As expected given the previous announcement, Vampire Survivors update 1.7.0 is now live and this is for the Whiteout content drop! Read on for the new content and gameplay adjustments in the official patch notes available below.
Vampire Survivors Update 1.7.0 Patch Notes | Vampire Survivors Whiteout Patch Notes for October 19:
Whiteout
Unlocked by picking up 20 Orologions
Enemies move slowly and take bonus damage from fire weapons
It’s intended to be an early-game stage, so it’s a lot easier than other bonus stages like Tiny Bridge or Astral Stair
New Character
She-Moon Eeta
Unlocked by surviving 20 minutes in Whiteout
Starts with Glass Fandango
Defensive character with increased Armor & Mov Speed
When she falls below 25% HP, she freezes all enemies for 10 seconds
New Weapons
Glass Fandango
Starting item of She-Moon Eeta
Attacks faster in the faced direction when moving
Deals extra damage to frozen enemies
Gains extra Area during the time-freezing effect of Orologion
Evolves with maxed Wings
Celestial Voulge
Evolved version of Glass Fandango (requires maxed Wings)
Has a chance to deal critical hits to frozen enemies
Changes how Orologions work: Enemies appear frozen and deal no damage as usual, but keep moving towards the player. Deals continuous damage.
Profusione D’Amore
Evolved version of Celestial Dusting (requires the Chaos Altemanna relic)
It still shoots flowers, but also shoots floating leaves that occasionally bloom into a chain-reaction of explosions
New Relics
Antidote
Unlocked by finding it in Whiteout
It allows you to buy the “Defang” power-up
Each rank of “Defang” gives a +3% chance for enemies to spawn without being able to deal any damage
Chaos Altemanna
Unlocked by finding it in Tiny Bridge
It allows O’Sole Meeo to transform when he reaches Lv.80
The transformation works the same as with Mortaccio & Cavallo. A few stat boosts, and his main weapon evolves (see Profusione D’Amore)
Tweaks & Bugfixes
Fixed weapon spacing in arcanas list to accommodate new weapons.
Fixed Je-ne-viv world eater logic causing slowdown.
Fixed bought character’s in secrets menu.
Fixed revive animation not being scaled correctly.
Fixed issue with Je-ne-viv crashing Il Molise.
Fixed quit button audio cutoff.
Fixed bestiary enemies scaling up and down incorrectly.
Respawn Entertainment has announced the next major Apex Legends update and it’s called “Ignite.” Not only that, but we also see a reveal of the next legend coming to the game named Conduit, who’s the first Filipino character in the franchise.
Check out the trailer alongside early info before it launches later this month.
Inspired by the Monarch Titan that saved her life, as well as her sister’s dedication to taking care of the family, Conduit makes the ultimate sacrifice. By utilizing the irradiated remains of the Monarch’s battery, she trades her future health for the opportunity to provide for her family and rise to her legend.
While there is no release date announced, the launch trailer is set to go live on October 23, so expect it to launch on October 24 given most major game updates go out on a Tuesday (don’t ask me why).
Once we know more about Conduit and the upcoming update, we’ll be sure to let our readers know. Chances are, we’ll be getting the patch notes before it’s released, which is par for the course for the game.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 launches for the PlayStation 5 tomorrow, and Insomniac Games is already planning what’s ahead for the game. In an X posting, Insomniac Games revealed that Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 new game plus and mission replay features are in the works and will be added by the end of 2023.
In response to a user who asked whether the new game plus and mission replay options would be part of the game at launch, Insomniac Games’ director of community and marketing, James Stevenson, responded with a “no.”
No – we’re working on an update for those features but they won’t be in Day 1
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, one of the highly anticipated releases of 2023, is almost here. It launches tomorrow exclusively for the PS5.
If you are curious about the critics’ take on the game, check out our reviews round-up, and if you are interested in its accessibility features, dive into the details right here.
For more on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, stay tuned to MP1st.
Saber Interactive has pushed out SnowRunner update 1.45 on all platforms this October 19, and this brings DLC into the game alongside Season 11. Check out the trailer, details and the official SnowRunner Season 11 patch notes below.
[DLC] New region, Scandinavia – a region consisting of 2 new maps set in North Europe.
[DLC] New trucks:
Neo Falcon 2000
Burlak 6×6
[DLC] New addons and trailers:
Multi-purpose Cargo Module
Large Service Scout Trailer
Service Scout Trailer
Oil Field Flatbed (Kenworth)
Oil Field Flatbed (Consumables) (Kenworth)
British Columbia region fixes:
Fixed a bug where the lamppost lighting looked unnaturally near the bridge on the “Duncan Bay” level
Fixed a bug where landmark of the “Bridge” was missing on the map after completing the “Drilling Station Bridge” task of the “Duncan Bay” level
Fixed a bug where Scout Fuel Carrier from “Fuel for the law enforcement” contract was not removed upon completion
Fixed a bug where Service Hub locked behind “Second Garage Construction” was not actually locked
Fixed a bug where the delivery zone of the “Don’t drop it!” task was displayed on the power line tower to the south on the “Duncan Bay” level
Yukon region fixes:
Fixed a bug where “Crafting Zone” icons didn’t have black contour and blend into the background on the minimap in “Flooded Foothills” level
Fixed a bug where the “Fog of the War” was not dissipated on the minimap while moving on the “Flooded Foothills” level
Vehicles improvements:
Kenworth 963:
Fixed a bug where the headlights were too dim for some upgrades of the “Kenworth 963” truck
Fixed a bug where sometimes cabin of the “Kenworth 963” truck tilted to the left wheel while previewing the “LK-2NY” addon after entering the Garage
Added the ability to install a mini crane for a 3 slots platform on Kenworth 963
Removed snow from the cabins of Kenworth 963 when playing from 3rd person view
Other improvements:
Fixed a bug where snorkels’ textures were partially broken
Added the ability to attach trailers when using medium logs for ZikZ 612H “Mastodon”
Reduced crane weight of LK-2-NY crane
All Tatra trucks are now available for purchase in the new region
Fixed spawn trailers on ZiKZ 566A
Made changes to the lighting of cars: Land Rover Defender, Caterpillar CT681 and Rezvani
Fixed a bug where lighting without a light source was displayed on the “Crossbar Fog Lights” bumper for the “Kenworth 963” truck
Co-op:
Fixed a bug where the truck couldn’t be refueled from the addon or trailer in the coop session
Fixed a bug where in the pop-up window, users did not see each other’s trucks in the coop session and cannot refuel each other
Fixed a bug where the “Oil Barrels” cargo for “Flaming Barrels” contest didn’t appear for guests after accepting the contest on the “Island Lake” level, Michigan
Fixed a bug where the “Cement” cargo for “Cement Delivery” contest didn’t appear for guests after accepting the contest on the “Zimnegorsk” level, Taymyr
Nintendo Switch fixes:
Fixed a bug where crash occurred when unsubscribing from downloadable mods
Fixed a bug where crash occurred when using a ferry with a detached loaded trailer using a winch
Fixed a bug where it was not possible to subscribe to some mods with depended other mod from mod browser
Other Changes:
Fixed a bug where was an incorrect crane reference distance winch points with trailers
Fixed a bug where the “locator” partially disappeared, when the lights were on at evening and night in “Cockpit Camera” mode
Fixed a bug where some parts of the active zones and markers disappeared in the cockpit mode with 8.30 p.m. to 7.00 a.m. when the headlights are turned on
Fixed a bug where the sun and moon rays had some unnatural blinking when passing through the trees on any level
Fixed a bug where the truck could be refueled from nothing when “Refuel” function was pressed beyond any fuel source refueling radius
Fixed a bug where the scout addons with the fuel canisters couldn’t be refilled by the “Fuel Tank” addon from another truck
Fixed a bug where the “Cloud save application error” message appeared after accepting the save transfer on the target platform, on PROS
Fixed a bug where after being constructed, the log bridge in the “Institute” map was not shown on the map
Fixed a bug where the shadows of the rocks and trees changed the position while moving camera near them in the evening and in the morning near the “Bridge to the Island” task zone area of the “Urska River” level, Amur
Fixed a bug where there was no KSIVA after Link SnowRunner With Your Epic Games Account
Fixed a bug where the tree shadows appeared in the “Garage” interior
Fixed a bug where the “Tuz Scout” was clipping into ground surface at the start of the “Wise Old Bird” contract on the “Burning Mill” level, “Tennessee”
Memory optimization
Different collision fixes
Different shadows fixes
Various visual fixes
Localization fixes
Mod editor:
The “Pack terrain for pc only” button was added (Generates a PC only paсk for tests)
Fixed a bug where the trailer didn’t freeze without indication of the Animation Name
Fixed a bug where the trailer became dynamic after loading the session
Fixed a bug where errors occurred when opening the “Addons” menu for the truck
“SnowRunner Editor Guide”:
Added info on FreezeTrailer feature, see “5.16.5. Freezing and Unfreezing Trailers”
Added info on usage of the same identifier of the truck/trailer in multiple truck delivery objectives and info on the new “Alternative restart zone” option, see “5.16.1.2. Delivery of the Truck (“truckDelivery” section)”
“Integration of Trucks and Addons” guide:
Chapter 20. Powered Constraints was added:
20.1. Powered Constraints: Overview
20.1.1. Main Principle
20.1.2. Main Aspects of Setup in XML
20.2. Actions. Their Mapping to Buttons (modified, previously named as “17.1.3. Actions. Buttons for Controlled Constraints”)
Descriptions of main tags and attributes related to Powered Constraints were added:
8.11. <PoweredConstraints>
8.11.1. <Chain>
8.11.2. <Group>
8.11.2.1. <Constraint>
14.7. <PoweredConstraints> (link to 8.11)
Sections 8.4.2.1. <Constraint> and 8.4.2.1.1. <Motor> were modified correspondingly
8.8. <GameData> was modified (added info about “NE” as a possible value of the Country attribute)
Developer Sloclap has pushed out Sifu update 1.26 (PS5 version 1.026) which is a small patch that brings in new fixes to the brawler. Read up on what’s new in the official Sifu patch notes for October 19.
