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Fortnitemares 2020 Will Feature Shadow Midas

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Fortnitemares 2020 is fast approaching, which is why Epic Games has finally revealed the complete details about the event and what players can expect to experience during it. Fortnitemares 2020: Midas’ Revenge will begin on October 21 and will be ongoing all the way through November 3.

This gives players enough time to participate in all the fun yet spooky festivities all while gathering a collection of Halloween-themed items. In Epic Games’ recent announcement on its website, the developer revealed to the fans the different things you can do during the event e.g. hang out at a party or conquer the various Challenges.

One other thing you can do while the seasonal event is ongoing is to explore the Ghoulish Isles. This will definitely add another layer of thrill to your Fortnite gameplay.

In Fortnitemares 2020: Midas’ Revenge, you will be able to bear witness to Midas’ return after he was assumed to be dead. Joining his side will be his reawakened Henchmen, who have assisted Midas in overthrowing what players once knew as The Agency.

For the event, players will have to “follow in their phantom footsteps” as they traverse the Island.

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Players don’t have to worry if they get eliminated while playing in Solo, Duos, or Squads because it’s not over for you yet. Fallen players will be able to return to the battle scene as a Shadow in a Nitemare Royale.

In this scenario, you and your fellow Shadows will battle against Fortnite players who haven’t been eliminated yet a.k.a the survivors. As a Shadow, you will be able to take advantage of your “otherworldly abilities” as you contend against the survivors, such as taking possession of vehicles.

In other news, this year’s Fortnitemares will feature a slew of new items, such as a Pumpkin Rocket Launcher, a Fiend Hunter Crossbow, a Witch’s Broom, and a new creation by Midas himself.

If you’re able to successfully complete the various Challenges available during Fortnitemares 2020, then you will be able to unlock even more exclusive rewards like Midas’ Shadow Wrap, the Smash O’-Lantern Pickaxe, Bobo Back Bling, and so much more.

What’s more, the developer has promised that you will be able to keep everything you obtain through a playthrough.

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Among other things, Epic Games has also arranged another in-game concert to take place in Fortnite. This isn’t an uncommon event to take place in-game though, as other popular artists like Travis Scott and even Korean group BTS have performed on Fortnite’s stage.

That being said, J Balvin will be the one participating in the festivities this time around. If you’re not familiar with him, J Balvin is actually a four-time Latin GRAMMY winner and an ambassador for Raggaeton Global.

Fans or interested individuals, in general, can check out his performance on October 31 at 9 PM ET or 6 PM PT, where he will be showcasing Latin culture and hip-hop to the entirety of Fortnite.

In fact, those who tune into his special performance will be given the chance to listen to his brand-new song featuring Sech!.

Valkyrae Considered To Be Fastest-Growing Video Game Streamer Worldwide

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Since the summer of this year, Among Us hasn’t stopped increasing in popularity. The social deduction game has been so well-received recently that video game streamers who play it receive an incredible boost as well.

One such streamer is Rachell Hofstetter, otherwise known as Valkyrae by her friends and supporters online. She was able to use Among Us as an avenue to increase the popularity of her platform, so much so that she is currently considered to be the fastest-growing streamer in the world.

Since the sudden emergence of the coronavirus pandemic, most individuals have been staying at home and quarantining. As such, livestreaming and video games have become the go-to form of relaxation for many. As a matter of fact, video game sales have even increased along with playing numbers.

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Staying away from people can become emotionally and mentally draining; that’s one of the reasons why social games like Among Us are a huge hit during this time because it allows players to chat and have fun with friends or strangers.

That being said, there are those who prefer to watch others play Among Us instead of participating in the game themselves. As such, countless content creators have been streaming the title in order to cater to their fans’ interests, and it seems that the up-and-rising Valkyrae is one of the most popular when it comes to Among Us streams.

Valkyrae was already pretty well-known even before she started playing the indie game, as she was already a member of 100 Thieves. However, after joining the Among Us craze, her viewer count began to rise with no indication of stopping.

