Game Informer |
- New Cyberpunk 2077 Update Heavily Tackles Stability, Quest Bugs, And Open-World Issues
- Amazon's "Invincible" Set To Debut In March
- How We Unlocked The Predator In Fortnite
- Vicarious Visions Merges Into Blizzard
- Replay – Nier
- Genshin Impact's Xiao Arrives On February 3
- Play Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening In Minecraft With This Mod, Because Why Not?
- Hitman 3’s Developers Share What Makes Its Berlin Level Special
- Tom Holland's Uncharted Movie Delayed Until 2022
- Xbox Games With Gold February 2021 Free Games Revealed
- Xbox Live Gold Price Increases, Here Is What That Means For You
| New Cyberpunk 2077 Update Heavily Tackles Stability, Quest Bugs, And Open-World Issues Posted: 22 Jan 2021 03:45 PM PST A new Cyberpunk 2077 update is now available for PC and console players alike, as well as Google Stadia. The latest patch is one of many on the horizon following a chaotic launch and this update tackles major areas of improvement including open-world issues, commonly reported bugs, and overall stability concerns. CD Projekt Red took to the game's blog to share with players what the latest update has in store, saying "In this update, we focused on various stability improvements, which you can find outlined in the patch notes below. We will continue this work in patch 1.2 and other upcoming updates. At the same time, we will keep fixing the bugs you encounter and listening to your feedback on how to improve the overall game experience." While new DLC and new-gen updates are still on the horizon, the main priority for the Polish studio currently is to get the issues that contributed to the messy launch under control. This especially became an important focus when Poland's Office of Competition and Consumer Protection began its investigation into the company concerning the game's launch on the heels of two class-action lawsuits from investors. The latest patch, called Update 1.1, tackles various stability issues including:
It also tackles many of the quest bugs that players have been reporting and a few open-world issues that have been shared as well, especially concerning any of the content surrounding Delamain and achievement/trophy issues. For the full list of what the latest patch entails, check out the full update notes below courtesy of CDPR: Quests/Open World
UI
Visual
Achievements
Miscellaneous
PlayStation-specific
Xbox-specific
PC-specific
Stadia-specific
Interested in learning what else is going on in the world of Cyberpunk 2077 and the studio behind the open-world game? You can check out our previous coverage here that includes news, mods, and our reviews for both PC and last-generation systems.
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| Amazon's "Invincible" Set To Debut In March Posted: 22 Jan 2021 03:23 PM PST  Click to watch embedded media Robert Kirkman is best known for his comic series The Walking Dead and its subsequent television adaption. Soon, another one of Kirkman's comics will be hitting your screen, this time as an exclusive to Amazon Prime. The new show is called Invincible, and Kirkman has announced that it will debut on March 26. Between all of the games and movies that revolve around superpowers these days, you may have reached your saturation point when it comes to heroes in tights with special abilities. Even so, Invincible might be worth giving a chance. It's about a young man named Mark who discovers he has superpowers, but he also happens to be the son of Omni-Man – a Superman-like figure who is the world's most powerful hero. Check out the clip above for a sneak peek at the dynamic between the two characters, and get a broader look at the show with the teaser trailer. If the concept alone isn't enough to entice you, then maybe the phenomenal voice cast can lure you in. It features an astounding array of talent, including Steven Yeun (Glenn from The Walking Dead) in the lead role of Mark, and J.K. Simmons (J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man trilogy) as Omni-Man. Other people lending their voices to the show include Mark Hamill, Seth Rogan, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, Sandra Oh, Walton Goggins, Mahershala Ali, and more (including other alums from The Walking Dead). Check out the show's Wikipedia page and soak in the star power. Those on the Game Informer staff who have read the Invincible comic say that it is an under-appreciated work, and its quality may even surpass The Walking Dead. So, even if you've never heard of it before today, it seems like fans of superhero fiction should definitely have this upcoming series on their radar.
