Very early into Elden Ring, I kept seeing these random, cracked, conspicuous-as-hell statues with? a blue or turquoise light. And 50 hours in, I finally know how to break them open.

Backing up a step, there are many different types of statues in this game, some of which you can directly interact with. I'm not talking about those. I mean the statues that are partially sliced open, and often embedded in the ground or toppled over. You?'ll probably recognize them when you see them. Like this one!

**Spoilers below**

If you're anyth??ing like me, you might've tried two-handing your weapon, various jump attacks, and explosive throwables, to name a few tactics that seemed like a good idea at the time. No dice �at least, not that I've seen. Instead, you'll need to source some outside help. You need to use a big boy.

That's right, a big boy

Had I spent more time scoping out this cracked glowing statue on stormy Limgrave hillside with several trolls roaming nearby, I probably would've figured out the solution way sooner. In fact, on a return visit, the a-ha moment happened organically: a giant just casually strolled through it?? on his way to my character, and the cracked statue exploded, revealing a shiny reward.

What was inside? Unfortunately, just some low-level smithing stones �a ??useful find in the ear??ly game, but far less helpful down the road when they're more plentiful.

If you missed the statue pictured above, you might've seen this statue with a glowing ??crack in the heart of Stormveil Castle, which you would've gone past on your way to the boss.

It's not-so-conveniently resting next to a large, gnarly enemy �large enough to make me think it could also be strong enough to bust open the statue... but it didn't work for me. Appearance isn't always everything, but once you get a feel for who (or what) has the magic touch to bust open glowing statues in Elden Ring, you'll probably be able to instantly recognize?? them.

What I simply had to do upon luring this troll was to have it casually walk on top of this statue. It could have also just swung its weapon at me and broken t?he statue as collateral damage, but at ?lower levels, that could be very risky.

Interestingly, it seems that other large-scale enemies in Elden Ring are capable of opening these glowing cracked statues. When we mean big boys, they don't have to be on the scale of the aforemention??ed trolls. You just need to be able to look and them and think, "Yeah, this guy could probably eat rocks."

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Other ways to break glowing cracked statues in Elden Ring

Depending on the area you're in, you will have to do some scouting on what the biggest enemies are. You'll have to train a beast or two and bring them to the statue with the glowing cracks. In the example bel??ow found in the Sealed Tunnel, this statue is against the wall, so you can't just hide behind it in hopes of your enemy walking right into it.

What you will have to do is put your back against the statue as an enemy is about to attack you. At the right mo?ment, dodge its attack and hopefully, they'll open the thing for you. Not the safest thing to do, but you probably won't get anywhere just asking politely, either.

What do glowing cracked statues contain?

In terms of reward, from every example I've seen, these glowing cracked statues just give out various tiers of upgrade materials like Smithing Stones for your weapons and shields. A potentially good haul, but not necessarily something I'd want to go out of my way to get, if that makes? sense.

This is just the latest in a line of "Wow, I really overthought that!" moments in the game. I'm loving it. Especially now that I've hit a brick wall, a?nd it's time to go wandering again.

The post How to break glowi?ng blue cracked statues in Elden Ring appeared first on Destructoid.

Note that the Elden Ring Walking Mausoleums are found as quickly as the first area, but if you want to go in fresh. Skip away!

Here's a buffer for you:

[caption id="attachment_624604" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Okay, ready?

To get into the Elden Ring Walking Mausoleums, you'll need to bring them down to your level.

So, for many hours (like 30), I thought you had to run up some mountain somewhere and then jump down on it. Some will require you to do that while others are more straightforward.

How to get into every Walking Mausoleums in Elden Ring

There are a total of seven Walkin??g Mausoleums in the base game of Elden Ring. Here they are as follows from their closest Site of Grace:

[caption id="attachment_624606" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Isolated Merchant's Shack (Limgrave)

Just a bi??t northwest of spawning here, you'll see your first Mausoleum roaming around. Carefully remove the barnacles on its legs. They appear more like skull clusters. You will do so by attacking them. Upon cleaning up enough of them, the Mausoleum will come down, granting you entry inside the tomb.

[caption id="attachment_624605" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Gate Town North (Liurnia of the Lakes)

Go north from hear by the cliffside to find the Mausoleum with a bell. T??his one requires you to jump onto the grassy part of its body to bring it down. You'll need to wait until it gets close enough to the cliffs you can scale to climb aboard. You can also use the spirit spring to jump onto it if ?you're scared of falling to your death.

Once on top, clean up the barnacles on its b???ody to bring it down and open the door.

[gallery size="full" ids="624608,624607"]

Mausoleum Compound (Liurnia of the Lakes)

There are two Mausoleums here which will require you to hit the barnacles on their legs to bring them down. It's straightforward, but they do get agitated and start jump-stomping. When you see them do so, make sure to? get back so you won't get cru??shed.

[caption id="attachment_624610" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Apostate Derelict (Consecrated Snowfield)

South of this Site of Grace will be the next wandering Mausoleum. Once again, hack away at the skull barnacles on its ??feet to bring it?? down. This time, it'll shoot you with ranged attacks, so be ready to dodge not only its feet, but magic bolts coming at you.

[caption id="attachment_624611" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Castle Sol Main Gate (Mountaintops of the Giants)

R??ight next to Castle Sol's gates will be the sixth Mausoleum. Slash away at ??the barnacles to bring it down.

[caption id="attachment_624612" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The Nameless Eternal City (Deeproot Depths)

The fina??l one can be encountered underground. Unlike most other Mausoleums, you will have to use the roots around it to climb onto the thing while it's still in motion. The barnacle skulls will be on its upper body compared to the legs. Clear enough of them to bring it down.

Once you're there, the Elden Ring Walking Mausoleums can be used to duplicate remembrances.

If you've played the Souls series before, you'll be very familiar with this concept: they're boss souls. In Elden Ring, they can be used to "squash" into raw runes (souls) for leveling up for buying items, or you can transmute them into one of two items at the hub area (usually a weapon, ?or a spell).

Good luck! The Walking Mausoleums are super easy to?? spot, and now th?at you know the trick, you can bring them down.

The post How to get into the Elden ??Ring Walking Mausoleums? (turtle towers) appeared first on Destructoid.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is one of the most anticipated games coming out this year thanks to its apparent innovations to the long-running series.?? With an open beta on the way, all interested players will get to t?ry it, so here's how you can gain access to it yourself.

How to get in the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beta

The Black Ops 6 open beta is open to all players once it starts, but not initially. The game features an Early Access period that will allow people who pre-order the game or have a qualifying active Xbox Game Pass subscription to play it early.

If you're looking to play the beta for Black Ops 6 early, simply pre-order any Digital Edition through your platform's digital storefront. You can also subscribe to Xbox Game Pass (Game Pass Ultimate,?? Game Pass PC, Game Pass Console). Both methods will automatically flag your account for early open beta access, and you'll be able to log into the Early Access open beta as soon as it opens.

Alternatively, you can pre-purchase the game at any physical retailer to receive a redemption code. This code, once entered and redeemed, will als??o flag you for access to the Early Access Open Beta.

For players interested in playing the open beta without a cost attached, you will be able to play once the Early Access pe??riod for the open beta has concluded. Once it has, you'll be able to log into the beta freely, without any extra steps.

When can you play the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta?

The open beta officially begins on August 30 and will run until September 9. The Early Access period begins August 30 until September 4. All players, regardless of purchase status, will be able to play in the Open Beta from September 4 until its conclusion on September 9.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 officially launches worldwide on October 25 for the Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation ??5, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The post How t??o get into the?? Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Open Beta appeared first on Destructoid.

If you thinking of jumping back into Diablo 4 for the release of Season 5, then it's always a g??ood idea to know what you're getting into. Here's a quick overview of all the new features added in the seasonal update.

Everything new in Diablo 4 Season 5

Diablo 4 Season 5 is much smaller than normal seasons because it focuses on fixing what came before it, namely the loot system revamp introduced in Season 4. The revamp fixed many issues with loot, but also created several new ones that the develope??rs have decided to tackle with the big update.

Season ??5 is slated to last me??rely two months instead of the usual length, and that notion sets the stage for how much new content is actually in the season.

Return to Hell with Infernal Hordes

The biggest new addition to Diablo 4 in Season 5 is a new endgame mode/feature called Infernal Hordes. Infernal Hordes is a new endgame mode designed to challenge you with wave-based encounters that end in a boss fight. The mode features eight tiers of escalating difficulty, each progressively testing your skill and strategy. You will face increasingly formidable waves of enemies, with the ultimate goal of defeating the final boss to complete the encounter. Success in Infernal Hordes allows you to earn Burning Aether, a currency that can be used ??to unlock vario??us rewards.

The rewards for participating in Infernal Hordes include gear, materials, and gold, with you having the freedom to choose what you want based on your accumulated Burning Aether. Additionally, this mode serves as a new source for acquiring Legendaries and Uniques, offe??ring you the chance to enhance your equipment with rare and powerf?ul items.

Major Itemization Improvements

Diablo 4 Season 5 brings a slew of improvements that enhance the overall game quality. New Uniques and Legendaries offer fresh customization options, whi??le the Unique System overhaul refines affixes to be more build-specific. Mythic Uniques now drop from Tree of Whisper Collections, Tortured Gifts in Helltides, and the Purveyor of Curiosities, providing more ways to obtain these powerful items.

Weapon types are now available to additional classes, expanding playstyle options. Sorcerers, for examp??le, can now use 1-handed swords. The season also introduces new and adjusted Tempering Manuals and Aff??ixes, further improving fine-tuning gear enhancement mechanics introduced in Season 4.

Quality of Life and Accessibility Additions

Diablo 4's Season 5 introduces several Quality of Life improvements and accessibility features aimed at enhancing your overall experience. Among the notable changes are improved Treasure Goblin loot drops, making these elusive creatures even more rewarding to hunt (finally). Whisper bounties have been adjusted to require less time, allowing you to complete them more efficiently. Additionally, the drop rates for Mythic Uniques from non-Boss enemies have been increased, and these powerful items can now be obtained from a broader range of sources. How?ever, the drop rate for the Baneful Heart crafting material has been reduced, and Tortured Gifts will no longer contain Mur??muring Obols. This is a minor loss, but the rewards are still much greater.

Season 5 also brings significant enhancements to ensure the game is more inclusive. New features include Auto-Pin and Audio Navigation Assistance, designed to help you navigate the game world more easily. Additionally, a Compass has been added to improve directional guidance.

