With the Dawning now officially over, we’re in the home stretch in Destiny 2 before the launch of The Witch Queen expansion in February. If you’re still working on the various seals and triumphs from 2021, you’ve got roughly two months to get them done. As always, that means it’s a good idea to hit up Xur for some fresh Exotics and Legendary weapons and armor to help you along the way.

Xur arrives in the solar system on Friday morning, so we’ll update this article when he lands.

Xur is present every weekend in Destiny 2, starting with the daily reset at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET each Friday. His exact location is always a mystery when he first arrives, as he is not listed on the map, and for novice players, he can be easy to miss. However, there are a set number of locations where he takes up residence, including the Tower Hangar area, on Nessus in Watcher’s Grave, and in the Winding Cove area of the EDZ.

Alongside changes in his location, Xur’s inventory also rotates weekly. That means it’s worth visiting him each time to check out his new weapons and rolls on Exotic and Legendary armor. You can visit him any time between his arrival Friday and the weekly reset at 9 AM PT / 12 PM ET the following Tuesday when Xur departs the solar system.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

It’s a new day in the Fortnite Item Shop, and today’s inventory includes a host of returning heroes–seemingly with an emphasis on vibrant colors–as well as the introduction of the new Glumbunny skin. Along with this hero, you’ll see some other fan favorites, both from within the walls of Epic Games as well as from TV series on various streaming services. Here’s what’s in the Fortnite Item Shop for January 7, 2022.

The Glumbunny skin brings a brand-new character to the game for the second time this week, following the arrival of Mel, whom you won’t find in the store today. Glumbunny doesn’t come with any accessories, and she’s not even listed as being part of a set, so it seems as though this is all we should expect to see from her for now. Of course, Epic is one to expand on a character should there be a big demand for more. You can get Glumbunny for 800 V-Bucks.

It looks like Glumbunny already spent her Hot Topic gift card.

Elsewhere in the store, you’ll find several very colorful heroes, including Glum, the… uh… bird? Rabbit? Creature anyway. If you’ve got a fear of clowns, just move right past Peekaboo and Nite Nite, and maybe focus on the Mad Max-inspired Chiara instead.

Boba Fett is here for one more day, so grab him before 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET tomorrow if you really want him, though he’ll probably rotate back into the store some months from now. The Cobra Kai set is still there too, for a few more days anyway.

For a complete breakdown of the Fortnite Item Shop today, check out FireMonkey’s tweet.

🛒 #Fortnite Item Shop
⏰ Friday, January 7, 2022

💚 Use code ‘FireMonkey’ to support me! #EpicPartner pic.twitter.com/MTMfhPhZ2u

— iFireMonkey (@iFireMonkey) January 7, 2022

We’ll be back tomorrow with another Fortnite Item Shop update.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

The Anacrusis is coming to Early Access on PC and Game Preview on Xbox. That means that you can get in with the game earlier than most and watch it evolve over time, but it also means you should expect some growing pains. Perhaps the most prominent missing feature right now is the ability to easily select your character from the game’s foursome of heroes. However, just because it’s tricky doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Here’s how to change your character in The Anacrusis.

There are four characters in The Anacrusis at the moment. While they’re not class-based, each of them has their own distinct personality, plus their own cosmetics to unlock, so you’ll undoubtedly pick your favorite survivor in time. But selecting any specific character is a bit clunky at the moment. The four heroes, Guion, Nessa, Liu, and Lance, are assigned in that order to players who join the lobby.

From left to right, meet Guion, Nessa, Lance, and Liu.

That means, for now anyway, the party leader will always play as Guion, and subsequent players jumping into a lobby second, third, and fourth will load into their roles as Nessa, Liu, and Lance respectively. This is very likely a temporary arrangement, and when Stray Bombay updates the game to allow for exact character selection, we’ll update this guide too.

This does mean, however, that characters can be off-limits depending on how many players you have in your party. For example, if you’re playing solo, you’ll always be Guion without the ability to switch. Similarly, a party of three will always be greeted by an AI companion in Lance, as he’s currently the last hero to be filled in any given session.

