At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
Story Highlights
According to the director of Dying Light, shorter games are the way to go in the future.
He believes longer games are difficult to fit into people’s lifestyles and take up a long development cycle.
Shorter games also allow developers to experiment more due to lower budgets, making them more innovative.
We have heard multiple times before that shorter games are the future. Amid the announcement of Techland’s new Dying Light entry, a developer has reiterated that the industry is too obsessed with the number of hours a game offers, and shorter games are the way to go.
Why it matters: Currently, the industry is focusing on producing games that last as long as possible. This has also led to open-world fatigue since most studios immediately resort to this genre when thinking of extensive experiences that last hundreds of hours.
Dying Light: The Beast will be much shorter than previous entries in the franchise.
Talking to Games Industry, franchise director Tymon Smektała revealed that the studio designed Dying Light: The Beast to be more compact than traditional AAA experiences.
Instead of adding too much content, the studio has primarily stuck to important elements this time.
if you have a game that you have to play for 50 to 100 hours to complete, it’s really difficult to find time for that, right?
He further elaborated on how long games are difficult to fit into most people’s lifestyles.We also heard from the Hellblade 2 developers that fans prefer shorter experiences over big ones.
Smektała referenced Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, a game he has played for over 100 hours and has yet to finish. Dying Light: The Beast strikes a nice balance between a full-fledged AAA title and a DLC, so it’s a lot shorter.
The Beast will mark the return of Kyle Crane as the protagonist.
Shorter games are also preferable because they have a shorter development cycle and require fewer developers.
Moreover, because the budgets aren’t as huge, developers can experiment with new ideas in such projects. Smektala believes this is the path most companies will take in the future.
Talking about Dying Light 3, he said that’s a separate thing. While The Beast is a short experience, the next mainline entry won’t be following suit. It will be a complete Dying Light experience like its predecessors.
In my role as a news writer, I’ve covered a wide range of topics, from breaking news to in-depth analyses of the latest developments in the gaming world. My articles have garnered attention and citations across the industry, reflecting my commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content.
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Sony has once again raised the price of the PS5 in Japan, marking the third increase since its launch.
Both PS5 models have now seen a price surge of over 20%.
This is surprising, considering the console is almost four years old, and the launch of the PS5 Pro seems just around the corner.
The PS5 has experienced fluctuations in its pricing over the years, mostly staying on the higher end. One might expect that the PS5’s price would decrease nearly four years after its release. However, this is not the case for the PS5.
PlayStation recently increased the PS5’s price in Japan by over 20% for the third time. The PS5 Disc Version now retails for ¥79,980, a jump from its previous price of ¥66,980.
Why it matters: Price fluctuations can be caused by various factors, but the most common nowadays is the unstable economic conditions worldwide, which have led many to take such measures.
The Digital Edition PS5 is now retailing for ¥72,980, reflecting a similar 20% increase from its previous price of ¥59,980.
In addition to this, the DualSense wireless controller has also experienced a 21% price hike. These prices convert to approximately $550 for the Disc PS5, $500 for the Digital Edition, and $80 for the DualSense controller in USD.
PlayStation’s official blog explained that this price adjustment was driven by challenging external factors, including the global economic climate and its impact on their business operations.
It does come as a surprise that the price of the PS5 is still rising nearly four years after its release, particularly with heavy rumors surrounding the imminent reveal of the PS5 Pro, which will likely divert attention away from the base model.
The PS5 Launched In 2020 | Image via Tech4Gamers
PlayStation could potentially raise the prices of the PS5 and its accessories in other regions as well, though we hope that won’t be the case. We also hope that Japanese fans of the console can eventually see some relief in pricing, like in the UK.
We can expect PS5 prices to decrease after the launch of the PS5 Pro, which, if reports hold true, isn’t far off.
The PS5 Pro is anticipated to release later this year, with developers already preparing for its arrival. The projected price range is between $550 and $700, with the $600 mark being the most likely.
Everyone is excited to see how the PS5 Pro turns out. Hopefully, this launch will help drive down the prices of the existing base models.
At Tech4gamers, I cover all sorts of gaming news. Whether it’s a leak of any upcoming game or an update, an announcement, or a rumour, I like to write about it all. Over the weekend, I sit and write features where I talk about games that I miss or want to see return.
Story Highlight
Bloodborne is nearly a decade old already.
A reliable leaker has suggested that a new Bloodborne game project is in development.
He’s unable to tell if the project is the sequel or the remastered version.
Bloodborne is one of the most successful PlayStation exclusives from the last generation. While fans have been waiting for the PC version and a potential sequel, the developers have yet to respond to their demands.
