After being introduced in Odyssey, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla romance options are back, with a number of options to pursue each with their own requirements. The romance options are a mixture of one-off flings and more meaningful relationships. If you’re looking to start a relationship with someone new, you will have to break it off with your current partner. Here’s how to follow through on some of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla romances.
Bil
Bil is just hanging out by a frozen pond in the Rygjafylke mountains. She wants you to dive into the lake/pond and find her comb. Use your Viking skills to retrieve the comb and Bil will then lead you away and ask if you want to comb her hair. I can only assume this is the Nordic equivalent of Netflix and Chill.
Broder
Weddings are often said to be romantic occasions, and I guess Broder has really gotten swept up in it all. At his sister’s wedding to King Oswald he will proposition you for a good time.
Randvi
This relationship option can actually have an influence on the story. Randvi is Jarl Sigurd’s wife, so as you might imagine he won’t be too pleased if you jump into bed with her. You’ll need to complete three main missions at the Alliance map before a quest line to basically go on a date with Randvi pops up – involving a day trip to Grantebridge.
Gunlodr
During the Asgard section this Assassin’s Creed Valhalla romance option will present itself. If you gift Gundolr Thor’s bridal bracelet. Once you get to know them the option for romancing them will become available.
Petra
In order to unlock Petra as a romance option you’ll first need to upgrade your settlement to level 2. She will then set up a Hunter’s Hut. This will open up some quests to hunt legendary animals. Upon completing all these missions you’ll be able to go on a date with Petra.
Tarben
Another option that has a settlement prerequisite is Tarben. First you will have to build a bakery. This will allow you to start doing missions for Tarben, eventually you will be given the chance to go fishing with them and a romance option will arise.
Stigr
Also known as Stigr the Amorous, he can be romanced if you win Hemthorpe’s Flyting duel. Which is kind of like a rap/insult battle. He will be so impressed with your skills that he will take quite the liking to you.
Tewdwr
Tewdwr is a great drinking buddy and if you attend his ealdorman celebrations you can drink away the night and either partake in some chicken chasing which is a plutonic non-romance option. Or you can pick a little bit of romance.
Vili
Towards the end of the Snotinghamscire, you will be given the chance to speak with Vili whilst sitting at a campfire. At this point you can either choose to accept his advances or rebuff them. He might be a little hurt by your rejection but he will still join your settlement.
There are still more Assassin’s Creed Valhalla romance options for you to discover, but now you know who most of them are!
You might be hearing a whispering right now that Scott Pilgrim is back. Social media is ablaze with people talking about it after years of silence. The reason being this online susuration is that Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game is back after years of being unavailable. After long, long years of being unable to play or get their hands on the game, fans are finally able to play this marvellous beat ‘em up again.
Scott Pilgrim has a long history through several different mediums, so in honour of the game getting a brand new release, let’s take a trip through time and look at the history of Scott Pilgrim.
Scott Pilgrim
The whole series started in the head of Canadian comic book author and artist Brian Lee O’Malley. This six-part graphic novel series tells the story of Scott Pilgrim; slacker, musician, and walking disaster.
The books focus on Scott as he falls in love with Ramona Flowers and in the course of doing so has to fight off the dastardly League of Evil Exes. Of course, it doesn’t turn out that simple, in part because as he starts falling for Ramona he’s actually dating another person, Knives Chau.
The series combines razor-sharp dialogue,stunning art, brilliantly dynamic fight scenes and a message about growing up which resonated with a lot of people. It’s no wonder Scott Pilgrim won award upon award and plaudits from pundits the world over.
Of course that could’ve been the end of it, but over here in our world we gained the power of movie adaptations, and that led us to…
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World burst onto screens in 2010. Directed by Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, and Hot Fuzz director Edgar Wright, it’s a film almost unlike anything out there. With a frenetic visual style and a billion references to music and video games drenching its every second, it’s a film that feels like a graphic novel in screen form.
Not only is a feast for the eyes, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World features an absolutely astounding soundtrack. On it you’ll find Beck, The Bluetones, T. Rex, Metric, Blood Red Shoes, The Rolling Stones, Broken Social Scene, and others.
The cast also deserves particular attention. Many household names you’ll recognise in 2021 saw early appearances in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. For the lead roles you’ve got Michael Cera (Arrested Development) as Scott Pilgrim and Mary Elizabeth Winstead (10 Cloverfield Lane, Birds of Prey) as Ramona Flowers.
In addition you’ll be able to spot Kieran Culkin (Igby Goes Down), Chris Evans (Captain America), Anna Kendrick (Pitch Perfect), Brie Larson (Captain Marvel), Alison Pill (Star Trek: Picard), Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation), Brandon Routh (Legends of Tomorrow), Jason Schwartzman (Rushmore), and many, many more.
If you haven’t seen it, we’d heartily recommend following up your read of the Scott Pilgrim series with the film. And for a dessert, why not check out…
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game
Here we are, the reason why Twitter is abuzz with Scott Pilgrim. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game launched in 2010 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, surprisingly almost everyone with its brilliant side scrolling beat ‘em up action, beautiful pixel art, and ear-worming Anamanaguchi soundtrack. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game was that rare thing, a movie tie-in that not only was a great game, it was a worthy companion to the graphic novels and film that preceded it.
But then, disaster struck. In December 2014 the game was delisted absolutely everywhere. No-one could get their hands on it anymore due to licensing issues.
Six long, dark years passed…
Then, with the ten year anniversary coming up, both Bryan Lee O’Malley and Edgar Wright got in touch with Ubisoft via the power of Twitter to ask for a re-release. Ubisoft, for their part, replied with a thinking emoji, and so the internet rumour cycle began spinning.
In September 2020 Ubisoft announced Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition, an update and remaster of the original game including all DLC. On the 14th of January it was released for PC, Xbox, Stadia, PlayStation, and Switch, and it’s just as good as we remember it being. All the tracks and all the action has been preserved, updated, and tweaked making it the best version it can be.
Agent 47’s returning in the next installment of the long-running Hitman series, bringing more exotic locations, more exquisitely planned murders, and more disguises than you can shake a silverballer at. Hitman 3 is releasing on the 20th of January, 2021, and much like its predecessor you can import your progress and levels from the previous games and play them with all the new upgrades.
Depending on how you plan on picking up Hitman 3 there are a couple of different ways to import your Hitman (2016) and Hitman 2 progress and levels into the new game. There’s a blog post about it over on IO Interactive’s website, but here’s a simpler description of how it works.
Importing from Hitman 2 to Hitman 3
Regardless of which platform you’re playing on, the fundamentals of importing your Hitman (2016) and Hitman 2 progress into Hitman 3 remains the same. IO Interactive have stated that all current Hitman 2 players will be able to import their progress into Hitman 3. As this, by way of the Legacy Pack, can also include all Hitman (2016) levels and progress, this will mean you can make sure that Hitman 3 contains all your Hitman 1 and 2 progression.
How that works, however, changes depending on the system you’re playing on. Let’s dive into that.
Importing from Hitman 2 to Hitman 3 on Console
On consoles it’s easy. Simply head over to IO Interactive’s website, press the button, and start the transfer from Hitman 2 to Hitman 3.
You’ll see your Hitman 2 player profile, XP rank, location mastery levels, location mastery unlocks, challenge progress, challenge unlocks and Elusive Target suits/unlocks all transfer over.
To access Hitman 1 and 2 levels in Hitman 3, simply make sure you have Hitman 2 installed on your console when you start Hitman 3. It’ll detect that you have the game and give you access to the levels you had access to in Hitman 2.
It’s important to remember a couple of things. One is that you can only transfer on each platform, so you can only go from Hitman 2 PlayStation to Hitman 3 PlayStation, and the same for Xbox players.
The other thing to remember is that you can only do this once. So if you perform the transfer and carry on playing Hitman 2, any progression you make there will stay in Hitman 2.