If you have a full group and you want to assign specific heroes to players, be sure to join the lobby in the aforementioned order–party leader as Guion, second player as Nessa, third player as Liu, and last player as Lance. It’s a bit convoluted, but it’ll have to do for now. As the game grows over the weeks, months, and perhaps years ahead, look for this feature to be improved.

For more on The Anacrusis, be sure to get familiar with the game’s many weapons, alien classes, and how to use the Matter Compiler.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

2021 proved to be a solid year for indie games, as we got a little bit of everything–tough turn-based RPG Cris Tales, artistic journey Chicory: A Colorful Tale, frantic dodgeball extravaganza Dodgeball Academia, haunting and layered deck-builder Inscryption, and so much more. Two indies in particular, Before Your Eyes and The Forgotten City, are, in our humble opinion, some of the Best Games of 2021. But 2021 is officially over; it’s about time we started looking forward to 2022 and a whole new batch of indie games.

There’s an obscene number of indie games already scheduled to launch in 2022, but these 27 have managed to really catch our eye as the year kicks off. We’re getting quite the variety of protagonists and stories this year, from Thanatos’ daughter struggling to escape the Land of the Dead to a group of dinosaurs grappling with their future as they graduate high school. We’ve included a handful of follow-up efforts from indie studios that have already made their mark, but we made sure to note plenty of cool-looking titles from lesser-known developers making their debut as well. The 27 games are listed alphabetically.

Afterlove EP

In Afterlove EP, you play as Rama, a musician whose girlfriend, Cinta, has passed away. Except, she seemingly hasn’t fully left, as Cinta’s voice now lives in Rama’s head. The story that follows is one of music, grief, and relationships that mixes together the mechanics of dating simulators and rhythm games–as Rama, you’ll explore the city, make music, and maybe fall in love again. The game features an original soundtrack, a charming manga-inspired art style, and multiple endings based on your choices. Afterlove EP is coming to Switch and PC in Summer 2022.

You can wishlist Afterlove EP on Steam.

Beacon Pines

In Beacon Pines, you are both the reader of a book and its main character, Luka. As you complete certain actions in the story, you’ll unlock additional charms that you can use to replace certain words in the book, causing branching paths in the story to lead you to new outcomes. You can always flip back and change those words, too, allowing you to explore alternate storylines and acquire different charms. As Luka, you explore the town of Beacon Pines in search of the truth behind the mysterious factory in the nearby forest while also trying to just survive the summer, meet new friends, and deal with your bully. Beacon Pines is coming to PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Beacon Pines on Steam. A free demo is also available on Steam.

Bear And Breakfast

Bear and Breakfast sees you take over an abandoned shack and, with the help of your friends, transform it into a bed and breakfast. Oh, and you’re also a bear named Hank, and your friends are woodland creatures. This management adventure game will test your ingenuity when it comes to attracting human tourists and keeping them happy long enough that they continue spending money. There also seems to be a bit of a mystery underlying this cozy-looking management sim, as you can uncover details about something strange and darkly sinister that’s going on in the deepest parts of the forest. Bear and Breakfast is coming to Switch and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Bear and Breakfast on Steam.

Broken Pieces

Though the style isn’t used as often anymore, there are still games that utilize fixed camera angles to create an unnerving atmosphere. That’s what Broken Pieces seems to be going for; it’s a psychological thriller where you play as Elise, a woman caught in a time loop. To escape, you’ll have to explore the post-Cold War climate of the French coastal village Saint-Exil, which houses a ritualistic cult. Broken Pieces is coming to PC “soon.”

You can wishlist Broken Pieces on Steam.

Citizen Sleeper

Citizen Sleeper is a tabletop RPG-inspired game where you play as a digitized consciousness placed into an artificial body that’s owned by a powerful corporation. You manage to escape your servitude and find yourself on the Erlin’s Eye, a ruined space station that’s home to thousands of people like you–just trying to survive the capitalist hellscape one day at a time. Every cycle, you’ll awaken into an ever-evolving society, one influenced by the actions you take. Citizen Sleeper is coming to PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Citizen Sleeper on Steam.

