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
We are just halfway through 2024, and 110 games are already confirmed for 2025.
When adding games that are expected but not announced for 2025, the next year is already bigger than 2024.
Some of the major releases for next year are GTA 6, Death Stranding 2, Fable, and Judas.
Last year was arguably one of the best for gaming, and while 2024 doesn’t seem as great, the next one has the potential to be the best in a long time. Many more big IP releases, like GTA 6, Death Stranding 2, and Fable, are planned for launch in 2025.
Even before the Xbox Showcase, 2025 was considered an insane year for gaming. However, the buzz is now bigger than ever since 110 releases are confirmed for next year.
Why it matters: The gaming industry is currently struggling with various issues. However, it’s encouraging to see such a solid release lineup from everyone across the industry in such times.
Over 100 Games Are Confirmed For 2025 So Far
Many big-name developers are working on and polishing their games for next year. Baiisun on Twitter highlighted that 2025 is already massive, with over 100 titles confirmed.
He has also mentioned that 32 titles are rumored for next year. Among them, a launch like Ghost of Tsushima 2 seems very likely. The following are some of the major games set to be released next year:
GTA 6
Fable
Judas
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra
Expedition 33
Death Stranding 2
Doom: The Dark Ages
Metroid Prime Beyond
The aforementioned are just a few major games arriving in 2025. Fans should note that Baiisun’s list contains both AAA and AA releases. This should ensure that the industry maintains a healthy balance for everyone.
Xbox is also preparing to arrive at Gamescom with its biggest-ever booth. More 2025 launch titles could be announced in August. Also, PlayStation may have a few surprises to share since a Venom spin-off was leaked last year, and Sony is expected to host a showcase soon.
Finally, with Nintendo’s new console arriving next year, fans can almost certainly guarantee a few big-hitting launch titles. Perhaps a new 3D Mario game will finally show up.
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
Days Gone 2 is still a hot topic, even after PlayStation refused to create a sequel.
Bend Studio has recently asked fans to move on from the subject since the team has done the same.
The studio is currently working on a new IP that will use Days Gone’s systems in a live-service setting.
Days Gone was released half a decade ago and has been among the most underrated last-gen PlayStation exclusives. While the game was a successful release for Sony, making over $100 million from digital sales alone, a sequel never saw the light of day.
PlayStation’s refusal to revisit the IP did not go over well with fans. To this day, many hope to see Bend Studio discuss the IP, but the developer has just crushed all hopes. It states that fans should now move on.
Why it matters: The developers have already started working on the next title, which is a live service project, so there is no hope for another Days Gone entry.
Days Gone 2 Was Planned Several Years Ago
Not too long ago, former Bend Studio developers took to Twitter and addressed the recent discourse over Days Gone 2, revealing that a trilogy was planned.
However, the current community manager stated that former developers’ statements led to headlines that put Bend Studio in a tough spot. He apologized to the fans since some had gained hope for another entry after the recent discussions.
After PlayStation refused to work on the IP, the team has already moved on to other projects.
These type of headlines originate from previous developers, which puts us in a bad position. Time to move on.
-Kevin McAllister
The studio’s community manager has also confirmed that Bend Studio is working on a new IP and will reveal more information about it when they have actual news.
Since the studio has been busy for a while, perhaps more information on this title will be shared at PlayStation’s showcase for 2024, rumored for September this year. Anyhow, the team believes it’s time to move on from this subject.
Bend Studio Is Already Working On A New Project
On various occasions, the director and writer of Days Gone have commented on the subject. In his latest statement, Jeff Ross shared a sentiment similar to that of the current community manager, stating that PlayStation would never return to the IP.
While it’s sad to hear, there’s nothing that fans or Bend Studio can do here.
PlayStation has strict criteria, and Days Gone somehow failed to meet them. Fans should now look forward to whatever the team releases next since it will serve as a spiritual successor to the IP.
