If you’re a fan of cozy games that inspire creativity, challenge organizational skills, and feature a ton of unlockables, then I’m willing to bet you’ve heard of Sticky Business????. Just a year after its launch, developer Spellgarden Games has a new DLC on the way. 

This will be the second Sticky Business DLC. The first, Plan With Me, was released back in December 2023, and the second, Camp Zinnias, launches on August 15. 

There’s more to Sticky Business than meets the eye at first glance. Yes, at the most basic level, it’s a game about designing stickers. Howeve??r, once you really get into it and start receiving requests for specific designs and filling orders, things quickly grow complicated.??

Designing stickers is just one aspect of Sticky Business. You’ve got to come up with your prices, and those affect how many much-needed sales you’ll make. This money goes right back into your virtual sticker business as you unlock new sticker slots and more designs to work with, p??urchase more paper, and set up your online store. 

Each DLC for Sticky Business comes with new design elements, packaging styles, and even more requests that need to be fulfilled. Camp Zinnias adds a bunch of nature-themed goodies and new interconnected customer stories, which will have you sending out stickers and fulfilling orders for new characters Zelia, Hazel, and others at Camp Zinnias. 

And, as I have a particular soft spot for making glitter stickers in this pixelated slice of cosy gaming, I’m happy to say that there are more glitter sticker designs on the way in Camp Zinnias, too. 

If you’re wanting to dive in and run your own virtual sticker business, you’ll need to first purchase the Sticky Business base game. It’s currently available on Nintendo Switch, Mac, and PC, where you can purchase it through Steam for $9.99 USD. Plan With Me is currently available for an additional $3.99 USD, with Camp Zinnias likely to be priced similarly.

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Resident Evil developer Capcom recently announced that it will bring the seventh entry in its iconic series, Resident Evil Biohazard, to all Apple devices with an M1 chip or better. For Mac laptops, that means an??y Mac Book Air or Mac Book Pro from late 2020 onwards will be able to run the game.

However, this isn’t the first time Capcom has released a Mac and iOS port for the Resident Evil series. The current Mac Resident Evil games are essentially a dedicated showcase of just how powerful the M-series chips and integrated graphics cards can be, especially on devices such as the Mac Book Air, which don’t have a fa?n. 

Resident Evil Games for Mac Available Now

Mac and iPhone users can currently purchase both Resident Evil Village and the Resident Evil 4 remake via their device’s App Store. Resident Evil Village on Mac in particular is a spectacle ?to behold; I can personally vouch for its impressive performance on the M1 Mac Book Air. While there have been a few audio glitches here and there, the port is exceptionally well optimized. 

The Resident Evil 4 remake on M1 devices also has generally positive reviews on the Mac App Store, though users should note that you’ll need approximately 125 GB of free space on your drive to install the ga?me, which is nearly double the listed size requirement in the store. 

Upcoming Resident Evil Games for Mac

The Resident Evil Biohazard Mac and iOS port is currently slated for July 2nd, 2024. However, Capcom has also announced on its Apple games page that it will be bringing the Resident Evil 2 remake to all M-series Apple devices as well. We don’t have a release date for this one yet, but if the previous Mac Resident Evil ports a??re anything to go by, it’s sure to be an e?xceptional experience.

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Multiclassing in Baldur’s Gate 3 is always a tempting proposition, a??nd if you’re going to go for it, there’s hardly a bette??r combination than Sorcerer and Warlock. Sorlocks get access to the best cantrip in the game, and they can massively boost their damage by taking advantage of Sorcery Points. 

There are plenty of different ways to build a Sorlock, and each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Taking four levels in Warlock and eight in Sorcerer grants access to three feats at the cost of your fifth-level spell slots. Going all the way to the ?fifth level in Warlock can give you an extra attack and make you a bit more versatile as a melee fighter. 

There’s room to get creative, but the Sorlock build that has the most consistency and reliability is simpler than mo?st. A slight dip into Warlock gives you a build that can deal 6d6 or even 9d6 damage in a turn �before adding your modifiers.

How to start a Sorlock build in BG3

You should start your Sorlock build as a Warlock. It might be tempting to take your first level in Sorcerer to gain proficiency in Constitution saving throws, but over the long haul having the extra hit points from starting your run as a Warlock will come in handy. Take the Fiend as your patron, and the Dark One’s Blessing trait will help you stay alive by granting you temporary hit points every time you slay a foe. From there progress right along to Warlock level two, and then you can call it quits on yo??ur multiclassing and spend the rest of your run leveling a??s a Sorcerer. 

Only taking two levels in Warlock sacrifices your Pact Boon and a feat, but it lets you maximize your Sorcerer resources. All you really need from the Warlock class is Eldritch Blast an??d some Eldritch Invocations â€?I’d recommend Agonising Blast for damage and Repelling Blast for some control options on the battlefield. 

Best Sorlock subclass

On the Sorcerer side of the equation, take the Red Draconic Bloodline subclass for the extra HP and the boost to fire damage. Even at high levels, you won’t b??e able to regularly lob a Fireball at your enemies, but in a pinch, you can do some serious damage with the spell. Take the Distant Spell and Twinned Spell Metamagics at level two and grab Quickened Spell at level three. Learn whatever spells you like, but it’s a good idea to grab some AoE attacks and Haste. Fireball is all but mandatory. 

Best Sorlock feats

When you’re making this Sorlock build, you’re only go??ing to get two feats. Some of the most tempting options are going to be:

• Ability Score increase
• Alert
• War Caster 

Alert is a really nice way to make sure that your overpowered Sorlock character is decimating the battlefield right at the start of a fight, and War Caster is a great way to make sure that you almost never lose concentrat?ion. With that said, you’re going to rely on Charisma for your damage output, and in all likelihood you won’t be using concentration spells that often. It’s best to just take the Ability Score i??ncrease twice to do as much damage as possible.