Recently, the streamer shared her statistics on Twitter showcasing just how much her page has grown over the last few months, and it’s honestly so incredible. At the beginning of the year, Valkyrae only had more or less 330,000 monthly live views.

However, this number increased to more than 11 million some time in September and October. Her peak concurrent viewers also experienced a huge jump – from 3,000 to nearly 67,000.

Even though her viewer count isn’t as high as other popular streamers such as Shroud, what’s worth noting here is the fact that her numbers had an impressive increase out of nowhere.

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Valkyrae has only started streaming on her YouTube channel not that far back, which is why YouTube’s Head of Gaming, Ryan Wyatt, proclaimed that she’s currently the “fastest growing live streamer in the world.”

In addition to that, he also stated that Valkyrae is the “biggest female gaming streamer in the world” right now.

This may seem like he’s being hyperbolic, but given the fact that Wyatt is more than familiar with statistics revolving around video game streamers since that’s literally his job, we trust his judgment on this one.

That being said, the success of Among Us has caused other similar titles to become more well-known as well, some examples being Unfortunate Spacemen and Enemy on Board. As such, we don’t expect this social murder-mystery trend to end any time soon.

This is great news for streamers like Valkyrae, as they will be able to keep doing what they love while their follower and viewer count increases at the same time.

Players Can Pet Their Palamute in Monster Hunter Rise

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Capcom has been doing a great job hyping up the excited fanbase for Monster Hunter Rise, which will be the Nintendo Switch-exclusive game that is meant to take the place of Monster Hunter: World.

One way Capcom has been enticing fans has been through the addition of a new canine companion called the Palamute. Understandably, dog lovers have been looking forward to this exciting new inclusion, and Capcom has been whetting the fans’ appetite by revealing more details about the different ways they can interact with these huge dogs.

The official Monster Hunter Twitter account was the one that posted the new information regarding Monster Hunter Rise’s character interactions, and it has quickly circulated on the internet, with the information being passed from one fan to another.

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At this point, the developer is aware of the details that fans want to be included in their games, no matter how minute or insignificant they may seem. This has been the case with past Monster Hunter games, and especially in the quality of life improvements that were included in preparation of Monster Hunter World: Iceborne.

The newest feature that Capcom has been showcasing is your character’s ability to pet your canine buddy. Not only that, but you can even teach it the usual tricks that you usually train your real-world dog with, such as giving your character its paw or waiting for a treat that’s been deliberately placed on top of its nose.

Capcom shared a short clip to demonstrate these interactions. From what we can see, it appears that these are basically emotes that only become available when you interact with your canine companion while in the different campsites found in-game or when in Kamura Village.

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We assume that this will work in the same way as in previous games, just like when you interact with the poogie. On the other hand, it could be more particular with the area you’re in, just like the way players can interact with their Palico in Iceborne while they’re situated in the Seliana gathering hub.

That being said, it makes sense that Capcom wants its players to form a deeper bond with their Palamute companion. After all, we’re all aware by now just how useful the Palamute will be in your gameplay and just how capable it is of so many things.

Solo players, especially, will have a deeper appreciation for these companions, as they will be incredibly useful on their journey.

Unsurprisingly, Capcom’s announcement that petting the Palamute will be possible in Monster Hunter Rise was extremely well-received. After all, this kind of content in games is popular with gamers of all ages, so much so that there are even Twitter accounts dedicated to asking if whether or not certain video games will allow you to pet the animals in-game.

As such, the fans’ reaction to Capcom’s news didn’t really come as a surprise. Capcom has truly been doing a great job with Monster Hunter Rise’s content so far and we can only hope that the company will keep it up. Fans will definitely appreciate more quality of life improvements and tiny details like this.

New Trailer Revealed for The Sims 4: Snowy Escape Pack

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Electronic Arts has revealed the 10th expansion pack for The Sims 4 called Snowy Escape, and fans of this highly-popular simulation game have been looking forward to its release, especially since the new announcement trailer has been recently dropped.