PlayStation has also refused to say much about the IP, but a credible leaker has heard that a new Bloodborne project is in development.
Why it matters: PlayStation has been known to tease Bloodborne on various occasions. However, the gaming giant has not officially acknowledged the demand for more games.
Fans Want To See Bloodborne Being Done Justice
One of the most credible leakers in the TV industry, DanielRPK, who has recently moved to gaming leaks, made a new Patreon post about a potential new Bloodborne project being in development.
According to the leaker, the developers are currently working on a game, but he does not know whether it’s a sequel or a remastered version.
I hear a new Bloodborne game project is in development, not sure if a sequel or a remaster.
-DanielRPK
Interestingly, this is not the first time sources have mentioned a new Bloodborne project. With multiple leakers stating that something is in the works, the IP’s eventual return seems inevitable.
Also, the emulation community is already taking matters into its own hands and working hard to make Bloodborne fully playable on PC before the end of the year.
Bloodborne Could Be Huge After Elden Ring’s Success
Not too long ago, Kai Cenat also streamed Bloodborne to convince Sony to work on the remastered version, as PC and PS5 users have been waiting for years to play the title on the latest platforms.
Anyhow, DanielRPK is the latest leaker to discuss the revival of Bloodborne. This series has a lot of potential, and a basic 60FPS patch would be more than enough to convince players to revisit the game on PS5.
However, fans hope to see PlayStation offering a full remake or remaster, much like it did for The Last of Us series. The title is already over nine years old, so PlayStation has kept fans waiting far too long.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
Story Highlight
Star Wars Outlaws has been rated 78/100 on average.
The reviews point to a solid narrative and strong cast of characters as the main highlights of this game.
Negatives include technical issues, repetitive side content, and more.
The Star Wars franchise has received its latest exciting release. With Ubisoft trying its hand at the series, it was exciting to see how the publisher’s classic open-world formula would work with the IP’s inherently adventurous nature.
Massive Entertainment made many bold promises before release, and the critics finally shared their thoughts on the game. The first open-world Star Wars game is off to a decent start, but it hasn’t been the home run fans had wanted. You can also read our review of the game here.
Why it matters: Massive Entertainment promised exciting features like a wanted system, organic exploration, dogfights, and more to ultimately capture the best parts of Star Wars, which excited fans.
Following the first few reviews, Star Wars Outlaws has landed at a Metacritic score of 78/100. A few of the scores are listed below.
VGC 3/5
IGN 7/10
Dexerto 8/10
PlayStation Universe 8/10
According to the reviews, critics have found the general narrative of Star Wars Outlaws quite enjoyable. Despite its predictable nature, the game seems to have successfully captured the audience’s interest, thanks to an interesting group of characters.
Protagonist Kay Vess and her partner Nix have also proven to be quite popular. Elsewhere, the visuals have garnered praise, but this part of the game seems to come with various inconsistencies.
In terms of criticisms, reviews point to technical issues on consoles. The open world itself has also been a bit divisive, with some critics finding it slow and padded out compared to what was promised.
As an extension of the open world, some critics found the side content underwhelming. All in all, it seems the typical Ubisoft formula has held the game back from reaching its true potential.
Overall, Star Wars Outlaws has laid a solid foundation that can be expanded upon later. Future entries can make up for the various weaknesses, but for now, Massive Entertainment’s latest game invites players to explore the universe at their own pace.
As a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I bring the latest findings from the tech industry to our readers. Specializing in processors, graphics cards, and more, I strive to deliver detailed insights that keep our audience well-informed and engaged. Periodically, I also delve into the vibrant world of gaming to share captivating stories.
Story Highlight
The laptop GeForce RTX 5060 is expected to outperform the RTX 4060 and match or exceed the RTX 4070’s gaming performance.
It will feature GDDR7 memory and improved power efficiency with a lower TGP limit.
The RTX 5060 is anticipated to deliver strong performance in ray tracing and rasterization.
Chinese company Hasee claims that the GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU may prove to be a significant improvement over the RTX 4060. According to rumors, the next-generation laptop GPU will use less power and offer gaming performance comparable to that of the RTX 4070.
Why it matters: This performance could allow gamers to estimate the performance of the desktop GeForce RTX 5060 GPU. In theory, it should also be close to the desktop GeForce RTX 4070.
Image via Weibo
In some new information leaked by Golden Pig Upgrade, the company’s chairman, Wu Haijun, discussed next-generation PCs at a recent event hosted by Shenzhen Hasee Compute Co., a Chinese laptop and PC manufacturer.
