TheGamer - Live-Service Games Features

I'm Struggling With Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest FOMO

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 16:00:21 GMT

For months now, I’ve been watching the Final Fantasy 14 community prepare for the first Fan Fest of 2023, which is taking place in Las Vegas this coming weekend. You can be assured that my social media feeds and relevant Discord channels have been abuzz with players preparing their cosplays, making cute little cards and gifts, and generally sharing in their collective excitement.

Apex Legends’ Latest Loba Quest Makes Me Yearn For A Campaign Mode

Ben Sledge — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 15:31:20 GMT

Apex Legends’ lore is a convoluted beast, spanning comics, novels, tweets, and more if you want to get the full picture of its evolving narrative. Even the voice lines that characters say to each other can have ramifications to the ongoing story that Respawn is trying to tell. There’s no good way to keep up with it all, and Respawn’s own lore compendium is solely internal at present. But the best elements of Respawn’s storytelling come when it gives us a playable level in the game with the sole purpose of telling stories and fleshing out its characters.

John Arne Riise Will Save EA Sports FC 24

Ben Sledge — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:30:19 GMT

As another year of FIFA comes to an end, I once again try my hand at making a Liverpool past and present team. And once again, I run into the age old problem of not having enough defenders. I label this the Alan Hansen Problem, in that we could really use one of our greatest ever defenders being added to the game in the form of an Icon card so that I didn’t have to waste so many ‘present’ spots on my defense.

Call Of Duty's Whisker Tango Bundle Is The Perfect Kind Of Ridiculous

Jade King — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 14:00:20 GMT

Call of Duty players are outraged that Activision has decided to introduce a humanoid feline monstrosity into the live service shooter. The Whisker Tango Bundle is now available on the Warzone store and bags you a couple of horrifying new operators alongside a selection of equipment, charms and cosmetics. It’s par for the course, but some think the game has gone too far.

It Sucks That Side Quest Progress Doesn’t Transfer In Diablo 4 Seasons

Tessa Kaur — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 15:30:19 GMT

Diablo 4 has a surprisingly strong hold on me, considering it’s my first Diablo game and I’ve never really been into the ARPG genre at all. I was pushed to finally wrap up the campaign by the fast approach of Diablo’s first season, so I could dive head-first into the Season of the Malignant. Speaking to the developers about the season only made me more interested in jumping in, but since I did, I’ve been finding myself getting more and more annoyed. Everywhere, people are asking me for help, and I’m going out of my way to offer assistance. I consider myself a relatively helpful person, and it doesn’t really bother me to do these side quests, except for the fact that I’ve done a ton of them once before already.

Diablo 4's Equipment Vendors Are Completely Pointless

Tessa Kaur — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:30:20 GMT

I recently roped a friend into playing Diablo 4 with me, but he made the ill-advised decision of sprinting through the campaign so he could get to Season One by the time it started two days later. Because he was short on time, he asked me for pro tips to make his rushed journey a little easier. After listing off a couple of the basics, I added, “Don’t sell junk equipment, it makes more sense to salvage it.”

How Did Exoprimal Make Dinosaurs Boring?

Ben Sledge — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 14:30:19 GMT

It should be impossible to make dinosaurs boring. I’d watch hours of David Attenborough describing how a Stegosaurus chews its plants to aid digestion, so firing a sniper rifle at an attacking T-Rex should be the most fun I could ever have. Dinosaurs are cool by default, why do you think Jurassic Park is considered such a classic movie? Steven Spielberg may be an all-time great director and Jeff Goldblum may be a smoking hot fountain of chaos, but the dinosaurs are the real stars of that film.

Pokemon Sleep Is Changing Shiny Colours And It Could Have Huge Repercussions

Ben Sledge — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:00:19 GMT

Pokemon Sleep is a weird game. After such a long wait, it’s finally here and all I have to say about it is, yep, it’s definitely here. It measures your sleep and gamifies your health, but I’m not entirely sure it’s actually a game. I have a lot of questions about what the game is doing with my sleep data, why Pokemon Go needs that data if it’s connected, and what the point of it all is, but I risk getting too philosophical for this lighthearted opinion feature.

Report: Zenimax Is Doing "Nothing" To Combat Anti-LGBTQ+ Bigotry In ESO

James Troughton — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 14:48:12 GMT

Last month to mark the end of Pride, several hundred players celebrated queerness in The Elder Scrolls Online with a defiant display, marching through Morrowind together. The celebration was organised by Locke and fellow streamers, but supported by developer Zenimax who provided copies of Necrom to giveaway and an official blog post detailing the times of the parades and who was holding them.

Blue Protocol Hands-On: Amazon’s Next Big MMO

Harry Alston — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:00:20 GMT

Amazon Games has targeted MMO production and publishing in a huge way. Leveraging the pulling power of Twitch to promote its titles, both Lost Ark and New World broke records on Steam and were, for an admittedly short-lived period of time, two of the largest games in the world. Blue Protocol is Amazon’s next offering - the upcoming anime MMORPG has diverse class customization and a smooth action combat system up there with the best in its genre. Developed by Bandai Namco, Amazon Games are handling the publishing of the game in the West following the release of the game in Japan in early 2023. I have no doubt that this will be another massive launch for Amazon.

My Husband Keeps Ruining My Pokemon Sleep Research With His Snoring

Meg Pelliccio — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 17:00:22 GMT

I am not a big mobile gamer, but what I definitely am is easily sucked into the latest trends. Pokemon Go was the mobile game I played the longest, only losing interest after a good few years as new features were added and updates proved overwhelming, while my passion for Peridot fizzled out in mere days. The latest to hook me is Pokemon Sleep, a game I’ll gladly embrace as a serial nap-taker.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: Esprit's Way Off Broadway Show

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 16:00:19 GMT

There’s no business like show business, even in the magical world of Final Fantasy 14. Macro dance troupe Esprit’s Way Off Broadway show treated us to numbers from all of our favourite musicals — and seriously, how much further can you get from Broadway than the digital world of Eorzea?

Exoprimal Is A Return To Capcom's Dark Days

James Troughton — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 20:01:18 GMT

Digging through Capcom’s library in the 2010s is like looking at old tweets you made when you were 16. If they weren’t problematic, then damn were they embarrassing. It started with Resident Evil 6 in 2012—the series that founded survival horror finally shit the bed with a straight-to-DVD action movie vibe and shooting that felt like you were using Nerf pellets. 2014 then ushered in Dead Rising 4, where Capcom threw everything that made the first three great to the side and gutted co-op in favour of a grittier game as hollow as an empty box. 2016 marked the end of this streak of misses with Street Fighter 5, which had a barebones launch so bad, it lost 75 percent of its player base in mere months.