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| How We Unlocked The Predator In Fortnite Posted: 22 Jan 2021 02:45 PM PST  Click here to watch embedded media Since its release last month, Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 has focused on uniting the multiverse's best hunters. Fans of Epic Games' popular battle royale game have been graced by the presence of the Mandalorian and Baby Yoda, Kratos, Master Chief, and now the bane of aliens across space and time, The Predator. To further fuel our unhealthy desire for Fortnite skins, Senior Editor Jeff Cork and I set out for an adventure to unlock the Predator cosmetic set, which features the Yautja's deadly wrist blade harvesting tool, Hunter's Trophy back bling, a 90s-as-heck gun wrap, and finally, the menacing Bio-Helmet Online emote. Watch the featured video above to see exactly how we unlocked the Predator in Fortnite. Please know that you'll need to own Chapter 2 Season 5's Battle Pass in order to obtain the skin. With a little luck and the help of this video, you should be able to unlock this special cosmetic set in about an hour.
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| Vicarious Visions Merges Into Blizzard Posted: 22 Jan 2021 12:33 PM PST Vicarious Visions has moved from the Activision side of the company to the Blizzard side moving forward, reports Gameindustry.biz. This shift also places the studio head, Jen Oneal, on the Blizzard leadership team where she will report to Blizzard president J. Allen Brack. Vicarious Visions has a wealth of work on Activision titles under its belt, most recently the Tony Hawk game resurrection in the form of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, which was well received. "Forget the weird peripherals, bad sequels, and questionable ports that defined Tony Hawk's Pro Skater in the series' later years," says Game Informer's Brian Shea in our review. "Instead, remember the glory days of the late '90s and early '00s, because that's where you're going with Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2. By returning to the first two games in the franchise and modernizing them with changes large and small, developer Vicarious Visions reminds us why we fell in love with this series in the first place." Over the years, Vicarious Visions has been involved with myriad Activision properties, including the Skylanders and Guitar Hero franchises. The list of games Vicarious has touched is huge, but also includes Call of Duty, Destiny, and Crash Bandicoot. Whew! This shift is not expected to move the 200-ish person Vicarious Visions team out of their New York company headquarters. What role Vicarious will play at Blizzard and what projects they will be working on isn't yet known, but they will be working on existing Blizzard games and initiatives, as far as the initial scope goes. What do you think about the change for Vicarious Visions? Is this an opportunity to buff up some Blizzard titles that could use some extra power? Are you lamenting the potential loss of more Tony Hawk titles? Let us know what you think of the merger in the comments below! [Source: Gameindustry.biz]
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| Posted: 22 Jan 2021 10:34 AM PST  Click to watch embedded media For years, Square Enix has been one of the RPG titans in the world of video games. While most know Square for its groundbreaking work on titles such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Chrono Trigger, the company branched out in 2010 and published a new franchise. Behind the direction of the esteemed Yoko Taro and his team at the now-closed development studio Cavia, Nier was born. A spin-off of the Drakengard games, the cult classic finds players slashing their way through the villainous Shades, attempting to reverse the effects of the deadly Black Scrawl disease that plagues the main character's daughter (or sister if you're playing the Japanese version). When we reviewed the game in 2010, we weren't the biggest fans of the title, saying it told an interesting story, but didn't always hold up in the gameplay department. But has the 11 years since its initial release changed any of those feelings? Join Andrew Reiner, Jeff Cork, Joe Juba, and me as we answer that question and more when we jump back into the original Nier that launched the cult-classic series. We go live at 2 p.m. CT, so be sure to join us in the chat and end your week the right way! If you can't get enough of our live shows, remember to subscribe on YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook to get notified when we go live each week. Thanks as always for watching and we hope you enjoy this week's show! Haven't played the Nier series but are curious to dive in? Be sure to check out the illustrious Jay Guisao's opinion piece on why you need to play Nier: Automata! We also have long-time fans of the series covered with a look at some gameplay from the upcoming Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139, an upgraded version of the 2010 title.
