It’s the first day of 2021, and it falls on a Friday, which means Xur is back in Destiny 2! MP1st is here to bring you the first Destiny 2 Xur location today January 1, 2021 post! Same as always, we have his location and what items he’s selling for the weekend.
As we approach the end of 2020, it’s time to start game-planning for the future. Which games are we itching to boot up on our spanking new next-gen consoles? Similar to the staff voting with the Top 10 Games of the Generation, a few of us put our noggins together to construct this early list on which games we’re keeping a close eye on.
As mentioned in the other post, we here at MP1st and SP1st are very AAA-focused. So if you’re looking for a hidden indie gem, this might not be the best list. Now, without further ado, here are our most anticipated games of 2021.
1. Horizon Forbidden West (PS4, PS5)
In a year that featured a brand new Nintendo console and Zelda and Mario games, a new IP still managed to steal some of that spotlight for itself: Horizon Zero Dawn. Sony nailed yet another exclusive narrative single-player experience, introduced us to a wonderful character in Aloy, and now are on the precipice of what could be a budding new franchise. Horizon Forbidden West will continue Aloy’s story as she battles more robo-baddies on her quest to explore the “Forbidden West”.
“As the sequel to my 2017 Game of the Year, this would have been much higher had it not been announced to be a cross-gen game. The reality is, last gen hardware is going to hold back the ambition and design of this game. Still though, it’s the sequel to my 2017 Game of the Year.” – Sean Mesler
“More robots dinosaurs, do I really need to explain myself?” – James Lara
“Who’d have thought Guerrilla Games can make a game that’s not related to Killzone? Heck, who’d have thought it’d be great? I can’t be the only one who got floored with how great Horizon is, right? It just oozes quality. Based from what we’ve seen so far, this trend will continue, along with decimating robo dinos and that alone has me excited.” – Alex Co
2. God of War Ragnarok (PS5)
With each passing day, we get closer and closer to the much-anticipated sequel to God of War. Santa Monica Studio hit it out of the park with the 2018 revival title that saw Kratos battling Norse gods this time around, but also, struggling in how to be a better father. God of War ended with a bit of a cliffhanger, but if one thing’s for certain there’s going to be some more dead gods.
“Boy! Who doesn’t want to know more about Boy & His Dad Adventures Volume 2? Seriously though, I’m very interested to see where Sony Santa Monica takes the story. Will we see Odin? Will we get more references to Kratos’ past? How will Atreus being Loki affect the story? Will we hear endless “boy” callouts? Loads of questions left unanswered and I’m definitely itching to know more, even if I’m fairly certain this won’t make it in 2021.” – Alex Co
“Easy top spot. Despite having released several iterations, God of War (2018) was a huge surprise as the studio, Santa Monica decided to shake up the core gameplay of what many fans had grew to love. A risky move by them, but one that paid off. Honestly, if there is one definite must play game for last gen, then its God of War.” – James Lara
3. Ghostwire Tokyo (PS5 timed exclusive, Windows)
If you’re a fan of The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2, then Ghostwire Tokyo should definitely be on your radar for 2021. Ghostwire Tokyo won’t be a full-fledge horror game like the two Evil Within titles, but there is still plenty of mystery and intrigue. 99% of Tokyo’s population vanishes and you must fight paranormal enemies and discover what caused everyone to disappear. Sign us up!
“I love Tango Gameworks two previous games, The Evil Within and The Evil Within 2, and seeing them go in a completely different direction in terms of not only gameplay but aesthetic has me stoked.” – Sean Mesler
4. Kena: Bridge of Spirits (PS4, PS5, Windows)
If you’ve ever dreamed what it would feel like to experience a Pixar movie as a video game, look no further than Kena: Bridge of Spirits. The game follows a young spirit guide in Kena who must use her magical abilities to help trapped wandering spirits. Announced in June 2020, Kena will be a timed PlayStation exclusive when it releases.
“This game looks to be delivering on the promise of playing a Pixar movie. It looks charming and fun and it’s absolutely stunning.” – Sean Mesler
5. Battlefield 2021 (PS5, XSX, Windows)
The Battlefield franchise, while beloved, has been in a bit of a hiatus. Battlefield V released back in 2018, so who knows, maybe the soon-to-be three year layoff will make the next Battlefield feel fresh and rejuvenate the franchise. Currently, it has not been confirmed what time period Battlefield 6(?) will take place, but given that the last two were set in World Wars I and II, maybe the franchise will take things back to modern times?
“Why nothing is known about DICE’s upcoming Battlefield entry in the franchise, long-time fans are anticipating this one like no other given we’re all curious to see how the studio bounces back from Battlefield V’s missteps. Just give us a modern setting, destructible environments, memorable maps, balanced gunplay and vehicle warfare, and we’re there!” – Alex Co
“Two long years since the last Battlefield released. We don’t know much about the new one set for 2021 release, but we sure as heck are excited for it.” – James Lara
6. Elden Ring (PS4, XBO, Windows)
It shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone to see Elden Ring appear on this list. Coming from the developer behind the highly-acclaimed Dark Souls franchise, cult classic Bloodborne, and one of the best launch titles in Demon’s Souls, Elden Ring hopes to be yet another major success for FromSoftware. Announced at E3 2019, Elden Ring still does not have a set release date, but the game is currently slated to release sometime in 2021. Oh, and did we mention that George R.R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones novels, is also involved?
