Gaming

Blizzard shuts down almost all games in China

Including Warcraft and Overwatch

Published

January 25, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

Blizzard’s games are about to become a lot less crowded. After failing to pen another agreement, Blizzard and NetEase have (mostly) parted ways. The breakup means that the former is now forced to close down almost all of its games in China.

Because of the different policies in China, Blizzard has to reply on a local partner to distribute their games in the country. For almost a decade and a half, the developer’s partner has always been NetEase, one of the biggest names in Chinese gaming. Initially, the two companies’ deal ended in December; however, Blizzard sought a six-month extension to seek for a more long-term deal with either NetEase or another client.

While Blizzard on Weibo expressed regrets for the lack of a deal, NetEase is less than happy at being painted a villain amid the commotion. In a separate Weibo post (translated via Wowhead), the Chinese company opened about Blizzard’s persistent search for another client while maintaining a shorter relationship with NetEase. The company likens it to “riding a mule while looking for a horse” or a “divorce while still [trying] to live together.”

In a more brutal fashion, NetEase showed more emotion about the separation by physically shattering Blizzard’s orc statue in NetEase’s offices and streaming them doing so. The company also released a new drink called Blizzard Green Tea in its shop. (The term refers to a modern insult which refers to someone who acts innocently but has more lascivious motivations deep inside.)

As a result of the catastrophic separation, Blizzard has shut down its major games in the country including World of Warcraft, Overwatch 2, and Diablo. Of note, Diablo Immortal remains untouched because of a separate deal with NetEase.

Related Topics:Blizzard NetEase Overwatch 2

Gaming

TEKKEN 8: Brand new story, 2nd DLC character announced

Season 1 roadmap unveiled

Published

May 2, 2024

GadgetMatch

Enjoying TEKKEN 8 so far? The title’s upcoming roadmap for the rest of 2024 has been revealed at EVO Japan, giving fans more reasons to keep playing Arika and Bandai Namco’s beloved fighting game.

There will be an all-new story coming to TEKKEN 8‘s Story Mode, which will be released in the future. Additionally, Lidia Sobieski has been confirmed as the second DLC character. She will be joining the roster this summer. It can be recalled that Eddy Gordo was the first character DLC for TEKKEN 8, joining the roster last April 4.

No specific date has been mentioned yet regarding Lidia Sobieski. Lidia made her franchise debut back in TEKKEN 7 as a DLC for the Season 4 Pass.

Meanwhile, adjustments to the battle system will be rolled out starting this spring. The game’s development team continues to work on improving balance and player experience. New modes such as Ghost vs. Ghost and Online Practice, on the other hand, will also be added at a later date.

Moreover, a new summer-themed stage, “Seaside Resort” will be available for free. Lastly, a brand new story will also be part of another free update in autumn. This new story will involve no less than Eddy Gordo.

ALSO READ: TEKKEN 8 closes a violent chapter to begin anew

TEKKEN World Tour

Also keeping TEKKEN fans busy for the next few months is the TEKKEN World Tour. The sixth season of this global tournament kicked off recently. Players across the globe compete to earn points and earn their place at the finals to be named The King of Iron Fist.

There will be a total of two Master+ events, 10 Master Events, and 14 Challenger Events worldwide for competitors to join. For more information on tour partners, event dates, locations, and signups, visit tekkenworldtour.com.

Gaming

Assassin’s Creed Mirage coming to iOS

Compatible with select Apple devices

Published

May 1, 2024

GadgetMatch

Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be launching on June 6, 2024, on the App Store for iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPad Air and iPad Pro with M1 chip or later.

The game first launched on last generation and current generation consoles as well as PC back in October 2023. It will be the first console title of the series for players to enjoy natively on mobile devices.

Players can experience the complete narrative-driven action adventure of Assassin’s Creed Mirage on mobile. In this game, they will be exploring 9th century Baghdad as Basim, a young thief who transforms into a Master Assassin.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be free to download and play for 90 minutes. The full version supports Universal Purchase and can be unlocked with a single in-app purchase, so players can enjoy the game on both iPhone and iPad. Pre-orders are now available here.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Assassin’s Creed Mirage spins a tale centered around an already established character, rather than a blank slate like Valhalla’s Eivor. It follows Basim Ibn Ishaq, a character introduced in Valhalla. Taking place before the events of the previous game, Mirage has the assassin root out the Order in 9^th-century Baghdad, a setting familiar to those who played the original title in 2007.

Accessories

Logitech announces G PRO X TKL gaming keyboard

Compact, cordless, portable

Published

May 1, 2024

GadgetMatch

Logitech has announced the G PRO X TKL gaming keyboard, a compact and cordless peripheral meant to assist gamers in the highest levels of competition. The G PRO X TKL comes with a pro-inspired tenkeyless design for more room and comfort, and Lightsync RGB lighting for style. It features dual-shot PBT keycaps for durability and wear and tear prevention.

The keyboard’s standard layout allows users to customize it with third-party keycaps and additional media keys. Users may also set up macros and create quick access while grinding. Speaking of customization, they may pick between Tactile, Linear, or Clicky Switches to tailor-fit the keyboard to their feel.

The G PRO X TKL connects via Lightspeed, ensuring users of lag-free performance at up to a 10-meter range. That’s better responsiveness than standard Bluetooth. Additionally, it has a 1000Hz polling rate. Long gaming sessions are a breeze too, as the keyboard’s battery lasts up to 50 hours. Lastly, for gamers on the go, the G PRO X TKL is portable and comes with its own carry case.

Logitech’s latest gaming peripheral is now available online and at all partner retail outlets, including PC Express, Silicon Valley, DataBlitz, Octagon, Electroworld, Complink, iTech, Techwarez, GameOne, Interpace Computer Systems, GameXtreme, TTI, DynaQuest PC, Digi-Serv Solutions, Concept Computer, NUTECH, DFE (Davao Futurebright Enterprises), Villman, PCWorx, Abenson, Digistore, and Greenware.