The prophecy has been fulfilled: Arrowhead Games has dropped the notes for the Helldivers 2 day-60 patch, which brings even more buffs an??d changes to the table. Oh, and it apparently canonizes community meme John Helldiver. But let's ??briefly forget about that and dive into the notes.

It may have come out a few days later than expected, but the Helldivers 2 day-60 patch has arrived. The Arrowhead team found many more buffs and changes to apply to the game's weapons a??nd stratagems. Gameplay changes run the gamut from ene?my health to patrol spawn behavior. The patch targets the Automaton forces more directly, decreasing the armor for some enemies while making it harder for them to target you through smoke and fog.

Helldivers 2 day-60 patch notes is full of welcome changes

More than 70 weapons and stratagems got tweaked or reworked following Helldivers 2 patch 01.001.104. For the guns, the Liberator, Scorcher, Purifier, Punisher Plasma, and others have been buffed to be even more viable in the field. Among the big buffs, few are bigger than the one for the fan-favorite P-4 Senator, which has been upgraded with heavy armor penetration and increased projectile damage. But can it actually ground Chargers? Oh, yes. And not just Chargers.

The patch also addresses many of the support weapons. The Recoilless Rifle now has programmable ammunition, allowing you to switch between the regular rockets and High-Explosive rounds. Arrowhead extended the same love to ??the Autocannon, which can fire normal or flak projectiles. Other affected Stratagems include the Machine Guns and the Stalwart, the Jump Pack, the AR-23 "Guard Dog," and more.

The Automatons got a right bruising with the patch. Devastators, Berserkers, and Tanks have received decreased armor or head health. Tank weak spots now have a health pool separate ??from the vehicle's total health, and damaging it "150% damage to the Tank's main health." Recently equipped with laser cannons, the Hulk Bruiser had said weapon reverted to the standard rocket launcher. And you have John Helldiver to thank, according to the team.

"In response to their disapproval of a newly installed cannon on the Automaton Hulk Bruisers, Super Earth High Command sent a crack commando to sabotage their production facilities," read the patch notes. "The skilled operative promptly escaped into the shadows after completing their mission. Today, still wan?ted by the Automatons, they survive as a soldier of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can enlist�John Helldiver"

John isn't the only one having fun. According to the notes, the famous General Brasch is coming home from his "h?oliday retreat in foggy hillside town." I suddenly fee?l a bit sorry for Pyramid Head. But only a little.

The 60-day patch notes for Helldivers 2 are?? extensive, s?o be sure to give it a good read before your next drop.

The post The?? Helldivers 2 day-60 patch arrives with dozens of new buffs and changes covering wea?pons and enemies appeared first on Destructoid.

Supergiant Games has released Patch 4 for Hades 2, but the notes are much shorter this time around. The patch brings additional changes to Boons and Da??edalus Hammer upgrades, ??while addressing some concerns brought about by Patch 3.

In June, Supergiant mentioned it was slowing things down to focus on the next Major Update, but in development, there are always things that need fixing. In this case, the team writes in its patch notes that Patch 4 is aimed at clearing up "various issues we've observed since our pr?evious patches, which we wanted to alleviat?e before our first Major Update later this year."

Hades 2 Patch 3 was quite significant, adding new Incantations while reworking ??or replacing a list of Boons and Blessings. Patch 4 ?is a continuation of this effort, but more subdued this time around.

Hades 2 Patch 4 notes bring changes to Boons

Hades 2 Patch 4 once again reworks upgrades. Zeus' 'Spirit Surge' has been reworked, for example, as has Hera's 'Engagement Ring'. Her 'Family Trad?e', however, has been replaced by a Boon that allows your Omega Cast to damage enemies when they spawn into the fight.

Check out the Boon changes below (courtesy of Supergiant Games):

• Lightning Lance (Zeus): improved targeting while using gamepad controls
• Spirit Surge (Zeus): reworked; now whenever you use magick, a surrounding foe is struck by lightning
• Sworn Strike (Hera): slightly reduced bonus from Poms of Power
• Engagement Ring (Hera): reworked; inflicts Hitch on foes, and any slain in the circle deal area damage
• Family Trade (Hera): cut from game; replaced withâ€?!-- wp:list -->

  • Rousing Reception (Hera): new! Your Casts damage foes as they enter the Encounter, wherever they appear (this effect was previously innate to Engagement Ring)

• Golden Rule (Hera X Poseidon): now applies a multiplicative global damage bonus, rather than a flat bonus only to Attacks and Specials
• Beach Ball (Poseidon x Apollo): added greater damage and area scaling over a brief charge-up duration
• Mint Condition (Hephaestus): invulnerability effect now resets between Encounters in same Location

Daedalus Hammer changes

Patch 4 is bringing changes to Daedalus Hammer upgrades, reworking a number of them for every weapon in the game. I am also happy to report that my picks for best Daedalus Upgrades in Hades 2 have been spared by Patch 4, save for on??e. Destructive Array for the Argent Skull once performed 50% Attack damage eve??ry 2.5 seconds. Now, the Shells only dish out said damage when they land.

Here are the Daedalus Hammer changes:

• Mirrored Thrasher (Staff): removed Life penalty; now requires Magick instead
• Skulking Slice (Blades): reduced bonus damage striking foes from behind
• Escalating Ambush (Blades): cut from game; replaced withâ€?!-- wp:list -->

  • Wicked Onslaught (Blades): new! Adds power to Attacks

• Melting Shredder (Axe): increased damage to Armor
• Inverted Spark (Flames): now also causes projectiles to linger for longer
• Whirling Coil (Flames): projectiles no longer spin in place; renamed from Origin Coil
• Crushing Comet (Flames): cut from game; replaced withâ€?!-- wp:list -->

  • Triple Comet (Flames): new! Your Special fires more projectiles

• Destructive Array (Skull): now deals a percentage of your Attack damage whenever your Shells drop
• Rocket Bombard (Skull): increased damage

Patch 4 addresses dozens of bugs a??nd other issues, most of which came from communit??y feedback. Check out the notes for the full list.

The post Hades 2 Patch 4 is smaller, but not??es big changes to Boons and Hammers appeared first on Destructoid.

Patch 3 has arrived for the Early Access build of Hades 2, with some lengthy patch notes in tow. The patch brings many changes to godly Boons and Sele??ne Hexes, while adding new UI icons across the board. For those demanding a buff to Hestia's Scorch, today is your day.

Summer has arrived for Hestia who, like many of her Olympian fellows, received welcome changes to Boons. Hestia's Scorch damage has been increased for every Boon that uses it, which is goo??d news for fans of damage-over-time effects.

Dozens upon dozens of Boons have been changed in Hades 2 Patch 3, w?ith some getting reworked or replaced completely. T??he patch affects not just your typical Boons, but Duo Boons and Hexes �five of which have been buffed. Speaking of Duo Boons, they'll show up more often now, along with Legendary Boons.

Hades 2 Patch 3 changes the Early Access build for the better

Hades 2 Patch 3 brings six new Incantations to the Crossroads Cauldron. And for those who love gathering materials, you'll find these a treat. Ashen Memories of Life, for example, raises your life limit by a small amount for every Ash reward you claim. Bones of Burnished Bronze gives you some Armor for every reward of Bones gathered. It should make your future Bones-farming runs even more beneficial.

The new I??ncantations (listed by Supergiant Games):

• Temporal Fluctuation

  • Lets time-slow effects such as Phase Shift (Selene) work vs. [Final Boss]

• Circles of the Moon

  • Activating Warding Circles in Erebus fully charges your Hex

• Ashen Memories of Life

  • Whenever you claim rewards of Ash, slightly raise your Life limit

• Psychic Slivers of Clarity

  • Whenever you claim rewards of Psyche, slightly raise your Magick limit

• Bones of Burnished Bronze

  • Whenever you claim rewards of Bones, gain some Armor

• Nectar of Godly Savor

  • Whenever you claim rewards of Nectar, gain +1 Lv. for a random Boon

The patch notes al??s?o include dozens of bug fixes, most of which are the result of community feedback. I won't list them all, but one in particular stands out:

• Fixed Eris sometimes leaving Rubbish in the Crossroads even while absent

Finally. I k?now Melinoë is forever doomed to clean up after the goddess of spite, but there'?s gotta be a limit here.

