Following last week’s State of Play, Sony announced that another episode is set to air on February 6, and this one is focused on Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth more than anything else. Well, it seems a trailer for the event was published a wee bit earlier than intended, as it leaked that the FF7 Rebirth demo is set to launch on Feb. 6!
Oddly enough, it seems Sony is the one that messed things up this time, as the trailer that leaked the date can be accessed on the PS5 dashboard under the “Explore” portion.
The trailer description states, “Experience the power of choice! The Final Fantasy VII Rebirth demo is out now, allowing you to step into the shoes of either Cloud or Sephiroth during the Nibelheim episode. Uncover the opening chapter of the game’s story and explore the world map. Your adventure, your choice!”
When Is the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Demo Out?
Given that Sony itself leaked this, this is as legit a leak as there’s any. The State of Play for FF7 Rebirth is due to air on Feb. 6, and the trailer was published at 4 pm PT/7 pm ET/8 am HKT, which is when the show ends, so this is most likely a surprise shadow drop just like what Square Enix did before with FF7 Remake.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is set to launch on Feb. 29 exclusively on the PS5.
With Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 2 arriving on February 7, the Call of Duty devs have planned to bring Warzone Ranked to Resurgence for the first time. We’ve got a bunch of details regarding how Resurgence Ranked will work, so without further ado, let’s dive into it!
Most of these details were shared via an Intel Drop on the official Call of Duty Twitter/X account:
Resurgence meets the high stakes of Ranked Play 🪂 🎖️@Treyarch and @RavenSoftware dive into everything you need to know about WZ Ranked Play: Resurgence including brand-new SR challenges, Death Fees, and more 🏆 pic.twitter.com/EnVhCHZcwf
Here’s everything you need to know about the new ranked mode.
Warzone Ranked Resurgence Details:
Resurgence Ranked will take place, at least initially, on the returning Fortune’s Keep map. While much of the map is familiar to Warzone veterans, it’s also been revamped to include new locations and pathways for players to discover. The updated design is intended to bring it up to speed with Modern Warfare 3’s new mechanics.
Players must be at least Level 55 to access Resurgence Ranked. The mode will initially only be available in Trios, and a number of restrictions will be placed on gameplay. For example, there will be no Public Events aside from fixed Firesale and Restock events. Turreted vehicles will also be restricted in the mode.
Skill Divisions and Skill Rating
As for ranks themselves, the game features a Skill Division (SD) and Skill Rating (SR) mechanic that works similarly to how it functions in MW3 Ranked Play. Earning SR in each match will push players towards higher SDs. There are seven SDs in Warzone Ranked Resurgence:
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Diamond
Crimson
Iridescent
Top 250
Players will begin in Bronze I when Ranked Play launches. Each SD has three tiers. When each season ends, players will be set back three tiers (though any player Crimson II or higher will be set back to Diamond I).
There are a multitude of ways to earn SR in each match, including:
Stars – If your Squad places in the Top 8, Top 5, or 1st place, you’ll earn one, two, or three stars, respectively. These stars will help progress your overall Rank.
Placement – The amount of teams remaining will also have an effect on SR. That breaks down as follows:
Teams Remaining: 14: SR = 0
Teams Remaining: 10: SR = 15
Teams Remaining: 8: SR = 30
Teams Remaining: 6: SR = 45
Teams Remaining: 5: SR = 60
Teams Remaining: 4: SR = 80
Teams Remaining: 3: SR = 100
Teams Remaining: 2: SR = 125
Teams Remaining: 1: SR = 150
Kills/Assists – You’ll also earn SR for kills and assists, though the amount changes depending on how many teams remain. Here’s the breakdown:
Teams Remaining: 9+: SR Per Kill/Assist = 5. SR Per Non-Assisted Kill = 2.
Teams Remaining: 8: SR Per Kill/Assist = 7. SR Per Non-Assisted Kill = 3.
Teams Remaining: 3: SR Per Kill/Assist = 15. SR Per Non-Assisted Kill = 7.
Seasonal Challenges – Once per season, players can complete a handful of SR challenges to earn some bonus points:
First Kill or Assist: +100 SR
10 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
25 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
50 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
100 Kills or Assists: +100 SR
Reach Top 8 Squad: +100 SR
Reach Top 5 Squad: +100 SR
Reach Top 3 Squad: +100 SR
Win a Match: +200 SR
SR Death Fees
A new mechanic coming to Resurgence Ranked is Death Fees. These come into play at Silver I and above. Each time you die in a match, you’ll lose 15 SR. That being said, Death Fees will never bring the player below their Deployment Fee. Here are some examples to clear things up:
Example 1 – A Player has a –100 Deployment Fee and a –15 Death Fee. They are at –100 (as they haven’t scored any Kills or Assists yet) and die. No Death Fee is deducted.
Example 2 – A Player has a –100 Deployment Fee and a –15 Death Fee. They are currently at –90 SR (as they’ve added +10 to their points), but then they die. A Death Fee is applied but only a portion; they lose –10 SR and are back at their starting Deployment Fee.
Ranked Rewards
The motivation to play Ranked is, of course, the rewards. Earning Ranked Stars will push you and your squad up through the ranks, with a new reward available every 5 ranks. Here are all the rank rewards for Season 2:
Rank 5: Calling Card and “Sweat Buggy” Vehicle Skin.
Rank 10: Calling Card and “On the Rise” Animated Emblem.
Rank 15: Calling Card and “Carrying the Squad” Weapon Sticker.
Rank 20: Calling Card and “Team Player” Weapon Charm.
Rank 25: Calling Card and “GOAT” Animated Emblem.
Rank 30: Calling Card and “WZ Ranked Play Rank 30” Weapon Camo.
Rank 35: Calling Card and “WTB” Weapon Sticker.
Rank 40: Calling Card and “Beamed” Weapon Decal.
Rank 45: Calling Card and “You Tried” Weapon Charm.
Rank 50: Calling Card, “WZ Ranked Veteran” Animated Emblem and four Operator Skins.
There are also rewards for finishing the season in different Skill Divsions. Those rewards are as follows:
Highest Division — Bronze: “WZ Season 2 Bronze” Emblem.
Highest Division — Silver: “WZ Season 2 Silver” Emblem.
Highest Division — Gold: “WZ Season 2 Gold” Animated Emblem and Large Decal.
Highest Division — Platinum: “WZ Season 2 Platinum” Animated Emblem and Large Decal.
Highest Division — Diamond: “WZ Season 2 Diamond” Animated Emblem and Large Decal.
Highest Division — Crimson: “WZ Season 2 Crimson” Animated Emblem and Large Decal.
Highest Division — Iridescent: “WZ Season 2 Iridescent” Animated Calling Card, Animated Emblem and Large Decal.
End Season 2 in Top 250: “WZ Season 2 Top 250” Animated Calling Card, Animated Emblem, and Large Decal.
End Season 2 No. 1 Overall: “WZ Season #1 Overall” Animated Calling Card and Animated Emblem.
Warzone Ranked Resurgence will drop within the launch window for Season 2 on February 7. It’ll be free-to-play on every platform you play Warzone on.
KLab Games has released Bleach Brave Souls update 1.50 during the game’s maintenance period, and this is for patch version 15.6.0. Read on for everything new in the patch notes available below.
Players can now level up all three of a character’s Link Slots at a time. This feature can be used from the Link Slot Power Up screen.
Furthermore, a checkbox to prioritize the use of Rainbow and Super Rainbow Link Slot Potions has been added.
Bonus Ability Screen Adjustments
The Bonus Ability screen has been adjusted so that when a Bonus Ability that increases a stat is set or changed, the value of this boost will also be shown.
Issues Fixed
– Volume on videos could not be adjusted on the Steam version.
– Using Multi-Power Up directly after Resurrecting a character would cause the Special Move Level Gauge Unlocked notification to be shown again.
– Powering up the Soul Trait “Increased Super Technique Link Slot Potions” on the Soul Tree of Mashiro (Valentine’s 2024 version) would result in the boost value not being shown correctly.
That’s about it for this title update. Once a new one is released, we’ll let our readers know about it.
Honkai Star Rail update 2.0 (PS5 update version 2.000) is now out for download, and this is for the “If One Dreams At Midnight” content drop. This brings a new event, new kits, quality-of-life improvements and more! Read on for the Honkai Star Rail new update notes for Feb. 5.
Honkai Star Rail Update 2.0 Patch Notes | Honkai Star Rail Update 2.000 Patch Notes:
Update: Patch notes are now live!
▌Update and Compensation Details
■ Update Time
Begins at 2024/02/06 06:00:00(UTC+8). The update will take approximately 5 hours.
■ Compensation Details
●Server Maintenance Compensation
Compensation: Stellar Jade ×300
Eligible Recipients: Trailblazers with Trailblaze Level ≥ 4 before 2024/02/06 06:00:00(UTC+8)
※ Please claim before the Version 2.1 server maintenance.