Importing from Hitman 2 to Hitman 3 on PC
Importing your progression will remain the same, however, accessing Hitman 1 and 2 levels on Hitman 3 will be slightly different. As Hitman 1 and Hitman 2 are included in Hitman 3 as part of the Access Pass system, you’ll need to own the relevant Access Pass in order to play those levels – at least for Hitman 1 levels.
The way it works on PC is that you will be able to claim the Hitman 1 GOTY Access Pass for the first 10 days after Hitman 3 launches, free, for all Hitman 3 buyers or pre-purchasers. The other option is to already own Hitman (2016) on the EGS platform. This will unlock Hitman (2016) levels in Hitman 3.
In regards to Hitman 2 levels, a recent update from IO Interactive means that PC players who already own Hitman 2 will be able to import their levels to the third game in the series – free of charge. At the time of writing, the exact system to do this hasn’t been put in place, but keep your eyes peeled nearer to the launch date for more information.
So there you have it, now you should be set to dive into Hitman 3 with all your progression and access to all your favourite levels. What’s your favourite Hitman level? Head on over to our community forum and have your say.
Success in Nioh 2 isn’t just about wielding powerful gear or mastering flashy abilities—it’s about building a character that complements your playstyle while balancing offence and defence. Whether you’re new to the game or diving into New Game Plus, having a solid build can make all the difference. From early experimentation to endgame optimization, here are some of the best builds to help you thrive in the world of Nioh 2.
Nioh 2 Best Build For Beginners
It’s fair to say that early on in Nioh 2, builds don’t really matter a whole lot since your characters stats, gear and abilities are nowhere near mature enough. As such, it’s advisable that you spend a lot of time experimenting and testing out different weapons in order to find the play style that suits you the best. To help with this, you’ll need the Book of Reincarnation which allows you to reset your levels and skills. This item can be bought from the blacksmith once you have rescued Senji Toyo in the second main story mission titled ‘The Best Born of Smoke and Flames’.
While there is a lot to be said for discovering what play style suits you best early on, there are nonetheless a number of universal truths that once grasped will help a great deal in the early going. The first of these is that understanding enemy attack patterns is key as this will allow you to reduce the amount that you are hit, while simultaneously encouraging you to pursue a more aggressive, damage dealing playstyle. Equally, survivability is also crucial early on as well, so levelling up Heart and Body to 10 will provide you with a robust base to fall back on whilst you learn attacking fundamentals with your chosen weapon.
Finally, when it comes to weapons, it’s worth noting that different weapons scale with specific stats. For me personally, using Dual Swords early on proved to be effective, not least because it provided a greatly appreciated balance between high damage ranges and enhanced mobility. Again though, depending on your play style, your mileage may vary.
Nioh 2 Best Build – Dual Swords
Nioh 2’s best build is one that utilises Dual Swords since much of what makes it such a good weapon early on also translates well into the mid-game and endgame too. The beauty of Nioh 2 is that sheer amount of creative latitude that it permits the player to tinker and experiment with stats, skills and gear. So don’t worry if you don’t nail the requirements for this build exactly correctly, since you may very well discover some wrinkles and tweaks that work best for you.
The important thing to remember is that one of the best weapons in the game for this build, the Type 2 Odachi, scales your stats in largely a similar way. This means that the Heart and Stamina stats will start at C and evolve from there, enabling a wide variety of builds that use Dual Swords as a result. Principally, a Dual Swords build really excels once players begin to add in additional points in Constitution for Light Armor as they approach the endgame. The benefit of taking this approach is that it plays directly into the Dual Swords penchant for dealing extremely high amounts of damage while dodging. Additionally, as you soar past level 100 and beyond, it’s also worth piling in some points on the Magic stat too, as this will allow you to pair the weapon with a decent magical enhancement or talisman.
Nioh 2 Best Build – The Stats
As you hurtle towards the Nioh 2 endgame your stats (again your particular mileage may vary) while using a Dual Swords build should look something like this:
Agent 47 is back on assignment in 2021 and IO Interactive is not playing around in terms of how much content they’re baking into Hitman 3. With past missions being brought to the next-gen bundle alongside virtual reality support and more, there’s a lot to understand ahead of the game’s launch.
In light of all this potentially confusing knowledge, here’s everything you need to know about some of the game’s main features ahead of schedule. Hitman 3 will arrive on January 20, 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch (via cloud), Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Google Stadia and PC.
Hitman 3 Virtual Reality Support, Explained
Revealed during the June 2020 PlayStation 5 event, Hitman 3 marks the third entry in the World of Assassination trilogy, which has our bald agent globetrotting to take out all kinds of mischievous marks. The confirmed locations (more on those here) for Hitman 3 hi-jinks are as follows:
Dubai
Dartmoor
Berlin
Chongqing
All of these new areas, and every location from Hitman and Hitman 2 will also be playable in the game’s PSVR virtual reality mode — “play the entire World of Assassination trilogy in VR” is the line IO is running with.
The developers in the video linked above explain how unique Hitman 3 feels in virtual reality due to its sandbox gameplay. Most VR games are very linear, whereas Hitman can be distracting and full of immersive opportunities to use your imagination. This is what IO Interactive plans to capitalise on with the game’s unique PSVR mode. The gifs and clips seen so far paint it as a great fit for the platform, as 47 garrottes and clubs his way through legions of unsuspecting guards.
How the disguise system works in virtual reality sounds like one of the game’s most fascinating features… how much will body language or even in-game speech matter in the face of a prying guard? I guess we’ll find out next week.
Hitman 3 Multiplayer, Game Modes and Structure Explained
For the third entry, Hitman is changing its lineup of game modes slightly. There is of course a full-fat single-player campaign to dig into as is to be expected. Elusive Targets where you take down marks with tricky criteria will also return, and Escalations will test Agent 47’s skills once more. Contracts Mode will also allow players to literally choose their targets and pull off remarkable assassination feats.
However, there will be no ‘Ghost Mode’ 1v1 multiplayer in Hitman 3 as IO shifts focus onto other areas of the game. The combo-shooting Sniper Assassin mode will return in Hitman 3, and can be played on existing maps. However, the co-op aspect of the mode (at least in Hitman 2) will be shut down in the run-up to the third game’s launch.
Also, this time around there is no episodic structure to the game. In the previous World of Assassination Hitman titles, new maps appeared in the months following release. Yet for Hitman 3, all of the six maps will be available at launch in January 2021. Whether this level list will be expanded upon post-launch is another question. Hopefully we’ll hear more about that closer to launch.
Since Rocket League went free-to-play, there have been a number of changes, including a surge of new players and updates to the ever-evolving competitive ranking system.
Ranks
Over the years, Rocket League’s competitive ranks have gone through several iterations. The current system has 8 different ranks, each with a number of divisions within them. The ranks are as follows:
Bronze I, II, III
Silver I, II, III
Gold I, II, III
Platinum I, II, III
Diamond I, II, III
Champion I, II, III
Grand Champion I, II, III
Supersonic Legend (this rank does not have divisions)
Each rank, except for Supersonic Legend, is divided into three divisions: I, II, and III. As you progress, you’ll move between these divisions, and your rank may fluctuate based on your performance in matches.
Getting Ranked
To gain your initial competitive rank, you’ll need to play 10 placement matches in a specific playlist (1v1, 2v2, or 3v3). Once you’ve completed your placement matches, your rank will be determined based on your performance.
After placement, your rank is influenced by your Matchmaking Rating (MMR), which adjusts with each win or loss. MMR is a hidden value that tries to match you with players of similar skill, and it’s used to determine your overall rank. Although your MMR is not displayed in the game, you can track it using third-party websites like Rocket League Tracker.
Additionally, if you play in a team mode like Duos or Threes, the game will consider your teammates’ MMR when calculating the match outcome. This means you might face a wider range of ranks. For example, if you’re in Platinum, you might be matched with players from Gold or Diamond ranks.
