Category: Video Gaming

Some game concepts immediately grab my attention, because they’re really good, really bad, or just really weird. Dynopunk (opens in new tab) is definitely on that list and you can probably guess why: You play as Chris, a T-rex who moves to the neon metropolis of Synth City to open an electronics repair shop so he can fix broken gadgets with his little tiny arms.

That’s definitely in the “weird” category as far as I’m concerned. But fixing busted gizmos as a cyberpunk T-rex is just the start of it. Dinosaurs rule the world in Dynopunk—there was no extinction event to clear the way for mammals in this particular alt-history world—but Chris is the last T-rex on the planet for some reason, and he’s lonely. So his ultimate goal isn’t just to fix broken electronics: He aims to build a time machine so he can travel back into the past and search for his true love.

The range of Nvidia 40 series GPUs expands this week with the addition of the GeForce RTX 4070 – the most affordable card in the range that nevertheless brings with it some major bonuses as an upgrade on previous generations. But how well does it stack up, and how good a value is it? We’re here to find out.

Out in the real world we’re in the middle of a wild inflationary bonanza, and it’s impossible to responsibly review these hugely decadent pieces of wonderful gaming hardware without at least considering where it might slot into people’s budgets. So let’s start there, with the 4070’s role as the current cheapest entry point into Nvidia’s hot new 40-series GPUs.

At $599/£589, the 4070 is still undoubtedly expensive. It continues a trend with the 40 series which places them as priced perhaps a little too bullishly for what might make them ‘must-have’ cards. Lop $50 off this price and it becomes extremely attractive; drop it by a round $100 and it becomes an absolute must-have. As it stands, it’s tempting, and does broadly justify its price-point – especially when taking into account the price structure of the complete range. But I do wish it were lower.

As discussed before with these cards, much depends on exactly where you place your priorities. How, exactly, do you measure the bang-for-buck of these cards? Traditionally, you’d do this by looking at the frame rates you can achieve against the price you pay, compared to other available options from both Nvidia and its rivals like AMD. Now, however, the waters are muddied. Many new features that significantly change the gaming experience like Reflex and DLSS, and their equivalents from other companies, are major components of the decision-making process.

In the grander pantheon of things, the RTX 4070 shoots to match the performance of last generation’s RTX 3080. The 3080 launched a little over two and a half years ago at $699; so for $100 less, you now get broadly the same level of performance as that card out of the gate. In addition, you’ve got the advantages of being on the 40-series Ada Lovelace architecture, which unlocks DLSS 3.

The most interesting advantage is the difference in power consumption between the two, however. Ada is massively more efficient than its predecessor Ampere – and as a result if you put the two head-to-head in the same games, you’ll see similar in-game performance but see the 3070 draw in excess of 50% more power than the 4070. That’s a key component of this generational leap; a drop in power consumption. That, of course, brings us back to that state-of-the-world factor. With electricity bills high, that’s a decent advantage for the newer card, if you can afford the initial outlay.

So. Let’s talk about those frame rates. To be clear, this is not primarily intended as a card for 4K resolution. The sweet spot here is 1440p and below, which is more than serviceable at this price point. Chances are that if you’ve got the dosh for a big ol’ 4K PC display, you’re also willing to drop a grand on a GPU like the 4090 or 4080.

At lower resolutions, the 4070 performance is quite tidy, and is obviously where Nvidia sees the card in the market. To reflect this, the benchmarks presented in brief here are at 1440p, with settings generally maxed out. Meanwhile, if you choose to get this card and crank for 4K, you’ll still get decent results – but our advice would be to save a bit longer and go for one of the cards designed as a 4K beast.

Forza is a benchmark classic for us on VG247, and Forza Horizon 5 paints a pretty clear picture of where the 4070 sits in the grand scheme. With identical settings, the 4070 enjoyed a modest 10% increase over the 3080, enjoying a frame rate slightly over 120fps. This was without the new implementation of DLSS 3 enabled (which lets you push things further). Hop on over to Hitman 3, another regular benchmark, and we see the 4070 and 3080 neck-and-neck in offering an experience that’s just shy of 60fps with all the ray tracing bells and whistles enabled.

It’s not always a match, however. If we head to Metro Exodus we can see the 3080 taking a minor lead, though it is a very close-fought affair, with post cards managing a smooth 60 well enough. Control is a game that really presses GPUs with ray tracing enabled, and in that game we see the 3080 actually take the lead.