Diablo 4's Latest Patch Ruins Sorcerer, Most Other Things

Stacey Henley — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 16:00:17 GMT

I've written a few times about playing Diablo 4 as a single-player narrative game, and I know that's not the 'right' way to play it, but it’s the way that works for me. Some quests are repetitive, some dungeons don't make that much sense if you're not the right class, and it's odd that several Acts are happening all at once. But still, I like it. I was never planning on sticking around season after season, but there's enough content in just one playthrough to sustain me. However, recent changes to the game have only served to remind me that there is a right way to play, and a wrong way to play - and I'm playing the wrong way.

Is It Bad That I Wish We Could Still Play Final Fantasy XIV 1.0?

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 16:00:17 GMT

I don’t have a great memory, so what I remember of Final Fantasy 14’s 1.0 release is pretty dim considering it launched all the way back in 2010. Lurking deep in the back of my mind is a shared level bar across roles, a confusing armor system that had no restrictions and instead scaled gear based on your current level, and, of course, the dreaded TP bar. I think I still have some useless items from those dark days lingering on a retainer somewhere attracting dust.

Inside The Reddit Community Of Pokemon Hitmen

Ben Sledge — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 14:30:18 GMT

It’s been a while since I got stuck in a Pokemon game. The modern iterations of Game Freak’s genre-defining monster catching series are either too easy, or I’m too old. Maybe it’s both. The games aren’t taxing any more, not like Whitney and Miltank, Sinnoh’s final Cynthia battle, or even just trying to take out Brock with your Charmander back in 1996.

EA Sports New Turn-Based FIFA Could Be A Game Changer

Stacey Henley — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:30:15 GMT

EA's reveal of EA Sports FC 24 was an exercise in not saying the word 'FIFA', even though everyone knew that was what they were talking about. The 45-minute event had speeches from EA executives who tried unconvincingly to regale the crowd with their love of football, while icons like Luis Figo, Didier Drogba, and Ronaldinho were wordlessly wheeled out wielding out carrying trophies that were already in FIFA anyway. We saw a gameplay trailer that mainly focused on a first-person, non-gameplay perspective, and heard a lot of buzzwords. One thing that slipped by all too quickly was that they're making a turn-based FIFA. Sorry. Not FIFA. A turn-based EA Sports FC 24.

Pokemon Sleep Won’t Actually Help You Sleep Better

Tessa Kaur — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:30:16 GMT

I’ve been thinking a lot about Pokemon Sleep since my colleague Eric Switzer went hands-on with the upcoming app, which means he went to a sleepover with a bunch of other journalists. Pokemon Sleep is essentially a sleep-tracking app with gamified elements, in the vein of similar Pokemon games like Pokemon Go, which encourages daily walking, and Pokemon Smile, which encourages children to brush their teeth regularly.

Against All Odds, Diablo 4 Has Convinced Me To Give Its First Season A Shot

Tessa Kaur — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:32:23 GMT

I’ll level with you, I haven’t finished Diablo 4’s campaign yet. I’m well into Act 5, but I created a new character to play couch co-op with my partner and got extremely sidetracked from the main storyline. What’s worse is that, because I played through the prologue with him, my own character hasn’t been progressing the story as we go. I realised too late I had to do the prologue separately, and now I’m too far gone to be bothered going back and catching up with my second character. It’s an annoying feature of Diablo 4 that I hadn’t realised would stop me from making progress. Combine that with the fact that I respecced my main character, an ice shard sorceress, at level 45 only to realise I hated the new arc lash build, and I’m struggling to find a reason to finish the campaign.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: Get Ready For Mogstock 2023

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 16:00:16 GMT

Summer is in full swing, and with it comes lazy days and evenings of chilling with friends, enjoying cool drinks to relieve the record-high heat, and hitting up music festivals to dance the night away. Eorzea is sharing in those summer vibes as MogStock returns to Final Fantasy 14 on July 14-16, 2023, taking over Ward 22 in the Lavender Beds of Mateus, Crystal.

Diablo Immortal's Blood Knight Vampire Needs Added To Diablo 4 Immediately

Stacey Henley — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 14:00:16 GMT

If you want to make magic cooler, just add blood to it. There's a very simple science to it. Blood is a hot liquid that spurts from our bodies and pumps faster when we're excited - it's inherently an erotic substance. Whether you're slicing open your palm and licking up the blood's magical essence, or exsanguinating your enemies through magical osmosis, their bodies twitching powerlessly as you drain them of every drop, blood magic is very cool, very evil, and very sexy. It's perfect for Diablo, and wherever you wander throughout Sanctuary, you will find symbols daubed in blood and bodies in various states of bloodless desiccation. With the central villain Lilith very cool, very evil, and very sexy, that makes a lot of sense. Now Diablo Immortal has a blood-based class, Blood Knight, and I want it in Diablo 4 immediately.

Ubisoft Shouldn't Be Punishing The Division Players For Its Own Mistakes

Eric Switzer — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 00:48:23 GMT

Did you know that in a lot of countries, it isn’t illegal to break out of prison? In Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Germany, and several others, it’s perfectly legal to escape from your cell and go out on the lam. They’ll still try to catch you and force you to serve out your sentence, of course, but as long as you don’t break any other laws in your attempt to get away, you wouldn’t be charged and no extra time would be added to your sentence. These countries recognize that trying to escape is just human nature. If a guard leaves a door open and escapes through it, that’s the guard’s fault, not the prisoner’s.

FIFA's Shapeshifters Promo Proves Women Have A Place In Ultimate Team

Ben Sledge — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:56:52 GMT

The FIFA community is still arguing about whether or not women have a place in Ultimate Team. I’m not entirely sure why the argument is ongoing, because EA Sports FC will introduce female players to Ultimate Team come next season whether you kick up a fuss or not. I hear people spouting a lot of reasons why they don’t want women in the game mode, but the current Shapeshifters promo proves almost all of them wrong.

I've Been A Casual Final Fantasy XIV Player For So Long, I No Longer Know If I'm Good At My Job

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 01 Jul 2023 16:00:18 GMT

I can’t remember the last time I played Final Fantasy 14 properly. It must have been many years (and at least a few expansions) ago when I last considered myself as more than a casual player. Back then, I did endgame with my friends, I kept on top of my gear and iLevel religiously, and grinded out new gear and tomes each week without fail. More importantly, I felt like I knew my job well enough.

Crash Team Rumble Is A Dud But Good Lord Does It Shmove

Eric Switzer — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 23:27:14 GMT

Crash Team Rumble is a fundamentally flawed game, and I don’t think there’s anything that can be done to save it. I’ve already explained that it’s kind of a MOBA, but without any of the things that make MOBAs fun, and our own Stacey Henley echoed those sentiments in her review when she called it “the most basic version of a MOBA [with] nothing added on top”. I think that it’s unlikely that this $30 live-service game with an uninspired battle pass and weak gameplay is going to catch on, but there’s one aspect I hope survives this misguided endeavor: Crash can freakin’ move, boi.

