Upcoming Survival Game Lets You Live As Bigfoot

August 31, 2024

Story Highlights

Bigfoot Life lets players experience survival as Bigfoot, exploring a forest, hunting, foraging, and building shelters.
The game features a unique point system and requires stealth to avoid human hunters.
Bigfoot Life includes dynamic weather, progression mechanics, and the chance to find a mate, enhancing gameplay and narrative.

Planet 47 Games brings a unique twist to survival gaming with Bigfoot Life, set for release in 2025 on Steam. This open-world survival simulator invites players to step into the mythical shoes of Bigfoot, exploring a vast forest environment while navigating the challenges of living in the wild.

Bigfoot is the game’s largest creature with four variants, two in the base game and two as paid DLC for PvP mode. These skins are purely cosmetic and don’t affect combat abilities.

Drawing inspiration from survival games like Sons of the Forest, Metro Awakening, and Green Hell, Bigfoot Life offers a range of features designed to enhance realism and engagement, allowing players to immerse themselves in this elusive creature’s life.

Exploring The Key Features Of Bigfoot Life

Bigfoot Life invites players into an immersive survival adventure, where they step into the world of the legendary Bigfoot. Set in a sprawling, open-world forest, the game challenges players to survive and thrive in a wild environment of mystery and danger.

Bigfoot Appearance – Image Credit (Bigfoot Game Wiki)

As players explore this captivating world, they encounter various challenges and opportunities that test their survival skills and creativity. Here are the key features of bigfoot life:

Open-World Exploration: Players can explore a vast forest, navigate lush wilderness, uncover hidden paths, and experience nature’s untamed beauty.
Survival Mechanics: Players hunt, forage, catch fish and insects, and collect mushrooms and berries, requiring strategic food-gathering and seasonal adaptation.
Bigfoot Meat – Image Credit (Bigfoot Game Wiki)
Hydration: Staying hydrated is crucial. Players drink from lakes and streams, adding realism and requiring them to seek fresh water for health.
Shelter Building: Players build shelters to store items and rest, protecting them from the elements and human hunters. Upgrading shelters is vital for creating a forest haven.
Unique Point System: Bigfoot Life’s unique point system rewards players for activities like breaking branches, scaring wildlife, and stealing items from human hunters.
Weather System: Dynamic weather allows players to experience all seasons, affecting gameplay and requiring adaptive strategies.
Winter Park – Image Credit (Bigfoot Game Wiki)

Challenges And Progression

The game offers two modes: play against an AI-controlled Bigfoot or let another player control the Bigfoot. As Bigfoot, your main challenge is to evade human hunters.

Human hunters tirelessly search the forest for evidence to expose Bigfoot. As Bigfoot, you have the strength, claws, and predatory abilities to tear apart anyone in your way. While they have guns, you possess incredible stamina and stealth to remain undetected, ensuring Bigfoot’s survival and maintaining his secrecy.

Bigfoot Life survival — Bigfoot Exposed By Hunters – Image Credit (Planet 47 Games)

As players successfully navigate these dangers playing as Bigfoot, they can level up and enhance Bigfoot’s abilities. This progression offers long-term goals, making the survival experience increasingly rewarding.

Ultimately, the game allows players to find a mate for Bigfoot, enriching the storyline. This adds a deeper layer to the narrative, ensuring the continuation of Bigfoot’s lineage and providing a satisfying conclusion to the survival journey.

Looking Ahead To Bigfoot Life

Bigfoot Life promises to stand out in the highly competitive survival game genre. Its unique premise and engaging features set it apart.

As early-access survival games continue to gain popularity on Steam, with titles like Abiotic Factor receiving very positive reviews, Bigfoot Life has the potential to capture the imagination of players worldwide.

The currently promised features are intriguing and hold great potential. However, only time will reveal how the game will ultimately perform in the market. I eagerly await the chance to live as Bigfoot and explore the forest’s mysteries in this innovative survival adventure.

Latest Updates

Is Cloud Gaming Finally Feasible In 2024?

August 31, 2024

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Cloud gaming is a great alternative to expensive hardware, freeing you from the conventional need for consoles and PCs.
Despite looking simple on the surface, this technology still has deep complications, such as availability in regions, pricing options, input lag, and more.
While cloud gaming may have a strong future, its push to mainstream is currently a wasted effort due to many factors.

The advancements in technology, especially in this decade, have changed the gaming landscape. Hardware has seen many improvements, and graphics are closer to real life than ever.

This also pushes the movement for convenience in this entertainment business. Cloud gaming has been around for years but wasn’t seen as truly viable until a couple of years ago when it became mainstream.

The idea of playing AAA games despite not having a high-end system is amazing. Microsoft has also started to sell a cloud bundle of Xbox without the console as a plan to normalize cloud streaming.

However, the main question arises: Is cloud gaming even feasible in 2024? Surely, the idea of taking gaming on the go without the actual hardware is intriguing, but is it even feasible in the modern era?