●Bug Compensation
Compensation: Stellar Jade ×300
Eligible Recipients: Trailblazers with Trailblaze Level ≥ 4 before 2024/02/06 06:00:00(UTC+8)
※ Please log in to claim the mail before 2024/03/07 23:59:00(UTC+8).
The Crew will issue the compensation via in-game mail to Trailblazers within 5 hours after the update is complete. Be sure to claim it in time.
■ How to Update
PC: Exit the game, restart the launcher, then click “Update”
Android: Enter the game and follow the instructions in the in-game pop-up window to complete the update
iOS: Enter the App Store and tap “Update”
▌Version Update Details
1. New Areas
■ The Reverie — Reality
A renowned luxury hotel located at the intersection of dreams and reality, a favored destination for the wealthy and famous.
■ Golden Hour
The most prosperous “Moment” in Penacony, showcasing an entire city bathed in luxury. Here, melodies and merry-making never cease, and feasts continue evermore unto eternity.
■ Dream’s Edge
A city of dreams still under construction. The cosmos’ most famous architects are invited to this place to become Penacony’s “Dreamweavers.”
■ A Child’s Dream
A realm formed from someone’s distorted memories, where the course of streams has become aimless, and the hands of time have come to a halt.
■ The Reverie — Dreamscape
A mirror image of The Reverie in the Dreamscape. For some unknown reason, it has fallen into a state of disrepair and is off-limits to guests.
2. New Characters
■ 5-Star character Black Swan (Nihility: Wind)
Black Swan is a DPS character capable of inflicting the enemy with “Arcana” through various means. “Arcana” is a unique form of DoT. Black Swan can trigger various additional effects based on the number of “Arcana” stacks on the enemy target.
■ 5-Star character Sparkle (Harmony: Quantum)
Sparkle is a support character capable of recovering Skill Points for allies and increasing the ally Skill Point limit. Additionally, Sparkle can Advance the Action of a designated ally, increase their CRIT DMG, and boost the DMG dealt by all allies.
■ 4-Star character Misha (Destruction: Ice)
Misha is a DPS character with Crowd Control capabilities. His Ultimate has a chance to Freeze enemies. After allies consume Skill Points, Misha’s Ultimate can also unleash additional Hits Per Action.
3. New Light Cones
■ 5-Star “Reforged Remembrance (Nihility)”
Obtainable through the “Brilliant Fixation” Light Cone Event Warp.
■ 5-Star “Earthly Escapade (Harmony)”
Obtainable through the “Brilliant Fixation” Light Cone Event Warp.
■ 4-Star “Indelible Promise (Destruction)”
Obtainable through the “Brilliant Fixation” Light Cone Event Warp.
■ 5-Star “What Is Real? (Abundance)”
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
■ 4-Star “Dreamville Adventure (Harmony)”
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
■ 4-Star “Final Victor (The Hunt)”
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
■ 4-Star “Flames Afar (Destruction)”
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
■ 4-Star “The Day The Cosmos Fell (Erudition)”
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
■ 4-Star “It’s Showtime (Nihility)”
Can be exchanged with Lucent Afterglow at the Light Cone Manifest store.
4. New Story
■ Trailblaze Mission “Penacony — Long Day’s Journey Into Night”
Penacony, the Land of Dreams, a hedonistic paradise where countless Dreamchasers gather — Are you ready to join the Watchmaker’s feast?
Availability: Permanently open after the Version 2.0 update
Unlock Conditions: Complete the Trailblaze Mission “Xianzhou Luofu — Obsequies Performed, A Long Road Ahead”
■ Companion Mission “Masquerade Duet”
Sparkle has left an eerie challenge letter for Black Swan, and the latter has to rise to the challenge…
Availability: Permanently open after the Version 2.0 update
Unlock Conditions: Complete the Trailblaze Mission “Penacony — Whodunit”
5. New Events
■ Dreamchaser Bulletin
On your way to Penacony, you receive a tabloid in your inbox. It may be worth examining to see if there is any noteworthy news.
Event Period: After the Version 2.0 update –2024/03/25 03:59:00(server time)
Prerequisite: Complete the Trailblaze Mission “Xianzhou Luofu — Obsequies Performed, A Long Road Ahead”
■ Hanu’s Prison Break
Dr. Edward has created a new dream bubble with a unique theme, receiving rave reviews from customers who have experienced it. What makes it so exciting? You’ll have to try it yourself.
Participation Requirement: Complete the Trailblaze Mission “Penacony — Whodunit”
■ Gift of Stellarium
When logging into the game during the event period, Trailblazers can obtain rewards from the Travel Log: Star Rail Special Pass ×10.
■ Gift of Odyssey
Log in every day during the event to obtain check-in rewards. Trailblazers can claim Star Rail Special Pass ×10 after checking in for 7 days!
※ Please refer to future announcements for information on other events.
6. Others
■ Enemies
Memory Zone Meme “Something Unto Death,” Stellaron Hunter Sam, Memory Zone Meme “Heartbreaker,” Memory Zone Meme “Allseer,” Dreamjolt Troupe’s Sweet Gorilla, Dreamjolt Troupe’s Beyond Overcooked, Dreamjolt Troupe’s Mr. Domescreen, Dreamjolt Troupe Spring Loader, Dreamjolt Troupe’s Bubble Hound, Dreamjolt Troupe’s Birdskull, and Lordly Trashcan
■ Stage
New Stages for Penacony and the Xianzhou Luofu:
Calyx (Golden) Stages: Bud of Memories (Penacony), Bud of Aether (Penacony), Bud of Treasures (Penacony), Bud of Memories (Xianzhou Luofu), Bud of Aether (Xianzhou Luofu), Bud of Treasures (Xianzhou Luofu)
Calyx (Crimson) Stages: Bud of Destruction (Scalegorge Waterscape), Bud of Harmony (The Reverie — Dreamscape), Bud of Nihility (Alchemy Commission). Completing these challenges successfully will allow you to obtain Trace Materials for the Paths of Destruction, Harmony, and Nihility.
Stagnant Shadow Stages: Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Nectar, Stagnant Shadow: Shape of Roast. Completing these challenges successfully will allow you to obtain the Ice-Type Character Ascension Material “Dream Fridge” and the Quantum-Type Character Ascension Material “Dream Flamer.”
Cavern of Corrosion Stages: Cavern of Corrosion: Path of Dreamdive. Completing this challenge successfully will allow you to obtain the Cavern Relics “Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters” and “Watchmaker, Master of Dream Machinations.”
■ Relic
Cavern Relic: Pioneer Diver of Dead Waters
Cavern Relic: Watchmaker, Master of Dream Machinations
■ Missions
Adventure Mission “Envision a Rose Forthcoming”
Adventure Mission “Cosmic Star”
Adventure Mission “The Trees At Peace”
Adventure Mission “Goodness Is Rare”
■ System
New “Fate’s Atlas” System: Fate’s Atlas presents the important events Trailblazers may encounter in the Trailblazing expedition. As the Trailblazing expedition progresses, Trailblazers will have the chance to be involved in more important events. Trailblazers can also view unlock conditions for locked events in their detail pages.
New Dreamscape Pass: A copy of the Dreamscape Scrapbook held by every guest of The Reverie Hotel. Trailblazers can collect stickers by exploring Penacony and via completing missions and world missions. Using the stickers to decorate the scrapbook will increase the completion of the corresponding pages and earn rewards. After collecting a certain number of stickers, corresponding rewards can be claimed from the Sticker Collection as well!
New “Clockie’s Offering”: By exploring Penacony and completing missions, Trailblazers can obtain “Clock Credits” to upgrade the Clockie Statue Level and collect corresponding rewards.
New Honkai: Star Rail – Cloud access point on the phone that Trailblazers can select and use.
■ Gameplay
Treasures Lightward: New Permanent Game Mode “Forgotten Hall: Memory of Chaos” and “Pure Fiction” will be alternatively refreshed. Please check out the following for details.
All allies’ Basic ATK and Skill deal 50% more damage. Whenever a Skill Point is consumed, Memory Turbulence gains 1 Hit Per Action, up to a maximum of 10. At the beginning of each Cycle, each Hit Per Action will deal DMG once to a random enemy based on the target’s Max HP.
Summons a Trotter at the beginning of each wave or each Cycle. The Trotter takes 200% more DMG from Basic ATKs and DoTs. When the Trotter is defeated and if an enemy is afflicted with Bleed, Shock, Burn, or Wind Shear, the DoT it is currently afflicted with will immediately deal damage equal to 50% of the original damage with a high chance to inflict Bleed, Shock, Burn, and Wind Shear on all enemies, lasting for 3 turns.
■ Others
Some photos have been added to the photo wall on March 7th’s room. Trailblazers can check it out after completing the corresponding Trailblaze Missions.
