Yo, She-bitch... Let's go.

Saber Interactive has launched a brand new mode for its cartoonishly gory multiplayer title Evil Dead: The Game �The new "Splatter Royale" mode is now available to download on PC and console platforms, free of charge, a?n?d offers up a fresh/rotten new take on the battle royale genre.

In Splatter Royal?e, up to 40 players step into the viscera-soaked world of The Evil Dead, donning the gross, splatteriffic visage of any o??f the roster's demons, or, alternately, a Deadtite-turned variant of Evil Dead's many heroes. Once you've selected your death dealer, then it's off into the woods, to fight it out in an every-demon-for-themselves competition for gory glory.

//www.youtube.com/watc?h?v=_QupM-QQW9A&ab_channel=EvilDead%3ATheGame

Navigate the grim terrain, arm yourself (quite literally in Ash's case) with any and all scattered weaponry, and take on all comers in a bid to be crowned the Last Deadite Standing. There are a lot of cool characters on offer, and a massive variety of mayhem-dealing weaponry. But no matter who you chose, and no matter whether you're rocking a hammer, shovel, or the all-new grenade launcher, all entrants to the Evil Dead Spla?tter Royale can be sure of one absolute certainty: You Will Get Wet.

In addition to the new mode, a new paid DLC bundle is also available. The "Immortal Power Bundle" adds a new survivor in the shape of Ash vs. The Evil Dead's Ruby Knowby, portrayed on-screen and in-game by the former Xena: Warrior Princess herself, Lucy Lawless. In addition, the bundle contains four new skins for Ash vs. the Evil Dead stars Kelly, Pablo, and, of course, ?Ash himself, as well as a new "King of the White? Frost" skin for the Puppeteer class demon. The Immortal Power Bundle is available now, priced at $9.99 USD.

Evil Dead: The Game is available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. It will be available to download for all PlayStation Plus subscribers from February 7.

The post Evil Dead: The Game launches chaotic new mode ‘Splatter Royale’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Wherever I May Rome...

Of all of Street Fighter 6's new World Warriors, perhaps none has quite made the impact on social media as the mountainous warrior and lover of all things beautiful, Marisa. Ever since Street Fighter fans first saw her in action, Marisa fast became one of the most talked-about characters, complete with a vast array of fan art and more than few flutterin?g hearts.

An Italian woman of Greek ancestry, Marisa (Ma-Ritz-ah) claims to have lineage traced to the warriors of old, reflected in her stoic visual appearance, golden laureled gear, and the biggest case of literal "helmet hair" in history. But, despite her domineering smash-mouth appearance, Marisa works in the intricate arts, creating jewelry for the fashion market. With Marisa, Manon, JP, and Kimberly, one can certainly see Capcom's Fashion-Foward aims with Street Fighter 6.

//youtu.be/nkmtV54XsJo

As you can see from the above matchup, Marisa is not messing around when it comes to her fighting style �pressing forward with devastating punches and forearm strikes, hitting with the power of a mack truck with speed to match. While Marisa is a kind and noble woman at heart, her fighting style suggests a no-nonsense, "Sorry, but you showed up" approach to the scrap. Combining raw power and relentless forward momentum, I expect Marisa to be one of SF6's most popular characters in the early going.

Marisa - Pankration

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4JKiW19we?E&ab_channel=S??treetFighter

Like many of the Street Fighter 6 World Warrior themes, "Pankration" is a beat-heavy track, punctuated by horns and synth melodies. An opening salvo eventually gives way to breakdowns heralding Marisa's Grecian roots, before the beat drops back in as heavily as our gurl's fists on the ol' noodle. I don't think this track quite capture??s Marisa as well as some of the other ??themes, but I do think it's a pretty infectious piece all the same.

Street Fighter 6 launches June 2 on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox. Be sure to check out the themes for Ryu, Chun-Li, Luke, and Jamie, Juri and Kimberly, Blanka and Dhalsim, and Manon, in our previous articles.

The post The mighty Marisa breaks hearts??/bones in Street Fighter 6 matchup appeared first on Destructoid.

Last Deadite Standing

Load up your boomstick and oil your chainsaw arm, as developer Saber Interactive has announced that its getting ready to launch an all-new gore-filled endeavor for its sloshy scrapper Evil Dead: The Game �The "Splatter Royale" mode wil?l be launching on all platforms as soon as this Thursday, February 2.

Splatter Royale, as you might have guessed from the moniker, is Evil Dead's unique take on the "Last Person Standing" Battle Royale genre enjoyed and popularized by such titles as Fortnite, PUBG, and Call of Duty Warzone. In the case of Ash Williams & his wild-eyed, tool-toting pals, Splatter Royale will see up to 40 players come together to throwd??own in a hyper-violent, sinner-takes-all massacre.

//twitter.com/EvilDeadTheGame/status/16202004305??32976641?s=20&t=bJM2_lv6cwemhDjJ?77Q2KQ

Saber Interactive has not offered up much information about this new mode at the time of writing, but one can assume that Splatter Royale will allow players to choose from a selection of Evil Dead: The Game's va?ried ro?ster of survivors before fighting it out tooth, nail, and shovel in a bloodthirsty effort to be the mightiest Deadite slayer of them all. I got Mia!

Once Saber Interactive fully lifts the lid on Splatter Royale, we'll be sure to give you a heads-up on all of the head-cleaving details. Evil Dead: The Game is ?available now on PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms.

The post Evil Dead: The Game launches ‘Splatter Royale’ mode this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Multiplayer battler identified as one of three canned titles

Ubisoft has confirmed that its online hero battler, tentatively known as "Project Q" is one of the three games that has had production halted in the wake of a financially unsucce??ssful year for the publisher.

In a statement made to Eurogamer this morning, an Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed that the Project Q development team was being reassigned to other endeavors/projects within the studio, effectively canceling any further progress on the PvP shooter, which was first announced in April 2022. The only public assets for Project Q to date consists of a single piece of splash art, alongside Ubisoft's insistence that the game was not a battle royale title, nor was it an NFT project.

//twitter.com/Ubisoft/status/15178966433451????08995?s=20&t=0HlH-rOUpJIzl2GDQbcOuw

Ubisoft announced last week that it was canceling three in-development titles, along with yet another delay for its pirate-based adventure Skull & Bones. These announcements were reportedly accompanied by an email to staff from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, whose comments have seemingly formed the basis for a staff walkout, to be held at the Ubisoft Paris studio on January 27??.