New Seasonal Cosmetics

While nothing much has changed with the Season Journey system, you can still enjoy earni??ng brand new rewards from following its progression. New Cosmetic?? appearances are also available to earn just by playing through the Season.

The post All new features in Diablo 4 Season 5 appeared first on Destructoid.

Infernal Hordes is the major new feature added in Diablo 4 Season 5, and while it's mostly front? and center, it may not be clear how to unlock it. As a new endgame mode, you'll want to participate in Infernal Hordes for the greates?t seasonal return, so here's how you can access it.

How to Access Infernal Hordes in Diablo 4 Season 5

To unlock and gain access to the Infernal Hordes endgame activity, you must first reach Level 50 and enter World Tier 3 for the first time. Doing so will give you access to the 'The Eyes of the Enemy' questline, which will allow you to participate in Infernal Hordes upon completion. The Eyes of the Enemy begins within Hawezar, technically the final main region of base Diablo 4. If you're not sure where to find it, look south of Fractured Peaks on your map. From there, head to Zarbinzet and investigate t?he disturbance occurring in the main plaza area.

How to begin an Infernal Horde in Diablo 4 Season 5

Once you have the Infernal Horde feature unlocked following the quest completion of To the Edge of the Abyss, you should have gained access to an Infernal Compass. An Infernal Compass is required to begin an Infernal Horde, and they function similarly to Nightmare Sigils. To start an Infernal Horde, simply consume an Inferna??l Compass in your inventory.

Infernal Compasses are a finite resource, so you'll need to gather more if you want to do more Infernal Horde runs. Thankfully, they are super easy to obtain as a large majority of your standard endgame activities often reward you with these hellish compasses. Infernal Compasses are tiered, again similarly to Nightmare Sigils, and require Abyssal Scrolls to upgrade them.

I've personally found them most commonly through opening Helltide Chests amid an active Helltide. Helltides are such a simple activity that only requires you to farm within the small area it's active, so I've found this to be the easiest way to get them in bulk. You can also obtain Infernal Compasses via the Tree of Whispers or just crafting them at the Occultist in a very identical way you would Nightmare Sigils. Regardless of which method you use, you'll find Infernal Compasses very ea??sy to obtain.

How do Infernal Hordes work in Diablo 4 Season 5?

The Infernal Hordes activity itself is similar to Helltides in that you'll be facing large numbers of Hell's denizens constantly. However, unlike Helltides, it is structured around wave-based combat, where you must fend off multiple waves of demons, each wave lasting roughly 60 seconds. To add to the challenge, you can activate Infernal Offers, modifiers that increase bot??h the difficulty and the potential rewards. After succe??ssfully surviving all the waves, you must defeat a boss (or bosses) for the final rewards of the activity.

Infernal Horde Rewards

Participating in Infernal Hordes offers several rewards, most notably Burning Aether. This resource can be used to open Spoils of Hell, which contain a variety of valuable items, including potential Legendary/Unique items and Masterwork crafting materials.

The activity is one of the most lucrative and rewarding events you can do in Diablo 4, and is certainly worth your time if you're looking for a new way to farm high-end loot. The best part about Infernal Hordes is that they are not locked to Seasonal Realms. That's right. Eternal Realm players can also participate in Infernal Hordes as of the Season 5 update. Thanks to this, it's reasonable to expect this mode to be actively updated as Diablo 4 gets new content.

The post How to unlock Infernal Hordes in D?iablo 4 Season 5 appeared first on Destructoid.

While the term "overpowered" can be subjective, some of the Ashes of War introduced in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree are undeniably powerful and can be game changers, especially for those finding the content challenging. If you're struggling with Shadow of the Erdtree or are just curiou??s to know, here are?? the most formidable ones in the bunch.

Best Ashes of War in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

The following Ashes of War are all popular choices for meta builds within Shadow of the Erdtree. While they are always subject to change (and some of them have been changed since the game's release), they remain extremely competent choices for various forms of combat in Elden Ring.

Carian Sovereignty

Carian Sovereignty is a true game-changer, with its ability to deliver a duo of powerful magical attacks that can deal significant damage to enemies. The spell’s wide area of effect and high damage output make it an excellent choice for both crowd control and dealing with tougher foes. Notably, the second hit of Carian Sovereignty stands out as one of the single largest sources of damage you can achieve in all of Elden Ring. This immense damage potential makes the spell invaluable in boss encounters, if you can get the cast off.

Flame Skewer

Flame Skewer is an evolved version of Giant Hunt, now dealing powerful Fire damage. It features a special interaction with Fire Knight weapons, am??plifying its impact. Like Giant Hunt, Flame Skewer delivers massive Poise damage, often launching all but the most resilient foes into the air. Additionally, its impressive range for a melee attack and its vertical attack capability make it an excellent choice for targeting high-reaching weak points on enemies, such as dragon heads. The combination of its fire damage, Poise damage, and extended reach ensures Flame Skewer is a formidable asset in any battle.

Rolling Sparks

Rolling Sparks was heavily nerfed from its original state, but remains a strong choice without being oppressive?ly powerful. It requires a Perfume Bottle to use, and its explosive range for a melee Ash of War makes it highly effective for dealing substantial damage at a considerable distance. Despite the nerf, its ability to impact enemies from afar continues to make it a valuable tool in combat.

Blindspot

Blindspot stands out for its unique ability to provide both offense and defense. By allowing players to avoid incoming damage while simultaneously dealing their own, it offers a strategic advantage that's hard to ignore. This Ash of War is exceptionally powerful in high-stakes battles where both evasion and damage output are crucial. Its dual functionality makes it a versatile choice for players who need to adapt quickly to changing combat scenarios. I personally used this one to utterly trounce the endboss of Shadow of the Erdtree.

Swift Slash

Despite its recent nerf, Swift Slash remains a formidable Ash of War, particularly in PvE. Its rapid and powerful strike allow play?ers to deal significant damage quickly, making it effective in various combat situations. Although its effectiveness in PvP has been somewhat reduced, it’s still a strong option for players who excel in fast-paced, aggressive combat. Swift Slash’s speed and damage output ensure that it continues to be a valuable asset in the right hands.

Savage Lion's Claw

Savage Lion's Claw excels with heavy weapons due to its quick speed and immense power. This Ash of War combines the brute force of heavy weapons with a series of fast, aggressive, overhead attacks, making it exceptionally strong.?? The speed of its strikes allows players to overwhelm enemies before they have a chance to react, making it ideal for those who want to capitalize on their heavy weapon's strengths and keep the pressure on their opponents. Like the standard version of Lion's Claw, it does big Poise damage to those who are hit by it.

Palm Blast

Palm Blast is notorious for its incredible damage output and the infinite Poise it provides while charging. This Ash of War allows players to deliver a devastating attack without fear of being interrupted, making it a powerful ?choice for those who want to deal extreme damage while maintaining their stance. Its ability to absorb damage while charging makes it a strong contender for players looking to dominate in combat in PvP and break through general enemy defenses with ease.

The post These are the most overpowered Ashes of War in El?den Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree appeared first on Destructoid.

Gaming’s indie horror scene has hit it off strong in 2024 with the likes of Crow Country and Withering Rooms making a great impression among critics and players alike. But the second half of the year is stacked with?? ??even more excellent looking horror games on the horizon from smaller publishers and independent development teams.

The following games have been lurking in the shadows for long enough. Here's a spotlight on what's to? come for indie horror fans during the rest of 2024.

CONSCRIPT

Unlike any of the other games listed here today, CONSCRIPT does not feature superna??tural entities or undead ghouls. Instead, it focuses on the atrocities of war, and the toll it takes on the soldiers ordered to conduct it. The game is played from the perspecti??ve of a French soldier during World War I attempting to survive in the trenches over the course of the years-long conflict.

Inspired by the likes of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, CONSCRIPT adapts the combat and puzzle mechanics from classic survival-horror games in its portrayal of the historical horrors. After seven years in the making, CONSCRIPT is finally available now as of July 23, 2024, as well as a demo currently available on?? Steam.

Zoochosis

Anybody yet unfamiliar with Zoochosis would have thus been unable to draw obvious comparisons, so now is as good a time as any to head that off at the pass: if John Carpenter’s The Thing was set in a zoo, you would have Zoochosis.

With that established, this first-person simulation game casts players as a night-shift ??zookeeper while an infectious disease spreads among the animal residents, causing them to undergo a macabre metamorphosis into hostile, disfigure??d abominations. Job responsibilities involve socializing with the animals, feeding them, cleaning up their spaces, and monitoring them to ensure they don’t grow an excess of limbs and scale the walls of their enclosure. Standard procedure.

In order to prevent further loss of life - be it the animals or their own - the protagonist must develop vaccines to spare the animals from transforming. The player’s decisions will affect whether or not they can be saved in time, as well as which en??ding they receive.

Prepare to capture all the grisly body horror through the body camera lens when Zoochosis is freed from its cage on September 23, 2024.

Post Trauma

With its unsettling designs and focus on psychological horror, Post Trauma is shapin?g up to be ??a very promising debut title from Red Soul Games.

Our? protagonist, Roman, is a heavy-set train conductor in his late 50s, who finds himself trapped in a warped subway system inhabited by disturbed creatures and infested with malignant tendrils, lining the dismal tunnels the de?eper he explores.

The cryptic puzzles and fixed-camera angles are inspired by classic horror franchises, with the setting in particular evoking the opening hours of Silent Hill 4: The Room. Post Trauma is on schedule for a fall 2024 arrival, but for those eager to get on board, a demo for the game is available on itch.io.

Clock Tower: Rewind

The Clock Tower series has a storied history as one of the original gaming horror franchises that ended up fading into obscurity. The premier game in the series, Clock Tower, was released for the Super Famicom in 1995 by Human Entertainment, but now WayForward is debuting it outside of Japan for the first time with Clock Tower: Rewind, an enhanced port for modern platforms.

This point-and-click adventure horror title pu?ts players in the role of a young girl named Jennifer, who is among a group of orphans that have recently been adopted and sent away to an old Norwegian mansion. However, shortly after their arrival, the children find themselves pursued by a half-pint killer wielding a set of scissors twice his stature. With the aptly named Scissorman stalking the manor halls, Jennifer must locate the rest o??f her adoptive siblings while evading the murderous prowler.

Get your oversized scissors ready, the ribbon cutting for the game’s release is set for October 31 in Japan, with other regions listing a October 11 - November 11 shipping window.

