Party people, Mediatonic has released the Fall Guys update 1.13 patch for Season 3 and it’s a big one! There are new levels, new features, bug fixes, and loads of new stuff! Head on below for the official notes.
As expected given the announcement last month, Rockstar Games has released the Grand Theft Auto 5 update 1.35 (GTA5 update 1.35) December 15 patch, and it’s for the Cayo Perico Heist for GTA Online!
Patch sizes:
Update: Rockstar has sent the press release out which details The Cayo Perico new content! Head on below for the info!
The Madrazo crime family have a problem with one of their suppliers – the infamous drug lord, El Rubio, who is threatening extortion unless they renegotiate their terms. Now, it’s up to players to find a way to infiltrate El Rubio’s heavily secured private island home of Cayo Perico, and escape with his incriminating files, and all the gold, art and cash as they can carry – all while making it back to Los Santos in one piece.
Building on the game’s reputation for supporting underground culture and also as a platform for music discovery, The Cayo Perico Heist will also feature three new radio stations: Still Slipping Los Santos from UK DJ Joy Orbison; Kult FM hosted by Julian Casablancas of The Strokes and The Voidz featuring Mac DeMarco, David Cross and Tony Mac; and Music Locker Radio, bringing the club sounds of Moodymann, Keinemusik and Palms Trax to the airwaves of Los Santos. The Cayo Perico Heist also features major updates to existing stations, Worldwide FM with Gilles Peterson and FlyLo FM from Flying Lotus for a total of 250+ new tracks.
The Cayo Perico Heist is the largest and most ambitious Grand Theft Auto Online adventure to date. Playable from start to finish either as a lone operator or with up to three other players, discover dozens of ways to infiltrate and heist a brand-new location for the ultimate score. Your journey begins with an introduction to a new contact found at the Los Santos nightlife scene’s latest attraction…
MEET AT THE MUSIC LOCKER
If you are bound to meet anyone in The Music Locker’s uber-exclusive VIP section, it is Miguel Madrazo, club-rat son of Martin and Patricia and heir to the family’s empire. As he is prone to telling anyone within shouting distance, Miguel would do anything to defend the family’s “brand.”
It appears the Madrazo crime family is having some disagreements with El Rubio, so they’re looking for someone experienced to raid his near-impenetrable fortress, outmaneuver high-priced guards and high-tech security, and make off with some important files.
THE ISLAND OF CAYO PERICO
El Rubio prefers to hide out on Cayo Perico, his heavily fortified private party island, far away from the friendly and familiar confines of Los Santos. With all the constant beach-side raving and free-flowing drugs from the nearby crops, the island would look like a trendy resort-turned-festival, were it not for the paid henchmen standing around holding assault rifles.
Miguel has a seat on a private jet filled with DJs bound for Cayo Perico – this is your chance to infiltrate and scope out one of the most secure strongholds money can buy. Once there, slink away from the party to locate the compound where the files are stored. While you’re avoiding armed guards and security cameras, make note of any weaknesses like hidden entrances, exit points or other security flaws that may come in handy later on. Keep a low profile and gather as much information as you can to increase your chances of success when the time comes.
Unlike previous Heists, there is no specific style when it comes to approaching Cayo Perico. Once you’ve gathered the necessary gear, you can choose to complete as much (or as little) set-up and planning as you want – though be warned that these decisions will, in turn, affect the way the action unfolds. If you want to call in an airstrike or use a cutting torch to burn through steel beams, for example, you would be well advised to put the time in beforehand.
Once all the groundwork is laid down, you can nail down your final details before approaching Cayo Perico. These choices include how you infiltrate and escape the island, your weapons loadouts, air support, and even the operation’s time of day. As a result, no two approaches are alike on subsequent playthroughs. And repeat visits will allow you to heist valuable artifacts and other valuables as they become available.
There is also a load of extra opportunities you can use to play to your advantage, such as breaking into storage lockups to raid hidden stashes of cash and contraband to bolster your bottom-line and fatten up your take. These chances and the tools necessary to complete them will rarely be found in the same place twice – some are only accessible when playing with multiple players, so joining up with friends is very much encouraged.
SOLO PLAY
The Cayo Perico Heist is the first Heist that is playable completely solo from start to finish. Take on stealth recon, high octane shootouts and the epic score alone or team up with a Heist crew for extra support. Crack and take down the island of Cayo Perico any way you like.
THE KOSATKA SUBMARINE
What better headquarters for plotting the elaborate offshore raid on a private tropical island than a decommissioned nuclear submarine?
Manned by Pavel, a former Soviet helmsman driven half-insane by his time spent under the waves, the Kosatka has everything you might need to plot a successful landing, including a bridge with a Heist Planning Screen; personal quarters for outfit changes; a mess hall, a brig, torpedo defenses, plus options to install a Mk II Weapons Workshop and Guided Missiles, and a Moon Pool that allows you to store vehicles like the new Sparrow helicopter and Kraken Avisa submersible to use however you see fit.
The Kosatka is navigable around the shores of Southern San Andreas, and with so many smugglers trafficking goods across the sea, there’s always cargo falling overboard. The optional Sonar Station can help find Hidden Caches strewn about the ocean floor for additional rewards. Don’t feel guilty about stealing contraband… feel smug about cleaning the ocean floor instead.
NEW MUSIC
The Music Locker is kicking things off proper with Moodymann headlining as the club’s debut resident DJ. Your connections in the hospitality industry may request assistance in making Moodymann’s stay in Los Santos as memorable as possible. If you take on this responsibility, you’re sure to be well compensated. Keep an eye on The Music Locker, the party continues to expand next week with new Resident DJs along with new missions for each.
Along with the new party venues, the Cayo Perico Heist update brings with it new radio stations: K.U.L.T. 99.1 FM, hosted by Julian Casablancas. Plus, Gilles Peterson and Flying Lotus have curated playlist updates for Worldwide FM and FlyLo FM, respectively.
Drivers in the Mirror Park area of Los Santos, meanwhile, might hear rogue transmissions from Joy Orbison’s pirate radio project, Still Slipping Los Santos. If you do, do not touch that dial. Keep an eye (and ear) out for busted radio antennae around the city that you can repair to help bring Still Slipping Los Santos to the masses.
Everyone who jumps in to play this week will receive the Yellow Still Slipping Tee to telegraph their good music taste to all.
Civilist & MISBHV
Los Santos has always been an iconic hub for fashion, from the high-end designer style in Rockford Hills to the streetwear in Mirror Park. Clothing stores are being hit with brand new labels Civilist and MISBHV this week for ravers and criminals alike.
NEW WEAPONS, VEHICLES AND MORE
Beyond the Kosatka submarine and the vehicles available for its Moon Pool, there’s also a range of new vehicle inventory available to Los Santos residents, including:
Air Vehicles:
Land Vehicles:
Sea Vehicles:
There are also new and powerful weapons, including a bullpup-style Military Rifle available from Ammu-Nation. You can also recover a high-powered Combat Shotgun while taking down the Heist Finale, which unlocks it in Ammu-Nation to add to your arsenal.
