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Control's new Foundation game expansion brings the weirdness
Control, our favorite game of 2019, is getting its first expansion. And it looks just as weird as the main game.
Today Remedy launched a new gameplay trailer for Control's electrifying and ultra-weird new Foundation DLC, which is coming out on March 26 on PS4, Xbox One and PC for $15. The expansion delves into the deepest roots of the game's true star: The Oldest House, a supernatural, constantly-shifting environment that has a life of its own. The photo-realism is absolutely mind-blowing and the world is just as bizarre as ever, complete with interdimesional brutalist designs.
The Foundation DLC brings a bunch of new abilities, too. Jesse can now summon crystals to stab enemies, and even prisms that act like makeshift platforms for those stellar vertical levels. There's also a Lovecraftian boss horror from some hellish abyssal plane waiting for us.
Continue reading: Control's new Foundation game expansion brings the weirdness (full post)
Minecraft is now being used as a global weapon against censorship
Minecraft being one of the most popular games ever created owes its success to its vast array of creative features. Now, those creative features are being used in a way that has never been before.
Introducing, 'The Uncensored Library' a new Minecraft server that boasts freedom of the press rights. Yes, that's right, this Minecraft server is open to the global public who want to read books that contain articles that are originally censored. The people behind this project are the organization Reporters Without Borders and BlockWorks.
These groups decided to make this Minecraft server for people in countries such as Egypt, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam where censorship has taken hold. Players who jump into the server can read censored articles from Mada Masr, grani.ru, Javier Valdez, Jamal Khashoggi, and Nguyen Van Dai. According to James Delaney, the Managing Director at BlockWorks and Architect of the Uncensored Library, "The Uncensored Library is a bold use of Minecraft. It really encapsulates everything that is great about this game and the community it has created."
Continue reading: Minecraft is now being used as a global weapon against censorship (full post)
3D Realms' canceled Alien game would've been the ultimate Alien game
Many fans of the Alien franchise were dying to know what 3D Realms had in store for its now-canceled Alien game. Back in late February, 3D Realms' VP, Frederik Schreiber, revealed some most-wanted details, and now he has done it again.
3D Realms' canceled Alien game was meant to be called Aliens: Hadleys Hope, and it was originally meant to be the ultimate Aliens gaming experience. From the pitch notes, players would have been able to play as both Marines and Aliens. Marines would have to work together as a team, and each marine would have its own unique abilities and classes. As you might've expected, if players decided to play as marines, their goal would be to eliminate all aliens in sight, kill the queen and escape the planet.
If players decided to play as aliens, they would start deep underground in a terraforming facility. Players would then spawn in a facehugger and begin to view the game world through the perspective of the facehugger. The first goal when playing the Aliens was to take the first facehugger and find a colonist to give birth to the first Xenomorph. From there, players would have been able to control every alien through a HiveMind, which means players could've controlled each alien individually and swapped between all of them in real-time.
Continue reading: 3D Realms' canceled Alien game would've been the ultimate Alien game (full post)
Nintendo Switch overlay mod: GPU/CPU temps, in-game FPS & clockspeeds
The Nintendo Switch is no doubt an impressive console that has sold very well for Nintendo. But what is fueling that success?
Well, for game developers, the foundation for the Nintendo Switch's success is the hardware that is underneath the handheld console. Until now, gamers who are enjoying playing games on their Nintendo Switch haven't been able to see what that hardware is doing while games are being played-introducing the 'Tesla, The Nintendo Switch Overlay' mod.
This new mod allows gamers to get real-time diagnostic feedback on what that hardware is specifically doing (Tegra X1 chipset). In the above video, Digitial Foundry takes this mod and runs it through several big titles on the Nintendo Switch. DOOM, Mario Odyssey, Zelda, and more titles were tested, and what they found was those game developers utilized different parts of the Tegra X1 chipset. The mod showcased the current GPU/CPU temperatures, CPU core usage, memory clock speeds, RAM usage, and thermals. On top of that, users can also overclock their Nintendo Switch.
Continue reading: Nintendo Switch overlay mod: GPU/CPU temps, in-game FPS & clockspeeds (full post)
Star Citizen Alpha 3.9 has new food, drink, temp survival mechanics
If you haven't seen the survival mechanics coming to Star Citizen, then you might want to check that out as they sound pretty damn amazing -- and even more immersive, which are set to drop in Alpha 3.9.
Cloud Imperium Games has announced that Star Citizen Alpha 3.9 will feature the aforementioned survival mechanics, with the developer teasing that Alpha 3.9 will include support for food, third, and temperature survival. You will need to keep your fluids up, with players in Star Citizen to drink things between bottled water through to energy drinks. As for food, you'll have to find things between fruits (that you can harvest youself), burritos to canned food.