Why it matters: Because cloud gaming is expected to be such a huge force in the future, it’s important to realize the drawbacks and strengths of this technology.

Accessibility Restricted And Limited To Casual Gaming

Xbox Cloud Gaming — Xbox Offers Some Of The Best Cloud Gaming Options

Despite the notion that cloud gaming is smooth as butter and all you need is a subscription to play your favorite games on the go, the technology comes with its set of problems.

First of all, this service is limited to just a few countries of the world. Many regions are still deprived, and while there is a workaround that involves using a proxy, the input lag is too much of a variable to expect an enjoyable experience.

That brings us to the second major problem: the input lag. First, you need to have access to a high-bandwidth network, obviously. Not everyone has access to this kind of internet, especially if you’re planning to play on the go in a hotel, etc.

Input lag is always a variable despite the internet speed and is too great a deal for someone to play competitive or single-player games. The other deal breaker is how limited these libraries are.

Services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming have an extensive library, but these servers can’t handle every single title available.

Pricing Options

NVIDIA GeFORCE NOW — Nvidia GeForce Now Uses RTX GPUs For Cloud Gaming

There are multiple options when it comes to this service. Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, and PlayStation Plus Premium are the big three, but you also have other smaller options like Shadow PC, etc.

Amazon’s Luna and Google Stadia failed and announced they were shutting down despite Luna being active. However, I think they failed because they were too ahead of the times. Regardless, GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming offer different packages at different prices.

Game Pass Ultimate is a solid deal and includes the cloud gaming option. GeForce Now currently offers three programs. The base plan is free and limited to one-hour sessions with ads.

The priority plan gives access to games with RTX at 1080p 60FPS with six-hour sessions for $10 a month. The ultimate plan has rigs with the RTX 4080, with eight-hour sessions and resolution of up to 4K 240FPS.

They may sound cheap, but these packages don’t come with a game catalog, so you’re stuck playing free games such as Fortnite. However, with GeForce Now, you can connect to your Game Pass subscription and gain access to those titles.

PlayStation Plus Premium is also another great alternative. It allows you to stream a select few games on your PlayStation console or PC without the need for a download.

Is Cloud Gaming Really The Future?

Steam Deck Asus ROG Ally Nintendo Switch — Gaming Handhelds Are All The Rage These Days

Cloud Gaming is still in the development phase, and due to these restrictions and its availability in different regions, I’d speculate that it will be some time before we see it normalized.

Personally, at this point, rather than these subscriptions, I’d get my hands on an Xbox Series S, the budget Xbox console. My second choice would be to jump on the handheld trend and pick up a console like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch.

Latest Updates

I believe we will see advancements in handheld consoles quicker than cloud gaming, and Microsoft seems to be working on its own handheld. This should keep the market going, with more competitors entering after Microsoft’s push.

I firmly believe in cloud gaming, but we’re still far from that reality. Technology is constantly evolving, but streaming isn’t quite where it needs to be just yet.

Why Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Likely To Succeed Despite Controversy

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

The controversy surrounding Assassin’s Creed Shadows, including Yasuke, an African samurai, has sparked debates on historical accuracy and forced diversity.
There are multiple instances where controversy hasn’t stopped games from achieving high sales figures, and the same would be the case here.
Despite these debates, the pre-orders are strong, and Ubisoft’s RPG formula has already been a huge success.

Ever since Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Ubisoft has swayed away from annual releases of Assassin’s Creed entries since the RPG projects tend to need longer development cycles. More content doesn’t exactly equal good content, but this is just classic Ubisoft.

The same is true with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, but this particular entry has caused much controversy. It features Yasuke, an African samurai, and this element has caused controversy due to alleged forced diversity and claims that Yasuke is not a real samurai in history.

This has caused nationwide panic in Japan and massively backfired for Ubisoft. Other problems include similarities with Ghost of Tsushima and the outdated visuals. However, all this controversy will only lead to massive commercial success for Ubisoft, and here’s why.

Why it matters: Assassin’s Creed is one of the most well-known IPs in gaming and one of the most well-sold, too. Regardless, history shows that controversy hasn’t stopped video games from breaking the charts in the past.

Controversial Games That Topped Sales

manhunt game — Manhunt Was Highly Controversial From The Beginning

Assassin’s Creed Shadows isn’t the first or the last game to spark a debate on racial matters. Capcom was accused of racial discrimination with Resident Evil 5 over stereotyping African people and killing hordes of black people as a white protagonist.

Still, the game has sold almost 14 million units to date, showing that these controversies aren’t a problem in the commercial department. Critiques may say otherwise, and not mainly because of the racism, but the core game lacked execution.

There are other cases, too, starting with Rockstar’s Manhunt series. To be fair, Rockstar is no stranger to controversy, but with the Manhunt series, things reached another level. The game was extremely gruesome and even banned in several countries. If this wasn’t enough, a few murder crimes were blamed on Manhunt’s influence.