“It’s From Software’s new game. Nothing else left to say.” – Sean Mesler
7. Hitman 3 (PS4, XBO, Switch, PS5, XBX, Windows)
IO Interactive has done a tremendous job with the Hitman franchise, and Hitman 3 looks to be no different. Scheduled to be one of the earliest big releases of 2021, Hitman 3 will conclude the World of Assassination trilogy that began in 2016.
“It isn’t any secret that I love the Hitman World of Assassination games. Hitman (2016) is my game of its generation. What we’ve seen so far of this game makes it seem like a fantastic continuation of what we’ve seen with the two games released so far and I can’t wait to once again become the bald embodiment of death for the Criminal underworld.” – Tim Lawrence
8. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5)
From the reveal trailer, the latest adventure with Sony’s dynamic duo looks to be one of the true first next-gen titles. The trailer showed Ratchet & Clank travelling instantaneously across different environments without any sort of loading, it’s incredible. Although Insomniac released a Ratchet & Clank game in 2016, that title was more of a re-imagining of the original game and a soft tie-in with the film that released that same year. Rift Apart will serve as a canonical continuation to Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus.
“I’m really looking forward to playing a game that was designed from the ground up to take advantage of the PS5’s custom SSD. Plus, it’s Ratchet and Clank and Insomniac so it’s going to be a fun game.” – Sean Mesler
“This is one of those titles that’s hard to explain to people why you’re excited for. At first glance, Ratchet & Clank is a regular platformer that we’ve seen a hundred times before. However, Insomniac Games has something special lined up with the duo always. I’m expecting ingenious weapons, witty banter, the PS5’s SSD in full display and memorable boss fights. If there’s a palate cleanser from all the gruesome violence, this is it.” – Alex Co
9. Deathloop (PS5 timed exclusive, Windows)
From the developer that brought you Dishonored and Prey, Arkane Studios is back with their latest in Deathloop. Ever since this game was released, it’s caught my eye. Sure, being stuck in a Groundhog’s Day-type loop trying to kill the right people in order to break the loop is an intriguing concept, but I’m more excited at the fact that the main character is a Black man named Colt. And who is Colt’s main adversary in trying to break out of the loop on the island of Blackreef? A Black woman named Julianna. Love to see that type of representation in games, and I hope we get more of it. On top of that, what also separates Deathloop from the rest is that other players can invade your game and control Julianna to try and stop Colt from escaping the island.
10. Gotham Knights (PS4, XBO, PS5, XBX, Windows)
Interestingly enough, Gotham Knights does not follow the Arkham trilogy that concluded with Batman: Arkham Knight, even though it fits perfectly in that timeline. Arkham Knight contains two endings, both with Bruce Wayne seemingly dying in an explosion of Wayne Manor. This is exactly how the reveal trailer opened up for Gotham Knights, with Batman seemingly dying in an similar explosion and it’s up to the remaining Batman Family to clean up Gotham.
“The Batman Arkham series is among my favorite game series of all time. All three of the Rocksteady games are likely in my top 5 games of all time. Admittedly, I didn’t like Arkham Origins nearly as much. It wasn’t as polished or complete as the others. However, while this game is being made by WB Montreal as that was, the fact that its had more time in development makes me more hopeful.” – Tim Lawrence
11. Back 4 Blood (PS4, XBO, PS5, XBX, Windows)
In what’s being dubbed the spiritual successor of Left 4 Dead 2, Back 4 Blood is the latest zombie-killing, co-op game on the market. Turtle Rock Studios recently showcased intensive gameplay footage (check out our in-depth look at the alpha) that should get the blood flowing for all you zombie hunters. If you’re a fan of Left 4 Dead, good chance that Back 4 Blood will be a surefire winner.
“Possibly the “safest bet” out of the list, Back 4 Blood is a game you just know will be good. Will it be great though? We can’t say for sure. But, a Left 4 Dead spiritual successor that’s being developed by the original creators and ramped up progression, violence and more? Yeah, sign me up, baby! This is one PvE title that will surely draw me away from my usual love of PvP multiplayer.” – Alex Co
“Left 4 Dead is easily one of my favorite co-op game of all time, so my excitement for B4B is through the roof.” – James Lara
12. SkateBIRD (Switch, XBO, Windows, Linux, Mac)
I’m sure everyone’s thought what it’d look like to see a bunch of birds busting out kickflips and grinds, right? Well, if you haven’t, prepare yourself for such an experience. Glass Bottom Games presents a very unique skating game where birds are grinding on bendy straws and shredding some gnar in magazine halfpipes.
“I’m always a sucker for novelty action/sports games. SkateBIRD has a fantastic aesthetic and could shape up to be a truly unique experience. While it was announced long before, the announcement and positive reception of the Tony Hawk revival this year makes the release of SkateBIRD even more exciting. The idea of customizing and decorating a small skateboarding canary riding around on tabletops and kitchen counters is right in my wheelhouse.” – Tim Lawrence
13. Gran Turismo 7 (PS5)
Gran Turismo has been a staple in Sony’s games arsenal since 1997. Knowing that Gran Turismo 7 will be exclusive to the PS5 and not a cross-gen title, we can only imagine how magnificent the graphics are going to be.
