Behaviour Interactive has pushed out Meet Your Maker update 1.27 (PS5 update version 1.007.003), which is a hotfix for bug fixes. Read on for the game’s first patch of 2024, as we have the official patch notes down below.
Meet Your Maker Update 1.27 Patch Notes | Meet Your Maker Update 1.007.003 Patch Notes:
Hey Custodians,
We’ve just released a hotfix to address some additional issues that arose with the release of our Sector 3: Decayed Hope update. Please see the full patch notes for all the details:
CONTENT:
The holiday event is now over. The Harvester has been reverted to its default visuals and audio.
BUG FIXES:
We have fixed multiple game title crashes.
Fixed an issue causing Demolition Cannon grenades to be unable to destroy Launchpads with the Camouflage Mod equipped.
Fixed an issue preventing Traps from being destroyed when placed on certain decorative elements in the Decayed Hope environment.
Fixed an issue causing collision issues with the Chemical Plant Props.
That’s about it. Aside from Meet Your Maker and Dead by Daylight, Behaviour Interactive has also partnered with Supermassive Games to develop The Casting of Frank Stone, a narrative-driven game connected to the Dead by Daylight franchise.
The community has spoken, and Rocksteady has heard! As of today, they’re lifting the NDA restrictions around the Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League, allowing players to discuss their thoughts on the game.
This was announced via the game’s official Discord channel, and though the NDA has now been lifted, it’s also important to note that it is strictly for discussion and not any gameplay or screenshots.
Here’s what the studio had to say about the NDA lift.
“We have some good news for our Closed Alpha participants!
As many of you know… Back in November, we held a Closed Alpha Test for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League where players agreed to a Non-Disclosure Agreement and got a chance to check out an early section of the game. Now that there is more news out on the game and players are asking, we’re no longer enforcing a portion of the NDA and we’re allowing players to talk about their experience from the Closed Alpha Test.
We’ve heard the community requests and want to give players an opportunity to discuss what it’s like to explore Metropolis as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark.
To the amazing players who tested the game, please feel free to talk and write about your gameplay experience. Keep in mind that all other terms of the NDA still apply, and players may not post imagery or videos from the Closed Alpha Test.”
Pretty awesome of them to do, and very unheard of for tests under any kind of NDA.
With this, I can also officially say that I’ve participated in the alpha. I should have a short write up available real soon, so keep an eye on the site!
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.
The Prince of Persia franchise has featured periods of prolific releases and others of droughts, with the last decade falling into the latter category. With the previously announced delayed Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake still a no-show until who knows when, many had assumed that was a death kneel for the series for a while. That was until the announcement of a brand new entry in the franchise that would jump into the Metroidvania genre for the first time with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
A Whole New World
Unlike the majority of the Prince of Persia series, you do not play as a titular prince here, but rather as a member of a group of elite warriors known as the Immortals where you play as Sargon. This group has served the current Queen Thormyris and the game starts with them coming off another major victory to protect Persia. Things quickly go sideways, however, when Prince Ghassan is captured by Sargon’s mentor and friend Anahita, Sargon and the Immortals must set off to save him and end up being enveloped in the mysterious Mount Qaf which has suffered temporal anomalies that make past meet present and more. The story itself is quite enjoyable with betrayals and surprises along the way, so I won’t spoil any further on the events of the game so you can best experience it for yourself.
The way that the game starts, you may think that you will have the opportunity to switch to some of the other Immortals or have team-ups with them throughout, but that is not the case. Instead, the majority of your experience in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a solo experience outside of run-ins with these characters. There are also some other recurring characters you’ll come across in the story like a mysterious old man and a lost young boy, as well as some others, but most of the time you are exploring Mount Qaf alone.
Sargon’s goal at the start is to find Prince Ghassan and must travel across what starts as an empty map. While making your way along your main quest, activating Wak-Wak trees that you come across serve as the game’s save stations and equipment management locations. You will also respawn back at the last Wak-Wak tree you interacted with upon death as well. While it doesn’t come into play until a little later, there are also fast travel altars next to some of the Wak-Wak trees that allow you to quickly make your way across the map.
Very early in the game, you will reach an area known as The Haven, which serves as sort of your main hub in the game that falls near the center of the map. In this area, you can speak to the Shopkeeper to buy items such as Amulets, extra Healing Potions, and more. Then you can go to the Blacksmith Kaheva to either purchase a few items or upgrade your weapons, arrows, or amulets that you have available. All of these use the time crystal currency that you find in the game as well as mixing in a few other collectibles for higher-level upgrades. Lastly, you have one of the members of the Immortals in Artaban to train with once you obtain new abilities to help improve your skills and also earn some extra time crystals along the way.
Sargon not only has his trusty dual blades to use in battle but also acquires a bow and chakram that come in handy quite often. The dual blades are going to be your bread and butter though, as you are doling out damage to the enemy or using them to parry enemy attacks. Incoming enemy attacks can be handled in a few different ways, including dodging outright if possible. If the attack has no color to it, you can block or parry it by pressing block at just the right time. If the attack is yellow, parrying the attack will counter animation that often kills the enemy or at least does major damage. Red attacks are the ones you want to always dodge, as they are not able to be blocked or parried and can leave you vulnerable if you try to do either. The game has very smooth controls that give you complete control most of the time, but this parry system is not a perfect science though, so do be prepared for some moments of frustration along the way.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features plenty of boss battles during your journey that will test your skills and reaction times. Some of these are more difficult than others, but you can almost always figure out some sort of pattern and use that to your advantage. I was really impressed by the variety in the boss battles, as they all felt very unique from one another and often pushed you to your limits. It was also very much appreciated that the game allows you to just retry the boss fight if you die rather than respawning at the last Wak-Wak tree you interacted with as seen otherwise. The balance of the appearance of boss fights did feel a little off in the game though, as there were only a few early on and then I ended up with a gauntlet of three big boss fights almost in a row later on. Perhaps that is just dependent on the order of how you tackle the map in the game, but it did feel a bit jarring nonetheless in my playthrough.
Sargon also has 10 different Athra Surges that can be unlocked to use in battle, each of which offers special abilities to use in battle. Sargon can equip two different Athra Surges at a time, with them being able to be activated based on the Athra gauge level. These abilities can either be level one, two, or three, which requires the use of one, two, or three bars of the Athra gauge respectively. The Surges each have different cooldown times as well, which makes the choice of which two to select all the more important. My personal two favorites were the level 1 Verethragna’s Surge and the level 3 Bahamut’s Rage, as they seemed to work well together time-wise, but the nice thing here is that it’s completely up to you on how you want to set them.
There are also 38 Amulets that you can collect in the game and equip on Sargon depending on how many open slots you have. You start the game with only three Amulet slots, but can find extra slots for a total of 12. However, this does not mean you can equip 12 different Amulets, as they range from taking up anywhere from just one to up to three slots each. Some of these can be incredibly helpful though, such as increasing health, the rate of Athra gauge building by parrying, or adding fire to your arrows. Going to Kaheva to upgrade these to their highest level can take Sargon to the next level as well.