4 New Assignments: A Startling Night Terror, Tranquility of Vimala-bhumi, Fragments of Illusory Dreams, Scalpel and Screwdriver. Completing these Assignments will allow you to obtain specific materials and Synthesis Materials.
Adds character messages, avatars, readables, Achievements, stickers, and loading screen introductory texts.
▌Adjustments and Optimizations
■ Characters and Enemies
Adjusts the ability usage logic for characters using abilities on ally characters in auto-battle.
Adjusts the default target selection logic when manually casting certain ally abilities.
Adjusts enemy Argenti’s avatar image.
Adjusts the display order for boost effects to Arlan (Destruction: Lightning)’s Talent in interfaces such as “Character Details” after activating his Eidolon 4. These adjustments only affect the display order and not the effect itself.
Adjusts the display order for boost effects to Luocha (Abundance: Imaginary)’s Talent in interfaces such as “Character Details” after activating his Traces “Sanctified” and “Through the Valley.” These adjustments only affect the display order and not the effect itself.
Optimizes the Skill usage logic for Huohuo (Abundance: Wind) in auto-battle.
Optimizes the display of Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary)’s character model for certain mobile devices.
Optimizes the impact calculation for certain characters and enemies’ trajectory-based abilities during exploration when they affect assets on the map.
■ System
Optimizes the Relic Enhance function and filtering mechanics. When enhancing a Relic, Trailblazers can choose to upgrade it until the next stat-enhancing level. Adds an even finer control to filter conditions and tag categories for Relics. Adds Relic set recommendation for different characters in the Replace Relic screen. Trailblazers can quickly filter out the recommended set using one button. In certain interfaces, the number of times a secondary stat is enhanced is displayed next to the stat.
Optimizes the Navigation function. In certain maps, 3D Navigation is being displayed. Additionally, you can tap different positions on the Holographic Overview to view their information and also directly transition to the corresponding navigational menu.
Trailblazers can now set more characters to provide support to Friends and gain more benefits. At the same time, the support character filtering is optimized. Trailblazers can now find support characters of a specific friend faster, or quickly find a Support character from a stranger.
Optimizes NPC names, map object item names, ambient dialogue, and display rules for mission directions and related icons.
A confirmation button has been added when exiting certain adventure game modes.
Optimizes the display effect of Light Cone images in the “Ally Details — Light Cone” section of the Real-Time Combat View screen.
■ Missions
Adjusts the combat difficulty for the Companion Mission “Night of Universal Hallucinations.”
Optimizes story cutscenes in missions.
■ Gameplay
Adjusts the underlying color for the text prompt of the Resonance Extrapolation that appears when making an action in combat.
Adjusts the text for “Gold and Gears: Path Buffs” in Tutorials.
Adjusts the “Battle Against the Old Foe” Blessing’s activation logic.
Adjusts the style of the icon after completing the “Memory of Chaos” challenge in the “Forgotten Hall” interface.
Adjusts the passive effect description of the Trotter Extrapolation die in Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears, and additionally adjusts the completion requirement’s description of the corresponding achievement “When Pigs Pry.” This adjustment does not affect the actual effect of the dice face and the completion requirement of the achievement.
■ Audio
Optimizes part of the dialogue voice over for NPC Herta in the Trailblaze Continuance “The Blue — When the Stars of Ingenuity Shine” when the voice language is set to English.
Optimizes part of the dialogue voice over for the Trailblazer in the Trailblaze Continuance “The Blue — When the Stars of Ingenuity Shine” when the voice language is set to Japanese.
Optimizes part of the dialogue voice over for NPC Dr. Ratio in the Trailblaze Continuance “The Blue — When the Stars of Ingenuity Shine” when the voice language is set to Korean.
Optimizes part of the dialogue voice over for NPC Jing Yuan in the Companion Mission “Clouds Leave No Trace” and game mode “A Foxian Tale of the Haunted” when the voice language is set to Korean.
Optimizes the sound effects of certain NPCs’ environmental voice lines.
■ Others
Certain iOS devices support MetalFX. Trailblazers can activate it in Settings.
Optimizes the default graphical quality after entering the game on certain Android devices.
Optimizes the skybox effects in the “Divination Commission” map.
▌Bug Fixes
■ Characters and Enemies
Fixes the issue where the interval time for interrupting Topaz & Numby (The Hunt: Fire)’s Technique was abnormal.
Fixes an issue where the disappearing apple lacks special effects when Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary)’s idle animation is interrupted.
Fixes the issue where the Eidolon 6 effect hint text will appear in abnormal positions for Dan Heng • Imbibitor Lunae (Destruction: Imaginary).
Fixes the issue where Huohuo (Abundance: Wind)’s Basic ATK visual effects will abnormally move with her if she moves in the overworld after using her Basic ATK.
Fixes an issue where the “Ignores the enemy’s Weakness Type and depletes their Toughness” effect is not displayed for Xueyi (Destruction: Quantum)’s Ultimate for certain Android devices.
Fixes an issue where the “Ignores the enemy’s Weakness Type and depletes their Toughness” Ultimate effect is not displayed when Xueyi (Destruction: Quantum) attacks the enemy Cloud Knight Lieutenant Yanqing’s Flying Sword.
Fixes an issue where characters won’t engage in idle animations after certain actions are performed.
Fixes abnormal effects for certain characters when they are idle.
Fixes the issue where Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary) would display abnormal expressions in specific situations during battles.
Fixes an issue where some of the effects during Argenti (Erudition: Physical)’s “Merit Bestowed in ‘My’ Garden” Ultimate are abnormally missing when auto-battle is on.
Fixes an issue with Ruan Mei (Harmony: Ice) where parts of the costume texture were missing in her model.
Fixes the issue with Ruan Mei (Harmony: Ice) where her model is displayed abnormally when she sprints.
Fixes an issue with Ruan Mei (Harmony: Ice) where there was slight clipping between the weapon and character model when performing Basic ATKs in the overworld.
Fixes an issue with Welt (Nihility: Imaginary) where the special dimension created by his Technique did not reduce the movement speed of enemies.
Fixes an issue in specific circumstances where Argenti (Erudition: Physical)’s Ultimate icon will still be displayed as inactive after activating the Ultimate.
Fixes an error in Qingque (Erudition: Quantum)’s Eidolon 2 icon regarding the effect symbol in the bottom-right corner.
Fixes the abnormal display of the sleeves in the Basic ATK preparation animation for Xueyi (Destruction: Quantum).
Fixes the issue where Guinaifen (Nihility: Fire) couldn’t break destructible objects with her Technique in certain situations.
Fixes the issue where the audio loop for the sound effects after activating Luocha (Abundance: Imaginary)’s Ultimate was abnormal.
Fixes the issue with Sushang (The Hunt: Physical) where her Ultimate effects were displaying abnormally on mobile devices.
Fixes the issue where being attacked by the enemy Grunt: Field Personnel’s “Clock In” ability did not cause the attacked character to regenerate Energy.
Fixes the issue where the enemies “Guardian Shadow” and “The Ascended” could not attack characters under specific circumstances in the overworld.
Fixes the issue where the icons for the “Vulnerability” debuff on some enemies were inconsistent.
Fixes an issue where the display text “Debuff dispelled” appears in place of an enemy summon when the enemy Senior Staff: Team Leader (Bug) uses their “Worst Performer Is Fired” ability.
Fixes an issue where the animations are abnormal when certain enemies attack Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary)’s Technique-made Statue.
■ Combat
Fixes the issue where the ally and enemy order change prompt in the Action Order is incorrect when activating an Ultimate in certain circumstances. This fix does not affect the actual gameplay.
Fixes an issue where some healing skills couldn’t trigger the character’s combat voice line “Health Recovery.”
Fixes an issue where Clara (Destruction: Physical) and the enemy Trotter of Destruction can trigger an abnormal number of Counters in certain circumstances.
■ System
Fixes an inconsistency in Blade (Destruction: Wind)’s faction between his data bank entry and when filtering Messages.
Fixes an issue where character models might display abnormal radiance in the team screen under certain circumstances.
Fixes faulty wording in “Pure Fiction: Tales of a Tethered Bird.”
Fixes the issue where the speaker tag is missing in Huohuo (Abundance: Wind)’s interaction voice line “Added to Team With Xueyi” in the Data Bank.
Fixes an issue where the achievement “The Hunter Games” couldn’t be completed under specific circumstances.
Fixes an issue where the Curio “Insect Web” was not counted toward the condition required for the achievement “King of Curses.”
■ Environment Visuals
Fixes an issue where enemy alert prompts are obscured by fog on certain maps.
Fixes an issue where a character’s phone is inconsistently affected by lighting effects when compared to the character’s model when bringing up the Phone menu in in-door maps.