“Its weird going through a full console generation without a mainline Gran Turismo game. While I was a Fan of Gran Turismo Sport, its general focus on the online wasn’t exactly what fans were hoping for. 7 is hopefully a good return to the series staple campaign mode, but I’m excited to see how much of the PS5 power the game truly uses to push its ultra realistic visuals.” – James Lara
14. Halo Infinite (XBO, XBX, Windows)
Halo Infinite appeared on our AAA-games 2020 holiday watch, but after a disappointing first look at gameplay footage, 343 Industries decided to delay the return of Master Chief to 2021. The Halo franchise is one of the most important gaming franchises in history, and after back-to-back lukewarm campaign experiences in Halo 4 and Halo 5: Guardians, the pressure is on 343 to deliver with Halo Infinite. It was unfortunate that the flagship launch title for the Series X wasn’t ready, but I think Halo fans would rather choose to wait a bit longer for a much more polished game.
“Halo as a franchise has a special place in my heart. I have precious memories associated with all of Bungie’s installations. However, I’ve gone on record saying that I have been disappointed with 343’s two previous Halo games. For me, they have managed to neither be original nor old school and nostalgic. I have, however, appreciated their continued curation of the Master Chief Collection from the mess it was at launch. I’m of the opinion that delaying the game, even if it tanked their launch lineup for the Series X, was the right call. I didn’t see anything offensive in that reveal trailer, but I perceive that Microsoft finally got the hint that Halo needs to be Halo and that innovation shouldn’t be Halo trying to be something it is not. Hopeful this extra year will allow them to create that reality with what they have so far. At least we live in hope.” – Tim Lawrence
15. Hogwarts Legacy (PS4, XBO, PS5, XBX, Windows)
While Hogwarts Legacy is a much-anticipated title, it would be remiss of us if we also did not highlight the recent warranted disgust toward the Harry Potter property. J.K. Rowling has continuously spoken ill toward the transgender community, and while Warner Bros. has clarified that the author would not be part of any sort of development regarding this project, she will still receive royalties from it. Ultimately, this situation will continue to grow as more news on Hogwarts Legacy is revealed and could be a major story in the gaming industry upon its release.
“I’m one of the few millennials that have no particular affinity for or against Harry Potter as a property. I’ve never seen or read any material set in the universe. But the idea of being a teenage wizard going on adventures in a magic realm set in the late 19th century sounds like something worth looking at. I stay cautiously optimistic that this will be closer to Elder Scrolls than Destiny 2.” – Tim Lawrence
So, there you have it. I’m sure there will be some hidden gems in 2021 that weren’t highlighted on this list, but this is a good starting point for which games to keep an eye on. If there’s any games not listed here that you can’t wait for, please leave it in the comments below!
Gaming was a treasured respite in 2020 with the state of the world and the list of great games this year was massive. So massive we couldn’t possibly play them all. However, here at MP1st we have put together our list of the Top 10 Games of 2020.
Similar to our Game of the Generation list, we have used math to come up with our list rather than spend time arguing our respective lists. Everyone was asked to provide their top ten games of the generation, in order. The number one game on each respective list was assigned 10 points, the number two game assigned nine points and so on down to the tenth game on the lists receiving one point. Any game that appeared on multiple lists had their points added to a final total and the game with the most points was number one, second most points number two, and so on.
It should be noted that the staff here at MP1st (and our sister site, SP1st) are very AAA focused so if you’re looking for your favorite pixelart indie made by two people you’re going to be disappointed. Actually, based on the results of this list, I expect to see a lot of disappointment but hopefully you’ll also be pleasantly surprised. So without further preamble, lets’ DO this!
The point total is how much the game scored to place on the list and shows where it landed.
With that explanation out of the way, on to the good stuff!