Do you notice the theme here? Nvidia’s stated goal was to match the 3080… and the 4070 does just that. It does what they’ve claimed. This has a curious result: I wouldn’t recommend the 4070 as an upgrade for any owner of a 30-series card. The leap just isn’t large enough. However, if you have anything from a generation older than that (the 20 series and under), this is suddenly the most affordable card, with absolutely tremendous uplift.

Returning to Hitman, for instance, on pretty much any 20-series card except the very top tier you can jump from languishing around or under 30fps up to a near-solid 60fps on the 4070. Metro is a similar story, from the low 40s up to the mid-70s. The single-generation leap isn’t major then, but the leap across two generations is notable. If you want to make an external comparison, the 4070 also wipes the floor with any of the current-generation consoles . It’s not even a contest.

And what about versus Nvidia’s sworn rival AMD? As it stands right now, AMD hasn’t released a current-generation card in this price bracket. This will therefore likely be a major battleground in the coming year. It is worth noting, however, that discounted AMD Radeon 6950 XT cards can be had for just a little more than the 4070 if you shop around. In this debate, however, Nvidia’s X-factor remains its software and other features. Though AMD has versions of Nvidia’s Broadcast, DLSS, and Reflex, Nvidia is undoubtedly the market leader for those sorts of features.

DLSS in particular is a game changer, and with DLSS 3 exclusive to the 40-series cards, the 4070 is now the easiest way to make the jump. If you have the choice between a discounted 3080 (which seems unlikely; they’ve held their price well) and a 4070, this should be the deciding factor. DLSS 3 will be used by more games going forward, is huge in the few games it supports right now, and is worth the extra investment.

We don’t have a crystal ball for AMD’s future products either, and so as it stands now for anyone on older generation cards who is beginning to feel the squeeze of their age the 4070 feels like a compelling upgrade, and the most immediately affordable.

Nvidia has released a couple of products in recent years where they present as hair-raising leaps forwards. The 4070 is not that. What’s offered instead is a belt-and-braces card that matches a higher-tier product from the previous generation at a lower price and higher efficiency. It’s the closest thing to a mid-tier 40-series card, and a strong entry point to the generation. That works for us, and it should become a staple card of this hardware gen. I just wish that prices were a little lower across the board.

The Slayer class is available starting today for Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis, the online RPG series that lets you create your own unique hero and take them on endless adventures.

To say that Slayer benefits from movement would be a huge understatement. This class thrives on movement. Slayer benefits from agility that is built into their actions, or Photon Arts (PA), in addition to unlocking additional actions in their Class Skill Tree. Intrigued? You should be, as this class deserves a deeper look and considerable practice if mastery is desired.

There’s Nothing Normal About Slayer

The Slayer’s normal attack is a triple threat, in that they perform a series of attacks that can combo up to three times. In addition, holding the normal attack button will cause the attack to become charged. As though these moves didn’t already bely the phrase “normal attack,” there are also two levels of charge, wherein the first level of charge releases a 5-shot ranged attack and the second level of charge provokes a powerful attack, though takes longer to deploy. The Slayer’s normal attacks become even more specialized with the Class Skill “Charged Blade.” This allows the player to not only close the distance to their enemy, but also perform a thrust attack by pressing the Weapon Action button at just the right time after a charged, normal attack. Finally, normal attacks made by the Slayer can also benefit Photon Arts, as the Class Skill “Relentless Blade” provides an additional attack when the normal attack button is pressed at just the right time while performing a Photon Art. As you can see, normal attacks can be used effectively in varying combat situations, which makes it a necessity to gain a general understanding of them to play Slayer.

The Focus of Slayer

Gunblades are not a class-specific weapon, and anyone who takes Slayer as a sub-class and picks up the Slayer Class Skill Gunblade Focus Gauge can use it. As focus builds through landing attacks with the Gunblade and the gear level increases on the gauge, extra benefits such as increased attack potency and reduced PP consumption are triggered. However, not landing attacks for a certain period will cause the gear level to reset completely. This gives new meaning to the phrase “don’t lose your focus on the battlefield”.

