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Resident Evil 4 Remake The Mercenaries Free DLC Release Date Locked for April 7

In case you didn’t know, Capcom has officially released the Resident Evil 4 remake today! And keeping up with video game tradition, the company released the RE4 launch trailer, which not only helps drum up hype, but also confirms that the Resident Evil 4 remake The Mercenaries release date is now set for April 7!

Resident Evil 4 Remake The Mercenaries Release Date Confirmation:

Check out the short trailer, with the official announcement for The Mercenaries’ release date right at the end.

The Mercenaries mode was an unlockable minigame in the original Resident Evil 4, with players gunning after enemies to earn points before an evac chopper arrives in the allotted time. No word yet on how and if this remake shakes up game mode, but once we know more, we’ll let our readers know.

While our Resident Evil 4 still isn’t up just yet (it’s a long game), it seems to be a banger, which should be of no surprise to anyone who played the previous game back then. You don’t have to take anyone’s word for it, as a demo is out now that lets you try the game for yourself.

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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Diablo 4 Beta Update 1.04 Released

Blizzard Entertainment has sprung a surprise Diablo 4 beta update 1.04 (PS5 version 1.004), and this should primarily be for fixes early access players have experienced last week. Read on for what’s new in the Diablo 4 beta update patch notes for March 24.

Diablo 4 Beta Update 1.04 Patch Notes | Diablo 4 Beta Update 1.004 Patch Notes | Diablo 4 Beta Update Patch Notes for March 24:

Size: 410MB (PS5)

Blizzard has not acknowledged the patch just yet, but we do know one of the major changes from last week’s beta to this coming weekend’s, and it’s the inclusion of two new playable classes!

In addition to that, Blizzard has shared the list of known issues with the Diablo 4 beta:

  • If the player triggers the Lorath introduction cutscene while the world is in daylight, the player’s and Lorath’s shadows will shimmer in-game until the Prologue is complete. This issue will not occur if the player skips the cutscene.
  • In-game voice chat may not function correctly for all players.
  • Performance optimizations are still in progress. Players may encounter some performance issues, particularly on older hardware across different platforms.
  • The ‘Play’ tab at the top of Character Selection is clickable but currently does not lead to another menu in the beta.
  • During the beta players will be able to select from a wide variety of work-in-progress “Text Language” options beyond English. English will be the only available option for “Spoken Language” during the beta, but other languages will be available at launch.
  • Player 2 may experience issues joining games with a pre-existing hero while playing couch co-op during the Prologue.
  • Players playing Hardcore in local couch co-op on console may not be able to return to character select until both players die. This will be addressed at launch.
  • Some console users may be experiencing issues getting through queues. We are actively looking to correct this issue this weekend.
  • Players joining another in couch co-op will not see a displayed queue time. The game may seem unresponsive despite the player being in queue and attempting to join the session.
  • There is currently an issue of imprinting Codex of Power effects on rare totems.

Finally, Blizzard has also set the expectations for players regarding this weekend’s beta that starts tomorrow.

With your help, we learned a lot during our Early Access Beta weekend. We intend to learn a lot more this weekend during our Open Beta, and we want to talk to you all about what you can expect and how your participation directly impacts Diablo IV development.

  1. Queue Times: When we open the gates again this Friday to absolutely everyone, we are expecting a lot of people. There will be lengthy queue times, particularly on Friday when we first launch and during peak regional windows. This past weekend helped us to forecast the capacity we expect this weekend, and we will be using that capacity to intentionally stress our systems in preparation for launch. In summary, while we know it can be frustrating, we need queues to properly stress test our services and we are designing to ensure we have them some of the time.
  2. Maintenance: As we monitor the population or encounter in-game issues to address, there may be times when we will take the game offline temporarily to deploy infrastructure adjustments or fixes.
  3. Bugs and Feedback: When you are in-game, whether you’re continuing to build your character from last weekend or trying Druid or Necromancer for the first time, we want to hear from you. The team will be monitoring the forums, where there are dedicated sections for bug reporting and technical support for PC and console, as well as general discussion, where you can leave feedback around anything Diablo IV.

We’re expecting another host of server issues once the open beta is live, and if there’s any server downtime, we’ll be sure to let our readers know.

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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EA UFC 4 Update 22.00 Adds Three New Fighters

EA has released EA UFC 4 update 22.00, and this once again ushers in a few new fighters into the roster and for free! Check out the fighters’ ratings and other details below in the new EA UFC 4 update patch notes.

EA UFC 4 Update 22.00 Patch Notes:

Here are the three new fighters:

Amanda Ribas (Brazil) – Flyweight

  • Grappling – 4/5 Stars
  • Striking – 4/5 Stars
  • Health – 4.5/5 Stars

Irene Aldana (Mexico) – Bantamweight

  • Grappling – 4/5 Stars
  • Striking – 4/5 Stars
  • Health – 4.5/5 Stars

Manon Fiorot (France) – Flyweight

  • Grappling – 4/5 Stars
  • Striking – 4/5 Stars
  • Health – 4.5/5 Stars

Chances are, there are no gameplay-related tweaks included in the patch. However, if we spot anything, we’ll be sure to update the article to reflect it. For anyone who notices any changes, leave a comment below and let us know what’s new.