“If you would have told me that the Ubisoft open world game I barely had any interest in would have made my top 10 games of 2020 list I would I laughed and yet Immortals Fenyx Rising is right there in my top 5 for the year. It takes the excellent formula of Breath of the Wild and adds some new ideas, more to do in the world, and makes combat so much fun that it’s become a “Think about playing when I’m not playing” game for me. Love it.” – Sean
“This is probably my multplayer game of the year. I had my worries with it going 3D, but man this game is just nonstop fun.” – James
“Normally, Co op isn’t my thing. I prefer competitive multiplayer; team based modes I enjoy but usually only when the opponents are other players. But Battle Rock Galactic strikes stuck a perfect mixture of interesting mechanics and variations in moment to moment tension that the repetitiveness most co op modes have is thankfully absent. Going from charting a path through one of the dingy procedurally generated caves looking for precious materials to mine to suddenly fighting for our lives against a massive group of giant killer bugs leaves such a marvelous impression that I plan to return to the asteroid on occasion for years to come.” – Tim
“Guns, demons and lots of gore. Doom is precisely the type of game to play when you need to blow off a little steam, and the sequel to the 2016 reboot didn’t disappoint. Was the story a bit bland? Sure, but not many people are still enjoying this franchise in 2020 for its story alone.” – Kyle
“Just sheer mindless 90’s fun.” – James
“Once he was introduced in 2018’s Spider-Man and obtained his Spidey powers, it was only a matter of time until Miles Morales was thrust into the spotlight. This game has a tremendous amount of heart and representation that isn’t seen very often. The only downside is how short his adventure was, but the future is so, so bright for Harlem’s Spider-Man.” – Avery (You can read his 9.5/10 review here)
“People should not be dismissing this game as DLC. Is it shorter than the first Spider-Man game? Yes. But this “DLC” gave me 18 hours of gameplay which is plenty of time to tell a good story and give me plenty to do. I wish I felt something more for the relationship between Miles and Phin so the game had the same kind of emotional weight of the original game, but Miles’s struggle to come into his own was enough to keep me invested throughout.” – Sean
(18 points)
“Remaking a cult classic for any game isn’t an enviable task, let alone the game that put one of the most revered developers of modern gaming on the mainstream map and yet, I’ll say it from the start; Bluepoint Games’ remake of FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls is an incredible game. From’s gameplay and impeccable level design remains largely uncharged, Bluepoint gives the entire experience a fresh coat of visuals and audio paint, as well as quality of life improvements that brings the 11 year old cult classic into modern gaming with applaudable success and is a true showpiece for the power of the PS5.” – Sean (from his 10/10 review).
“Why is demons souls so fucking good?” – James
“Maybe it’s just the nostalgia talking, but this remaster had no business being as good as it was. Tony Hawk was a throwback to simpler times, and I was here for it. The visuals were excellent, and replaying two of the most iconic games in the PS1 days in HD with a much better frame rate just brought everything together.” – Kyle
“There’s tightrope to walk when resurrecting a dormant IP. You need to update and modernize it, but you can’t do so at the expense of the established fans or you risk burning your core customer base. Vicarious Visions managed to thread that needle with laser precision. Whether it’s more remakes or an all new game, I could not be more excited for whatever outing digital Tony Hawk and his friends go on next.” – Tim
“Breathtaking is the word I would use to describe this game. The art style is something no other platformer has matched, and playing this on the Series X at 120 fps gave me another reason to enjoy this game all over again.” – Kyle
“Ultimately, Moon Studios could have rested on its laurels and just made more of the same but it’s clear they wanted to make a sequel to Ori and the Blind Forest that will feel familiar for fans of the first game while also expanding on their already stellar formula. Ori and the Will of the Wisps does everything a sequel should do. Give you more of what you love, while bringing new ideas. The scope of that ambition comes with some technical issues I wasn’t expecting on an Xbox One X. I also wasn’t a fan of the trial and error of the escape sequences returning and felt the boss fights didn’t bring enough new to make them truly stand out. The overall experience I had playing Ori and the Will of the Wisps was moving, addicting and most importantly fun.” – Sean (from his 9/10 review)
“The Last of Us Part 2 is a title that every PS4 owner (or gamer, even) must play, since it does push the narrative-driven, single-player action genre forward in more ways than one. This is one title that will cause a divide among gamers long after its finished, and I don’t think Naughty Dog would have it any other way.” – Alex (from his 9/10 review)
“My personal Game of the Year, The Last of Us Part II is Naughty Dog’s finest moment, at the height of their powers. The story is their best. It challenged me, moved me. It took a swing and for me it knocked it out of the park. Very few games have me still thinking about the story long after it’s ended but The Last of Us Part II hasn’t left me since that first playthrough.” – Sean
“Somehow, saying that The Last of Us Part II is an amazing game would be an understatement. For what many people thought should’ve ended as a one-n-done adventure, Naughty Dog delivered on the much-anticipated sequel. Even though it’s ranked a bit lower on my list [6th] and the overall experience wasn’t as profound to me as others, there’s no denying the brilliance of it and everyone involved deserves all the praise for it.” – Avery
“When Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy VII Remake would be spread across multiple games, it dampened my level of hype for it. After playing through Midgar, I’m honestly glad they took this route. I loved the micro approach of exploring Midgar and the enhanced character development that we did not see in the original. It was a dream come true.” – Avery
“I went into this Remake expecting it to not hold up to the original and ended up being completely wrong. Final Fantasy 7 Remake excels in every expectation that I had, making this one of the best Final Fantasy games to date. It may not be the Remake that many had hoped for, but rest assured it is still Final Fantasy 7 in every other way. This will be sitting alongside other classics in the years to come, and we look forward to seeing where the journey ends.” – James (from his 9.5/10 review)
“I was cautious on this one seeing that I was wanting something more along the lines of super power, but Sucker Punch really surprised me with this one. Hours spent digging into its open world are unforgettable, just as it’s superb story. As for the multiplayer, very few single player focus games get it right, and Sucker Punch knocked it out of the park.” – James
“Admittedly, I was a little skeptical on whether or not I wanted to jump into what I thought was clearly an Assassin’s Creed knockoff. Boy, could I have been anymore wrong. Sucker Punch’s masterpiece tells a truly touching tale about a man who would do anything he could to save his people, even if that meant giving up his own honor to do so.” – Avery
And there you have it! Our top 10 games of 2020! Did your favorite make the cut? What was your favorite game of 2020? Let us know in the comments!