ESO Pride Parades Tell Gamers We Aren't Going Anywhere

James Troughton — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:30:19 GMT

There are plenty of reasons to take part in a virtual Pride Parade. Maybe you aren’t out of the closet yet, maybe there are no parades where you live, or maybe being loud and proud would put you in danger. ESO offers an outlet to express yourself even in those circumstances, using the cover of in-game anonymity to finally be free about who you are while feeling welcomed into the wider LGBTQ+ community. For many, they might even be experiencing an occasion like this for the first time.

The Backlash To Diablo 4's Seasons Puts Blizzard In An Awkward Spot

Eric Switzer — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:58:18 GMT

As a Diablo veteran, it’s been interesting to watch the drama unfold as more and more people discover the way seasons work in Diablo 4. There’s two distinct reactions I’ve seen: people that are new to Diablo and incensed that you’ll have to start a whole new character each season, and veterans who are like, “Yeah, duh.”

Hi, I’m Every Villager in Diablo 4

Mike Drucker — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:30:17 GMT

Hello, there, traveler! Haven’t seen you in Kyovashad before! We’ve got everything you could need! Want armor? I know just the place. Looking to buy some weapons? Down that street! Want a horse to ride so your quest will go easier? Fuck you. You don’t get a horse yet, you piece of shit. Why would we give you a horse? Give me one reason. Go pound pavement with the feet that Inarius gave you.

Repacking Failed Free-to-Play Scams Is My New Gaming Ick

Eric Switzer — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 21:47:17 GMT

Last week’s Capcom Showcase was pretty uneventful. Aside from a bit of new Dragon’s Dogma 2 footage and the announcement of a new Ace Attorney collection, the show was pretty forgettable. If you only caught the recap, you may have even missed that a new Mega Man game was announced… sort of. Mega Man X Dive Offline is a re-release of a mobile game that’s shutting down service later this year. The new offline version has been stripped of its heavy focus on microtransactions and will presumably be sold as a one-time purchase, rather than a live-service free-to-play game like the original.

You'd Have To Be Out Of Your Mind To Play A Hardcore Diablo 4 Character On These Servers

Eric Switzer — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 22:34:16 GMT

Before I gave up on Diablo 3 for good some years ago, I tried playing a hardcore character to see if it would reinvigorating my love for the game - and it totally worked. Playing a hardcore character practically turns Diablo into a different game. The world is so much more dangerous when you only have one life to live, so the way you approach it changes a lot. Defensive stats and abilities become a lot more important than offensive ones, you have to slow down and find safer routes through areas that you would have sprinted through before, and eventually you form a real bond with your character. I don’t remember the names of any of the dozens of Diablo toons I’ve made over the years, but I’ll never forget my level 56 Wizard Teegan, who died doing what she loved: blasting Zoltun Kulle with lightning from her fingertips. RIP Teegan, I miss you.

Everybody Should Win With The Final Fantasy XIV Mount Debate

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 16:01:17 GMT

There’s always something in the Final Fantasy 14 community. Most of the time it’s silly memes or soundbites, sometimes the third-party tool argument comes back around, but this week we’re in the midst of yet another mount debate. This all started when Square Enix added a new mount to the Optional Items Store — the Shadow Wolf.

Monster Hunter Now Has Finally Convinced Me To Move On From Pokemon Go

Eric Switzer — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 18:02:13 GMT

Monster Hunter Now is the first game being fully developed by Niantic’s Tokyo studio, and I got to meet with one of the developers for a play session at Summer Games Fest’s Play Days. Before he handed me the phone he asked how much I know about Monster Hunter, to which I responded “a lot”, which is kind of an understatement. Then he asked what my favorite game in the series was, and for a second I thought I’d try to sound cool and say Freedom, but I decided to be honest and tell him I have a few hundred hours between World and Iceborne. He smiled, handed me the phone, and told me I’d know exactly what to do.

The Elder Scrolls Online Just Found A Way To Make Its Own Timeline

James Troughton — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 17:30:17 GMT

The Elder Scrolls Online: Necrom puts us into the service of Hermaeus Mora, the Daedric Prince of Knowledge and Memory, as he tries to avert the unravelling of fate itself. We shoulder the burden of forging a fragile peace among a pantheon of scornful egotists to prevent them from unearthing Mora’s darkest secret, a sliver of knowledge he has vowed to never reveal. If it came to light, war among the gods would break out.

Overwatch 2's 'Pay To Keep' Messaging Shows Just How Absurd Live Service Has Become

Eric Switzer — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 18:33:17 GMT

Everytime I think Blizzard can’t possibly screw up Overwatch 2 anymore, it finds a way to surprise me. Lately, the sequel no one wanted has been drawing ire from fans for canceling Hero Mode, the one thing about the sequel anyone did actually want. The messaging around the decision is so fractured and confusing that no one seems to realize that PvE story missions are still a thing, and the first one has just been announced with a $15 price tag, which has given players a new thing to be confused and/or upset about. As a former Overwatch super fan, the only way I can get through the day anymore is to try to see the humor in a sequence of endless fumbles. It’s devastating to see such a beloved game become a mismanaged stain on Blizzard's already-soiled reputation, but it is kind of funny to see all the new and unexpected ways it can continue to mess things up.

Black Desert Online's Land of the Morning Sun Has Hooked This Newcomer

Helen Ashcroft — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:00:18 GMT

I enter the Land of the Morning Light as a stranger in a strange land, both in-game and in real life. I exit my ship and speak to my first quest-giver while we walk together toward the beautiful town nearby. She tells me of the wonders I’ll encounter and my first task in this new land. I’m incredibly excited about what turns out to be... registering myself as a newcomer. Yes, even in this incredibly in-depth MMORPG you cannot avoid admin.

Diablo 4 Gotta Do Something About These Dumb Ass Horses

Eric Switzer — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 17:05:18 GMT

Diablo 4 makes you wait a painfully long time before it allows you to start trekking across Sanctuary on horseback. Before you get your first mount, you must travel to the four corners of the map on foot and complete roughly half of the campaign. Every time you leave town to set out on a lengthy hike across the monster-infested wasteland, you’ll see NPCs coming and going on horseback, just to rub it in. Diablo 4 makes exploring on foot as tedious and time consuming as possible so that when you eventually do get a horse, you’ll be grateful for it.

Diablo 4 Makes Me Feel Like A Kid Playing Video Games After School

Stacey Henley — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 17:30:17 GMT

For all video games have advanced technically, narratively, and by a host of other adverbs, for most people they peaked when we were kids. Though objectively we might look at the achievements of The Last of Us Part 2, Elden Ring, and Tears of the Kingdom and recognise them as peerless, subjectively they will never replace the games we loved as children. I was 17 when my favourite game came out, and just seven when my second favourite released. Somehow though, Diablo 4 has recaptured this magic for me.