Wu Haijun covered a few insights regarding Nvidia’s upcoming Blackwell GPUs during that chat. The head of Hasee revealed that GDDR7 memory will be used in Nvidia’s next-generation laptop GPUs for the GeForce RTX 50 series, while the 60-level cards will consume less power.
The RTX 5060’s maximum TGP limit for laptops is lowered to 115W compared to the RTX 4060. In addition, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 laptop GPU is claimed to offer excellent performance for lightweight and thin gaming devices.
It’s reported that the chip performs similarly to or better than an RTX 4070 laptop GPU, outperforming it in ray tracing scenarios and equalling or almost matching the higher-end chip’s rasterization performance.
The next generation of Nvidia cards based on Blackwell architecture seems to be quite an upgrade over its predecessor. Looking at the current performance and efficiency predictions of the laptop GeForce RTX 5060, we wouldn’t be surprised if the desktop variant surpasses the GeForce RTX 3080/4070.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
The Star Wars franchise is no stranger to gaming. Whether it be the power fantasy of wielding destructive abilities as Darth Vader’s protege in The Force Unleashed games or pushing back against the Empire in Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi series, the IP has seldom disappointed when it comes to gaming adaptations.
However, for all the feats that various studios have accomplished with this license, no single developer has produced a definitive open-world Star Wars experience yet. This is where Massive Entertainment comes in, bringing years of open-world expertise to the table.
Following last year’s well-rounded Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, the team is delivering a similarly authentic adaptation with Star Wars Outlaws. Promising the first open-world this franchise has ever delivered, Massive Entertainment aims to cover all the bases of a thrilling, emotionally impactful, and adventurous experience.
However, was the team able to successfully balance Star Wars’ narrative elements and the grandiose nature of its stories? Is Star Wars Outlaws more than just another Ubisoft open-world experience? Read on to find out.
KeyTakeaways
Star Wars Outlaws does a good job pulling off its vision of setting players loose in a massive open-world sandbox. The experience suffers due to a weak narrative, but most of the gameplay works well.
You should go for the Star Wars Outlaws if you love the franchise and want to try out a new game.
You should not buy the Star Wars Outlaws if you are not a fan of stealth gameplay.
[toc]
Story
From the get-go, Star Wars Outlaws takes a different approach than most adaptations. Where past games have focused on the greater conflict involving the Jedi and Sith, Massive Entertainment puts players in the shoes of Kay Vess, a scoundrel looking to survive and thrive in the crime-ridden underworld of the galaxy.
Kay Vess’ journey begins with a simple premise—land the score of a lifetime. Together with her trusty partner, Nix, she can, more often than not, use her wits and ambitions to work her way out of almost every situation.
Star Wars Outlaws Focuses On Kay Vess | Image via Tech4Gamers
However, as is the case with most Star Wars stories, things are rarely as straightforward as they seem. Following a small prologue section, Kay Vess finds herself stranded on the planet Toshara with a shiny new ship, the Trailblazer.
At this point, the game introduces many of its broader narrative elements. The power struggle between various crime syndicates, the Empire’s hold over the galaxy, and the core loop of gathering intel or finding jobs.
The Characters Disappoint
In my first few hours with the story, Star Wars Outlaws made a strong first impression. Having landed on Toshara without much of a plan, I ran into several interesting characters, found myself being betrayed, formed unexpected alliances, and narrowly escaped life-and-death situations.
Following these twists and turns, Star Wars Outlaws introduces Jaylen and ND-5, two central characters who accompany Kay on her quest to pull off one of the galaxy’s greatest heists. A task of this magnitude requires an appropriate crew, so Kay must bring together the right group of people for the job.
This quest becomes the driving force behind Massive Entertainment’s carefully curated main story, and by the end, players are introduced to a huge cast of characters.
Most Characters Are Largely Forgettable | Image via Tech4Gamers
However, I was never too impressed by the cast. A character like Jaylen is charismatic and reliable, Sliro is shown to be tyrannical and unforgiving, and ND-5 is a trusty droid companion. Various recruits also have their own stories that unfold throughout the main missions.
Despite an effort to flesh out such characters, members of the crew hardly shine beyond their specific role in the heist. Even major antagonists like Sliro barely stand out against the rich cast of characters this series is already famous for.
Experts also play an important role in the ever-evolving world of Star Wars Outlaws, helping Kay Vess obtain various upgrades and abilities throughout her journey. Unfortunately, these characters were largely forgettable.