Star Citizen Alpha 3.9 will see people having to look after how much they're eating and drinking, but not too realistic that it ruins gameplay. The developer explains: "In terms of how often you should be eating/drinking - the idea behind it was to make it long enough so that it was not intrusive to the gameplay - but short enough that at least you had to eat/drink once a play session (i.e. several hours)".
Continue reading: Star Citizen Alpha 3.9 has new food, drink, temp survival mechanics (full post)
US box office: worst in 25 years, since the release of Outbreak
The US box office has experienced its worst weekend in 25 years, which coincidentally just so happens to be the year that Outbreak was released: 1995. Just in case you don't remember Outbreak, I've got the trailer embedded below:
It looks like all that social distancing with cinema chains like AMC Theaters implementing new procedures, along with advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending social gatherings of over 500 people end, with CDC's new guidelines recommending just 50 people or less now.
COVID-19 coronavirus has forced US box office numbers into worrying lows, with the top 10 movies combined making just $50.3 million. This is the lowest for weekend 11 of the year since March 17-19, 1995 -- the year Outbreak was leading the US box office.
Continue reading: US box office: worst in 25 years, since the release of Outbreak (full post)
Starbucks temporarily enables 'to go' model over coronavirus spread
Starbucks has joined the growing list of companies implementing procedures to enable social distancing over COVID-19 coronavirus, with the retail coffee shop giant temporarily enabling a "to go" model in all of its US and Canadian stores.
The company will end seating in all of its US and Canada-based Starbucks stores, which will include both indoor and patio areas for the next 2 weeks. In its place, Starbucks will use its own app for ordering ahead of time -- and then depending on the store, walking up to the counter and picking it up, delivery, or drive thru.
Starbucks will physically close its stores in places like schools and shopping malls where "high-social gathering" occurs. Starbucks EVP Rossann Williams explained in a statement: "As we all know, the situation with COVID-19 is extremely dynamic and we will continue to review the facts and science and make the proactive decisions necessary to protect our partners, customers and communities. Every community's needs are incredibly different. We want to make sure we play a constructive role by taking responsible actions, in partnership with the CDC and local public health authorities, so we can continue to do what's right for our partners and customers".
Continue reading: Starbucks temporarily enables 'to go' model over coronavirus spread (full post)
Xbox Live goes down, overloaded with coronavirus homebound gamers?
So, Xbox Live is down and gamers are ripping their hair out -- especially with the world in panic lockdown mode over COVID-19 coronavirus, more gamers than ever before are at home and wanting to play games.
Microsoft has taken to its official Twitter account for Xbox Support, explaining: "We understand some users may be experiencing errors with sign in or matching making on Xbox Live, and are currently investigating". The service was down for just over 3 hours or so, with Xbox Support tweeting out again:
The tweet explains that players should "once again be able to sign in and access Xbox Live services normally". Yay!
Continue reading: Xbox Live goes down, overloaded with coronavirus homebound gamers? (full post)
EA joins coronavirus panic with work-from-home policies until April 1
EA has just joined the COVID-19 coronavirus lock down, where it has now limited social gatherings in an effort to "fight this pandemic". The company has said it has postponed all live game events until "the global coronavirus situation improves".
This means that EA has just temporarily halted live game events involving some of the biggest games in the world, including battle royale superstar Apex Legends. Other EA games included in the live event lockdown include the Apex Legends Global Series, FIFA 20 Global Series, FIFA Online 4 Live, and Madden NFL 20 Championship Series.
Online events will continue, with gamers and staff able to play and work remotely, respectively. EA explains: "This has been an unprecedented few days in an already unprecedented time. As the world works to limit the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, a sweeping set of societal and cultural changes are now impacting all of our daily lives. We'd like to take a moment to update all of you on what we're doing at Electronic Arts to ensure the health and wellbeing of our employees, while also making sure that everyone is able to keep playing their favorite games".
Continue reading: EA joins coronavirus panic with work-from-home policies until April 1 (full post)
Spring promotion: Windows 10 Pro key $10.55 + Office 2019 Pro $33.96
Windows 10 Pro key is best for small businesses or users needing enhanced functionality. Licensed for 1 PC. Permanent and Authorized. The purchase process is super simple! MMORC.COM would like to remind you that the special coupon code: TWA31. That mean there is a 31% applicable discount.
Microsoft Office 2019 Pro plus Key provides the essential tools you need to capture, analyze, and organize your ideas. Office 2019 is for students who want classic Office apps and email installed on one computer for use at home or work. It is a one-time purchase that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. MMORC.COM would like to remind you that the special coupon code: TWA53. That means there is a 53% applicable discount.
