Author: Trafficblast

Every Game Delay In 2021 (So Far)

We saw a few games get delayed back in 2020, but it seems that the real impact of the pandemic on the gaming world is being felt in 2021. We’re not even halfway through the year but numerous titles have slipped from their original release dates, with some even moving into 2022.

It’s to be expected. Game development is hard enough without the pitfalls of transitioning to working from home. While it’s a shame that games won’t be released when we initially thought they would, we say give developers all the time they need to release something that they’re truly proud of.

The above video lists a number of games that have been delayed in 2021, including Gotham Knights, Hogwarts Legacy, and Deathloop, among others. We’ll just have to wait a little while longer to play them. But there’s still plenty being released, for the latest recommendations, check out gamespot.com and youtube.com/gamespot.

Best External Hard Drives And SSDs (2021): PS5, Xbox Series X, And PC

Best external hard drive

Seagate external hard drive

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Runner-up: Best external hard drive

WD Elements external hard drive

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Best desktop hard drive

WD My Book desktop hard drive

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When it comes to the best external hard drives, you should always go for a reliable option over the fastest possible. While fast speeds are nice, if it’s not a hard drive with a proven track record of keeping your information safe without failure, it’s not worth it. This is extremely important because if a hard drive burns itself out, all of your games, save data, and any other files you may have on it are gone forever. Thankfully, there are a number of options that combine speed and reliability into one nice package, perfect for anyone with a PS5, Xbox Series X, or even a PC.

If you’re planning to use an external hard drive with your PS5 or Xbox Series X, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll need to format the hard drive on the console itself–your console should prompt you to do this automatically if it recognizes the drive, but you can also do this in your console’s storage settings.

Another thing to know: The PS5 is receiving an update on April 14 that will enable external storage support for PS5 games. However, you’ll only be able to store new-gen PS5 and Xbox Series X games on external drives–to play them, you’ll need to transfer the game back to the console. Backwards-compatible games, on the other hand, can be stored and played directly from the external drive. As for expanding your console’s internal storage, you can’t yet do that on the PS5, though when that’s enabled, you’ll need to use an approved NVMe SSD. Xbox Series X owners, on the other hand, can pick up the Seagate storage expansion card to increase their storage by 1TB.

If you’re in need of more storage, we’ve rounded up our most trusted external drives below, from hard drives and SSDs to those specifically meant for PCs and laptops. All of these will work great with the Xbox Series X and PS5 as well.

Seagate external hard drive

The Seagate external hard drive is the best for a reason: It’s a reliable drive that won’t let you down. With over 118,000 user reviews on Amazon and a 4.5-star rating, it’s one of the most popular drives as well. It’s available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB variations.

WD Elements external hard drive

If you’d prefer to go with WD, another reliable company, its Elements external hard drive is well worth your time, confidence, and money. It’s another popular drive, with over 78,000 user reviews and a 4.5-star rating, and comes in the same sizes as Seagate’s basic drive: 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 5TB.

Samsung T7 external SSD

When it comes to SSDs, no one beats Samsung in either the external or internal department. Its T7 external SSD boasts read speeds of up to 1,050MB/s and write speeds of up to 1,000MB/s when using it in conjunction with a USB 3.2 device, such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

SanDisk Extreme external SSD

If you’re a gamer on the go–or just someone who travels a lot–SanDisk has an excellent external SSD that is easy to take with you. Its SanDisk Extreme portable SSD has a protective plastic shell and a belt loop that you can use to clip on to your bag or clothing. On top of that, it boasts read and write speeds of 1,050MB/s and 1,000MB/s respectively.

WD My Book desktop hard drive

If you play your consoles at your desk or use a PC/laptop, WD’s My Book desktop hard drive is well worth your consideration. It requires a power supply, but it’s also capable of more storage and faster speeds than a portable hard drive. It also has a three-year warranty for that peace of mind.

Scorsese’s Killers Of The Flower Moon Adds Four Cast Members

Martin Scorsese might have a lot to say about streaming, but he knows a green light when he sees one, and so the director is working on his next film, Killers of the Flower Moon, for Apple Studios. Now, Scorsese has added four new members to the film’s cast alongside stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, and Jesse Plemons, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The new actors joining the cast are Tatanka Means (I Know This Much is True), Michael Abbott Jr. (The Death of Dick Long), Pat Healy (The Post), and Scott Shepherd (Bridge of Spies).

