A new generation of laptops with Intel Rocket Lake processors and RTX 30 series video cards have popped up at Newegg. Most of them are slated to be released this month and the initial crop of laptops could ship as soon as next week. Currently there aren’t any RTX 3060 laptops available, only 3070 and 3080 variants. These are some of the most powerful gaming laptops we’ve seen. The RTX 3070 performs better than the previous champ, the RTX 2080 SUPER, and the RTX 3080 is even faster than that. Check out all the options below.
Koei Tecmo has found a good deal of success of late with its licensed Dynasty Warriors spinoffs, ranging from Dragon Quest to The Legend of Zelda. More are undoubtedly coming, but what next? Koei Tecmo’s president has a couple ideas.
Speaking with TheGamer, Koei Tecmo President Hisashi Koinuma talked about the games he would personally love to see as a subject for a Warriors (also known as “musou”) game. “Mario and Star Wars are two great series that come to mind. Unfortunately, we haven’t had the opportunity to collaborate with these IP yet.”
Koinuma didn’t elaborate on why he picked those franchises in particular, but with a little imagination, it’s not hard to envision a Mario Warriors or Star Wars Jedi Warriors. Both franchise feature all the ingredients of a great musou game: distinctive settings, huge casts, and interesting settings.
Koei Tecmo’s most recent foray was Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which we called a welcome trip back to the world of Breath of Wild. While it missed some characterization opportunity, it was still a blast from start to finish, our review said.
Koei Tecmo has developed a strong relationship with Nintendo in general. Aside from Warriors versions of Fire Emblem and Zelda, it played a large part in the development of Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
As for Star Wars, the opportunity exists now that Disney is looking to partner with other developers outside of EA. It’s all too easy to imagine slicing through hordes of Battle Droids and Stormtroopers as Luke Skywalker or Mace Windu.
For now, Koei Tecmo is focused on the more traditional side of the Warriors series. Its next release is Samurai Warriors 5, which is due out on PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch next month.
Beginning with Rift Apart, picking up bolts after you defeat an enemy will trigger a “tiny impulse” that you’ll feel in your hands, accentuated by a “subtle controller sound,” Sony said in a blog post. The game also provides a unique feel in the controller depending on what weapon you’re using. Additionally, striking different surfaces will yield unique haptic feedback with the controller.
Click To Unmute
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
Now Playing: Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart – The Final Preview
In Subnautica: Below Zero (which releases May 14), the controller aims to help you feel more “connected” to the in-game tools. “You’ll feel like you’re actually turning on the Flashlight’s switch, or feel the coil of the cable in your PrawnSuit as it launches from your Grappling Arm. The drilling sensation as you drill for resources with your Drill Arm also adds to the immersion,” the developer said in the PlayStation Blog post.
The game also uses the RGB strip on the DualSense controller to pulse faster when you get closer to a resource objective. “Driving both the directional vibration and the RGB pulse is the actual data that the in-game tool is receiving in real-time, so it’s always dynamic and accurate to what the player is seeing and feeling while playing,” the studio said.
In GhostWire: Tokyo, the haptic feedback includes “otherworldly voices” that come out of the controller’s built-in speakers. And when in combat, the adaptive triggers will have their own distinct feel based on what weapon you’re using.
“Even with your eyes closed, you can tell the difference between wielding snappy, precise bursts of wind; the destructive rush of water; and the raw devastation of fire. Attempting risky exorcisms at close range is even more intense, as the triggers help simulate the act of pulling a spectral enemy’s core out with your own hands,” the studio said.
Additionally, the feedback from the controller will become “stronger” as you level up your capabilities in the game. This creates a “noticeable sensation of real progress that we cannot wait for GhostWire players to experience themselves,” according to the developer.
Click To Unmute
Life is Strange: True Colors – Full Presentation | Square Enix Presents
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
For Life is Strange: True Colors, you can trigger the main character Alex’s powers with the left trigger. The trigger will get tougher to pull as Alex becomes more powerful. This is meant to demonstrate that Alex is losing control of the “volatile, supernatural sense” that she has.
In Bandai Namco’s Scarlet Nexus, the DualSense controller uses haptic feedback and adaptive controllers to heighten the sense of immersion for using the game’s psychokinetic abilities.
“When you lift and toss objects, you will feel the flow of the hero’s power, no matter if it’s from left to right, or front to back. When the object moves from left to right on-screen, the sensation is achieved by having the left motor vibrate then move along to the right motor,” the studio said.
Explaining the trigger features, Sony said: “Moreover, adaptive triggers provide players with a more realistic game experience. Just like you sense weight and resistance while picking up objects in real life, you’ll feel like you’re lifting an in-game object with your own strength.”
For Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation 2, the DualSense controller replicates the feel of each weapon in a unique way. The controller will also give you haptic feedback when you hit a target.