At Tech4Gamers, I take on the role of Hardware Reviewer with pride. My responsibilities involve a thorough examination of essential hardware components like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, and CPU coolers, among others, focusing on their complexities and functionalities.
Hayyan Serwer
As the CPU Cooler and RAM Expert, I test the latest hardware to provide tips for smart purchases. I cover everything from busting myths about CPU coolers to looking into the newest RAM designs, examining various parts of PC hardware.
DeepCool has recently released Assassin 4S, which on paper sounds like a cut-down version of the regular Assassin 4 flagship cooler, but there is more to 4S than meets the eye. The heatsink design is similar except that 4S comes with a single tweaked fan compared to dual fan design on regular Assassin 4.
This new cooler is available in white and black colors. It is compatible with Intel LGA115x/1200/1700/20xx sockets and AMD AM4 and AM5 sockets. The Assassin 4S White retails at USD 79.
Why Trust Tech4Gamers
Hayyan Serwer is our CPU Cooler expert who has been testing different AIOs for years.
80+ coolers tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
900+ hours spent testing different coolers for our reviews.
At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.
Key Takeaways
The DeepCool Assassin 4S White is a top-notch air cooler with a single high-performance 140mm fan. It comes with a 6-year warranty.
The three primary reasons to buy the DeepCool Assassin 4S are: great thermal performance, no clearance issues, very impressive noise profile.
The only reason to skip the DeepCool Assassin 4S is if you already have a good enough cooler or AIO that does the job.
The DeepCool Assassin 4S is a competitive cooling solution that may be slightly behind the regular Assassin 4 cooler, but it has more than meets the eye. It comes with the same heatsink but with a single 140mm fan that is tweaked to make up for the dual fan configuration in Assassin 4. It has a better sound output.
Unboxing
The cooler comes in a standard DeepCool design signature box. DeepCool has provided the following:
The overall dimension of the Assassin 4S is 116x147x164mm (LxWxH). The length is less than Assassin 4. The heatsink of Assassin 4S stands at 140x110x160 (LxWxH), which is identical to that of the regular Assassin 4. This cooler has a weight of 1380g, whereas the regular Assassin 4 has a weight of 1575g.
The Cooler Shroud
When I took the cooler out, it was a replica of regular Assassin 4 with differences like no dual fan configuration and no possibility of adding a second fan. There is a plastic shroud that is covering the heatsink and the fan.
The cooler is easy to handle, thanks to the perfected design of the shroud. I observed the same in the regular Assassin 4 cooler.
Front Design
Back Design
The front view of this cooler is clean. There is no fan on the fan, and you can’t install any fan on the front either. You can see the same famous fin-array design providing more surface area and airflow through the fins that we saw on the regular Assassin 4. There are 56 fins on this tower.
This approach has given this cooler universal DIMM clearance. This cooler does not obstruct the DIMM slot on modern Intel and AMD platforms. However, on the Intel 20xx socket, there is still a 63mm clearance for the RAMs.
There is no fan on the rear of this cooler. There is no fan bracket provided with this cooler. This shows that DeepCool is aiming at maximum clearance, unlike the regular Assassin 4 cooler. There is a triangle-style fins design over here. This design helps in reducing air resistance and increases the airflow.
Side Profile (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The left and right sides of this cooler are identical. There are vented or perforated mesh covers running in the center on both sides. It provides air inflow for the middle 140mm fan. There is no arrow direction on the front unlike the regular Assassin 4.
Top View Of The Cooler
Mesh design
Button to switch b/w Performance & Quiet Mode
Like the regular Assassin 4 cooler, there is a magnetic middle mesh cover for convenient access to the fan. The DeepCool log is backlit. There is a sider button that puts the fan in performance (right) or quiet (left) mode. DeepCool has provided an integrated fan controller for this function.
Snap-in Design For The Fan (Image By Tech4Gamers)
I have removed the middle mesh cover. The fan is visible in the middle with an arrow direction pointing to the fan’s airflow. This is a snap-in design. Pull the exterior tabs and lift the fan off the main housing.
