PlayStation Facing Massive Lawsuit for Allegedly Overcharging Customers

Over in the UK, PlayStation is facing a lawsuit in the amount of £5 billion, which would be comparable price-wise in USD. This legal claim has been made by consumer rights campaign Alex Neill, who claims PlayStation's terms and conditions placed on developers and publishers that sell games on its platforms are in breach of competition law.

As many gamers know, many platforms take a cut of all sales. This is not only true of Sony, but of other platforms like Steam and the App Store, which generally take 30%. One leading platform that takes less than this is the Epic Games Store, which takes 12%. It is this cut that Neill alleges is resulting in overcharges for consumers.

As reported by Sky News, VGC, and other UK news sources, the lawsuit claims that this cut is an anti-competitive strategy that is costing consumers millions when they can't afford it, with the case-leading partner Natasha Pearman also stating that such a strategy is resulting in "excessive prices to customers that are out of all proportion to the costs of Sony providing its services." This lawsuit, if it were to go through, would result in any UK resident who has bought games or DLC from the PlayStation Store since August 2016 being entitled to up to £562 in damages, plus interest (with each person's bottom line being £67, plus interest).

This is said to benefit around 9 million people in the UK, if the suit was won. However, it's not the first anti-competitive lawsuit to be brought up against Sony or digital store owners, with those suits often being dismissed, and it's not likely to be the last either. The 70/30 revenue split has been around for some time, with Epic reducing its take to 12% being applauded, and there are many critics of the 70/30 model as a whole who believe it's outdated. It's a controversial, if sticking, revenue model, but Sony could easily argue how this is necessary to keep the lights on for its digital store, so to speak.

However, outside the funds being directed back into consumer hands, it's not clear if the lawsuit addresses the legalities or any resolutions for the 70/30 model. Specifically, it's unclear if the allegation is that Sony shouldn't be taking any commissions from third-party sales on its platform at all or if the 30% is simply too much. It should be noted that, per a recent poll, only about 6% of game developers believe the 70/30 model is justified.

Trans Twitch Streamer Keffals is Still Being Swatted

Swatting is when someone calls the police and accuses a random person of a crime with the intention of having cops bust in on an unsuspecting victim. It’s harassment in the guise of a prank call, and in the worst cases, this has resulted in people being arrested or even killed. And in the case of trans Canadian Twitch streamer Clara “Keffals” Sorrenti, it’s just part of an ongoing harassment campaign targeting her.

To recap, Keffals, a noted political commentator and trans rights activist, has been subject to multiple attacks during her time on Twitch, including doxing and swatting. Things escalated with a swatting incident on August 5 where police arrested her, stuck a gun in her face, and repeatedly used her deadname (her pre-transition birth name). Following that, Keffals and her fiance relocated to a hotel to stay safe, but in a new update this week, she revealed that she has been subjected to more attacks since then.

Among these, she revealed that her harassers had figured out where she was and sent pizzas to her hotel, ordering them under her deadname. They had discovered her location by looking at a photo of her cat on her bed and “cross-referencing them with every hotel in my city until they found a match.” These are just a few examples of the attacks that have been directed at her by members of Kiwi Farms, a forum particularly known for hate speech and targeted harassment.

And they haven't only targeted Keffals. According to the press kit detailing the attacks against her, friends and family have been doxed, an unrelated C. Sorrenti living in Toronto was swatted, and a Texas-based graphic artist that works for her was the target of an attempted swatting. It appears that anyone with a connection to Keffals, or anyone who could be mistaken as having a connection, could be at risk of harassment.

For the time being, Keffals is taking extra measures to maintain privacy and safety. These include “living in Airbnbs that have been rented by a third party” so she doesn’t have to give out her name, planning to change locations every week, and using a VPN to hide her IP address. As for her Twitch streaming, she says she’ll use a portable setup she can fit in a backpack as well as a green screen, that way no one can track her location through her streams.

Given how intensely Keffals specifically is being targeted, it’s hard not to see the transphobia in the harassment being directed at her. But rather than back down, she is doubling down on her activism, raising money for legal needs, and calling on people to spread the word about Kiwi Farm’s attacks. Considering how many members of the LGBTQIA+ community face similar harassment and threats to their lives, it’s important that cruel behavior like this is called out, especially in a time when powerful people are spreading anti-trans rhetoric, not just internet trolls.

Xbox Game Pass Confirms New Day One Soulslike Game for September 2022

Microsoft still has yet to announce all the new Xbox Game Pass games coming in August 2022, let alone what subscribers can expect from the September 2022 lineup. But while Microsoft itself hasn't announced all the new Xbox Game Pass games for September 2022, trailers and release date announcements by other companies have given fans a good idea of what to expect from next month's lineup.