"On several occasions, Mr. Guillemot is trying to shift the blame (once again) onto the employees; he expects us to be mobilized, to �em>give it our all,�to be �em>as efficient and lean as possible�" wrote union Solidaires Informatique of the email. "These words mean something: overtime, managerial pressure, burnout, etc. Mr. Guillemot asks a lot from his employees, but without an??y compensation."

"And because Mr. Guillemot and his clique on??ly understand the relationship of ??power, Solidaires Informatique is calling on the employees of Ubisoft Paris to go on strike."

The post Ubisoft confirms ‘Project Q’ has been canceled appeared first on Destructoid.

Elphelt/Jam fans are presumably stoked

Wonderful news for those players still decking it out in the dazzling, air-dashing world of Guilty Gear Xrd �Developer Arc System Works has announced that the long-awaited rollback netcode update is now ready to rock, and will be patched into the PC (Steam) edition of Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 on January 20.

The new update will apply the much-vaunted rollback netcode technology to the anime fighter, in hopes of bringing the silkiest, smoothiest connections for global online play. Arc System Works previously tested the new update in a beta held in October 2022, with the update clearly ready to rock. For those players who decided to stick with GGXRD �rather than move on to 2021 release Guilty Gear Strive �this will al?low you to enjoy the fantastic, top-tier scrapper with a wider community of players.

As an added bonus, players who are playing GG Strive might not have to listen to so many Xrd??-heads telling them to stop enjoying themselves. Everyone's a winner, essentially.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One. Guilty Gear Strive?? is also available on PlayStation and PC platfor?ms, with an Xbox port currently scheduled to launch this spring.

The post Guilty Gear Xrd ??receives its rollback netcode upgrade this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Series Drop to affect card rarity

Marvel Snap might want to ensure that they have a hand as mighty as Thanos this month, as developer Second Dinner has announced that its highly-anticipated PvP Battle Mode will be launching in the digital card battler as soon as this m??onth.

First announced back in the fall of 2022, the Marvel Snap PvP Battle Mode will give players the ?ability to swiftly and thoroughly pound their pals into mush, slapping down a series of cards designed to ruin everybody's day. I'm looking at you, Agatha Harkness. The update is expe??cted to launch on January 31, though the developers ask players for patience in lieu of any possible last-minute delays or pushbacks.

In addition to PvP Battle Mode, the new update will debut Marvel Snap's official rebalance system, known as "Series Drop". This semi-regular event will see higher-level cards �for example Series 3, 4, and 5 �drop a tier each, increasing their chance of appearance ahead of any newly debuting characters. The team is aiming for one Series Drop per month. It should be noted that the most powerful cards, such as Thanos and Galactus, will not be reduced in rarity. As? these fellas are b?ad boys 4 life.

Finally, Second Dinner notes that is currently investigating the rate at which Tokens ?are earned, in line with the price of in-sto??re cards. The team hopes to come up with a fair and acceptable way to help Series 3 players push toward the upper echelons of Series 4 and 5 with less frustration. While no specific changes were announced, Second Dinner will continue to experiment with balance tweaks to help expedite progress.

Marvel Snap is available now as a free-to-play title on iOS and Androi??d devices.

The post Marvel ?Snap will launch its long-awaited PvP Battle Mode late-January appeared first on Destructoid.

Technical Difficulties. Please Stand By.

Publisher GungHo Online Entertainment has made the bold announcement that it will be suspending service of its online multiplayer title Deathverse: Let it Die on all platforms �Come July 18, the free-to-play shooter will be taken offline, where it will enter a period of "redevelopment", pend?ing relaunch.

"There is no doubt that we experienced some challenges since the launch of our game, particularly with regards to in-game matchmaking and lag. We deeply apologize for these issues that may have caused an inconvenience to our players," reads a statement from developer SuperTric??k Games.

"While we have tried various solutions to some degree of success, we have not been able to resolve the underlying problems. As a result, the development and operations teams have made the decision to temporarily suspend the game’s services while we redevelop Deathverse: Let It Die. This was a difficult decision for us to make. However, we believe that re-releasing? the game with significant improvements will allow it to be enjoyed by a wider?? audience as well as our current players."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=R??hUl22KG_g8&ab_channel=GungHo

"Thank you so much for your constant support of Deathverse: Let It Die. We are?? incredibly grateful to everyone who enjoys and enriches the game and its community [...] We will be doing our utmost to prepare for the re-release so that our current community can enjoy the game alongside many more new players in the future. We greatly appreciate your understanding and support."

Launching in May of 2022, Deathverse: Let it Die is a hard-hitting multiplayer battler set against the backdrop of a ruined world, having been devastated by a cataclysmic natural disaster. In this new age, the people are entertained by a violent game show, Deat?h Jamboree, which sees warriors from all corners of the globe battle it out for big cash prizes and the satiation of bloodlust.

While at a glance a typical battle royale title, Deathverse stands apart from its many contemporaries thanks to its cool steampunk aesthetic, its wild and classy character designs, and its TV-style presentation, even encouraging Twitch viewers to get in on the action with a pseudo-betting syst?em and viewer votes. Unfortunately, the titl??e is yet to secure a large audience, with some pointing at a boring grind mechanic and a plethora of issues with connectivity and matchmaking.

Hopefully, the coming downtime will allow the developers to relaunch Deathverse in a cleaner, tauter state, lest Death Jamboree join the litany of s?hows that find themselves not renewed for season two.

The post Deathverse: Let it Die to suspend service in July for ‘redevelopment’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Sweet... sweeeet... sweet victory...

The final whistle has blown on this weekend's Splatoon 3 splatfest, and, as a posse of tired and sticky squid kids and octolings return to the locker room, the points have been tallied up and now have an official winner in the battle of Spicy vs. Sweet vs. Sour: Scoop yerself a victory ice-cream Team Sweet!

Yes, it appears that fans of the sweetest of treats took home the gong this weekend, walking away with a massive 30 points in total, double that of?????????????????????????? its closest competitors, Team Spicy (15 points), and way ahead of third-place winner Team Sour (12 points).

Perhaps most importantly of all, this latest result has given Splatoon 3 host Frye her first splatfest win ever! The fans had been starting to feel a little sorry for her in recent weeks, as she had been yet to rack up a splatfest victory when compared to her colorful co-hosts, so it's nice to see this particular Deep Cut band member finally have their moment of glory.