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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Risk of Rain Returns New Game Mode Titled “Providence Trials” Offers Minigame Challenges For Various Rewards

Hopoo Games has revealed a new game mode for Risk of Rain Returns. Called the “Providence Trials,” this Risk of Rain Returns new game mode pits players against various challenges in order to unlock alternate abilities for Survivors. 

Gameplay footage of the Providence Trials mode was also published via Hopoo Games’ official YouTube channel.

The Providence Trials begin with a single challenge, and upon completing it, you unlock all of the adjacent challenges in the Providence Trials menu. This allows players to choose which challenges to go for next. Providence Trials will test all skill-based elements of Risk of Rain, including combat effectiveness and mobility. The trials will involve the use of different Survivors on custom maps, so you’ll need to be proficient on more than just your go-to Survivor if you want to clear all of them. Aside from the new mode, Hopoo Games also released gameplay footage for a Survivor that’s coming from Risk of Rain 2, the Artificer. The gameplay footage was included in the Dev Thoughts video and gives players a general idea of what a single run of Artificer would look like.

Risk of Rain Returns launches on Nintendo Switch and PC in 2023.

Carlos Perez

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Call of the Wild: The Angler Coming to PlayStation & Xbox Consoles Summer 2023

Expansive Worlds has announced that its Call of the Wild: The Angler fishing sim is coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One consoles this summer. The console version will be developed by a different studio and incorporate all the improvements the PC version has received since launch. Additionally, the game will support crossplay across all platforms.

Developed as a derivative of Expansive Worlds’ theHunter series, Call of the Wild: The Angler is an open-world fishing simulator that lets players live out their fishing fantasies in real-world-inspired locations in either solo or multiplayer gameplay. From the game’s Steam page:

Experience the freedom of fishing in a vast open world inspired by real-life locations. Travel through the varied and atmospheric environments by boat, off-road vehicle, or on foot, and discover hidden ponds, tranquil lakes, and local points of interest. Whatever you decide to do, every trip will have you coming back for more.

Fishing in the open world is as fun as it is challenging. Each species has its own individual behaviors and traits, which influence what bait they’re attracted to, how they fight when hooked, and what actions they can perform to try to escape. Combined with a system that spawns fish relative to water depth, time of day, and temperature, every spot offers a unique challenge. Master different fishing techniques to land the most impressive catch. Purchase tackle and build custom fishing rigs using a wide selection of rods, reels, lures, hooks, floats, and jigheads. Create your angler and customize their look and attributes. Complete challenges to earn rewards and uncover the open world through meaningful story missions.

Relax at your favorite spot on your own or ride the open waters with friends in online co-op multiplayer for up to 12 players. Meet other anglers and create memories that will last a lifetime. You can also play offline for a peaceful solo experience.

Call of the Wild: The Angler is coming this summer to the aforementioned consoles as a port developed by a different team, and with crossplay functionality for all platforms. Read into the game’s latest update here, which included a number of new features and quality-of-life improvements.

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Salman Haider Zaidi

That's a nice argument, Senator.

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“MindsEye:” First Teaser Released for Episodic AAA Sci-fi Game Within Ex-GTA Lead’s “Everywhere”

Ex-Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies’ studio Build a Rocket Boy has released the first teaser for “MindsEye,” an episodic AAA sci-fi narrative game playable within the studio’s metaverse-like “Everywhere” title. The teaser follows the likely protagonist as he struggles to handle an embedded augmented-reality system that seems to have a will of its own.

Watch the MindsEye teaser below:

In the seven years since Rockstar North president and Grand Theft Auto producer Leslie Benzies left the company on poor terms, precious few details have come out about his upcoming projects. Last year at gamescom 2022, his studio Build a Rocket Boy debuted the first teaser for Everywhere, a new Fortnite-meets-Roblox title driven by user-created mini-games crafted through the game’s powerful creation tools. However, the studio’s showpiece is not this pioneering title; “MindsEye,” an episodic AAA performance-captured game within Everywhere, has that honor instead.

Benzies intends for MindsEye to tell a science-fiction-inspired story across different time periods and parts of the universe, with an overarching plot unifying the episodes’ otherwise-independent storylines. The plan is to offer Everywhere as a publicly playable experience sometime later in 2023. For now, fans can register at the game’s website to receive further details, and stay tuned here at MP1st for all upcoming news and announcements.

Source: Eurogamer

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Salman Haider Zaidi

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Bloober CEO Believes 10 Million Copies Sold for Their Games Is a “Realistic” Range for the Studio Soon (Update)

While it’s hard to deny that Silent Hill 2 is one of the most popular survival horror games ever released, it looks like Bloober Team is counting on the Silent Hill 2 remake to sell a boatload of copies. How much? Try about 10 million — at least, according to the studio’s boss.

In an interview with Polish site Bankier (translated via DeepL), Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno reasons that based on market research, games made by Bloober Team have developed a sales ceiling of two million copies, while the survival horror bar has set it higher at several million copies. With this in mind, “We can assume that 10 million copies sold is a range that will soon be realistic for us,” Babieno said.

I have no doubt that old school Silent Hill fans (like me), and newcomers alike are looking forward to playing the Silent Hill 2 remake, but still, 10 million copies is a lot to ask for a game, no? What do I know, though? I’m not a game developer or on the business side of things.