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| Genshin Impact's Xiao Arrives On February 3 Posted: 22 Jan 2021 09:40 AM PST Genshin Impact continues rolling along with another big content drop coming February 3. The open world free-to-play gacha game is bringing a character that you may have met much earlier in your journey in as a new playable 5-star character. Yep, I hope you've been saving your primogems, because Xiao is here! Xiao is an Anemo (wind) character that uses polearms, with the ability to siphon his own life force to do more damage. Also, he has a freaking cool mask. Yeah, basically I've been saving up my primogems since before Klee came out, so I'm ready to take a bunch of rolls on Xiao's banner. No idea how to get started in Genshin Impact, what gacha is, or what any of these weird terms mean? Check out our guide to getting started here. Okay, on to event news! During the Lantern Rite event, players can get 10 free Intertwined Fates per day via a login event and pick up 1600 primogems by completing various event activities. Players also get to pick a free 4-star character from the Liyue roster to add to their team, which may or may not give you some valuable constellation boosts or round out your team. The event brings a smattering of special activities and quests to complete focusing on Liyue, so look for food stalls and other festive fare around town. Get a taste of everything coming in 1.3 in the trailer below! Click here to watch embedded mediaA new tower defense strategy activity is available during Lantern Rite called Theater Mechanicus, so that will be interesting to try out. Are you drowning in resources you don't want but never have the ones you need? This patch also adds the Parametric Transformer, which allows you to morph your excess resources into sutff you actually want. "Genshin Impact is light on story and big on exploration, encouraging players to peek under every rock, glide from every precipice, and bash through every camp of goblins. This free-to-play, open-world action/RPG is an incredible amalgamation of stylish art and sound, easy-to-learn combat, and magical adventure around every corner," I said in my review of the initial Genshin Impact release. "As you climb the highest peaks, take on titanic bosses, and spare moments of tranquility to take in the scenery, you are inundated with dozens of possibilities. Plenty of games serve up unending tasks, but Genshin Impact provides a sense of unyielding enchantment and desire that I rarely ever feel."
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| Play Legend Of Zelda: Link's Awakening In Minecraft With This Mod, Because Why Not? Posted: 22 Jan 2021 09:34 AM PST The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was a treasure when it first released, and when a modernized version later arrived on Nintendo Switch, the journey got even better. If you're like us and are always on the hunt for an excuse to re-play through the iconic adventure Link himself, might we suggest pointing that sword at Minecraft next? Minecraft players are among the most creative in gaming, taking the sandbox world and truly turning out incredible creations. From full-on replicas to fan-driven content, Minecraft is a flourishing world of creativity and wonder. It's also now the home of another new way to experience Link's Awakening because two Redditors banded together to faithfully recreated the Nintendo classic within the world of Creepers and mining. [LA] So a while ago I posted some progress on Hyrule minecraft and it got a lot of traction - so I thought I'd show off what me and u/thelasteddieonearth are making: a fully playable and functional Link's Awakening map on Minecraft Java Edition. you can find it and play on Planetminecraft :) from r/zelda Redditor Pickledscones took to the Zelda forums to share the two-teamed recreation, showing off some progress shots of what an experience in a Hyrule-ified Minecraft looks like. In conjunction with u/TheLastEddieOnEarth, the Link's Awakening Minecraft experience will be fully playable, completely integrating the map of the Nintendo darling within the Minecraft Java Edition. Interested? You can find this passion project over on PlanetMinecraft, the demo is completely free to play and is available now on PC. Keep in mind, this mod is still a work in progress, but what's been done so far looks wildly impressive. Want more mods? Check out a few of my other favorite Mod Corner picks below:
Thoughts on playing Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening in Minecraft? What other games would you like to see faithfully recreated? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below! You can also hit me up if you're looking for a specific game for mod recommendations!
