Sam and Max: Save the World Remastered Gets December Release Date

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November 9, 2020

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The PlayStation 5 is now just a few days away which is why Sony released another advertisement to promote its next-gen console. The clip is focused on several games expected to launch on the PlayStation 5. However, the trailer’s last seconds were dedicated to spilling a subtle confirmation about the release window of some of these exclusive games, including Horizon Forbidden West.

Attentive PlayStation fans noticed a small detail within the video displaying that Horizon Forbidden West is now set to release during the second half of next year. It’s worth noting that the game will be launched on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but the leak didn’t mention if the release window applies on both consoles. However, without an official confirmation from the tech giant, fans can expect that the late 2021 launch window is for both console versions of the game.

Aside from Horizon Forbidden West, the advertisement also confirmed the launch window of other PlayStation exclusive games. Releasing in the first half of next year are Returnal, Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart, and Gran Turismo 7.

Interesting bit from the PS5 ad: Gran Turismo 7, Ratchet & Clank and Returnal are "anticipated" for the first half of 2021

Horizon Forbidden West is anticipated for the second half of 2021 pic.twitter.com/5TIUxTKn9R

— Nibel (@Nibellion) November 9, 2020

However, it is worth mentioning that all of these games are PlayStation 5 exclusives and will not be released on the PlayStation 4. As of writing, it is uncertain if Sony will make a proper announcement of the launch windows of the abovementioned titles, but provided that the company is preparing for the approaching launch of the PlayStation 5, it seems that these bits of information from the ads are the only thing fans will get for now.

To the unaware, Horizon Forbidden West was first revealed during the PlayStation 5 Showcase last June. According to the tech giant, the sequel will continue the adventures of Aloy after the events of Horizon Zero Dawn.

In the teaser revealed during the announcement, players can see just how far Aloy and the world around her have changed ever since the events of the first game. The sequel is set to revolve around Aloy’s unexpected journey, but it seems that a storm is looming in the background, implying a new threat to the protagonist’s story.

A few weeks after the revelation of Horizon Forbidden West, the official PlayStation magazine disclosed some details on the new areas players will discover in the upcoming game. It has been confirmed that Horizon Forbidden West will be set somewhere between Utah and the Pacific Ocean, meaning Aloy will be traveling around California and Nevada. Furthermore, it looks like the city of San Francisco will play a huge part in the game.

Xbox Series X’s Quick Resume Feature Is Its Advantage Over PlayStation 5

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November 9, 2020

As the preview period for both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X comes to an end, reporters and influencers are observing that the PlayStation 5 lacks the Xbox Series X’s most beneficial feature – Quick Resume, which grants players the ability to save game states of a couple of games at once and swap between them with ease.

The number of game states depends on the kind of games loaded up, with older games taking lesser space than games released on the Xbox Series X. When Microsoft’s next-gen console loads up a save state, players can avoid menus, logos, and other startup elements and get right back to playing the game.

Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One currently have a feature the same as this, although it’s less extraordinary. Gamers who want to watch a TV series on Netflix in the middle of a quest can load the streaming app and have the console save on the spot for when they return. However, if they chose to load another game, their previous save state would be written over. Meanwhile, on the Xbox Series X, players will be able to load up between any games effortlessly. For the PlayStation, it’s sticking to what the PlayStation 4 has for now.

Critics noticed the lack of a Quick Resume-like feature on Sony’s next-gen console, confirming that the PlayStation 5 is still channeling on the PlayStation 4 tech in a lot of ways in its user interface and menus. Players will have to stick to a single game running at a time, although the enhanced load times for most of the games available at release day will mean that there won’t be a significant downtime between switching games. However, it will still be a huge differentiation between Microsoft and Sony’s next-gen strategies, and Xbox has been putting it in its advertisements as a huge feature.