The Sims 4: Snowy Escape is scheduled to be released this upcoming November 13, and with it comes a ton of new options in Create a Sim, Build/Buy mode, and live mode. This expansion pack will take place in Mt. Komorebi, which is a Japanese word that depicts the feeling of light spilling out of the branches of trees.

Players have the option to either let their sim characters move to the expansion’s new world permanently or just temporarily by going on a vacation there. This is why this expansion stands out from the rest because it’s the first one that allows your Sims to either take up residence there or just visit.

For those players who have a lot of fun with the Create-a-Sim mode, purchasing this new pack will feel very rewarding because 130 new clothes and accessory items will be made available for your benefit.

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These new clothing items and accessories will be perfect for your Sims to wear as they explore the new area of Mt. Komorebi. The new items will come in varying styles, from the more modern fashion trends to garments that take inspiration from traditional Japanese clothes. As such, players will surely have a lot of fun mixing and matching these clothing items.

On the other hand, the Build/Buy mode will feature brand-new architecture that has an obvious Japanese influence to them. The Sims 4: Snowy Escape expansion pack will also have new items in the Build/Buy mode, such as shoji doors, windows, and screens. Here’s a fun fact: these are items that are made out of rice paper.

In addition to that, you will find brand-new lighting options that weren’t available before like paper lanterns. As a matter of fact, Japanese maple trees will be a new addition to your Sims game as well.

With Snowy Escape, your Sims, as well as other characters, will be able to engage in new and fun winter-themed activities such as snowboarding, sledding, and skiing.

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Your Sims can even sharpen their physical abilities by attempting to reach the very top of Mt. Komorebi. If you want your Sims to just relax and unwind during their vacation, you can have them follow the tranquil hiking trails or better yet, explore the relaxing hot springs that surround Mt. Komorebi.

That being said, probably the most exciting part about The Sims 4: Snowy Escape is the new mechanic being included called “Lifestyles and Sentiments.” Fans are super excited about this one because they’ve been requesting the addition of this feature for the longest time.

The new “Lifestyles and Sentiments” mechanic will add a deeper layer to your Sims’ characteristics and will change the way they interact and relate to one another. You will be given 16 different lifestyle options in Snowy Escape, and these are supposed to demonstrate the life experiences of your character.

Sentiments, on the other hand, are all about the Sims’ shared experiences and how each one reacts to the same event. Although this new element doesn’t really add lore to the game, it will definitely add a deeper layer of characterization to your characters.

Final Fantasy 9 Will Have a Physical Release for Nintendo Switch

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Final Fantasy is a beloved franchise that has been ongoing for quite some time now. In fact, Square Enix is currently working on its latest entry to the series, Final Fantasy 16. That being said, the older games in the series are still receiving love from both the fans and the studio.

The fans of the ninth installment actually have something to look forward to. Many fans love Final Fantasy 9 because it went back to its historical/medieval roots, deviating from the more futuristic themes of the 6th, 7th, and 8th games.

Nintendo Switch users have been able to purchase Final Fantasy 9 on the Switch eShop for more than a year now since the title was ported to the Nintendo Switch last year in February.

That being said, it appears that the title might be getting its own physical edition. In a recent discovery, the online retailer Play-Asia has listed a physical version of Final Fantasy 9 for sale on its website.

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According to the retailer’s website, the physical edition will feature English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish language support. What we can deduce from this information is that the game will make its way to Europe and the US at a later time.

The news that Final Fantasy 9 will be getting a physical edition came after it was revealed that Final Fantasy 7 and 8 will be having physical editions some time this year as well.

That said, the upcoming physical edition will be just like the download version from 2019. Not only will the high-definition movies and character models be present, but you will be given the option to fast forward through various random scenes, and there won’t be encounter modes as well.

With that in mind, neither Square Enix nor Nintendo has officially announced or confirmed that Final Fantasy 9 will be getting a physical release. We aren’t surprised by this though, as Nintendo normally doesn’t make any announcements that are too far ahead.

