Category: Video Games

Mass Effect lead writer on why ME Legendary Edition inspired him to leave BioWare

Former BioWare employee and lead Mass Effect writer Mac Walters explained why he left the company after nearly two decades

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Former BioWare employee and lead Mass Effect writer Mac Walters explained why he left the company after nearly two decades. Walters left the company of his own volition earlier in 2023, though BioWare laid off other long-time writers, including some who worked on the hit space game trilogy with Walters and on Dragon Age as well.

Walters told the MinnMax show that he decided it was time for a change after working on Mass Effect Legendary Edition, the remastered package that brought all three Mass Effect games together for modern consoles (thanks, Eurogamer). Walters said that, unlike BioWare’s other projects, Legendary Edition was comparatively unplanned and only had a “small, scrappy” team working on it, something that reminded him of days gone by.

“That process reminded me a lot of early BioWare, we were a small scrappy team and people wearing lots of different hats,” Walters said. “The way to make that successful was really for me to be little bit rogue, a little bit sort of entrepreneurial in how we were going to build this out with the people we had and people we could get without disrupting other teams in the meantime.

“This is the future – this is how AAA gaming needs to go when you look at how complex and challenging it is,” he said. “And so a lot of that was reminding me of… y’know, call it the good old days, or whatever.”

Walters said he wanted to work on new projects and fresh IP, but that there wasn’t any room at EA for his plans. When it became clear that the opportunities he envisioned just weren’t possible at BioWare anymore, he said he realized it was time to move on.

Walters founded a new studio with NetEase after he left, Worlds Untold, and is currently working on an unannounced sci-fi project. BioWare, meanwhile, is still teasing Mass Effect 5 and Dragon Age 4, both of which aren’t anywhere near launching after several years of development.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

All Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC version exclusives

Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet versions exclusive lists all DLC Pokemon you can only get in one game, including Legendary exclusives

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Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC version exclusives are a thing just like they are in every other mainline game. The Indigo Disk expansion brings dozens of critters from previous Pokemon games back, including regional variants such as Alolan Vulpix and even some new legendary Pokemon. As always, the only way to get a Pokemon from a version you don’t own is to trade for it, so if you have friends with a different version, consider offering them an exclusive trade for one of theirs.

All the Pokemon starters are in both versions, so you can get Squirtle, Fennekin, and all the rest no matter which version you’re playing.

Genshin Impact promo codes – Free Primogems for more wishes

If you need to know how to redeem Genshin Impact codes, or you’re looking for a current Genshin Impact promo code, this is where to look.

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Genshin Impact is one of the biggest online RPGs in the world. Playable across PlayStation, PC, and mobile, Genshin Impact has managed to carve out a strong niche for itself, bringing real-time action combat to the gacha RPG genre. The problem is, gacha RPGs tend to be a bit more difficult to play for people that aren’t investing in Primogems.

Luckily, there is a solution for that. If you make sure to regularly check for free Primogem codes you can redeem them and save them up for your next burst of Wishes. Genshin Impact can feel stingy at times, but as long as you make sure to save gems and redeem codes, you’ll be able to get your next set of wishes much faster.

Below you’ll find everything you need to know to get more Primogems and Wishes in Genshin Impact. If you’re looking to get stronger, check our list of the best DPS characters in Genshin Impact.

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How to evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC

Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Inkay evolution guide explains just what you need to do to evolve Inkay into Malamar and when

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How to evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s DLC probably seems confusing if you never played Pokemon X and Y, or maybe even more so if you did. Inkay’s original evolution method took advantage of some specific 3DS features in a very specific way. Even if you know the basics, it’s easy to mess up the process or start it too late.

Or it was until now. Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Inkay evolution guide explains just what you need to do and when.

If you’re looking for more Pokemon Scarlet and Violet help, check out our guides on where to find Meloetta and how to deal with the Super Spicy Sandwich Trial.

All Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC starter locations

Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC starter locations guide points out where to look for each starter, with images to pinpoint habitat areas.

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Getting to the point where you can start finding Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC’s starter Pokemon works a bit differently than you might expect. While the expansion’s trailer showed the likes of Squirtle and Treecko wandering freely, you actually have to put some effort into making that happen. There’s also some guesswork involved in determining which Pokemon shows up in a given biome, as there aren’t any type rules or patterns at play.

Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet DLC starter locations guide points out where to look for each starter, with images to help pinpoint exact habitat areas.

 

How to find Meloetta in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet The Indigo Disc

Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Meloetta guide lays out everything you need to do to find Meloetta’s location and catch the Legendary Pokemon

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Finding the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Meloetta location is a tough challenge, and not just on account of the melodic ‘mon’s good hiding place. Once you find where Meloetta is, you have to coax them to appear, something the game is happy to make you struggle to figure out for yourself. Once you finally meet all the criteria and make yourself worthy for Meloetta to perform in front of, you’ll get a chance to catch the elusive legendary.