Heatsink Design
There are two towers connected with each other using 7x copper heat pipes. These pipes have 6mm thickness.
Crossbar (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The crossbar is factory-installed. You can remove this plate as well. There are two spring-loaded screws to install the cooler on the CPU. This is the same design as in regular Assassin 4.
Baseplate Sticker
Baseplate
There are 7x 6mm heatpipes that are also white-coated. The stack is wider, and the 7x heatpipes contact the fins at regular distances, enabling the assembly to have more surface area and providing better heat dissipation.
There is a 50x44mm sized (approximately) copper base. It is nickel-plated and has a mirror finish. This base is convex in design to make proper contact with the CPU.
What About The Fan?
Fan Design
1 of 5
Front Of The Fan
Back Of The Fan
Fan Cable
4-Pin Socket
4-Pin PWM Connector
The regular Assassin 4 uses two fans whereas Assassin 4S comes with a single fan. To make up for the possible loss of performance, DeepCool has tweaked this fan, providing more airflow and air pressure while keeping the noise level at a sustainable level.
There are 7x wider blades in gray. The frame design is identical to that of regular fans of Assassin 4. Surprisingly, there is a 4-pin socket that provides an option to connect another fan to the provided fan. This cooler does not support a second fan. I am wondering why this socket!
The fan is powered by a 4-pin PWM connector cable that also has a fan controller. This fan uses a 3-phase, 6-slot, 4-pole motor coupled with fluid dynamic bearings.
Installation And Clearance
The cooler is tested on an Intel core i7 13700k using a GIGABYTE Z790 AORUS ELITE AX motherboard. The steps:
Place the Intel backplate on the motherboard.
Secure the bracket using Intel screws.
Install the Intel mounting brackets using thumb nuts.
Apply the thermal paste over the CPU.
Remove the middle fan from the heatsink.
Peel off the protective cover from the base.
Place the heatsink over the CPU and use a screwdriver to complete the installation.
Install the fan and connect the power cable to the CPU Fan header.
Unlike regular Assassin 4 that was not compatible with certain motherboards, DeepCool has addressed the issue in Assassin 4S. There is no clearance issue with respect to the DIMM, PCIe, or M.2 ports/slots.
Testing
I have used the mentioned configuration to test the performance of this cooler: –
The DeepCool Assassin 4S has performed excellently in my testing and even managed to beat the Noctua NH-D15.
I tested the Assassin 4 on the AMD test bench; hence, it is not included in this result. The Assassin 4S has a better sound profile than the regular Assassin 4. This is due to a single fan vs. dual fan configuration.
PRO TIP: Take advantage of the integrated fan controller to switch between performance and quiet modes based on your cooling needs.
Should You Buy It?
Buy It If
✅You are looking for a high-performance cooler: The DeepCool Assassin 4S has a competitive performance, and it can compete with any adversary.
✅You prefer easy handling: The fan is snapped in, and there is a magnetic mesh cover. This makes it easier to handle this cooler.
✅You want a better noise output cooler: The Assassin 4S has a better sound output compared to the regular Assassin 4, which is a bit louder.
✅You need good clearance: DeepCool has addressed the compatibility and clearance issues of regular Assassin 4 in Assassin 4S.
Don’t Buy It If
❌You already own a beefy cooler: Skip this cooler if you already have a beefy cooler serving your requirements well.
My Thoughts
DeepCool is back with yet another cooler. Say hello to Assassin 4S. You heard that right. We already have regular Assassin 4 then why another variant? Putting it simply, DeepCool is addressing the compatibility and clearance issues present in regular Assassin 4.
The Assassin 4S is available in white and black. It has an identical heatsink and shroud design. The key difference is the fan. The Assassin 4S comes with a single fan, whereas the Assassin 4 has two fans, which is why the latter has more length. DeepCool has compensated for the possible loss of performance using a tweaked fan with high airflow and air pressure.