Now yet another brand-new, day one Xbox Game Pass game has been confirmed for the September 2022 lineup in the form of Moonscars. Moonscars is a 2D, side-scrolling Soulslike game where players take on the role of a warrior named Grey Irma. Grey Irma is "clayborne" and her ultimate goal is finding the man who created her, known as The Sculptor. The game looks like Castlevania meets Dark Souls, which sounds like a dream combo on paper, though it remains to be seen how it stacks up.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers needing a new Soulslike game to play should note that the game will be available starting September 27. As far as Xbox goes, Moonscars is only getting a native release on Xbox One, which is a bit odd considering it has both PS4 and PS5 versions on the way. Regardless, Xbox Series X is backward compatible with Xbox One, so Game Pass subscribers can check it out regardless of which Xbox console they have handy.

Moonscars isn't the first time that someone has translated the Dark Souls formula to a 2D format, but it looks to be one of the most visually-striking attempts at it yet. Moonscars uses a grim, Gothic art style, which is where the Castlevania comparisons come from. If it sticks the landing, it could wind up being one of the better Soulslike games released this year, though it has some serious competition in that arena.

The Soulslike genre has enjoyed increased attention this past year, mainly thanks to the launch of FromSoftware's Elden Ring, an open world take on the genre that has earned near-universal acclaim from critics and smashed sales records. Elden Ring's success has seen more gamers check out some of FromSoftware's earlier Soulslike titles, and it has also helped shine a spotlight on new Soulslike games that are on the way, like Moonscars.

Prior to Moonscars' September 27 launch, Soulslike fans will have Thymesia to check out, and later on there will be Life of P to try as well. New Soulslike games are being announced all the time, and it seems fans of the genre will never have a shortage of games to play.

Genshin Impact's Recent Sumeru Promo Shows Nahida Hiding Behind Katheryne

Genshin Impact's most recent anime-inspired Sumeru promo has created additional excitement for the next major update. The video shows a couple of interesting scenes that include a number of new characters including the famous Dendro Archon Nahida.

A new post on the popular Genshin Impact subReddit points out an interesting interaction between Nahida and one of the game's most iconic characters, the Adventurer's Guild receptionist, Katheryne. Reddit user H4xolotl has shared a screenshot from the video in which Nahida seems to be hiding behind Katheryne's legs in her Adventurer's Guild booth.

Even though the scene only shows characters' legs, H4xolotl managed to identify Katheryne by her unique type of shoes. The reason why Nahida would hide in Katheryne's booth has become a popular topic in the Genshin Impact community and fans are convinced that the matter will get resolved once the new major update arrives. As Sumeru's Archon, Nahida will play one of the most important roles in the upcoming storyline. The game's official story has already confirmed that she's the youngest out of the seven Genshin Impact Archons which is also hinted by her child-like model.

Talking to Katheryne allows players to collect various rewards for Genshin Impact's Daily Commissions as well as send their characters on expeditions. Even though she seems like a regular NPC, a big part of the community has always been suspicious about this mysterious character who seems to be present in all the Adventurer's Guild headquarters at the same time. A recent fan-made theory claims that she could be related to one fo the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, Sandrone, due to the similarities in their appearance.

Fans claim that even though she seems to be protecting Nahida in the video, Katheryne could still be Sandrone's robot spy whose main job is to collect information from Genshin Impact's major regions. Katheryne even has a couple of voice lines which include the words "rebooting" and "error" which gives additional credibility to this theory.

When it comes to Nahida's release date, is expected to arrive in Genshin Impact Version 3.2 which would break HoYoverse's pattern of adding new Archons to the playable roster one update after a new region arrives. Going by the game's usual update schedule, update 3.2 should arrive around the end of November. Even though a big part of the fan-based claimed that they were disappointed by Nahida's overall design, a recent Genshin Impact survey confirmed that she is actually the by far most popular upcoming character.

Capcom Will Have Two Tokyo Games Show Livestreams

From a new Street Fighter to the highly anticipated Resident Evil: Village DLC, Capcom has a lot of upcoming releases to excite fans. The company has already had an interesting schedule for 2022 so far, unveiling Street Fighter 6 in February, releasing the Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak expansion in June, alongside plenty of other announcements and releases. To cover all this content that Capcom has for the rest of 2022 and early 2023, it seems the company will need a lot of time.

The upcoming Tokyo Games Show, one of Japan's biggest gaming events, is the place where Capcom has been given that time. According to recent reports, the Street Fighter and Resident Evil publisher will have two livestreams at this year's Tokyo Games Show, which takes place in September. It isn't surprising that Capcom would show up to the Tokyo Games Show, especially with this year's event marking the anticipated return of a physical audience, following the end of lockdowns in Japan.

What is interesting is that Capcom has carved out time for two presentations at this year's Tokyo Games Show. The first showcase will be a pre-recorded stream taking place on September 15, which will give fans "all the latest Capcom news." This is likely where gamers can expect to hear news about already confirmed releases such as Resident Evil: Village's DLC, Exoprimal, and potentially the RE4 remake. For Street Fighter news, the second of Capcom's presentations will be a livestream on September 16 dedicated to updates on the latest entry in the franchise.

Already, fans have had some information brought to them on Street Fighter 6. Since the game was first revealed in February, more details have been revealed steadily. Most recently, two new characters were unveiled for Street Fighter 6 at EVO 2022, so it is likely that the Tokyo Games Show could see some similar reveals. Fans are currently hoping to see some extended gameplay of Street Fighter 6, especially with the game targeting a 2023 release.

