Unknown 9: Awakening gives a first look at its mix of Psi-Ops and Assassin’s Creed, ahead of a summer release

We first – and last – saw Unknown 9: Awakening nearly four years ago, when the original action-adventure game from developers Reflector was revealed with a flashy cinematic trailer at Gamescom 2020. Since then, main character Haroona has aged from a young girl in India to an adult with the power to possess people and make them murder each other, if our first look at gameplay ahead of a release this summer is anything to go by.

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Review: Ancient Weapon Holly (Switch) – Serviceable But Shallow Roguelite Action

Hey, everybody. Want to kill all humans?

There is no shortage of terrible things buried deep underground, but, in Ancient Weapon Holly, you get to be the worst of them. This roguelike from Acquire, one of the studios behind the Octopath Traveler series, puts you in control of a powerful robot that seeks revenge on the humans that buried it for thousands of years. Reaching the surface and killing all humans will take a bit longer than you’d expect, though.

At first glance, Ancient Weapon Holly is a serviceable, fun, action-packed roguelite. The game consists of ten levels to play through, each one increasing in difficulty. Holly starts with a basic ranged attack and the ability to open up pits in the floor for enemies to fall into. These can be closed up to instantly kill most enemies, particularly once you’ve upgraded your attack power through the game’s version of a sphere grid. It is an interesting mechanic and the combat is chaotic enough to keep you interested for a few hours, but the game’s lack of depth makes it feel repetitive long before Holly reaches the surface.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240303-2200)

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring today.

It’s important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you’re aware when updates are coming to your device.

Details can be found below!

Xbox Insider Release Notes

System Update Details

  • OS Version: XB_FLT_2408GE26070.1510.240303-2200
  • Available: 2 p.m. PT – March 6, 2024
  • Mandatory: 3 a.m. PT – March 7, 2024

Fixes Included

Thanks to all the great feedback Xbox Insiders provide and the hard work of Xbox engineers, we are happy to announce the following fixes have been implemented with this build:

System

  • Various stability and performance fixes.
  • Various updates to properly reflect local languages across the console.

Known Issues

While known issues may have been listed in previous Xbox Insider Release Notes, they are not being ignored! However, it may take Xbox engineers more time to find a solution. If you experience any of these issues, we ask that you please follow any guidance provided and file feedback with Report a Problem.

Audio

  • Some users have reported experiencing intermittent audio issues across the dashboard, games, and apps.
    • Troubleshooting: If you do experience issues, please confirm your TV and all other equipment have the latest firmware installed. If you are unsure, you may need to contact the manufacturer for assistance. You can also find additional troubleshooting tips here: Troubleshoot audio on your Xbox console.
    • Feedback: If you continue to experience issues after applying the latest firmware and troubleshooting further, please submit feedback via Report a Problem when you are experiencing the issue. Use the “Reproduce with advanced diagnostics” option, then select the category “Console experiences” and “Console Audio Output Issues”.
      • Note: Be sure to include as much information as possible about the issue, when it started, your setup, troubleshooting you have completed, and any additional information that will help us reproduce the issue.

Networking

  • We are investigating reports of an issue where the console may not connect to the network immediately on boot. If you experience this, be sure to report the issue via Report a Problem as soon as you’re able.
    • Workaround: Wait a minute or two for the connection to establish. If your console still hasn’t connected, restart your Xbox from the Power Center or the guide then file feedback with Report a Problem. Learn more about restarting here: How to restart or power cycle your Xbox console.

As always, be sure to use Report a problem to keep us informed of any issues you encounter. We may not be able to respond to everyone, but the data we’ll gather is crucial to finding a resolution.

What Happens to Your Feedback

If you’re an Xbox Insider looking for support, please visit the community subreddit. Official Xbox staff, moderators, and fellow Xbox Insiders are there to help with your concerns.

When posting to the subreddit, please look through the most recent posts to see if your issue has already been posted or addressed. We always recommend adding to existing threads with the same issue before posting a new one. This helps us support you the best we can! Also, don’t forget to use “Report a Problem” before posting – the information shared in both places helps us understand your issue better.

Thank you to every Xbox Insider in the subreddit today and welcome to the community if you’re just joining us! We love that it has become such a friendly and community-driven hub of conversation and support.

For more information regarding the Xbox Insider Program follow us on Twitter. Keep an eye on future Xbox Insider Release Notes for more information regarding your Xbox Update Preview ring!

