Age of Empires 4 might be heading to Xbox

A real-time classic.

Age of Empires 4, the high real-time strategy game, could be coming to  Xbox consoles.

Rumors of an alleged Xbox port originally came from the Twitter account  Aggiornamenti Lumia, which combs through Microsoft databases for code names, claims that a listing for “XIP_CAR_JANUARY_2022” appears on various Xbox databases now. According to Aggiornamenti Lumia, the listing refers to “Cardinal,” which is allegedly the code name for Age of Empires 4, suggesting that an Xbox version could be in development.

As with any rumors, take it with a pinch of salt until Microsoft itself comes out and states anything. Given Age of Empires 4  is under the company’s umbrella, an Xbox port doesn’t seem far-fetched.

While the second entry is  still our favorite, Age of Empires 4  was quite well received by critics and fans when it came out last year. The game is sitting at an impressive  81 on Metacritic. Meanwhile, it has a “Very Positive” user consensus  on Steam

Age of Empires 4  made it on our list for best  PC games of 2021  for a reason! Here’s to hoping people on Xbox get a chance to try it out on their platform of choice at some point.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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The 15 best PC games of all time

Got your ticket there for the best PC games of all time? Ah, you do. Welcome – come inside.

Got your ticket there for the best PC games of all time? Ah, you do. Welcome – come inside. You can hang your jacket on one of those vectors jutting out from Elite over there, and we do ask that you leave all electronic devices inside this improbably large PC game box from 1997. Look out for all the mouse balls and serial cables underfoot. We’ve tried clearing them out, but they grow back at an alarming rate.

As custodians of this PC gaming corps d’elite, we must lay a few ground rules before allowing you into the great hall. The first pertains to timeliness: PC gaming history spans several decades and many of its most revered titles released during the 1990s, whose incredible tech breakthrough saw leaps forward in both fidelity and ideation. But let’s be real: even if you did decide to go and play the original 1993 version Syndicate after seeing it on this list, which you wouldn’t, getting it to run properly on modern hardware would be quite an undertaking. Therefore, older games must be both playable and still genuinely enjoyable to make the cut, not simply ‘important’.

Secondly: franchises. The industry’s tendency to iterate on its most popular names and ideas means good games are often built on the foundations of great ones – so even though the real innovation might have happened nine years ago, we’re still inclined to put the best overall experience on a pedestal. Often, that means the most recent.

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With our methodology explained, we just need you to sign this waiver that absolves us from responsibility for any injuries incurred by falling CD-ROMs and any attempt from John Romero to make you his – well, you know, and we can now let you into the great hall.

Modders add zombies to ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ on PC

Red Undead Redemption, more like.

A duo of passionate modders have added zombies to Red Dead Redemption 2  on PC, PCGamesN  reported Wednesday.  

The Undead Nightmare II – Origins  mod by Dick Hertz and Eki is an obvious callback to the original Red Dead Redemption’s Undead Nightmare  DLC. Unlike the first game, Red Dead Redemption 2  never had an official zombie expansion from Rockstar Games. So Hertz and Eki wanted to change that! If you crave swarms of zombies roaming about the old west, this mod should satisfy your undead desires. 

There’s no trailer for Undead Nightmare II – Origins, but YouTuber Quarantine Gamer did a showcase of the mod, which you can watch below.

The mod adds changes the behavior of NPC characters in Red Dead Redemption 2 too. Some take shelter on high ground, while others board-up shops to keep zombies at bay. There’s also the blood moon, which carpets in landscapes in blood-red light and fog. Spooky stuff!

If you want to give Undead Nightmare II – Origins a shot, it’s available for free  here. There are installation instructions on that page if you need a hand to sort out the backend of things. 

Red Dead Redemption 2’s modding scene is slowly growing, especially since Rockstar Games have yet to add single-player content. The studio is knee-deep in work for Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition and presumably Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas VR

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.

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‘Aven Colony’ is free on the Epic Games Store next week

Aven Colony is teased on the Epic Games Store this week!

It’s time once again for the Epic Games Store to bestow upon us another free video game. What, you still haven’t played last week’s offerings? Shameful, please get on that before next time.

This week, Epic is giving away Darq Complete Edition, which you can download for free from now until Nov. 4. It’s a side-scrolling puzzle game full of surrealism, a perfect fit if you’re looking for something spooky on Halloween. You can download Darq Complete Edition here.

Epic also revealed that next week’s game is Aven Colony, an interstellar base-building sim. It’ll be available for free on the Epic Games Store from Nov. 4 until Nov. 11 here.

Check out a trailer of Aven Colony for yourself below.

Aven Colony came out back in 2017 to a fairly positive reception. It’s currently sitting at a 65 on Metacritic, which isn’t phenomenal, but hey, it’s free! It can’t hurt to try it out if you’re interested in building a futuristic utopia.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF

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‘Darq: Complete Edition’ is free on the Epic Games Store

Go get this weird, David Lynch-like side scrolling horror game for free!

Well, it’s time for a brand spanking new free game to pop up on the Epic Games Store! Just make sure you install and play this one for a change, ok?

