Story

Yoshi’s Story was released in North America in 1998, and is a fruit-eating joy to play regardless of age. While most of the other titles on this list are adventuring games with someone to rescue, Yoshi’s Story provides something different: the endless frustration of trying to be better than you were before. There is an element of adventure an??d storytelling, but it arguably takes a back seat to beating your own high score.

There are two modes in Yoshi’s Story: Story Mode and Trial Mode. To unlock new levels in Trial Mode, you must first complete the levels in Story Mode, and completing them requires the ??apparently sim??ple task of eating 30 fruits. But of course, it’s not that simple. Each type of fruit is worth a different amount of points, with Melons giving the most, and there are also Lucky Fruits that offer a bonus. 

Perfect Dark

Perfect Dark is described as a “spiritual successor�to GoldenEye 007, runs on an upgraded version of the same game engine, and was developed and released three years later in 2000. Perfect Dark came not only with a solo campaign mode but also multiplayer options such as co-operative and deathmatch modes. It's making a comeback as well, but? it remains to be seen whether a? remake can touch the nostalgia of the original.

As Joanna Dark, you must complete objectives while avoiding or eliminating opponents to eventually stop an extraterrestrial conspiracy by a corporation known as dataDyne. As with GoldenEye, there are many weapons to choose from, but now these ??weapons all have additional useful features. The K7 Avenger, for instance, will detect threats such as nearby explosives. 

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Released two years after Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask hit shelves and TV screens in 2000 and features the same 3D graphics that premiered in the previous title. Majora’s Mask is�Confusing, to say the least. The gameplay involves a 3-day cycle that must be replayed, using knowledge learned from previ??ous cycles to perform better during subsequent ones. 

One of the best features of Majora’s Mask is the transformations provided by the core masks that Link can use - a Deku Scrub, a Goron, and a Zora. Each transformation provides Link with different, incredibly useful abilities, and you’ll need to think carefully about which form you take to complete puzzles and quests throughout the story. And did I mention that Link can control time and the moon is enough to? give any kid nightmares for weeks?

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If you’re itching for more Build Mode or CaS content in The Sims 4, there’s good news right around the corner �two new Creator Packs, Cozy Kitsch and Sweet Slumber Party, ??are headed our way on November 14. 

As with the previous Storybook Nursery Creator Kit, these two are also designed by prominent names within the Custom Content community. Priced at $4.99 (or the equivalent in your local currency), each kit will come with a ra??nge of new items ready to be ??used in your Sim world. 

Both kits will be available on all platforms, allowing all p??lay?ers to enjoy the incredible work of both designers, rather than just those on PC. 

Cozy Kitsch Creator Kit by Myshunosun

The Cozy Kitsch Creator Kit is a Build Mode kit filled with ??furniture to make your dining room or kitchen completely unique and, as the name suggests, kitsch. By the looks of the official images shared for the reveal of these kits, the furniture included would look perfect in a rustic, chaotic (in the most orderly way) environment. The color swatches work together well, despite being mismatched. 

If you’ve ever browsed Tumblr for Custom Content, you’ve likely heard of Myshunosun. They produce beautiful Maxis Match CC furniture and clutter objects,?? filled with detail and they’re also very talented when it comes to CaS CC.  

Sweet Slumber Party by Trillyke

The Sweet Slumber Party Crea??tor Kit is a CaS kit, filled with new adorable pajama outfits and pieces that can be worn by any Sim ages Teen or older. The official images shared for the announcement of the pack show a lot of new and interesting pieces, including some space-themed jammies, as well as some skincare basics. 

Again, you’ve probably come across Trillyke if you’ve ever browsed Tumblr for CC. They’ve got a lot of incredible Maxis Match CaS CC?? available for download, and some of them are in my own CC collection. I’m very excited to see some of their designs be incl??uded in a Creator Kit, opening up their talent to all players. 

Both Myshunosun and Trillyke have sat down with EA to discuss their process and what it takes to become a CC creator as talented as themselves. To get to know them a little better, or if you want more details about what it took to create these two kits, you can read the interview over on The Sims 4 blog.

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A report from Yonhap News Agency, a news agency headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, developer NCSoft appears to be undergoing additional restructuring including layoffs and potential recommended resignations and voluntary retirements. The news comes just three weeks after its latest MMORPG, Throne and Liberty, released in the West.

According to YNA, NCSoft is targeting a specific number of employees belonging to the actual game development and operation organizations of the company, which comes after layoffs earlier in the year which targeted more support-related departments ?in the company. The report also claims that since new NCSoft CEO Park Byung-moo took office in April, employees across non-development-related divisions have been encouraged t??o resign.

As part of the restructuring, NCSoftis also considering more spin-offs based on some of its existing IPs. Despite a strong western release of Throne and Liberty which quickly passed 3 million unique players and over 300,000 concurrent players on Steam alone, NCSoft's other games have struggled. Its flagship series Lineage has seen a decline in sales on mobile. Mobile game sales as a whole were responsible for over 67% of NCSoft's annual sales last year, but plummeted? by 38% this year.

And despite the solid numbers for the newly released Throne and Liberty, the game is being published by Amazon in the West. This means that profits from the new MMORPG are likely shared in some way with ?the publisher, making it a lot less likely to make a massive impact compared to NCSoft-developed and self-published titles in other markets.

Even still, it's the continuation of? a very sickening trend in the game industry this year. Long-developed titles finally launched to relative success only to see the studios responsible shuttered or facing layoffs shortly after. Here's to hoping the many affected can quickly find new opportunities in the shrinking industry.

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