Time to Fight the Bots again

The official playstation blog has confirmed that there will be NO PS5 units available for in-store purchases at the time of the console’s launch on November 12th. This flies in the face of outlets like Gamestop, Target, Best Buy, etc. that were telling consumers that they would have said units in stock for walk-ins. Presumably this was a very difficult decision made primarily in response to the current pandemic. It’s amicable of Sony to make this decision for its fanbase, but I’m sure there are many that are disappointed since this would have been there last chance to score a unit at launch.

Those who have already pre-ordered their units can still follow safety protocols and pick their consoles up the day of at least. Health and safety is more important however, and having to wait a month or two for a $500 plastic box won’t be the end of the world.

“Please sir…I’d like some More!”

After much back and forth between Social Media warriors and little to no confirmation coming from Sony, we finally have something to go on. Ok, it’s still a leak, but a decidedly credible one. So let’s take this information with the usual grain of salt. While the PS5 does ship with an 825GB SSD, according to a screenshot and videos shared by user Okami13we are only going to see roughly 650GB of that space. 

This puts the PS5’s storage space at an estimated 152GB below the Series X’s available 802GB. That’s a whole Call of Duty install (pre-update!) right there. It’s not necessarily a deal breaker or ‘game changing’ revelation, but it’s another notch in the belt of specific details that Sony has remained mum on, especially so close to launch. The upside is that Sony is giving its customers the option to use off-the-shelf NVMe SSDs to expand PS5 storage. These SSDs will need to be approved by Sony beforehand, and-as expected-there is still no official list of compatible drives.

This is in stark contrast to Microsoft’s partnership with Seagate to produce their plug n’ play, 1TB portable SSD. Both companies have taken very different approaches to their storage solutions and it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the long term. It is worth noting that Microsoft has confirmed that we will see more 3rd-party solutions for external storage in the future. The Series X|S are only 5 DAYS away from launch with the PS5 tagging along soon after in 7. Whichever you plan to go with first, it’s going to be an interesting and exciting New Generation!

Next-Gen is Upon Us. Are You ready?

We are merely days away from the highly anticipated launch of the Xbox Series X|S and just 10 for the titular Playstation 5. New consoles also mean new games and there is a mountain’s worth of new content coming to sink your teeth into. Let’s start breaking down some of the standout games (-and even electronics!) coming in November: 

Nov 6th.

Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia :Nintendo Switch

Dirt 5: XBOX(Smart Delivery Upgrade on Nov. 10th for Series X|S), PS4(Upgrade available for PS5 at launch)

Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered: XBOX, PS4, Steam (Nov. 13th for Nintendo Switch)

 

Nov 10th. 

(XBOX Series X|S Launch Day)

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: XBOX, PS4, Epic Game Store ( Series X and PS5 receive free upgrades. Gold & Ultimate Editions also available) 

The Falconeer: XBOX Series X|S, Steam

Bright Memory: XBOX Series X|S (Digital Only)

Gears Tactics: XBOX Series X|S

Yakuza – Like a Dragon: XBOX, Series X|S, PS4

Tetris Effect – Connected: XBOX Series X|S  (Digital Only)

Observer – System Redux: XBOX Series X|S, Win 10 (Also coming to PS5 on the 12th.) 

Destiny 2 – Beyond Light: XBOX Series X|S, Steam, PS4 (Xbox One & PS4 owners receive performance upgrade when moving to Series X|S or PS5)

XIII Remake: XBOX Series X|S, PS4, Nintendo Switch (Limited Edition also available.)

Sakuna of Rice and Ruin: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Steam 

Fuser: XBOX, PS4, PC, Nintendo Switch

 

Nov. 12th 

(PS5 Launch Day)

Marvel’s SpiderMan – Miles Morales: PS4, PS5, Ultimate Edition (PS5 Only)

Demon’s Souls Remastered: PS5

Sackboy – A Big Adventure: PS5, PS4, Special Edition (PS4 Only)

The Pathless: PS4, PS5 (Comes with PS4 Version), Epic Games Store, Apple Arcade

BugSnax: PS4, PS5, Epic Games Store (15% off)

Godfall: PS5, Ascended Edition (PS5), Epic Games Store

 

