Gaming
The Game Awards 2020 Rundown
The winner rundown!
This year, despite all the hell, we’ve witnessed game developers, gamers, and esports develop, support, and play stunning artistry. For this year, more than ever, people turned to games to connect with friends and loved ones. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to find good games, creators, and pros make it to The Game Awards 2020. Here’s the quick rundown:
Game of the Year (and more): The Last of Us Part 2
The Last of Us Part 2 won big this year with 6 wins and the main award: Game of the Year, Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best Audio Design, Innovation in Accessibility, and Best Action/Adventure Game. Also, Laura Baily who played Abby in the game won Best Performance. The stunning action-adventure survival game set in post-apocalyptic America dabbles into haunting loss and ruthless realities. If you haven’t played it, it’s something you’ll need to get into during the holidays to catch up with the hype.
Best Art Direction: Ghost of Tsushima
With everyone hoping this title would win this year, considering nominations for most categories alongside The Last of Us Part 2, Ghost of Tsushima is a jaw-dropping action-adventure set during the first Mongol invasion in Japan. You play as a samurai whose quest is to protect the island of Tsushima. This was a strong competitor for Game of the Year with its eye-gasmic open world and incomparably gorgeous gameplay.
Best RPG and Score/Music: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Are we really surprised with this one? Final Fantasy VII Remake brought the nostalgia, gameplay, and tear-jerking music into our systems and made us feel safe and okay amid the world burning down around us. No? just us? Okay. Winning both best RPG and Musical Score, Final Fantasy VII Remake outdid themselves on their release.
Best Indie Game and Best Action Game: Hades
Hades is a rogue action role-playing game developed and published by Supergiant Games. The rogue-like dungeon crawler lets you defy the god of the dead and hack and slash your way out of the Underworld. This game is fun and addictive, perfect as a holiday gift for casual players and gamers alike.
Best Multiplayer Game and Best Mobile Game: Among Us
If you’ve managed to never see 1000+ IQ games on this game from multiple top content creators across different platforms, you’re missing out. Among Us is an online multiplayer social deduction game developed and published by American game studio Innersloth. The game makes and breaks friendships but, it’s playing and catching imposters that’s got everyone hooked.
Games for Impact: Tell Me Why
Tell Me Why is an episodic narrative adventure game where you piece together memories between twins and decide whose story to believe, acting on what you think is the truth and impacting the people around you. The game dabbles into Tlingit culture and features Tlingit characters.
Best Ongoing Game: No Man’s Sky
Following last year’s winner, Fornite, No Man’s Sky’s open universe exploration-survival gameplay managed to encapsulate the curiosity and adventurous side of every gamer who came across it. With the game letting you recklessly roam planets and universes outside our homes, it let us explore without risking lives.
Best Debut Game: Phasmophobia
If you haven’t played Phasmophobia with your friends while screaming ghost names or dying, then you missed out on a lot. This indie co-op psychological horror game developed by Kinetic Games lets you explore haunted homes and investigate each spot with ghost hunting tools and ghost hunting (terrified) friends.
Best Community Support: Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Of course, we would find this adorable platformer battle royale game in the awards. How could we not? Released in early August, Fall Guys developed by Devolver Digital took the internet by storm. The game lets you rush through obstacles and team games all while decked out in cute skins and outfits.
Best VR/AR Game: Half-Life: Alyx
And, the Half-Life 3 jokes continue. Half-Life: Alyx is a first-person shooter survival game where you get to play Alyx Vance. She and her father fight an alien empire that has conquered earth. The game takes place before the return of Gordon Freeman in Half-Life 2
Best Fighting Game: Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate
Do not play this game with minors. I say that with good reason. Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate doesn’t come from the same adorable collation of characters as last year’s winner. This instalment of Mortal Kombat ups the morbid graphics and mechanics giving players the best fighting game when needing catharsis rom a tough day.
Best Family Game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons could have very well won the Game of the Year in all our hearts as it helped millions hang out and play with their friends and loved ones earlier in lockdowns across the globe. The social simulation game kept us all sane in more ways than Nintendo could have imagined, making this one of the most memorable games of 2020
Best Sim/Strategy Game: Microsoft Flight Simulator
The Microsoft Flight Simulator is an amateur flight simulator program with the longest-running, best-known, and most comprehensive home flight simulator ever. The game lets you take off, fly, and land just like you would in real life. You’ll need to learn to navigate your way through flight controls, and across the globe to leave and arrive safely.
Best Sports/Racing Game: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is a brilliantly immersive skateboarding game that lets players do aerials, flips, and tricks. The game features trick points to let players get creative along the way. It also helps to bring the nostalgia of being able to freely skateboard outdoors without scraping your knees.
Content Creator of the Year: Valkyrae
Valkyrae is an American Youtuber and Streamer who used to work at GameStop and transitioned into streaming. She is the first female gamer and content creator of 100 Thieves and is a strong advocate for women in online gaming, esports, and gaming as a whole.
