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The Iris of Grace and the Iris of Occultation are two twin consumables in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree that can be easy to ignore. Their purpose isn't very clear in-game. However, these items can be used to collect unique weapons or Spirit Ashes from one of two powerful NPCs. View the full article

There were moments in Red ***** Redemption 2 when I felt like I was in a horror game. When the mist rolls in and my horse is out of ear shot because I've strayed too far hunting deer, I feel scared. Carrying the ******* carcass through the dark trees, every sound seems like it signals danger. Soulslinger: Envoy of ****** captures those creepy vibes, but I doubt anyone would feel powerless or fearful dashing around its levels and blowing enemies to pieces with a lethal revolver. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: This underrated Weird West roguelite shooter just got a big update View the full article

It's been ten years since Rust first appeared on the scene as an early access title. Ten years of players raiding each other, ******** with abandon, and struggling to survive to the next day. There are few games so loathed and loved by its playerbase as this, with even the most effusive praise wrapped in warnings about how it'll bring misery too. Hopefully the world of Rust just got a little more pleasant in one way with new transport options that'll make your next journey into the wilderness a bit quicker. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Rust dev finally adds highly requested backpacks, says pets are coming Rust 2 confirmed, but it "definitely won't be a Unity game" The best Rust servers 2024 View the full article

Sonic X Shadow Generations head Takashi Iizuka recently shared more information about the upcoming remasters story and how the new Shadow-centric content will tie into the original game. Back in January, ***** announced an updated version of Sonic Generations, a 2011 anniversary title that remixed levels from across the franchise in honor of the titular hedgehogs 20th birthday. Sonic X Shadow Generations wont just be the old game with a new coat of paint though, as there will also be additional levels centered around Sonics famous arch-rival Shadow the Hedgehog. View the full article