Best race for a Sorlock build

The beauty of this Sorlock build is that yo??u can really use it for any character. Even if you don’t pick an “optimalâ€?race, you’re still go??ing to be the most powerful character in your party, at least in terms of consistent damage output. That said, some options are still going to be a bit stronger than others. 

• Half-elf - Half-elves are particularly fast, which gives you more mobility on the battlefield. Plus, their Fey Ancestry trait will help you avoid some disrupting status effects, and Darkvision is nothing to scoff at.
• Halfling - It’s all about the luck here, and trust me, getting to reroll crit fails on attacks, ability checks, and saving throws always feels great. Halflings also get advantage on saving throws against being frightened thanks to the Brave trait, which is a nice boost. 
• Githyanki - The Astral Knowledge trait can give your Proficiency bonus to extra skills, making you a more well-rounded Sorlock, and Githyanki Psionics will give you Mage Hand, Enhance Leap, and Misty Step as free utility spells. 

How to use the Sorlock build in BG3

You’re going to use Eldritch Blast. A lot. By the time you reach th??e max level, your trusty magic canon will shoot three bolts at once. If you spend Sorcery Points to quicken the spell, you can fire off six blasts in a single turn. That’s not bad, but you could do better.&nbs??p;

If you quicken Haste, you’ll cast that as a bonus action, letting you fire two Eldritch Blasts that turn and every turn after for ten rounds. Plus, Haste can have two targets, so you can beef up the best fighter in your party to really maximize damage. Keep in mind that at max level you can reliably quicken spells three times per long rest without converting any? of your spell slots into Sorcery Points, which is always an option. 

Of course, nothing feels as good as quickening Fireball and lighting your enemies ablaze twice per turn, but thatâ€?™s going to eat through two of your level three spell slots. It’s really only feasible once per long rest, so save that move for when you really need it. 

Increasing your Sorlock damage in BG3

Getting as much damage as possible out of this Sorlock build requires boosting your Charisma as much as possible. Your ability score-incr?easing feats will carry you a long way, but there a?re two in-game items that should also be on your radar. 

The Potent Robe is a reward that you get by talking to Alfire after completing the Rescue the Tieflings quest in Act 2. It adds your Charisma modifier as damage to all your cantr??ips, essentially doubling the bonus your Eldritch Blast gets from the Agonising Blast In??vocation. 

Once you’re in Act 3, you should head to Sorcerous Sundries in Baldur’s Gate. There you’ll be able to buy a hat called Birthright for 410 gold, and it add?s an additional +2 to your Charisma. With all that in place, you’ll be able to charm just about anyone you meet and blast anyone who disagrees with you into smithereens. 

Sorlock full build

When you have this build up and running, these are the main features, feats, items, and spells you should have. While we'd recommend sticking close to the build, with a strict "must-have" label on Charisma feats, remember extra spells and cantrips for utility a?re to your preference and party style.

Warlock Level 2

• Fiend as Patron
• Dark One’s Blessing trait
• Agonizing Blast Invocation
• Repelling Blast Invocation 

Sorcerer Level 10 

• Red Draconic Bloodline
• Distant Spell Metamagic
• Twinned Spell Metamagic
• Quickened Spell Metamagic

Feats

• Increase Charisma +2 at Sorcerer level 4
• Increase Charisma +2 at Sorcerer level 8

Spells and Cantrips

• Eldritch Blast
• Fireball
• Disintegrate
• Utility spells like Fog Cloud, Feather Fall, Haste, Banishment, and Dimension Door

Items

• Potent Robe
• Birthright

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If you've been enjoying the Apple Arcade-exclusive Sonic Dream Team, you'll have more to dig into later today. SEGA has the first content updat??e scheduled to go live at 2:00 pm PT. 

From the looks of it, there's a little something for those who want more from the bosses and folks who are s?triving to go even faster. For ??the former, the update adds eight new boss missions, as well as overhauls to some of the key boss fights.

Enemies like Dr. Crabulous, the Factory Foremen, and the Gua??rdian Hunter have all been tweaked to shake things up a bit. According to the announcement, this includes the addition of "a few new moves to keep players on their toes during battle."

If going fast is your thing â€?and why wouldn't it be, you're not playing a Big the Cat platformer! â€?the update introduces time trials and some handy tools for speedrunners. Taking part in time trials will give you a shot at nabbing the best completion time in each Act. The results will be available on the leaderboard once recorded so you can go back to try to best yourself or everyone else, depending on how competitive you're feeling. For speedrunners, the Sonic Dream Team update adds ranks for each Act.  

Sonic Dream Team first launched on December 5, 2023, taking a swerve from the recent 2D sidescroller Sonic Superstars to deliver 3D platforming exclusive to Apple devices. Those wh??o subscribe to Apple Arcade can give it a spin on iPhone,? iPad, Mac and Apple TV, and there's more on the way at some point in the future. Sega reiterated that this is the first of three content updates, with other additions planned for sometime in 2024. 

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After hoping for a release toward the end of 2023, we now know when the Death Stranding Director's Cut will be landing on iOS and Mac devices. 505 Games, the team handling the port, has confirmed the title will be delivered next? week.

The release will make the definitive version of Hideo Kojima's 2019 hit availabl??e to a substantial new audience. It's playable for everyone with an iPhone 15 Pro or iPads and Macs with the M-series chip. It will be available for download via the Apple App Store on January 30.