Be sure to check out the patch notes in their entirety, as I can't list everything. There are also changes to Weapon Aspects, the Altar of Ashes, several Keepsakes, and so much more. It's worth checking to see if your favorite Boons have been buffed or reworked entirely. I'm just glad to see Hestia get the attention she needed. I'll gladly welcome the spicy sass back into my r??uns.

The post Hades 2 Early Access Patch 3 arrives with improvemen??ts to Boons and more Incantations appeared first on Destructoid.

The second Early Access patch for Hades 2 has arrived to the slam of a V??olcanic Strike. It brings many changes, from full weapon rebalance to Aspect reworks and more. Some Daedalus Hammers have been replaced, and the fina?l fight may be less annoying. Or, maybe not?

Developer Supergiant Games dropped the Hades 2 Patch 2 notes yesterday. Many changes are pretty hefty, meaning you'll probably experience a noticeably different Hades 2 from here on out. All five weapons got buffed, which is great. So, too, did Selene's Hexes, which I've championed for a while now. But now they're even better! Hopefully, the doubters will finally give Selene the chance she?? deserves.

Hades 2 Patch 2 changes affect weapons, Aspects, and icons

Weapons and Aspects

Every weapon in Hades 2 received a buff with Patch 2. A few of the cha??nges are fairly minor: The Sister Blades' stagger lasts longer against enemies, and the Witch's Staff Omega Special charges faster. The Moonstone Axes' Omega Special attack now gives Melinoe a lingering? barrier so she doesn't eat damage while charging it up.

But the one that got the most atte??ntion is undoubtedly the Umbral Flames. Yes, the weapon may finally be useful. The update boo?sts and speeds up its attacks and now lets you move while channeling the Omega Special.

Some Weapon Aspects have also been reworked. The Aspect of Melinoë on the Moonstone Axe adds Power and Life, w?hile the Umbral Flames' Aspect of Eos copies your Special move and fires a slow shot that blasts enemies.

But again, the Wands get a major change: The Aspect of Momus has been completely replaced. Using an Omega move with Momus will fire said move a few times in the place it was cast until you use it again. Some in the community predicted the change to Momus, as the Aspect was viewed as a bit broken when combined with the Daedal??us Hammer upgrade, Double Moonshot.

Speaking of which, several Daedalus Hammer upgrades have been replaced. Double Wallop is go?ne, swapped out for Wicked Thrasher, which grants bonus Power to all attacks. There are some new Hammer upgrades, such as Flick Knives (Sister Blades), which fires Special knives in a fan pattern with every Dash-Strike.

New Keepsake icons

The patch has added icons for all 27 Keepsakes. This might not be a massive gameplay change, but I sure am happy to no longer see my cabinet filled to the brim ?with Sonic rings.

Check out the Hades 2 P??atch 2 notes in their entirety when you get ??the chance (it's a lot). Keep in mind that there are some spoilers, but Supergiant was kind enough to redact some just in case you're still making your way through the game.

The post Hades 2 Early Access Patch 2 br??ings balance changes and man??y reworks appeared first on Destructoid.

At last, the sturdy boot of Managed Democracy will be delivered to those who deserve it nearly as much as bugs and bots. The latest patch for Helldivers 2 adds an AFK kick timer to remove AWOL players so that active divers can be a??llowed to unleash justice.

Following patch 1.000.11, Helldivers 2 wil??l boot lobby-dwellers after 15 minutes of inactivity. There are other fixes with the patch, mind. But the timer is an important addition.

Helldivers 2 gets a much-needed AFK timer to kick AWOL divers

It's no secret that the game's community has been clamoring for such an update. Helldivers 2 has been explosively popular, bringing in more than 450,000 players on Steam? alone. Some have joked that a small number of those players were likely those who managed to get in the game but refused to leave.

Hopefully, the patch will allow players to jump into the game smoothly rather than having to wait things out. I have a new Stratagem that I need to test on Automatons this weekend.

Granted, it's probably not a perfect system. Back in my day (I'm old and allowed to say it), players who wanted to stay AFK in a game would use a rubber band on a controller's thumbstick. It would trick the game into thinking the player was still online, but perhaps hopelessly confused. I agree with those who say players who want to stay should type out a Stratagem cheat code in??stead.

Other issues addressed, and some things that remain

Here are other issues addressed by the patch (courtesy of Arr?owhead):

• Fixed multiple crashes triggered when joining other playersâ€?ships
• Fixed crash triggered when exiting ADS
• Fixed crash triggered when players leave a session while bombardments are active
• Fixed issue where online missions in Galactic War Map were unselectable
• Fixed issue with GameGuard and Steam’s “verify integrityâ€?step
• Fixed issue with GameGuard and the Windows firewall
• Fixed issue preventing access to Ship Management panel
• Fixed issue causing players to get stuck in the defrosting or in the ship intro cinematic
• Fixed crash triggered when the process of buying Super Credits fails
• Fixed crash triggered after consecutive quickplay attempts
• Implemented a functionality that will kick players who remain idle for 15 minutes back to the title screen

There are still some problems that Arrowhead is aware of. Armor values are still messed up, and disconnects continue to occur during matches. Oh, and there's error cod??e 10003001 on PS5 that I've become intimate friends with. Indeed, the road to Democracy is long, but it should be worth the har?d fight.

The post Helldivers 2 patch adds AF??K kick timer to manage those pesky ship squatters appeared first on Destructoid.

I suppose it's appropriate that we get a Helldivers 2 patch on Valentine's Day to address matchmaking. With the community lamenting disconnection issues, no doubt plenty are getting tired of the messy break-ups. Hopefully, today's stability patch touches the hearts of all Helldivers 2 players.

It's no secret that Helldivers 2 players have been having a, ahem, hell of a time finding matches and staying connected. Developer Arrowhead Game Studios has responded to the concerns, explaining the unusual situation while rolling out fixes and server updates. Indeed, being too successful can be its own burden. Patch 01.000.006, which rolled out today, further optimizes the game.

What to expect in the Helldivers 2 matchmaking and stability patch

The patch itself isn't massive, but could provide players some major relief. One of Arrowhead's big goals with the update is to stabilize the game further by tackling crashes and connectio??n issues. The patch also prepares the game by providing a "build for upcoming server matchmaking improvements."

Here is the list of fixes with Helldivers 2 patch 01.000.006 (courtesy of Arrowhead):

Fixes

• Fixed crash when application was closed shortly after start
• Game no longer crashes during extraction cutscene.
• User profile with too many friends no longer causes crash.
• Fixed crash when using text-to-speech during extraction cutscene
• Game no longer crashes when users disconnect during the joining cutscene.
• Operation Status in Mission Summary no longer causes crash.
• Fixed crashes caused by leftover visual effects from disconnected players.
• Game no longer crashes when using ADS.
• Repaired instability in game data packing that caused increased patch sizes.
• Improved backend connectivity, reduces likelihood of disconnecting in missions.
• Improved matchmaking experience and likelihood of success.

As a fellow spreader of Managed Democracy, I recognize at least a few of the aforementioned issues. Hopefully, the patch helps Helldivers finally defeat the unseen enemy of connection errors. It won't help with beating the Automatons, sadly. Best ?of luck out there.

The post He??lldivers 2 patch ??rolls out to address game stability and matchmaking appeared first on Destructoid.

The Palworld Steam and Xbox/Game Pass version debacle continues thanks to patch 0.1.1.0 that arrived on January 23. To the surprise of many, including myself, Paldium Crystals got renamed to Ancient Civilization Parts in Palworld on Xbox and PC Game Pass.

To bring anyone confused up to the present, the Steam version of Palworld differs from the version on Xbox/PC Game Pass. Those playing the latter are actual?ly a patch or two behind, even with the latest update??.

According to developer Pocketpair, the reason is due to certification requirements. The Steam users are playing, 1.2.0, is still going through Microsoft certification. Presumably, as versions are certified, players of Palworld ??on Xbox will soon get caught up with their Steam friends.

Paldium Crystals are Ancient Civilization Parts, and another item needs them now

The two versions of Palworld are different in gradual ways. When the game launched, Xbox and Game Pass players were on version 0.1.0.0 as opposed to version 0.1.2.0 on Steam. The former version lacked some qualit?y-of-life improvements such as faster crafting, and it also didn't have an option to quit the game. Really, I was forcing the game to quit after every session.