Pretty much every Metroidvania has numerous abilities that unlock previously inaccessible locations in the game and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is no different. These are done via Time Powers that you find in the game, typically after defeating a boss or completing a main story quest. For any veteran of the genre, you knew going through the game that you’d end up getting later abilities like a double jump or something to get to higher areas and that is exactly what happens, in addition to several game-unique abilities like the Shadow of the Simurgh ability that lets you clone yourself and then quickly teleport back to the clone instantly or a Dimensional Claw that lets you grab objects like explosives to store and then use at a later time. I greatly appreciated the strategic manner in which these various abilities were used in the game, especially to solve certain puzzles.
Something very innovative found in this game is the introduction of what are known as Memory Shards. By pressing down on the d-pad at any time, you can take a snapshot of the screen and it will place that screenshot on your map with an icon showing that the image was taken. This is designed for you to take when you get to an area that you want to remember to come back to, either because you got stuck on a puzzle or did not have the ability required to continue. You do have a limited number of these Memory Shards to use, though you can acquire more in the game in a few areas. This is a fantastic addition to the genre that more games should take note of and include in the future.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s map is split into more than 10 different environments that usually feature different enemy types for you to face. Like all Metroidvanias, you will find yourself traveling back and forth between different areas quite often so it is very nice to have differing locales and enemies to really help each area set itself apart from one another. Some locations are obviously going to be more frustrating than others, such as the poison-filled Depths, but there is no single area in the game that felt poorly designed or out of place.
Not only will you be completing the main quests across Mount Qaf, but you can also pick up and complete an array of side quests from NPCs that you meet. Purchasing a map from a character named Fariba in each section can help here with not only completing side quests, but also when trying to hunt for all of the other collectibles in the game including what are known as Xerses coins.
Traversing the world in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is very satisfying as the game throws in some very challenging platforming sections that typically reward you with a treasure chest or the aforementioned Xerses coin. For the Xerses coin sections, you usually have to make your way through a difficult platforming section dodging “one-hit kill” obstacles and grabbing the coin before returning back the way you came and touching solid ground again to actually earn the coin. For those looking for excellent platforming sections, these deliver in spades even if it may take you a number of tries to master them. The good thing is that the “one-hit kill” obstacles don’t actually kill you, but rather just return you to the beginning of the platforming challenge and reduce your overall health a bit. This allows you to keep trying until you master the path, which was very fulfilling while playing through the game.
For the most part, there are rarely any points in the game where you have absolutely no idea where to go or what to do like some games in this genre. You will always have one main quest active that has an objective for what you need to do, but you will still have to do some exploring to complete those quests. Some quests like finding the Celestial Guardians are clearly marked on your map, though still require some thought on how to make it to said locations. You can always visit Fariba in the game’s hub area to get a hint for a price as well. For those that really struggle with finding their way in games like this, the game does offer a Guided mode that can be activated from the start or from the pause menu that displays the location of the next objective while also marking any available or blocked paths. This is something I chose to avoid using during my playthrough, but it’s a great feature to make the game more accessible.
The game also offers four set difficulty levels to choose from, while also letting you adjust sliders to your liking in categories like Enemy Damage, Parry Difficulty, and more to allow for numerous combinations. This can also be adjusted after starting, so you can feel free to go with a higher difficulty if you would like without the fear of getting stuck and not being able to bump it back. My playthrough was on the equivalent of a normal difficulty and I thought the difficulty level was very fair throughout while also still offering plenty of challenge.
Long load times in a Metroidvania game can almost ruin a good game since you will be constantly moving between areas, but Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is very efficient with its load times when playing on PS5 at least. Going between screens takes not more than a second or two and even fast traveling is snappy as well. This makes it so easy to zip from one area of the map to another, which is vital when getting new abilities and having to backtrack to clean up past areas that were previously inaccessible.
The game is not without some bugs here and there, though they aren’t that often and usually just require a quick restart. One example was clipping through a wall when dashing and having to go back to the main menu and restart my save. Thankfully, I had just saved less than a minute prior so it was not a major issue, but this could have been if it had been a while since the last save spot. The weirdest one though came after beating the game and loading my save file again to clear up many of the extras, as the camera was instantly zoomed in way too far. I thought this was just something for the final area, but when I fast-traveled to another location, the game completely messed up and got stuck behind objects. Going back to the main menu didn’t even help here either, but force-closing the game and restarting it did. The good news is that these issues were very few and far between and they do not hinder the overall experience at all.
Verdict
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown may not have had the strongest response from fans upon its initial announcement, but Ubisoft really knocked it out of the ballpark with this one in the end. Coming in at about the 20 to 25-hour mark for a well-explored playthrough felt just about right for this type of game to avoid overstaying its welcome. Taking Prince of Persia and mixing it with the Metroidvania genre was a brilliant move, as the gameplay and abilities from the series mesh very well with this style, and it makes me hope this is only the beginning of this franchise’s foray into this new direction and is not just a one-off experience.
Score: 9/10
Pros:
Fun combat with lots of options
Useful Time Powers
Unique from one another boss fights
Difficult, but well-designed platforming challenges
Rockstar Games has just released a new GTA Online weekly update for January 11 with fresh activities plus discounts, GTA Plus benefits and more! Read on below for the full highlights and details in one handy list below.
New GTA Online Weekly Update for January 11 – Discounts, GTA Plus & More:
The new Albany Cavalcade XL SUV is now available to purchase from Southern San Andreas Super Autos, while prospective buyers can find it on display at the Luxury Autos Showroom.
In addition, towing and stripping vehicles for parts is even more lucrative this week, with double payouts on the Salvage Yard’s Tow Truck Service.
Full details from this week’s update include:
New Albany Cavalcade XL SUV, available for purchase at Southern San Andreas Super Autos and on display at the Luxury Autos Showroom
Triple GTA$ and RP on the Community Series
Double GTA$ on Tow Truck Service
Double GTA$ and RP on Drop Zone
Salvage Yard Robberies Vehicles: The Pegassi Torero (Sports Classic), Vapid Dominator ASP (Muscle), and Dinka Kanjo SJ (Coupe)
Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom Vehicles: The Vulcar Warrener (Sedan), Western Wolfsbane (Motorcycle), Übermacht Zion Cabrio (Coupe), Invetero Coquette BlackFin (Muscle, 30% off), and Enus Cognoscenti 55 (Armored) (Sedan, 30% off)
Luxury Autos Showroom Vehicles: The Fathom FR36 (Coupe) and the new Albany Cavalcade XL (SUV)
Vehicle Discounts: 30% off the Ocelot Locust (Sports), Enus Cognoscenti 55 (Armored, Sedan), Invetero Coquette BlackFin (Muscle), and Vysser Neo (Sports)
This Week’s Gun Van Discounts: 40% off the Double Barrel Shotgun, plus 40% off the Crowbar for GTA+ Members
GTA+ Members: A free Albany Cavalcade XL (SUV), free Clothing, 1.5X GTA$ and RP on Wildlife Photography Rewards, 2X Los Santos Car Meet Reputation, and more
GTA+:
Claim all the latest GTA+ Membership benefits through February 7:
Free Albany Cavalcade XL (SUV)
Rockstar Atomic Logo Sweater, New Year’s Jacket, New Year’s Pants, Western MC Jacket, and Western MC Pants
1.5X GTA$ and RP on Wildlife Photography Rewards
2X Los Santos Car Meet Reputation
Plus, a GTA$500,000 bonus delivered upon billing each month, access to download and play a rotating assortment of classic Rockstar Games titles, and more. Visit the GTA+ website for full details.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is launching soon, but before that, developer Cygames is giving fans the opportunity to try it out. Yep, a Granblue Fantasy: Relink Demo is coming, and it’ll be available starting tomorrow!
