Strife Is The Cyberpunk 2077 Of The Doom Clone Era | Screen Rant – Screen Rant

1996's Strife is a doom clone with the soul of Cyberpunk 2077, successfully melding brilliant retro-shooter design with modern storytelling.

CDPR'sCyberpunk 2077may not arrive until November of this year, but that doesn't mean gamers have to wait until then for an enthralling cyberpunk FPS, becauseback in 1996, Rogue Entertainment released an innovative sci-fi shooter called Strife. The game blended cyberpunk, fantasy,RPG elements, and classic shooter design to create an experience well ahead of its time. All things considered, Strife is more relevant today than it was when it first released.

Recently, retro gaming has exploded in popularity, and no genre has been impacted more than the first-person shooter. From creative homages like Project Warlock to modern takes such as DOOM Eternal, gamers devour old-school shooters. Yet, with the exception of the new DOOMs, AAA FPS games continue to emphasize story, character progression, and world building over shooting. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 imbue their world with narrative purpose giving the combat contextualized heft at the cost of the simple joy found in classic shooter design.

Related:Cyberpunk 2077 Previews Reveal "Seriously Concerning" Gameplay Flaws

As George Mendell, developer of the indie-shooter Maximum Action, told Fanbyte, If more AAA shooters embraced the Doom model and focused on gameplay and player freedom first and story second, I think we would see a lot more unique games with high levels of replay ability. But, perhaps, the divide between world-building and joyful gameplay does not have to be so binary, since Strife brilliantly melds these two concepts. Using the Doom Engine, Strife has all the hallmarks of a traditional "Doom Clone." Players navigate an unnamed mercenary through various mazes as they mow down enemy after enemy. Smooth and impactful, the combat satisfies the inner id while the the labyrinthine levels tax the brain; it's classic 90s shooting at its finest. However, while such mechanics make up the 99% of the game, it is not all Strife offers. In fact, Strife feels more innovative than most modern games, offering an experience that's both retro and avant garde.

Strife has numerous elements that give the game a greater sense of world as compared to its old-school brethren. First, the wildly creative story combines genuine cyberpunk sci-fi with dark fantasy, taking place in an alternative history where aliens invaded during the medieval era. Humanity is enslaved: oppressed by advanced technology and cybernetic augmentations that deprive them of free-will. The few free humans left, of which the player's character is a part, fight to overthrow the oppressors.

Strife does not depend on exposition or dialogue-heavy sequences to give its action heft, instead relying on in-game storytelling such as moral choices. For instance, an important late-game choice determines whether or not the player sees an entire third of the game and alters the ending. The different endings are not simple either. In fact, each ending adds to a complex whole hinting at a potential larger conspiracy. Fans still debate which is actually the happiest ending because, depending on how one interprets certain revelations, the happy ending may in fact be the worst possible ending.

All of this plays out in an interconnected world too. Unlike most old-school shooters, where players just bounce between levels, all the missions in Strife are connected via two towns that serve as hubs. The towns offer a brief respite from shooting allowing players the opportunity to improve their stats and talk with NPCs for side-quests while also organically connecting all the levels together. If it werent for the occasional quick loading screen, the game would be seamless: its a mini-open world akin to Dark Souls with a couple towns linking together a number of combat areas.

A prescient Doom Clone, Strife saw ahead of the curve and meldedRPG sensibilities with refined shooting to create a game thats decidedly retro and modern all at once. Cyberpunk 2077 may be months away but awesome cyberpunk action is available now and has been for more than 20 years.

Next:How Cyberpunk 2077's Analysis Mode Works (& What It's For)

Elder Scrolls 6 Should Offer A GTA Online-Style Multiplayer Mode

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Cyberpunk 2077 Highlights Character Evelyn Parker (VIDEO) – Don’t Feed the Gamers

Cyberpunk 2077 is easily one of the biggest new titles that gamers are excited to play this year, with the game promising a massive futuristic open world and robust role-playing mechanics. What also has fans intrigued is its vast array of characters, including Keanu Reeves as rocker-boy Johnny Silverhand. Few of these characters have been detailed during the first looks at the game, but now with the release date growing closer, CD Projekt RED has been highlighting more of these faces. The devs did this recently with Braindance technician Judy Alvarez, and now it is time for Evelyn Parker to shine in the same manner.

As reported on Prima Games, CD Projekt RED recently released a new tweet focused on character Evelyn Parker on their official Twitter account. The tweet refers to Parkers backstory, which tells of her intelligence and ambition chasing her goals to become an actress, before ending up with a much more permanent career at Night Citys Doll House.

Many were captivated by the first glimpse of Evelyn Parker seen in the latest Cyberpunk 2077 trailer, with her alluring gaze seen at Lizzies Bar. Some have compared her personality to Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction, while others see similarities in her style to the holographic billboard version of Joi from Blade Runner 2049. It is known that she will be present in the games prologue, but other than that, the rest of her storyline remains a mystery. Hopefully, Evelyn joins V on many quests in the game, so that blue hair can provide the right augmentation that Cyber adventures need.

What do you guys think about this highlight of Evelyn Parker? Let us know in the comments below! Be sure to stay tuned for the latest Cyberpunk 2077 news, such as the reasons why CD Projekt RED had to remove wall-running from the game, here on Dont Feed the Gamers! Follow us on Twitter to see our updates the minute they go live!

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Check Out This Beatboxer Cover the Cyberpunk 2077 Theme – Enter21st

If you recognize in regards to the upcoming Keanu Reaves starred, probably the most hyped video video games of 2020, Cyberpunk 2077, then you definately is likely to be accustomed to the superior theme music of the sport. However, what you wont be accustomed to is that this insane cowl of the techno theme music of the sport by this loopy beatboxer.

Going by the identify Improver, the man gained the Russian Beatbox Championship final 12 months, as said in his Instagram bio. Well, lets simply say he deserved it and theres a motive he gained the competitors. It is as a result of hes that good in his space of experience. Just check out the video beneath and inform me hes not insane (I dare you!).

Now, as you possibly can see, he has a madly proficient pair of lips, throat, and voice modulation functionality. And as he specializes within the techno style, masking this piece from the upcoming sci-fi RPG sport was a breeze for Improver.

After successful the Russian Beatbox Championship, Improver made numerous wonderful movies for his YouTube Channel. However, going by all his profiles, the man didnt, in any platform, share his identify. All we all know is that hes from Ulyanovsk, Russia, and is a professional beatboxer.

Now, coming to Cyberpunk 2077. From earlier stories, we all know how a lot hype is across the upcoming online game. But the dystopian RPG is being delayed for fairly a very long time now. After an preliminary delay in launch, the sport was set to come back in September. However, lately the date was once more moved additional to November 19.

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Check Out This Beatboxer Cover the Cyberpunk 2077 Theme - Enter21st

Top 10 Cyberpunk Films From The ’90s, Ranked (According To IMDb) – Screen Rant

Cyberpunk films are often confused with generic science fiction films. While the comparison isn't baseless, doing so ignores what makes cyberpunk unique. The main difference is that cyberpunk refers tostories set indystopias dominated by technology, machines, and/or Artificial Intelligence (AI), whereas science fiction is more broad in its subject matter.The subgenre isstill a big deal today, but cyberpunk was arguably at the top of its game in the '90s.

RELATED:10 Cyberpunk Sci-Fi Books Too Twisted To Be Made Into Films

Back then, the subgenre was more prevalent due to the fact that new technology was rapidly emerging and changing life on an almost daily basis. There are a number of cyberpunk films that gained more popularity and others that are worth watching if never heard of. Here are the 10 best cyberpunk of the '90s, ranked by their IMDb scores.

When googling popular cyberpunk films from the era, Existenz always shows up and for good reason. Directed by David Cronenberg, the film is rightfully filed underscience fiction horror but it still holds some notable cyberpunk elements as well.

In a distant future, gaming has upgraded from electronic consoles to virtual pods. The pods are connected to the gamer's spine. Allegra Geller (Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a game designer who finds herself the target of assassins. She was meant to demonstrate her latest virtual reality game and finds herself having to enter the game in order to make sure its structure isn't compromised.

For any Sylvester Stallone fan, Demolition Man is one of his guiltiest of guilty pleasures from the '90s. The film originally starts in the year 1996 where LAPD Sergeant John Spartan (Stallone) is after his number one nemesis. After hostages are killed, Spartan and Phoenix(Wesley Snipes) are imprisoned by being cryogenically frozen.

Fastforward to 2032, Phoenixescapes his parole hearing and Spartan is the only one who can stop him. He must adjust to a new worlddominated by technology anda new social order where political correctness has been taken to a satirical extreme.

