FC Mobile 25 Beta is here, and players are already joining the beta test to try out the new features. As of now, EA has revealed a new PvP tournament game mode called “Club Challenge,�where you can dive into head??-to-head matches with LaLiga EA Sports Clubs.

Want to get in on the action? Just follow our easy guide to download the FC Mobile 25 Beta on your phone.

How to download FC Mobile 25 Beta on Android?

Before we dive in, you should know that the beta version is only available in Malaysia, Singapore, and Canada. However, it is available globally to iOS users. So if you are in those regions, follow this step-by-step guide to download FC Mobile 25 Beta on Android:

• Simply go to the Play Store and type EA Sports FC Mobile Limited Beta in the search bar.
• Once you found the page, click on the install button to download FC Mobile 25 Beta.
• If you can’t find the page, try this link.

How to download FC Mobile 25 Beta on iOS?

As mentioned before, you don’t have to worry about restrictions if you are an iOS user. Downloading the FC Mobile 25 Beta is very simple; follow these steps:

• Start by downloading the TestFlight application from the App Store.
• Now, click on the invitation link to go directly to TestFlight.
• Click on the “Start Testingâ€?button to install the FC Mobile 25 Beta.

Keep in mind that the invitation lin??k is limited, so if y??ou are late, you will miss the chance to try the beta version.

What is the beginning and the end date of FC Mobile 25 Beta?

FC Mobile 25 Beta is already available and will end on September 12, 2024 UTC.

The post How to download ?FC Mobile 25 Beta on Android and iOS 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 interest?ed players wil??l get to try 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 soo?n as it opens.

Alternatively, you can pre-purchase the game at any physical retailer to receive a redemption code. This cod??e, once entered and redeemed, will also flag you for acc?ess 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 period for the open beta has concluded. Once it has, you'll b??e 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 to get into the C?all of Duty: Black Ops 6 Ope?n Beta appeared first on Destructoid.

Mastering the insane mobility available to you in Mecha BREAK is impe??rative if you want to be competitive. One of the m?ost powerful, yet obscured, mobility options you have is Fast Landing, and I'll explain here how you too can use it.

How to use Fast Landing in Mecha BREAK

Fast Landing is a mechanic that allows you to plunge downward to the ground from any verticle position. All mecha in Mecha BREAK can perform it, but thanks to it not being highlighted in the game's tutorial, it's easy to miss such a powerful tool. So, to do a Fast Landing, simply hit ALT by default. Doing so while airborne in any capacity wil?l see you ??perform a Fast Landing.

The biggest reason why you'd want to use a Fast Landing is for hasty repositioning. There's nothing worse than being caught airborne while a Narukami is scoping you out. You're the very definition of a sit-and?-duck in such a scenari??o, but with Fast Landing, you can easily escape it.

In a similar scope, Fast Landing is also extremely good at breaking enemy lock-ons and general targeting because of j?ust how fast you can reach the dirt from any verticle position. The landing is so quick that it was incredibly difficult for me t?o even get a screenshot of it in action.

Now, imagine you're trying to aim at someone who decided to use a Fa?st Landing behind a skyscraper on Gracelynn Skycity. Let's just say that nothing you can do will catch them in the act. You're losing that lock, which is precisely why Fast Landing is so strong. I've found it especially powerful fo??r Falcon and Skyraider because of their natural ability to transform and reposition thanks to their jet transformations.

If you want to stay competitive in Mecha BREAK, mastering Fast Landing is a must. Its blinding speed and exceptional positioning power make it a game-changer. Y?ou'll be amazed at the intense engagements you can survive just by utilizing this skill effectively.

The post How to perform a Fast Landing in Mecha BREAK appeared first on Destructoid.

Want to pilot powerful mechs and shape the future of Mecha BREAK? All you need to do is follow these simple steps, and yo??u too can join the exclusive Steam beta playtest.

How to get access to the Mecha BREAK Beta Playtest

There are currently two ways you can join the Mecha BREAK playtest, but both require a little effort on y?our part.

Request Access on your Steam Account

The first is to opt into the playtest on Steam. To do so, open your Steam (either through your browser or the client itself. From the homepage, search for Mecha BREAK and go to the game's store page.

Once there, scroll down and look for a green button that allows you to Request Access. Click this, and you're all done! Using this method?, you'll receive a beta key for your Steam account via your e-mail, if selected. The bad news is that there's no way of knowing when or if you'll even be selected. This method works, but there's an even better one that you can use to guarantee access immediately.

Watch a Twitch Streamer with Drops enabled

This guaranteed method is by using your Twitch account to get a key. You can tune into any streamer playing Mecha BREAK with Drops enabled to earn a key after some time. All you need to do is watch for 15 minutes, and you'll receive a notification via Twitch that you've earned access to the playtest. Be quick because drops are only going to be active until August 8. Af?ter this date, this method will no longer work.

Once you've gotten this notification, though, you'll need to link your Twitch and Steam accounts together to receive the key. This is a very easy process that simply requires you to log in to your Twitch and Steam accounts. When you do, and both accounts have successfully been linked, you'll receive your beta key. To use it, head to Steam and click 'Activate a Product' under the 'Games' section. From there, simply ?input the key, and you're in!

How long is the Mecha BREAK playtest?

While Mecha BREAK certainly feels like a complete game, this playtest is still very much limited. The first phase of the test is ongoing and will continue until August 8. After that, the second phase? of the test will be?gin.

The second phase of the playtest is slated to be happening from August 9 to August 13. According to the playtest's FAQ, if you didn't g?et into the first phase, you will get into the second one on the dates I mentioned above. It is currently unknown if players in the first test will be able to participate, but it is likely.

The post How to join the Mecha BREAK Playtest appeared first on Destructoid.

Alongside the announcement of the new Path of Exile: Necropolis expansion, Grinding Gear Games also revealed the new Ranger class coming to Path of Exile 2. Unfortunately, recent changes, primarily the addition of the WASD movement system, has also led to a delay to the Path of Exile 2 beta. Originally scheduled for June t?his year, the beta does not have a new date just yet but is ??expected at the end of this year.

All new Ranger class

Path of Exile 2 will feature 12 classes each with three Ascendancy specializations leading to 36 Ascendancy Classes in total. Late last year GGG revealed that WASD movement ?had been added to t??he game, which seems to be a perfect fit for the new class they revealed today, the Ranger.

Declared as Path of Exile 2's most agile class, the Ranger has the ability to move while shooting?? and a variety of quick movement skills to enhance that. Based on the trailer it looks as though the WASD movement is really going to make this Ranger class work.

Beta delayed until the end of this year

Unfortunately, recent changes and additions like WASD movement has caused more work to be done to Path of Exile 2 to get it ready for beta than previously expected. As such, the Path of Exile 2 beta that was?? originally scheduled for June 2024 has been delayed. Grinding Gear Games hasn't provided a new beta date just yet, but did indicate it now probably won't happen until the end of this year, pushing the full release of the game to 2025 at the earliest. The goal is still to have some sort of Alpha in June, but the more public Beta won't be until later this year.

One thing that has been consistent throughout Path of Exile 2's development cycle is that Grinding Gear Games wants to get it right. Even though a delay is a bummer, especially this close to the beta, I'm all for it for the game to get the proper polish and love it needs. If it's going to run alongside Path of Exile as two separate games, it's ??impor??tant for GGG to get things just right.