[PS5] The Training Room settings should now work properly.
[Steam] Fixed an issue which prevented the “Skill and an even stronger will” achievement to be completed.
Memory usage optimization.
Yep, that’s all the patch notes we have for you. There was another update released last month, which housed a lot more tweaks, which you can read about here.
Given the game’s post-launch plans have been fulfilled, don’t expect a lot more patches for the game outside of these small ones.
It’s about to get spooky, as the Mortal Kombat 1 store refresh for October 19 is now live! Check out the latest premium store items now.
Note that many items are rotated in and out from other weeks, with new ones occasionally rotated in. Not everything will be new every week, though it does allow you to pick up something you might have missed.
There are some festive items this time around, and with next week being the final store fresh for the month, we’re curious what other Halloween theme items they’ll have in store for us.
Anything this week that you think you might be picking up? Let us know!
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.
Are you looking for a refresher on the story of Alan Wake before its sequel release next week? Well, lucky you, as Epic Games has you covered with this rather bizarre but awesome crossover, as a flashback episode inside of Fortnite lets you relive the events of the original game.
As we know, Fortnite update v26.30 brought over an Alan Wake skin, exclusive to those who preordered Alan Wake 2 on the Epic Game Store. But as it turns out, this wasn’t the only surprise for Alan Wake fans who play Fortnite, as Epic Games and Remedy Entertainment have also teamed up for a rather interesting in-game collaboration.
Players can now experience a 25-minute recap of the first Alan Wake game inside Fortnite, dubbed “Alan Wake Flashback.” You’ll be able to visit Brightfalls and experience key story points from the original game. However, don’t expect this to be an exact 1:1 experience when it comes to gameplay, as it solely focuses on the story rather than the combat.
Learn about Alan Wake’s story and discover how he came to be trapped in the Dark Place.
For those who aren’t all that big into Fortnite, but are interested in seeing the recap collaboration, you can watch out a playthrough of it below.
That’s pretty awesome if you ask me, and never did I think we’d be playing a game within a game on Fortnite. It’s scary to think what will be possible in Fortnite years down the road.
Alan Wake 2 launches on the PS5, Xbox Series, and PC (Epic Game Store) next week. If you’re interested in learning more about the game and our general thoughts, read our hands-on impression of Alan Wake 2.
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.
Rockstar Games has unleashed a new GTA Online weekly update for October 19 with a fresh set of activities plus discounts, GTA Plus benefits and more! Read on for the full highlights and details in one convenient list below.
2X GTA$ on Acid Lab Sell Missions through October 25
Players can begin by purchasing an MTL Brickade 6×6, which acts as a base of operations, as well as the Acid Lab Equipment Upgrade for 30% off this week
Simeon’s Premium Deluxe Motorsport Showroom:
Lampadati Michelli GT (Sports Classic, 40% off)
Lampadati Furore GT (Sports, 40% off)
Lampadati Pigalle (Sports Classic)
Lampadati Felon (Coupe)
Lampadati Felon GT (Coupe)
On Display at The Luxury Autos Showroom:
The Cinquemila (Sedan, 30% off)
The Komoda (Sports)
LS Car Meet Prize Ride: Place Top 5 in the LS Car Meet Series two days in a row to win the Dinka Vindicator (Motorcycle)
LS Car Meet Test Rides: The Grotti Bestia GTS (Sports, 40% off), Declasse Hotring Sabre (Sports), and Obey 8F Drafter (Sports, 40% off)
Lucky Wheel Top Prize (through October 25): The Rune Zhaba (Off-Road)
On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S:
HSW Test Ride: The Imponte Arbiter GT (Muscle)
This week’s HSW Time Trial takes place between Sandy Shores and La Puerta
GTA+:
Gear up for the petrifying Halloween season with GTA+ and claim the new Albany Brigham, an exclusive livery, and more until November 8:
Free Albany Brigham and Love Fist livery
Monochrome Striped Suit, Skeleton Bodysuit, PRB Tee, PRB Shorts, and PRB Hoodie
Double Rewards on Halloween Deathmatches
40% off all Alien Weapons at the Gun Van
And much more, including a GTA$500,000 bonus delivered upon billing each month, access to The Vinewood Car Club, and other benefits updated monthly. Visit the GTA+ website for the complete breakdown.
Discounts:
Get all the accoutrements needed to kickstart your Acid Lab with discounts on the MTL Brickade 6×6 and Acid Lab Equipment Upgrade. Also, pad your weapons artillery with 30% off all Ammo and Mk II Weapon Upgrades.
MTL Brickade 6X6 (Service) – 30% off
Acid Lab Equipment Upgrade – 30% off
All Ammo (including Mk II) – 30% off (75% off for GTA+ Members)
Mk II Weapon Upgrade Cost – 30% off
Buckingham Weaponized Conada (Helicopter) – 20% off
Grotti Bestia GTS (Sports) – 40% off
Obey 8F Drafter (Sports) – 40% off
Lampadati Michelli GT (Sports Classic) – 40% off
Lampadati Furore GT (Sports) – 40% off
Lampadati Cinquemila (Sedan) – 30% off
Gun Van Inventory and Discounts:
Crowbar | Knuckle Dusters | Unholy Hellbringer (40% off for GTA+ Members) | Up-N-Atomizer (40% off for GTA+ Members) | Widowmaker (40% off for GTA+ Members) | Railgun | Flare Gun (20% off) | Compact EMP Launcher (30% off for GTA+ Members) | Pistol .50| Musket | Grenades | Proximity Mine | Armor
That’s all for this week’s update. Check again next Thursday for the new GTA Online weekly update.
The pull of nostalgia is a strong one, making us fondly look at something from a bygone era through rose-tinted glasses, but some things are better left in the past. Such is the case with Gargoyles, an esteemed 16-bit side-scrolling platformer from Disney that welcomes a visual revamp for the modern age, but forgets to keep up with the times. Gargoyles Remastered ends up being a flawed and not very exciting experience that is over before you know it.
Old Becomes Somewhat New
Released for the Sega Genesis in 1995, Gargoyles is based on Disney’s animated series. Featuring Goliath as the protagonist, his goal is to cross five levels and defeat Demona and the Eye of Odin. If the number of levels seems slim, that’s because it is – this remaster is a step-by-step recreation of the original game, from a time where a full campaign would rarely clock over a couple of hours, and this is entirely true here.
Without rushing, finishing the campaign should take you a little over an hour, which translates into a very brief playtime for a platformer in this day and age, remaster or not. Other similar retro games offer a more enticing longevity, and since the asking price for Gargoyles Remastered is $14.99, it doesn’t exactly represent great value for money.
Gargoyles Remastered comes with this clever seamless real-time toggle between the original and enhanced versions, complete with new animations and sound effects. In practice, this is more of a lure than a fascinating thing to have, since the updated version features a wide display and improved graphics, and that’s the one every fan is likely to go for. After the initial awe, you settle for the upgraded visuals and never look back into the pixelated original that made the delights of many players back then.
One of the new features is a rewind function to use anytime you want. Since platform games in the 90’s were renowned for their difficulty, this is surely aimed at players who want to experience the game without the frustration of frequent deaths and restarts, but the downside is that it makes the game awfully easy. Boss fights are a great example of this; rewinding just before being hit, or to better line up an attack on that fast-moving creature. It’s a cheat mode in all but name, and strongly contributes to emphasize the short duration of the adventure.
But that could all be overlooked if the gameplay was equally improved alongside the visuals. Sadly, it isn’t, and most flaws from the original release are present in the remaster as well. Controls are frustratingly inaccurate, floaty and without a proper sense of weight, resulting in imprecise timing and often not registering an attack or a jump action. Combat is also far from exciting, a mere exercise of spamming the attack button and hoping for the best, with the occasional jump to dodge a projectile. Hit detection is haphazard, flimsy at best, and each clash is a guessing game, with no real feedback on our attacks or the way we take damage.
Boss battles are highlights but also flawed moments that showcase how much the genre has evolved throughout the years. The mutant Viking boss in lava level was eliminated simply by spamming the attack button, interrupting his animation loop and draining his health bar before he could make his move; the train boss even disregards the black border that suddenly appears on the side of the screen, overlapping it, one of many glitches including clipping issues that could have been fixed before release, so blatant they are.
Blink and You Miss It
Gargoyles Remastered could be a simple but decent platformer pulling on the retro heartstrings, but it’s impossible to overlook the incessant control and combat struggles. There are some tricky passages to master, mostly involving balancing from something like a lamppost, but at every failed jump, every unfair death, you realize that the rewind feature was added as a means to relieve frustration, over anything else.
One thing can be said for sure – Gargoyles Remastered never overstays its welcome, simply because there isn’t much content to begin with. It’s a short, flawed game that would have benefited more from being a remake than a plain remaster, with more stages, more polish, and more… everything. As it stands, it’s going to live off the power of nostalgia, but even so, it’s hard to see it converting many players into new fans of the franchise.
Score: 4.5/10
Pros:
Improved graphics are above average, but not great
Ability to seamlessly switch between original and enhanced versions
Cons:
Controls are unresponsive and frustrate many jumps
Flawed combat with lack of decent hit feedback
Rewind feature feels more like compensation for the gameplay’s flaws
Developer Black Matter has released Hell Let Loose update 1.024 on all platforms, and this is for patch version 14.4! Players can expect night map variants, loadout bug fix, improved vaulting and more! Read on for what’s new in the official Hell Let Loose patch notes for October 19.