Apex Legends Isn't Afraid To Be Gay

Ben Sledge — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 14:30:16 GMT

What’s the straightest video game genre? It’s first-person shooters, isn’t it? Whether you’re thinking of the hyper-masculinity in Battlefield, the sheer sexlessness of Master Chief, or slur-laden Call of Duty lobbies, these games are all aggressively straight, and incredibly insular.

Meet The Teenagers Making Millions Playing Professional Fortnite

Harry Alston — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 10:30:17 GMT

Since the hype of the Fortnite World Cup in 2019, competitive Fortnite has evolved. Ahead of the Red Bull Contested in Edinburgh this weekend, we spoke to a number of players that are competing in the eight round solo tournament - the UK’s first major LAN for Fortnite. These are some of the best Fortnite players in the world. But what does it take to be the world’s best - especially when you’re competing at such a young age?

I Do Not Like That One Major Death In Diablo 4

Eric Switzer — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 23:43:27 GMT

One of Diablo 4’s greatest strengths is how much attention it gives to its characters and story. While unexpected, the time you spend fighting alongside Lorath, Donan, and Neyrelle while uncovering the mysteries of Lilith’s dark machinations gives a lot of weight to the gameplay, and helps give your character a sense of identity and purpose. Diablo 4 has a compelling narrative structure that has you exploring each region of the Sanctuary and teaming up with a different companion to learn about them while dealing with the consequences of Lilith’s influence. It culminates in the second half when all three companions join together and hatch a plan to stop the Daughter of Hatred from completing her mission. Diablo’s campaigns have always been more about mythology than plot, but Diablo 4’s focus on characters and relationships adds some much needed depth to the story.

Playing Diablo 4 Solo Is Like Living In A Parallel Universe

Stacey Henley — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 17:30:17 GMT

A lot of you will probably tell me I'm playing Diablo 4 wrong. I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary minute to minute - I'm a Sorceress with a decent spread of area control attacks, ranged abilities, and melee counters, I've been regularly swapping my armour and staff for the best options, being sensible with what to sell and what to scrap, and have been trying to lure enemies together or attacking from a safe distance rather than crashing into everyone like a Barbarian. But I'm also playing it by myself and have no intention of teaming up with anybody, anywhere, for any reason, and once I finish the story I'll put it down and never return to it again. Playing the game this way makes me feel like I have stepped through the looking glass.

Diablo 4's Megan Fox Advert Is Sexist And Dated, But It Didn't Need To Be

Stacey Henley — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 16:30:17 GMT

Before Diablo 4, the previous Diablo game came out in 2012, and it seems like some of the marketing is stuck there. In one trailer doing the rounds on social media, Megan Fox stands before us in her underwear, telling us in a sultry, slightly disaffected tone that Diablo 4 has buckets of blood. She also encourages players to send in their best deaths for her to eulogise, where she'll decide if you went out like a champion... or a chump. It's a pretty classic case of hiring a hot girl to promote a video game with an on the nose obliviousness we haven't seen since the days of the booth babes. But in the modern world, it makes for an interesting case study.

Now That The Diablo Race Is Over, Can We Admit How Much It Sucked?

Eric Switzer — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 22:01:17 GMT

Diablo 4’s Ultimate Edition-exclusive early access period started last Thursday afternoon, and on Monday morning, a streamer named cArn became the first player to reach level 100 with a hardcore character. cArn streamed his journey from level 1-100, playing for about 100 hours, which is essentially non-stop from Thursday afternoon to Monday morning. Four other players have joined cArn at level 100 since then, and over the next few days, or possibly weeks, another 995 will reach 100 on hardcore characters and be rewarded by Blizzard with their names etched onto a statue that lives at the studio.

The Best Thing About Diablo 4 Is That It's Not Diablo 3

Eric Switzer — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 21:01:16 GMT

Season 20 was the last time I played Diablo 3 seriously, and I remember the exact moment I reached a breaking point. I was in the middle of a greater rift, it could have been my fifth or fiftieth of the night, and I was watching Birds of Prey on my other monitor. Just after Harley finished confetti-shotgunning her way through the police station, I looked over at Diablo and realized I had not once even glanced at the screen for the last 20 minutes. I’d reached a point where I was playing Diablo 3 completely on auto-pilot, so I decided to quit.

Sidequesting In Diablo 4 Is Like Playing An Anthology Horror Movie

Eric Switzer — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 03:45:17 GMT

The MMO-fication of Diablo 4 was sure to be divisive among fans. Even though you can see the beginnings of Diablo 4’s shift to open-world in Diablo 3’s Adventure Mode, it’s still a significant change from tradition that comes with a laundry list of advantages and disadvantages. It’s a much slower game than its predecessors, thanks to the larger map filled with activities and POIs that constantly threaten to divert your attention. But all those diversions also create space for stories and moments that weren’t possible in previous Diablo games. The structure of the world has a huge impact on the approach its narrative takes, and if you’re willing to look around, you’ll find some genuine horror waiting for you in the cellars and caves of Sanctuary.

Hey Casuals, You Can Just Play Diablo 4 For The Story

Eric Switzer — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 02:38:16 GMT

I was reading a lore recap of Diablo 3 the other day, and the story details blew my mind. Not because the plot is particularly complex or interesting - it’s not - but because despite playing Diablo 3 dozens of times over, I had no idea what actually happens in that game. I can run through that campaign blindfolded, and I’ve killed the act bosses hundreds, if not thousands of times, but I still had no clue what actually happened in that game, and I assume most other Diablo players don’t either.

I'm Sorry Final Fantasy XIV, I Don't Remember Your Whole Story

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:00:16 GMT

It’s been ten years since the launch of Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn, and in the time since the game has received constant updates and four hefty expansions. Considering that even the events of 1.0 are canon, which launched in 2010 and are now completely unplayable, that’s even more lore to keep up with. I wish I had the same stellar memory as the old lady from Titanic, but it’s been thirteen years, and I’m struggling to remember everything about one of my favourite games.

Naughty Dog Was Not Built For A Game Like Factions 2

Stacey Henley — Mon, 29 May 2023 16:00:17 GMT

Naughty Dog could make a credible claim at being the best video game studio in the world. The Last of Us Parts 1 and 2 are some of the most revered games of all time, and unlike other beloved masterpieces like Tears of the Kingdom and Elden Ring, TLOU is also noted for its moving characters and deeply thematic narrative. In between those two legendary games, the studio casually pumped out Uncharted 4, maybe the best action game ever made, and has a storied history through Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter. I hope Factions 2 and its multiplayer ambitions don't throw that reputation away.