Killers of the Flower Moon, announced for production last summer, is based on the book of the same name, which recounts a string of murders in Osage County, Oklahoma in the 1920s in a plot to take over Osage-owned oil deposits for profit, which are then investigated by the just-formed FBI.

Scorsese is directing a screenplay by Eric Roth based on the non-fiction book, authored by David Grann. Scorsese is also producing the film, along with Imperative Entertainment and Appian Way Productions.

Image credit: Getty Images/Jon Kopaloff/Stringer

Oculus Air Link Lets You Wirelessly Stream VR Games to the Quest 2

Oculus has revealed some big updates for the Quest 2, including the Oculus Air Link feature that will let you wirelessly play PC VR games and native support for 120 Hz.

As announced by Oculus, Oculus Air Link builds upon the Oculus Link feature that lets a compatible USB-C cable to connect a gaming PC and the Quest to allow for PC VR games to be played.

Oculus Air Link is the next evolution, and allows the Quest 2 to connect to a gaming PC using WiFi, letting users take advantage of PC VR games like Half-Life: Alyx without any cables. This feature will be launching in Experimental mode, and Oculus notes that while the Oculus Link will still provide the “highest-fidelity visuals possible,” those with a strong WiFi connection will be able to experience this new, untethered way to use the Quest 2.

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To see if your set-up is ready for Oculus Air Link, check out Oculus’ guide for the best practices, known issues, and compatibility.

Native 120 Hz Support and Infinite Office

The Oculus Quest 2 currently runs at 90 Hz by default, but Oculus is now giving gamers and developers the chance to utilize a 120 Hz display refresh rate. This feature will also available in Experimental mode and, while there aren’t any apps that yet support it, that will change shortly.

The Quest 2 system software will continue to run at 90 Hz, and Oculus Link support for 120 Hz will come in a future release.

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The last big feature for the v28 update is for Infinite Office. This is a feature that allows you to bring your actual desk, keyboard, and mouse into VR to work while using an Oculus Quest headset.

While the ability to add a Bluetooth-enable mouse or trackpad to VR was added in January, this new update will allow you to literally bring your desk into VR. Launching in Experimental mode, you’ll be able to place a virtual desk on your actual furniture that will allow you to see and use it when in your Home environment.

You will also be able to pair your physical keyboard with your Quest 2, allowing you to view a 3D representation of your hands and keyboard within VR. The first keyboard to support this feature is the Logitech K830, and more will be added in the future.

This v28 update will roll out gradually, but Quest users should see it coming through in then near future. It’s important to note that both the Quest 2 and PC must be running v28 for the everything to work.

This news precedes the first-ever Oculus Gaming Showcase on April 21, which will feature updates Pistol Whip, Lone Echo 2, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy’s Edge, and more.

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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [email protected].

Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.

Nier: Automata Will Get Much-Needed Steam Upgrade Eventually

The official Twitter account for the Nier series tweeted that an upgrade patch is currently in development for the Steam version of Nier: Automata. The tweet announcing the update offered very little in the way of details, simply stating that they’ll have more information to share at a later date.

Though Nier: Automata was one of the most critically-acclaimed games of 2017, the PC version of the game has garnered criticism over the years due to inconsistent frame rates and resolution issues. The Xbox Game Pass release of Automata triggered headlines when fans of the game realized that that version of the game included significant upgrades, including HDR support, 4K UI textures, FidelityFX, and borderless video settings. The Steam version of the game was recently review-bombed due to these discrepancies.

While popular fan patch FAR fixes the resolution issue for the Steam version, the Game Pass Automata remains significantly better. We don’t know if the upgrade patch for the Steam version will introduce all these improvements, but it seems likely that it will. In other Nier: Automata news, a hacker uncovered the game’s final secret back in January. Nier Replicant ver. 1.22474487139, a remaster of the original Nier, will release on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 23.