For reference, Bloober Team’s last major release, The Medium, did turn a profit that covered the dev and marketing costs, though there’s no actual sales figures officially released.

Do you think Silent Hill 2 remake will be able to sell 10 million copies once it’s released? Speaking of which, the game is “technically finished” according to Babieno, with the release date/schedule now solely on Konami’s court.

Update: We’ve reached out to a native Polish speaker for clarity on the story, and we’ve surmised that things got muddied up in translation. We apologize for any confusion this might have caused, and have updated the story to reflect the proper thought conveyed in the original article.

Here’s the translation as provided to us:

“Można założyć, że 10 mln sprzedanych kopii to zasięg, który niedługo będzie dla nas realny” – powiedział Babieno” translates to “You can assume that 10 million copies sold is within a range that will be realistic for us soon.”

This means that the studio isn’t expecting 10 million copies from Silent Hill 2’s remake, but more on how the studio is confident that with them dipping their toes in the survival horror genre, that this 10M number will be achievable at some point soon.

More Silent Hill 2 Reading:

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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Hyenas Gameplay Debut Showcases Frenetic Action in Zero Gravity

Announced last year, we now have our first Hyenas gameplay look for Creative Assembly’s (Alien Isolation) upcoming shooter that debuted during today’s Future Games Show!

The actual gameplay can be seen around the 02:11 mark in the video below:

In addition to the gameplay debut, Creative Assembly also revealed a new playable character named “Heroki,” a former cosplayer who can disguise as their enemies. 

Here’s a brief description of Hyenas (via Steam):

HYENAS is a hero-based, multiplayer extraction shooter. Choose a Hyena to play as – each with a unique weapon, ability, and personality – to form a crew of three and steal valuable Merch. The action takes place on vast, themed ‘Plunderships’ returning to Mars from Earth, loaded with salvaged Merch for your crew to steal.

Hyenas has no release date yet but is set for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem Update 1.02 Slashes Out This March 23

Wolcen studio has released Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem update 1.02, and this seems to coincide with the PC version’s patch 1.1.7.1! Read on for what’s new in the Wolcen Lords of Mayhem March 23 patch notes.

Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem Update 1.02 Patch Notes | Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem Update 1.1.7.1 Patch Notes | Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem Update March 23 Patch Notes:

The PS4 version’s update history states the following:

  • Fixed an issue with party invites being accepted but failing to create a party
  • Fixed multiple localization issues
  • Fixed blurred characters during cinematics

Unfortunately, for those counting on this patch to solve the non-stop loading limbo screen issue happening on PlayStation platforms, it still hasn’t been fixed for both the PS4 and PS5 versions according to the community:

Ps5/4 update … what did it fix ?
byu/Confident_Spray_7514 inWolcen

PS5 patch update 1.2 just went live
byu/lVANGUARDl inWolcen

As for what’s in patch 1.1.7.1, read on for the official notes from the studio.

Here is the first in several upcoming patches that are being deployed specifically to resolve various post-1.1.7.0 / Chapter IV issues. If there is a known issue that is not present here, please be assured we are working hard on delivering a fix for it as soon and as safely as possible.

Thank you all for your feedback thus far, and your continued patience and support.

  • Resolved a UI softlock when accepting rewards from a completed Restock: Havar project in Champion of Stormfall mode.
  • Fixed an issue in the conversion system which would leave some characters stuck at the end of Chapter III with no objective.
  • Resolved an issue where Ahriman would drop too much loot (or none at all) depending on the game mode.
  • Fixed an issue where bosses on the 2nd level of Expedition Operations would become incredibly shy and fail to spawn.
  • Achievements for beating Ahriman and completing Act 4 should now be achievable.
  • [Spoilers!] Fixed an issue where Heimlock and Valaria would have doppelgangers present at the end of the Ahriman fight.
  • Fixed an issue where the player character would briefly appear in T-pose before the Wrath of Sarisel score screen.
  • Fixed a particular voice line of Valaria’s where she would mistakenly misgender the Ascended if they are female.
  • Fixed an instance of missing lip-sync for Ilthain.
  • Fixed a VFX issue with Iosonic Rain where the two pistols could become offset depending on the player’s weapon types.
  • Fixed offset VFX for the unique item “Canalised Staff”.
  • Improved looting behaviour on Gamepad when trying to pick out a particular item from large stacks of dropped items.
  • Fixed the “stretching” effect on certain elements in the War Table UI.
  • Fixed an SFX issue associated with Skeleton Cultists.
  • Fixed miscellaneous instances of placeholder text and missing localisation. More localisation fixes are on the way.

We assume that a new patch is on the way for PS4 and PS5 gamers soon, and once that’s out, we’ll let our readers know.

Source: Reddit

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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World War 3 Operation Sunstorm Update Shoots Out March 30 With New Maps, FUBAR Game Mode & More

The Farm 51 and Wishlist Games have announced that the World War 3 Operation Sandstorm update will release on March 23, bringing new Japanese maps, the Tactical Ops-derived FUBAR game mode, four new Operators and weapons, and three new Strikes.

