Author - Jerry Paxton

The Outer Wilds Coming to Nintendo Switch

2021/02/18
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Nintendo Switch, Trailers / Videos

Today on the Nintendo Direct livestream, Annapurna Interactive and Mobius Digital announced that Outer Wilds, 2019’s critically acclaimed mysterious first-person space simulator game, is coming to Nintendo Switch this Summer 2021. Previously released on Xbox One, PC and PlayStation 4, this open-world exploration game rewards players’ curiosity as they probe their surroundings, track down mysterious signals, decipher ancient alien writing, and roast the perfect marshmallow. Watch the official announcement during the Nintendo Direct reveal here:

Outer Wilds started as a student project by Creative Director Alex Beachum, and the alpha version of the project won the Seamus McNally Grand Prize and Excellence in Design awards at the 2015 Independent Games Festival. Following its launch, Outer Wilds has garnered numerous industry accolades including award wins from the BAFTA Game Awards 2020, New York Game Awards 2019, Golden Joystick Awards 2019 and Pégases Awards 2020, as well as nominations from The Game Awards 2019, D.I.C.E. Awards 2020, SXSW Gaming Awards 2020 and Game Developers Choice Awards 2020.

Outer Wilds Key Features:

  • From planets and moons to alien structures and spacecraft, discover the mysteries of this hand-crafted, fully dynamic solar system.

  • Play as the newest recruit of Outer Wilds Ventures, a fledgling space program searching for answers in a strange, constantly evolving solar system.

  • The planets of Outer Wilds are packed with hidden locations that change with the passage of time. Visit an underground city before it’s swallowed by sand, or explore the surface of a planet as it crumbles beneath your feet.

  • Use a variety of unique gadgets to probe your surroundings, track down mysterious signals, decipher ancient alien writing, and roast the perfect marshmallow.

Konami Launches New Online Store

2021/02/18
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, Industry News, News

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today unveiled a new online commerce store – Official Konami Shop. Developed in conjunction with Los Angeles-based creative agency WAYPOINT, the site has now soft launched and features a huge variety of official KONAMI brand merchandise, from home goods to a variety of apparel, accessories, specialty items, and classic collectibles.

With ever-growing interest from fans for KONAMI-brand items, this new eStore provides direct access to items from some of its most iconic brands, including Castlevania, Metal Gear, Goemon, Suikoden, eFootball PES and others that will roll out in the coming months. Throughout the soft launch period, the store will be continually updated, providing a fresh stock of rotating fan-favorite KONAMI items. WAYPOINT will manage day-to-day activities for the store and will work closely with KONAMI on strategic planning and new product updates to share with fans. Additionally, WAYPOINT will be responsible for managing all additional elements of the site, including orders and customer service.

“KONAMI houses more than 50 years of history with its brands, many that span generations of gaming fans,” said Mike Rajna, Senior Director of Business Development & Licensing, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. “With the Official Konami Shop launch, we are thrilled to provide those fans direct access to unique merchandise and one-of-a-kind collectibles across our suite of brands.”

WAYPOINT and KONAMI will carefully consider fan and consumer feedback in ongoing efforts to develop future selections of brand items. All purchases made through the Shop will be available for worldwide shipping.

“There is an incredible wealth of brand content in KONAMI’s catalogue, and partnering with them to create and manage this site is an exciting endeavor,” said Sean Murrin, CEO and Creative Director, WAYPOINT. “Our team’s expertise is creating dynamic brand experiences, and we will be carefully curating every item that fans see in the store and continually evolving the store and product line to match consumer preferences.”

Baldur’s Gate 3 Getting Druid Class and A Lot More

2021/02/17
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Today at its second Panel From Hell livestream, Larian Studios unveiled Baldur’s Gate 3’s fourth major update: Nature’s Power. This huge update will include the first new playable class for Baldur’s Gate 3, which launched into early access in October 2020. The changes coming to the game when Patch 4 arrives will be greater than all three prior patches combined!

The Druids

The Druid class comes with over 30 spells and abilities, including Wild Shape. New dialogue and voice-over have also been recorded so that playing a Druid delivers the same deeply narrative experience as the other classes (Humans, Elves, Half-Elves, Halflings, Dwarves, Tieflings, Drow, etc.). We won’t spoil them, but those who visit Druid’s Grove as a Druid may enjoy a game of spot-the-difference. And of course, as a game that reacts to who you are, there will be new rewards, options, story moments, and interactions scattered throughout Act 1.