First-person shooter fans PC fans might be familiar with the S.T.A.L.K.E.R (Scavengers, Trespassers, Adventurers, Loners, Killers, Explorers and Robbers) franchise, which debuted back in 2009. While STALKER 2 was announced way back in 2010, the game has been in development limbo ever since then at least until this year when it was confirmed that the game would be released in 2021 for the Xbox Series X and PC.
Today, we take a step closer to the game being an actual reality, as developer GSC Game World has released a STALKER 2 in-game gameplay teaser!
Get your first in-engine look at the first-person sequel S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and its Zone through the eyes of its main protagonist, Skif. As developer GSC Game World puts it, this teaser represents “how the game actually feels: fast-paced change of scenery, ominous landscapes and the ever-present feeling of an inevitable danger accompanied by a barely-distinguishable guitar soundtrack.” S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is due for release at some point in 2021 on Xbox Series X|S (day one on Xbox Game Pass) and PC.
It definitely looks next-gen so far, no? Then again, this is just a teaser of in-engine footage classified as gameplay, so that’s not saying much — at least for now.
No word yet or confirmation on whether this first-person survival horror game will feature multiplayer, but once we know more info, we’ll let our readers know.
While Cyberpunk 2077 has been mired in one controversy after another, it seems developer CD Projekt RED’s plans to continue the game post-launch will go according to plan. The studio has announced today that free Cyberpunk 2077 DLC will be hitting in “early 2021!”
This was announced over on the official Cyberpunk 2077 website. Unfortunately, there’s no other info shared other than for fans to “stay tuned for more info,” which is what we’re exactly doing.
Hopefully, the free Cyberpunk 2077 DLC we get won’t be riddled with bugs, and will be the start of the game’s turnaround in earning goodwill among gamers. Given The Witcher franchise’s history, fans should expect content-filled story missions that should expand the game’s universe and lore.
Stay tuned to our Cyberpunk 2077 console review, which should hit the site soon.
More Cyberpunk 2077 Reading:
Last week, EA themselves accidentally leaked an upcoming Apex Legends event called “Fight Night.” It’s officially official now! In a press release, EA has shot out an Apex Legends new Stories From the Outlands video feature, and yep, this one is called “Fight Night.”
Whatever Pathfinder was built for, it wasn’t waiting tables. Go on a dangerous search for answers with your favorite MRVN. But pick your fights carefully – not everyone makes it twelve rounds.
Per the press release:
Pathfinder learns about his mysterious creator and why the Mobile Robotic Versatile Entity (MRVN) designated scout zips around the Apex Games. In this neo-noir trailer, Pathfinder is joined by ex-officer turned security guard Victor Maldera to take on Malta City’s elite task force, and take down Alexander Nox — also known as Caustic.
Chances are, Fight Night will be our first event for the game once 2021 rolls in. Once we know more details, we’ll let our readers know.
Treyarch has rolled out the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War December 29 update on all platforms today, and this is a server-side patch that shakes up the playlist somewhat. The most notable thing is the addition of a new Gunfight playlist that’s for snipers only.
Note that there is no patch to download, as this playlist update will automatically be applied once you connect to the servers.
Here’s the update changes per Treyarch:
Now live in #BlackOpsColdWar:
• 3v3 Gunfight Snipers Only [NEW]
• Face Off
• Raid 24/7
• Nuketown Holiday 24/7
• 2v2 Gunfight
• Prop Hunt
In addition to the playlist update rolled out today, the studio also announced that a double XP event is happening on New Year’s eve and running into 2021!
Let’s end 2020 with a bang.
Everyone gets 2XP in #BlackOpsColdWar and #Warzone all weekend long, starting on New Year’s Eve. pic.twitter.com/UdC3dsxomb
— Treyarch Studios (@Treyarch) December 29, 2020
Hopefully, this double XP event will also include double weapon XP, which is arguably the more important thing. Once the double XP event is live, we’ll let our readers know.
Heads up, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare players! Infinity Ward has rolled out the Modern Warfare playlist update December 29 server-side patch, and it includes weapon changes! Note that players won’t need to download anything, as this patch will automatically be applied once you connect to the servers.
PLAYLIST UPDATE:
MODERN WARFARE:
GENERAL FIXES:
WEAPONS:
Hopefully, there are no stealth changes made in this update, as Infinity Ward has been known to do that with their title updates. If you spot any, or if any are known, we’ll be sure to let our readers know.
Source: Infinity Ward
It’s the last Destiny 2 weekly reset of the year, guardians! We’re a few days away from 2021, and before we kick things off in the New Year, Bungie has rolled out the new Destiny 2 weekly reset December 29 activities refresh that brings in new missions, rewards and more for players to shoot for this week.
Don’t forget to check out our weekly Xur post this Friday, as well as tha latest Trials of Osiris rewards!
Thanks, Reddit!
Just this week, we received news from Dying Light developer Techland that news on the highly-anticipated sequel, Dying Light 2, will be coming in the new year. While we’ve had a few gameplay videos showing off some new mechanics and the fantastic world of the new game, we’ve had no firm details regarding a release date, or anything else, for a good few months. So far, we know that the developers aim to launch the game at some point in Spring 2021, meaning there’s very little time left to speculate about what will be in it. Here’s one last bit though. Dying Light 2 needs a casino level packed from wall to wall with the undead hungering for your flesh.
