According to NPD analyst Mat Piscatella, the Nintendo Switch led US hardware charts thanks to record February sales. The Nintendo Switch dominated unit and dollar sales for February while also being besting any platform in the month’s history since February 2009 with the Nintendo Wii. It looks like February is Nintendo’s month to shine based on these figures. New Nintendo Switch owners will have to get on Nintendo Switch Online if they want to play multiplayer with their friends online.

“This is the highest total for a February month since the $468 million reached in February 2011,” said Mat Piscatella. “Year-to-date hardware spending totaled $724 million, an increase of 130% compared to a year ago.” Considering the 130% jump this year, it looks like the Nintendo Switch continues to dominate and February continues to be a great month for the big N.

The Nintendo Switch is the company’s second best-selling platform in US history right behind the Nintendo Wii which took the world by storm when it released way back in 2006. Despite the recent release of Xbox Series X/S and PS5, it looks like Nintendo Switch continues to fly off store shelves as the stores struggle to get the next-gen consoles on store shelves at all. While Nintendo Switch was one of the original consoles impacted by COVID shortages, it looks like Nintendo is back to pumping out the hybrid console.

Are you a new Nintendo Switch fan or are you one of the original owners of the hybrid platform? Let us know in the comments below!

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According to a Twitter user known as Aggiornamenti Lumia, Doom Eternal may be getting part two of its The Ancient Gods DLC next week. This Twitter user suggests that part two will release on March 18th, leaving Doom fans very little time to wait. Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One released last year in October and apparently part two is closer to completion than we thought. Doom Eternal is available right now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, and PC.

“Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two: Release Date March 18th,” said Aggiornamenti Lumia on their official Twitter account. While this Twitter user isn’t linked to a plethora of confirmed leaks like TheGamingRevolution or Wario64, it would be a feather in their cap if the second part of The Ancient Gods does in fact release on March 18th.

Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part One released back in October on PC and consoles and it brought tons of new stuff to Doom Eternal for fans to explore. The DLC included new missions that explored new locations which were filled with new enemies and it’s likely that fans can expect more new stuff with the upcoming second part which is apparently releasing next week.

Are you looking forward to Doom Eternal: The Ancient Gods – Part Two or are you still making your way through the first DLC? Let us know in the comments below!

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Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time released last year for PS4 and Xbox One and now it has a shiny new coat of paint on Xbox One X/S and PS5. While the game looked brilliant already compared to the original trilogy released on the original PlayStation console, it clearly had some room to grow because this new version of the game shines new light on things you might have missed before. The stage select overworld has so many pop-up book aesthetics about it that I easily missed half of the details in each of them that I now notice with the 4K upgrade. This next-gen upgrade isn’t strictly keeping to a visual upgrade as the game runs from one world to another at a buttery smooth 60FPS.

For those gamers who haven’t given the latest Crash Bandicoot game a try on Xbox One or PS4, this title picks up where the original trilogy left off. Neo Cortex, N. Tropy, and Uka Uka escape containment together by bending space and time to create crazy rifts that Crash and Coco must chase them through as you play through one stage after another. Crash and Coco must traverse the multiverse in an effort to collect all of the masks scattered by the villains of It’s About Time. The Quantum Masks bring tons of platforming changes to the table in addition to their important role in the plot. One Quantum Mask will have you bringing invisible platforms into play as you jump from one reality to another, while another Quantum Mask will grant you super strength as you spin like Taz the Tasmanian devil from Loony Tunes.  The Quantum Masks actually make Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time stand above the other Crash sequels, proving why it deserved the direct sequel treatment when it released as opposed to the spin-off sequel treatment that so many other Crash games have been subject to. Players who never checked out the original Crash Bandicoot trilogy on PlayStation can now get a shiny upgrade in the N. Sane Trilogy, leaving platforming fans no excuse not to get into the infamous Sony Bandicoot now that he’s multi-platform.

Frustrating Death Runs Have Never Looked So Pretty

Just like the older Crash titles, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. There are lots of opportunities to get frustrated by this 3D platformer as well, but I was laughing from some of the most inconvenient deaths, the design of several wacky characters, and the story that unfolds between stages. These titles have been funny since the very beginning, with PlayStation taking jabs at Nintendo when they initially released. That’s never been more evident than it is with Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time on Xbox Series X/S and PS5.