Of course, among the things gamers are already aware of, there is the potential for Capcom to surprise its fans with the reveal of a new title, especially in the September 15 stream. While nothing is official yet, a possible reveal that could happen at the Tokyo Games Show is a showing of Resident Evil 9. Even while some of Resident Evil: Village's story still needs wrapping up, after fans spotted a Resident Evil 9 leak, a reveal for that game could come sooner rather than later.

Skyrim Mod Lets Players Cast Magic with A Lute That Can Play Custom Music

It's fair to say that The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is making the most out of its time in the spotlight. However, many would agree that it's time to move on. But with Bethesda currently concentrating on Starfield, it could be a while before fans hear any more details about TES6. In the meantime, there are numerous ways to extend the playtime of the 2011 open-world epic. There are tons of mods out there that can make a difference to the world of Tamriel, sometimes involving music.

As spotted by PCGamer, a user known as Monitor144 has created an add-on for Skyrim for those who like to mix magic with music. Called "Bard Magic Overhaul - Cast Like a Bard," this mod will allow players to cast spells on their enemies through the power of their lute playing. A video by YouTuber Mern shows it in action, with the Dragonborn playing the instrument, which then emits a damaging spell on attackers. The most interesting thing about this is that it allows for custom music to be added. According to the mod description page, it should be as simple as replacing the sound file with something else.

Being a bard in Skyrim is not really something that's possible in the vanilla build of the game. However, via the might of the modding community, there are ways that players can bring out their inner musician. This one by Monitor144 is one example, but there was also another released last year called "Skyrim's Got Talent." Thanks to modder JaySpera, fans can now don a lute and show off their plucking prowess in Tamriel.

There are simply tons of incredible mods out there for Skyrim, which probably accounts for why the game is still going strong, despite releasing more than a decade ago. Some add-ons tweak the game in a number of ways, such as changing the UI or squashing some of the bugs the developer seemingly forgot about. Then there are those which add a lot more content to the game, expanding things even more.

As one of the most celebrated open-world games in recent history, Skyrim is something that many likely grew up with. However, it's true that many would prefer Bethesda to give further details about The Elder Scrolls 6. A teaser trailer was revealed in 2018, but since then, the studio has been quiet about what's happening with this long-awaited follow-up.

Back 4 Blood Dev Shares Images Of Upcoming New Weapons

Up to the point of its release, there was much anticipation about Turtle Rock Studios' Back 4 Blood. Said to be a spiritual successor to the Left 4 Dead series, fans were excited to see Valve's classic zombie shooter come back in some form. Sadly, the title didn't leave a significant impact on the gaming community. That said, it still has a dedicated fan base, and the studio is making changes with new content.

Recently, as seen by PCGamesN, a couple of images have been shared on the official Back 4 Blood Twitter page, which show a some new weapons that are coming to the game. The first one is a bow, which is said to be able to quickly fire arrows for "moderate damage." The second is the iron claws, which look like a pretty brutal melee weapon for those who like that sort of thing. As well as being a fast and up-close weapon, it will also give "bleed damage." These two new additions represent something slightly different to the usual listing of guns and baseball bats.

The images are in preparation for Back 4 Blood's upcoming Children of the Worm expansion, which is due to come out on August 30. Some of the things being implemented include a new cleaner called "Prophet" Dan, some exclusive skins, new enemies, and a new campaign story, which is simply being referred to as "Act 5."

As well as the bow and iron claws, Back 4 Blood will be adding in bear traps and a lockjaw. For those who are into the game, it sounds like some pretty interesting content is inbound. Releasing last October, Turtle Rock's co-op shooter was marketed as something that would appeal to fans of Left 4 Dead. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to the hype. Many felt that it didn't carry on the spirit of its predecessors. Add into that some notable bugs upon launch and the fact that a lot of players considered the game punishingly difficult, and Back 4 Blood just didn't land the way the developer and publisher were hoping.

In fact, Back 4 Blood went down as one of the most disappointing games of 2021, up there with Aliens: Fireteam Elite and Battlefield 2042. That's not to say it's a bad release, of course. It just didn't quite hit the mark, and many fans were a bit let down by the end result. Still, the studio is continuing to pour a lot of love into its zombie title.

Cyberpunk 2077 Mod Adds New Area for Players to Explore

It will be a while before gamers forget the experience that was the launch of Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red's dystopian sci-fi RPG faced heavy criticism due to its buggy release. However, there were some other complaints fans had with the game when it first came out, one of which had to do with Cyberpunk 2077's Night City, which wasn't as alive as it could have been due to the fact that many of the game's buildings were inaccessible and could not be explored.

Apart from a few key locations such as Cyberpunk 2077's Arasaka Corporation Headquarters, there weren't many buildings that a player could go around and explore at their leisure. A modder on the Cyberpunk 2077 Nexus is hoping to change that. Kratoes has created their own Unofficial Content Patch mod for Cyberpunk 2077, which brings a new interior space for players to find and roam around in. Specifically, the mod opens up the Red, White, and Used repair shop in Santo Domingo, which is just south of the river in Night City's industrial area.