With the power of the wilderness at their fingertips, Druids can transform their shape to adapt to different situations. Crunch bones and slam into enemies as a Dire Wolf or Polar Bear. Spin your silken thread over the environment as a Spider. Soar above Faerun as a Raven. Sneak into hostile spaces unnoticed as a Cat. Burrow under the earth and ambush opponents as a Badger. Or temporarily embrace the tadpole that the Mindflayers have implanted inside you, discovering a new, mysterious Aberrant Shape.

There will be eight Shapes available: Deep Rothé, Cat, Raven, Dire Wolf, Badger, Spider, Polar Bear, and Aberrant. NPCs will react to your animal form in procedural ways. Bear blocking your path? Assume Bear Shape and speak his own language!

D&D fans will know that Druids traditionally come from one of a number of Circles. Druids will be able to choose from one of two Circles to inform how they play:

  • Circle of the Land: Keepers of the Old Faith, these Druids are connected to arctic wastelands, sunny coasts, scorching deserts, fair forests, green grasslands, tall mountains, treacherous swamps and even the vast, otherworldly realm of the Underdark. Based on what type of geography they’re connected to, they gain additional power.
  • Circle of the Moon: Changeable as the moon, these stewards of nature haunt the deepest parts of the wilderness. Transformation is no problem for most Druids, but those who keep the ways of the moon gain the ability to morph into more powerful combative Wild Shapes like the Polar Bear.

For further information on Druids in D&D, be sure to check out the VOD version of the Panel From Hell 2, where Lead Systems Designer Nick Pechenin and D&D Principal Rules Designer Jeremy Crawford explored the ways in which Larian has incorporated the versatile character class into the game. With the aforementioned Wild Shape ability taking center stage, the panel talked through many more spells, abilities and character interactions that the Druid has enabled.

Global Expansion

The Panel From Hell 2 also covered the ways in which Larian has and continues to meet the challenges of such a gargantuan RPG. Already situated in Belgium, Ireland, Russia, and Canada, the studio today formally announced expansion into England and Malaysia with its Guildford and Kuala Lumpur studios, respectively. This expansion is not only about increasing the number of developers working on the game, but also allowing development to follow the sun, with each studio acting as a mirror-image of one another, insofar as it’s possible.

The result of this continued commitment is, of course, all the updates through to Patch 4, but also, as covered in the Panel From Hell 2, specific examples of how Larian was able to quickly address and work with player feedback to create tangible quality-of-life improvements to the game.

Big Changes in BG3’s Patch 4

Along with Druids, Patch 4: Nature’s Power will bring a number of changes to the game, many of which have been requested by the community or influenced by community feedback, including (naturally) fixes, but also major overall improvements like:

  • Optional Loaded Dice: This optional change will help smooth out the extremes of the bell curve. It retains the core elements of RNG, ensuring a player can no longer be unlucky or super lucky with several dice rolls in a row. The system also runs in two parts: dice rolls in dialogue are different to those in combat, and this change only impacts the d20, not damage rolls.
  • Improved Cinematics: Narrative cinematics will be given a new lease on life thanks to major improvements in lighting and animation, resulting in some truly spectacular story sequences.
  • Speak With Dead Cinematic Functionality: Cinematics in special cases like Speak with Dead will get huge improvements, along with the ability to join conversations as an animal. The patch will also add improved animations with the Druids in the Grove as they cast spells and use their abilities.
  • Multiplayer: Those embarking on their adventure together with friends will be able to see other players’ equipment, spells, inventory and character sheets (as well as the ability to take and place items to and from). There is no lock function — that will come in a future patch. As a result, your friends could, for example, steal your items. But don’t worry. They’re your friends. They wouldn’t do that to you, would they?
  • Quality of Life: A series of much-requested features will be implemented. Players will be able to target friends and enemies with spells and equipment by clicking on their portraits. As an alternative to clicking on a character in the world, players will also be able to easily select and attack whoever they want from the UI. We’ll also be adding a flee button for the errr… tacticians among us. And using torches will be easier thanks to the long-awaited addition of the torch button!