Hell Let Loose Update 1.024 Patch Notes | Hell Let Loose Update 14.4 Patch Notes:
ACCESSIBILITY CONVERSATIONS
HEAD-BOBBING
We mentioned in our last developer briefing that dive to prone had been reworked, and as part of that, had worked on camera improvements to prevent camera limitations as the dive ended – which were present with the initial dive to prone implementation.
As part of that work, the system that controls head-bobbing was also rewritten to be more versatile and allow for smoother transitions between profiles, while increasing visual quality.
By reworking this code, it has also made head-bobbing more noticeable to those who are sensitive to motion. Thanks to feedback from the PTE session, we have now made tweaks to this system to reduce the level of motion. While some players will be pleased to see head-bobbing working, we also want to make sure we’re supporting as many players as possible – and so will begin scoping what is possible in terms of improving accessibility settings.
DIVE TO PRONE
Now that this functionality has tuneable parameters, we have been able to tweak these to address your previous feedback. Your responses from the PTE showed that over half of those who submitted feedback agreed that dive to prone now feels more realistic, that players were no longer able to dolphin dive, and the slide distance now feels ‘just right.’
NVIDIA FILTERS
As many of you have pointed out, some players will use Nvidia filters to avoid being at a disadvantage on the purposefully-designed night modes. While these filters can be customised to provide more of a competitive edge, it can also deter players who do want to experience the maps as intended.
We’ve heard your feedback around this, and will begin the process of reaching out to Nvidia to understand how these filters can be disabled while playing Hell Let Loose – evening the playing field and allowing new strategies and ways of playing to form.
ULTRAWIDE FOV SETTINGS
While Hell Let Loose now officially supports ultrawide monitors, we understand that some players with particularly large monitors are now experiencing discomfort while playing due to the change in FOV – including for those who are visually impaired.
We will be looking to extend the FOV slider in video settings so that players are able to adjust the settings for improved accessibility, after Patch 14.4.
VAULTING & MANTLING IMPROVEMENTS
Locomotion changes continue to equally divide opinion! From the feedback provided during the public testing session earlier this month, some players were pleased to see improvements to the responsiveness of vaulting and mantling, however, some felt the slightly more automated movement to feel restrictive.
For this initial improvement, we wanted to focus on consistency: making sure vaulting and mantling work consistently, work in a way that’s consistent across different obstacles, and work in a way that’s consistent with our tuning values so that we’re able to reliably control and tune these mechanics and know that the values we’re setting will correctly correspond to what we see in-game. – James, Gameplay Programmer
As part of that work, and to maintain that consistency so you’re not getting stuck unable to complete an action, players will no longer be able to vault up onto an obstacle.
The short hop players see in-game actually had no specific animation, instead playing the regular vault animation while teleporting a player’s character to where it needed to be.
In Patch 14.4, vaulting will now consistently mean vaulting over something, and mantling will consistently mean climbing up onto something – values that are determined by a few factors, including:
The player will vault an obstacle if –
The obstacle ‘thickness’ (i.e., the distance from its near edge to its far edge in the direction of the vault) is less than 50cm
There is a suitable landing position for the vault (i.e., a player-sized space to land on the other side of the obstacle that’s at the same height the vault started from or lower.
If these values aren’t met, the player’s character will otherwise climb the obstacle.
You’ll consistently vault over anything you can vault over and climb anything you can’t – and it’s now much more obvious which will happen before you actually do it. This should all improve consistency, reliability, and quality of the actions. – James, Gameplay Programmer
PATCH 14.4 CHANGELOG
Night Map Variants
[Added] Carentan Night Map
[Added] Sainte-Mère-Église Night Map
On console, the reduced map rotation will last 7 days, and will feature:
Carentan Warfare (Night)
SME Warfare
Omaha Offensive (US)
Hurtgen Offensive (GER)
El Alamein Warfare
SME Warfare (Night)
Kursk Offensive (SOV)
Utah Offensive (GER)
SMDM Warfare
Driel Offensive (GB)
Kharkov Offensive (SOV)
Omaha Warfare
Carentan Offensive (US)
Driel Offensive (GER)
Player Locomotion
[Added] Dive to prone feature improved and re-implemented
[Improved] Vaulting
[Improved] Mantling
General Bug Fixes
[Fix Submitted] Player deploys with incorrect loadout and cannot switch
Lovingly known by all as the ‘loadout bug’, we believe our fix to be holding strong, and may finally have eradicated this particular bug. Like many fixes, we won’t know whether it has successfully prevented all instances of the loadout bug until it hits the live game – so we’ll be keeping a close eye on your feedback as you get hands on with Patch 14.4, so make sure to use the support link to report any issues.
[Fixed] Throwing last grenade will replay ‘Equip grenade’ animation after throwing
A last remanent of the grenade bug – animation support has been carried out to resolve an issue whereby the animation of equipping a grenade would briefly play while throwing the last grenade in your loadout, this has now been fixed.
[Fixed] Texture binding present on vehicle explosion VFX
[Fixed] When all gamemodes matches comes to an end the game will hang for an additional 9 seconds before showing results screen
[Fixed] Kar98 reload is partly missing on PS5 pad speaker
[Fixed] Weapons can be fired without any input after quick switching to a grenade.
[Fixed] [Additional Content Hub] The user cannot rotate the character using a controller on either PC or console
[Fixed] Player model has metal decals when shot
[Fixed] Voice communications don’t work as VOIP is unable to reconnect.
[Fixed] Flamethrower emits excessive lens flares when firing on night maps
New Cosmetic DLC
[Added] [Xbox] [PC] Luftwaffe Eagles
This DLC is on it’s way to PlayStation 5 players, however, it will unfortunately not be available with the initial release of Patch 14.4. PlayStation players may notice a space for this DLC in the Additional Content hub, however, will not be able to purchase it just yet. We’ll let you know as soon as it becomes available!
Luftwaffe Eagles
As part of the German Luftwaffe forces, the Fallschirmjäger were the first paratroopers to feature in large-scale airborne based operations. The Fallschirmjäger were also known as the ‘Green Devils’ thanks to their forceful fighting spirit and tactical superiority. However, following the causalities in the Battle of Crete, they were mainly used as ground-based troops.
This downloadable content contains:
Fallschirmjäger Uniform (Available to the German Assault, Anti-Tank, Medic, Machine Gunner, Officer, Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman, Engineer and Support roles).
MAP OPTIMISATIONS
With each patch, we’re striving to continue improving your experience with the existing maps, including by increasing stability through various map optimisations, such as LOD fixes and collision issues.
Some assets can be too dense in triangle complexity, meaning that the LODs set up for them are not switching effectively enough to keep the triangle complexity compared to the screen size optimal.
Mesh LOD optimisation involves ensuring that assets not only LOD in a manner that is not noticeable by the player, but are also crucial to ensuring that we minimise overdraw on complex meshes. Any amount of overdraw from complex meshes contributes to a strain on the GPU, which can affect performance and stability.
While these optimisations require time and manual attention, we are also working on capturing some of your reported issues – including LOD changes and invisible collision. You will hopefully see some improvements with each and every patch.
Foy
[Fixed] Wooden gate asset has no bullet penetration
[Fixed] [D1] A specific fence post is missing bullet and player collision
[Fixed] [D5] The player is unable to shoot through the wooden plank gaps with the tank
Utah
[Fixed] [G7] A bush at sector G7 exhibits a visible LOD change when viewed from a short distance
Remagen
[Fixed] The wooden stairs and floor of a specific building do not have bullet penetration
[Fixed] [F4] Small gap in rock cliff
Carentan
[Fixed] [B4] Misaligned wheat crops that float sideways
Hurtgen
[Fixed] Flames PFX are missing on some charred tree stumps
Sainte-Marie-du-Mont
[Fixed] Assets inside a barn have stone PFX and SFX
[Fixed] [D6] A fence presents draw distance issues from ~53m
[Fixed] [F2] A stone wall is misaligned with the ground
[Fixed] [H8] The player can get permanently stuck in a tree in the top left quadrant of H8 sector in SMDM village
Kursk
[Fixed] Two of the forward Garrisons are incorrectly placed and will be destroyed after the Attackers capture the 1st sector
[Fixed] Performance drops while looking at a heavy smoke through the binoculars
That’s about it. Once a new patch is announced, we’ll let our readers know.
A streamer got their hands on the MGS Master Collection Vol. 1 early, and during their stream, it was revealed that compared to the original games, players can now pause cutscenes! However, there is one hitch to it, as doing apparently will take the player 10 seconds to do.
Although being able to pause during cutscenes is a highly requested addition, its implementation appears to have some issues. You can check the delay for yourself at the 0:56 mark in the following video.
Fortunately, this issue appears to be limited to pausing during cutscenes. As shown in the video, there is no delay when the player pauses during gameplay sections.
With the launch of Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1 just over a week away, perhaps the dev team can issue a patch to address it at some point around launch or soon after.
The MGS Master Collection Vol. 1 is being developed by Virtuos and is set to be released on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.
PUBG update 2.47 is now live! This update brings massive map changes, new content, and of course, the KFC collaboration. Read up on the full PUBG October 18 patch notes.
※ Please note that PC players can anticipate map changes every Wednesday at 2 AM UTC, while Console players can expect the same every Thursday at 7 AM UTC.
※ In Random Map regions, larger maps have a 25% probability of being selected, while smaller maps have a 12.5% probability.
The map service for Ranked is updated on a season-by-season basis.