Getting into the repair shop isn't that simple, as a player will have to enter through a side alley before accessing an elevator that will grant them entrance. Once a player does get inside the garage, they'll notice the interior isn't huge, but it is well made. Cables are scattered over the floor, and there are tools, workbenches, and plenty of other things that one would expect to find in a futuristic repair shop. Also, for anyone looking to loot the shop, there's a powerful sniper rifle to take as well. While it's not one of Cyberpunk 2077's unique snipers, it can be a useful weapon to fill out a player's arsenal.

While the building is well made by Kratoes, there currently isn't much that can be done with it. It cannot become a player's headquarters, for example. However, it is interesting that a modder has managed to break in and alter one of Cyberpunk 2077's buildings in order to give it a bit more life, adding to the game's immersion. Hopefully, in time there will be more building overhauls to Cyberpunk 2077, giving every location in Night City a bit more life.

The modding community for Cyberpunk 2077 has been active since the game first launched, and while many of these modders were initially helping to get the game working for as many players as possible, now they are creating some unique and big alterations to the game. One mod even brought back Cyberpunk 2077's famous E3 2018 visuals, for example.

Quake Mod Turns the Game Into a Souls-like

When it comes to classic shooters, Quake, Half-Life, and Doom sit up there as examples that really shook up and helped shape the genre. In fact, the former, along with id Software's previous release, has gone down as one of the most influential FPS games ever made. To this day, people still play Quake, and perhaps what helps to keep it going despite its age is the fact that there are still custom mods being made for it.

According to a report from PCGamesN, there is another add-on being built for the classic first-person shooter. Being developed by József Pajor, who prefers to go by the moniker Adam, this Quake mod will turn the game into a third-person action title. A video shows it in action, and many will agree that it makes the 1996 release look and play more like Elden Ring or pretty much any other FromSoftware title.

Speaking to PCGamesN, Adam said he is looking to turn the FPS into something more Souls-like with some Castlevania influences thrown into the mix. The first thing that many will notice is the change of perspective, with a stronger focus on melee combat. The fact that this upcoming Quake mod leans towards something like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or Castevania is an interesting take on the game, but some may not be too bewildered by the mash-up. If there's one thing these games have in common, it's their dark and gothic aesthetic.

Upon its release back in February, Elden Ring went down as one of the highest rated video games of all time. It currently has a Metacritic score of 96, putting it on par with the likes of Mass Effect 2 and The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Given the sheer popularity of FromSoftware's game, as well as the iconic status of Quake, it's not surprising that someone is currently working on bringing these two beloved titles together.

While there were other games in the series, most consider the original Quake from 1996 to be the most classic. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a new entry since 2005. However, with id Software hiring recently, some will wonder whether this means there will be a brand-new game, a reboot, or another entry in the Doom franchise. There's no telling what the developer is currently working on, but at least there are plenty of mods out there for people who want to add a little something different to this influential gothic shooter.

A Big Change Could Be Coming to PlayStation PC Ports

For a long time, if a gamer wanted to play Sony exclusives such as God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, or Marvel's Spider-Man, they would have to own a PlayStation console. However, in more recent years Sony's stance about making its games available on other platforms has changed, and multiple exclusives for PlayStation have been brought to PC gamers both on Steam and the Epic Games Store. Titles like the aforementioned Horizon Zero Dawn and God of War have seen great success on PC, even years after they first launched on PlayStation.

Sony isn't slowing down with its PC releases either, as 2022 should still see the release of Marvel's Spider-Man and The Last of Us: Part 1 on PC. With all of these first-party games coming to home computers, it appears that Sony is looking to make some changes to the way PC players access the new ports. A section of the official PlayStation website dedicated to the company's PC ports has an FAQ section, which holds a particular detail that has some fans concerned.

As spotted by VGC, in answer to a question about the PlayStation Network or PSN, the website states that users "currently" do not need a PSN account to enjoy PlayStation Studios games on PC. To some gamers, the use of the word "currently" implies that there may be plans somewhere down the road to have PC players link their Steam or Epic Games accounts to the PlayStation Network. This is particularly noteworthy when considering that other questions on the website have more definitive answers. For example, the website firmly states that gamers can't sync trophies between PlayStation games on PC and their PSN profile.

As of the time of writing, PlayStation's PC games, including the unreleased Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered are playable without the need for a PlayStation Network account. If this were to change, players would need to link their Steam or Epic Games accounts with a PSN account. This does not mean that PC gamers would need to pay for the online service, though, as they wouldn't have to sign up for PlayStation Plus to have a PSN account.

For gamers to have another account to play certain titles on PC isn't a novel concept, and certain Xbox titles require an Xbox Live membership for play. Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Sea of Thieves on PC are two examples of this requirement for an Xbox Live membership. For now, though, fans don't have to worry about making a PSN account and can jump into the upgraded version of Marvel's Spider-Man with just a Steam or Epic Games account.