Frogsong

In Frogsong, you play as Chorus, a little tree frog that society expects to become a person of religion. But Chorus doesn’t want that life–despite their small stature, they want to become a warrior, and so they move to Boreala to train with the best of the best at the Defense Guild. However, with an opposing army approaching and a strange rumor causing trouble around the village, Chorus is suddenly thrust into an undertaking more dangerous than they had anticipated. The game features expressive hand-drawn 2D animation, giving all the characters adorable appearances despite the heavy themes of the narrative. Frogsong is coming to Switch and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Frogsong on Steam.

Goodbye Volcano High

Goodbye Volcano High rests on the shared knowledge that we all know what happened to the dinosaurs–if you happen to have not heard, just know things didn’t go very well. In Goodbye Volcano High, you play as Fang, a dino enjoying her final year of high school just before it ends, giving you precious little time to make amends, admit your feelings, write music, and decide what you want to do for the rest of your (presumably very short) life. Goodbye Volcano High is coming to PS5, PS4, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Goodbye Volcano High on Steam.

Have A Nice Death

In Have a Nice Death, your vacation plans are thrown out the window after your subordinates at work start slacking on the job–an act made all the more excruciating when you’re so overworked. But you’re Death itself, so you can take matters into your own hands. With scythe in hand, you set out to punish your employees, and thanks to being Death, you can return from your own demise as many times as necessary when they fight back. This narrative translates into a 2D action roguelite, one with more than 30 unique weapons and spells that you can find, upgrade, and combo together. Have a Nice Death is coming to PC via Steam Early Access in March 2022.

You can wishlist Have a Nice Death on Steam.

High Elo Girls

High Elo Girls is a visual novel in which you play as Rafaela, a college dropout who becomes a substitute member of Momentum Gaming, a MOBA esports team. The storyline takes place over a 12-week period, during which you can befriend, romance, or fight your new teammates. The storyline can branch depending on your actions–you can try to avoid making ripples by remaining in everyone’s shadow, for example, or support your own ambitions and take someone’s coveted spot on the team as the new Top Lane, DPS, Support, Mid Lane, or Jungler. High Elo Girls is coming to PC in Fall 2022.

You can wishlist High Elo Girls on Steam.

Letters

Letters sees you play as Sarah as you experience her life through letters and messages–first via handwritten pen pal notes and then online message boards and social media sites. The game tasks you with arranging the words and letters on the page to solve riddles. Perhaps you need to get past a drawing of a stranded sailor to flip to the next page, so you break apart the word “friendship” that Sarah has written there in order to obtain the word “ship” and give the sailor a boat for him to leave the page and open a path for you. All the while, your actions will dictate Sarah’s life, opening branching paths that determine how she grows into a teenager and ultimately an adult. Letters is coming to Switch and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Letters on Steam. A free demo is also available on Steam.

Loco Motive

Loco Motive is a point-and-click mystery adventure game in which you play as lawyer Arthur, rookie detective Herman, and secret service agent Diana, all of whom have become the prime suspects in the murder of wealthy heiress Lady Unterwald. Stuck on a train with the true killer, you’ll have to carefully sleuth out the truth and discover who actually wanted Lady Unterwald dead. Set in the 1930s, Loco Motive will feature a jazz soundtrack inspired by the time, and if the trailer is anything to go by, the game will be quite funny, too. Loco Motive is coming to Switch and PC in Summer 2022.

You can wishlist Loco Motive on Steam.

Neon White

In Neon White, you play as a demon from Hell who’s competing against other demons for a chance to ascend to Heaven, racing through first-person shooter combat gauntlets in a celestial speedrun. As you move through a level, you can collect cards which are added to your hand–playing a card allows you to temporarily use whichever weapon is depicted on it (like a shotgun or pistol) while discarding the card provides you with a special ability like a dash or double jump. Whether you’re aiming to rank high on the leaderboards or find secrets, you’ll have to learn how to make split second decisions and use/discard cards in quick succession to blast past enemies and reach tough-to-reach locations. There’s also a bit of a visual novel component to the game, where you can befriend and enter relationships with your fellow demons, learning more about their mysterious pasts, as well as your own. Neon White is coming to Switch and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Neon White on Steam.