“When using L2 or R2 for attack, pilots will notice a resistance to simulate the pulling of an actual trigger. For example, with the bazooka the resistance will cause the trigger to catch at the input position just before the bullet is fired, and as you continue to pull the trigger, the bullet will fire and release the tension,” the developer said. “We have also created a stronger rumble at the time of discharge, and a longer trail (the rumbling will last longer) to recreate the discharge of a larger caliber bullet.”
In Kena: Bridge of Spirits, the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers are used to make you feel the difficulty of drawing back the character’s bow. And finally, Returnal’s use of the DualSense controller pulses subtly when it’s raining. These pulses are “procedurally synthesised at runtime,” the studio said, meaning they can be changed on the fly depending on what’s happening in the game. “The end result of that approach is that along with the visuals and audio, the haptic sensations produced by the DualSense controller give your subconscious brain yet another indication that it really is in the world of Atropos, standing in the rain,” the studio said.
Be sure to check out the full PlayStation Blog post, which contains video examples of the new DualSense functionality, to learn more about how each game uses the DualSense controller.
Among the numerous projects that Xbox Game Studios has in the works right now is a new IP that has yet to be announced. Xbox’s Ben Decker told GamesRadar (via VGC) that this new game will “blow your mind” when it’s announced.
He didn’t share or tease anything further about the game, so we can only guess and speculate as to what it might be. One possibility is that it’s the new IP from Hitman developer IO Interactive which is said to be an Xbox-exclusive dragon fantasy game.
Another possibility is that it’s the rumored new IP in the works at Gears studio The Coalition. Microsoft operates 23 studios across Xbox and Bethesda, so it’s possible the new IP that Decker is talking about is from a different studio.
“We have 23 studios across Xbox and Bethesda, working on Halo, Forza, Fallout, and new IP that we haven’t even talked about yet that’s gonna blow your mind,” Decker said. “We can deliver all of that into Game Pass on day one.”
As for when this new IP may get announced, Xbox and Bethesda will have a showcase this summer where more details about this game and potentially others may be revealed. Microsoft has yet to announce the specifics of its summer showcase, so it remains to be seen if it will be part of E3 2021 (June 12-15) or at some other point in the summer.
Gears 5’s Operation 7 arrives on May 18, and when it does it will bring two new characters, new maps, a slew of balance changes, and forced cross-play across console and PC.
In a post outlining the changes coming in Operation 7, The Coalition writes that 40% of players disable the cross-play matchmaking option, which is “significantly impacting the matchmaking times for our players on both PC and console.” It’s for that reason The Coalition is disabling the ability to opt-out of cross-play, stating that new features included in Operation 7, such as the inclusion of new field-of-view options across all platforms, make the two versions of the game almost identical to one another. Gears 5 already supports keyboard-and-mouse for console, and the higher framerates and reduced input lag allowed for by the Xbox Series X|S make The Coalition confident in the decision to force the game’s two communities together.
Leading the charge in terms of new content is the addition of two new characters fans of the series are likely familiar with: Ukkon and Hana Cole. Ukkon is the big-bad Locust scientist from Gears Tactics that players spend much of that game looking to eliminate, while Hana Cole is a gifted scientist and daughter of longtime Gears of War character Augustus “Cole Train” Cole. Hana made her debut in Gears 5’s Hivebuster DLC, where she played a critical role in developing the hivebusting technology employed by Scorpio Squad.
A new map PvP, Ephyra, will have players battling for control of a desolated hotel amidst a burning city. Three new Horde maps are also being added alongside a new Horde Frenzy event mode, plus there is a long list of changes to challenges and balance updates for PvE.
Players who enjoy custom games will now earn experience points for completing custom matches, albeit at a slower rate than in official matchmaking modes. Mutators with various effects such as headshots causing explosions and new screen effect options are also making their way into custom games.
Developer Housemarque said it’s “actively trying” to address the complaints about Returnal‘s inability to save mid-game, Axios Gaming reports.
Business developer and marketing director Mikael Havari told Axios Gaming that the team is investigating what options there are to implement a save system in Returnal’s rogue-like design.
Click To Unmute
Size:
Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?
“It’s something that we’re actively, very actively trying to get out as soon as we can,” Havari said.
I talked about Returnal’s save system with Housemarque’s Mikael Havari today. Regarding an update: “It’s something that we’re actively, very actively trying to get out as soon as we can,” he told me. A bit more in today’s newsletter. Much more from the interview in tomorrow’s. pic.twitter.com/8iI4i7ckPH
Havari said the feedback about Returnal’s difficulty and lack of save function has been heard.
“We understand that there are some systems in place that are currently a hindering factor,” Havari said. He also said Housemarque is unsure of what the best approach would be, telling Axios that “we just don’t know exactly what [the solution] is.” Havari said “it’s very difficult to announce anything, because I think there’s a lot of different people looking for different things.”