Bye Sweet Carole

Developer: Little Sewing Machine - Meangrip Studios
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment
Platforms: PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, Switch, PC (Steam)
Release: 2024

On the subject of Clock Tower, this twisted take on a classic Disney animation blends the run-and-hide gameplay and side-scrolling perspective of the former with the aesthetic of Snow White or Alice in Wonderland. From the creator of the Remothered series, Bye Sweet Carole’s authentic hand-drawn p??resentation appears pleasant and inviting, starkly juxtaposin??g its dark themes and violent imagery.

When a young girl named Carole goes missing from an ?orphanage, her fellow resident and friend Lana goes searching? for her, and in the process finds another world unlike her own full of strange creatures and homicidal hares that will hunt Lana throughout the game.

Be prepared to get?? lost going down this rabbit hole when the game releases later in 2024.

Hollowbody

At first glance, Hollowbody presents itself as a sci-fi noir story, starring an illegal smuggler named Mica in search of their partner Sasha, who went missing on a dangerous job in a restricted area alone. Mica attempts to follow after her, but upon entering the restricted airspace, her flyi??ng vehicle malfunctions and crash lands amid a dilapidated suburb hidden beneath the clouds. With the futuristic-cyberscape veneer stripped away??, Mica is left stranded in a morose town full of plague-ridden monsters.

Emulating the aesthetic of a PS2-era horror title, Hollowbody ?features a mix of dynamic- and fixed-camera angles along with traditional survival-horror combat and? puzzle solving.

Hollowbody will only be roughly three hours long, aiming to be a short-story, but players that are on the fence can try out a newly update??d demo on Steam before the game releases later this year.

Sorry We’re Closed

A vibrant standout from the pack, Sorry We’re Closed i??s no less rife with macabre creatures, rustic environments and unholy imagery.

A curse has been placed on our protagonist, Michelle, that threatens to cut her life short in a manner of days; however, the demon that inflicted the curse barters an opportunity to lift it if Michelle ventures into the dangers of the demon world to fulfill their bidding. Sorry We're Closed is played?? from a fixed-camera perspective and, with the use of a Third Eye granted to her, Michelle can peer into the parallel reality of the demon world. This vision can also expose weak points on enemies, allowing her to dispose of enemies in first-person combat.

With numerous diverse characters to engage with and influence, player’s choices will lead to multiple outcomes in ??determ??ining the fate of Michelle’s story.

A demo is available on Steam now, with the full release expected for some t?ime in 2024.

Echoes of the Living

Perfectly encapsulating the visuals and atmosphere of the Resident Evil (2002) remake, Echoes of the Living is a love letter to the classic franchise, with two playable characters, zombie filled streets, ?fixed camera angles, and elaborate?? puzzles.

The plot is a direct homage to Resident Evil 2, right down to the dual protagonists of a young lady looking for her brother father and a new guy in town looking for a fresh start right before a zombie outbreak sw?eeps through a small town, all set in the late '90s.

While it may not be an original idea, i????t is certainly a welcome one if it can pull off the same level of tension and design as its inspirations. A playable demo was previously available during the October 2023 Steam Next Fest, so hopefully the game will receive another demo prior to launch, which is listed for release in 2024.

Tormented Souls 2

Keeping in theme with Resident-Evil-like games, the original Tormented Souls from 2021 garnered attention for its traditional approach to survival horror, including restrictive fixed-camera expl??oration and combat paired with perplexing puzzles, ??all set in a detailed and claustrophobic hospital.

Tormented Souls 2 retains these core elements as it furthers the story of protagonist Caroline Walker, who now must seek out a cure for a supernatural illness that plagues her younger sister, Anna. Her search brings her to the South American town of Puerto Miller that harbors a deranged cult with a dark and storied history.
Although details are still scarce, this up-and-coming horror franchise is set to arrive later this year.

Fear the Spotlight

As part of the Blumhouse Games publishing initiative for smaller horror projects, Fear the Spotlight leads the pack with an im??pressive start. This polygonal adventure garbs itself with a retro aesthe??tic, but features a modern third-person perspective with a fully voice-acted narrative.

The story follows a young girl named Vivian, who has been convinced by her friend Amy to break into their school after dark in order to perform a hokey séance for fun; that is, until actual spirits are summoned forth, and Amy’s demeanor changes from thrill-seeking teen to an indoctrinated acolyte of dark forces. Now pursued by a spotlight-head monster, Vivian must hide from its gaze to survive, all the while solving puzzles, uncovering mysteries, and trying to find Amy to escape the school with their ??lives.

Although Fear the Spotlight was originally released in 2023, the developers removed this version in order to undergo a major overhaul of features and content bef??ore re-releasing in 2024.

The post 10 promising in?die-sized horror games slated for the second half of?? 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

In Elden Ring, there is already a large selection of Sorcery spells to choose from, but its famed expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree introduced a whole new spell school to hunt for. Finger Sorcery ??is an oddly unique school of magic, but you won't be getting your hands on any of its spells unless?? you unlock them first.

How to get all Finger Sorcery spells in Shadow of the Erdtree

There are four different Finger Sorcery spells you can earn in Shadow of the Erdtree, and all four require you to participate in Count Ymir's Questline, started from within the Catherdral of Manus Metyr.

For your refere??nce, here are all four spells and what they do for you once cast.

• Glintstone Nail - Fires a Glintstone shard that moves only in straight lines as it homes in on its target.
• Glintstone Nails - Fires four Glintstone shards that move only in straight lines as they home on their target.
• Fleeting Microcosm - Creates an orb that pulses with a power wave before exploding, dealing high damage in a large area around it.
• Cherishing Fingers - Summons numerous Fingers around the caster, dealing damage to all that come in contact with them.

These spells are all earned at different points during Count Ymir's Questline, so I'll walk you through the process of unlocking each and every on?e. Without further ado, let's get started.

How to get Glintstone Nail and Glintstone Nails

Glintstone Nail and Glintstone Nails are both earned as the reward for completing part one of Count Ymir's questline. Before going into detail, head to the Cathedral of Manus Metyr and speak with Count Ymir, sitting upon his throne. Exhaust all of his dialogue and he will give a map to an unspecified ruin. So you don't need to torture your eyes squinting at the map, the Finger Ruins of Rhia is the location you need to reach. You can find it directly East of the Gravesite Plain grace.

You'll need to travel through the Cerulean Coast to reach the ruins. You??'ll know you're in the right ??place if you see a large number of Finger-like structures seemingly sticking out of the ground.

Once you're reached the ruins, travel North from the entry point until you see a Finger-like bell surrounded by other Finger structures.

Walk up to this bell and interact with it. This should cause you to ring it, which means you've completed your objective. Return to Count Ymir and exhaust his dialogue again. He will give you a second map for part two of his questline. After this happens, you'll be able to buy Glintstone Nail and Glintstone Nails from Count Ymir at you're leisure.

How to get Fleeting Microcosm

Fleeting Microcosm is the reward for completion of part two of Count Ymir's questline. Like with the first, you're given a map to find another unspecified Finger ruin. This time, your target is the Finger Ruins of Dheo, located East of the Shadow Keep.

This one is a bit trickier to reach, however, as it requires you to first open the door leading to the ruin. Explore the Shadow Keep until you find the Shadow Keep, Back Gate grace. As the name?? implies, it's located in the back of Shadow Keep.

Once you've reached the Back Gate grace, turn right and walk into the room with a Summoning Pool statue at its entrance. You'll see a statue of Marika in the room that appears to have a dead end. However, the statue is the door that you need to open to reach ruin. To open it, use the O Mother gesture in front of it. Doing so will see the door slid open ?after the animation has concluded.

From here, go through the door and follow the path all the way to the end, where you'll find the Finger Ruins?? of Dheo. The path is wide but linear, so you won't be able to miss it. You're looking for an identical Finger Bell w??hich you'll find at the center of ruin, much like the previous one.

Interact with it and then return to Count Ymir. Exhaust his dialogue once more, and he'll give you a third map for the final part of his questline. After hearing him out, speak with him again to?? purchase Fleeting Microcosm??.

How to get Cherishing Fingers

Cherishing Fingers is the reward for the third and final part of Count Ymir's questline. However, unlike all of the previous spells, you won't be purchasing it from him. Getting this spell is the hardest part of the questline because you must defeat two bosses and two invaders before it's within your reach. Don't wor??ry. I'll walk you through it.

Firstly, with the third map in hand, go and rest at any grace, preferably the one just outside Count Ymir's audience chamber. After resting, go back to Count Ymir's location. You'll immediately notice that Count Ymir is no longer present on his throne. However, with him gone, you can now interact with it, which you should do. Doing so will open up a secret passage underneath it, leading to the Finger Ruins of Miyr, your final target.

Take the ladder down, and you'll be able to see the last Finger Bell you need in the distance. When you walk toward it, you'll be invaded by Swordhand Anna. Defeat her then walk up to the bell but don't interact with it until you're ready. You'll be facing the grotesque Metyr, Mother of Fingers? boss once you do. This boss is quite hard, but you are required to kill it to earn this spell, so steel yourself.

Once you've slain the beast, return once more to Count Ymir's chambers. Upon stepping into his chamber, you'll be invaded by another one of Count Ymir's Swordhands, Jolan. The moment you defeat Jolan, Count Ymir himself will appear before you as a boss. He is a long-ranged spell caster and uses Finger Magic almost entirely to assault you. He will also cast Cherishing Fingers against you when you're close to him. Once Count Ymir is dead, you will have completed the entire quest line. All that's left to do is claim your reward.

To earn Cherishing Fingers, go to the Cathedral of Manus Metyr grace and head into Count Ymir's chamber. About halfway to his throne room, turn right and head into the graveyard area of the cathedral.

In the gra?veyard, there is one item that can be looted. Walk up to it and pick it up, and you'll receive the last Finger Sorcery spell, Cherishing Fingers.

The post How to unlock Finger Sorcery in Shadow of the Erdtr??ee appeared first on Destructoid.

While levels and gear were the most important aspects of power progression in base Elden Ring, Shadow Realm Blessings take center stage in its exclaimed expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree. While this may be hard to believ??e, there are numerous reas?ons why you should be aware of this mechanic.

Should you use the Shadow Realm Blessing system in Shadow of the Erdtree?

Shadow Realm Blessings provide your character with a significant amount of power and defense to help you kill your foes and survi??ve them efficiently. Without using them, you'll find yourself struggling massively against the denizens of the Shadow Realm. Even basic footsoldiers will prove to be incredible challenges for you. So yes, you should be making full use of the Shadow Realm Blessings. If you do not use these blessings and build them up, you're in for a hard time and a world of frustration. For your reference, there are two types of blessings you should know about.

