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New Dying Light Map And Fire Wand Arrives In Upcoming Hellraid Update

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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Techland has released the third brand-new content update for Dying Light’s Hellraid DLC, introducing a new map section to explore as well as a new magic skill to unlock by completing a daring quest. Hellraid was originally a separate Techland IP with a medieval setting, first-person melee combat, and dungeon crawling mechanics similar to those found in many other fantasy role-playing games. Announced around the same time as Dying Light, the title was later canceled and re-released as DLC five years later.

The open-world zombie survival adventure was well-received upon its initial release and quickly became one of the most downloaded games in 2015. Techland, the game’s developer, committed to supporting the game by releasing an expansion, content packs, content drops, and regular free updates several years after its initial release.

Following the title’s Platinum Edition re-release earlier this year, which also saw the zombie action-adventure come to Nintendo Switch, the studio is now set to release a next-gen patch for Dying Light on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S almost seven years after its launch.

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Techland has released the third content update for Dying Light’s Hellraid DLC, which goes live today. The new update will include a brand new map section in The Mysterious Portal, where daring players can embark on a difficult quest to unlock an exclusive weapon and magical skill.

The quest must be completed in one playthrough and rewards players with the Fire Wand, a fireball-shooting weapon that sets enemies on fire, as well as the Wand Mastery skill. Three new potions will also provide buffs such as reduced enemy damage, up to 200 percent melee damage, and double movement speed.

The new content update will also include new challenge modes via portals and a new location called The Armor, which will become available after completing the imprisonment side quest. This area will allow players to show off their weapons, which they can obtain by progressing through the ranks of the DLC.

While Techland is still providing support and content for the original Dying Light, this is set to change soon. After multiple delays, Dying Light 2, the developer’s highly anticipated survival-horror sequel, is set to release in early 2022. The ambiguous title will expand on the series’ signature parkour system, combat, and a branched choice-driven story that will play a significant role in progression.

Dying Light 2 is only a few months away, and Techland is constantly updating the original title with new content. Hellraid, while never a standalone title, is an important part of Techland’s history and continues to expand, providing RPG fans with a new mode to enjoy. While it is unknown whether it will receive another expansion in the future, perhaps Dying Light’s sequel will see the return of the popular DLC in some form next year.

Animal Crossing New Horizons New Amiibo Cards Releasing Next Month

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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During today’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct, Nintendo revealed that a new set of ACHN amiibo cards will be available in stores in November. In late September, the publisher revealed its plans for the Direct, promising a flurry of news centered on ACHN’s long-awaited Brewster update.

Fortunately, players won’t have to wait long for the content to become available. Brewster and The Roost will finally join New Horizons on November 5, according to the livestream. As a result, villagers will be able to visit Brewster’s coffee shop in no time.

And players who want to meet up with friends for a good cup of Joe via multiplayer will soon be satisfied as well. While today’s Direct focused on Brewster and the café, the pigeon’s impending arrival wasn’t the only exciting news that Animal Crossing fans received.

The publisher announced plans to release a new batch of ACHN amiibo cards on November 5 – the same day as the Brewster update – near the end of the New Horizons-focused Nintendo Direct. This is the fifth series of Animal Crossing amiibo cards, a 48-card set that will be released in stages.

Fans can expect new Animal Crossing characters as well as classic island residents who have never been immortalized in card form before in the latest series. Even better, users who visit Brewster’s café will be able to invite other characters to join them by using compatible amiibo cards. Each pack will contain six cards in total and will be available in select stores.

This is great news for Animal Crossing fans who want to add to their amiibo card collection. But let’s hope the reseller market doesn’t take hold as it has in the past. For example, amiibo card scalpers caused a shortage in early 2020, forcing Nintendo to quickly roll out a restock.

Today’s Direct in general was exactly what the doctor ordered for New Horizons, especially after such a long period of no major updates. To the chagrin of many, the game even skipped E3 2021. However, it appears that things on the island are improving.

Pokemon Unite Garchamp Challenges Are Making Players Mad

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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Pokémon Unite includes weekly challenges with specific requirements and rewards as part of player engagement, but this week’s challenge, themed around Garchomp, has some players frustrated. The MOBA takes many cues from previous titles in the genre and includes a free rotation of characters for players to try out each week, as well as microtransactions. Though playing Pokémon Unite for free is possible, player revenue is how the game funds future development, so it is inextricably linked to the genre.