The Greater Galaxy
Where the characters disappoint, Star Wars Outlaws’ open world picks up the slack. Throughout the game, Kay finds herself constantly moving between different planets and cities as she interacts with the natives, crime syndicates, and expert characters.
The game presents four main planets to explore. As the story progresses, these backdrops, often defined by distinct traits, such as inhabiting creatures and atmospheric conditions, become an important part of the experience.
Visit the desolate landscape of Tatooine, and you’ll find travellers struggling to adapt to the scorching hot desert. Head over to the lush forests of Akiva, and you’ll see life thriving in the middle of a chaotic galactic war. Wherever your destination may lie, Star Wars Outlaws puts its open world at the forefront of the experience.
Gameplay
Massive Entertainment has packed a lot in Star Wars Outlaws. From heart-pumping space battles to stealthy infiltrations across imperial bases, Kay can engage in a variety of different activities.
Each Planet Offers Various Locales And Cities | Image via Tech4Gamers
The core gameplay, however, is more limited than one may initially expect. Kay’s arsenal is limited to her trusty pet Nix, a reliable blaster, and tools that complement this kit.
In terms of traversal, Kay can also climb specific walls and use a grappling hook to swing and close large gaps. The is immediately reminiscent of traversal from a game like Uncharted, but Star Wars Outlaws rarely does anything with its parkour system that hasn’t already been done before.
Better Call Nix
Combining their forces, Nix and Kay are able to outsmart the most formidable of foes. Nix is more handy than most gaming companions since he practically fits into every facet of the core gameplay. Stuck on a puzzle without an obvious solution? Nix can probably find a switch somewhere to activate. Looking to grab a stronger weapon during an all-out firefight? Nix can also fetch blasters from afar.
There is a lot Kay’s companion can do that makes him more than just a cute pet. Nix even brings his equivalent of Assassin’s Creed’s eagle vision to the table, briefly highlighting enemies through walls. This particular ability almost becomes a crutch later on, especially since Kay often finds herself surrounded by enemies.
Stealth is The Way To Go
Because Kay isn’t a Jedi, she can’t fight her way through waves of enemies at once. The best solution during combat, then, is often to avoid confrontation entirely. However, for a game with such a huge stealth focus, I found the mechanics fairly rudimentary.
Kay can whistle to attract enemies, hide behind carefully laid out pieces of cover, sabotage alarms, and hack into security cameras. Nix comes in handy here, and one of my favorite combinations early on was to stun one enemy with my blaster while Nix attacked another.
This handy albeit basic combo made it easy to deal with groups of two. Nix can also activate explosives and distract enemies, so there is fun to be had with the basic stealth gameplay. However, the combat is held back by inconsistent AI. On various occasions, enemies completely ignored my actions, and I effectively took out multiple enemies who should have otherwise spotted me a long time ago.
At other times, enemies were seemingly able to spot me from a mile away, leading to more than a few frustrating encounters. Going in guns blazing isn’t always an option either since story missions often fail if Kay is spotted or an alarm is raised.
Repetitive Main Missions
Speaking of the story, I grew increasingly tired of the main missions as the game progressed. One way or another, story missions force Kay to infiltrate enemy bases, ranging from imperial strongholds to Jabba The Hutt’s mansion.
Once breached, these levels present narrow vents to crawl through, powerful enemies to avoid, and various terminals to hack. My biggest gripe here is that most story missions fail to play to the strengths of Star Wars Outlaws’ open world.
By the time I entered my 100th vent to hide from enemy forces, I found myself wishing I was engaging with Batman Arkham’s superior stealth sandbox. Instead of going on wild chases through open landscapes or partaking in intense dogfights, Kay is typically forced to go for basic stealth gameplay in enclosed spaces for most of the story.
This is not to say that there aren’t any missions that use the open world. However, the few times Kay takes to the skies or stays out in the open aren’t enough to make up for the repetitive mission structure.
The Open World Delivers
During my 40 hours exploring the galaxy, I frequently ran into random events that made the open world feel alive and reactive. This gave the open world a distinct identity, especially compared to the rest of Ubisoft’s offerings.
The Open World Is Your Playground | Image via Tech4Gamers
Random pieces of intel also revealed key details that helped me discover resources, and this information typically showed up organically. Kay can spy on NPC conversations, interact with smugglers, or speak directly with crime syndicate leaders to gather intel.
The game doesn’t always make it obvious what players will find when exploring these points of interest, so there is a sense of discovery in each interaction. For instance, during my first visit to Toshara, I found a random data pad that helped me make a quick buck through a bet on a fathier race.