Congratulations to the hard-paintin' players of Team Sweet. Make sure that you remember to go a??nd pick up your rewards from the town square, oh, and m??ake sure that you remember to brush your teeth three times a day. All of the sugar comes with one helluva price.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

//twitter.com/Splatoon?JP/stat??us/1612270617428123648?s=20&t=58ojjrwyAJ7Lg0L0va5-6Q

The post Team Sweet creams opposition?? in Splatoon 3 splatfest appeared first on Destructoid.

We all scream for Scream Tail

The competitive battling scene in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet has been fascinating to watch. As new strategies have formed around the monste?rs introduced in Generation 9, top-tier battlers have had their work cut out for them trying to counter the emerging threats. Who could have guessed that Maushold had ?some of the highest damage potential in the game? Or how about Murkrow becoming one of the most used Pokemon?

As it turns out, the competitive scene faces another significant shakeup. Courtesy of Serebii, Paradox Pokemon will officially be removed from the ban list when Series 2 of Scarlet & Violet’s Ranked Battle modes begin on February 1st. This includes 14 endgame monsters that feature near-legendary base stats and powerful abilities. Even one Pokemon has the potential to change the metagame completely, so the addition of Paradox Pokemon will almost assuredly send ripples throughout the scene. Smogon, a hub for fan driven competitive Pokemon play, already ruled two of these Pokemon too powerful for?? its popular 6v6 singles format.

[caption id="attachment_357146" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Some still can't join

Paradox Pokemon will be the only new monsters in Series 2. Tera Raid exclusives like Charizard and Cinderace are still off the table for Ranked Battles. Furthermore, the Ruinous Quartet and?? Legendary Pokemon remain off-limits. Still, we’re bound to see entirely new strategies emerge with these monsters entering the fold. Pokemon that have seen no usage so far may become valuable strictly to counter these new threats.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet have been critically contentious, but the interest in the official competitive scene is as strong as it has ever been. Even non-battlers can have fun watching how Paradox Pokemon fit into high-end play. Series 2 will run until March 31^st, 2023.

The post Paradox Pokemon will be legal in Scarlet & Violet com??petitive ??play soon appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo Switch port arrives April 20, 2023

Nexon has a glut of exciting new info for fans of its highly enjoyable and ultra-aggressive scrapper DNF Duel �Not only is the vaunted?? "Grand Balance Patch" now live on all platforms, but the publisher has offered a release date for the Nintendo Switch port, and also revealed that multiple new characters will be rolling out across 2023.

The Grand Balance Patch represents the first major update to DNF Duel's frenzied and chaotic action, with a flow that favors aggression, flashy combos, and highl?y extensive damage. The patch hopes to bring some of the characters that were struggling a little �such as Grappler and Inquisitor �in line with some of the online monsters such as Swift Master and Dragon Knight. In addition, the patch offers higher HP for all characters, and overhauls the defense system to allow for more combo-stopping Guard Breaks.

//www.you?tube.com/watch?v=bIG1gEQquK??k&ab_channel=DNFDuel

You can check out the full list of character changes over on the official DNF Duel website. As previously noted, the overhaul appears to be more about bringing lesser fighters up than bringing stronger fighters down. This is in keeping with DNF Duel's divisive, (but in my opinion, welcome) aggressi??ve style

In addition to the patch notes, Nexon announced that it will be launching a season pass for 2023, which will offer up five additional characters over the course of the new year. We already know that the sultry swordmistress, Spectre, will be the first of these new DLC fighters, but the identities of t?he remaining four remain shrouded in mystery for the time being.

Great news to see that the title will be receiving another full year of support, at the very least, and here's to hoping that it will keep the anime scrapper live 'n' kicking on the competitive scene. It was also announced that DNF Duel is currently on sale on both PlayStation and PC (via Steam), with a meaty 50% ??price discount. So, if you've been on the fence, now is the perfect time to get on board for a full year of sword 'n' sorcery action.

DNF Duel launches on Nintendo Switch April 20, 2023.

The post DNF Duel balance update now live, DLC characters en route, Switch port incomi??n??g appeared first on Destructoid.

Do you eat whole lemons or pure salt?

Nintendo has dropped the details for the first Splatoon 3 splatfest of 2023! The next bat?tle of squid kids and octolings will kick off in the first weekend of January, and will see players fight it out in another weekend of colorful chaos �h?oping to bring home the gong for their team and bag themselves some exclusive rewards.

This time around, the topic is �quite literally �a matter of taste, as players will have to choose which is their favorite food flavoring. The options on the dinner table are Spicy, Sweet, ??and Sour, (a topic that sound suspiciously familiar, and I'm pretty sure that they've re-run the fun for this particular splatfest). It's also worth noting that spicy is a sensation and not a taste ACKSHUALLY. I feel sorry for anybody not on Team Sweet, as I have a feeling the public vote is gonna be running away with this one.

So far, Splatoon 3 hosts Big Man and Shiver have both secured Splatfest wins, but poor old Frye is yet to capture glory. Maybe January's event will see her finally crack th??at losing streak (watch her get Team Sour). The Taste Bud Turf War will commence worldwide on Friday January 6 (North America) and Saturday January 7 (Europe) and will conclude 48 hours later. We'll be sure to give y'all a reminder!

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

//twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1603676732036468736?s??=20&??;t=sZ4kDT5zLu2CJr1c6RZvvQ

The post January’s Splatoon 3 splatfest is a question of taste, literally appeared first on Destructoid.

Crash & The Boys (and Girls)

At The Game Awards 2022, Activision announced a brand new title set in the zany, madcap world of Crash Bandicoot �but unlike the typical 3D platformers for which the series is renowned, Crash Team Rumble w??ill instead see the series' color??ful cast square off in a bout of multiplayer madness.

Crash Team Rumble, currently in development for PlayStation and Xbox, will see Crash, Coco, Tawna, Dr. Cortex, and many other heroes? and villains from the beloved series battle it out in 4-v-4 team-based action. Players will race to gather Wumpa Fruit for their squad, racing back to bank it in their home base while defending their stock from the opposing team and getting into frenzied melee scraps out on the battlefield. Each character will be afforded their own special skills and bespoke abilities, so teamwork and character synergy will be the key to claiming victory.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=becrLd9GOB4?&ab_channel=CrashBandicoot

"We’re so excited to unveil our fresh new take on multiplayer in the Crash universe with Crash Team Rumble," said Toys for Bob's Paul Yan in a press release. "Crash Team Rumble has ?something for everyone�easy pick-up and play for those who just want to jump in, while also providing skilled gamers the opportunity to leverage and master their hero’s unique abilities."

