Valve’s announcement of its handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck, has certainly caught the attention of a vast range of gaming and tech companies – even Valve’s rivals. Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, has chipped in with some positive comments about the platform.
Sweeney seems incredibly supportive of the new hardware, calling it an “amazing move”. The comments come from Sweeney’s Twitter account, where he made the following statement: “Amazing move by Valve! A handheld PC/console hybrid running the SteamOS fork of Arch Linux, and it’s an open platform where users are free to install software of their choosing—including Windows and other stores.”
Amazing move by Valve! A handheld PC/console hybrid running the SteamOS fork of Arch Linux, and it’s an open platform where users are free to install software or their choosing – including Windows and other stores. https://t.co/jf5TWUWGP5
These positive comments are likely to have something to do with the fact that the Steam Deck can run and utilise the Epic Games Store, which means Epic’s Steam competitor will have a new platform to grow on. Not only can users bring over their entire Steam libraries, but they can also access their content from the Epic Games Store, GOG and other PC gaming storefronts.
The Steam Deck also comes at a time when the ongoing lawsuit between Epic and Apple rages on in the background. Apple has historically not allowed companies to install their own apps and services on Apple products externally from the App store, which means that organisations cannot use their own payment processing systems either. This has led to Epic attempting to sue Apple in order to allow for more versatility over how payments are made, so that not every payment has to go through Apple.
The open nature of the Steam Deck effectively eradicates that issue for Epic, as Valve is very comfortable with allowing other users, developers and companies to use their OS however they want. It’s an approach completely at odds to how Apple wants to control what goes through their devices, and could well be used to attempt to bolster Epic’s case in future trials.
The Steam Deck will be available this holiday season, with reservations starting soon. In the meantime, be sure to check out our exclusive hands-on, and our rapid-fire FAQ with the Steam Deck development team.
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Liam Wiseman is a Freelance Writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @liamthewiseman
With PS5 stock shortages still ongoing, restock scams continue to proliferate on social media. A recent case of PS5 scamming happened on actress Tatum O’Neal’s verified Twitter account, Variety reports, with the scam appearing to have gone unaddressed for some time.
Recent screenshots show O’Neal’s verified account with a bio reading “PlayStation & Xbox Enthusiast. Verified Salesman Page on PS5 & Xbox One.” The account now seems to have been restored to O’Neal or her management, but the Variety report claims the hack may have dated back as early as the start of June. Screenshots of now-deleted tweets show O’Neal’s account posting regularly about Sony’s PlayStation 5.
Some Twitter users report being scammed by the account, while others have been blocked after calling it out as a scam or a hack. One user said that the they were blocked after sending $600 for a PS5.
After the Variety report was published, Twitter finally appeared to take action on the situation. O’Neal’s account now only contains three tweets–a political retweet, a reply to another tweet, and a pinned tweet saying that “Management” has now recovered the account.
This Twitter has been recovered by Management and we are doing our best to fix and solve what has already been done
If you’re still looking for a PS5 yourself, it bears repeating that most people supposedly selling the consoles on Twitter are operating scams. Instead, keep an eye on our restock tracker for a chance to buy a console from a reliable stockist.
Steam’s newly announced portable PC gaming device, the Steam Deck, has already gotten gamers talking. Whether you’re excited for the gaming portable or not, the Steam Deck already has one unlikely fan–Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Steam’s major competitor Epic Games.
As picked up by PC Gamer, Sweeney tweeted about Steam’s new device, calling it an “amazing move.”
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Amazing move by Valve! A handheld PC/console hybrid running the SteamOS fork of Arch Linux, and it’s an open platform where users are free to install software or their choosing – including Windows and other stores. https://t.co/jf5TWUWGP5
Of course, one of the main reasons it has a fan in the Epic CEO, whose Epic Games Store competes directly with Steam, is that the Steam Deck is potentially as platform-neutral as a regular PC. “You can also install and use PC software, of course,” the Steam Deck’s official website encourages users. “Browse the web, watch streaming video, do your normal productivity stuff, install some other game stores, whatever.”