It is worth noting that Microsoft will still have a lot of work to do when it comes to its Quick Resume feature. As of writing, there is no warning for players if a game is being removed from Quick Resume, which means that save states could be removed accidentally if too many games and applications are loaded up.

In addition, there have also been several console reviews that mention that the Quick Resume is unreliable, either it’s not working properly or disappearing without notification between various loads. Xbox is unyielding when it comes to its features and dashboard throughout the Xbox One generation, so Xbox Series X/S users are likely to get updates to make it more functional in the future.

In a console war that looks pretty divided evenly in the middle between the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, Quick Resume is one of the biggest features one system has over the other. If all the glitches can be fixed, it will make Microsoft’s next-gen console feel like a more forward-facing console compared to the PlayStation 5.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Full Map Leaked

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November 9, 2020

Thanks to those with early access to Assassins Creed Valhalla, future owners of the game can begin preparing for their trip back to the ancient times with newly revealed maps of playable areas of the open-world RPG – including the game’s mythical locations, Jotunheim and Asgard.

The third entry in the Assassin’s Creed series’ new direction, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is set in action in Norway amidst the age of Vikings. Eivor, the lead character who can canonically either be male or female, ultimately attempts to venture past his homeland onto England and other countries, as well as several realms beyond where no man can usually go and live to tell the tale.

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The name Valhalla surely provides an indication that Eivor will be encountering several mythical characters, and the game does indeed appear to lean towards the same fantastical confrontations as Assassins Creed Odyssey and Origins.

Ubisoft is never one to disappoint with postponements during a console release which is why they have prepared editions of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well as next-gen launches on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.

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On the newer consoles, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is pledging 4K 60FPS gameplay and faster load times compared to the current-gen editions. The PlayStation 5 edition of Valhalla is also said to support the console’s Tempest 3D Audio, which allows players with headphones or high-quality speakers to hear every sword and arrow hurled in any direction.

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Whether players pick the next-gen or current-gen edition, Powerpyx has already leaked a set of maps that will assist players to plan out their journey around Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This includes Norway (where players will spend the first hours of their journey), the main island of England, and the smaller locations of Jotunheim, Asgard, and Vinland.

Of the three smaller locations, Vinland is an undefined historical location where Vikings were known to live, while Jotunheim and Asgard are Norse mythological locations where Eivor is destined to meet and fight with the gods.

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Looking at the leaked maps, players can get a clue of the kind of missions they can expect in the new Assassin’s Creed game. The vantage points are represented with the same eagle symbol from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, while the pawprints usually represent hunting challenges. Main quests also share the same stylish diamond symbol as the last game, and a couple of new icons waiting to be explored by players.

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Ubisoft recently revealed that it would use lesser icons on the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla map, replacing them with dots that encourage discovery. Icons overload is one of the reasons players get frustrated on open-world games, so it’s a great strategy that fans can witness in play here.

Between the recently released Watch Dogs Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, players who love what Ubisoft brings to the table will have a lot to play on the next-gen consoles in the coming weeks.

Google Stadia Finally Adds Highly-Requested Family Sharing Feature

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November 9, 2020

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When Google Stadia was initially released, it received polarizing opinions from the gaming community. Even though the cloud gaming subscription service provided by this platform is innovative at best, many of its users still aren’t as satisfied as they want to be.

One reason for this is because Google Stadia is quite slow when it comes to releasing vital features, although the service is working on fixing this fault. As a matter of fact, Google has recently announced that family sharing through Google Stadia will now be possible.

In other words, gamers who utilize this service will finally be able to share games with their family. Creating a family group on Google is the first thing you need to do in order to utilize this brand-new feature.

Google family groups aren’t something that’s unique to Google Stadia. As a matter of fact, Android devices have been making use of this feature for quite some time now in order to share games on Google Play.

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The process for having family groups on Android is quite simple: all you have to do is add your family members to a group. From there, you can share your games with each other and even allow one another to buy games and whatnot through a shared family payment method.