Getting Rewards
At the end of each season, Rocket League rewards players based on their highest achieved rank. To qualify for a reward at a specific rank, you must secure a set number of wins within that rank. For example:
To earn the Bronze season reward, you need 10 wins in Bronze rank matches.
To earn the Silver season reward, you need 10 wins in Silver rank matches, and so on.
Once you’ve accumulated the necessary wins at a certain rank, the reward for that rank is “unlocked,” and you don’t need to continue playing to maintain eligibility. However, rewards are only distributed at the end of the season.
It’s important to note that rewards are based on your highest achieved rank during the season, not necessarily where you end up at the conclusion of the season.
Inactivity and Soft Reset
If you don’t play a particular competitive playlist for an extended period, your rank in that playlist may undergo a slight soft reset. This means you’ll need to play placement matches again to re-establish your rank. This ensures that your rank remains relevant to your current skill level.
Season Duration and Rank Reset
Seasons typically last for several months. At the end of each season, there’s a reset, and players must complete placement matches to determine their new rank for the upcoming season. The reset is designed to keep the competitive environment fresh and exciting.
Conclusion
Rocket League’s ranking system is designed to match players with similar skill levels, ensuring balanced and competitive gameplay. As the game evolves, it’s important to stay updated with any changes to the ranking system to continue climbing the competitive ladder. With its high skill ceiling, Rocket League offers a challenge for players of all skill levels—whether you’re just starting or aiming to reach Supersonic Legend.
With video games demanding more and more resources from your PC’s and taking up more hard drive space than ever before. It’s nice to see developers taking the time to address these issues by giving players the options for saving space and running games more efficiently. Fortnite is the latest game to allow players to gain some valuable frames per second and save some of that precious space on your hard drive with the introduction of Fortnite Performance mode.
Performance Mode
What exactly is Performance Mode? Currently available in alpha on PC Fortnite’s Performance Mode is an opt-in option that aims to provide significant performance gains by lowering some of the visual quality. Performance Mode is designed to lighten the load on both your CPU and GPU. For anyone already running the game on lower settings or are running on less powerful hardware, this should enable you to run Fortnitebetter than ever before.
With Performance Mode only being in Alpha at the moment it is only available for both the Battle Royale and Creative mode. Users should see a prompt asking them whether they want to try out performance mode. But it can also be manually switched on and off in the in-game settings under the ‘video’ menu. Scroll down to ‘Rendering Mode’ and you should see it there. It must be noted that Save the World will become unavailable whilst Performance Mode is enabled. In order to access it again you will need to switch performance mode off and restart your game.
Performance Mode is meant to offer improvements to all users that opt-in. However, there are certain hardware requirements that should help in offering an overall smoother experience. Having 6gb of RAM or installing the game on an SSD will help reduce the amount of stutters and hitches that you may have previously noticed.
Some examples of how the game currently runs on low end PC’s before and after enabling Performance Mode show an increase of frames per second of around 20-40 depending on the system. This is a significant improvement and should really help the game feel a lot smoother for many players.
Saving Space
Another benefit coming with Fortnite Performance Mode is that ability for users to opt-out of any high-resolution textures for the game. Accessible through the Epic Games Launcher if you select Fortnite in your library and click the three dots next to the launch option. Go into options you should see the option to uncheck high-resolution textures. All in all this should save you around 14gb worth of space. Quite a large chunk of space saving, I think you’ll agree.
Whether you enjoy the game or not, it’s great to see that even after being out for years Fortnite is still being improved upon and supported both in terms of content and the games performance. This kind of support is what makes it one of the most successful titles in recent years. Fortnite Performance Mode is available to opt-in to right now, so if you’re looking for a smoother gaming experience, I’d suggest taking a closer look.
No matter what you’ll be spending a fair amount of time cruising around in Night City. Naturally you’re probably going to want to do that in some style. When it comes to Cyberpunk 2077 cars, you’ve got a lot to choose from. With over 50 vehicles, you’re never short of options for what to drive. That being said, you’re probably only interested in the best or fastest cars. We’re going to let you know how you can get your hands on Cyberpunk 2077’s best and most unique cars that you don’t need you to spend your precious eddies on. Very mild spoilers ahead, but we will keep it as free from them as possible.
Rayfield Caliburn
There are a number of ways to get hold of the Rayfield Caliburn. Some become available to buy but will set you back over 100,000 eddies. However, there is one that you can aquire completely for free, you just need to know where to look. Once you have the story mission ‘Ghost Town’ you’ll be able to get it. Play through the mission, and at the end you’ll find yourself in a mine. Don’t leave the area, instead locate a large blue container, inside it you will find yourself a nice shiny Rayfield Caliburn, free to drive away. Once you leave the area in the car, it will automatically be added to your garage. If you’ve already completed the mission and missed the car, don’t fret, you can simply travel back to the mine and grab it. It will still be there.
Delamain No.21
It won’t take long for you to become acquainted with the Delamain Luxury taxi services. After a few main story missions you’ll be offered some side jobs from Delamain called Epistrophy. One particular job named ‘Don’t lose your head’ offers the reward of Delamain No.21 car. Although the reward is based on the outcome of the quest, you must reset the Delamain AI core and delete the AIs to get the car as a reward. It might not be the most luxurious or fastest Cyberpunk car, but it’s still a nice unique vehicle to get.
Porsche 911 Turbo 930
The Porsche 911 Turbo is probably one of the most unique looking cars in the whole game and it can be yours for free. In order to trigger the ‘Chippin’ In’ mission that gives you the Porsche as a reward, you’ll need to finish the Tapeworm missions. These are split into 4 and are basically conversations with Johnny Silverhand. They’re all main missions though so you won’t miss them. Once done, Chippin’ In will be triggered. Complete that and Grayson will provide you with details on the cars whereabouts.
Another unique, but missable Cyberpunk vehicle. This one can be obtained by completing the mission Beat on the Brat: The Glen. It is an optional reward at the end of the quest, so if you want it be sure to pick the right choice!
That’s just a few of the more interesting Cyberpunk 2077 cars you can acquire, there’s plenty more out there if you’ve got the eddies.
Games are a very unique, yet young medium. The result is that the inter-medium trend we tend to think of is the liberal borrowing of cinematic techniques by the triple-A games industry. That’s all starting to change. Although we haven’t historically had the highest quality translations of gaming properties in this largely one-sided love affair, recent films like Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), and Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019), and TV shows like The Witcher (2019) have all seen positive critical receptions. Now seemingly every gaming property under the sun seems to be getting adapted from Borderlands to Uncharted.
Contrariwise, we’re now getting directors who grew up with video games tipping the scales of influence. Who needs direct film adaptations when games can inspire in subtle and not so subtle ways a generation of filmmakers? ‘ Some academics even suggest games are helping to reshape film at everything from “narrative, structural, visual and philosophical levels.”
Given the sheer breadth of experiences and genres gaming encapsulates, ‘like a video game’ is a largely empty phrase unless made more specific. So here are five serious and five not so serious moments wherein gamers will recognise their hobby in film and television.
Can you pick out the more direct influences from my more ‘fun’ parallels? Only one way to find out! Warning: some spoilers ahead!
1 – Soundtracks – It Follows
Hands up who was stupefied with a massive smile to boot when they heard Disasterpiece’s telltale synth stylings in the 2014 film It Follows?
Synthwave is an electronic music microgenre that’s massively popular among contemporary horror filmmakers and was inspired by both 70s-80s horror and science-fiction cinema as well as video games. An excellent example of these reciprocal media relationships being formed. In fact, author Nicholas Diak credits Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with largely spawning the synthwave and vaporwave genres, saying that it shifted “attitudes toward the ’80s … from parody and ambivalence to that of homage and reverence.”