Revealed during today’s Relink showcase, the Granblue Fantasy: Relink Demo will be available to download and play on January 12 for North American regions. The demo is already available for those on the other side of the world, such as New Zealand. It clocks in at 26.5GB. The demo includes access to both solo and multiplayer and goes through a slither of the story. There is no word on whether or not save progression will transfer into the final game.
That’s not the only news from the showcase either, as an official roadmap for Granblue Fantasy: Relink has also been revealed. Crygames will release content starting in early March and continuing until May. New characters will be added, as well as some new multiplayer battles. These updates will be free for all players.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink launches February 1 on PS4, PS5, and PC (Steam.) For those who pre-order any of the editions, you’ll get early access starting January 28.
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.
It looks like PlayStation is gearing up to release a new iteration of the PS5 DualSense, dubbed V2 (version 2), which brings an improved battery for longer life.
As spotted on a new store listing on Best Buy Canada, the DualSense Edge V2 is a new iteration of the original DualSense. Most of the specs remain the same, down to even the design of the controller, and it even maintains the same MSRP as the original DualSense. However, upon feature inspection of the store page, there are a few key differences.
The first is that the battery life has improved, bringing it from an average of 8-10 hours to 12. I know that’s not a massive jump in performance, but it’s an improvement many will be happy to take.
The second difference that’s listed on the store is that this version of the DualSense apparently comes with a charging station, with the following description:
Dual Sense charging station (included) offers easy click-in charging
That could be a store error, though if true, that would make this a “cheaper” offering over the original controller, considering it comes with an additional peripheral.
Also, the DualSense V2 appears to be slightly smaller in size when looking at the controller’s specs. The weight has also been reduced from 360g to 280g.
So not only does the battery hold more, but the controller itself has also shrunken a tad.
Though Best Buy Canada currently has it listed, the controller itself is not available for purchase yet. We don’t expect an official announcement from PlayStation about it, as often small hardware iterations are released quietly.
Either way, this is fantastic news overall, as the DualSense was in need of some improvements, even if it’s just the battery. Now the bigger question will be whether or not the DualSense Edge, PlayStation’s pro-style controller, will get a version 2 upgrade. Its battery life is one of the most significant issues, providing even fewer hours than the original DualSense.
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.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor update 1.000.011 is now out on all platforms this January 11, and this is called Patch 8 by the studio. This title update adds two new features to the game: high contrast mode and an audio ping functionality. Read on for what’s new in the Sta Wars Jedi: Survivor new update patch notes for today.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Update 1.000.011 Patch Notes | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Update 8 Patch Notes | Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Update Patch Notes for January 11:
Patch 8 for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor arrives today for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S.
This patch introduces two new features and several improvements to Slow Motion in order to make Star Wars Jedi: Survivor accessible to even more players.
A new high contrast mode allows players to desaturate the environment and use colors specifically for narrative and gameplay elements, making them stand out more.
A new audio ping functionality allows players to both passively and actively ping the environment, giving the ability to echolocate objects and interactable elements nearby.
This update includes additional slow motion presets. With this new implementation players can toggle between both their own custom value and three new presets.
The presets are set at 30%, 50% and 75% and available through the shortcut menu. This will allow users to switch between multiple different slow motion values, and not just the custom value and the default game speed.
You can find more information on all of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s accessibility features here.
This patch also incorporates some fixes for performance and stability across all platforms.
While it might not have won a lot of Game of the Year awards last year, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor still managed to crack our top 10 games of 2023.
Embark has pushed out The Finals update 1.4.1 (PS5 update version 1.000.006), and this is the game’s first-ever patch of 2024! This latest title update brings aim assist tweaks, with the changes listed in the official The Finals new update patch notes for January 11.
The Finals Update 1.4.1 Patch Notes | The Finals Update 1.000.006 Patch Notes:
We’re back!
Today we have a small patch that addresses community feedback on aim assist, fair play, and bug fixes. These changes are the result of an in-depth review of how aim assist works — something we’ve only been able to validate with a player base as large as ours (thanks so much for playing our game, yolks!).
We have another bigger update in the works for next week, with a major security fix and some new exciting content, so stay tuned for that!
Aim Assistance
Zoom Snapping Angular Velocity now has a max cap, preventing unintended rapid 90-degree turns.
Camera Magnetism will be reduced to 35% from 50%, making player aim less sticky and lowering controller accuracy.
Zoom Snapping Time will be reduced to 0.25s from 0.3s.
Zoom Snapping will be removed from the SR-84 Sniper Rifle, Revolver, LH1, and all Shotguns, as it buffs them more
than other weapons.
Aim assist will ignore invisible players, fixing a bug with the existing system.
Clients running key re-mapping programs on PC will not have access to aim assist.
Speaking of aim assist in the game, go check out an in-depth breakdown of it right here.
FromSoftware Inc. has released Elden Ring update version number 1.10.1 today for PC players. This is a server side update that supports a new anti-cheat system for Steam. Read on for the Elden Ring January 11 patch notes.
Elden Ring Update 1.10.1 Patch Notes | Elden Ring January 11 Patch Notes:
Targeted Platforms
Steam
Update contents
Easy Anti-Cheat update to support the Steam OS update.
The version number of this update shown at the lower right corner of the Title Screen will be as follows:
App Ver. 1.10.1
It appears this update is only available for PC users today. It does not look like an update is available today for Xbox or PlayStation players. We will update this post as soon as we can if anything changes later today.
Keep it locked at MP1st for more updates about Elden Ring in the near future.
FromSoftware Inc. has taken the Elden Ring server down for maintenance this January 11, 2024, and this seems to be for PC (Steam) only. Players can also expect a system update to be rolled out during this time.
Elden Ring Down for Server Maintenance Schedule This January 11:
Here’s the announcement from FromSoftware:
The #ELDENRING Steam servers will undergo maintenance today, January 11 2024, to deploy a system update. This patch does not contain any game related content. Maintenance will begin at 0:00 PST | 09:00 CET | 17:00 JST and will last 2 hours. Thank you for your patience, Tarnished.
The #ELDENRING Steam servers will undergo maintenance today, January 11 2024, to deploy a system update. This patch does not contain any game related content. Maintenance will begin at 0:00 PST | 09:00 CET | 17:00 JST and will last 2 hours. Thank you for your patience, Tarnished.