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| Hitman 3’s Developers Share What Makes Its Berlin Level Special Posted: 22 Jan 2021 09:11 AM PST Agent 47 may be the playable avatar and box-art star of the Hitman series, but I'd argue that he's not the main draw. That distinction has to go to the meticulously crafted levels that IO Interactive has delivered for years. They're sandboxes in the best sense of the term, providing interesting, beautiful, and varied backdrops for players to ply their grim trade. Each level is purposely built for replayability, rewarding players who fully explore each setting with not only unlocks but a greater vision of the myriad little stories that populate each place. One of Hitman 3's standout locations is its Berlin mission, which severs Agent 47 from the resources that he's relied on up until this point in the trilogy. It's a disconcerting change of pace, and there are some interesting stories behind its development. We spoke to several members of the development team during our Hitman 3 cover story, and we were able to play our way through the game's first three missions. We wrote at length about the Dubai and Dartmoor levels, but much about Berlin was off-limits for our pre-launch coverage. Now that the game is out, we're ready to share some of the behind-the-scenes insights about the mission.  First a quick spoiler warning: If you're planning on playing Hitman 3, I'd recommend coming back to this after you've played through this particular mission. There are some surprising things about it, and much of its impact could be lost if you read too much beforehand. I went into it without any knowledge about what was coming, and I think the experience was stronger for it. Your mileage may vary, of course, but I wanted to bring it up sooner than later. By the time you begin the game's third mission, Apex Predator, you've probably already developed a sense that IO Interactive is moving out of its comfort zone with these levels. The first mission features a lot of verticality and a pair of targets who can be drawn close together for a memorable double kill. The second mission, Dartmoor, lets players try their hand at being a detective instead of their usual role as a freelance executioner. The optional murder mystery is a complete change of pace, with optional interrogations and investigations that can occur right out in the open.  At IO Interactive, every mission begins with the team nailing down some key thematic words and phrases. For Dubai, game director Mattias Engstrom gave the level designers and artists a few short terms including "on top of the world," "open and airy," and "an inviting beginning." Dartmoor's thematic direction included the phrase "a house filled with secrets" and the words "ominous" and "vulnerable." By the time the third mission rolls around, players are dropped into a place where the words "loneliness" and "isolation" were used as creative springboards. Once you've played through it, the significance is clear. Midway through Hitman 3's narrative arc, Agent 47 finds himself alone. His former colleagues are dead or working against him. What was supposed to be a meeting has transformed into a slaughter. There's no friend on the other side of an earpiece. Players don't even know who their targets are as they emerge from a wooded area to find a sprawling club built within a decommissioned power plant. "It was always supposed to be a cold open and a bit surreal with what's going on," Engstrom says. "You don't really have anything or anyone here, and 47 is defining his own mission for the first time."  Even though Agent 47 doesn't have any tactical support, he's far from alone. As you work your way into the facility, you start to appreciate just how many people have packed themselves into the place. "This is our event location," Engstrom says. "Like, Paris has a fashion show, this is the rave event." Music can be heard upon approach, with bass reverberating off the concrete. When you descend into the actual club, it's a nearly overwhelming sensation. The music is loud, and it's accompanied by a syncopated light show. "We put a lot of effort into making it an authentic rave in Berlin, and a lot of effort into the music, and we spent a lot of effort into making that crowd," Engstrom says. Players have to observe NPCs to determine who the targets are, which can be tricky considering the overall density. Of course, Agent 47 can use that to his advantage as well, slipping amid the crowd to conceal himself if a guard notices the suspicious-acting bald guy.  Executive producer Forest Swartout Large says that seeing the content-complete version of the rave for the first time was a career highlight. "I feel like it's so much, that experience up to that reveal. And then you get inside and you're like, 'Oh my god! Mind blown!'" She adds that she felt like seeing it all working together was something special. "I cried when I saw the rave, and when I had the 'I have arrived' moment. It was totally emotional. It hit me like a ton of bricks." In a first for the series, Hitman 3's composer, Niels Bye Nielsen, also wrote all of the other music for the game instead of incorporating tracks from other sources. One of the easy-to-miss details about the rave is how the NPCs react to his work. As the music builds and explodes, the crowd will adjust their moves to simulate, well, dancing. Their moves are fairly convincing, though Swartout Large recalls that it wasn't always quite that way. "We have this very tall Viking/Norwegian animator named Morten [Helgeland], and he did the initial blocking-animation mocap – and it was hilarious."  That placeholder animation – which, to be clear, was never intended to be included in the game – made it look as though the dance floor was populated by "f---ing dads," Engstrom says, laughing, as he mimes some decidedly uncool maneuvers. Dancing dads notwithstanding, the rave sequence is impressive on traditional displays, but the team says it shines even brighter in PlayStation VR. "Without a doubt, that rave level is something where we grab people and say, 'Can you please come over and just go down on the dance floor?'" says senior game designer Eksil Mohl. "Because you can [make a fist], everybody has just been standing there [mimes pumping a fist to the music]. And they're saying 'This is insane. This is insane.'"  Lead game designer Sidsel Hermansen adds that being able to experience the club in VR is a nice reminder of how things used to be before the Covid-19 pandemic. "I haven't been to a rave for a long time, I haven't been to a party, I haven't been to a concert, and I usually do that a lot," she says. "It's actually been kind of a reminder. It's been a beautiful thing to be able to go there."