It Follows brings all these influences together in one fell swoop. Not only does Disasterpiece pay homage to old horror and sci-fi with its soundtrack, but by composing soundtracks for both films and games they manage to bridge the gap. Anytime Jay’s theme comes on (e.g. the lipstick scene above) it sounds like a track directly ripped from 2012’s indie puzzle-platformer Fez. Which makes sense, since Disasterpiece composed it.
2 – QTE Boss Resolutions – Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
We all know that when you have a seemingly unassailable foe there’s no better way to overcome them than by putting your X or square button-pressing skills to the test.
It might seem a silly parallel at first, but even in film and TV, most important scenes with antagonists simply have different rules to dealing with everyone else. Since so many villains are beloved, not only do you want your antagonist to go out with a bang, but these end scenes often carry the entire weight of the themes and narrative on their shoulders too. A symbolic struggle as in Rise of Skywalker, then, very much presents the way a game would solve this encounter. Vigorously press a button to struggle to victory instead of a standard fight for enhanced pacing and cinematic presentation. It certainly invites a comparison to 2008’s Star Wars: The Force Unleashed which bookended every fight with QTEs and similarly had an encounter with the Emperor.
3 – Sports Broadcasting Graphics
I have it on good authority that companies like ESPN have worked with game companies for years “to match broadcasting graphics for things like on-screen information (e.g. first down line in Football).” This is on top of their ongoing moves into the esports space.
When sports games started to offer detailed in-game stats, networks like ESPN sought to emulate the game design so that there was seamless integration across the mediums and thus improved cross-marketing potential. Now if only sports games could stop emulating the mid-game ads of networks in return.
4 – There & Back Again Levels – Mad Max: Fury Road
Ah, backtracking. You know level five? Level eight is that but in reverse at a different time of day. But the enemies are different this time! Oh, and level ten is the first level repurposed to boot.
I’m alluding to Halo: Combat Evolved, of course, which I adore in spite of this. Mad Max: Fury Road emulates this gaming trope when the characters decide to return to the Citadel (of which they’ve been desperately running from the entire film) exactly back the way they came. However, I think it can be argued for both cases that returning to locations has thematic value and can also show you how things have progressed over time.
5 – Database Over Narrative (Zack Snyder’s Justice League)
We take it for granted now that deleted scenes and many alternate versions of a film exist (on the cutting room floor). We might even get to see an alternate version like the upcoming “Snyder Cut” of Justice League or various director’s cuts. This was once considered a congeries of revolutionary and blasphemous – that we’re watching just one out of a “database” of a film’s possibilities. It’s a transition in mindset that’s been helped along by the interactivity and less limited possibility space of video games.
When Doom was released in 1993, it helped transform what being a fan of a piece of entertainment truly entailed. id Software released the game alongside the game’s code as shareware and now modding is often considered an integral part of the fan experience on PC. The same is true for fan cuts of films and machinima made using games. As video games now emphasise choice, diverging paths, unique experiences, and mods more than ever, so to do certain film fans clamour for choice in the “true, definitive versions” of films. Especially if they suspect studio meddling or it’s not “their Star Wars,” for instance. It’s a different time indeed.
6 – Detective Vision Bullet Trajectories – The Wire
Yes, I only want this here because it’s one of the best scenes in television. You got me. Detective games have a real obsession with bullet trajectories, though. The only difference between this scene and most games is that video game detectives all instinctively have “detective vision” at hand and are able to sense exactly where everyone was standing from some ethereal dimension. I can’t look at detective scenes the same way again after video games.
7- Visual Language – Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Aesthetic choices like slow-motion combat scenes, camera perspectives like side-on, first-person, a GTA-esque car driving viewpoint, etc, and specific aesthetics evocative of video games like Sucker Punch or in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’s references are all commonplace in modern cinema and TV. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World certainly models its cinematic language on video games’ visual language as the graphic novel did.
What’s also interesting is the disruption of the traditional single frame of cinema with the widespread normalisation of “multiple screens and windows” or “spatial montage” within cinematic language now, in part due to gaming’s influence.
8 – Side Quests With Moral Decisions – The Witcher
The oddest thing about Netflix’s TV adaptation of The Witcher is the way in which many episodes took the form of near-standalone side quests complete with moral choices that are now rife in gaming. Of course, it being a TV show robs you of any agency to actually make those choices, which makes watching these scenes play out a bizarre experience at times.
It’s but a nod to the game series, then, but I can imagine The Witcher being well-suited to being adapted as a Netflix “interactive special” at some point.
9 – Game Engines On TV – Time Commanders
Time Commanders was a TV series produced for BBC Two in the UK from 2003 to 2005. Teams of four would play through major historical battles as historians commented on how their strategies and tactics compared to real-life events. It was great.
Whilst it was never clarified on the programme itself due to rules against product placement, the “game” being played was actually a very lightly modified version of Rome: Total War. I’m sure many Rome: Total War players at the time were provoked into a double take when they saw the programme.
10 – Everything – The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is as close as a TV show can get to a video game. It has allusions to everything we’d recognise as action game mechanical mainstays. Armour, weapon, and ability upgrades, turret sections, weak point boss fights, defending against waves of enemies, sniper missions, fetch quests, healing, having upgrades removed, escort missions, marking enemies through walls for stealth sections, etc. Since games have helped fill the Star Wars void for decades, a TV show built for gamer sensibilities sounds on the money.
There are no less than 42 bosses in Nioh 2. That figure includes all of the bosses you’ll come across in the expansions too. Yep, that’s a whole lot of badness.
Nioh 2 Bosses – Who Is The First Boss?
Mezuki is the first boss in Nioh 2. He’s a required fight that you cannot avoid.
Nioh 2 Bosses – Who Is The Final Boss?
Excluding the DLC expansions, Otakemaru is the final boss in Nioh 2. Otherwise that honor goes to the Lightning God of Yomi in the Darkness in the Capital expansion.
All Nioh 2 Bosses – Weaknesses, Boss Skills Guide
The bosses in Nioh 2 are all susceptible to an element which deals them major damage and equally, some bosses also drop special Boss Skills too. These special skills are unique abilities that have a chance to drop from certain bosses and do not carry a skill point cost when obtained. Without further ado then!