But things are slowly being brought up to par, and ??Xbox and Game Pass users are feeling the changes. As men?tioned, Ancient Civilization Parts, materials earned by beating bosses, were called Paldium Crystals on Xbox until the patch.

But that's not all. Egg Incubators didn't require Ancient Civilization Parts to be crafted, but now they do �much to one player's chagrin. I also learned earlier today that the Statue of Power you can build for your base no long??er needs an Ancient Technology point to unlock. You can build it at level 6 for 20 Stone and 10 Paldium Fragments.

There may be more instances of changed names or requirements, which will no doubt either conf?use or annoy Xbox and Game Pass players. Hopefully, the two versions will soon be the same and we'll no longer have situations where I need to ask ot?her Destructoid staff members what the name of those spark plug things are anymore.

What else does Palworld patch 0.1.0.0 bring?

Ignoring the aforementioned item changes, the patch doesn't really do a whole lot. A black screen i??ssue is fixed for users on both Xbox and PC. For PC players specific??ally, here's what the patch does:

• Your controller is now recognized
• Key guide is now displayed correctly
• An exit button has been added to the main menu

The developer notes tha?t bugs and sound issues have also been fixed.

The post PSA: Confusingly, Pa?lworld Paldium Crystals are now Ancient Civilization Parts on Xbox an?d Game Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

Payday 3 has had a pretty rough start. With some notable issues from the moment the game came out, developer Starbreeze has been promising an update to address some major concerns. Now, after a number of delays, version 1.0.1 has launched.

If you've got the time to spare, you can check out the patch notes for the game, which lists a bunch of fixes, tweaks, and quality-of-life changes. Everything from the audio to the visuals to the UI have been given some TLC, so Payday 3 should be in a better state now.

However, for those waiting on word about a possible offline mode for the game, there's no mention of that here. That's something the developer is considering, but we don't know? if or when it's likely to be implemented.

Why the long delay?

With trouble connecting to matches, general bugs, and the aforementioned lack of an offline mode, Payday 3 received a lot of negative feedback at launch.

Despite promising an update, Starbreeze had ?to push it back a bit, describing the reasons for do??ing so as "long and complicated," with particular concerns about risks to player progression.

As of now, the game is currently showing a "Mixed" review score on Steam. Maybe that'll change now we have th??e new update. But who knows?

Payday 3 Patch 1.0.1 notes

Hello heisters!
After some instability, we’re finally up and running as things should be! Heisters heisting, civilians screaming and cops floundering! We’ve got a lot more cooking, keep letting us know when you find bugs and sending us your ?suggestions!

GENERAL

• Added pre-order and edition specific items to everyone
• Last radio call will now provide a last warning before alarm goes off, and will not be interrupted by other radio dialogues
• Players can now not turn the camera during the full tased effect
• Added a fix for the “Cleaninâ€?It Outâ€?achievement to pop up when the criteria is met
• Fixed an issue where the player doesn’t gain “Rushâ€?when masking up while sprinting
• Fixed an issue where the player could bind “Throw itemâ€?and “Request overkill weaponâ€?to the same keybind
• Updated the aim assist function for PS5 controllers
• Closing or opening doors will no longer push/move players in close proximity
• Fixed a crash caused when answering a radio
• Fixed a crash that could happen when vaulting near the heist end
• Fixed an issue where players got stuck in crouch when playing with high ping
• Added a fix so Overkill weapons don’t fall through vehicles
• Fixed so the tutorial scroll box is scrollable the second time you open a tutorial popup
• Added a fix for a crash caused by multiple explosions
• Fixed an issue where the “Closing the Accountâ€?trophy didn’t unlock properly
• Fixed so the achievement “Cleaninâ€?it outâ€?needs to be done on Overkill
• Fixed issue with marking though some windows
• Added a fix to prevent players from getting stuck when using a human shield that dies
• Fixed a DLSS related crash
• Fixed an issue where the player can get stuck and not proceeding to menus after failing a heist
• Removed a state check to fix issue with AI placed bags having wrong rotation
• Added a fix so game won’t crash when joining another player through social or shell
• Fixed an issue with the social list not filling up
• Fixed an issue where a party couldn’t matchmake if the former party leader had left the party
• Fixed an issue where social list didn’t populate after reestablishing an internet connection
• Changing languages should now work
• Fixed a crash related to getting a random character when joining a game
• Fixed a crash related to IP address
• Closed the weapon experience exploit in 99 Boxes

BALANCE

For this patch, we wante??d to primarily address minor fixes.

We are aware that Last Man Standing and Armor Up are? performing a bit too well, so we plan to give them a few tweaks that keep them effective, but require a bit more setup compared to the benefits they offer. This will be in the next big patch. Outside of these two skills, we don’t expect any big nerfs coming to skills in the next patch, but given players are still getting used to the game, we’ll be keeping a close eye on the meta.

We are also aware that armor is considered the most desirable resource compared to ammo and health. We are happy with how armor itself works, but we want to put in a few more ways for players to restore it in the game. We also think health is underperforming right?? now, but addressing that will be a gradual change over the first year of updates, rather than one sweeping update.

SKILLS

• Using Manipulator Basic Skill will no longer cause an interaction interference when players do multiple interactions in a row
• “Battering Ramâ€?skill can no longer be used to open blue keycard door on “Rock the Cradleâ€?/li>

• “Battering Ramâ€?skill can no longer be used to open the front door on “Touch the skyâ€?/li>

WEAPONS

• Added ability for knives to be thrown through broken shield visors.
• Fixed an issue where throwing knives couldn’t be picked up when the equipped primary or secondary weapon had full ammo
• Adjusted the Vertical Grip spawn point on weapon PC9
• Moved the magazine release lever on SA A144
• Fixed an issue with weapon recoil in lower FPS

ENEMIES

• Dozers will now get closer before engaging heisters with their shotgun
• Updated the enemy flashbangs to apply flash effect more consistently
• Player can no longer open doors leading to enemy spawn locations

TECHNICAL

• The real meat of this update, the tech stuff! There’s a wide variety of fixes and changes on this list. Continue to let us know if you find any bugs and we’ll keep smashing them!

UI

• Added a “Keep these display changes?â€?message after changing screen resolution.
• Fixed a minor typo in the loadout section
• UI update for favor reward in result screen
• Reduced description text size, in skill line menus
• Added ability for players to review the EULA again after creating their accounts
• Fixed an issue causing player names, and infamy levels, to not load correctly and displaying wrong information
• Fixed translation issue related to the whiskey bottle in “Touch the Skyâ€?/li>

• Fixed overlapping text in heist overview
• Added icons for when buffs are blocked due to certain skills
• Dropdown for offline friends in social screen should now be displayed correctly
• Added a fix for the camera zooming out of screen when inspecting an item from the vendors
• Fixed an issue showing an incorrect amount of remaining radio calls when a player joins an ongoing heist
• Added a fix for overlapping weapon mod names to make them more readable
• Player stats are now shown in result screen when failing a heist
• Added a fix so a joining player’s name is displayed in the chat
• Added a button prompt showing how to exit the safe cracking mini-game
• The phone hacking visualization should now always reach full when completing
• Fixed locked story videos to properly reset color values when initialized
• Adjustments made to fonts in settings menu
• Fixed an issue with the “report playerâ€?option not appearing
• Fixed an issue where the user could interact with the menus when the report text box was open
• Added a fix for stock mods “TQâ€?and “HQâ€? their titles are now aligned in the loadout
• Tool input is now shown as blocked when interacting with loot
• Resized the loadout selection bar
• Fixed an issue with joining a friend in the social menu when spamming the join button
• Fixed an issue on with friends not to appear properly

AUDIO

• A sound of dropping a dead body onto the ground will now be played when players drop bodies
• The sound effect of sliding will now stop playing when players stop sliding
• Added sound effect for closed windows being destroyed
• Cinematic audio volume is now also affected by master volume
• Removed “breakâ€?VFX from throwing knives that don’t break when Retriever skill is equipped
• Added a fix for smalltalk between civilians and employees not triggering
• Added more small talk conversations between civilians
• Shade voice over will no longer play, when players return to the main menu after canceling matchmaking
• Improved the sound effect for opening crates
• Disabled the Shade VO about file clues when the actual documents have already been picked up
• Wolf now whisper instead of screams for medic bags during stealth gameplay
• Fixed an issue where dye packs would loop the audio when breaking while being disarmed
• Fixed an issue where civilian cellphone ringtones would loop forever
• Fixed an issue that could cause eye scanner to play incorrect VO when scanning the correct NPC
• Audio balancing for enemy VOs
• Added more door sounds
• Added sound effects for NPC animations
• Fixed an issue where the human shield takedown sound effect would not stop if you reload your gun while choking someone out