Bicentennial Man is on the cut off before entering the 2000's. Despite this, it still deserves mention among its '90s peers for its unique outlook on AI technology. While the film was a box office failure, it still gets mentioned in science fiction crircles.

The film starred Robin Williams in the main role of Andrew. In 2005, "Andrew" is a robotic AI introduced to the Martin family to perform household duties. As time passes he starts to exhibit human qualities that were not part of his original programming. The film also transports 20 years into the future of Andrew's evolution.

The Thirteenth Floor will take any viewer on a cyberpunk trip into virtual reality. The film can be titled ascyberpunk due to thefact that it plays on the concept of what's real and what's virtual. In 1999, the creator and owner of a new virtual reality system is murdered. The VR system creates Los Angeles in 1937 with simulated humans.

RELATED:10 Cyberpunk Masterpieces Youve Probably Never Seen

Douglas Hall (Craig Bierko)becomes a suspect and heir to the company. Hall enters the virtual reality to find a message left behind by his predecessor. His world turns upside down and must distinguishreality from the simulation.

While Strange Days doesn't involve jumping between present and future, it does have advanced technology. The film follows former LAPD officer turned black marketeer Lenny Nero (Ralph Fiennes), who specializes in the selling of recorded memories and experiences through the virtual reality device known as the SQUID.

Los Angeles has turned into a war zone as social unrest leads to riots and amidst all this chaos, a prostitute is murdered for the recording pleasure of a SQUID user. Lenny tracks down the SQUID recordings and finds himself in the middle of a vast conspiracy and cover-up.

The originalTotal Recall is a film that was a lukewarm success in its time butenjoyed a cult following after the '90s. It's also titledunder science fiction but its plot elements also sway towards cyberpunk. The film takes place in 2084 where technology reigns supremer and interspace travel is somewhat normal. Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has recurring dreams of Mars and a mysterious woman.

RELATED:5 Best & 5 Worst Cyberpunk Movies, According To Rotten Tomatoes

He goes to Rekall a facility that specializes in implanting false memories to the clients' desires. Quaid's procedure goes wrong (or does it?) and his supposed real life isn't actually his own.

There is a common debate on whether or not The Fifth Element is more sci-fiwith cyberpunk elements or if it can be called cyberpunk at all due to its approach to certain characters, locations and themes that aremore of a space opera than cyberpunk.

However, the film does take place in a distant future in the year 2263, and some fans recall the beginning scenes of a futuristic New York City to be considered cyberpunk mainly becausethe city is a mass of high rises that live above smog. That, and thereare flying cars and restaurants fly up to apartment windows. There are also other elements such as robots taking over menial jobs like bartending. A bigger majority of the film is science fiction with elements of cyberpunk.

12 Monkeys is a science fiction film, but many regard Terry Gilliam's film as a neo-noir, dystopian and cyberpunk. The film has many elements from these aforementioned niches that can be considered part ofthe genre for its visually distinct use of time travel.

In 2035, what is left of the human race lives in a subterranean compound underneath Philadelphia. James Cole (Bruce Willis) is a prisoner who is trainedto travel back to 1996 to find the origins of the deadly virus. 12 Monkeyswas a major success and while critics considered the story to be a little jumbled, the acting and plot twist made for a great film.

The originalGhost in the Shell isn't just one of the most highly regarded examples of cyberpunk, but it's also considered to be one of the best animated features ever made. Japanese in origin, thislandmarkanime film is based on the manga of the same name by Masamune Shirow. The movie spawned a vast franchise of series and movies, though the original remains the best.

Set in 2029 Japan, a technological future allows for body parts to be replaced by cybernetic ones. Advancements in technology also created a cyber brain or "Ghost." Motoko Kusanagi(Atsuko Tanaka)is a cyborg public-security officer who tracks down a hacker. The film interweaves philosophical themes and the implications of an advanced technological world.

It's no surprisethat the most acclaimed science fiction and cyberpunk film of the '90s is The Matrix. The Matrix and its franchise are one of the top films regarding AI and simulated reality. It has amassed an immense cult following since its premiere and it continues to make people rethink reality and existence itself.

The film stars Keanu Reeves as Thomas Anderson or "Neo." Neo is a hacker who sees bizarre occurrences in the world and the appearance of the Matrix. He soon discovers the real world to only be a simulation. In reality, the world was run over by machines who entrapped humans for their bioelectric power to survive. A group of free humans hopes to fulfill the prophecy and find "the one" who will end the rule of the machines.

NEXT:5 Sci-fi Films From The 2000s That Are Way Underrated (& 5 That Are Overrated)

Next Harry Potter: 5 Patronus Animals Aries Would Likely Have (5 They Never Would)

Gabriela is an Entertainment writer with experience in all things, Tv, Film and pop culture. She's more than happy to stay in and binge-watch new TV shows and movies on Netflix.

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CD Projekt Red has no Game Pass plans for Cyberpunk 2077 – VentureBeat

Cyberpunk 2077 is one of the biggest games coming this year for consoles and PC. But one platform its not headed to any time soon is Microsofts Xbox Game Pass. Thats according to developer CD Projekt Red lead PR boss Radek Grabowski.

During a conversation on Twitter, I used Cyberpunk 2077 as an example of a big-name game that Microsoft could potentially try to get on Game Pass soon after release. That prompted a reply from Grabowski.

You have to pick another example, Jeff, reads his message. No Game Pass plans for Cyberpunk 2077.

This isnt surprising. Anticipation for Cyberpunk 2077 is sky-high, and that is likely going to mean blockbuster sales for the open-world sci-fi role-playing adventure. Agreeing to put Cyberpunk 2077 on Game Pass could eat into some of those sales. After all, thats the idea. You pay $10 per month to get games as part of a subscription instead of spending full price on them.

But Game Pass could also start to erode the value perception of major video games. A PlayStation owner might hesitate on spending $60 on Cyberpunk if they know that their Xbox counterparts are getting the game as part of a Netflix-style service. Protecting the perception that games are worth $60 at launch is crucial to the long-term viability of big-budget projects that CD Projekt Red specializes in.

So then why are we even talking about this? Ive heard unsubstantiated rumors that Cyberpunk could end up on Game Pass soon after release. And Microsoft has a co-marketing deal for the game. This is also a strategy that makes sense for Xbox. But if a marquee, third-party release ends up on Game Pass near its release, its not Cyberpunk.

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Cyberpunk 2077 to run only on DX12 but Win10 is not required – AltChar

Cyberpunk 2077 looks gorgeous from what has been shown to the public so far but the graphics coupled with the game's intricacy had fans wondering how base PlayStation 4 and Xbox One would be able to run it.

According to Jakub Knapik, the lighting and FX art director, and Marcin Gollent, the lead graphics programmer, this will be partially possible due to the game running only on DirectX 12. The API has proven to be somewhat problematic with other games but there is no doubt that performance gains are significant when it works.

In an interview with PC Games Hardware, the duo mentioned the benefits of raytracing and the four raytraced effects that are used in CP2077:

As a result of the heavy investment in DirectX Raytracing, CDPR decided to go with DirectX 12 only, meaning there would be some limitations for certain setups. For example, Windows 8 does not support DX12 and as such, Cyberpunk 2077 will not be available on that operating system.

Thankfully, Windows 7 SP1 included DX12 support so those who still have it as their favourite OS will be able to play CP2077. Other than that, Windows 10 will be needed.

As for the GPUs, Gollent stated that DX12 Ultimate and Cyberpunk 2077 "will work absolutely fine with all DX12-compatible GPUs" so if you keep wondering if your rig is good enough for CP2077, it might be good to check its API compatibility.

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Cyberpunk 2077 to run only on DX12 but Win10 is not required - AltChar

Cyberpunk 2077 Reveals Two New Characters | Game Rant – GameRant

CD Projekt Red reveals two new characters for Cyberpunk 2077, both of which look threatening and menacingly corporate, to say the least.

While the wait continues, CD Projekt Red hasrevealed the images of two new sinister characters in theCyberpunk 2077universe by the names of Mr. Goldhand and Mr. Jenkins.

Following a series of delays,Cyberpunk 2077is set to release November 19th and is expected to be one of the biggest games of the year. While gamers wait patiently for this highly-anticipated title, theCyberpunk 2077Twitter has been busy dropping fans some content to get hyped up for the game. Most recently, they teased graphics of two new characters: Mr. Goldhand and Mr. Jenkins.

RELATED: Cyberpunk 2077 Hides Cool Detail in Braindance Gameplay Scene

Mr. Goldhand is, of course, the posh man with golden hands. Unfortunately, only the names alongside the pictures were tweeted with no other information about the characters given, as opposed to the recently revealed Evelyn Parker of the Mox gang. Not much else is known about Mr. Goldhand outside of the image, so fans are left to speculate and dig through gameplay trailers and previously released content for more context. Though, in the 2019 Deep Dive, a mercenary is seensaying "Mr. Hands sent me," which seems to be a reference to Mr. Goldhand, in light of thecharacter reveal.