Nov. 13th

Call of Duty Black Ops – Cold War: XBOX1, Series X|S, PS4, PS5, PC

Game & Watch Super Mario Bros. Handheld

Apple iPhone 12

 

Nov. 17th

Mortal Kombat 11 – Ultimate: Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5

 

Nov. 19th

Monster Truck Championship: XBOX, PS4, Nintendo Switch 

 

Nov. 20th

Katamari Damacy Reroll: XBOX, PS4, Nintendo Switch

Hyrule Warriors – Age of Calamity: Nintendo Switch 

 

Nov. 24th

Just Dance 2021: XBOX, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Pokemon Sword & Shield – The Crown Tundra DLC: Nintendo Switch 

There are even MORE games than this coming, but these are the standouts and what are sure to be the big hitters. How about you? Anything you’re super excited for that isn’t on the list? Let me know in the comments! 

 

 

Sony Adds some Crunch to its Dish

It has been reported that Sony is entering final negotiations to purchase the CrunchyRoll Anime streaming service. The buyout could potentially run them over 100 Billion Yen (That’s around $957 Million after conversions). With over 70 million Free Members and 3 million Subscribers, there is certainly growth and profit to be made in the long run. This is especially true when Anime continues to grow in popularity in the West year over year. 

It’s worth noting that Sony also has a 95% stake in Funimation, giving them quite the foothold in the anime department. The acquisition comes at an interesting time when shareholders and consumers alike are monitoring Sony’s moves to see whether they try to take hold of any Studios in light of Microsoft’s ongoing acquisitions. This is a good reminder that Sony has always been more than a Playstation centric business. Technology and Media is still at the forefront of their ventures. 

Microsoft Confirms the Xbox Series X & S are “The ONLY Next-Gen Consoles” with FULL RDNA 2 Hardware Support

AMD’s Radeon RX 6000 Series of RDNA 2 GPUs have been revealed today, and following the presentation, Microsoft released an statement of their own. Simply put, the Xbox Series X/S will be the only next-generation consoles “with full hardware support for all the RDNA 2 capabilities AMD showcased today.” This flies directly into the face of those that have been disputing the implementation for months now, and puts the narrative to bed.

The following are some excerpts from the announcement that go into further detail regarding the technology:

“AMD’s latest RDNA 2 architecture delivers a significant increase in performance and efficiency over previous architectures, as well as adding new hardware acceleration capabilities including hardware accelerated DirectX Raytracing, Mesh Shaders, Sampler Feedback and Variable Rate Shading. Hardware accelerated DirectX Raytracing, showcased at launch by titles such as Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs: Legion, enables developers to deliver a new level of visual fidelity and immersion through techniques such as realistic lighting, shadows, reflections and acoustics. 

Mesh Shaders can manipulate geometry in real time to provide a high level of fidelity and flexibility that developers have never had before. Sampler Feedback greatly improves memory efficiency by allowing games to load into memory, with fine granularity, only the portions of textures that the GPU needs for a scene, as it needs it, providing an effective 2.5x memory and bandwidth multiplier beyond the raw hardware capabilities. Sampler Feedback also enables efficient creation and shading of textures on-demand. 

Finally, Variable Rate Shading (VRS) delivers much finer grain control on how developers can leverage the full power of the Xbox Series X|S by enabling developers to focus their GPU resources on the areas of a frame that most benefit without reducing the overall image quality. 

By leveraging techniques like VRS, games such as Gears 5 can see performance increases up to 15% and beyond resulting in higher, more consistent frame rates and resolution at the exact same image quality. All of these next-generation capabilities are available via hardware in both the Xbox Series X and Series S and we are excited for them to also come to PC, providing a common set of features that developers can rely on when developing their games across console and PC.” 

Check the full article Here

On the flip side of things, Sony’s PS5 will feature some Custom RDNA 2 features, but will not be utilized at the Hardware level. 

The Fenyx Rises

Last Thursday, and seemingly out of nowhere, Ubisoft released a demo for their upcoming Open-World Adventure Epic, Immortals: Fenyx Rising on…Stadia. Yes. The demo is available exclusively through Google’s Stadia streaming platform until the 29th. Thankfully, you don’t need a pro membership and can still play the demo via a free account. So kudos for that.