The Art of Slayer

With every class, there is a certain beauty to a series of well-time Photon Arts. Performing the optimal pattern of PAs can not only control the fight and mitigate damage taken but keep the player well-supplied with Photon Power (PP) and healing as well. The optimal pattern of PAs for the Slayer is something that will probably become the next hot topic (though I’ll take a stab at it in one of the following sections), as there are a lot of variations when movement or enemy behavior is considered. Optimal Slayer combat is not a simple perform x, perform y, use big attack, perform x, and repeat style of play. No, you’ll need a deeper understanding to truly master it.

Their first Photon Art, Shifting Spica, unleashes two fast, short-range attacks when performed while stationary. With movement, the Slayer charges their enemy with a piercing attack and then fires off a close-range photon bullet. This gap closer may not be useful in every combat situation, but for enemies that like to move around, it can shave off seconds of repositioning.

Flowing Sirius is quite handy in solo and group combat, as it causes the Slayer to perform several slash attacks when stationary. If this PA is performed repeatedly, the second attack will become stronger. With movement, the Slayer will perform successive area attacks while gaining altitude over the field. Alternating these two forms of Flowing Sirius is an excellent way to reposition yourself and take advantage of your enemy’s placement.

Reaping Regulus is a handy momentary reprieve when performed while stationary, as executing it means beating a hasty retreat after quickly chucking a photon bomb into the fray. This PA truly shines during the momentary interlude between engagements though, as performing it in motion means throwing a photon bomb ahead of you at your next group of hostiles. Using either form of this PA is a great way to add a few ticks to your Gunblade Focus Gauge.

Easily the most photogenic PA is Waving Rigel, which sees the Slayer slamming their weapon into the ground and creating a shockwave of power that slams into nearby enemies. If done while mid-air (perhaps after performing the motion variant of Flowing Sirius) the Slayer will slam to the ground before unleashing the shockwave. When performed in motion, the Slayer will instead rise while waves of power affect the surrounding area.

The Drive of Slayer

So how does it feel behind the wheel of Slayer? It’s like driving a finely tuned but temperamental sports car. See, Slayer essentially has 8 Photon Arts, as every one of them can be modified with movement, so it takes a while to learn the ropes. Generally, the basic playstyle against solo enemies would see you using the stationary form of Shifting Spica, followed by the stationary form of Flowing Sirius, and repeating this (interspersed with normal attacks) until the Active Skill Unleashed Rage is available and you’ve made some progress on the Gunblade Focus Gauge. Then, follow these two PAs with Unleashed Rage (which instantly adds gears to your Focus Gauge, hopefully taking it to max) and then Gunblade Focus Overdrive. From there, either continue the above pattern, or use Gunblade Focus Overdrive again to unleash a single, powerful attack.

In combat with multiple enemies, the pattern is basically the same, you would just replace the two PAs with the movement version of Flowing Sirius and the movement version of Reaping Regulus. Then you would repeat this (interspersed with normal attacks) until Unleashed Rage is available and your Gunblade Focus Gauge is partially filled. Execute in the same manner as above and begin again if there are still enemies alive.

The patterns above will help you get comfortable with Slayer and the Gunblade Focus Gauge while also allowing you to learn the other forms and PAs at your pace. Once comfortable, remember to use a normal attack at the right time during a PA to activate the extra attack provided by the Class Skill Relentless Blade. Also, after dodging or guarding by using the Gunblade Weapon Action, use a normal attack or the Weapon Action a second time to perform a counterattack with the Class Skill Blade Counter. The normal attack counter fires a quick shot and can be used in repetition for a chain of counterattacks, whereas the Weapon Action counter performs a long combo of attacks. There are even more nuances to Slayer after considering their Class Skills, and players will have a great time figuring out how to best use them in varying situations.

Slayer is great fun, and those who like a challenge with their gameplay will truly appreciate it. Slayer released on April 12. If you managed to acquire some Slayer Operation Prep Tickets from the Limited-time Tasks that were available during the Get Ready for Slayer! Campaign, you can exchange them at the designated Exchange Shop in any of the region hubs until June 6. Exchange Shop items include several desirable Gunblades and Gunblade Weapon Camos.

If you’re a new or returning player, now is a great time to check out Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis to see if Slayer is right for you! Download the game from the Windows Store for free on PC, Xbox One, or Xbox Series X|S and get ready to slay all day!

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis

SEGA Corporation

☆☆☆☆☆
820

★★★★★

Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis, the latest chapter in the Phantasy Star Online 2 series, is here at last!
It’s time to jump into adventures beyond imagination!