Halloween is nearly upon us, so naturally, Epic made a spooky selection for this week’s free game.

Darq: Complete Edition  is a side-scrolling puzzle game rife with surrealism and thunderous, spine-chilling jump scares. It’s pretty good! Short, too. Something you can finish in under six hours or so. Make sure you switch off the lights and wear headphones for this one to get the full effect. By that, I mean to enhance the scariness factor tenfold. It’s the kind of thing David Lynch would make if he were a game developer. 

Check out the Darq: Complete Edition  trailer for yourself below.

Darq: Complete Edition  will be up for grabs beginning on Oct. 28. Until then, Among The Sleep  is available for free as well. 

Last week’s free selection was Stubbs the Zombie  and the Paladins Epic Pack,  the former being an old-school action-adventure about a zombie running around in the 1950s, while the latter gave you five heroes in free-to-play hero-shooter Paladins.

Check back next week and we’ll clue you in on more EGS freebies.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF

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‘Far Cry 6’: How to find all Amigos

Who wouldn’t want Far Cry 6’s sausage dog?

Like other games in the series, Far Cry 6 features animal companions — called Amigos — that can assist you in and outside of combat. Far Cry 6’s Amigos range from a sprightly little dachshund pup named Chorizo to the mythical panther Oluso. They’re primed and ready to fight for you as you travel throughout the most dangerous regions of Yara. 

In this guide, we’ll help you find all Amigo locations in Far Cry 6, excluding DLC pets. It takes a long time to beat Far Cry 6, so you might as well have some companions. If you want to collect all five main Amigos, you’ll need to visit a specific location on the map and complete a series of side quests to bring home your new best friend (or hungry alligator, same thing). It isn’t always clear how you should approach obtaining each Amigo, but that’s why we’ve listed everything you need to know about their locations below.

If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on the absolutely adorable Chorizo or you think plucky rooster Chicharron is more your speed, you can refer to this guide to help get either one.  

Still on the fence? Check out our Far Cry 6 review.

Far Cry 6: All Amigos, Challenges, and Abilities 

There are five main Amigos you can recruit during the Far Cry 6 campaign. Two are optional additions that come as pre-order and DLC bonuses. The core animal compadres need only be unlocked by playing through their required side missions. Each Amigo also comes saddled with several challenges that must be completed to unlock active and passive abilities. 

Guapo

Guapo-Far-Cry-6

Species: Crocodile

Abilities:

  • Ancient Survivor
    • Guapo passively recovers health while in battle and can self-revive after being downed in combat. 
  • Body Regulation
    • Guapo automatically regenerates health during combat. Unlock this ability after having Guapo revive himself five times. 
  • Cornered Beast
    • Guapo becomes more resistant to damage when his health falls below 50%. Unlock this ability after having Guapo regenerate 3,000 Health during combat.
  • Reptile Metabolism
    • Guapo can auto-revive with 90% of his health restored. Have him eliminate 50 targets to improve his original auto-revive ability.

How to Unlock Guapo: You can unlock Guapo as part of the main Far Cry 6 campaign. After starting the mission “Juan of a Kind” and meeting with Juan Cortez, you’ll automatically be introduced to the tiny gator with a big personality. Complete the mission and Guapo will be added to your menagerie of helpful pets. 

Chorizo

Chorizo-Far-Cry-6

Species: Dog

Abilities:

  • Attention-Seeker
    • Chorizo piles on the charm to keep enemies distracted so you can sneak past them and pull off surprise attacks.
  • Bloodhound
    • Chorizo can tag materials to pick up near you. Unlock this ability by having Chorizo distract ten enemies.
  • Yes, You Can
    • Give Chorizo some nice pets to regenerate some of your health. Unlock this ability by having Chorizo tag 36 loot containers.
  • Keen Senses
    • Chorizo will scout out items to dig up for you. Unlock this ability by using the Yes, You Can ability 50 times.

How to Unlock Chorizo: Play through the Montero-centric campaign storyline, which you’ll be able to pursue early on. Meet Philly Barzaga near Costa Del Mar, which will be marked on your map. Begin the mission Meet the Monteros at Montero Farm to kick off your journey with Chorizo. You’ll need to complete the missions “Who’s a Good Boy?” and “Fetch Quest” to eventually add him to your roster as a permanent Amigo. 

Chicharron

Chicharron-Far-Cry-6

Species: Rooster

Abilities: 

  • Roid Rage
    • Chicharron attacks faster, dealing additional damage if his health has fallen below 70%. Unlock this ability by having Chicharron kill 12 enemies.
  • Angrier Bird
    • Knock enemies down to the ground to incapacitate them. Unlock this ability by having Chicharron kill 12 enemies in Roid Rage mode.
  • Chicken Feet
    • It becomes easier to dodge attacks from enemies while using Road Rage mode. Unlock this ability by having Chicharron knock down 50 enemies with Angrier Bird.