Now, this PR is getting insufferably long, so be sure to recap on the Panel From Hell 2 for all the latest news and updates, as well as the patch notes once they’re published ahead of Patch 4’s launch, which is coming very soon (…when it’s ready).

Six Days in Fallujah Resurrected with Announcement Trailer

2021/02/17
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Victura and Highwire Games today announced Six Days in Fallujah, a first-person tactical military shooter based on true stories from the Second Battle for Fallujah in 2004, coming to PC and consoles in 2021. Originally announced by Atomic Games in 2009, Six Days in Fallujah returns with a new publisher, new developer and an all-new game from many of the core leadership team who created the original Halo and Destiny games.

“Sometimes the only way to understand what’s true is to experience reality for yourself,” says former Marine Sergeant Eddie Garcia, who was wounded during the Battle for Fallujah and proposed the original idea for Six Days in Fallujah in 2005. “War is filled with uncertainty and tough choices that can’t be understood by watching someone on a TV or movie screen make these choices for you. Video games can help all of us understand real-world events in ways other media can’t.”

The Second Battle for Fallujah began in 2004 after Al Qaeda seized control of one of Iraq’s major cities. The battle proved to be the toughest military conflict for Western forces since 1968.

Atomic Games announced Six Days in Fallujah in 2009, but saw the title abandoned by its original publisher following controversy about the ability of video games to cover challenging real-world events. Victura is a publishing and production company founded in 2016 by former Atomic Games CEO Peter Tamte with the goal of bringing a new Six Days in Fallujah to players, along with other games based on true stories.

Working in partnership with frontline Marines and Soldiers who fought in the Battle for Fallujah, Victura and Highwire have spent more than three years building unique technologies and game mechanics that bring players closer to the uncertainty and tactics of modern combat than other video games have explored.

Over 100 Marines, Soldiers, and Iraqi civilians who were present during the Second Battle for Fallujah have shared their personal stories, photographs, and video recordings with the development team. The game gives these stories voice through gameplay and first-person accounts captured in original documentary interview footage. Six Days in Fallujah aims to be the most authentic military shooter to date and to tell these military and civilian stories with the integrity they deserve.

“It’s hard to understand what combat is actually like through fake people doing fake things in fake places,” says Peter Tamte, CEO of Victura. “This generation showed sacrifice and courage in Iraq as remarkable as any in history. And now they’re offering the rest of us a new way to understand one of the most important events of our century. It’s time to challenge outdated stereotypes about what video games can be.”

Six Days in Fallujah will launch for PC and consoles in 2021. Victura will announce more details about Six Days in Fallujah in the coming weeks.
For more information about the game go to Six Days in Fallujah at www.sixdays.com where you can also read a letter from the team about why it’s important for this game to be made (https://sixdays.com/why). Six Days in Fallujah is also on Twitter (@VicturaGG), and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0_ZHfbMbeosqhCQutQgzVw).

Skybound Launches Bloodstone Tabletop RPG Kickstarter

2021/02/17
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos

Today, Skybound Entertainment, home of The Walking Dead, Invincible, The Grim Forest and more, officially launched its highly-anticipated Kickstarter campaign for Bloodstone, a first of its kind PvP/PvE (Player vs Player / Player vs Environment) arena tabletop roleplaying game.

Created by Skybound Entertainment’s Senior Director of Tabletop Games, James Hudson, and available exclusively on Kickstarter, Bloodstone boasts eight playable characters with their own unique backstories and playstyles who are trapped in eternal combat and forced to fight to the death – then get up and do it again – all to the whims of a cruel tyrant who has been corrupted by the Bloodstone, an evil and powerful relic that enchants any who possess it. Utilizing a custom dice mechanism to determine your character’s attacks and movements (ranging from dealing straightforward damage towards enemies in the arena to banking dice for a later turn that can aid allies or beleaguer foes) Bloodstone allows for PvP bloodsport or coordinated PvE attacks against a common foe.

wwwwwwwwBacking this 24-day Kickstarter-exclusive campaign is the only chance to experience the world of Bloodstone as games will be made to order with a very limited number available to purchase from Skybound following the campaign.