Blizzard Cancels World Of Warcraft Mobile Game

Blizzard has canceled a World of Warcraft mobile game. The game, made in collaboration with Blizzard’s Chinese publishing partner NetEase, was in development for three years before a conflict about financing terms halted the project. the World of Warcraft mobile game was codenamed “Neptune” and was meant to be a mobile spinoff of the MMORPG.

 

The good news is that it’s not Warcraft Arclight Rumble the upcoming mobile “tower offense” game due to release later this year. As far back as February this year, Activision Blizzard revealed that it was working on multiple mobile Warcraft titles, and this was thought to be one of the big reasons behind Microsoft’s acquisition of the company for a reported $69 billion earlier this year. Now, it looks as though those mobile games may be up in the air after all, the extent of Activision Blizzard’s working relationship with NetEase following this high-profile cancellation is uncertain. Another of Activision Blizzard’s mobile games, a Pokemon Go-style AR game, was also canceled.

The cancellation comes at an interesting time as Blizzard makes a concerted push into the mobile market, developing original games for the platform. Back in May, the developer announced Warcraft Arclight Rumble a “mobile action strategy game,” and in June, it released Diablo Immortal, whose questionable monetization model hasn’t seemed to hamper its popularity. Blizzard and NetEase have been partners since 2008. The company co-developed Diablo Immortal, publishes Blizzard games like Hearthstone and World of Warcraft in China, and is a stakeholder in Blizzard’s Overwatch League, owning the current world champion, the Shanghai Dragons.

Half-Life 2 Mod Makes Ravenholm Look Like Silent Hill

Along with its predecessor, Half-Life 2 has gone down as a masterclass in the FPS genre, and since the release of Episode Two in 2007, fans have wanted more. Aside from Half-Life: Alyx, the series has unfortunately been stopped dead in its tracks. The closest players have come is the cancelled Arkane Studios spin-off Ravenholm, which would have been a more in-depth look at one of the sequel's most infamous settings. While no continuation is on the horizon, the modding community can at least breathe some new life into the series.

As a recent example, an independent developer called Broken Light Studios is currently working on a mod for Half-Life 2 which will alter the way the game looks in a rather interesting fashion. Called "Dark-Life 2," the project, which currently has a demo available for download, takes the entirety of the game and flips the time of day for each level. To that end, areas of the game that are set in the day will turn to night, and vice-versa for nighttime maps. This seems to change up the experience, and for areas such as Ravenholm, it actually gives it a much creepier vibe. The surrounding fog and daylight coming through the clouds actually makes it look more like Silent Hill.

While it's not traditionally a horror series, the Half-Life games do have their scary moments. Some of the enemies that Gordon Freeman encounters, such as the poison headcrab or the first game's Nihilanth final boss, do have an unsettling vibe about them. Perhaps one of the most terrifying aspects of the whole franchise is the second installment's Ravenholm segment. As an abandoned mining town set at night, it turns the game into something much creepier. It would be easy to think that making it a daytime experience would ease up the horror, but evidently not, given what Broken Light Studios shows off in its latest video.

At 18 years old, Half-Life 2 has a huge legacy, continuing the success that was Valve's original 1998 release. Much of it comes down to the fact that it's a fantastically crafted shooter, set in a believable world, all wrapped up in an interesting story. The games still influence other projects to this day.

In fact, Half-Life 2 has gone down as one of the best FPS titles of all time, sitting up there with the likes of Quake, Halo, GoldenEye 007, and BioShock. It is a shame that a proper "threequel" is unlikely to ever see the light of day, but at least there are plenty of mods out there, and more being made all the time, that keep things interesting for this beloved franchise.

Skyrim Player Captures Moment Dragon Flies Off with Their Horse

After more than ten years, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has no doubt aged as time has gone on, but it still has its moments. In fact, many would consider it one of the most beautiful fantasy games around, and even if the vanilla experience looks a little dated now, there are a ton of mods that vastly improve the visuals. However, for all its stunning graphics and enormous gameplay, it isn't a game without its flaws, and players are still finding bugs to this day.

Take Reddit user UnreasonablyEdgy as an example. Recently, they posted a screenshot from their Skyrim playthrough which shows a dragon high in the sky. However, the player has stated that this dragon has managed to somehow kidnap their horse, with the image showing the equine on top of the winged beast. Some in the comments have been making jokes about how the dragon in question has joined the Thieves Guild. As glitches go, this is probably one of the least harmful, but it's still an inconvenience for the user.

Everyone who's played the game knows that dragons are an integral part of Skyrim, constituting the linchpin of the main storyline. Their history is quite long and complex, and despite them being antagonists in the world, they are quite magnificent beasts. However, players like UnreasonablyEdgy don't expect them to swoop down and steal their horse. It isn't mentioned whether or not they were able to retrieve the animal, but from such a great height, it's unlikely the horse will have survived the kidnapping.

As beloved as the game is, it's infamous for its huge amount of bugs that have somehow still not been patched out by the developer. Even the Anniversary Edition of Skyrim had game-breaking glitches when it came out late last year. Some modders have even taken to amending some of them, and while a lot are mainly harmless, perhaps even a little funny, there are those which ruin the overall experience for players.