VISUALS

• Fixed a visual issue with deployables placed on moving objects that wouldn’t sync up for players joining an ongoing heist
• Fixed deployables floating in the air when placed on a surface that then moved, deployables will now fall to the ground.
• Fixed an issue with deployables floating when placed on certain doors
• Fixed multiple minor graphical issues on the front part of the bank on “No Rest of the Wickedâ€?/li>

• Fixed weapon animation issue when looking upwards and using tools
• Added a fix so that switching between sprinting and placing tools wouldn’t cause issues when sprinting.
• Fixed animation issue when SWATs are freeing hostages appearing as taking damage
• Fixed an issue on lower graphical settings causing the door of the escape helicopter to appear broken. (PC)
• Fixed a bug where the player could get inside the transport van in one of the pot holes in “Road Rageâ€?/li>

• Fixed a bug where standing on the van would cause the player positions to glitch
• Realigned The Butcher’s contractor image with the bottom of the screen
• Subtitle fixes for story videos
• Fixed a animation issue when using microcamera
• In-game heist info screen now scales properly across aspect ratios
• Adjusted enemy sabotage animation
• Optimized foliage LODs

HEIST

• Melee damage no longer affects environment details that should only take damage from explosions/gunfire in Gold & Sharke
• Fixed missing collision, in a small area on the bank roof, on “No Rest for the Wickedâ€?/li>

• Removed an area that was tagged as “publicâ€?on the roof in “Under the Surphazeâ€?/li>

• Fixed a bug that led guards to sometimes walk through a closed door on “No Rest for the Wickedâ€?/li>

• Added a fix for the Security Door that was openable without a Blue keycard on â€?9 boxesâ€?/li>

• Added a missing out of bounds screen filter in “Under the Surphazeâ€?/li>

• Deployables no longer disappear when thrown through vents on “Touch the Skyâ€?/li>

• Added a fix for canceling sliding into panic room’s door on “Touch the Skyâ€?/li>

• Fixed the texture of the panic room’s door on “Touch the Skyâ€?/li>

• “Favorsâ€?and “Difficultyâ€?are no longer visible in tutorials when holding Tab
• Players will no longer stutter when jumping and sprinting inside the truck on â€?9 Boxesâ€?/li>

• Added collision to block players from getting stuck behind a curtain on “Under the Surphazeâ€?/li>

• Added collision to prevent bags from being thrown outside of the playable area on “Road Rageâ€?/li>

• Fixed a vent navigation issue in “Rock the Cradleâ€?/li>

• Fixed an issue where bags would get stuck in the forklift on “Road Rageâ€?/li>

• Fixed an issue where loot bags would disappear when throwing them into the zipline on “Touch the Skyâ€?/li>

• Fixed an issue where AI crew could get stuck in â€?9 Boxesâ€?/li>

• Fixed issues where you could throw bags out of reach on “Dirty Iceâ€?/li>

• Fixed an issue where some jewelry trays are clipping in the VIP room on “Dirty Iceâ€?/li>

• Added so the drill option appears during Stealth on “Touch the Skyâ€?/li>

• Disabled all interaction for placed planks once all four have been placed on “Road Rageâ€?/li>

• Added a fix for where the Escape Objective sometimes didn’t appear on “Dirty Iceâ€?/li>

• The “Enter the Workshopâ€?objective will get disabled if players secure maximum loot
• Fixed an issue where Mason gets poisoned despite not being delivered the poisoned drink on “Touch the skyâ€?/li>

• Fixed an issue where the armored truck would get stuck before the final ramp on “Road Rageâ€?/li>

• Fixed an Overkill difficulty issue where the bouncer wouldn’t let you proceed after showing him the VIP invitation on “Rock the Cradleâ€?/li>

• Adjusted the ambush setup timer on “Road Rageâ€?/li>

• Added collision to prevent cage bags falling through the ground on “Rock the Cradleâ€?/li>

• Added a fix so players cannot throw the zipline bag in the escape van on Gold & Sharke

KNOWN ISSUES

• Challenge stuck at 1/1 can now be unlocked by completing the challenge again or completing the highest difficulty challenge in the sequence
• The weapon charms and death wish reward from the PAYDAY 2 to PAYDAY 3 cross promotion campaign haven’t been properly granted. We hope to have this issue fully resolved by the next patch

The post Payday 3 1.0.1 patch ?fi?nally out, comes with a healthy dose of fixes appeared first on Destructoid.

These days, most would agree that Cyberpunk 2077 is a fantastic game, rife with dystopian goodness. In fact, CD Projekt Red recently announced it had sold 25 million copies, proving how the tides have truly turned. Not content to rest??? on its laurels, the studio has also just released the next update.

Patch 2.01 has started rolling out and, as with all good updates, comes with a cavalcade of tweaks and bug fixes. There are som?e notable repairs to various quests, as well as addressing the gameplay in general, such as an "issue that could cause V to bec??ome invulnerable to all damage."

There's also been fixes to some of the missions in Phantom Liberty, including patching one that could "cause V to get stuck in the wall or roof after performing a Finisher on Kur??t Hansen."

No more major updates, though

Despite the obvious work that's still being put into Cyberpunk 2077, CDPR has said there'll be no more major updates for the game. The big 2.0 patch and Phantom Liberty DLC were the last sig????????????????????????????nificant changes the team made to the sci-fi RPG.

Going forward, the developer will likely be putting all its chips into the Cyberpunk follow-up (currently titled "Orion") as well as the new Witcher saga and remake of the first Witcher game. In short: it's going to be a very busy next few years for the once-disgraced stu?dio.

Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.01 notes

Phantom Liberty-specific

• Balls to the Wall - When talking to Paco, repeating the blue dialogue option from the Corpo lifepath will no longer block progress.
• Dog Eat Dog - Fixed an issue where it was possible to earn multiple Relic points by triggering the first meeting with Songbird more than once.
• Firestarter - Fixed an issue that could cause V to get stuck in the wall or roof after performing a Finisher on Kurt Hansen.

Moving Heat

• Fixed an issue that could cause all traffic to disappear after completing the quest.
• Fixed an issue where triggering combat in the garage in specific scenarios could cause various disruptions to quest flow.

• New Person, Same Old Mistakes - Fixed an issue where the gate to Bill's hot dog stand was closed.

Somewhat Damaged

• Fixed an issue preventing the player from scanning the Neural Network system.
• Various fixes for devices in the bunker.

• The Killing Moon - Fixed an issue that caused the doors leading to the shuttle to not open.

You Know My Name

• Fixed an issue where V could remain connected to the sniper nest, blocking quest progress, after repeatedly switching cameras at the end of the sequence.
• Reed will now wear his party outfit during the dialogue with Songbird.

• Addressed an issue where some phone calls necessary to continue the main story began with a delay.
• Various visual fixes for animations, lighting, scenes, VFX, and more.
• Performance improvements for both PC and consoles, especially in the Dogtown area.

Quests & Open World

• Automatic Love - The distortion effect caused by talking to Johnny and selecting a specific dialogue option at the end of the quest will no longer persist on the screen.
• Ghost Town - Fixed an issue where the quest could get stuck on the "Defeat Nash and his people" objective if the game was saved during combat prior to Update 2.0.

Gig: Breaking News

• Fixed an issue where Ted Fox's car didn't spawn.
• Fixed an issue where the gig wouldn't trigger after approaching the quest area.

• Gig: Going-Away Party - Fixed an issue where it wasn't possible to get in the car with Flavio because it spawned underground.
• Gig: The Lord Giveth and Taketh Away - Fixed an issue where the Militech SUV spawned underground.

Killing in the Name

• Fixed an issue where leaving the quest unfinished could block clue scanning, preventing the player from progressing in many quests.
• Fixed an issue where the Bartmoss Collective website wasn't visible in some cases.

• Playing for Time - Fixed an issue where healing and radio icons disappeared from the HUD after the car chase with Takemura.
• Space Oddity - Fixed an issue where the quest didn't activate if the location was approached prior to Update 2.0.

