Month: August 2019

We battle against Aether a powerful secret boss, in the 70th combat mission. Astral Chain is available now on Nintendo Switch.

From side-quests to character creation, the nitty-gritty on Cyberpunk 2077 is all here.

The next-generation may be on the horizon but the current crop of hardware still has a lot of life left in it and some exciting upcoming games to look forward to. Chief among them is Cyberpunk 2077, an ambitious open-world RPG developed by CD Projekt Red, the studio behind The Witcher 3. The game’s existence has been known for some time now, but details about its intricacies are rare, and gameplay videos are even rarer.

However, on August 30, CD Projekt Red showed off the game publicly. The demo it debuted to viewers was very similar to the one shown at Gamescom and E3, behind-closed-doors, but it was still valuable to those that weren’t able to attend the show and get time with it. More valuable, however, was the extended conversation the game’s developers had following the gameplay demo.

During this, CD Projekt Red’s developers discussed everything from the design of Night City, where the game takes place, to how it is approach sidequest design, tweaks its making to customization, and what life paths will be available to players at the start of the game. If that wasn’t enough, they went even deeper to explore the variety of guns in the game, how weapon customization works, what the Netrunner class can do, and more.

The entire deep-dive can be watched in the video above, but we’ve also collected all the major news stories and placed them in a handy list below. If you just want the information in quick-hits, take a look below and you’ll get a quick overview of what’s important and, if you want to learn more, you can read the associated article. By the time you’re done, you’ll be all caught up.

Life Paths And Character Creation

Cyberpunk 2077 will allow players to pick a life path at the start of the game but, as CD Projekt Red likes to emphasize, these aren’t set in stone. Instead, the actions you take and the decisions you make will dictate how your character develops over the course of the game. Details on Cyberpunks 2077’s various life paths, as well as character creation, were discussed at length during the stream.

Netrunning Things

If you’re the kind of person that likes to seize opportunities to complete missions in a more creative way, the Netrunner class may be the one for you. During the deep-dive stream, CD Projekt Red explored some of what the Netrunner can do and, from what we can tell, the class is very suited to making mischief. This is because it can hack things, and since almost everything in Night City has some kind of computer chip and an internet connection attached to it, that creates ample opportunity to have some fun. Alternatively, Cyberpunk 2077’s Netrunner class has abilities and weapons that also accommodate brute force, as do most other classes.

Questing For Sidequests

Following the success of The Witcher 3, a game that had incredibly strong sidequests alongside the compelling main path, CD Projekt Red tasked a group of people to dedicate themselves specifically to giving players extra activities to complete. As discussed in the stream, these are all intended to give players interesting ways to explore and engage with the world and its characters.

Fixing For More

If you’re wondering how exactly you’ll undertake the sidequests that team at CD Projekt Red is putting together, that was also covered. While The Witcher 3 had you get extra missions from boards and occasional NPCs, Cyberpunk 2077 has designated quest-givers called Fixers.

Cityscaping 2077

Night City is not going to be as big as the world of The Witcher but CD Projekt Red has said it will be more densely packed. That means a lot of consideration needs to be put into how its constructed and, to ensure that it’s done in a way that feels believable and organic, real city planners are working on Cyberpunk 2077 and Night City.

Style And Substance

One of the most exciting tidbits of information mentioned during the deep-dive is that CD Projekt Red is thinking about how players can equip items to make their character look cool without having to sacrifice any attributes and stats that are tied to items. We all have been in the situation where we’ve got to pick between items that are pleasing on the eye versus functional ones that’ll improve our performance–that’s the kind of dilemma the studio wants to minimize. This is something many other modern RPGs are also doing so it’s exciting to learn Cyperbunk 2077 will get rid of that annoying little RPG foible.

Cyberware Your Heart On Your Sleeve

Modifying yourself will be key to your success in Night City and, during the deep-dive stream–CD Projekt Red’s developers provided an overview of what cyberware is and how it will change up the gameplay. Whether you plan to barrel through environments like a tank or strike swiftly like a cyber ninja, you’ll need to use these tools, so here’s how cyberware will impact Cyberpunk 2077’s gameplay.

To Kill Or Not To Kill, That Is The Question

As previously mentioned, freedom to approach each situation how you want is a core part of the Cyberpunk 2077 experience. That means that, should you want to keep your hands clean, the game will enable non-lethal playthroughs. Of course, Night City can be a lawless and hostile place at times, so in many instances, you may be drawn into a battle you didn’t start. However, CD Projekt Red indicated that, even in these situations, players will be able to choose if they want to kill or preserve the sanctity of their non-lethal Cyberpunk 2077 playstyle.