※ Please note that the features and updates described below are subject to change or removal due to issues such as bugs, in-game problems, and community feedback. The images used are intended as visual references only; the actual game may look different as the builds are continually developed and refined before release.
World
Erangel
※ The following updates apply to every mode.
Area Modifications
We have enhanced areas near the center of the Erangel map that are less frequently explored by players. Stalber and the submerged village have been visually refreshed, Mylta has been given a makeover that retains its essence while offering a fresh perspective, and Ruins and Georgopol have been optimized for smoother gameplay with improved loot distribution and navigation options.
Stalber
Reorganized the area by adopting an astronomical observatory theme with a dome looking up at the sky.
Revamped the entire layout, introducing new structures and looting spots.
The surrounding landscape has been enhanced for better accessibility.
Boatyard
Reorganized the submerged village located between Rozhok and Ruins into a harbor themed area.
Enhanced the entire layout, introducing new structures.
Named it Boatyard on the Minimap.
Ruins
Revamped the entire layout to provide better accessibility when looting.
Enhanced the surrounding landscape for better vehicle accessibility.
Added a dirt road leading inside Ruins.
Made some minor tweaks to the shape of the interior ruins.
Mylta
Blending old and new concepts, we reorganized the area into a town with a stream of water in the center and cornfields.
Enhanced the general layout and looting efficiency.
Added trees on the beach to provide more cover.
Georgopol
Modified the overall layout, relocating some buildings.
Enhanced the surrounding landscape.
Added cover such as abandoned cars and trees.
Dev’s comment: Erangel stands as the heart and soul of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS – we believe it is a cherished map that stirs nostalgia for many of our players. Therefore, working on its update, given its iconic status, was definitely challenging. Yet, as PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS evolves, we recognized the importance of ushering Erangel into the same progressive journey.
In this update, our mission was to blend Erangel’s intrinsic charm with enhancements that elevate the player experience without losing the map’s foundational essence.
We began with the heart of the map, focusing on central areas which, in spite of their strategic locations, were often overlooked. After analyzing the pros and cons of these lesser-visited places, we’ve added some freshness into them – areas that were once generic have now been transformed with unique themes, designed to draw you in. We’ve also fine-tuned various elements based on player feedback to create even more dynamic combat scenarios.
We hope these refinements broaden the strategic scope, from early-game looting to crucial late-game tactics. We remain committed to enhancing Erangel, introducing new elements while amplifying the existing attributes that render Erangel truly iconic.
Secret Room
Accessible only through underground entrances in Erangel’s natural surroundings, Erangel’s Secret Rooms have been untouched for a long time. Only the sharpest players will have the opportunity to obtain rare items from Secret Rooms. Make sure to leave before enemies arrive since engagements here can be quite deadly!
Secret Rooms containing high-value items have been added throughout Erangel.
Secret Rooms can be accessed using the world-spawned Secret Room Keys.
Available in Normal and Custom Matches.
Spawns
Added and adjusted a small number of vehicle spawn spots in Normal Match and Ranked.
Map
In alignment with the above changes, the World Map and Minimap have been updated.
Misc.
Refined the landscape and added some trees that can be used for cover.
Adjusted the height of some containers.
Optimized overall object textures.
World Misc.
Removed the Aston Martin containers from starting areas.
Collaboration: KFC
Finger Lickin’ goodness meets PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS! KFC, renowned for serving the finest Chicken Dinners, has landed in Erangel. Explore KFC stores on the revamped Erangel map and keep an eye out for upcoming KFC events!
Erangel’s gas stations have transformed into KFC stores.
You can obtain exclusive KFC Chicken Combos from kiosks nestled inside KFC stores.
Engage with the kiosk using the Interaction Key.
After your order is placed, your nickname will appear on the order number display board as your KFC Chicken Combo spawns on the counter.
Each player may use the kiosk once per KFC store and once more after entering Phase 4.
You can earn the following items with the KFC Chicken Combo:
KFC Chicken Bucket
Functions like the First Aid Kit and showcases your character savoring the chicken leg when consumed.
KFC Secret Recipe Fries
Functions like the Bandage and showcases your character enjoying the fries when consumed.
KFC Drink
Functions like the Energy Drink.
The KFC stores in Erangel are available for one month.
KFC billboards have been added to Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, and Vikendi.
KFC banners have been added to starting planes for Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, Vikendi, Karakin, Taego, and Deston.
Gameplay
Thermal 4x Scope
Will no longer world-spawn and instead spawn in certain areas such as in Care Packages, Secret Rooms, Lab Camps, and Supply Drops.
Dev’s comment: Since its introduction, the Thermal 4x Scope – capable of detecting enemies hidden in smoke, darkness, and foliage – has demonstrated impressive efficiency. We’ve noted a trend where this scope became increasingly pivotal, especially in end-game scenarios where smoke tactics become vital. Additionally, the Thermal 4x Scope played a significant role in many long-range engagements. Additionally, as this item is relatively discovered frequently as a world-spawn item, we believe this is likely to have influenced the situations mentioned above.
Therefore, coupled with consistent player feedback on its potency, we’ve decided to modify the item’s spawn method – in order to preserve the distinct feature of the item that detects heat, we aim to decrease the appearance frequency of the Thermal 4x Scope, making it a more sought-after and rare item instead of modifying its performance.
Killfeed
Added team numbers to killfeeds and match logs in Normal Match and Ranked.
Team numbers are also displayed in replay and observer/spectator modes, but not in streamer mode.
Applies to Normal Match, Ranked, Intense Battle Royale, and Custom Match modes.
Displayed regardless of whether the Clan name is present or not.
Not displayed on the system message shown in the center of the screen.
Dev Comment: As outlined in our Roadmap previously announced in March, we are dedicated to narrowing the gap between Esports, Ranked, and Normal Match. As a direct response to our goals and player suggestions, we are adding team numbers to both killfeeds and match logs through this update.
In the realm of Esports, keeping track of team numbers to strategize effectively demands a high degree of concentration and discernment. However, it is also one of the exhilarating aspects of PUBG. Even for players who may not yet feel entirely confident in combat, the inclusion of team numbers enables them to contribute to their team’s success. With this update, our aim is to encourage more intricate and collaborative teamwork among players.
Ranked – Season 26
The leaderboard will reset after the Live Server maintenance.
Check out your final Tier from the previous season through your Career page.
Season 25 Rewards
Below are the rewards you’ll be receiving based on your final Tier from the previous Ranked season.
Tier
Rewards
Bronze
Bronze PUBG ID Emblem
Silver
Silver PUBG ID Emblem
Gold
Gold PUBG ID Emblem
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum
Animated Platinum PUBG ID Emblem
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum Medal
Diamond
Animated Diamond PUBG ID Emblem
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum, Diamond Medal
Master
Animated Master PUBG ID Emblem
Animated Master Nameplate
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum, Diamond, Master Medal
Top 500
Bonus rewards for Top 500 players:
Animated Top 500 PUBG ID Emblem
Animated Top 500 Nameplate
TheParachute skin and Medals are permanent rewards.
The rest of the obtainable rewards are available for use during a single Ranked season.
Rewards can be found in your Inventory once Season 26 starts.
Once Season 26 is over and the server undergoes maintenance, every reward but the Parachute and Medal will be withdrawn from your Edit Profile page.
Arcade
Along with the Erangel updates, we’ve added Ruins and removed Stalber for Team Deathmatch.
Custom Match
Made changes to the Custom Match settings to align with Erangel’s update.
Team Deathmatch
Added Ruins preset.
Removed Stalber preset.
War Mode: Conquest
Updated Mylta.
Removed Stalber.
Zombie Mode – Erangel
Adjusted player starting positions.
Match Report
Refined the Match Report to enhance its usability.
Overview and Weapons pages have been reorganized, and Stats page has been added.
Applies to Normal Match and Ranked.
Ranked results (rank/RP and change) and playtime are now displayed at the top of the Match Report.
Overview Page
Added
Number of assists
Number of times you revived a teammate
My Weapon Stats
Percentage of hits per body area
Kills, Headshot Kills, Knockdowns Achieved, and Longest Kills
Dev Comment: Through Update 26.1, we aim to address known issues of the Match Report, which should serve as a tool to illustrate the course of a match and incorporate content that players wish to see. In doing so, we have eliminated repetitive information from Match Report, which will still be accessible on the End of Match screen.
Our goal with these changes is to provide players with clearer insights into their shooting performance, allowing them to reflect on their gunplay. By adding stats of revives and assists to the Match Report, we also aim to offer players a quick overview of their contributions to the team. We hope this will promote teamwork and enable players to conduct more thorough assessments of their own gameplay for improvement.
Bug Fixes
Gameplay
Fixed an issue where Drones are deployed below the landscape on inclined terrains.
Fixed the issue of throwables not being able to pass through Aston Martin “DBX707” SUV windows.
Fixed the issue to prevent the simultaneous use of healing/boost items and primary gunplay actions when using the Interaction key.
Fixed the narrowing ignition range issue when a Smoke Grenade is affixed to a tree.
(PC) Fixed the issue where, during Replays, characters appear stationary during their initial descent.
(PC) Fixed the issue where, in both Death Cams and Replays, if a character’s vehicle dismount has been captured, the character appears stationary upon dismounting.
(PC) Fixed the issue where you experience abnormal zooming speeds (using the mouse wheel) when simultaneously using a 6x or higher Scope with a Canted Sight.
World
Fixed collision, texture, performance, and some other general Taego and Karakin issues.
UX/UI
Fixed the text’s and icon’s misalignment issue when viewing the Prime Parcel without owning it.
Fixed a display issue in the lobby with the custom lobby skin – Showroom equipped.