The Path of Exile 2 beta will take place on PC later this year.

The post ?Path of Exile 2 reveals a new Ra??nger class and announces a delay to the Beta appeared first on Destructoid.

If you've been itching to see retro games be given a bit of a pep in this modern gaming world, Nvidia's RTX modding toolkit is already ??realizing that dream. With the open beta now out, prepare yourselves for an upscaled return of some classics.

In a rather lengthy post, Nvid?ia has outlined exactly what the RTX Remix software is capable of. In a nutshell: it's a "cutting-edge modding platform" that allows for games from a bygone era to be given a bit of a remaster.

The above video shows what it can do. In this instance, we can see ray-tracing versions of Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind and Half-Life 2, complete with higher definition assets. We're already seeing it in the likes of Tomb Raider and Vice City, so expect a? lot more to come out of the woodwork now Remix is out in beta.

Also comes with DLSS 3.5 and Ray Reconstruction

I suppose one of the questions modders may have is: will RTX Remix be compatible with any game? While it's designed to work with a lot of different titles, ?Nvidia says its "level of compatibility may vary depending on the complexity of the game’s assets and engine."

We know it works on older games because we've already seen it in action. The software "works best with DirectX 8 and 9 games with fixed function pipelines." Things like Hitman 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, and Call of Duty 2 should work, as well as the aforementioned ones.

Whether you're sick of remasters, remakes, reboots, and other "re-" words or not, RTX Remix is probably going to see a boon in unoffi??cial remasters of?? video games from yesterday that have been given a shiny new coat.

The post Nvidia RTX Remix beta now out, expec??t sh?iny remasters of classic games appeared first on Destructoid.

It Has (Pre)Begun

[Update: While invites to the lucky parties invited to this week's "Stress Test" should have been received yesterday, NetherRealm Studios has konfirmed that? the invites are delayed, and are to arrive later than expected?.]

Life in the world of Mortal Kombat 1 sure moves fast �It was only a few weeks back that NetherRealm Studios revealed the latest release in the gory fighting franchise, and already we're entering the playable beta sta??ges, with the game launching on PC and console platforms just three? months from now.

And if the recent gameplay footage from Summer Game Fest whet your bloodthirsty appetite, you monster, then you could get the opportunity to play Mortal Kombat 1 for yourself nex??t week, with the koming of a new "Online Stress Test", designed to put pressure on the new sequel-prequel's servers ahead of the launch period. The testing period will run from June 23-26 and will?? offer up one-on-one online action and limited Klassic Tower battles, obviously with something of an abridged roster.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mV175rgyH0k

If you want to throw your name in Kung Lao's razor hat, then head on over to the official website and register today. Interested parties will need a Warner Bros. gaming account, (you can register at the time if necessary), and the Mortal Kombat 1 Stress Test is only open to PS5 and Xbox Series X users in North America, Latin America, Europe, and Brazil. Luc?ky Kombatants will then receive access kodes to download the beta client at some point next week, ahead of the head-ripping khaos.

Mortal Kombat 1 launches September 14 on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Our own Eric van Allen has already played a build of the exciting-looking scrapper, and you can read his thoughts right here.

The post (Update) Mortal Kombat 1 ‘stress test’ to take place this weekend appeared first on Destructoid.

Prep your steel

SNK has announced that its incoming update, bringing a much-needed rollback netcode update to the sword-swingin' Samurai Shodown, has been met with an unfortunate delay, and is now expected to launch later this summer on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platfor?ms.

"SNK has been hard at work on the rollback netcode update for Samurai Shodown, originally sla?ted for a spring 2023 release," said the developer in a statement. "The 1st Community Beta Test offered us great insight as to what we needed to improve. However, as a result of various setbacks and extenuating circumstances during development and in light of our ongoing efforts to further enhance player experience, we have made the decision to push back the official rele??ase of the update to late summer 2023."

"We deeply apologize to our v??alued customers and passionate fans who have eage??rly awaited this update, as well as for any disappointment this decision has caused."

//twitte??r.com/SNKPofficial/status/1664089380242223105?s=20

The studio notes that it intends to hold a second Community Beta Test at some point later in June, on order to further analyze data and fine-tune the new online experience. As I've noted before, Samurai Shodown is a great, highly unique fighter, which stands apart from its contemporaries due to its very specific?? and deliberate fighting style, which sees high damage landed in just a few hits. Hopefully, the update will help the game's passionate and dedicated community welcome a few newcomers.

Samurai Shodown is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox ??One, and Nintendo Switch. The update will not be applied ??to the Nintendo Switch edition, however.

The post Samurai?? Shodown rollback netcode update pushed back to summer appeared first on Destructoid.

Sticky notes, now on Steam

Valve is testing out some new features for its PC storefront and game client Steam, and there's some cool features in there. Alongside some under-the-hood changes, the latest Steam Desktop Client beta adds a handy-dandy Notes a??pp.

The Notes app will let you jot down information about whatever you're currently playing. Via Valve's blog about the feature, the Notes will allow for rich text formatting,?? multiple notes per game, and can be used offline. They'll also be saved per game and synced across to any other PCs?? you log into.

That alone sounds nice, if not all too different from using the Notepad app on your desktop. The aspect that puts it over for me is the ability to pin windows into the overlay, so they can appear in-game. With adjustable opacity levels and hidden UI options, this will let players pin guides, discussions, or Notes while they play. You can even pin the web browser, if you want to play games and watch Family Guy like you're on TikTok.

[caption id="attachment_376191" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Valve[/caption]

This functionality seems really excellent, especially for those who don't have dual monitors. There are some games where I already take down paper notes while I play; stuff like Return of the Obra Dinn or Disco Elysium. I doubt I'd do away with that for more complicated games where I'd need some amount of physical note-taking space and freedom. But for quick check-list items, or remembering something like synergies in Vampire Survivors, this feature seems great.

Pumping up the Steam

This Steam client beta also includes a refreshed screenshot manager, which has more thumbnail options and managing both online and local sc?reenshots.

With some extra updates under the hood, meant to implement changes faster, it seems like Steam's got some neat features headed down the pipeline. At the very least, my habit of watching YouTube video essays while playing Slay the Spire just got a convenient quality-of-life update.

The post Steam client beta adds a han??dy new Notes app and in-game overlay appeared first on Destructoid.

How far are you willing to go to play Diablo IV early?

Activision Blizzard is teaming up with fried chicken purveyor KFC to help you grease your way into Diablo IV’s upcoming beta on PC and console.

All you need to do to get access to the Diablo IV beta is order a Double Down “sandwich�from KFC.com or their delivery app. No one says you have to eat it. Simply buying the “sandwich�?will grant you a code, which you just plug into your Battle.net account. Then, the beta runs from March 17 to March 20. As far as I can tell, this ??is only for the U.S. I'm in Canada, and I installed the app for "research purposes," and the Double Down "sandwich" is not even available.

//twitter.com/kfc/status/1633845333061976065?s=20

I love fried chicken. It is my secret weakness, my guilty pleasure, and my f?orbidden lover. My?? first child was named “Fried Chicken�until the authorities took them from me. It is doubtlessly the best way to take one of the leaner proteins and turn it into the most delicious filth imaginable. Cultures all over the world have discovered their own way of sucking all the nutrition out of poultry. It’s amazing.