Ubisoft is finally taking *********’s Creed to Japan with *********’s Creed Shadows. The highly requested setting for Ubisoft’s biggest franchise will be explored through two protagonists: the fictional shinobi ********* Naoe and the real-life ****** samurai Yasuke. In anticipation of Ubisoft’s highly anticipated journey into feudal Japan, we’ve put together this breakdown of everything you need to know about *********’s Creed Shadows, from its price and release date to its gameplay and story. Jump to: Release DateStory and SettingGameplay DetailsLatest *********’s Creed Shadows Trailers Ubisoft has released several trailers for *********’s Creed Shadows, the most informative of which — the reveal trailer and the most recent gameplay trailer from Ubisoft Forward — are embedded below. *********’s Creed Shadows Release Date *********’s Creed Shadows will be released on November 15. It will be playable three days early, on November 12, for those who preorder either of Shadows’ three premium editions (more on these below) or subscribe to Ubisoft+ Premium on PC ($18/month). *********’s Creed Shadows Platforms and Price *********’s Creed Shadows is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Ubisoft Store or Epic Games Store), Mac, iPad, and Amazon Luna The base version of *********’s Creed Shadows costs $70 across all platforms. An internet connection will be required to install even the physical version of the game, though it can then be played offline. *********’s Creed Shadows StoryPlot and Characters *********’s Creed Shadows stars two protagonists: the shinobi ********* Naoe and the samurai Yasuke. Naoe is the fictional daughter of the real Fujibayashi Nagato; Yasuke is based on the real, 16th-century ****** samurai of the same name. Set during the late Sengoku ******* (or Azuchi-Momoyama era) of feudal Japan, Shadows begins in 1579 during a time of civil war within the country, complete with the era’s samurai, shinobi, Portuguese merchants, and Jesuit missionaries. The two protagonists converge as they find themselves on opposite sides of conflict: Yasuke served as a retainer to Nobunaga, the daimyo who led the Oda clan in its invasion of Iga; Naoe, under the leadership of her father, is part of the Igan resistance. Here’s the official synopsis from Ubisoft: Live the intertwined stories of Naoe, an adept shinobi ********* from Iga Province, and Yasuke, the powerful ******** samurai of historical legend. Against the backdrop of the turbulent late Sengoku *******, this remarkable duo will discover their common destiny as they usher in a new era for Japan. Like *********’s Creed Mirage and the original AC before it, Shadows’ main targets can be assassinated in any order. “One thing that we really wanted is [to make] sure the world feels alive, and those targets are always in the world,” said game director Charles Benoit. “So it's possible that you’ll encounter some of them without really knowing about them before. Quests, therefore, won’t point you toward your next target but will “guide” you with hints. “It's less of ‘follow a quest up to a point’, but it's much more, ‘I want to do this’ and then you'll find the way how to do it,” said creative director Jonathan Dumont. Feudal Japan Setting *********’s Creed is well known for its exploration of different places and eras with each new entry. This year’s game takes players to feudal Japan, specifically 1579 through the early 1580s. Shadows is set during the end of the tumultuous Sengoku ******* at the height of Oda Nobunaga’s power when the warlord overthrew the Ashikaga shogunate and began his campaign to unify the warring factions of Japan. Central Japan, where Nobunaga held power, will serve as the center of Shadows. Locations we’ve seen in the hitherto released trailers include the Iga province and Takeda Castle. Game Length and Map Size *********’s Creed Shadows is closest in size to 2017’s Egypt-set *********’s Creed Origins, according to Dumont. "It's in-line with the latest *********'s Creeds that we've done," he said, referring to the series’ post-Syndicate RPGs. "On a scale level, maybe we can compare it a little bit more to the size of *********'s Creed Origins. "We did want to have a much closer to real life scale ratio,” Dumont added. “So because castles took a lot of space, and we really wanted the mountains to feel like mountains, [we've made] the environments feel wider in the game. But I would say around the same size as Origins." Dumont didn’t comment on game length, though we’ll note Origins main story takes roughly 30 hours to complete, according to IGN sister site How Long to Beat. Does *********’s Creed Shadows Have a Modern-day Story? Ubisoft has yet to reveal details about Shadow’s potential modern-day segments, though it sounds like there will be one. *********’s Creed executive producer Marc-Alexis Côté told Game File, “You are in the Animus,” when asked about the modern day in Shadows. He also revealed *********’s Creed Infinity will be known as the Animus hub and serve as a portal to the series’ modern-day sections moving forward. This section will be updated as more information is announced. *********’s Creed Shadows GameplayYasuke and Naoe Differences *********’s Creed Shadows allows you to switch between Yasuke or Naoe at will, with the exception of introduction quests and character-specific missions. Naoe plays as a more typical *********; she’s equipped with a Hidden Blade and the ability to ***** stealthily by scaling walls and hiding in foliage. As Naoe, you’ll also have access to throwable kunai and her chained blade, which is swung around to slice through enemies and environments. The ********* is also given a grappling ***** to improve traversal; it can be attached to the edges of roofs and other miscellaneous anchor points. “It's all physics-based, so there's a little bit of improbability sometimes when using it,” said Dumont. “There's a danger to using it, but you could also perform assassinations from it.” Yasuke, on the other hand, has a more head-on approach to combat; the samurai’s heavy armor keeps him on the ground, where he excels as a master swordsman. Each character has individualized skill trees and gear, though XP, collected weapons, and resources are shared. General Combat Dumont says the team’s goal was to make Shadows’ combat feel “spectacular,” and to this end they’ve increased the amount of environmental items that can be carved up or destroyed and reintroduced instant ****** with the Hidden Blade. “The thing that shines the most, I feel, in *********'s Creed, it's really the Hidden Blade, the **************, being able to stay hidden,” said Benoit. “So that's the core that we want to keep. What we needed to push forward [was to make it] feel a bit more modern in the approach.” Shadows also adds duels reminiscent of those seen in Akira Kurosawa's samurai films. “When we have a mini-boss type of fighter, we really want it to feel like a duel,” said Benoit. “So this exchange of blocking, parrying, dodging. So it's always like a dance.” Weapons you’ll acquire throughout Shadows include katanas, the kanabō war club, yari spears, shuriken, kunai, and the kusarigama (sickle on chain). Weapons have their own skill trees, and proficiency is increased by playing with each *******. These can be found or crafted by gathering components throughout the game world. And yes, the ability to transmog is still here, allowing flexibility in the appearance of your gear. Yasuke and Naoe will also be faced with a new ****** type: servants. These characters exist between civilians and enemies, and are able to raise alarms and call for reinforcements. Exploration and Traversal The big addition to Shadows world is a light-dark system, which has a major influence on the game’s stealth mechanics. Powered by an upgraded version of Ubisoft’s Anvil engine, Shadows global illumination system creates dynamic light and shadows that affect ****** vision. You can influence this by snuffing out lamps and taking out torch carriers. The degree to which you are hidden is displayed through a new light meter on the UI. The light-dark system intersects with Shadows new seasons mechanic, which changes the terrain (and therefore how you interact with it) as spring turns to summer, fall, then winter. Seasonal differences include changes to weather/wind, bodies of water (swimmable or frozen), the height of grass, foliage, ****** positioning, and visibility. “Players will have to adapt constantly to what the environment is giving them,” said Dumont. The seasons will change as you progress through the main quest. Eagle vision, which allows you to see characters through walls, returns in Shadows, though gone are the drone-like birds used to scout locations in Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla. In an effort to reduce the amount of map icons, climbing to the top of synchronization points no longer unlocks a portion of the map, rather they provide a vantage point from which you can survey the surrounding area for highlighted points of interest. However, these locations still serve as fast-travel points. Shadows will take you through Japan’s diverse landscape of towns, trading posts, farmland, mountains, forests, and historic castles rendered nearly to scale. Each castle serves as a type of bespoke dungeon, according to Benoit, who added, “It’s so big, it's like an adventure each time you go in the castle.” *********’s Creed Shadows Development Ubisoft Quebec is leading development of *********’s Creed Shadows. The studio previously headed up development on *********’s Creed Odyssey, Syndicate, and ****** Flag, as well as 2020’s Immortals: Fenyx Rising. Over a dozen other Ubisoft studios are providing development support. Jonathan Dumont, creative director of *********’s Creed Odyssey, is again overseeing the creative direction of Shadows. Charles Benoit, who served as a game designer on Odyssey, is the game director for Shadows. Shadows was first announced in 2022 as *********’s Creed Codename Red. It was officially named and subsequently unveiled in May 2024. *********’s Creed Shadows Editions, Preorder Bonus Ubisoft is selling three editions of *********’s Creed Shadows — Standard, Gold, and Ultimate — as well as a GameStop-exclusive Collector’s Edition. Preordering any version will net you a bonus quest called “Thrown to the Dogs.” Here’s everything you need to know about each edition: Standard Edition $70 USDIncludes base game Gold Edition $110 USDIncludes base gameThree days of early accessSeason Pass Ultimate Edition $130 USDIncludes base gameThree days of early accessSeason PassThe Ultimate PackSekiryu character packSekiryu hideout pack5 skill pointsRed dragon filter in photo mode Collector’s Edition $280 USDIncludes Ultimate Edition of gameDiorama figurine with dual protagonistsSteelbookHardcover artbookShinobi's metal tsuba replica with standSilk creed kakemono rollSet of 3 sumi-e lithographs Separately, the IGN Store is offering a life-sized, officially licensed replica of Yasuke’s helmet. This ultimate collector’s item is now available to preorder, with an estimated ship time of Q4 2024. Jordan covers games, shows, and movies as a freelance writer for IGN. View the full article For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Despite its vampiric themes and aesthetic, V Rising is just like many other survival games: players will need to collect a wide variety of resources, including Pollen. In isolation, V Rising's Pollen resource is relatively mundane, but it's one of two essential ingredients needed for crafting Coarse Thread. Coarse Thread is essential for crafting many items, from inventory expansions to clothing sets. View the full article