This new adventure takes place on a vast open field! Up to 32 people can enjoy the adventure in a new world with beautifully-evolved graphics!

The simple and intuitive controls developed in the series up to now have also evolved! A new dimension of battle with a variety of powerful enemies awaits! The new actions Photon Dash and Photon Glide allow you to traverse across the vast open field with ease!

Of course, the ultimate in character creation has also evolved. Create your own main character that will be unique throughout the world, and head out to a new adventure!

・The core game is Free-to-Play, but there is certain paid content that can be purchased.

・The Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis game that can be downloaded with this content is the same as that included in other editions. You do not have to download this if it is already installed.

・Proceeding with play in Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis will allow you to play Phantasy Star Online 2.

・Please log in with an administrator account to play this game.

Today we’re happy to reveal the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for April 2023. All games will be available on Tuesday April 18. Let’s dive in. 

PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium | Game Catalog

Kena: Bridge of Spirits | PS4, PS5

Immerse yourself in a story-driven action-adventure set in a charming world rich with exploration and fast-paced combat. Play as Kena, a young Spirit Guide travelling to an abandoned village in search of the sacred mountain shrine. Find and grow a team of tiny spirits known as the Rot who maintain balance by decomposing dead and rotting elements. Enhance your companions’ abilities, create new ways to manipulate the environment and uncover the secrets of a forgotten community hidden in an overgrown forest where wandering spirits are trapped.

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Doom Eternal | PS4, PS5

Hell’s armies have invaded Earth. Become the Slayer in an epic single-player campaign to conquer demons across dimensions and stop the final destruction of humanity. The only thing they fear… is you. Experience the ultimate combination of speed and power in Doom Eternal – the next leap in push-forward, first-person combat. Armed with a flamethrower, wrist-mounted blade, upgraded guns, mods and abilities, you’re faster, stronger, and more versatile than ever. Use demon takedowns tactically to keep yourself equipped for battle: Glory kill for extra health, incinerate for armor, and chainsaw demons to stock up on ammo to become the ultimate demon-slayer.

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Riders Republic | PS4, PS5

Jump into the massive multiplayer playground! Grab your bike, skis, snowboard or wingsuit and squad up with your friends to compete in a wide range of multiplayer modes. Feel the rush of downhill races, dominate maps in team vs team competitions, or give it your best shot in epic mass PvP races with more than 50 other players. Live out the rider’s fantasy as you roam free in a huge, vibrant open world, always buzzing with other players around you. Immerse yourself in iconic American national parks including Bryce Canyon, Yosemite Valley, Mammoth Mountain… all mashed up for you to shred!

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Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus | PS4

An exhilarating adventure brought to life by the industry-leading id Tech 6 sends players to Nazi-controlled America on a mission to recruit the boldest resistance leaders left. You are BJ Blazkowicz, aka “Terror-Billy,” member of the Resistance, scourge of the Nazi empire, and humanity’s last hope for liberty. Only you have the guns and gumption to return stateside and spark the second American Revolution. Fight Nazis in iconic American locations, equip an arsenal of badass guns, and unleash new abilities to blast your way through legions of enemy soldiers in this definitive first-person shooter.

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Slay the Spire | PS4

Embark on a journey up the ever-changing Spire, in this fantasy deckbuilder adventure that fuses together card games and roguelikes. Craft a unique deck from hundreds of cards to efficiently dispatch foes and reach the top. Discover powerful relics to enhance your deck’s powers to help you overcome different enemies and bosses. 

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Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom | PS4, PS5

Enjoy a colorful action-adventure game made alongside Ryuichi Nishizawa, creator of the original Wonder Boy in Monster World series. Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom borrows the best from the classic series to deliver a fresh, modern adventure with fun gameplay, memorable music and gorgeous hand drawn animations. Transform into six awesome forms with unique combat and platforming abilities to help you explore a vast interconnected environment.

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The Evil Within | PS4

Developed by Shinji Mikami and Tango Gameworks, The Evil Within embodies the meaning of pure survival horror. Highly-crafted environments, horrifying anxiety, and an intricate story are combined to create an immersive world that will bring you to the height of tension. With limited resources at your disposal, you’ll fight for survival and experience profound fear in this perfect blend of horror and action.