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| Tom Holland's Uncharted Movie Delayed Until 2022 Posted: 22 Jan 2021 08:05 AM PST Despite the earlier confirmation that the Uncharted movie starring Spider-Man's Tom Holland as a much younger Nathan Drake wrapped up filming back in October 2020, the upcoming film adaptation has seen a lengthy delay before its release. No longer slated for March 2021, the new anticipated release date has been pushed back to 2022. Tom Holland and company have been providing steady updates about the upcoming film, all presenting the picture that everything was right on schedule. Barring that, there is still an ongoing pandemic, which has been throwing complications into the mix across almost all entertainment industries (including games). The new release date for the Uncharted film is slated for February 11, 2022, though the official movie's social accounts all say simply 2022. Geoff Keighley first broke the news via Twitter, but the info has since been corroborated by the leading entertainment sites within the film industry like The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline.
As for the movie itself, the upcoming Uncharted adaptation is a prequel to the games we love so much, centered on Nathan Drake in his early 20s and highlighting his evolution into the adventurer we all know and love today. We recently sat down with Nolan North, the voice actor that brought Drake to life in the games, and we asked him how he felt about the casting choice and if he thought that the prequel narrative would help fans better understand the iconic character. North was impressed with what he saw during his on-set visit late last year, saying "It was such a great idea to reveal Drake's adventures in his 20s rather than rehash an existing storyline that fans have already played." When Holland was revealed to be the pick for the Uncharted film, many were skeptical about his role until it was revealed that it was a prequel movie. While there were some doubts still, that perspective made it easier to envision our beloved Spider-Man as a younger version of the great Nathan Drake. Public opinion further pivoted into a more positive space when we saw our first look at him all suited up (not that suit), and from there it was much easier. For now, the Uncharted movie is set to launch globally on February 11, 2022. Thoughts on the delay? Thoughts on the film as a whole? Shout them out loud and proud in the comment section below!
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| Xbox Games With Gold February 2021 Free Games Revealed Posted: 22 Jan 2021 07:46 AM PST Microsoft has just revealed its Xbox Games With Gold February 2021 free games lineup as January comes to a close. Just as is the case every month, February brings with it more free games for Xbox players to enjoy with an active Gold Live membership or the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. For those excited for more free games to try out, here is what the Xbox Games With Gold February 2021 free games lineup has to offer. Xbox Games With Gold February 2021 free games With the recent Resident Evil Village fanfare and the 25th anniversary on the horizon for the iconic franchise, the first Resident Evil game becoming available comes at the perfect time. Indiana Jones for the original Xbox is also a solid pick, for no other reason than the fact that a new Indiana Jones game has been confirmed being helmed by Bethesda. For the full list of available titles and when you can scoop them up:
For those that do not have the Ultimate membership and instead are solely Xbox Live members, there are a few key changes you need to be aware of regarding a price increase. You can learn how the price is effected, and why, with our previous coverage here. Just like with the PlayStation Plus lineup, to get the free titles seen above an Xbox Live membership is required. So long as that membership remains active, the games are yours to keep. Thoughts on the latest freebie month for Xbox Games With Gold this February? What would you like to see Microsoft add next? Sound off with your thoughts in the comment section below!