It’s no surprise Sweeney is a fan of the Steam Deck’s approach to software, considering Epic Games is currently embroiled in lawsuits against both Apple and Google, targeting the companies’ monopolistic control over software installed on their mobile platforms. Steam’s open-platform approach may even end up being used as an example to strengthen Epic’s case in further trials.
Preorders for the Steam Deck open on Friday July 16 at 10AM Pacific / 1PM Eastern on Steam’s website. The portable devices are due to start shipping in December 2021.
Like any game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is brimming with secrets to find. The game world is huge, spanning both a massive surface world and several floating islands in the sky, and mixed across both are collectibles that can aid you in your journey. While some of those items are hidden in the corners of the world or require you to revisit locations you’ve already seen once you have new items, you’ll also need to interact with the game’s various characters and help them solve their problems if you want to reach 100% completion.
Apart from that, though, Skyward Sword is unique among Zelda games because of its original focus on motion controls and other mechanical flourishes. While some of those ideas have popped up in other games, they don’t quite come together in the same way as in Skyward Sword–and that means you’ll need to develop some new skills to handle the game’s control scheme and puzzles. We’ve put together a whole mess of guides to help you on your quest as the Goddess’s chosen hero, covering side quests, Goddess Cubes, Pieces of Heart, and the iconic Hylian Shield.
Don’t forget to also check out our Skyward Sword HD review to see how it stacks up to the original Wii version.
Essential Beginner’s Tips & Tricks
With two possible control schemes and a bunch of big areas to uncover, there’s a lot that can be confusing about Skyward Sword.
Skyward Sword requires a different set of skills for Legend of Zelda players, whether you’re new to the franchise or a veteran of fighting Ganon. It’s also a game that can bog you down in non-essential content, especially early on, that kills the flow of the game. Our tips will get you into your adventure quicker, keep you alive longer, and help you overcome Skyward Sword’s unique puzzles and challenges.
Heart Piece Locations
Pieces of Heart help you seriously boost your health pool throughout your adventure–but they’re tough to find. Our rundown will help you get them all.
Every Zelda game is littered with collectible Pieces of Heart that allow you to boost your health pool, survive tougher combat, and become a real hero of legend. But those hearts aren’t easy to come by, and you’ll have to scour the world to locate them all. We take the pain out of checking every single corner and nook of Skyward Sword with a complete rundown of how you can max out Link’s health as you play.
Goddess Cube Locations
Seek out Goddess Cubes and the treasure chests they unlock in Skyloft to earn great upgrades and a whole lot of Rupees.
Some of the best rewards in Skyward Sword require you to complete two steps to gather them: First, you’ll need to find and activate a special Goddess Cube on the surface, then you’ll need to return to Skyloft and locate the chest each cube unlocks. We’ve got a full rundown of where you can find each cube, what you need to reach it, and where you’ll find the chest when you return to the sky.
A classic hallmark collectible of the Zelda series is the heart piece. In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, you’ll want to scour the world for these special items, as they help expand your total health pool. Below, we’ve compiled the locations of every last piece. To the best of our knowledge, this is the optimal order to obtain heart pieces as early as possible.
It’s important to note that some Heart Pieces are linked to Goddess Cubes, which are magical artifacts that will reveal a treasure chest either nearby or in another area altogether upon hitting them. In this guide, we’ve noted the cube’s location, as the corresponding chest it reveals will be subsequently identified by Fi with a little icon on your map.
Below we’ve compiled the locations of every piece in the Faron Woods region. It’s important to note that some Heart Pieces are linked to Goddess Cubes, which are magical artifacts that will reveal a treasure chest somewhere in the Sky region upon hitting them. In this guide, we’ve noted the cube’s location, as the corresponding chest it reveals will be subsequently identified by Fi with a little icon on your map.