To accompany Bloodstone, Skybound is releasing a book tie-in that explores the lore behind the game, fully explaining how the dangerously powerful Bloodstone works and diving into the backstories of each combatant as well as how they become trapped in the deadly pit. In Bloodstone: Awakening, veteran game and fantasy author Ari Marmell (A Mick Oberon Job urban fantasy detective series, Widdershins Adventures YA series, The Goblin Corps) brings to life the characters from this soon-to-be-beloved tabletop game with vivid realism and intense combat for fans of sword-and-sorcery fantasy and tabletop gaming alike. The tie-in novel, published by Simon & Schuster, is set to release in Spring 2022, with the first five chapters available to Bloodstone Kickstarter backers.

SnowRunner Season 3: Locate & Deliver DLC Out Now

2021/02/16
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

SnowRunner, the ultimate off-road driving experience from Saber Interactive and Focus Home Interactive, is expanding once again with “Season 3: Locate & Deliver.” Available now for all Season Pass and Premium Edition owners on PlayStation®4, Xbox One, and PC, Season 3 brings two original maps in a new region, plus new vehicles, vehicle skins, stickers, and the return of the franchise’s iconic logging gameplay. There’s also a free update today with new content for all players.

Season 3 introduces Wisconsin, USA, a new region that’s all about logging lumber for big paydays. A limited number of generators are needed to power all the buildings in the area, and it’s up to you to pick and choose what you need and when as you repair a train station and its accompanying lines.

Your new vehicles for Season 3 are the International PayStar Twin Steer, the Pacific P512 PF, and the BOAR 45318. They’ll help power you through the new maps of Grainwoods River and Black Badger Lake, two flooded, densely forested landscapes filled with broken-down machinery and challenging missions to discover.

Season 3 also adds a free content update for all players featuring new trials, cargo, missions, and various cosmetic upgrades. More logging activities have been added to previous maps, meaning everyone can get a taste of the action. And don’t forget to check out the ever-expanding selection of community-made mods on both consoles and PC to further enhance your SnowRunner experience.

“Season 3: Locate & Deliver” is also available as standalone DLC. SnowRunner’s Premium Edition, which includes both the base game and its Season Pass, can be purchased on the official store.

SXSW Unveils Gaming Awards Nominees

2021/02/16
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News

South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals has announced the nominees for the eighth annual SXSW Gaming Awards, recognizing the most creative and influential titles, teams and individuals in the industry, and the opening of public voting to determine this year’s winners.

For 2021, SXSW has partnered with IGN to produce the SXSW Gaming Awards show, presented by Discord, on Saturday, March 20 at 7:00pm CT. The show will be broadcast live on SXSW Online, ign.com, and on twitch.tv/sxswgaming and twitch.tv/ign.

“Gaming is a key part of the creative ecosystem that makes up SXSW, and provides our community an opportunity to honor the achievements with the brightest minds in the field,” said Hugh Forrest, Chief Programming Officer for SXSW. “We’re excited to partner with IGN to bring this celebration to a global audience for 2021.”

“We’ve learned so much from our communities on Discord over the last year. The power that games can have in bringing people together no matter where you are in the world inspires us.”said Tesa Aragones, Chief Marketing Officer at Discord. “Creating space for people to come together to share the things they love – music, games, and anything else that interests them – is core to our beliefs and we are proud to support the SXSW Gaming Awards as the presenting sponsor.”

This year the nominations for the 2021 SXSW Gaming Awards include 43 nominees across 12 different categories with public voting open now through Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at sxsw.com/gaming-awards/voting. Winners of the awards will be determined by a weighted total between staff and advisory board input and public voting.

2021 SXSW Gaming Awards Nominees

Video Game of the Year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.

  • DOOM Eternal — id Software / Bethesda Softworks
  • Ghost of Tsushima — Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Hades — Supergiant Games
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps — Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios
  • The Last of Us Part II — Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Indie Game of the Year
Awarded to the indie game that exemplifies overall excellence and creates a distinct gaming experience across all platforms and genres.