As such, it’s likely that the company will confirm the news within the next few weeks, as it’s probably still finalizing the Nintendo Switch games that are meant to be released for the holidays.

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Nintendo and Square Enix have had a long history of working together, so much so that all the Final Fantasy games from the 80s through 90s were released on Nintendo consoles. Although Square Enix deviated from their usual partnership with Nintendo to release Final Fantasy 6 on the original PlayStation.

That being said, Square Enix has since been supporting the Nintendo Switch ever since it was released with its many Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest installments. It’s safe to say that the series is available to most if not all major consoles.

The most recent installment was Final Fantasy 15, which was made available on the Xbox Game Pass last month, while the remake of Final Fantasy 7 was launched on the PlayStation 4 earlier in the year.

The physical editions of Final Fantasy 7 through Final Fantasy 9 should keep dedicated Square Enix fans engaged and busy as they prepare for the highly-awaited Final Fantasy 16 to be released on the PlayStation 5.

New Destiny 2: Beyond Light Trailer Highlights Villain Eramis

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While Destiny 2 players make the most out of Festival of the Lost, this year’s seasonal event, Bungie has been constantly releasing more information about the upcoming expansion known as Beyond Light.

As a matter of fact, Bungie just recently provided fans with a brand-new story trailer containing character moments and new cinematic footage. After being delayed, Destiny 2: Beyond Light is set to release within three weeks.

Bungie had to push back the expansion’s release date because the devs wanted to refine the rough edges, ensuring that the launch will be a success. Since Beyond Light is already done at this point – or at least very close to done – Bungie has been increasingly releasing news about it.

Even though fans have already had the general gist of Beyond Light’s story since the initial stream, this newly-released story trailer is the first time they’ve witnessed the expansion’s pre-rendered campaign cutscenes and it looks awesome.

The most intriguing part of this trailer is the way Bungie reimagined Eramis, the Shipstealer. It appears that now, she leads Europa’s new Dark Fallen empire.

The trailer begins with Eramis delivering a speech to her followers as she pursues her mission for her kind to rise once again just like during their glory days. She proceeds to grant her followers the power of Stasis, a brand-new Dark element that was initially found in Europa, in order for them to wreak widespread chaos and devastation.

Eramis’ actions can be compared to Oryx and the way he took advantage of his Dark powers in order to change the system. However, one glaring difference is the fact that Oryx used his powers to unite him and his companions, while what Eramis did was provide her loyalists with the same power she has.

On another note, the empress’ selection of Captains is similar to the different Barons from Destiny 2: Forsaken. One familiar character will also be returning to Beyond Light. More specifically, Variks the Loyal will be a part of the Fallen group in Europa.

However, he’s extremely fearful of the idea of messing around with Darkness, as he believes that doing so will only cause the downfall of his kind. He then proceeds to send out a help signal, to which Exo the Stranger responds to.

Variks’ help signal will mark the beginning of Destiny 2: Beyond Light’s campaign missions.

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One thing that caught us by surprise is the reemergence of a voice Guardian. When Destiny 2 was initially released, the fact that the player character was a silent protagonist definitely stuck out like a sore thumb.

However, this doesn’t seem to be the case in Beyond Light, as we can see the Guardian talking to his Ghost on Europa. At the end of the story trailer, Eramis reveals what her endgame is, which suggests that the Traveler will have its due punishment for deserting her and her kind many years ago.

This could connect in some way to the Lightfall expansion’s story, where the Traveler will get assaulted in some form or another. In any case, we’re so happy to see that Beyond Light has a strong villain who will surely drive the expansion’s story to where it needs to go.

New Monster Sanctuary Trailer Reveals Its Console Release Date

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Monster Sanctuary is coming to consoles soon. The game was developed by Moi Rai Games and published by Team 17, Monster Sanctuary was first released in Early Access for the PC last year, but will be released on consoles this December 8, 2020.