While not quite the long-rumored Super Smash Bros. clone that people have been expecting, this all-new take on the wild 'n' wacky world of Crash could prove to be a pretty neat party title, and feels more in the vein of a Splatoon than a Smash Bros. I don't see my boy Ripper Roo just yet, but I do see?? my mirror image, (Dingodile), so I guess I've found my main alread??y.

Crash Team Rumble will launch in 2023 on? PlayStation and ?Xbox platforms.

The post Crash ??Team Rumble will be bringing multiplayer madness in 202??3 appeared first on Destructoid.

The walls are going up

This past weekend was a huge one for Epic Games juggernaut release, Fortnite �Not only did Season 2 Chapter 3 come to its conclusion via Saturday's earth-shaking "Fracture" event, but it was followed by the reveal of a litany of new content headed to the defining battle royale release. Hidden among all this?? excitement, however, was some important news for those who build 'n' brawl on PC via Windows.

As of Chapter 4 Season 2, The PC edition of Fortnite will be supported on Windows 10 only, with native official support halting on previous versions, including Windows 7 & 8. Speaking in a statement on its official blog Epic Games noted that, as the game moves forward into the next generation, the developer wishes to secure its future on more?? contemporary platfor??ms, shutting down security loopholes on the older versions of the operating software.

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

And thus, all PC Fortnite players will be required to play on Windows 10 if they wish to play natively, and receive all future game support. As a workaround, those who are unable to upgrade will still be able to participate via cloud, through the Nvidia GeForce NOW game streaming service. Otherwise, moving to an alternate platform or pulling the trigger on a Windows 10 upgrade will be the only other opt??ions.

Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 1 sees the multiplayer madness now rendered in the powerful Unreal 5.1 engine, bringing new levels of visual fidelity to the game. The PC edition has received an overhaul of its graphics options, allowing for higher settings in fields such as Global Illumination, Nanite Geometry, and Temporal Super Res??olution �replacing the Temporal Anti-Aliasing option and offering better frame rates for sharper?? resolutions. If you are not tech-savvy, fear not, as an auto-setting option will be available to tune your rig to the best visual recommendation possible.

You can read more about the Chapter 3 Finale, as well as Chapter 4's incoming content in our previous reports. Fortnite is available no?w on PlayStati?on, PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms.

The post Fortnite PC w?ill require Windows 10 from Chapter 4 Season 2 onwards appeared first on Destructoid.

You Will Get Wet

Nintendo has announced that it will be launching a major update for its global hyper color shooter Splatoon 3 tomorrow, November 29 �The Version 2.0.0 update will add a variety of modes, items, stages, and other features to the smash-selling Nintendo Switch release.

So, what's on the agenda? Well, first and perhaps foremost, Splatoon 3 Version 2.0.0 will add the returning "X Battle" mode. This allows players of S+0 ranking or higher to compete for the much-vaunted "X Power". Participating players will be auto-slotted into one of two leagues dependent on their home territory: Takoroka Division for Japan, Hong Kong, S. Korea, Australia, and New Zealand; and Tentatek Division for the Americas and Europe.

Once players are assigned their division, they can take part in X Battles across modes such as Splat Zones, Tower Control, and Rainmaker, while earning X Power in conjunction with their wins and losses. (X Power will be separately tracked across each mode). Much like its appearance in Splatoon 2, X Power and X Battle is sort of an "endgame" league for top-tier players, allowing for the slickest Squid Kids and Oct??olings to truly shine. This new form of league ranking will launch on November 30, resetting wit?h each fresh season.

In addition to X Battle, Splatoon 3 Version 2.0.0 makes several changes to both Ranked Mode and Salmon Run. Players now can voluntarily reset their rank once per season, whereupon the system will automatically assign you the lowest ranking tier as designated by your online play statistics. In addition, some of the point values needed to achieve certain ranks ha?ve been increased.

Salmon Run introduces the new "Big Run" events, which will see huge flurries of Salmonoids swimming upstream every few months. During these events, Salmon Run battles will award players with special rewards and exclusive items. More details are to be expected as the first Big Run approaches in early December. And speaking of Salmon Run, some of the boss characters and weapons have had a balance? tweak. A new ??Salmon Run map �Marooner's Bay �is also being added to circulation.

For all your shopping needs, a new catalog will be added to the in-game store, packed with over 50 new items including new gear, titles, Splashtags, decorations, stickers, and emotes. Back out in the arena, players can fight it out on two new stages �Brinewater Springs and Flounder Heights �and paint up a storm with three new main weapons, 10 alternate loadout weapons, and 13 new Tableturf Battle Cards. A huge round of rebalancing has also been applied to the Splatoon 3 arsenal.

Alongside this huge litany of balance tweaks to main weapons, specials, and subs �as well as bosses and ranks �the developer has released a mammoth list of bug fixes. In fact, the rebalancing features in Version 2.0.0 is far too hefty to be fully disclosed here, but you can find a full list of patch notes, (along with a full explanation of the changes to Salmon Run and X Battle), right here on the official Nintendo site.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Swi??tch. Chill Season launches November 30.

The post Splatoo??n 3 Version 2.0: New modes, items, stages, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Enter the AR world of new Defender Solis

Rainbow Six Siege is about to enter the final season of its seventh year, with the arrival of new event Operation Solar Raid. Not only will this season bring players an intriguing new operator, but it will also add some long-awaited new features to R6S in??cluding the long-in-development crossplay and cross-pr??ogression.

Rainbow Six Siege players can now link their accounts across multiple platforms via Ubisoft Connect, transferring their rosters, purchased items, currencies, Battle Pas progress, and statistics to all PC and console accounts, (while also earning a free Alpha Pack for the trouble). Once ??connected, players can start doorkicking with or against their friends across PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. If, however, this is not your vibe, then fret not, as you can disable crossplay via an option in the game's menus.

In addition, Operation Solar Raid launches a newly overhauled Ranked Playlist. As noted by the developer, play??er rank is no longer decided by MMR, but by how many Rank Points are won, (or lost), after every Ranked match. A Rank has five divisions, and each division requires 100 Rank Points to advance to the next. A new Rank, Emerald, has also been added, sitting between Platinum and Diamond.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPxQBGe2drM

Our new operator is Colombia-born Ana Valentina Diaz, bet?ter known by her call sign, "Solis". Diaz has worked her way up through the darkest territories in South America, rising through the ranks of first the National Police, and then the National Intelligence Directorate, where she was noted for her extraordinary surveillance and counter-intelligence skills. Focused and precise, with exquisite attention to detail, the plain-speaking Solis? is a master of reconnaissance and adaptation.