  • Bugsnax — Young Horses
  • Cloudpunk — Ion Lands
  • Crown Trick — NExT Studios / Team17
  • Deep Rock Galactic — Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
  • Huntdown — Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
  • Ikenfell — Happy Ray Games / Humble Games
  • Monster Sanctuary — Moi Rai Games / Team17
  • Raji: An Ancient Epic — Nodding Heads Games / Super.com
  • Risk of Rain 2 — Hopoo Games / Gearbox Publishing
  • The Last Campfire — Hello Games

Tabletop Game of the Year
Awarded to the game that exemplifies overall excellence and ingenuity of any tabletop game in any genre.

  • Calico — Flatout Games
  • Fort — Leder Games
  • Oceans — North Star Games
  • The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine — KOSMOS
  • The Search for Planet X — Renegade Game Studios / Foxtrot Games

VR Game of the Year
Awarded to the VR game that exemplifies overall excellence in gameplay and design across any VR platform.

  • Down the Rabbit Hole — Cortopia Studios / Beyond Frames Entertainment
  • Half-Life: Alyx — Valve
  • Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond — Respawn Entertainment / Electronic Arts
  • Star Wars: Squadrons — Motive Studios / Electronic Arts
  • The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners — Skydance Interactive

Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award
Awarded to the game that best challenges the “norm” of everyday gaming and offers a culturally innovative view of a game world, character, or gameplay.

  • Astro’s Playroom — Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Dreams — Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • If Found… —  Dreamfeel / Annapurna Interactive
  • Tell Me Why — DONTNOD Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios
  • The Last of Us Part II — Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Excellence in Animation, Art, & Visual Achievement
Awarded to the game with the most well-designed and stunning visuals, including animation effects and graphics.

  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla — Ubisoft Montreal / Ubisoft
  • Cloudpunk — Ion Lands
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake — SQUARE ENIX
  • Ghost of Tsushima — Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps — Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios

Excellence in Game Design
Awarded to the game with the best overall design concept, gameplay mechanics, and best execution.

  • Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time — Toys for Bob / Activision
  • Desperados III — Mimimi Games / THQ Nordic
  • Hades — Supergiant Games
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps — Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios
  • Watch Dogs: Legion — Ubisoft Toronto / Ubisoft

Excellence in Score
Awarded to the game that best exemplifies artistic excellence in musical score and how it progresses the narrative of the game.

  • Cyberpunk 2077 — CD Projekt Red / CD Projekt
  • DOOM Eternal — id Software / Bethesda Softworks
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake — SQUARE ENIX
  • Ori and the Will of the Wisps — Moon Studios / Xbox Game Studios
  • Trials of Mana — Xeen / SQUARE ENIX

Excellence in Multiplayer
Awarded to the game with the best player-to-player interaction experience.

  • Deep Rock Galactic — Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
  • Huntdown — Easy Trigger Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
  • Risk of Rain 2 —  Hopoo Games, Gearbox Publishing
  • Star Wars: Squadrons — Motive Studios / Electronic Arts
  • VALORANT — Riot Games

Excellence in Narrative
Awarded to the game with the best storyline and dialogue.

  • Ghost of Tsushima — Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Hades — Supergiant Games
  • Immortals Fenyx Rising — Ubisoft Quebec / Ubisoft
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales — Insomniac Games /  Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • The Last of Us Part II — Naughty Dog / Sony Interactive Entertainment

Excellence in Audio Design
Awarded to the game with the most outstanding and impactful sound effects.

  • Bugsnax — Young Horses
  • DOOM Eternal — id Software / Bethesda Softworks
  • Observer: System Redux — Bloober Team
  • Star Wars: Squadrons — Motive Studios / Electronic Arts
  • Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 — Vicarious Visions / Activision

Excellence in Technical Achievement
Awarded to the game that pushed the capabilities of technology and programming furthest or most effectively.

  • Astro’s Playroom — Team ASOBI! / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Dreams — Media Molecule / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Genshin Impact — miHoYo
  • Ghost of Tsushima — Sucker Punch Productions  / Sony Interactive Entertainment
  • Microsoft Flight Simulator — Asobo Studio / Xbox Game Studios

SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. In 2021, the event moves to a digital format. SXSW Online offers conference sessions, music showcases, film screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking and professional development opportunities. An essential destination for global professionals, SXSW Online 2021 will take place March 16 – March 20. For more information, please visit sxsw.com. To register for the event, please visit sxsw.com/attend.