Returnal’s difficulty, coupled with the lack of save options, lit the internet ablaze when the game launched on April 30 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Some complained about the PS5’s Rest function, which could interrupt a run in Returnal if players weren’t careful. Others cited real-life responsibilities–such as kids and work–that hindered their ability to get further in the game.
GameSpot editor Phil Hornshaw countered the fervent discourse, suggesting that players should die more–and get used to it–because Returnal narrative necessitates the player’s death.
Despite the criticisms, Returnal was still well-received by critics and fans alike. In our Returnal review, we scored the game a 9/10, saying, “Returnal’s many moving parts coalesce into a rare shooter that grabs you with its mechanics and its story and never lets go, seducing you with its challenges and a foreboding sense of dread every step of the way.”
Another lawsuit has been filed against Sony regarding its digital game sales, alleging that PlayStation customers have been overcharged by “billions” of dollars because of policies that prevent retailers from selling digital game codes on their own.
Before April 1, 2019, PlayStation Store digital games could be purchased at retailers via code cards, letting the retailers set prices and put them on sale. That is no longer an option, leading to Microsoft’s digital game store sometimes getting better prices than what Sony’s gets. Microsoft still allows retailers to sell code cards for Xbox systems.
The Cendejas case also specifically calls out the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. While the standard PS5 supports discs, and thus gives players the chance to shop around for the physical versions of many games, the Digital Edition only supports the PlayStation Store.
“Consumers, limited to a single source for purchasing any digital PlayStation content, are forced to pay a higher price for digital PlayStation games than they would in a free and unrestrained competitive retail market,” the suit says.
You’re limited to just one store to buy games on the PS5 Digital Editiion
According to attorney Richard Hoeg, we’ll likely see similar cases like this lumped into one to be heard by a court. There probably won’t be a whole bunch of different lawsuits arguing the same case against Sony, especially since there doesn’t appear to be much difference between them.
“You’ll only get multiple lawsuits if there is some element of a complaint/proposed class that is materially different from other claims,” Hoeg told GameSpot. “In general, though, you’ll just be looking at one case.”
It’s likely we’ll see similar lawsuits filed before too long, as Hoeg said attorneys make money when they’re chosen to be the counsel for a class in a class-action lawsuit.
“Because of that, there is often a ‘race to the courthouse’ of overlapping proposed lead plaintiffs, in an effort for a plaintiff’s class-action firm to get that position,” he added.
Sony’s decision has made it impossible for certain retailers to offer console parity on their digital game sales. Newegg, for instance, has run $10 off deals on digital Xbox versions of a few different games lately, including Resident Evil Village and Biomutant. Without a way to sell game codes, retailers can’t offer the same savings to PlayStation users.
Yveltal is making its debut in Pokemon Go very soon. The Legendary Destruction Pokemon will arrive in five-star Raids as part of the Luminous Legends Y event, which runs from May 18-31. This marks your first chance to catch Yveltal in Niantic’s mobile game, so we’ve rounded up some tips to help you beat and catch the new Gen 6 Legendary below.
Yveltal Weaknesses And Counters
Yveltal
Yveltal is a Dark/Flying type, which gives it a handful of common weaknesses that you can exploit. The Legendary is particularly weak to Electric, Ice, Rock, and Fairy Pokemon, so you have a variety of options to choose from when battling it. Here are some good Pokemon of each type, along with recommended moves:
Pokemon
Type
Recommended Fast Attack
Recommended Charge Attack
Zekrom
Dragon/Electric
Charge Beam
Wild Charge
Raikou
Electric
Thunder Shock
Wild Charge
Zapdos
Electric/Flying
Thunder Shock
Thunderbolt
Mega Manectric
Electric
Charge Beam
Wild Charge
Mamoswine
Ice/Ground
Powder Snow
Avalanche
Galarian Darmanitan
Ice
Ice Fang
Avalanche
Mega Abomasnow
Ice/Grass
Powder Snow
Blizzard
Kyurem
Dragon/Ice
Dragon Breath
Blizzard
Rhyperior
Ground/Rock
Smack Down
Rock Wrecker
Rampardos
Rock
Smack Down
Rock Slide
Tyranitar
Rock/Dark
Bite
Stone Edge
Alolan Golem
Rock/Electric
Rock Throw
Wild Charge
Aerodactyl
Rock/Flying
Rock Throw
Rock Slide
Xerneas
Fairy
Tackle
Moonblast
Togekiss
Fairy/Flying
Charm
Dazzling Gleam
Gardevoir
Psychic/Fairy
Charm
Dazzling Gleam
Granbull
Fairy
Charm
Play Rough
While the above monsters are among the best Yveltal counters, almost any Electric, Ice, Rock, or Fairy Pokemon will be helpful when battling the Legendary, especially if they know Fast and Charged attacks of their respective types. Rock Pokemon in particular are good choices to use because they have naturally high defenses and will resist any Flying-type moves that Yveltal may know.