Rumor has it, El Rubio’s got a special pistol that’s as deadly as it is decadent. Rumor also has it, no one knows where on Cayo Perico he keeps it locked away…
No official patch notes has been released just yet by Rockstar Games, and we’re expecting that to become available later today. That said, here’s what to expect from the Cayo Perico Heist:
It’s time to raise the stakes higher than ever before.You’ve broken a convicted spy out of Bolingbroke Penitentiary. You’ve saved the world from an egomaniacal tech billionaire. And you’ve beaten the odds to drain a casino of its cash. This time, you’re taking on an entire island.
Prepare to infiltrate the remote island compound of the world’s most notorious drug dealer in Grand Theft Auto Online’s biggest, most daring, and action-packed addition yet: The Cayo Perico Heist.
It’s up to you to find a way to breach Cayo Perico, one of the most secure private islands in the entire world, evade or neutralize the heavily armed security forces stationed there, and escape with valuable evidence along with as much art, gold and drug money as you can carry.
Choose your tools. Choose your approach. Choose your crew – or even go it entirely alone. Just make it back to Los Santos in one piece.
The Cayo Perico Heist is the biggest GTA Online adventure ever, introducing an all-new exotic Heist location, with a brand-new approach to Heist design that features the ability to play everything solo or with up to three other players. Plus you can acquire new vehicles and tactical weapons, experience new social spaces to dance and party with friends and new world-class DJs, and listen to new radio stations with over 100 new songs. Oh, and a very large, very versatile, and very heavily armed submarine HQ with plenty of other surprises.
Once Rockstar Games releases the official notes, we’ll update the post. Don’t expect any major changes to GTA5, though, as this is most likely just for the GTA Online’s new heist.
Update: We’ve updated the post with the info regarding the new content straight from Rockstar Games!
Following this month’s big Fortnite Chapter 2 – Season 5 patch earlier this month, Epic Games has released the Fortnite update 2.97 Dec. 15 patch, or what the studio calls Fortnite patch v15.10! Once again, this should bring a host of gameplay fixes, new content and more.
Same as always, we have the official list of known fixes below, and scrolling past that, we have the datamined content that should be released within the game’s current season.
Update: We’ve updated the post with the official list of fixes via the official Fortnite Trello board.
Note that Epic Games has announced that due to the addition of Performance Mode on PC, the patch size on that platform will be larger than mormal (estimated to be at 23GB).
General:
High sensitivity/acceleration on Xbox consoles when using keyboard and mouse.
Update 2
With the release of v15.10, this issue is now resolved on Xbox Series X|S.
Update
We’ve released a maintenance patch on Xbox One that resolves this issue on the platform. We’ll provide an update when the issue is resolved on Xbox Series X|S.
Description
We are investigating reports of higher sensitivity/acceleration on Xbox consoles when playing with keyboard and mouse.
Platforms
Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Multiple actions’ names are missing from the Custom Controller settings.
Description
Multiple actions’ names are missing from the Custom Controller settings.
Platforms
All
Fortnite Crew:
“There was a problem” error when joining Fortnite Crew on PlayStation.
Description
Players may encounter a “There was a problem” error when purchasing and joining Fortnite Crew on PlayStation 4 and 5 while the purchase is finalizing.
Platforms
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Workaround
This should be a visual issue only – and access to your Battle Pass, Crew items, and V-Bucks will appear in a few minutes, depending on server load.
Fortnite Crew button missing on PlayStation after joining.
Description
Players may not see the Fortnite Crew button on the Battle Pass screen on PlayStation 4 and 5 after joining up.
Platforms
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4
Workaround
Fortnite Crew can still be accessed from the hamburger ‘Start/Options’ menu.
Incorrect message when cancelling Fortnite Crew on a different platform.
Description
Cancelling your Fortnite Crew subscription on a different platform than the one you signed up on may tell you to go back to your original platform to complete the cancellation.You may ignore this and select “Leave Fortnite Crew” then follow the on-screen instructions.
Platforms
All
Fortnite Crew “time remaining” timer may appear off by a day.
Description
Depending on your local time, the “time remaining” for your Fortnite Crew subscription may appear to be missing a day. The time is currently displayed in UTC rather than your local time zone.
Platforms
All
Battle Royale:
Quests wrongly marked as “New.”
Description
Quest can be marked as “New” every time progress is made on them or the game is restarted.
Platforms
All
Big Chuggus’ Character Collection tab lists an extra 3rd location.
Description
Big Chuggus’ entry in the Character Collection tab lists a third location. He only appears in two locations, the last entry is erroneous.
Platforms
All
Fishing Collection Book leaderboard and friend progress not visible.
Description
Players will not see the leaderboard score or their friend’s completion progress when viewing the Fishing Collection Book in the Front End Lobby.
Platforms
All
Widow’s Light Back Bling not visible on PC with Effects set to Low.
Description
We’re aware of an issue causing the Widow’s Light Back Bling to be invisible when Effects are set to low under graphic settings on PC.
Platforms
PC
Workaround
Set Effects to Medium.
Certain NPCs are granting Storm Surge credit when damaged in Arena.
Description
Certain NPCs will grant Storm Surge credit when damaged in Arena/competitive playlists.
Total Bars may rarely appear as 0 in a match.
Description
Players may on rare occasion load into a match without their total Bars available, showing 0 in their persistent stash.Don’t worry, your total collected Bars are still tracked – but collecting Bars in the match where they appear at 0 will not add to your cumulative total.
Platforms
All
Workaround
Loading into another match should show your total collected Bars, however any collected in the match where they appeared 0 will not have been added.Bars in Arena must be gathered in-match and your persistent stash is unavailable.
Save the World:
Husks can damage mission objectives through structures.
Description
We’re investigating the various reports of Husks being able to damage mission objectives through structures. The following Husks have been identified to cause this:
- Zapper Husks
- Pitcher Husks
- Torch Thrower Husks
- Flinger Husks
- Propane Husks
Platforms
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Mobile:
Unable to accept Gift on first login of the Season on Android.
Description
Players who have a pending Gift are unable to hit the ‘Accept’ button after viewing the new season’s cinematic or when first installing the game, getting stuck on the Giftbox screen.
Workaround
Relaunch the game to accept the Gift and proceed.
Two “Buy Battle Pass” buttons on the Battle Pass screen.
Description
Players may see a second, smaller “Buy” button on the Battle Pass screen and the bigger one may be unresponsive.
Workaround
Use the smaller ‘Buy’ button to purchase the Battle Pass.
Datamined Content:
the christmas loading screens pic.twitter.com/rl0zgJmWUX
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
New bundle pic.twitter.com/H4NlsEVn0c
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
New Elf skins pic.twitter.com/FXuwDjCyHh
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
new jonesy skin got added! pic.twitter.com/TeuyzmeXJP
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
new variant pic.twitter.com/HmZhDedmTY
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
The Frosty Legends pic.twitter.com/B4xxrt0NAQ
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
Two new exotics
The Big Chill
Dragon's Breath Sniper pic.twitter.com/WJTlVkzzVq— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
Looks like we still get some Black Panther stuff ingame… pic.twitter.com/nON6HRAnMw
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
''Amazing Forever''
BlackPanther challenges deffinetly got added this update. pic.twitter.com/VDKfJbzSA4
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
Shockwave
''ompete to win three rounds in a knockback focused arena. Weapons don't damage players, but instead knock them back. The more a player has been hit, the more they will be knocked back. The first team to survive three rounds gets the Victory Royale.''