Each stage select screen offers a pop-up book themed aesthetic from the Japanese vibes of Tranquility Falls to the pirate swashbuckling of Booty Calls. These give you an idea of what to expect from each stage on the overworld, while the surrounding visuals make the stage select screen feel far more alive than it ever had before It’s About Time. The pop-up book overworld brings the environmental storytelling to the stage select screen in ways that the original trilogy wasn’t able to do. The tentacles that interact with the Pirate overworld in particular play with the pop-up book pieces in fun ways, while Tranquility Falls will show you why you need this Xbox Series X/S and PS5 upgrade if you’re still playing Crash 4 on earlier consoles. With the release of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Crash Bandicoot’s latest installment is coming to the Nintendo Switch and Battle.net as well. The SSD’s of the new Xbox and PlayStation consoles will make getting from one stage to another really quickly while jumping into a level will be seamless.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time did the original Sony mascot justice for modern times and now Crash is going next-gen with this fresh 4K 60FPS upgrade for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. As a life-long Crash Bandicoot fan, it’s amazing to see the old PlayStation mascot go from low polygon to 4K and I’m looking forward to seeing Nintendo’s plumber get the same modernized experience. What’s old is new again and if you’re a Crash fan that missed out on the original release of It’s About Time, this re-release on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 is the perfect excuse to jump in. The beautiful lighting and shadows breathe even more life into this seasoned franchise than the original release, mostly thanks to the improved 60FPS performance. While the lighting and shadows of It’s About Time were already improved from the N. Sane Trilogy, you’ll notice some jagged edges in the original release where you won’t in the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 release.

What’s Old Is New Again…. Again

Knowing Crash, he would’ve snoozed on his own launch date but I’d expect him to be ready to try It’s About Time with this new coat of paint. While the improved performance of Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is noticeable right off the get-go, it doesn’t take long to get occasional frame rate dips when the screen is really cluttered. Considering how rarely this was an issue, I can easily see it being patched but for now, there are small dips from time to time when things get chaotic.

Wumpa Fruit has never looked as delicious as it does in 4K. While the water could stand to look better, everything from the character design to the beautiful attention to detail in the stages and the pop-up book overworld, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time would look like a Pixar movie if not for the button prompts. The storytelling and characters are hilarious, the attention to detail is incredible. PlayStation’s original mascot is no longer a Sony exclusive and now there’s no excuse not to try the renaissance of Crash Bandicoot that is It’s About Time.

***Xbox Series X code provided by publisher***

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The Pokémon Company has officially released a Machamp workout video that will help Nintendo fans motivate themselves to stay active. While Pokémon fans are used to characters like Pikachu leading them through various activities, Machamp is the buffest Pokémon we can think of so this workout video may be exactly what you’re looking for to get you motivated. Pokémon Sword and Shield are available exclusively for Nintendo Switch right now.

The Pokémon Company’s Machamp workout video features three Machamps standing side-by-side doing 45 seconds of stretches, 50 seconds of leg kicks and air punches, and 30 seconds of cool down. While Nintendo fans who play on the Nintendo Switch may already be on the Ring Fit Adventure workout regiment, many Pokémon fans could use the motivation to get up and moving before their day gets started. While you might not have four arms, these Machamp will still help you boost your stamina.

The Pokémon Company is based out of Japan just like Nintendo and morning activities such as stretching before sunrise have been part of the culture for a long time. This has been reflected in games such as Animal Crossing: Population Growing, Tomodachi Life, and now this Machamp workout video. While we’re all gamers, it is important to take some time out of any day to make sure our bodies are active.

Are you working out to this Machamp video or are you still playing Ring Fit Adventure? Let us know in the comments below!

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While the Borderlands 3 Director’s Cut DLC was originally planned to release later this month, Gearbox has officially delayed it into April. The recent horrible winter weather in Texas was blamed for this delay as it was completely unavoidable. The team emphasized that everyone is happy and healthy but that the extreme weather forced this delay. Borderlands 3 is available right now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, Mac, and PC, while the Director’s Cut DLC is releasing on April 8th.