Despite all this, it ended up selling over 1.7 million units. This may not seem like much, but it was a major deal for such a niche game. There are countless other examples, such as the GTA IP’s depiction of violence, Doom’s demonic imagery, and the infamous “No Russian” mission from Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (2009).

Despite that, all these games sold well and proved to be big hits, so what’s stopping Assassin’s Creed Shadows?

The RPG Formula Has Been A Success For Ubisoft

While Assassin’s Creed fans may still be conflicted about comparing the classic and the new RPG formula, Ubisoft is very happy with the results it has received from these recent releases.

Ever since Assassin’s Creed Origins, every title has outsold the last despite people arguing that the quality has deteriorated with each successive release. I even believe the first RPG title, Assassin’s Creed Origins, was the best and is yet to be topped.

While many people may not rank the RPG trilogy at the top of their favorites list, the trilogy’s sales and achievements are undeniable, as is the fact that they introduced the series to a whole new generation. I speculate the exact scenario with Assassin’s Creed Shadow.

The feudal Japan setting has been in demand for over a decade. Although it’s a shame Ghost of Tsushima was the title that made Ubisoft finally take the plunge, we’re still getting one.

According to reports, the RPG is already showing strong results, and the Yasuke controversy isn’t as big a deal as you might think.

Latest Updates

Moreover, the game will bring a classic Assassin’s Creed vibe, featuring a brand-new engine and stealth elements that surpass earlier titles, appealing to newer and older fans alike.

Everyone may have their opinions about Yasuke being the protagonist. Fortunately, people who don’t like his role can play as Naoe, a Japanese ninja, who is part of the narrative from the very beginning.

Starfield Getting Up On It’s Feet Was As Simple As Adding Vehicles It Seems

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Bethesda’s first new IP in over two decades, Starfield, was a major disappointment, launching in an incomplete state.
The recent addition of the Rev-8 ground vehicle has significantly improved exploration, demonstrating the RPG’s potential.
With future updates and the Shattered Space expansion, Starfield has a chance to redeem its name and make up for its disappointing launch.

Bethesda’s first new IP in over two decades wasn’t exactly what we expected. What we thought to be one of the biggest Xbox exclusives turned out to be a failure. The RPG was an incomplete release, lacking many basic features.

Fortunately, more updates are being added to the title, improving its state and even boosting its player base, but Starfield is still far from being redeemed. It was already unfortunate that Bethesda didn’t support 60FPS on consoles at launch, but the worst part was the fact no vehicles were available to traverse an open universe featuring over 900 planets.

Starfield has finally added the first ground vehicle recently, which had been long overdue. The new Rev-8 vehicle makes the RPG way more fun and fixes a major problem.

Why it matters: A simple feature, like a vehicle being added almost a year after the release, shows how incomplete the RPG was and how good it could have been at launch.

The Rev-8 Is More Than Just A Car

starfield rev 8 vehicle — Starfield’s First Ground Vehicle Has Arrived

For Bethesda, a team notorious for its bugs, the Rev-8 is a surprisingly normal and amazing driving car. Everything from the handling to the physics of the vehicle feels great.

Players can now traverse points in the map that were previously inaccessible. Previously, exploring even one out of the 1000 planets in Starfield was incredibly time-consuming and inconvenient, but with the Rev-8, new possibilities have shown up for exploration, and grinding for XP is much more fun.

So far, the community’s reception of the update has been amazing. Players call it a “game-changer” and are willing to give Starfield another chance after these promising changes.

Rev-8 is an actual game changer
byu/Switchback706 inStarfield

Interestingly, the Rev-8 isn’t just beneficial for exploration. You can simply enjoy cruising the many landscapes of the expansive universe in this vehicle. Alternatively, you can use it to run enemies over.

During my playthrough, I even enjoyed some drifting in the vehicle. I’m more than excited to see what mods will do now that the Rev-8 has been added. I can definitely see a Thomas the Train reskin for Rev-8 or even a Warthog mod from the Halo franchise.

One Of The First Big Changes

starfield-shattered-space — Starfield’s Upcoming DLC Is Expected To Be Huge

These smaller updates over the past year since the game launched excited me. On the other hand, I was a little annoyed that features like performance mode, maps, and ground vehicles weren’t available on day one.

The Rev-8 is currently the only ground vehicle available, but more will probably be added in the future, such as bikes, trucks, etc. Not every game gets the chance for redemption, and even if when it does, it rarely gets to shine.

However, Starfield is a different case and is following the same route as Cyberpunk 2077. Starfield’s first expansion, Shattered Space, is ambitious and has much to offer.

Latest Updates

It will be more of a horror-themed expansion and focus on a “Cosmic Threat,” exploring the House Va’Ruun after a distress signal call from an abandoned spaceship. The expansion will feature a massive update with a new storyline, characters, and locations, expanding the overall lore.