Now Playing: NieR Replicant – TGS 2020 Release Date Trailer

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Final Fantasy XIV PS5 Upgrade Beta Now Available

You can now try Final Fantasy XIV enhanced by the new console generation, thanks to today’s open beta launch on PS5. Both a PS5 free trial and the PS5 Upgrade Edition can be downloaded from the PlayStation Store now.

Though PS5 owners have been able to play the PS4 version on the new hardware for a while, this upgrade represents a native PS5 version with features that specifically take advantage of the more powerful hardware. Those include two graphics options–one prioritizing 4K and the other aiming for a high frame rate at 1440p–along with faster load speeds, visual improvements, and other performance tweaks.

This launch is considered an open beta, so you may hit some unexpected snags. You can only play if you have the PS4 version registered with an active subscription, or if you’re using the free trial, and a full PS5 launch is planned for release sometime later. The PlayStation Store listing notes that subscribers can switch over to the PS5 version once the open beta ends, so it sounds as if one will roll right into another. Square Enix is also planning to roll out further graphics and performance updates once the open beta period ends.

This is coming right alongside the 5.5 content update, which adds the new Death Unto Dawn story that will lay the groundwork for the upcoming Endwalker expansion this fall. The patch also adds the third chapter of the YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse crossover alliance raid series, and a new trial against the Diamond Weapon.

For more on FFXIV, check out everything we know about FFXIV Endwalker like the two new jobs, story content, and quests.

Now Playing: FINAL FANTASY XIV Patch 5.5 Trailer – Death Unto Dawn

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Call Of Duty: Mobile Season 3 Tokyo Escape Detailed — New Maps, Modes, Operator, And More

While we have to wait a little longer to learn more about Season 3 for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and Warzone, Activision has now shared all the key details on Season 3 for Call of Duty: Mobile. Activision ran through all the details on the new season in a blog post, and we’ve rounded up all the key details in one place.

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Release Date

Season 3: Tokyo Escape for Call of Duty: Mobile goes live on iOS and Android this Saturday, April 17. It is a free download, though there are more microtransaction mechanics coming through the new Battle Pass.

Season 3: Tokyo Escape And New Battle Pass

Season 3 features a new Battle Pass that has 50 new levels that you can progress through via gameplay or by paying real money. Things like new weapons, Operators, blueprints, charms, calling cards, emotes, and CoD Points are available through the Battle Pass, like usual.

There is also a new Operator skill–Bull Charge–that unlocks at tier 14. The new PP19 Bizon submachine gun, meanwhile, can be yours when you hit tier 21.

Everyone who buys the Battle Pass will get some of its content right away, including the new Operator, Hidora Kai, as well as the Type 25 – Oni weapon.

New Multiplayer Maps

Season 3 also adds new multiplayer maps in the form of Oasis and Coastal. Oasis might look familiar, as it originally debuted in Modern Warfare 3. Oasis is set in a fancy desert hotel and is a medium-sized map. Coastal, meanwhile, is new and it takes place in a sea town.

New Multiplayer Modes

Players are getting new modes as well, including Swords & Stones and nighttime versions of other modes. Swords & Stones challenges players to get kills with melee weapons and grenades only. Killing enemies gives you a speed and attack boost.

The night modes increase the tension by turning the lights off. Players do have night vision goggles to help them along the way.

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New Challenges

There are new challenges in Season 3 as well. Activision didn’t specify what the challenges entail, but the studio said players can unlock the Overclock perk and the Renetti pistol by completing these challenges.

New Battle Royale Class

A new class is coming to Call of Duty: Mobile’s battle royale mode in the Season 3 update. Players can complete the “Quick Hands” challenge to obtain the Spotter class. An anti-aircraft specialist, the Spotter should help squads succeed in the battle royale mode. The challenge to obtain the Spotter launches through an event that starts in early May.

Warrior’s Path Event

A new Warrior’s Path event kicks off in Season 3. This challenges players to capture and hold territories every 24 hours; there are different tasks for each territory. The faction that picks up the most points when a territory closes will claim that territory. Players can earn special rewards throughout the event, including eight Epics and one Legendary calling card.

As for Black Ops Cold War and Warzone, Activision is teasing a big reveal for April 21, so check back soon to learn more. It’s expected this will involve the rumored nuke event that looks to blow up Verdansk and replace it with an ’80s-themed map based on Black Ops Cold War.

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