However, issues with the game don't seem to have impeded its popularity, even after a decade. And with The Elder Scrolls 6 said to still be in pre-development, it's going to be a long time before fans get to see the next installment in the long-running series. Whether the follow-up, whenever that gets released, will suffer from a similar barrage of glitches remains to be seen, but hopefully Bethesda will take the time to make sure TES6 is as solid an entry as it can be.

Schools Are Issuing Parental Warnings Over Poppy Playtime's Huggy Wuggy Fears

In late 2021, the first chapter of a quirky survival horror game called Poppy Playtime launched and was a surprising hit that began to make the rounds on gaming YouTube and Twitch channels. Riding the coattails of the lasting fervor created by 2014’s Five Nights at Freddy’s and its sinister animatronics, Poppy Playtime also featured malicious toys whose goals were not to make friends with the player character.

Similar to Five Nights at Freddy’s, MOB Games endeavored to turn a boring real life job into an entertaining horror fest by putting players into the role of a former toy factory employee who returns to the now-abandoned edifice after the staff mysteriously disappears. One of the first things the player encounters upon entering the building is Huggy Wuggy, an absolutely unsettling “toy” with razor sharp teeth and a gigantic smile that can creep out even the most stalwart horror game aficionado.

Like the terrifying Momo sculpture that became the centerpiece of an alleged internet challenge a few years back, Huggy Wuggy has become the new mascot for schoolyard hijinks that can have lasting negative effects on a young child’s mental health. Children have been mimicking the blue horror at school, frightening and potentially even traumatizing their peers. Things have gotten so bad that some schools in the UK have even issued warnings to parents about letting their kids view videos featuring the unnerving blue creature.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that the name Huggy Wuggy seems innocuous enough and therefore slips through various parental controls. The reality, however, according to mental health officials, is that Poppy Playtime’s Huggy Wuggy can cause real terror for some children. The Suicide Awareness and Mental Health Initiative released a statement that parents are “urged not to let their children watch the terrifying Tik Tok and YouTube videos of the killer teddy.”

Prior to this latest alert from schools, police in both the UK and US had also issued warnings about Poppy Playtime and Huggy Wuggy in particular, stating that the blue toy sang songs about killing. However, although frightening, Huggy Wuggy doesn’t sing songs in Poppy Playtime. Third-party videos have been created that showcase the sharp-toothed plaything singing a song with the lyrics, “I could just hug you here, forever, forever, till you breathe your last breath.” These creations have become ubiquitous on social media video platforms and are now viewed by many as official Poppy Playtime lore.

It's important for parents to realize that Poppy Playtime, despite being about toys, is not intended for children. In the US, the indie game doesn’t have an ESRB rating at all, but it is rated PEGI 12 in the UK, which means it is inappropriate for children under the age of 12. The PEGI description also states that games with this rating could contain “non-realistic violence towards human-like characters.”

Ambitious Fallout 4 Mod Optimizes and Resizes all 40,000 Textures

When it comes to open-world post-apocalyptic titles, the name Fallout is usually the first one that springs to mind. While generally beloved by fans the world over, 2010's Fallout: New Vegas is considered the best entry in the series by many. Of course, all of the games are celebrated in their own ways, though less so for the latest Bethesda installment, and one thing that keeps them in good stead is the dedicated modding community. With that in mind, one fan has managed to take every single texture from Fallout 4 and give them a bit of a facelift.

Uploading the files to Nexus Mods recently, user Rikintosh claims that this is the first custom add-on that optimizes all 40,962 textures from Bethesda's 2015 epic. Referred to as "Rikintosh's Performout," this mod appears to do what other texture mods for Fallout 4 don't. The description says that while others improve "some" textures, this one goes all in. The basic idea behind this mod is that it resizes all textures, taking them from 64x64 to either 256x256 or 512x512. On top of that, a later version aims to improve overall performance for those running the mod on lower end systems, as well as quashing a few bugs.

The game itself is already pretty spectacular in terms of its visuals, but this will be a good addition for those looking for that visual boost. As ambitious as Rikintosh's project is, it's perhaps not quite as ambitious as the upcoming Fallout: London mod for Fallout 4. That's not to downplay the work that's gone into "Performout," but the team behind Fallout: London are looking to take one of the biggest cities in Europe and give it that Wasteland look. A recent trailer was unveiled which shows that this unofficial DLC will be coming next year. In fact, the project has garnered so much attention lately, that Bethesda has now hired two of its team members.

Fallout mods are an integral part of the series, with so many ways to modify the games either by improving the visuals or adding new content. It's possible for fans to alter things so much that they become different entities entirely.

With Bethesda recently announcing Fallout 5, it looks as though the franchise is going to be continuing for the foreseeable future. No one knows exactly when the next game will come out, but it looks as though The Elder Scrolls 6 will be the studio's priority, so that means the next Fallout game could be years away. And no one really knows when TES6 is coming either, so it could mean an even longer wait.