I was already sold on Fenyx Rising after its Gameplay deep-dive last month, where we got to see a ton of combat, exploration, skill trees, and really get an overall sense of the game’s themes and aesthetic. Now, having played a fair amount of the demo, I can whole heartily say that my opinion has not changed, but rather been emboldened. I wouldn’t fault you for thinking that Immortals seems like something ripped right out of the mid-2000s playbook, because in all honesty, it really is.

See the source image

The cartoony character models mixed with exaggerated animations, brightly colored combat flourishes, and goofy dialogue all lends itself to classics like Beyond Good & Evil, Jak & Daxter, Maximo, and The Legend of Zelda. In fact, it’s very clear that Immortals has taken inspiration from Breath of the Wild. However, much like this year’s Genshin Impact , Immortals takes those inspirations and uses them to become its own game, and dare I say, improve on some of Breath of the Wild’s mechanics.

See the source image

For starters, traversal feels weighty, which I like. Every leap, every cliff face climbed, every object interacted with gives substantial feedback and makes the world feel tangible. Fenyx has access to wings that she can not only hover with, but can dash through the air and even use them for tricky maneuvers in combat. Fenyx can also call up her steed (which there will be multiple kinds of) at any time without having to remember where she parked it. Convenient indeed. You can definitely feel the Assassin’s Creed engine doing its thing behind the scenes as even the default controller mapping is the same as those games. Not a terrible thing, but it does feel odd to have RB as the basic attack button for this type of game.

Speaking of attacking, let’s get into combat. This is where Immortals definitely has a leg up on its predecessors. Whether targeting a specific enemy or opting for free movement, you can unleash combos and flashy attacks by hammering away at the attack button. Then you have your heavy attack which is a comically large axe for Fenyx’s size that can help deal with multiple enemies at a time and deal some extra damage. That’s all good and well until enemies with shields and moves that need to be dodge or parried come into the mix. Dodging an attack at the last second initiates a Bayonetta esque Witch Time that slows the world down for a few seconds so you can reposition yourself or get a few extra hits in. Parrying functions as you expect. Time it correctly and your opponent will be temporarily stunned and at your mercy.

See the source image

Now, where things start getting interesting is when you launch your enemies by holding the attack button (very similar to the original God of War trilogy’s combat mechanic), or using a skill such as Aries’ Rage which causes the ground around Fenyx to erupt with massive spears that cause good damage, can launch enemies, or even keep them airborne for longer. Fenyx can extend her combos mid-air much like in Devil May Cry and pull off some fancy maneuvers. Remember when I said she can use her wings in combat? Yep. Some enemies like Harpies and Griffins actually require you to master this technique in order to square off with them and have any degree of success.

It didn’t take long before I was dodging, parrying, launching enemies, zipping through the air, and following up with Fenyx’s massive Hammer slam. It all feels familiar, but no less entertaining for it. 

See the source image

Something I really appreciate is Immortal’s less than serious tone. Sure, the stakes are high (supposedly), but you can’t help but chuckle at some of the banter between Zeus and Prometheus whom narrate Fenyx’s adventure. There is a point in the demo that involves one such conversation and poor Fenyx can do nothing but shake her head in dismay at the nonsense that ends up involving murderous chickens ensuing. Fenyx herself also has an interesting bit of characterization; Not only in her dialogue, but also in the way she interacts with the world around her.

Opening chests result in any number of randomized animations from Fenyx drumming on the chest for good luck, kicking it open, to even mimicking a familiar, green tunic wearing hero’s actions. Speaking of; The demo also gives us a little taste of what to expect in the form of dungeon crawling and puzzle solving. No particular puzzle felt too difficult and usually involved some form of environmental interaction, but they didn’t feel arbitrary or annoying either. The islands that the game’s world is divided into all hold their fare share of secrets to unearth as well, with little space feeling empty or unused. I think I’ve gone into enough detail at this point. If you’re really interested, the demo is live until the 29th and, in my humble opinion, is well worth a look if you don’t mind letting your browser be hostage to Stadia for a little while. 

Preparing for Launch

With just 15 days left before the Global launch of both the XBOX SERIES X & S on Nov. 10th, Microsoft has released an official and comprehensive breakdown of to expect and how to prepare for, what is arguably, one of the Xbox brand’s biggest console launches ever.  