SXSW Online 2021 Platinum Partners are White Claw, High Grade Hemp Seed, and The Austin Chronicle. The SXSW Online 2021 Conference is powered by Audible.

Chivalry 2 Closed Beta Dates Announced

2021/02/16
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

Developer Torn Banner Studios, publisher Tripwire Presents, and retail co-publishing partner Deep Silver, are excited to officially announce that Chivalry 2 will launch on June 8, 2021 with Cross-Play support for PC (via Epic Games Store), the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 computer entertainment systems, the Xbox One family of devices, and the Xbox Series X/S console systems. PC players ready to enter the ultimate medieval battlefield early are encouraged to pre-order Chivalry 2 today for guaranteed access to the Chivalry 2 Cross-Play Closed Beta event beginning March 26.

Digital pre-orders are live today for PC for both the standard edition of Chivalry 2 (MSRP $39.99, €39.99, £34.99) and the Chivalry 2: Special Edition (MRSP $49.99, €49.99, £44.99). More news on the availability of console pre-orders will be announced soon.

Chivalry 2 will offer pre-order incentives across the standard and special editions. The standard edition pre-order of Chivalry 2, available for both digital and retail, will grant players the Royal Zweihänder weapon skin.

The Special Edition, offered for digital pre-order only, comes with a bevy of additional exclusive items including the full Chivalry 2 game, the Agatha Jousting Knight Armor and Royal Broadsword, the Mason Jousting Knight Armor, the Gold Horseman’s Axe, the Roses novelty item, and more. All digital pre-orders of either the standard or special edition will guarantee access to the upcoming closed beta. Please visit the official website for additional pre-order information.

“Our dev team has been firing on all cylinders to create the best medieval combat game imaginable,” said Torn Banner Founder, Steve Piggott. “Chivalry 2 is going to be everything fans of the first title dreamed of and so much more – from a combat system rebuilt from the ground up, to massive upgrades in scale and visuals.”

“We continue to be impressed with the craftsmanship and creativity from our partners at Torn Banner Studios,” said John Gibson, CEO and Co-owner at publisher Tripwire Interactive. “They’ve crafted something very special with Chivalry 2, building the groundwork for a game that will allow players to experience epic medieval battles across all five major gaming platforms for years to come.”

Scheduled to begin on March 26 and running through March 29 for PC (via Epic Games Store) PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S Console Systems, the Chivalry 2 Cross-Play Closed Beta event will offer fans the chance to experience the ultimate medieval battlefield ahead of its global multiplatform June 8 launch.

For more from developer Torn Banner Studios on what a “True Sequel” means for the genre-defining first-person medieval slasher and a closer look at the next era of melee combat, be sure to visit our press kit to watch the full extended cut of the first installment of the Chivalry 2 Developer Diary series from the recent Epic Games Showcase.

Additional details on what players can expect from the upcoming Chivalry 2 Cross-Play Closed Beta event include:

  • Cross-Play Across All Platforms: Cross-Play smashes the boundaries between PC and console, allowing players to face-off on the battlefield together, regardless of platform.
  • Size Matters: Experience the chaos of epic medieval battlefields, charge forth to the frontlines of battle, and experience true mass-scale combat supporting up to 64-players designed to capture the intensity and scope of “The Battle of the Bastards” from Game of Thrones.
  • Master Blade, Bow, or… Chicken: Your arsenal expands with the new subclass system that provides more variety than ever before. Four base classes expand to 12 subclasses, including the Skirmisher, a melee/ranged hybrid – to the Poleman, a fighter who keeps foes at bay with long-distance melee.
  • The World is Your Weapon: Own the field with a variety of heavy siege engines including Ballistae, Catapults, Trebuchet, Battering Rams, Mantlets, Spike Traps, Ladders and more. Utilize traps to defend, including spikes, bear traps, and more. You can even deal damage with a smorgasbord of “found items” on the battlefield. Try downing a cup of mead and deal a killing blow with the empty chalice or finish off a foe by smashing him in the face with a flaming chicken!
  • New Map – The Siege of Rudhelm: In the first public hands-on of Chivalry 2 since PAX East 2020, experience the return of the fan-favorite Team Objective mode and join attacking or defending teams as 64-players vie for control of a well-fortified castle in a never-before-seen map.
  • Many Modes: In addition to Team Objective mode, closed beta participants can also sharpen their skills in a variety of other modes, including Team Deathmatch and Free-for-All.