Esports rundown
Under the esports categories, The Game Awards skimped on new talents and new esports games and communities this year but that’s doesn’t mean these talents are any less deserving of the awards they won. Here are The Game Award’s two-time winners:
Best Esports Event: League of Legends World Championship 2020
Best Esports Game: League of Legends
Best Esports Coach: Danny “Zonic” Sorensen (Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
Best Esports Host: Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere
Best Esports Team: G2 Esports (League of Legends)
With one new addition to the category:
Best Esports Athlete: Heo “Showmaker” Su (League of Legends)
Gaming setups don’t have to look like dedicated gaming rooms. IKEA and Xbox are making that easier with their new YXSTABY collection.
The nine-piece collection combines IKEA’s furniture design expertise with Xbox’s understanding of gaming. It brings together functional furniture and playful accessories inspired by Xbox controllers.
IKEA launched the collection in the Philippines on November 4 at its Pasay showroom. The event featured interactive room setups that demonstrated how the furniture fits into everyday homes.
The launch also included a cosplay runway inspired by IKEA’s iconic blue and yellow FRAKTA bag. Guests explored immersive gaming stations and experienced the collection firsthand.
Gaming furniture designed for everyday homes
YXSTABY addresses the challenges of fitting gaming setups into shared living spaces. Its furniture supports different gaming positions while keeping accessories organized.
The gaming lounge chair accommodates both forward-leaning gameplay and relaxed reclining positions. A rolling side table keeps gaming accessories within reach.
The collection also includes flexible storage for cables and accessories. Its felt inserts protect stored items, while its foldable design doubles as a laptop stand.
Families can also move their gaming setups between rooms. A TV stand with castors makes it easier to relocate equipment without dedicating an entire room to gaming.
Xbox controller-inspired accessories
Xbox’s influence extends beyond the collection’s gaming furniture. Several accessories take inspiration from familiar controller elements.
The Gaming D-pad cushion recreates the controller’s distinctive directional button. A stainless steel platter also borrows its design from the D-pad.
Another standout is the tilting thumbstick stool, which takes inspiration from an Xbox controller’s analog stick. A mirrored display box gives collectors a dedicated space for controllers and other gaming memorabilia.
Bringing gaming into Filipino homes
IKEA Philippines Sales Leader May Castillo highlighted the collection’s relevance to local households.
She pointed to the Philippines’ strong gaming culture and the country’s high engagement with video games across different devices.
IKEA Philippines Selling Manager Sarah Cox said the collection draws inspiration from Xbox controllers and how gamers actually play. It also incorporates IKEA’s playful approach to furniture design.
The collaboration brings together two brands with different strengths. IKEA understands how people use their living spaces, while Xbox understands what players need from their gaming setups.
The result is furniture that makes gaming more convenient without making the rest of the home feel like a gaming room.
Can you believe that it’s been over eight years since Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls VI. Since then, we’ve seen neither hide nor hair of the upcoming title. Today, the studio has mercifully revealed a tiny bit more about the game including its title and setting.
Historically, the Elder Scrolls franchise is not known for its numbering. It’s not The Elder Scrolls III, IV, and V; it’s Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Now, we know what The Elder Scrolls VI will be called — Sentinel.
The name is also a huge clue as to where the game will take place. Besides being the name of the game itself, Sentinel is also the capital of Hammerfell, a region in northwest Tamriel. The teaser, which shows a sword being uncovered from a pile of sand, confirms this. After all, the Alik’r Desert is one of the region’s highlights.
Now, Hammerfell is not a new region for players. The region, especially the titular Sentinel, was previously featured in The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. Obviously, not a lot of gamers would have played this classic game before, so a return will introduce the region to a lot more modern players.
Unfortunately, despite throwing us a bone with the name and the setting, Bethesda did not reveal when the title is coming. Given that Grand Theft Auto VI is launching very soon, the time is ripe for the launch of another much-awaited title.
SEE ALSO: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is out now
Riot Games is celebrating the return of virtual K-pop group K/DA with new music, exclusive skins, and major gameplay updates in League of Legends: Wild Rift Patch 7.3.
After a six-year hiatus, K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER, the group’s newest track and the title track of an EP featuring three additional songs. The release marks a new chapter for the virtual group, which brings its latest musical era to the mobile MOBA through the new HEATBRINGER skinline.
To celebrate the comeback, Riot Games hosted FIRE IT UP: The K/DA Comeback Party in the Philippines. The event brought fans together for a listening party featuring music from across Riot Games’ virtual acts, live Wild Rift gameplay, community activities, and exclusive photo opportunities.
Attendees also experienced live AAA ARAM matches featuring gameplay disruptions and augments inspired by Riot Games’ musical universe, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.
K/DA returns with new HEATBRINGER skins
The K/DA comeback introduces the HEATBRINGER skinline, featuring new looks for the group’s four original members: Ahri, Akali, Evelynn, and Kai’Sa.