The Director's Cut was initially released for PlayStation 5 in September ?2021. It was then followed with a PC iteration in March 2022. Within it comes the base game, as well as a new underground factory location, expanded story missions, and various delivery assists to make navigating terrain a bit easier.

505 Games is publishing the port. The Death Stranding Director's Cut is being listed on the App Store for $39.99. However, those who preorder ahead of the January 30 launch can enjoy a nice 50% discount on their purchase. It's the first of potentially many future titles that Kojima h?as committed to bring to Apple's platforms.

Players who own multiple newer Apple products should be aware that the game incorporates Apple's Special Delivery feature. This enables those with Mac and iOS devices to purchase the Director's Cut once and have it playable across all platforms. Just be sure to have space available, as the Death Stranding Director's Cut on iOS and Mac comes in at a sizeable 69.8 GB.

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If you've been hankering for a new tactical mech shooter, the first game from KEK Entertainment fits the bill. Armor Attack is in the works at a team comp?rised of former EA and Ubisoft devs, and it's ??due out sometime this year.

Armor Attack is billed as a crossplay game with PC, Mac, iOS, and?? Android listed as its starting platforms. A console release is planned for an as-yet-undetermined date, and you can see how it looks in action in the announcement trailer below. 

At a glance, customization is going to play a large role in the tactics at hand. Each vehicle has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you can tweak your loadout in different ways d?epending on the desired playstyle. Abilities, weapons, talent systems, and other aspects will lend themselves well to certain obje??ctives, and this combines with the different styles inherent to the three main factions. Naturally, everybody wants to rule the world, so these factions are all about trying their best to control the last remnants of a wartorn Earth. 

The key styles at play are defense, damage, and battlefield exploitation, the latter of which sounds like it might have something to do with the "game-changing mechanic" on each map. These range ?from changes to the overall layout to large boss ene?mies and the availability of vantage points that offer a competitive edge. KEK Entertainment CEO and co-founder Georgy Egorov says they want to offer the "ultimate mecha shooter experience for friends to enjoy across PC, mobile, and consoles without sacrificing caliber." We'll see how that pans out soon. 

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The Sonic franchise has taken many forms, from 2D to 3D, and even a point-and-click game. This time around, we're dealing with Sonic Dream Team which is a platformer?? available on various Apple devices through its Arcade.

As a fan of the series, Dream Team's concept piqued my curiosity. To my surprise, I'm subscribed to Apple Arcade, allowing me to download the game without forking out any cash. What I discovered is a sterling Sonic platformer that'll unfortunately fly under the radar for most, despite providing the kind of gameplay fans are always desperate? for.

Sonic Dream Team (Mac [reviewed], iOS, iPad, AppleTV)
Developer: Hardlight
Publisher: Sega
Released: December 5, 2023
MSRP: Free for Apple Arcade subscribers

A dream I don't want to wake up from

Sonic Dream Team's plot is what you'd typically expect from ??the franchise. Doctor Eggman's got some device or powerful object he wants to use for evil, and it's up to Sonic and his friends to stop it. This time around, Eggman's got the Reverie, a device that can make dreams come true. The story is mostly told through comic-book-style panels that are gorg??eous and feature voice acting, which is something I appreciated.

All the Sonic heroes that have become staples of the franchise are present (unfortunately, including the annoying Knuckles), and you can play as them. As the game's title suggests, you're thrust into? a world that feels fantastical and sometimes downright psychedelic. There is variation in the kinds of environments you encounter, and they each come with their unique sty??le of beauty without deviating from the overarching theme.

The environments were pleas??ing to look at, and I enjoyed exploring the settings of the differen??t stages. My favorite was Nightmare Maze, which contains waterways you can use to access some of the hidden areas of each level.

Dream Team is not a game that attempts to push graphical boundaries, but at the same time, it doesn't attempt to mimic the pixel art of the early games either. Instead, we have sligh??tly blocky visuals that look a tad better than what you get from your average lower-budget game.

There's no need to discuss graphics all too much because that's not what draws fans to the franchise. Far more than graphical quality, a good soundtrack is what characterizes a Sonic game. Sonic Dream Team doesn't fail on this front, and while ther??e's nothing there that comes close to classics like the Star Hill Zone, the tra??cks don't disappoint.

The Sonic experience

In Sonic games influenced by the classic titles, there is a certain element of gameplay that'll determine whether you love them obsessively or loathe them intensely. The games encourage you to go fast, and that's where most of the fun comes from. However, ??doing so will inevitably have you crossing obstacles that you si??mply cannot predict.

Because of this, slowing down to get the hang of the platformer is one o??f the ways to conquer every level. This isn't the most fun way to do things, and I'd argue that it's not in the spirit of the game. Instead, you're supposed to lose, learn where the obstacle is, and then tackle it without getting tripped up the next time around.

This style of gameplay will have you dying dozens of times, but that's part of ??how you learn leve??ls until you can complete them as fast as possible. In fact, you're frequently asked to do precisely this, with some levels challenging you to complete them within a set amount of time.

If you're a fan of this style of gameplay, Sonic Dream Team will satisfy you, and I had great f??un learning the tricks necessary to cut down my completion time. The difficulty level in terms of the environmental design is moderately high - not impossible, but not something you're going to breeze through either. In the later levels, I got my butt kicked more times than I'd like to admit.

Sonic Dream Team gets the gameplay right

Sonic Dream Team features a few game modes. Most of them follow the regular style of gameplay you'd expect from the franchise - go fast in a relatively linear fashion while collecting rings and defeating enemies. Others require you to beat?? the clock and some force you to slow down to explore the differen??t environments to find all Dream Orbs.