Fixed the text color inconsistency in the Bunny Patrol – Contraband Crate when obtaining the Chroma; the “Ultimate” text was erroneously shown in red (Legendary).
Fixed the issue where the killfeed icon stretched horizontally after a player was knocked out or killed by a Mortar.
(PC) Corrected a typo in the “Player’s movement seemed unusually fast” phrase for the Portuguese (Brazil) language in the Report Player option.
(PC) Fixed the issue so the mission list now displays correctly after rejoining a match.
(PC) Fixed the intermittent issues with the End of Match screen not appearing post-match.
(Console) Fixed the issue where the pointer would disappear after scrolling and selecting and closing a filter when attempting to Disassemble/Repurpose in the Workshop.
(Console) Fixed the issue where you were unable to join a team when your Team Invite option is set to “Block All”.
(Console) Fixed the freezing issue when selecting a random Wheels skin for the Aston Martin vehicle on the PlayStation® platform.
Items & Skins
Fixed the issue where an earring is visible on the screen when in ADS with the Hairstyle 45 equipped.
Fixed the issue where parts of the legs turn transparent when a female character equips the B.A.S.A. Bunny Outfit/Moon Rabbit Outfit with certain shoes.
(PC) Fixed the inconsistent appearance in how the Moon Lizard’s Gloves appeared when equipped.
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.
NetEase has released Naraka Bladepoint update 1.015, which introduces an onslaught of new content, adjustments, and bug fixes. Read on for everything new in the Naraka Bladepoint new update patch notes.
Naraka Bladepoint Update 1.015 Patch Notes:
Brand New Content
I. New Congeneric Weapon: the Fan
Sweep away all before you, leaving naught but destruction and a faint breeze!
In this new update, we’ll be introducing the ancient Chinese weapon— the Fan. Try it out!
II. Fairyland Penglai Updates
1. Musical Performance
(1) Added 3 new playable instruments: Suona, Gong, and Woodblock.
(2) Added a music score recording and sharing feature: You can now record original music scores and share them. After receiving a QR code for a shared score, players can import and play it.
2. Sky-high Racing
New track, new mechanisms, new rewards, and challenges await! Create new legends of speed in Fairyland Penglai!
3. Weather Changes
Added the aurora borealis to the sky. It will appear at night, following real-time.
III. Limited-time Event: Strife of Sun and Moon
Event Time: From Oct 19, 2023 update to Nov 1, 2023 at 20:00 (UTC)
Event Rules:
1. Each day, players may choose one of the two Cultivation Zones:
Flicker of Yushan: If you gain Score from a Ranked match, you will get a 25% score bonus. If you lose Score from a Ranked match, your Score loss will be halved. And Eurekas will diminish by 1.
If you get 0 Score, it doesn’t consume Eurekas.
Temple of Light and Shadow: XP and Hidden Treasure XP from Survival, Casual, or Showdown modes are increased by 150%. And Eurekas will diminish by 1.
You can choose only one type each day, and once chosen, it cannot be changed.
2. You will receive 1 Eureka once you’ve made your choice.
3. An additional Eureka is granted for each event quest you complete. There are 7 groups of quests and each group becomes available at different times. The next set of quests can be unlocked only after completing the previous ones.
4. Eurekas gained are valid only on the day they’re earned. They do not carry over to subsequent days, so please use them before they expire!
5. Complete more quests to win more great rewards.
IV. Limited-time Event: Twilight Trickery
Event Time: From Oct 29, 2023 at 20:00 to Nov 5, 2023 at 20:00 (UTC)
Event Rules:
On the night the spooky spirits descend, those who trick get treats.
During the event, players visiting Fairyland Penglai can interact with the special Spooky NARAKA Ball to transform into it.
When transformed into a Spooky NARAKA Ball, colliding with other players gives both you and the collided player a chance to get Pumpkin Candy. Pumpkin Candy can be exchanged for exclusive event rewards.
V. New Collection Set
Added 6 new sets to the collections in the player profile: [Dragon Will], [Journey of Blades·Exorcism], [Journey of Blades·Spirits], [Creatures Myth·Four Seasons], [Creatures Myth·Beast], and [NieR]. Collect the sets to earn Dynastic Treasure Choice Gift, Regular Treasure Choice Gift and more rewards.
VI. Pioneer Season Pack
New Season Pack is now available. During the limited-time sale, there’s a 63% discount.
After the limited-time sale ends, the offer returns to a 54% discount.
Event Time: From Oct 19, 2023 update to Jan 4, 2024 at 00:00 (UTC)
First Round of Limited-time Sale: From Oct 19, 2023 update to Oct 25, 2023 at 20:00 (UTC)
Purchase to get the following rewards:
Exclusive Epic Mark of Victory: Brave Battle
Advanced Hidden Treasure Card: Use to unlock the Advanced Hidden Treasure of the current season. (Usable for Pioneer Season or any subsequent season.)
Baize’s Blessing: Use to unlock Baize’s Blessing where you can claim rewards for 30 days.
Gold*600
Regular Treasure Choice Gift*10
Purchase to get the following privileges (privileges already unlocked cannot be reacquired):
Privilege Overview:
Unlock Ranked Mode at Level 20.
Unlock Public Chat at Level 5.
Unlimited exchange of Hero Coins.
Custom Rooms available.
(If you’re playing via our official website or EPIC, you can make purchases at the in-game Event Center. If you’re playing via Steam, please head over to Steam to make your purchases.)
VII. BATTLEPASS Updates
[Pioneer] BATTLEPASS is now available, which includes a variety of valuable items and skins! Players can obtain more rewards by unlocking the Advanced Hidden Treasure! You can get a Treasure Scroll at the price of 1,200 Gold and a Glory Scroll at 2,840 Gold.
VIII. New Season: Pioneer
We have come to the end of Season 9: Mythic and would like to thank all of the players who participated in this season’s ranked matches. For a full recap of the season rewards and Score resets, please see our official announcement post.
Hero Adjustments
I. Yoto Hime
1. Changed the Defense Focus during the startup frames of [Flying Edge: Callback] to a Blue Focus. Increased the Demonic Blade’s hover time from 5 sec to 9 sec, and enhanced the horizontal strike’s 2nd stage pull performance.
2. Adjusted initial Ultimate Talent [Demon Blade]
(1) Canceled the mechanism of “increasing Attack based on the number of nearby Remains”. Yoto Hime’s Ultimate Attack is now increased based on the number of living enemies within a 10m radius at each flash or strike. The corresponding relationship is as follows:
Enemy Count
Ultimate Attack Increased
≤1
0%
2
20%
3
40%
4
50%
≥5
55%
(2) Increased Attack remains consistent throughout the Ultimate duration and lasts until the Ultimate ends.
//Dev Note: The previous conditions for [Demon Blade] were a bit harsh in real combat as it was difficult to ensure the presence of Remains in every scenario. Therefore, we adjusted it to have a more common trigger condition. We also distributed the trigger chances to every flash or strike, providing more gameplay options during actual combat.
II. Wuchen
1. Adjusted the calculation formula of reducing enemy weapon’s durability for the [Spirit Blades] Skill during a Clash from a fixed value to 34% of the weapon’s max durability, ensuring a consistent reduction across different weapon qualities.
2. Optimized the experience of casting the [Spirit Blades: Autotrack] Skill in the air. The recovery frame stagger can now be interrupted in advance with a Dodge or plummet strike.
3. Adjusted Ultimate [Tai Chi Teleport: Portal]:
(1) Increased the interaction radius of the Portal from 2m to 4m.
(2) Adjusted the way the Portal is cast in the air. Wuchen can now cast the Portal while airborne without waiting to land.
Weapon Adjustments
I. Staff
1. Slightly reduced the stagger duration after a Charged Horizontal Strike hits.
2. Increased the knockback distance of Charged Vertical Strikes.
II. Nunchucks
1. Blue Focus Strikes can now restore Biding Fury on hit.
2. Slightly increased the stagger duration when a Horizontal Strike or a Sprint Horizontal Strike hits.
III. Longsword
1. Slightly increased the stagger duration when a Vertical Strike or a Sprint Vertical Strike hits.
Souljade System Update
Added Consumable and Upgradable Souljades to the current Souljade System, expanding the possibilities in battles.
I. Consumable Souljades:
These Souljades have a limited number of uses. Each Souljade’s uses are consumed on hit. Once the Souljade runs out of uses, it will transform into the corresponding Rare Souljade.
Consumable Souljades have a default attribute of 6% Melee Damage Reduction.
1. Some Souljades have changed into Consumable Souljades.
This kind of Souljade adds a new effect on top of the original strike and reduces the start-up frames. However, these Souljades have limited uses, which increases the intensity that Souljades bring to combat.
Long-handle Weapon Souljade: [Dual Ring] Alters the third horizontal strike in the Spear’s and the Staff’s combos, temporarily silencing the enemy for a brief time.
Dagger Souljade: [Abyssal Aura] Alters Daggers’ charged vertical strikes, and restores 100% of damage dealt as Health or Armor.
Longsword Souljade: [Blue Moon II] The 3rd horizontal strike in a combo unleashes sword energy, silencing the enemy for a brief time.
Katana Souljade: [Stamina Strike II] The 3rd strike in a horizontal combo restores 100% of the damage dealt as Health or Armor.
Dual Halberds Souljade: [Whirling Slash] Alters the 3rd vertical strike in the Dual Halberds combo, and restores 100% of damage dealt as Health or Armor.
Dual Blades Souljade: [Splitter] Alters the 3rd horizontal strike in the Dual Blades combo, silencing the enemy for a brief time.
Nunchucks Souljade: [Flying Kick] Alters the 3rd horizontal strike in the Nunchucks combo, silencing the enemy for a brief time.