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
New added voicelines when killing Imagined Order Guards pic.twitter.com/Qy33wYOyzj
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
Wakanda forever.
"These trials shall test your worthiness.""Are you ready to prove yourself?"
"Win or lose, you have done us proud."
"Fight with pride. Fight with honor."
"Excellent. Keep those allies close."
"Strong alliances are the best weapon."— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
Sounds have been added for Snow Storms ! pic.twitter.com/5xtWpcBYGC
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
There is a possibility of Black Panther being a NPC
"AISpawnerData.Type.Tandem.PlumRetro"
PlumRetro is the file name for Black Panther and any other NPC has "AISpawnerData.Type.Tandem.(file name of the NPC)"
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
possibly the Crew cosmetic for January
— FortTory – Fortnite leaks & news (@FortTory) December 15, 2020
Same as before, we’ll be updated this post with the datamined content as it’s mined! So keep refreshing the post and we’ll post an official update to the post once it’s final.
Update: It seems this is all the datamined stuff found for today’s Fortnite update! Updated the headline to reflect it as well.
Following Treyarch’s announcement after last week’s patch roll out, the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War update 1.08 December 15 patch is now live, and this is the patch that brings weapon tuning, and more importantly, the Season 1 data that should be live tomorrow.
Update #3: Added the official patch notes via Treyarch
Update #2: Added info regarding the new weapons that are already in the game even before Season 1 launches, as well as changes to the Ninja perk and more.
Update: Call of Duty YouTubet Drift0r has posted the unofficial stat changes for weapons!
Download sizes: 3.4GB to 7GB depending on platform; Call of Duty: Warzone will have a separate dowwnload.
Treyarch has announced that the patch notes will be released before Season 1 goes live. The changes in this patch includes weapon and perk tuning, Zombies updates, and more.
Read below for patch notes for our latest Black Ops Cold War game update, as well as all the new content and experiences to expect in Black Ops Cold War and Warzone when Season One drops on December 16th.
* = Denotes content or feature available at the start of Season One.
GLOBAL
Battle Pass*
Progression*
Challenges*
Operator Missions*
Stability
UI
MULTIPLAYER
Maps
Game Modes
Featured Playlists*
Weapons
Perks
Equipment
Field Upgrades
Scorestreaks
General
ZOMBIES
General
Stability
Weapons*
Die Maschine
Dead Ops Arcade 3
Onslaught (PS4/PS5)
PC
Stability
General
WARZONE* (Update available 11PM PT Dec. 15)
Maps
Events
Modes
Weapons
Operators
Vehicles
Progression
Challenges
General
Included in this update:
• Weapon tuning for multiple classes, including tactical rifles
• Perk tuning, including reducing Flak Jacket protection
• MP mode updates
• Spawn improvements
• Zombies fixes + updates, including 2-player splitscreen
• PC stability updates
+ more
Unofficial patch notes:
AUG minor damage nerf: 54->51
M60 ADS time reduction 700ms->600ms
Gallo Fire rate nerf -> 212RPM -> 189RPM
FFAR Range buff: 25.4m -> 38.1m
Milano 821 Range buff -> 12.7m -> 15.4m
KSP Range buff -> 11.4m -> 15.24m
(this is all I could find tonight)
— Drift0r (@Drift0r) December 15, 2020
The AUG got a close range damage reduction: 54->51
Range is the same
Burst speed & delay is the same
Recoil is the same
M16 is unchanged— Drift0r (@Drift0r) December 15, 2020
The HARP scorestreak is now available in multiplayer!
HARP the ‘new’ scorestreak was added in the small update we got today.
by inblackopscoldwar
Ninja has been nerfed! Field Mics resistance moved to Spycraft perk:
They nerfed Ninja. 😅
It's no longer resistant to Field Mics.
Spycraft however has been buffed by adding resistance to Field Mics. #BlackOpsColdWar pic.twitter.com/FiaLMZwbPN
— ModernWarzone (@ModernWarzone) December 15, 2020
Flak Jacket perk has been nerfed!
New weapons have been added:
We’ll have the full patch notes in the post once Treyarch releases it. In the meantime, go check out the slate of new content in Season 1 right here, where we list the new weapons, maps, modes and more coming tomorrow for free!
For those interested in picking up the game’s first Battle Pass, we also posted a preview of that along with the trailer here. We’ll be giving away a couple of Battle Passes either later today or tomorrow, so keep an eye out for that, too.
Capcom has just released the Devil May Cry 5 update/DMC5 update 1.10 patch, and it’s live now! It clocks in at 2.4GB on the PS4 version, and it includes new content, and more! Head on below for details.
This title update adds support for the Vergil DLC ($4.99) and introduces new Trophies as well.
Here’s the rundown of the Vergil DLC per Capcom:
Playable Vergil
(Now also available as DLC for Devil May Cry 5 on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One)
If you’ve been following our news and updates since the Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition announcement, you should know Vergil is a pretty big deal for this version of the game. You’ll be able to start playing as him right away!
SIDE NOTE: a quick word of warning to newcomers. If you’re looking to experience the full story of DMC5SE, I recommend starting with the Nero / V / Dante campaign. The Vergil campaign assumes you have already played the original story, and offers fewer story moments. And if you want to get a refresher on the story of previous games, look for the brief overview “History of DMC” on the main menu.
Vergil comes fully equipped with his signature weapons and various forms of power. Of course, you’ll be able to power-up those weapons and abilities even more with Red Orbs, but here’s a quick breakdown of his demonic arsenal:
If you haven’t bought the game yet, you might want to check out our review and see why we liked it so much.
While Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are all competitors when it comes to video game products, the big three gaming manufacturers have banded together to help foster a safer online gaming experience for everyone — regardless of which platform they play on.
Check out the key points of interests and goals below.
At Xbox, we are aligned with both Nintendo, on behalf of the community of Nintendo Switch players, and PlayStation in our belief that protecting players online requires a multidisciplinary approach – one that combines the benefits of advanced technology, a supportive community, and skilled human oversight. We can accomplish more when we work toward the same goal, and so we will each continue investing in, evolving, and amplifying our approaches to user safety. As we continue this work, we will prioritize protecting the safety of our players, especially those most vulnerable.
The following principles guide our work.
Prevention: Empower players and parents to understand and control gaming experiences.
Partnership: We commit to partnering with the industry, regulators, law enforcement, and our communities to advance user safety.
Responsibility: We hold ourselves accountable for making our platforms as safe as possible for all players.
As someone who games online a lot, I approve of this. Gaming has become a pasttime for all ages, and this includes young ‘uns that shouldn’t be bullied or preyed upon by people with hidden agendas.