The complete assembly of our sample, including the heat pipes, is white. It has the same 7x heat pipes with 6mm thickness. The nickel-plated, slightly convex base is the same in both coolers. The Assassin 4S also comes with a fan controller. There is no fan bracket for installing a second fan on this cooler.
The fan has a snap-in design and there is a perforated mesh running on the entire middle section. This cooler retails at USD 79 and DeepCool offers an impressive 6-year warranty. Speaking of thermal performance, this little beast has managed to beat the Noctua NH-D15 by 1ᵒC, and it is not loud, unlike the regular Assassin 4.
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
Konami and Hideo Kojima parted ways nearly ten years ago, but the former is now willing to unite again.
The publisher confirms that various veteran developers are still involved in Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake.
It also states that the series creator will be given credit in the upcoming remake.
It’s no secret that Hideo Kojima and Konami are not on great terms today. This veteran developer pioneered the Metal Gear Solid IP nearly three decades ago, with his effort culminating in Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake.
The developer currently leads his own studio, with the team busy preparing for Death Stranding 2’s launch next year. While a reunion with Konami seems unlikely now, the publisher has recently expressed a desire to partner with him again.
Why it matters: It was understood that Konami’s relationship with the developer did not end on great terms.
Kojima Productions Currently Has Three Titles In The Works
Speaking during a live stream, Metal Gear Solid Producer Noriaki Okamura commented that Hideo Kojima might not necessarily be interested in working with the publisher again.
Okamura noted that it wasn’t his call to make when asked whether the older staff would be willing to return. However, he said working with him again would be the dream scenario.
I’d like nothing better than to work with Mr. Kojima and the rest of the team again.
-Noriaki Okamura
The Producer acknowledged that everyone has moved on to new things. He also understands that it would be unfair of Konami to demand their help after everything that transpired in the past decade.
Hideo Kojima Is Not Involved In Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake
Fortunately, various veteran Metal Gear Solid developers are still involved in the upcoming remake. Producer Noriaki Okamura himself worked on various Metal Gear Solid spin-offs, and with such an experienced staff, the team hope to produce a faithful recreation.
He also assured fans that Hideo Kojima would be credited in Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake. This title is said to be released sometime next year, with Konami currently focused on Silent Hill 2 Remake for this year.
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 X870E and X870 series motherboards are expected to debut in late September.
The new motherboards will feature improved connectivity and enhanced AMD EXPO support.
Both the X870E and X870 motherboards will feature PCIe Gen 5 functionality across M.2 NVMe and graphics ports as standard.
The X870E and X870 serieswill reportedlydebut in late September, near the release of the Ryzen 9000X3D. Although the launch date is not yet confirmed, the new motherboards will be released at least two months after the Ryzen 9000 desktop CPUs launch.
Why it matters: These motherboards will offer the best platform experience for AM5 users, unlocking the full potential of high-end AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs. AMD recently increased the TDP for some of its chips to 120W, making the higher-end motherboards more important.
AMD X870 Boards Boast The Best Features For Ryzen 9000 CPUs
Additionally, the 600 series boards from last year will support the new CPUs. Connectivity will be the primary difference, including USB 4 connections and better AMD EXPO support for the X870E chipset.
Thanks to the AMD AM5 X870E and X870 motherboards, users can benefit from DDR5 memory kits with faster clock speeds. Furthermore, the new chipset features PCIe Gen 5 functionality as standard across both M.2 NVMe and graphics ports.
Apart from the high-end motherboards, including X870E and X870, AMD intends to launch its mid-tier B850 and B840 chipsets aimed at the mass market. However, they are expected to launch much later, probably sometime next year.
The Ryzen 9000 CPUs were officially unveiled earlier this month, promising new advancements for gaming, productivity, and more. Following AMD’s domination of the CPU market, expectations are high for another exciting series of processors.