Other Souljades: [Starfall] When launching Grappling Hook again during a Grappling Strike, players will teleport to their target and deal a high-damage blow which leaves enemies [Vulnerable].
2. New Consumable Souljades:
[Explosive Armor] Knock nearby enemies airborne with its shards when Armor is shattered.
[Follow the Recall] Grants a piece of Rare Armor and a Rare Weapon upon Rebirth.
II. Upgradable Souljades: Unlock new effects by meeting certain conditions in battle.
Melee Weapon’s Upgradable Souljades have an inherent attribute of Health +12%.
Ranged Weapon’s Upgradable Souljades have the inherent attributes of Ranged Resist +10% and Head Defense +8%.
1. Some Souljades have changed into Upgradable Souljades.
On top of inherent effects, completing certain quests will grant extra combat effect. By combining Souljades, the issue where the Souljade Bag was often short of storage has been alleviated.
Nunchucks Souljade [Trigger & Lock Breaker]: Using Horizontal Block no longer consumes Biding Fury and triggers when hit by ranged attacks. After triggering the Horizontal Block of Nunchucks twice, gains new attributes: Alters the Horizontal Block Backfire.
Spear Souljade [Erudition & Spear Storm]: Alters the Spear’s charged vertical strikes. After hitting enemies 8 times with the Spear’s charged vertical strikes, gains new attributes: Alters the 3rd vertical strike in the Spear combo.
Greatsword Souljade [Warrior Pace & Infernal Slash]: Increases move speed while charging up a horizontal strike with Greatsword. After hitting enemies with the Greatsword’s charged horizontal strikes 4 times, gains new attributes: Alters the Greatsword’s 1st- and 2nd-stage charged horizontal strikes.
Repeating Crossbow Souljade [Venom Tip & Barbed Bolts]: The Repeating Crossbow deals less damage but poisons enemies hit, dealing damage over time. After hitting enemies with the Repeating Crossbow 20 times, gains new attributes: Landing a shot on an enemy with the Repeating Crossbow leaves them unable to sprint for 1 sec.
[Curative Bolts & Healing Bolts]: The Repeating Crossbow’s shots restore 40% of the damage dealt as Health or Armor. After hitting enemies with the Repeating Crossbow 20 times, gains new attributes: Allows you to heal teammates by shooting them with the Repeating Crossbow.
Bow Souljade [Fire Arrows & Target Lock]: Arrows fired in the Bow’s 2nd charge state deal less damage but can ignite enemies, dealing damage over time. After hitting an enemy with the Bow 5 times, gains new attributes: Shooting enemies with the Bow leaves them unable to sprint or dodge for 3 sec. Attacks on the same enemy can only trigger this once per 15 sec.
Cannon Souljade [Twinshot & Bounce Shell]: The Cannon deals less damage but fires 2 projectiles with each shot. After hitting enemies with the Cannon 8 times, gains new attributes: Cannon shots can bounce twice, and automatically explode with increased damage when near enemies.
[Rupture Gale Orb & Burn]: Increases the explosion radius of the Cannon’s shots. After hitting enemies with the Cannon 8 times, gains new attributes: Cannon shots burn enemies, dealing damage over time.
Pistol Souljade [Quick Charge & Thundercall]: Reduces charged Pistol shots’ damage, but allows you to load up to two shots at a time and the charging will be muted. After hitting enemies with the Pistol 20 times, gains new attributes: Charged Pistol shots fire with larger explosion range and higher damage.
Musket Souljade [Slowshot & Sunwing Shot]: Increases the intervals between and the damage of the Musket’s aimed shots. After hitting enemies with the Musket 5 times, gains new attributes: Musket shots’ bullet velocity is greatly increased.
[Soft Step & Gecko Foot]: Silences the sound of your footsteps. After traveling 500m, gains new attributes: Increased speed when running up walls and increased Scale Rush damage. After staying still for 5 sec while climbing, you will enter Stealth for 15 sec or until you move again.
[Ripple Step & Phantom Step]: Dodging while sprinting briefly provides Stealth. After dealing 2,500 damage, gains new attributes: The 1st-stage Dodge briefly provides Stealth.
[Assault·Smolder]: Burns enemies hit with melee weapon’s Grappling Strikes, dealing damage over time. After hitting enemies 8 times with Grappling Strikes, gains new attributes: Increased Grappling Strike damage.
[Switch·Dazzle]: Switching to a ranged weapon while carrying out a melee attack unleashes a special move (Morus’ Blessing weapons excluded). After hitting enemies with Switch·Dazzle 3 times, gains new attributes: Switching between a ranged and a melee weapon increases Attack by 15% for 3 sec.
[Soothing Boon]: There’s a 25% chance that Weapon Repair Kits, Grappling Hooks, Healing Berries or Armor Powder won’t deplete after use. After dealing 2,500 damage, gains new attributes: The chance that Weapon Repair Kits and Grappling Hooks won’t deplete after use is increased to 40%.
[Poison Splash] Players will release poisonous gas around them 0.5 sec after death. Enemies affected will take damage over time. After dealing 2,500 damage to enemies, gains new attributes: Enemies affected will take damage over time and their recovery effect is reduced.
2. New Upgradable Souljades
[Auspicious Jade]: Increase Dark Tide Coins obtained from quests. After completing 2 in-match quests, gains: An Epic or better Souljade.
III. Souljade Adjustments
1. The following Souljades will no longer be available:
Spear Souljade: [Spear Storm]
Greatsword Souljade: [Infernal Slash]
Longsword Souljade: [Whirlwind]
Repeating Crossbow Souljade: [Healing Bolts] and [Barbed Bolts]
Bow Souljade: [Target Lock]
Cannon Souljade: [Bounce Shell] and [Burn]
Pistol Souljade: [Thundercall]
Musket Souljade: [Sunwing Shot]
Other Souljades: [Gecko Foot] and [Phantom Step]
2. Attribute Adjustments
Attribute stats of the Legendary Souljades are reduced to the same level as the Epic Souljades.
Health +18% is reduced to +12%.
Attack +6% is reduced to +4%.
Melee Resist +9% is reduced to +6%
Ranged Resist +15% is reduced to +10%.
Head Defense +12% is reduced to +8%.
3. Previous Souljade Adjustments
[Stamina Strike] Only retains its original Vertical Strike combo and effects. Unlimited usage.
[Blue Moon] Only retains its original Vertical Strike combo and effects. Unlimited usage.
The second-stage strike of Dagger’s Skill [Dreadful Wail] can be countered.
Out-game Adjustments
I. Fairyland Penglai Optimizations
1. Upon logging into the game or returning from a match, your character will not enter Fairyland Penglai by default. Instead, you can get there by tapping the shortcut button or the Fairyland Penglai button on the homepage. Once inside, you can switch freely between Fairyland Penglai and the homepage.
2. Improved interface performance when entering Fairyland Penglai.
3. Merged all sample songs from the Musical Performance into the Music Score section.
II. Hero Badge
1. Added Topaz, a new grade in the [Admirable Collection].
2. Added name displays in the Hero Badge assembly list in the profile interface.
Showdown Adjustments
I. Enigma Domain Adjustments
1. In Solo Enigma Domain, the Boss’ location will not be locked in advance when the progress reaches 75%. (Trios remain unchanged.)
II. Combat Adjustments
1. Improved the sound effects of the special effect during Fiery Monster uses its Meteor Rain move.
1. Legendary Pose [Championship] for Female Characters has returned to its standard price of 800 Gold.
2. Legendary Pose [Victory] for Male Characters has returned to its standard price of 800 Gold.
3. Ziping Yin Legendary Pose [Creatures Myth·Spring Vibe] has returned to its standard price of 900 Gold.
4. Ziping Yin Legendary Outfit [Creatures Myth·Deity of Spring] has returned to its standard price of 1,800 Gold.
5. Ziping Yin Legendary Accessory [Creatures Myth·Springtime Saplings] has returned to its standard price of 2,000 Gold.
Equipping it changes the appearance of the skill ‘Nature’s Touch’.
6. Ziping Yin Legendary Hairstyle [Creatures Myth·Spring Sunlight] has returned to its standard price of 800 Gold.
7. Pose [Pop Dance·Left] has returned to its standard price of 1,200 Gold.
8. Pose [Pop Dance·Right] has returned to its standard price of 1,200 Gold.
III. Featured Cosmetics Returns in Limited Time
1. Valda Cui Legendary Hairstyle [Great Oceans] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
2. Viper Ning Legendary Hairstyle [Misty] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
3. Wuchen Legendary Hairstyle [Nine Ridges] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
4. Kurumi Legendary Hairstyle [Moonlight Aroma] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
5. Takeda Nobutada Legendary Hairstyle [Yama Style] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
6. Matari Legendary Hairstyle [Dawn Hawk] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
IV. Featured Cosmetics Returns in Limited Time
1. Valda Cui Legendary Hairstyle [Great Oceans] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
2. Viper Ning Legendary Hairstyle [Misty] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
3. Wuchen Legendary Hairstyle [Nine Ridges] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
4. Kurumi Legendary Hairstyle [Moonlight Aroma] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
5. Takeda Nobutada Legendary Hairstyle [Yama Style] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
6. Matari Legendary Hairstyle [Dawn Hawk] with a standard price of 1,200 Gold.
Client Optimization
I. D3D12 Beta Version is Open
1. HDR Function
HDR is a technology that improves the brightness and contrast of an image. It improves detail levels in dark places, making them seem darker, and provides a greater variety of colors, improving the visibility of the gaming screen.
* Turning on HDR requires a monitor that supports HDR. To turn on HDR, open Windows System Settings – Screen – Use HDR. Some monitors also need to additionally turn on the HDR.