Fans do know a little more lore about Mr. Jenkins, on the other hand. While playing as the Corpo-Rat, V works as an officer for Jenkins, who'smad that he wasn't considered for promotion. V gets caught in the middle of a feud between Jenkins and another executive. Many on Twitter are quick to compare the mysterious Mr. Jenkins to the Illusive Man from theMass Effectseries, due to his ominous posture and enigmatic design. It looks like he'll be playing a large role in theCorporate Lifepath, should players choose this option.

Cyberpunkalso recently teased some intriguing graphics of one of Night City's mosthandsomedistricts, Westbrook. As a district for the corporate upper class, Westbrook is in contrast with those riddled with gang wars and drug trafficking. It's considered by many to be the "best place to live and have fun in Night City." Perhaps players who choose the Corporate Lifepath will have a few more eddies to spend in Westbrook.

Cyberpunk 2077is slated to release November 19 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X versions to follow.

MORE: Cyberpunk 2077: Features That Have Been Removed Since Reveal

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Has to Answer One Big Question from Odyssey

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Diversity must not lead to conflict, according to CD Projekt Red studio head (updated) – PC Gamer

Update: Some changesundisclosedhave been made to the interview hosted on the CD Projekt website, subtly changing the meaning of a comment made by CDPR studio head Adam Badowski.

The interview was originally conducted in Polish and was translated to English for the website. CD Projekt is a Polish company with a lot of English speakers, but it's still possible that there was a mistranslation.

In the initial translation, Badowski was recorded as stating "The key takeaway is that diversity... and the differing sensitivities and outlooks which result from it, must not lead to conflict. In this way our teams energy can be fully directed towards creation."

The updated version now reads "and the differing sensitivities and outlooks which result from it, are not leading to conflict." On the surface it's a tiny alteration, but it's one that does affect the meaning.

Original story: CD Projekt CEO Adam Kiciski and CD Projekt Red studio head Adam Badowski have given an interview discussing the studio's approach to inclusion and diversity at the publisher.

The interview, originally given in Polish to Rzeczpospolita Daily, was translated into English for the CDP website. In it, interviewer Katarzyna Kucharczyk probes Kiciski and Badowski about how the company comes across as more vocal on diversity and injustice than other companies in the increasingly-conservative Poland.

While the interview uncritically presents CDP as a big company that just loves diversity (CD Projekt became Europe's largest gaming company in May, overtaking Ubisoft), there are still a few interesting statements from both Kiciski and Badowski regarding their approach to inclusion at the studio and how it tackles the themes of its games.

When asked about CDP's action in making the studio more diverse and inclusive, Kiciski claims that the company prides itself on its diversity, before following it up with a caveat. "We also realize that efficient operation requires active measures promoting mutual respect and tolerance". While this could optimistically be read as Kiciski saying diversity is something that should actively be worked towards, a later statement by Badowski instead paints an image of it simply meaning diversity and inclusion shouldn't rock the boat.

Talking about the importance of tolerance in the creative process, Badowski discusses how some at the studio believe in a definition of tolerance as "the capacity to respect other people's needs and opinions which we ourselves do not espouse, and to refrain from combating phenomena which we regard as evil. Others are more in line with Poppers proposition that a tolerant society, if it is to remain tolerant, must not tolerate intolerance. There are also people at our studio who disagree with both views."

While Badowski himself doesn't say which definition he ascribes to, he does say "The key takeaway is that diversity... and the differing sensitivities and outlooks which result from it, must not lead to conflict. In this way our teams energy can be fully directed towards creation."

It's worth mentioning that, over the years, CD Projekt has had numerous allegations a toxic workplace culture full of crunch and bullying. In that context, a studio heard saying his workers don't believe in "combating phenomena which we regard as evil" explains a lot more about CD Projekt as a company than Badowski may have intended it to.

More weirdness is found later in the interview, when Kiciski goes on a random tangent about how California is an "excellent example of how openness, respect and tolerance foster innovative businesses and stimulate the economy". Silicon Valley infamously suffers from a diversity problem, fuelled in part by bias hiring practices (as of 2019, only 6% of Apple's employees were Black, and only 23% of Facebook's workforce were women) and gentrification in the area pricing out those from unprivileged groups.

Kiciski even seems to imply that sexism isn't as big an issue in gaming as it is elsewhere, stating that "in the 20th century the superb writer Andre Norton (born Alice Mary Norton) chose to publish under a male pseudonym because her publisher believed that the masculinized readership demographic would not take interest in fantasy authored by a woman. There is no such issue with videogames".

While he is technically correct, games are almost always published under studio and publisher names, rather than by an individual who would need to use a pseudonym, and so isn't a fair comparison. It also completely ignores how women in the industry have once again had to speak out publicly about the harassment they've been subjected to while working in the games industrywomen may not have to work under a pseudonym, but they're still getting harassed and assaulted.

All in all, this whole interview paints a very bleak image of CD Projekt. The studio is making a cyberpunk game, a hugely political genre about the terminal nature of unrestrained capitalism, and the the studio head is here saying tolerance is about "not combating phenomena which we regard as evil". Cyberpunk 2077 will probably be a technical achievement and impressive bit of development, but this interview has all but killed my faith in it actually tackling the core politics of its genre.

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Cyberpunk 2077 delay moves release into November – VentureBeat

Cyberpunk needs more time in the cyber-oven. Developer CD Projekt Red revealed today that it is going to take more time to polish up its sci-fi role-playing adventure. To that end, the company is delaying the release of Cyberpunk 2077 from September 17 to November 19.

CD Projekt Red made the announcement in a post on social media today. Heres a piece of the statement from cofounder Marcin Iwiski and studio head Adam Badowski:

Those of you who are familiar with the way we make games know that we wont ship something which is not ready. Ready when its done is not just a phrase we say because it sounds right, its something we live by even when we know well take the heat for it. At the same time, we are fully aware that making such a decision costs us your trust and trading trust for additional time is one of the hardest decisions a game developer can make. And despite that we think its the right decision for the game, wed still like to apologize for making you wait longer. Our intention is to make Cyberpunk 2077 something that will stay with you for years to come. In the end, we hope you understand why we did what we did.

This delay puts Cyberpunk 2077 squarely in the likely launch window of both next-gen consoles. Sony and Microsoft plan to launch the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, respectively, this holiday. But while you can get your Cyberpunk action on those systems through backward-compatibility mode, you may have to wait for newer optimized versions.

This delay isnt about adding more content into the game. Iwiski and Badowski note that Cyberpunk 2077 is done in terms of gameplay and quests. Instead, the issue is that it has so much content that the developer is worried about players having a smooth experience.

With such an abundance of content and complex systems interweaving with each other, we need to properly go through everything, balance game mechanics, and fix a lot of bugs, reads the statement. A huge world means a huge number of things to iron out, and we will spend the additional time doing exactly that.

In the meantime, CD Projekt Red is sending out preview codes to the media. That should give fans the best insight yet into exactly what to expect from the follow-up to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

We are eager and quite stressed to hear [the medias] opinions, as we as see your reactions when they publish their previews right after we air Night City Wire on the 25 of June, reads the statement. We hope this will satisfy some of your hunger for the game as we work to polish it for the November launch.

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Cyberpunk 2077 delay moves release into November - VentureBeat

Cyberpunk 2077 Gets A Second Wave of Figures from McFarlane Toys – Bleeding Cool News

Cyberpunk 2077 has sadly been pushed back yet again. We will now not be able to see the video game until it's the new release date of November 19, 2020. I assume this is most likely to coincide with the highly anticipate video game debut with the release of the next-gen consoles which have not been revealed just yet. Until then, it looks like McFarlane Toys has announced its next wave of figures for its Cyberpunk 2077 figure line. There will be two figures in this wave one, with one being a re-release with a new accessory and another is a new character entirely. First up is the re-release with Keanu Reeves character Johnny Silverhand. This will be the third figure in the McFarlane Toys line and it is quite similar to the original release. However, this one will include a duffel bag accessory which makes it sort of a new variant figure. Even though the game is not out yet Johnny Silverhand has already made a name for himself in the collectibles world. I doubt this will be the last figure we will see of him and I expect plenty more to come once the game is finally released. This next figure from Cyberpunk 2077, the upcoming villain Takemura arrives. Takemura is a pretty mysterious figure as we do not know too much about this character until the video games launch. If everything stayed on track we would've already known plenty about this game but delays happen for a reason. Until then this figure will have to do and he will feature nice robotic detail under his neck and on his face. He will come in at 7 inches tall and will have roughly 22 points of articulation. He is dressed up in what you would expect a crime boss to be in and he will come with a gun accessory.