The post Xbox Insider Release Notes – Alpha Skip-Ahead (2408.240303-2200) appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess Is Secretly a Real-Time Strategy Game – Xbox Partner Preview 2024

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was given a fresh look at the Xbox Partner Preview through a brand-new gameplay trailer. Interestingly, it seems to secretly be a real-time strategy game as much as an action game like Devil May Cry.

The new trailer shows the hero as they traverse the world and battle various spirits. It also showcases the the game’s day/night cycle and how it incorporates the strategic positioning of villagers, who will fight by your side, along with a building element that sees you explore villages and repair contraptions that can be used to your advantage when the monsters come at night.

An Xbox Wire post further fleshes out the details on Kunitsu-Gami, revealing that the story revolves around a hero named Soh who must work together with the maiden, Yoshiro, to “purge and cleanse the villages of defilement.” Masks worn by Soh and various villagers confer divine power, with 12 available in total.

This game features a very distinct blend of action and strategy genres and takes strong inspiration from various elements of Japanese culture

“After releasing Shinsekai: Into the Depths four years ago, we’re ready to open a new chapter for players around the world to enjoy,” director Shuichi Kawata wrote. “This game features a very distinct blend of action and strategy genres and takes strong inspiration from various elements of Japanese culture. With all of that, we’re excited (and maybe a little nervous…in a good way!) to have everyone experience this game.”

According to Kawata, Kunitsu-Gami is in the “final stages of development.” When it releases, it will be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess was first revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023, with the initial trailer featuring a lavishly detailed vision of the Japanese spirit realm mixed with the combat that Capcom is known for. It was also confirmed to be headed for a day one release date on Xbox Game Pass.

Aside from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, the showcase includes new info on The First Berserker: Kharzan and a host of other games. You can read about everything announced at the Xbox Partner Preview right here.

Look for Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, with more info to be revealed at a Capcom streaming showcase scheduled for March 7 at 3pm PT / 6pm ET.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.

What’s better: left-handed FPS options or a little hand for a cursor?

Last time, you decided that removing a card from your deck is better than enemies stopping respawning after you kill them loads. The result wasn’t close but was closer than I expected, which shows why it’s important to ask. We’re doing important work here, you and I. This week, it’s a question of mitts. What’s better: left-handed FPS options or a little hand for a cursor?

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Review: LEGO Animal Crossing – Bunnie’s Outdoor Activities – Is It Any Good?

New Horizons on the block.

Nintendo’s latest collaboration with Lego has resulted in a handful of Animal Crossing sets, a crossover that fans have been begging for ever since the firms’ first collaboration, the LEGO Super Mario sets, were announced back in March 2020 — coincidentally Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ launch month.

In the years since, we’ve seen a bunch of Nintendo-themed Lego sets encompassing the more play-focused Super Mario series to the grander, more expensive sets like the Nintendo Entertainment System, the Mario 64 ‘?’ Block, and the mighty Bowser, which are aimed at older gamers.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is coming to PC on May 16

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is coming to PC! We at Nixxes are thrilled to collaborate with the talented team at Sucker Punch Productions who created this critically acclaimed open-world action adventure. We are excited to bring Jin’s story to a new audience and to bring a Sucker Punch title to PC for the first time.

The PC version of Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut includes the full game, the Iki Island expansion, and the cooperative online multiplayer Legends mode. For the past year, the team at Nixxes has been working hard to bring the Sucker Punch in-house engine technology to PC and implement PC features such as unlocked frame rates, a variety of graphics settings and presets, and customizable mouse and keyboard controls. 


Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is coming to PC on May 16

With ultrawide monitor support, you can take in the expansive terrain and ancient landmarks with a cinematic field of view. Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on PC is fully optimized for 21:9 and 32:9 resolutions and even supports 48:9 resolutions for triple monitor setups.  

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut on PC features the latest performance-enhancing technologies. NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3 are available with both upscaling and frame generation options. Intel XeSS upscaling is also supported and if your hardware has headroom to spare, you can use NVIDIA DLAA or FSR 3 Native AA to further boost image quality.   

The game on PC also offers extensive controller support. Use Steam Input to remap and customize the peripheral of your choice to your preference. For a more immersive experience, use a PlayStation DualSense controller with haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, so you can feel the tension of drawing a bow and the strikes of your sword.  