As you can see, this maintenance period and system update seems to be for Steam users only. However, there is a chance console players will get an update as well, and if they do, we’ll be sure to update this article to reflect it and provide an update.
Arc System Works has released Guilty Gear Strive update 1.34 (PS5 version 1.034) today to fix some known issues with the game. Read on for the Guilty Gear Strive January 11 patch notes down below.
・As of this issue fix update, the Battle Version has been updated from Ver. 3.02 to Ver. 3.03.
・Fixed an issue causing the game to become temporarily unresponsive when using a Finish Blow after a round victory with Elphelt.
・Fixed an issue causing unintended behavior when Elphelt uses Here I Go! while tethered to Baiken after Kabari (S version) or Ground Throw.
・Fixed an issue allowing Millia to perform a second Tandem Top via certain input methods while one Tandem Top is already on-screen.
・Fixed an issue causing the character not to be displayed properly when hit by Faust’s Ground Throw or Bone-crushing Excitement under certain conditions in Arcade Mode.
・Fixed an issue causing unintended visuals for Asuka when he is hit by Bone-Crushing Excitement while in the afro state caused by Faust’s item.
・Fixed an issue causing Faust to appear at unintended different positions when using Scarecrow. This fix called for changes to the move’s properties, as described below.
Issue Background:
In Ver. 1.32, using Deflect Shield against the P or K versions of Scarecrow caused unnatural camera movement. This visual issue was addressed in Ver. 1.33. This also resulted in an unintended change in the position Faust would appear during Scarecrow.
Issue Fix Method:
In order to address the visual and positioning issues with minimal impact on existing combos and strings, the timing when Faust turns to face the opponent while Scarecrow is active has been changed. This changes the situation when performing the strings below in the corner, for example.
Close Standing S > Crouching S > Scarecrow (K version) > Scarecrow will hit to the front of Faust with no additional inputs
This creates more distance with the opponent.
Close Standing S > Crouching S > Scarecrow (K version) > Input forward for Scarecrow to hit behind Faust
This creates less distance with the opponent.
We apologize for the inconvenience caused to players.
We will post updates regarding future game updates and their release schedule on the official X account. Thank you for your continued support for Guilty Gear -Strive-.
We’re hardly a week into 2024 and we’re already trending to beat last year’s record of game industry job losses. Yesterday, Twitch announced layoffs for 500 employees, a massive 35% of the streaming website’s staff.
The layoffs were announced in a post on the Twitch blog this morning. You can read the message from CEO Dan Clancy to those affected below:
Team,
Today I have some incredibly difficult news to share. As you all know, we have worked hard over the last year to run our business as sustainably as possible. Unfortunately, we still have work to do to rightsize our company and I regret having to share that we are taking the painful step to reduce our headcount by just over 500 people across Twitch. This will be a very hard day. Our service exists to empower communities to create, together, and every single one of you has played a vital role in fostering our community and furthering that mission.
I know many of you are wondering why this is happening. Over the last year, we’ve been working to build a more sustainable business so that Twitch will be here for the long run and throughout the year we have cut costs and made many decisions to be more efficient. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, it has become clear that our organization is still meaningfully larger than it needs to be given the size of our business. Last year we paid out over $1 billion to streamers. So while the Twitch business remains strong, for some time now the organization has been sized based upon where we optimistically expect our business to be in 3 or more years, not where we’re at today. As with many other companies in the tech space, we are now sizing our organization based upon the current scale of our business and conservative predictions of how we expect to grow in the future.
This decision, while incredibly difficult and painful, is necessary to ensure that we can continue to serve our streamers sustainably without impacting their ability to support their careers on Twitch. Part of what makes this so difficult is the passion that so many of you share for the Twitch community, and the hard work you’ve put into serving our streamers.
I want to close with my sincerest apology to everyone who is leaving Twitch. You are some of the most talented, committed, and creative people I have ever worked with. Thank you for everything you’ve done to help us build Twitch and foster our community.
We are all here because we believe in the power of Twitch and our community – and while our mission is far from over, right now our focus is on taking care of each other. I am always grateful for how well you all support and show up for one another during our best and most difficult moments.
– Dan
What’s left to say about these layoffs at this point? At this point, we’re writing up job cut headlines up at least once a week, often more. It sucks. There’s no other way to say it. Hundreds of people getting put out of work in an industry that’s so difficult to get into in the first place never gets easier to see. We can’t predict the future, but as of right now, it seems like there’s no end in sight.
Clancy announced that he’ll host a livestream on the official Twitch channel at 1pm PST/4pm EST/5am HKT tomorrow, January 11, to speak to the community regarding the layoffs. It’s a nice gesture in the midst of an unfortunate situation, but it’s a bit of a band-aid on a broken leg.
If anything substantial comes of Clancy’s community address, we’ll be sure to let our readers know.
Studio Wildcard has released Ark Survival Ascended update 33.15 for PC, which is a minor update addressing some recent issues. Read on for what’s included in today’s Ark Survival Ascended update.
Ark Survival Ascended Update 33.15 Patch Notes
Fixed an issue where all users would transmit audio when the server was shutdown
Added additional logging for server management
Winter Wonderland Mod Removal
With this patch we added a server launch parameter that will be needed when you disable Winter Wonderland to prevent losing event cosmetics/items.
For servers hosted with Nitrado, they will be adding a checkbox soon/ASAP to add the launch parameter specifically for the Winter Wonderland event.
Due to the conclusion of the event, the Winter Wonderland Mod will be disabled on Officials. However the removal of the mod poses potential data loss risks to items/skins earned during the event.
As an interim solution (before integrating mod elements into the core game), we have added a “-passivemods=[ModID],[ModID]” command line option. This option will disable a mod’s functionality, while still loading its data, serving as a temporary measure until a permanent solution is implemented. The passivemod command line should be used in conjunction with “-mods=[ModID],[ModID]”, where the passivemod’s ID is listed first.
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.
Have you been feeling overwhelmed with how many things there are to play these days? You aren’t alone. Nacon Head of Publishing Benoit Clerc recently interviewed with GamesIndustry.biz and had a lot to say regarding the current state of the video game industry and what it takes to successfully market a title.
According to Clerc, the overwhelming volume of games on the market is the issue currently:
There are too many games on the market. We’re seeing today the results of investment made after [COVID] when the market was bursting, and every game was making a lot of money so there were a lot of investments being made. This is two or three years after that, so the games we’re seeing now on the market were financed in that time and there are simply too many for customers to be able to play them.
When you look at Steam some days, there are 50 or 60 games released in one day only so it’s more difficult to get enough traction to expose a game. We’re seeing releases that are without a day one, to use the old retail expression, without any exposure of a title that has been properly marketed.
So what’s the solution? If you want to get a game out there and make sure it has eyes on it, what are you supposed to do? Well, Clerc’s strategy is to publish games with consistent core audiences that he knows will flock to the titles Nacon puts out. For example, the WRC games target fans of rally car racing, and RoboCop: Rogue City combines “a big mainstream brand with a product that is super high quality.” This sort of focus can help a game get seen, which is increasingly important in the modern day.