If you're trying to collect the complete McFarlane Toys Cyberpunk 2077 figure line then these are both for you. I do wish we got a completely new mold for Johnny Silverhand rather than just a re-release with a new accessory. However, for people who did miss the original launch of the Silverhand then this will be a nice replacement as this character continues to get popular. Takemura is a great choice for the figure line as it gives our other characters a villain to go after. These figures are expected to release by the end of September and will most likely be priced at the usual $19.99 price tag. Pre-orders are not live just yet but you will be able to find them and other Cyberpunk 2077 McFarlane Toys figures here. Cyberpunk 2077 will hit game consuls November 19, 2020 pre-order your copy today.

He has been the Collectibles Editor since late 2019. Funko Funatic, Historian, Air Force Veteran, and dedicated collector of many things.

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The Week in Gaming: Star Wars: Squadrons revealed, Last of Us 2 drops, Cyberpunk delayed – SYFY WIRE

Welcome to The Week in Gaming, the place where we pause each week to take a look at the video game news beats both big and small that you might be missing while also taking a peek around the corner at what's ahead. Check in each Friday for news (and occasionally even views) on everything from sprawling RPGs to Metroidvania platformers to the latest in VR and free-to-play. We'll even throw in a good old-fashioned board game every now and then!

Of all the forms of entertainment the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted, it's perhaps video games that have been disrupted the least. While all the on-site fan conventions that typically herald the start of summer have had to take things online, the games themselves just keep coming, lifting a medium that's tailor-made for spending time at home. Going online didn't hurt Sony's PlayStation 5 event last week; in fact, it took fewer than seven days for Sony's "The Future of Gaming" presentation to become the most-viewed product announcement in the company's history.

With in-person events off limits, one game studio or media organization after another is following the new online announcement model, including Star Wars license holder Electronic Arts. At this week's EA Play event, the publisher may have strengthened its case to players that EA for years criticized for what many fans viewed as an ad hoc approach to the franchise is taking Star Wars as seriously as the players are.

That's a long way of saying that Star Wars: Squadrons, EA's newly-announced pilot sim set in the galaxy far, far away, looks absolutely incredible at least at first glance. Following on the success of last year's Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, the next Star Wars game in EA's playbook leaps straight off the big screen and into its first pair of trailers as something approaching a playable Star Wars movie, putting players in the very middle of the dogfight action that the final trilogy in the Skywalker saga regardless of how fans feel about the series' overall direction took to a whole new level.

We've broken down both those trailers elsewhere (check out more on the cinematic announcement trailer here and the gameplay trailer here), but it's still cool to take a step back and take stock of where Star Wars stands in EA's lineup versus where it appeared to be after the studio gained rights to the franchise in 2013. In that time, EA has scuttled nearly as many planned Star Wars games as it's actually released, and had to fight to redeem some lost good will among fans who hopped on board early for Star Wars Battlefront II a game whose ongoing support from the publisher strengthened it into a far, far better experience than the one that first shipped back in 2017.

Fast-forward to today's post-Fallen Order landscape; one in which EA has now shown off two big titles that sync up nicely not only with each other, but with the beloved movie universe on which they're based. Fallen Order deftly struck a balance between familiar and new lore while nailing the look and feel of a modern Star Wars game, and has already spawned plans for a sequel. Squadrons may have even bigger shoes to fill as the heir to a line of occasionally great Star Wars pilot sim games over the years, but it's impossible not to be encouraged by the first looks EA's shown off so far.

Of course the proof is in the actual gameplay, so there's no way to pre-emptively coronate Squadrons an instant success but Fallen Order has shown that EA has what it takes to wrap a great Star Wars story inside a solid single-player experience, so we're hyped to hop in the cockpit when Squadrons releases on Oct. 2 in the hope that the Star Wars video game franchise is finally striking back.

Get this: Cyberpunk 2077 was first announced eight years ago, all the way back in 2012. Since then, perhaps no other cross-platform game has generated as much buzz as CD Projekt RED's sprawling dystopian urban dreamscape. As the first AAA game to follow in the iconic footsteps of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, fan expectations soared for 2077 after Wild Hunt redefined open-world RPGs for the PS4 and Xbox One generation when it arrived in 2015. And if there's one thing the Polish developer wants to get right with Cyberpunk 2077, it's sticking the landing.

After a series of delays that've bumped 2077 from an original release target that's now in the rear-view mirror (April 16), CD Projekt RED has bumped the game once more, pushing 2077 from its planned Sept. 17 release to Nov. 19. The studio made the announcement via Twitter this week, with an earnest message to fans that signaled the delay is all about quality. "Those of you who are familiar with the way we make games know that we won't ship something which is not ready," it states:

As many of the fan comments can attest, CD Projekt RED has good will to spare in postponing its hugely anticipated release, and we're right there with them. But it does raise an interesting scenario for players torn between scooping up the game for their PS4s or Xbox Ones, or waiting for the slicker graphics, greater speed, and built-in longevity of the next-gen version.

Fortunately, the studio is making that decision significantly easier, regardless of which path you take. In a reported call with investors this week, CD Projekt confirmed that not only will 2077 get a full release for the PS5 and Series X; it'll also be a free upgrade for anyone who's already bought a PS4 or Xbox One version of the game. From that report (via Gamespot), it sounds as though the initial next-gen release will mark an incremental improvement in graphics and loading times over current-gen versions. But the developers added that a "more robust update" one tailored specifically for the new consoles is planned to arrive in the distant future.

It likely won't be long before we learn much more about how Cyberpunk 2077 will stagger its launch between current and next-gen consoles. The game gets the neon spotlight all to itself next week, when CD Projekt RED's "Night City" online showcase drops a fresh batch of new details (stay plugged in to the official Cyberpunk 2077 Twitter feed for upcoming info on how to watch.)

Sony's PS5 reveal event last week spun off a ton of bite-sized game trailers that have since gone on to be viewed a mind-boggling number of times. And of the reported 16 games that generated 1 million or more peeks on YouTube after just one week, none has drawn as many eyeballs as Spider-Man: Miles Morales.

Showing off a cinematic trailer that puts Peter Parker's successor squarely in the next-gen spotlight, Miles Morales has attracted nearly 11.5 million looks at its announcement clip so far, just on PlayStation's official YouTube channel alone. But fans who came away from Sony's event expecting a complete sequel to 2018's Spider-Man got some tempered news this week, after creative director Brian Horton explained via the PlayStation Blog that Miles' adventure is more of an in-between morsel in terms of overall scope even as he described it as a "standalone game."

"We know a lot of you want to know how big this game is," wrote Horton. "Our team at Insomniac has been working incredibly hard to bring you a fantastic Miles Morales adventure since we concluded development on Marvel's Spider-Man. You'll experience a full story arc with Miles, one that's more akin to a game like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy in terms of overall scope."

For comparison, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy clocked in at around 10 hours in length when it landed in PS4 players' hands in 2017. If Miles Morales' story indeed follows in those footsteps, that would put it firmly in the middle-ground realm of a title that's more than an update; but less than a full game.

If that's disappointing for PS4 Spider-Man fans eager to spend another 20-30 hours swinging through the concrete and steel canyons of New York, there's some upside. Insomniac appears to be throwing every available trick at the new game to showcase what the PS5 can do right when it launches this fall, with Horton teasing "near-instant loading, ray-tracing, 3D audio," and upgraded character scans with "improved skin shading for more realistic looking characters and spline-based hair that moves far more naturally." And it appears the studio's more long-ranging plans for Spidey will continue long after Miles Morales releases later this year. "Don't worry, we still have much of Peter's story left to tell," Horton teased. "But this game is all about Miles, a critical part of our Spider-Man universe, and you won't want to miss what happens."

The best of the rest

At last The Last of Us Part II is here! After a long development cycle that came with its share of ups and downs, Naughty Dog's hugely hyped sequel has endured and survived to finally make its PlayStation 4 debut. Early reviews have TLOU2 sitting at the very top of acclaimed games among Sony's lineup of PS4 exclusives, but now it's the players' turn to weigh in on Ellie's grown-up adventure.

Other than all the buzz you're likely to encounter as opinions come flooding across social media, there's not a ton of new news to go along with Part II's arrival the game's release is the big news. But to commemorate a day that feels like Christmas morning for longtime fans, here's a cool new clip from Chandler Riggs a guy who knows a thing or two about outrunning plague-stricken zombies in the post-apocalypse talking about how he became a lifelong fan of the franchise after playing through the 2013 original:

We get it, man we really do. Joel and Ellie made perfect complements to each other in the first game, each needing something that the other was uniquely suited to provide, and we can't wait to dive in to Part II this weekend and see where the passing of time has left them. We've managed to stay away from all the spoilers and leaks, and we hope that you did, too: The Last of Us Part II is ready to play now for PlayStation 4.