The Heist

• Fixed an issue where Jackie wasn't present in front of the Afterlife.
• Fixed an issue where, when riding the elevator to the 42nd floor with low FPS, V could fall through the floor and die.

• The Prophet's Song - Fixed an issue where completing the quest could cause the police system to turn a blind eye to V's crimes.
• The Ripperdoc - Fixed an issue where, if the player got into the driver's seat from the passenger seat, Jackie would return to the noodle stand and refuse to drive to the ripperdoc.
• Fixed an issue where NCPD Scanner Hustles could remain uncompleted even after looting the necessary containers.
• Fixed an issue where some Iconic weapons wouldn't appear on wall of the Stash in V's apartment.
• Lowered the value of the Attribute check required to enter the area where the Thermal Katana can be looted.

Gameplay

• Made it possible to properly switch to Arm cyberware by cycling through weapons.
• Addressed an issue that could cause V to become invulnerable to all damage.
• A wrecked NCPD cruiser without wheels won't be patrolling the streets of Night City anymore.
• Fixed an issue where some obsolete mods in the Inventory and Stash weren't properly exchanged for a new weapon mod.
• Fixed an issue where weapons obtained pre-Update 2.0 could have a Tier that's too high when compared to the player's level.
• Removed various obsolete Crafting Specs.
• Disassembling a Budget Arms Slaught-O-Matic will now give 1 crafting component.

PC-specific

• Fixed an issue where the UI could show controller inputs when playing on keyboard and mouse.
• Players unable to get achievements due to an issue that prevented Phantom Liberty achievements from unlocking on PC before a backend fix implemented on the day of the release will have them retroactively unlocked on GOG and Steam after loading a save from that playthrough. For the Epic Games Store, the issue is still under investigation.
• Fixed an issue where, after installing Update 2.0 but not the expansion on GOG, a pop-up saying "Phantom Liberty downloaded - please return to the main menu to access new content" could appear in the in-game menu.
• Improved image quality of DLSS Ray Reconstruction in the Ultra Performance setting.

Console-specific

• Addressed the issue of corrupted saves on PlayStation by increasing the maximum save file size limit. Note: this won't fix saves corrupted before the update.
• Fixed an issue where launching the game without an internet connection would prompt the player to log into GOG My Rewards again.

Miscellaneous

• Various crash fixes on PC and consoles.
• Vehicle radio volume has been adjusted so it's no longer too quiet compared to other sounds in the game. If you've turned down the volume of other sounds in order to better hear the radio, you may want to re-adjust the volume before you continue playing.
• Added sounds for the Basilisk that were missing.
• Fixed an issue where the player could earn an infinite score in Trauma Drama by shooting at enemies dropping from a helicopter repeatedly.
• Growl FM and Dark Star websites will now be visible when playing without Phantom Liberty.
• Fixed an issue where disconnecting the internet didn't result in an error message being displayed in My Rewards and Cross Progression tabs.
• The song History by Gazelle Twin and Trash Generation will now be disabled when the "Disable Copyrighted Music" option is turned on.
• Fixed an issue where hair didn't cast shadows when Ray Tracing was enabled.
• Players who pre-ordered Phantom Liberty but didn't get the Quadra Sport R-7 "Vigilante" will now receive it.
• Several improvements and changes to Ukrainian localization, including fixes for lines where the translation lost its original meaning.

REDmod

• Fixed an issue where tweak mods would not compile in REDmod.
• Added Phantom Liberty support to REDmod.

The post Cyberpunk 2077 Patch 2.01 is out – here’s all the notes appeared first on Destructoid.

The Force Won't Be With You

Respawn Entertainment has issued an apology to PC players for the state of the desktop edition of new release Star Wars Jedi: Survivor �The statement was issued this weekend after a torrent of complaints rolled in from players on Steam, decrying the RPG's critical bugs, frequent crashes, and generally ??unoptimized nature.

In addition to the above problems, the notorious issue of DRM has risen its head once again, locking some players out under the mistaken belief that they had the sequel booted on several PCs at once. In a recent report from the techheads over at Digital Foundry, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was bestowed the questionable title of "Worst AAA PC port of 2023 so far", complaining of framerate drops, texture stutter??, and a lack of suppo??rt for software such as DLSS and XeSS.

//twitter.?com/EAStarWars/status/1??651990800862183426?s=20

"We are aware that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor isn’t performing to our standards for a percentage of our PC players, in particular those with high-end machines or certain specific configurations," begins Respawn's statement, issued to Twitter. "While there is no sin??gle, comprehensive solution for PC performance, the team has been working on fixes we believe? will improve performance across a spectrum of configurations."

"We are committed to fixing these issues as soon as possible, but each patch requires significant testing to ensure we don’t introduce new problems. Than??ks for understanding and apologies to any of our players experiencing these issues. We will continue to monitor performance across all platforms and share update timing as soon a??s it is available."

Launching on April 28, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor received high scores from many critics, praising the adventure's characters, combat, and expansive worlds. While it's more than likely that many of these reviewers played the PS5/Xbox Serie??s X editions of the game, the high praise will only add further sourness to PC players, who must now wait for Electronic Arts and Respawn to make good on its promised "weeks"?? of patches and updates.

The post Respawn issues apology for Star Wars Jed?i: Survivor shoddy PC port appeared first on Destructoid.

Repairing a fallen society

Naughty Dog continues in its efforts to roll out patches for its disappointing PC port of The Last of Us Part I, with each new update bringing it closer and closer to the quality expected of the Californian studio. The newest patch, Version 1.0.4.0, released yesterd?ay with another fistful of fixes.

Looking at the patch notes, it seems that this particular update focuses on CPU/GPU compatibility, while optimizing the PC ??edition of the dramatic remake for the Steam Deck platform. Graphics in general have been improved at lower settings, (water no longer appears as a black void), while an array of random crashes and U.I. bugs have also been elimina??ted, including one which saw the game report a critical error occasionally when skipping cutscenes during loading.

Mush Room for Improvement

For all of you Achievement fans, the busted "It Can't Be for Nothing" achievement should now pop, while non-English speaking players will be pleased to hear that multiple corrections have been made to language errors in the menus and in-game subtitles. Naughty Dog ends the notes by reiterating its commitment to improving The Last of Us Part I's PC port in the coming weeks and months.

"We at Naughty Dog and ??our partners at Iron ??Galaxy are closely watching player reports to support future improvements and patches. We are actively optimizing, working on game stability, and implementing additional fixes which will all be included in regularly released future updates."

The Last of Us Part I is available now on PS5 and PC/Steam.

The post Naughty Dog cont??inues to roll out Steam updates for The Last of Us Part I appeared first on Destructoid.

Patches en route for troubled port

Naughty Dog has released another patch for the troubled PC edition of its critically acclaimed grimfest The Last of Us Part I �In addition, the stud?io noted that fixing the port's issues was currently its top priority, and those waiting on its Ste??am Deck Compatibility will need to remain patient while the game, y'know, gets fixed.

The Last of Us Part I V1.0.1.7, which is available to download right now, tackles several crash instances that would occur when booting the game or when transitioning between Windowed and Fullscreen modes. Additionally, the new update includes fixes for the game's UI, and tackles some of the stran??ge behavior exhibited by NPCs out on the mean streets of Boston. Players with nVidia Series 30 graphics cards are advised to update their drivers before playing with the new patch installed.

"We at Naughty Dog and our partners at Iron Galaxy are closely watching player reports to support future improvements and patches." writes ND on the official patch notes. "We are actively optimizing, working on game stability, and implementing additional? fixes which will all be included in regularly released future updates."

The Last of Us Part I launched on Steam on March 28. And, despite being delayed by almost a month, has disappointed fans with a litany of issues, ranging from visual glitches and broken textures, to clipping animation, effect botches, long load times, and random crashing. The Steam releases holds a "Mostly Negative" review rating on the Steam platform, a disappointment given Naughty Dog's excellent PC port of previous release such as Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves.

The post The Last of Us Part I PC woes prioritized over Steam Deck Verif??ication appeared first on Destructoid.

Premium controller launches January 26

Sony has released a new firmware update for its still-far-too-big-for-its-own-good platform PlayStation 5 �Update 22.02-06.50.00, which is now available to download, paves the way for the arrival of the PS5 premium controller DualSense Edge, which will launch worldwide on January 26.