Source: Xbox Wire
In just a few days, the first season of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War will commence, and players will be treated to new weapons, new maps, integration to Call of Duty: Warzone and loads more! Also coming in the new season is the Black Ops Cold War Season 1 Battle Pass!
Same as with Modern Warfare, Black Ops Cold War’s Battle Pass will feature new cosmetics and other items that will make your character stand out from the pack. Curious what’s in it? Head on below for the trailer and info.
Important to note: the Black Ops Cold War Season 1 Battle Pass will feature two rewards in some tiers: One for Black Ops Cold War, and one for Warzone. These rewards will be marked in the Battle Pass.
Check out a preview of the Battle Pass items below.
Tier 0 – Instantly Unlock Stitch, Skins for Adler, and More
New Operator – Stitch: The infamous one-eyed Gulag escapee is unlocked at Tier 0. With this unlock comes his “Redacted” skin, the signature armor he stepped out of the shadows with to greet Adler as the CIA agent fell into his nefarious trap.
This instant unlock also comes with the “Release Agent” Operator Mission, a set of objectives based in Multiplayer that rewards two skins – “Storm Diver” and “Spectre” – as well as a Calling Card, an Emblem., and plenty of XP to help set you on the path to reaching Prestige Master.
Finally, for the first time in a Battle Pass, players can unlock additional rewards through Zombies through the “Containment Zone” Operator Mission. Completing these objectives unlocks the “Siberian Ghost” and “Toxic Terror” skins, another Emblem and Calling Card, and even more XP. Expect to find another Zombies Operator Mission alongside a Multiplayer-based one at Tier 20 when Garcia’s “Sicario” skin is unlocked.
Adler Operator Skin and Mission – Stitch’s nemesis also gets a set of Tier 0 unlocks through the “Traveler” skin, a blue jacket that he wears whenever he puts a target on a permanent vacation, and the “Urban Infiltration” Operator Mission. By completing objectives within this mission, you can unlock the jet-black “Summit” and colorful “Globetrotter” skins, a Calling Card, an Emblem, and plenty of additional XP.
Silver Flash Watch – The time is right to welcome in some ‘80s inspired wrist accessories to Black Ops Cold War and Warzone, and it all starts with this Silver Flash Watch instantly unlocked at Tier 0. Synced to a real-world clock, this simple timepiece is sure to evoke some nostalgic feelings of a decade gone by.
Seasonal XP Boost – Purchase the Season One Battle Pass and enjoy a 10% increase in all XP earned during the season.
1,300 COD Points
Just by playing the game, you can earn up to 300 COD Points through the Season One Battle Pass System. Purchase the Season One Battle Pass, and you will be able to earn an additional 1,000 COD Points, which can be used toward a future Battle Pass or Store Bundle purchase.
New Free Base Weapons
These two primary weapons, free to earn through the Battle Pass System, are ready to lead you to victory in Multiplayer and Warzone, or rip through the undead hordes in Zombies.
Mac-10 SMG (Tier 15): This compact, blowback operated submachine gun may be small in stature, but its ability to throw out lead at high fire rates allows it to punch up to the heavyweights. It’s the fastest-firing SMG compared to the five available at launch, and that’s not all. The Mac-10 boasts a solid effective damage range and can be reloaded quicker than the average SMG. Just be sure to control its high vertical recoil, or get close enough to the enemy to make it a non-issue.
Groza Assault Rifle (Tier 31): Chambered in 7.62, the Groza is a prototypical Soviet bullpup assault rifle known for its great handling speeds, allowing its owner to quickly aim down sights in the heat of battle. With a fire rate and bullet velocity near the top of its category, expect to deal solid damage to a target down-range and with quick follow-up shots for whoever arrives as backup.
New Weapon Blueprints
Ready to stock up on Weapon Blueprints?
The Season One Battle Pass includes a massive 20-weapon collection of preconfigured and stylized Blueprints across seven primary and secondary weapon categories. Over half are considered Legendary, as they come with five attachments preconfigured, and three of these are included in the four free Weapon Blueprint tiers within the Battle Pass System. Although there are plenty of highlights in the earlier tiers, here’s three of the four powerhouses that bulk up the final 20 Tiers of the Battle Pass:
“Arid Constrictor” Assault Rifle Blueprint (FREE Tier 81): Built on the fastest-firing assault rifle in the game, the Arid Constrictor features a desert snake design wrapped around a collection of attachments that improve the weapon’s speed and accuracy statistics significantly.
“Constable” Tactical Rifle (Tier 85): You may never love another after taking this Blueprint out for a spin. The included Axial Arms 3x Scope is a perfect match for the four other attachments that maximize the weapon’s accuracy, including an Infantry Compensator and Field Agent Grip to reduce vertical and horizontal recoil.
“Gallantry” SMG (Tier 95): The first Blueprint for the new SMG, the Gallantry buffs this highly mobile weapon across the board in a gold-trimmed style with its five attachments. This includes a Bruiser Grip, which boosts speeds for regular movement, sprinting, moving while shooting, and aim walking, as well as a STANAG 55 Round Drum for additional bullets in each magazine.
Get More for Your Operators
Dread being caught wearing default threads? The Season One Battle Pass includes new skins for several NATO Operators as well as Beck, Portnova, and Garcia of the Warsaw Pact.
“Raider” Beck Skin (Tier 10): Beck is ready to pillage HQ with this brown leather jacket skin that’s fit for adventure. Complete the included Operator Mission to unlock his “Bruiser” and “Crash Course” skins, as well as the “Target Confirmed” Calling Card and “Burn Rubber” Emblem.
“Base Jumper” Adler Skin (FREE Tier 90): The “Base Jumper” skin is perfect for cold weather conditions, along with the “Stalker” and “Glitz” snowsuit skins unlocked through the included Operator Mission. Also included in this objective set is the “Stunner Shades” Calling Card and “Fly Guy” Emblem.
PLUS the “Pain in the Neck” Finishing Move (Tier 19): Finish off an unsuspecting enemy in style in Black Ops Cold War or Warzone with this new move that goes right for the jugular. This Finishing Move can be used by any Operator and is equipped in the Operator menu.
Tier 100 – The Ultimate Reward for Battle Pass Completion:
Reach Tier 100 to get a glimpse into Stitch’s past and show off some Legendary items during your next infiltration.
“Prisoner” Stitch Skin and Operator Mission: The orange jumpsuit Stitch wore as he plotted his escape from the Gulag is all yours at Tier 100. Fit him back in his old uniform and complete the included Operator Mission to get two more skins – “New Warden” and “Stripes” – as well as an Epic Emblem and Legendary animated Calling Card.
“Natural Order” Assault Rifle Blueprint: This Legendary Blueprint for the new assault rifle is ready to lay down the law in the hands of an agile Operator. It comes pre-configured with a Spetsnaz Compensator, Spetsnaz Grip, Dropshot Wrap, KGB Pad, and a Barrel that boosts its damage and strafe speed, all of which make for a powerful version of this mobile bullpup firearm.
“Assault” Vehicle Skins: A pair of black-and-white camouflage vehicle skins with red trim are included at this tier. Warzone players will enjoy this “Assault” skin on the SUV, while those who own Black Ops Cold War will also receive a similar “Assault” skin for the Tactical Raft in that game.