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| Xbox Live Gold Price Increases, Here Is What That Means For You Posted: 22 Jan 2021 07:43 AM PST The Xbox Live Gold membership is getting a price increase and the common reaction to the news is anger when comparing the 12-month membership to that of PlayStation Plus. For current 12-month members and for those interested in the Game Pass Ultimate, here is what you need to know about the Live service changes and what that means for you as the player. Xbox Live first launched 18 years ago and allows for players to enjoy online components of games, exclusive savings on first and third-person titles, and freebies every single month. Up until now, the PlayStation Plus and Live memberships were in sync regarding pricing, though that's about to change with the recent announcement. The price of a Live membership has increased depending on the term you purchase. To begin, here are the new prices:
For those that currently have a Live membership that is 12 or 6 months in length, there will be no price change. When it's time to renew, the current price will be the price players pay. This move has many in the industry divided, both professionally and on the consumer side. We've previously talked about how Sony and Microsoft are taking wildly different approaches to this new generation of gaming, with PlayStation focusing on more traditional value with hardware and Xbox taking a more ecosystem-centric focus. You can learn more about that here. The intent behind this appears to be focused on generating even more value for the Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate, two services that have been met with positive acclaim since their introduction. With the Ultimate bundle including Xbox Live, the value does not lie within the standalone service any longer. With the Game Pass offering even more financial accessibility in terms of gaming with its low monthly fee, expanding library of free (no additional cost) games, including first party exclusives on day one (made even more valuable with the recent acquisitions made), the Live service has become antiquated. Microsoft has been steadily adding to the Game Pass' value since it was first introduced and the company could have continued to grow this service without raising any prices for it to continue its value growth. Could a price hike for the Ultimate Pass happen? Sure, anything is possible, but that doesn't fall inline with the current mission statement, which is to make a fully integrated ecosystem designed to make it easier to play the games players want to play. That being said, despite the near-universal praise for the Game Pass and its Ultimate service, many haven't strayed beyond the Xbox Live membership because it has been a staple for nearly two decades and the Xbox One generation didn't offer enough of a reason to jump into what the Pass offers. With the ZeniMax acquisition on the way to finalization and more studio acquisitions on the horizon, now is the time for Microsoft to show players why this new direction matters. In order to do this, Microsoft needed to make a show of how antiquated the Live service has become on its own. But with raising the price, many can opt to stay in with the service should they choose (many of which can stay at the current price if they are already members of the 6-12 month programs) while others see the hike as a startling change, which then encourages them to see "just what the Ultimate Pass is and is it worth it?" With each month, the Live-only subscription numbers have dwindled, showing a massive pivot towards the Game Pass and its Ultimate option. People are saying that this move is making them cancel their Live memberships, but what many fail to realize is that this decision is the entire goal of a move like this. The value isn't there anymore for players on a wider scale or for Microsoft as a business, at least in terms of motivation behind a move like this. Currently, I believe that the Xbox Game Pass and Ultimate is the truly one of the best offerings currently in gaming. From PC to console to even mobile, the evolving library and potential with future acquisitions makes it something is almost a no-brainer for Xbox fans. New titles? Free, no additional costs. Older favorites? Free, no additional costs. This price hike, despite being unfortunate as is the case with any price increase, is the logical next step for building the Xbox ecosystem to be a true industry standard. While this move makes sense and should not come as a surprise, it is important to note that this move isn't the most consumer-friendly in terms of households that may be lower-income or many households with players that aren't "dedicated gamers", a demographic that benefits from services like these. As a person in a lower-income household, I understand that this move isn't going to be the most popular with everyone and that concerns are absolutely valid. With that in mind, it's not anti-consumer for the reason that many think, though it's not entirely pro-consumer either when looking at a wider scope. You can learn more about the price increase and what that means for you with the official Xbox announcement right here.
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