Solis bespoke gadget —The SPEC-IO Electro Sensor �reflects her surveillance abilities and her mind for electronics. This full-helmet Augmented Reality unit allows Solis to uncover all electronic devices through walls and obstacles �immediately pinging them for her teammates. ??As a Defender, Solis is essentially a version of OG operator I.Q. �albeit one who plays f?or the opposing team. Solis is one of the first members of Rainbow Six splinter division "Ghost Eyes", led by the reliable, yet unstable, hand of Caveira.

You c??an ??see Solis in action at 3:14 in the trailer above.

Operation Solar Raid launc??hes December 6 on all platforms

The post Operation Solar Raid brings cro?ssplay and cross-progression?? to Rainbow Six Siege appeared first on Destructoid.

Over four million of which fall under 'cheating'

Microsoft has debuted its new Xbox Transparency Report, a bi-annual public document designed to detail all of the black-and??-green brand's actions in regard to community enforcement, player complaints, banned and suspended acco?unts, and all other manner of recorded dirty dealings on the Xbox platform.

"With this inaugural Xbox Transparency Report, it is our goal to share with you more about the wide range of actions that the Xbox team takes to moderate content on our platform and create safer experienc??es," opens the report. "As an essential part of our growth, we expect this report to evolve over time as we learn, iterate, incorporate feedback, and make improvements."

The first report, perhaps unsurprisingly, reveals that Xbox has doled out around 7.31 million community enforcement actions between January and June 2022. 63% of these enforcements were account suspensions, with a huge 4.50 million accounts put into time-out. T??he 7.31 million ??enforcements is almost triple the amount delivered in the latter half of 2021, suggesting that Xbox has put its money where its mouth is in regards to ramping up its moderation.

Breaking down the offenses, over 4.33 million enforcements (57%) were for Cheating and/or Inauthentic Accounts. Profanity counted for 1.05 million enforcements, with Adult Sexual Content (814,000), Harassment or Bullying (759,000), and Hate Speech (211,00) each being hit?? with six figures worth of disciplinary ac??tion.

The huge uptick in community enforcem?ent is being seen as a proof-positive outcome of Xbox's proactive stance on moderation. In October 2021, Microsoft partnered with software company Two Hat Studios with an eye to improving its monitoring and reaction to player complaints and reports. Clearly, Two Hat Studios has been worth the purchase, given the massive increase in enforcement just one year later.

"We believe safety is everyone’s responsibility, and we're committed to an ongoing journey of learning and constant improvement," concludes th?e report. "We know things aren’t perfect. We will continue to work closely with industry partners, associations, regulators, and community members to improve our features, settings, and technologies."

The Xbox Transparency Report is available to read in full right here.

The post Xbox Transparen??cy Report details seven million enforcements in si?x months appeared first on Destructoid.

H2Whoaaaaa!

Ring the bell, sound the horns: the curtain has fallen on the Pokemon x Splatoon 3 splatfest �And now that the ink has finally dried and the result is in, we can see that Team Water has taken victory in the age-old battle of the Pokemon starter elements.

Over the past weekend, squid kids and octolings took to the messy battlefields of Splatoon 3 in order to stand up for their favorite starting Pokemon types �with playing taking up arms for Grass, Fire, and Water. Incredibly, Team Water came away with a perfect 45p score, meaning that the H2O lovin' squaddies ultimately won out in both Open and Pro battles, as well as winn??ing the public vote.

This is one of the cleanest (no pun intended) sweeps in recent Splatoon history, and suggests that the Pokemon x Splatoon crossover community either really, really likes Water-type Pokemon, or that they simply?? converted their love of the wet stuff to fantastic in-game plays.

You can check out the full results below.

Public Vote

• Team Grass: 25.80%
• Team Fire: 33.60%
• Team Water: 40.60%

Clout (Open)

• Team Grass: 33.41%
• Team Fire: 32.75%
• Team Water: 33.84%

Clout (Pro)

• Team Grass: 33.59%
• Team Fire: 30.55%
• Team Water: 35.86%

This special splatfest was, of course, held to help promote the release of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet, both of which launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch on November 18. This event also represented the second splatfest result of the multiplayer shooter's new era. So, if your team t??ook?? a drubbing this time around, it won't be too long before you can lock 'n' load for another weekend of gooey competition.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

The post Splatfest result??: Team Water makes a splash in Pokemon x Splatoon 3 event appeared first on Destructoid.

Grass, Fire, or Water?

It's great to be back in the wild and messy world of Splatoon �and the residents of Inkopolis are especially excited this weekend, with the coming of a very special splatfest that sees the colorful shooter series crossover with the iconic Pokemon franchise, ahead of the launch of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet.

Kicking off later today, the newest battle royale will charge players with sel??ecting their favorite stater Pokemon �choosing from the holy trinity of Grass, Fire, and Water. Once the player has selected their team of choice, they will engage in a weekend of incredibly sticky online competition �bagging points for their chosen team in a bid to prove which of these is the best Pokemon element of them all...

...That's best starter Pokemon element. We all know that Ghost is the actual best element.

//twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/1589648876046270469?s=20&t=ZNfQlHBDFuJxp??dAkcH73EA

Once the ink dries on Sunday, the global scores will be trotted up and the winner announced. All part?icipants will receive fun, in-game items, with bonus goodies going to players on the winning side. The action kicks ?off today, November 11 at 16:00 PT / 19:00 ET / 00:00 BST with the final whistle being blown at the same times on Sunday, November 13. You can pledge for your team in Inkopolis Square.

As y'all know, I covered pretty much every single splatfest �its topics, commentary, winners, and running score �over the course of Splatoon 2's long lifespan. And, I have to admit, it's just not the same with my girls Pearl & Marina. Still, th?ere is ple?nty of fun to be had for Squid Kids and Octolings, so get out there and make your mark. Quite literally.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch. Pokemon Scarlet & Violent launches November 18.

The post Splatoon 3 x Pokemon splatfest kicks off? later today appeared first on Destructoid.