Our Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Meloetta guide lays out everything you need to do to reach that point.

All Pokemon GO Winter Holiday research tasks

The Pokemon GO Winter Timed Research tasks are here, with plenty to keep you busy as the year draws to a close

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The Pokemon GO Winter Timed Research tasks are here, with plenty to keep you busy as the year draws to a close. Niantic is offering the first round of Winter Timed Research tasks for free for all players in the Pokemon game, though if you want to tick every box, you’ll have to pay for it. Some of the tasks are only available as paid research and cost $1.99 and $4.99 in the in-game shop. Niantic is also running Winter Wishes and Frosty Festivities alongside the main event, two separate quests with even more rewards to earn.

There’s quite a bit to do in the free tasks and a chance to earn rewards, find rare spawns, and more, though, so if you’re keen on keeping your money in your wallet, you won’t be getting shortchanged.

Microsoft is offering big discounts Xbox Series X|S for the holidays

Black Friday may be over, but Microsoft is still feeling the spirit of bargains, with some big Xbox Series X|S sales going on right now

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Black Friday may be over, but Microsoft is still feeling the spirit of bargains, with some big Xbox Series X|S sales going on right now. Many of Microsoft’s Xbox Black Friday deals are actually sticking around, including a pretty sweet console bundle deal.

If you’re just after a console, you get them at a respectable discount for the time being. Microsoft is offering the Xbox Series X for $399.99, which is $100 off its usual $499.99 price. The console comes with 1TB of memory and one Xbox controller. While it doesn’t come with any games, you can purchase a console Game Pass subscription for $1 for your first month and $9.99 per month after that. Game Pass gives you access to hundreds of games, including Bethesda’s library, a hefty number of Sega games, and some of the best indie games around.

The Series S – a smaller, digital-only, less powerful alternative – is going for $249. It normally costs $299.99. Xbox is running a special on the Series S Starter Bundle as well, which gets you the system and three months of Game Pass Ultimate for $239.99. Game Pass Ultimate includes Game Pass for console and PC, so if you game on Windows 10 or Windows 11, you have a pretty solid selection of games to choose from on your PC as well.

You can also grab a Series X bundled with a digital version of Diablo 4 for $399.99, which is essentially giving you a free copy of the game. There’s a similar bundle that includes Forza Horizon 5 instead, and it’s also going for $399.99.

Other retailers, including Amazon, have similar offers running, though the stock and pricing seem to fluctuate a bit more unreliable. It’s worth checking, but make sure to keep an eye on Microsoft’s store as well.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

HoYoverse finally reveals Genshin Impact’s Cloud Retainer as playable character

After almost a year of leaks and speculation from fans, HoYoverse finally revealed Genshin Impact’s Cloud Retainer as a playable character

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After almost a year of leaks and speculation from fans, HoYoverse finally revealed Genshin Impact’s Cloud Retainer as a playable character. Sort of. The name Cloud Retainer uses in her human form – and her official name on the character banner – is Xianyun.

Xianyun is a 5-star Anemo character who, assuming HoYoverse’s usual pattern of teases and reveals holds true, will debut in Genshin Impact 4.4, sometime in February 2024. That’s plenty of time to save up Primogems if you’re keen on adding Cloud Retainer to your team.

It puts Xianyun in the Lantern Rite period, an annual in-game festival celebrating the new year in Liyue, and it’s a fitting period for her.

Cloud Retainer first turned up in her human form during a touching sequence in Lantern Rite 2023, where her friend and fellow adeptus Madam Ping reminisced about days gone by and lost friends.

Xianyun’s kit leaked right before HoYoverse made the announcement, and assuming the leaks are accurate, it looks like she’ll occupy her unique role. Xianyun’s skill reportedly lets her use plunging attacks with ease, and her burst provides healing or attack boosts.

HoYoverse also revealed Gaming – not pronounced like you think it is – another new 5-star character set to debut alongside Xianyun. He has a Pyro vision, though there aren’t as many reliable leaks about his kit just yet.

Meanwhile, Genshin Impact 4.3 is about to launch, bringing with it Navia, Chevreuse, and Fontaine’s first-ever film festival.

Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF

How to evolve Duraludon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

We lay out how to evolve Duraludon and where to find Metal Alloy in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet’s Indigo Disc DLC

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How to evolve Duraludon in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet takes a fair bit of work, unless you have friends with the Pokemon game willing to do it for you. Duraludon’s evolved form Archaludon featured in the Indigo Disc’s pre-release trailers, but you likely won’t have a chance to get it until fairly late in your Blueberry Academy adventure. The new evolution item Duraludon needs only comes from one place, and it’ll cost you. The effort is worth it, though. Archaludon’s dual Dragon and Steel typing makes it unique, and it comes with a powerful move right out of the gate.