Gaming

All new titles announced at The Game Awards 2020

2021 already looking good with these latest announcements

Published

December 11, 2020

Gab Orlina

2021, believe it or not, is just right around the corner. As with every new year, there comes new challenges to face and new opportunities to grow. During this year’s The Game Awards show, several publishers stepped up and provided previews of what’s to come for gaming. Here’s a roundup of all the new titles announced during the show:

Loop Hero (PC through Steam)

First on the list of premieres is Devolver Digital’s Loop Hero, an 8-bit deckbuilding adventure game. As you were sent into a chaotic loop of events, you must engage in battles and expeditions to break the cycle. To aid you in your quests, players will choose from an expanding deck of cards to summon enemies, buildings, and terrain.

Tchia (PC: Steam, Google Stadia)

Next is awaceb’s tropical open world game, Tchia. Inspired by the island of New Caledonia, Tchia focuses more on the island’s incredible culture, sounds, and landscape. As the titular character, you can possess any animal or object, traverse freely in the open world, and even play some instruments.

Shady Part of Me (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch)

Focus Home Interactive also took time to give a preview of their new game, Shady Part of Me. The game features an odd duo of a young girl and her shadow, as they go on a journey of the mind. Players will face surreal dreamscapes with its own twists and surprises, as you overcome emotional struggles in the process.

Century: Age of Ashes (PC through Steam Early Access)

Ever wanted to fight with a dragon in some games? Well, Playwing thought about that, and wanted to provide that experience in Century: Age of Ashes. The free-to-play team-based game features all the dragon battles you could think of. To begin engaging in fire-breathing battles, players will choose between three different classes across three game modes: Carnage, Survival, and Raid. Century: Age of Ashes will be available for early access in February 2021.

New Perfect Dark (Xbox Family, PC)

Microsoft’s own small studio, The Initiative showed a tiny preview of their new project, Perfect Dark. Set in a near-future world, Perfect Dark takes players through what the developers say as a “secret agent thriller.” The game, however, is still in early development and more details will be revealed soon.

Back 4 Blood (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)

Warner Bros. Games also revealed official gameplay from Turtle Rock Studios’ upcoming first-person shooter, Back 4 Blood. Taking a nod to the popular Left 4 Dead franchise, this cooperative zombie shooter takes players back into a world of infected humans due to a catastrophic outbreak. As part of the Cleaners, players will take on the infected beings known as the Ridden and reclaim the world.

The Callisto Protocol

Striking Distance Studios, made up of developers behind Dead Space and some Call of Duty games, announced the arrival of The Callisto Protocol. This next-generation survival horror game is set on Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, as players escape a maximum security prison while uncovering its secrets. Unlike most of the games announced, this game is set to come out in 2022.

Open Roads (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5)

Annapurna Interactive and Fullbright also slated the world premiere for Open Roads during the year-end gaming awards show. In this game, players will experience a mother-daughter road trip through long-forgotten places. Along the way, the mother-daughter tandem will discover secrets and mysteries of darkness within the abandoned properties — all while coming to terms with their relationship.

Endless Dungeon (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch)

SEGA and Amplitude takes us through another adventure through space with Endless Dungeon. Players are stuck shipwrecked in the vast void of space, with a wave of monsters coming your way. To keep everything in check, you will recruit a team of heroes and protect the crystal from being taken from the team.

Crimson Desert (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch)

Pearl Abyss also showed initial gameplay for their upcoming open-world adventure, Crimson Desert. Set in the fictional lands of Pywel, the medieval-themed title showcases the way of the mercenaries as they go through a war-torn world. Players will go through whatever it takes to survive a world with beasts, enemy mercenaries, and maniacal rulers.

Season (PlayStation 5)

Scavengers Studios proudly brings its latest masterpiece to the PlayStation 5 in Season. In this beautifully animated title, you will go on an adventure through the vast world, collecting artifacts and memories in the process. Taken from a third-person perspective, players will go on a virtual bicycle ride through a secluded community with mysteries to unwrap.

Evil Dead: The Game (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch)

Based on the hit horror movie franchise, Evil Dead: The Game features both cooperative and PvP gameplay modes for all players. As you tread through the deep, dark woods, players will join a team of four to, as the developers put it, “seal the breach between worlds.” All while the other players hunt your team down by possessing anything in the overworld — including your teammates.

It Takes Two (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)

Finally, Electronic Arts takes us through the world of It Takes Two, a cartoon adventure through a magical land. Focusing a lot on the cooperative aspect, the game takes you through magical lands as a married couple trying to fix their relationship. With unique character abilities and a light-hearted story, It Takes Two sets out to be a heartwarming yet wild adventure for couples to enjoy.

Extra: Ruined King: A League of Legends Story (PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch)

Along with the announcements, Riot Forge and Airship Syndicate provided a look into the gameplay for Ruined King: A League of Legends Story. Set within the realm of the League of Legends lore, the game takes you through Bilgewater and the Shadow Isles. Along the way, you will be accompanied by some well-known League of Legends champions.

Features

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores sways both ways

And why shouldn’t it?