• Scadutree Blessing - Provides your character directly with free offensive and defense stats. This blessing stacks in power and must be upgraded using Scadutree Fragments found throughout the Shadow Realm.
• Revered Spirit Ash Blessing - Boosts the offensive and defensive stats of your Spirit Ash summons, allowing them to remain relevant in the Shadow Realm. Like the Scadutree Blessing, you need a special resource called Revered Spirit Ashes to upgrade it, allowing it to stack in power.

When you find the necessary resources to upgrade a Shadow Realm Blessing, the process can be done by sitting at any Grace and selecting the Shadow Realm Blessing option.

Doing so will allow you to choose which of the two blessings you wish to upgrade. As you level both blessings up, eventually, the cost for each will increase. Note that the upgrade materials for both Blessings are scarcely found, and you'll need to search the Shadow Realm high and low to locate them. This is a process you'll be constantly doing throughout your playthrough of Shadow of the Erdtree.

As for where to find more, Scadutree Fragments and Revered Spirit Ashes are found throughout the Realm of Shadows. Some are hidden awa?y in catacombs or waiting after a tough boss room, while others are just tucked away in the open world. If you ever see a ghostly shade holding a pot, make sure to take them out and lo?ot the body, as some appear to be held by those enemies.

One last thing you should know about these Blessings is that they only take effect while you're within the Shadow Realm. The benefits they reward you with is staggeringly high, so if you could use them elsewhere, you would effectively be trivializing base Elden Ring, in its entirety.

The post Why you should ??not ignore the new Blessing system in ??Shadow of the Erdtree appeared first on Destructoid.

Microsoft has revealed games that are coming to Xbox Game Pass in the first half of June 2024. Xbox Game Pass subscribers will get access to six titles in total, and the list is headlined by Octopath Traveler 1 and 2, alongside The Callisto Protocol.

Xbox Games Pass titles for June 2024 - Wave 1

Here are all the games coming to Xbox Game Pass in June 2??024 during the first wave of an??nouncements, and their arrival date on the service: 

• Octopath Traveler - June 6
• Octopath Traveler 2 - June 6
• Depersonalization â€?June 12
• Isonzo â€?June 13
• The Callisto Protocol â€?June 13
• Still Wakes the Deep â€?June 18

Octopath Traveler is actually not a new addition to the Game Pass, as it has previously been available on the service. The RPG game made its return at the same time when Square Enix finally released it for PlayStation consoles, six years after its original release in 2018 on Nintendo Switch. Octopath Traveler 2 was released in 2023, but not for the Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. It has now arrived on the platform and will be free to play for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. Both Octopath Traveler titles are known for their storyte??lling, the unique Path Action gameplay, and the "HD-2?D" visuals.

Depersonalization is a tabletop RPG game from MeowNature with multiple endings and branching storylines. The game offers a variety of choices, with th??e story changing course as per a player's decisions. 

Isonzo is a WWI first-person shooter from BlackMill Games. The game takes inspiration for both its name and setting from the Battle of the Isonzo which took place on the Italian Front between 1915 and 1917. The game offers team-based multiplayer wi?th up to 40 players on consoles. 

Krafton and Striking Distance Studios�The Callisto Protocol is a survival horror game, where players take on the role of Jacob Lee, a starship captain who must escape the Black Iron Prison, the Callis??to moon, and all the horrors lurking within it.

The final game in the Wave 1 announcement is Still Wakes the Deep, which will be a day-one release on the Game Pass. The upcoming psychological, survival horror game from developers The Chinese Room, looks promising. The studio has showcased its storytelling process with Dear Esther in the past and is very much capable of producing another horror game to try out, after previously delivering the likes of Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture.

The post Xbox Game Pass June 2024 games revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

Hypercharged: Unboxed, the viral Steam game that was release??d in 2020, has now made its way to Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. Released on May 31, the game has already sold?? nearly 50,000 sales copies within 5 days of release on Xbox.

The first-person and third-person shooter with action figures from Digital Cybercherries thus continues its dream run on a new platform, after having already achieved over 3,000 positive reviews on Steam. Digital Cybercherries said they have now received over 600 reviews on Xbox platforms, averaging ?a rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 stars. It is fair to say that the game is enjoying a great start on Xbox as well.

Hypercharged: Unboxed offers a variety ?of gameplay modes, ranging from classic team deathmatch to King of the Hill, but also new twists to modes such as Capture the Battery where the battery can be thrown to friends to reach the destination quickly. The Infection mode throws waves of enemies at you and the aim is to survive as long as pos??sible. 

Moreover, the game has a story campaign as well, which supports both online and local split-screen co-op with up to four players. The indie title, developed by a te?am of six developers, currently has two editions to offer on the Xbox Store.

The Standard Edition offers the base game for $29.99 whereas the Complete Edition is going for $39.99. Hypercharged: Unboxed Complete Edition includes the?? base game, the Breaker and Mightus playab??le action figures, and the supporter pack which comes with Classic Hypercharge, and Roadwarrior action figures, over five unique skins, and weapon materials.

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Okay, so you've been playing Fallout 4 since launch and you've wandered the wastes, scoured the ruins of Boston, and swam in the glowing sea. You've had a lot of adventures. Now you're thinking about settling down and checking out all that settlement crap you haven't touched since Preston begged you to show him and his bud??dies how to plant carrots.

That's fantastic because I've been wasting my time playing around with the settlement stuff since the day the game came out and I have a full country harvest o??f tips and tricks that will save you time and get the most out of your settlements.

Best perks for building settlements in Fallout 4 

Before you lay down the foundations of your personal empire, you need to get yourself right first. If you want to be serious about your settlements, you'll need a few perks to make it work, including a hefty investment in charisma. This could be tricky if you've already been playing for 50 hours with an anti-social radioactive super soldier and just now want to start rebuilding the Commonwealth, but not un-doable (remember, you can get a charisma-boosting bobblehead at the Parsons State Insane Asylum and invest perk points into S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats if you really need to get that number up, among? other less savory methods that I'll discuss later). You can also just roll up a new character specifically made to dive into the building and crafting aspect of the game.

You'll need six Charisma to get two levels of the Local Leader perk and at least level two of the Cap Collector perk. These will let you make supply lines (ESSENTIAL) and awesome stores in your settlements. You'll probably also want to go deep on Intelligence -- the Gun Nut and Science! perks are practically necessary if you want to ??build the best versions of generators and defense turrets and Scrapper is a little too good to ignore (it will let you turn all those junky laser pistols and pipe rifles you no??rmally throw in the dumpster into useful copper, gears, and circuitry).

I know, it sucks that the way crafting in Fallout 4 works basically pigeonholes you into a certain build. There is still plenty of room for creativity even after those stat demands though and the joy of raising a civilization out of the ashes of history does ?take the sting out a bit.

Fallout 4 settlement building basics

If you wan??t your settlement to grow, you'll need a few things: water, food, beds, and a radio beacon. Each settler you bring in needs one unit of food and water per day and?? they get whiny if they don't have a nice downy pillow to rest their head on at night, so you'll want to get those things sorted first.

Plant a few crops (easily done by raiding other farms for their crops and it quickly becomes self-perpetuating when you can just harvest your own fields for planting supplies), install two or three water pumps, and flop down a few beds. No need to go crazy, it takes a settlement time to grow and you can always add more as needed (and?? later crafting options can make old ones obsolete so no need to waste scrap on somet?hing you won't need).

A radio beacon draws a steady flow of new settlers to your homestead. You'll need a power source to run it so build a generator (which will come in handy for other things, anyway). Remember, you can turn a radio beacon off when you think you have enough settlers in one place. In some of the smaller areas like the Red? Rocket station near the beginning of the game, you may want to put a cap on the number of people you take in.

You'll probably want to defend your p??atch once you have it all set up. Turrets are the go-to option for this (and why you need Science! and Gun Nut so badly so you have access to the upgraded versions). Each turret, trap, or manned guard tower adds a few points to the defense rating of a settlement. Try to keep that number the same or slightly higher than the sum of both the food and water points to discourage attacks.

When an attack does occur, you will be notified on your Pip-Boy and can help your settlers defend their home. Raids on your property can be unpredictable. In my time responding to would-be home invaders, I've seen e?veryt??hing from realistic flanking attacks from Super Mutants pouring over the hills, to packs of feral Ghouls somehow spawning deep inside the walls of a fortified base. Your best bet is to spread out your defenses to cover likely avenues of attack while also covering populated areas where your settlers are likely to take a stand.

How to build a settlement in Fallout 4

You could just work with what each settlement al??ready has, but what is the fun in that? Leave your personal mark on the wasteland with a proud series of ramshackle apartments, abodes, and disturbingly militaristic forts.

The tools for building things in Fallout 4 are honestly pretty terrible. Objects float about in weird ways, mechanics are never exp??lained unless you go digging through the help topics in the menu (and even then it's hit or miss), and the way walls and? attachments snap (or fail to snap) together will give you no end of grief.

But don't let that stop you! With a little patience and a few pointers, you can make some reasonably cool-looking digs for your wastelanders. If someone could make this monstrosity of wires and pressure pads work, you can p?robably get a few fences to stand up straight.

First thing firs??t, lay down a foundation and a floor. Uneven ter?rain tends to mess with the building tools so you'll want to keep things as level as possible to make things easier on yourself.

Try to build up! Many of the settlement areas have limited usable ground space. Small areas strewn with debri?s and hills do not make for nice buildings, but you can avoid that problem by building vertically. Don't be afraid to slap down ladders and staircases and build on top of what is already there. Not only is it space efficient, but a rad tower fort on top of the local Red Rocket station looks much cooler than a bunch of square boxes crammed together on the parking lot.

Set up supply lines from a central hub to make life easier. Trying to cart around tin cans and microscopes between sett??leme??nts and keeping track of which place has what is a sucker's game. With the Local Leader perk you can assign a settler to run supplies between locations and everyone can share from the same pool of salvage (but not hard items like guns or armor).

Make a supply chain by assigning one runner from settlement A to take goods to settlement B, and one from B to take goods to C, and so on. That way you can just toss all your junk in any workbench in the line and use all of it anywhere. Provisioners seem to be immortal li??ke Companions, so don't worry about them dying on the road the first time they run afoul of some Mole Rats.