Each of the game modes are enjoyable, and thanks to good level desig?n, I don't mind trying different objectives in the same locations. The ability to play as different characters isn't an arbitrary addition, as they have varying abilities, allowing you to get to previously unreachable places.

The levels are a good length, about as long as those in classics like Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Completing the game will take you about six hours, though that number can change drastically depending on ??your skills and whether you're slowing down to explore.

For the most part, Dream Team runs smoothly, though it isn't void of technical issues. Annoyingly, it froze a couple of times and even made my Macbook crash more than once. Granted, my M1 isn't exactly the latest machine on the market, but it shouldn't be having problems with a mobile game like Sonic Dream Team.

Weird and wonderful

The Sonic franchise has been around for decades, and through the good, bad, and terrible, it's managed to maintain an avid fanbase. At this point, it's hard to separate how much of this love is nostalgia and how much is a genuine ?appreciation for a franchise that debuted as an original, exciting platformer.

With the game released on Apple's devices, it's probably going to be missed by ??many who would have had a blast with it. It has a weird story with surreal settings and gameplay that's too good to be stuck where it currently is.

Sonic Dream Team deserves appreciation. In short, it's not the worst, but it's certainly not the best either, with just enough here to satisfy classic Sonic fans and tho??se seeking to experience the hedgehog's adventure in 3D.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game purchased by the reviewer.]}

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One of Apple's key selling points of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the devices' ability to play some pretty modern and demanding games. One of which is the recent Resident Evil 4 remake, and it's launching on compatible iOS devices soon.

Capcom announced that the Resident Evil 4 remake will be coming to the iPhone 15 Pro on December 20. It will also be available for iPad and Mac devices with the M1?? chip or later on the same day.

The Ada Wong-focused DLC, Separate Ways, launches alongside the core game. It features additional content that resolves around "a secret ??mission that expands on the adventure and features thrilling new game mechanics."

The preorder available now enables a demo of Resident Evil 4. It showcases the beginning of Leon Kennedy's otherworldly end??eavors, and gives you a feel for how the game works on mobile devices. You can play via the device's touchscreen or with compatible bluetooth controllers. It's also cross-platform playable with a single purchase so you can easily transfer pl?ay across your iPhone 15 Pro, iPad, or Mac. The latter of which offers keyboard and mouse controls.

Resident Evil 4 isn't the only prominent console title heading towards mobile. Ubisoft also confirmed it will be bringin Assassin's Creed Mirage to iOS platforms. And Capcom's Resident Evil Village launch?ed for the aforeme??ntioned Apple devices on October 30.

Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Village, and Assassin's Creed Mirage are all landing on modern iOS devices without the need for cloud support. It's a pretty incredible time for mobile phone gaming. If you're hesitant, don't be. Resident Evil 4's remake earned a good score when it rolled out for consoles and PC in March. As did the Separated Ways DLC, which actually scored a bit better.

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After years of hope, Valve finally released Counter-Strike 2 towards the end of September. The game �which sees it replacing CS:GO �exploded in popularity overnight. However, for those on older systems?, the updated version of the iconic FPS will no longer be supported.

In a recent post on the Steam Support page, the message reads that Valve will cease supporting Counter-Strike 2 on "older hardware, including DirectX 9 and 32-bit operating systems." So if you're sti??ll running Windows XP or older, you're going to be out of ??luck.

For those on Mac, things seem worse. The post goes on to say that the developer will "no longer support macOS" at all. These outdated PCs and the total macOS users only account for around one?? percen??t of players, Valve says.

Instead, you'll get this...

While Counter-Strike 2 will be moving forward with exclusively 64-bit Windows and Linux operating systems, those who are on older machines are being offered a 'legacy version' of CS:GO. However, support for this will onl?y be ongoing until January ?1, 2024, though the game will "still be available."

This legacy version is a "frozen build" of CS:GO and will come with all the features of the game, just not official matchmaking. Valve says those who can no longer play Counter-Strike 2 are e??ligible for "Prime Status Upgrade" refunds, though there are some provisos to that.

Despite the hype surrounding this updated version of the legendary Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the game currently has a "Mixed" review score on Steam. Some of this could be due to CS:GO no longer being available, and the removal of support for macOS and older PCs might see further criticisms heading the gam??e's way.

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Larian Studios just dropped its ninth hotfix for Baldur's Gate 3, and along with the usual bug fixes, this small update brings some greatly appreciated quality-of-life features. Get ready to lose even more time in the game’s character creator, as Hotfix #9 introduces name changes to Baldur's Gate 3 and lets you adjust the appearanc??e of Hirelings now, too.

Mirror, mirror on the wall

The Magic Mirror has always been a useful camp item in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you get tired of your Tav’s current look, the Magic Mirror will let you change things up. Now, though, the Mirror will let you adjust arguably the most important ??asp??ect of your character: their name. That’s right, no more bemoaning the fact that you weren’t feeling creative when you started your campaign. Tav can finally get a truly unique name, like Frank or Jane. 

Even if you’re fully satisfied with your current character, t??his latest hotfix will still give you a reason to check out the Magic Mirror. You can finally use it to adjust the look of any hirelings that you decided to bring along on your journey. Anyo?ne who didn’t get their character create itch satisfied at the beginning of the game can now dive back into the creator with a new character all over again. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 is the gift that keeps on giving. Larian Studios blew everyone away when it released the game in August, and since then a steady stream of updates and hotfixes have been add??ressing fan concerns and cleaning up minor bugs?? throughout the game’s massive world.

