Gaming

Genshin Impact: Should you play it?

Best free-to-play game right now?

Published

October 7, 2020

GadgetMatch

Have you noticed an influx of screenshots featuring cute, anime girls on your social media feed? If your answer is yes, then a lot of your friends may be playing Genshin Impact. It’s been a little over a week since the release. Here’s what you ought to know about the game.

Genshin Impact is a game by Mihoyo, the same creators of Honkai Impact. It’s a gacha based game that lets you draw rare characters and weapons. A gacha game is like a loot-box system. The idea is to push players to spend virtual currency to acquire various items.

To some that might be something to avoid. However, the developers made sure to give players a fair amount of perks for free wishes.

Getting started

To start things off, you’ll need a few things to draw wishes. These are: Intertwined fate, Acquaint fate and Primogems. Upon starting the game I was awarded with 10 Acquaint fate as a pre-registration milestone and 1600 primogems from launch rewards. That already gives me a total of 20 wishes.

Aside from that, I also received free wings of companionship that I can equip to my characters for use during gliding. Adding to that are 160 Primogems daily in my mail. You also get a sure 4-star characters or weapon every 10 draws. That’s not bad for a gacha game.

I’ve seen lucky people draw 5-star characters with their first 10 draws and some after loading up some cash in the game. Either way, you can still proceed with the story and gain Primogems by doing quests and opening chests.

A mysterious beginning

Genshin Impact starts when the twin protagonist gets separated by a god for a reason that has not yet been revealed or fully explained. You get to pick which twin your character you will be.

Your starting point will be on a beach east of the town of Mondstandt where most of the story quests begin. You’ll have a travel companion in Paimon. She will walk you through your tutorial and quests.

Paimon’s backstory has not been revealed yet and I think this is something to look forward to.

Pick up everything!

The gameplay is something that I really like.

You get a party of four, either solo or co-op. The party composition will depend on which element the character has and how it will help in the elemental combos. You can switch your party members during battle to maximize skills and damage.

You don’t get to assign stats to your characters. Instead it depends on the equipped weapon and artifacts. The characters, weapons and artifacts can be leveled up and ascended every 20 levels.

The drops from monsters and bosses can be used as ascension items. The rule is: pick up everything you see because it can be useful.

I had no problem progressing through the story even if I felt unlucky during my wishes. Genshin Impact is enjoyable whether you focus on the story or just got around its vastly huge map.

Playing on different platforms

Another good thing about Genshin Impact is that you can access your account on both PC and Mobile. They automatically sync. I tried playing on PC, a Samsung Galaxy s9+ and iPad Air. Transition was seamless and I played on whatever platform I found most convenient for me. The UI adjusts perfectly.

Regarding the controls, it’s the usual on keyboard: WASD for walking, spacebar to jump, F to pick up items, Q&E for skills, left mouse button for normal attack, 1-4 to change characters.

On mobile you just need to touch the action icons. Nothing complicated. Dodging and casting will not be a problem. It all comes down to preference on what platform you want to play on. Your progress syncs between PC and mobile.

The game is also available on the PlayStation 4. However, it has to be an entirely different account from the one you use on PC and Mobile. You can still play with your friends on PC and mobile if you’re using a PS4.

**Should you play Genshin Impact?**

On top of the cute characters and interesting story, the Japanese voice actors are known to have voiced some known anime characters. Being an anime fan myself, this got me more interested in the game.

I’m looking forward to future patches that would answer the questions that have piled up in my head and can’t wait to find out Paimon’s story.

If you’re looking for an open world, action-packed RPG that can be played alone or with friends, has some challenging quests and puzzles, and crossplay between PC, mobile. and PS4, then Genshin Impact is for you.

This gameplay feature was written by Jan Ariz Joy Franco or Rizu — her by her in-game name. She’s a full-time software developer and plays games to de stress. She just started streaming few months ago to help cope with the pandemic and wants to promote a toxic-free gaming environment. She’s a big fan of Super Mario. If you want to support her just drop a follow: http://facebook.com/rizuph.

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

Published

May 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 4, 2026

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

Gaming

Stranger Than Heaven is a Yakuza prequel with Snoop Dogg

The story spans different eras and regions across half a century in Japan.

Published

May 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In my review of Yakuza Kiwami 3, I groaned about how every new entry in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchise — original and remake — looked identical with each other. I ended that playthrough hoping desperately for a new era. Thankfully, those hopes did not fall on deaf ears. In its first trailer, the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven showed off an interesting reimagining of the Yakuza universe. Oh, and Snoop Dogg is in it.

First announced back in late 2024 as Project Century, Stranger Than Heaven has now confirmed itself as a prequel to the prequel to the Yakuza games. It didn’t start that way, though. When it was announced, there was hope that the then-untitled game featured a new story disconnected from Yakuza. It looks like the final game is making the best of both worlds.

Stranger Than Heaven chronicles the rise of the infamous Tojo Clan. Unless this is decidedly different from the Tojo Clan in the Yakuza series, this is the clearest sign that this is, in fact, a prequel.

Makoto Daito, a Japanese boy living in Chicago, escapes America to forge a new life in Japan. Along the way, he meets Orpheus, a smuggler played by Snoop Dogg, who drags Makoto into the criminal underworld. Eventually, Makoto decides to do things his own way by creating a new crime family called the Tojo Clan.

Unlike other games in the series, Stranger Than Heaven spans different eras and regions in Japan, starting with Fukuoka in 1915 and ending with Kamurocho in 1965. It will also have different fighting mechanics by mapping the left and right bumpers/triggers to left and right attacks.

Off the bat, Stranger Than Heaven looks like a new era for the series. It launches winter this year for all major platforms.

Gaming

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches October 6

Pre-orders now live

Published

May 4, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set to launch on October 6, 2026, bringing a new high-speed twist to the Star Wars universe. The game is published by Secret Mode and developed by Fuse Games. It arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with support for up to 12 players.

Pre-orders are now open across Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Editions. Pricing starts at $59.99 for the Standard Edition, with both digital and physical versions available depending on platform.

A different kind of Star Wars story

Set in the lawless Outer Rim, the game introduces the Galactic League—an unsanctioned racing circuit where skill matters more than destiny. You play as a mysterious pilot named Shade, navigating a single-player campaign built on rivalries, alliances, and unfinished business.

There’s no Force or prophecy here. Instead, the focus is on build strategy and racing mastery. Players can customize three types of repulsorcraft and even take on classic podracers, blending familiar Star Wars elements with a more competitive, arcade-style edge.

Multiplayer supports online races where players can test their builds and driving skills against others.

Pre-order bonuses and editions

All pre-orders include a bonus livery usable across vehicles, with platform-specific colors, plus a Player Banner background for multiplayer.

The Deluxe Edition adds three extra vehicles, exclusive Arcade events, a livery pack, and cosmetic upgrades like new player banners and insignias. It also includes a digital art book featuring early designs of characters, locations, and vehicles.

Collector’s Edition for dedicated pilots

For collectors, the physical Collector’s Edition bundles a model of the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, themed patches, a printed art book, and a steel case housed in premium packaging. It also includes all Deluxe Edition digital content.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with pre-orders now available.