I have a question about Fortnite's lighthouse. How does it work? There's a light at the top, but little in the way of machinery or power sources. I wondered if the house near the lighthouse might serve as some kind of generator, but if it does it's well concealed. Just another mystery in an island of mysteries, then. What keeps the light shining?
This is the mystery that drew me back to the lighthouse earlier this week. I've been reading Seashaken Houses, Tom Nancollas' evocative tour of England's rock lighthouses and I started wondering about the intricacies of Fortnite's lamp. This was stupid, of course, but it doesn't matter, because while I was off on my stupid adventure I discovered something brilliant. It's almost a new game mode.
Do you remember Loot Lake? Loot Lake was a house sat in the middle of a lake, and it was brilliant because the same thing always happened at the start of each match. Two people would generally aim for the lake, because it was lovely, and one would end up in the attic and the other would end up in the house below. Maybe the person in the attic got a treasure chest. Maybe not. Whatever they found up there, Loot Lake would be gripped by two people living in the same space, a drama that could play out in any number of ways.
It's been six years since the successful relaunch of Final Fantasy 14 and almost an entire generation of consoles has passed in that time. With over 16 Million players and its most recent expansion, Shadowbringers, being critically acclaimed the game has never been in better health, but with a new wave of tech on the horizon, how do aging MMOs stay relevant?
Director and producer Naoki Yoshida is no stranger to being able to turn things around having successfully destroyed the previous disastrous iteration of FF14 and completely remaking it. I was recently able to sit down and talk to him about what's in store for the next generation, some secrets of development and what the future of MMOs might look like.
What are your plans for PS5 and the next Xbox?
If for some reason (forgetfulness, inexplicable dislike of excellent retro platformers) you've still yet to snag Shovel Knight's Treasure Trove edition, developer Yacht Club Games has warned that it's getting a significant price bump tomorrow, 10th December.
At present, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove costs around 18.99/$24.99 USD (with prices fluctuating depending on platform), and already offers some top-tier value. Currently, it includes the original Shovel Knight game, Shovel of Hope, plus its two following episodes Plague of Shadows and Spectre of Torment - both of which introduce new protagonists with their own distinct abilities, radically altering the core platforming experience.
As of 10th December, however, Yacht Club Games' long-awaited final two Shovel Knight instalments - King of Cards and Showdown - will be added to the Treasure Trove bundle. The former brings a new protagonist, in the guise of the titular royal, plus the card game Jaustus. Showdown, meanwhile, is a new four-player brawler, making for a bit of a series departure.
Oculus Quest's previously announced controller-free hand tracking will arrive a little sooner than expected. It's now due to release later this week, rather than the start of next year.
First unveiled back in September, Oculus Quest's native hand and finger tracking enables users to directly manipulate objects in a 3D environment with their hands, without the need for a controller. It works using the Quest's built-in monochrome cameras - no external sensors required - and, all being well, has the potential to be a massive advancement for VR.
However, expectations should be kept in check for the feature's rather limited debut. When this week's Quest v12 software update arrives, it'll be possible to use hand tracking to navigate and interact with Quest's Home interfaces, such as Library and Store, plus a selection of first-party apps including the Oculus Browser and Oculus TV.
It's been almost 30 years since Twin Peaks first graced our screens, wrapped in plastic and draped in red, and still another two since David Lynch's masterful third season came to its strange, electrifying conclusion. But the sleepy town with too many secrets still refuses to slip away, and fans will be able to cross its threshold in VR later this month.
The official Twin Peaks VR game was initially announced at the tail-end of last year, and we've heard little of it since. However, series fan site Welcome to Twin Peaks has now secured the first trailer, giving some - although not, it has to be said, much - indication of what's in store.
According to the game's newly revealed Steam page, Twin Peaks VR - which is developed by Collider Games in collaboration with Showtime and David Lynch - will be a puzzle game of sorts, although exactly what form those puzzles will take isn't clear.