Casino of the Dead
Dying Light 2 introduces all kinds of new features and mechanics to the game. The parkour will be far freer than that of any other game on the market, and the verticality of each area means that it’s possible to run across rooftops to any destination. However, there’s also an entire district that’s underwater. This is where a new type of zombie originates, one that’s got spikes that burst out of its skin should you get too close. I imagine that these enemies will be like pufferfish, detonating when you get too close whilst still able to lash out and hurt out afterward.
It’s these enemies that I think would be perfect for a claustrophobic casino level. Think about it. In this world of the undead, there’s no such thing as online betting like 22Bet casino. There are only the forms of gambling that you can make out of what you have. Should a casino be uncovered in this underwater district though, the characters of this world could rig up some power and get it working again.
Of course, before anyone can start having fun in this casino, it’s going to need to be cleared out. Enter the player, the only character willing to take on the job of clearing out a nest full of the undead for profit. Maybe they’ll be offered a cut of the proceeds the casino makes, or it could play into a larger decision in the world. Regardless, players could be forced into entering this casino, filled with machines. The spaces between them are just big enough for a person to stand in, and those spaces are now filled with zombies.
This mission could be an iconic part of the game, particularly if the lights and sounds are all turned on for its duration. A special weapon blueprint could be tucked away inside or created as a reward for taking the mission on.
Ultimately, I don’t think that a casino would work in the world of Dying Light 2, but this mission certainly does. The characters would definitely try to get the casino online, even if their efforts are futile in the end due to water damage or the overwhelming presence of the undead.
Hopefully, Techland will put me out of my misery soon when they reveal something new about their upcoming game in the next week or so. Let us know what you think of this casino mission idea in the comments.
While Techland gave us a long look at Dying Light 2 last year, the game has kind of been MIA (missing in action) this year, which is understandable given the pandemic has pretty much hit everyone. It looks like that will change next year though, as the studio has promised “fresh updates” to Dying Light 2 in the coming year!
This was announced by the studio on the game’s Discord channel, where it said:
Happy Holidays from the Dying Light team! We’ve been, er, dying to update you all on how development has been going. We’ll have fresh updates about Dying Light 2 coming in the new year!
This is definitely good news. For now, all we know is that the zombie action game will be out sometime in “Spring 2020” based on the announcement made in January of this year.
Once we know more details regarding Dying Light 2, we’ll be sure to let our readers know.
More Dying Light 2 Reading:
South Korean game publisher Nexon (MapleStory, TERA) has announced a new fighting game titled “DNF Fuel” (Dungeon&Fighter Duel) which is being developed by veteran fighting game studio Arc System Works (Guilty Gear, Dragon Ball FighterZ) alongside NEOPLE INC. (a consolidated subsidiary of Nexon).
There’s a trailer out that showcases a few seconds of gameplay, and yes, it looks gorgeous and at par with Arc System Works’ previous offerings.
According to the press release, more details regarding DNF Duel will be released “at a later date.” No specific release date or window, nor platforms have been revealed just yet though the game appearing on PC is a lock given the publisher’s release history.
Will this be the next big fighting game? It definitely looks the part. Let’s hope it plays as well as it looks.
While DICE has pumped out a rather significant amount of post-launch content for Battlefield 5, there are still a ton of Battlefield 5 unreleased weapons, maps, cosmetics and other items that didn’t make it into the final game. Given DICE is hard at work on Battlefield 2021, chances are very, very slim that we’ll see any of these make it into the game at this point in the title’s lifecycle.
The plethora of info and images were shared by former DICE LA dev Eric Persson, which features some maps and character models that didn’t make it into the game for one reason or another.
There are also gameplay footage of some of the Battlefield 5 unreleased weapons and items in the video below courtesy of DANNYonPC:
While DICE might not be releasing new content for Battlefield 5, the studio is still providing support for the game in the form of game patches for bug fixes, technical tweaks and more. Just this month, the studio released a relatively small patch that fixed some nagging issues in the game.
Will we see these items sometime down the road? Maybe, but probably not. But at the very least, fans got a behind-the-scenes look at some of the content being worked on by devs that didn’t see the light of day.
Just when you think zombies as a cultural phenomenon has worn out its welcome, along comes Back 4 Blood, a spiritual successor to the wildly popular Left 4 Dead series, from the developers behind the first one, Turtle Rock Studios. Thankfully, before the game’s official release next year, Turtle Rock has opened the game up (slightly) to the public with a closed alpha, which MP1st was thankfully part of.
Read on for our Back 4 Blodd alpha impresions below.
It’s been 11 years since we saw the latest iteration, Left 4 Dead 2, and for almost just as long, the fanbase has been clamoring for more brains to bash. It’s a game that still to this day attracts hordes of people on Steam, so there’s definitely room for something new that scratches the same itch.
Valve retained the rights to the Left 4 Dead franchise after Turtle Rock Studios split from them, so don’t expect any recurring characters. That said, Back 4 Blood feels just right. Back 4 Blood expertly resurrects zombie slashing and shooting for the modern age.