Types To Avoid
Although they are normally among the game’s best offensive Pokemon, Psychic and Ghost types will take super-effective damage from Yveltal, so you’ll want to avoid using them when challenging the Legendary. Fighting and Bug Pokemon may also prove to be a liability; while they are typically strong against Dark types, they won’t last long against Yveltal if it knows a Flying-type attack.
Yveltal Raid Schedule
Yveltal is debuting in Pokemon Go as part of the Luminous Legends Y event, which kicks off at 10 AM local time on May 18 and runs until 8 PM local time on May 31. The Legendary will be available as a Raid boss throughout the entire event, giving you almost two full weeks to catch it.
2021 marks the 20th anniversary of Xbox, and Microsoft is going big to celebrate with a variety of promotions, events, and activities scheduled to mark the occasion.
The original Xbox launched on November 15, 2001, so its 20th anniversary is right around the corner. As an excellent oral history explained, it was a struggle to get Xbox off the ground inside Microsoft at the start, but now the business is thriving and Xbox has become synonymous with gaming. A new blog post runs down a number of the ways Microsoft is celebrating the milestone, and also dropped some stats, like how 7,000 games have been released across all Xbox platforms over the past 20 years. Additionally, players have collectively tallied nearly 1 trillion in combined Gamerscore.
Halo: Combat Evolved was the so-called killer app for Xbox at the start, and to celebrate, Microsoft created a special piece of artwork that pays homage to the past and looks forward to the future. The next Halo game, Halo Infinite, releases this fall. A release date hasn’t been announced yet, but November 15 would be a pretty special date to launch it.
The new 20th anniversary Halo artwork
Microsoft’s celebrations for Xbox’s 20th anniversary are on now through November 15, and they include a number of events and promotions. These include a social media campaign where users can share their favorite memories and stories using the #Xbox20 hashtag.
The Xbox Gear Shop, meanwhile, already has new merchandise to pick up, including T-shirts, mugs, bags, and more. Fans can also now snag free anniversary-themed wallpapers, while registration for the 20th Anniversary Xbox FanFest are now open.
A 20-year gamerpic and “The Original” profile theme are now available on console to help you deck out and customize your console with the anniversary in mind. Those on Xbox Series X|S can get a special dynamic version of The Original.
Some of the new Xbox merch you can buy to celebrate the anniversary
Additionally, Microsoft has curated a collection of memorable and noteworthy games from Xbox’s 20 years. You can also search “Xbox Anniversary” in the console store to bring up these games.
Additionally, Microsoft will host a livestream today, May 13, on Twitch.tv/Xbox beginning at 11 AM PT / 2 PM ET. The hosts will reminisce about the anniversary while playing Halo: Combat Evolved through The Master Chief Collection.
Microsoft is planning even more anniversary events in the lead-up to the November 15 anniversary date, so keep checking back for more.
He-Man is returning to TV on July 23. The new series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, will premiere on Netflix on July 23, and finally, the first images are out for the show. If you love the original ’80s cartoon, this will be right up your alley.
The Mattel Television series comes from showrunner Kevin Smith (Clerks), and the show picks up right where the original series left off: a battle between He-Man and Skeletor has left Eternia fractured, and Teela wants to reunite the heroes of the land to help find the missing Sword of Power. Part 1 of the series will consist of five episodes.
Gallery
There are a lot of familiar voices in Revelation. Mark Hamill (Star Wars) will play Skeletor, Chris Wood (Supergirl) plays He-Man/Prince Adam, and Stephen Root (Office Space) will voice He-Man’s trusty cat Cringer. The show also features Lena Headey, Griffin Newman, Henry Rollins, Tony Todd, and Kevin Conroy. Masters of the Universe: Revelation is produced by Mattel Television, featuring animation from Powerhouse Animation, which also animated Netflix’s Castlevania.
Showrunner Smith has a fondness for the original series, and wants to create something that really follows in the footsteps of it. “Narratively our show is set up as the next episode in the legacy ‘80s animated series that aired from 1983-1985,” Smith said in a press release. “This is a continuation of that story. We’re playing with the original mythology and characters, and revisiting and digging deeper into some of the unresolved storylines. Visually we also made the conscious decision to lean into the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE line of toys for inspiration as well. Mattel owns this entire vast library of that artwork, so right away we wanted the show to open with classic pieces of that artwork. Mattel has been committed to this look since they first started as a toy line in the ’80s, and now we’re leaning into it and honoring it.”
Additionally, Mattel will be producing a toy line for Revelation arriving at major retailers on June 15, with additional toys coming in the fall.