Season One Emblem: Put on this animated Emblem onto your player profile with pride, as it is a symbol of completing the Season One Battle Pass.
Speaking of the Black Ops Cold War Season 1 Battle Pass, we here at MP1st will be giving some away tomorrow! So stay tuned!
Source: Activision
Packed brimmed with content, along with some next-gen enhancements, we go one on one with the newest version of Mortal Kombat 11 to truly see how “ultimate” it truly is. Head on below for our Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate review to see if it’s worth the upgrade.
Look, it’s no secret from my original review of Mortal Kombat 11 and it’s story/character expansion, Aftermath that I really like this game. Fun and engaging story found in both base game and it’s first story expansion, Aftermath, along with a jammed packed cast of prime fighters, MK11 over the last year has shaped up to be one of the best fighters to release last generation. Of course, being a fighter, it’s understandable that many probably skipped out on it seeing that fighters tend to release a complete edition, and well, that seems to be what the Ultimate edition is.
Bolstering all 37 fighters, including the new ones in Kombat Pack 2, the ultimate edition is without a doubt the best way to play Mortal Kombat 11. Honestly there really isn’t a whole lot to say that I haven’t already said in my last two reviews for the game. This Ultimate edition wraps everything up (DLC and updates) in a nicely priced package.
Even for fans who have been heavily invested since the start are rewarded with a reasonably priced upgrade option, which is great given the amount of content you get in the Kombat Pass 2. Furthermore, with the release of the Ultimate edition, fans are also treated with a free upgrade to the next-gen versions, including base game owners! So what are these upgrades?
Well, playing on the PS5, big noticeable differences were the load times of matches which now only take a couple of seconds to start. Additionally the game does have dynamic 4K resolution and when compared to the PS4 (Pro) version it is definitely far sharper. This, combined with the now 100% locked frame-rate makes MK11 one beautiful game to look at. To be fair, MK11 was already looked great on on last-gen consoles. I think the upgrades feel more in line of a small remastering as while the improvements are preferable, they won’t be making anyone think it’s huge jump by any means. Still, the enhancements are well welcome, especially since they’re free anyway.
I suppose the biggest piece of content that many fans are looking for is the introduction of the new Kombat Pack. Included in the Ultimate edition (and sold separately,) Kombat Pack 2 marks the return of two long time fan favorites, along with a surprise guest character.
After over a year and a half of constant non-stop requests, NetherRealm Studios has finally decided cave in and give the fans what they wanted. That’s right, Mileena is finally back along with that beautiful smile that fans have grown to love over the last decades. I have to say, while I’m not that big on the character (at least compared to some fans,) her return truly feels like a special one.
Looking at her design, you can instantly tell that this iteration of her has some strong influence from the original classic pink ninja design. But make no mistakes, underneath her innocent look is a deadly arsenal of weapons, and a move set that packs blood inducing pain. Her three variations can easily fit with anyone’s play style, though her combo sets may be a bit limited. However, that has never been a problem for Mileena mains as they should feel right at home with her in MK11.
Out of all three Kombat Pack 2 character, she is without a question the bloodiest, holding a strong competition even against the current roster. Watching her eat the flesh off another character, or rolling up into an unstoppable spinning ball of pointy blades brings an uneasy feeling to my stomach, and rightfully so. After all, this is Mortal Kombat and it wouldn’t be it if it wasn’t trying to push the envelope of gore.
Like Mileena, Rain has been an all time favorite ever since his introduction to the Mortal Kombat universe in Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3. While initially a joke character, Rain has since seen many various iteration with this latest leaning heavily on his demi-god heritage.
In fact, MK11 seems to reshape his entire origin of abilities as he now can turn himself into water, create portals, and mold a variety of sharp watery weapons that’ll make you squirm as they slice through flesh. I think he might be my new favorite character in the roster as he is fast and agile, with a move set that packs huge amount of variation.
Least I forget to mention his super cool ninja design, which much like Mileena, also pays tribute to his classic look. There is a lot to love about Rain, especially when it comes to some of his amazing fatalities. I’m sure you’ve seen them already, but if you haven’t, prepare for quite a surprise.
The biggest surprise in the Kombat Pack 2 is no doubt the addition of Sylvester Stallone’s, John James Rambo. Over the top, gun blazing action is what Rambo is best known for and NetherRealm doesn’t disappoint when it comes to just that.
Sure, compared to the other two characters above he is a bit sluggish in his movement as he comes off as a heavy brute, but the move set behind him pays so much homage to the character. It’s hard not to smile when you see him crawling along stage floors, unloading a clip of ammo that seemingly has no end, or watching him rip off someone’s throat as he did in his iconic film.
The best part, outside of the hugely respectable tower ending, is the fact that Sylvester Stallone voices him. Yeah you read right, the man who made the role famous is now playing him once more, only this time its from a mic. Talk about badass right? The only thing that would make this even more perfect is if they somehow got Arnold Schwarzenegger to agree to re-voice the Terminator, but I’ll take what I got now to set up the dream fight between the two.
If you are looking for a perfect way to get into the much acclaimed fighter, then Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is undoubtedly your answer. Packing in heat with two stellar campaigns, a roster of 37 excellent fighters, and over a year and half worth of updates, the Mortal Kombat experience doesn’t get any better than this.
A review copy was provided by the publisher. Played on the PS4 Pro and PS5. You can read SP1st and MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.
It’s hard to imagine a time when many gamers were willing to fork off tons of money just to be the first to get a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, but now it’s apparent that many did just that and even paid double the price — leading to a lot of scalpers earning as much as $19 Million during the Q4 2020 according to an analysis by Dev.
As tweeted by Daniel Ahmad, scalpers earned a profit of $19 Million for selling PS5’s on Ebay, while those who sold Xbox Series X|S consoles earned $10 Million in profit.
33K PS5's were sold on Ebay through Dec 1.
The disc PS5 had a median price of $1,021. Digital at $937. Scalpers earned around $19m in profit.
30K Xbox's were sold on Ebay through Dec 1.
Series X median price was $865. Series S was $469.
Scalpers earned around $10m in profit. https://t.co/T9tHZNPgZQ— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) December 14, 2020
Essentially, it comes down to demand and profit — where people who want to be the first to get the consoles will pay any price to those hoarding and scalping the first batches they can get their hands on. As the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S pre-orders were mostly restricted to online purchases during the pandemic which made slots to get these limited, a lot of scalpers took advantage of the situation and sold their units for double the normal price on sites like Ebay. Depending on which version — PS5 units were sold over a $1,000 each while Xbox Series X went for as high as $865. In the end, it becomes a shady business practice and while Sony and Microsoft have promised to produce more units by next year — people who couldn’t wait and gave in to these scalpers just gave them a $19 Million payday.
Be sure to check out more news and features on games and more right here on MP1st.
Basketball fans, Visual Concepts has released the NBA 2K21 update 1.004.000 December 14 patch for next-gen platforms! Note that this is only available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the basketball game, though we expect the current-gen versions should be getting one soon too.