Watch the World War 3 Operation Sandstorm announcement trailer below:

World War 3 Operation Sunstorm – New Maps, Game Mode, Operators & More:

Operation Sunstorm begins March 20 and brings the following new content:

  • New Maps:
    • Tokyo (Tactical Ops): Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is now a battlefield. Engage the enemy at mid-range on open shopping strips, close the gap in narrow alleyways and side streets, or secure a tactical advantage with vantage points perfect for sniper and DMR duels. Vehicles can be deployed, but debris left behind by the first attack prohibits tanks from making much progress.
    • Shibuya (Team Deathmatch): Take a trip to Shibuya Square, one of Tokyo’s most famous locations. Once a bustling center of commerce with a thriving nightlife scene, the ward finds itself in the midst of an inescapable conflict. Fight day and night with everything you’ve got to dominate its neon-drenched streets and take back this cultural capital.
  • New Game Mode – FUBAR:
    • Players: 20 vs. 20
    • Maps: Berlin, DMZ, Tokyo, Polyarny
    • Win Conditions: Bleed or Defend Points
    • FUBAR is a new take on Tactical Ops that focuses on infantry battles – with limited strikes and vehicles available! It also includes a revive feature. Take arms and fight to seize or defend six bleeding capture points in heart-pounding skirmishes. 
  • New Operators:
    • JGSDF Rikujo Jietai (Japan): The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is the largest of Japan’s military branches. It has over 150,000 soldiers in reserve and specializes in land warfare. Previously focused on the threat of Soviet Russia during the Cold War, its focus shifted to China in defense revisions made in 2010.
    • Special Boarding Unit (Japan): A special forces unit within the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Trained in part by Britain’s SBS, the unit entered active service in 2001. While most SBU activities are classified, they primarily engage in maritime counter-terrorism and visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations.
    • Japanese Resistance Fighter (Japan): As the conflict swells recklessly across the Sea of Japan to encompass Tokyo, resistance is kindled. Those incensed by the return of war to the shores of Japan take arms to push the combatants out of their capital and retake the nation.
    • SBU Breacher (Japan): A heavy hitter in the Special Boarding Unit used for clearing obstacles and breaching closed areas during classified operations. Part of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the SBU has almost 100 personnel with experience in Asia-Pacific defense, anti-piracy, and counter-terrorism.
  • New Weapons:
    • Type 89 (Assault Rifle, Japan): Assault rifle used by several Japanese military branches. Affectionately known in the JGSDF as ‘Buddy’. Chambered in 5.56 NATO. Effective at range and designed for ease of use, the TYPE 89 is a reliable option for frontline troops in Tokyo.
    • QBZ-191 (Assault Rifle, China): Assault rifle used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and People’s Armed Police (PAP) in China since 2019. With its improved ergonomics, gas-operated piston, and superior medium to long range ballistics, it is a much more efficient service rifle than its bullpup predecessor.
    • PF3 (Rocket Launcher, Germany): Shoulder-fired rocket launcher first designed to provide West German infantry with a counter for Soviet tanks. Operated by more than 10 countries, notably used in the War in Afghanistan. Compact and lightweight, it fires 110mm warheads at a maximum firing range of 920m.
    • Deagle (Handgun, USA/Israel): An iconic large caliber handgun jointly developed by the United States and Israel. Chambered primarily in .50 Action Express, .44 Magnum, and .357 Magnum. Reportedly used by Poland’s special forces, JW GROM, and Portugal’s Special Operations Group (GOE).
  • New Strikes:
    • Type X (Japan): A Japanese main battle tank fitted with a 120mm smoothbore cannon. Well-armored to counter various threats. Its autoloader holds 14 rounds, making it an effective anti-tank option.
    • Type XVI (Japan): A Japanese tank destroyer designed to be easily air-transportable. Lithe and lightly armored. Its 105 mm L/52 gun, the main armament, is potent enough to counter even larger armored vehicles.
    • Bumblebee (Japan): Take control of the skies with this dangerous drone, deployed by Japanese forces to counter incoming incursions. As the saying goes, float like a butterfly…

World War 3 Operation Sunstorm will launch out on PC as a free update. For more details about the update, check out the official Operation Sunstorm page here.

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Salman Haider Zaidi

That's a nice argument, Senator.

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Cooler Master and D-Box Go Behind the Scenes With the Motion 1, the World’s First Haptic Gaming Chair

Cooler Master and D-Box are looking to shake up (literally) the gaming world as their joint venture into creating the world’s first haptic gaming chair seems to finally be a reality, with the Motion 1 making a big impression during this year’s GDC. 

Look, I have so many questions about this one, though that’s mostly because I firmly believe that haptic feedback will play a significant role in the future of gaming. PlayStation wowed me with the DualSense controller, proving it wasn’t just some gimmick. When a game truly used the feature, it made it feel more immersive than playing with a standard controller, so seeing haptics being adapted elsewhere in gaming excites me. However, when looking at the PS5 and its library of haptic-supported games, those titles are designed with haptics in mind. So it does beg, how is the Motion 1 planning to overcome that when most titles don’t have haptics in mind? 

That is where D-Box comes in, as they have been at the forefront of creating immersive experiences for the last 24 years. To date, they have crafted over 2500 D-Box encoded movies, tv shows, music, and games that are ready for the Motion 1 to take advantage of. And judging from some early reactions from those who attended GDC 2023, the Motion 1 is leaving quite a solid and positive impression. 

Racing games especially seem to benefit from the Motion 1’s haptic feedback, and we’d imagine pairing it with a VR headset would produce one of the most immersive experiences. 