Welcome to water world Fortnite Chapter 2, Season 3 is finally here, flooding the game map and bringing a new aquatic theme that makes island outpost hopping the new way to play for the foreseeable future. In keeping with the new season's slippery motif, raising your Season 3 sail gets players on board for a "Splash Down" slate of events that even summon Aquaman himself in actor Jason Momoa's full likeness who fist-bumps a tease that, like Deadpool last season, we'll probably be seeing a lot more of him (and his trident).

Sharks? You know there are sharks; only these are the kind you can ride instead of run from. Fortnite's become such a ridiculously do-anything game (and we mean that as a compliment) that it's hard to describe everything Season 3 has in store in no small part because Epic Games refreshes the emergent experience almost constantly with in-game happenings and noncompetitive diversions in its recently-introduced Party Royale mode.

In terms of structure, the new baddies for Season 3 are the swashbuckling Marauders, seafaring pirate types who come crashing the island party. Among the first batch of in-game challenges is a quest that can unlock a pair of new Aquaman skins, though we're certain future challenges (which arrive every Thursday) will begin upping the ante once everyone's suited up for their best Arthur Curry imitation. As always, the best way to stay on top of what's happening in real time is to follow Fortnite's Twitter feed, and refresh the game's always-updating Season 3 landing page.

Oh, Snap! Nintendo is reviving a slice of Pokmon life from days gone by with New Pokmon Snap, a new Switch version of an old fan favorite that channels the spirit of the Nintendo 64's original picture-taking game.

Snap was revealed as part of a long list of Pokmon-themed announcements as part of Nintendo's "Pokmon Presents" online event, which also included fun teases for Pokmon Caf Mix (a laid-back puzzle game) and Pokmon Smile a AR-based smart phone game that encourages kids (and perhaps even grown-ups) to have fun brushing their teeth.

New Pokmon Snap hasn't been given a release date, but in related Nintendo news, another N64 classic is getting a fresh reimagining for the Switch with Paper Mario: The Origami King (teased in the trailer above). The Origami King updates the original Paper Mario's unique 2D style while giving Mario a new travel companion: Olivia, the good sibling to the evil King Olly, who's trapped Princess Peach's castle with plans to move the whole thing "to a distant mountain as part of his plan to re-fold the world."

Measure twice and cut once, because this one's coming soon: Paper Mario: The Origami King leafs its way onto the Switch on July 17.

Spare Parts

- Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto and the newly-formed V1 Interactive studio have taken the wraps off Disintegration, the new sci-fi first-person shooter from V1 and publisher Private Division. Check out the launch trailer above, and head to the game's landing page to pick your flavor: Disintegration is out now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

- Survival horror series Remothered makes its return this summer with Remothered: Broken Porcelain, which stalks onto the PS4 on Aug. 25. Check out the trailer above, and head to the PlayStation Blog for a deeper look at how Broken Porcelain will challenge players to problem-solve their way out of third-person terror.

- The Lord of the Rings is heading to smart phones with The Lord of the Rings: Rise to War, an officially licensed strategy game set in the Third Age of Middle-earth. There's no early word on a release date, so keep that Eye of Sauron open for more details.

- Insomniac added a fun new wrinkle to what we can expect when Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, teased as part of the PlayStation 5's reveal showcase last week, makes its yet-unscheduled arrival to the PS5. Remember that mysterious female Lombax from the big reveal trailer? We still don't know her name but thanks to the studio's tease above, at least we do know she'll show up "from another dimension" as a playable character.

- A fan-favorite Skyrim mod is about to become its own standalone game. Via VG24/7, The Forgotten City, a story-driven game set within The Elder Scrolls V universe, is set to debut "this winter" from developer Modern Storyteller and publisher Dear Villagers.

- Take a listen to Microsoft's new Xbox startup sound, which (via Eurogamer) will be the recurring noise that greets Xbox Series X owners when the new console debuts this fall.

- Persona 4 Golden, a hidden PS Vita gem in Atlus' long-running Shin Megami Tensei series of RPGs, landed at Steam for PC players to pick up this week. Snag the standard edition for $19.99, or the deluxe edition which comes with an art book and the digital soundtrack for $24.99.

- Square Enix and partner studio Eidos Montreal have announced the formation of Eidos-Sherbrooke, a new regional wing of the studio behind the Deus Ex franchise and the latest installment in the Tomb Raider series. Described as a studio to "support research and development by exploring, testing and applying new technologies to create the video games of tomorrow," via a Square Enix press release, it sounds like the publisher's very own in-house R&D skunkworks lab for video games or, in other words, just our kind of place.

- Let's sign off with something cool: a creative pairing between Square Enix and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story writer Gary Whitta. After the Final Fantasy developer showed off a killer-looking but mysterious new game during Sony's big PS5 event last week, Whitta followed up by sharing with Twitter fans that he'd helped come up with the story concept for the next-gen game's fantasy world.

Going by the working title of Project Athia, the game marks an all-new IP from Square Enix's in-house Luminous Productions (it's actually Luminous' very first game.) Neither Whitta nor the trailer tell us too much about the world, which appears to merge present-day elements with a tech-infused land of magic; the kind of place where a girl in sneakers and a light-powered dragon can coexist even if it isn't exactly peaceful:

We're not sure whether Whitta's involvement with Project Athia is ongoing as a writer, or if he's already left his mark as a source of bigger-picture ideas. His tweet puts things in the past tense, but he also teased that he "[c]an't wait for you to see and learn more" about "this immense new universe." But hey, if Project Athia can match even a sliver of the intensity of Rogue One's final moments, we'll take any Gary Whitta involvement we can get.

That's it for this week! We're off to see if The Last of Us Part II has finished downloading, so you know what we'll be doing this weekend. In the meantime, stay Cordyceps free until we're back together to talk more gaming goodies next Friday. Endure and survive!

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The Week in Gaming: Star Wars: Squadrons revealed, Last of Us 2 drops, Cyberpunk delayed - SYFY WIRE

How to watch the Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire stream – Tech Advisor

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vastTagURLvastTagURL += '&scp=' + videoBid.encodedQsParams;}return vastTagURL;}//funcfunction goAmazonGo(){apstag.fetchBids({slots: [{slotID: 'videoSlot', // NOTE: doesn't need to be the div IDmediaType: 'video'}]}, function(bids) {advertisingTag = handleVideoBid(bids, advertisingTag);if(window.idgVideoDebug)console.log('JW amazon post amazon bid, advertisingTag=',advertisingTag);directAdOS.addSpotXParamsToMVT(advertisingTag).then(handleIndexExchange);});}//func//modal cmp overlay - all sites nowif(window.idgVideoDebug)console.log('JW modal overlay version');__cmp('getConsentData', null, function(data, success){if(window.idgVideoDebug)console.log('GDPR JW amazon video cmp return',data.consentData);goAmazonGo();});});//googletag.cmd.push};//embedVideo})(typeof require !== 'undefined' ? require : idguk.require);

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How to watch the Cyberpunk 2077 Night City Wire stream - Tech Advisor

Cyberpunk 2077 delay will also push back DLC and multiplayer mode – PC Gamer

It was disappointing, but not entirely surprising, when CD Projekt pushed back from the release of Cyberpunk 2077 from its planned release in September to November 19. In a follow-up call to investors, CD Projekt vice president of business development Micha Nowakowski said that the delay will also impact the scheduling for post-release content, including the planned multiplayer mode.

"We prefer to call them expansions as theyre bigger than typical DLCs, but of course the fact that the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 has been moved will proportionately move the release of such potential expansions," Nowakowski said, adding that post-release content is still in development, and that a release date hasn't actually been set at this point.

"When it comes to multiplayer, similarly to the expansions, its launch is going to be proportionately delayed as well, although multiplayer is a bit more distantso its a matter for the future anyway."

Nowakowski also went into a bit more detail on what exactly CD Projekt is doing with the extra time, saying that the game is "100 percent done," but could still stand some fixing and polishing.

"Lets say theres a character walking down a street and theyre passing through a lantern as if it didnt exist. So obviously we dont want to happen in the final build of the game," he said. "This and many other thingsmaybe some light effects may be wrong here and there in particular circumstances. In a huge environment like that these bugs need to be eliminated before we pass the game to the players."

"We dont want to have their experience ruined by the fact that if it rains and its 4:01 am. and you walk outside of that particular bar on that particular street, the night turns into day for three seconds. And theres things like that popping up, which were fixing."

During the same call, CD Projekt joint CEO Adam Kiciski said that the developers "truly believe" that the November 19 release date will hold. "That's all I can say now, but of course, any decision like this costs us trust," he said. "We try to be as reasonable as possible when making the final decision. That's our take for nowwe believe the game will be released on November 19."