Mezuki – Weak against fire, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Enenra – Weak against water, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Gozuki – Weak against water, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Yatsu-no-Kami – Weak against lightning, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Imagawa Yoshimoto – Weak against poison, drops the Punish The Proud and Windswept Boss Skills
Kamaitachi – Weak against purity, doesn’t drop a boss skill
Tsukahara Bokuden – No special weaknesses or resistances, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Saito Yoshitatsu – No special weaknesses or resistances, drops the Dragon Fang, Dragon Claw and Dragon Horn Boss Skills
Hachisuka Koroku – Weak against lightning, drops the Second Wind and Water Drop Boss Skills
Shinata Katsui (Human Form) – No special weaknesses or resistances, drops the Deadly Spiral Boss Skill
Tatarimokke – Weak against fire and purity, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Obsidian Samurai – No special weaknesses known, drops the Spirit Storm Boss Skill
Magara Naotaka – No special weaknesses or resistances, drops the Swirling Snow Boss Skill
Honda Tadakatsu – No special weaknesses or resistances, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Azai Nagamasa – Weak against lightning and purity, drops True and Through Boss Skill
Onryoki – Weak against water and confusion, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Oda Nobunaga – No special weaknesses or resistances, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Saika Magoichi – Weak against paralysis, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Gyuki – Weak against lightning, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Kasha – Weak against poison, water, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Ryomen Sukuna – Weak against poison, purity, lightning, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Maeda Toshiie – No special weaknesses or resistances, drops the Bracing Breeze and Triple Threat Boss Skills
Shibata Katsuie (Yokai Form) – Weak against water and poison, drops the Deadly Spiral Boss Skill
Tokichiro – Weak against paralysis and poison, drops the Ultimate Sign of the Cross and the Double-Headed Slice Boss Skills
Hattori Hanzo – No special weaknesses or resistances, drops the Storm of Strikes Boss Skill
Daidara Bocchi – Weak against fire, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Shuten Doji – Weak against poison, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Lady Osakabe – Weak against purity, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Maeda Keiji – No special weaknesses or resistances, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Kashin Koji – Weak against purity, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
William – No special weaknesses or resistance, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Otakemaru – Weak against purity, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
All Nioh 2 Bosses (Tengu’s Disciple DLC) – Weaknesses, Boss Skills Guide
Benkei – Weak against purity, confusion and fire, drops the Roar Power Boss Skill
Uminyudo – Weak against fire, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Miinamoto no Yoshitune – Wek against corruption, purity, drops the Kurama Sword Dance, Sacred Bird Flight and Sacred Bird Cry Boss Skills
Nue – Weak against water, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Taira no Kagekiyo – No special weaknesses or resistances, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
All Nioh 2 Bosses (Darkness in the Capital DLC) – Weaknesses, Boss Skills Guide
Minamoto no Yorimitsu – Weak against poison, corruption and fire, drops the Severing Spin Boss Skill
Tsuchigumo – Weak against purity, fire, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
White Tiger – No special weaknesses or resistances, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
Ashiya Doman – No special weaknesses or resistances, drops the Luminous Blade Talisman Boss Skill
Lightning God of Yomi – Weak against purity, doesn’t drop a Boss Skill
The next Hitman game is right around the corner, with Hitman 3 launching on January 20, 2021 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, Google Stadia and Nintendo Switch. As well as allowing players to import all of the levels from Hitman and Hitman 2, Hitman 3 will feature six brand new locations to explore. So far, three of them have been revealed to the public as we approach launch, and in this article we’re going to run through each one, talking about the various details we can glean from their reveal trailers. Hopefully this will sate fans who are clamouring for a killer conclusion to the World of Assassination trilogy.
Dubai
Dubai in the United Arab Emirates was the first location to be revealed for Hitman 3, when the game was first announced earlier this year. You’ll be exploring the Burj Al-Ghazali, which is IO’s take on the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.
Agent 47 will be way up above the clouds in this mission, travelling across beams in an oxygen mask and infiltrating a business event, Mission Impossible-style. This is where IO’s new Glacier engine will be put to work, as the developers simulate tons of posh punters for you to wade through as you chase your target.
Dartmoor
This clearly ‘Knives Out’ inspired mission takes Agent 47 to a manor in Devon in the south of England. Beyond the gorgeous material work and perfectly dreary British weather, the Dartmoor level starts with 47 acting as a detective trying to crack the case of a suicide that was almost definitely a murder.
This mission interests me the most out of all of them that have been revealed so far. It doesn’t look like there’s an obvious target here but there are many moving parts, which should make for a fascinating sandbox to play around in.
Chongqing Province
The third location that has been revealed for Hitman 3 is Chongqing Province in China. Specifically, you’ll be visiting a neon-lit district with rain-slicked roads and signs a-plenty. This claustrophobic environment is full of incredible technical details, as you scarper through run-down flats and hunt your target.
The trailer showed off just how powerful the game’s new engine is, as you could see individual raindrops pouring down 47’s face. What we’ll be up to when we arrive in China is anyone’s guess, but I’ll certainly be taking lots of screenshots!
Beyond the three locations that have already been revealed, the refinements provided by the Glacier engine will come to maps from Hitman 1 and 2, so there’ll be plenty of content available on launch day should you race through your new missions.
Do you have any ideas for the remaining three Hitman 3 maps? Let us know in the comments below. Personally, I’d like to see 47 take on Lake Como, or sun it up in Santorini!
2020 will hopefully end with a whimper, not a bang, then we can all move on to 2021. With The Game Awards behind us and a year of things being postponed, we’re more ready than ever for all the brilliant games that’ll come out over the coming twelve months.
We’ve taken a peek into the future (via dark magics) and come back with what we think are the best upcoming PC games of 2021. Let’s go!
Hitman 3
The Hitman series has had a resounding comeback since 2016, and Hitman 3 looks to continue with another finely crafted entry in the longrunning murder-em-up series. Hitman 3 seems to be what we want from a Hitman franchise, more levels, more ways to exploit systems, and more Heath Robinson-esque murder in what we’re confidence will be one of the best games of 2021.
In the gaming world it’s probably fair to say there’s never been a run like the one Arkane’s on. The Dishonored series, Prey, Dark Messiah, and even Arx Fatalis show a studio that absolutely loves exploring systems. Deathloop is ready to take that to the next level, in a time-looping hunt across a pulpy seventies-style island. We can’t wait.
The original Kerbal Space Program taught us about physics, managing space programs, and budgets. Now we’re going even further into space with Kerbal Space Program 2, a game which promises to expand on everything that made the original a staple on so many PC gamers hard drives. That’s why this is, without a doubt, one of the most anticipated upcoming games of 2021.
Humankind
Amplitude Studios have a history of making brilliant strategy games and Humankind looks to be their most ambitious game yet. In it you’ll decide the fate of humanity over the course of our entire existence in a game spanning aeons. See if you can fix the world – or make it worse! It’s your choice.
Stalker 2
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series has captivated gamers right from the start with its evocative Chernobyl world filled with alien creatures and mysteries that bend space and time. In Stalker 2 we’ll get to explore it with more fidelity and depth than ever before, and it’s for that reason alone that makes it one of the most exciting games we’re looking forward to in 2021.
Sable
In Sable you glide and explore as your character, the titular Sable, sails down desert dunes. With an art style that could be ripped right out of a Moebius comic, Sable is frankly one of the most beautiful looking games ever devised. We can’t wait to get our hands on it, and will be eagerly anticipating this upcoming game in 2021.
Sometimes you don’t want to be good, sometimes you need to play on the naughtier side of life. In Evil Genius 2: World Domination you’ll set up your own base, staff it with hired mooks, build traps to keep out pesky do-gooders, and generally live your best evil life. We can’t wait, we’ve got some things to work out.
Halo Infinite
Picking up after the end of Halo 5, Halo Infinite sees Master Chief take up the reins again to save humanity in a more personal story. 343 Studios are back at the helm again to give us this slice of Halo action, and whilst we don’t have a huge amount of details just yet, it definitely promises to be one of the best games of 2021.
Oddworld: Soulstorm
The rebooted Oddworld, Oddworld New ‘n’ Tasty, was a remake of the first game and also took the series in a brand new direction. In Oddworld: Soulstorm you’ll play as Abe as you try to save your life and the lives of your fellow Mudokons. It looks to be thrilling, tense, puzzle platforming stuff, and we’re definitely excited about this new sequel.
Resident Evil Village
With Resident Evil VII and the 2 and 3 remakes, Resident Evil is back in a big way. Now the eighth main entry in the series is coming and we’re heading to more snowy climes. Following on after a few years from the end of VII, Village will play similarly in a first person perspective. We can’t wait to see what this next game has for us in the long running and ever-surprising series.
That’s what we think will be the absolute highlights of 2021 in terms of PC games, though of course we’re prepared to be surprised as there’s always something that arrives unannounced. What are you looking forward to in 2021? Head over to our community forum and let us know.
In Immortals Fenyx Rising you’ll not just reach the fabled peaks of Mount Olympus, you’ll be tangling with all manner of creatures from the depths of Greek mythology as well as the titans and gods themselves. As such, it makes perfect sense then that when you’re cutting about the place and engaging in such heroic hijinks your character looks the part – and this is where Immortals Fenyx Rising character creation suite comes into play.
Immortals Fenyx Rising Character Creation – What Can You Do With It?
The first thing that you should understand about Immortals Fenyx Rising character creation is that it’s geared exclusively towards shaping the cosmetic appearance of the titular hero, rather than anything that might directly affect how they play.