However, KFC was something I really enjoyed when I was a kid (when it was known as Kentucky Fried Chicken), then it went through a huge period of being entirely inedible, and recently Iâ€?™ve discovered that it’s now decent. It doesn’t hol??d a candle to Popeye’s, but if I was in a food court when Armageddon arrives and there was only a KFC, I’d die fed but unimpressed.

That’s how you know this isn’t a sponsored article. The offer starts now. Buy your Double Down “sandwich�from the KFC app or KFC.com and get a key for the Diablo IV beta. You’ll get access from March 17 to? March 20.

The post KFC and the Diablo? IV beta team up to kill your heart appeared first on Destructoid.

All-out anime warfare returns

[Update: Arc System Works has informed Destructoid that it has postponed the BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle beta due to issues with the beta build. A new date will be announced once these problems are taken care of. Stay tuned to the official Twitter account for more details.]

Arc System Works has announced that it will be holding an open beta test for its upcoming Xbox and PC (Microsoft Store) ports of crossover anime scrapper BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. Players on Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC can check out the fighter's dynamic action from March 2 through March 5.

The beta test will offer up all of the modes from the 2018 release, from Training and Online Vs, to Story and Survival modes, and even the gallery and replay features. In addition, the entire roster of characters will be unlocked and available, for a staggering 53 playable heroes and villains, pulled from a variety of franchises including Persona, RWBY, Under Night In-Birth, Senran Kagura, and, of course, BlazBlue itself.

//twitter.com/ArcSystemWorksU??/status/1628922634296606721?s=20

All Xbox and PC owners are eligible to take part, and you do not need and Xbox Live Gold account. Arc System Works will use the playtime in order to test the connectivity of the servers, ahead of the game's official launch at some point in the coming months. While the world of BBCTB has been somewhat subdued recently, it remains ??a great title, packed out with fantastic and unique characters. If you're yet to take it for a spin, mark your calendars for next weekend and be s??ure to have at it.

BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle launches on Xbox and Microsoft Store this spring. It is avai?lable now on PlayS?tation, Nintendo Switch, and Steam platforms.

The post (Update) BlazBlue C??ross Tag Battle Xbox/PC beta test postponed appeared first on Destructoid.

To Hell with It

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that it will hold beta tests this March from its grim-looking dungeon-crawler Diablo IV? this M??arch. The grim 'n' gothic sequel is currently scheduled to launch June 6 on PC and consoles.

The beta, confirmed during this weekend's IGN Fan Fest, will be live across all platforms and will allow players to battle through most of the sequel's first act, set within the locale of "Fractured Peaks". All character classes are available to play up to a level cap of 25, and most of the main quests and side objectives will be included in the beta. It sounds similar to the beta test for Diablo III, which was held back in the spr??ing of 2012 and offered up the same experience and limita?tions.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v??=Nhu26227MD4&;??ab_channel=Diablo

Players who pre-order Diablo IV will receive early access to the beta for the weekend of March 17-19. The beta will be fully opened up to the public on the following weekend, March 24-26. Progress from the closed beta will carry through to the open beta. You can check out full details on what to expect from this trial over on the official Blizzard website. Additionally, the publisher released the cin?ematic intro movie for the sequel, which you can check out above.

Diablo IV launches ?June 6 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

The post Diablo IV beta tests scheduled for late-March appeared first on Destructoid.

Let's boost those community numbers!

Arc System Works has announced that it will be holding a new beta for its dazzling fighter Guilty Gear Strive in February �Not only will this weekend trial be used to test the title's upcoming cross-platform functionality, but it will also give Xbox owners their first taste of GG Strive's wild, colorful fighting action.

The beta, which takes place between Friday, February 3 and Monday, February 6, will take place on PlayStation, PC, and both Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S platforms. The beta will feature all 22 characters, including DLC warriors, and a variety of modes including Tutorial, Survival, Mission Mode, Combo Maker, Gallery?? Vs. COM, and Vs. Online. That's a heck of a lot of free content.

Best of all, the trial is open to all players on all platforms, regardless of whether they have purchased Guilty Gear Strive or otherwise. So, if you've been on the fence or wondering what all the fuss is ab?out, then the beta weekend will absolutely provide you with your best opportunity to jump into battle with a massive rang?e of characters and modes. Additionally, PlayStation and Xbox users can battle it out online even without a PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold sub. Not too shabby!

We'll be sure to give a heads-up when the Guilty Gear Strive beta app?lication is available for download, so keep your eyes glued to the good ??ship Destructoid.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now?? on PlayStation and PC platforms. The Xbox port will lau??nch in spring.

The post Guilty Gear Strive cro?ss-platform beta (inc. Xbox) coming February appeared first on Destructoid.

Juri Duty begins again

Capcom has opened the servers, (this time officially), for the second closed beta of its great-looking scrapper Street Fighter 6. If you received an invite to the second beta, or if you previously partook in the October beta, then you should now be able to download the SF6 Beta client on PS5, PC,?? or Xbox Series ?X respectively.

Between now and Monday, the lucky participants will be able to let loose in a truncated version of the upcoming sequel. Much like the first beta, there are eight selectable characters, (Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile, Juri, Kimberly, Luke, and Jamie) and six available stages. Players can take the oppo??rtunity to build a custom character, check out the Battle Hub, play some Capcom classics, and jump into training while they wait for an online opponent. The comedic "Extreme Battle" mode always makes its return.

The Street Fighter 6 second closed beta wil?l end?? Monday, December 19 at 00:00 UTC.

//w??ww.youtube.com/watch?v=ilw0xDkfk2Q&t=1s&ab_channel=StreetFighter

If you were not fortunate enough to recei??ve a beta, whether you were creating wholesome content or otherwise, then I understand your frustration and disappointment. However, it is incredibly likely that Capcom will hold further betas, (very likely open betas), between now and the game's official launch in June 2023. I know it sucks not to receive access, I've felt that pain with other games, but I'm sure you'll be jumping into battle with everybody else at some point in early 2023.

Street Fighter 6 launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox July 2, 2023. Be sure to check out our other reports on the sequel, including my 50 things I loved about the beta feature, as well as CJ Andriessen’s experience with the "Modern" control system. You can also read our recent reports on incoming characters Manon, Dee Jay, and Marisa. A report on the mysterious J.P. will be arrivi??ng later today.

The post Street Fighter 6 second closed beta is now live ‘n’ kickin’ appeared first on Destructoid.

I didn't hear no bell...

[Update: Today is your final opportunity to sign up for next week's Street Fighter 6 open beta.]

Capcom has announced that it will be holding a second closed beta later this month for the highly anticipated release Street Fighter 6 �Once again, the?? invite-only test run will be open to PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X players, and will take place from December 16 until December 19.

Interested parties should sign up at the official beta application website. Capcom?? has decreed that, due to the unlicensed selling of codes from October's beta, all participants MUST have their platform and Capcom ID linked in order to receive direct access to the test beta. The chosen participants will be?? picked by random lottery, not on a first-come, first-served basis.