A new teaser trailer has just been posted for Monster Sanctuary to reveal the game’s availability on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. The clip features the game’s Pokemon-meets-Metroid mechanics and gameplay such as exploration, fighting, and monster collecting.

Monster Sanctuary was first released as a Kickstarter back in 2018. The game lets players encounter monsters by exploring the map, while also breeding and raising these creatures similar to the popular game Pokemon.

However, the game also adds a Metroid-like backtracking feature. Players locate and use items, as well as call upon the help of monsters to assist them in progressing further into the story. Although the Pokemon franchise is frequently the first consideration when it comes to games that focus on monster collecting, there are several successful titles in this genre.

Games like Ni No Kuni, Yo-Kai Watch, and Monster Rancher all have their one of a kind spin on the genre. Monster Sanctuary’s take is consolidating Metroid’s exploration in 2D sidescrolling pixel-art.

Now that the game is coming out of early access, more fans will be able to try if Monster Sanctuary is one of the better monster collection games, as entries into this genre that mixes unique features into the formula are absolutely welcome.

 

First Major Update for Final Fantasy 7 Remake Released

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After constantly experiencing delays, the highly-awaited Final Fantasy 7 Remake was finally launched last April 2020. Even though many fans and critics raved about the game, Square Enix didn’t release a major update for it since its launch – that is until recently.

Ever since Final Fantasy 7 Remake was released, fans encountered bugs and issues that really put a damper to the overall gaming experience. Normally, major games such as this popular RPG would receive an update almost immediately upon launch or at least as soon as possible.

However, this didn’t seem to be the case for Final Fantasy 7 Remake, even though fans have been requesting to see some changes or improvements to the game. That being said, Square Enix has finally released the first major update for the title after six months. Better late than never, right?

The update addresses a wide range of issues, from bugs and glitches to texture issues, along with other concerns that Square Enix failed to address for a while now. Final Fantasy 7 Remake received an update that improved its stability a few months back, but this update was only a minor one and didn’t really tackle the prevailing issues that fans complained about.

It was actually the fans who discovered the new 1.01 patch update, as they stumbled across it through an available download on the PlayStation 4. However, details about the update were scarce, as the only information players had to go on was that the patch will fix numerous bugs.

Since then, more information about the update has been revealed. While it’s true that it will work on the bugs present in the game, it will also fix other issues such as game crashes in the middle of gameplay, drops in frame rate, and lag issues. Not only that, but it will even fix the problem wherein the game freezes.

Among other things, you will find even more stability improvements as well as a remedy to the game’s performance issues. Last but not least, there’s another improvement included in the update that’s vaguely described as “under the hood” fixes, so we’re not altogether sure what this entails exactly.

In any case, the following is what you’ll find in the patch notes:

  • Fixed crashing issues.
  • Addressed freezing and framerate drop issues.
  • Addressed stuttering and lag issues.
  • Performance and stability improvements added.
  • Added other minor under the hood fix.

Even though Final Fantasy 7 Remake was mostly met with praise, it still has its own fair share of negative reviews. One recurring criticism that fans have about the game has to do with its technical issues which hinder gameplay.

In any case, it’s a relief to many that Square Enix finally released an update that addresses these concerns. Although, there are some who are quite disappointed with this update, given how it’s quite an underwhelming one compared to the updates other major titles have received.

The developer hasn’t mentioned what they have planned for the future of Final Fantasy 7 Remake, so we’ll have to patiently wait for an official announcement regarding that.

KFC Promo Will Give Away Xbox Series X With Themed Controller

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In just a few more weeks, players across the world will finally be able to try the new Xbox Series X. In the past months, a huge amount of promotional deals have appeared advertising Microsoft’s next-gen console, including brand deals with other big companies. One of the latest is a giveaway competition in partnership with the fast-food chain KFC.

This is not the first time Microsoft collaborated with another food company to advertise the launch of the Xbox Series X. Just last September, the company collaborated with Taco Bell to provide consumers an opportunity to win Microsoft’s new console as well as a special prize.