The first heart piece you will likely come across is in Faron Woods. When looking for the three Kikwis, keep an eye out for tightropes between the great tree and a large stone wall. One of them will lead you to a relatively easy-to-acquire piece of heart.
The next Heart Piece you can get at Faron Woods won’t be for a while, as the next possible one you can find is at the Lumpy Pumpkin in the Sky region. Otherwise, if you’ve already got what it takes to get the next heart pieces in the region, then keep reading.
Outside Of Skyview Temple (Goddess Cube Heart Piece)
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There is a Goddess Cube directly outside of Skyview Temple. Strike it, and it will activate a Goddess Chest on an island south of Skyloft. Fi will mark activated Goddess Chests on your map with a small Goddess crest.
Skyview Temple: After Defeating Stalfos And Acquiring The Beetle
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After defeating the Stalfos mini-boss in Skyview Temple, use the beetle to deactivate the switch on top of the Stalfos’ lair. This will release the heart from its cage in the rear of the structure.
When Link has to return to the woods, it’s a good idea to put his bombs to use, as there are walls throughout the world of Skyward Sword that shelter valuable treasure. Warp to the “In The Woods” Bird statue and head north until you encounter a weakened cave wall; use your bombs to blow it open to get your next piece of heart.
Faron Woods: Great Tree (Goddess Cube Heart Piece)
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Once you reach the top of the Great Tree and have obtained the Water Dragon’s scale, you can descend from the viewing platform and land adjacent to the Goddess Cube below. This will activate a Goddess Chest on an island east of the portal to the Lanayru Desert.
The next heart piece is found in Pirate Stronghold the Lanaryu Desert region. Otherwise, if you’ve already got what it takes to get the next heart pieces in the region, then keep reading.
After defeating The Imprisoned for the first time, you can go back to the area just outside the Sealed Temple. Gorko, the ever-questing Goron, is at it again, this time researching some curious butterflies nearby (If he isn’t there, it’s likely because you didn’t investigate the Gossip Stones in the lower area near the Sealed Temple by the Bird Statue).
Talk to Gorko, and then strum Link’s harp to activate a Goddess Wall–a canvas that can be drawn on with the Master Sword. Make sure that you do not draw on the wall before speaking to Gorko. If you make this mistake, then reload the game and try again.
Once you’ve spoken to Gorko and the Goddess Wall appears, he will talk to Link and offer him hints, in the form of riddles, of what to draw. If you draw the correct picture that corresponds to the riddle he gives you, then he’ll reward you with a piece of heart. Below are the various riddles and their respective solutions:
“Arrow in Repose… Ye who yearns to strike targets from afar, draw this shape so that it may be known.” — Draw an Arrow
“Glimmering Hexagon… Ye who seeks great riches, draw this shape so that it may be known.” — Draw a Rupee
“Life’s Crimson Vessel… Ye who longs for the source of life, draw this shape so that it may be known. Do so, and from the heavens shall fall a rain of life’s essence.” — Draw a Heart
“Closed Circle… Ye who hungers for destructive force, draw this shape so that it may be known.” — Draw a Circle (to represent a bomb)
“…The three… …ngles… …the Tri…ce… …and…” — Draw a Tri-Force
Are you looking to get every heart piece in the Eldin Volcano region of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD? Then look no further, as we’ve compiled the locations of every piece below. As you know by now, some Heart Pieces are linked to Goddess Cubes, which are artifacts that reveal a treasure chest in the Sky region upon striking them. In this guide, we’ve noted the cube’s location only, as Fi will mark the location of the subsequent chest for you on the map.
When ascending the volcano, you will notice a piece of heart resting on top of a platform (it’s relatively impossible to miss). The surrounding platforms will provide you with the means to reach it, so look for a series of platforms near a couple of pyrups to arrive atop the plateau in question.
At this point, you’ll only have access to this one heart piece. The next is located in the northeast section of the Lanryu Desert region. Otherwise, if you’ve already got what it takes to get the next heart pieces in the region, then keep reading.