Thanks, VGC.

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Cyberpunk 2077 delay will also push back DLC and multiplayer mode - PC Gamer

Big in 2020: Cyberpunk 2077 will give us a glimpse into the next generation of RPGs – GamesRadar+

Key info

(Image credit: CD Projekt)

Game Cyberpunk 2077DeveloperIn-housePublisher CD ProjektPlatformsPC, PS4, Xbox OneRelease September 17, 2020Pre-order Cyberpunk 2077

This feature on Cyberpunk 2077 originally ran as part of GamesRadar's spring preview. Our position on the game hasn't changed it still looks incredible! With that in mind, we've given the write up a little refresh and have included it as a part of our Big in 2020: summer preview too.

It isn't a question of if Cyberpunk 2077 is going to revolutionise the RPG, but rather a question of how drastically. With The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, developer CD Projekt Red left what is arguably the deepest impression on the genre since The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim reignited our imaginations. And it certainly looks as if it is set to do it all over again in this ambitious 2020 adventure, as we set out across Night City in search of a prototype implant that is said to be the key to immortality.

And I say "looks as if" because nobody outside of the studio ecosystem has had the opportunity to get their hands on Cyberpunk 2077 just yet. Truth be told, that isn't all that surprising; CDPR handled the run-up to The Witcher 3 in a similar fashion, navigating the swelling tide of skepticism and delays with a gentle wave of walkthrough demonstrations and revealing interviews. Cast your mind back to 2014, The Witcher 3 seemed too good to be true. Until it wasn't, of course; the game set a new standard for the fantasy-RPG, one no other developer has been able to match since. CD Projekt Red is the type of studio that likes to let the final product do the talking.

What, then, will Cyberpunk 2077 have to say for itself? That's difficult to pinpoint, because the scope of this game appears to be absolutely out of control. Cyberpunk 2077 puts you in command of V, a mercenary outlaw that lives in a claustrophobic cityscape that is becoming consumed by violent turf wars. CDPR is designing Cyberpunk 2077 to give you the space to shape your adventure and to navigate the escalating tensions threatening to tear apart Night City as you should so desire. It's attempting to deliver an experience where you have the freedom to customise your character's cybernetic enhancements and skillset to your heart's content, with the game bending to breaking point to facilitate your preferred playstyle.

It's a little difficult to conceptualise, but it's here that the true impact of Cyberpunk 2077 should be measured. If this game lands as it has been pitched, it will surely set a new benchmark for immersive quest design in the RPG-space. Night City is clearly an energetic ecosystem, full of depth and detail; a space that seems to exist around you rather than in spite of you and it's the way in which it will intertwine with the choices that you make, and reflect back consequences earned, that will truly set it apart from anything else in the genre. For CDPR, it's a monumental undertaking, one it intends to meet head on.

"The philosophy behind our quest design is that, if a player should logically be able to do something if the character would logically be able to do it in the world then you should be able to do it in the game," says Patrick Mills, veteran quest designer at CDPR. "Obviously, we can't provide for every contingency and every option, but we want to provide enough of them that you always feel like you have a robust suite of choices in front of you."

Cyberpunk 2077 is the riskiest and most ambitious project in CDPR's history. The studio spent a decade exploring the carefully outlined boundaries of The Northern Kingdoms, but, with Cyberpunk, it will be diving into a property that has experimentation and innovation built into its foundational design.

"We want you to always feel like you have a robust suite of choices in front of you."

Cyberpunk was established by creator Mike Pondsmith to encourage free-form play at its most fundamental level, as a conduit for enthusiastic players to explore a dense and detailed science-fiction world. It's that spirit the studio is embracing for Cyberpunk 2077.

The Witcher, on the other hand, is a series that has been naturally scoped by the presence of its iconic hero CDPR knew where the line was, and it built one hell of a fantasy playground within it all. "Geralt actually let us narrow down the choices players had, because there are certain things that Geralt is just not going to do. We can be a lot more open with V than we could with Geralt, because we want the character that you create to be a collaboration between us and the player."

When CDPR speaks of collaboration between studio and player, it's suggesting that we will truly be given the space to role-play as V in Cyberpunk 2077. It means that the team's efforts to create a dense and detailed playing space full of hand-crafted main and side-quests will be actually capable of funnelling your choices out across the story and the world around you. Cyberpunk 2077 might be quick to catch the attention of anybody that puts their eyes on it, but it is the quest design that will hold it.

On the eve of the next-generation, Cyberpunk 2077 is setting its sights on reinvigorating the RPG. It's giving us an insight into what the next generation will hold for the RPG genre and, should CDPR pull this off, who knows if it'll take another generation cycle for other developers to clear the high benchmark it is sure to set.

GamesRadar+ is exploring the games that are helping to shape 2020. For more, click through to ourBig in 2020coverage hub.

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Big in 2020: Cyberpunk 2077 will give us a glimpse into the next generation of RPGs - GamesRadar+

Liberated is a cyberpunk noir that takes place within the pages of a digital comic book – PC Gamer

Liberated is a neo-noir action-adventure set in a world where the government has started to act like Big Brother.The setting is inspired by surveillance technologies that are being used in the world right now, and the game merges sidescrolling action with the structure of a digital comic book to tell its story.

Of course, not everyone is particularly happy with living in a surveillance state, and a group of rebels who call themselves the Liberated have risen up in objection to the use of technology controlling the population. This group of freedom fighters might sound like the protagonists, but the group has radicalised, and will go to bloody lengths to get what they want.

Liberated explores both sides of the conflict through four characters, each with their own sense of justice. The story has echoes of Watchmen in that there are no heroes, only flawed people who will aggressively fight for what they believe in. The art style is stark, punchy and moves seamlessly between the 2D comic story panels and the 3D action sequences. From playing the demo, you can just feel the love for the comic genre in every panel of the game.

"To be bold, what we're hoping to achieve with Liberated is a create the comic book 2.0," Atomic Wolf's communication manager Konrad Wakuski says. "I would even say Liberated is sort of our proof of concept or something that we want to call the playable graphic novel. Our goal is to make up for that loss of physicality with interactivity, animation and sound to create an immersive experience that you can only do digitally. But still keeping the charm and the coolness of the traditional paper comics the art form itself."

What we're hoping to achieve with Liberated is a create the comic book 2.0.

After playing Liberated's free demo, I can certainly vouch for its coolness. Each chapter begins with the opening of a comic book, you click through the animated panels and then enter into a side-scrolling action scene. Atomic Wolf says that these sequences will be a mix of stealth, platforming and puzzles.

The gunfights in particular leave a lasting impression. As you unleash a torrent of shots, bullets zip across the panel and land with a satisfying comic book 'AARGH!' when you hit an enemy. Everything is in deep shades of black and grey with flashes of white and when you get hit by an enemy the edges of the comic book slowly become splattered in crimson blood.

"We wanted to create a simulation of reading a comic in the digital space," Wakuski says. "And in terms of that, there is a lot of detail that actually comes into play. One is how your eyes would normally move across the comic book pages, like how you see it as a whole first, and then use zoom in on each panel, taking your time with each individual image and then creating context from the surrounding panels. There isn't a loading screen, there is no nothing forcing you to move forward, the reader sets the pace and we wanted to recreate that."

To emulate this, Liberated lets you click through panels at your own leisurely pace. During action sequences your can stand still to recover health, which gives you time to stop and appreciate the environment you're in. Wakuski tells me that it's vital to get this sense of pacing right to do the comic book form justice.

"Whether an action scene plays out fast, or it plays out in slow motion, the flow of time depends entirely on you," he says. "It's dependant on how fast you read and how long you linger on each individual panel. So the importance of letting you do that was a crucial part of designing the comics part of the game itself. Then during the video game sections of the game, that dynamic changes."

It's cool to see that Atomic Wolf hasn't only been inspired by the art style of comic books, but the entire medium as a whole. The team have thought about the intricacies of how a reader interacts with the pages of a comic and have cleverly brought them into the game.

If you missed the demo, Liberated is due out sometime later this year so you won't have to wait too long to play it.

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Liberated is a cyberpunk noir that takes place within the pages of a digital comic book - PC Gamer

PS5: 5 Games we’re playing on the PlayStation 5 God of War 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn 2 & more – RealSport – RealSport

The PS5 is releasing later this year, and with it will come a whole roster of incredible games!

With the PS5 set to release later this year, we are beyond excited to get our hands on some of the new titles that are expected to come with next-gen.

With the upgrades in both software and hardware, there is likely to be some outstanding graphics weve never been able to experience before on a console.

Not only are there games set to release on all platforms, but Sony has some hidden gems up their sleeve just for the PlayStation 5.