Foamstars Could Be Exactly What Splatoon Needs

Stacey Henley — Sun, 28 May 2023 17:30:16 GMT

Just by virtue of being brightly coloured and fun instead of grimy and serious, Foamstars was one of the most memorable games in this week’s PlayStation Showcase. It has stayed lodged in our brains long after the memories of the shadowy shooters have faded, but it’s also catching some heat. Foamstars is just a Splatoon rip-off, comes the cry from the gallery. But is that really a bad thing?

Final Fantasy XIV's Best Content Is Often Its Silliest

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 27 May 2023 16:01:15 GMT

Final Fantasy 14 deals with some heavy topics and themes, the narrative becoming darker and more emotional with each passing expansion. Endwalker hit hard for me in particular, and I’ve written before about how it offers the perfect depiction of depression. After experiencing such a poignant conclusion to the Hydaelyn and Zodiark story, Warriors of Light have since enjoyed lighter content updates in a much deserved break after saving the entire universe.

Where Is The Last Of Us Factions 2?

Eric Switzer — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:11:16 GMT

I rate this week’s PlayStation showcase moderately high. It wasn’t packed with surprises, since most of the big reveals were things we already knew about (sorry, Snake Eater), but there were a fair few games shown that I’m looking forward to. The reason I’m not over the moon about the presentation, despite how cool Spider-Man 2 looked and the fact that I’m now tempted to shell out $550 for a PSVR2 for Resident Evil 4 alone, is the noticeable lack of Sony first-party games. This showcase didn’t give me a good sense of what Sony’s main studios other than Bungie have planned for the future, and I can’t help thinking about the games that weren’t revealed more than the games that were. Chief among them, the previously announced multiplayer The Last of Us game. If this wasn’t the right time to finally unveil that, then when is?

A History Of The Caliente Family In The Sims Games

Gabrielle Castania — Sun, 21 May 2023 16:45:16 GMT

There's maybe no family in The Sims with a history as varied as the Calientes. In some games, Nina and Dina live together and compete for the attention of the womanizing Don Lothario. Sometimes, they're the result of an alien abduction. Others, they're somehow connected to the disappearance of Bella Goth and are persistent in chasing her husband once she's gone.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: Bards For Brains Charity Event

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 20 May 2023 16:00:17 GMT

The Final Fantasy 14 community is banding together once again — quite literally — to raise money for a special cause. This weekend, the Bards For Brains event will host multiple bard bands over three stages on the Marilith server to raise awareness and funds for several charities.

Hawken Reborn Is A Shadow Of The Original Game

Ben Sledge — Thu, 18 May 2023 15:00:16 GMT

My working title for this article was: “Miss Titanfall? Play Hawken Reborn”. While Hawken was a very different game to Titanfall or its sequel, capturing the lumbering weight of mech warfare rather than Respawn’s slick movement, they’re two of the most iconic mech games out there. Much like Titanfall, Hawken’s servers shut down years ago, and there has been a dearth of good mech content since.

The 2 In Overwatch 2 Was Never About The PvE Hero Mode

Eric Switzer — Wed, 17 May 2023 22:51:54 GMT

Hero Mode, the PvE campaign revealed at BlizzCon 2019 as a major feature for Overwatch 2, has been canceled. In an interview with GameSpot this week, game director Aaron Keller and executive producer Jared Neuss explained that as their vision for Hero Mode came into focus, it became clear that it was too ambitious, too time consuming, and taking too many resources away from the team’s ability to support the main, PvP game modes. Blizzard made the decision to drop the previously announced mechanics for Hero Mode, like character progression and talent trees, and instead develop smaller, episodic PvE experiences that it can release over time as part of Overwatch 2’s seasonal model.

Pokemon Go’s Master Ball Won’t Save The Game, But It’s A Start

Ben Sledge — Wed, 17 May 2023 17:16:15 GMT

Pokemon Go is not what it once was. Even after most normies stopped playing a couple of months after that frenzied first summer, the community was vast. Great additions like raids and trading kept players engaged, and new Pokemon additions were always accompanied by a buzz of excitement.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: The Firebird Theatre Presents The Importance Of Being Earnest

Meg Pelliccio — Fri, 12 May 2023 16:30:15 GMT

There’s always that quiet lull in the theatre where everyone shuffles to their seats, the curtain is down, and you sit in anticipation of the show starting. It still feels strange that Final Fantasy 14 can capture these moments so well. It doesn’t matter that the theatre I’m in is virtual — when you have attendants taking you to your seats, a fully equipped auditorium, and you’re about to watch an in-depth three-hour performance, you realise just how much players have pushed the boundaries of the game.

Apex Legends' SweetDreams Climbed To Apex Predator Without Dealing Damage

Ben Sledge — Thu, 11 May 2023 17:00:15 GMT

Apex Legends’ new season is here, and it’s brought with it a whole new ranked system. It was probably bigger news that the L-Star has hit the Care Package instead of the Charge Rifle everyone wanted, but as players try out new boy Ballistic, it was only ever going to be ranked that they played in. And as it turns out, ranked is much better for noobs than it is for pros right now.

The MTG Arena Launch Is The Next Blunder For March Of The Machine: The Aftermath

Joe Parlock — Thu, 11 May 2023 16:00:15 GMT

The road to Magic: The Gathering’s March of the Machine: The Aftermath has been a bumpy one. The whole set was leaked, which sucks, and Wizards responded by sending Pinkertons after the leaker, which sucks even harder. The preview season was rammed into just one day, the story was just two short chapters, so people were feeling pretty fed up before the set even launched.

Peridot Is An Evolution Of Dogz

Meg Pelliccio — Wed, 10 May 2023 15:00:16 GMT

Big eyes in a squishy monkey face, a colourful iridescent body, cute little bear ears, and a mousey tail seem like an odd combination, but I’ll admit my dot is adorable. Niantic’s latest mobile game, Peridot, has you raising and breeding these quirky little creatures while exploring the world around you, and it uses Augmented Reality (AR) technology to an incredible degree to the point that your dot can identify flowers, pets, and what type of environment you’re in.

Angry Pokemon Go Players Are Way Overestimating Their Impact

Eric Switzer — Mon, 08 May 2023 02:10:52 GMT

Following Niantic’s decision to hike up the price of Remote Raid Passes to encourage players to participate in more in-person raids, a report came out from a third-party mobile market source called Appmagic (first reported by mobilegamer.biz) that claimed Pokemon Go’s revenue was at its lowest point since February 2018. Frustrated Pokemon Go players on social media celebrated this as a sign that Niantic was suffering the consequences of its anti-player decisions. Clearly, people are fed-up with the price increases and Niantic is feeling the pressure. Or at least, that’s what everyone thought, until Niantic came out and said the revenue data was completely inaccurate.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: Get Involved With LunarCon 2023!