How to Unlock Chicharron: You must first be able to traverse the Sierra Perdida region in El Este before you can set off to collect this rooster. You’ll need to complete the Yaran Story “Man’s Best Enemy” to proceed. Complete the series of missions that follow to help Chicharron scrawl graffiti on a water tower and a bunch of other bizarre things, and you’ll welcome this murderous fowl into your team of Amigos soon enough. 

Boom Boom (Boomer)

Species: Dog

Abilities:

  • Pointer
    • Boomer will tag enemies and animals in his vicinity automatically. Unlock this ability by having Boomer loot 10 dead bodies.
  • Expert Tracker
    • Boomer can tag enemies across longer distances. Unlock this ability by having him tag 24 animals.
  • Thick Coat
    • Boomer can take more damage in combat. Unlock this ability by having him tag 50 enemies.

How to Unlock Boom Boom: This holdover from Far Cry 5 returns to be your best friend once again. First, unlock the mission “Boom or Bust” from Juan Cortez. Check shipping containers around the area when you arrive at the point marked on your map to unlock one of gaming’s best boys. That should take you to the Western side of Valle de Oro, around Feroza. Keep searching through shipping crates to find this adorable, furry friend. 

Oluso

Species: Panther

Abilities:

  • Mimi Abosi’s Luck
    • Oluso will receive improved stealth abilities that can be used for stealth kills in combat. Unlock this ability by having Oluso kill 12 enemies found in restricted areas.
  • Rage of Ida
    • Oluso’s takedowns will cause enemies to flee when seen. Unlock this ability by having Oluso kill 24 enemies with takedowns.
  • Mist of Oku
    • Oluso will shroud himself in smoke when below 50% health. He’ll receive health regeneration, damage immunity, and increased stealth. Unlock this ability by having Oluso scare off 50 enemies.

How to Unlock Oluso: This mystical panther is an amazing addition to your team. First, you must unlock the mission “Traida Blessings,” which will take you to Isla Santuario. Find the Oluwa Cave east of Clara’s Camp and head in to start the hunt for three relics scattered throughout Yara. Complete the mission, return to Oluwa Cave, and receive a new Supremo and Resolver. Then grit your teeth and fight off the spectral panthers that attack. You’ll find that one of them is Oluso. Defeat him and he’ll decide to join you. 

Written by Brittany Vincent on behalf of GLHF

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‘Stubbs the Zombie’ and ‘Paladins Epic Pack’ are free on the Epic Games Store

Epic is serving up zombies and flashy heroes totally for free this week!

It’s that time of the week where everyone opens up the Epic Games Store, downloads the free game, and never, ever plays it. Hey, no judgment here. Free games are free games!

As is now a tradition for the Fortnite creator, Unreal Engine owner, and metaverse builder, Epic Games has announced this week’s free title on EGS.

If you have a capable PC, you can download Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse and the Paladins Epic Pack on Oct. 14. If you’ve ever wanted to munch on brains in the 1950s, the old-school action-adventure Stubbs the Zombie will totally do the trick. Meanwhile, the Paladins Epic Pack will unlock four champions for the hero shooter: Ying, Raum, Androxus, and Tyra, along with several slick skins for each!

It doesn’t even matter if your PC has the power of a Nokia 3310 either. As long as you redeem the game within the allotted window, it’s yours forever. The only caveat is you have to play it from Epic’s launcher, but we all know PC gamers are cool with that kind of thing. It’s true, stop booing us.

Last week, players got access to Europa Universalis IV, which is among the nerdiest of strategy games that money can buy, for free. Past giveaways have included The Escapists, Saints Row: The Third Remastered, Sonic Mania, Control, and Frostpunk, which is a cool strategy game for cool people, for free.

Check back next week and we’ll clue you in on some more EGS freebies.

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF

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‘Cookie Clicker’ developer creates ridiculously long Steam achievement name for fun

Bake ungodly amounts of cookies to earn a history lesson, ok?

The absurdly simplistic yet wildly entertaining Cookie Clicker recently made its way onto Steam, and its developers added a hilariously long achievement name just for laughs. 

Cookie Clicker is all about, well, clicking cookies! The more you click, the higher your score goes up. The game has been popular since the free browser version came out ages ago, but its Steam port only landed last week. The developers decided to take full advantage of Steam’s character limits for this new release, adding a hilariously long achievement title that reads:

“There’s really no hard limit to how long these achievement names can be and to be quite honest I’m rather curious to see how far we can go. Adolphus W. Green (1844–1917) started as the Principal of the Groton School in 1864. By 1865, he became second assistant librarian at the New York Mercantile Library; from 1867 to 1869, he was promoted to full librarian. From 1869 to 1873, he worked for Evarts, Southmayd & Choate, a law firm co-founded by William M. Evarts, Charles Ferdinand Southmayd and Joseph Hodges Choate. He was admitted to the New York State Bar Association in 1873. Anyway, how’s your day been?”

Yup, that’s the actual title! A reward for baking ten sextillion cookies per second, it seems. That title is a brief summary for Adolphus W. Green, the founder of Nabisco PC Gamer reported Monday. It seems the developers wanted to shout out the grandfather of tasty snacks for some reason. 

Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF

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