Continue below to read more on our top picks for the PlayStations 5, as well as an honourable mention!

The first Horizon Zero Dawn released over 3 years ago, leaving fans desperate for more cyber-hunting action!

HZD2 is set to be a PlayStation exclusive, so any Xbox fans will have to wait for a possible, but unlikely, Xbox release.

The new PS5 will allow the developers to create an even more in-depth world. With better hardware, the game will look and feel more realistic.

READ MORE: Horizon Zero Dawn 2: Release date, platforms, trailer, characters, enemies, gameplay, news & everything you need to know

The PS5 is also using an SSD instead of a hard drive, meaning games will load much faster. With HZD, this will create a much more fluid and natural experience.

The God of War series is notorious for its elaborate storytelling and overabundance of badass fight scenes.

The reboot continued with this formulae and gave us one of the greatest games of all time.

We follow Kratos through the new Norse mythology realm, where he journeys to deliver his wifes ashes to the highest point in all the realms.

READ MORE: God of War 2: Sequel to Santa Monica Studios Fourth GoW game teased by Developer!

At the end, we get a sneak peek into the next game with Thor coming to get revenge on Kratos for the deaths of his extended family.

We cant wait to get our hands on the next chapter of Kratos journey, with more Gods, Monsters and epic moments to experience!

The next Call of Duty is set to release in the Autumn of 2020. This means it is likely to come out before the release of the next console.

This will mean the game will release on both the PS4 and the upcoming PS5.

From the current information we have, we know the next COD will be set in the Cold War and will continue the Boots-on-the-ground feel that the series has been following for the last few years.

READ MORE: Modern Warfare 2019 Pre-Order: Captain Price Playable Character Leak In Blackout Black Ops 4 DLC 4, Cross platform, Maps & more

The story will continue on from the first Black Ops games, with possible original characters such as Mason and Reznov.

Although the current COD game, Modern Warfare, has amazing graphics, we can expect the new title to look even better.

Cyberpunk has found itself delayed from April to September 2020. This is unfortunate, as this means it will release just before the next-gen consoles are available.

CD Projekt Red had no plans to release the game on the PS5, but due to this delay, they are now considering a next-gen release given the circumstances.

From what weve seen, the graphics look stunning! With its ultra-realistic lighting and immersive story, Cyberpunk is at the top of everyones watchlist.

READ MORE: Cyberpunk 2077 Release Date: Trailer, Gameplay, Pre-order Bundles, Weapons, Leaked Map, Characters, PS5, Xbox Series X & everything else you need to know

Fans of The Witcher and other RPG games are hyped for Cyberpunks release, but we have a little way to go yet. Click here to read more about our coverage of Cyberpunk.

Set in Feudal Japan, Ghost of Tsushima takes an eastern spin on your standard RPG.

The combat and swordplay look amazing. It seems gritty and realistic allowing the player to pull off combos and deadly executions.

The story is in-depth and presented with beautiful cinematics and dialogue. Alongside a genuine Japanese score, it seems Ghost of Tsushima will be an extremely immersive experience.

READ MORE: PlayStation 5 Specs: PS5 is a huge step above PS4, but might be behind Xbox Series X

Since its reveal at E3 2018, weve been on the edge of our seat to get a better look at the core mechanics of the game, as well as more story details.

GOS is set to release on PS4 on the 26th June 2020, meaning well see a re-release of the game on PS5 later down the line.

Elder Scrolls VI was teased at E3 2018. Its reveal trailer simply showing the name and logo as well as some scenery.

With The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim become one of the biggest games of all time, there are high hopes for the next big Elder Scrolls game.

With Bethesda able to take advantage of the new system, we hope to see a much larger world to explore, as well as better graphics.

READ MORE: Elder Scrolls 6 Location: Leaked internal memo may have just revealed the location of the next instalment

There is currently no set release date for The Elder Scrolls VI. If you wish to read more about the ESO VI, click here.

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PS5: 5 Games we're playing on the PlayStation 5 God of War 2, Cyberpunk 2077, Horizon Zero Dawn 2 & more - RealSport - RealSport

Killing Floor 2 goes Cyberpunk in its Neon Nightmares update – Blast Away the Game Review

Continuing to the teams dedication to their fans and launching free and consistent content updates for Killing Floor 2, Tripwire Interactive has officially launched their Neon Nightmares update for Killing Floor 2, bringing new weapons, maps, and a lot more chaotic fun.

When it comes toKilling Floor 2, Tripwire Interactive continues to surprise with their dedication to the game, which is currently available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles alongside the games Steam version for PC users. The latest update brings in a neon-fulled nightmare as players will fight against the zed hordes in the new map titled Biolapse.

The new map is available in both survival and weekly game modes, allowing players to explore multiple levels in an abandoned Horzine laboratory where survivors can use layouts and traps to give the zeds all sorts of trouble. While using the maps layout and traps to their advantage, survivors can also enjoy two new weapons including the HRG Incendiary Rifle as the Firebug, which is a modified M16 M2013 Assault Rife equipped with an incendiary grenade launcher.

As a paid option, players can also use the Compound Bow in order to take out zeds, allowing them to use two different arrow types including Sharp and Cryo arrows to bleed zombies to death or freeze them and cause them to take substantial damage when melee attacked.

Not bad for those looking to enjoy even more free content for the game! Meanwhile, you can check out our review for the initial launch of Killing Floor 2 today.

About the Writer(s):

Dustin is our native video game reviewer who has an appetite for anything that crosses the borders from across the big pond. His interest in JRPGs, Anime, Handheld Gaming, and Pizza is insatiable. You can find him over onTwitterorFacebookwhere he interacts with his followers quite a bit!

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Killing Floor 2 goes Cyberpunk in its Neon Nightmares update - Blast Away the Game Review

CD Projekt Red Goes Behind The Music Of Cyberpunk 2077 – CGMagazine

At a time where social distancing is being recommended globally, the world has rarely before been this on edge about anyone displaying symptomatic behaviours of any kind. Thats probably why Animal Crossing: New Horizons players are having such strong reactions to a sneezing emote.

In Nintendos new Switch exclusive, players can learn how to use emote animations from NPC villagers. These cute humanoid animals will randomly approach the player to teach them how to look happy, sad, or how to dance. Another emote theyll teachwithout any warning or concern for the players personal spaceis sneezing. The interaction usually plays out thus: a villager runs up to the player, tells the player to watch this, and then sneezes directly into the players face.

Given the current climate brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19, this otherwise innocuous (though definitely rude) emote has elicited an extreme response in players. Many are posting videos of this random interaction with shock and terror.

This rat just gave me Corona Virus. Ill stay away from people (& animals) from now on. #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch https://t.co/9I3S1HHIGU

thanks asshole #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch https://t.co/ORAmzveWQe

this is me meer seconds before i contacted COVID- 19 (please practice social distancing) #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch https://t.co/o1Gf7fhxUM

Many have taken to having their Animal Crossing avatars wear face masks, perhaps in response to this absolutely uncalled-for behaviour. Others have put up signs in their village, asking visiting players to avoid sneezing on each other. One has even gone as far as to gate off their islands entrance, barring other players from visiting.

came to my freinds island and this happened #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch #coronavirus #dodocode https://t.co/CggvR0RoK4

Readers should be aware that sneezing is not currently a known symptom of the coronavirus, though it is always best to cough or sneeze into the crook of your arm. It also should be noted that, if you are feeling sick, you should definitely stay home for at least fourteen days. In any case, visiting other Animal Crossing players villages is perfectly safe, seeing as Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a video game and not a vehicle for spreading the coronavirus or any other illnesses. It is, however, a fantastic life simulator that does an incredible job of giving the players a lot to do in a game that is essentially about doing nothing, and is a great way to pass the time if you are currently quarantined or generally practicing social distancing. If youre looking for any other multiplayer games to play during these trying times, check out Tabletop Simulator, an incredible game that bridges the gap of social distancing with a playful physics system and a robust library of board game mods.

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CD Projekt Red Goes Behind The Music Of Cyberpunk 2077 - CGMagazine

10 Cyberpunk Sci-Fi Books Too Twisted To Be Made Into Films – Screen Rant

Fans of the cyberpunk genre, with its dystopian futures, cybernetic implants, and virtual worlds have been treated to a number of winning contributions lately. Altered Carbonhas returned for another season on Netflix, Westworldcontinues to be successful on HBO, and Neal Stephenson'sSnow Crashis set to be developed by Amazon Prime. Early cyberpunk can trace its roots to sci-fiin the '50s, but the true archetypes of the genre saw a meteoric rise in the '80s, with film adaptations of Philip K. Dick's book "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep" intoBlade Runner,and later William Gibson's short story "Johnny Mnemonic" into a film starring Keanu Reeves in the '90s.