Additional information about the Motion 1 Gaming Chair:

  • The Cooler Master Motion 1 is the world’s first haptic engine gaming chair developed in collaboration with D–BOX
  • Motion 1 can produce more than 65,000 motion waves to create a sense of presence from what users see and hear in gaming and entertainment.
  • Designed for comfort: natural pivoting, rocking, reclining work with magnetic lumbar and headrests to deliver the latest ergonomics
  • Adaptive Audio and Adaptive Gaming Modes enable hyper-realistic immersiveness

Unfortunately, no release date has been set other than a Q4 pre-order launch, though from the information provided a few years ago, expect this to be a very expensive (+$1999) experience. This will certainly be one of those items targeted toward enthusiasts rather than the mass market. 

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James Lara

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.

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Drakar Desert Rally Update 1.08 Rides Out for Crash Fixes This March 23

Saber Interactive has pushed out Drakar Desert Rally update 1.08, and this is primarily for crash fixes. Read up on what’s new in the official Drakar Desert Rally patch notes for March 23.

Drakar Desert Rally Update 1.08 Patch Notes | Drakar Desert Rally Update Patch Notes for March 23:

Here’s the announcement from Saber earlier today:

🛠@DakarTheGame
PlayStation and Xbox versions will update at 8:00 AM EST / 12:00 PM UTC today to implement fixes to the garage crash and in-race crashes that led to save issues.

🎮 Platforms: PSN & Xbox.

We will fix these issues on PC in a future update.

That’s about it. If you haven’t loaded the game in a while, there was also a big title update released back in Feb. 28, which included new (premium) content! Check out the list of new cars and stages:

New Premium Content From Feb. 28 Patch:

SnowRunner Trucks DLC: test your resolve against the scorching sands with NEW SnowRunner Trucks, stages, and events in this Premium DLC.
New Trucks:
– TUZ 16
– TUZ 108
– TUZ 420
– ZiKZ 605R
– YAR 87

New Stages and Events.
Sports Mode – 6 Stages and 1 Event:
– 01 Bisha
– 02 Jeddah
– 03 Alsharaf
– 04 Gayal
– 05 Al Ula
– 06 Shigry
Professional Mode – 3 Stages and 1 Event:
– 01 Jeddah
– 02 Gayal
– 03 Shigry

You can read up about the previous patch released last month right here.

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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Sony Is Metacritic’s Publisher of the Year for 2022

Review aggregation website Metacritic declared the results of its 13th Annual Game Publisher Rankings today, based off video game releases published in 2022. Unsurprisingly, Sony was Metacritic’s highest-rated publisher for 2022, based off its strong showings with God of War Ragnarok as well as The Last of Us Part 1 and the PC ports of Marvel’s Spider-Man and its Miles Morales expansion.

While Microsoft took the top spot in Metacritic’s 12th Annual Game Publisher Rankings last year, it failed to qualify for the list altogether this year due to five-distinct-titles-minimum eligibility criteria. Last year’s runner-up Sony dethroned the Redmond gaming giant, owing to a particularly strong year of releases. Sony’s Interactive Entertainment division published God of War Ragnarok, the God of War 2018 PC port, the Marvel’s Spider-Man and Spider-Man: Miles Morales PC ports, The Last of Us Part 1 remake, Horizon Forbidden West, Gran Turismo 7, MLB The Show 2022 and more in 2022 for a total of 15 scored releases, 10 of these being distinct titles.

Paradox Interactive was the runner-up this year through its successful launch of Crusader Kings III, and Activision Blizzard, Focus Entertainment, and Take-Two Interactive came in at #3, #4, and #5 respectively. While Microsoft may not have made the list this year, its upcoming Redfall, Starfield, and Hellblade 2 releases will surely provide tough competition for Sony when next year’s rankings roll around.

Source: Metacritic

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Salman Haider Zaidi

That's a nice argument, Senator.

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Epic Games Releases Unreal Editor for Fortnite, Pledges 40% of Net Revenue for Creators

Epic Games has revealed Unreal Editor for Fortnite, a creative suite for Fortnite creators. Abbreviated as UEFN, the toolset will allow player-made content to run on both PC and consoles.

Here’s a tech demo of UEFN as shown in GDC 2023:

UEFN allows creators to collaborate on both PC and consoles. By running a UEFN session on PC, console players can join the session via Fortnite and playtest in real-time. To get creators started, Epic Games has made years’ worth of Fortnite assets freely available via UEFN, and you can even import assets directly into UEFN for more customized and unique experiences. Thanks to Unreal Engine’s Lumen lighting system, players can create more immersive and lifelike experiences than the stylized look of Fortnite. Epic Games has even developed a custom programming language for UEFN, known as Verse.

Alongside UEFN, Epic Games has also introduced Creator Economy 2.0, a new ecosystem for Fortnite creators that incentivizes building with UEFN. In essence, this lets Fortnite island creators earn a payout based on how much engagement their content gets. Epic Games has promised 40% of its net earnings in the Fortnite Item shop and similar purchases to go to this initiative.

Unreal Editor for Fortnite is currently available for free via the Epic Games Store.