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Wolfenstein: The Old Blood | PS4

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a standalone prequel to the first-person action-adventure shooter, Wolfenstein: The New Order. The adventure, which spans eight chapters and two interconnected stories, features the hallmarks of MachineGames – thrilling action, immersive story and intense first-person combat. As war hero B.J. Blazkowicz, arm yourself with new weapons such as the bolt-action rifle and grenade-launching Kampfpistole as you attempt to thwart the advancing Nazi war machine, and take advantage of duel-wielding pipes that can be used for wall climbing – or for vicious take-downs of never-before-seen Nazi adversaries.

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Bassmaster Fishing | PS4, PS5

For the first time ever, compete as or challenge 10 pro anglers from the Elite tour across 8 different real-world venues. Climb the ranks, earn your sponsors, and progress through your B.A.S.S. career to become the Bassmaster Classic Champion. Or take to the water and compete with other players in a variety of all-new massive multiplayer modes to conquer the global leader boards.

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Paradise Killer | PS4, PS5

Solve a murder mystery set on an island outside of reality and filled with deities, all with secrets to hide and something to gain. Play as Lady Love Dies, summoned from exile to investigate the crime and find the culprit. Collect evidence, record testimony and interpret the facts to form your own truth to build an airtight case against whoever you think is the killer.

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Sackboy: A Big Adventure | PS4, PS5

Iconic PlayStation hero Sackboy bursts back into breathtaking action with a huge, fun and frantic 3D multiplayer platforming adventure. Go solo in an epic race against time stuffed with danger and peril or enjoy local or online party play, creating teams of two to four adventurers as you work together to overcome nefarious tasks however you can imagine, including unmissable co-op only levels.

PlayStation Premium | Classics 

Doom | PS4

First released in 1993, Doom introduced millions of gamers to the fast-paced, white-knuckle, demon-slaying action the franchise is known for. Relive the birth of the first-person shooter and experience the demon-blasting fun that popularized the genre. This version includes expansion, Episode IV: Thy Flesh Consumed, local 4 player deathmatch and local 4 player co-op. 

Doom II | PS4

To save Earth, you must descend into the depths of hell, survive demon hordes, and take part in the fiercest battle ever. This beloved sequel to the groundbreaking DOOM (1993) gave players the brutal Super Shotgun to bear against deadlier demons, and the infamous boss, the Icon of Sin. This version includes the Master Levels, 20 additional levels made by the community and supervised by the developers, local 4 player deathmatch and local 4 player co-op. 

Doom 64 | PS4

Fight against demons in your crusade to hunt down the Mother of Demons and stop Hell’s invasion. As you battle through more than 30 action-packed levels, be on the lookout for enhanced weapons and secrets to help you put an end to the demonic threat.

Doom 3 | PS4

In this critically acclaimed action-horror re-telling of the original DOOM, players must battle their way through a demon-infested facility before entering the abyss to battle Hell’s mightiest warrior – and put an end to the invasion.

This version includes the Resurrection of Evil and The Lost Missions expansion packs.

Dishonored: Definitive Edition | PS4

Arkane Studios’ Dishonored, winner of over 100 Game of the Year awards, and all of its additional content come to together in this Definitive Edition! With Dishonored’s flexible combat system, creatively eliminate your targets as you combine the supernatural abilities, weapons and unusual gadgets at your disposal. “Void Walker’s Arsenal” offers unique character bonuses, additional bone charm slots, and more that will aid you in pursuit of revenge. Enter the world of the Outsider in “Dunwall City Trials” where you will put your combat, stealth and mobility skills to the test. Finally, play as the legendary assassin Daud in ‘The Knife of Dunwall’ and “The Brigmore Witches”.

As part of our normal content refresh, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Resident Evil, and NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 will be among some of the titles leaving the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog in May. Members with Game Catalog benefits can still play by May 15. You can always check the ‘Last chance to play section’ on the PlayStation Plus -> Collections page on the PS5 console, or PlayStation Plus -> Games -> Games Catalogue on the PS4 console for titles you might want to play before they leave the service. 

We hope you enjoy this month’s Games Catalog lineup. Check back monthly for new games added to PlayStation Plus.

Xbox fans eager to jump into Redfall next month will initally have to make do with only one graphics option as the game won’t be launching with a Performance mode.