Immortals Fenyx Rising Character Creation – How To Create Your Very Own Greek Mythological Hero
Once you’ve made it past the first set of introductory cutscenes which set the stage for the struggle between mortal hero Fenyx and big bad Typhon, you’ll be able to create your character – it’s here that you can visually meld your hero into the form you prefer.
In the beginning, the first option that you are presented with is not only how you’d like to define the body type of hero, but also the colour that you want their skin to be. Fancy having a blue-hued hero? You crack on.
With the body sorted, the character creation suite then moves onto the head and eyes portion of our hero. Here, you not only have a number of different head-shaped presets to choose from but also the ability to change the eye colour of our plucky hero. Want a hero with shining, golden eyes? You got it.
Once you’ve settled on an acceptable head model and eye colour, you’re then whisked off to the hairstyle selection screen. Largely self-explanatory, you have a surprising degree of freedom here as you are provided with ample options for not only changing the hairstyle of our brave warrior, but yep you guessed it, the colour too.
Next up are the facial features. In this section of the creation suite, you can do a number of cool things from giving Fenyx colourful tattoos and markings to all manner of scars and other neat-looking facial details.
Separate from the head and eyes portion of the creation suite, you’re also able to customise the eyebrows of our protagonist, allowing you to change the shape and hue of them however you see fit.
If you like beards you’ll be in for a treat here as the character creation suite lets you muck around with a number of different styles and hues until you settle on one that you like. Even better still, you can completely mix and match these beards with any other choice that you’ve made in the character creation suite up until that point.
Finally, the concluding section of Immortals Fenyx Rising character creation is a voice assignment where you can pick from a pair of voice types to define how your hero will sound when they decide to get chatty during the game.
If you’ve been digging into Assassin’s Creed Valhalla over the past few weeks, you’re likely on the lookout for the best weapons in the game. The system has changed since the days of Origins and Odyssey, and now you’re not picking up hordes of loot every time you wipe out a camp. Instead, you’ll find specific treasures, denoted by ‘Wealth’ markers on the game’s map screen. You’ve got a chance of unlocking a piece of armour or gear for Eivor when you open one of these chests, which are hidden throughout the world.
But what if you just want to skip straight to the best weapons in the game, without any of the hassle? In this guide, we’re going to point you towards some of the most powerful equipment in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, showing you how you can easily find them and add them to your arsenal.
Yngling Seax
This is my personal favourite weapon in the game, especially if you’re going for a stealthy build. You can pick it up really early on, in Norway. Specifically, this dagger is in the Rygjafylke region, southwest of Nottfall at a place called Eikundarsund. It’s inside of a building covered in banners, being defended by a tough enemy.
Petra’s Arc
Easily the best bow in the game, Petra’s Arc is a Predator Bow that allows you to zoom in and take out enemies with pinpoint accuracy. You can unlock it by defeating the formidable cattle that is Aelfred’s Battle Sow, which you’ll be able to find in Suthsexe, south of Lunden. You’ll know you’ve found it when you will see a gigantic swampy pen. Take it out and you can head back to your settlement to turn in the quest at the Hunter’s Hut and get the bow.
Excalibur
This one is naturally a touch more tricky to unlock: you’re going to have to find all of the ‘Treasures of Britain’ which are dotted throughout the map to finally wield Excalibur. You’ve no doubt found a few already that you can grab, but if not, YouTube is your friend. You’ll also have to take out three Zealots, and then head underneath Stonehenge to pull the sword from the stone. It’s worth it though, as it deals unbelievable heavy damage.
Thor’s Hammer, Mjolnir
This incredibly powerful weapon also demands a lot of the player, as they can’t actually wield it before they collect every piece of Thor’s Armour in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. This means you have to kill all three Daughters of Lerion, and then defeat every member of the Order of the Ancients, the in-game cult. Only once you’ve completed all of these parameters you will be able to visit Hordafylke in Norway, where the hammer is hidden in a chasm in the tundra, north-east from the ‘K’ in Hordafylke on the map screen. You’ll only be able to pick it up if you wear the rest of Thor’s armour, but believe me, it’s worth it!
With esports franchises ever growing in popularity it’s no surprise to see more and more branch out with their merchandise. London based organisation Fnatic is no expectation with the release of various peripherals featuring their branding now available. We take a look at the miniSTREAK TENKEYLESS Keyboard and REACT ESPORTS PERFORMANCE HEADSET.
Before diving into the review, we would like to remind you that both of these super cool accessories are up for grabs in the Green Man Gaming Black Friday Giveaway. Enter now!
miniSTREAK TENKEYLESS Keyboard
When moving from a non-mechanical keyboard to a mechanical keyboard I was a little unsure of how much I would like it. Typically mechanical keyboards are a lot noisier and they have a distinctly different feel to them when using the keys. As someone who regularly plays with friends via discord and streams I didn’t want something that was going to be bleeding in a lot of background noise.
Thankfully the miniSTREAK TENKEYLESS is about as loud as my previous keyboard. The Speed Silver Mechanical Switches aren’t silent, but I’ve found them to not be any more intrusive than what I previously used – I’ve also had no complaints from friends with excessive clicking and clacking. However, if you are more concerned with the sound from the keyboard there is the option for the Silent Red miniSTREAK as well.
I play a lot of FPS shooters and something that is very important in many of them is movement. You want to be confident that your keyboard is going to respond exactly how you want it to. The Speed Silver Switches with the miniSTREAK offer exactly that kind of precision and responsiveness.
The Speed Silver Switches featured in the miniSTREAK have the lowest spring resistance of the CHERRY MX family and due to that there is a super lightweight feel to the keys. At first it took a little getting used to. Moving from higher resistance keys meant I was accidentally pressing WSAD whilst resting my hand. But after a few hours and getting used to the lower resistance of the lighter feel of the Speed Silver Switches you will find them incredibly responsive to your actions.
With a full RGB spectrum of colours to play around with, the miniSTREAK also integrates perfectly with the FNATIC OP software. When using FNATIC OP you have full access to customise the look and colours of your keys with various preset options available. But more importantly you’re also able to assign different profiles for your keyboard, set custom keybinds from the app, and also record custom marcos using the keyboard itself.
The miniSTREAK TENKEYLESSfeatures a robust aluminum build that feels sturdy, well made and looks great. The sleek design missing the ten numpad keys makes it a small package that will compliment the smallest of setups. For those with a larger space it allows for more freedom of movement with your mouse, something I am grateful for.
At around £100 the miniSTREAK might sit slightly at the higher end of keyboard price ranges, but the quality of the product speaks for itself. It’s top of the range CHERRY MX keys, excellent design and build, plus the bountiful customisation options make it a great choice of keyboard. Plus, if you’re a FNATIC fan it’s a great way to showcase your support. Even though I’m neutral, the miniSTREAK is now my go to keyboard for all video gaming.
React eSports Performance Headset
With headsets becoming my normal source for audio when gaming, watching shows, listening to music or anything else I do on my PC I need something that is going to be comfortable for a whole day. I also need something that is going to fit over my glasses without causing any issues.
When first trying the REACT ESPORTS PERFORMANCE HEADSET the comfort of it was instantly noticeable. The large, soft protein leather ear cups are filled with memory foam which provide a super comfy feel that doesn’t press too hard against your head whilst also feeling secure enough to not fall off. There is no interference from the ear cups with my glasses either. Even after wearing them for long sessions of gaming and working the headset was still very comfortable with a snug fit around my ears whilst remaining breathable and not making my ears too hot.
Much like the miniSTREAK the REACT also feels like it’s made with high quality materials. The headband is a mixture of robust steel, with a soft padding on the inside ensuring maximum comfort and durability. The ear cups are also just as solid in design and feel.