Fixes an issue where specific characters on the team cannot be selected after being teleported in a map under certain circumstances.
Fixes an issue where switching between tabs in the “Status Effect” screen multiple times caused the Technique Buff to display under the wrong tab. This fix does not affect the actual effects of character abilities.
■ Gameplay
Fixes an issue where the gameplay interface might abnormally shake when applying Graffiti in the Critter Pick game mode on certain mobile devices.
Fixes an issue where the ground of the map is displayed abnormally for certain maps when “Path Resonance: Elation” is used in the Simulated Universe.
Fixes the issue where the Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears’ weaken effect “During the boss fight in the Third Plane, the boss will be inflicted with specific Type Weakness” does not take effect for the enemies “Automaton Grizzly (Complete)” and “Automaton Direwolf (Complete)” under certain circumstances.
Fixes the issue where the system interface displayed abnormally in specific situations when entering the Simulated Universe through the Interastral Peace Guide.
Fixes an issue where an “Index Locked” prompt appeared abnormally when repairing a destroyed Curio in Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears.
Fixes an issue where the special effects were abnormal when the Domain: Creation’s effect gets triggered in Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears, causing the domain icon to change.
Fixes an issue in Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears where the description of the buff effect “Baseline” of Dice Face’s General Buff: Baseline lacked some information in the Real-Time Combat View interface. This fix does not affect the actual effects of the buff.
Fixes an issue in Simulated Universe: Gold and Gears where Herta’s avatar was not fully displayed in certain tutorial segments.
Fixes an issue in some situations where selecting a Blessing in the Simulated Universe causes abnormal game progress.
Fixed an issue where the Select Curio screen overlapped with the domain description screen in certain situations.
Fixed an issue where the restored HP from the Blessing “Wreath of Interlaced Pipes” did not match the description.
Fixes an issue with the background story of the Curio “Indecipherable Box” where the Curio’s name was incorrect. This fix does not affect the effect of this Curio.
Fixed an issue in the game mode “A Foxian Tale of the Haunted” where some NPC atmospheric voice lines were soundless in the mission “Percipient.”
Fixed an issue where after completing all reward conditions in the game mode “A Foxian Tale of the Haunted,” its tab was still displayed as incomplete in Conventional Memoir under specific circumstances.
Fixed an issue where the Energy regeneration effect of the martialism “Jumping Side Kick” in the game mode “Boulder Town Martial Exhibition” was not functioning correctly under specific circumstances.
■ Audio
Fixes the issue in the English voice over where parts of Sampo (Nihility: Wind)’s voice were inconsistent.
Fixes the issue in the English voice over where Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary)’s “About Ruan Mei” audio is incorrect.
Fixes certain incorrect English dialogue voice lines for the NPC March 7th during the Trailblaze Continuance “Jarilo-VI — Future Market.”
Fixes an issue where certain sound effects are missing when selecting and equipping Relics.
Fixes some audio issues that occur when playing on iOS devices.
Fixes an issue where some system interface sound effects were missing when using a controller.
■ Missions
Fixes an issue where the NPC Asta is abnormally missing at a specific mission segment if players switch their mission navigation to the Adventure Mission “Spirit Traces” after beginning Trailblaze Continuance “The Blue — Mundane Troubles.”
Fixes an issue where Trailblaze Continuance “Jarilo-VI” — “Future Market (II)” required restarting the game to complete under specific circumstances.
■ Others
Fixes an issue where the icons for the Light Cones “Patience Is All You Need (Nihility)” and “The Unreachable Side (Destruction)” are blurry in the data bank on PS5™ devices.
Fixes the abnormal lowering of in-game graphical quality when setting graphics to Very High on certain Android devices.
In-game texts for the 13 languages have been adjusted, optimized, and fixed. These changes do not affect the actual effects. Trailblazers can switch the game language through “Phone — Settings — Language” and view the corresponding changes in the announcement.
Fixes and optimizations in English include the following (they have no impact on the actual in-game effects):
Optimizes the effect description of March 7th (Preservation: Ice)’s Eidolon 6 and the description and brief description of Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary)’s Technique.
Optimizes some of the text in the character stories for Silver Wolf (Nihility: Quantum), Hanya (Harmony: Physical), and Argenti (Erudition: Physical), as well as updates the subtitles for certain voice lines for Dr. Ratio (The Hunt: Imaginary).
Optimizes the description of the ability effects for the Light Cone “Baptism of Pure Thought (The Hunt).”
Optimizes the descriptions to achieve the “Meta-Guardians of the Galaxy” Achievement.
Optimizes the name of the NPC “Teach Xianzhou culture.”
Optimizes the expression of “DMG Mitigation” and “Weakness Protected.”
Optimizes certain descriptions within the gameplay mode “A Foxian Tale of the Haunted.”
Optimizes some of the text in various parts, including rule explanations, item descriptions, record names, readables, Anchor explanations, messages, Trailblaze Missions, Adventure Mission guides, story dialogues, tutorials and instructions, and data bank descriptions.
Update: Official patch notes added.
While the official patch notes aren’t out yet, that should change within the day and soon. Check out the trailer and official info for it.
Next stop, Penacony! The “Planet of Festivities” is finally within our reach in Version 2.0, as the Astral Express crew makes a fateful descent to the 4th major World bound by the Trailblazer’s mission stories. Some characters were already teased and among them are Black Swan, Sparkle, Misha, Acheron, Aventurine, Gallagher, and many others. Penacony itself was also teased for a long while with many content features. Finally, we will get to see some action from Duke Inferno’s children within the shadows. This is the official trailer taken from the Special Program Livestream for “If One Dreams At Midnight” recorded in HD quality and English VA.
Don’t forget to check back and update this article frequently, as we’ll be slotting in the patch notes once they’re available.
Rocksteady’s latest title has been out less than a week, and while they’ve revealed plans for future content via seasonal launches, most of that content has been kept under wraps. Today, however, a player seemingly discovered the next Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League upcoming character via a piece of accidental dialogue.
In order to dive into this finding, we will be discussing the ending of Suicide Squad’s campaign, so if you don’t want the game’s story content spoiled for you, we suggest you stop reading here.
Over on the r/SuicideSquadGaming subreddit, user ZeronityPlays shared a clip of Braniac calling them a name incorrectly:
While the player is getting attacked by an onslaught of enemies, Braniac quips, “I didn’t expect you to be the weak link in this chain, Freeze.” This line doesn’t add up with what’s happening on-screen, as the player is currently controlling Harley Quinn. So why might Braniac call her Freeze?
Well, as we noted in our breakdown of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League’s ending, the post-credits image teases several upcoming characters for the game’s roster. While Joker has already been confirmed, the other characters are silhouetted. You can see the image below:
The second silhouetted character can now almost definitively be confirmed to be Mister Freeze. That would certainly explain the strange line of dialogue from Braniac in the clip. The chilly background and icy-blue highlights on the character’s outline would also line up with Freeze’s frosty motifs, which isn’t a hard thing to guess, since there’s not a lot of DC characters that favors the ice and cold like Mr. Freeze.
As for the other characters, we still don’t have any confirmation as to who they might be. We’ll be sure to let our readers know as soon as we learn more.
It seems ever since the release of the original Demon’s Souls, players have maintained a perpetual hunger for more games that can offer up a similar experience. An experience that is most often boiled down to one recognizable feature. It’s heart-crushing difficulty. But there are lots of games that offer a challenge, though none of them seems to have captured the hearts and minds of gamers like the Soulsborne games — so much so, that it spawned off its own sub genre of action-RPGs.
It seems odd that a genre most well-known for it’s ability to beat you into submission would be steadily rising in demand since its conception with absolutely no signs of slowing down. In fact, in the last five years, two of the five game of the year winners, Sekiro and Elden Ring, have been in this genre. So why have these games taken up so much of the gaming spotlight? Are they overhyped by their communities or is there a legitimate reason you should rethink passing them up due to their difficult reputation? There are actually a number of excellent reasons as to why the popularity of Soulsborne games have exploded in the last decade.
First we need to define what classifies something as a Soulsborne game. Hidetaka Miyazaki is credited with creating the genre, as all of his titles have followed a similar style and structure to one another. The name Soulsborne comes from two of Miyazaki’s most recognizable games being pushed together. Demon’s Souls and Bloodborne ,to create, Soulsborne. A Soulsborne game has to have most of the same characteristics as its predecessors to be categorized as a Soulsborne. These include checkpoints, high difficulty, telegraphed move sets, complex lore, and environmental story telling to name a few.
These games, which are not just limited to Miyazaki’s games, are able to definitively set themselves apart from the action RPG genre in such a large way that an entirely new definition of them was created. Unlike the often joked about “Strand-type” game from Hideo Kojima, this new classification of game was actually needed and important to set these games apart from the rest. The gameplay and experiences you find in them are almost counter-intuitive to what is considered to be industry standard at this point. Here you will find a lack quest markers, no clear-cut tutorials or maps, hidden gameplay systems, frequent XP loss, and high enemy difficulty.