In a tweet, Arkane reveals that only Quality mode will be available when the game releases on May 2. A 60 FPS Performance option is coming at an unspecified date, but until it does, here’s how the game will run depending on your hardware:

• Xbox Series X – 4K 30 FPS
• Xbox Series S – 1440p 30 FPS

Sounds like PC is the way to go if you value performance over resolution, but hopefully, it doesn’t take too long for the option to appear on console. For more on Redfall, you can listen to our interview with Arkane Studios’ Harvey Smith in this episode of The Game Informer Show, then check out this article revealing the canceled PlayStation 5 version of the game.

To delay or not delay? That is the question.

Fans are calling for Arkane Studios’ upcoming vampire-hunting open-world shooter, Redfall, to be delayed following the announcement that the game’s ‘Performance’ mode will not be available at launch on Xbox consoles.

The news comes via a tweet from the official Redfall Twitter account, revealing that the game will only launch with ‘Quality’ mode on Xbox consoles at launch. This means that the game will run at the following resolutions and framerates on Xbox Series X|S:

• Xbox Series X: 4K 30 FPS
• Xbox Series S: 1440p 30 FPS

The tweet did mention that the 60 FPS Performance mode will be added via a game update post-launch, though a specific date or timeline for this was not shared.

A number of fans have taken to the replies to the tweet to note that playing a shooter at 30 FPS isn’t really an ideal situation. The likes of Call of Duty and Fortnite aim for 60 FPS as a minimum framerate to provide the silky smooth framerate that players tend to prefer when the action gets chaotic on-screen.

“Delay it till the 60 FPS is ready,” Frogboyx1Gaming commented in the replies, with a number of other users echoing the sentiment in reply. Others have noted that they’ll be holding off on playing the game until the Performance display mode is made available in-game.

On the other hand, some players don’t seem too fussed, specifically, those who would be playing the game in the 30 FPS Quality mode anyway. That being said, not everyone wants to play at a locked 30 FPS, with a 60 FPS Performance mode having become commonplace in many games’ settings menus since the release of the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 consoles back in 2020.

What do you make of the absence of Performance mode in Redfall on Xbox consoles at launch? Would you rather Arkane delay the game until both display modes are included? Let us know down in the comments below.

Redfall is currently set to release on Xbox Series X|S and PC on May 2, 2023.

Developer Dambuster Studios have shared the system requirements for their zombie masher Dead Island 2 ahead of its release on April 21st. Most of the game’s requirements seem pretty standard for a modern open-world game, although you’ll need some pretty powerful CPUs and GPUs to run the sequel at recommended settings and above. Ripping into hordes in graphic details might cost you.

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One of those modest and comforting game series that simply refuses to die, fantasy co-op platformer Trine will return this year in Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy, developer Frozenbyte and publisher THQ Nordic announced Wednesday.

The fifth game in the series will be released in the summer for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

Once again, the game features Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight jumping, fighting, and puzzling their way through side-scrolling levels in time-honored fashion. It supports local and online co-op as well as solo play, and the difficulty of the puzzles will adjust to the number of players. There will be 20 levels, which I know because the press release told me so — even the fact that the publicity for this game tells you how many levels it will have is pleasingly nostalgic.

The first Trine was released in 2009, and since then Finnish developer Frozenbyte has released new games in the series fairly regularly every few years, interspersing them with other original efforts.

You can check out the first trailer for Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy above, or enjoy some of its richly colored fantasy dioramas in the gallery of screens below. Good old Trine.

Grid View

Our PlayStation VR2 MMORPG, Zenith: The Last City, has its next major content patch – Skyward Summit – on the horizon, and with that we are bringing a host of new features to the game.

Today, we are thrilled to announce that one of the features we will be introducing is player versus player (PvP) combat! We believe this feature will add a new layer of depth and excitement to Zenith. Players will now have the opportunity to test their skills against each other in a fun and engaging way.

Challenge yourself with thrilling one-on-one and team duels that will test your skills and push you to the limit. With our unique class system, including the brand new Cyber Ninja class, you can explore an endless variety of playstyles and strategies. While we are exploring additional options for PvP in future patches, Skyward Summit’s PvP will primarily focus on the implementation of one-on-one and team duels.

We believe that the addition of PvP in Zenith is a significant update that opens up new gameplay opportunities for players. We’re excited to see how players will explore new tactics, test their strategies, and learn from their opponents. We’re confident that PvP will provide a thrilling and engaging experience for our players.

