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We saw the signs, we heard the rumors, and now it’s official: Microsoft is doing away with Microsoft Points. As the publisher heads into a new console generation, and prepares to unify all its services through Windows, the antiquated currency system no longer fit. Moving forward, Microsoft plans to stick to more traditional (read: obvious) currency systems like credit and gift cards. There is no word, however, on what Microsoft plans to do with gamers’ unspent points....

Microsoft announced Xbox Game Preview - its own version of Steam’s Early Access Program - at E3 2015 earlier this year, but only indie titles have been implemented into it so far. The Xbox maker intends to bring early access to the console, while avoiding the issues facing Steam’s program, which includes bad games, a lack of curation, and shady developers. Xbox Game Preview still has a bit of a ways to go before it becomes a trusted and natural part of the development process, but it’s progressing quickly enough....

In a sandbox survival and creative game like Minecraft, time actually plays quite an important role. In-game time serves as a way to make thousands of calculations for the player, and to determine how the environment responds and behaves in certain situations. That’s why understanding the daylight cycle is such a crucial and underrated part of the game. The daylight cycle basically means the passing of time, and the special features that come with day and night, as well as dusk and dawn in Minecraft....

Once you explore a large part of the Minecraft overworld, maps suddenly become essential items. Without them, it’s hard to remember where everything is, from certain biomes to specific structures. Yet, unless you choose to spawn with a map and manage to hold onto it, you’re going to need to create one. There are two types of craftable maps in the Bedrock edition of the game: the empty map and the empty locator map (called ’empty map’ in the Java edition)....

This past week, video game voice actress Laura Bailey shared some of the death threats she has been receiving for what her character Abby did in the story of The Last of Us Part 2. Laura Bailey has received support from others in the industry, including from the game’s director, Neil Druckmann. But now Hollywood director James Gunn has commented on it as well. This article will try to be as spoiler-free as possible, but those who haven’t played The Last of Us Part 2 yet and don’t mind spoilers can read an explanation of the content people are sending death threats over here....

Hunters are preparing to embark on a new adventure when Monster Hunter Rise releases on March 26. Ahead of its anticipated launch, Nintendo has designed a Monster Hunter Rise Special Edition Nintendo Switch and controller for release in Japan - and it’s as majestic as you’d think. Launching in tandem with the game, the Special Edition Switch retails at 38,400¥ (excluding tax - approximately $370.40) which is a relatively standard price for a unique edition - and well worth your hard-earned cash....

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is (as its name implies) a truly bizarre show. Part of what makes it so difficult to explain to people who have never heard of it before is that it is essentially an anime anthology series that also has a consistent through-line of continuity. How is this possible? Each season covers a completely different central conflict and introduces entirely new casts of characters. The continuity is present in the way that the series has a protagonist that is a different member of the Joestar family....

There are a lot of ways veterans of the Kingdom Hearts games describe the series, and with good reason. Kingdom Hearts, as a whole, is a staggering achievement that blends the best elements of Square Enix games with the most compelling beats in Disney’s best films. At its worst, however, it is an unapologetic mess, an amalgam of increasingly confusing achronological plot points and a parade of characters with mysterious back stories....

Kingdom Hearts streamer and content creator SarahKey has defeated Sephiroth by using a dance pad from Dance Dance Revolution. She finished the infamous boss from the original game by just using her feet. What makes this even more impressive is that she beat him with her Proud mode save at Level 100. For those who don’t know Proud is actually the hardest difficulty in the game. In the past, SarahKey has finished Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II with the dance pad on Beginner mode, but this time, she went all out....

It’s been a year full of ups and downs for Konami who just recently released Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain to rave reviews from both critics and consumers alike. Though the game has been selling extremely well, the company has been under a microscope due to its very public feud with legendary developer, Hideo Kojima. While Konami has confirmed that the series will continue on without Kojima, public perception has not been favorable through all the rebranding efforts and game cancellations like Silent Hills....