Expert Missions Are Great
The major side quests in Star Wars Outlaws come in the form of expert missions for specific characters. Each expert can help Kay with upgrades, and I found these missions to be more interesting than the typical side quest from an average open-world game.
For instance, my first encounter with the iconic Lando Calrissian saw Kay engaging in a high-stakes game of Sabbac. After learning the ropes of Sabbac and successfully retrieving an important item for Lando, I ended up in the middle of a heated battle between the Empire and Rebels deep within a forest.
Similarly, a different expert mission involving Aila Bren sent me on a stealthy rescue mission in an imperial base. Afterwards, I was rewarded with a new slicer for more advanced hacking.
The Syndicate System Works Well
A rating shows whether Kay is on good terms with a syndicate, and healthy relations typically lead to perks like access to specific missions, discounts from merchants, and more.
I found interacting with this system quite enjoyable since it added extra depth to the open world. Siding with one syndicate often meant upsetting the other, but the system encouraged switching sides based on the situation.
Jabba The Hutt Is A Prominent Character In The Game | Image via Tech4Gamers
At one point in my playthrough, I randomly spoke to a merchant who was then approached by stormtroopers demanding additional tax. Since this happened in a Pyke district, and I was on great terms with this syndicate at the time, I was able to intervene and use my connections to threaten the stormtroopers.
Such scenarios meant that I constantly considered my choices as I juggled my allegiances with the various factions in Star Wars Outlaws.
Taking To The Skies
Venturing into space leads to completely new types of adventures and opportunities in Star Wars Outlaws. The Trailblazer is equipped to fight off space pirates, imperial forces, and even rival syndicates.
Like the planets of Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars universe, space comes with its own set of loot and points of interest. Flying the Trailblazer is also satisfying on its own, and snappy controls make it a joy to take a break from on-foot exploration.
The Trailblazer Takes Kay From Planet To Planet | Image via Tech4Gamers
Graphics And Performance
Star Wars Outlaws uses Massive Entertainment’s in-house Snowdrop engine. After an excellent display with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, this engine presents another strong showing here.
Whether it be the sun-soaked deserts of Tatooine or the lush jungles of Akiva, each location is captivating and beautifully rendered in Star Wars Outlaws. Moreover, well-lit interiors and vibrant colors mean that Massive Entertainment does a great job capturing the iconic Star Wars atmosphere.
However, the game falls short in a few areas. Character models stand out as a weak point, and facial animation often comes across as awkward and half-baked. In terms of performance, I found it hard to achieve a consistent 60FPS when testing with a GeForce RTX 3060 and Intel Core i5-12400 combo at 1080p medium settings and Quality DLSS.
Audio And Soundtrack
Taking inspiration from John William’s original score, Massive Entertainment’s soundtrack falls in line with what I wanted from a Star Wars adaptation. It hits all the right notes and captures the oomph of a massive galactic adventure.
The sound effects are also commendable. Blaster shots carry the same distinct punch that fans have come to love; boosting through open landscapes with the speeder leads to a satisfying burst, and the distinct languages of Star Wars’ many races are portrayed with great authenticity here.
Should You Buy It?
Buy It If
✅You love Star Wars: you are a Star Wars fan and long to create your own adventures in the galaxy.
Don’t Buy It If
❌You prefer a narrative storyline: You dislike stealth games and want memorable narrative experiences from Star Wars games.
My Thoughts
In conclusion, Star Wars Outlaws is greater than the sum of its parts. While inconsistent AI, rudimentary stealth, and inconsistent level design bring down the experience, Massive Entertainment’s rich open world makes for an experience that can stand tall as part of this IP.
The studio has created a game that is certainly worth picking up for existing fans. However, even for those without prior Star Wars experience, the world of Star Wars Outlaws is inviting and ripe for all kinds of adventures.
As a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I bring the latest findings from the tech industry to our readers. Specializing in processors, graphics cards, and more, I strive to deliver detailed insights that keep our audience well-informed and engaged. Periodically, I also delve into the vibrant world of gaming to share captivating stories.
Story Highlight
The AMD Navi 48 GPU has shown up on Geekbench, revealing a pre-production unit with 56 Compute Units (CUs).
This GPU has benchmark scores lower than the Radeon RX 7900 XT and supposedly comes with 16GB of RAM.
RDNA 4 GPUs should be officially announced at CES 2025.
The next-generation AMD Navi 48 GPU has recently surfaced on Geekbench. The platform’s OpenCL benchmark has been used to test an unidentified SKU, which seems to be the Radeon RX 8800 XT.