All of this can be overwhelming to anyone, especially if this is your first game in the genre. It has seen even some of the most seasoned gamers choosing to abandon it for the simple lack of familiarity and comparatively simple structure other games are able to offer. When the biggest defining feature of your game is how insanely hard it is, you are sure to scare off a few customers. The pay off for those who choose to stay and rise to the challenge, rarely regret their decision though.
The difficulty of these games are without a doubt the biggest barrier to entry for most. A quick search online will show a flood of posts from new users venting their frustration and inability to tackle the challenges these games present. Soulsborne games differ so much from traditional games where players are forced to throw out what they think they know and adapt in an entirely new way. It truly becomes a sink or swim situation where you have to take the time to learn the game and respect its systems in order to get the most out of it.
This however, is where the “secret sauce” of Soulsborne games actually lie. The seemingly insurmountable challenges these games present offer the highest degree of reward to the players that take the time to learn them. Parrying in Sekiro, attacking to regain health in Bloodborne, and timing dodges in Dark Souls are all vital skills that often take entire playthroughs to truly understand. Many people who give up on these games do so before the combat has the moment of “clicking” for them where the pieces fall into place and they can see the expertly designed rhythm behind the flow of combat offered in these titles.
The fact that succeeding has to be earned by the player by respecting the gameplay systems at hand means that every step in progression and victory feels like it was rightfully deserved. These games can be punishing, but only if you choose to brute force your way through them rather than taking the time to learn and use the tools given to you. It is a feeling that is unmatched when you beat your first boss, or finally make it past a difficult area because you took the time to learn the patterns, timing, and rhythm behind the combat. One of the best parts about these games though, is how many people in the community are willing to help you get there.
Soulsborne games can often be intentionally obtuse in their design. Hidden pathways, overpowered enemies, and a general sense of “Where the hell do I go?” are all apart of the purposeful DNA presented in these games. If you’ve played anything in the genre you know the feeling. The good news is that the Soulsborne community understands this and is, in my opinion, one of the most accepting and helpful communities you will find in all of gaming. They have been there, and they understand the struggle. While you will occasionally get some level of hazing telling you to “git gud” there is always someone who is willing to help you feel the way they did the first time they beat the game by happily offering what advice they can.
There is an unfathomable amount of guides, build strategies, and walkthroughs all designed to help new and veteran players alike. The community wants other people to play these games they love so much and make sure to help you with whatever knowledge they have to ensure you succeed. Players mistake using these tools for cheating and believe they will dilute the experience but it is quite literally the opposite.
These games do have a steep learning curve, and many things are either poorly explained to the player or not at all. Using some of these online tools helps to alleviate much of the stress for players by explaining anything you might not understand. Other players have done the hard work of figuring out the best weapons to use, or the optimal path to take so that you don’t have to. Doing a playthrough with the wiki open beside you or alongside a YouTube walkthrough is encouraged within the community because it allows you to get the most out of the game. Instead of wasting time wandering around or dying over and over somewhere you really shouldn’t be yet you can focus on actually making progress and feeling good about it too.
All Soulsborne games are built around beating the odds. In majority of games, you are the chosen one or have amazing abilities and skills allowing you to tackle any challenge thrown at you. Here it is the opposite, where you often feel like a lowly NPC up against seemingly insurmountable foes fighting beings with godlike powers with nothing but a sword and a heat filled with determination. This makes every bit of progress you make feel earned. Each and every checkpoint you get to becomes a beacon that highlights the progress you have made in mastering the game and gotten that much closer to “gitting gud”.
The loss of experience after dying can be heart-breaking. The loss of progress after dying can be heart-breaking. Having to replay the same section because you died just as you saw the next checkpoint is a terrible feeling. It is also genius. This is what makes these games so rewarding by offering up a real risk to every death and enemy you face. You do not run through the world expecting to demolish everything in your path. You have to make hard decisions about who to fight, how to fight, and know when to run. Every battle feels like a struggle between life and death. This trial-and-error progression can be tedious for some, but grounds you in these grueling horror-filled worlds where overcoming the overwhelming odds truly feels impossible, making every victory feel that much sweeter.
These games are worth exploring because they have wonderful secrets and mysteries within them too. Even though the dialogue is light compared to traditional RPG’s, the world-building you get from them is extraordinary and fills in the question marks of the vast desolate world you inhabit. The locales and places you visit have some of the most beautiful set-pieces and level design video games have to offer. Each enemy feels distinct from another and inhabits the world they live in with a purposeful design that contributes to the lore and environmental storytelling of the world as a whole.
Understandably, these games won’t be for everyone, and that is okay. Some people do not have the want or need to learn a game so thoroughly just to be able to enjoy it. What these games present to those that do though, is an opportunity to experience something that is vastly different from the norm. It offers a fantastically unique gameplay loop that is defined by it’s difficult nature. While these games have their challenges they can often be beaten by anyone given they have the willingness to persevere and the desire to learn and adapt.
Beating a Soulsborne game has become a badge of honor in the gaming community. One that comes with bragging rights and the ability to haze others gong through the games as they were once in their shoes. Beating them grants access to an exclusive club of others in the gaming world who have been able to rise to the infamous challenge. Finding common ground with others in the community sharing strategies to cheese bosses or create OP builds is all apart of the fun. The game unfairly beats you, so you do it right back.
It isn’t often that games come along with the ability to create their own brand-new genre. Taking the concepts we know about games and turning them on their heads creates a different type of challenge that not many games care to offer anymore. Too many games share so much of the same DNA, it should be celebrated to have something that proudly stands out from the crowd, refusing to adhere to the norms in the industry. The Soulsborne games continued success proves that players appreciate the deliberate design of these games despite their demanding nature. It offers them something rare, challenging, and most importantly, tremendously rewarding for seeing it through.
Opinions expressed here are solely of the author’s and does not represent MP1st and its staff
Amid all the rumors that surfaced regarding Microsoft’s games coming to other platforms, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has addressed it today on social media, and it seems gamers have a lot to look forward to next week.
Over on Twitter/X, Spencer announced that they are planning an Xbox business update event for next week, which we presume will be a web-based show that anyone will be able to watch.
We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
We’re listening and we hear you. We’ve been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned.
Spencer states that they are “listening” though he doesn’t make it clear what kind of chatter he was referring to. Odds are, we’ll know whether these rumors are true or not.
Our Take on Spencer’s Announcement:
Spencer wisely announced a new event to drum up hype for Xbox without revealing whether the rumors are true or not. Chances are, if an Xbox-exclusive game is hitting other platforms, it’ll be announced next week. Or there is a chance that all these rumors are put to rest. Either way, we’ll know what’s really happening behind-the-scenes. My take? I think Spencer will confirm Hi-Fi Rush is coming to other platforms, and then will tease that other Xbox games might see a release on other platforms too, but will refrain from naming these said games.
As for Spencer’s “listening” comment, it could be either he’s listening to gamers who think more gamers should be able to play Xbox games regardless of platform, OR he means that he’s listening to fanboys reacting violently that their once console exclusive game might be playable on another platform.
Stay tuned here on MP1st, as we’ll be reporting on the news as it develops.
If you’re trying to login to play Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League but can’t seem to connect to the game’s servers, it’s not just you, as players have reported Suicide Squad: KTJL down reports this February 5.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Down This Feb. 5 Status:
Multiple players on the game’s subreddit have reported the connection issues, which seems to be affecting players on all platforms.
So far, Rocksteady has not acknowledged the server issues, but once we hear anything about it from the devs, we’ll update the article. If you’re having issues or managed to connect, leave a comment below ad let us know.
Stay tuned to our Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League review hitting the site soon.
Hashbane Interactive’s dino-adventure game, Instinction, has gotten yet another project update in the form of some newly fresh, frequently asked questions. Amongst those questions, the team revealed exactly when supporters can expect access to the Instinction Alpha test.
Journey Into a Prehistoric Hidden World This June
First and foremost, when does the Instinction Alpha begin? Well, according to the newly updated FAQ page, those who preordered the Supporter Edition of Instinction can expect the Alpha to go live in June 2024. There’s no exact date, but it does narrow it down more than the previous Q3 2024 window. Here’s what to expect through the Alpha stage.
The Alpha will start in June 2024 and continue through to release, divided into 4 phases and periodic updates. Initial focus is on single player campaign mechanics and additional game modes, CO-OP/ multiplayer will be included in subsequent updates, full roadmap available soon
The NDA around it is rather strict, with discussion only permitted in the Supporter Discord channel once it goes live.
Now, onto the story details. Previously, the studio released a short story synopsis, and though this doesn’t expand much more on it, it gives us a little more details on the campaign.