The closed alpha we got our mitts on consisted of one area, Evansburgh, with four acts, or levels, to play through. Four characters were unlocked, each with their own perks and benefits. Walker starts with a Glock as his secondary weapon, while Evangelo has higher stamina, Holly has Melee damage boosts and the character Hoffmann has extra item slots and the added bonus of looking a lot like Philip Seymour Hoffmann.
What separates Back 4 Blood from Left 4 Dead is the new deck building system. Cards are broken up into four categories: Reflex, Discipline, Brawn and Fortune. You need to build a deck of 15 cards that you get to pull from at the start of each act. Should you go for healing buffs? Damage multipliers? Or what about the cards that not only benefits you, but the entire team? Some cards come with debuffs to other aspects of the gameplay, so it’s a balancing act. At the start of every act the enemies get to pull cards, too, that changes the size of the hordes you will be fighting, what special enemies you will meet, weather conditions, etc. It keeps every run feeling fresh, despite the limited area of play in the closed alpha.
Every level is about reaching a safehouse with everyone still alive. You have to divvy up the resources and manage your inventory well. Who has meds to heal themselves and others? Who’s bringing an ammo pack, in case we run out halfway through the run?
Your inventory space is limited. You can only carry two weapons, one throwable weapon, one healing item and one tool, like a defibrillator, that lets you revive downed teammates almost instantly, or the toolkit, that lets you lockpick otherwise unopenable doors, often leading to a room brimming with ammo and other goodies.
It’s still up in the air if Back 4 Blood will be able to differentiate itself enough from Left 4 Dead once it fully releases next summer, but then again, it might not be trying to. I, for one, felt the warm bloodsoaked embrace from a friend I hadn’t seen in years and that’s enough to keep me excited.
Back 4 Blood closed alpha code provided by the publisher. Back 4 Blood is coming out on Steam, Epic Games Store, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox X series June 22, 2021
Following news before the PS5’s launch that its faceplates can be removed and potentially be customized, a third-party hardware manufacturer got a cease and desist order from Sony to stop developing PS5 custom faceplates or suffer the ire of Sony’s legal team. Well, it looks like a new company has announced their own PS5 custom faceplates and it seems like they’re not scared of Sony at all, and even challenged the electronics giant to sue them! dbrand has announced their own line of PS5 faceplates today, and even a letter with the words, “Sue us, Sony.”
Here’s their announcement in full (via Reddit) and an image of the company’s sample faceplate:
Those looking flor some sweet new stuff in Destiny 2 and are a fan of PvP, the Trials of Osiris for Destiny 2 is now live! Same as always, the MP1st Destiny 2 Trials of Osiris rewards this week December 25 post is here to bring you a summary of the win tier rewards and map for the week!
Javelin-4
Rotation not known yet, please let us know!
| Name | Description | Cost | Requirement | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| End Game | Complete matches and rounds. Wins in the Trials of Osiris grant the most efficient progress. Awards the 3 Win Challenge reward from this week. | 1000 Glimmer | 100 Progress | XP & Glimmer & 35 Valor Rank Points & 5 Trials Token & 1 Trials Engram |
| Sweep the Field | Defeat opponents. Multikills and streaks in the Trials of Osiris grant the most efficient progress. | 1000 Glimmer | 100 Progress | XP & Glimmer & 35 Valor Rank Points & 5 Trials Token |
| Name | Perk | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Passage of Mercy | Forgives one loss per run. | 25000 Glimmer & 15 Legendary Shards |
| Passage of Ferocity | With zero losses, your third win grants a bonus win. | 25000 Glimmer & 15 Legendary Shards |
| Passage of Wealth | Increased tokens from reaching 3, 5, and 7 wins on a ticket. | 35000 Glimmer & 25 Legendary Shards |
| Passage of Wisdom | Grants bonus XP from Trials wins, scaling with the number of wins on a ticket. | 35000 Glimmer & 25 Legendary Shards |
| Passage of Confidence | Grants bonus rewards from Flawless Chest. | 50000 Glimmer & 50 Legendary Shards |
Thanks, Reddit!
It’s Christmas, and while people are celebrating, Destiny 2 guardians are waiting for Santa Xur to bring them some sweet exotic loot! MP1st is here to bring you the Destiny 2 Xur location and inventory for December 25, 2020!
Xûr, Agent of the Nine
Description:
A peddler of strange curios, Xûr’s motives are not his own. He bows to his distant masters, the Nine.
Location:
Tower, Hangar
Exotic Gear:
| Name | Type | MOB | RES | REC | DIS | INT | STR | Total | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D.A.R.C.I. | Heavy Sniper Rifle | 29 Legendary Shards | |||||||
| The Sixth Coyote | Hunter Chest Armor | 7 | 9 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 64 | 23 Legendary Shards |
| Ashen Wake | Titan Gauntlets | 2 | 12 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 16 | 64 | 23 Legendary Shards |
| Karnstein Armlets | Warlock Gauntlets | 7 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 6 | 60 | 23 Legendary Shards |
Exotic Ciphers:
| Name | Type | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| A Question | Quest Step |
What’s a Xûr?
Xûr, Agent of the Nine, is a strange vendor who randomly appears in a Public Sector on one of the Worlds. Xûr sells Exotic equipment and only takes Legendary Shards in exchange for them.