Carlos Perez

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Sludge Life 2 Hands-On Preview – Trippy Graffiti Vibes

Sludge Life 2 proves that disgusting and enjoyable don’t have to be mutually exclusive. The sequel to one of the oddest games in recent years is aiming to double up on the bizarre and the controversial with another surreal journey. Players with an open mind will embrace a world filled with obnoxious characters, crass humor, and an almost pointless but oh-so-enjoyable trip down weird lane.

It’s a Hard Sludge Life

With little handholding and just enough exposition through locations and dialogues, Sludge Life 2 throws you into this new adventure with barely any guidance. As a tagger and manager of music sensation Big Mud, you will explore the various sectors of this sludge-filled island and find your way around driven by curiosity and inspired by the decidedly wacky cast.

You’re not entirely lost, to be fair; as you wake up in your bathtub after a wild party and explore the wrecked room, a dude with a major hangover tells you that Big Mud has gone missing and a video shoot is overdue, so you’d better go find him in this colossal mess of a city. That is, if you can get past the urge to tag the property, hand a few cigarettes around, do the number one in every bathroom, see number two on more than one occasion, and use the dedicated fart button just because you can.

Sludge Life 2 Hands-On Preview

The humor isn’t the sharpest ever, but if you like crude jokes and the typical nonsense found in Adult Swim shows, this should be right up your alley. It even ticks the cartoon nudity box when that could have been where the line was drawn… but it not only crosses the line, it draws rude genitalia on it.

Describing Sludge Life 2 as a walking simulator is somewhat undervaluing its aspirations. Almost like a trippy fantasy where nothing makes proper sense, but everything feels logical in its own peculiar ways, as conflicting as that may sound, this is a world prone to vandalism and free-form parkour. The open-ended structure means that you usually have more than a single way to reach a specific building or rooftop. You move at your own pace, with no guns or enemies chasing you around, as if in a chill exploration game where cigarettes are your friends and the gadgets you find along the way your travel companions, including a camera to photograph to your desire, a glider to help you move around, among others.

Despite the relaxed tone, there are goals to look for besides locating your hangover buddy Big Mud. Collecting and eating slugs is one of the tasks, but tagging is what you will be doing the most, with 100 spots to paint. Finding some objects downloads and installs apps, including cigarettes that you can smoke or give to some NPCs, the lifeloop app you get when you die, and a few others.

Navigation seems a bit on the forgiving side, with your character having a penchant to stick to walls and climb them by sheer persistence and button spam. It may be intentionally inaccurate to keep you moving through the various areas without a moment of frustration, but at times you control more like a drone than an actual person, even if a cartoon one.

A Playable Hallucination

Sludge Life 2 Hands-On Preview

A few minutes of Sludge Life 2 were enough to liken this game to a living, breathing psychedelic trip. It’s an out-of-the-ordinary experience, a videogame that feels like one of those raunchy cartoons from a time when this was deemed too risky, giving a vibe of a rowdy and rebellious creation from authors who aren’t open to compromises.

Everything about it contributes to the overall hallucinogenic drugs sensation, from the high contrast colored pixel graphics to the character art style, with their big lips and eyes, gigantic hands, and a hasty doodle-like design that is equally hideous and fascinating. The distorted music and the robotic sounds that pass as voices contribute to the group nightmare that it conveys at times, probably in consonance with the intoxicating effect that you experience when tasting a mushroom in this game.

Far from being a deep game for the thinking man, Sludge Life 2 brings an engrossing and surreal aesthetic to the table that could, however, be accused of being more of the same. But when that same is such a weird and genre-defying experience, it’s hard to resist a trip into this rare breed of dystopia, even if the humor may be hit or miss.


MP1st was given access to a preview build of Sludge Life 2 for our hands-on session. Sludge Life 2 is set to release in 2023 for PC and is being published by Devolver Digital.

Vitor Braz

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Wild Hearts Update for March 23 Adds Grimstalker Kemono and More

EA and Omega Force have released the Wild Hearts update for March 23, and this is adds a new Kemono in the Grimstalker, alongside new weapons and more! Note that this seems to be a server-side update with players being served version 1.1.0 (1.4.9.4) on PC.

Wild Hearts Update Patch Notes for March 23:

Grimstalker, Fulgent Armor Set, New Weapons & New Quests

Out of the Chain Trap and into the Harpoon. We’re not letting up with new content for WILD HEARTS! In our second post-launch content update* we’ve added a new subspecies, Grimstalker, including new forgeable weapons and an armor set made from Grimstalker materials for those able to successfully hunt this new Kemono.

The second content update also includes three new higher difficulty quests. These new hunts will test your mettle! Celebrate with some well-earned Chat Stamps and Emotes.

Read more about the new content:

New Kemono – Grimstalker

A Kemono steeped in mystery, Grimstalker has been spotted on the Natsukodachi Isle. This mighty beast has the ability to manipulate both searing flames and surging seas. Down this prey, and in doing so attain even greater heights as a hunter.

The most striking feature of Grimstalker is the way in which its rage levels affect the elements of nature at its command. Normally, it wields water and waves to hamper its adversaries’ movement. Once enraged, however, it switches to fire, unleashing devastating attacks of molten rock. You’ll want to make use of Elemental Lanterns in order to combat both types of attacks. And don’t let the beast escape unscathed whenever it leaves itself vulnerable!