“A grounded, prehistoric science-fiction story that features a relatable protagonist contending with grief, the obligations of family, and the challenges of the incredible world she finds herself in. What begins as a simple trip to an isolated village becomes the adventure of a lifetime as Izzy is thrust in the middle of a modern conflict in an ancient, hidden world. Deep in the Yucatan Jungle, she discovers her grandmother’s heritage: an incredible hidden civilization that lives side by side with dinosaurs, threatened by forces from without, and within…
A fully realised wide-linear world with stunning architecture and a thriving prehistoric ecology with AI that interacts autonomously within the environment.
Gameplay will feature a combination of stealth, ranged and melee combat, supernatural abilities, and environmental mechanics will translate to fresh takes on everything from dealing with waves of enemies to boss battles, there are sections where you can play as dinosaurs too.
Additionally you will find other game modes, some geared toward multiplayer combat.”
Hold Onto Your Butts, They Have Dinos, Lots of Them!
For those who have been following Instinction, you probably are well aware that it’ll feature a ton of different dinosaurs. But the question is, how many of them? Well, according to the FAQ, 29 dinosaurs will be available upon release, and they’ll come in all kinds of shapes, sizes, sexes, ages, and colors. This number doesn’t include the available mammals and ambient fauna.
Some of these have already been showcased in several videos over the years, including dino-favorite, the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Be warned; he’s sort of a chunky boi.
We learned from the preorder announcement that there will also be some planned DLC, which Hashbane Interactive breaks down even further.
“A future DLC is planned with an additional 25 creatures, expansion pack with new characters and locations, as well as a few new game modes and mechanics. Our focus is on the initial release and some details are in discussion and we will be taking user feedback into account as we plan the DLC’s.”
There are more questions that you can read for yourself, but a majority of those are more around the NDA, Discord channel, and some technical stuff that’ll be revealed later.
Instinction is currently targeting a Q4 2025 release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.
Until Then is a mystery that we’re yet to unravel, bridging the gap between visual novel and interactive fiction with the help of some truly stunning pixel art graphics and elaborate relationships. The build we could try for this preview was extremely short and ended on a massive cliffhanger, almost as if it was meant to be a deceiving but charming introduction to a world on the brink of a series of significant events, about to turn the game on its head. For now, we can only speculate on the story of Mark, Louise, and other students from a fictionalized version of the Philippines.
Friends in Social Media
Mark is the main character, a student with a penchant for slacking, a group project to deliver, and no work done at all. The game starts on a very clever note, with Mark sleeping on his bed on the background of the main menu. As we press the Start button, nothing happens but a beep from the alarm clock, until we realize it’s meant for the player to smash that button over and over again, increasing the frequency of the beeping until he finally decides to get up. It’s certainly out of the box thinking and a surprising twist to start any adventure. Sometime later, you also get to flip a flash drive a few times because… well, that’s how they always go about, it’s impossible to plug them on your first try.
Playing out as a side-scroller, Until Then is heavy on dialogue and lore, which is a good thing for players who are fans of a great book as much as of a game. Interaction is minimal, despite a few mini-games involving timing, so most of the time you will be chatting with friends, scrolling through social media – where you can leave likes that may affect the reactions of other characters – and trying to create a mental web of relationships. Most guys and even one girl are drooling over Louise, a brilliant student with little time for social gatherings, but who is now starting to hang out more.
As Mark and Louise get closer and some revelations are made, there’s always this looming sensation that Until Then isn’t a mere story about friendships and romancing. There’s plenty of it, certainly, but some hints at inexplicable sightings (Louise says it rained recently, when there wasn’t a drop of rain for over a month) and feelings of déjà vu are surely pointing to something bigger than these students are experiencing. There’s an eerie Twilight Zone feeling to it, but this build ends up precisely when something unusual seemed about to happen.
The locations you explore are crowded, with many inhabitants moving around and giving this busy vibe that is very immersive. Places like the chess tournament pavilion have several characters around that while mere stand-ins, make it feel like this is a rich and bustling place, not an empty setting for the main characters to stand out. The sound also contributes to the atmosphere, feeling chaotic and disorganized as in reality, with dog barks, traffic, and sounds that could just be coming from the outside of your house right now.
Relationships are interwoven and complex, bonds are made and potentially broken in the future, and most of the dialogue seems relatable, which can be quite a feat. While it may drag on for far too long sometimes, it builds momentum and the touching occasions are the more poignant for it, capturing your attention in a way that you weren’t thinking it could at first. It can get quite emotional, even poetic, with a power similar to the best moments in To the Moon or the Life is Strange series.
Until Something Happens
Pointing fingers at Until Then for not providing stimulating challenges and opportunities for interaction would be the same as saying that a horror game isn’t good because it’s too scary. It’s an acquired taste, something that grows on you as you learn more about Mark and his circle of friends and colleagues, and bigger things should be in store to balance the love interests and social media stalking.
From mere curiosity to strong itch, that is how Until Then has introduced itself. The cast is likable and quirky, and their struggles are understandable. With a release pinned for 2024, if this game has something more to offer than teenage wonder, we’ll have to wait until then to find out.
MP1st was given access to a preview build of Until Then for our hands-on session. Until Then is launching for PC and consoles in 2024.
In the bustling area known as Chatsworth, California, an unassuming building belies the passionate work taking place within. Respawn Entertainment has been busy laboring over Apex Legends’ 20th season, dubbed Apex Legends: Breakout, in celebration of their runaway hit battle royale hero shooter game that launched five years ago as of yesterday. We were invited to spend a couple of hours getting our hands on the many new features launching next week, and can finally share the details with you in our preview.
Introducing Legends Upgrades
First and foremost, Respawn has opted to not introduce a new Legend for Season 20. Instead, they have focused on large meta and quality-of-life updates. One of the most obvious changes is Legends Upgrades, which is billed as an in-match progression system. Most actions you perform earn you points, and when you earn enough your character levels up, at which point you can choose between two upgrades. Each character starts the match at their base level, as everyone starts fresh.
Upgrading is simple to understand, as you simply hold down on the d-pad if using a controller, or hold a key on the keyboard, and two choices are laid out in front of you. If you’re in the heat of battle, it’ll be easy to forget to upgrade, but a persistent notification near the top of the HUD reminds you when you have an available upgrade for when you have a second in between skirmishes. I’m sure the more competitive among us will get used to upgrading as they fight, because it might come in handy to essentially double your character’s ultimate move’s effectiveness now as opposed to after (and if) you survive your current firefight. This feels like an exciting change that many players will no doubt exploit to the fullest.
Armor: No Longer Lootable?!
Alongside these new upgrades is an update to armor. Body armor is no longer found as loot. Instead, each time your legend levels up, your armor reaches a higher tier. Armor is powered by shield cores, which downed players will drop in place of armor. If you manage to take out a player who had a higher-tier armor than what you currently have equipped, you’ll earn a temporary overcharge which will grant you extra shield HP that gradually decreases over time back to your tier’s maximum capacity. This feels like a more balanced approach to armor, where currently it can come down to a luck of the draw if you just happen to jump to an area that has higher tier armor, which might make some fights feel unfair.
A ranked reset is also coming with Season 20. Every player’s rank, now called RP, will be reset to 1RP and Provisional matches will be disabled. While starting from scratch may irritate a few players who spent a lot of time ranking up, there’s also a ton of fun to be had in starting fresh, and racing to Apex Legends’ highest rank, Apex Predator. The new RP system also incentivizes combat, with more rewards the more you engage with enemy squads. Ranked Splits will also make a reappearance, while Promotion Trials have been removed due to feedback from players. You can also enter ranked matches beginning at level 20, instead of 50 as it has been, meaning it’ll take you less time to get to the matches that matter.
Unlock Legends for Free
As a free-to-play battle royale, some of Apex Legends’ characters, called Legends, are locked behind various requirements, in a carrot-on-a-stick method to encourage continued, long-term play. For Season 20, Respawn will make a new Legend free-to-play for the remainder of the season. Confirmed to be unlocked via this method includes: Fuse, Seer, Rampart, Mad Maggie, Loba, and Valkyrie. Each of these Legends come with their own set of unique challenges. Complete those before Season 20 ends, and the Legend is permanently unlocked for your account! One final challenge for the hardcore fan requires you to complete all of those Legends challenges, achieve Battle Pass level 60, and the gifting of six unique freebies before the season ends. Your reward, besides bragging rights? A reactive Flatline weapon skin, a legendary skin for Wraith, matching cosmetics, and more. All that work almost sounds like having a second job, but is it really work if you’re having fun?