Hopefully, the update will also bring some quality-of-life changes, bug fixes, and features. Perhaps we will look back on Bethesda’s latest RPG with the same perspective as Cyberpunk 2077 someday.

Black Myth: Wukong Is The Perfect Blend of Multiple Genres

August 31, 2024

Story Highlight

Black Myth: Wukong is an action game combined with Souls-like elements.
Despite being inspired by Journey To The West, it features an almost original story that could be considered a sequel to the original.
Due to its fast-paced gameplay, easier combat, and story presentation, Black Myth: Wukong appeals to more players and stands out from typical Souls-likes.

Black Myth: Wukong is the talk of the town for now, and rightfully so. The game has been hyped up for years due to its unique take on the action genre and its story that revolves around Sun Wukong, a character based on Chinese myth that has inspired countless other fictional characters.

Developed by Game Science, Black Myth: Wukong is the studio’s first console/PC title, and it has already become the most-played single-player title on Steam. After 200K reviews, the action RPG is still rated 10/10.

While Black Myth: Wukong isn’t a genre-defining game and may initially appear to be yet another Souls-like, the truth is a bit different. Game Science has created an action game that plays more like a God of War or Nier spin-off but with the DNA of a Souls-like.

Why it matters: This blend has proven to be much more successful than anticipated, and it might inspire other studios to follow suit.

Perfect Balance Between Gameplay And Storytelling

Black Myth: Wukong is based on Chinese mythology and adapts Journey To The West during its 40-hour runtime, which is one of the most influential storylines in Chinese mythology. Even Goku from Dragon Ball is entirely based on Sun Wukong’s character.

While the game doesn’t completely adapt the novel’s storyline, it does feel more like a sequel. It features some of the characters from the original novel but also introduces newer ones based on Eastern mythology.

The cinematics match God of War 2018’s quality and intensity. Moreover, the story is divided into multiple chapters, each highlighting different natures, such as Greed, Prejudice, Evil Intentions, and Love.

The game’s storytelling may sometimes become complex because many people outside of Asia are unfamiliar with Sun Wukong’s character. However, the story is one of a kind and expands even further from the novels.

Straying away from the narrative, Black Myth: Wukong’s gameplay is phenomenal, and there is no doubt about it. The combat is fast-paced, and the boss battles present various foes that beautifully portray Chinese mythology.

What’s interesting is that Game Science never prioritizes one element over the other. The story is given just as much attention as the gameplay.

Why Black Myth: Wukong Isn’t A Souls-Like

The Souls-like sub-genre is relatively new and has caused a lot of confusion within the community. It seems nobody quite understands what a Souls-like actually is.

Some may say that elements like a stamina meter are indicative of a Souls-like, while others say that heavy and light attacks bound to shoulder buttons are the starting points for a Souls-like.

One might even consider a game with difficult bosses a Souls-like, but these mechanics have been around for many years.

Latest Updates

Souls-like games are focused on dodging, and the main character is heavily underpowered, with even smaller enemies doing tons of damage. Enemies in Black Myth: Wukong barely pose a threat, and you don’t even lose experience upon dying.

These things alone are enough to take the title further away from the concept of a Souls-like. The stamina bar is also not nearly as important since you hardly run out of stamina once enough upgrades are made. While they may look intimidating, boss battles aren’t even that tough.

All in all, the gameplay loop resembles that of an action RPG, as Game Science said. The Souls-like elements are an added bonus.

Dante’s Inferno Deserves The Remake Treatment From EA

August 30, 2024

Story Highlight

Dante’s Inferno boasts a unique gothic art style and a compelling adaptation of a classic poem, earning it a dedicated fanbase.
EA’s marketing for the game was unforgettable and controversial, with stunts like rickrolling developers and provocative contests making headlines.
With today’s shortage of standout action-adventure games, a remake of Dante’s Inferno could finally give this game the recognition it deserves.

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that God of War is one of the best gaming franchises ever and has inspired countless other games. However, in this industry, games that are heavily inspired by an existing IP are sometimes dubbed clones.

Take Watch Dogs, for example. Despite its unique open-world concept, this series is considered yet another GTA clone. Dante’s Inferno is in a similar boat. Developed by Visceral Games, the same team behind Dead Space, it was released in 2010.

The game never got the attention it deserved because it was called a God of War clone and released in the same year as God of War 3. Unfortunately, the game wasn’t a commercial hit, but it did develop a massive cult following all these years later, and it’s about time it finally gets a remake.

Why it matters: Dante’s Inferno was always more than another God of War.

Artistic Style Way Ahead Of It’s Time

dante's inferno cover — Dante’s Inferno Played Like God of War

Dante’s Inferno’s gothic art style is way ahead of its time, and the way it combines the medieval art style with the added demonic and hell themes is unremarkable. The game spans several levels of hell, 9 to be exact, each based on sins such as Lust, Treachery, Violence, etc.