Fences can really help with invasions by funneling attackers into kill zones as well as giving your settlement a homey, lived-in look (murder and comfort together at last!). Sadly, when you start putting rings around all your settlements? they also become material hogs, gobbling up steel and wood like nobody's business. I recommend you pick up an issue of Picket Fences from Beantown Brewery so you can make, well, picket fences. They don't consume steel when crafting them and they look more charming than rusty chain links (granted, they look slightly less so when splattered with Super Mutant blood).

How to power your settlement in Fallout 4

How you provide power to your settlements is poorly explained in-game but essential for making a great homestead, so be prepared to mess with it. Basically, you have two kinds of powered devices at your disposal. Active devices like laser turrets and water purifiers require units of power to run ?(meaning your generator has to be able to match their power draw to keep everything working), and passive devices like lights and traps can run off the ambient grid. Active devices need a line running directly into them, while passive devices need either a nearby connected pylon or wall socket to work.

Power pylons can be used to run lines from a generator to far-away devices or a conduit. The maximum length of a wire is fixed but can be cut short by obstacles, hanging on the ground, and so on. I recommend you build your generators in elevated positions to get the most out of your copper. Pylons give off a radius of electrical power that can be used to run lights, traps, and other things. Plugging a conduit into the wall of a building supposedly provides power to the entire sha?ck, but my experience with them has been mixed. Mostly, they seem to work just like pylons (but are slightly cheaper to make and more compact to string up between nearby build?ings).

Making complex grids for my settlements has been hands down the single most frustrating and rewarding part of building things in Fallout 4. It's a very fussy system (I can't tell you how many times I broke everything trying to slightly adjust one little wall tile ?or light bul?b) but once you get used to it, you can really make your settlements pop.

Adding shops to your Fallout 4 settlement

Shops are wonderful. While having to invest in two ranks of Local Leader and Cap Collector to make the biggest shops (which really is the only way to go) is a drag, what you get out of having a few shop??s spread among your networked settlements can be well? worth it.

There are six kinds of shops you can make for your settlements with four tiers of value. Each type of shop will boost your settlement's happiness and pull in caps, but a few stand out as handier to have in your personal base of operations than others. Weapon shops can be a reliable source of ammo without having to make a trip to Diamond City, trade goods shops can h??elp cut down on the time it takes to scavenge for parts, clinics can help you cheaply cure addiction and radiation poisoning at your convenience, and bars are great for ingredients for cheap healing items. Armor and clothing shops are fun too and you'll probably want one of each in your network at some point just for variety, but they're not as overtly useful.

You can build the first two tiers of shop with just the second level of the Local Leader perk. They're fine and will do the trick if you want to be a skinflint about it. But if you invest all the way to the third tier of the shop by getting two levels of Cap Collector, your market stalls will start to carry surprisingly great gear. What's better is once you have tier?-three stores, you'll occasionally run into special vendors in the wasteland that you can invite to work at your locations that will turn them into unique fourth-tier stores that carry special gear.

Shops will generate an income you can draw from on their own -- just check your workbench from time to time and you'll notice you have a handful of caps you can pull out. But don't get the wrong idea: shops accrue money slowly, so you won't be diving into a vault of caps like Scrooge McDuck anytime soon. The value of having a nice network of shops is the convenience of being able to talk to a merchant on demand rather than wander around looking for a traveling trader or making a special trip. It lets you make more money off of explorations (you can trade found gear for caps more easily) and enables you to restock and refuel faster to get you back out in the wast??eland.

Advanced Fallout 4 settlement tips

There a?re plenty of mechanics involved in the settlement system that the game doesn't go out of its way to tell you. I'l?l try and shed some light on them here.

• Did you know the maximum population of your settlements is tied to your Charisma stat? Ten people by default plus one extra point of Charisma. For most people, this either means an 11 settler max, or up to 22 if you went whole-hog on Charisma. Vault 88 from the Vault-Tec Workshop DLC boasts an inherent +10 maximum settler limit, making its settler cap 32. I'm told wearing Charisma-boosting gear can let you break that cap but I haven't noticed it in my game.
• Spread out your beds. For the longest time, my settlers in Sanctuary were complaining about “the bed situationâ€?despite having plenty of cots to rest on. At first, I assumed it was a bug (this is a Fallout game), but I stumbled on some other people online having the same problem. Apparently, putting too many beds in one area makes your tired and poor wastelanders cranky (maybe they'd like it back in the wilds with the Deathclaws where I found them). I haven't found exact numbers, and testing for it is difficult, but it seems like four beds in one room or hut is the sweet spot.
• Water purifiers are a godsend and you should put them in any settlement that isn't landlocked. A single industrial water purifier will produce 40 units of water, far more than you'll ever need for a settlement on its own. Plus, extra water goes into your workbench as an aid item. You can pull out a bunch for cheap healing, or sell them all to a trader who wanders into your settlement for a stack of caps.
• Equip gear on your settlers for protection and convenience. Instead of scrapping or selling every spare gun you pick up, try placing it in a settler's inventory and have them equip it (use the triangle or Y button on the console controllers) and a single piece of ammunition for it (it will last them forever, thanks to Lex for the tip!). I know this might be really obvious, but I keep hearing from people who missed it! Not only will they be able to help next time a Super Mutant wanders into the neighborhood, but you can coordinate their outfits to help you keep track of what jobs people are doing. Or just give them a creepy uniform look if you want to make your own apocalypse cult.

• Each settler assigned to work on crops can sustain enough plants to generate six points of food. This means you only really need three or four full-time farmers, which frees up the rest of your population for things like guard duty at watch towers, scavenging for supplies, or manning the tills at your shops.
• Speaking of guard posts, while they initially seem like a terrible deal (only a measly two defense for a manned post), if you set up multiple posts and assign a person to one of them, he or she will walk between up to three of them like a patrol and provide the defense benefit of each. So one person on guard duty watching three posts can actually provide a decent six defense; better than a level-one turret.
• Folks assigned to scavenging benches generate a small amount of junk for the workbench on their own. What they gather is fairly inconsequential, but something is better than nothing if you don't have them assigned to anything else. Interestingly enough, they tend to walk around with their weapons drawn, seemingly looking for a fight. Not sure why they do that, but I like to put the best of my spare weapons on them so they can be ready to draw down on any intruders.
• Build a bell! In the miscellaneous resources menu you can find a bell that will summon settlers to your location. This will save you loads of time when trying to assign jobs or equip folks since they can hide like ninjas when left to their own devices. I didn't find this until embarrassingly late in my game and it would have saved me a lot of time.
• In a nice little touch, settlers will congregate at a bar after hours if you build one. When the workday is over, everyone just wants a nice slice of grilled brahmin and a drink, I suppose. So maybe spend a little extra time laying out chairs and making your bar area look nice.

How to use Fallout 4 settlement cheats

I've really enjoyed building up my settlements, tinkering with the crafting tools, and spending entirely too much time equipping all of my little serfs with laser pistols and shotguns, but I'd be lying if I said it hasn't also been a chore. It just takes too long to collect all the knick-knacks and scrap you need to make things. I don't want to have to root around in some raider-infested warehouse looking for power coils an?d broken?? light bulbs for hours just to wire up some patio lights in my fifth fully-loaded farmhouse.

Or maybe, like I mentioned earlier, you built your character to tame the wastes with hands made of concrete and a bulletproof hide. You didn't give any thought towards a useless dump stat like Charisma when you started the game. Now you're?? stuck looking at the unappealing idea of tossing multiple perk points into your stats just to start building decent settlements.

So might I recommend cheating?

If you're on PC, this is easy. Open up the console command line using the tilde (`) key and go to town. If you are like me and playing on the PS4 (or Xbox One for that matter), you'll have to resort to installing mods that do the dirty work for you.

There are numerous console commands in the game that can take the headache out of settlement building in Fallout 4. The most? notable and easiest-to-remember cons?ole command is:

• tgm - Toggle God mode

God mode transforms settlement building into a pseudo-creative mode by providing an infinite amount of resources. It also removes perk requirements for most items ?besides the settlement vendors.

Cheating is going to be something players will have to come to or avoid on their own. Personally, I don't recommend cheating like this right off the bat as it can ruin the experience. But if you're 30 or 40 hours deep into the game and pulling your hair out because you built your character wrong at the start or just can'??t find enough oil to keep your turrets up and running, it's nice to have a safety net like this available.

The post The wastelander’s guide to building settlements in Fallout 4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Souls-like games seem to be more popular than ever. One of the newest additions to the genre, Lies of P, had a very successful launch back in September—and now, the project's director has confirmed a Lies of P sequel is on the way.

Game director Ji Won Choi broke the news in a newly released director's letter video. He began by thanking fans for their enthusiasm and reiterated that the game broke the million copies sold mark following its September 19 launch. He then stated that the team's "highest priori??ty is developing the DLC and working on our sequel."

The director confirmed that the game's next patch should be arriving in N??ovember. Within it will be balancing to the Weapon Assembly System, as "certain blades and handles were not meeting expectatio??ns."

Ji Won Choi also mentioned that the team at Neowiz Games is aware that some players were having problems with the early difficulty of the game. The upcoming patch will make the Rising Dodge Ability a default skill that players can select to help alleviate any early struggles. In addition to that, Polendia will now sell two additional quartz from t??he first state of his shop.

The November Lies of P patch will also include fre??e co?smetics to look forward to. Alidoro's costume, including his mask, is being added, as is the Alchemist's Hat and a pair of glasses. To provide more character customization, an extra facial accessory slot is being implemented so both glasses and hats can be worn at the same time going forward.

In late September, a collaboration between Neowiz Games and Team Ninja saw a pair of Lies of P weapons being introduced into the world of Wo Long Fallen Dynasty. The director's letter confirmed that the duo will work together once again ?for another colla??boration, with details coming a bit further down the line.

The Lies of P soundtrack is officially on the way, too. The team is wo??rking to deliver? it "as swiftly as they can". It will feature over 60 tracks in total, which incorporates nearly all of the game's music.

As the video wrapped up, Ji Won Choi stated that Neowiz is "fully dedicating ourselves to the development of the DLC" and revealed the studio is actively hiring to bring the project to fruition. It was then that Choi teased the game's upcoming DLC again, saying he "secretly sneaked sketches" for viewers to enjoy. You can see the pair of concept art screens below. It will have to hold fans over until more details on the Lies of P sequel or the upcoming DLC trickle out.

The post Lies of P director announces sequel, teases DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

With Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 releas??ing digitally in just a week, GameMill Entertainment has pulled back the curtain to reveal the title's overhauled campaign mode. In a newly launched trailer for the game, the single-player story is intriguingly called "an epic roguelike ??campaign."