Clerc also spoke to the increasing pressure of the gaming industry as of late, particularly emphasizing the difficulty of required budget increases. Games simply aren’t as cheap to make as they used to be, and Clerc knows that:
There is indeed pressure from the market because the standards in terms of production values, length of experience and knowledge of our medium from customers are going up. And our medium is waiting for innovation, so we do need to invest more than we did in the past, like any other mid-tier publisher.
We’ve seen the increasing budget requirements and decreasing exposure hurt plenty of companies in the last year. If we could pick one word to describe the industry as a whole in 2023, it’d probably be “layoffs.” It’s an especially difficult time to enter the game development world. Nacon knows that too, having recently closed their subsidiary Daedalic’s development studio following the commercial and critical failure of Gollum.
Despite all the difficulties, Nacon is still pushing their hardest to publish quality products. Robocop: Rogue City is a great example–fans of RoboCop thoroughly enjoyed stepping into the boots of Alex Murphy and living in that world, our reviewer included. You can check out our review here, where we gave it an 8/10 and said, “A good-length campaign with solid voice acting and a genuinely entertaining story all add up to a violent, cinematic first-person shooter that doesn’t overstay its welcome.”
In case you didn’t know, NBA 2K24 Season 4 starts tomorrow, Friday, January 11, and along with it, the All-Star Game festivities, Lunar New Year event, and so much more. Read on for the NBA 2K24 Season 4 rewards, the patch notes, MyCareer additions and more.
2K24 Season 4 Rewards, Patch Notes, MyCareer and New Content:
Season 4 Start: Friday, January 11 at 8 am PT/11 am ET
MyCAREER
The New Year brings a fresh start, new goals, auspicious wishes, and another Season of NBA 2K24. Whether your New Year’s resolutions are on the hardwood or off it, there’s plenty of incentive to strive for new accomplishments in Season 4. Take to the courts in The City and The Neighborhood to rack up XP and climb the rewards ladder to earn a multitude of thrilling items.
Season 4 is teed up with exciting rewards, including 60-minute 2XP coins, Boosted Accessories, Emotes, NBA team and player banners, and more. But the rewarding journey begins with the Level 1 Season 4-themed T-Shirt and Ball. From there, progress further to earn special cosmetics like the Level 15 Fox Mask, Level 30 Mascot Costume, and the Level 35 Racesuit, to name a few. New Gen players can speed their way around The City in the Level 39 Starry Dune Buggy and Current Gen players can honor the year of the dragon with the Level 39 Dragon Mascot outfit. Level up quickly with Seasons cross-mode progression and add more rewards to your collection with the Pro and Hall of Fame Season Pass, which you can learn more about further down.
MyCAREER allows you to create your ideal MyPLAYER, whether that’s a three-point marksman or a slashing wing with all-around capabilities. In Season 4, we’re adding a new batch of NBA player templates to choose from when creating your perfect build. Take a look at the newest templates below:
Current NBA
PG – Tyrese Haliburton
SG – Dejounte Murray
SF – RJ Barrett
PF – Jerami Grant
C – Alperen Sengun
Classic NBA
PG – Jason Williams
SG – Jason Richardson
SF – Latrell Sprewell
PF – Kevin McHale
C – Arvydas Sabonis
Community
PG – Double H
SG – Joe Knows
SF – TTYME
PF – TrulyHuncho
C – Jairus Twin
As the All-Star Game approaches, show your support for your favorite team and players by rocking one of the many current and historic All-Star Jerseys available in The City. Several iconic uniforms have made their debut in the All-Star Game and you can collect them all by heading over to SWAG’s, your one-stop shop for all the latest gear. We’re bringing the heat this Season in MyCAREER and MyTEAM.
MyTEAM
The All-Star Game has seen standout performances from the greatest players of all time, including those featured as player card rewards in Season 4 of MyTEAM. The classic card-collecting mode is giving you an opportunity to round out your lineup with a cast of Hall of Famers and NBA All-Stars, all you have to do is earn XP to get them.
Before LeBron James surpassed him on the NBA’s all-time scoring list in 2023, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar held the record for 29 years. His patented sky hook was unguardable and a reliable source of buckets throughout his illustrious career. You don’t need to play any games to add the Lakers center with the Level 1 Free Agent Kareem Abdul-Jabbar card; bring him into your lineup, rack up the points in the post all game long, and start earning more XP to level up.
Form a potent pairing with Season 4’s Dynamic Duo rewards, featuring Level 3 Sapphire Terrell Brandon, his All-Star teammate Level 20 Amethyst Juwan Howard, plus Level 6 Ruby Paul Millsap and his Atlanta Hawks frontcourt mate Level 10 Ruby Al Horford. Millsap and Horford were a formidable team during their joint tenure with the Hawks, each receiving All-Star selections and leading their team to the playoffs.
The ‘80s produced some of the finest players the NBA has ever seen, and among them was Dominique Wilkins. The Atlanta Hawks’ small forward was known as the “Human Highlight Reel” for his ability to attack the rim and throw down vicious slams that made the crowd gasp. He was much more than a dunker, though; he was an exceptional scorer as well, finishing as the 1985-1986 regular season scoring champion. Reach Level 25 and receive a Diamond Dominique Wilkins card; insert the 11-time All-Star into your lineup and wreak havoc with him in Unlimited, Triple Threat, and all other game modes.
Larry Bird is one of the best pure scorers in NBA history, but he was an exceptional head coach as well. The Hall of Fame forward made a living as a player beating teams with his efficient shooting and offensive wizardry. As a coach, he used his high IQ and invaluable experience to put his team in positions to win. Bird led the Indiana Pacers to three consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, was awarded Coach of the Year in 1998, and coached the Eastern Conference All-Stars during All-Star Weekend. Complete your talented lineup with the Level 30 Diamond Coach Larry Bird, and apply his knowledge to lead your team to victory.
Finally, add one of the most electrifying showmen to your squad with the Level 40 Pink Diamond Magic Johnson card. The Hall of Fame point guard’s 6’9” frame, coupled with his lightning-quick handles and all-around game made him nearly impossible to defend. Set up your perimeter players with amazing behind-the-back passes or barrel through the lane for acrobatic layups and jams.
This Season’s Rewards feature all-time greats, 2XP coins, Prize Balls, Shoe and Uniform Packs, Diamond Players from New Year’s Resolution and ‘Tis the Season, Ascension picks, and lots more. Don’t forget to check out the MyTEAM Season Playbook to learn more about the latest cards, challenges, and upcoming events in MyTEAM. You can also stay in the loop about Locker Codes and additional news by following our @NBA2KMyTEAM account on social media.