OlliOlli World

OlliOlli World is the third entry in the OlliOlli series and sees you grind, trick, and wallrun through the colorful (and somewhat strange) world of Radlandia, a place that’s all about skateboarding. OlliOlli World is a departure from the linear roots of the series for a more open approach–for example, each level contains multiple avenues to reach the end (rewarding experimentation) and there’s a huge world to explore too. The game features a varied customization system, allowing you to create your ideal character and unlock more looks as you play. OlliOlli World is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC on February 8.

You can preorder OlliOlli World on Steam for $30 USD.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

Taking place five years after the events of Oxenfree, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals sees you play as Riley Poverly, a 32-year-old woman who returns to her hometown of Camena to take an entry-level job as an environmental researcher. As you navigate the coastal town, you’ll soon discover that not everything is as it appears and come into conflict with Parentage, a mysterious collective that seems to be manipulating the same strange anomaly that Alex first discovered in the original Oxenfree. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals is coming to PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Oxenfree II: Lost Signals on Steam.

Planet Of Lana

Planet of Lana is a 2D puzzle-platformer with a hand-painted art style. You play as a young girl accompanied by a cute little creature. You live on a planet that seems like a garden paradise, until it’s invaded by scary-looking machines. In order to preserve the natural beauty of the planet, you’ll have to go on a planet-wide odyssey, where you’ll regularly need to rely on stealth and your wits to navigate action sequences and puzzles. Planet of Lana is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Planet of Lana on Steam.

Prim

Prim stars a teenager by the same name, who is the daughter of Thanatos, Angel of Death. Prim is forbidden from going to Earth–she’s told by her father that she’d develop immensely dangerous powers if she did–but when she begins having dreams about a human boy calling out to her for help, she decides to sneak out of the Land of the Dead and go to Earth anyway. Featuring a Tim Burton-inspired hand-drawn art style and traditional frame-by-frame animation, Prim looks to be a visual treat. The point-and-click adventure seemingly has a welcome dose of comedy too, with fully voiced lines giving Prim a dry sarcastic demeanor. Prim is coming to PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Prim on Steam. A free demo is also available on Steam.

Replaced

Set in an alternate 1980s America, Replaced is a 2.5D action-platformer where you play as R.E.A.C.H., an AI who has been forcibly trapped in a human body and now must adapt to living in a dystopian society following a nuclear event. The game looks incredibly cinematic, featuring platforming and combat all captured in a gorgeous pixel art style. Replaced is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Replaced on Steam.

River City Girls 2

Misako, Kyoko, Kunio, and Riki are joined by newcomers Marian and Provie in River City Girls 2, a direct follow-up to the incredible 2019 beat-’em-up River City Girls (which you should absolutely play if you haven’t already). The sequel adds new locations, items, abilities, and enemies, as well as a day-night cycle. Like the original game, River City Girls 2 features a campaign that can be tackled solo or with a friend, comic book-inspired cutscenes, and full voiceover in both Japanese and English. It already sounds like the game will also have a bangin’ soundtrack, with River City Girls composer Megan McDuffee returning. River City Girls 2 is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC in Summer 2022.

You can wishlist River City Girls 2 on the Nintendo eShop.

Sea Of Stars

Both mechanically and artistically inspired by the turn-based RPGs of the ’90s, Sea of Stars sees you play as the two Children of the Solstice: Zale and Valere. Together, the two possess the powers of the sun and moon, allowing them to perform Eclipse Magic–the only hope that the world has to overcome The Fleshmancer, an alchemist responsible for the twisted monsters now roaming the land. Combat in Sea of Stars revolves around timing, encouraging you to strategically press buttons in sync with attack animations in order to achieve more powerful results. Sea of Stars is coming to Switch, PC, and other, “to be determined” platforms in Holiday 2022.

You can wishlist Sea of Stars on Steam.