All players who to??ok part in the initial beta automatically qualify for the second, there is no ne??ed to reapply.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP44JNf6Izc

The second beta test will include all of the modes, features, and characters from the October demo, although a fresh run of balance tweaks have been applied from both an in-game and a U.I. perspective. Crossplay will be enabled, as will a vari??ety of modes including Training, Game Center, Extreme Battle, Battle Hub, and Tournament. A new feature will allow players to tweak input delay as best fits their display.

As previously reported, the first closed beta was a great success, providing hours upon hours of slick gameplay and allowing users to get to grips with Street Fighter 6's complex, but u??nderstandable new mechanics. Hopefully, this new round of pugilistic action will allow more players ??around the world the opportunity to check out this new entry in the iconic franchise �already shaping up to be something very special.

Street Fighter 6 launches on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox in early 2023. Be sure to check out our other reports on the game in its current state, 50 things I loved about the beta, as well as CJ Andriessen’s experience with the Modern control system, and a list of Do’s and Do Not Do’s for the new sequel.

The post Str?eet Fighter 6 second closed beta kicks off in Decem??ber (Update) appeared first on Destructoid.

Cult fighter to receive major upgrade

SNK's fab and precise fighting title Samurai Shodown is currently preparing to make a comeback, bolstered by the power of some slick new rollback netcode. The developer announced that it will hold an ope??n beta in January 2023 to test the sword-slashing title's new functionality.

The beta test will be held on the Steam edition of Samurai Shodown. It will offer SNK the opportunity to fine-tune the stability of the fighter's online mechanics ahead of the official rollback rollout, currently scheduled for spring 2023. Rollback netcode will be applied to the PlayStation, PC, and Xbox ports of Samurai Shodown, though the Nintendo Switch and (inevita??bly) Stad?ia releases will be missing out.

The arrival of rollback netcode, albeit three years ??late, will be very welcome to SamSho's devoted community. The 2019 reboot is unique among its fighting brethren, both in its visual design and its playstyle, and as such it deserves a new lease of life. Here's hoping that the update will help bring back some of those wandering ronins to a game that, frankly, deserves a better reputation within the fighting game community.

Samurai Shodown is available now on PS4, PC, Xbox O??ne, and Nintendo Switch.

//twitter.com/SNKPofficial/status/15?95598325608218624?s=20&t=CtCKGc1TI??rQFcSci7H8IWw

The post Samurai Shodown rollback beta coming to S??team January 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

Breaker Stuff

[Update: The Breaker??s Collection beta ??is now live and can be downloaded from Steam.]

QuByte Interactive has announced that it will be holding an open beta this weekend to test the online stability of its long-time-coming rerelease Breakers Collection. The test period will kick off on PC (v?ia Steam on Friday, November 4, and will rock on for an as-??yet-undisclosed amount of time, ahead of the title's January release.

Breakers Collection, as we have reported many times, is a compendium of two cult '90s fighters, Breakers and Breakers' Revenge, which was available in arcades and on the Neo Geo platform in the mid-1990s. The new rerelease features both games in their entirety, sporting modern-day technological boosts such as rollback netcode and crossplay sup?port, as well as a range of cool new features ?including Team Battle Mode, Interactive Replays, online profiles, and a deep Training Mode.

//twitter.com/qubytegames/status/1585738737576685569?s=20&??amp;t=SvEeQrq8DSxf7_4gyed??VOA

If you want in on the beta beatings, then all you need do is wishlist Breakers Collection on Steam and download the beta client prior to the big server switch-on this Friday. While the Breakers titles struggled to find their feet alongside the Street Fighter Alpha series, as well as the then-influx of 3D fighters such as Tekken and Soulcalibur, there is no denying that the series has its own charm, and is still a fun and engaging 2D fighter even today, decades on from its initial release. This new release will provide the dedicated Breakers community with a?? m??uch-needed official platform for the fighter's competitive scene.

Breakers Collection launches January 12, 2023, on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Physical editions are available to pre-order now exclusively at Strictly Limited Games.

The post Breakers Collection open beta (literally) kicks ??off?? today appeared first on Destructoid.

Not Perfect

Some lucky Street Fighter fans got a sneaky treat this week, as the recent Street Fighter 6 Closed Beta miraculously sprang back to life for several hours, before quietly shutting down once ?again. The beta, which took place on PC and current-gen consoles, officially ended on Monday, Octobe?r 10.

Earlier this week, however, PS5 players who still had the client in??stalled found that could suddenly re-access a rudim??entary version of the trial. Matchmaking wasn't working with any great stability, but the Training Mode was up and running, giving some sneaky petes several more hours to get the tech down with Messrs Ryu, Ken, Guile, Kimberly, Juri, Jamie, Chunners, and Luke.

Word would? eventually spread online, and the CapCops came in to hit the big red button.

//twitter.com/Rooflemonger/status/1584980219626409985?s=20&t=nkWle?_HZuIWFMoWCtCQPZg

Of course, this reopening of the servers was a total accident. Players were noting that the unofficial beta was crashing, load times had been extended, and online matches were disconnecting with regularity. So clearly, somewhere, somebody at Capcom typed a "1" where a "0" was needed and opened the door to the PS5 community. It is incredibly likely that the publisher which launch more betas before Street Fighter 6's eventual 2023 release, and there will assuredly be an?? open beta at some point to stress test the servers, (though it must be said that online was very slick during the offici?al beta run time.)

While I certainly don't wanna be a cop about things. Word of various accidental betas and cracks is a little frust??rating for players. Getting started in a fighting game is tough enough, let alone when some cabals of players have already been putting in hours, weeks, or even months of additional, unofficial practice. The larger concern is that unofficial access will scare publishers away from further beta periods �though, in the long run, these off-record throwdowns are unlikely to affect launch sales.

Still, some of us need all ?the ?help we can get, without better players having weeks of additional practice.

Street Fighter 6 launches in 2023 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. You can check out our thoughts on the great looking fighter here, as well as my list of 50 highlights from the official beta.

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Rock and Roll All Nite

Are you adequately prepared to rock? Arc System Works sure hopes so, as next week will see the publisher launch an open beta to test the rollback netcode update for its excellent anime fighter Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 �The beta will kick off October 17 on the S?team rele?ase of the 2017 smasher.

While ArcSys is currently enjoying the fruits of more recent entry Guilty Gear Strive, its predecessor is still tightly-held by many of the GG faithful as one of, if not the, finest entry in the long-running fighting game franchise. Recognizing this, the developer is taking steps to ensure that those players who still wish to party like it's 2017 are afforded the best experience available, with the same silky smooth netcode that younger brother GG Strive offers.

To get folks in gear (pun fully intended) for the beta, ArcSys is also holding a slew of discounts on the Guilty Gear Steam back catalog. New and veteran players can bag several titles including Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2, Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R, and BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle, alongside their respective DLC, for hugely discounted prices. It should be noted that none of these games feature the new and improved version of Testament, but Baiken and Bridget are in the mix, so they're wel??l ?worth your dollarydoos.

Prepare to meet Elphelt. Be very afraid.

Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2 is available now on PS4 and PC. The rollback netcode beta test will take place from October 17 to October 31. In addition, Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC platforms, with an Xbox port arriving in spring 2023.

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Number 1 will surprise you!