For a grand total of six payloads defended

Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch 2 engaged over 35 million players in its first month of release, it has been revealed via Activision Blizzard's most recent financial report. The team-based shooter sequel, which went free-to-play upon launch, hit PC and console?? platforms on October 4.

The number is more than double that of the title's predecessor, which pulled in some 15 million players during its first month of release back in 2016. Of course, this comparison is somewhat suspect, given that Overwatch was a full-priced title and its sequel is freely available to all. Still, the huge l??aunch will be popular among the folks at Blizzard, and provides a very strong base for the developer to build upon.

Despite this success, however, the general consensus toward Overwatch 2 has been mixed. While many critics and fans have been impressed by the sequel's character models, visual effects, and new games & modes, many players have found frustrating in the overall gameplay, the influx of "no price, no stake" players, and the maligned Battle Pass mechanic, which replaces OW's goodie-filled loot boxes with a paid grind of rewards �weirdly unsatisfa??ctory as it rolls out its drip-feed of boring extras.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGgqyer-qr4

Additionally, criticism has been leveled by some players at OW2's overall meta �an incredibly aggressive slant that has seen character damage levels skyrocket, and often leaves more defensive or support players twiddling their thumbs. I, as a years-long Mercy main, have experienced this push for firepower personally. And while my Mercy skills are (modestly) great-to-excellent, I've found myself a little irrelevant in OW2 �far more useful to my team as... well... anyone carrying a machine gun, frankly. I used to second Reinhardt, but now I've dropped him entirely, as players are simply refusing?? to shield.

Of course, these are still early days. There will be a player drop-off, there will be balance tweaks, there will be a readjustment to the five-on-five team sync strategy. Overwatch 2 has clearly done a very fine job at pulling in the eyes and ears of players right out of the gate, bu?t retention is key, and it will be interesting to see how the sequel plays out over the course of its first year.

Overwatch 2 is? available now on PlayStation,?? PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Overwatch 2 pulls in ?35 million players in its first month appeared first on Destructoid.

Crossover Carnage Continues

Those currently swingin' mallets and tossing pies in the madcap world of MultiVersus will be given th??e opp?ortunity to go for the brass ring real soon, as Player First Games has kicked off the first test period for the brawler's long-awaited Ranked Mode.

As of 09:00 PT / 12:00 ET / 18:00 BST, players will be able to jump into the temporary Alpha, which will be offering up a full week of ranked play in order for the developer to test the ins and outs of the new system. Ranked Mode will see players' win/loss ratio count toward an overall leaderboard standing, a feature that much of the MultiVersus community has been asking for some time now. Of course, standard multiplayer battles will also remain available during t??he course of Ranked alpha and beyond.

//twitter.com/multiversus/status/158976??9965418479618?s=20&t=dst2IvLN8u4PHydFfU_gbg

MultiVersus, which currently remains in an Early Access status, has recently closed out its first season of content with the arrival of DC Comics anti-hero Black Adam. The crossover brawler has been pretty successful with critics and players right out of the gate, though currently battles myriad free-to-play games, of multiple genres, in its bid for audience retention. Player First Games has done a grand job in providing frequent updates for the fledgling fighter, though has stru??ggled socially in t??he face of player impatience �much of which has been completely unwarranted.

While we are yet to receive any details pertaining to Season 2, there have already been multiple datamines suggesting some of the upcoming characters that might be waiting to join the roster. MultiVersus' second season will likely be something of a watershed moment for the game, ultimately delivering the under-the-hood fixes and gameplay content that will make or break the title in 2023 and beyond. Regardless, MultiVersus is a fun, if chao??tic scrapper, and is des??erving of future success.

MultiVersus is now in Early Access on PlayStat?ion, PC, and Xbox platforms.

The post MultiVersus Ranked Mode alpha kicks off today appeared first on Destructoid.

Stand Down, Soldier

Developer Treyarch has confirmed that its recently released blockbuster shooter Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II will not be rec?eiving Ranked Play anytime soon, with the Seriouz Biznezz mode tabled to arrive in-game sometime in 2023.

While Modern Warfare II's many multiplayer modes are already up and running, the league-based ranked version remains in development at the studio, with the company still beavering away on features such as leaderboards, competitive rewards, distinct skill divisions, and exclusive ranked modes. Aside from "2023", an expected arrival???? time was not announced.

//twitter.com/Treyarch??/status/1587848321405980673?s=20&t=9lnlYBv3u1X06JUEVGYNoQ

Posting on Twitter, Treyarch also confirmed that it was to start sunsetting League Play modes for previous entries Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War. Anyone looking to bag their last remaining ranked rewards for those titles needs to lock 'n' load, as the games' respective ranking will be shutting down on November 22. Of course, both titles will remain available to play online, (which is good as, incredibly, I'm still playing Black Ops Cold War on occasion.)

While the delay in ranked play for Modern Warfare II is not ideal, it will likely not make a dent in the shooter sequel's incredible success. The new sequel is the biggest release in the CoD franchise's storied history, having pulled in over $800 million USD in its opening weekend while simultaneously smashing all concurrent player records for the franchise on? Steam. Ranked Mode might s?till be some way away, but the community seems far too engaged in rat-a-tat-tat action right now to pay it much mind.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is available now on PlayStation, PC, a?nd Xbox platforms.

The post Modern Warfare II Ranked Mode won’t arrive until 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

And only 46 were on the payload

It appears that, right off of the bat, Blizzard Entertainment's decision to go free-to-play with its hero shooter sequel Overwatch 2 has the required effect �The studio has announced that the charismatic multiplayer ?title has already rocketed past 25 million players in i??ts first 10 days of release.

The number far supersedes that of the original 2016 premium title, which hit around 15 million players during its early launch months.  Blizzard has also noted that daily player counts are already tripling those of the original Overwatch by almost 300%, though what percentage of these players are Reaper mains was not ??offered up at this time.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGgqyer-qr4

"The launch of Overwatch 2 has been such an important moment for Blizzard," said Blizzard president Mike Ybarra.  "This is only the beginning �there are so many possibilities to explore in the world of Overwatch, and?? we cannot wait for players to experience everything the ??team is building for the live game."

Ybarra is likely referencing the upcoming PvE content, which was expected to form a core element of Overwatch 2 and yet is curiously missing entirely from the launch edition.  It is believed that this content �including?? a "campaign" scenario and single-player missions �will arrive at some point in late 2023.  This will no doubt cause anoth??er spike in player numbers even if the sequel's popularity settles down over the coming months.