Even when talking about the enemies, they are distinct to each level of hell; for instance, the Lust circle is populated with seductive, grotesque figures, while the Gluttony circle has bloated, gluttonous monsters.

At the end of each level, there would be a boss fight where the boss would embody that particular sin. I wouldn’t be surprised if FromSoftware used this as inspiration in their own titles.

In terms of combat, Dante had two weapons: a scythe and a cross. The latter could be used as a ranged weapon.

The True Inspiration Behind Dante’s Inferno

The 14th-century poem of the same name inspired Dante’s Inferno. It is based on the seven deadly sins in Christianity and delves deep into religious themes. God of War does something similar but was instead inspired by Greek mythology.

The game’s premise follows Dante, a Catholic knight who commits a few sins in his crusades and eventually has to face death after being stabbed in the back. However, just like Kratos, Dante defies death and kills death in his face.

Dante is then guided by Virgil, a poet spirit, through hell to save his murdered wife, Beatrice, from Lucifer in hell, passing through the nine circles of hell. The story follows a classic romantic motivation for the protagonist, which is missing in modern games.

A Bizarre Marketing Campaign

Visceral Game’s marketing with Dante’s Inferno was the most memorable and controversial in gaming history. For context, EA actually created a contest for Dante’s Inferno at Comic-Con, where people would take “sinful” photos with booth babes and submit them for a reward on Twitter.

Another campaign was EA sending $200 to journalists in the mail, prompting them to either accept the money and succumb to greed or ignore it and succumb to prodigality. Another case was if you ordered the game from a specific website, they’d deem you a heretic.

The best campaign, in my opinion, had to be the one with the rickroll shenanigans. EA sent wooden boxes to a few people, which would rickroll them, and the only way to stop it was to break it down via a hammer.

EA also hired people who resembled members of the Westboro Baptist Church to protest the game outside of E3. I am still confused as to why the publisher went to such lengths for the game’s campaign and invested so much money in a controversial game.

It is unfortunate that the game didn’t sell well, and the marketing budget probably went to waste.

It’s About Time For A Dante’s Inferno Remake

Does Dante's Inferno deserve a remake or remastered?….
byu/massapeal79 inplaystation

Action games are currently going through a dry spell. Devil May Cry 5 was the last major release for the genre, but it came out years ago. God of War has also taken a completely different approach today.

Latest Updates

It’s no secret that we lack some great old-school hack-and-slash games. While Stellar Blade offers similar gameplay, it doesn’t quite scratch the right hack-and-slash itch.

In my opinion, EA should consider remaking Dante’s Inferno. The original game had many problems that could be ironed out with modern technology, allowing this series to reach the potential it always had.

SBMM Has No Reason To Co-Exist With Ranked Modes

August 30, 2024

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Ranked modes already cater to competitive players with strict SBMM.
Because SBMM is used everywhere these days, each match becomes repetitive and a grind, making it harder for players to enjoy a relaxed gaming experience.
Games like XDefiant are praised for abandoning SBMM for public matches. This system offers even faster matches and a separate ranked mode for grinding and sweaty matches.

Multiplayer gaming has changed vastly over the past decade, and while new genres and games have been introduced, the experience has arguably gotten worse. This is alluded to by the fact that the industry has grown substantially, and publishers have become way too greedy.

Popularized by Call of Duty, SBMM in video games has been highly controversial, with most players showing a dislike towards the feature. SBMM is short for skill-based matchmaking, and what it does is pit players against other players of the same skill.

While it does sound good on paper, Skill-Based Matchmaking serves the entire purpose of Rank Modes, which are meant for competitive players.

Why it matters: Without SBMM, players can either stomp or get stomped on in different matches, and the outcome of each game really depends on the rest of the lobby.

SBMM Ruins Casual Gaming Experience By Making Matches Repetitive

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 — Modern Warfare 3 Features Extensive SBMM

Playing against people of the same skill may sound less intimidating, but that gets boring after a few matches since you barely get high-kill games, and your K/D stays constant. In a way, players don’t get crushed easily, but that’s the best part about pubs; every match is different, and you either stomp on or get stomped on.

Ranked mode already exists, so why even utilize SBMM if all it does is ruin player experience? In free-to-play games, SBMM is even worse since veterans will create smurf accounts and wipe out entire lobbies of new players, who will then get intimidated and leave the game altogether.

While my argument may seem pointless, the reality of SBMM is much deeper, and games nowadays use a much more complex system. Most games nowadays use the Elo system.

The Elo system is based on more recent players’ performance. If an average player wins against a really good player, he will match up against players of that caliber, meaning a sweatier lobby.

This restricts the players’ ability to grow because every time you’re on a growing curve, you’re likely to fall after getting a match with pros and competitive players.