The skins give the champions a new visual identity inspired by K/DA’s latest musical era, with fiery red and white elements that bring their stage presence to the Rift.
The collection also includes Prestige K/DA HEATBRINGER Evelynn.
The new skins are exclusive to Wild Rift and are scheduled to launch on November 4, 2026.
The comeback extends beyond the cosmetics. With FIRESTARTER and its accompanying EP now available on major music streaming platforms, K/DA’s return brings together Riot Games’ music and gaming communities.
Wild Rift Patch 7.3 overhauls marksmen and item builds
Beyond the K/DA celebration, Patch 7.3 introduces significant gameplay changes that reshape champion builds, jungle strategies, and objective control.
One of the biggest changes targets marksmen, giving critical-strike builds more room to scale. Base critical-strike damage increases from 175% to 200%, while the attack-speed cap rises from 2.5 to 3 attacks per second.
Several marksmen also receive individual adjustments, including Ezreal, Kai’Sa, Twitch, Lucian, Caitlyn, Draven, Miss Fortune, Samira, Zeri, Jinx, Vayne, and Ashe.
The item system gets an overhaul to support these changes. Players can explore new or redesigned options, including Hexoptics, Yun Tal Wildarrows, Fiendhuler Bolts, Stormrazor, Rapid Firecannon, and Immortal Shieldbow.
Lifesteal also receives changes intended to support basic attacks, on-hit damage, and abilities treated as basic attacks.
Support items are part of the update, too. Echoes of Helia is positioned toward offensive supports who want to convert damage into healing, while Ardent Censer, Staff of Flowing Water, and Harmonic Echo also receive changes.
Jungle changes reward efficient farming
Patch 7.3 also changes how junglers approach the early and mid-game.
The updated jungle system rewards consistent camp clearing with bonus gold and introduces a catch-up mechanic for junglers who fall behind. This reduces the pressure to constantly gank and encourages players to balance farming with opportunities to assist their teammates.
Clearing camps also progresses Ecosystem Protection stacks, allowing Smite to scale from 600 to 1,000 and eventually 1,400 true damage.
These changes make efficient farming more important when preparing to secure major objectives such as Baron Nashor, Rift Herald, and Dragons.
Epic monsters also adjust to the pace of each match, scaling according to the average player level rather than simply growing stronger as time passes.
Turrets receive substantial changes as well. Plating now extends to outer, inner, and inhibitor turrets and remains permanently. The new Crystalline Overgrowth mechanic lets turrets accumulate crystals that champions can detonate with their first basic attack.
Together, these changes place greater emphasis on lane pressure, defensive positioning, and coordinated pushes. Winning team fights remains important, but teams must also turn their advantages into meaningful objective damage.
Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai join the roster
Patch 7.3 expands the champion roster with three additions: Hwei, Sylas, and Rek’Sai.
Hwei, the Visionary, brings a flexible set of abilities to the mid lane. His Subject: Disaster, Subject: Serenity, and Subject: Torment ability groups give him tools for dealing damage, supporting allies, and controlling opponents.
Sylas offers explosive damage and crowd control. His kit includes an ability that pulls enemies into a stun-to-knock-up combination, while Kingslayer restores health based on his missing health. His ultimate lets him steal an enemy champion’s ultimate ability.
Rek’Sai brings another approach to initiating team fights. Her Unburrow ability knocks up nearby champions, while her ultimate helps her track nearby enemies before striking.
These additions give players more options for adapting their team compositions and strategies.
Ranked play and game modes get updates
Competitive players also get changes to Ranked and Legendary Ranked.
The S/A and MVP scoring systems now evaluate performance according to a player’s lane and champion role instead of relying on a single universal metric. Strong performances can also yield more Ranked energy.
Legendary Ranked receives adjustments to its seasonal entry requirements for former Grand Masters, alongside a new trial format designed to help top performers advance from Legendary Commander Rank.
Players looking for something different can also try Rift Rumble, a new 3v3 mode played on a symmetrical map. Teams battle for kills and compete to capture ultimate stones that can change how their champions secure eliminations.
Meanwhile, AAA Realm continues to evolve with a music-themed season and new augment cards. These include Sonic Waves, which draws inspiration from Riot Games’ musical acts, including HEARTSTEEL, Pentakill, and TRUE DAMAGE.
A new era for K/DA and Wild Rift
With FIRESTARTER, the HEATBRINGER skins, and a sweeping gameplay update, Patch 7.3 connects Riot Games’ music and gaming communities through a shared celebration.
K/DA’s return gives fans a new soundtrack and fresh looks for their favorite champions, while the gameplay changes introduce new ways to approach champion builds, jungle farming, and map control.
Players can follow Wild Rift Philippines’ official social media channels for updates on the latest patch, champion releases, and in-game content.
K/DA returns with FIRESTARTER.
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