More and more games are shifting to the “games as service” model, which involves providing a steady stream of updates and content in exchange for putting parts of the game—usually character skins or DLC—behind paywalls.

Pokémon Unite is no exception, as it is a game designed to be played over time and includes microtransactions to enhance the player experience. Microtransactions, on the other hand, must tread carefully.

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When it comes to cosmetic items, most players will accept them, but there has been a lot of backlash when it comes to microtransactions that affect gameplay. Pokémon Unite has dealt with this before, with a survey conducted a few months ago acknowledging “pay-to-win” accusations. Players want to believe that everyone has a fair shot, and when those with money have an advantage, it is often viewed as the polar opposite of fair.

Pokémon Unite released another week of challenges a few days ago, and Reddit user PumpkinKing333 and others are dissatisfied with the requirement that they use Garchomp. The problem is that Garchomp isn’t one of the characters featured in the game’s free rotation this week, so if players don’t already own the character, they’ll have to pay in-game currency or real money to get it and complete the challenge.

Acquiring currency in the game takes time, so if players are short of the 10,000 coins required to unlock Garchomp (or simply do not want to spend their coins on it), they will either have to pay money or will be unable to complete the challenges.

That would be fine if the game kept its prices low, but with the recent Pokémon Unite Alolan Ninetales holowear costing $40, it’s clear that’s not the case. It puts players in an unfavorable position, and they are understandably frustrated as a result.

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But that isn’t the only problem. Many people have drawn attention to another challenge in that same Reddit thread, which requires players to participate in 8 ranked matches with friends. Some Pokémon Unite players appear to be lone wolves, lacking enough friends who play the game to complete that particular challenge.

With that and the Garchomp challenge, players may be unable to complete two of this week’s four missions, leaving half of the week’s rewards out of reach. One solution may be Pokémon Unite squads, which are relatively easy to join and connect up to thirty players who can then play together, but few options exist for those not in squads.

It’s understandable that a free-to-play game like Pokémon Unite would try to find a variety of ways to fund its ongoing development. Still, players will only accept so many microtransactions before they feel nickel-and-dimed. Pokémon Unite has already been accused of being a pay-to-win game, and missions like this, which almost require money to be spent, don’t help.

Far Cry 6 and UNO Are Having A Crossover Event

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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Far Cry 6 is the latest installment in Ubisoft’s popular Far Cry series, and it delivers exactly what fans have come to expect. Players are delving into every aspect of Far Cry 6, from the cockfighting minigame to the more impromptu bullfighting moments.

Overall, it appears that Far Cry 6 provides the experience that players expected, but little else. Nonetheless, it has sold well, which is to be expected for a game that is part of a well-established franchise and offers a fun open-world experience. In fact, it’s done well enough that Ubisoft is promoting it.

Ubisoft’s official digital publication of Mattel’s UNO, which Mattel also publishes, is getting new Far Cry 6 themed DLC. The new DLC costs $4.99/£3.99 and adds cosmetic and gameplay enhancements to UNO.

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In terms of visuals, it resembles the look of a gaming table and background found in Far Cry 6’s Yara, and the cards have Far Cry 6 characters printed on them. In terms of gameplay, players can collect Pesos, but they won’t have to fight their way through Far Cry 6’s respawning enemies.

Once earned, the pesos can be used to summon four different characters from the game to assist players. Each character has a different effect at different prices, ranging from adding cards to opposing hands to emptying a player’s own hand. Other effects include preventing opponents from requesting favors.

It provides a constant for players to rely on, which helps mitigate the cards’ randomness. In addition, one new card has a random effect on Pesos for the player who plays it. It appears to be a good crossover, and with a Far Cry 6 themed drink already available, the game appears to be marketable.

This isn’t the first time Ubisoft has used UNO to promote its games. Both Just Dance and Rabbids have appeared in UNO and Immortals: Fenyx Rising has its own DLC. Each new crossover introduced new mechanics that were unique to that expansion.

Although it is not as large or as widely advertised as its AAA counterparts, UNO is profitable for Ubisoft. It is a favorite of streamers and casual players alike, and one player even created a playable UNO game in Minecraft.