Those Mirror changes are the highlights of Larian’s latest hotfix, but you can read all nitty-gritty details on the Baldur’s Gate 3 Steam page. 

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It's been about six weeks since Baldur's Gate 3 was released, and the third bigger patch is already here. Larian Studios has been quick and thorough with patches for the CRPG so far, and Patch 3 is no different. Perhaps most importantly, Patch 3 makes Baldur's Gate 3 fully supported on Mac. Saves of previous versions are not compatible, and Larian recommends Mac players fully uninstall previous versions of BG3 to minimize potential issues.

Feature-wise, a new Magic Mirror is now at camp. Players can interact with the Magic Mirror to change their appearance at any time, however many times they want. While appearance, voice, pronouns, and your...uh...special parts, can be changed, race/subrace and body type cannot. Also, origin characters, hirelings, and full illithids cannot use the Magic Mirror. I guess this means I should stop guzzling down tadp??oles.

Patch 3 for Baldur's Gate 3 also includes some additional changes to gameplay, combat, and performance. We've included some of the non-spoiler patch notes below, but you can view the full Patch 3 notes here.

Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 3 notes

HIGHLIGHTS

• Baldur’s Gate 3 is now fully supported on Mac!
• A Magic Mirror that lets you change your appearance is now available at camp!

COMBAT

• Fixed Level 4 or higher Divine Smite allowing you to add Divine Smite as a reaction, allowing for two Divine Smites in 1 attack.
• Fixed the Divine Smite damage increasing over the cap of 5d8.
• Made several improvements to the Poltergeist enemy: they are now revealed on being attacked or hit with Radiant Spirit Guardians; they will not turn Invisible again if they are still in a character's See Invisibility aura; in Balanced and Explorer Mode, they have disadvantage on Dexterity Saving Throws when Invisible; the range of their attacks has been reduced; and they won't try to keep distance from the player in combat so that they are easier to find.
• Fixed the Sneak Attack damage bonus not increasing to 6d6 at Level 11.
• Fixed a case where multiple Smokepowder Arrows could be used for free while the Extra Attack feature was active.

PS5

• The colours on the PS5 controller will now match elemental damage types more closely.

PERFORMANCE

• Improved performance in the Lower City. More to come!

ART

• Made dye colours more intense and more visible on some armours. This will only affect newly dyed items.
• Dragonborn characters can now select any of the barbarian piercings.
• Fixed Shadowheart going blonde when equipping a hat.
• Improved the reflection in the Spectator's eye in the Underdark.
• Fixed face tattoos disappearing when zooming out.

GAMEPLAY

• The following spells will now correctly break the Sanctuary condition: Call Lightning, Evard's Black Tentacles, Polymorph, Hunger of Hadar, Fear, Ice Storm, Flesh to Stone, Divine Intervention, Hypnotic Pattern, Slow, Stinking Cloud, Banishment, Glyph of Warding.
• Level Up will now queue all characters who can be levelled up so you don't have to click on them individually.
• Fixed some corpses never showing the '(empty)' tag after you loot them.
• Fixed not being able to use some reactions while in disguise.
• Cazador's staff, Woe, now correctly unlocks the Blight spell when equipped.
• Fixed several magic items and Volo's Ersatz Eye losing their power after you are killed and revived.
• Fixed the Spell Sniper feat not working on attack spells.
• The Spell Sniper feat will now correctly reduce the Critical Hit threshold by 1.
• Fixed the Idol of Silvanus buff disappearing after Long Rest.
• Mummies raised through Create Undead can now Jump to follow you around better.
• The Everburn Blade now correctly sets explosive surfaces and explosive objects alight when hit.
• The Misty Escape feat will no longer break concentration.
• Reading shop signs will no longer be considered a crime.
• The Cutting Words reaction is now set to Ask by default.
• Summoned zombies and skeletons will no longer be able to pick up loot and disappear with it when dismissed.
• The Azer summon's Overheat ability is now available on its hotbar when summoned.
• The Nimblefinger Gloves now correctly apply their Dexterity bonus to gnomes, halflings, and dwarves.
• Fixed an Animate Dead exploit allowing you to summon 2 skeletons from the same corpse.
• Optimised how the game handles object selection on controller.
• Fixed Sovereign Spaw being able to resurrect hirelings with Animating Spores. We taught him to not use this on player characters anymore.

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Meta-horror visual novel Slay the Princess is locking in a date, just in time for the spookiest season. Black Tabby Games will unleash Slay the Princess on October 20, 2023 for PC, Mac, and ?Linux via Steam.

Black Tabby Games has already made itself known in the horror space through Scarlet Hollow, and Slay the Princess looks to be pretty terrifying in its own way. The general idea is that you wake up in some woods, driven by the disembodied voice of the Narrator (Jonathan Sims from The Magnus Archives) to slay the princess. Doing so, he says, wi?ll save the world.

But what do you choose to d??o when you reach her cabin? Do you pick up the knife and bring it down? Do you try to talk things out with t??he princess, voiced by Nichole Goodnight, or simply do what you're told? And what if you've been here before?

Without saying too much, the narrative starts to twist and shift in ways you can already see in the newest release date trailer:

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY07Vh7MEbg

More than a princess

The draw of Slay the Princess, as we've seen in demos here, is how its narrative threads weave and intersect to reflect decisions. Slay the Princess is, essentially, about trust. And depending on what you've?? already done, the princess may warp t??o reflect your actions, as you also try to comprehend just what is going on in this place.

Some really sharp writing and incredible art work, complemented by the fully voice-acted lineup, really makes Slay the Princess shine. Its focus on creating an exact vibe and idea earned it a spot on our list of favorite games from PAX East 2023.