As is the case in most popular gacha games, Zenless Zone Zero features an important choice in the beginning of its story: Belle or Wise? HoYoverse's new action-RPG follows the journey of two siblings, Belle and Wise, who operate as one ****** Proxy in the city of New Eridu. The world is plagued by Hollows that spawn nightmarish monsters, and New Eridu is the last bastion of humanity's hope and survival. Proxies use technology to explore these dangerous Hollows safely from afar, and Belle and Wise operate as two of the best in the business. View the full article

World of Warcraft is temporarily suspending the character restoration service once The War Within rolls out its Pre-Patch. Fans who need to use this service should make sure to do so before this World of Warcraft update, as it may be several weeks before it is reactivated. View the full article

Players recently noticed an issue with The Sims 4 romance that should probably be addressed as soon as possible by EA Games. Like the rest of The Sims series, The Sims 4 places certain restrictions on the types of romance that are available in the game. While certain restrictions have been rightly lifted over the years like allowing same-**** couples to marry starting in The Sims 3 the game still does its best to restrict romances that would be seen as ******** and immoral. At least, it is meant to do that. View the full article

Testing your luck and rolling for your favorite characters is one of the best activities to do in Zenless Zone Zero. But you’ll need a good amount of Master Tapes to fund your ventures. Master Tapes and Encrypted Master Tapes are a form of currency that you need so you can roll for different characters in different banners. It’s the main way players can build out their roster of characters so they can create different team compositions to decimate their enemies in the story, in different commissions, and beyond. View the full article

There are many different currencies you can earn in Zenless Zone Zero, which can make it tougher to keep track of how each one is earned and what they can be used for. One such currency is Residual Signal, a fairly tricky asset to come by. As you navigate through ZZZ, you’re likely going to earn lots of this resource naturally and not know what to do with it. It’s also possible you’ll find the shop it can be used in but not know how to get any. Because of this, you need to know exactly how to get and use Residual Signal in ZZZ. View the full article