Serial Cleaners

In a follow-up to 2017’s Serial Cleaner, Serial Cleaners sees you take on the role of four cleaners in the ’90s who are responsible for clearing up crime scenes to help criminals and mob hitman get away with murder. Each cleaner in this stealth action game possesses unique skills–veteran Bob has old-school tricks the others lack, Lati’s street smarts make her adept at blending in and avoiding police, psychopathic Hal can confront problems with overwhelming brute force, and computer jock Erin can utilize her tech skills to short-circuit electronics and small size to crawl through vents. Serial Cleaners is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Serial Cleaners on Steam.

Sifu

In martial arts brawler Sifu, every time you die, your character will age a little more and, in the process, attain a greater mastery over kung fu. Die enough times and the young warrior you started out as will become an elderly but highly skilled master fighter. This is a helpful tradeoff in your quest to confront and take revenge on the five kung fu masters responsible for your family’s death–you also take less damage as you age, but die too many times, and you’ll become so old that you’ll die for real. Sifu’s combat focuses on close-range fights, encouraging you to use the environment to your advantage and make do with makeshift weapons. Sifu is coming to PS5, PS4, and PC on February 8.

You can preorder Sifu on the Epic Games Store for $40 USD.

Somerville

Somerville looks eerily creepy, and the dystopian atmosphere seen in its trailers seems to hint at a narrative that features both catastrophic tragedy and heartwarming intimacy. In Somerville, you play as a man trying to keep his family–which consists of his wife, son, and dog–alive in the wake of an alien-like invasion. Along the way, you’ll run into other human survivors, as well as the strange artifacts from space that are systematically killing off all human life. Somerville has no dialogue; instead, the story is entirely conveyed through the environment, music, and character animations. Somerville is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Somerville on Steam.

Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats To Match-3 To

Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To sees you play as Samar, a young witch who notices there’s been a massive spike of spirit activity in their city recently, and plans to figure out why. In order to reassemble and deal with lost spirits, Samar needs to cast some powerful spells–each of which requires you complete match-3 puzzles. But there’s no rush or frantic nature to it all, as you’re able to enjoy chill lofi beats while completing puzzles. When not on the job, you can talk to other characters, forge relationships, and decorate your room with new furniture. Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To is coming to PC in 2022.

You can wishlist Spirit Swap: Lofi Beats to Match-3 To on Steam. A free demo is also available on Steam.

Thirsty Suitors

Thirsty Suitors puts you in the shoes of Jala, who finds herself in a bit of hot water. With her sister’s wedding coming up, she needs to prepare for the visit of the terrifyingly judgmental matriarch of the family, Nani, but that’s easier said than done when she has friendships to fix, parental demands to live up to, and a whole roster of exes to contend with. When you’re not trying to impress your mom in cooking segments and pulling off sick tricks on your skateboard, Thirsty Suitors seems to focus on your attempts to handle your ex-partners, encounters with whom play out in wacky-looking turn-based battles. Thirsty Suitors is coming to PC “soon.”

You can wishlist Thirsty Suitors on Steam.

Tunic

Tunic is for those who seek double the challenge in a video game–the cute-looking The Legend of Zelda-like has challenging combat, but understanding what the game even is about is also difficult. As you overcome tough bosses and unlock additional weapons and abilities, you’ll discover remnants of old gaming manuals, pieces of an unknown language, and other hidden secrets that the community will likely have to piece together in order to parse what exactly is going on. Tunic is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on March 16.

You can wishlist Tunic on Steam.

We Are OFK

We Are OFK follows the misadventures of four friends in their 20s struggling to make and release their debut EP in the cutthroat Los Angeles music industry. The game’s story changes depending on your choices and actions as you argue over what your song’s lyrics should be, maneuver blossoming romances, and text your friends and business associates. The game features voice acting, and the trailers have hinted at a truly superb soundtrack. We Are OFK is coming to PS5, PS4, and PC in 2022.

You can wishlist We Are OFK on Steam.