Officially revealed in October 2022, the DualSense Edge is a component-based version of the stand??ard PS5 controller, which comes packaged with various modules to allow complete customization of the premium unit. DualSense Edge features full programmable buttons, as wel??l as adjustable trigger pressure, custom dead-zone positioning, and save states for different users and games. In addition, the DualSense comes with its own storage case, which doubles as a charging dock.

//www?.youtube.com/watch?v=UvmmWeov68s??&ab_channel=PlayStation

While an impressive piece of technology, the DualSense Edge comes at a cost, namely $199.99 USD, which equates to a staggering £209.99 GBP or �39.99 EUR, half the cost of the digital edition of the PS5 console itself. Sony has also noted that DualSense Edge will have a "moderately" shorter battery life than the original DualSens??e, which makes the new controller an exceptionally niche purchase.

Can ?you put a price on adjustable Haptic?? Feedback? Sony sure has

The PS5 DualSense Edge launches January 26, exclusively on the PlayStation Direct store. It will be made available at other retailers, online and offline, from February 23. For more details, see our previous report.

The post New PS5 update prepares platform for the?? DualSense Edge appeared first on Destructoid.

Have yourself a Cowabunga Christmas...

Hot on the heels of yesterday's update for Konami's TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection, publisher Dotemu has announced a new patch for Tribute Games' great brawler TMNT: Shredder's Revenge. Now available on all platforms, the upda?te adds?? a variety of fun modes and features to the retro scrapper.

First and foremost, the new Custom Game mode allows hosts to tweak a?? variety on in-game options in order to fine-tune their Shredder-smashing experience. Players can now take on fast enemies, play as the same characters, turn up the difficulty, switch out health for supers, and even access infinite credits for shellfish ease. It should be noted that turning on any of these extra ??options rules out leaderboard access, or the unlocking of achievements.

//www.youtube.??com/watch?v=GemOAwU-9fo?&ab_channel=Dotemu

Additionally, some fun new filters have been made available, a??llowing for players to give the screen the curved, pixelated look of an arcade monitor, or a '90s-tastic, bleeding-color style of a VCR tape. Radical. In regards to online play, a new option will allow the host to dictate the amount of players allowed to join a game, from two to four. Guest players can also rejoin previously left games.

Importantly, the new update brings a host of tweaks, balance changes, and bug fixes to Shredder's Revenge. While many were happy to praise the game for its authentic retro style and attention to detail, many critics and fans have papered over the litany of bugs that ruin an otherwise great experience. Fortunately, this new patch addresses a variety of problems �from random crashes and vanishing bosses, to broken scores and input glitches. Additionally, a small selection of player and enemy moves ??have been buffed/nerfed, in order to provide a tighter, fairer experience.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is available now on PlaySt?ation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge update adds custom options, filters, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Growin' up in a glass bowl...

Digital Eclipse has released a major update for its tubular anthology TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection �Now available to download on all platforms, the patch features a fistful of highly-requested tweaks across all titles, as well as ??a fresh round of bug stomps and improved online capabilities.

There are a shelluva lot of changes listed in the official patch notes, with notable examples being PS4 controller support for the PS5 edition, ar??cade stick support for Xbox platforms, and a selection of four filters for all included Game Boy titles. Additionally, a variety of additional dip switch and option settings have been applied to several titles, while new tips have been added to the in-game strategy guides.

//w??ww.youtube.com/watch?v=N6wScwqY440&ab_channel=Destru?ctoid

In regard to online connectivity, TMNT IV: Turtles in Time now supports online multiplayer, while a future update will add the same feature to TMNT III: The Manhatten Project. Across the board, improvements have been made to all games' online stability, while players can setup up lobbies for the two ?arcade releases, limiting them to two-to-four players as desired. In addition to all of the above, several bugs have been patched out, while fixes have been applied to the collection's U.I. and menus.

TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection almost seems too good to be true. Usually, when a collection such as this is put together, r??ed tape and licensing snafus always leave several titles off-grid, but Konami has successfully gathered together all of the most memorable TMNT adventures from arcade, home console, and handheld, pa?ckaged together with fun features and online support. With this new update, (and further updates planned), the collection remains an absolute must-buy for any fan of the Heroes in a Half-Shell.

TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection i??s available now on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The post TMNT: Cowabunga Collection upd?ate adds features and bolsters o??nline 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 "G?rand 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 highly extensive damage. The patch hopes to bring some of the characte?rs 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 G?uard Breaks.

//?www.youtube.com/??watch?v=bIG1gEQquKk&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 o?pinion?, welcome) aggressive 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 the 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 y??ou'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 inc?oming appeared first on Destructoid.

Update 1.24 brings balance tweaks and bug stomps

Developer Arc System Works has released a new update for its gorgeous anime fighter Guilty Gear Strive, bringing with it balance tweaks, bug fixes and, most no?table of all, crossplay support between console and PC editions of? the game.

Players on PS4, ?PS5, and PC can now all step into the ring against one another, as well as converge in lobbies, spectate each other's matches and replays, view player profiles, and even check out the delightfully dioramic "Digital Figure" creations of their brethren. Additionally, PlayStation and PC players can also share the extremely useful "Combo Maker" mode with each other, helping all players to grow their pugilistic potential on all platforms.

The meat-and-potatoes of the update �at least for competitive players �lies in a litany of balances tweaks made to Strive's cast of characters, as well as smaller adjustments to mechanics such as the Tension Gauge, proximity striking, and overall damage scaling. It seems that the rebalance as a whole has been more about "everybody coming up" rather than higher-tier characters "going down". You can check out the changes to your favorite gear over on the official blog.

On a technical front, Update 1.24 also brings with it a litany of tweaks and adjustments across the board, from U.I. and menu issues, to audio fixes, and the stomping of a variety of bugs that would crop up in online situations. A new "Report" feature has also been added, allowing players to call out toxic behavior via another player's "R-Code" (profile). Players can also now choose to both mute and block troublemakers, which should help to? keep the locker room a little more chee??rful.

Adding crossplay to Guilty Gear Strive will only help to prolong the life of the title into 2023 and beyond. This action widens the player pool and offers up the opportunity for greater battle experience across the board. It is assumed that the incoming Xbox port of Strive (scheduled to launch in spring 2023), will only bring more players into the fold, ensuring that the top-tier fighter will continue to hold its own against incoming releases such as Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8.

Guilty Gear Strive is available now on PlayStatio??n and PC platforms.

The post ?Crossplay is now ready to rock in Guilty Gear Strive 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 Octolings to truly shine. This new form of league ranking will launch on November 30, resetting with 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 sta?tistics. In addition, some of the point values needed to achieve certain ranks have 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 s?pecial 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 �i?s 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 Switch??. Chill Season launches Novem??ber 30.

The post Splato?on 3 Version 2.0: New modes, i?tems, stages, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Raceway to Recovery

Sonic Team has released that first major patch for its recent release Sonic Frontiers �Rolling out on PlayStation?? now, Version 110 addresses numerous issues with the? so-so adventure. Similar patches for other console and PC platforms are set to follow in the near future.

The patch notes are, oddly, only available via the Japanese Sonic Frontiers Twitter. But, thanks to a translation by UpdateCrazy, we know that Version 110 includes fixes for a variety of in-game problems, including UI and map optimizat?ion, fixes to audio issues, performance improvements, and fixes for numerous fatal crashes. The new update also cleans out a bug that would cause the Chronos Island boss to randomly disappear upon retry.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfr4kK8phZ4

Sonic Frontiers launched on November 8 to a mish-mash of reviews and divisive fan praise. While some found the new adventure an interesting and unique new take on the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, others were ostracized by repetitive gameplay and a dull, somewhat miserable environment. Much of the fanbase sees Sonic Frontiers as a posi?tive step for the dice-roll franchise, however, and hopes that it represents a new dawn for a series that has had its fair share of ??terrible releases.

There is still work to be done to bring Sonic Frontiers fully up to speed, (pun fully intended), and Sonic Team lead Morio Kishimoto has raised a few eyebrows with his comments that he sees the game's grand worldwide launch akin to a "global playtest". Despite thi?s, Kishimoto points to the new title as a landma?rk moment, reinventing the long-running franchise for a brighter future.

Sonic Frontiers is available now on PlayS??tat?ion, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms.