RELATED:10 Shows To Watch If You Like Altered Carbon

Even now, as fans look forward to anotherMatrixfilm, from a trilogythattook inspiration from the best cyberpunk stories, there are some tales that may be too "out there" to ever bemade into movies. Some are simply too cerebral, too complex, and too bogged down by techno-babble, while others are too graphically violent and sexual. Here are10 Cyberpunk Sci-Fi Books too twisted to be made into films.

The first of a trilogy by Peter Watts,Starfishfocuses on a deep trench mining facility below the Pacific, which extracts energy from shifting tectonic plates that civilization needs to function in the dystopian world above. Only a certain sort of person can be a part of the Rifter project - the kind that faila psych evaluation.

Readers become acquainted with murderers, psychopaths, andthe like as they become surgically altered with technological enhancements to live on the ocean floor (think The Abyss), and Watts manages to make certain members of their ilk sympathetic. The novel is still difficult to stomach, due to its unfathomably sinister characters in its claustrophobic setting.

In the futuristic world Jeff Somers has created forThe Electric Church,anyone can live forever as long as they're willing to die first. Their consciousness gets transported to cybernetic bodies, where they live as "monks" of the Electric Church, the latest religion to hit the System of Federated Nations.

RELATED:Star Wars: 10 Cool Ways Mythology & Religion Inspired The Franchise

There's something eerie about the eternally serene monks, but they're capable of violence all the same, willing to stop at nothing to protect the leader of the Electric Church. A contract killer named Avery Cates makes a deal with the System Cops to take out the leader or get on the bad side of the law.

At the center ofVurt,the kaleidoscopic cyberpunk novel by Jeff Noon is a psychedelic drug, which when used transports people to an alternate dimension -- another reality, if not another state of mind. Each "vurt" has a corresponding color; blue for entrancing dreams, black for illegal pleasure and pain, and pink for absolute bliss.

RELATED:Psychedelic, Man: 10 Sci-Fi Movies Inspired By Mind-Altering Experiences

When Scribble's sister Desdemona takes a yellow "metavurt," she goes to a place few have ever experienced and becomes trapped at the edges of her own consciousness. Scribble has to seek out a means to bring her back to reality, stay ahead of shadowcops, and remain immune to the siren song of the metavurt himself.

Neal Stephenson's critically acclaimed '90s cyberpunk novelSnow Crashis currently heading to Amazon Prime with a serialized adaptation, which will probably turn out to be the lovechild ofAltered CarbonandStargate.But what about Stephenson's second book, The Diamond Age,which deals with a society taken over by nanotechnology?

The nanotechnology caused the implosion of socio-economic and political infrastructure, to the point where humans cluster in "phyles" of like-minded individuals. A young girl of the "Neo-Victorian" phyle takes up the bulk of the novel, which is 500 pages, and just when a reader thinks they're following her story-within-a-story, there's a swerve towards a Chinese revolution,some violent assault, and a Mouse Army.

In Gareth L Powell's version of reality, the United Kingdom and France joined in the '50s to make Brittany, the setting for a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game featuring a popular macaque - an intelligent monkey WWII dogfighter who is the star. The immersive videogame reality aside, the story is difficult to adapt for several reasons.

While the main protagonist is ex-journalist Victoria Valois, her storyline runs parallel to the heir of Brittany's route as a fugitive for breaking into a research lab in Paris. It takes the entire novel to figure out what the role of the ubiquitous macaque is, and by that time, it resembles the Simpsons' episodeHail to the Chimp.

Somewhere between current reality and Star Trek, Peter Watts setEchopraxia,a novel exploring similar concepts to hisRifterTrilogy -mainly what sort of biological and technological ramifications the world could encounter given current progress in those areas.

In this book, a sequel toBlindsight,the dead can transmit messages from Heaven back to their relatives, there are genetically engineered vampires, and combat veterans that have literal switches to turn off their humanity during wartime. As fascinating as Watts' future world is, its central premise that consciousness is an evolutionary dead-end might turn off film fans.

Rudy Rucker borrowed a bit fromBlade Runnerand a bit fromWestworldto createThe Ware Tetralogy,with the first bookSoftwaresetting up the protagonist, software engineer ("pheezer") Cobb Anderson who was the first person to create robots/androids with real brains. When readers meet him, he's retired in Florida, while his robots ("bops") have flourished.

RELATED:10 Most Terrifying Robots In Sci-Fi Movie History

Eventually, his creations rebel against their human overlords, leaving Earth behind to set up their own colony on the moon. They extend an invite to their creator, offering him not only a place in their lunar society, but the chance at immortality. All they want in return is his body and his soul... and possibly Earth.

Haruki Murakami's mesmerizingHard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the Worldhas been touted as early cyberpunk by fans of the genre, but the complexity of its plot requires only the most determined to commit since it tells two stories over alternating chapters that eventually intertwine at the conclusion.

In the first story, a data processor who can use both hemispheres of his brain simultaneously is recruited by a top-secret federal project to assist a mad scientist, one who has removed all sound from the world. In the second, a man arrives at a mysterious village to have his eyes surgically altered to read the dreams contained in unicorn skulls.

There's something eerie about viewing theHouse of Mouse as exactly the sort of megacorp that would show up in a dystopian future, with the company nearly replacing the federal government. But Cory Doctorow'sDown and out in the Magic Kingdomtakes it a step further by introducing murder and mayhem tothe magical world of Disney.

RELATED:10 Hidden Details You Didnt Know About The Sights (& Smells) In Disney Parks

The protagonist is named Julius, and he thrives in a post-scarcity world where much like in Star Trek, his every need is met, but something is rotten in the Magic Kingdom.While working at Disney World repairing attractions when most of humanity is interested in VR, he falls into the crosshairs of assassins, and has to figure out how to stop dying repeatedly.

Like other authors of cyberpunk, Daniel Suarez began his professional life in software technology and uses it to great effect inDaemon,about a dying programmer who sends out an autonomous "demon" program to unleash a virus (so named after the "mailer daemon" that once bounced back emails).

As the program rampages, it begins to kill people, until finally, it has created its own dark web where its supporters can congregate. These supporters use this shadowy section of cyberspace to coordinate their attacks, resulting in society's complete downfall and the rise of a New World Order.

NEXT:10 Western Books Too Twisted To Be Made Into Films

NextGame of Thrones: 5 Starks Who Got Fitting Endings (5 Who Deserved More)

Kayleena has been raised on Star Wars and Indiana Jones from the crib. A film buff, she has a Western collection of 250+ titles and counting that she's particularly proud of. When she isn't writing for ScreenRant, CBR, or The Gamer, she's working on her fiction novel, lifting weights, going to synthwave concerts, or cosplaying. With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to continue pretending to be Lara Croft as long as she can.

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10 Cyberpunk Sci-Fi Books Too Twisted To Be Made Into Films - Screen Rant

The best series of genre Cyberpunk, Drama and Action Adventure that is Altered Carbon has been released. – Insta Chronicles

The popular Netflix show Altered Carbon season two was released in February 2020. The series has explored a cyberpunk humans society where rich people are immortal. Its been made possible thanks to alien technology. People had loved the primary season and had been talking and speculating various theories about it. This season kept fans expecting two long years, and it had been inevitable that it might draw comparisons and plenty of dissection. Today, we shall dissect ten such things within the second season that made no sense in the least.

Season Two begins 30 years after the epic conclusion of Season One and finds Takeshi Kovacs (Anthony Mackie), the lone surviving soldier of a gaggle of elite interstellar warriors, continuing his centuries-old quest to seek out his lost love Quellcrist Falconer (Rene Elise Goldsberry). After decades of planet-hopping and searching the galaxy, Kovacs is sent back to his home of Harlans World with the duty to find Quell. Haunted by his past and liable for investigating a series of brutal murders, Kovacs is stunned to get his new mission to unravel the crime, and his pursuit of seeking out Quell is one and, therefore, the same. With the help and assistance of the loyal A.I. Poe (Chris Conner), Kovacs will now get associated with new friends and supporters to destroy his enemies and find the truth about who is Quellcrist Falconer?

At the start of season 2, the war has not been won, but probably delayed because the basic causes are still there around. The online television series, Laeta Kalogridis, created it and was supported by the novel of an equivalent title in 2002 by English author Richard K. Morgan. The first season is released on Groundhog Day,2018, with 10 episodes and second season with February 27, 2018, with 8 episodes. The third season was getting to release on Saint Joseph,2020, but as per the sources, its been resleeved. Its one the simplest cyberpunk, drama, and action-adventure.

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The best series of genre Cyberpunk, Drama and Action Adventure that is Altered Carbon has been released. - Insta Chronicles