THE W ONLINE*
The WNBA season is over and the WNBA Draft isn’t for a few more months, but there’s still plenty of WNBA action in NBA 2K24! Whether you prefer to take your handles online in The W Online, test your skills in MyWNBA, or just want to pick up and play in Quickplay, we’ve got the competitive fix for your WNBA needs. This Season, we’re introducing all-new rewards and weekly goals for you to chase. Take a look at what’s available in Season 4 of NBA 2K24 below:
Weekly Goal
Candace Parker Heroine Jersey
Team Accelerator Boosts
Team Resilience Boosts
Team Extender Boosts
Helping Hands Boosts
Player Boosts
Season Rewards
MyTEAM Storm Jersey Card
Arike Ogunbowale Jersey
MyTEAM Exhibit Select Shoe Card
Level S, A, B, and C Perk Scholar
Clothing Bundles
Candace Parker All-Star Jersey
VC
SEASON PASS
The NBA 2K24 Pro Pass*: Season 4 takes your MyCAREER and MyTEAM experience to the next level. The Pro Pass unlocks access to 40 levels of earnable premium rewards, including up to 45,000 VC as you progress through the Season on your way to Level 40! Get the Season 4 Pro Pass & automatically receive Black Leather Pants, a Snowsuit, a Pink Diamond Carmelo Anthony MyTEAM Card, and a Season 4 Pro Pass Pack.
Earnable rewards include four 30x Skill Boosts (each good for five games in MyCAREER), City Court Floor East and West Option Packs, Hall of Fame Badge Option Pack, 25,000 MyTEAM Points, 16 2XP Coins for MyCAREER and MyTEAM, and more!
NBA 2K24 Season 4 Patch Notes:
GENERAL
Preparations for NBA 2K24 Season 4, launching on Friday, January 12, at 8AM PT/11AM ET/4PM BST. Stay tuned for what we have in store!
The New York Knicks PA announcer will now make calls for the home team with the proper intensity
The following players have had general likeness updates or adjustments made:
Chet Holmgren
Christie Sides (new player scan)
Victor Wembanyama (default hair update)
Han Xu (new player scan)
GAMEPLAY
Reduced the effectiveness of the “Cut to Basket Pass”
Resolved a rare hang that could occur when attempting an alley-oop at a very specific time
Fixed another case that allowed uncalled double-dribble violations when using dribble emotes while posting up
Addressed a rare hang that could occur in the Dunk Contest
CITY/PRO-AM/REC/THEATER
Many improvements to performance, stability, and visuals have been made to enhance the overall experience in the City
Addressed a rare hang that could occur when accessing the Equipment menu in the City
Fixed an issue causing the camera to be briefly blocked during jump ball situations in REC games
The court status map can now be scrolled for full view while in a shootaround on the ELITE affiliation courts
The default MyPLAYER camera can now be selected again once toggled away from during Starting 5 games
Skill boosts, including the Additional Turbo Meter, will now be properly utilized in Starting 5 games
MyCAREER/QUESTS/PROGRESSION
Multiple fixes and adjustments have been made to improve the overall quest experience and ensure proper progression and quest completion throughout the mode
Resolved a hang that could occur when gameplay re-started too quickly following certain record-breaking cinematic sequences
Fixed a rare progression blocker that could occur during the offseason when selecting a new team to sign with
Resolved a timing-specific issue that could cause control of MyPLAYER to be lost if GOAT Mode activation occurs just before a stoppage in play
MyTEAM
Fixed an issue that prevented some Evolved or shoe/badge boosted Player Cards from receiving those boosts in Triple Threat Online: Co-Op games
The Triple Threat Online: Co-Op score overlay will no longer swap scores at the end of a game
Adjustments have been made to the audio for crowd reactions in Triple Threat modes
When using the Exchange from the Duplicates or My Collection menu, a delay has been added when using the “Short Press and Hold” setting to avoid accidental exchanges
Addressed a conflict between Coach Boosts and Dynamic Duos in certain gameplay situations
Added support for additional card types like Coach Cards as Collection Rewards in the Player Market
Resolved an issue preventing Shoe Cards from being applied to some Player Cards
MyNBA/THE W
Various stability fixes and improvements have been made for MyNBA, MyNBA Online, and The W
Adjusted the logic so that players are more likely to have interest in signing extensions
Fixed a rare hang that could occur if an overtime game ends on a made free throw in a game with the sudden death rule in place
The Assists Possession Result slider can now be adjusted as expected independently from the Player
Regression Rate slider
Option years will now be correctly highlighted when viewing contract details on player cards
City edition courts will no longer appear for In-Season Tournament games when City edition jerseys are chosen by the home team
Resolved an issue that could cause the Broadcast camera view to be partially obstructed by the fans when playing in the In-Season-Tournament arena
Postgame celebration sequences will now appear as expected when winning the WNBA Championship in The W
That’s about it. Once a new patch is out, we’ll let our readers know.
After months of review, Valve is going back on its AI policy, which previously said no to AI games on its Steam storefront, opening the doors to an onslaught of AI-created games.
As announced on Steam, Valve has issued a policy update, outlining the steps they’ve taken to come to this decision.
“Today, after spending the last few months learning more about this space and talking with game developers, we are making changes to how we handle games that use AI technology. This will enable us to release the vast majority of games that use it.
First, we are updating the Content Survey that developers fill out when submitting to Steam. The survey now includes a new AI disclosure section, where you’ll need to describe how you are using AI in the development and execution of your game. It separates AI usage in games into two broad categories:
Pre-Generated: Any kind of content (art/code/sound/etc) created with the help of AI tools during development. Under the Steam Distribution Agreement, you promise Valve that your game will not include illegal or infringing content, and that your game will be consistent with your marketing materials. In our pre-release review, we will evaluate the output of AI generated content in your game the same way we evaluate all non-AI content – including a check that your game meets those promises.
Live-Generated: Any kind of content created with the help of AI tools while the game is running. In addition to following the same rules as Pre-Generated AI content, this comes with an additional requirement: in the Content Survey, you’ll need to tell us what kind of guardrails you’re putting on your AI to ensure it’s not generating illegal content.”
AI-generated content has been a hot debate since its blow-up in the last few years. One of the biggest concerns around it is how much of it actually uses data stolen from real work, not to mention the number of jobs it may replace, with quality also taking a hit.
Steam says they’ll have some systems in place for users to report AI-created games that may contain illegal, and we assume, also stolen content.
“Today’s changes are the result of us improving our understanding of the landscape and risks in this space, as well as talking to game developers using AI, and those building AI tools. This will allow us to be much more open to releasing games using AI technology on Steam. The only exception to this will be Adult Only Sexual Content that is created with Live-Generated AI – we are unable to release that type of content right now.
It’s taken us some time to figure this out, and we’re sorry that has made it harder for some developers to make decisions around their games. But we don’t feel like we serve our players or developer partners by rushing into decisions that have this much complexity. We’ll continue to learn from the games being submitted to Steam, and the legal progress around AI, and will revisit this decision when necessary.”
Many are already criticizing the announcement, as while AI has some benefits as discussed in our AI piece, in practice, there are more significant consequences that many are now feeling.
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.
Back in December 2022, Epic Games agreed to pay $245 million dollars to settle allegations from the FTC that claimed it tricked players into making in-game purchases. As a result, those affected were emailed back in September of 2023, eligible for a refund on unwanted Fortnite shop items. The original deadline to claim that refund was set to end this month, but the FTC has now extended it into February.