The REACT headset connects via a 1.2m 3.5mm cable and comes with an additional 2.0m extension cord. Providing you with the flexibility to suit your setup. The extension also features a splitter for when using the detachable microphone.
Whilst the sounds you hear are the most important asset of a headset, if you don’t have a standalone mic, you’re going to also want a decent way of communicating with others. The detachable mic easily plugs into the headset and offers a good level of quality. I’ve tested in comparison to my USB mic and whilst the quality may not be quite as clear as the dedicated option, there is still a good level of clearness to the sound from the mic. Furthermore, the microphone doesn’t allow for much background sound to bleed in. I typed quite furiously whilst talking and not talking to see how much of an effect it had and there wasn’t much of the keyboard sound bleeding through.
As I’ve said, what you hear is the part that people are most interested in. The REACT ESPORTS PERFORMANCE HEADSET features 53mm Esports Drivers that offer precise directional sound with individual sound chambers. Through usage I’ve had no issues with identifying the direction and origin of sounds when playing games such as Destiny 2 and Escape from Tarkov. Additionally, they operate as an excellent headset for listening to music.
Whilst the REACT is designed with video games in mind, you could easily make this headset an everyday headset.
The visual design of the headset is also something that I like. They’re subtle with the Fnatic logo adorning each ear cup, coupled with additional branding engraved into the headband. There’s also a nice textured mat finish to the ear cups that looks great. Overall they look excellent.
Want one of these bad boys now? Head over to our giveaway right now, and check if you’re still in time! Otherwise, shop all things Fnatic here.
One of the most enduring elements of Grand Theft Auto V’s wildly popular multiplayer partition is the online Heists, which players can enjoy with up to four friends. Added back in 2015, some two years after release, they can be credited with rejuvenating the game and turning it into the runaway success it is today. With the announcement of The Cayo Perico Heist, we thought it’d be a good opportunity to round up all of the heists currently available in the game, offering a brief summary of the events and rewards players can expect when they come together to tackle these high risk, high reward challenges. Here’s every Heist in Grand Theft Auto Online.
Every Heist In Grand Theft Auto Online
The Fleeca Job
$11,500 Setup Cost
This is the first heist players can start in GTA Online (and here is something to help you kickstart your criminal career), for story mode character Lester Crest. With two players rather than four, you’ll have to scope out a bank conveniently located on a motorway, and then procure an armoured car for the getaway drive. You’ll also have to pick a player to act as the Driller, who will unlock the vault and let you access the loot.
The Prison Break
$25,000 Setup Cost
This next heist introduces you to Agent 14, who will ask you to save a Russian professor from Bolingbroke Penitentiary. With four setup missions, you’ll have to steal a plane from an airfield, hijack a prison transport bus, cosplay as copper and silence some lawyers, with the party split up across the map. Then you’ll have to commit to the prison break, evading jets to fly Rashkovsky to the safe zone in the plane you recovered.
The Humane Labs Raid
$25,000 Setup Cost
The Humane Labs Raid is another four-player heist where you have to raid a research lab for a data drive, in a Splinter Cell fashion. The setup involves retrieving keycodes, picking up weaponised Merryweather trucks and stealing a Hydra jump jet with an installed EMP. Then you’ll split into teams, with some infiltrating the lab and the others holding off security and transporting the duo in, before leaving in a Valkyrie gunship.
Series A Funding
$25,000 Setup Cost
This heist has five setup missions and involves Trevor, one of the campaign protagonists. You’ll steal coke from frat boys, and various other drugs from areas all over the map. Then you’ll have to defend the shipment from all of the factions you stole from as you take it to the buyer at the El Gordo Lighthouse.
The Pacific Standard Job
$25,000 Setup Cost
The final heist from the initial update is a big one, as you rob The Pacific Standard Bank in the centre of town. For setup, you’ll need to hijack an armoured convoy and steal a set of powerful motorbikes to escape with the dyed dosh. Then the main event has you controlling a crowd of people while your friends hack and blow up the vault.
The Doomsday Heist
$25,000 Setup Cost (per Act)
Split across three escalating acts, The Doomsday Heist is a multi-part epic that begins once you’ve bought a high-tech Facility and registered as a CEO or MC President. In Act 1, you’ll steal data and disrupt rogue agents; Act 2 sends you diving deep in submarines and racing jets to stop a Russian defector. And finally, Act 3 culminates in a sci-fi showdown involving orbital cannons, missile silos, and a jetpack finale against the megalomaniacal Avon Hertz. Each act includes multiple prep missions and setups and supports 2–4 players, perfect for smaller squads.
The Diamond Casino Heist
$25,000 Setup Cost (per Act)
Added alongside the casino’s grand opening, this four-part Heist has you planning the ultimate inside job. First, you’ll need to purchase and outfit an Arcade as your front, then scope out the Diamond Casino itself -photographing entry points, security, and staff. Once you’re ready, pick from three approaches: go in loud (Aggressive), sneak through undetected (Silent & Sneaky), or trick your way in disguised (The Big Con). Each approach offers multiple outcomes, and failure isn’t final – you can adapt and improvise in the middle of the heist.
The Cayo Perico Heist
Up to $100,000 Setup Cost (per Act)
This is the first GTA Online heist built for solo players as well as teams of up to four. To kick it off, you’ll buy a Kosatka submarine, your mobile HQ for infiltrating Cayo Perico – a private island controlled by drug lord El Rubio. After scoping the island during a rave, you’ll choose your infiltration and escape routes, gather intel on secondary loot, and decide how you want to take down the compound. Whether you go in guns blazing or sneak through underground tunnels, the payout depends on what you steal – and how cleanly you get out.
The anti-establishment hacker group returns to liberate the streets of a dystopian London from the grip of private military firm Albion (and a few other enemies) in Watch Dogs: Legion. After Aiden Pearce and Marcus Holloway starred in earlier games, this time you can play as almost anyone—from spies and secretaries to loan sharks and living statues.
Each team can hold up to 48 operatives, including recruits and potential recruits (just scan people to add them to your watchlist). But some characters offer unique perks that make them especially useful. That’s why we’ve put together a list of key skilled operatives you should definitely try to recruit for DedSec.
Anarchist
Location: Southwark The Anarchist is built for brawls, equipped with a Studded Truncheon and a Smoke Grenade to blind enemies. They’re also immune to gas and wear a Mouth Guard that reduces melee damage.
Beekeeper
Location: City of London The Beekeeper uses a swarm of robotic bees to stun enemies. They carry an Overcharger weapon, are immune to shocks, and have a shorter arrest time if caught.
Drone Expert
Location: Lambeth The Drone Expert can hack faster and temporarily turn enemy drones into allies. Their Dive Bomb gadget sends a drone flying at enemies, and they can summon a custom Shock Drone to attack with lasers.
Football Hooligan
Location: Islington and Hackney This tough fighter delivers powerful knockouts with their K.O. Punch. They take less damage after drinking and can call in friends to fight alongside them using the Rally Cry ability.
Getaway Driver
Location: Reward for freeing Tower Hamlets The Getaway Driver comes with a custom ride, a crowbar for close combat, and a hacking skill that pushes cars out of the way. They’re also immune to Chase Drones thanks to their Anti-Chase perk.
Hacker
Location: Camden Hacking is a huge part of the game, and the Hacker makes it even easier. With an expanded hacking radius, they can grab access keys from a distance, use the Shock Hack to damage enemies, and occasionally earn bonus ETO (the in-game currency).
Professional Hitman
Location: Nine Elms Armed with a Desert Eagle and a G36 assault rifle, this veteran killer is great for stealth or chaos. They can perform instant gun takedowns, dodge attacks, and deal extra damage to Albion enemies.
Spy
Location: City of Westminster The Spy is equipped with a silenced P9 pistol, a spy watch that disables enemy weapons, and a high-tech spy car with missiles and cloaking. They also take less damage thanks to their physical fitness.