This weekend saw a lucky cabal of World Warriors throw down in the first beta testing session for Capcom's upcoming release Street Fighter 6. And it goes without saying that the new sequel was welcomed with open arms, with both pro and amateur playe?rs showering the title with praise across social media �while already rolling out screenshots, clips, combo videos, and obvious memes.

I, myself, was fortunate enough to be part of this punch party. This represented my third time playing SF6, (following trade events) but the first time I had the sequel "on tap". If I wasn't feeling optimistic about the title before (I was), then the beta really solidified for me that Capco??m is making something very special ??here. All the studio need do now is stay the course.

We're on the road to one of the series' ??best. Don't blow?? it now.

While my thoughts on Street Fighter 6's gameplay can be found elsewhere on this here site, I heard that you kids (Google) love lists. And thus I present to you, in no particular order, a non-inclusive round-up of 50 things I loved about the Street Fighter 6 beta. I call it:

"Chris Moyse's 50 Things I Loved About the Street Fighter 6 Beta".

Don't count them, there are 50. Learn to trust.

- Street Fighter 6 ??host: Eternity. Came outta nowhere to rock our sartorial senses.

- Drive Rush mechanic will bring much-needed player-to-player variety.

- Graffiti ninja K??imberly disappears into col??orful clouds of spray paint.

- Placement Matches to ascertain a player's initial lan??ding in Ranked Mode.

- A surprisingly?? in-depth camera mode, complete with filters, stickers, focal lengths, and expressions?.

??- Jamie's taunt changes depend??ing on how much of his "special elixir" he has drunk.

- Juri's gorgeous speckled fingernails.

- "Modern control" options are already being celebr??ated for helping newcome??rs get started.

- You can play Magic Sword (1990)

- Doing a Spinning Bird Kick o??ff of this ledge. We all did it.

- In Ranked Mode, both players c?an agree to a No Contest if the?? connection is bad by holding Start.

- If you hang around the Genbu Temple stage long?? enoug??h, a fox shows up. I love foxes.

- Following a weekend update, SF6 reportedly plays very well on Steam Deck. (@Sabre_AZ)

- I'm already enjoying the returning drama of Parry-??based comebacks.

- The dynamic custom New Challenger screens.

- Fantastic custom sound option??s for visually-impaired player?s.

- Canned commentar??y has, surprisingly, actually been giving players useful tips. (@Cdub200071)

- This Guile Flash Kick range. (@leBrutus)

- The staggeri??ng range of weirdo avatars created by players.

- This guy for example:

- You can see which characters people are using by gla??ncing above the cabinet.

- If two Kimberlys activate Bushin Beats state, the song gets hidden lyrics. (@CrazyDiamond777)

- Game Face remains one of the best features, and they should ban players who don't use it.

- Prett??y magnificent netcode. No dropped matches and very f?ew moments of lag all weekend.

- This guy, standing on top of an arcade cabinet.

- Lightning load times. 8-11 seconds between "Here Comes a New C??hallenger" and "Round One". For rematches, both players can hit Start on victory animations and be back in the fight in less than fi?ve seconds. (Obviously, the last-gen versions may not be quite this fast).

- Luke has two different, but equally shit, Perfect dances, depending on his gauge. (@HiFig?htTH)

- At any point in the in-depth Training Mode Menu, you can hit L1 ?+ R1 to skip straight to Exit.

- You can give your opponent ??a quick "Nice" at the end of a match. A simple way to say "GG".

- The Fra??me Meter attempts to clearly and concisely show players what is/isn'?t safe.

- Juri mocking Chun Li's pose when she gets a Perfect Round. (@HiFightTH)

- Retsu from the original Street Fighter has a cameo on The Macho Ring stage.

- Extre??me Battle has fun variables, such as see-saw health, objectives, and a charging bull.

-?? A full range of emotes to offer communication to Battle Hub players.

- This bizarre DJ function, where you hit buttons to perform effects and samples. O??k?

- The exciting and ?cinematic supers �packed with impact, drama, and dazzling effects.

- A huge reduction in "comedy danci?ng" from background NPCs. Thank God for? that.

- The Fugitive Ken looks like he? proper stinks. It's fun to pretend that he does. Try it.

- No sign of Abigail. Anywhere.

- You can play Super Street Fighter II Turbo (1994)

- Players get their own chosen stage. You might be on Training Stage, but the??y are on Genbu Temple.

- This confrontation between Ryu & Ken, posted by @Shivryuken.

- We'll all understand Drive Impact? in time. The meta will adjust. And the commu??nity with it.

- Personality. The complete eradication of SFV's bland "mobile game" presentation style.

- Jamie's stomach, which I'd like to sleep on while he strokes my head. Sigh.

- Cammy is Coming.

- The super-cool anachronism of Ryu, maintaining his aging stoicism and lifelong drive for martial arts? supremacy amongst a roster of hip youngsters and trendy nu-skool fighters. The original Street Fighter feels like a true, well-worn legend. Now a returning king. An undeniable force. A grandmaster.

- Revamped Ranked that attempts to reduce the stress of SFV's brutal points/demotion system.

- The comforting and exciting notion that the developers are looking at every single aspect, no matter how small, and asking themselves "How can we make this just a little bit bett??er?"

- This Gal... Always This Gal.

Street Fighter 6 launches June 2, 2023 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. For further reading, check out our previous thoughts on the game, our Do's and Do Not Do's, our 10 perfect suggestions for DLC characters, and reports on specific characters including Guile, Juri, Kimberly, and Jamie & Luke.

The post Street Fighter 6: 50 things I loved in this weekend’s brilliant beta appeared first on Destructoid.

(I'll still stay up all night trying to win back points)

Back when I wrote my award-winning (deleted from Reddit) article on the Do's and Do Not Do's for Street Fighter 6, I placed heavy emphasis on the desperate need to overhaul the rules of Ranked Mode �a mode that myriad players told me was too frustrating, stressful, and simply not fun to play. Well, with the Street Fighter 6 beta cr??eeping round the corner, we're starting to see some much-??needed changes.

From notes written in the Ranked Mode menu screen, we can ascertain that Street Fighter 6 will once again s?ee players win and lose points in online battles, as they progress through eight recognizable tiers: Rookie, Iron (new), Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Master. However, several extra rulings have been put in place, with the aim of preventing ranked gameplay from being such an unrewarding and frustrating experience �even on a "bad night".

For example, Rookie to Gold players will earn a point boost for obtaining a win streak, which will help newcomers get an early reward as they learn the game while allowing highly skilled players to rapidly return to their previous SFV tiers. Furthermore, Rookie players will not lose any points on a loss, so you're only direction will ever be u??p, not down, until you reach Iron.

_{Thanks to Twitter user Adam_rsf for the screen grabs}

Once a player reaches the Iron-Gold rank, they will then "lock-in" at their current level, and will never drop below that specific rank, no matter how many l??osses and conceded. A Gold player will never be Silver again, a Silver player will never be Bronze again, and so forth. This "lock" ends once you reach Platinum tier �from then on, Platinum to Master players can be demoted a rank for their loss.

Additionally, from Iron through Diamond, players receive a one-match "protection" against demotion. Thus, once you achieve a new rank, a loss will not immediately knock you back down the ladder. This is similar to the way Tekken 7 handles ranked, where it allows for a small handful of losses after arriving at a ??new rank tier. Finally, when you first start playing online, you will have 10 "placement" matches to auto-assign you a rank that suits your initial ability. This should, in theory, ta??ke the top players out of the bottom ranks instantly, thus preventing new players from being immediately crushed on day one.