Eldin Volcano: East Of Earth Temple Entrance (Goddess Cube Heart Piece)
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There is a Goddess Cube in Eldin Volcano, located east of the Earth Temple entrance and the surrounding Bokoblin encampments. You may have activated it already, but the corresponding chest in Skyloft requires that Link has the dragon scale so he can swim underwater to reach it. Once that’s done, swim to the east end of Skyloft’s main river and dive underwater to find a passageway leading to a storage shed with the Goddess Chest.
Like last time, this is the only heart piece you can get in the Eldin Volcano region for now. The next one is located near the top of the Great Tree in the Faron Woods region. Otherwise, if you’ve already got what it takes to get the next heart pieces in the region, then keep reading.
When you get the Mogma Mitts at the Fire Sanctuary, you can burrow underground and explore tiny mazes that contain treasure, enemies, and Mogmas on the move. One such Mogma has a piece of heart that he will give to Link when caught. You can burrow into a hole in the northwest section of the sanctuary to find him. With agility and whit, you can catch him and claim another hard-earned piece of heart.
When you reach a series of fiery blockades flanked by frog statues, keep an eye out for a dirt patch just before the second wall of fire that you can dig into using the Mogma Mitts. The right patch will lead you underground and right to a shiny piece of heart.
There is a point in the Volcano Summit, on your way to the Fire Sanctuary, where you’ll find a deep pit with tall stone pillars. The environment seems to encourage you to jump into the void, although there is nothing in sight worth the risk. Not so! Hop off and slowly veer toward the bottom-left. It may take a few tries, but you can land on a platform with a Goddess Cube. The corresponding chest contains a piece of heart and is located on Bug Rock island, within the Thunderhead.
We’ve compiled the locations of every piece in the Lanaryu Desert region below. As a note, some Heart Pieces are linked to Goddess Cubes, which are artifacts that reveal a treasure chest in the Sky region upon hitting them. In this guide, we’ve noted the cube’s location instead of where it ends up, as Fi will reveal that information to you once the chest appears.
The dry nature of the desert means there are numerous cracked walls in the area. In the northeast section of the map, you will find such a wall that leads down a path to an area sheltering a treasure chest containing a piece of heart.
North End of The Temple of Time (Goddess Cube Heart Piece)
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At the north end of the Temple of Time, you’ll find a Goddess Cube. Activating it is a little tricky, though, as it requires you to deliver a Skyward Strike at the right time while riding a minecart upward. Do this successfully, and the Goddess Cube will reveal the location of a chest on Beedle’s Island containing a piece of heart.
At this point, the next heart piece you can get is at Fun Fun Island in the Sky region. Otherwise, if you’ve already got what it takes to get the next heart pieces in the region, then keep reading.
After finishing the Pirate Stronghold in the Lanayru Sand Sea, you can use your newly acquired clawshot to access a Goddess Cube in the area. Once you exit the stronghold, a small series of clawshot targets behind Link on the east side of the map will lead you to the Goddess Cube. Once you’ve hit the cube, you can find the matching chest atop the waterfall in Skyloft. You’ll find some vines above to latch onto using your clawshot, which will lead upward to the Goddess Chest containing the heart piece.
For the most optimal way to get this piece heart, we recommend starting with hitting the aforementioned Goddess Cube above, collecting the next piece of heart at the Sandship, and then doubling back to where the chest spawned in Skyloft.
There is a piece of heart held captive by a treasure chest in the rear of the sandship. Once you reach the upper deck, work your way to the back of the ship and look for a hidden platform below, where you’ll find a piece of heart within a chest. Despite the circumstance, you can always come back here after finishing the dungeon, so it’s not missable.
With those heart pieces collected, the next one you’ll find will once again be in the Sky region–this time in Zelda’s Room at the Knight Academy. Otherwise, if you’ve already got what it takes to get the next heart pieces in the region, then keep reading.