And don't forget to use the coupon code "TWA31" for an Extra 31% Discount, when you need the follow products too:
Continue reading: Spring promotion: Windows 10 Pro key $10.55 + Office 2019 Pro $33.96 (full post)
CDC: limit or cancel events of over 50 people for the next 8 weeks
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that in-person events with over 50 people be limited, or outright cancelled in the United States over coronavirus.
In an update of COVID-19 coronavirus on March 15, the CDC has new interim guidance that recommends "in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States".
The CDC includes "conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies" in its criteria for "large events" and "mass gatherings". However, the new guidance over COVID-19 coronavirus spread doesn't include schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses.
Continue reading: CDC: limit or cancel events of over 50 people for the next 8 weeks (full post)
Robert Downey Jr. teases next-gen OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone
Iron Man and The Avengers star Robert Downey Jr. has been spotted with the unreleased OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone, but there's something important to remember: he's a brand ambassador for OnePlus. Robert Downey Jr. was recently deepfaked into Back to the Future with fellow MCU actor and Spider-Man, Tom Holland.
The actor recently "spotted" in a photo on a photographer's Instagram account, with the new OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone in his hand. But then a Robert Downey Jr. fanpage account re-posted the photo, which shows off the new OnePlus 8 Pro that the actor "accidentally" (in reality: paid endorsement) of the new smartphone.
We're expecting the OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone to rock a 6.5-inch display with a super-slick 120Hz refresh rate, new Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, and 5G connectivity. The rear-facing camera system, now thanks to the photo from Iron Man, shows a quad camera setup. We're expecting a high-end main sensor, telephoto lens and ultra-wide lens that will be joined by a Time-of-Flight sensor.
Continue reading: Robert Downey Jr. teases next-gen OnePlus 8 Pro smartphone (full post)
Doom Eternal features in-game FPS overlay with CPU, GPU usage metrics
Like its predecessor, Doom Eternal will come with a built-in FPS and CPU/GPU performance overlay that shows you real-time metrics.
Doom Eternal's new id Tech 7 engine offers tons of new improvements like enabling insane 1000FPS gameplay on PC, but some familiar features are coming back too. Today Doom engine lead Billy Khan confirmed Eternal will have an in-game FPS overlay that tracks and relays GPU usage, per-core CPU load, VRAM usage, and of course frame rates. We're not sure if Doom Eternal's overlay will be more robust than Doom 2016's, but it's likely. The original game was missing vital stats like GPU and CPU temps.
Khan suggests gamers use the built-in id Tech 7 overlay and warns gamers to disable any other FPS counters while running the native overlay. "The performance metrics are back. You can display FPS, CPU time, GPU time, and much more. For optimal performance, use the idTech7 metrics over external overlays. External overlays introduce bubbles, often decreasing performance slightly."
Continue reading: Doom Eternal features in-game FPS overlay with CPU, GPU usage metrics (full post)
Rumor: Sony wants to buy Metal Gear Solid, but Konami unlikely to sell
On the heels of recent Silent Hill news, an old rumor from January that Sony wants to buy some of Konami's biggest franchises has resurfaced. But Konami is very unlikely to sell.
Sources tell Rely On Horror that Sony is funding two new Silent Hill games: A Silent Hill reboot with original series devs at the helm, and a remake of Silent Hills with Hideo Kojima as director.
Now gamers are connecting an old 4Chan rumor (now deleted) that Sony wants to buy Castlevania, Silent Hill, and Metal Gear Solid from Konami. After all, the original post did predict two new Silent Hill games, leading to others like Dusk Golem to report the same.
Continue reading: Rumor: Sony wants to buy Metal Gear Solid, but Konami unlikely to sell (full post)
id didn't crunch on Doom Eternal: Dev is a lifestyle, Hugo Martin says
As studios like Naughty Dog impose merciless crunch that's hospitalizing its developers, id Software didn't crunch while making Doom Eternal.
Doom Eternal's core development team--at least the higher-ups--didn't crunch long hours readying the game for release. At least that's what creative director Hugo Martin said in a recent podcast with Joe Rogan.
"It's not really crunch. It's like a lifestyle. I live and breathe this. No one makes me stay at the office, and even when I come home I see my kids, I do my thing, and then I just do research. It sounds ridiculous but my research is that of a 13 year old. I play video games and read comic books and engross myself in pop culture because essentially what we do is make pop culture content," Martin said.