2. Intel XeSS
Intel Xe Super Sampling (XeSS) technology is a new image amplification technology based on AI deep learning which supports high performance and high fidelity visuals. It uses deep learning to synthesize images that are very close to the quality of native high-resolution rendering, which can dramatically improve game performance and ensure excellent image quality.
3. DLSS 3
DLSS is a revolutionary breakthrough in AI-powered graphics that multiplies performance. DLSS 3 is powered by the new fourth-generation Tensor Core and optical flow accelerators on GeForce RTX 40-series Gpus, which can use AI to generate more frames and improve image quality.
4. At present, D3D12 is still in testing, and its functions and performance are still under continuous optimization
(1) At present, only some graphics cards can open the D3D12 test version.
(2) Opening D3D12 may cause game instability or reduce its frame rate. We look forward to your feedback, questions and suggestions, and we will continue to improve and optimize based on this information.
Bug Fixes
I. Battle-related Bug
Fixed the issue where skills that can be used under attack failed when the Hero was attacked too frequently.
Fixed the issue where enemies are not damaged when grabbed by Tianhai’s double hands.
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.
In a showcase released on their official YouTube channel yesterday, Frictional Games announced that the upcoming Amnesia: The Bunker Halloween Update will include brand new difficulty modes for players to dive into. They also revealed that players can set custom settings to tweak a playthrough to their liking.
In case you’d rather just catch the highlights, we’ve got the breakdown of everything the video covers:
Amnesia: The Bunker Halloween Update Features:
Shell Shock Difficulty – The game doesn’t get harder than this. Items are randomized, doors and containers are locked, and the game no longer pauses when you enter your inventory. Additionally, the game’s safe room, the Admin Office, now sports a set of very breakable wooden doors. Nowhere is safe.
Custom Settings – Upon starting a new playthrough, players can adjust a massive slew of parameters to tailor the horror experience to their liking. Here are just a few of the adjustable settings:
Generator Run Time Per Fuel Item – You can even set this to infinite so that the generator runs forever once fueled.
Torch Burn Time – Want your torches to burn out in just a few minutes? You can do that now.
Save System – You can decide whether or not saving at the game’s Save Lamps costs fuel or not. You can also remove the Save Lamps entirely for a permadeath run.
Stalker Behavior – You can adjust all sorts of different parameters for the game’s monster, from its reactivity to its lethality to its retreat behavior. You can even enable a toggle to increase its unpredictability.
Initial Inventory Size – Want more inventory slots from the get-go? Go ahead and give yourself as many as you’d like.
Player Health Regeneration – If you don’t like the game’s healing mechanics, you can give yourself regenerating health to make the game a bit easier.
Framerate Settings – Players can now run the game at 120fps, which doubles the game’s original 60fps limit.
Are you looking forward to the new update? Let us know down in the comments.
This update should hit the game sometime in the next few weeks. In the meantime, you can check out the game’s latest patch notes here.
The Right Hand of Doom couldn’t be a more fitting moniker for the destructive grip that Red showcases in Hellboy Web of Wyrd, a roguelike action brawler. This clenched fist is going to be one of the protagonists of the game, if not the main highlight, pulling no punches in this investigation down into dangerous realms. A brutal animated comic right in front of your eyes, the clashes can be very addictive, but the intrinsic sameness of the genre somewhat undermines this effort.
Heavy Hitter
Developer Upstream Arcade absolutely nailed the look and feel of Hellboy as if he jumped out of a comic book. He is appropriately massive, occupying a large chunk of the screen in all his third-person glory, wandering around with all the finesse of a tank. Getting used to this camera view is one of your initial challenges, with the stylish comic book aesthetic often concealed by the sheer proportions of the titular character. There’s no option to adjust camera distance, some blind sprinting meaning that Hellboy won’t be one to shy away from stepping on an inconspicuous trap or two, and running during combat also forces you into this perspective that is fine for immersion but far less for awareness, therefore affecting gameplay to a palpable degree. Luckily, it puts some distance when you tag an enemy, making it a lot more bearable and fun to use as you get a better sense of your surroundings.
This roguelike does not go for a fast and furious approach, instead opting for a weighty and telegraphed combat system that gives you time to interpret the enemy’s movements and react accordingly. Comparisons to a boxing game wouldn’t be out of place here, given the rhythm and the tactical constraints in each battle, made the more challenging because you are constantly outnumbered.
Animations are smooth and painstaking, glorified alerts giving you enough time to parry or side-step, with Hellboy’s superbly crunchy punches nearly shaking the foundations of the very room where the battle is taking place. Time your heavy punches right, and you can send your foe flying backward, possibly against the wall or a pillar for a suitable stun, putting it at your mercy for another session of hits and maybe a shotgun blast or two just to keep on the safe side.
With perfect timing comes flawless execution, the examples above serving as a rulebook to Hellboy’s combat. Wall slams make it easy to stun regular enemies, especially bosses, and successively shave a good part of their health points. When you unlock the repel charm, combining these two makes for some easy back-against-the-wall tactics that are very hard for any enemy to break free from.
For all the amazing bone-breaking sound effects and glorious visuals, fighting has some nuances that don’t quite fit with the mastery that it demands. Combat doesn’t always feel responsive, as the animation cycle plods to its end and fails to chain the next movement in a fluid way, often resulting in a mistimed block or a late pistol shot when we were already lining up for a punch. It’s not about the proper way animations work, more that the game should register our most recent input instead of the one done previously, as it’s already out of sync with the enemy action and our desired outcome.
House of the Repeated Run
As it happens with most action roguelikes, stages are procedurally generated, providing some variety to the layout, enemy, and the placement of blessings and other items for every new run. The recurrent problem with this design is that the areas end up being labyrinthic and alike, a string of empty rooms connected by even emptier corridors. The style is exceptionally faithful to Mike Mignola’s work, but the diversity doesn’t jump at you, and it grows tiresome after a few runs, the color reskins in some floors not doing much to change this circumstance.
Failing a run is not the end; you are booted back to your headquarters, The Butterfly House, where other agents await your return to stock up on lore and permanent upgrades. These include charms and new weaponry that you can acquire with the currency you earn during your trips into the Wyrm, giving you additional options to take on mobs.
Hellboy comes with the gruff attitude he is known for, with a performance equally rich in sarcasm and humor delivered by the late Lance Reddick. The other characters aren’t as witty or interesting though, but some of the brief exchanges with the end-of-level bosses are outrageously funny. All the punching and smashing comes with a no-holds-barred soundtrack that starts blasting as soon as you step into the combat areas. It’s a great match for the brutality of the gameplay, for the crunching noises coming courtesy of the Right Hand of Doom.
A Punching Good Time
The narrative isn’t what gripped me in this game, as it follows the traditional twists and turns that Hellboy fans are expecting. The gameplay also falls on the repetitive side, with the dives eventually blending into one another after a few hours, environment layouts failing to bring something new to the table, and enemies lacking in scope.
But Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a blunt and relentless action game featuring a delightful combination of visuals and sounds, giving each blow a palpable feeling of strength. The intense combat is a literal blast, distinctly the one factor that the game should be praised for, even if some actions appear to register late. Purely as a tactical brawler drenched in roguelike mechanics and featuring a mammoth of a main character, this is one that not only hits the mark but occasionally shatters it to pieces.
Score: 8/10
Pros:
Each crunching blow comes with an incredible sense of satisfaction
Combat can be as tactical as a boxing game
Graphics are faithful to the comics
Cons:
Some actions during combat register too late
Map layouts are too similar
Overall gameplay ends up on the repetitive side of roguelikes
Blizzard Entertainment has rolled out Diablo IV Update 1.20, which comes as an unannounced update. With the Season 2 patch dropping yesterday, we expect this to be update to be focused on bugs and performance fixes. Read on to discover what’s new in Diablo IV update patch notes for October 18.
Diablo IV Update 1.20 Patch Notes | D4 Season 2 Patch Notes:
Update: Blizzard has released the patch notes for today’s client patch.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue with cross-platform play that prevented players on PC and console from playing together.
Various Improvements to stability.
At the time of writing, Blizzard has yet to release any official patch notes. They did, however, release two hotfixes for PC yesterday, one of which was targeting a console release.
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.
Blizzard has pushed out Diablo 4 update 1.021 on all platforms, and given we just got the big Season of Blood patch yesterday, don’t expect anything major from this outside of fixes. Read on for what’s new in the D4 new update patch notes for October 18.
Diablo 4 Update 1.021 Patch Notes | D4 New Update Patch Notes for Oct. 18:
Size: 284MB (PS5)
Update: Blizzard has released the patch notes for today’s client patch.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue with cross-platform play that prevented players on PC and console from playing together.
Various Improvements to stability.
So far, Blizzard has not revealed any patch notes just yet, though we are expecting that to change very, very soon. What the studio has announced is a hotfix which was released earlier on PC.
We are investigating on a follow-up update for console players and will provide updates as soon as they are available. We appreciate your patience and will continue to monitor player posts and messages.
Bug Fixes
Fixed an issue where werebear skills would not always trigger correctly while under the effects of Grizzly Rage
Miscellaneous
Stability improvements
Chances are, this patch is tied to technical fixes given the errors players encountered with Season 2’s launch. Once we know more, we’ll update the article to reflect the changes. If you spot any gameplay-related or technical fixes, leave a comment below and let us know.
For those that play Call of Duty: Warzone, you can earn some sweet Diablo 4 in-game items by completing a challenge in the shooter. Read on here for more details.