Chivalry 2 is a multiplayer first-person slasher inspired by epic medieval movie battles. Players are thrust into the action of every iconic moment of the era –from clashing swords, to storms of flaming arrows, sprawling castle sieges, and more. Dominate massive battlefields while catapults tear the earth apart as players lay siege to castles, set fire to villages, and slaughter filthy peasants in the return of Team Objective maps.

Improving on the original genre-defining Chivalry: Medieval Warfare, Chivalry 2 invites players to master the blade with an all-new and improved combat system that combines real-time strikes and a free-flowing combo system to speed up the action and let players become a whirlwind of steel on the battlefield. Created with the ability to fight multiple foes in mind, Chivalry 2’s combat mixes the best of both FPS and fighting game genres for an unmatched melee experience.

To stay up to date on the latest regarding Chivalry 2 news, please sign up for the Chivalry 2 newsletter on the official website, follow Tripwire Presents, join the official Chivalry 2 Discord server, and follow the developers on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Razer Viper 8KHz Gaming Mouse Review

2021/02/15
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews

For the longest time, the gaming mouse wars were mainly fought with weapons called counts per inch (CPI) or dots per inch (DPI). Capabilities of the gaming mouse’s sensor were King and taking a close backseat were things like the mouse’s number of buttons and programmability. It would seem as though a new metric has entered the arena – polling rate. Now, polling rate is nothing new for gaming mice. For the longest time, this rate has been limited to their “UltraPolling” 1000 Hz. This means that for every second of time that passes, the mouse as been pinged 1,000 times for its current position as read by the its sensor.

Razer has recently released its Razer Viper 8KHz gaming mouse. The Razer Viper 8KHz features a polling rate of 8,000 times per second (marketed as “HyperPolling”)! And, before you think that its the same old Viper mouse from the past, it has also included the following, additional features:

  • Razer™ 8000Hz HyperPolling Technology 8x faster than other leading gaming mice
  • Razer™ Focus+ 20K DPI Optical Sensor fine-tuned for pixel-perfect aim
  • 2nd-gen Razer™ Optical Mouse Switch zero risk of misclicks
  • 71g lightweight design swift, effortless control
  • Advanced On-board Memory personalized settings wherever you go
  • 100% PTFE Mouse Feet the fastest flicks with near-zero resistance

The optical mouse switches, much like Razer’s optical keyboard key switches, are game changers. They provide not only the quick actuation of a mechanical key but also the accuracy and speed of optical sensors. Of course, dots per inch still counts for something and the Razer Viper 8KHz also features a 20,000 DPI optical sensor. The PTFE feet on the Razer Viper 8KHz are very good, allowing the Viper 8KHz to glide with as little friction as possible over most mousing surfaces.

The Razer Viper 8KHz is fully integrated and supported by Razer’s Synapse software suite, and is very programmable. You can even set your lift-off distance to 1, 2, or 3 millimeters. The lift-off distance is the distance at which your mouse is from the mousing surface before it stops reporting movement. Also, thanks to the mouse’s Focus+ optical sensor, it is self-calibrating to the surface it’s scanning, this way your lift-off distance remains constant over any surface.

In terms of its physical design, its extremely similar to the Razer Viper. It has 8 programmable buttons, rubber coasted grip pads on the sides, and a braided cord coming from the front of the mouse. One thing to note about this cord, however, is that is is noticeably thicker and more rigid than standard ones are. This is because of the increased HyperPolling technology. This does make wielding the Viper 8KHz slightly more clumsy than Razer’s UltraPolling mice. The more rigid cable doesn’t flex nearly as easily as older Razer cords do. On the bottom of the Viper 8KHz, you’ll find a button to toggle through the 5 onboard memory profiles that the mouse is capable of storing.

Does 8KHz polling rate matter?

There are a couple big caveats when it comes to this new HyperPolling technology, and that is your display and your gaming rig. You see, HyperPolling is really only noticed when you have a gaming rig with a 144Hz or higher display. This is because the display itself can only update so many times per second. For displays that update under 144 times per second (or 144 Hz), you are not going to notice the increased polling. If you do have a 144Hz+ gaming display, you will notice a visually smoother gaming experience when moving your mouse about. Additionally, your system needs to be beefy enough to pump out some serious FPS performance – otherwise you will not be taking much advantage of the HyperPolling feature.