Clocking in at 15GB on the PS5 and 3.4GB on Xbox Series X, head on below for details on today’s NBA 2K21 update.
Update: Full patch notes has been released by Visual Concepts!
Visual Concepts has not released the official patch notes yet, but here are some confirmed fixes via the community:
That’s it so far, however, we do know some of the stuff that still aren’t fixed in today’s patch and they are listed below:
Once Visual Concepts has released the official patch notes, we’ll be sure to update the post. If you spot any gameplay-related changes and whatnot, feel free to leave a comment below and let us know.
Update: We’ve updated the post with the official patch notes.
It’s been less than a week since Cyberpunk 2077 finally released worldwide, and things haven’t been a smooth ride in Night City for some players as the game has experiences some bugs and performance issues — especially for the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game. After observing the matter and hearing the complaints of many, CD Projekt Red has owned up to these faults and apologized — promising to fix these issues or outright refund those who are unhappy with their experiences.
Through their official social media channels, Team Cyberpunk has released an official statement addressed to all the gamers and fans who bought the game.
— Cyberpunk 2077 (@CyberpunkGame) December 14, 2020
Here’s the entire transcript of the statement in full:
Dear gamers,
First of all, we would like to start by apologizing to you for not showing the game on base last-gen consoles before it premiered and, in consequence, not allowing you to make a more informed decision about your purchase. We should have paid more attention to making it play better on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Second, we will fix bugs and crashes, and improve the overall experience. The first round of updates has just been released and the next one is coming within the next seven days. Expect more, as we will update frequently whenever new improvements are ready. After the holidays, we’ll continue working—we’ll release two large patches starting with Patch #1 in January. This will be followed by Patch #2 in February. Together these should fix the most prominent problems gamers are facing on last-gen consoles. We will be informing you about the contents of each patch ahead of their release. They won’t make the game on last-gen look like it’s running on a high-spec PC or next-gen console, but it will be closer to that experience than it is now.
Finally, we would always like everyone who buys our games to be satisfied with their purchase. We would appreciate it if you would give us a chance, but if you are not pleased with the game on your console and don’t want to wait for updates, you can opt to refund your copy. For copies purchased digitally, please use the refund system of PlayStation Network or Xbox respectively. For boxed versions, please first try to get a refund at the store where you bought the game. Should this not be possible, please contact us at helpmerefund@cdprojektred.com and we will do our best to help you. Starting from today, you can contact us for a week up until December 21, 2020.
Humbly
Marcin Iwinski, Adam Kicinski, Adam Badowski, Michał Nowakowski, Piotr Nielubowicz, Piotr KarwowskiP.S. PC gamers will also be getting regular updates and fixes improving the game.
For more news and features on Cyberpunk 2077, be sure to visit our archives here on SP1st.
Cyberpunk 2077 is now available for PS4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, and PC, and will be coming soon for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
While guardians just got Destiny 2 hotfix 3.0.1 last week, Bungie has rolled out the Destiny 2 update 2.07 December 14 patch, or what the studio calls hotfix 3.0.1.2! This is a client-side patch, which players can download while Destiny 2 is under maintenance.
The maintenance period started at 9 a.m. PT and will last for an hour, so players can expect the game to be back online at 10 a.m. PT.
Update: Official patch notes for today’s Destiny 2 update has been released!
We’re also expecting that The Dawning 2020 game data should be part of today’s patch roll out, even if the event doesn’t start until tomorrow. We’ll update the post once Bungie releases the official notes which should be very soon.
Update: Bungie has released the official patch notes for today’s Destiny 2 hotfix 3.0.1.2 and the post has been updated to reflect this.
Following yesterday’s news that EA is seeking to buy Codemasters after Take-Two Interactive’s initial announcement, EA has announced that it has reached an agreement with the Board of Codemasters to aqcuire the UK-based studio.
In the announcement, it states that Codemasters’ shareholders will be entitled to receive 604 pence (approximately US$7.98*) in cash for each ordinary share of Codemasters with an implied enterprise value of $1.2 billion, with the acquisition expected to be completed in the first quarter of calendar 2021.
A “Strategic Rationale” has also been revealed as to why the partnership makes sense for both parties.
Strategic Rationale:
Does this mean Codemasters will be handling Need for Speed? Who knows, but we’re interested to know what the future holds.
While we’re technically not getting any new content for Remnant From the Ashes (at least not that we know of), Gunfire Games has released the Remnant From the Ashes update 1.22, and as mentioned above, players shouldn’t expect any new content.
We're pushing a patch for #PS4 that allows Remnant players in US & EU to play with Remnant players in Japan!
— Remnant 2 (@Remnant_Game) December 10, 2020
We’re pushing a patch for #PS4 that allows Remnant players in US & EU to play with Remnant players in Japan!
As far as we’re aware, that’s the only thing that got changed. We’re keeping an eye out on the community to see if anyone reports any changes from this update. And of course, if Gunfire Games releases official notes, we’ll update the post. In the meantime, if you spot any gameplay-related changes, or other tweaks, let us know what you find down in the comments below.
Hopefully, we get more Remnant From the Ashes content in 2021.
Just last month, Take-Two Interactive shocked the gaming world when it announced its intention to acquire Codemasters, the studio behind the Dirt, Grid, F1 and other racing properties. It seems things aren’t going to go down swimmingly as Take-Two Interactive assumed, as publisher EA has reportedly threw their hat into the ring!
The report comes from Sky News, who mentions that EA has a potential “knockout bid” for Codesmasters that would trump the racing studio’s offer from Take-Two Interactive! The anonymous source states that EA is working with bank UBS on its own offer, with intent to buy being disclosed to the stock market on Monday morning.
No specific details regarding EA’s potential offer was disclosed, and it’s unclear whether Take-Two Interactive would counter EA’s offer if it indeed came to light. For reference, Take-Two’s offer was as follows: The transaction values each Codemasters’ share at 485 pence ($6.39) and an implied equity value of approximately £759 million ($994 million).
We’ve contacted EA and Codesmasters to see if they have a statement regarding this and will update if we hear anything back.
Bear in mind tha this is still a rumor, so take everything with a grain of salt for now.
With last year’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, one of the biggest things to come out of the woodwork is none other than Skill Based Matchmaking (SBMM). While Activision and developers have remained quiet about it, the chatter surrounding it has seeped in into Black Ops Cold War. If you’re curiuous how Black Ops Cold War SBMM works, well, you’ve come to the right place.
YouTubers, Xclusive Ace, Drift0r, JGOD, and S0ur, collaborated to test how strict SBMM is in Black Ops Cold War, and for those who’re playing the game, I gather, you won’t really be surprised at the results. We’ve posted a summary of the findings, as well as the methodology on what steps each YouTuber took to come up with the data.