That being said, Google Stadia’s family groups will function in the same way as well. Probably the only difference is that each family member will be required to have their own Google Stadia account.

Other Google Stadia users have been wondering if having a Stadia Pro subscription is a requirement in order to share games with one another. According to Google’s FAQ, however, this doesn’t appear to be the case.

In other words, you don’t need to be subscribed to Stadia Pro if you want to share your games or play games that have been shared by others. However, it’s definitely worth noting that there are some specific games that require you to have a Stadia Pro subscription. Once the subscription ends, this means that these particular games can no longer be shared as well.

Just like other similar services that have family sharing, Google Stadia’s family group will have a manager that will have the power to control all kinds of settings and functions within the group.

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This kind of feature is quite understandable, given the fact that families can sometimes include children of varying ages. As such, precautions such as this one are implemented so that kids of a certain age won’t be able to play games that aren’t fit for their age range.

That being said, the addition of family sharing to Google Stadia may not be big enough to garner more attention. However, those who do use this service have been asking for this feature for quite some time now, and therefore, it’s a pretty important addition to the platform.

Even though Google Stadia has been receiving a lot of criticism, Google still continues to improve the platform. As such, we’re sure that the service will get better and better as time goes on.

Rune 2: Decapitation Edition Makes Its Way To Steam This November 13

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November 9, 2020

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Rune 2: Decapitation Edition was initially released exclusively on the Epic Games Store, however, developer Studio 369 will be bringing the game to another popular storefront, namely Steam.

The game was launched about a year ago in November 2019, and now that it’s coming to Steam, more players will be able to experience this open-world action RPG. This Steam version of the game follows the original Rune 2 title, only this time, it’s a new and improved edition.

Studio 369 picked up where the old developers left off, and this time around, Rune 2 is a “re-envisioned story of betrayal, rebirth and revenge.” There’s a bunch of new and exciting features introduced in this version, such as the addition of more quests, new characters, as well as a different ending.

In this game, Midgard is in disarray and it’s all because of Loki. As the chosen warrior, it’s your duty to end Ragnarok. You will set out on a dangerous journey where you will encounter a variety of enemies, such as hordes of minions who will do everything in their power to eliminate you.

You don’t have to battle alone though. Rune 2: Decapitation Edition gives you the option to team up with up to four players, as you fight savage creatures and giant monsters. As a team, you will be able to battle Loki together, but only if you survive long enough to reach the end of your journey.

In order to obtain one-of-a-kind abilities and skills, the different warriors will align with Norse gods. With each chosen god, there will be 20 new abilities that center around them, such as the ability to cast powerful lightning bolts or summon pets to aid you during combat.

As you progress through the game, you will be able to gather and make use of divine artifacts, rare resources, and so much more. These will be needed in order to create the sword that was initially crafted by Loki himself – and this will be the same sword needed in order to defeat him.

Among other things, Rune 2: Decapitation Edition has new gameplay mechanics that weren’t available in previous versions, such as upgraded combat mechanics, a skill tree system, as well as a new and improved quest system.

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You can’t simply rush into battle if you want to win the game though. Mastering the game’s mechanics and strategizing are two vital factors if you want to lead your warrior to victory. Besides, you get to utilize new finishing moves, parrying techniques, as well as combo attacks in this version.

Another important aspect of Rune 2 deals with rebuilding and revitalizing the land. As such, you have to gather all kinds of resources you can find along your journey in order to restore Midgard to the glorious place it once was. This includes building forges and longhouses, among others.

After all, it’s vital to have well-armed villagers in case of a horde attack. Ensuring that your village is well-prepared is an important factor in survival. After you successfully finish Rune 2’s main campaign, you can participate in online PvP challenges to try and see who the strongest warrior is in Midgard.

Rune 2: Decapitation Edition will be available on Steam this November 13.

Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War PlayStation Players Will Receive Exclusive Bonuses

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November 9, 2020

Activision has announced a couple of exclusive bonuses that only PlayStation owners will receive when playing Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War in multiplayer. Call of Duty has been one of a few multiplayer-focused franchises to customarily offer exclusive content with one platform over the other, whether it’s exclusive maps, missions, expansions, or other kinds of bonuses.

This usually comes as part of a promotional deal where the platform holder will excite the game in exchange for putting the console’s logo in the trailer and other ads. The game may come out on other console platforms, but it gets a major boost on one.

Call of Duty has spent time in both Sony and Microsoft’s camp over the past years, usually dealing with whatever console was out in front as far as fan preference and mass adoption. Two generations ago, a large number of shooter fans gathered over the Xbox 360, and Call of Duty was one of the overpowering forces to come out every year.

Activision partnered with Xbox for the first two years of the Xbox One, but the colossal sales of the PlayStation 4 made it switch sides. Since then, Activision has offered PlayStation exclusives which continue until the PlayStation 5 era.

As announced on the PlayStation Blog by James Mattone, an Activision representative, there are four levels of freebies for PlayStation users of Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War. Right off the bat, those that bought the multiplayer Battle Pass with 20 level skips will get an extra five skips for free.

In addition, teaming up with other PlayStation players will earn every player in the party an additional 25% weapon experience in every match. Monthly 24-hour long double experience events as well as two additional loadout slots will also be exclusively given to PlayStation owners.

This is really an interesting tactic by Activision, and it may be an essential one. Call of Duty will no longer be premium DLC, so it’s absurd to provide early access or special arenas like in the past. The developers could offer one of a kind cosmetics, but that’s presumably not seen as sufficient of an incentive to get fans to choose the PlayStation over the Xbox Series X as their console of choice.

Experience buffs and the like will absolutely achieve this goal but it also raises the question of fairness, particularly as Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War is cross-platform. Xbox owners will have to compete with opponents that have more loadouts available and probably more weapon unlocks quicker, and there’s nothing they can do about it.

In the end, outside of those playing on the most extreme competitive levels, the additional experience rewards and other freebies for Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War likely will not be that unfair.

Respawn Explains Why Apex Legends Won’t Support Quads

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November 9, 2020

Comment from discussion Monsterclip’s comment from discussion "We’re the team who brought you Horizon, Olympus, and the rest of Apex Legends Season 7 (yes, including the Battle Pass). Ask us anything!".

When Apex Legends was first released, it stood out from other battle royales simply because it teamed players into three instead of the more common four-player setup that other games such as Fortnite and PUBG have.

Following its release, the first-person shooter has since included a duos mode and has even dipped its toes into solo play via a variety of limited-time modes. However, Respawn Entertainment hasn’t given any indication that it will be adding support for quads anytime soon.

During a typical Apex Legends match, there are usually around 60 players. As such, grouping players into teams of four wouldn’t drastically change the gameplay. In fact, probably the only difference would be that the number of teams would be reduced from 20-30 to perhaps around 15.

Of course, there are those players who prefer havings larger teams when it comes to playing battle royale games. These are the players who would, without a doubt, fully embrace a quads option.

During a Reddit AMA, however, Apex Legends’ Design Director James McCord, who goes by “Monsterclip” in the forum, shut down the possibility of the game having this option by stating, “We don’t have any plans to release Quads.”

The design director then proceeded to explain the reason for this decision. McCord explains that during the early stages of Apex Legends’ development, they tested and messed around with different squad sizes.

Based on these tests they’ve made, Respawn Entertainment came to the conclusion that “trios is the magic number” for the developer because that’s where the “legend composition really shines.”

McCord revealed that during the game’s testing period, they tried out quads but it just didn’t work out well. He goes on to say that if Apex Legends has the option for quads, “the combat becomes nearly untrackable” and that “it’s chaotic in a negative way.”