While this is yet to be confirmed, it does indicate that new graphics cards from AMD are getting closer to release.
Why it matters: After an exciting graphics card family launch with RDNA 2, AMD’s RDNA 3 series was mostly a disappointment. Therefore, fans are optimistic to see the gaming giant offering major improvements with RDNA 4.
The RDNA 4 GPU on Geekbench is identified by “gfx1201”, which is an LLVM patch previously used to establish that it was a Navi 48 SKU. According to Geekbench, the graphics card has 56 CUs or 28 WGPs.
At its best, the alleged Radeon RX 8800 XT scores 33,241 points, trailed by 33,139, 32,070, 31,041, and 12,962 points respectively. On the other hand, the average OpenCL score of the previous generation Radeon RX 7900 XT was approximately 160,000.
While these scores are nowhere near Navi 31 from the last generation, the Radeon RX 8800 XT should be a solid gaming GPU. It could come with a maximum boost clock of 2.1 GHz and 16 GB of RAM. Although the amount could change at launch, it seems roughly similar to last-generation RDNA 3 SKUs.
Since this is a pre-production sample, the current results achieved are not surprising. It also validates previous rumors regarding the specifications of the RDNA 4 GPU and should perform similarly to the Radeon RX 7900 XT.
AMD is said to bringing various upgrades with the Radeon RX 8000 series. PC gamers should anticipate more efficient hardware that performs better with ray tracing tasks.
More information should be coming at CES 2025. The RDNA 4 family will likely be officially announced at this event, with the gaming giant focusing on price-to-performance above all else.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
Story Highlights
Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake has received new previews, and the game seems to be a great remake of the original.
It features some major quality-of-life updates, but the core elements have been kept the same.
Konami states they didn’t want to change a lot, as the game was already so good.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake is one of the most-anticipated upcoming releases. It brings back a series that made a lot of fans fall in love with the gaming, so there is a lot of excitement around this re-release.
Most will be glad to hear that Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake’s latest previews are positive across the board. They also point to a faithful recreation of the title as Konami promised.
Why it matters: Konami recently saw similarly encouraging previews for Silent Hill 2 Remake. It seems the publisher has treated both IPs with similar respect, leading to hope for a bright future ahead.
One of the best parts about the game is that keeps the Hideo Kojima style alive. Despite arriving a long time after Kojima worked at Konami, his influence shines through. The remake’s opening clearly states it is ‘A Hideo Kojima Game.’
With this remake, Konami ensured that it capitalized on the original title’s strengths instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.
Since the game was already good, to begin with, we didn’t want to mess around the original creative direction of the game.
– MGS3 Remake Producer
The previews have dubbed Konami’s work the remake fans have always wanted. Many people were worried from the earlier trailers that Metal Gear Solid 3 would lose its core identity in the transition to a modern era, but this does not appear to be the case.
The controls and mechanics have also been reworked. They feel closer to Metal Gear Solid 5 than the original Metal Gear Solid 3. This is encouraging since Kojima’s last work with the series stood out for its excellent gameplay.
The closed-quarters combat system was a highlight of the original. This system has also made a comeback but with a less steep learning curve.
Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake stays very true to the original
Elsewhere, the graphics have received a massive update. Whether it be the foliage or the character models, Metal Gear Solid 3 looks better than it has ever looked. The game will supposedly also come with a 4K 30FPS quality and an upscaled 60FPS performance mode on consoles.
All signs currently point toward an excellent remake. However, the publisher has yet to confirm whether the title is still coming this year since there have been rumors of a delay to 2025.
At Tech4Gamers, I mainly cover new gaming news, leaks, and rumours. Aside from that, I love to write features about my favourite games while inserting my opinion about their different aspects.
Story Highlight
Nintendo has been dominating the handheld market for a while due to the Switch.
According to rumors, Xbox is set to enter the market during the next generation.
A reliable insider has revealed that after the successful launch of the PS Portal, Sony is also paying a lot more attention to the handheld market.
Nintendo has been ruling the handheld market ever since the release of Switch. There has been no other handheld that has come close, not even the Steam Deck. Following this dominance, rumors point to Microsoft and Sony breaking into the market.
The former is said to be working on a handheld for 2026 along with a new console. An insider has also suggested that Sony is more interested in this market than it has ever been, teasing that Sony is working on a dedicated handheld console.
Why it matters: The PSP era is considered a golden age by many since the handheld was wildly popular. Fans hope to see Sony giving this market another go soon.