No, SBMM Is Not Good For General Players

apex legends season 22 — Apex Legends Is One Of The Most Popular Competitive Games

While everyone says that SBMM is only beneficial for streamers and not for the general audience, that can be rebutted by the fact that those players can play Ranked modes to level up and improve.

SBMM also hinders player growth because all you do is play against people of your skill, which is no fun. It makes it harder to catch up with people since there is no progressive overload, and every match is a competitive experience.

This argument is being made considering the game features casual and a ranked mode. SBMM being added to normal matches ruins the whole point of adding a ranked category.

XDefiant Set A Great Standard

In this era of games like Call of Duty and Apex Legends reigning, Ubisoft’s new shooter completely abandons the SBMM aspect for the better. While Xdefiant did fall short of its potential and expectations, I appreciate the devs’ bold decision to go without SBMM.

This is a win-win situation since no SBMM means varied matches every time and a fast connection to games. You don’t have to queue for minutes in the lobby while the game tries to connect you with other players on a similar skill level.

Latest Updates

XDefiant also has a ranked mode, so if players want a non-casual and competitive experience, they can opt for that instead. The best part is that up to 10 levels, the game has SBMM implemented, so new players don’t get stomped by smurfs and get an actual chance to get better.

Former Blizzard Boss Believes Consoles Will Never Die

August 30, 2024

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The former Blizzard President has said that those saying consoles will die are pushing a narrative.
He commended Sony for making great exclusives and believes they should continue with the strategy.
With Microsoft losing out to Sony over the latest generation, Sony has the right business plan.

There have been many talks in the last few years about consoles potentially dying. Though we’ve seen a significant decrease in console sales this generation compared to the last one, it doesn’t translate to the ‘death’ of consoles.

The former Blizzard President has also stated that consoles will never die.

Why it matters: The console market has been quite strange lately. Between declining sales, inflated prices, and other issues, many believe the future of console gaming won’t be too bright.

PS5 And Xbox Series X — The appeal of console gaming is dying out each year.

Mike Ybarra believes that this narrative is being spread by those unable to compete in the industry.

The future of Xbox consoles is quite shaky at the moment. Microsoft’s latest offerings have been completely obliterated in sales by the PlayStation 5. Mike Ybarra also commented on the situation, saying that Sony has the correct strategy when it comes to consoles.

Because Microsoft is going multiplatform with its big releases, players wondered if Sony would follow suit. Ybarra says Sony would never do that as long as its exclusives perform well, and that’s what he would’ve done.

Sony has had some great deals in the past with other publishers. While Square Enix has now changed its strategy, it has been exclusively developing Final Fantasy games for PlayStation for more than four years now.

PS Exclusives — PlayStation’s first-party library is incredible.

The only one that can hurt PlayStation at this point is Sony itself. However, despite a strong portfolio, recent releases like Concord have been anything but successful, so PlayStation clearly isn’t infallible.

Latest Updates

The PS5 Pro is right around the corner, showing Sony’s focus on console gaming. Overall, it seems like the PlayStation is not going anywhere, even if Xbox is shifting away from a strict console focus.

Xbox Series S Unlikely To Struggle With Black Myth: Wukong, Analysts Conclude

August 30, 2024

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Black Myth: Wukong was delayed on Xbox Series S|X a few months ago.
Analysts suggest that the Xbox Series S is unlikely to be causing this delay.
They state that Unreal Engine 5 isn’t CPU-heavy and should scale reasonably well with the budget console’s hardware.

Black Myth: Wukong has been out for over a week, becoming the biggest release of the year and the second-biggest launch on Steam, only behind PUBG. Unfortunately, the Xbox version was delayed earlier this year.

While Game Science is expected to be working on the Xbox port, a reliable leaker has suggested that the delay has been caused by a memory leak. Many have also speculated that the delay occurred due to the Xbox Series S.

However, analysts believe this should not be the case since Black Myth: Wukong should, in theory, work quite well on the Xbox Series S.

Why it matters: Many recent games, like Hellblade 2, developed on Unreal Engine 5, prove that the Xbox Series S can run such demanding games with the right optimization.

In a new video, Digital Foundry members discussed whether the Xbox Series S could run Black Myth: Wukong when the PS5 struggles to do so.

They conclude that the Xbox Series S should not have any inherent limitation that outright causes a delay. Digital Foundry pointed out that Unreal Engine 5 isn’t heavy on VRAM, and Black Myth: Wukong isn’t CPU-bound.

This is why the situation with Baldur’s Gate 3 was very different. According to the analysts, turning off features like Lumen and reducing the render resolution should help make the game compatible with the budget Xbox console.

when you look at UE5 titles on Series S, there is a path for achieving decent visuals at decent performance levels on that engine.

-Digital Foundry

The analysts further explained that the PS5 version struggled because of some strange decisions made by the developers due to the lack of experience, but if they don’t repeat such mistakes, the Xbox version will run much better.