Given these changes, I would very much not be surprised if Capcom is planning to reset ranks on a seasonal basis. It has also been confirmed, previously, that players will rank up individual characters and not player accounts. Thus you can take Guile to Master, pick up Kimberly at Rookie, and carry her through to Gold, and so. All of these changes bring a sense of balance to Street Fighter 6's ranked standi?ngs, and while I'm in no doubt that they will be tweaked as the meta progresses, it's a fine start.

And it's all thanks to my article... Probably. Just call me ??the savior of the online scene. You're welcome.

Street Fighter 6 launches 2023 on PlayStati?on, PC, and Xbox platforms.

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The Sound of Violence

While the Street Fighter 6 beta is yet to get officially underway, eager players are already exploring the settings of the PC edition, pulling out tidbits and new news regarding all of the excitement that takes place outside of the ring and under the hood �But perhap??s best of all, it appears that Capcom's latest will offer the best accessibility options in the history of the storied series.

For visually impaired players, Street Fighter 6 see??mingly offers a custom sound deck, that not only offers up spoken signals for the game's menu system and select screens but also features fully customizable sound options for the fight itself. Players can adjust the balance?? and sound applied to all manner of in-game commands �from accurately ascertaining distance, to whether a strike has connected or been blocked, Drive Gauge gain/burn, even when a player performs a jump attack, with alternate sounds if it "crossed-up" the opponent.

Check out this short video from Twitter user and fighting game fan Video Game REM.

//twitter.com?/_REMless/status/1577575151733903360?s=20&t=Vh5BNgQnld7RdNixoq_iaA

In addition, a slider system can be used to adjust the volume of every element of the fight. These include meter gain, environmental sound, clothing reacting to the wind, proximity to the opponent, as well as character voices, health gauge warnings, and much more. Essentially, visually impaired players can fully customize the Street Fighter 6 soundboard to provide them with accurate and tight audio clues to the unfolding?? on-screen action.

This is, without a doubt, the biggest commitment that the Street Fighter series has ever made to its visually impaired player community and its accessibility options in general. While not the first fighter ?to take such action, seeing the most well-renowned ?and mainstream fighting game franchise make these important moves will hopefully help to set a standard for all fighting games moving forward.

Street Fighter 6 launches 2023 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox. You can check out my thoughts on the game right here, and peruse the 18-character launch roster here. The closed beta kicks off October 7.

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Rockin' All Over the World

Sharpen your scythes, brighten your blades, and paint your toenails, as Arc System Works has announced a date for its crossplay open beta for stylish slapfest Guilty Gear Strive �The beta wil??l take place on PlayStation and PC platforms, worldwide, on the weekend of October 14 to October 17.

During this time, players on PS4, PS5, and PC will be able to duke it out amongst themselves, will ArcSys gathers data, stress-tests servers, and attempts to identify and eradicate issues that arise from putting all GG Strive players into a single pool. This beta will give the developer all of the information it needs to progress its plans to roll out crossplay to Guilty Gear Strive proper at some point in the foreseeable future.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=egDKVZ8QBOQ

The beta will run within its own client, separate from the main GG Strive build, which will be available to download from October 13, ahead of the server's opening times. The beta will be open to all, regardless as to whether you own Guilty Gear Strive or have a PlayStation Plus account. A full roster of 21 characters will be available, as will a wide variety of modes including Tutorial, Practice, Survival, various Online and CPU Vs. options, and even the very fun diorama builder, Figure Mode. No player data from the beta will be carried over into your main GG Strive account, so you wanna get nuts? Let's get nuts!

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStation and PC platforms. It will launch on Xbox platforms in spring 2023. In related news, rollback netcode is coming to series' predecessor Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2.

The post Guilt?y Gear Strive crossplay open beta kicks off October 14 appeared first on Destructoid.

Juri Duty Completed

This weekend, I had the good fortune to sit down with Capcom's upcoming scrapper Street Fighter 6 for the second time in as many months. Having already spent some solid time with the flashy fighter at the VSFighting tournament just six weeks ago, FGC punching bag Chris Moyse was given the opportunity to spend a solid few hours at a brand new build �showcased at premier UK trade show EGX.

And this time was special. This time, the?re was 100% more Juri...

//twitter.com/ChrisxMoyse/status/1572959022000771073?s=20&t=uZKWach3t5tv7r4?zKVzQfw

While I'm admittedly known for my propensity to beat around the bush a little, (ok, a lot), when featuring games for preview and review, I'm going to respect the clock today and just delve straight into it: At this stage, Street Fighter 6 is looking and feeling fantastic. What's more, the core of my early thoughts toward the new sequel is formed around one si??gnificant, undeniable summation:

Street Fighter 6 gets better the more I play it.

When I first sat down with the SF 6 last month, the very first element that hit me, in comparison to Street Fighter V, was the series' new sense of pace. SF 6 has a whole new "weight" to its characters that seriously changes both the flow and the momentum of the fight, sacrificing a little of SFV's speed in return for a meatier and more deliberate fighting experience. There is a "crunch" to SF 6, a??n impact that ??is quite unlike anything I've experienced in the franchise to date.

Early on, this almost feels like a negative. Playing as Ryu, I almost felt like I was playing as Zangief, taken aback by the reduced speed of the fight, the "heft" of the series' shoot star, and occasionally feeling as if I was missing my links because I was hitting them too early �SFV muscle memory in full effect. Frankly, I don't mind admitting that, for my first 10 games or so, I felt a legitimate pang of concern �a worry that perhaps in an effort to distance itself from its recent predecessors, Street Fighter might have lost a sense of momentum, of second-to-second breathless engagement. I honestly thought, for a brief period "Is this game even exciting?"

But, like many new friend?s, you just have to get more familiar with one another.

Shut Up and Drive

The longer I've explored SF 6, the more infatuated I have become with its intricacies. There's no denying that the new Drive Gauge management system is pretty daunting at first glance �overly eager players will be entering "burnout" before Round 1 has landed its first few black eyes. But it is in smart use of both the Drive Gauge, the Super Meter, and various new mechanics that SF 6 will weave its tapestry of violence. Routes. That's what is sorely needed in SF, and that is what this ??fancy new fighter is all about.

Ok, cool, so you have a tip-top optimized combo down. And maybe it works in various conditions on an offensive and defensive basis... But what if you fit in a Drive Rush here? What if you also had a Level 3 Super on deck? Conversely, what if you've already burned out? What if you only have gauge for the first part of your go-to punish? Do you know what you can do with what you have right now? This is what Street Fighter 6 will ask of the player: Can you adapt to the moment? Can you capitalize on your resources? Can you pace yourself to not do flashy 45% damage and leave yourself completely meterless for the next 10 seconds? This is what gives SF 6's gameplay its variance, and each player a b?espoke approach to the fight at hand.

As you play SF 6 more, it reveals itself �starting out as a heavy-hitting, heavy-weighted, but recognizable entry to the SF canon and, from there, lifting the lid on the new facets it brings to the party. During my second inning with the title at EGX this weekend, I was already pre-prepared for SF 6's general "feel," and was now ready to start delving into its deeper mechanics. And, with my main squeeze Juri on tap, I was fortunate en?ough to have a head start ?when the first bell rang.