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 06 May 2023 17:00:14 GMT

LunarCon, Final Fantasy 14’s biggest fan-made event, is returning later this year from September 29 until October 1. Last year was the biggest, most jam-packed, and full of excitement the event has ever been, so why not ensure this year ups the ante even further by getting involved yourself? LunarCon covers a wealth of competitions, performances, and venues, so there’s plenty to get stuck into.

Bungie Should Have Raised Season Pass Price Way Sooner

Eric Switzer — Fri, 05 May 2023 21:06:43 GMT

We’re only a few weeks away from the start of Destiny’s Season of the Deep, and Bungie has just revealed (in last week’s TWAB) that the price of the season pass is about to go up. Next season will cost 1200 Silver rather than 1000, which equates to a $2 increase, from $10 to $12. “This will be the new price for Season Passes in Lightfall’s year for those looking to maximize their rewards with each new Season,” the studio wrote. “And we’ll be evaluating new approaches to post-launch content in the year of The Final Shape.”

Game Pass Is Losing Me

Eric Switzer — Fri, 05 May 2023 20:38:42 GMT

In 2021 I added up the retail cost of all the games I had played on Xbox Game Pass that year and discovered that I saved $382. I wouldn’t have purchased every game I played, but that just made the service feel even more valuable to me. It gave me the opportunity to save money on games I was going to play anyway, and discover great games I would have avoided. For the first few years I subscribed to Game Pass, it added a lot of value to my life.

Honkai Star Rail Reduces The Grind And I Love It

Helen Ashcroft — Fri, 05 May 2023 15:00:15 GMT

Honkai: Star Rail has turned out to be a far less cruel mistress than its predecessors when it comes to grinding. Hoyoverse has blended elements of both Genshin Impact and Honkai Impact 3rd into a new gacha RPG that includes a space train, a huge chicken that squashes enemies, and even more unexpectedly, turn-based combat.

When Will Fortnite's Graphics Get The Respect They Deserve?

Stacey Henley — Fri, 05 May 2023 14:30:15 GMT

I haven't played Fortnite in a long time, but I've always admired it from afar. Shooters in general aren't my thing, and Fortnite's fast-paced, ever-changing meta just didn't grab me. I remember when the game was the butt of the joke, a childish game in a genre for tough, sweaty men. Everyone has chilled out a bit now, and it's just another video game. But what it doesn't get enough credit for is how gorgeous a video game it is, and how it has managed to create a strong artstyle even as it leans on IP crossovers. For evolving storytelling and immersive experiences, Fortnite is top of the class. It doesn't try to be photorealistic, and for that reason it often gets overlooked, but Fortnite is one of the best looking games on the planet.

Hela Got Me Hooked On Marvel Snap All Over Again

Ben Sledge — Thu, 04 May 2023 17:00:15 GMT

If you read any of my Marvel Snap articles last year, you’ll know how much I wanted Hela. I coveted her. I needed her. Not because I’m a huge fan, not because the artwork makes me feel funny in my tummy, but because I had the perfect workings for a discard deck. I just needed Hela to make it work.

Why Did Redfall Launch Broken?

Stacey Henley — Wed, 03 May 2023 15:30:15 GMT

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor came out four days ago. Tears of the Kingdom is out in less than two weeks. This is a bad time to release a video game, especially one with the main purpose of bolstering your brand and offering a prestige exclusive, while relying on hopefully convincing enough floating gamers to try out your fairly niche new IP. It's a bad time to release a game like that even if it was perfect. It's a frankly horrific time to release a game like that when it's still falling apart, and that makes Redfall's decision to launch right now all the more baffling. This is a poor launch window to attack, and rushing for it seems almost spiteful.

Redfall Is The Latest Example Of Games Chasing Dead Trends

Stacey Henley — Tue, 02 May 2023 17:30:13 GMT

Everything moves in trends. Things are in, then things are out. We see it in fashion, movies, television, animation, sport, and video games. A few years ago, every cartoon had eyes like that (you know what I mean), and then we all hated them, so new ones don’t. High waisted is in, then low wasted is in. We want sequels, then cinematic universes, then standalone adventures. Teams play four at the back, then three at the back, then four with one inverted full back. Things change. But in video games, it’s not that easy.

Honkai Star Rail’s Mistranslations Are Muddying Its Lore

Tessa Kaur — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 15:00:15 GMT

The highly anticipated Honkai: Star Rail launched recently, and while I’ve never been a live-service RPG kind of person, I pre-installed it a week prior anyway, just to see what was up. My partner came out of the bathroom on the morning of the game’s launch to see me flopped across my bed, phone in hand, Himeko’s cheery voice piping out of my speaker. “How is it?” he asked. “These characters are, like, weirdly hot,” I replied.

Final Fantasy XIV: The Moogle Treasure Trove Event Allowed Me To Finally Finish The Nier Raids

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 17:00:15 GMT

It’s an innate human emotion to want something we don’t have. It’s why we build kingdoms, why we went to the Moon, and apparently, why we play Final Fantasy 14. There are some top-tier coveted rewards for players to earn in the MMO, and I’ll often see a player run past with a mount or minion that makes me do a double-take. They’ll be wearing some shiny, fancy gear, and I can’t help but examine them to find out what it’s called. We’ve all been there, right?

Deceive Inc. Could Be An All-Timer But No One Is Playing It Right

Eric Switzer — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 18:13:07 GMT

While you’ve all been bashing zombies in Dead Island 2 and polishing your lightsabers in anticipation of Jedi: Survivor, I’ve spent my evenings honing my spy skills in Deceive Inc. My friends and I have become completely obsessed with this clever little stealth game, and I think with time there’s a chance it will become one of the most popular multiplayer games out there. While not the first spy vs. spy game on the market, Deceive Inc. is by far the best to do it.

Honkai: Star Rail Has The Potential To Ruin My Life

Jade King — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 10:13:20 GMT

Genshin Impact isn’t a part of my life anymore. I banished MiHoYo’s hugely popular anime RPG after its gacha mechanics proved too addictive and too much content piled up for me to reasonably catch up on. It wasn’t worth it anymore, and I came to realise how dipping into it each and every day was doing more harm than good. To my surprise, I’ve stuck to this promise for years, but now a new outing from the same studio threatens to upend my weeaboo sobriety.

Someone Tell Bungie About Diablo 4's Free Campaign Skip

Eric Switzer — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 22:20:15 GMT

Blizzard showed off some new Diablo 4 gameplay footage this week, and an observant player noticed a “skip campaign” button on the character select screen. After getting a lot of attention on Twitter, lead quest designer Don Adams chimed in to clarify how the feature works. Once you’ve completed the campaign once, you’ll be able to skip the campaign with any of your other characters at any point. You roll as many alts as you’d like and take them through as much or as little of the campaign as you want to, and as long as you have one character that’s crossed the finish line, you’ll always have the freedom to skip to the end. “I think it's worth playing multiple times,” Adams wrote. “But we never planned on requiring repeat playthroughs per character or even per season.”