Suffice to say, I'm looking forward to this one, and October is the perfect month for it. Black Tabby also confirms Slay the Princess is coming to Steam Deck, so the terror can go on-the-go, too. Make your choices and live with them as Slay the Princess arrives on October 20.

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Get ready for throwback action because developer Maple Powered Games is working on a new G.I. Joe beat 'em up. The studio announced G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra with Q1 2024 release plans on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. 

G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra promises both online and couch co-op for up to four players in Story and Arcade Mode. Duke, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, and other classic characters are getting in on it, so you can shelve your figures for a while after launch. A trailer accompanied Maple Powered Games' announcement, providing an idea of how the retro-style brawler looks. 

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tHrCaYrDd4

The forces of nostalgia are firing on all cylinders. There's music from Tee Lopes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge) with vocals from Crush 40 vocalist Johnny Gioeli. We've also got rough animation that honors the stupendously goofy spirit of the G.I. Joe cartoon. Then it all ends with a quick dash of in-development gameplay footage, which looks like a slightly slower beat 'em up in the vein of The Punisher or Captain America. 

[caption id="attachment_401202" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Freedom Games[/caption]

Wherever there's trouble

Some locales planned for Wrath of Cobra include G.I. Joe headquarters, "The Pit," Cobra Island, and Cobra's secret underwater base. You won't get much of a feel for it from the trailer, but apparently Wrath of Cobra sports a parry system. That should come in handy when dealing with enemies like Ninja Vipers, the Crimson Guard, and HISS Tanks. Man, I'd say I miss '80s toys, but you can literally go to Target and pick up exact replicas right now. 

However this turns out, at least it's likely to have a killer soundtrack. I don't know that it will reach the heights of the villainous twist theme song from 1987's G.I. Joe: The Movie, but there's plenty of time to dream big.

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Future Kojima Productions titles to hit the platform too

Today was the annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference and while I’m disappointed I’m going to have to wait even longer for an M1-powered iPad Mini, there was a lot to be excited about if you’re a Mac gamer. For anyone who’s been using a Mac as long as I have (20+ years), we know that Apple and gaming ?haven’t always synced up as well as they should have. Sure, games are a cash machine on the iPhone/iPad, but when it comes to playing the biggest PC and console games, the Mac has often felt like an afterthought. With today’s presentation, it looks like Apple is making a good effort to change that with Game Mode and the reveal of Death Stranding Director’s Cut for Mac computers.

Game Mode is part of the upcoming macOS Sonoma operating system. The idea behind the feature is it will automatically give games the top priority of CPU and GPU to improve the gaming experience and reduce latency. The new macOS will also include features for game developers, including Metal tools for Windows, which will help developers port their high-end games from PC to Mac. Some of the games that popped up in the presentation include Resident Evil Village, Layers of Fear, and Stray. Oh, and Kojima dropped by to announce Death Stranding Director’s Cut is coming to Mac computers.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc46cO3spSE

It’s always fun to see Kojima pop up in places where you don’t expect him to be. I certainly didn’t have him showing his face here on my bingo card, but it is nice to know Kojima Productions is planning to bring future titles to the macOS platform in addition to Death Stranding.

Between this and Apple’s continued support of the Apple Arcade subscription service, it’s clear the company has turned a corner on gaming. Maybe it’s all that money it’s made from other people’s games on the App Store or the fact that the MacBook Air is, according to Apple, the world’s best-selling laptop, but as a lifelong user of the platform, I'm happy developers might be taking it seriously again. I don’t know if it’ll last, but I would love to get rid ??of my Windows laptop that I only keep around for the occasional Steam game.

Although, I guess I could do t?hat now and just buy a Steam Deck.

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Set out for adventure on the couch too

Larian Studios has locked in a firm launch date for Baldur's Gate 3, and a new platform too. Baldur's Gate 3 arrives on August 31 for ??PC, Mac, and now, PlayStation 5.

Revealed as part of today's PlayStation State of Play, the latest RPG from Larian is getting a console version to coincide with the 1.0 PC launch on August 31. We had previously known the window for Larian's exit from Early Access, but now we have a firm date, alongside the platforms for Baldur's Gate 3's launch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-KF9iueE0

Today's trailer spotlights General Ketheric Thorm, a necromancer leading an army of undead horrors towards Baldur's Gate. As Larian shares in its blog, Thorm is not the main antagonist of Baldur's Gate 3, but one of three main antagonists the party will h?ave to defeat in the course of their advent??ures.

Thorm is voiced by none other than J.K. Simmons, and the video of him recording some lines for the game ??is very, ve?ry good.

Adventuring your way

Alongside the console platform reveal, there were also some nice features shown off ??for ??the upcoming adventure. First off, there is full controller support. And split-screen co-op return as well, a feature that Larian had included for console releases of previous RPGs.

Baldur's Gate 3 will also support cross-progression between PC, Mac, and PlayStation 5. Theoretically, this means you could play Baldur's Gate 3 at home on the P??S5, and then take your save on-the-go with your Steam Deck.

Larian also detailed the different editions of Baldur's Gate 3. There is a Digital Deluxe Edition on the way, with a pack of special collectibles including Bard songs from the Divinity series, a digital OST and artbook, and some special character sheets for each Baldur's Gate 3 origin character. Everyone who's already picked up the Early Access version of Baldur's Gate 3 wil??l get a free upgrade to the Digital Deluxe on launch day, too.

The Early Access journey for Baldur's Gate 3 comes to a close when the new RPG launches on August?? 31, 2023 for P??C and PS5.