Weird West

An immersive sim, Weird West sees the playable sandbox of an otherworldly American Wild West-inspired setting evolve and change as you make decisions and interact with it. The game features five playable characters, each with their own story and goals–as you play through the game, you’ll begin to see how they each can connect and interact. Once you switch to a new character, you can even find and recruit the earlier characters as party members, assuming they’re still alive, of course–once a character dies in Weird West (even your own), they’re dead for good if you don’t have an item on hand to revive them. Weird West is coming to Xbox One, PS4, and PC on March 31.

You can preorder Weird West on Steam for $40 USD.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

During CES 2022, GIGABYTE unveiled many B660 and H610 motherboards designed for Intel’s latest Alder Lake processors. Perhaps the most interesting and ‘premium’ of these is the GIGABYTE B660 Aorus Master and B660 Aorus Master DDR4 models, which include identical feature sets. The only difference is that one supports the latest DDR5 memory and the other DDR4. Other features include three M.2 slots, four SATA ports, 2.5 GbE networking, as well as a typical Aorus inspired gaming aesthetic.

As part of GIGABYTE’s Aorus themed gaming series, the GIGABYTE B660 Aorus Master and the DDR4 version feature the same fundamental specifications and design. This includes a standard ATX-sized PCB, with a large black rear panel cover, with silver heatsinks covering the M.2 slots and chipset, as well as two zones of integrated RGB LED lighting. 

The DDR5 version supports DDR5-5333 memory, while the DDR4 version boasts support for up to DDR4-6000 memory. Both models can accommodate up to 128 GB of their respective memory types across four memory slots.

Looking at the features of both GIGABYTE B660 Aorus Master models, they include one full-length PCIe 4.0 x16 slot, with two full-length PCIe 3.0 slots operating at x4/x1. Regarding storage, there is a total of three M.2 slots, including two with support for PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives and one with support for PCIe 3.0 x4 drives. There are also four SATA ports supporting RAID 0, 1, 5, and 10 arrays.

On the rear panel of both B660 Aorus Master motherboards is one USB 3.2 G2x2 Type-C, one USB 3.2 G2 Type-A, four USB 3.2 G1 Type-A, and two USB 2.0 ports. Also on the rear panel are five 3.5 mm audio jacks and S/PDIF optical output controlled by a Realtek ALC1220-VB HD audio codec. Looking at networking, an Intel I225-V 2.5 GbE controller is powering one Ethernet port, with an Intel Wi-Fi 6 CNVi that includes support for BT 5.2 devices.

GIGABYTE hasn’t shared the expected pricing of its B660 Aorus Master motherboards, nor do we know when they might hit retail shelves.

Source: GIGABYTE

Read MoreAnandTech

More than three years after Dead Cells emerged from the sludge of early access, the roguelike’s third piece of DLC has launched on all platforms. The new expansion, The Queen and the Sea, adds two biomes, new enemies, and a new boss. The new DLC has a very pretty animated trailer which you can view below.

Both new biomes are inviting players to take part in some nautical nonsense. The Infested Shipwreck will take players through a spooky ghost ship which is haunted, per the press release, by “unforgiving eldritch horrors.” The Lighthouse, the second biome, introduces a time-trial element where players will attempt to ascend to safety as fires rise below them and enemies attempt to slow their progress. These new levels run parallel to the High Peak Castle and Throne Room levels and culminate in a challenging new final boss, The Queen. In addition to the new biomes and boss, The Queen and the Sea adds a new pet, the Leghugger. This creature can be summoned in to help with tough battles and evolves over time.

The DLC also includes a variety of new weapons. Per the press release, those include “a new Hand Hook that throws enemies into walls, The Abyssal Trident, which is a hidden treasure in the depth of the shipwreck attainable by a secret side quest, and The Queen’s Rapier: a powerful weapon that slices through reality.”