The crux of the campaign's story revolves around Danny Phantom's Vlad Plasimus as the villain "wreaks havoc across the Nickelodeon universe." To progress through the adventure, you'll have the option to choose different paths at key moments. Successful bouts lead you toward unlocking new ?characters and power-ups to ai??d you further along.

The world's most fearsome fighting team

Outside of the campaign, we also got a glimpse at some other additions to Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2's single-player content. A new Pop the Slime Balloons game is shown off which looks like an homage to Super Smash Bros.'s Break the Targets. There's also a Whack-a-bot mode that seems similar to Smash Bros.'s 100-Man Smash.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will also feature a boss rush mode, with the trailer teasing numerous villains including SpongeBob SquarePants' Flying Dutchman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Shredder. Each of the single-player modes mentioned will have a sp??eedrun opt??ion as well so that players can compete for the fastest times.

With today's news, GameMill Entertainment also confirmed what's in store for Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 DLC. The platform fighter? will come equipped with 25 fighters at launch (14 returning, 11 new). But for those who need more, a $24.99 Season Pass will feature a four additional? combatants.

The future DLC newcomers include Mr. Krabs, Roc?ksteady, Zuko, and Iroh, with Mr. Krabs planned to appear first in early 2024. There's also a Costume Pack that players can purchase for $19.99 that includes a brand-new outfit for each character. Furthermore, GameMill notes that players can purchase "future individual DLC brawlers" with three costumes included for $6.99.

Due to the game's delay, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 will debut digitally on November 7 for Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Meanwhile, physical copies of the game will launch December 1. That said, note that the developers confirmed that the Nintendo Switch physical version is just a? code in a box.

The post Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl ??2 trailer shows off new roguelike story cam??paign appeared first on Destructoid.

A new platform for development

Unreal Editor for Fornite has opened the doors for aspiring game developers to get a foothold on game development. While you might think this would only appeal to novices, the doors are open to everyone. This has led some established developers to see this as an opportunity. Look North World is a small "community-focused" development studio aiming to develop social experiences in Fortnite.

[caption id="attachment_392365" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Look North World[/caption]

AAA Devs open new studio to make games in Fortnite

Look North World is founded by Alex Seropian, co-founder of Bungie, Patrick Moran of Disney, and developers who've worked for EA and Amazon. The studio's focus is to develop experiences within the battle royale shooter and work with the community to deliver titles they ?want to see. Players can give feedback and interact with the developers through their Discord server. To showcase their dedication to the community, they're offering beta testing access to the first 1,000 players who join their discord server.

As of writing, Look North's first title is a 1v1 skill-based shooter called Outlaw Corral. 16 players will work through a tournament bracket to determine a champion through?? 1v1 fights. The developers claim that this island will help players sharpen their 1v1 skills. While not available yet, their second title, codenamed "Murcielago," is in development.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThTb26MZo2g

It seems strange that a developer would dedicate their studio to developing games exclusively in Fortnite. In a press release, Alex Seropian go??es on to justify their studio's business decision.

"Developing in UEFN opens a whole new world of opportunities and we are in uncharted territory. Through experimentation, we will see what the players like and involve them in decisions. We will throw in a mix of fun game components that players love with a healthy dose of humor when we can. We are jumping into it with a 'the virtual sky is the limit' mentality. As we develop creative ideas, we will learn how these platforms engage, entertain and boost social interactions in order to iterate accordingly"

Look North World claims that the studio aims to put community and fun first. With only one game released, it seems only time will tell if Look North World will rise through the ranks of Fortnite Creative's competitive environment. Players can try out Outlaw Corral now by entering the island code 0985-8384-1768.

The post F?ormer AAA devs open new studio to make games in Fortni??te appeared first on Destructoid.

You know what? I'm more interested now

Diablo is such a weird series: and I vibed with that feeling since the very first game. I had zero idea of what to expect, and didn't understand the strange history of the Hellfire "expansion" until many years after its release. By the time Diablo 2 rolled around my little crew of Diablo-playi?ng-friends was around 20 strong, and it was a bonafide hit that people still play today.

But Diablo 3 changed things considerably. Blizzard was already changing in terms of its perception as a bulletproof company, and the Auction House debacle was a sign of trouble to come for the publisher. In the end, D3 sold very well, but the team had a lot to prove when they first announced Diablo 4 to the world. So far, based on some hands-on time with the game, I think they're d?o?ing just that.

You can choose between more or less guidance: depending on your experience with the series

My build went up to level 25 with three classes (Barbarian, Sorcerer, Rogue), and contained still-in-development content from Act 1. As an FYI, my PS5 copy was watermarked: and I couldn'??t use my own screens or footage. And with that out of the way, onto impressions!

Smartly, Diablo 4 is aiming to pick up players of all playstyles: lapsed fans, hardcore folks, and newcomers. Immediately I was given the option of toggling on/off most tutorials, depending on your experience with the series. If you want, you can dive into the game's new skill tree system immediately, which I did with my "main," the Barbarian (something I never really do in a core Diablo as a first character).

Here are the three o?ptions, with all the specializations you can choose from:

• Barbarian (berserking, bleed-focused, walking arsenal [tank], or unbridled rage [damage])
• Sorcerer (frost, pyromancy, or shock)
• Rogue (marksman, imbuements, or traps)

Most of my time was spent with the Barbarian, which I had a lot of fun with. You can whirlwind and leap still, and augment each individual?? skill/ability with a little spice (like extra damage or more utility). On PS5 by default most of your abilities are linked to the face buttons and the triggers: with a dedicated dodge button.

Bringing in Blizzard's time with Diablo 3 on consoles, this is now a full-on mechanic in every build (PC ?included), and charges will increase over time (governed by a cooldown period). I immediately noticed some enemies are designed around this skill, which made a lot of the typically rote fights a ??little more interesting and engaging.

Respeccing (changing your build) is in. Initially it's free and can be done anywhere; with a gold price associated with it. I also got the chance to speak to Joseph Piepiora (Associate Game Director), Adam "AZ" Jackson (Lead Class Designer), and Ash Sweetring (Dungeon Producer) about class spread, and learned how the team went about approaching Diablo 4's class philosophy:

Destructoid: "I feel like you've done a pretty good job of condensing down the D4 classes to a good spread of representation from D1 and D3 - Was there a temptation to add more? How did you decide on the final count and what should be included?"

Joseph Piepiora: "We wanted to make sure as we're looking to advance the world of Sanctuary...reach back into the series' past and pluck out these iconic classes to reinterpret. Anyone who's played recently sees the evolution in the Barbarian...there's a lot of opportunities for us to take skills and reinterpret them into this new system. In terms of overall count we love the number five (laughs)...but for real, the game has many layers of complexity. Five is a good enough number to hit a good amount of core fantasies, while also giving us enough space on the design side to make things complex...the broader we go the less time we get to spend with each class. There's an opportunity to grow this roster in the future."

Adam Jackson: "There's always a temptation to add more...we love adding more. But like Joe mentioned, a big part of Diablo 4 is mixing the old and the new. You also probably have noticed that these classes have a lot of depth...in order for us to really sell these fantasies and get as deep...and introduce new ways to play, we had to stick to this number to nail the fantasies. As an example the Rogue in Diablo 1 is more fleshed out in Diablo 4."

Difficulty settings follow a world tier system

We're moving into world tiers, as Diablo 4 continues to incorporate more open world game design into the series. "Advent??urer" is tier 1 (the lowest/easiest), and "Veteran" is tier 2. You can incr?ease your tier at specific statues (usually in hubs), or on the title screen: and doing so will add more challenging enemies, better drops, and increased XP and gold (the usual stuff).

By default (at this curren??t time ??in the game's development cycle), you can swap between the two freely, but the rest are locked. Here's the full list available to us at the moment:

• Nightmare (recommended level 50 - sacred item drops appear, and nightmare dungeons, triggered through nightmare sigils, are unlocked)
• Hell (recommended level 60 - greater chance of sacred item drops, and rare nightmare sigils)
• Torment (recommended level 70, ancestral items appear, as well as new unique items)

Each of these tiers from nightmare on requires players to beat a prerequisite dungeon at the previous tier (so in the case of Nightmare, you'd have to play on Veteran). It seems pretty straightforward, and as a Diablo player, I swapped it to Veteran tier right away, and it wa?s manageable. It'll be fun trying to break into higher tiers at lower levels.

The mood feels a lot like Diablo 2

Playing through the first Act, I felt tinges of Diablo 2 in more ways than one. The design is a lot darker, and the story in general feels more dire. The intro showcased a more helpless/beaten down protagonist (they were huddled in a cave, freezing, with a dead mount), which I dug right away. I mean within minutes you're kicking some wildlife ass, but among that, you'll come across deserted and broken down cabins and towns. NPCs ask you to prove your worth instead of jumping right into the role of the chosen one straight away, like D3 did. Lilith, the new big bad, also brings an air of freshness to the game, as they're actually doing hands-on work in the story instead of being relegated to a mysterious force you mee??t basically at the end.

After seeing this take in action, I dug?? into it more with Associate Game Direc??tor Joseph Piepiora:

Destructoid: "Playing through the current build, I would probably describe the theme, more so than anything else, as 'dire.' In D4, my first character started out huddled in a cave and had to get hands-on help from NPCs: definitely a different vibe from D3. Obviously at some point I'll take down Lilith, and/or maybe a surprise Diablo. Will that dire theming maintain throughout the game, even as you level up? Either way, was striking that balance tough?"

Piepiora: "The story of the Fractured Peaks is the prologue, and the story is starting at a low point. We want that to set the tone in how players engage in the world. In terms of whether we keep that tone...the tone will change a little as you go. I don't even want to talk about it. But I will say as the player gets more powerful they get slightly more agency in the story, and develop more relationships. At no point does Diablo 4 cease being a gothic horror game. The character is a hero, and they're using world-shaking power to rise against unstoppable evil. That power fantasy is at the heart of Diablo 4."

There's a decent chunk of things to do

When scouring through the Act 1 map, I came across numerous micro-dungeons and random encounters/activities. The classic "elite jum??bled up ability" enemy types are still present, but the map feels so much bigger now that there's more of them. Dungeon Producer Ash Sweetring not??ed in our interview that it could take players "around 45-50 hours" just to complete the campaign, with a lot more to do after that.

There's still a lot of "what ifs" with Diablo 4. The team stressed again that premium purchases will be restricted to just cosmetics: but we've heard that before. From a pure gameplay standpoint, Diablo 4 also needs to keep things up, and maintain that tension throughout every act. And the endgame (which was hyped again in this media session) needs to deliver. We'll see what happens, but I'l?l be more inclined to be there day one after my time with it.