However, AMD has clarified that the Ryzen 7000X3D will continue to be the best choice for gaming-centric PC builds. PC gamers can expect this lineup to be dethroned once the Ryzen 9000X3D refresh comes along.
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
Shadow of the Erdtree, the much anticipated Elden Ring DLC, was review-bombed for being too hard.
Now that FromSoftware has adjusted the DLC, the reviews are finally more positive.
70% of the 50K reviews are positive on Steam.
The recently released DLC for Elden Ring, Shadow of the Erdtree, has been criticized for its crushing difficulty. Due to it being extremely difficult, fans have left negative reviews, which made its reception fall to mixed on Steam.
However, those players were neglecting the Scadutree Fragments that are essential to use. That said, FromSoftware still decided to address the difficulty, and after the recent patch, the reviews are mostly positive as they should have been from the start.
Why it matters: FromSoftware is known to make its games challenging and increasing that challenge in the DLC, so the negative reviews were already unjustified.
Shadow of the Edtree Reviews Have Been Changed From Mixed To Mostly Positive | Source: Steam
FromSoftware has addressed the difficulty a bit by buffing the Scadutree Fragments. Following the update, Shadow of the Erdtree has over 56K reviews on Steam.
Among these reviews, just over 70% are positive, marking a major improvement. Recently, it was also noted that many of the negative reviews came from Chinese players in particular.
Shadow of the Erdtree features the most difficult bosses FromSoftware has ever created. However, that is the point of the DLC. The developer can’t add bosses that are underwhelming than the base game.
Many of the positive reviews have pointed to elements like the DLC offering content enough to make it comparable to a standalone game. Most negative reviews about the difficulty are being changed to positive as people discover more things in the DLC.
We expect to see even more positive reviews soon, bringing the expansion up to an overwhelmingly positive rating.
This is good to see, but it is still nowhere near the ideal reception. Shadow of the Erdtreereceived a whopping 95 score on Metacritic, which makes it the best-rated release of 2024 and the biggest DLC of all time.
Anyhow, performance issues still linger in the game. However, considering that FromSoftware has yet to address these problems several years later, fans may have to make do with what is available on the platform for now.
At Tech4Gamers.com, I cover the latest news and rumours in the gaming industry, from new game releases to hidden gems and video game leaks. Furthermore, I occasionally write tech articles about video game consoles, providing insights into the hardware and software that powers our gaming experiences.
Story Highlight
Dr Disrespect continues to lose sponsorship deals due to inappropriate messages sent to an underage girl.
Midnight Society, Turtle Beach, NBA 2K24, and the San Francisco 49ers have all cut ties with the streamer.
Moreover, YouTube has also demonetized the streamer’s channel.
Dr Disrespect is facing all sorts of backlash following his recent controversy, and rightly so. The popular streamer has now lost several sponsorship deals due to an ongoing scandal of texting an underage girl.
On June 21, 2024, Cody Conners, a former Twitch employee, disclosed on Twitter that Dr Disrespect had been permanently banned from Twitch in 2020 for sending inappropriate messages to a minor through the Whisper function.
Conners claimed that the streamer had attempted to arrange a meeting with the minor at a TwitchCon event and that Twitch staff had access to these messages in plain text.
Why it matters: Another former Twitch employee supported these allegations, confirming that the interactions were indeed explicit and that Dr Disrespect had been aware of the girl’s age all the time.
Dr Disrespect and Shroud in a tournament.
Dr Disrespect took to social media and recently admitted that the allegations were indeed true. Before the confession, Midnight Society, the gaming studio he helped start, parted ways with him.
The next day, Turtle Beach Corporation also ended its partnership with the streamer, removing all Dr Disrespect-themed headsets and merchandise from its website. Things went further downhill when YouTube demonetized Dr Disrespect’s channel on the platform.
Moreover, NBA 2K24 is set to remove all Dr Disrespect-related content in its next update. The removal will include his in-game character, the signature red vest outfit, and the Dunk Style animation.