As a long-time Overwatcher, I have unfortunately not had the time to really delve into OW2 as of yet, but I did find it to be a finely polished and great-looking remix of the original release �especially the console editions.  Whether OW2 can be called a true "sequel", in the commonly accepted use of the phrase, is still up for debate.  Regardless, the brand is still clearly hot for the time being, as depicted by these numbers.  Wh?ether such popularity remains once the launch hype dies down remains to be seen, and will be the true testament to the sequel's staying power.

Overwatch 2 is available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.  You can read an abridged timeline of California's lawsuit against Activision Blizzard lawsuit, as well as the numerous accusations of toxicity leveled against the studio, right here.

The post Overwatch 2 hits 25 mi?llion player milestone in 10 days appeared first on Destructoid.

Who loves you, and who do you love?

Developer Embark Studio and publisher Nexon have released a "pre-alpha" gameplay video for its upcoming multiplayer shooter, The Finals �Following its grand debut at Gamescom Opening Night Live, the new video gives us our first look at the deadly competition's ??hyper-violent rat-a-tat-tat action.

The Finals, which is currently in development for PC, will see contestants from all over the world compete in a chaotic and explosive virtual universe, laying waste to one another with all manner of ranged and melee weaponry. Featuring fast-paced world traversal, rapid-fire guns, razor-sharp blades, and all manner of explosive devices, The Finals will challenge its hapless p??arty o??f contestants to be the last person standing, bagging themselves big cash prizes while they wow the bloodthirsty audiences watching from home. Get me the Justice Department, Entertainment Division.

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

The core gameplay construct of The Finals is to allow players to adopt their own form of strategy, be it an acrobatic knife-wielder, a stealthy assassin hiding in the shadows, a rooftop running crack shot sniper, or a rocket-launcher-toting building leveler, The Finals hopes that players will find their own particular combat style with which to survive until each show's end credits. Environmental destruction is another key element of The Finals' makeup, with collapsing buildings,? smashed ceilings, and hiding pl?aces being reduced to rubble all a required part of the action.

Hmm... Th??is would seem to suggest that power players will be favored over stealthy types, but we'll see.

If you fancy joining the green room for The Finals, then you can register for a playtest over on the game's official Steam page. The playtest kicks off tomorrow,?? September 29, so move fast, aim straight, and be sure to smile for the cameras. After all, audience connection is the key to modern-day survival.

Parasocial relationships and all that.

The post Tune into the bombastic actio???n of violent gameshow The Finals appeared first on Destructoid.

Top of the Plops

Nintendo's colorful sequel Splatoon 3 is now out in the wild and is already proving to be an absolute smash hit. The wacky arena shooter has not only sold over three million copies in its home territory Japan, but has also debute??d in the top spot of the UK Charts.

This feat represents the first time that the Splatoon series has held the premier position and, as one of the few major Nintendo franchises not to find itself on the throne, is a particularly notable event. Previous entries Splatoon (2015) and Splatoon 2 (2017) both reached the still impressive No.2 slot, but were held off by CDPR's The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Activision's Crash Bandicoot: N.Sane Trilogy, (whi??ch long-term readers will remember was a UK No.1 for infinity billion ye?ars.)

Splatoon 3, which launched on Nintendo Switch a mere four days ago, is already proving to be one of Nintendo's best-selling titles of 2022 in the UK, as well as one of the fastest-selling Switch releases ever. Once again, the?? messy multiplayer release sees teams of players battle it out in turf war-based combat �utilizing an array of ridonkulous weaponry and unique special abilities in order to win the day.

Splatoon 3 is set against a (slightly) more industrial backdrop than its predecessors �fallout from the final splatfest of Splatoon 2 favoring "Chaos" over "Order."

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: September 10, 2022
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Splatoon 3 �Nintendo
2. Horizon: Forbidden West �Sony Interactive Entertainment
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe �Nintendo
4. The Last of Us: Part I �Sony Interactive Entertainment
5. Nintendo Switch Sports �Nintendo
6. NBA 2K23 �2K Games
7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons �Nintendo
8. Minecraft �Nintendo
9. Saints Row �Deep Silver
10. Pokemon Legends Arceus �Nintendo

U.K. Video Game Charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

The post Splatoon 3 s??ees series hit the t?op of the UK Charts for the first time appeared first on Destructoid.

The closed beta kicks off today

Odyssey Interactive is officially revealing its first title. It's a fast-paced competitive game that mixes sports, MOBA, and more called Omega Strikers.

The new three-on-three "knockout striker,?" as Odyssey describes it, is a free-to-play a??nd cross-platform competitive game. It's launching a closed beta on PC via Steam today, and will launch on mobile later this year, with a console release aiming for sometime in 2023.

But what is Omega Strikers? The best description might be that it's like if soccer, League of Legends, and physics-based fighters like Smash Bros. all blended into one new genre.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1kEGXtaJsc

Each team plays on a top-down arena, with a goal on either side. The ide??a is to smack the puck, called the core, around and knock them?? into the enemy's goal to score points. Victory is achieved when a team hits five points and goes up by two.

Rough play is encouraged th?ough, as characters can not only fight over the core, but also just plai??n fight. Abilities allow players to knock each other off the arena, creating power play potential in the interim.

An interesting cross-up

It's an interesting combination of different competitive genres, which isn't too surprising given the team behind it. Odyssey Interactive is a new studio, but its founders are former Riot Games developers, who have worked on League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. With Omega Strikers, they're tackling a different kind of game that still has some familiar ideas. Hero characters, fast combat, and desi??gns that pop. Just add a puck and a goal.

Omega Strikers will launch with ten Strikers, their individual characters with unique designs and abilities to use in the aren?a. It plan??s to add more in future updates, alongside additional arenas, skins, unlockables, and more ways to compete.

Crucially, Odyssey also says there will be no loot boxes, consumable power boosts, or paid competitive advantages. All Strikers will be unlockable through regular play, as well as purchasable through the in-game store. Omega Strikers will also be cross-platform for play and cross-progr??ession. So as other platforms start to roll out, players won't have to rebuild their roster of Strikers.

The closed beta goes live on PC via Steam today, with plans to distribute keys via Twitch drops à la Valorant. Tune into anyone playing on Twitch and once you've wat?ched enough, you can get access for yourself.

The post Omega Strikers? is a fast-paced new competitive multiplayer game from former Riot devs appeared first on Destructoid.

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 Android devices in select te??rritorie??s.