Microsoft and KFC Gaming have come up with a contest that grants customers the chance to win an Xbox Series X as well as a customized KFC-inspired Xbox Series X controller. To be able to join the contest, all aspiring contestants need to do is download the KFC app, signup through their email, buy a meal box from a participating KFC branch, and scan the barcode or enter the promo code printed on the meal box. Fans can also purchase the meal box through the KFC app and receive the promo code within the app itself.

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This is also not the first time that the popular chain advertised itself using game-related content. In the past, Microsoft posted a parody trailer for a fake next-gen system to compete against the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Additionally, the company even created a full working KFC-inspired dating app featuring Colonel Sanders.

In any case, it will be exciting to see the result of this contest. It isn’t too frequent that big brands such as KFC offer themed controllers like the one being given away via this new contest. In a way, the controller looks similar to the Star Wars-inspired Xbox One controllers, but this was only concept art and was not made into official items.

Microsoft is not the only company utilizing fast-food restaurants to advertise the launch of its next-gen console. Sony also partnered with Burger King to do a PlayStation 5 giveaway contest. It will be exciting to see if any other popular brand steps up to advertise the upcoming consoles during their launch next month.

Galarian Forms of Three Legendary Birds Revealed For Crown Tundra DLC

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Although Pokemon Sword and Shield has been released for quite some time now, players consistently wait for new features as the developers roll out its two-part Expansion Pass. With Isle of Armor already released a few months ago, players are still waiting for the Crown Tundra.

The second DLC guarantees the addition of new Legendary Pokemon like the Galarian forms of Zapdos, Moltres, and Articuno as well as new areas for everyone to discover. Pokemon players have known what’s mostly in store for the Crown Tundra expansion since a few months ago. However, bits of new information constantly work their way into the public.

In the beginning, Pokemon Sword and Shield fans were hyped to learn that new versions of classic Legendary Pokemon such as Registeel from the Hoenn region and Articuno from the Kanto region, would be making a comeback into the game. Now, avid fans have been treated to an even more interesting detail.

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According to a leak posted by @CentroLeaks, the Shiny forms of Galarian Moltres, Galarian Zapdos, and Galarian Articuno have been revealed. What’s specifically intriguing about their shiny variants is their impressive design.

A usual Pokemon fan complaint usually concerns the fact that too many shinies are plainly color swaps of their original versions. This is because of the way in which Shiny Pokemon forms were automatically determined during the first main games, but regardless, Shiny Pokemon fans usually are criticizing the fact that a huge number of Shiny Pokemon have basic designs.

While some Shiny Pokemon forms are stunning, such as the full coal-colored Charizard, most Shinies are simply just a lighter or darker version of its original form (Shiny forms of Pikachu, Poliwag, Bulbasaur, etc.) or even just have the color green (Scizon, Tangela, etc.)

Now, this new group of Shinies is certainly notable because the classic Legendary bird trio suffers from one of the above-mentioned traits – Shiny Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno are impressively lackluster. Luckily, the Shiny Galarian Legendary bird trio not only sports unique colors but also serves as a tribute to the original Legendary birds.

As fans of the original versions are knowledgeable, the Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno located in Kanto have differently typed from their counterparts in the Galar region. They also look completely different.

As a nod to the iconic Legendary trio, Nintendo has made the Shiny variants of Moltres, Zapdos, and Articuno look like their original Kanto designs. That is, Shiny Galarian Articuno will be sporting the same exact color palette as the original Articuno from Kanto, and so on and so forth.

Although exciting, veteran Pokemon trainers have also been quick to remind eager fans: it is still unsure if Nintendo or The Pokemon Company have chosen to “Shiny Lock” the said Pokemon. Shiny Lock is usually performed on ultra-rare or otherwise extremely valuable Pokemon that are encountered inside the game as it considers the Pokemon unobtainable as a Shiny.

Whereas fans would usually be able to save the game before encountering a rare Pokemon, and soft reset their console until it will appear in their Shiny form, they would never triumph with a Shiny locked Pokemon.

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