Published

June 1, 2023

Her

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

It’s been more than a month since the release of Horizon: Forbidden West’s DLC, Burning Shores and the reviews came in hot. There were plenty of raves that the game is a treat as are the visuals. But what really made the most waves on the is that the fiery redhead heroine gets a partner. In more ways than one.

Aloy was first introduced in Horizon Zero Dawn as an outcast, so being on her own was expected. Understandably, when you’re treated like a pariah since childhood, warming up to people isn’t exactly second nature.

The burden of being The One

She picks up new friends, even some potentially interested parties along the way but the game steers us from expecting that they’ll be tagging along for the long run. By the game’s sequel, she is still Ms. Independent, but with blossoming character development in terms of her interpersonal relationships

While there’s a bit of attraction and tension with men and women alike thrown in-game, Aloy never gets into anything no matter how hard you try to flirt. (Yes, we tried). Horizon clearly didn’t focus on finding her mate, given that there is indeed a lot on Aloy’s plate.

She even admits in dialogue that her mission as The One created to save the world, is a full-time occupation that she can’t think of anything else. Fair enough, you go do what you gotta do, girl.

Along came Seyka

With the introduction of Seyka in Burning Shores, it would’ve been easy to dismiss that sure, they have chemistry but nothing’s going to happen. We’ve gone so far with Aloy embracing singlehood by choice, why would it change now?

That’s probably what made this DLC stand out. After becoming partners in crime, the pair share an intimate conversation where they first met to consider pursuing something more. The player option to engage in a romance probably has the audience saying “finally” or asking, “why now?”, and those who appear to take issue in Seyka’s sex are asking “why?”

But the better question is, WHY NOT?

Seyka is no stranger to duty and purpose, being intent in rescuing her sister and tribespeople from Burning Shore’s main villain, Walter Londra. She is headstrong, agile, and fierce — qualities she shares with our main girl. Aloy also learns to rely on someone for help, which is a big deal.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise either that Aloy would take on a lady love: Forbidden West final boss Tilda did express that she loved Elizabet Sobeck — Aloy’s clone source or “mother” — more than we know. Who’s to say that the genetic copy of the apple would fall far from the tree? Ultimately, should the player to decide to let Aloy initiate a romance, it’s not the end of the world if it’s a girl. Actually, they even saved it together.

Burning Shores

The story of Burning Shores picks up directly where Horizon Forbidden West left off. It contains additional content for Horizon Forbidden West, including new characters and experiences in a stunning yet hazardous new area.

To enter the Burning Shores, you must complete the main quest (up to and including Singularity) in the PS5 version of Horizon Forbidden West. Following the main quest, the player will receive a call over Aloy’s Focus, beginning the DLC.

Gaming

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart coming to PC

On July 26

Published

May 31, 2023

GadgetMatch

Perhaps easily the best showcase game of the PlayStation (PS5) that anyone can easily jump into is making its way to PC. Insomniac Games’ Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart follows the growing list of PlayStation exclusives making its way to PC. It’s coming on July 26.

PC Features

Nixxes Software worked with Insomniac to make this happen. And they’re not simply porting the game to PC. They are also adding features especially made for PC gamers. Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PC will have support for multiple types of monitors. Whether you’re using 21:9, 32:9 and up to 48:9 resolutions for triple monitor setups, you can rest assured that you’ll have a grand time with this inter-dimensional adventure. Both gameplay and cutscenes are optimized for ultra-wide screens.

The game also supports now unlocked framerates. You can choose from NVIDIA DLSS 3, AMD FSR 2, Intel XeSS and Insomniac Games’ Temporal Injection. NVIDIA Reflex and image quality enhancing NVIDIA DLAA are also supported.

Availability

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart will be available on Steam and in the Epic Games Store. You may head to the aforementioned stores now to Wishlist or pre-purchase the game. If you pre-purchase ahead of launch, you’ll get access to the following in-game items early in your playthrough:

Pixelizer Weapon
Carbonox Armor set

Gaming

Acer announces Predator Triton 16 gaming laptop

Ultimate power

Published

May 31, 2023

GadgetMatch

Acer has expanded its premium gaming lineup with the launch of the new Predator Triton 16 gaming laptop.

The powerful 19.9mm-thick device runs on the latest 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPUs, along with up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and up to 2TB of PCIe M.2 storage to withstand games that require even the heaviest of workloads.

Its dual Gen AeroBlade 3D fans, Vortex Flow technology, and liquid metal grease cooling capabilities ensure that the laptop delivers on providing gamers the ultimate experience.

The laptop has a 16-inch (2560 x 1600) WQXGA IPS display with up to 240Hz refresh rate and support for NVIDIA Advanced Optimus and G-Sync.

Connectivity-wise, the PredatorSense key and dedicated PredatorSense app enables seamless customization on the keyboard keys, user interface, management control systems, and more.

The device also comes with Intel Killer DoubleShot Pro and Wi-Fi 6E, as well as two USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.1, a USB Type-C port with Thunderbolt 4, and a microSD card reader.

When purchased, the laptop also comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.