Uniformed
While not technically “skilled” operatives, certain recruits come with Uniformed Access – letting them walk into restricted areas unnoticed. These include Construction Workers, Paramedics, and Albion Contractors, among others. They’re incredibly useful for stealthy missions.
Want to build the ultimate DedSec crew? These operatives are a great place to start.
GTFO is a tough game, full of tense atmosphere that hides unspeakable horrors in its darkest corners. This is no run and gun affair, you’ll need to take your time, ammo is scarce and should you alert too many enemies you will likely be overrun. Because of that, we’re going to help you out with a GTFO beginners guide, offering some tips on how to survive the complex for newcomers.
The Rundown
Firstly, you’re going to want to know what you’re in for when taking on missions or expeditions from the Warden. In GTFO you will find an area called the Rundown. This is where you’ll pick your expedition from. There are various levels to the Rundown and the deeper you go, the more difficult your challenge will become. Lower levels won’t be unlocked until you have completed a mission from the tier above.
Each Rundown is set to last a certain period of time – typically a few months. Once that timer expires all the expeditions within it will be wiped and replaced by a new Rundown and new missions. Don’t expect to know much about what you will be facing. Developers Ten Chambers keep pretty tight lips about what’s down there.
Loadouts
Each player will have access to a Main weapon, a Special weapon, a Tool and a Melee weapon. In each of these slots, you have various options to pick from. Each one will be beneficial in some way, so picking what is best partly comes down to personal preference. However, pay attention to the information about each weapon as it provides details on its effective range plus how much damage it will do and how much ammo you will be provided with. My personal preference is to try and pick something that is good at medium range coupled with close range.
As for the Tool slot, for GTFO beginners I’d recommend making use of the Bio Tracker as much as possible as it will provide you with information on enemy numbers in rooms and through doors. Both the Sentry Turret and Mine Deployer are very useful for creating choke points. Finding the best placement may take some trial and error, but they will be very effective at thinning numbers when things get hectic. Beware that you can be damaged by your own mines and turret. Also, the turrets will start shooting as soon as they spot an enemy so be careful when you place them.
Take It Slow
Once you’re finally on an expedition, remember to take it slow. Try to use your melee weapon wherever possible as it will let you silently take down enemies. Making noise is a bad move as it will alert others in the area. Communication is an important part of GTFO and taking your time allows you to better plan your attacks.
Terminals
Terminals are dotted around the map and can be interrogated for vital information such as the locations of objectives, resources and other useful things. You will need to learn how to use and make the most of them.
Enemies
There are numerous enemy types that you’ll encounter – although I won’t spoil what exactly. However, be aware that for the most part they will be in a ‘sleeping’ state; should they wake from this state they will immediately alert others and attack you. Taking them out whilst sleeping is the best option. Enemies pulse and glow. Basically when this happens just stand completely still until they stop, if you keep moving they’ll wake up.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered offers an exhilarating experience for both long-time fans and newcomers to the Need for Speed franchise. Originally released in 2010, the iconic Hot Pursuit title continues to be celebrated as one of the series’ best. Now, with the remastered version, both veterans and fresh players can jump into the action and experience all the high-speed thrills once again – this time with a slew of modern enhancements.
The Ultimate Racing Experience
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered brings the intense, high-speed chases of the original to a new generation of gamers. Whether you’re racing as a law-abiding officer or evading capture as a rebellious driver, you’ll feel the rush of racing through open-world environments. Tactical weapons and strategic gameplay make each pursuit unique as you attempt to outsmart your opponents and take down criminals – or stay one step ahead of the law. With its seamless blend of heart-pounding races and competitive gameplay, the remaster is a must-play for racing enthusiasts.
Cross-Platform Play
One of the most significant advancements in modern gaming is cross-platform play, and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered fully embraces this feature. Whether you’re playing on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, you’ll be able to connect with friends, join head-to-head pursuits, and compete in races across platforms. The game uses Autolog, an advanced social feature that lets you track your progress, challenge friends, and enjoy the game together, no matter the device.
All the DLC, All in One
The remastered edition of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit includes all the previously released DLC packs that expanded the game’s content. From the Super Sports Pack to the Lamborghini Untamed Pack, you’ll gain access to over 6 hours of additional gameplay, new challenges, and extra content to explore. Additionally, there are new achievements, customizable wraps, car colours, and an updated photo mode to capture your finest racing moments. With these bonus features, the remaster provides even more reasons to dive back into the game or experience it for the first time.
Enhanced Visuals for a Modern Feel
A hallmark of any remaster is its visual upgrade, and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered does not disappoint. The game has been enhanced with higher-resolution car models, more detailed environments, improved shadows, and better draw distances. Whether you’re playing on PC at 4K resolution and 60fps or enjoying it on PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox One X in 4K at 30fps or 1080p at 60fps, you’ll experience the game in its finest form. Even the Nintendo Switch version delivers a satisfying experience with 1080p at 30fps in docked mode, making it accessible for players on the go. Expect improved textures, particles, and reflections, which give the game a polished, modern look that elevates the high-speed action.
With its classic gameplay, modern enhancements, and the inclusion of all DLC content, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is a thrilling ride through time, designed for both new and returning players. The remaster brings the iconic Hot Pursuit experience to modern platforms, preserving the high-octane fun while introducing new features that keep the adrenaline flowing.
Ready to jump into the action? The Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered is available now for all major platforms, offering a fast, fun, and visually stunning racing experience that’s perfect for players of all skill levels.
It can be lonely in space, but in Star Wars Squadrons co-op modes you don’t need to face space alone. You can take up to four friends in Star Wars Squadron’s multiplayer co-op modes, forming your very own mini squadron as you battle through the stars. Remember; in space no-one can hear you scream, unless you turn on voice chat.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a veteran of the war amongst the stars or new to taking flight, let us guide you through the different multiplayer modes you can play through in co-op in Star Wars Squadrons.
Star Wars Squadrons Co-Op Multiplayer Modes
When you decide to head into Star Wars Squadrons’ multiplayer modes, you’ll have to first decide which mode you want to dive in to. There are two main options in Star Wars Squadrons, Dogfight and Fleet Battles.
Dogfight
This team deathmatch mode sees up to ten pilots face off against each other in a fight to the death. If you’ve played any deathmatch mode in other games, you’ll be instantly at home with how this works. You can team up with up to five friends in a party and play this co-op, or be matched with other players online.
Fleet Battles
Fleet Battles is the flagship mode for Star Wars Squadrons and the main focus of its multiplayer co-op modes. In Fleet Battles you and up to four other players, either in a party you’ve formed or through matchmaking, will take on another team of five pilots (either real players or AI) to destroy the opposing team’s flagships.
As you battle it out in Fleet Battles mode you’ll first engage in a dogfight before taking on capital ships, then ending it with an assault on your opponent’s flagship. Just remember, while you’re trying to destroy your opponent’s flagship, you’ll need to defend your own as well.
Forming a Co-Op Party in Star Wars Squadrons
The key to forming a co-op party in Star Wars Squadrons is through the in-game Social Menu. It’s here you can invite up to four other friends to join your party prior to jumping into Dogfights or Fleet Battles.
Once you’ve gathered your team you can dive right in, selecting the game mode from the Multiplayer Menu will keep your team intact as you start your star war.
In Star Wars Squadrons you can also invite friends to join your game once it’s started, or hop in if there’s space for you if you see a game in progress. From the Social Menu select your friend and either invite them to your game or press Join Game to dive into theirs, and if there’s room and or they accept the invitation, you’ll be flying alongside each other in no time.
In addition to playing with friends online on the same system, Star Wars Squadrons features cross play across PC, PS4, and Xbox One. You’ll have to have each other added to your EA Friends in order to do this which may require each other’s EA ID, but once you’ve got them on your list inviting them to play follows the same rules as above.