Guns Blazing

If you decide that shooting your way through all of your problems is more your flavor, there will be plenty of options available to you. Weaponry in Cyberpunk 2077 comes in three distinct types in the game: smart guns, tech weapons, and power weapons. The first of the three empowers players by doing all the hard work, their bullets will track targets and hit the mark every time. Tech weapons, meanwhile, have extra capabilities such as being able to pierce through cover or bounce bullets off surfaces–handy. Power weapons are, well, exactly what they sound like.

Whipcrack, Whiphack

It’s not just guns that are available to players, there are also interesting tools like the nanowire. Ostensibly used by Netrunners to hack from a distance, it can also be put to use as a deadly whip, slashing away at unsuspecting foes. Not just that, but you can also slice and dice targets–that’s how deadly it is.

It Takes Three To Tango

Another area where players have choice is in playstyle. Again, CD Projekt Red made it abundantly clear that these styles aren’t rigid, as abilities can be mixed and matched to make a character that feels more in line with what the player wants. The baseline starting points of Cyberpunk 2077’s playstyles are the Netrunner, the Solo, and the Techie, however.

Gang Related

Mike Pondsmith, the mind behind the universe that Cyberpunk 2077 is based on, also appeared during the deep-dive stream. Pondsmith discussed two of the game’s key gangs, the Voodoo Boys and the Animals. Both are vying for power in Pacifica, a district within Night City. Each one has its own unique origin, style, ways of life, culture, and impact on the world.

Gun Customization Is Deep

Like CD Projekt Red’s previous games, there are tons of ways to customize your character in Cyberpunk 2077 to suit your liking. This level of personalization stretches into the game’s various gun types, which you can customize quite extensively. When it comes to customizing guns, there are two significant ways: cosmetically and statistically. In addition, your handling of guns visibly improves the more you use them.

The Nintendo Switch has suddenly gotten a little more M-rated with the surprise-release of Bulletstorm. The Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition, previously announced for the summer, is now available on the eshop for $30.

As you may expect from the name, this version of Bulletstorm includes all the remastered “Full Clip” update from 2017, including the ability to play as Duke Nukem. The game was known for its crass humor and let’s say creative use of profanity, so Duke fit right in.

Bulletstorm’s gameplay hook was a tether mechanic, which allowed you to bounce enemies back and forth like yo-yos as you dealt damage and racked up score bonuses. GameSpot’s Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition review, awarded the remaster an 8/10.

“The experience absolutely holds up: the skillshot system remains wildly fun and inventive, the weapons are still a gruesome joy, and the writing…well, it’s as distinctive as ever,” Scott Butterworth wrote. “If you missed Bulletstorm when it originally released–and based on sales numbers, you probably did–now’s the time to treat yourself to a clever if cringe-worthy blockbuster.”

Like CD Projekt Red’s previous games, there are tons of ways to customize your character in Cyberpunk 2077 to suit your liking. This level of personalization even stretches into the game’s various gun types, which come in three unique flavors.

When it comes to customizing guns, there are two significant ways to do so. First, you can change your gun’s appearance by applying different skins or paint jobs. In contrast, the most meaningful way to customize your gun is by applying attachments and modifications, such as silencers and scopes. You can also specifically boost a gun’s specific individual statistics.

Aside from customization, it’s worth noting as your proficiency with specific guns increases, your reloading and shooting animations change. For example, your crosshair might become smaller, indicating that your accuracy is improving, or your reloading animation becomes faster. According to senior level designer Miles Tost, this was implemented to better feed into your character’s growth.

“You really get this sense of progression and your character evolving as you play the game,” said Tost. “I think that’s a special experience when you combine it with the way you customize your gun where you get this feeling that this is your signature gun and that you’re really good at using it.”

We learned a ton of new details about Cyberpunk 2077 during its recent deep-dive stream, including more information about how non-lethal playthroughs will work, the three different playstyles, and more. If you’re keen to grab the game, be sure to check out our Cyberpunk 2077 pre-order guide.

Cyberpunk 2077 is launching on April 16, 2020, for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

We play through 10 minutes of the new Blair Witch on PC, solving environmental puzzles and stumbling upon something very bad.

The Gearbox panel at PAX West announced Homeworld 3, but that’s not the only return for the real-time strategy franchise. The company also teased Homeworld Mobile, complete with a brief teaser-trailer showing off the spacefaring ships in flight.

The spin-off is being developed by mobile studio Straosphere. Gearbox noted that the title isn’t finalized, because like Homeworld 3, it’s still in the early stages. If you back Homeworld 3’s crowd-funding campaign on Fig, you’ll get priority access to Homeworld Mobile.

Homeworld has been relatively quiet since the release of Homeworld 2 in 2003. It received a Remastered Collection in 2015, which was well-received by critics, including in GameSpot’s Homeworld Remastered review.