Methodology:
| Testing Process |
| Make sure crossplay is ON |
| Test during peak play time (weekend) to maximize potential player pool |
| Stick to one game mode, solo play only (All recorded SPM data should be for the game mode being tested only to prevent massively skewed results) |
| Collect data from 10 matches per account tested |
| Each account tested gets its own tab in this sheet |
| Record the ping for each game and save screenshots of each lobby showing all of the players |
| Record how long it takes to get into a lobby from the moment you start searching (Optional) |
| Play each match fully while attempting to perform at the level of the account you’re testing (If you’re testing a 0.7K/D account, try to maintain a 0.7 K/D and comparable SPM each game) |
| After 10 games, record/screenshot the “Last 10 Games Played” Data in the after action report (all tabs) |
The findings based on Xlcusive Ace’s video are listed below (thanks to Reddit for a quick summary). Note that each YouTuber found the same results after testing, which meant that the findings were consistent across different platforms and accounts.
Black Ops Cold War SBMM Test Results:
You can check out the complete raw data numbers on kills, deaths and more in this Google Document made and shared by the YouTubers involved in the testing.
Basically, it seems that Black Ops Cold War’s SBMM is the same as Modern Warfare, which was super strict (you can read about that here), meaning that this should be loved by new players to the game, or those that aren’t that good, but for vets and for those that can hold their own and then some, expect toughter matches, longer match wait times, laggy matches, and the like.
Surprised by the results or not at all? Do you think there’s a healthy compromise Activision and Call of Duty devs can come up with or is this too beneficial for new players that they should leave it be? Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below.
We’ve embedded the videos of each YouTuber who participated and who posted a video about it below as well.
For those in need of some holiday cheer and a fan of Destiny 2, rejoice! Bungie has announced that the Destiny 2 The Dawning 2020 launch this coming week! Expect new gifts and more to come this December 15 until next year.
Check out the trailer and info overview below.
Even the biting chill of Europa can’t freeze the warm hearts of Guardians during this special time of year. Eva Levante welcomes you to the Tower to learn a new recipe, to find an unexpected gift or two, and take a trip in your tricked-out Exotic ship while you’re at it. Spread cheer and get gear… The Dawning has returned.
A delicious holiday treat has a few requirements: a handy recipe, the finest ingredient materials for you to gather, and a primed Holiday Oven. New vendors and seasonal rewards await!
SPREAD CHEER
Celebrate the season and spread good cheer! Earn Dawning Spirit by completing missions, bounties, and recipes. With personal and communal goals available, the more Spirit that Guardians generate, the better the rewards that Eva will have for everyone to share.
Enjoy a cozy ride in a new Exotic ship, complete with a smorgasbord of features. Generate Dawning Spirit to unlock your ship’s aesthetic delights, including three selectable engine effects, a unique transmat effect, an animated shader that’s as unique as the ship itself, and more
Earn the new Legendary Fusion Rifle Glacioclasm and show the enemies of humanity that, even though this is a season of forgiveness, the forecast still calls for pain.
DECORATIONS
Looking for something special to spruce things up? Tess has just what you need to finish off your holiday décor, from an elf-themed Ghost shell (shelf not included) to weapon ornaments that will turn heads as you trim down your naughty list.
We might be getting a title update to go with this and if we do, we’ll let our readers know.
Source: Bungie
Cyberpunk is a genre and setting you would expect to be far more prevalent in video games than it is. Cities consisting of needlessly massive super structures reaching into the sky, the potential complexity and variation of NPCs one could interact with, all the elevators to hide load times strewn everywhere: it just makes so much sense.
This fall is an exciting time for fans of the genre as three cyberpunk games are being released. With Ghost Runner having recently been released on consoles and Cyberpunk 2077 coming out in December, there’s plenty in which to indulge. Part of this trifecta of gloomy hyper-techno future is Cloudpunk: an ambitious freshman outing for indie studio Ion Lands out of Germany. This review will focus on the console edition since the PC version came out back in April. Can it stand up next to the two cousins it has in the genre as well as on its own merits? Let’s talk about it in our Cloudpunk review.
Let’s start with the game’s feature that provides the most striking initial impression: The visuals. This game uses voxel art (if you’re unfamiliar, think three-dimensional pixel art made of small cubes rather than other shapes of polygons). It has a real sense of place and age. It isn’t perfect of course, there are a couple of areas where you can clearly watch far off buildings slowly grow into existence as you fly closer, but in the moment to moment it’s truly impressive. I found myself wondering what all the little voxel stick-figures behind the lights in the windows were doing, whether they were working late or if they just ran out to keep their HOVA (this games version of hover cars) from getting towed and forgot to catch the lights on the way out. It’s the same feeling I’ve had seeing downtown Denver lit up after dark. The setting and atmosphere here are strong enough that I wanted to care about the inhabitants based on the strength of the world alone.
The game is essentially a delivery sim, you fly your HOVA to a spot on the map, land it at a parking spot, and walk around platforms of various sizes and complexity until you find what you’re looking for. Typically an NPC, and engage them in a short conversation. During conversation the voxel person you’re speaking with appears in a highly detailed, mildly surrealistic portrait on the bottom of the screen with the spoken dialogue subtitled next to it. Then you disengage with them and are almost immediately contacted by either your HOVA’s on board AI named Camus, a software designed to act like a beloved dog, or one of another2-3 quest givers you meet along the way.
Conversation and character dialogue are nearly constant if you’re actively pursuing the main story objectives. In fact I would go so far as to say that this entire game plays out like the Rockstar Games style walk-and-talk sections. There aren’t any cinematics, but it is still clear that story was the main focus of development. The story is good, if not somewhat predictable at times, and I found myself caring about the constantly talking pictures that were floating on the bottom of the screen. The story is the second best part of the game so I don’t want to spoil anything. I will say that while it deals with common Cyberpunk themes: the value of the individual, the evil of uncaring corporate feudalism, transhumanism, the way our luck and money changes how we see the world, etc. It tackles all of these themes well and it never struck me as condescending. The voice acting is solid with only a couple odd portrait/vocal matchings. This goes for the story characters as well as the side characters. Plenty of those one off conversations or side mission stories are pretty enjoyable too.
It’s a shame then that with all the solid background elements and features in the game, that the gameplay itself is lacking. As mentioned before, the whole game feels like a walk-and-talk. You fly to an objective listening to the dialogue, land, walk around picking up collectibles, most of which didn’t appear to do much other than fill up an inventory that I never had to open. I did a couple of times on accident and found that I had a smorgasbord of random things that never ended up having a purpose in my 13 hours of play time. In fact, between the dark color pallet and Synth-ambient music, I found myself struggling to stay awake while playing on a number of occasions once Raina’s com went quiet.
The HOVA itself flies slow enough that it is maneuverable but doesn’t ever get a particular sense of speed when driving it around. The walking sections are common but not the focus. For the most part you’re just slowly flying a hover car listening to people talk. On occasion, I found myself wondering why this wasn’t just made a voiced motion comic, or even a Podcast. But then I’d see the clouds billowing overhead and laugh at another one of Camus’ jokes and I’d keep going.
Suffice after saying all that, to say that if you were expecting Need for Speed: Bladerunner or Crazy Taxi 9000, this isn’t it(if anyone knows someone at Capcom to try and make that happen please let me know). If you care about story and atmosphere more than anything, then this is likely worth your time. If the gameplay and interactive portion is your primary concern, it’s harder to recommend.