According to a report on the alleged "toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior" of The Umbrella Academy showrunner Steve *********, The Horizon Zero Dawn TV series is seemingly not moving forward at Netflix. As reported by Rolling Stone, twelve staffers and a HR complaint have detailed the hostle workplace that was said to have been fostered by *********, although the showrunner has said these claims are "entirely untrue" and "completely absurd." At the end of the report, it is stated that ********* was offered an overall development deal reportedly worth $50 million at Netflix in 2020, and the Horizon Zero Dawn series was part of that package alongside an original outer-space thriller series called Orbital. Now, however, Rolling Stone has "learned that the two projects are no longer moving forward." Per a representative for *********, the showrunner "has a long, ongoing, and close working relationship with Netflix" and "continues to work on new projects." Furthermore, ********* signed a "new multi-year deal earlier this year." The Horizon Netflix series was revealed back in 2022 with ********* as the showrunner, and it was going to star Aloy. “Horizon Zero Dawn is an exceptionally well-crafted game with wonderful characters not often seen in the rank-and-file of the gaming world,” ********* said at the time. “Guerrilla Games has created an incredibly lush and vivid world of man and machine who find themselves on a collision course to oblivion. “Their salvation comes in the form of a young female warrior named Aloy, who has no idea she's the key to saving the world,” added *********. “Suffice it to say, yes, Aloy will be a main character in our story. My writing partner on this, Michelle Lovretta, and I are thrilled to be able to expand this remarkable IP into a series for all types of viewers.” Sony said back in January 2024 that writing had begun on the series, but we haven't really learned anything else since. For more, check out our preview of LEGO Horizon Adventures and who will join Aloy as a figure in PlayStation's upcoming The Shapes Collection. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to [Hidden Content]. Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok. View the full article For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

During Anime Expo, Arc System Works unveiled a world premiere teaser trailer for its upcoming Guilty Gear anime, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers, which is set to be released sometime next year. Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Riders is a 3D CG anime adaptation of the eponymous fighting game that is being animated by SANZIGEN. While the teaser gave little away story-wise, the trailer did showcase the long-running fighting game's central characters, Sol Badguy and Sin Kiske. The trailer, which is stylized in a similar fashion to the game's cutscenes, pits the pair against a mysterious new foe named Unika, who has a grudge against Gears. WORLD PREMIERE GUILTY GEAR STRIVE: DUAL RULERS Teaser PV YouTube Link[Hidden Content] Please enjoy and LET’S ROCK!#GGSTDR — Arc System Works America (@ArcSystemWorksU) July 4, 2024 Guilty Gear stands head and shoulders above other fighting games series thanks in part to it being one of the flashiest anime fighters of all time. Consequently, Guilty Gear also has a reputation for being one of the hardest story timelines to follow. A case in point is the fact that the story mode for Strive's predecessor, Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2, is essentially an uninterrupted hour-long anime unto itself. For folks wondering where Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Riders will sit in the series storied lore, here's a plot synopsis for the show: "After the decline of the once robust fields of science and technology, a new energy source known as magic fuels the modern era," the official description reads. "Humanity creates forbidden biological weapons: Gears. Those Gears eventually stand against humanity in a rebellion. Although they manage to overcome in the struggle for survival known as the Crusades, humanity’s losses are so great that even after several decades pass, their emotional wounds remain unable to fully heal. "Sin Kiske, the child of a human and a Gear, heads to his father *** and mother Dizzy’s wedding ceremony. Their wedding breaks the ultimate ******: a union between a human and a Gear. Even with the world at peace, it took many years for such a ceremony to come to fruition. Despite the complex array of emotions surrounding it, the wedding ceremony is met with blessings. When suddenly, a mysterious girl appears… The fated child inheriting Gear blood–and the mysterious girl who despises Gears. Their meeting would shake the world." In our review of Guilty Gear Strive, we gave the game a 9/10, saying, "Guilty Gear Strive sets a new standard for anime-like fighting games with its visuals, stellar netcode, and flexible fighting system that encourages and rewards creativity." Isaiah Colbert is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow them on Twitter @ShinEyeZehUhh. View the full article

There's nothing quite like roaming the neon streets of Night City. Shy Girl blasting out the radio, rain pattering down on the sidewalk, gunshots echoing in the distance as another chromed up gangster is taken down. There's still room for improvement, though. That's where a new Cyberpunk 2077 mod comes in - it makes the NPCs react to your choices, making the citizens feel more alive and your decisions more impactful. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: The best Cyberpunk 2077 mods Cyberpunk 2077 gets way more realistic as CDPR launches big update This stunning Cyberpunk 2077 gaming PC belongs in the game View the full article