Free Back 4 Blood Skins Are Available To All Xbox Game Pass Subscribers

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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Turtle Rock Studios’ spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead franchise, Back 4 Blood, is now available. Xbox is betting on Back 4 Blood’s success as well, having convinced publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to add the co-op FPS to Xbox Game Pass.

That does not appear to be the end of Xbox and Warner Bros.’ collaboration. Xbox Game Pass confirmed on Friday that an exclusive Back 4 Blood cosmetics bundle would be available soon.

The Back 4 Blood Battle-Hardened Bundle is a cosmetics package available only to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. While “slaying the apocalypse is cool,” “slaying it in style is cooler,” according to the official Xbox Game Pass Twitter account. Subscribers can access the bundle through the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks gallery on PC and Xbox, as well as the Xbox Game Pass mobile app.

Back 4 Blood’s Battle-Hardened Bundle includes four different character skins as well as four different weapon skins. The skins are Evangelo, Walker, Holly, and Mom for the game’s default four characters. Each of their skins has a better appearance than the character’s base outfit, as each character gains body armor or other armored gear to appear more prepared for the approaching storm.

Back 4 Blood’s most popular weapon is the M4 Carbine assault rifle, but there are also skins for the RPK light machine gun, the Uzi submachine gun, and the 870 Express shotgun. In nature, these skins are all fairly uniform. They give the weapon a camouflaged appearance of green, brown, and both light and dark colors. They will also upgrade the gun with a more tactical component, such as a new barrel, stock, magazine, or other accessory. These are purely cosmetic modifications.

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Notably, the four Battle-Hardened skins appear to be the same across all platforms as those included with the Back 4 Blood Ultimate Edition. It’s unclear whether the Back 4 Blood Fort Hope Elite Weapon Skins pack will be released on other platforms or if either DLC pack will be released separately.

It’s a nice little bonus for Back 4 Blood players who are currently using Xbox Game Pass on PC or console. It’s also a great way to remind Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers that Back 4 Blood is now free with a subscription. Back 4 Blood is a great deal for Xbox Game Pass subscribers, considering it’s a full-priced game otherwise.

The Day Before New Gameplay Trailer Released

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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For several months, the development of the upcoming zombie-survival MMO The Day Before has been relatively quiet. Today, the game’s developer, Fntastic, demonstrated some new features, allowing fans to become acquainted with some of the game’s more MMO-like characteristics.

Diana Weng, CBO of the game’s publisher MYTONA, as well as Fntastic founders Aisen and Ed Gotovtsev, appeared on camera to introduce some of the key elements coming to The Day Before that the footage highlights. The main topic of discussion centered on a common area in the city where players could meet up with others, share supplies, and generally unwind.

These types of safe zones are common in MMOs and appear to be a welcome relief from the tense survival environments that The Day Before presents to its players. The trailer also included a look at the intricately furnished interior of a multi-story shopping mall, which is just one of the many environments that fans have been promised they will be able to explore in the game. The game will also include base building and weapon customization options for players who don’t want to be too cramped in the inner-city strongholds.

Notably, the trailer mentions the PS5 and Xbox Series X and S as platforms for The Day Before. Fntastic had previously expressed a desire to publish the game on home consoles but had not confirmed a release date.

The trailer, however, makes it clear that it will not be a cross-generational title and will only be available on the latest generation of consoles. Based on the amount of detail and graphical fidelity shown in the gameplay trailers, this makes sense, as The Day Before appears to be quite demanding on its hardware.

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The trailer also includes a confirmed release date for The Day Before. The game is set to be released on June 21, 2022, but there’s a catch: it’ll only be available on PC at that time, with console versions following later. There’s been a lot of speculation about console versions of The Day Before, so news that they’re coming is certainly exciting, but console players have been mainly left in the dark thus far.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, release dates have been difficult to nail down recently, so fans should be cautious about planning their lives around the MMOs’ release. Based on the footage shown thus far, The Day Before appears to be in a good place, potentially giving hope that the project will stick to its original release date.

Important Feature Confirmed To Be On The Nintendo 64 Switch Controller

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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It was announced last month that Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games would be coming to the Nintendo Switch as part of the new Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack. Along with the announcement that classic games from two decades ago would be included in Nintendo’s hybrid console, the company also revealed Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis controllers for the Switch. A fan-favorite feature is now returning, according to the controller’s online listing.