I found that most of Juri's SFV combo routes were all present and correct �this helped me to get up and running. But now there was the potential for all-new entrances and exits to these routes. New ways to build upon the knowledge I already have, alternate openings, early enders, and new ways to extend combos beyond their initial closure. I already have the tools to get started, (as will you with your chosen character), but Street Fighter 6 opens up new possibilities with those ?same tools, asking you to adapt to any given situation at any given moment. This is the player-to-player variance that the series sorely needed, and it's shaping up wonderfully.

Oh, and I should note that while myself & Ms. J are down 4 lyfe, Nu-Attitude Ken feels wicked.

Black and Blue (and Pink and Green and Violet)

Street Fighter 6 looks marvelous, with visuals that have more thickness and depth in reality than what is depicted in many of Capcom's promotional screens. While the stages and character models are all smartly designed and beautifully rendered in the celebrated RE Engine, the devil is truly in the details. It's the ?hair fringes dancing in the wind; blossoms falling from the skies; dirt kicked up from the ground; clothes reacting independently of the wearer; and transitional animation during and after motion. These are what bring a real sense of excitement and personality to the fight.

Perhaps most notable of all is the stunning visual effects that emanate from Specials, Supers, and the cinematic Critical Arts. From the classic, iconic Hadokens and Sonic Booms of yesteryear, to Kimberly's fizzling paint-can grenades and her Day-Glo teleportation clouds �Street Fighter 6 bleeds dynamism from its pore, bringing electricity, zest, and spirit to a franchise that has gotten upsettingly bland in its recent lack of personality.

As an early demo build running on gaming laptops, SF 6 played very well from a technical standpoint, though it must be noted that there was some heavy sweating going on as the weekend progressed, which would play out on-screen in the form of occasional slowdown during the fights' more spectacular moments. Whilst I'll pay lenience to what is, an unoptimized demo, I still can't help but wonder how SF 6 is going to squeeze onto last-gen platforms.

One would think that there is simply no way that Capcom won't be pressed to cut corners in order to get the dazzling fighter heaving out of a PS4's processor. The RE Engine is pretty malleable, (we got Resident Evil Village onto last gen, after all), but when you also take into account the crossplay factor �as well as the competitive FGC scene �it becomes even more imperative that the Gen 8 version of SF 6 is up to snuff. Because I don't know a loca??l scene that has 10 PS5 setups, do you?

Your Turn Soon

This write-up barely scratches the surface of my thoughts on Street Fighter 6 at this stage. Some of you will get the opportunity to check out this build for yourself in just a few weeks from now and thus, form your own opinion. Importantly, this beta will not only give us our first look at the stability of SF 6 in an online capacity, but it will also give expert players their first chance to really explore the meat & potatoes of the new mechanics via Training Mode. This free rein will give Street Fighter experts �players far better than I �a c??hance to get a handle on what makes the game tick, (at least at this early iteration).

While I can't wait to get my hands on it, I really can't wait to see others get their hands on it.

Street Fighter 6 is still some way from hitting the shelves. And, as we all know, a fighting game never truly shows its stripes until the honeymoon period is passed. Regardless, one intent is abundantly clear: Capcom is going all out to give Street Fighter's reputation a fresh coat of gloss, endeavoring to deliver a fully-featured, great-looking, enga????ging, varied fighter that will win over the community's part-time players, its lab-dwelling technicians, and its long-running, veteran acolytes.

You can take it from one of the latter: Street Fighter 6 is on a path to glory. Let's hope it can stick? t??o it.

The post The more I play Street Fighter 6, the more it reveals its?elf as a winner appeared first on Destructoid.

The studio has big fixes incoming for Modern Warfare II

Getting to play a game's beta before its release is definitely exciting, but it's not without its downsides �because said game isn't out yet, it can come with a whole slew of bugs that still need working out, which can range from minor inconveniences to game-breaking issues. While the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II beta was a blast to play, of course, a few problems have stood out to players more than others. Specifically, players complained abo??ut imbalanced footsteps audio, as well as issues with enemy visibility.

No need to fret, though, because Infinity Ward has announced that they're already on the case to fix these bugs, and more, before Modern Warfare II's full launch. "While sentiment around footstep audio was more positive in Beta Weekend Two, we have seen your continued feedback on the volume of footsteps and will continue to balance enemy/friendly footstep audio ahead of launch," the studio said in a press release addressed to players.

"Enemy visibility is something that came up throughout both weekends of our Beta. While many of you remarked on the improvement in Weekend Two, we’ll look to tweak increased enemy visibility to allow for bett??er visual tra??cking of opponents that is not solely the traditional nameplate."

//twitter.com/InfinityWard/status/15734?96739645911040

Players were also having difficulty with their lobbies disbanding, and that's ye??t another detail that Infinity Ward has promised to iron out. Other improvements in??clude continued weapon tuning, tweaks to the camera in the new third-person mode, and fixes to the AI navigation in Invasion mode.

Even with all the bugs, Modern Warfare II so far captures the feeling of some of the best the franchise has to offer, and I am absolutely stoked to play more of it. If anyone needs me, I'll be playing the Shiphaus 24/7 playlist in Vanguard until full release next month.

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It's not too late to sign up for the closed beta

After being pushed back to a late November release, Warhammer 40,000: Darktide is gearing up for a closed beta test on PC that will be playable from October 14�6 through Steam and the Microsoft Store. Say no more? Just bounce over to the beta sign-up page, add your email address, and fill out a que?stionnaire to de??termine your eligibility.

According to Fatshark, the beta test will "throw everything but the kitchen sink at you to keep you at bay." This version has "more content and? features" than the prior Tech Test.

That said, you won't get to experience everything planned for the full release of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide �the developers are "limiting weapons, maps and missions, enemy types, and other systems." And the progress you make in these beta sessions won't carry forward, as balance tweaks are likely to come u?p, leading to wipes.

If you're fine just watching from the sidelines and waiting for the full game, expect to see new footage soon. Per the FAQ, content creators are allowed to? stream this one.

[caption id="attachment_345250" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Try not to get smashed in Tertium.}[/caption]

Carrying the fun co-op action spirit forward from Warhammer: Vermintide means that I'm already on board with Darktide. It's the next step I w?ould've wanted, and it doesn't need to convince me. The main question is, what kind of character am I going to create?

While the beta test will be limited to PC, Darktide will also be launching on Xbox Series X/S. The PC version is up first (on November 30), with consoles following suit (date TBA).

$40 is the right price

If you haven't heard, Fatshark locked in the price: the standard edition is a budget-friendly $40, and there's an Imperial Edition for $60. The latter includes cosmetic bonuses like a Caducades backpack for human characters, eight weapon skins, four class outfits, and also 2,500 Aquilas (the game's premium currency). You can scope those out on Steam.

In my thirties, I've really moved away from PvP in favor of PvE, which I find less stressful overall. ("Less.") I'm glad games like Darktide are getting the green light.

The post Warhammer 40,??000: Darktide beta set for Octob??er 14�6 with more content appeared first on Destructoid.

Keeeeeeen on the run...