Alongside the highly anticipated PvP mode, we’re excited to introduce the brand new Cyber Ninja class and a host of other thrilling additions. From player housing to resource harvesting and crafting, this patch has it all. We can’t wait for you to explore these exciting new systems and discover everything Skyward Summit has to offer.

Mark your calendars – the Skyward Summit patch is projected for release in Q2 2023. Stay tuned for more information and get ready for an unforgettable adventure.

PC Game Pass is coming to 40 new countries as of today, offering a limited-time offer to those who join in the first three months, and rewarding those who were part of the Game Pass insider program with several months of free membership.

This comes following a preview back in February, where Microsoft teased the expansion of the service’s expansion across the globe. Game Pass, the clear primary focus of the gaming giant, will now provide hundreds of games to those from a vast selection of new markets.

The countries recieving PC Game Pass are:

• Albania
• Algeria
• Bahrain
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Estonia
• Georgia
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Iceland
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Moldova
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Nicaragua
• North Macedonia
• Oman
• Panama
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Qatar
• Romania
• Serbia
• Slovenia
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
• Uruguay

There are a lot of great games on Game Pass, which makes this obviously good news for gamers in those countries who have been eager to try out many of these games for some time now. The only real worry comes from regional pricing, which from time to time has proven to be the bane of many a would-be fan from jumping into an upcoming blockbuster video game.

But, if this is monitored and kept in check, then it’s hard to see this as anything but good news. This is a great opportunity to play a range of brilliant indie games too. Or Vampire Survivors!

Here’s my question to you: if you could recommend three PC Game Pass games to the new wave of players about to jump onto the service, what would you suggest? Let us know below!

While 2021’s Sherlock Holmes Chapter One had the world’s most iconic detective confronting the ghosts from his past, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has him dusting off his deerstalker cap in order to investigate a cult worshiping a cosmic, Cthulu-like presence. However, despite the clear influence of HP Lovecraft, The Awakened presents a mystery that’s surprisingly light on scares, with the majority of its attempts to unsettle coming across as more silly than genuinely spine-chilling. Although there was still a solid amount of investigations and crime scene recreations to sink my teeth into over the course of its 10 hours, it was hard to fully buy into Sherlock’s supposed battles with his own sanity at the center of the story when I struggled to find anything to fear in his surroundings.

A remake of the 2007 adventure of the same name, Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has been rebuilt using the same engine that powered Chapter One, and its plot has been retooled slightly in order to make it fit in as a direct sequel to that 2021 origin story. The friendship between Holmes and Dr. John Watson is presented as being in its infancy, with Watson regularly pressing Holmes for information about what went down on the island of Cordona in Chapter One in an effort to peel back the layers and find out exactly what makes the detail-obsessed detective tick. While the writing and performances are of a reasonable standard, the dialogue scenes between the two crime-busting BFFs would probably have been a lot more engrossing were I not so regularly distracted by the extremely loose lip syncing, which makes it seem like each character is delivering their lines directly into the hot end of a hair dryer.

Unlike Chapter One, which populates its open-world island setting with a variety of cases and side stories to uncover, The Awakened is a far more linear affair that sends Holmes and Watson globe-trotting from the streets of London to an asylum in the Swiss Alps to the swampland of New Orleans and back again. The bulk of these settings present a substantial space to explore, but there’s almost no incentive to do so since I found little of consequence to uncover off the main story path. In fact, it wasn’t until I had reached the final hours of the journey that I finally managed to stumble into a side case in London involving a dead spy, but it was jarringly snuffed out by Mycroft Holmes before it could develop into anything of substance. So the only real mystery surrounding it was trying to determine why it was included at all.

CSI: Old Blighty

For the most part, Sherlock’s crime scene investigations are conducted in much the same manner as they are in Chapter One: Presented with the often-grisly aftermath of some wrongdoing, you must first pixel-hunt your away around the scene to gather evidence like bloodstains and footprints, interview potential witnesses or known acquaintances of the victim, and then determine the sequence of events by shuffling through possible scenarios and the order in which they took place via a visual representation of Sherlock’s imagination. While it can still be rewarding to piece it all together, there’s no question that the cases in The Awakened are far more straightforward than they were in Chapter One. Whereas the previous adventure had Sherlock investigating evidence of vampires in a graveyard and determining the whereabouts of an escaped elephant, The Awakened sticks mostly to more generic kidnappings and murder, and is all the more forgettable for it.