Cloudpunk is a game I’m glad exists. It’s a game I hope people see. It is definitely not for everyone, possibly even most people. But it leaves me very much hoping that Ion Lands gets to keep making games and gets to do so with a bigger budget as I suspect most of the issues I had with Cloudpunk would have been at least a little alleviated with a bigger budget. It is encouraging to see that the developers are still adding features and I’ll be following their work in the future.
Cloudpunk review code provided by the publisher. Game tested on the Xbox One. You can read SP1st and MP1st’s review and scoring policy right here.
Announced last Thursday night during The Game Awards, ARK: Survival Evolved animated tv series list of star strutted cast has been revealed.
The newly announced ARK: Survival Evolved animated tv series will feature a line of familiar voices and acting talent, most notably that of Vin Diesel who has been appointed as President of Creative Convergence and acting executive producer for both ARK 2 and the animated series over at Studio Wildcard. Lead writers include Marguerite Bennett and Kendall Deacon Davis, with voice cast being lent by Gerard Butler (300), Michelle Yeoh (Crazy Rich Asians), Devery Jacobs (American Gods), Madeleine Madden (The Wheel of Time), Deborah Mailman (Total Control), Zahn McClarnon (Doctor Sleep), Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Elliot Page (The Umbrella Academy), Ragga Ragnars (Vikings), David Tennant (Good Omens), Karl Urban (The Boys), Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), and Russell Crowe (Gladiator). Full details on who each of the voice actors will be playing can be found below.
The cast
BIO FOR VIN DIESEL
Native New Yorker Vin Diesel is a prominent actor, producer and filmmaker who is most widely known as the patriarch in the Fast and Furious film series, in which he stars and produces. The record-breaking eighth installment has had the largest international release of all time, grossing over $1.2 billion worldwide. His other film franchises include: Richard B. Riddick in the Chronicles of Riddick series and Xander Cage in the xXx, series as well as the voice of Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy films and Avengers: Infinity Wars.
BIO FOR JAY OLIVA
An animation industry veteran since 1996, Oliva has directed a dozen animated films for both Marvel and DC, including The Dark Knight Returns and the acclaimed Young Justice series. In 2012, Oliva was recruited by Zack Snyder to storyboard the DC Cinematic Universe, beginning with Man Of Steel. In 2018, Oliva founded Lex + Otis as an independent, artist-driven TV and film animation studio. He is currently the showrunner for multiple animated series, including Trese and Army Of The Dead.
BIO FOR JEREMY STIEGLITZ AND JESSE RAPCZAK
Since revealing their original game in 2015, game creators Stieglitz and Rapczak have worked tirelessly together to bring their dinosaur-filled vision to the masses. With 35 million players worldwide, the two have coordinated an amazing amount of new content and leveraged cutting-edge technology to keep fans engaged and wanting more ARK.
BIO FOR MARGUERITE BENNETT
Bennett is an American comic book writer. She has worked on Batwoman, DC’s Bombshells, Batman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Josie and the Pussycats, and her creator-owned books InSeXts and Animosity. Her work has been recognized for her depiction of female relationships, her representation of LGBTQ stories and characters, earning nominations for a GLAAD Media Award in both 2016 and 2017.
BIO FOR KENDALL DEACON DAVIS
Davis is the head writer for Lex + Otis, and oversees all internal story development and script writing for the studio. He started his career as a narrative designer on Microsoft’s Halo 4 then went on to design some of the highest rated episodes in the history of Telltale Games—including the BAFTA nominated finale of The Wolf Among Us. Before joining Lex + Otis Kendall created the story and mythology for the global launch of the multi-billion grossing franchise, Honor of Kings.
A new extended trailer of the one that premiered during the Game Wards can be found below.
ARK 2 and ARK: Survival Evolved Animated TV Series are set to release sometimes in 2022.
The battle pass has become a staple of most games that include a multiplayer or online element today. They’re an easy way for publishers and developers to monetise a game long after its release whilst giving players something meaningful in return for their cash. Whilst early monetisation methods were seen as cheap ways for a publisher such as EA to lock content behind a paywall or make a game easier if you were willing to pay for help, the battle pass system is totally the opposite.
Whether you’re looking at For Honor, Call of Duty: Warzone, Destiny 2, or Fortnite, each game has its own battle pass system. Players pay roughly $15, and in return, they’re given potentially more than 100 rewards. All they need to do is play the game, earn experience, and unlock as many levels of the battle pass as they can before it expires. Fortnite pioneered this system and set the industry standard for it. The price hasn’t changed much, and the battle pass’s content has always been firmly rooted in cosmetics. When someone tries to offer gameplay advantages as part of a battle pass, players react badly.
The whole point of a battle pass is that it’s an optional way for players to support the game they love and earn some good-looking items in return. If that battle pass starts to become a pay-to-win pass, then players will quickly move away from it. No one is interested in a game with pay-to-win functionality, which has further helped shape the battle pass as we know it now.
Enter Genshin Impact, a free-to-play game that exploded in popularity. While it does have a similar battle pass system, it’s microtransactions are very different from what we’ve come to expect from our online games. Here, players can spend in-game currency, which they can buy with real-world money, on a chance to earn a new character. That aspect of chance is what separates battle passes from what Genshin Impact offers. While you’d think that would mean that most players have shied away from what the game is offering, the total opposite is true.
Through Wishes, players can potentially earn a new character to use in Genshin Impact. Some of these characters are more powerful than others, therefore providing a clear gameplay advantage. Since Genshin Impact only allows for co-op online gameplay at the time of writing, this isn’t an issue. If there was a competitive mode, players might have reacted differently.
Genshin Impact’s launch saw players spending millions of dollars on Wishes. This is because players were trying to collect every character. It didn’t matter that they were probably paying more than they would for a battle pass. The game offered something new and exciting, and it struck a chord with everyone who played it.
The system I’m referring to is commonly known as gacha. It’s a similar system to loot boxes. Players buy a chance to earn a particular item, but they don’t always earn it. Instead, they have to keep paying for chances until they earn the reward they want. In Japan, where gacha is used in conjunction with collectibles, this is incredibly popular. Clearly, the system works just as well in games.
Now that one game has broadcasted gacha systems to an entirely new audience, battle passes could change. Over the coming years, we may well see monetisation in-game move away from guarantees rewards back to something that’s more akin to a casino online. Players could grow to love the chance of collecting a new item as much as some people love the feeling of playing a slot machine one more time.
The only issue is that loot boxes have been removed from most games because players despise them so much. So why does gacha work so well in Genshin Impact? It’s the collectible element that’s different there. Players are paying for a chance to earn something they want. They’re not opening a box for a chance at any number of items. They’re after something truly specific. Even if they don’t get it, the rewards help them in their game as they play. But when they earn that shiny new character, they’re on top of the world.
No one knows how battle passes will change in the future, but I suspect that they’ll start to encompass elements of gacha and online casinos. This could be with increased chances of earning a new collectible offered as part of the pass, bringing the two systems together. It could equally look a lot more drastic, with a battle pass linked to the number of attempts to earn a collectible you purchase. Much like loyalty points.