The Queen and the Sea concludes the story told in Dead Cells’ previous DLC installments, The Bad Seed and Fatal Falls. But, just because it’s the conclusion of that storyline, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the end of Dead Cells. In 2019, original developer Motion Twin handed the ongoing development of new content for the game over to Evil Empire, a new studio founded by former members of the Motion Twin team. Motion Twin remains involved in stewarding Dead Cells, while Evil Empire handles the bulk of development.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Genshin Impact update 2.4 is live now, bringing a new Archon quest and a brand new area to explore, the Enkanomiya zone. The new zone is located underneath Watatsumi Island, but you will need to complete a new quest to unlock the area, “Still Water’s Flow.” In order to access the quest you will need to be Adventure Rank 30, and have completed the Archon quest “Chapter 2: Act 3: Omnipresence Over Mortals.” Players will also need to have completed “The Moon-Bathed Deep” quest, which is also located on Watatsumi Island. “Still Water’s Flow” requires finding two key sigils, which can be hard to find if you don’t know where to look.

How to find the key sigils

The quest can be started by talking to Tsuyuko on Watatsumi Island. Once you talk to Tsuyuko at the Sangonomiya Shrine, she will lead you to another shrine where she explains what the key sigils are. She explains that three of the five sigils have already been found and dealt with, so you only need to track down the other two. The first of the sigils appears to be in the middle of the water off the eastern part of Watatsumi Island, however that quest marker is misleading.

The location of the cave entrance to the first sigil, indicated by the player marker

Instead, you will want to return to the cave where the final part of “The Moon-Bathed Deep” quest takes place, which is the quest you do directly before this one. It’s located on the inside part of the square bit of land to the west of the quest marker. The best method to get here is to use the teleport waypoint south of the quest marker, the one located on the outer rim of Watatsumi island. From there head to the square section shown in the picture and begin gilding down the cliff side. You should spot an opening in the wall that leads inside the cave. Once inside you will need to take down some Fauti enemies before collecting the sigil.

The location of the second sigil

The second sigil is exactly where the quest marker indicates it is, on the small island off the northern part of Watatsumi Island. You can quickly travel to the nearby teleport waypoint and just swim over to the island. There you just need to defeat some Ruin machines before collecting the sigil. Once you obtain that sigil, you need to take the sigils to two different shrines in the inner circle of Watatsumi Island, one to the east and one to the north.

The glowing symbol you will need to interact with at one of the shrines

At each shrine you will need to interact with the glowing symbol on the side of the rock in order to activate the shrine. Neither of these symbols are hidden and there are no enemies at the shrines. After that, you will return to Tsuyuko at the Sandonomuya Shrine. She will unlock the whirlpool in the center of the island, allowing you to jump into the pool and access Enkanomiya, the new trial. You will fall into the pool and load into the new area. If you follow the waypoint through a short cave, the teleport waypoint will unlock, completing the quest and giving access to Enkanomiya.

You can also check out our complete Genshin Impact character guide and our Genshin Impact weapon guide.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

Apex Legends next event, Dark Depths, brings a new Arenas map, three free reward tracks, and new aquatic-themed cosmetic items. The new event runs from January 11-February 1 and Respawn Entertainment has announced that new cosmetics added to the game will be available after the event ends.

Detailed in a blog post, the new Arenas map is called Habitat and is a small island located in the New Antilla archipelago, the same place as Storm Point. The new map features a large waterfall that has cut through the map over time, creating trenches and high points across the map. Habitat has two POIs with high elevation on opposite sides of the map, the Cave and the Nest. It also features plenty of places to rush in and slide down along with some zip lines, allowing players to quickly move around the map.

During the event there will be three free event reward tracks, each one lasting for one week of the event. The tracks include limited-time cosmetics, battle pass stars, and Apex Packs. The second reward track also includes a Dark Depths Apex Pack, which contains one of the new cosmetic items.

The event will add 40 new cosmetic items to the game, including legendary skins for Fuse, Lifeline, Horizon, and Ash. There will be multiple ways to acquire the new items, both during the event and after it ends. During the event, Dark Depths Apex Packs will be available for 400 Apex Coins, with each one containing a non-duplicate Dark Depths item. There will also be some items and bundles available for direct purchase in the event store.