The cleanup is planned to be included in the Season 9 update, which doesn’t have a set release date yet but is expected to launch around August. Furthermore, The San Francisco 49ers have ended their collaborations with the streamer.
Twitch banned the streamer in 2020, and now YouTube has demonetized his channel.
Nobody knows the extent of the financial impact on Dr Disrespect from the removal of brand deals, but it is believed to be substantial.
Even worse, the former Twitch employee needed several years to publicize this information, and Twitch refrained from reporting this felony act to the proper authorities. It certainly is a bad look for the popular streaming platform.
On the other hand, Kick, Twitch’s rival platform, has decided not to ban Dr Disrespect from the platform, claiming it’s too soon to take any action. As the story develops, it’s unclear how Dr Disrespect will handle the controversy and whether he can repair his damaged reputation.
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
The Ubisoft CEO has called out those criticizing Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
He condemns the hate and says the rest of the industry should do the same.
The game was previously called woke because it includes a black samurai as a playable character.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has been receiving severe criticism, not because of the gameplay but because of some Ubisoft choices. The game doesn’t stay true to history, which is why it has faced a lot of backlash.
However, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has stated that he isn’t happy with the hateful discourse against Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Why it matters: Forcing inclusivity into gaming isn’t a great idea. Sweet Baby Inc. has been the biggest culprit, and we’ve seen such elements leading to discourse. Now, Ubisoft is under fire for the same reasons.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is being criticized for forced inclusivity.
Guillemot says that Ubisoft condemns these hateful acts. Previously, Elon Musk commented, ‘DEI kills art’, which the studio didn’t react well to. The studio also blocked a Japanese historian who called out Yasuke for not being a proper samurai.
Another complaint people have had is that the protagonists are part of the LGBTQ+, which marks yet another instance of forced inclusivity. In general, the studio isn’t taking the criticism well.
Instead, the team has stuck by its choices and condemned those who are offering criticism.
I want to make it clear that we, at Ubisoft, condemn these hateful acts in the strongest possible terms.
– Ubisoft CEO
The CEO also addressed how personal attacks have been directed at developers.
Ubisoft argues that both protagonists bring something new to the table. CEO Yves Guillemot believes the two protagonists and Japanese setting will attract more players toward Assassin’s Creed Shadows.
Players can freely switch between Yasuke and Naoe.
Fortunately, Ubisoft has seen positivity for its gameplay showcase and visuals. The dual protagonist mechanic, where you can switch freely, also seems like a nice option.
Despite the controversy, Assassin’s Creed Shadows seems to be on track to becoming quite successful. Inital pre-orders are quite strong, and many are still excited about the IP’s venture into the Japanese setting.
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
Ubisoft confirms that various Assassin’s Creed entries will be remade.
A leak has already pointed to Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag as the first remake.
Fans can expect other remakes to focus on the most popular entries of this IP.
The trend of remakes is more popular than ever, and Ubisoft is not one to be left behind. With development on remakes for Prince of Persia and Splinter Cell moving swiftly ahead, the team has revealed even more remakes.
According to the studio’s latest statement, Assassin’s Creed is set to receive similar treatment.
Why it matters: This comes as a surprise since the publisher could have announced these remakes during the recent Ubisoft Forward event, generating excitement for their release.
Ubisoft’s CEO Has Commented On Future Remakes
Speaking in an interview, CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that fans should expect revamped versions of classic Assassin’s Creed titles. However, what’s most interesting is that he stated multiple remakes are already in the works.
Players can be excited about some remakes. There are worlds in some of our older Assassin’s Creed games that are still extremely rich.
Yves Guillemot
While the CEO did not reveal which entries would receive the remake treatment, making an educated guess is fairly easy.
For starters, leakers have already stated that Assassin’s Creed 4 and the original entry are being remade. After these games, Assassin’s Creed 2 would be the most likely candidate for a remake since it kickstarted this IP’s success.