You Will Laugh So Hard When I Tell You How Expensive Pokemon Go Fest Is This Year

Eric Switzer — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 21:35:15 GMT

I would love nothing more than to write some nice words about Pokemon Go, but Niantic isn’t giving me much to work with, and hasn’t for a while. I love the new social features that Campfire added, and the introduction of the daily adventure incense last summer was a nice way to reward players for their time, but it’s hard to celebrate small victories in the face of near-constant controversy.

The Mageseeker Got Me Once Again Thinking It's A Good Idea To Play League

Eric Switzer — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:14:20 GMT

The first thing I did after finishing The Mageseeker was load up League of Legends and look at Sylus’ kit. Digital Sun did an exceptional job translating his abilities into The Mageseeker. His Chain Lash matches the heavy attack combo, the Abscond/Abduct ability parallels the dash and chain grab in The Mageseeker, and his ultimate, Hijack, steals the ultimates of other champions. Sylas plays very similarly in The Mageseeker and League of Legends, even though they’re completely different kinds of games.

PlayStation Is Desperate For A Multiplayer Hit

Stacey Henley — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 17:30:15 GMT

PlayStation has made itself known over the past couple of generations as the number one destination for premium, prestige single-player experiences. If you want to sit down and lose yourself in a game’s world, PlayStation is the place to do it. Between the idyllic plains of historic Tsushima, the exciting realms of the Norse pantheon, or, erm, Seattle, PlayStation could take you wherever you wanted to go. But that doesn’t make as much money as you’d think, and it’s clear Sony is going all in on a multiplayer extravaganza.

I Really Want The New Gold Saucer Minigame To Be Added To FFXIV Already

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 17:00:15 GMT

The Gold Saucer is one of my go-to haunts in Final Fantasy 14. It takes pride of place on my list of registered favourite destinations, and I’m sure that’s the norm for most players. Who doesn’t tackle the daily and weekly Cactpocts to earn as much MGP as possible so they can spend it on those sweet rewards? I’ve already cleaned the vendor out of all the minions, but I still need a few mounts, so the more MGP I can earn, the better.

What Even Happened In Destiny's Season Of Defiance?

Eric Switzer — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 00:11:54 GMT

This week’s major mid-season patch for Destiny 2 gave us more than we bargained for. A slew of balance changes came with an equally long list of bugs, as well as an extra mission no one was expecting. It’s somewhat customary to get an epilogue just before a new season begins, but since there’s still six or seven weeks left before Season of Defiance ends, it seems like this one came early.

It's Impossible To Come Back To Pokemon Go These Days

Stacey Henley — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 15:00:15 GMT

Niantic is bringing out yet another Pokemon Go clone, this time built around Monster Hunter. I don't know why it keeps releasing the same game over and over with little more than a new coat of paint, but I do know that it got me to idly check my Pokemon Go account for the first time in almost a year. I used to play the game a lot, and I've kept up with the major news surrounding it since, but I was still completely unprepared for what awaited me.

With Monster Hunter Now, Why Is Niantic Making The Same Game Again?

Stacey Henley — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 14:30:15 GMT

Niantic has just announced its latest video game, but you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve already heard of it. It’s Pokemon Go, but Monster Hunter. That’s the pitch. It’s an AR game where you walk around the real world, exploring your own streets and town centres, but see them in a new light as creatures come to life in front of you. But after my town centre has come to life in front of me so many times before thanks to an avalanche of new creatures, the whole thing feels stale.

Fortnite's Coachella Is A Charming Yet Broken Mess Of An Event

Jade King — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:45:16 GMT

Coachella has come to Fortnite! I’ll be real that I didn’t give much of a shit until I discovered that Porter Robinson was going to be performing and have some of his work incorporated in the world of Fortnite. I am a sad, bad gamer with a love for sentimental EDM and crossover battle royales so along I went to a themed creative island filled with new tunes and quests.

Diablo 4 Might Not Be For New Players

Stacey Henley — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 16:30:16 GMT

Diablo 4 is one of the most anticipated games of the year, and with good reason. Diablo is in a class of games like Rogue, Doom, Myst, Pokemon, Metroid, and Castlevania where it has become so synonymous with the dungeon crawler genre that many that followed in its footsteps are accused of being mere Diablo clones. It has been ten years since the last major Diablo game, with only a couple of expansion packs, a remaster, and the ill-fated mobile version Diablo Immortal releasing in that time. Diablo 4 is the return of the king, and even in a stacked 2023, for a lot of people it is far and away the game their hopes are pinned on. A word of warning though - if you're a newcomer, Diablo 4 might not be for you.

Best Ways To Level Jobs In FFXIV

Andrea Shearon — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 18:01:15 GMT

Leveling a new job or base class in Final Fantasy 14 can be a bit of a pain, but there is no wrong way to go about the process. However, there are certainly more efficient ways to get the job done if you're looking to level up on your own without the use of jump potions.

Final Fantasy XIV: I Only Just Completed The Binding Coil Of Bahamut

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:00:16 GMT

It’s 2023, and I’ve only just completed the Binding Coil of Bahamut. This was the first ever raid added to Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn way back in 2013, with the Final Coil launching in October 2014. That means it’s taken me nearly ten years to complete. Don’t get me wrong. I am bad at raids, but I’m not that bad. It hasn’t been nearly a decade of me constantly trying and failing to complete it. I tried the content at its peak, failed miserably, and pretty much just gave up then and there.

Hearthstone: Festival Of Legends Review - No One Does Expansions Like Blizzard

Eric Switzer — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 16:00:17 GMT

Hearthstone’s 28th expansion, Festival of Legends, launched this week, which is pretty staggering to someone who’s been playing the game as long as I have. After so many years (and so much controversy) it would be easy to assume that Hearthstone is past its prime creatively. But even as an old jaded player who’s been around for all the highs and lows, I can’t help being charmed by Festival of Legends. The music festival theme is so fully and completely realized throughout every facet of the game, from the artwork on the cards, to the new keyword and harmonic spells, to even the board design and audio effects - every element is working together to create a story and experience. It’s the kind of thing that reminds me why I fell in love with Blizzard’s games in the first place, and I’m glad to see that the Hearthstone team still has so much juice left even all these years later.

Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League's Delay Is Unprecedented

Jade King — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 16:15:15 GMT

Rocksteady has delayed Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League to February 2024, pushing its live-service superhero game back almost an entire year after a very polarising gameplay reveal. We all expected the studio to take a few months away from the spotlight to re-examine the experience, but this sort of shift is significant. The game is presumably nearing the finish line in terms of development, with the original release date close enough that I imagine the dev was busy polishing things up ahead of launch. That is definitely not the case anymore.