“Work on Director’s Cut was unavoidably disrupted and we’ve ultimately decided to shift the release date to ensure we deliver the best possible experience,” said Gearbox’s recent statement. “We appreciate your understanding, and we’re excited for you to play Director’s Cut when it releases later this month (April 8th).”

The Director’s Cut DLC will bring a plethora of new content to Borderlands 3 including Hemovorous the Invincible which costs 500 Eridium to fight and new campaign content to explore. Ava’s Murder Mysteries will also bring a series of fighting and investigating missions that focuses on different crime scenes. Vault Cards will also offer new cosmetics and gear that scales with a player’s level. These require gamers to complete daily and weekly challenges, and there are over 100 unique challenges to choose from.

Are you bummed that Borderlands 3’s Director’s Cut DLC was delayed due to extreme weather? Which character do you play as in Borderlands 3? Let us know in the comments below!

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V1 Interactive has officially confirmed that less than a year after the lacklustre release of Disintegration, the studio is shutting down. V1 Interactive was founded by Halo co-creator Marcus Lehto, but its first title failed to gain traction with a wide audience and apparently couldn’t keep the studio afloat. The studio has been in operation for five years despite only recently releasing Disintegration, but it won’t be operating for another five years. Disintegration is available right now for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

V1 Interactive recently came out with an official statement to announce the closing of the studio, thanking fans that have followed their progress along the way and developers for working so hard to release a unique shooter. Disintegration released in June last year and it apparently wasn’t able to gain traction among shooter fans, failing to reach more than 600 peak players on PC alone.

“We want to thank all the talented people at V1, both past and present, who helped make the last 5 years wonderful. And a heartfelt thanks to the amazing community that supported us… at V1, our priority has been to the wellbeing of our employees,” said Marcus Lehto. “We’ve been transparent with them about the state of things for months and are making this decision now so they still have ample time to search for new jobs while being supported by our studio.”

Are you surprised that V1 Interactive has folded or were you expecting this after the failed launch of Disintegration? Let us know in the comments below!

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Japanese figure producer MegaHouse Lucrea is currently producing a figure of Makoto Nijima from Persona 5 in her Phantom Thief attire as Queen. Persona 5 continues to bring new fans to the series with the release of Persona 5 Royal, while fans of Queen will be able to get their hands on this detailed new figure for $140 USD later this year. Persona 5 Royal is available right now exclusively for PS4.

Persona started as a Shin Megami Tensei spinoff but since then, it has received a lot of attention through an anime series, a live concert, and even the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighter Pass. Persona 5 Strikers most recently brought the series to Nintendo Switch for the first time, reaching an entirely new group of gamers who have fallen in love with the Phantom Thieves. Thankfully this new Queen figure can be pre-ordered by new and old fans alike, ensuring that all Queen fans can express their enthusiasm by adorning their shelves with this figure.

Currently, MegaHouse Lucrea only plans to release the upcoming Persona 5 Queen figure in Japan, but international fans will surely find ways to get it through importing. The new Makoto figure is 1/7 scale, roughly nine inches tall, and it’s listed as an ABS and PVC painted product. The prototype sculpting of the Queen figure is being done by Inui and the painting is being done by Ekoshi, ensuring the utmost attention to detail.

Will you be getting this Persona 5 figure from MegaHouse’s Lucrea? Which Persona 5 character is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

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Monster Truck fans may not be able to attend their favorite events today, with many arenas sitting there empty collecting dust, but they can emulate their favorite shows along the United States tour through Monster Truck Championship. This new Monster Truck game will take you from the National League, through the Professional League to attain the Major League of Monster Trucks. Motorsport enthusiasts will travel across the US from Minneapolis to Las Vegas and everywhere in between while competing in various events they’ll know and love. While this is the first MTC title from Teyon, I could definitely see a sequel or two in the future as it may be their best title yet.

Each event will reward varying degrees of revenue, with some of it going to your staff and the rest going to your prize pool, but Monster Truck fans will have to get used to the first event, as well as some other events along the way, due to the fact that each event beyond the first has an entry fee. This may feel like a barrier preventing you from going ahead akin to those timers used in mobile games, but revisiting the first event more than once will actually improve your skill at each of the events on offer: racing, drag racing, and freestyle.