You can wishlist and pre-purchase Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut now on Steam and the Epic Games Store. If you pre-purchase the game, you’ll get access to the following early in-game unlocks when the game releases on 16 May: 

  • New Game+ Horse  
  • Traveler’s Attire  
  • Broken Armor dyes from Baku’s shop 

 

We asked Sucker Punch co-founder Brian Fleming for his thoughts on the upcoming PC version, here is what he had to say: 


“We’re proud to announce that our friends and partners over at Nixxes are bringing Ghost of Tsushima to PC! This is a first for Sucker Punch – all our previous work is console-exclusive, so we are excited about all this and Nixxes was the right team to do this project. With them on board, we knew the results would be nothing short of amazing! Now excuse me as I go order a Super Ultra Wide monitor!”

– Brian Fleming, Co-Founder, Sucker Punch


For PC players who are new to the game, here’s an overview of everything that is included: 

Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut is an action-adventure game set in feudal Japan. Protagonist Jin Sakai was raised and trained in the ways of the samurai. His world is shattered when a Mongol invasion defeats the samurai army of his home on Tsushima island, and he is faced with a difficult decision: honor the tradition and customs of his upbringing and maintain a fight he cannot win, or deviate from his samurai path to protect the island and its people by any means necessary.  

In his quest to reclaim Tsushima, Jin seeks the guidance and support of old friends and new unlikely allies. He must break away from tradition, become a new kind of warrior, and protect what’s left of his home at all costs. 

Iki Island Expansion In this story expansion, Jin discovers new locations, characters, and enemies on a mysterious island. The island of Iki is a wild, lawless land of raiders and criminals. Jin will have to bring all his skills to defeat the enemy and save Iki. 

Legends – Inspired by Japanese folk tales and mythology, this cooperative multiplayer experience consists of two-player story missions and four-player wave-based survival missions, as well as the competitive two-versus-two Rivals mode. Choose one of four classes: Samurai, Ronin, Hunter or Assassin and play with friends or via online matchmaking. 

Kurosawa Mode – Experience the game in black and white with film grain effects, as well as Japanese dialogue and English subtitles. This mode is inspired by the movies of legendary filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. 

On behalf of everyone at Nixxes Software and Sucker Punch Productions, we can’t wait to bring Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut to PC. We will have more information to share, such as system requirements, as we get closer to launch on May 16. 


One of the Best Power Banks for Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally Is on Sale Today

Today, Amazon is offering the powerful and high capacity Anker Prime 20,000mAh USB Power Bank for only $89.98, a hefty 31% price drop from its original $130 MSRP. This is the successor to the Anker 737 that we deemed the best Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally charger. It boasts an absolutely massive 200W of USB power delivery to charge all of your mobile devices simultaneously.

Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank for $90

with 200W of USB Type-C Power Delivery

The Anker Prime can be used like any other power bank; it does a fine job of charging any of your standard mobile electronics. However, its main purpose is to charge more power hungry devices like laptops, portable gaming systems, and high end phones. It has two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A port. Each USB Type C port supports up to 100W of Power Delivery. In fact, both ports can charge 100W at the same time. If you want to charge using all three ports simultaneously, then the power distribution will be 100W (Type C), 60W (Type-C) and 40W (Type-A). The 20,000mAh is under the TSA’s 27,000mAh limit so it can be brought onto airplanes; it can charge a Nintendo Switch OLED about 4 times, iPhone 15 Pro Max about 4 times, Steam Deck about 3 times, and an ASUS ROG Ally about 7 times.

What makes the Prime unique compared to most other power banks is the LCD digital readout which displays a lot of useful real-time information like remaining battery capacity, power input, and power output from each port. The power bank measures 5″x2″x2″ and weighs in at 1.2 pounds.

The Anker Prime is an excellent Steam Deck / ASUS ROG Ally charger

The Anker Prime is an outstanding charger for the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally portable gaming handhelds. The Steam Deck accepts up to 38W of USB Power Delivery and the ASUS ROG Ally accepts up to 65W. That means the Prime can charge three Steam Decks or two ASUS ROG Allys simultaneously at their maximum charging rate. Both the ROG Ally and Steam Deck suffer from a short battery life when gaming on the go. For instance, when playing most games at 60 FPS, you’re likely looking at four hours of battery life for the Steam Deck and far less with the ASUS ROG Ally, which is equipped with a measly 2600mAh battery. During our Steam Deck review, we even found games like God of War or Spider-Man would tap out in under 2-hours as well. At the end of the day, you’ll never get the full potential out of your Steam Deck or ROG Ally if you’re not equipped with a decent portable charger.