Amidst all of the noise and excitement pertaining to yesterday's Street Fighter 6 news, several small but important details might have been missed by the World Warrior faithful �Fear not, as I'm here this fine morning to give a little heads-up on? a few more details as they pertain to Capcom's scrapper sequel.

PC Specs

With the exciting news of an incoming Closed Beta on all platforms, Capcom has seen fit to release some preliminary PC specifications in order to check that your rig is ready for all the ruckus. As Street Fighter 6 will also be released on last-gen platforms, the minimum spec required is relatively low, while medium specification recommends a fairly meaty modern rig. You can check out the specs bel?ow.

It should be noted that these are preliminary specs and are subject to change. Also, the beta is, indeed, a beta, and may not reflect the? stability and/or quality of the final release in either an offline or online capacity. The beta will be on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S only.

League Point changes

Perhaps one of the most important, yet quietest, of yesterday's reveals, was the announcement that the League Point system is being changed for Ranked Battles. As hoped by many players, yer boy included, League Points (LP) will no??w be earned and lost on a Per Character basis. Thus, if you rack up 20,000 with Dhalsim, and then switch to Jamie, Dhalsim will retain his score, while Jamie will start at zero.

This way, much like LP in Street Fighter IV, you will not risk losing points with your "main" should you choose to experiment online with another character. This will go some way to reducing some of the stress of Ranked Battle �one of Street Fighter V?'s most commonly? stated issues �and will afford players the freedom to explore the roster and build characters at their own pace.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4qAARQdHO4

There's Something About Ken

When Street Fighter 6 Ken first leaked onto the scene, the SF community quickly noted that the typically flashy fighter looked altogether more subdued and beaten-down than usual. This led to the unk??ind nickname of "Hobo Ken", and the idea that his beautiful wife Eliza had left him down and out, taking off with son Mel and Ken's fortune �amassed through his savvy business acumen. Perhaps the best fan lore was the idea that Ken had lost all his money investing in NFTs... I still wish that was the case. Funny af.

But no, as revealed by the official Street Fighter 6 website, Ken is, in fact, on the run. Seemingly, The Masters Foundation has been accused of some seriously shady business dealings?, allegedly a frame job orchestrated by the Mad Gear Gang. In order to protect his family and clear his name, Ken has gone underground, working to uncover the truth behind the frame-up while staying one step ahead of the la?w. It will be interesting to see how this affects his typically brash, loudmouth demeanor.

Still better than losing it all on Apes.

Street Fighter 6 launches in 2023 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. A Closed Beta will take place in October, and you can apply for potential inclusion right here (the server has been struggling under the weight of applications). Additionally, be sure to check out yesterday's news, as well as our other reports on the game’s mechanics, our look at Juri and Kimberly, as well as our thoughts on the leaked character roster, and a list of Do’s and Do Not Do’s for the new sequel.

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The smallest little siege you ever did see

Rainbow Six Siege, one of the most successful shooters in the history of the genre, is preparing to go pint-sized today, with the launch of the first closed beta for Rainbow Six Mobile, which go live presently on A??ndroid ??devices in select territories.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceKBhaJD41k&t

Rainbow Six Mobile, essentially a scaled-down edition of the excellent tactical shooter Rainbow Six Siege, hopes to replicate the nail-biting five-on-five action as teams of Attackers and Defenders battle it out in order to protect or capture numerous objectives, all taking place against the backdrop of meticulously designed maps, where a single foot wrong will put your chosen operator out of commission. Siege is renowned for its exceedingly tense gameplay and reliance on strategy, teamwork, and lightning-fast reactions, which developer Ubisoft hopes will be refl?ected eve??n on the smallest of screens.

Anyone willing to jump in on the action can sign up over at Google Play, in hopes of being invited to the party. It should be reiterated that the beta is currently on Android devices only, though an iOS equivalent is expected in the near future. The Rainbow Six Mobile beta is currently accepting players from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, India, Singapore, and the ?Phil??ippines. So, unfortunately, European fans will have to stay frosty for the time being.

The post Rain?bow Six Mobile closed beta launc??hes today in select territories appeared first on Destructoid.

Live or die, make your choice

It's been a long time since we've heard about The Outlast Trials, but Red Barrels brought a grisly new trailer to Gamescom Opening Night Live. The developers also announced a closed beta test for The Outlast Trials running from October 28 through November 1. As host Geoff ??Keighley put it, "That's ri??ght, some people will get to play something this year."

If you're generally on board with Outlast (or would be down for a Saw??-p?uzzle-trap-filled take on the series with optional multiplayer antics), you'll want to keep tabs.

//youtu.be/EVi3-VjbM1U

The Cold War-era premise is that Murkoff Corporation is testing new "methods of brainwashing and mi??nd control." Rest assured, they'll be taking things to their most unhinged extreme. Today's trailer was all gore and grime. I need a shower!

Viewed in slow-mo, I liked the look of traps and gadgets that players can use to turn the tide during these so-called experiments. How the format works alone and with partners, and what happens when some of you perish, remains to be seen. I get the impression that Red Barrels got out of its comfort zone, and that could lead to a fresh new type of survival-horror experience, or potential alienation. I've always wanted a gnarly Saw-li?ke game experience, and being able to share that with like-minded horror fans sounds novel.

More details on the Outlast Trials beta will be announced soon, so for now, just pencil in the October 28 start date, if anything. I'll certainly b?e in the right mood for this game.

The post The?? Outlast Trials will have a closed beta over Halloween appeared first on Destructoid.

Get ready for the Call of Duty beta in September

This year's entry in the Call of Duty franchise is right around the corner, and while we're gearing up for the release on October 28, Activision has a ton of stuff lined up to keep us satiated until then. During the conclusion of the 2022 season of the Call of Duty League, players got a teaser for the upcoming Call of Duty: Next presentation, which is an "era-defining franchise event showcasing the immediate future of Call of Duty" that will be broadcast on September 15.

The presentation will highlight what's next for Call of Duty, including updates on Modern Warfare II, Call of Duty: Warzone, as well as the mobile version of Warzone known as Project Aurora. Activision will also be doing a full reveal of the multiplayer from MWII, which will include our favorite streamers "playing the games i??n real time." There is also a promise of other surprises, so we have even more to look forward to when the time comes.

The following day marks the first weekend of the Call of Duty: MWII beta.

[caption id="attachment_338602" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II beta schedule covers two weekends.}[/caption]

Here's when you can play the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II beta on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox

Weekend 1 is available for those who pre-ordered the game on PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5, or those who received a beta code, and begins September 16 at 10AM PST. The rest of the weekend, sta??rting at 10AM PST on September 18, is available to all players on PlayStation platforms regardless of pre-order status.

Weekend 2 is the same, but includes all platforms �anyone who has pre-ordered the game or secured a beta code on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, or ??pre-purchased for PC on Battle.net or Steam, can begin playing the beta at 10AM PST on Thursday, September 22.

Xbox and PC players can join for the rest of the open beta weekend, starting Saturday, September 24 at 10AM PST through Monday, September 26 regardless of their Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II pre-order status. PlayStation players ar?e ??free to partake in Weekend 2 as well.

The post Call of Duty announces dates for Modern Warfare? II beta, fra?nchise showcase event appeared first on Destructoid.