PlayStation Portal Was Immensely Successful, And It Was Unexpected
Tom Henderson, one of the most reliable industry insiders, has revealed that a lot more handhelds are coming soon. He reckons that fans should save their money a little longer if they are planning to buy a handheld since more innovations will be made soon.
A Twitter user then asked about a dedicated PlayStation handheld, and Henderson gave an interesting response. As the PlayStation portal was successful, the gaming giant is paying a lot of attention to the handheld market.
The PlayStation Portal was very successful, and they are paying very close attention to the current handheld market.
-Tom Henderson
Henderson has taken the lead in reporting about the PS5 Pro on many occasions. So, he knows much more than most people when it comes to information about PlayStation. Fans also want the gaming giant to enter the handheld market again, and this teaser has led to a lot of excitement.
The PSP Is Still Considered One of Sony’s Best Consoles
If PlayStation intends to be successful in this market again, it should learn from the original PSP to figure out why it was so special. The PlayStation Portal was a streaming handheld, so it may not be a good idea to use it as a reference.
Henderson also revealed that almost everyone had interesting discussions about the gaming handhelds at Gamescom and that many improvements are coming soon. He hasn’t shared further details, but more information seems inevitable at this point.
At Tech4gamers, I cover all sorts of gaming news. Whether it’s a leak of any upcoming game or an update, an announcement, or a rumour, I like to write about it all. Over the weekend, I sit and write features where I talk about games that I miss or want to see return.
Story Highlight
More information on the Xbox version of Black Myth: Wukong has been shared.
A reliable leaker has suggested that the game has been delayed indefinitely on the console.
The team is currently facing a memory leak bug on the consoles, and the action RPG won’t be released on Xbox until it gets fixed.
Black Myth: Wukong has become the biggest release of the year, with over 2 million players currently enjoying the title, making it the second biggest launch on Steam.
While the game has done great things for the PS5, as it increased the sales of the consoles in China, the action RPG has yet to arrive on Xbox. Talking about the Xbox port, a reliable leaker has suggested that this version has been delayed indefinitely.
Why it matters: Xbox could have used such a massive release to its advantage. Since the PS5 is already selling much better in China, Xbox consoles could have seen similar results had Black Myth: Wukong not been delayed on the platform.
Black Myth: Wukong Is The Biggest Release of 2024
Recently, one of the most reliable leakers in the industry, eXtas1stv, discussed the Xbox version of Black Myth: Wukong.
He revealed that during Gamescom, he spoke with Xbox insiders and developers who told him about technical issues the team is facing on the Xbox version of the title. The developers are currently facing a bug known as a memory leak, which could lead to significant crashes.
Not only will Black Myth: Wukong crash on the console, but it will also run poorly, and for that reason, the title has yet to clear Xbox’s bug detection tests. However, the insider confirms that the team is currently working hard to fix these issues and pass the necessary certification on Xbox.
and has therefore been indefinitely delayed until they manage to optimize the game for Series X|S.
–eXtas1stv
Black Myth: Wukong Sold Around 4.5 Million Copies Just From Pre-Orders
The leaker has further revealed that once the team passes the necessary tests, they will announce a release date. It is said that most of the work on this port has already been done.
Previous reports have also suggested that Black Myth: Wukong is still a long time away from being released on Xbox. The action RPG already struggles on the PS5, so the team may find it difficult to optimize for the Xbox Series S.
Nonetheless, we hope to see the action RPG on the platform as soon as possible. It’s great to see Game Science prioritizing optimization, but players want to jump into this game as soon as possible, especially after it became so huge worldwide.
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Story Highlights
Concord is currently facing a disastrous launch.
It has become one of PlayStation’s lowest-rated releases to date, failing to achieve positive scores from critics.
The game is also being review-bombed on Metacritic, leading to a user score below 3/10.
The last few days have undoubtedly been tough for developers at Firewalk. Following a long marketing and development cycle, Concord has launched to fewer players than multiple poor releases from 2023 and 2024.
Critical reception has also been far from stellar. While more reviews are still coming in, the hero shooter currently sits at a Metacritic average of 66/100. Elsewhere, the game is being review bombed by users, leading to the user rating falling sharply.
After a total of 257 mostly negative ratings, Concord currently sits at an average score of just 2.5/10. Despite all its faults, the game is far from a 2.5/10, so this is yet another case of Metacritic’s infamous review bombing problem showing up.
Reading through the reviews, most users have brought up familiar but valid criticisms. Some call out the fact that this hero shooter should have launched as a free-to-play title, while others believe the general character designs are dull and boring.