“The Homeworld series’ legacy, however, has always lain within its story-focused campaigns, whose excellent action and inherent beauty endure and excel, even in light of the 16 years that have passed since the original’s arrival,” wrote Kevin VanOrd. “It is a huge universe out there, but Homeworld Remastered Collection makes a great case for asserting your presence within it.”

The classic real-time strategy series Homeworld is coming back. The dormant series has been quiet for more than 15 years, aside from the Remastered Collection in 2015. But an official sequel, Homeworld 3, has been announced at PAX West.

Development is being handled by Blackbird Interactive, which has some experience with the franchise having remastered previous Homeworld games. Fans can look forward to having the story pick up from where it left off, however, it may be some time before they can experience the new chapter.

“Homeworld returns with the next chapter of the story. Homeworld 3 is the true sequel to the legendary space-faring RTS. Blackbird Interactive, founded by original Homeworld art director Rob Cunningham takes the helm on development, returning the series to its roots with a gripping continuation of the story, fully 3D combat, and the classic RTS elements you expect,” its developer states. “Further supported by the veterans of Homeworld Remastered Collection at Gearbox Publishing, Homeworld 3 is coming to life and the teams couldn’t be more ecstatic.”

It’s also already getting a crowdfunding campaign on Fig, with a bonus for backers: access to Homeworld Mobile, which was also announced at the presentation.

Homeworld was a competitor with contemporaries like StarCraft and Red Alert, and its Remastered Collection showed that the classics still hold up. GameSpot’s Homeworld Remastered review praised the space battles and smooth learning curve, but suggested some changes from the originals weren’t for the better.

“The Homeworld series’ legacy, however, has always lain within its story-focused campaigns, whose excellent action and inherent beauty endure and excel, even in light of the 16 years that have passed since the original’s arrival,” wrote Kevin VanOrd. “It is a huge universe out there, but Homeworld Remastered Collection makes a great case for asserting your presence within it.”

CD Projekt Red revealed a ton of new details about Cyberpunk 2077 during its latest deep-dive video. Among the topics the developer discussed were the different ways in which players could go about playing the game, and it turns out, that includes non-lethal playthroughs.

During an interview that followed the gameplay demo, CD Projekt Red revealed that players can play through the entirety of Cyberpunk 2077 without killing another character if they so choose. “You can finish the whole game, you can finish the quests without killing a single person,” quest designer Phillip Weber confirmed.

That said, you won’t be able to avoid confrontations entirely if you do attempt a non-lethal playthrough, but these encounters don’t need to turn fatal. “The thing is, Night City isn’t a very peaceful place, so you can never play like a full pacifist who is never engaging in any kind of combat because people will attack you sometimes,” Weber said. ” But you can choose to not kill them. Like in real life, sometimes if there’s attacks, you don’t immediately kill everyone; you can solve situations in different ways.”

Of Cyberpunk 2077’s several character classes, the Netrunner seems the most suited for non-lethal playthroughs because it emphasizes stealthiness and hacking, but it isn’t the only class capable of non-lethal runs; it turns out any type of character can play through the game without killing another character, but it may require a bit of ingenuity depending on how you’ve developed your avatar.

“Not only the Netrunner is able to do non-lethal playthroughs. Every player, however you want to skill your character, you’re able to do it somehow,” Weber said. However, your approach to each situation will depend much on your surroundings. “Let’s say you’re in some rundown ruin that doesn’t have lots of netrunning abilities, of course a Netrunner still has ways to do [a non-lethal run], but he might not be able to use all of his netrunning skills.”

We learned a lot of other interesting tidbits about Cyberpunk 2077 during the deep-dive, including how sidequests will work in the game and how cyberware will change gameplay. CD Projekt Red also revealed it wants to solve an annoying RPG problem with the game, and that it’s working with real city planners to design Night City.

Cyberpunk 2077 launches for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on April 16, 2020. The game is also coming to Google Stadia. You can read more about the title’s collector’s edition and pre-order bonuses in our Cyberpunk 2077 pre-order guide.

CD Projekt Red has shared a 15-minute edited demo of the gameplay demo that had been shown off behind-closed-doors up until now.

In addition, Head of Communication UK for CD Projekt Red Hollie Bennett hosted a Q&A panel with some of the developers of Cyberpunk 2077, which includes senior level designer Miles Tost, lead quest designer Paweł Sasko, and quest design coordinator Philipp Webber.

Both of these revealed a ton of new details about Cyberpunk 2077, which will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on April 16, 2020, and Google Stadia on or after that date. We’ve gathered 40 of the most important details that you need to know below.

V’s Character Creation and Life Path

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