Other updates include a tweak to crafting: each station can only be used once, however crafting is free. There is also a new mixtape map: an upgraded Thunderdome. It includes a new crowd mechanic, which will cause the audience to occasionally cheer you or your teammates on as you perform various actions (but especially if you earn a knockdown or squad wipe). The audience will never heckle you, though, so no sweat if you’re just not feeling the current match. A new LTM (limited-time mode) called Straight Shot seeks to speed up the pace, with 10 squads who drop into predetermined POIs. All guns found in the battlefield come fully-loaded, too, so there’s no time spent in harvesting upgrades. Ring rounds are faster, there is no Jumpmaster, the map is smaller, and you can re-queue if you get eliminated early directly from the game over screen, without ever returning to the lobby. During the 5th anniversary event, you’ll also earn 1.5x XP towards your account level.
Gonna Be Busy This Season!
This is a lot of new stuff to take in, and indeed we were shown various aspects of this update over the span of two days. So, how did it feel? Admittedly, I was quite rusty going into the event, but the concepts are straightforward enough that I was able to fully level up my Legend by the time we reached the latter stages of most matches. As I’m nowhere near competitive level, I mostly supported my squad and tried to ambush opposing teams when I could. This strategy mostly paid off with several second-place finishes. While I may not have been winning, I was still having fun as I watched the slow drip-feed of unlockables heading my way the more I played. Straight Shot really kept that momentum going, as I headed from match to match even with a very limited pool of players (there were two dozen or so journalists, a couple of influencers, and an occasional dev team member to fill in the ranks).
While we couldn’t disclose everything coming up for the new Season, what has been publicly revealed so far is no doubt exciting for veteran players. The major changes to the shield system might alarm some, and there is little doubt tweaking will be needed with so many Legend upgrade combinations that are possible, but I’m sure Respawn is ready to go with patches, and any major issues should be snuffed out in a fairly short amount of time. After five years, Respawn Entertainment is still doing new, exciting things to their popular shooter, and with the latest season, it should appeal to veterans and new fans alike.
Paulmichael has been writing in the gaming industry since 2008. Living just outside of Los Angeles, he has been lucky enough to attend numerous gaming events around the world, including the last ten E3 shows (RIP)! A thoughtful reviewer, every game you see scored by PmC has been given careful attention. Paulmichael is also an aviation fan and an avid snowboarder. Favorite games include: No Man's Sky, Gran Turismo 7, skate., CloverPit.
After testing the waters with Modern Warfare 3’s Open Combat Missions, the Call of Duty team is looking to expand their horizons. According to Insider Gaming, COD Black Ops Gulf War will feature an open world campaign setting much larger than any we’ve seen from the franchise previously.
For the uninitiated, Open Combat Missions in Modern Warfare 3 were mid-sized open environments where players could tackle objectives in any order. Stealth and guns-blazing were both viable strategies in these levels, and exploration could reward the player with new weapons or equipment. While they were an interesting idea, we didn’t think they panned out very well in our review.
Now, Raven Software seems to be evolving the OCM concept for Black Ops Gulf War’s campaign. According to an article by Insider Gaming, Gulf War will feature an open world setting for players to navigate between a handful of more traditional linear missions. The open world will feature typical staples such as fast travel points and vehicles to traverse in. It’s set to be the largest area in a Call of Duty campaign by a long shot.
We know Raven is capable of creating big maps through their experience developing Warzone. If this campaign ends up being anything like Modern Warfare 3, then “open world” just means that it’ll feel like playing Warzone solo against bots and without a circle to worry about. Hopefully, the campaign is different enough from the battle royale experience to bring something unique to the table.
COD Black Ops Gulf War has not yet been officially announced, and as such, treat this rumor with a bag of salt for now given the game isn’t even confirmed.
Rumors continue to grow that Microsoft plans to release a bunch of first-party titles on other competing consoles, with the latest being Indiana Jones and The Great Circle and a possible PS5 version coming months after the Xbox’s release.
The report comes from The Verge, which says sources close have told them that Bethesda is considering releasing a PS5 version of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. This comes hot off the heel of Starfield being rumored to come to the platform, as well as some datamine to suggest that Hi-Fi Rush is also coming to it.
According to The Verge’s source, the wait for the PS5 release won’t even be that long, as it comes to be as short as a few months after the Xbox Series X|S release.
Of course, this is a rumor and should be taken with a grain of salt despite it being corroborated with other outlets and media figures.
Our Take on This Indiana Jones and The Great Circle PS5 Release Rumor:
As we stated in the Starfield rumor post, from a business standpoint, this may make more sense as Microsoft and Xbox have been very open about expanding their lineup of games and services to other platforms. While one could say it devalues Xbox as a console, from the perspective of Xbox themselves, they no longer see things as being just about the console but as their ecosystem.
Still, this is a rumor and shouldn’t be taken seriously until things are officially announced. According to the rumors, it shouldn’t be long, as Hi-Fi Rush is supposedly dropping in Q1 of 2024. It was the first title to be rumored as coming to the PS5 and the Nintendo Switch, which would only add credibility to the rest of the rumors. Still, as stated, take all of this with a grain of salt. It’s not official until it’s official.
A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.
While Starfield was originally planned by Bethesda to also see a release on the PlayStation 5, that plan was put on the chopping block when Microsoft acquired Bethesda parent studio, ZeniMax. Well, if this new rumor is to be believed, it seems a Starfield PS5 version will be announced soon by Microsoft.
According to XboxEra’s sources who wishes to remain anonymous since they are not allowed to talk about Bethesda’s plans, Microsoft plans to release a PS5 version of Starfield post the release of the rumored “Shattered Space” expansion planned to arrive later this year on Xbox and PC. It’s also been said that Microsoft has made additional investments on PS5 devkits to support on-going development.
If true, this comes hot at the heels of the latest rumor that a highly regarded Xbox exclusive is going multiplatform this year, which many assume is referring to Tango Gameworks’ awesome Hi-Fi Rush.
Do note that nothing has been confirmed by Micorsoft and Bethesda, and as such, we need to take this with a huge bag of salt. That said, if this is indeed in the cards, then PlayStation gamers have something special waiting for them. You can peruse our review of it here where we state, “There’s so much to love about the game, and honestly, it might just be the best space RPG out there of this caliber. It has everything you’d want from a Bethesda game.”
Our Take on This Starfield PS5 Port Rumor:
If true, we wouldn’t be surprised, as this would make a lot of financial sense for Microsoft to do this. I mean, it’s not like they’re developing an entirely new game from scratch, but rather, essentially porting the Xbox/PC version to the PS5, which means the revenue far outweighs the risks of doing this. While Starfield is nowhere near as big as the Call of Duty franchise, releasing it on as many platforms as they can would mean more money for Microsoft, and I don’t know about you, but I reckon all that green is something Microsoft is very, very interested in rather than placating fanboys.
For those who played and finished Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, chances are, the ending left you hanging. Now, for those who have yet to play it, but curious how it ends, well, sad to say, it really doesn’t, as the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League ending just teases how the game continues in Season 1.
If you don’t want to read anything about the game, I suggest not scrolling further, as it will talk a bit about the game’s ending or what happens after it.
Does Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Have a Post-Credits Ending/Scene?
Short answer to this question is yes, there is one. After the ending and the credits roll, players will then see the image below teasing how the story will continue in Season 1.
There is also a cutscene commemorating Kevin Conroy’s passing (which we reported on before) and the role he played as Batman throughout the years, which some fans might find is a nice touch by the studio.
As you can see, players can expect new gear, new squad members and more as the game’s new season rolls around. While there’s no firm release date announced yet, we do know Season 1 will start this March thanks to the roadmap Rocksteady revealed last month.
For reference, here’s what’s confirmed to be incoming in Suicide Squad: KTJL Season 1:
Start Date: March 2024
The Joker as a New Playable Character
New Joker-Themed Playable Environment
Two Episodes with New Missions, Activities & Strongholds
New Boss Fights & Enemy Variants
New DC Villain-Themed Weapons & Gear
New Riddler Content
You can catch gameplay of The Joker as the new squad member right here. Players should also expect the game’s Battle Pass to kick off when Season 1 launches.
While games getting post-launch content is expected these days, players usually can expect a price tag to be part of it if it’s meaningful content. Apparently, that won’t be the case for Helldivers 2, as Arrowhead promised that players will “constantly” see a slew of new content and for free!
This was revealed by Johan Pilestedt, the Chief Executive Visionary of Creative & Business Strategy at Arrowhead, over on the game’s official Discord channel in response to a fan.
Oh yes! We are constantly going to add more stuff to the game! Enemies, objectives, biomes etc. Are always going to be free and expand the experience.
While no roadmap has been revealed just yet, it’s comforting to know that the devs do have something planned for the game post-launch, and they won’t even charge us a dime for it.
If you’re not familiar with the game, here are some of the Helldivers 2 gameplay details:
Helldivers 2 Gameplay Details:
New Enemy Types — The bug-like Termininds are making a return in Helldivers 2, but brave soldiers will now also face off against the Automatons, a sinister force of robots. They appear as foot soldiers and mechs, and we’re certain to see some extra large mechanical opponents as well.