//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 reflected even 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 Philippines. So, unfortunately, European fans will have to stay frosty for the time being.

The post Rainbow Six Mobile closed beta launches today in select t??erritories appeared first on Destructoid.

You Brella Believe It

Nintendo's super-colorful, super-messy sequel Splatoon 3 has now been unleashed upon the public and is already proving itself to be an incredible sales success. In Japan alone, the Switch shooter has already shifted a staggering 3.45 million copies in its first three days of release, breaking previous Switch release records in the country. The news was broken in a weekend press statement by the publisher.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ODI00fgeS0

Launching on September 9, Splatoon 3 sees the return of madcap, team-based, multiplayer gameplay, as squid kids and octolings battle to out to capture territory across various modes and maps. Splatoon 3 features all of the paint-sloshing action that is the franchise's trademark, set against a slightly more dystopian landscape �the aftermath of Splatoon 2's final Splatfest favoring "Chaos" over "Order."

But, despite the series' general popularity, I'm not sure that anybody was expecting the new sequel to be a record-breaker, having already become the fastest-selling Nintendo Switch title in its native Japan. It should also be noted that these figures do not include sales from Europe and North America, which will no doubt add to the incredible number and see Splatoon 3 nestle comfortably in place as ??one of 2022's best??-selling releases.

Splatoon 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch. Check out Chris Carter's review right here.

The post Splat??oon 3 sees an inc?redible 3.45 million sales in first three days in Japan alone appeared first on Destructoid.

Now get to Slashin'

Input lag �even in 2022, it continues to be a frus?trating thorn in the sides of online fighting game players. And, ironically, while the ninth generation of gaming is well underway, it appears that Sony's shiny new PlayStation 5 platform tends to exacerbate t?he issue, rather than repair it.

Case in point: Arc System Works' Guilty Gear Strive, which currently suffers from an estimated 4.5 frames of input lag on PS5 when compared to its sibling PS4, which only suffers from around 2.5 frames. Input lag is an inevitability in almost all fighting games, but the lower a developer can get the fateful nu??mber, the better it is for all players.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GYL5FVpjG4

To that end, ArcSys has released Version 1.21 on both PlayStation and PC platforms, bringing with it a few small bug fixes, optimized controls for the Figure Mode and much requested improvements to the server connection time? on startup. Specifically for PS5, however, the input includes reoptimized input lag. This should bring the PS5 edition more in line with its PS4 and PC brethren, although ArcSys is tight-lipped on exactly how much faster your chosen fighter will respond to your ins?tructions.

Courtesy of Kimagre Gaming, here are some post-patch results for ??all platf??orms.

//??twitter.com/kimagreGaming/status/1556955540001267712?s=20&t=jIt6z9pG9PRXOEUaWIyCYQ

Guilty Gear Strive is preparing to launch its second season, bringing with it new characters, new stages, a new competitive season, and further updates. The wonderful Bridget is already available today, with more content coming to the title over the coming year. Guilty Gear Strive has already smashed the one million sales mark, and hopefully, this popularity will continue across the remainder of 2022 and in?to 2023.

The post Guilty Gear ??Strive update 1.21 improves PS5 input l?ag appeared first on Destructoid.

The Force will be with you, eventually

Developer Zynga has announced that Star Wars: Hunters has been delayed and will no longer meet its originally cited 2022 release date. The arena shooter will now launch on mobile and Nintendo Switch platforms at some point in 2023. The delay was announced in a statement posted by the team.

"We are working tirelessly to achieve our vision for Star Wars: Hunters," said the studio. "Our ambition is to create a competitive battle arena game that will entertain for years to come. To ensure we meet the high expectations we are setting for fans globally and ourselves as developers we have made the decision to delay the worldwide launch of Star Wars: Hunters."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U1Al2WmyVc

"We understand game delays are frustrating," continues the statement, "however, our top priority is ensuring players will have the best possible experience in the Arena. For those who have been able to join us in the soft launch, we truly appreciate your support and feedback as we work to make Star Wars: Hunters the best it can be. Thank you for your understanding and?? we'll see? you in the arena."

This is, unfortunately, the second delay that Star Wars: Hunters has experienced since its initial reveal back in February 2021. At the time, Zynga had hoped to launch the title by the end of that year, but was forced to push the street date to 2022. This further delay is no doubt disheartening for the team w??ho, like most studios, ??have been working under typically fragile conditions due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Star Wars: Hunters w?ill launch in 2023 as a free-to-play title on iO?S, Android, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Zynga’s Star Wars: Hunters has been pushed back to 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

No sign of Matt Dillon though

Well, I have to admit I didn't see this one coming, even with the current resurgence of obscure fighting titles. Publisher 3goo has announced that it is preparing to rerelease obscure arcade fight franchise The Rumble Fish on moder??n console platforms. Specific platforms were not announced.

The Rumble Fish, which launched in Japanese arcades in 2004, is a 2D fighter developed by Dimps and utilizing the then-popular Atomiswave hardware. The heavily anime-infused storyline tells the?? tale of a city crushed by capitalism and opportunity, and the warriors that emerge from the rubble to face a shiny, corporate-owned metropolis, each fighter carrying their own agenda either for or again??st the new world.

//youtu.be/JeB-HMEpUNk

The Rumble Fish would receive a home port in the form of a PS2 release. But it would never officially see the light of day outside of Japan, which will make this rerelease the first real opportunity for the series to make a name for itself in the global legacy of fighting games. The niche title would be followed by a 2005 sequel, The Rumble Fish 2, which is also en route this year.

Despite its relative obscurity, The Rumble Fish developed a cult following thanks to its wild premise, interesting and diverse cast of characters, and trademark "S.M.A." (Smooth Model Animation) visual style. The series found its spotlight in a post-Garou: Mark of the Wolves world, when great-looking, highly technical 2D fig??hters had one final breath of fury, before ??the genre receded into fringe interest.

"The Rumble Fish is a very memorable game for us at Dimps," writes Dimps president Takashi Nishiyama. "It may have a classic feel compared to current fighting games, but it was an ambitious project that employed a variety of visual expressions within the limitations of a system board that is now almost 20 years old. I’m proud of what we accomplished. And now, 3goo is once again shining the spotlight on The Rumble Fish series and I’m excited f?or the renewed potential for the series to grow."

The Rumble Fish series is currently in develo??pment for undisclosed platforms.

The post Cult fighting seri?es The?? Rumble Fish coming to consoles this winter appeared first on Destructoid.