Continue reading: id didn't crunch on Doom Eternal: Dev is a lifestyle, Hugo Martin says (full post)
Sony funding two new Silent Hill games: A reboot & Silent Hills remake
Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly producing and funding two new Silent Hill exclusives for PlayStation: A Silent Hills remake with Kojima Productions at the helm, and a reboot of the classic original game.
Rather than spend big on new Silent Hill games, Konami will license the IP out to Sony, sources familiar with Konami's plans tell tell Rely On Horror. Sony has two projects in the works including a Silent Hill reboot and very tentative plans for resurrecting Silent Hills with original director Hideo Kojima at the helm. Silent Hills was originally cancelled in 2015 and Konami hasn't released a big-budget game in its original IPs since then.
The sources say original Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama will lead the reboot, alongside other series vets like creative designer Masahiro Ito, and Akira Yamaoka, who composed Silent Hill's soundtracks. Back in January, Ito confirmed he's currently working on a new project.
Continue reading: Sony funding two new Silent Hill games: A reboot & Silent Hills remake (full post)
Rockstar Games devs suspends office work at all worldwide studios
Rockstar Games is the latest AAA games dev to mandate employees work from home due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
The offices of all of Rockstar's eight international game dev studios from Rockstar North to Rockstar Bangalore are now on lockdown. The billion-dollar games-maker has enacted remote work policies to safeguard against COVID-19. The studio has actually created robust tools and hardware to ensure game devs can continue their work without disruption--which is critical considering Grand Theft Auto VI is on the horizon. Rockstar titles get delayed enough as it is.
"In the interest of reducing the possible impact of COVID-19, Rockstar Games has implemented work from home policies across our international offices and studios. After significant research and consultation with our teams around the work, we began rolling out remote work solutions worldwide across the past week, and we are confident we have a robust system in place for our teams to continue their work with a minimum disruption," Rockstar said in a statement on Twitter.
Continue reading: Rockstar Games devs suspends office work at all worldwide studios (full post)
This Witcher 3 mod raises the graphics to a new level of realism
When CD Projekt Red released The Witcher 3 back in 2015, gamers were stunned at just how gorgeous the game was, and you'd probably think that after five years it wouldn't give that same 'wow' reaction. Well, take a look at this...
Above is a video released onto the Halk Hogan YouTube Channel that reveals a gorgeous new mod for The Witcher 3. It completely overhauls all of the current textures The Witcher 3 has and adds in some gorgeous new ones. The mod is called 'The Witcher 3 HD Reworked Project,' and the mod offers high-quality 4K resolution textures that unlock more sharpness and overall increase object detail.
So what does the mod actually rework? Basically, everything. Terrain, rocks, water, vegetation, NPC's, animals, and much more. In the above video, you can see a side-by-side comparison of The Witcher 3's stock graphics versus the mod. If you are interested in trying this mod out for yourself, head on over to the official website and download it here. In other Witcher news, CD Projekt Red will be working on a new Witcher title after they complete Cyberpunk 2077, more on that here.
Continue reading: This Witcher 3 mod raises the graphics to a new level of realism (full post)
Even Batman is affected by coronavirus, The Batman production halted
The world is being shutdown over COVID-19 coronavirus, and even the greatest detective ever isn't unaffected -- production on The Batman has been halted.
Warner Bros. announced the news that production on The Batman will go on 'hiatus' effective immediately, with the studio telling Deadline: "Warner Bros. Pictures feature production of The Batman will be on a two-week hiatus starting today. The studio will continue to monitor the situation closely".
Matt Reeves along with Batman himself in this new outing in the franchise in Robert Pattinson had been shooting in London, but was expected to see production shift locations to Liverpool. No one from the cast or crew of The Batman has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
Continue reading: Even Batman is affected by coronavirus, The Batman production halted (full post)
Horizon Zero Dawn PC will have ultrawide support & Steam achievements
It was recently confirmed that Sony would be bringing one of its best PlayStation-exclusive titles over to PC -- Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn.
While PC fans rejoiced at the news of a one PlayStation exclusive title coming over to PC, some PC gamers were wondering what kind of support the port would be arriving with. On the Horizon Zero Dawn Steam Community Forums, a representative for the development team confirmed that the game would be arriving with ultrawide support.
At the same time, as confirming that Horizon Zero Dawn will be coming to PC with ultrawide support, the representative also confirmed that there would be Steam Achievements. The representative also teased that more details about more features will be coming soon. At the moment, the PC port of Horizon Zero Dawn is planned for release sometime in the Summer of 2020. If you want to check out the Steam listing, a link can be found here.
Continue reading: Horizon Zero Dawn PC will have ultrawide support & Steam achievements (full post)






