Image Shows Elden Ring Running in Arcade Cabinet

Arcade cabinets are often seen as relics of the past nowadays. Rarely does a person's primary gaming experience come from traveling to a local arcade and throwing their loose change into a Street Fighter 2 cabinet until their pockets are empty. However, even with the ease and increased performance of playing a game on a home console or PC, some gamers still seek to own their own themed arcade cabinets. From a custom GTA Vice City arcade cabinet to some expensive nostalgic machines, social media has seen a rise in gamers either getting old hardware to work again or getting their own cabinet made.

Now, one gamer is showing off their arcade cabinet with Elden Ring running on it. It isn't too strange to see a modern game light up the old screens of an arcade cabinet. Previously, one Starfield fan designed their own concept for an arcade cabinet based around the game. With custom arcade gaming machines being made too, they can allow for near enough any game to be played with a joystick.

Reddit user Linophryne showed off the Elden Ring start screen running on their arcade cabinet. Sadly, the cabinet isn't dedicated to FromSoftware's latest action-RPG and instead appears to be a custom machine with a Street Fighter 2: Champion Edition theme. Even still, fans in the comments of Linophryne's post found it impressive to see Elden Ring running on an arcade cabinet. Some asked whether the buttons on the cabinet would even be compatible with Elden Ring, to which Linophryne responded that the buttons worked by being linked to a USB controller.

Finding out that Elden Ring was playable on the arcade cabinet had fans demanding that Linophryne do a full playthrough on the hardware. Often, with games like Elden Ring and the Soulsborne franchise in general, some players enjoy completing the game through increasingly difficult or strange methods. One Dark Souls player managed to beat the Asylum Demon with singing controls, for example, and another defeated the final boss with a dance pad.

For any nostalgic Elden Ring fan hoping to see the arcade version of the game have some older graphics, unfortunately it seems that on Linophryne's cabinet the game will look similar to how it does on modern consoles. However, there have been plenty of demake efforts for Elden Ring, with one fan remaking the entire game in Game Boy style, while a YouTuber showed off what the Lands Between could look like if rendered on a SNES.

Blizzard Working to Make Video Game Clothing and Armor More Realistic

Debates around whether narrative, gameplay, or graphics are most important to a game's success will likely continue so long as gaming continues to be a major hobby. However, something that many gamers can likely agree on is that making their character look right comes as a priority. Players of titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Skyrim, and Elden Ring can spend hours in the character creator making their perfect protagonist. Now, it seems that Blizzard is looking to improve how characters will appear in video games.

It is not through making faces more realistic or giving extra physics to hair that Blizzard hopes to improve the appearance of characters in video games. Rather, a recent patent from the developer and publisher is specifically looking at armor and clothing in video games. These two items are important in character customization, as sometimes players will take lower statistics in their gear to make their protagonist look good, causing some titles like Horizon Forbidden West to introduce a transmog system.

Blizzard's patent will make all armor look better on a character, hopefully meaning that one set of gear doesn't look immediately better than another to a player. The system Blizzard is patenting will modify three-dimensional objects in games for one character model depending on how they fit a previous model. This means essentially that a piece of armor or clothing will be modified to best fit the character that's wearing it, rather than have one look for a female character model and another for the male version.

This looks to be quite the ambitious patent, and if it works in the way that Blizzard intends, it could result in one gamer having a character that still looks different from their friend's even if both are wearing the same gear. It seems that this patent would be especially useful for Blizzard's upcoming survival game. Not much is known about the new title, but it will be set in a new universe for the developer and will reportedly be a meeting of modern and fantasy atmospheres.

Of course, as an IP that has characters wearing plenty of armor, World of Warcraft might also benefit from this new patented system. It could be that the upcoming World of Warcraft Dragonflight expansion for the hugely successful MMO could feature some new armor with this technology, though this is unlikely as it seems that Blizzard wants to use this system with newer titles rather than its older, more established IPs. It also seems like this new way of styling armor may not be available for some time, but gamers wanting to step up their character's style should keep an eye on this.

Nintendo Launches Switch Repair Service in Japan

As is the case with any machine, a gaming console can suffer from random accidental damage or begin to shut down after years of wear and tear. Video game consoles have had a few notable issues over the years that have damaged or in some cases killed them entirely. The red ring of death plagued Xbox 360 users for some time, and Joy-Con drift is becoming an increasing issue for owners of the Nintendo Switch. However, Nintendo may have an answer to hardware problems with its newest console.

The gaming giant has recently announced the introduction of a subscription service for Switch consoles. Currently, the service termed Wide Care is only available in Japan, and is billed as a "flat-rate repair service" that can be subscribed to at any time. Unlike the Nintendo Switch physical Repair Centers, which are scattered throughout Europe and Japan, the Wide Care service won't bill a user for each repair. Rather, it covers a certain amount of yearly repairs for a monthly fee.

The fee is 200 yen per month for Nintendo's new Wide Care service, which equates to around $1.50, or 2,000 yen per year. The service covers both the Switch and Switch Lite consoles, as well as multiple accessories including AC adapters, the Switch dock, and Joy-Cons, meaning that fans may now be able to get replacements when their controllers suffer from the dreaded Joy-Con drift. So long as Nintendo Switch owners are subscribed to the Wide Care service, they can claim up to six repairs per year, including two that involve a console being replaced.