A large number of the reviews also point to DEI elements like pronouns. They argue that Concord is woke, and this is a major reason for its current failure.
Concord Has Racked Up Nearly 200 Negative Reviews On Metacritic
Since its release, the hero shooter has seen its player count fall further. While the launch figures were already concerning, the game peaked at just 400 players yesterday and is already down to 171 concurrent players a few days after release.
Still, this does not make it okay to review bomb the game. In fact, this is a problem Metacritic should have addressed a long time ago. While Concord certainly deserves valid criticism, the negative user reviews ignore all the positive elements of this hero shooter.
What’s interesting is that the Steam ratings are not nearly as negative.
Looking at the user reviews on Steam, about 70% are positive, indicating that there is fun to be had in Concord’s core gameplay loop. Unfortunately, this gameplay is bogged down by tropes that have been overused in the genre.
At Tech4Gamers, I work as a guides expert. My role involves writing about solving different gaming and tech-related topics that pique my interest and that I believe more people should know about. This position allows me to share my insights and discoveries with a broader audience, enriching their gaming experiences with the unique perspectives I bring.
Story Highlights
WWE All Stars is a wrestling game based on arcade-style gameplay with a never-before-seen theme.
Although the game doesn’t have dozens of match types or a huge roster, it still provides an unforgettable experience.
The game’s gameplay element makes it stand out, as it has the kind of moves and animations that no other wrestling game has.
The wrestling genre in video games has experienced many ups and downs over the past few decades. Some masterpieces from this genre were famous among fans and enjoyed by casual gamers.
On the other hand, we got some of the worst wrestling games, which were despised by everyone who knew how video games should work.
Quality Over Quantity
Among all these wrestling games, one game that probably stands out the most is WWE All-Stars. This is one of the few wrestling games that look very different from the typical genre theme.
WWE All-Stars Cover (Image By Retro Place)
It’s one of those games you first look at and fall in love with, or you don’t want to see it again. But that’s just the first impression, which can almost certainly change when you play it. The thing about WWE All Stars is that it serves the user with little in quantity but much in quality, which is why your opinion can change about it.
Play Modes And Match Types
When you start the game, you will only see a few play modes: Exhibition, Path Of Champions, and Fantasy Warfare. The Exhibition mode was regular play mode like other wrestling games, but had so less amount of match types compared to the others.
This game only had standard, tornado tag team, steel cage, extreme rules, and elimination match types. Path of Champions was a 10-man gauntlet match with a bit of story element served with short cutscenes.
WWE All-Stars Match Types (Moby Games)
The Fantasy Warfare play mode provides players with a couple of dream matches between superstars of the current generation and the superstars of the previous generations.
Every match has a build-up promo video of the two superstars, which adds some spice to the dream match. This is all for the match and play modes, but as I said earlier, this game focuses on quality over quantity.
One Of A Kind Gameplay
The quality thing comes from the basics of the gameplay. The game is so far from realism in every sense, but the arcade style is so much fun that you don’t mind it.
Everything is smooth and satisfying to watch, from the regular punches and kicks to the special moves. The animations are arcade, and each one differs from what we see in other wrestling games.
WWE All-Stars Gameplay (Image By Giant Bomb)
You can pull a combination of moves by executing regular moves correctly. The number of combinations you can draw is also mesmerizing. Furthermore, each animation of a move has several reversal techniques, which keeps the animations fresh.
You can also reverse an already reversed move. This keeps the back-and-forth action going and provides players with great technical wrestling.
Short But Impactful Roster
The superstars in the game are also fully arcades, having unrealistic steroid muscles and different looks from their real-life counterparts, which further boosts the fun element of the game. The superstars are also limited, just like the match types. However, each superstar has a unique vibe because of the unique looks and arcade move animations.
The roster consists of some of the top stars from the current generation(of that time) and the golden era of WWE. At the start, some of the superstars are locked, which can be unlocked by progressing through the different play modes of the game.
WWE All-Stars Roster (Image By YT/iAnthuny)
The superstars are divided into classes like the heavyweight and the cruiserweight. Each class of superstars has a different playing style than the other. If you pick a heavyweight star, you will casually punch people out of the ring like they are made of cardboard.
Cruiserweights can be high-flying and hard to catch and possess unique abilities, like climbing the turnbuckles just by backflipping from any part of the ring’s canvas.
These interesting gameplay abilities, alongside the arcadey-steroid theme of the game, made me fall in love with the game. There was supposed to be a sequel to this game, but unfortunately, it never happened. But if it were still possible, the sequel would get a positive response from the fans as it was a demand back in the day as well.