When you complete the Sandship dungeon in the Lanayru desert, you can redo the mine cart sequence as part of a mini-game. Complete the heart-stopping course in less than 65 seconds, and you will be rewarded with a piece of heart.
If you talk to Lanryu, he’ll tell you about a challenge known a the Lightning Round. He’ll tell you to speak to him later about it, but if you talk to him immediately after, he’ll cave in and allow you to participate sooner.
The Lightning Round challenge mode has you facing off against various bosses from the game up until that point. Defeat four in a row, and you will qualify for a piece of heart. But note that you must stop battling the moment you accumulate four wins, as other prizes are awarded to you the further you go.
Great work! You’ve collected all the heart pieces in the Lanyru Desert region. The next heart piece you get requires you to buy every item from Beedle’s Airshop.
If you’ve played one game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, you probably have a pretty good idea of how the rest work, and what you need to know to succeed. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD has a few of its own little quirks, though. Because the game was originally released for the Nintendo Wii, it uses motion controls, both for combat and for the puzzles you’ll face along the way. It also segments portions of the game between the floating islands of Skyloft and the surface world below, and you’ll need to spend time in each to get your full potential.
For players who are new to Skyward Sword, the game can be a little confusing. It’s not quite as reliant on equipment and durability systems as Breath of the Wild, but it’s not nearly as straightforward about some of its systems as earlier Zelda games, such as Ocarina of Time. Check out our tips below to help you get into the swing of Skyward Sword, hit the ground running in the surface world, and minimize any irritation as you get through the game’s earlier tutorial portions in particular.
Skyloft is full of distractions early on, but the quicker you get out of here the first time, the more fun you’ll have.
The opening of Skyward Sword is infamous for being long, slow, and a bit boring. With Skyward Sword HD, the opening couple of hours of the game have been significantly improved, with the game wasting a lot less time dispensing useless tutorial information and grinding you to a dead halt to listen to characters repeat the same lessons over and over. Still, though, Skyloft is a boring place to be in the early part of Skyward Sword, and the best thing you can do is quickly move on from there to get your adventure started. You’ll be back to Skyloft a lot through the course of the game, so don’t worry about missing out on anything. Plus, you can access a lot more of the sky area once you’ve progressed a bit in the game, which will make exploring all the smaller sky islands more efficient and fruitful. In short: get to the surface as quickly as possible.
Practice Your Sword Controls
Whether you’re playing with motion or button controls, the direction of your sword slashes always matters, so you’ll want to spend some time getting used to how Skyward Sword’s unique controls work. It’ll save you frustration later.
When Skyward Sword was first released, it relied heavily on motion controls for everything in the game. That’s still true of the HD remaster, with the caveat that if you’re not into the motion controls, you can use new button controls that give you the same amount of fine-tuned precision. Either way, spend some time practicing with each control scheme to really get the hang of it. Much of Skyward Sword requires you to deftly use your sword to slice at enemies from a specific direction to avoid their guard–if someone raises a sword to block a vertical sword slash, for instance, you need to get in with a horizontal one. Later in the game, enemies start blocking you with electrified weapons or countering you when you’re blocked, so making sure you can reliably hit enemies without nailing their guards will keep you alive and make you a more effective fighter. The requirement to reliably make directional attacks is constant throughout Skyward Sword, so pick a control scheme and spend some time getting the hang of it.
Get A Bug Net
Nab the bug net early, as you’ll pass a lot of bugs on your adventure that you can capture and sell for quick cash.
Once you’ve cleared your first section of the surface in the Faron Woods, you’ll unlock the flying Beetle item. Return to Skyloft and you can use that item to hit the bell hanging from Beedle’s flying shop. He’ll lower a rope, allowing you to climb up and see what he’s offering. One of the first items you can snag from Beedle’s shop is the bug net. You can use that net to catch bugs all over the world, both in Skyloft and on the surface. Later, you’ll find a character in the Knight’s Academy at night who will buy your bugs for a premium, providing a quick way to make some money. Bugs can also allow you to infuse potions at the potion shop to make them more effective. Finally, you can also use the bug net to catch wasps that would otherwise swarm and chase you in the forest. It’s a handy item to have, and you’ll want to grab it as early as you can.