That being said, Respawn Entertainment just didn’t create Apex Legends with quads in mind. Every element in the game right now fully caters to the game’s three-player limit, which is what the developer considers as the “sweet spot.”

As a result, the studio doesn’t see the need to add quads in the game at the moment, although McCord does admit that if their team puts in enough effort, these are solvable problems.

Respawn Entertainment seems quite resolute regarding the addition (or lack thereof) of quads in Apex Legends, but only time will tell if the studio changes its mind in the future. For now, though, players can participate and enjoy the various new features and content included in the new season.

Apex Legends Season 7 was launched quite recently, and with it came the introduction of a new map called Olympus, a new playable character named Horizon, as well as the addition of driveable vehicles in-game.

At the moment, the developer appears to be more than satisfied with Apex Legends’ teams of three, although a lot of players believe that the game could still grow and improve in some areas.

Seeing as the game’s list of playable Legends as well as the universes they live in continue to expand, players and Respawn staff alike believe that Apex Legends could become more than just a battle royale game. Given how popular the title is, we won’t deny it that possibility.

Celeste Protagonist Confirmed To Be Canonically Trans

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November 9, 2020

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Celeste is a highly-acclaimed platformer video game that was released in 2018. In this title, you follow the story of Madeline, a young lady who aims to climb the legendary Celeste Mountain as she tries to shake off the feeling that her life has reached a sort of stagnancy.

As she proceeds on her mission, Madeline encounters all kinds of obstacles and hindrances, including a dark version of herself that represents the personification of her negative emotions and thoughts.

As Madeline perseveres and overcomes the many challenges sent her way, she learns to find peace within herself and becomes more confident in her ability to succeed in whatever she sets her mind to.

After playing the game, many players speculated that the character was trans due to the many hints given in the epilogue expansion. Now, Maddy Thorson, the director of Celeste, has confirmed to the public through a new blog post that Madeline is, in fact, trans in the game’s canon.

I've been wanting to write this forever and today, for whatever reason, I was finally able to https://t.co/YpCOpFT5wH

— Maddy Thorson (@MaddyThorson) November 6, 2020

Asides from confirming Madeline’s gender identity, Director Thorson, who uses they/them pronouns, also revealed that they are trans, too. Thorson revealed a lot of things in the post, such as the fact that they didn’t identify as trans yet when Celeste was still in development.

As a matter of fact, it’s safe to say that Thorson’s journey of self-discovery is parallel to Madeline’s journey. One thing that fans noticed during a cutscene in the Farewell DLC is that Madeline has a trans pride flag on her desk.

That being said, Thorson also acknowledged and addressed the fact that the studio never brought up Madeline’s gender identity in the game. As such, they understand that some fans might criticize and compare this to Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling who declared that Dumbledore was gay even though there was no explicit indication of that in the series’ canon.

However, Thorson explained that things just aren’t as straightforward as they like. After all, Madeline’s self-discovery goes hand-in-hand with Thorson’s personal and gradual self-realization. As time passed post-launch, Thorson eventually understood and confirmed what Madeline felt on the inside.

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At the same time, the team of developers wanted to give Madeline a sense of privacy. Just like how Celeste treats depression and anxiety in a realistic way, it would make sense that Madeline would be given the same realistic sense of privacy.

Trans representation in the video game community has been on the rise as of late, which can be seen in recent titles such as Tell Me Why and The Last of Us Part II.

That being said, we think there needs to be more representation across the different genres, and it’s great that Celeste may be considered as one of the very first platformer titles to have a protagonist who is trans.

Given how the game itself is all about perseverance as well as discovering or finding oneself, it’s safe to say that Celeste can be considered a great game that conveys the importance of being true to yourself and living a life that’s authentic to who you are.

Hopefully, games such as Celeste will open the way for respectful representation of various gender and sexual identities in video games in the future.

Horror Punk Game ‘Morbid: The Seven Acolytes’ Launches in December

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November 9, 2020