It's a day of the week that ends with a 'Y' so you know what that means. Yep, eBay is back at it again with another voucher code. This one is pretty special, though, as you can use it to save 10 per cent off any purchase over 100 across the site.
There are no retailer restrictions as with other eBay codes (at least from what I've seen when browsing) so you can find some terrific savings at stores such as Argos, AO, Currys PC World, Ebuyer, Scan and more. All you need to do is enter the code 'PROSPER10' at the checkout and you can save up to 50 off a single purchase.
Now, we'd be here until the code expires trying to pick out absolutely everything that's best to buy using this latest voucher. Instead, I've listed a few highlights for you to peruse below. There are console bundles - including the Nintendo Switch - along with lots of other top tech savings:
The full Safi'jiiva Siege won't actually be going live until Friday, 13th December in Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, but we've got an early look at armour stats for the monster's set.
The video below shows off the beta version of the Safi'jiiva armour. You'll be able to earn this by slaying the Safi'jiiva from this Friday, in the Siege mission which lets up to 16 players fight the beast at once.
There are two versions of the main armour skill: Dragonvein Awakening, unlocked with three pieces of the set equipped, and True Dragonvein Awakening, unlocked if you're wearing all five pieces.
A new BioShock game is in the works, publisher 2K has confirmed.
The project will be in development for the next "several" years, 2K said in a statement today, with development centred at the publisher's newly-named Cloud Chamber studio.
Cloud Chamber is headed up by Kelley Gilmore, formerly of 2K's XCOM and Civ studio Firaxis, with offices in both San Francisco and Montreal.
Back in October, it was announced that the Humble Monthly subscription service would be undergoing a rework to become Humble Choice. Well, the first edition of the new bundle format is live.
Now, instead of paying a regular fee upfront and getting access to a mystery bundle of games each month, Humble Choice allows you to pick from a diverse selection depending on your membership level.
Here's the full list of ten games you can choose from in the Humble Choice debut:
Hideo Kojima's entrance to the Singapore leg of the Death Stranding world tour felt carefully calibrated for impact. After a few moments in a pitch black hall, a palpable sense of anticipation pulsing through the crowd, the famed video game designer made a sudden appearance centre stage. Illuminated by the spotlight, his figure cast a faint silhouette on the wall, with only his face visible through a cutout in an opaque screen. Then the audience roared their approval as the screen gradually rose, unveiling more of the man himself and the rest of the stage. It was an electrifying moment, but it also encapsulates the spirit of the Death Stranding tour: a celebration of Kojima's unorthodox achievements.
This may sound like sheer bombast, but there probably isn't another figure quite like Kojima in gaming today. To his fans, his work on Metal Gear Solid cemented his title as one of the industry's few gaming auteurs, while the series' popularity - and his constant shoulder-rubbing with Hollywood celebrities such as Mads Mikkelsen and Guillermo Del Toro - also propelled him to mainstream success. Hell, even Kanye West isn't immune to his fame. An air of reverence follows him wherever Kojima goes, with think pieces written about his (and his team's) creations with the same breathless awe others would ascribe to beloved film directors and renowned musicians.
This prestige surrounding him has inevitably seeped into real life. During the Death Stranding tour, both the organisers and backstage crew fussed about him as they busied themselves with every minutiae of the media interview. Does he have enough sparkling water to drink? Where should the interviewers stand? Do the reporters need this additional seat in front of the coffee table? It was a stark departure from the appearances of other game designers, who have visited our sunny island with significantly less fanfare. Yet when Kojima finally arrived for his interview - with a small entourage, no less - he warmly shook our hands and quickly went to his seat. Like clockwork, a Sony representative swiftly brought a drink and coaster to the table, while the rest of the team stood around eagerly, watching closely as the interview proceeded. At one point, Kojima gestured nervously and muttered something in Japanese, and one of his crew members motioned for us to take a seat; our staring at him was making him a little skittish.