Nintendo revealed the price and release date of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack during today’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons direct. The announcement accompanied the news that some paid Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC (a series that began on the Nintendo 64) will be included in the Expansion Pack as well, increasing the value of the product. However, as fans flocked to Nintendo’s website searching for information on the Nintendo 64 controller, one specific feature was confirmed.

The Nintendo 64 controller for the Switch will include rumble functionality, eliminating the need for an old-school Rumble Pak. According to Nintendo’s official listing of the controller, rumble will be supported for games that use the feature, such as Star Fox 64.

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The controller is designed to look and feel exactly like its predecessor from 1996, with the exception that the 1997 Rumble Pak feature is now built-in. In addition, the Nintendo 64 controller has new buttons for Switch support, as well as a USB C port and charging cable. The controller will be a true mash-up of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology.

Nintendo has always been on the cutting edge of controller development. Nintendo invented or popularized some key pieces of technology, such as the shoulder buttons on the SNES controller, the thumbstick on the Nintendo 64 controller, rumble via the Rumble Pak on the Nintendo 64 controller, and so on.

Nintendo’s dual and touch screen technology on the Nintendo DS arrived long before phones adopted the concept as a standard feature, and the Wii motion technology helped revolutionize gaming as a whole. It’s exciting to see Nintendo bring back the Nintendo 64 in its most powerful form for the Switch.

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The Nintendo 64 controller (which will be available on October 25) and additional titles from the Sega Genesis and Nintendo 64 are undoubtedly the highlights of the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, but other features appear to be on the way as well.

The paid DLC Animal Crossing: New Horizons Happy Home Paradise is also included with the Expansion Pack. More DLC and items of this nature may be included in the pack in the future. All of this explains why the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack may cost a little more than some expected.

Steam Bans Games With NFTs and Cryptocurrency

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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Not only is cryptocurrency a hot topic in general, but it is also a hot topic in the video game industry. An increasing number of games promote their blockchain connections or hint at ways to award cryptocurrency or NFT prizes.

Despite a vocal minority of crypto-fans, the technology remains highly contentious due to environmental concerns, market volatility, and seemingly incessant scams. It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that Valve has decided to prohibit the sale of blockchain games on Steam.

SpacePirate Games, the creators of Age of Rust, have announced the news. Age of Rust is a blockchain-integrated adventure game in which players can earn NFTs by solving puzzles. SpacePirate Games claims in a Twitter thread that they were clear and communicative with Valve about the nature of the game, only to be told that Age of Rust would be removed from Steam. According to SpacePirate Games, Steam does not allow games to include items with a real-world value on the platform.

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In its first tweet, SpacePirate Games links to a list of Steam Rules and Guidelines, which includes 13 rules about what should and should not be published on Steam. The rules are mostly standard, prohibiting hate speech, sexually explicit images of real people, and content that is illegal in certain regions.

The most recent rule, rule thirteen, is unique to blockchain technology. It states that no applications based on blockchain technology that “issue or allow the exchange of cryptocurrencies or NFTs” should be published on Steam.

It’s unclear when Valve officially banned games that use cryptocurrency or NFTs. The rules and guidelines may have been updated some time ago, but they are only now receiving attention. In the past, Valve has had a tumultuous relationship with cryptocurrency.

Valve announced in 2017 that it would no longer accept Bitcoin as a payment method due to the volatility of transaction costs. After a year, Valve banned a developer whose game secretly mined cryptocurrency.

To summarize, Valve has reason to be concerned about the nature of blockchain technology in video games and the intentions of the creators who use it. However, Valve has not issued an official statement regarding the prohibition of games that use cryptocurrency or NFTs. As a result, the reasons for its decision are unclear.

On the one hand, it is undeniably true that blockchain technology can and has been used to defraud video game players. On the other hand, Valve allows real-money items in its games, such as Team Fortress 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive cosmetics.

Xbox Series X Inspired Mini Refrigerator Price Announced

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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The next generation of Xbox and PlayStation consoles has resulted in some incredible improvements to video games. From crystal clear 4K graphics to super-fast SSDs that significantly reduce load times, these new consoles have been a game changer for those who have been fortunate enough to obtain one. These new consoles, particularly the Xbox Series X, have distinct designs in addition to more powerful hardware.