Focus On Side Quests
Completing sidequests is a great way to get more Adventure Pouches, Pieces of Heart, and other upgrades.
On your first return to Skyloft, you’ll be able to talk to various people in town and pick up a few side quests. One of the first you’ll want to do is to find a missing girl, which requires you to sleep in a bed until nighttime and then investigate the cemetery. Once you’ve completed that quest, you’ll unlock a pipeline for earning rewards from a character called Batreaux. He’ll give you all kinds of stuff in exchange for Gratitude Crystals, which you’ll usually get from completing side quests. These are some of the best rewards in the game, so it’s a good idea to start spending a little more time in Skyloft once you’ve found Batreaux and can start earning rewards from him. Make sure you check around Skyloft at night for characters to be in different places and potentially give out different quests.
Invest In Bigger Wallets
Running out of space for Rupees makes it tough to buy better equipment, so make sure to invest in your purse.
One of the rewards you can get from Batreaux is a better wallet for carrying rupees, but you’re actually going to need several upgrades to your wallet over the course of the game. You’ll want to start grabbing these upgrades early, as Link’s default capacity for carrying money is actually pretty low. A lot of items you’ll want to purchase are going to be costly, and it’s a bummer to run out of space for more money when you’re out in the field and could potentially be earning more. Head to Beedle’s shop to find wallet upgrades periodically, and grab them as soon as you can. They’ll help you buy the things you really want more quickly.
Keep A Shield (And A Potion To Repair It)
You don’t absolutely need a shield for combat, but it’s nice to have one–and it’s annoying when one breaks.
Unlike, say, Breath of the Wild, you’ll use most of the same gear throughout Skyward Sword, with one exception: shields. Early in the game, you’ll only have access to vulnerable wooden shields; later, you can find tougher metal ones, but they still can only take so much punishment before those shields break. Still, not having a shield in Skyward Sword is a pretty big disadvantage in a lot of situations. You’re a lot less vulnerable in duels with tough enemies, for a start, and your shield can reflect attacks and stun enemies as you fight. To keep your shields from breaking, make sure to pack some Revitalizing potion, which allows you to repair your shield in the field. You’ll be happy you have it (and annoyed when your shield breaks midway through a dungeon).
Clear Out All The Goddess Cube Chests You Can In Skyloft
Goddess Cubes unlock chests all over Skyloft, and it’s worth your time to track down and open all of the ones you’ve found each time you return to the sky.
As mentioned, you’ll pop back up to Skyloft pretty frequently. Every time you clear a dungeon, you’ll have to head back to the sky to open the path to the next area. You’ll find Goddess Cubes on the surface that unlock special chests in Skyloft, which are marked on your map when you return. Spend the time with each return to find and open all the cube chests, because they usually have some extremely good rewards–like high totals of rupees or pieces of heart. They’ll give you a big leg up early in the game, so prioritize unlocking them whenever you can. Just note that some chests will be in places you can’t get to until later in the game.
Goddess Cubes are one of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD‘s more intriguing collectibles. Essentially, they’re magical cubes you hit with a Skyward Strike. Upon hitting them, a Goddess Chest will appear in the Sky region. These chests contain useful items, such as heart pieces and rupees.
The great thing about Goddess Cubes is that the chests they spawn into the world are labeled on your map and become easily accessible, providing you have the necessary equipment. The crappy thing about Goddess Cubes is that they are not always in plain sight. Even when they are, it can be impossible to reach them until later in the game. Fear not, trepid explorer. Use our guide below to find the cubes you seek in the most optimal order. We’ve also specified their location and where they lead.