Latest Updates

Since there have been recent discussions of potential PlayStation exclusivity for Black Myth: Wukong, this analysis is certainly interesting. It could also mean that work on the Xbox port will be finished quite quickly.

Recent reports on the matter have been quite conflicting, so fans are hoping to receive clarification from Game Science itself.

EA Should Remake Some of Its Older Game Franchises

August 30, 2024

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EA’s prominent franchises, such as Battlefield and Need for Speed, have declined due to poor quality and a lack of innovation.
Reviving older, beloved titles through remakes would be in the gaming giant’s best interest, as it would attract new and old fans alike.
Many forgotten EA franchises, including Burnout, SimCity, Command and Conquer, and SSX, have been abandoned and deserve a remake.

The concept of remakes isn’t universally loved since most people prefer classics to stay untouched. Remakes are uninspiring, but they have become more necessary with the current state of the gaming industry. Capcom is a pioneer in this regard, having revived the Resident Evil franchise with remakes.

EA is one of the most well-regarded publishers in the gaming industry, having its own big franchises such as Battlefield and Need for Speed. However, these franchises are way past their prime.

Games like Need for Speed and early Battlefield entries are a core part of my childhood, and it’s a shame to see what has become of them today. As such, I believe EA should return to the drawing board and remake some of its older IPs.

Why it matters: Several franchises from this publisher have not seen the light of day in many years, making them the prime targets for potential remakes.

Major Setbacks

Battlefield 2042 Battlefield 4 — Battlefield 2042 Was Not The Greatest Success For This Series

Since Battlefield 1 in 2016, EA has disappointed me more often than not.

Aside from the Star Wars Jedi games, I don’t recall one great release from the publisher. Take Battlefield 2042 or Anthem, for example, and you’ll see that this studio has been unable to live up to its past reputation.

Even recent Need for Speed games have ranged from bad to okay, and a prominent franchise like Battlefield has almost entirely lost its touch. Both Battlefield 5 and 2042 came with similar problems.

While they eventually improved substantially, EA’s inability to avoid the same errors is frustrating.

Back To The Drawing Board

Need For Speed Most Wanted Unreal Engine 5 Concept — Need for Speed Most Wanted Is Still A Fan-Favorite

I think EA should regret its decision to abandon franchises like Burnout and Fight Night in favor of the titles that we have now. It would be in the studio’s best interest to revive IPs like the Medal of Honor and Star Wars Old Republic; they have been in demand for years now.

The list of franchises this publisher abandoned despite being successful goes on, but I understand that not everyone can continue. Some were killed too early before they could reach their full potential, such as Dante’s Inferno.

Other games, such as Def Jam, may not return because of the rights and licensing required. Still, there are plenty of options on the board. Need for Speed was in a league of its own at one point, and fans still appreciate the likes of Need for Speed Most Wanted and Underground.

Please remaster/remake BF2
byu/RobertNevill inBattlefield

Having these games remade with modern graphics would be a sight to behold. An Unreal Engine 5 Most Wanted demo already shows this potential, but an official remake would be even better. On the subject of racing games, Burnout absolutely needs to return.

Elsewhere, I think the Battlefield series could use its own remake instead of another poor release from DICE that fails miserably from day one. In my opinion, Battlefield 2 deserves a remake because it was amazing in terms of gameplay, maps, balancing, and an authentic war-like experience.

I also adore the Medal of Honor series. While its glory days were short-lived, EA can move on with Medal of Honor as its mainstream first-person shooter series to give Battlefield a short rest after recent consecutive failures. A Medal of Honor Underground remake could work as an initial test for EA.

The list goes on: SimCity, Command and Conquer, SSX, and more. It’s just that the studio needs to take a step and risk with these games.

Remakes Are The Obvious Choice

Most modern audiences might not even be aware of these IPs, so they could work as fresh experiences for players. At the same time, older fans like me would be more than happy to see these classics coming back.

Let’s not forget that remakes are generally low-risk projects. EA has already been praised for its work on Dead Space, but the publisher somehow shelved the sequel despite fan demand for Dead Space 2 Remake.

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As far as I’m concerned, remakes are the solution to EA’s current problem. With such a strong catalog, it would be practically impossible for the gaming giant to fail if it attempted multiple such projects.

PS5 Pro Reportedly Arriving December 6; Disc Edition Costs $700

August 30, 2024

Story Highlight

A new leak suggests Sony will launch the PS5 Pro in December.
It alludes to a $700 price point for the disc-based model, with the digital model being $100 cheaper.
Sony is expected to announce the console next month.

More details about the PS5 Pro have recently shown up, with reliable leaker Bilbill-kun joining the discussion. He confirmed that Sony’s latest console will be announced at some point in September and shared a first look at the PS5 Pro’s design.

Following this leak, new reports have provided further information. According to another leak, Sony will launch the console in December for an unprecedented price.

Why it matters: The PS5 Pro is meant for a niche audience that cares about raw specifications more than the value proposition. PlayStation may use this fact to its advantage and price the hardware higher than expected.