Racing is your typical circuit racing, though it may feel clunky to racing fans. One analog stick controls the front tires of your vehicle, while the rear tires are handled by the other analog stick. This makes racing feel as unique as skateboarding felt in the Skate series. Not only do the monster trucks fittingly handle like trucks on ice, but I often found myself being sabotaged by a wall of metal and rubber which often stuck to me, reducing my speed, grounding my jumps, and making handling the vehicle infinitely harder to control. At one point, another monster truck was unrealistically stuck to me for over a minute as I took harsh turns, hopped over jumps, and hit other racers in an effort to shake them. On top of the sticky racers, it also felt like the monster trucks hugged barriers once colliding with them, making comebacks very difficult. When you eventually reach a race that puts you in the front, it becomes extremely noticeable just how much the other racers can sabotage your experience.

MTC Simulates the Feeling of Monster Trucks Brilliantly

Drag racing feels great in Monster Truck Championship beyond two small hiccups regarding the beginning of each race. This event suffers from one of several inaccurate button prompts that I noticed along my playthrough of the National League, telling players to hold the left trigger button when they merely have to tap it. The second issue with this event is the false start issue that I repeatedly encountered when pressing the gas in an effort to hit the proper RPM at various times through the countdown. Unlike the racing event, the drag racing event allows you to race out the gate ahead of time, but it results in a penalty similar to a false start or neutral zone infraction in NFL. Just like the traditional circuit racecourses, the drag races become increasingly more difficult from event to event but each of them includes some sort of jump and a harsh turn.

Freestyle and Destruction events are my favorite game mode of Monster Truck Championship as these are what truly encapsulate the monster truck experience for me. As someone who saw many monster truck shows at the Pacific National Exhibition and a handful of Monster Jam shows, these events are what you go to live shows to see. Each of the freestyle/destruction events present the player with an arena full of obstacles to collide with, jumps to fly over, and small cars to crush. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Goat Simulator fans will feel familiar in this environment as there’s a limited-time to crank out the biggest score you can to beat the competition. You can crush the others with one insane combo multipliers or you can play it a bit safer and bring the points up slowly by going from one section of the arena to another. While we typically expect fans to be in these stadiums to watch the mayhem, under the current world we live in, it’s no surprise to see that detail skimped on a little.

Thanks to COVID, Empty Arena’s Aren’t Shocking to See

Monster Truck Championship offers great simulation with a lot of customization options that will make you want to play through a second time to make different choices along the way. This game is not the Call of Duty or the Battlefield of monster trucks, but it feels like the Sniper Elite or Escape From Tarkov with the attention to the technical aspects rather than a rewarding arcady feel or overwhelming the experience with systems. There are 16 customizable trucks and 25 arenas (one of which being the unforgettable Mt. Crushmore), some of which will be replayed due to entry fees. While the racing takes some getting used to if you’re familiar with games like Need for Speed or Forza Motorsport, it eventually comes naturally thanks to entry-fee-forced practice.

Though other Monster Truck titles in the past have gone bigger with the theatrics familiar to motorsport fans, Monster Truck Championship simulates the experience very well. Considering the polish of this title, I can see it getting the sequel treatment in due time. I would recommend this motorsport game to anyone who likes monster trucks and/or Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. While I’m excited to see the return of live motorsport events. Monster Truck Championship does a great job of putting me in the driver’s seat until then.

***Xbox Series X code provided by developer***

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Valheim is off to a tremendous Steam Early Access success having only released just over a month ago despite carrying Steam sales charts for the month that it released. Developers at Iron Gate continue to improve the Viking survival experience, but developers at Panic Button are interested in bringing it to Nintendo Switch. Valheim is currently available exclusively on PC through Steam early access.

Facepunch Studios released Rust way back in 2013 and that survival title is only now slated to release on Xbox and PlayStation. It would be nice to see Valheim end up on various platforms like Rust sooner rather than later and it seems like the company best known for porting titles from other platforms to Nintendo Switch is particularly interested in bringing the Viking survival title to at least one more platform ASAP.

Panic Button’s Head of Production Dan Hernberg recently said that he’s playing “way too much” Valheim lately and that he would “love to port” the game. Panic Button is the studio that brought graphically intensive titles from other platforms to Nintendo Switch such as Warframe, Doom Eternal, and the recently released Apex Legends. if Hernberg is to be believed, Valheim may be the next big Nintendo Switch port for Panic Button to release.