Up to 100,000 yen ($738) is covered in repair costs in the Wide Care subscription, and it will cover damage from water, accidental causes such as if a user was to drop their console, and natural breakdowns as well. So far, Nintendo hasn't stated whether the service will be launched outside of Japan, but it could be beneficial to both the company and users were it to become a worldwide service.

Wide Care being accessible to Switch owners worldwide could prevent more lawsuits being taken up against the company regarding problems like Joy-Con drift. Already, multiple legal cases have begun due to Switch owners being deeply unsatisfied with their controllers breaking down and moving without their input. One lawsuit against Nintendo may even see children as plaintiffs following a decision made in court that parents couldn't make claims against the gaming giant due to them not being the primary users of the Switch.

God of War Ragnarok Release Date Reveal Reportedly Delayed

As one of the major releases still scheduled for 2022, many are keeping a watchful eye on news surrounding God of War: Ragnarok, even as Sony Santa Monica remains silent on the topic of a release date. Some believe that the silence from the developer and publisher can only indicate an inevitable delay for God of War Ragnarok, while others believe that a release date is still in sight for 2022. Without official confirmation, most have been left to speculate about when a release date could be announced.

The occasional word from a leaker has attempted to give some solidity on when fans can expect God of War: Ragnarok. Recently, one leaker by the name of The Snitch hinted via a vague Tweet that there could be a Sony State of Play presentation on June 30, which would presumably feature a major God of War announcement like the elusive launch date. These State of Play rumors were backed up by prominent leaker and industry insider Tom Henderson, who has since updated gamers with what they can expect.

On Twitter, Henderson stated that at the moment it appears that a God of War: Ragnarok announcement is unlikely, as Sony has recently announced it will be hosting a PC Showcase to show off its new gaming hardware line titled Inzone. With Sony's focus being placed onto the PC market, it seems highly unlikely that an official State of Play will be hosted on June 30 with little to no news leading up to it.

However, Tom Henderson still believes that an announcement for God of War: Ragnarok could be on the way very soon. Henderson still thinks that details could be revealed by the "end of the day," while also stating that this information may not be unveiled via official sources. If there is any hope of a God of War release date being dropped, it seems that it will be through an unofficial source, as Sony is unlikely to give out information on its new PC hardware brand as well as the release date of one of its biggest games left in 2022 on the same day.

While it may be disappointing for fans to hear that the expected a State of Play on June 30 and a highly anticipated reveal of God of War: Ragnarok's release date won't be happening just yet, this information does line up with recent tweets from God of War producer Cory Barlog, who asked fans to be patient. Barlog also stated that "things will be shared at the earliest possible moment they can be," meaning that perhaps when all the information around Sony's new Inzone products has dropped, fans can finally know when they'll play God of War: Ragnarok.

Yu Suzuki Avoids Shenmue 4, 110 Industries Rumors

Not too many people had heard of 110 Industries when the publisher took to the stage at last year's Tokyo Game Show, though the man who they chose to kick off their 40-minute presentation needed no introduction. Legendary game developer Yu Suzuki's involvement with the company’s showcase led to muted speculation that his YS NET studio and 110 may be working together, and these rumors only grew louder back in April when the publisher started interacting with Shenmue-related posts on social media.

After teasing a big announcement that never actually happened, the publisher eventually stopped interacting with tweets mentioning Shenmue and began promoting its debut title Wanted: Dead, a Ninja Gaiden-inspired hack and slash game that's scheduled for release later this year. That all changed late last night, though, with a now-deleted tweet in which the publisher responded with "Eventually" after a fan asked about getting Shenmue 4. If that weren't enough, Yu Suzuki has now had his say on the long-standing rumors too.

In an interview with Game Rant, the influential Japanese developer first tried to downplay the idea of a collaboration between the two companies, dismissing the talk as little more than rumors. However, upon being asked about 110's "Eventually" tweet, which went out just a few hours before the interview began, he seemed genuinely surprised, revealing that he hadn't spoken to 110 about the tweet. When pressed further, he agreed that it wasn't normal for a publisher to make comments about games that they weren't involved with before offering a "No comment" of sorts.

To add further fuel to the fire, within just a few hours of the interview's completion, the tweet in question had been deleted, but not before a snapshot of it was taken using the Wayback Machine. 110 Industries, whose CEO is currently visiting Japan from Switzerland, has been approached for comment about the tweet, though the publisher is yet to provide a response at the time of writing.

The 110 Industries rumors were just one of many topics discussed during Game Rant's interview, with Mr. Suzuki also sharing some of the lessons that he learned from the development of Shenmue 3 and providing a few ideas as to what a fourth Shenmue game might look like if he ever gets a chance to make one. The main topic of conversation, however, was YS NET's highly addictive new game Air Twister, a Space Harrier-style rail shooter that's already been downloaded by more than 30,000 people in its first five days on Apple Arcade.