Originally ending on January 19, the new deadline (via press release) to claim a refund for Fortnite purchases is now February 29. Do note that the ones eligible for the refund are those the FTC emailed, roughly 37 million of the 500 million players who play Fortnite.
The FTC made allegations that Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, used “dark patterns and other deceptive practices” to trick players into making purchases, which was found to be a privacy violation. The company agreed to settle, which saw refunds open last September.
If you believe you’re amongst the many affected by this, the FTC has listed resources (below) on how to get that refund.
How to file a Refund for Fortnite Shop Items
Information about how to file a claim can be found at www.ftc.gov/Fortnite. Consumers who have questions about the claims process can contact the administrator by phone at 1-833-915-0880 or by email at admin@fortniterefund.com.
Be sure to check those emails to see if you ever got the refund.
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.
It’s a new year, and Activision has announced the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 1 Reloaded content drop incoming to players this January 17! Expect a new multiplayer map, the introduction of Ranked Play and more!
Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone Season 1 Reloaded Content Overview:
Season 1 Reloaded Launch: January 17 at 9AM PT/12 pm ET/1 am HKT
Modern Warfare III
New 6v6 Multiplayer Map. Deploy to Rio, a new Core map that challenges Operators to a street fight in an upscale shopping center.
Introducing Team Gunfight, Infected, Headquarters. Compete across three new Multiplayer modes.
The Boys LTM and Challenge Event. Experience a Supe’d Up version of Kill Confirmed featuring power boosts and earn in-game rewards for completing tasks in The Boys: Supe Siege Event Challenge.
Multiplayer Ranked Play. Fight like the pros and rise through the Ranks and Skill Divisions in 4v4 competitive play featuring the same ruleset used by the Call of Duty League.
Warzone
Attempt the Champion’s Quest. The Champion’s Quest returns with a brand-new quest for Urzikstan. Complete the multi-part challenge to instigate a devastating end game.
Gulag Night Vision Public Event: Battle in the dark using night-vision goggles in this Public Event that cuts the lights in the Gulag.
Grab the Weapon Case. A new Weapon Case objective is available for the first time in Battle Royale! Players can now battle over a single Weapon Case hidden in a search area at the start of every match to spice up the early game.
A New Way to Escape: Players can now exfil the match early with the help of a Covert Exfil, offering a new win condition for those able to pay the price for the ride out – if you can secure it!
Zombies
Take on a New Warlord. A new Warlord enters the Exclusion Zone in the form of South Korean–born Dokkaebi. Defeat her if you can to earn high-tier loot.
Here’s a deeper dive into the new content incoming in Season 1 Reloaded for both games.
MODERN WARFARE III OVERVIEW
New 6v6 Map: Rio
Rio (6v6): Deploy to an upscale shopping center in Rio de Janeiro in a new medium-sized 6v6 Multiplayer map featuring a central indoor mall surrounded by Main Street, a tram station, a market, a plaza and café, and residential spaces. Use the covered walkway to get above your enemies or take cover near an armored vehicle when fighting on street level. The mall itself rises toward the middle, so watch for enemies playing king of the hill on approach.
New Modes: Team Gunfight, Headquarters, Infected
Team Gunfight: Experience Gunfight on a larger scale. In this version, players compete in 6v6 across standard Multiplayer maps. As with traditional Gunfight, all players will receive the same randomized Loadout at the start of each round. This Loadout changes throughout the match. Adapt to what you’re given and wipe out the competition.
Headquarters: Secure the Headquarters objective and hold the position as long as possible to accrue points. Dig in tight, as respawns are disabled for the defending team. The objective rotates around the map throughout the match, so be ready to change your position on the fly.
Infected: Begin the match with one player randomly assigned as the starting infected. The infected player’s goal is to eliminate and transform all the other players into infected Operators who then join their side, while the remaining survivors must use their best skills and strategies to keep the infected at bay.
The Boys LTM and Event Challenge
Compete in a new Supe’d Up version of Kill Confirmed inspired by the hit TV series The Boys. In this twist on the classic mode, fallen Operators drop doses of Temp V, giving temporary power boosts like Heat Vision to those who swoop in to collect them.
The Boys: Supe Siege
Prove that you belong with the Supes by completing six challenges in The Boys: Supe Siege Event Challenge. The challenges are as follows:
Get one Operator Heat Vision elimination in The Boys mode (Reward: Calling Card).
Deactivate 20 pieces of Equipment using DDoS (Reward: Emblem).
Get four Operator eliminations using the MTZ-762 (Reward: Battle Pass Tier Skip).
Get two Operator eliminations in a single life with the Overkill Vest equipped, five times (Reward: Large Decal).
Get 15 Operator Akimbo eliminations (Reward: Weapon Charm).
Get seven Operator eliminations using Lethal Equipment (Reward: Double XP Token).
Mastery Reward: Complete all six challenges to earn “The Boys Special” LMG Weapon Blueprint featuring four attachments, equipped with a whopping 150-round drum and incendiary ammunition for aggressive suppressive fire.
Clutch Up! Multiplayer Ranked Play Is Here
Season 1 Reloaded introduces Multiplayer Ranked Play to Modern Warfare III. Play like the pros in competitive 4v4 matches using the same settings, maps, and modes as the Call of Duty League (CDL).
Ranked Play becomes available after players reach at least Level 55. All unrestricted gameplay items are unlocked for use in Ranked Play, regardless of how much you’ve previously unlocked. Some weapons, Killstreaks, Equipment, and gameplay content are restricted in Ranked Play to match CDL competitive rules. And watch your aim! Friendly Fire is enabled in all Ranked Play matches.
Rank: You will begin at Rank 1. Your rank represents your Ranked Career. Win matches to earn stars and rank up. Rank is permanent and persists across seasons.
Skill Division: You will start your first Season in Bronze I. Advance through 8 Skill Divisions and Tiers by earning SR (Skill Rating). SR is awarded when you win based on personal and team performance. In subsequent seasons, you will be dropped back three Tiers. The highest Skill Division you can start a new season in is Diamond I.
Note that SR penalties will result from being inactive, disconnecting from matches, and engaging in repeated friendly fire.
Hot Streak: Win three matches in a row to earn a flaming rank. Continue winning to progress the Hot Streak flames. The flames expire if you lose or after 72 hours.
Ranked Play Maps and Modes
CDL Search & Destroy: No respawning; 1.5-minute round timer; Friendly Fire enabled. Supported maps include Highrise, Invasion, Karachi, Skidrow, and Terminal.
CDL Hardpoint: 5-minute time limit; 250 score limit; 60-second objective rotation; Friendly Fire enabled. Supported maps include Invasion, Karachi, Skidrow, Sub Base, and Terminal.
CDL Control: 30 lives per team; 1.5-minute time limit; 3-round win limit; Friendly Fire enabled. Supported maps include Highrise, Invasion, and Karachi.