New Weapons, Armor Set – Grimstalker Weapons, Fulgent Armor

Forge two new weapons from Grimstalker materials. One is capable of mighty blows that rend heaven and earth asunder, while the other combines Kemono brawn with human brains to make a formidable weapon.

The Fulgent armor set also shines brightly on the battlefield, letting other hunters know you’ve triumphed over Azuma’s latest threat.

New Quests – Fulgent Fate: Bloodshed, Days of Hunting: Gleaming Gold, Twin Boar Gorge

Three new quests await! Can you best Amaterasu in Akikure Canyon without dying a single time? Will you be able to fell Kingtusk and Icetusk in Fuyufusagi Fort with only two lives? Mighty Dreadclaw, Pearlbeak and Lavaback will give you the most chances to overcome their challenge but will you be able to hunt all three?

That’s about it. There doesn’t seem to be any gameplay-related adjustments this time around. If we spot any, we’ll be sure to update the article with more info.

Source: EA

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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TMNT: The Last Ronin RPG in Development; Gameplay Likened to God of War

Paramount Global’s Doug Rosen has revealed that a video game adaptation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT): The Last Ronin is currently in development at an unnamed studio. Described as a “darker, more mature” spin on the IP, the third-person RPG title will feature gameplay similar to Sony Santa Monica’s recent God of War games, and is “a few years off” from release.

Paramount Global’s senior vice president for games and emerging media Doug Rosen has promised that the game will be authentic to the story of The Last Ronin miniseries, and likens its third-person RPG gameplay to the recent God of War titles. Unlike last year’s Shredder’s Revenge and true to the The Last Ronin’s story, the game will have a single playable character for the most part, though Rosen thinks it possible that other characters will be playable in flashback sequences.

The TMNT: The Last Ronin game is being developed by a studio Rosen chose to not name, but he did state that Paramount had once again found the “right partner” to adapt the miniseries into “an ambitious AAA video game.” Presently, the game is at least “a few years off from release,” and Rosen says that fans should expect further details on the title and other upcoming TMNT video games in the months and years to come.

Source: Polygon

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Salman Haider Zaidi

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Hitman World of Assassination Spring Roadmap Reveals Easter Event, New Freelancer Challenges & More

Following the World of Assassination rebrand and the release of the Freelancer mode, IO Interactive has unveiled the Hitman World of Assassination Spring Roadmap, outlining the new and returning content that will feature in the game from March through May. Carrying on from Year 2 of Hitman 3, Year 3 will bring an Easter event with the Berlin Egg Hunt and Featured Contracts, new Freelancer challenges (and a new unlock for The HITMAN challenge), free rotating locations, the Year 3 versions of several Elusive Targets, and much more.

HITMAN World of Assassination Spring Roadmap:

March 17: Elusive Target – The Heartbreaker (Year 3)

Philo Newcombe a.k.a “The Heartbreaker” returns with his wedding-ruining antics to Mendoza for 10 days starting March 17. Players will have one shot at eliminating him.

March 24: Elusive Target – The Broker (Year 3)

Paris awaits Agent 47 with the return of Howard Moxon a.k.a “The Broker.” 47 is tasked to retrieve the “Ivory White” and eliminate Moxon, with players getting one shot to take him out in the 10 days following March 24.

March 30: Seasonal Event – Berlin Egg Hunt & Featured Contracts

hitman world of assassination easter

Free starter pack players (and those who have not played) can hop into the Berlin Egg Hunt challenge starting March 30, and can win both The Raver suits this time with and without the mask. Ten Easter-themed “eggcellent” contracts from the community will also be made available, and players can still contribute on the HITMAN forums.

March 31: The Collector – Year 3

Kody Haynes a.k.a “The Collector” can once again be hunted down in Dartmoor starting March 31 with the same conditions as the other returning Elusive Targets.

April 13: Featured Contracts – Spring Cleaning! & Free Location Rotation: Paris

IO Interactive invites the community to submit “Spring Cleaning-“themed stories and contracts starting March 31, a selection of which will be featured in-game after April 13. Additionally, the Paris location can be experienced in full with all its missions and the upcoming The Forger Elusive Target contract till April 24.

April 14: Elusive Target – The Forger (Year 3)

The crafty Sergei Larin a.k.a “The Forger” can once again be assassinated in Paris at the behest of his husband for 10 days starting April 14.

April 21: Elusive Target – The Serial Killer (Year 3)

The Censor a.k.a “The Serial Killer” can be stopped in his faux-businessman tracks once again in Whittleton Creek for 10 days starting April 21.

April 28: Elusive Target – The Rage (Year 3)

As April’s last Elusive Target, former middleweight champion Sully Bowden a.k.a “The Rage” can be put out of commission in Chongqing, China for 10 days starting April 28.

May 11:

hitman world of assassination spring roadmap

  • Game Update 3.150

As Hitman World of Assassination’s first update, 3.150 promises a great number of bug fixes and quality of life changes, especially for the Freelancer mode. Notably, IO Interactive will be addressing the VRAM leak issue reported by the community in the update as well.

  • New Hitman Challenge: Boom Beats Blah w. Unlock

hitman freelancer new challenges

By taking Craig Black a.k.a “The Author” out with an explosion while he is busy reading in the new “Boom Beats Blah” challenge, players can unlock an Exploding Pen that impales enemies and detonates shortly after being thrown.