It is important to note that Ubisoft has already remastered most of the older titles. However, the very first game remains an exception, making it more suitable for the remake treatment than other entries.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Arriving Later This Year
Ubisoft states that its goal is to ensure a consistent release of Assassin’s Creed entries. The publisher hopes to offer varied experiences, with the likes of Hexe and Shadows offering different flavors of the IP.
Previously, the publisher expressed a desire to dominate open-world gaming again. This is easier said than done, but a few Assassin’s Creed remakes could certainly speed up the process.
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
Concord received criticism immediately after its first trailer.
The developers have stated that fans only saw a glimpse of everything included in the live service game.
Concord is launching in August, with an open beta set to go live next month.
Concord was first announced last year during the PlayStation Showcase. Around one year later, PlayStation debuted a new look at gameplay during the latest State of Play, leading to widespread disappointment across the industry.
Following this reveal, the studio has addressed the recent feedback. According to Firewalk, the team only showed a tiny slice of the game.
Why it matters: Various titles in the gaming industry have shocked audiences. Firewalk hopes Concord can do the same, even if audiences are less enthusiastic about the hero shooter.
During a recent interview with VGC, director Kim Kreines defended Concord and described why players should give it a solid chance before jumping to conclusions.
She clarified that Firewalk has barely shown all of the game’s content. The team still has a lot of faith in its work, and it seems to be quite confident that opinions will change once everything is revealed.
That moment is such a tiny slice of everything that we’ve been working on for years and years.
-Kim Kreines
Interestingly, media outlets have praised the core gameplay loop after recent previews.
They seem to echo a similar sentiment, describing how the hands-on time showed a more impressive side of this hero shooter. While it’s difficult to predict how players will react to the game, Firewalk is doing its best to try and meet expectations.
The First Gameplay Trailer Did Not Offer Anything Exciting
The team has also confirmed an August 23 launch on PS5 and PC. Moreover, an open beta is scheduled for July 18. This will be the perfect opportunity for players to try the hero shooter for themselves and clear all doubts.
Concord clearly has an uphill battle to face. Following live-service failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, fans are skeptical about the genre. However, PlayStation has recently found success with Helldivers 2.
The gaming giant will now attempt to keep Helldivers 2’s success going, aiming to keep players engaged in a live-service model.
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
Marvel Rivals, a hero shooter by NetEase, is under fire for being an Overwatch clone.
Some abilities might be similar, but each character still feels fresh.
The game brings more new things to the genre than it takes inspiration from, and it might end up being better than Overwatch.
Marvel Rivals is still in its open beta, but it’s already taken the gaming world by storm. However, many of the reasons for this popularity are not very nice.
Marvel Rivals is an upcoming hero shooter developed by NetEase Games in collaboration with Marvel. The game is set to release for Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is currently going through its first playtests.
The game has everything a hero shooter could wish for: an already existing fanbase, a set of infinite characters with their specific abilities from the Marvel multiverse, and the funding of one of the biggest gaming companies in the world coupled with the biggest entertainment conglomerate.
Despite all of that, the game’s still under quite some fire from fans due to some interesting controversies going around.
What’s The Controversy?
Apart from people comparing the character kits and art design of the game with Overwatch, there are some bigger controversies at play as well.
The forefront of these controversies is a clause in the contract given to content creators allowed to play the beta that stated that they can’t say anything negative about the game online.
This is not only counterproductive at best and straight-up deceiving at worst but also makes the topics regarding the game copying Overwatch a lot more difficult to analyse.
So, Is It Copying Overwatch?
Venom (Image by Tech4Gamers)
In any hero shooter, there is going to be some overlap between character kits. The important thing is if the kit feels fresh and fits the character.
The internet’s main targets for this claim are The Punisher copying Soldier 76 and Bastion, Spiderman copying Reaper’s Ultimate, Venom pretty much being Wrecking Ball, and more.