Right away we’re treated to a speedy boot sequence that brings to like the latest UI, as well as the dynamic backgrounds. Via Quick Resume, we jump right into Gears of War 5 which has become a showcase for the how the visual fidelity and overall performance of games can be improved thanks to the Series X’s beefy hardware and software architecture. After a few minutes our hosts snap over to Dirt 5 in literal seconds. If I’m being honest, Quick Resume is probably one of the biggest game changers coming to consoles in this new generation. The feature is akin to using ‘Save State’ when running emulators on PC, or PC games in general. 

After some more gameplay we get into the new Share Button on the controller and just how convenient and quick it is to not only save, but also share your captures. Quite literally, a tap or two of the button is all it takes to being building and sharing your content with friends and the community.

Watching just how smooth and snappy the UI and Storefront are is definitely encouraging and impressive. What’s more; Navigating “My Games & Apps” is quicker than ever. For someone like myself that has literally hundreds of games installed on my internal and external drives, this is truly a Godsend. 

The mini-presentation is just over 14 minutes long and goes over the primaries of what to expect when booting up your new console. While it is disappointing that there wasn’t a quick clip or two of some new gameplay, it wasn’t expected from this video anyway. Microsoft is committed to providing content every week leading up to launch, a strategy that will keep consumers/fans engaged and excited. They’ve also confirmed that there WILL exclusive Series X gameplay footage before launch, so keep it locked here for future updates! 

 

So Fresh and So Clean

With the official launch of the Xbox Series X|S looming in the distance, Microsoft has officially opened Pre-Orders for their new line of controllers. The new accessories are coming in three distinct flavors: Robot White (Comes with Series S), Carbon Black (Tried & True Classic that comes with the Series X), and the infamous Shock Blue which looks very nice and will probably end up in a lot of owner’s homes before the year’s end.

Aside from numerous performance tweaks, both Hardware & Software based, and the new Share Button, anyone familiar with current Xbox Controllers will feel right at home with the new designs. Better yet, each controller will retail for $59.99-MSRP. That’s right; No arbitrary price hike. You get premium, improved products for the same price you’d pay right now. Win-Win. What’s more, if you don’t want/need an extra controller right away, you can still use ALL of your existing accessories with your shiny new Series X|S.

Check the image below for the official landing page!

Official Microsoft Image

Scorn Not Thine Masters

Originally announced back in 2018, Scorn always draws attention whenever it rears its disfigured head from the murky depths of obscurity. With its H.R. Giger inspired aesthetics, grotesque creature and weapon designs, disturbing environmental puzzles, and Bioshock esque thematic design; Scorn is much an enigma as it is one of the most arresting and anticipated games coming in early 2021. 

We now have nearly 14 minutes of raw gameplay footage courtesy of Gamespot, running on-wait for it-The Xbox Series X. This is VERY important because this has been a point of contention for consumers wanting to see those golden letters “Captured on Series X” during previous Xbox events. Thankfully, we have been getting plenty of it by way of games like Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Dirt 5, The Falconeer, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon just to name a few.

What we have on offer here with Scorn is nothing short of stunning. The attention to detail in nearly every aspect of the game’s design is absurd. The pulsating walls of the labyrinthine corridors look alive, to the point where you feel compelled to reach out and satisfy your morbid curiosity with a quick touch. Idle animations of the player’s weapons are suggestive and elaborate. This not only impacts gameplay as it makes you conscious of choosing when to reload, but it’s a constant reminder that everything around you is potentially alive.

I, for one, am truly excited to finally discover (hopefully) the nature of Scorn’s world and why things are. I won’t bore you with anymore banter. Check the video and enjoy!  

Coffee

I’ll tell you right now; I love coffee. No, not that sugar infused, drowned in milk, and topped with whip cream mess most people associate it with. There are few things more pleasing in the morning or during an afternoon siesta than a freshly brewed cup of roasted beans. Sure, I like a bit of creamer here and there, but never enough to drown out the actual flavor of the coffee; more so to compliment it. Now, if you like your sugary drink piled high that’s perfectly fine, it’s your taster’s choice (Har-har), but why do people like to demonize coffee as some ritualistic, addictive concoction that becomes some glorified obstacle to overcome? Continue reading “Coffee”