The new items will also be added to the regular Apex Legends loot pool at the start of the event, so the items can be obtained from normal Apex Packs. The items can also be crafted, however they will cost more crafting materials than other items for at least two seasons, after which the cost may be reduced. The items will remain in the loot pool, even after the event ends. If you’re planning on trying out Habitat, check out GameSpot’s Apex Legends Arenas guide.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

One of the key elements to how processor portfolios will evolve moving forward involves mixing and matching current generation and previous generation parts using the benefits of (supposedly) cheaper older processors taking advantage of economies of scale. It’s been no secret, for example, that below $300, AMD recommends its previous generation hardware on the desktop. On the Notebook however, along with the launch this week of next-generation hardware, AMD also launched updates to the previous generation under the heading of ‘Barcelo’.

These new 2022 Barcelo APUs are minor updates to the 2021 Lucienne APUs. They use the same Zen 3 cores, are built on the same TSMC 7nm process, have the same PCIe 3 and DDR4/LP4X support, and use the same socket. These are just refined for voltage, frequency, and power based on customer requests.

AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile: U-Series
AnandTech
Cores
Threads
Base
Freq
Boost
Freq
GPU
Core
GPU
Freq
TDP
2022 Barcelo
Ryzen 7 5825U
8C / 16T
2000
4500
8
1800
15W
Ryzen 5 5625U
6C / 12T
2300
4300
7
1600
15W
Ryzen 3 5425U
4C / 8T
2700
4100
6
1500
15W
2021 Lucienne
Ryzen 7 5800U
8C / 16T
1900
4400
8
2000
15W
Ryzen 5 5600U
6C / 12T
2300
4200
7
1800
15W
Ryzen 3 5400U
4C / 8T
2600
4000
6
1600
15W

For example, the new Ryzen 7 5825U is +100 MHz on base and turbo frequencies, but loses 200 MHz on graphics. Pretty much every processor is slightly increased on CPU, slightly regressed on GPU, and it looks like this is what AMD’s customers want.

The first laptop with a Barcelo processor that came across our inboxes is the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED. This is updated from the 2021 version, using the Ryzen 7 5825U with 16 GB of LPDDR4X-4266, 1 TB of PCIe 3.0 SSD, a 14-inch 2880×1800 display with 90 Hz and 100% DCI-P3, and HDR500 certification. It also comes with two USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C ports, a Type-A port, an audio combo jack, an HDMI 2.0 output, and microSD. The touchpad doubles as a number pad as well, and it comes with a 180º hinge and a 75 Wh battery. The Zenbook 14 OLED (UM3402) is due on market in Q2.

Read MoreAnandTech

PUBG: New State developer Krafton Inc. has announced a new partnership with European car manufacturer Bugatti Rimac that will bring one of the fastest sports cars in the world to the mobile battle royale.

Starting with the next update later this month, players will be able to find the Bugatti Rimac Nivera on the island of Troi and take it for a test drive. The Nivera, according to the press release, is an all-electric, 1,914 horsepower, 258 miles-per-hour car that can cover a quarter-mile in less than nine seconds.

The Bugatti Rimac Nivera is coming to PUBG New State soon.

“We are extremely excited to announce our first collaboration and it is truly an honor to have Bugatti-Rimac, an innovative and iconic car brand, with us to kick start the new year,” Minkyu Park, executive producer of PUBG: New State, said in the official release. “This is a landmark collaboration for us and adding the Rimac Nevera to the game will help electrify the game’s fun, intensity and experiences for our fans.”

A limited-time crate themed around the Nevera will be added to the in-game shop as well. The Rimac Crate will include among other items five different colors for the card: Nevera Blue, Gunpowder Grey, Prism Glow, Sunburst Red and Luminous Gold.

This is the first-ever partnership for the new PUBG: New State game since its launch in November. Its sister game, PUBG Mobile, has recently featured partnerships with Arcane: A League of Legends Story, Godzilla vs. Kong, and the Metro franchise for in-game events. The creators of the game, Krafton and Tencent Games, recently won a $10 million lawsuit against a hacking group distributing cheats for the game.

Read MoreGameSpot – Game News