The post Sonic Frontiers patch?? address issues with map, audio, crashes and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Prepare for the coming of the God eaters

Today sees the long-anticipated arrival of one of the biggest sequel's in gaming history, as Sony Santa Monica's magnum opus, God of War Ragnarok, launches on PlayStation platforms �And while Fathers and Boys everywhere will be eager to stand up against the coming wave of armageddon, the developer has suggested that you take a moment or two to download the sequel's day one patch.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1wr0DfV73E

The God of War Ragnarok V2 patch features over 100 tweaks and fixes, relating to the epic title's UI, combat, controls, visual elements, dialogue, accessibility options, menus, and much, much more. There are also specific stability fixes for both PS4 and PS5. You can check out the huge list of fixes via the official patch notes, though be warned that SSM suggests that the tweaks feature minor spoilers pertaining to abilities, creatures, and questlines. The update should downl??oad as soon as you install the game.

God of War Ragnarok is the follow-up to the stellar 2018 release, God of War. The new title follows the continued adventures of an aging Kratos and his brave but somewhat inexperienced son, Atreus, as they face the coming of Ragnarok �the fabled event said to ?bring death and destruction to a number of gods and figures of p??ower, while bringing chaos to the world and its climate. Quite what role our heroes will play in this event, and how it ties into the lives of their allies and enemies... Well, we'll have to just play the game to find out.

God of War Ragnarok is available now on PlayStation platforms. Check out Chris Carter's review right here.

The post God of War Ragnarok day one patch ?notes include a massive list of ?tweaks appeared first on Destructoid.

Drug arrest actor finally faces Judgment

Once Judgment hit the PC scene, it was inevitable that players would start to poke a?round with the title's source code, as the PC krew are wont to do �case in point, this new mod, which restores the voice and visual likeness of actor Pierre Taki, who was patched out of the RPG shortly after it??s initial release.

The controversy came about way back in the spring of 2019, when the (then) 51-year-old actor was arrested for cocaine use. While no illicit substances were found at Taki's home, the actor registered positive when tested for samples. Japan's drug laws are among some of the world's most stringent, and the event led Sega to immediately halt sales of Judgment in order to remove Taki from his role as the Tojo Clan's subsidiary captain, Kyohei Hamura. Judgment would eventually return to the market, with Hamura sporting a brand new fa?ce and a re-recorde??d voice.

Clearly, however, his likeness and vocal performance remained buried within the source code of the PlayStation edition, as modder Timo654 has successfully adapted a similar PlayStation mod to now work with the new PC/Steam launch. The Pierre Taki mod for Judgment can be accessed via the NexusMods website, and is compatible with the popular trainer Ryu Mod Manager, which is utilized for the modding of titles within the Ryu ga Gotoku series.

As for Taki himself, the Tokyo District Court handed down a sentence of 18 months in jail for cocaine use. The sentence has a three-year suspension period. The ??actor has continued to work in film and television since the arrest.

Judgment PC mod restores ‘disgraced�origina?l Hamura actor [PCGamesN]

The post Judgment PC mod restores previously removed acto?r Pierre Taki appeared first on Destructoid.

Beta testing will begin next month

Some very fun news for the Guilty Gear faithful this weekend, as Arc System Works has announced that it will retroactively be adding rollback netcode to the PC edition of its previous release Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2. A date was not announced for the tech upgrade, but b??eta testing will begin in late October.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTnAGIZRtB4

To clarify, this is not the current GG title, Guilty Gear Strive, that is getting the update, (that game already has rollback netcode), but the previous release in the series, which still has a dedicated playerbase due to... well... it was just a great goddang fighter at launch and remains so to this day. Spare a thought for all of those Jam and Elphelt players, for example, still sitting patiently as they await their respective mains to make the leap to the GG Strive roster.

It's definitely neat to see the developer retrofitting its older releases with newer tech �helps kee?p those titles alive for the devoted players who are either playing multiple GG games competitively or are not quite feeling the lat?ter-day release. The rollback netcode beta test will be open to all players on Steam, so just keep the game installed and stay tuned for further details.

Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 and Guilty Gear Strive are available now on PlayStation and? P??C platforms.

The post Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 PC e??dition to receive rollba?ck netcode update appeared first on Destructoid.

Lush anime fighter getting re-evaluated

Nexon and Arc System Works have announced several new updates currently in the works for DNF Duel. The totally wild? anime fighter will receive a fresh run of bug stomps and balance tweaks before the year is out, although no mention was made of any additional DLC characters.

Announced during the weekend's CEOtaku tournament, the first update will fix several technical issues that have troubled DNF Duel since launch, including screen freezing during online battles and input issues that are exclusive to th??e PC/Steam platform. These and other problems will be addressed in a new patch, which is scheduled to drop on all platforms at "the end of September"... which is now, to be honest.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=o02qkoTwnvg

Then, in December, a new balance update will be applied to DNF Duel, taking a look at some of its stronger and weaker characters. While chaotic and powerful combos are part of the fighter's make-up, there are still a few characters who could stand to be a little less dominant, (looking at you, Swift Master), and so the December update will attempt to bring the entire roster a little more in-line �hopefully without putting the brakes too hard on DNF's unique, aggressive, and devastating style. It is believed that the patch will focus far more on buffing less?er characters than nerfing the upper tiers.

Production Director Kodani also noted that the team was working on "something else," but did not offer any further information, other than that it was "exciting" and that the DNF community should look forward to it. This seems to suggest some form of additional content, perhaps characters, modes, or some technical?? upgrade. For now, we will simply have to wait and see.

DNF Duel is available now on PlayStation and PC platforms. It's a rad fighter, well worth checking out.

The post New bug ‘n’ balance updates headed to DNF Duel this year appeared first on Destructoid.

Backwards Compatibility now an offline affair

Microsoft has quietly tweaked the infrastructure of its shiny Xbox Series X hardware to now?? allow the pla??ying of Xbox One games without the need for an online DRM check.

The new "feature," which is included in the console's 2206 Updat?e, will allow Xbox Series users to play their X?box One games in an offline capacity. Previously, the console would always do a brief online handshake to ensure that the Xbox One game in question was an authentic, licensed title and not a copied disc �The Xbox Series S, being discless, obviously had no need to perform this additional step.

Speaking on Twitter, Xbox engineer and great-named pe?rson Eden Marie confirmed the? update.

"Yes, this is true since the 2206 update," wrote Marie. "We examined data since Series X/S launch & determined the online compatibility check isn't needed in the vast maj??ority of cas??es for Xbox One discs. Some games may still need to be updated online after install to ensure the best experience."

While this is a different situation entirely, one cannot help but recall the PR disaster that occurred prior to the Xbox One console's release, where Microsoft stated that an online connec??tion was a mandatory demand for the playing of Xbox One games, to ensure that the player had indeed purchased a license for each and every title. While this would eventually prove not to be the case, there's no denying whatsoever that the initial statement was a Sword of Damocles over the brand, and certainly contributed to sales of Xbox hardware declining at the start of the eighth generation.

The 2206 Update is now live on X??box Series X/??S platforms.

The post Xbox Series X remove??s DRM checks for Xbox On??e games appeared first on Destructoid.

Anybody call for a web-slinger?

Insomniac Games has released the first major patch for the PC port of Marvel's Spider-Man. The patch, which is availabl??e to download right now, includes fixes f??or several issues pertaining to the port's use of ray-tracing technology alongside general improvements to Spidey Stability.

The clunkily titled Version 1.817.1.0 has been pushed out as a small fix to stick a band-aid over some of the port's most egregious issues. Insomniac has noted that it is already working on a much larger update, which will contain a litany of bug stomps as well as directly address issues brought to the deve?loper's attention via player feedback. A release date for this secondary patch was not announced.

Today's update fixes crashes and visual distortions directly related to the use of ray-tracing, while also eliminating random issues that would crop under specific circumstances �such as when playing on widescreen monitors or when Al??t-Tabbing out of the game. In addition, Insomniac assured fans it is aware of less common issues �such as a baffling bug tha??t is stopping some players from photographing The Empire State Building �and is continuing to investigate solutions.

You can check out the patch notes for Version 1.817.1.0 right here.

Marvel's Spider-Man is available now on PlayStation and PC p??latforms.

The post Marvel’s Spider-Man PC patch reduces crashes and ray-tracing issues appeared first on Destructoid.