The post H?ands on: Diablo 4 feels like a mix of its predecessors, and mostly D2 appeared first on Destructoid.

It's still officially due out by the end of the year

Valheim, which exploded at launch, is still going strong; and the game is about to host its Mistlands update before 2022 closes out. Thanks to a new blog post we have a better idea of what it's going to? entail, and it seems like a lot?? of changes are on the way.

Boasting the typical quality of life featu??res and fixes, we're also getting:

• Nine new creatures + a boss
• 20+ crafting materials
• 15 new food items
• More craftable items and furniture
• A "new type of dungeon"
• New lore stones, dreams, and music

A fishing update is also planned as part of the update, as well as more emotes, hairstyles, and beard styles. There's a full spoiler reveal option on the aforementioned blog post at the very bottom: if you want to get into the nitt??y gritty as an active player. You can also try all this out yourself...now!

Here's how to try out the Valheim Mistlands update now

• Go to Steam, right-click the game, and hit properties
• Under the beta section, enter "yesimadebackups" (without the quotes) and click the option that appears

That's it! You can try it out in public test form, and there's more official instructions here if you're running into issues.

Here's anoth?er very important note about the upcoming content from a test ??perspective:

"An important thing to note is that the Mistlands biome will only generate in areas you have not yet discovered. Therefore, if you have explored a lot of your world, you might be better off starting a new one in order to actually be able to travel ??to the Mistlands. As per usual, mods will also most likely cause the game not to launch, as they are only compatible with the Live version of the game. If you have mods, you will? either need to remove them or wait for the mod to be updated before you can play."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZOuBjvETR8

The post We just got a ton of info on the big Valhe??im Mistlands upda??te appeared first on Destructoid.

Season 11 is coming on December 6

An an interesting move, Bethesda has revealed the theme for season 11 of Fallout 76: and it's going to fold over into the upcoming December 6 expansion. Yep, it's none other than Nuka-World, complete ??????????????????????????with a season map that depicts the theme park before the post-apocalyptic setting of?? the series.

Like past seasons (wow, has there really been 11 at this point?), Nuka-World will offer "cosmetics, CA??MP items, atoms, caps, and m??ore" as you progress through the track. There's a short trailer you can watch below that shows off the season offerings/rewards, as well as some of the expansion itself.

As a reminder, the ammo box is also coming, but only if you pay up for the game's subscription service:?? "Active Fallout 1st members can also unlock exclusive rewards and special S.C.O.R.E. boosts throughout the Season, but there’s more! This update also grants an all-new feature for Fallout 1st members at no additional charge: the Ammo Box! Keep unlimited numbers of your bullets, shells and such in safekeeping, like the existing Scrap Box currently available to Fallout 1st members. Note that the Ammo Box is for stackable ammo types only and won’t store Fusion Cores or Plasma Cores."

In addition to a few other "holiday games," I'm thinking I might hunker down and play through this expansion when things get slower in mid-December: the gam??e is in a decent place to recruit friends into, especially with Game Pass.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfLWJ30kIvs

The post Fallout 76’s Nuka-World expansion theme will be incorporated in the season pass appeared first on Destructoid.

Nuka-World on Tour is still slated for December 6

In case you missed it, Fallout 76 is still around, and still pushing out major free updates. On December 6, the "Nuka-World on Tour" expansion is set to drop,

Bethesda and the powers that be are still pushing the "Fallout 1st" subscription, and it'll apparently offer a new feature called the "ammo storage box." Yep, it's exactly how it sounds, as the team is offering "unlimited space to store all your excess munitions [with the exception of Plasma Cores and Fusion Cores." It's fascinating to see premium elements that impact direct gameplay creep in over time, and how the community responds to it.

Whether you're thinking about jumping back in or you're excited for the update: there's some gameplay and developer commentary you can watch below. One of the best parts of the episode is a??ctually near the star?t, where C??arl McKevitt, senior quest designer, talks about how they carved out an?? existing area to make room for the actual "tour" in the Nuka-World on Tour location.

We don't really have a clear view of many things coming after this, so we'll see what 2023 brings. Next up, the tea??m promises an update on December 1 with more info on Nuka-World on Tour.

Fallout 76 �Nuka-World on Tour (Developer Gameplay)

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTPRMyrXAbM

The post The Fallout 76 ??team gave us a glimpse at the next big update: Nuka-World appeared first on Destructoid.

Fishing is done at specific spots, not everywhere

As Sonic zooms into a semi open-world adventure with Sonic Frontiers, the "greatest hits" of the genre comes with it: which includes a fishing minigame. But given the historical significance (depending on who you ask) of Big the Ca??t, you could argue it actually fits here.

Here's a quick guide on how to approach fishing in the?? game.

In Sonic Frontiers, fishing has to be done at fish icons on the map

So you can't just get a special fishing rod item and fish anywhere on the map: but by that same token, the minigame doesn't require you to get a unique fishing rod either. You'll come across specific locations where you can initiate a minigame, hosted?? by Big the Cat. It'll be denoted? by a fish icon on the map.

Once you're in, Big will actually give you a quick tutorial on the process, which costs purple fishing coins (which you'll find in the game world). Catching fish will grant you green "treasure tokens," wh??ich are used on? items in Big's shop (more on that later).

The actual fishing minigame is pretty easy - just tap when the white circle is in the red circle

After casting in an area with fish shadows in ??the water: all you need to do is press the button on the prompt (X on PlayStation) when the white circle enters the red circle. That's it. Be prepared though, because some fish put up a bigger fight, and require two circle button presses in quick succession. Caught fish will generally convert directly into treasure tokens: and you'll rinse and repeat until you've earned enough to buy what you want.

Instead of fish, there's a chance you can randomly pull out scrolls. These unlock fast travel on the island you're on (read: there are multiple sandboxes/??islands) to the Elder or Hermit Kocos (NPCs) of that particular island.

[g??allery columns="2" link="file" size="larg?e" ids="349363,349364"]

The rewards are actually pretty good

Once you earn a few treasure tokens, you can buy stuff based on a few options in Big's shop. Take note of the little numbers above the actual shop selection. That's your current count of everything in that area, ??which could influence what you actually buy.

If you're looking for progression and aren't having many issues with the game's difficulty level: choosing Portal Gears and Chaos Emerald Vault Keys will get you further through the story. Egg Memos are kind of like BioShock audio logs, and give you extra?? story background on Eggman. I would recommend never buying memory tokens, as they're one of the most common collectibles in the game.

The post Sonic Frontiers: B?ig? the Cat fishing minigame guide appeared first on Destructoid.

Network campaign co-op and campaign mission replays are among what's added

I enjoyed Halo Infinite at launch, but there was a lot that was promised that needed to eventually make it in. It seems as if this November update is going to make due on a lot of prior delays.

Here are the main sticking points of the Halo Infinite 2022 November Patch:

• Network campaign co-op (four player co-op in the campaign)
• Campaign mission replay (this seems like a launch type feature, but it's here now)
• More campaign achievements (420 additional Gamerscore)
• Forge mode (in beta form)
• Season pass progression updates (more of a focus on match XP)
• A 30-tier winter battle pass is live

Studio 343 explains that you can play the "entire Halo Infinite campaign together" with up to four players in total, so it doesn't seem like a half-measure. As for the Forge, 343 stresses that it's in beta form: "Halo Infinite Forge mode is currently in a beta state, meaning that additional improvements are planned. The Fo??rge Beta will support canvas maps and not developer-made maps (such as Live Fire, Recharge, Fragmentation, etc.). Support for developer-made maps will be implemented in a future update."

Weirdly, 343 still hasn't figured out battle pass progression yet, and will be implementing a "mat??ch XP beta" (what?) ?on top of the challenge system.

Here's a brief look at the changes to Halo Infinite's XP progression system:

• Arena Match Complete: 150 XP
• Big Team Battle (BTB) Match Complete: 250 XP
• Featured Match Complete: 200 XP
• Winning Team: 50 XP
• Match MVP: 50 XP
• Top 50% of Team: 50 XP
• Free-For-All placement
  • 1st: 150 XP
  • 2nd: 100 XP
  • 3rd: 50 XP
  • 4th: 50 XP
  • 5th: 50 XP

If you can believe it, progression systems in live service games that have been in operation for nearly ??a year need betas.

The post Massive Halo Infinite update adds more achievements and ?much-delayed ??modes appeared first on Destructoid.

Just do it in an app

Back in my day, our 3D Sonic games had Chao Gardens. OK, so maybe it was only really for Sonic Adventure 2, and anyone who was caught in that web at the time just eternally associates Chaos with Sonic (ha). To be fair, they have appeared in various games as mascots of sorts, and as several higher-ups in Sega have pointed out: they are present in spinoffs like Team Sonic Racing. Sadly, Sonic Frontiers continues the trend of not having an in-game Chao Garden. But I think it's time to change that.

I know some of you are probably sighing at the idea of digging up an old 3D Sonic trend, but there's so much potential here. Most people liked the Chao Adventure gimmick with the VMU, right? While not quite a "garden" per se, the idea of getting a whole extra game within a game was mind blowing at the time. I mean, the VMU was way ahead of its time too, but learning that you just bought Sonic Adventure and got a free digital Tamagotchi pet was insane: and p?art of the reason why the Dreamcast earned its reputation as a quirky and enduring console. All of that can be done within an app now, which can interact with any given future Sonic entry.

Funnily enough, producer for Sonic Frontiers, Takashi Iizuka, laughed when asked about Chaos earlier this year. Game Informer spoke to him with a "rapid fire" question format, and asked "is there a Chao Garden in the game," he replied firmly with a "no." The next rapid fire question was "are Chaos just extinct at this point?" which he also replied with "no," while laughing. You can find that segm?ent here at this timestamp (4:50).

The post Bring back the Chao Garden for games like Sonic Fro?ntiers appeared first on Destructoid.

How to Get the SA2 Shoes DLC

Sonic Frontiers DLC is already available in some form before its November 8 release date: by way of a Soap shoes-esque cosmetic add-on through the game's official site. You might recognize them from Sonic Adventures 2!

Here's the full details from Sega:

"??Sign up by January 31, 2023 and get in-game content exclusively available to our newsletter subscribers*! Simply enter your details and we'll email a code straight to your inbox after Sonic Frontiers has been released on November 8, 2022. We’ll send more details about the in-game content and how to redeem your code to download the in-game content at a later date.* Available in selected regions for a limited time only. Sonic Frontiers game (sold separately) necessary to access in-game content. Gaming device must be connected to the internet to download in-game content."