PlayStation PS5 Pro — Studios Already Have Development Kits Of The Console

The latest report suggests Sony will launch the PS5 Pro on December 6. It also indicates that the announcement will be made on September 9 through an official PlayStation blog post.

The pricing is the most interesting part of this leak. According to the leaker, the PS5 Pro Digital Edition will cost $599. This would make it $100 more expensive than the base model’s Disc Edition.

Those looking to get the most powerful PS5 with a disc drive must pay $699 if this leak is anything to go by. While this MSRP might sound unbelievable, reliable leaker Jeff Grubb alluded to a similar price earlier.

He recently pointed to a nearing State of Play and suggested that the console could cost as much as $700.

$700 does still seem reasonable.

-Jeff Grubb

PS5 Pro GTA 6 — Games Like GTA 6 Could Benefit From The PS5 Pro Hardware

He argued that the Xbox Series X 2TB Disc Edition costs $599, so Sony might be able to get away with a $699 price if it wanted to. Grubb also believes that the consumers that PlayStation targets with this console would be willing to pay such a high price.

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With September right around the corner, fans won’t have to wait too long to finally see the console. All leaks point to an announcement or reveal later next month, so Sony should be gearing up to share official information very soon.

I Love How Games Make You Care About Their Characters

August 30, 2024

Story Highlight

Many games can make you care about their characters.
This feeling is very precious to me, and I will never get tired of it.
Some of my favourite games in this aspect are Red Dead Redemption 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, Witcher 3, and more.

Gaming isn’t just about having fun or killing time. It’s way more than that for me, as it has been part of my life since childhood. You’ll often notice how, in a movie, a TV Series, or an anime, you start caring about certain characters and want to see what the plot has in store for them.

Gaming is no different. You don’t have to play hundreds of games to experience this feeling since modern titles have such well-written narratives that it’s hard not to get attached to certain characters.

I love how certain games make you care about their characters, and this feeling will never get old for me.

Why it matters: While gameplay is always king, gaming stories have gotten to a point where they are now integral to the overall experience.

Caring About Fictional Characters

Arthur Morgan From Red Dead Redemption 2 — Fictional Characters Like Arthur Morgan Makes You Care About Them

Having played many games, I have often cared about many central characters. However, nothing can match the feeling of playing Red Dead Redemption 2 for the first time.

The story is practically unmatched, and Arthur Morgan’s character arc is unforgettable. Contrasting his development is the mighty Dutch and his grand downfall. Red Dead Redemption 2 is about Arthur’s journey to becoming a better man, one who goes from a murdering outlaw to a genuinely good person by the end.

Sure, this is a very simple progression, but Rockstar’s execution is so exceptional that it elevates the whole experience. I experienced a similar attachment to the characters when playing Cyberpunk 2077.

If you are playing this RPG for the story, you are in for one hell of an experience. I mean that a nightmare awaits you, and you have to make painful choices in the RPG. These decisions will constantly stay with you and become even more heartbreaking if you care for the characters. Don’t worry; the expansion, Phantom Liberty, is even worse in this aspect.

This Feeling Never Gets Old

Rock Music in Cyberpunk 2077 — Jhonny Silverhand’s Character Development Is A Joy To See | Image via Tech4Gamers

After playing Elden Ring thoroughly and understanding the lore, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Mohg. That poor demi god didn’t deserve whatever happened to him.

Now, with the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, more lore has been revealed, and it blew me away. The way Marika treated Messmer was so unfair. Meanwhile, a character I despised, as he was portrayed as the worst character, was actually a good guy.

Miquella used Mohg, and the new lore made me care about him as a character. Similarly, I will never forget how well-written Jhonny Silverhand is in Cyberpunk 2077. His deep monologues were mesmerizing and impacted me on a much deeper level than I could have ever imagined.

That is how much caring about a certain character can affect you. I love how developers brilliantly curate characters that make us care about them. If you have played Witcher 3, you would know about the saddest ending. Ciri dies and leaves Geralt alone, which is extremely sad. Very few gaming stories can leave such a lasting impact on you.

Such Moments Are Always Welcome

I still remember gaming moments that left a lasting impression. This is only possible when developers pour their heart and soul into a story, bringing nothing but the best writing and stories to the table.

I’m sure you’ve been sad when your favorite character died in a game. Perhaps you didn’t even want to proceed with the story after such an event. For instance, when Joel dies in The Last of Us Part 2, you might not have found the game worth playing anymore.

Similarly, Arthur’s death in Red Dead Redemption 2 may have discouraged you from playing as John Marston in the final parts of the story.

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I think this feeling is a testament to the writing of modern gaming stories and characters. Even a character like Kratos has come a long way in the past decades, transitioning into a wise god and a responsible father compared to his vengeance-fueled past self.

In my opinion, this is the biggest strength of gaming stories today and should never be taken for granted.