Striking down with great vengeance

Nexon's rad new fighting title DNF Duel has received its first post-release update, bringing a small fistful of important changes to the rule-breakin' brawler. N??ow available on both PlayStation and PC, Update 103 brings a couple of much-needed character tweaks as well as adjustments to various modes on PC.

First and foremost, Crusader's reign of holy error is over, (for the most part), as developer Arc System Works has removed the truthsayer's devastating "Sacred Upper" infinite combo loop. That's not to say that Crusader is no longer a threat �dude is a monster �but at least that's on??e particularly? silly weapon removed from his arsenal.

In addition to this major fix, several other characters have received bug stomps that couldn't wait for a larger balance check down the line. Grappler's "Break Down" will now connect on a crouching Enchantress, so no more hiding for the sneaky magical maiden. Striker's Airwalk has had an adjustmen??t made to its gravity mechanics, while Lost Warrior's Mysterious Pierce will now interact more consistently when it collides with opposing projectiles. As if that mf'er needed any more help.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf0ZlqM1yfQ

On PC, several changes have been made to optimize player interaction with offline modes. Training Mode will no longer be confused when dealing with recorded actions m??ade via custom button layouts, while keyboard players wi?ll no longer find themselves randomly isolated from their controls during online matches. In regards to full balance changes and mechanic tweaks, a further major update is expected at some point in the near future.

Don't buy into the naysaying. DNF Duel is an accessible, silly, and fun fantasy fighter �boasting a fun cast, cool visuals, and tight online play. It is available now o?n PlayStation and PC platforms.

The post DNF Duel update brings the holy hammer ?down on Crusade??r appeared first on Destructoid.

Running Up That Hill

For those of you still exploring the luscious-but-deadly pastures of Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games has a brand new update for you. As revealed during last week's Sony State of Play presentation, Update 1.14 brings new several new features and modes to the stunning open-??world adventure.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=3worI7QeCHQ

First and perhaps foremost, Horizon Forbidden West update 1.14 adds the much-requested New Game+ mode for those who have already completed Aloy's adventure. These players can now restart the ??story, locked and loaded with gear, skills, and abilities for a low-intensity run th??rough the epic campaign. For those who wish to press themselves further forward, the new Ultra Hard difficulty option will test your hunting and acrobatic skills to the absolute limit.

For players who feel they may have perhaps focused Aloy's growing talents in the wrong areas, the new Respec option will rebank all of your acquired skill points, allowing for a fresh build on Aloy's skill tree. And for the fashion-forward, the new Transmog option will allow you to select any of your gathered gear (including all respective effects) while retaining the visual appearance of any other outfit. So if you have a favorite look for yer girl, then you can keep?? on rocking that visual style regardless of your actual equipped clothing, armour, and headgear.

Last, but by no means least, the new update features a fresh round of bug stomps and visual tweaks, the details of which you can find in the official patch notes right here.

Horizon Forbidden West is available now on PlayStation platforms.

The post Horizon Forbidden West ??update 1.14 adds New Game+? and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Rush, Rush, Shift into Overdrive

CyGames has released its previously teased major update for attractive fighter Granblue Fantasy: Versus. Now available on both PlayStation and PC platforms, Update 2.80 adds thre??e major new mechanics to the super-stylish and surprisingly sexy anime ring rocker.

The first new mechanic, "Rush", is a quick forward dash that can be activated at the cost of half of your SBA meter. The dash is strike-invincible just after startup, but can still be shut down by projectiles. The purpose of dash is to perfect the timing of the player's advance in order to gain ground in the face of a heavy assault from the opponent. Think of it ala tactical rolls in The King of Fighters, excep??t lac??king projectile invincibility. Rush can also be linked with certain attacks in order to extend combos.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbJ44fWfMug

The second mechanic, "Backshift", is similar to Rush except used as a retreat rather than an advance. A backshifting player loses half of their SBA meter in order to put some distance between themselves and their opponent. Backshift can also ??be performed out of knockdown in order to avoid highly offensive players from maintaining their momentum as you return to your return. As such, it is a handy tool for avoid meaties and some 50/5??0 guessing games.

The final new m??echanic, Overdrive, is an all-in-one buff that can be activated once-per-round. Costing 100% of a filled SBA meter, Overdrive applies several upgrades to your character, including increased damage, increased chip damage, nullified incoming chip damage, faster overhead ?attacks, and "enhanced simple commands". Overdrive lasts as long as your meter drains, and taking hits will speed up its reduction rate.

These three new additions definitely throw a cat among the pigeons that are the Granblue Fantasy: Versus' dedicated community. It has to be noted that the players were hoping for rollback netcode implementation, which clearly was not on the cards. Here's hoping that update helps make the flow o??f the fight better than it has ever been.

Granblue Fantasy: Versus is available now on PlayStation and PC.

The post Granblue Fantasy: Versus update adds Over??drive, Rush, and Backshift me??chanics appeared first on Destructoid.

Wiping that smug off his handsome mug

[Update: Since this ar??ticle went live, some read??ers have voiced the displeasure with me referring to Luke as a "Twink". I apologize unreservedly. Luke is, in actuality, a "Twunk".]

Capcom has released a new balance update to its flagship fighting title Street Fighter V. The? update, now live on both PlayStation and PC, adds a selection of buffs and nerfs to many members of the title's huge roster, but pays specific attention to franchise newcomer and all-round punching machine, Luke.

Luke, designed as a sort of "sneak peek" at Street Fighter 6, is an incredibly low-risk/high-reward character �packed out a veritable roadmap of melee options, while also having excellent confirms, a devastating long-range attack, and the ability to not only increase his damage power, but to keep it increased, provided that the hard-punching twink is still raining blows down on ye?r noggin.

In response to community complaints that Luke is already dominating both online and tournament play �with some of the best Street Fighter players in the world even admitti??ng that Luke is exceptionally powerful �Capcom's latest patch hopes to calm down yer boy's hot-headed M?MA rampage.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=966CwMZPkdI

The update reduces the distance of Luke's space-controlling M. Sand Blaster, increases the stopblock fr??ames of his St. LP and �most importantly �increases the recovery of his Cr. MK and resizes the hurtbox on his St. MK. These are two buttons that Luke can generally toss out without fear, and can lead to V-Trigger activation or any manner of health-draining combos on connecti??on.

Luke will remain a very strong character among the Street Fighter roster, even with these tweaks, but the changes will increase his vulnerability somewhat, increasing the risk on his neutral game ??and slightly decreasing his space control when distanced. Given that Luke is offered as a supposed "example" of SF 6's playstyle, one would assume that Capcom's current interest in high damage characters is set to carry forward into the legendary fight franchise's next it?eration.

You can check out the full patch notes over on the official Capcom website. You can also read our article about Capcom's revised Community Guideline rules for hosting Street Fighter V tournaments right here.

The post (Update) Let’s Nuke Luke: Newcomer addressed in Street Fighter V update appeared first on Destructoid.

Boards don't hit back...

Developer Sloclap has released the first major update to its knuckle-busting brawler RPG, Sifu. Now available on both PC and PlayStation platforms, the content drop brings with it all-new in-game features, designed to test the mettle?? of the finest, (and oldest) martial arts masters across t?he globe.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQKooHfAzy8

First on the agenda, the Sifu Spring Content Update adds three difficulty options, Student, Disciple, and Master. Each mode carries with it adjusted A.I., tweaked enemy response time, and alterations to the rapidity of the protagonist's aging. Disciple represents Sifu's core difficulty, so those who have struggled (or dominated) thus far should look to one of th?e other options to fine-tune the challenge.

In addition to the new difficulty settings, the update includes two new outfits for all players, as well as one extra outfit for Deluxe Edition owners. These new duds can be applied by visiting the in-game Wuguan. An advanced training mode has also been added to Sifu, which will allow players to practice against all previously defeated enemies and bosses in order to get an attack strategy down pat. I want to see you all become Jackie Chan in Project A, stat.

Finally, a run of technical tweaks including bug fixes, improved mouse & keyboard support, a Dark Mode, HUD sharpness, and other minor adjustments have been made across the board, hoping to make your journey for vengeance more focused than ever before. Just remember to dig two graves.

Sifu is available now on PC and PlayStation.

The post Sifu update now? live, bringing new difficulty options, out?fits, and training mode appeared first on Destructoid.