If you want the SA2 shoes, you can go to the bottom of the official site here, and click "subscribe to the newsletter." From there it'll ask you to enter your email, date of birth, country, and what platform you'd like to get the in-game DLC on (which includes Switch, PC [Epic/Steam], PS4, ??PS5, Xbox One, an??d Xbox Series X/S).

While we still don't have any major details on how equipment will work (or the ??"Blue Seeds of Defense/Red Seeds o?f Power" bonuses from the pre-order incentive), it seems like it'll be a self-explanatory transmog system. The same goes for the Blue Seeds of Defense and Red Seeds of Power, which will likely boost Sonic's resilience and attack da?mage respectively.

[Update: With the game launching this week, we figured it was good to get a reminde??r up! You can still sign up for the shoe DLC, it'll just roll out "24-48 hours" after signing up, according to the site.]

The post Sonic Frontiers has free shoe?? DLC for newsletter subscribers appeared first on Destructoid.

She's out until November 15

There's a massive Overwatch 2 Mei bug afoot, and it's going to take some time to fix. How long??? Well try November 15.

Here's everything Blizzard has shared on the matter, via their official forums:

"We are temporarily disabling Mei to address a bug with her Ice Wall ability that allowed heroes to reach unintended locations when used with their abilities. We are working to?? address these issues as quickly as possible and aim to bring Mei back in our next upcoming patch which is set for November 15. Thank you for your understanding and patience."

Mei is the third character that's had critical issues in Overwatch 2

Sadly for players who call any number of Overwatch heroes mains: Mei is the third hero since the launch of Overwatch 2 that's been taken out of the rotation and put on ice. Previously, Bastion and Torbjorn were removed from play, and now it's Mei's turn.

I'm mostly thinking about all of the brand new players who are dealing with the revised system, which requires you to unlock everyone manually like a fighting game. It would be a huge annoya??nce to finally pick up a character you've been working toward, only to see it disabled becau??se of a bug.

The post Mei getting disabled in Overwa?tch 2 continues a tr?end of bugged heroes appeared first on Destructoid.

And a few Walking Dead seasons

It's an Xbox Game Pass Vampire Survivors kind of month, as the popular arcade?y survival game expands its reach to consoles??.

Microsoft has u??nveiled its early-to-mid Xbox Game ??Pass list, and things are looking pretty good for adventure and sports fans. As for the former, Return to Monkey Island is a standout, but there's also two seasons of Walking Dead: A New Frontier, and Michonne. As a reminder, New Frontier is the follow-up to the original Walking Dead first two seasons, continuing the story of Clementine, with newcomer Javi. Football Manager 2023 (bo??th PC and console editions), which is a huge "may as well mess around with ??this a bit" kind of game, represents the sports world.

Of course, Vampire Survivors on console is a nic??e get. Despite the cheap price, I can see a lot of on the fence people trying before they buy here.

Xbox Game Pass Vampire Survivors Edition

Week of October 31:

• The Legend of Tianding, November 1 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• The Walking Dead: A New Frontier - The Complete Season, November 1 (PC)
• The Walking Dead: Michonne - The Complete Season, November 1 (PC)
• Ghost Song, November 3 (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Week of November 7:

• Football Manager 2023, November 8 (PC)
• Football Manager 2023 Console, November 8 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Return to Monkey Island, November 8 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Vampire Survivors, November 10 (Console)

Week of November 14:

• Pentiment, November 15 (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Somerville, November 15 (Console, and PC)

The post Novem??ber Xbox Game Pass additions he??adlined by Vampire Survivors appeared first on Destructoid.

"Add PVE now, and delete the battle pass system"

An Overwatch 2 survey is rolling out for a number of users, and so far, it's a chance for active players to voice their ire for the new sy??stems put in place in the "sequel."

Shared on the game's subreddit, scores of users are reporting that they've obtained an email from Blizzard, asking for feedback for the battle pass and Overwatch Store (read: the cyclical direct payment cosmetic store). As Eurogamer points out, some users are getting different "triggers" for the emails, that range from purchasing content, to not purchasing content. So it seems as if they're trying to get an array of feedback fro?m pretty much everyone. As of publication, I personally have not gotten an email yet.

We're gonna need a bigger survey

As we've pointed out (particularly in the past week), Overwatch 2 is not running very smoothly post-launch. Some of the m?icrotransactions feel particularly predatory, and one of the first major se?asonal events isn't up to par.

While the game itself does still mostly feel like Overwatch, the main thing I noticed when first booting it up (and still deal with now) is how busy the game is. The seas?on pass system isn't an upgrade, and I'm particularly worried?? about future seasons, especially ones that add characters into the mix.

One of the chief issues is that Blizzard, when erasing the original Overwatch and adding this free-to-play scheme, didn't really add much value: even for premium season pass owners. Maybe the PVE update will change that, but most of us are wondering when that will even happen (and some of you will be long gone, and won't wait that long to find out how it impacts Overwatch 2).

The post Blizzard sends out surveys asking ho?w to im?prove Overwatch 2 appeared first on Destructoid.

$5 straight cash compared to 700 Overwatch bux

Yikes! That's just about the only thing that can sum up a lot of Overwatch 2 news post-launch, but this Overwatch 2 charm situation is so funny it has to be shared.

Over on the Overwatch Reddit, user hi_im_redbeard shared an anecdote that showcased how out of control the monetization scheme is in Overwatch 2. In short, they purchased a real life Pachimari keychain/charm that they can hold in their hand for cheaper than it costs to buy the same Overwatch 2 charm in-game. Showing their work, the Pachimari charm (literally just an in-game side item, almost NFT-like in nature) is 700 Overwatch?? Coins, which is more than $5 (which converts to 500 Coins). Yep, you have to do the st?andard scummy "buy more than you need" conversion here, so it's even more expensive than roughly $7 if you need to top up.

There are plenty of economic nuances afoot, and this wouldn't be the first time something like this happened; as some games (Pokemon Unite included) can put out insanely high-priced limited-run skins that are more expensive than an action figure of the character in question. But this particular incident showcases how Overwatch 2, in its move ?to "free-to-play" (and erasing the original premium game) has shoved in even more ways to monetize its audience with new cosmetic??s.

When some fans are asking to bring loot boxes back, you know you have a monetization problem. It'll be interesting to see just how much content Overwatch 2 gets over t?ime, how it's even further monetized, and what the PVE element brings to the table (more monetization?).

The post Hilariously, someone pointed out that it’s cheaper to buy this Overwatch 2 charm in real life compared to the game appeared first on Destructoid.

It's live now, following the Gilgamesh DLC

Stranger of Paradise transm??og is now a thing, thanks to a new update for?? the game, which also ushers in the second DLC: Gilgamesh.

Titled The Wanderer of The Rift, the DLC launched on October 26, and beyond the actual content it comes with, we got a new title update. One of the big features ?includes transmog, or as the offi?cial Twitter account calls it, "cosmetic changes."

In short, like many modern games (especially MMOs, but also titles like Assassin's Creed: Odyssey or Monster Hunter Rise), you can customize your look to your liking, without missing out on stat bonuses from individual pieces of armor. The DLC itself adds Gilgamesh, the blue mage job, rift labyrinths (randomly generated dungeons), the dimension?? bringer ability, Gilgamesh difficulty, summon blessings (which are ac??quired through the Tonberry blacksmith), monster bells (call monsters into battle), and chaotic monsters (super-powerful versions of enemies). So, a lot!

I already dug the game at launch, but Team Ninja and Square Enix have added quite a bit of support over the past few months: addressing fan complai??nts while adding new content in the form of DLC. Overall, a "Complete Edition" should age very well for hardcore action fans, especially given the "challenge" aspect of the DLCs.

If you want to read more about how the team incorporated feedback into their post-launch design perspective, we have a full interview with key mem??bers of the team here.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6HEY5ix0rw

The post Stranger of Paradis?e continues to add quality of life features, like transmog appeared first on Destructoid.

I hope we get a single player version of this region eventually

Bethesda has given us a glimpse into more Fallout 76 concept art, thanks to a special (SPECIAL) post on their blog this week.

As the blog suggests, and as is usually the case with c??oncept art, a ton of potential ideas were sketched on various canvases:

"Hundreds �if not thousands �of individual pieces, from napkin sketches to entire painted landscapes, are created when crafting the world of a Fallout game. Concept art like this not only gives the developers details for making assets, they help set the look, f?eel and tone of the w??orld players are about to inhabit."

In a small series of "never-before-released" concept art, we got to see a Scorchbeast, as well as the emergence from Vault 76, a look at The Pitt, and some environmental designs. The last piece, a collage of life in a vault, looks lovely. The blog concludes with a link to Adam Adam?owicz's concept art gallery on Flickr, who provided a lot of the artistry for Fallout 3.

While Fallout 76 has made big strides since its tumultuous launch, this concept art really showcases how much potential an Appalachian fully-fledged, kept-in-the-oven-until-it-was-done new Fallout could have been. It could take a while, but I hope that Fallout 76 isn't the last we've seen of this region. I guess there's always an opportunity for DLC in some far future Fallout iteration.

[gallery columns="6" link=??"file" ids="348162,348163,348164,348165,348166,348167"]

The post Bethesda shows off Fallout 76 concept art for the series’ anniversary appeared first on Destructoid.

Namely, Endure, and Inescapable Frenzy

You know how the saying goes: you fix one thing, you break two more. From Software games are pretty huge, and as a result, tweaks in one patch may have rippling effects on some small part of their games. Elden Ring is one of the biggest projects they've undertaken, so another minor Elden Ring patch is a given.

Released this morning, the 1.07.1 patch chiefly deals with Endure (an Ash of War), and nerfs it, following a "greater impact on game balance than expected." Reading between the lines, the team overbuffed Endure, and allowed it to become one of the most formidable abilities in the game, tanking damage without a sweat (you can see how this played out in the video below). It also addresses Inescapable Frenzy (??and an FP consumption bug).

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuURHjyMy4E

As a bit of housekeeping, a few? things that were brought up in the prior patch notes (1.07 - the incantation Flame of the Fell God and Gurranq's Beast Claw) aren't actually meant to be charged), so the notes themselves were edited to correctly portray the item's limitations. The incantation Black Blade will also be getting a follow-up attack when used with a left-handed loadout "in the future."

The patch is live today on all platforms.

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