Season 1 Ranked Play Rewards
Win five Ranked Play matches to earn the “MWIII Season 1 Competitor” Weapon Sticker.
Win 10 Ranked Play matches to earn the “Pro Issue Gutter Knife” Weapon Blueprint.
Win 20 Ranked Play matches to earn the “Script Writer” Weapon Charm.
Win 30 Ranked Play matches to earn the “Built Different” Large Decal.
Win 40 Ranked Play matches to earn the “MWIII Ranked Play Season 1” Loading Screen.
Win 50 Ranked Play matches to earn the “MWIII Season 1 Ranked Veteran” Weapon Camo.
Season 1 Skill Division Rewards
While the above rewards are earned in-season after winning a certain number of matches, the Skill Division rewards are handed out at the end of the season based on your best Skill Division obtained during that time.
Bronze & Silver: Players who reach the Bronze or Silver Skill Division will be awarded with an accompanying “Season 1” Emblem.
Gold through Crimson: Players who reach Gold through Crimson will also receive new Ranked Play–themed Operator Skins and Weapon Charms in addition to the Skill Division Animated Emblem reward.
Iridescent: Reach the Iridescent Skill Division to earn the “MWIII Season 1 Iridescent” animated Calling Card in addition to the Skill Division’s Operator Skins, Animated Emblem, and Weapon Charm rewards.
Top 250: The best of the best will earn the Top 250 Operator Skins, a Weapon Charm, a unique animated Emblem and Calling Card for those who finish between #2 and 250, and a unique one-of-a-kind animated Emblem and Calling Card for the #1 ranked player of the season.
ZOMBIES OVERVIEW
Take on a New Warlord. A new Warlord enters the Exclusion Zone in the form of South Korean–born Dokkaebi. Defeat her if you can to earn high-tier loot.
New Warlord: Dokkaebi
Prepare for a new challenge in the form of South Korean–born Dokkaebi. A key lieutenant within Terminus Outcomes, Dokkaebi boasts a deep understanding of electronic warfare with access to a fleet of self-programmed autonomous drones ready to attack Operator Deadbolt Operatives on sight.
Operators will find Dokkaebi’s fortress at the top of a skyscraper in Zaravan City. A technological savant, the Warlord uses drones, turrets, and a Wheelson as her main line of defense. Squads skilled enough to get past her initial deterrents will find an elusive opponent equally capable of evasion and attack.
CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE OVERVIEW
Take on the Champion’s Quest in Urzikstan
The infamous Champion’s Quest makes its debut in Urzikstan, challenging players with a new high-level task that will test all your squad’s collective skills in an attempt to witness an extremely explosive finale. The first step? Win 30 games total within a season OR five consecutive matches. Complete that and the next steps will fall into place. Only the most elite squads need apply.
New NVG Gulag Public Event
In this new Gulag Public Event, the lights in the Gulag will go out, setting up an epic night-vision skirmish that will put your fighting abilities to the test. Secure the win to return to the match and leave your opponent in the dark.
Gear Up with the Weapon Case
A single Weapon Case spawns in a small search area at the start of every match. Once found, the player holding the Weapon Case is marked for all enemies in the match. If a player holding the case manages to stay alive at the end of the match OR their squad exits the match using a helicopter called in by purchasing a Covert Exfil, they and their teammates earn exclusive rewards.
Secondary Win Condition: Covert Exfil
Speaking of Covert Exfil, players can now exfil the match early with the help of a Covert Exfil. With only five exfils available to purchase per match — for a high price — in Buy Stations before the Gulag closes, a Covert Exfil calls in a helicopter that can fly any player out of the match, ideally with the Weapon Case in their possession. Players can also compete to earn the most successful Covert Exfils with the new Covert Exfil leaderboard stat.
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Two New Weapons. A new SMG and LMG arrive so you can bring the pain whether you’re up close or offering suppressive fire from afar.
New Store Offerings. Deploy as A-Train and Firecracker from The Boys.
Two New Weapons
HRM-9 (SMG)
A light yet stable 9mm submachine gun for close quarters combat and putting down enemies quickly.
Sporting a high fire rate and excellent handling and mobility, the HMR-9 is the perfect fit for aggressive run-and-gun playstyles. Aim down sights for precise fire or enter Tac-Stance and run circles around your enemies. Use Gunsmith to enhance the weapon’s midrange capabilities, improve its close-quarters performance, or a combination of the two.
How to unlock the Base Weapon: Complete an Armory Unlock challenge.
TAQ Evolvere (LMG)
An advanced, multi-caliber LMG capable of firing 7.62 or 5.56 with minimal adjustments to the weapon. Versatile and exceptionally lethal in the right hands.
This all-new Light Machine Gun can take down both infantry and artillery, whichever chooses to cross its path. A wide variety of Attachments are available via the Gunsmith, allowing you to tailor the TAQ Evolvere to any playstyle.
How to unlock the Base Weapon: Complete a Weekly Challenge.
Hyperskin is back with yet another classic gaming console turned handheld device, this time tacking on the Sega Genesis. Meet the Mega 95, a handheld gaming device that can play both Sega Genesis and Mega Drive cartridges.
As reported by The Verge and announced at CES 2024, the Mega 95 will sport a five-inch display that can be switched between a 4:3 and 16:9 display ratio. It’ll have an estimated 10 hours of battery life and even a USB-C port for charging and docking to play on a big screen. But the coolest feature, in my opinion, is that it can play the original cartridges that were released for the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive.
Seriously, how awesome is that? Niche, sure, but if you have a bunch of old Genesis and Mega Drives down in the basement or attic storage, you may have the perfect reason to get them out again. However, if you owned the short-lived Sega Nomad that was released way back, you already had that as a possibility, minus the docking capabilities.
Beyond those details and images of its prototype build, Hyperskin has yet to reveal any pricing or release date for the Mega 95.
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 we already know that Battlefield 2042 will be getting another season of support with Season 7, players will have to wait a while before they get the promised two new maps. DICE has today announced the Battlefield 2042 Road to Season 7, which is basically a roadmap of what to expect before the Season 7 reveal and release in March.
Battlefield 2042 Road to Season 7 Overview:
January 30 to Feb. 6:
Season 6 Extension
Update 6.3 – Quality of Life Improvements: Portal Squad Spectator Modifier and Improved Map Rotations
Lunar New Year: Limited Time Cosmetics, Progression Rewards
February 20 to March 5:
Control Mode Is Back
Arkangel Directive Event
Update 6.4 – Quality of Life Improvements, Persistent Servers Update, Aircraft Impact Improvements, Vehicle Gunner Direction HUD
New Play on 2 More Maps: Discarded and Breakaway, Earnable Rewards, Returning Themed Event Store Bundles
March:
Reveal and Launch of Season 7
As you can see, we have about two months’ wait before we see or get Season 7’s promised content. Thankfully, there are quality of life improvements incoming, and the limited time events that are returning should tide players over for a bit.
Given there are two maps set to be released in Season 7 instead of the usual one, it is understandable for DICE to take their time. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the last season for the game before EA announces the next chapter in the franchise.