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A reimagined classic sets out next month

Ken and Roberta Williams' 3D interpretation of the classic Colossal Cave is set to launch next month. Colossal Cave will go live on January 19, 2023.

Announced tonight at The Game Awards 2022, the new version of this adventure is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC and Mac, and the Meta Quest 2. Previous generation consoles, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, are expected to get Colossal Cave sometime in Q1 2023.

This 3D version of Colossal Cave is based on the original Colossal Cave Adventure, a classic text adventure game. Sierra On-Line co-founders Ken and Roberta Williams have taken that classic and made it 3D, moving from words and des??criptions into full-on environments. Ther?e's still a narrator though, to capture some of that original feel.

The goal is to traverse the cave, collect items, and return home safe and sound. S??imple, it may seem, unti??l you realize how much danger awaits in the cave.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBxihf4lIC0

Find the treasure and escape the cave

Getting a new version of a classic is something that happens quite often in games. But for both this particular game, and the developers behind it, Colossal Cave feels like a cool way t??o  honor the long legacy games have built up over the years.

I'm fascinated to dig into the cave for myself. This was a segment of PC gaming I never got around to, and it's been re-imagined by developers who have a lot of respect for the era. And Colossal Cave being playable in virtual reality on the Meta Quest 2 is pretty neat, too?. This is a neat convergence point of gaming h??istory to kick off 2023.

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FLUX arrives on Erlin's Eye in July

Sci-fi narrative adventure Citizen Sleeper is getting more content, starting this month. FLUX, the first of three free DLC episodes for Citizen Sleeper, launches on July 28, 2022.

FLUX is one of three upcoming updates, and centers on tensions around a refugee ship bound for Erlin's Eye, the station on which Citizen Sleeper takes place. All three of Citizen Sleeper's new episodes expand on the wider narrative of the Helion System, where the ?Eye is located.

The FLUX storyl??ine will introduce new characters at the heart of its story. Eshe is the stubborn captain of the Climbing Briar, tangled up with the flotilla. Peake, their second-in-command, will also play a role in a story about getting relief through quarantine.

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

The current roadmap for post-launch rollout has FLUX landing in July, while a second? update is tentatively scheduled for October. More is further out, likely into next year.

No time for nodding off, Sleeper

If you're unfamiliar, Citizen Sleeper is a tabletop-inspired role-playing adventure that released earlier this year for PC, Mac, Switch, and Xbox. It follows a Sleeper, which is a??n artificial body and consciousness essentially copied over from another person for labor.

As the Sleeper, you're on the run from a corporation and find yourself on Erlin's Eye, a station filled with wayward souls and outcast?s on the fringe of occupied space. Much of t??he game is about surviving day to day, trying to maintain a failing body while figuring out what to do next, and how.

It's an extremely captivating experience that I haven't been able to get out of my head since I reviewed it. It's a wonderful mix of storytelling, tension, and tabletop mechanics. ??So it's safe to say I'm interested in? what Jump Over The Age and Fellow Traveller are doing with these follow-up episodes.

The first Citizen Sleeper DLC episode, FLUX, goes live for free on all platforms on July 28.

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Farm, craft, and hang out with Disney and Pixar pals

A new competitor in the life simulator genre is bringing some Disney magic. Gameloft has announced Disney Dreamlight Valley, a new life sim adventure for PC, Mac, and consoles set in t??he magical world of Disney and?? Pixar.

Dreamlight Valley looks to have a little bit of everything, from traditional adventures and hanging out ?with characters to farming, crafting, and cooking. Players can make customizable avatars and restore a village in the titular Dreamlight Valley.

Along the way, different Disney and Pixar characters wi??ll be able to join in and hang out. Building friendships with Disney characters seems like a core part of the game, populating the village as more of it is restored.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUl5sWbOinY

There are realms to explore featuring various movies. And it looks like the activities can involve certain characters too. In the trailer above, you can see Wall-E he??lping with the garden, Goofy fishing, and Remy getting a whiff of ?the character's cooking.

Life in Magic Kingdom

It seems a bit like Stardew Valley meets Disney, which isn't a bad pitch. Putting a??ll these familiar faces in a world where you can roam around and hang out seems like an obvious fit.

Seeing how the story sections of Dreamlight Valley play out will be neat too. The PlayStation Blog mentions a story-driven campaign. Characters seem to get their own story arc, with exploration, gift-giving,?? and side activities built around getting to know them.

A family-friendly Disney theme park approach to a Stardew-type game seems pretty alright to me. The customizable avatar aspect is a smart choice too, letting players make their own persona in-game. Really, I'm just psyched for any game where I can cook with Remy from Ratatouille.

Disney Dreamlight Valley hits early access this summer,?? via a Founder'?s Pack or Xbox Game Pass. It's set to launch into free-to-play sometime next year.

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(Unless you already own everything, like me)

This is how we know it is officially The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Valve has opened the doors on The Steam Winter Sale, offering huge discounts on hundreds of games, all ready and waiting for your hard-earned bucker??oos.

As we all know, Christmas is a time for decorating trees, getting together with long-lost relatives, and registering hundreds of new game licenses for titles you do not even plan to install, let alone play. Over the past decade and change, The Steam Winter Sale has provided us all with the opportunity to buy Shantae and the Pirate's Curse and the entire Batman: Arkham franchise for less than the price?? of a ?sandwich... Do you own Celeste? Of course you do, but why not buy it again!