Punisher (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Soldier 76 only parallels The Punisher in design. A character that uses guns using guns in a shooting game is not a copy. Likewise, the immobile turret that shreds down enemies wasn’t original for Bastion.
Spiderman is a different case because the ultimate does seem inspired by Reaper’s. However, I don’t think a single ability is enough to call a character a copy. Games would start being stale very quickly if you don’t take from what is successful and fun.
Venom during battle (Image by Tech4Gamers)
Venom is perhaps the most mind-boggling claim. A shredded webslinger known for his durability slinging webs and being durable does not mean he’s taking from Wrecking Ball, that’s the only way to adapt Venom, and Netease did an amazing job of doing just that.
Multiverse Of Innovation
The game brings a lot of fun stuff that reminds me of early OW. The heroes all feel fresh and unique, since the game isn’t too worried about balancing issues right now. Dr. Strange’s Teleportation is an ability that I never expected to see in a hero shooter, much less expect it to be as fun as it is.
The Team Up Mechanic
The Team Up mechanic is a privilege of being a game early in development, as this would shift the balance of any other game far too much for devs to consider it. This allows characters that share some form of bond to unlock special skills that they can use together.
This is not only extremely cool but also changes game design fundamentally. Teams now have to consider between having a team that fills all roles, or a team that prioritizes Team Ups over a balanced lineup.
Is The Game Balanced?
The game is painfully unbalanced, and I don’t see it coming out anytime soon. The game has made efforts to make melee characters hold their own, and they’ve been somewhat successful with Magik. However, Spiderman and any other melee DPS still fail to be playable.
Hela’s impossible to outplay, and certain Teamups such as Magento and Wanda break the game for everyone but themselves. Still, the game’s only in its open beta, so I’m looking forward to seeing Netease deliver a wonderfully balanced yet fun game to us.
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
Amazon Games is currently publishing Crystal Dynamics’ next major Tomb Raider release.
The publisher has teased a new look at this project.
Amazon Games is also working on other games to strengthen its place in the industry.
The Tomb Raider series has been a staple of gaming for decades, and Crystal Dynamics is gearing up for another incredibly exciting Lara Croft adventure.
Unlike past releases, Amazon is involved in the project as the company partners with Crystal Dynamics. The game was first announced in 2022, and Amazon has just teased that more information is right around the corner.
Why it matters: Tomb Raider is still one of gaming’s most iconic IPs. Following the latest trilogy, fans have been curious to see where Crystal Dynamics goes next.
The Latest Tomb Raider Trilogy Concluded In 2018
Speaking to Variety, Amazon Games’ Vice President has recently discussed the publisher’s strategy.
It’s no secret that Amazon has been looking to break into the AAA market for a while. Previous attempts at exploring this market resulted in releases like New World. However, the studio is now looking to take things further with established IPs.
The Vice President stated that Amazon is currently working on a whopping eight games. This also includes the upcoming AAA Tomb Raider and Lord of the Rings projects; the former has fans excited about Lara Croft’s return.
Speaking of Tomb Raider, Christoph Hartmann was asked when this AAA project would be shown off and released. While he did not share a release date, the executive offered an exciting teaser for the fans.
It’s not going to be tomorrow, but it’s not too far away.
-Christoph Hartmann
This implies that a Tomb Raider reveal is right around the corner. Fans should also note that past leaks have pointed at open-world elements, making this first look more exciting as something new.
Crystal Dynamics Previously Teased More Information On Tomb Raider
The original trilogy recently received remasters for modern hardware for those looking to get their Tomb Raider fix until the reveal. This collection is a nice refresher, taking fans back to where it all started for Lara Croft.
Nonetheless, Tomb Raider’s return has been a long time coming. With Naughty Dog putting Uncharted to rest and Crystal Dynamics taking its time with the next entry, no other game has been able to capture the thrill and adventure of exploration quite like these IPs.
MachineGames is set to debut Indiana Jones this year, but fans still long to see Lara Croft returning.