  • Hitman Freelancer Challenge: The HITMAN w. Unlock

hitman freelancer new unlocks

Players can now unlock the Black Bruiser Suit by completing the Freelancer campaign in Hardcore Mode (as part of “The HITMAN” challenge). Those who have already completed the challenge will receive the suit for free when it unlocks.

  • Contracts Mode Enabled on the ICA Training Facility

From May 11, Contracts Mode will be enabled on the ICA Training Facility yacht.

  • Curated Contracts: The Intern

A number of Curated Contracts will be made available on May 11, though more information is yet to be released.

  • Free Location Rotation: Sapienza

The Sapienza coast town location will be available for free from May 11 to May 22.

May 12: Elusive Target – The Deceivers (Year 3)

“The Congressman” Anthony L. Troutt and “The Guru” Richard J. Magee, together known as “The Deceivers,” can be permanently foiled in Sapienza for 10 days starting May 12.

May 19: Elusive Target – The Revolutionary (Year 3)

The fascist leader Vicente Murillo a.k.a “The Revolutionary” can be put down once again in Santa Fortuna, Colombia for 10 days starting May 19.

May 26: Elusive Target – The Liability (Year 3)

Finally, the world’s most irresponsible safety inspector Terrence Chesterfield a.k.a “The Liability” can face the consequences of his actions in Berlin for 10 days starting May 26.

Additionally, IO Interactive has revealed a more general content roadmap for the rest of the year as well:

hitman world of assassination roadmap year 3 2023

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Salman Haider Zaidi

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Dauntless Update 2.01 Released for Patch 1.13.4 This March 23

Phoenix Labs has released Dauntless update 2.01 (PS5 version 1.000.031), which is for the game’s 1.13.4 content update and includes bug fixes. Read up on the Dauntless 1.13.4 patch notes.

Dauntless Update 2.01 | Dauntless Update 1.000.031 Patch Notes | Dauntless March 23 Patch Notes:

GAUNTLET

  • Fixed an issue where the Push and Pull modifier would be modified by a Slayer’s own damage bonuses.
  • Fixed an issue where the Push and Pull modifier could unintentionally reduce a Slayer’s health to 0.

Source: Play Dauntless

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Salman Haider Zaidi

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Destiny 2 Update 1.078 Pushed Out for Patch 7.0.0.6 This March 23

Destiny 2 update 1.078 is out now on both last-gen and current-gen platforms, and this ushers in hotfix patch version 7.0.0.6, which includes fixes to the Root of Nightmares raid, weapon and armor adjustments and more! Read up on the official Destiny 2 March 23 patch notes released by Bungie.

Destiny 2 Update 1.078 Patch Notes | Destiny 2 March 23 Patch Notes:

ACTIVITIES

DUNGEONS AND RAIDS

  • Root of Nightmares
    • Fixed an issue where players were being locked out of the Red Border Chest after the weekly reset.
    • Fixed an issue where Focused Light and Focused Darkness would not trigger in the Zo’aurc encounter.
    • Fixed an issue where Sunblight enemies could be damaged through their shields by The Colony Exotic Grenade Launcher.
      • Those clever little spiders have been reprimanded one more time.
    • Fixed an issue where players could equip raid mods without obtaining them first.
  • Shattered Throne
    • Fixed an issue where the dungeon node would not appear to some players.

GENERAL

  • Fixed an issue where Cabal Threshers were doing more damage than intended.
  • Fixed an issue where the European Dead Zone node would not unlock for some players.

GAMEPLAY AND INVESTMENT

WEAPONS

  • Fixed an issue where the Winterbite Exotic Glaive was benefitting from other Glaives damage increasing perks.
  • Fixed an issue where the Glaive melee feed kills where showing the projectile label.
  • Fixed an issue where the extra Arc volley granted by the Two Tailed Fox’s Exotic Catalyst was not firing properly.
  • Fixed an issue where some weapon mods were not available for some players.

ARMOR MODS

  • Fixed an issue where equipping too many passive Armor Charge benefits would deactivate artifact perks.
  • Changed Empowered Finish to count as a finisher mod for purposes of mutual exclusivity. This mod can no longer be equipped alongside a finisher mod that also consumes Armor Charge stacks.
    • Having the ability to generate and spend Armor Charge stacks on the same mod was creating conditions where latency would sometimes cause the perks to activate in an incorrect order.
    • Additionally, when combined with Stacks on Stacks, Empowering Finish was circumventing the basic Armor Charge mechanics too easily, resulting in generating too many Orbs of Power, ammo bricks, overshields, etc.
  • The Untangler Artifact perk will no longer trigger melee perks.

LOCALIZATION

  • Fixed the issue introduced in 7.0.0.5 that reverted Mandarin voice over to English.

GENERAL

  • Increased the time to give Commendations to other players after finishing certain activities.
  • Moved the Legend Lost Sectors Solo and the Legend Lost Sector Solo Flawless requirements from Guardian Rank 7 to Rank 8.
  • Moved the Master Lost Sectors Solo and the Master Lost Sector Solo Flawless requirements from Guardian Rank 9 to Rank 10.
  • Adjusted Trials of Osiris Commendation scores to match other Crucible modes.

Source: Bungie

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Alex Co

Father, gamer, games media vet, writer of words, killer of noobs.

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