For eSports players, it should be beneficial, but I doubt it is going to increase their performance a huge amount. In my play sessions, I didn’t find that HyperPolling made me my score go up very much, but it was definitely a lot more pleasant to look at with less jumpy motion. While I don’t think this is the next big thing specifically for eSports, I do think that the feature is the next logical step in gaming mice as the PC gaming populace starts upgrading to higher refresh rate displays and playing on beefier PCs. We want our games to not only look good but also play well. HyperPolling is a definite plus to the user experience. If you do not meet the criteria needed to fully utilize the HyperPolling, you can be assured that the Razer Synapse software will allow you to reduce the polling rate! You can set the polling rate to 125, 500, 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 Hz.

Overall

Overall, the Razer Viper 8KHz takes the excellent, ambidextrous Viper design to the next level with second generation optical switches, 8KHz polling, and a Focus+ optical sensor. However, if you do not have a system capable of putting out high FPS or a display capable of performing at 240Hz+, you might not need those features and instead opt for a mouse more suited to your individual needs. In contrast, if you have a good PC gaming rig and high refresh rate display, you will be pleased with the enhanced gaming experience provided by the Viper 8KHz’s HyperPolling.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time New Platforms Trailer

2021/02/12
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, PlayStation 5 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News, Xbox Series X News

He’s made you spin, jump and wump for 25 years, and this year, our beloved orange marsupial is celebrating in style. To kick off his silver anniversary, on March 12, the true sequel to the classic Crash Bandicoot trilogy from the ‘90s and the first original entry in the Crash franchise in more than 10 years, Crash Bandicoot™ 4: It’s About Time will launch on PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch™. The game will also launch on PC via Battle.net later this year. Fans are smitten with the biggest Crash game ever[1], so whether it’s their first playthrough or their hundredth, there’s no better time to experience massive levels, badder bosses and more gameplay. Fans should also be on the look-out for tons of furtastic festivities from Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) aimed to engage Crash Bandicoot fans throughout the year.

Developer Toys for Bob has been hard at work to bring Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time to new platforms. Fans on PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S are in for some N. credible visuals when they see the game run in 4K with 60 FPS[2]. Additionally, players on either next-gen platform will enjoy quicker loading times to dive into the wumpa-eating action and 3D audio that will immerse them in all-new dimensions. What’s more, players who purchase, or already have, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on PlayStation® 4 or Xbox One will be entitled to receive next-gen upgrades at no cost (except in Japan) within the same console family[3] (including the ability to transfer saved data).

PlayStation® 5 owners in particular will be in for an extra treat with DualSense wireless controllers bringing adaptive triggers to players’ fingertips. Fans will now be able to feel the force of Neo Cortex’s DNA-changing blaster and experience the grip as they grapple with Tawna’s Hookshot. Additionally, PlayStation® 5’s Activity Card feature will give players a clear breakdown of their progress throughout each of the game’s dimensions, providing guidance to achieve objectives and more.

Adding to the fun, fans will now be able to experience Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on the go when the time-shattering platforming adventure makes it way to Nintendo Switch™ for the first time, while Xbox Series X|S will utilize Smart Delivery to enable users to play the appropriate version depending on their console.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time will be available for PlayStation® 5 and Xbox Series X|S for $59.99 SRP. Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch™ ($39.99 SRP) are available in select territories starting today, via the Nintendo e-shop. The game will also be coming to PC via Battle.net, with pre-orders available now ($39.99 SRP). Fans can expect more information on the PC edition at a later date, along with other fun happenings in celebration of the franchise’s 25th anniversary.

The game is available now for PlayStation® 4, PlayStation® 4 Pro, Xbox One and Xbox One X for $59.99 SRP, and players will be entitled to receive next-gen upgrades at no cost (except in Japan) within the same console family³. To learn more about next-gen features, installation and other details, visit our FAQ page.

For more information on the Crash Bandicoot franchise, please visit www.crashbandicoot.com and follow @CrashBandicoot on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.