Galactic Map — Using a holographic table, players will choose which missions to deploy themselves on. Super Earth High Command will also give Helldivers two types of orders: Major and Personal Orders. Major Orders are massive, long-term goals that the community as a whole works to accomplish. Personal Orders, on the other hand, are minor objectives that personally reward squads for completion of a specific set of goals.
Operations — Operations are collections of missions that vary in number based on difficulty. Objectives are spread across maps, both mandatory and optional, and players will have the freedom to complete them in the order they choose.
Unlockables and Upgrades — Helldivers can upgrade their Helldiver Destroyer, the massive warship that players spend time at in between deployments. Upgrades will allow for better weaponry and expanded ship styles, and they’re earned by collecting specific samples, earning medals from missions and orders, and completing assignments. All of this works to help build a loadout to suit your playstyle.
Developer Interaction — With the way the Galactic War is set up, the developers can watch how the community tackles Operations and Assignments and react accordingly, rewarding brave Helldivers with new missions and gear and advancing the story as time goes on.
Helldivers 2 will be released next week on February 8 on PS5 and PC.
In case you didn’t know, Naughty Dog released The Last of Us 2 Grounded II documentary as part of a title update to the game released yesterday. In it, Naughty Dog devs revealed that The Last of Us 2 was originally envisioned to be similar to FromSoftware’s Bloodborne. Yep, you read that right.
According to Co-Game Director Anthony Newman, “When we started making The Last of Us Part II, Neil (Druckmann) actually wanted to be very ambitious about changing the game almost entirely. In the first four or five months, the game was kind of an open world inspired by Bloodborne. And it was purely melee focused, like it was all hand-to-hand combat,”
It wasn’t just in the actual combat that the Bloodborne inspiration was being applied to, as Lead Game Designer Emilia Schatz also shared, “It wasn’t just the melee combat, we were also looking at the layout structure. Bloodborne had a very open space that kept getting bigger and bigger as you explored. I really like that feeling you get of mastery over the world. It starts to become almost a character in the game itself. And so, that was also something we were looking at.”
Thankfully, it looked like this massive shift for the franchise didn’t seem to work as intended, as Newman adds, “We started out making it as different as humanly possible from the first game as we could, and then kind of dialing it back. The open-world thing didn’t work with the story we were trying to tell.”
With how the first The Last of Us relied heavily on building tension through the narrative and offering a cohesive but linear path throughout the game, it would be a bit jarring to see its sequel remove those entirely and be a pure open-world experience. However, it would also be interesting to see how this would have taken shape.
Would you want Naughty Dog to shake things up for The Last of Us 3? Based on Neil Druckmann’s comments, it seems a trilogy is indeed in the cards, though don’t expect it to be released anytime soon.
For those interested, you can watch the Grounded II: Making The Last of Us Part II documentary below, with the Bloodborne chatter starting around the 17:00 mark.
Cygames has released Granblue Fantasy: Relink update 1.000.004 on PS5 (PS4 version 1.04, PC is 1.0.4), and this brings a short list of fixes to the RPG. Not only that, but the game is now confirmed to be a massive hit, surpassing 100,000 concurrent players on Steam alone.
The ver. 1.0.4 update applies various changes listed below. Players who have purchased the disc version are strongly encouraged to download and install this latest update.
*The distribution for the PS5®/PS4® Asia regional version will be on Feb 5.
You can also check out the changes made for version 1.0.3:
・[Battles] Fixed a bug where pressing the guard button in succession made it easier to trigger a perfect guard.
・[Quests] Fixed a rare bug where rewards weren’t given when unlocking new quest difficulties.
・[Side Quests] Fixed a bug where rewards weren’t given when playing on Ultimate difficulty.
・[Online] Fixed certain issues with matchmaking.
・[System] Introduced measures to mitigate bugs that are preventing the Steam version of the game from running properly. We are continuing to work diligently to address and fix the cause of these bugs.
・[Misc.] Various bug fixes.
Cygames has also acknowledged the missing rewards, and how it should be fixed now.
About Missing Rewards:
As mentioned above in the changes from ver. 1.0.3, players who were unable to get their rewards for unlocking new quest difficulties or clearing certain side quests may now collect them from Siero’s Knickknack Shack. The affected rewards are as follows:
・Crewmate Card from unlocking new quest difficulties
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Save the Crustaceans
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Save the Crustaceans Rises
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Save the Crustaceans Finale
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest A Lingering Regret
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Out of Serpentine Spite
Lastly, over on Steam Charts (via Kami), it lists Granblue Fantasy: Relink as hitting a 24-hour peak of over 103K players!
This remarkable feat means Granblue Fantasy: Relink is now in the top three most concurrent playercounts for a game classified as “JRPG” on the platform! Important to note, this does not even factor the PS4 and PS5 player bases, which means this number could very well be more than double the Steam numbers.
Surprised at the player numbers? We’re not, as the game is a topnotch RPG. Go check out our review to see why it’s a must-play for RPG fans regardless if you’re familiar with the Granblue franchise or not. As for what’s next, Cygames is set to roll out the first title update in early March, with more updates planned throughout the year.
AMD’s FSR 3 support continues to grow, with confirmation that Starfield will receive it later this month for all PC players, with a beta branch going live next week.
Starfield Getting a Boost in Performance and Resolution for All Supported GPU Brand and Models
The confirmation comes from Bethesda Game Studios, who shared on X (formerly Twitter) that FSR 3 support for Starfield is arriving this month.
We're excited to share that @AMD FSR 3 is coming to @StarfieldGame's Steam Beta next week!#FSR 3 will be available to all PC players later this month ahead of our next scheduled update. pic.twitter.com/LQ1pA8TU78
As always, we’ll have the full patch notes up for Starfield, once the update is live, so stay tuned!
Why FSR 3 Is a Big Thing
The news of FSR 3 coming to Starfield may not be a big one to those who own one of Nvidia’s 4000 series cards, but for everyone else with a GPU, either from Intel, AMD, or Nvidia (below 4000 series), the addition of FSR 3 brings some pretty big performance and quality improvements. FSR 3 and AMD’s version of frame generation can be used on any brand GPU as long as it meets the hardware requirement. That means that unlike DLSS 3, which is exclusive to the Nvidia 4000 series, PC players can enjoy the performance boosts FSR 3 brings, including frame generation.
It may not be as good as Nvidia’s offering, but that’s beside the point, as it doesn’t require you to fork over hundreds and even thousands for a new card. GPUs that many would consider at this point to be past their life are suddenly seeing a new breath of it, even if it is just for a little bit.
AMD’s upscaling technology still may have a way to go, but one thing the manufacturer did ensure was that its benefits could be enjoyed on a wide range of hardware. No one is being locked out because of a brand or a newer and improved series released the following year.
FSR hardware scalability not only benefits PC players either, as some console games support the feature on both PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. It’s also rumored that the next PlayStation handheld gaming device will feature an AMD APU, which will no doubt also see some form of FSR supported on it.
Lots to look forward to with FSR 3, even if we are still considered to be very early on in its life.
A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.
Cygames has released Granblue Fantasy Relink update 1.04 today on all platforms tagged as patch 1.0.4. This update is to address several bug fixes. Read on for the Granblue Fantasy Relink January 31 patch notes posted down below.
Granblue Fantasy Relink Update 1.04 Patch Notes | Granblue Fantasy Relink Update 1.0.4 Patch Notes:
The ver. 1.0.4 update applies various changes listed below. Players who have purchased the disc version are strongly encouraged to download and install this latest update.
*The distribution for the PS5®/PS4® Asia regional version will be on Feb 5.
Changes from Ver. 1.0.3:
・[Battles] Fixed a bug where pressing the guard button in succession made it easier to trigger a perfect guard.
・[Quests] Fixed a rare bug where rewards weren’t given when unlocking new quest difficulties.
・[Side Quests] Fixed a bug where rewards weren’t given when playing on Ultimate difficulty.
・[Online] Fixed certain issues with matchmaking.
・[System] Introduced measures to mitigate bugs that are preventing the Steam version of the game from running properly. We are continuing to work diligently to address and fix the cause of these bugs.
・[Misc.] Various bug fixes.
About Missing Rewards:
As mentioned above in the changes from ver. 1.0.3, players who were unable to get their rewards for unlocking new quest difficulties or clearing certain side quests may now collect them from Siero’s Knickknack Shack. The affected rewards are as follows:
・Crewmate Card from unlocking new quest difficulties
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Save the Crustaceans
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Save the Crustaceans Rises
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Save the Crustaceans Finale
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest A Lingering Regret
・Reward items (excludes EXP, MSP, and rupies) for completing the side quest Out of Serpentine Spite