“Demand is high right now” aren’t the words I expected to see for Battlefield 2042 in 2023, but they’re precisely what I saw this morning from the official Battlefield Comms account addressing ongoing server issues. Despite the free weekend now over, Battlefield 2042 has retained a staggering 100K users daily (on Steam and not even counting other platforms), making this the game’s best week ever. And though we are still being left in the dark about the game’s future, we feel now, more than ever, it would be the perfect time for the studio to reevaluate its content approach, allowing the next Battlefield game to a little brew longer.
We're aware that some of you are currently unable to log into #Battlefield2042 due to Server Capacity messages.
Demand is high right now, and we're working to improve this as soon as possible.
DICE has struggled to maintain players for Battlefield 2042 for nearly two years, mostly due to Its disastrous launch, which was met with a harsh review from us. It was a cut that slashed deep into the community, as it wasn’t quite the love letter that DICE made it out to be. Despite all their strenuous efforts and improvements made from all the past seasons, including map revamps, new squad features, and a more traditional class system, DICE could never seem to win back some of the fanbase, as 2042 was forever stuck to being viewed as the franchise’s biggest disappointment.
It disappointed me, though I (and a few) stuck with it throughout the years. Maybe it was because I was too big of a Battlefield fan and just wanted to play something new from DICE, knowing full well of the issues plaguing the game and everything it lacked that made Battlefield be Battlefield.
But the promise of it improving and the studio wanting to win fans back had me curious, as the studio’s past launches also shared a similar story. Ship now, fix later, a headline I used even in my review. Mind you, it’s not the kind of approach anyone should take, but if DICE was serious about fixing their game, it meant that it’d be an approach that I would have to follow carefully.
And I did, plunging into BF2042 with every season drop to see what DICE was doing to address past issues while designing new content around those learnings. It was a slow and long journey, one I’ll admit almost lost me parts way through, but within the last few seasons, Battlefield 2042 was beginning to feel like a game that had been molded into something worth revisiting.
I won’t say that Battlefield 2042 is now the Battlefield game we’d all come to expect at launch, but I will say that if this were the game that was released two years back, it would be a vision that even I could possibly get behind.
That, in part, is due to several legacy features being added back, with the most prominent being a variation of the class system. It is a system that feels more in line with the classic Battlefield experience, fitting players into roles rather than around the odd hero system they had. The map overhauls have also drastically changed how players play, with newer maps focusing on addressing criticism such as lack of coverage, too large of open spaces, and such.
It’s a very different game than what many remember at launch, though at the same time, I will say that it still feels like BF2042. Meaning that it’s not the trailblazer of a change, to the point where you can say, wow, this is what I remember Battlefield, as there are still core mechanics that likely will never change. Glaring issues (not all) have been resolved, but for the most part, DICE has done a decent job of listening to the community and giving them more of what they want as opposed to what the studio thinks players want.
Will we see Season 7? We’re left in the dark there, as DICE (nor EA) has yet to say anything. But given the recent resurgence, it would be foolish for the studio to throw away all that goodwill and momentum by finishing on Season 6. Why not announce a new season? One surefire way to retain players is to announce fan-fave maps such as Operation Metro and Operation Locker. Not only does this save DICE from copious amounts of dev time planning, testing, and designing a new map from scratch, but you’ll be giving fans something they want…it’s a win-win, right?
What we don’t want to see is something the studio has done before, and that’s dropping a game when they’ve finally turned things around. We’ve seen this happen in Star Wars Battlefront 2 and, to a lesser extent, Battlefield V. Not only will that infuriate players, but it also sends the wrong signal to the fanbase that it doesn’t matter if they play and support the game, EA (and by extension, DICE) will drop it anyway.
What do we want to see? More content. It doesn’t have to be big ones. Perhaps a remade map or two? More weapons? A better cadence of new content so we’re not left waiting long periods without anything new to fiddle with. Based on DICE’s data, it’s pretty evident that the player base wants more close-quarter combat rather than vehicular warfare (and I don’t blame them).
When it comes to new maps, we need more than one new level, and if not, we need a specific playlist that gives us other unique variations of maps. They can cut old maps down and fluff them up, which, I gather, is easier to do than designing one from the ground up. Maybe give us a CQC playlist with old maps, redesigned interiors, moving buildings together, and whatnot? Either way, DICE should see this resurgence of players as a sign, one they shouldn’t let go of.
I know some would rather have seen the studio drop BF2042 altogether, but where’s the learning in that? The improvements we’ve seen to that game thus far have been primarily centered around what players want. I know it’s not all of it, but this is an excellent step in the studio’s direction. Listening to feedback and finding out how to deliver on it. Battlefield 2042 has an interesting opportunity here, and how DICE takes that, well, they can move on, or they can continue building upon what I consider a good foundation for the next game. I’m not referring to Battlefield 2042 but to them sticking it out and listening to the community on how they can improve. It’s experience that should hopefully shape the future of Battlefield for the better.
Will we see more support come BF2042’s way, especially given the recent surge of new players? Let’s hope so. Not just for the player’s sake but also for DICE and EA, as I don’t think the player base has a lot of trust and patience left when it comes to the franchise, and given we have a new one on the way, EA will want to remedy that as best as it can.
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 newest entry to the Mario franchise is set for release in just a couple of days. With such a wacky, weird, and, well, wonderful tone, will the game live up to expectations? In case you’re wondering what critics are saying, we’ve got the Super Mario Bros Wonder reviews round up right here for you!
Super Mario Bros. Wonder looks and plays like the true next step for 2D Mario platformers. Wonder effects change each stage in both surprising and delightful ways, the Flower Kingdom makes for a vibrant and refreshing change of pace, and Elephant Mario steals the show.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is an excellent 2D Mario game with easily the most impressive world-building we’ve seen in this style. The trilogy of new power-ups are brilliant fun, and regularly humorous, with Nintendo’s finishing touches adding extra personality at every turn.
A fantastic 2D platformer that immediately takes its place amongst the pantheon of Nintendo’s very best titles, with such a constant stream of new and surreal ideas you want to stand up and applaud it by the end of it.
Like the Switch itself, Wonder is a collision between the traditional and the new. A game that’s the same as it ever was and nothing like Mario has ever been.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the first Mario game in literal decades to live up to the plumber’s legendary 2D platforming legacy. It is a return to levels overflowing with creativity, a world rich with secrets to uncover, and controls that make the mere act of movement fun. Whether Wonder exceeds or meets the quality of Super Mario Bros. 3 or World is for the fans to debate. But that aside, I’m confident in saying that Mario’s latest adventure is one of the best side-scrollers you’ll find on the Switch. Long live 2D Mario!
Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t just a breath of fresh air for 2D platformers, it’s a masterclass in how to update a game concept that’s been a hit for more than three decades, and do it successfully, without losing the essence. A surprising platformer where the unexpected is the real star. (Translated from Spanish)
While Super Mario Bros. Wonder doesn’t revolutionize Nintendo’s beloved series, the charming 2D platformer successfully pays homage to its roots, paving the way forward with unique twists that keep the gameplay feeling fresh.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is yet another magnificent showing from Nintendo. To take a concept that’s so well understood but still find new ways to impress is no easy feat. Yet Mario Wonder excels in this field thanks to incredibly dynamic gameplay, headlined by the imaginative amazement of the Wonder Flower. It’s hard not to fall in love with this new release, a game that’s packed to the brim with charm and zest.
Super Mario Bros Wonder is a resounding success. It reboots a 2.5D reboot, with far more personality and the best balance and pacing in the modernised side-scrolling Super Mario Bros series.
Within the understood parameters of what 2D Mario can be, this has to be the single best entry since Super Mario World – and is the perfect first game to launch a new era of Mario games with his new-found elevation to movie star status.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the plumber’s best platformer this generation. We haven’t been able to say that of a 2D Mario for a long time, but this game measures up to the best and most beloved side-scrollers Nintendo has ever made, delivering joyously-creative level design and rock-solid platforming in a gorgeous wrapper.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder puts a fresh new spin on the classic Mario side-scroller with wild and trippy level transformations. It’s still Mario at its core, but it’s fun not knowing what to expect from each level. This could be the start of a bright new era for 2D Mario games.
It’s great to see another Mario game living up to the hype. It sounds like this game will be fun for the whole family, so pick it up if you’re a fan of the franchise! Stay tuned for MP1st’s very own review of the game after it launches this Friday.
Speaking of Mario, we finally learned who the next voice of the titular character is following Charles Martinet’s recent departure from the role. You can find the answer to that mystery here.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder will be available on October 20 exclusively for Nintendo Switch.
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, says he’s “All In” for Activision Studios, wanting to revive old IPs, such as HeXen and Heretic. Though Nightdive, an independent studio that has garnered a reputation for its excellent remakes and remasters of classic games, has thrown its hat into the mix, expressing that it would be interested in working on the previously mentioned franchises.
Taking to X, Lead Engine Developer at Nightdive Studios and head developer of the Kex projects Samuel Villarreal reached out to Phil, saying that the studio has the experience and is more than up for the task of working on both HeXen and Heretic.
@XboxP3 Just letting you know, having a long running history and extensive knowledge with Heretic and Hexen, just want to point out that me and my team are very well suited for the job.
Nightdive does seem to be a perfect candidate to work on the two games. As noted, they have the experience as they have worked on several re-releases over the last year. Nightdive recently released a System Shock remake and is now gearing up to re-release Turok 3, which bolsters 4K resolution, 120FPS support, trophies, updated environment, character, weapon models, and much more this November.
If Hexon or Heretic were to get some sort of current-gen port, we’d love to see all the features that Nightdive has brought to their previous remasters. Of course, we’d be even more open to a remake and even a new entry or reboot to the series, though bringing back the original could serve as a perfect way to introduce players.
This all hinges on Xbox, though even if Nightdive doesn’t get the project, it does seem that, given all the teases, we will see HeXen at some point return
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.