What The Hell Is Going On With Overwatch 2?

Rhiannon Bevan — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 14:00:14 GMT

Overwatch 2’s latest patch notes are out, and I’m completely unconvinced that I’m playing the same game that Blizzard thinks it’s making.

That Time A Guy Brought A Replica Frostmourne On Pawn Stars

Eric Switzer — Tue, 11 Apr 2023 21:35:34 GMT

It’s hard to explain the feeling I get from watching normies act clueless about video games. Especially now that gaming culture has so much mainstream acceptance, there’s something almost therapeutic about the confusion that washes over your average Gen Xer whenever they’re confronted with the fact that video games exist and people enjoy playing them. There’s been a lot of unhinged excerpts from Mario movie reviews floating around social media that are enraging fans, but they delight me to no end. Please continue comparing Bowser to actors that died in 1954 and puppeteers that were semi-popular in the ‘70s. I’m living for it.

Tears Of The Kingdom Is Just Garry's Mod Meets BOTW And I Can't Wait

James Troughton — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 14:15:12 GMT

Garry’s Mod was a weird experiment. It took all of Valve’s library and smushed them together into one big sandbox, giving you a doohicky glue gun that can pick stuff up with a laser. If you really want to, you can make a car out of a bathtub, or a boat out of corpses. It’s absurd, but for some reason, it works. Yet, no game has ever tried anything similar until, weirdly enough, Tears of the Kingdom.

I Don't Think We're Going To Bully Season Passes Out Of Existence

Eric Switzer — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:52:15 GMT

I hate to say it, but I think battle passes are here to stay. I wish it wasn’t the case, and that we could bully them out of existence the way we did loot boxes and time saver microtransactions, but until someone invents a more palatable and profitable way to get players to re-up their investment into triple-A games with outrageously bloated budgets, we’re just going to have to live with season passes being the norm.

Xbox Needs To Handle The Game Pass Churn Better

Eric Switzer — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:47:28 GMT

I loathe the way Game Pass rotates games off of the service. Game Pass should be an ever-expanding collection of curated games that becomes more and more valuable over time, but instead the value of a subscription is in a constant state of flux as games are added and removed each month. The idea that someone could be enjoying a game that they paid for through their subscription fee only to have it unceremoniously disappear one day terrifies me. It hasn’t happened to me yet, but I know eventually there will be a Game Pass game I invest in that leaves before I get a chance to finish it.

Final Fantasy XIV Community Spotlight: Esprit's Totally Normal April Show

Meg Pelliccio — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 17:00:16 GMT

Hot on the heels of their Junior Dancers Showcase, Esprit were back on stage last week to deliver a unique show like nothing they’ve ever done before in Final Fantasy 14. The event was hosted at the troupe’s new Free Company house on April 1, so that should give you a clue as to what kind of content they delivered.

Season Of The Deep Will Be Destiny's Most Important Season This Year

Eric Switzer — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:43:38 GMT

As we enterSeason of the Defiant’s quiet period and the long, two month wait until Season of the Deep, it’s time to reflect on the year so far and consider what still lies ahead for Destiny. For myriad reasons, Lightfall isn’t off to a great start. After so much build-up from The Witch Queen, the expansion’s campaign was a huge let down that didn’t make the kind of narrative strides we were expecting. There were also a multitude of bugs to contend with - more so than the typical amount for a new expansion - and the big changes to the difficulty settings were way out of balance. Strand has been a great addition to the power fantasy, but it’s hard to say that Destiny 2 is in a better place today than it was a month ago.

Just Let Me Play Offline

Stacey Henley — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 15:00:15 GMT

Everybody is on the internet these days. Unless a friend printed this article off and mailed it to you, you're on the internet right now. Between your phone, your work, your car, maybe even your fridge, your central heating, and your clocks, you're always kind of on the internet. Because of this, it has become the norm for video games to assume we will be constantly online when we play them, even forcing it where it has no real purpose. Please, just let me play offline.

Pokémon Go's Remote Raid Changes Will Only Benefit Cheaters

Ben Sledge — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 14:30:14 GMT

There’s a bloke in my local Pokemon Go Facebook group who posts his ‘wins’ after every event. He’ll usually get around 50 shinies per weekend of grinding, including every newly released one of course, and add in a dozen screenshots or so of the incredibly rare Galarian birds for good measure. He’s always met with a chorus of laugh reacts and comments that don’t take him seriously, but it doesn’t deter him. He wants to prove his superiority, and posts his hauls about twice a week.

Overwatch Has An "Openly" Queer Character Now

Tessa Kaur — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 15:31:14 GMT

Overwatch 2 has a new support character coming, and he’s queer. Announced through the official Overwatch Twitter account, Lifeweaver will be joining the roster as part of Season 4. He’s pansexual and Thai – as a queer Southeast Asian, I thought I’d be more excited, but I found myself wondering if this really matters.

Ark: Survival Evolved Is The Latest Game To Rip Off Its Players

Stacey Henley — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 16:30:15 GMT

Everybody wants your money these days. That has always been the case with capitalism of course, but it used to at least feel like more of a trade-off. The people wanting your money would give you something for your cash. Want a rotary phone? Sure, gimme two dollars and a jar of beeswax, or whatever the price of rotary phones were in the old days. It used to be the case with video games too. You want Tomb Raider 3? Sure, gimme the cash. Okay, here's your game, go play it, '90s Stacey. These days, with everything digitised and profit-driven like never before, it's a little different. The latest game to gouge your eyes out and then try to sell them back to you as part of a Vision Pack DLC is Ark: Survival Evolved.

Marvel's Avengers Final Patch Is Live, So Play It Before It's Too Late

Eric Switzer — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:00:17 GMT

Update 2.8 is live in Marvel’s Avengers, which means practically nothing to anyone except the 700 people still active on the subreddit (hello), but it’s an important milestone for the game. As in, the final milestone. Marvel’s Avengers will never receive another update, it is no longer a live-service game, and after September 30, it will cease to exist entirely.

I Don't See How Pokemon Go Recovers From This Remote Raid Pass Fiasco

Eric Switzer — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 03:42:24 GMT

Despite years of back and forth with a unified community begging for support, Niantic has finally decided to gut Remote Raid Passes. Starting this week, the price of Remote Raid Pass bundles will increase from 300 (already up from 250 several months ago) to 525, while the price of single passes will increase from 100 to 195. Additionally, players will be limited to a total of five Remote Raids per day. This change will significantly limit the accessibility of Pokemon Go for disabled players, rural players, and those living in areas that aren't safe to walk around in. It's going to be catastrophic for many segments of the player base and I don't see how Pokemon Go can come back from this.