Unlocking unique characters is one of the best parts of Zenless Zone Zero, but it can also be tricky since there are so many to choose from. Luckily for gamers, you can trial characters before you recruit them to determine if they’re right for you. Testing characters out before you start pulling for them is crucial if you want to determine whether an Agent is right for you. Some characters are pretty complex while others are easy to manage, so to figure out who you want on your roster, you need to know how to trial characters in ZZZ. View the full article

Getting the Night Set armor in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree can allow you to look somewhat like Sauron from the Lord of the Rings franchise, but it may be painstaking to acquire if you do not know where to look and, even if you do, it is locked behind a secret that requires some exploration and patience. The Night Set is one of the many new sets of gear that players can obtain while traversing the Realm of Shadow from the highly DLC. It joins the ranks of the Shadow Militiaman set in Elden Ring, for instance. View the full article

Rune farming has consistently been one of the best ways to level up quickly in Elden Ring, and some of the most popular rune farming locations have been exploited by players looking to stack their builds before facing off against some of the more difficult bosses in the game. Repeatedly defeating low-level enemies to better a player's stats requires quite a bit of grinding, and for those who are hoping to explore everything the open-world RPG has to offer, it can get a bit tedious. But outsourcing that work may be the right move. View the full article

NetEase has officially revealed Lightforged Gorehowl, a massive new World of Warcraft statue to commemorate the renewed partnership with Blizzard. Equipped with golden backlights and engraved with messages from returning ******** World of Warcraft players, this new Gorehowl is a literal glow-up compared to its predecessor. View the full article

Bandai Namco has announced that the upcoming 3D arena fighting game Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will have a playable demo at the fighting game tournament EVO 2024. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is one of the Dragon Ball fandom's most anticipated releases, as it marks a return to the classic Budokai Tenkaichi series after nearly two decades. The roster of Sparking Zero consists of both familiar fan favorites like Son Goku and Piccolo to more obscure picks from all corners of the Dragon Ball franchise, like Yajirobe and Anilaza. The game was demoed previously at Summer Game Fest 2024 Play Days, and fans will have another chance to play at the upcoming EVO 2024 event. View the full article

It doesn't matter how much you love a game, after a while you'll need to mix it up a little. In ***** by Daylight this happens pretty regularly, with recent modes like Lights Out, Chaos Shuffle, and the Twisted Masquerade adding a few twists to the game's formula. The next mode players will get to experience promises to fundamentally alter how the game works and is something fans have been requesting for years, and it just got a launch date. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: DBD dev teases what's next for the horror game in Reddit AMA Lara Croft DBD chapter release date, time, and details DBD codes July 2024 View the full article

If, like me, you think a lot of extraction games feel a bit too similar, you may not want to try yet another new one on the market. But, what if I told you this one had skeletons and swords instead of militias and rifles? Dungeonborne uses the tried and tested formula games like Escape from Tarkov and Gray Zone Warfare have mastered, but infuses it with Skyrim-style dungeons filled with supernatural baddies for you and your squad to hack, slash, and ***** spells through. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Dungeonborne is like a bleak, ********* Skyrim, and you can play today Dark and Darker rival has one final free playtest before Steam launch New Dark and Darker rival is the most popular game at Steam Next Fest View the full article

Cheating in an online game can cause fairly serious problems. If something becomes overrun by those who refuse to play by the rules it can lead to the online experience being utterly **********. That's why it's entirely understandable for Soulmask to introduce a new anti-cheat system in the latest update - but there's a few teething issues that are causing problems for players right now. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Don't throw away your first Soulmask character, buffs are incoming Hit survival game Soulmask is publicly shaming banned players on Steam Steam's hottest new survival game is already cooking lots of upgrades View the full article

Polychrome might be one of the most important resources to acquire in Zenless Zone Zero since it’s the main currency you’ll need to purchase rolls for new characters and weapons in the game. This type of currency is relatively difficult to come across in the game, though you can acquire plenty of Polychrome at the beginning of the game to get yourself at least 100 free pulls from the Signal Search gacha. Overall, however, there are only a few ways to acquire Polychrome to use for your collection of characters. View the full article

An Elden Ring player pointed out the importance of fighting Starscourge Radahn and how beating him is not as optional as players may think. Not only is Starscourge Radahn a mandatory boss to access Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, but defeating him unlocks a lot of in-game content. View the full article

Zenless Zone Zero players can gain 100 free pulls from HoYoverses latest promotion, but gamers will need to claim these rewards regularly, as they wont be available from the start. While this may be surprising to a few gamers, its at least guaranteed that they will access these free pulls if they keep playing Zenless Zone Zero. View the full article