TL;DR: He’s the Santa Claus of Destiny and every weekend is Christmas. Sometimes he brings you what you want, sometimes he brings you coal. Mostly it’s coal.
When does Xûr visit?
Xûr visits every Friday at 17:00 UTC and departs at Weekly Reset (Tuesday 17:00 UTC). If you would like to see all the live conversions of Time Zones, please follow this link here.
If you haven’t done so, go check out the Destiny 2 weekly reset for the week right here. You should also check the best Beyond Light weapons here.
It’s Christmas Eve, everyone! While most of you are partying at home (safely I hope), those planning to take down AIM while drinking some eggnog can check out the latest Marvel’s Avengers weekly reset of challenges and Marketplace update for December 24, 2020!
PRIORITY MISSIONS
Priority Missions have modifiers that will challenge even the toughest Super Hero. Your first weekly completion of these missions earns you unique gear you won’t find anywhere else.
Minimum Power Level 25, +3 Power Level Offset
Modifiers:
Guaranteed Reward: Epic Gear
Minimum Power Level 120, +5 Power Level Offset
Modifiers:
Guaranteed Reward: Polychoron & Hero-Specific Gear
Priority HARM Room Challenges have additional modifiers and reward comics that increase your collection and boost your stats.
Weekly First Completion Reward: Thor: God of Thunder (2012) #3
Minimum Power Level 15 Challenge
Modifiers:
Minimum Power Level 100 Challenge, +5 Power Level Offset
Modifiers:
The Mega Hive is a single-player chain of eight missions that tests your team’s might. Each week you’ll have a shot at completing the Mega Hive mission chain. When you defeat all eight missions, the Mega Hive mission chain is removed from the War Table until the next weekly refresh, when you can run it again with new modifiers.
This week’s modifiers include:
Weekly Rewards: As you progress through the Mega Hive, rewards start as basic gear, resources, and small amounts of cosmetic currency. The more missions you survive, the more resource drops increase. As you near the final mission, you’ll see better gear and artifacts awarded more often, as well as increased chances for patterns/nameplates. When you complete all eight Mega Hive missions you’ll be rewarded with exclusive goodies reserved for this gauntlet, including a significant amount of high-quality resources
Modifiers are game changers! Check out some pro-tips from our team that will help you prepare for this week’s challenges!
Fresh on the market! This week features several new items such as Kate’s Legendary “Chin Up” Emote, Hulk’s Epic “Wrestler” Outfit, and a few Uncommon Nameplates from Kate and Captain America.
The Marketplace is a place for us to feature purchasable cosmetics in the form of Outfits, Emotes, Takedowns, and Nameplates. The Marketplace’s Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Legendary items rotate weekly, and can be purchased with Credits.
Team up with the global player base to meet mega-goals and unlock rewards.
Goal: Defeat 1,250,000 Dreadbots
Reward: 500 Units
We have one more week to go in 2020, and that means another weekly challenges reset for the game next week! Stay tuned!
Source: Avengers Square Enix
While it’s Christmas Eve, developer Pearl Abyss has still managed to crank out the Black Desert Online update 1.66 December 24 patch, and the servers went down for unscheduled maintenance for it as well. This is to deploy fixes and to mitigate crashing issues.
Major Updates – Combat Assistance
● Added a new feature that improves combat accessibility for new Adventurers. It will assist them in making swift turns and movement while using basic attacks and certain skills.
– This feature is recommended to new Adventurers who have just begun their journey in Black Desert.
| Combat Assistance Off | Combat Assistance On |
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| Flowing Star (RB/R1) | |
 |
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| Affliction (RT/R2) | |
 |
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| Icy Thorns (↓ + RT/R2) | |
Character
● Fixed an issue where Stamina would be consumed double the amount when doing jump attacks and where the character would stop when it lacks Stamina.
● Fixed an issue where Quoratum’s Opening would not be activated after using Icy Fog forward.
● Fixed an issue where [Nova] Canape Classic Box could not be opened.
As for the emergency maintenance, here’s what it did and the schedule:
NA: December 23rd, 07:00 PM – 11:00 PM (PST)
EU: December 24th, 03:00 AM – 07:00 AM (UTC)
ASIA: December 24th, 11:00 AM – 03:00 PM (GMT+9)
Maintenance Purpose:
– Fixed an issue where the client would intermittently shut down
– Added “Combat Assistance” option in the settings to enhance combat accessibility
– Fixed an issue where [Nova] Canape Classic Box could not be opened.
If there are more to this patch other than the stuff listed above, we’ll let our readers know.
Source: Black Desert
While CD Projekt RED has released a rather big update for Cyberpunk 2077 last week that brought in a host of gameplay and technical fixes, the studio has released the Cyberpunk 2077 update 1.06 December 23 patch today, and it’s once again for gameplay fixes.
Hotfix 1.06 is available on PC and consoles! Here is the full list of changes:
Quests
Console-specific
PC-specific
In other Cyberpunk 2077 news, CD Projekt RED announced that the game has sold over 13 million units even after the refunds. Stay tuned for our Cyberpunk 2077 review which should hit the site soon.
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Source: Cyberpunk 2077