But, jesting aside, there are some fine titles on offer in this year's endeavor, including Supergiant's multiple award-winning title Hades, Arkane's smart shooter Deathloop, The Game Awards GOTY It Takes Two, FromSoftware's excellent Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and many, many more. Whatever kind of gaming takes?? your fancy, you'll find something fun. And if you don't, then just gift me instead. (I kid, don't gift me, I already have way too much queued up).

The Steam Winter Sale will run until January 5, 2022. Remember when you used to have to log in every four hours to check for new prices. That seemed fun at the time... It really wasn't. They had us by the short 'n' ??curlies.

The post The Steam Winter Sale is live for your spendi??ng spree needs appeared first on Destructoid.

The adorable lil' fox that could is finally set for launch

It feels like years that we've been seeing teasers, trailers, and demos for the adorable Tunic. And now, the legend of Tunic has locked in a release date. Tunic will launch for PC and Xbox ??consoles on March 16, 2022.

Revealed during The Game Awards 2021 in its pre-show roll, the spry and adorable little fox will set off for adventure on both console and PC in the new year. Alongside a release date for Tunic, we also got a new trailer that looks pretty impressive. Tunic looks gorgeous as?? ever, but I really dug the menus and the little touches it had? in the map. It's a good looking game!

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

It feels like there isn't much more to say about Tunic at this point. It's been around for a ??while, looks great, and I'm happy we'll finally have a date to see Andrew Shouldice and Finji's isometric action adventure in full.

Tunic sets out for new lands and lost legends on March 16, for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC and Mac via Steam. You can wishlist it ahead of the launch date on Steam here.

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Aka the Black Friday Steam sale

Right on cue (thanks for the advance notice, Valve!), the Steam Autumn Sale started today and it'll continue running until 10:00 a.m. Pacific on Wednesday, December 1.

Nowadays, with Steam really leaning into personalized recommendations, it's a storefront?? where you're usually better served with diligent wishlist upkeep. (Says the guy who basically never wishlists anything, even cool games he's bound to forget about.) All the same, I like to throw out any ideas I can, and here are some deals that stood out to me.

Steam Autumn Sale 2021 recommendations

• A Hat in Time ($14.99)
• Back 4 Blood ($41.99)
• Biomutant ($29.99)
• Borderlands 3 ($14.99)
• Cruelty Squad ($15.99)
• Dark Souls: Remastered ($19.99)
• Days Gone ($29.99)
• Death Stranding ($17.99)
• Death's Door ($14.99)
• Deathloop ($29.99)
• Disco Elysium - The Final Cut ($19.99)
• Don't Starve Together ($5.09)
• F1 2021 ($29.99)
• Ghostrunner ($11.99)
• Guilty Gear Strive ($38.99)
• Gunfire Reborn ($14.99)
• Half-Life: Alyx ($29.99)
• Halo: The Master Chief Collection ($19.99)
• Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition ($24.99)
• Hot Wheels Unleashed ($34.99)
• Hunt: Showdown ($19.99)
• Inscryption ($15.99)
• It Takes Two ($24.79)
• Life is Strange: True Colors ($38.99)
• Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy ($38.99)
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition ($34.79)
• New World ($29.99)
• Nioh 2 - The Complete Edition ($34.99)
• No Man's Sky ($29.99)
• Noita ($10.99)
• Outer Wilds ($14.99)
• Outer Wilds - Echoes of the Eye ($11.99)
• Outriders ($19.79)
• Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous ($42.49)
• Persona 5 Strikers ($35.99)
• Planet Zoo ($13.49)
• Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator ($11.99)
• PowerWash Simulator ($16.99)
• Psychonauts 2 ($41.99)
• Resident Evil 2 ($15.99)
• Resident Evil 3 ($17.99)
• Resident Evil Village ($29.99)
• Risk of Rain 2 ($14.99)
• Sable ($16.74)
• Satisfactory ($20.99)
• Sea of Thieves ($23.99)
• Sid Meier's Civilization VI ($8.99)
• Slay the Spire ($9.99)
• Stardew Valley ($8.99)
• Subnautica: Below Zero ($22.49)
• Tales of Arise ($44.99)
• Terraria ($4.99)
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition ($13.19)
• The Forest ($7.99)
• The Jackbox Party Pack 8 ($23.99)
• The Yakuza Bundle ($24.72)
• Valheim ($15.99)
• Wildermyth ($18.74)
• Yakuza Remastered Collection ($30.12)

Please hurl your best niche and/or under-the-??rad?ar picks you've got in the comments!

My favorite "I'm glad I waited for a Black Friday sale" game so far has been Deathloop, which really hooked me even as someone who has struggled to click with Dishonored before. I kept putting it off thinking the positive buzz wouldn't n??ecessarily apply to me, yet I ended up binging the game in a weekend. It's, uh, not that short! But I loved its vibe.

If the timing isn't right, or your wishlisted games aren?'t quite hitting the price??s you have in mind, there's one more major Steam sale �the Winter Sale �slated for December 22.

You may also want to poke your head into the Steam Awards. The nomination process is now open to the public, wi?th categories ranging from Game of the Year, to Labor of Love, to Best Soundtrack, and there's even a Sit Back And Relax Award �don't mind if I do!

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Borderlands 3 has cross-play on PC, Mac, Xbox, and Stadia, but no PS4 or PS5 support

The headliner of today's Borderlands 3 update is arguably cross-play support, but for me, a guy who likes to grind out skill points, I'm just here for the level cap increase. You can now take your characters up to level 72, and the??re are up to 70 skill?? points to mull over.

I've never been a min-maxer in Borderlands 3 —�/em>I play this g??ame pretty casually �but I get a kick out of seeing overpowered builds and the rationale behind them.