In their first newsletter since the launch of Baldur’s Gate 3, Larian Studios has revealed some interesting data about the way people have been playing the game, including which party member has suffered the most deaths. Apparently, the only character that has died more than the player characters themselves is the cleric Shadowheart. It isn’t all that surprising when you think about it: Shadowheart is the first companion most players encounter after the tutorial, and as a Trickery Cleric, she isn’t the most straightforward or intuitive party member to control....

LeBron is coming to Fortnite. That’s according to Fortnite leaker and insider Shiina, who posted the all-caps announcement on Twitter earlier today. For those unaware, the Icon Series of skins got started with Ninja back in January of 2020. Since then, various gaming celebs have been added to Fortnite as skins, including Travis Scott, LazarBeam, Loserfruit, and TheGrefg. Arguably, LeBron James would be the biggest star to grace Fortnite yet....

LG has had a long-standing commitment to OLED TVs. It was one of the first manufacturers to release them on a wide scale, with LG Display manufacturing the vast majority of OLED panels for other TV makers, too. The company certainly has a wide range of OLED televisions these days and you’ll often find models at various price points. An OLED TV is no longer necessarily prohibitive to those without the deepest pockets....

Our quick take Alternatives to consider LG Watch Style - 4.0 / 5 LG Watch Style review: Design IP68 rated for water and dust resistance Interchangeable leather straps 42.3 x 45.7 x 10.79mm; 43g Rose gold, titanium and silver colourways Huawei Watch 2 Sport review LG Watch Style review: Display 1.2-inch OLED, 360 x 360 pixel resolution (299ppi) Fully circular screen (no ‘flat tyre’ black bar) LG Watch Sport vs LG Watch Style: What’s the difference?...

Technology has the power to do many things, and changing the world is one of them. We’re privileged to be living in a time where science and technology can assist us, make our lives easier and rethink the ways we go about our daily lives. The technology we’re already exposed and accustomed to has paved the way for us to innovate further, and this list of current and future technologies certainly have the potential to change our lives even more....

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom director James Wan promises the sequel will be a more mature outing for the character, but won’t lose the fun aspect that made the original the most successful DC movie of all time. “2018’s Aquaman was surprising in so many ways. Formerly a superhero punchline, Aquaman shocked audiences with an ambitious, balls-to-the-wall action-adventure. The film had everything: deep-sea monsters? Check. Octopus playing drums? Check. Julie Andrews voicing an ancient sea creature?...

After narrowly escaping the doctor in Chapter 3’s hospital, Little Nightmares 2 players will arrive in the game’s final location, The City. While this level may be a reprieve from the dark corridors of the hospital, there are still several threats for players to contend with, including, the level’s main antagonist, The Thin Man. Compared to previous levels, Little Nightmares 2’s City chapter puts a heavy focus on puzzle-solving, with most enemy encounters occurring towards the conclusion of the chapter....

Equipment is extremely important in Loop Hero, as it increases a player’s power level by improving a number of stats. While many of the stats that are altered by gear are quite easy to understand, that is not the case with absolutely all of them. For instance, Magic Damage is a stat in Loop Hero that some fans may have questions about, and this guide looks to alleviate any confusion that surrounds it....

Early 2021 has had a gap of major AAA game releases, a rarity in the past decade. In place of major releases, indie games like Valheim, Tale of Immortal, Dyson Sphere Program, and Rust have filled in instead. Now another game can be added to the list of impressively successful indie launches for 2021. Loop Hero, the unique roguelite mix of automated RPG combat, deckbuilding, and meta progression, is the latest breakout success on Steam....

This Lovecraft Country review contains spoilers. Lovecraft Country Episode 7 “I Am.” is what happens when women are given the space to explore every facet of their being, and are allowed to embody even the ugliest parts of themselves. It is another in a succession of strong episodes that center women, and allow for their self-discovery and actualization. The last time we see Hippolyta, she and Diana detour from Boston to Ardham....