The Xbox Series X, which was released at the end of 2020, had a new design when compared to previous Xbox console iterations. The console, which was shaped like a block, had a straightforward appearance. While many fans praised the system’s unobtrusive design, some thought the system’s rectangular shape reminded them of a refrigerator. Because of this resemblance, the internet became famous for the Xbox fridge meme. However, Xbox has decided to capitalize on the meme by selling an Xbox Series X Mini Fridge.

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Recently, Xbox General Manager Aaron Greenberg tweeted new information about the Xbox Series X Mini Fridge. He revealed in the tweet that, after seeing the popularity of the Mini Fridge idea, Xbox decided to make the meme a reality by releasing the product. Greenberg stated that he had already tested the device and that “it works like a champ.”

LED lighting, a USB port, and AC and DC power adapters are among the design details of the Mini Fridge. Greenberg claims that the unit holds 10 12oz beverage cans and has two shelves attached to the door. Aside from these features, the fridge’s external dimensions are 462mm H x 232mm W x 232mm D, and its internal dimensions are 352.3mm H x 174mm W x 175mm D.

In addition to providing more information about the upcoming product, Xbox revealed how fans can purchase one of these mini fridges. The company announced that pre-orders for the product will begin on October 19, with units expected to arrive in stores in December. In addition, Xbox fans discovered that the mini fridge costs $99.99 and is only available at Target in the United States.

Aside from this mini fridge, the company has also produced a full-size Xbox Series X Fridge. This product, standing 6-foot tall and weighing 400 pounds, was a functional refrigerator that resembled an Xbox Series X. However, due to its smaller size, it appears that Xbox’s new mini fridge design may appeal to a wider audience.

It will be interesting to see if this Xbox Series X mini fridge is more readily available than the Xbox Series X. However, that shouldn’t be too difficult given how difficult it has been to find Microsoft’s next-generation console since its release last November.

Chansey Pokemon Themed Parks To Be Built All Over Japan

By
Christian Allen Tandoc
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The Pokemon Company has announced the creation of a series of Chansey-themed parks in Japan’s Fukushima Prefecture as part of its overarching Local Acts Initiative. This December, the first of these planned parks will open in Namie Town, with three more parks set to open in 2022.

The Pokemon Company has assigned a variety of Pokemon to some of Japan’s prefectures, including Hokkaido, Iwate, and Fukushima, as part of its Local Acts Initiative. This initiative aims to combine local landmarks and the famous company through events, one-of-a-kind items, and even Pokemon-themed manhole covers. These Pokemon ambassadors have been put in place to promote tourism by highlighting both well-known and lesser-known sites in the country.

This recent announcement will bring Pokemon fans closer than ever before to Chansey, one of the rare Pokemon that can heal itself. These parks will feature a variety of Chansey slides, swings, and other typical playground features.

An official chansey park was announced!!!! It will be available in december!! Check out these pictures!!! I'm so excited, Chansey is my favourite pokémon.: pokemon

Following the success of the first Chansey playground in Namie Town, the Pokemon Company plans to build three more parks in Koriyama City, Yanaizu Town, and Showa Village. The next park’s construction will begin in the spring of 2022 and will continue from there.

Since Chansey was named the ambassador for Fukushima, Japan’s third-largest prefecture, in February 2019, fans of that Pokemon have been able to buy special themed goods from The Pokemon Company.

These themed parks are most likely a foreshadowing of things to come for Japan’s ambassador Pokemon. Currently, Geodude, Lapras, a pair of Sandshrews and Vulpix, and Slowpoke can be found in a number of Prefectures. The announcement of these Chansey-themed playgrounds is a positive sign for the Pokemon Local Acts of Initiative. This initiative appears to work similarly to Pokemon Go in that it emphasizes getting people outside and involved in both the real world and the Pokemon universe.

An official chansey park was announced!!!! It will be available in december!! Check out these pictures!!! I'm so excited, Chansey is my favourite pokémon.: pokemon

This commitment to building four parks in Fukushima indicates that The Pokemon Company will continue to invest in bringing attention to notable locations and features of localities throughout Japan. The Pokemon franchise is still popular, and using an instantly recognizable brand to highlight important local landmarks is a strong attempt to increase tourism to these areas.

Having said that, The Pokemon Company’s creation of parks across Fukushima isn’t without benefit to the company. The more people who recognize the Pokemon brand and associate it with specific locations, the better for the company. However, at the end of the day, there will be four more playgrounds for residents and visitors to enjoy.

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