Would you like to see Valheim on Nintendo Switch or would you prefer to see it on PlayStation and Xbox? Let us know in the comments below!

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Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 5 – Zero Point comes to a close on March 15th and Epic Games has hinted at what fans can expect from the upcoming event. The “Zero Crisis Finale” will focus on Troy Baker’s Agent Jonesy and his efforts to fix reality after Galactus disturbed the Zero Point during the end of the last season. All players will be able to play this solo mission featuring Agent Jones on March 16th. Fortnite is available right now for free on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Android, Mac, and PC.

While Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 4 ended with a big bang as Marvel’s Galactus tore the map asunder, the event did include a small taste of single-player. It looks like Epic Games wants to continue the single-player event experience with the upcoming “Zero Crisis Finale,” though they haven’t teased what this will entail. Agent Jonesy spent most of Chapter 2 Season 5 hunting for the greatest hunters in time and space so it’s likely that the upcoming event will involve some familiar faces.

According to Epic Games, Fortnite fans won’t have to attend “Zero Crisis Finale” live, with the Jonesy mission being available for everyone to experience on March 16th before they drop into the new map. The Jonesy solo mission will apparently automatically start when Fortnite fans first log into Season 6. Fortnite fans can already see the Zero Point and its various portals around the map acting very strangely which is clearly setting up for the event which happens in a matter of days.

Are you looking forward to Fortnite Chapter 2 Season 6 or are you just looking forward to the solo event? Let us know in the comments below!

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Bungie has officially appointed Luke Smith and Mark Noseworthy to oversee the expansion of the Destiny Universe into other forms of media according to a recent announcement. President of Global Consumer Products for ViacomCBS Pamela Kaufman also recently joined Bungie’s Board of Directors, suggesting Destiny will end up on CBS-related media. Destiny 2 is available for free right now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, and PC.

Pamela Kaufman, President of Global Consumer Products for ViacomCBS recently joined Bungie’s Board of Directors alongside Trace Harris, a finance and strategy executive. Kaufman oversees the worldwide licensing and merchandising of ViacomCBS’ portfolio spanning across brands such as Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, Bet, CBS, Showtime, and Paramount Pictures. Considering the fact that Paramount is one of the companies getting the Disney Plus treatment, Destiny may be headed to an upcoming streaming service.

While Pamela Kaufman will be part of the Board of Directors as Bungie finds other forms of media for Destiny to join, Justin Truman will take over the development leadership of Destiny 2. Rumors of a Destiny TV series are swirling after Pamela Kaufman joined the Board of Directors but Bungie has yet to confirm how Destiny will be brought to other forms of media or what that will look like.

Are you looking forward to seeing Destiny in a new light? Let us know in the comments below!

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Activision Blizzard has officially recruited a highly regarded public servant who has a questionable background, Frances F. Townsend.  Townsend began her career as a prosecutor before transitioning into politics with the Bill Clinton and G.W. Bush administrations. Townsend is the new Chief Compliance officer for Activision Blizzard and her role will be focusing on player data and monitoring the constantly changing gaming regulations. Activision Blizzard’s recently released Black Ops: Cold War is available right now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Frances Townsend has a complicated past, with experience under two presidents that differed drastically in policy. While Townsend’s knowledge of the law in multiple countries will be an asset as a Compliance Officer, it may take some time to transition her strong work ethic from politics to gaming. While working under the George W. Bush administration, Townsend was the top White House adviser on counterterrorism and homeland security.

Frances Townsend has tons of experience across a complicated history that included the infamous war on terror in which she raised the national terror threat level and excused torture at the Abu Ghraib prison. “It’s important that we are involved in the conversation as regulations are being considered,” said Frances Townsend. “Often legislators are legislating on things they’re not entirely familiar with, and when they do that, it can have consequences that they didn’t intend.”

Are you interested to see how Frances Townsend does as Activision Blizzard’s Chief Compliance Officer? Let us know in the comments below!

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During the recent Morgan Stanley Technology Media & Telecom Conference, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick discussed future remasters from Rockstar Games. The company plans to continue doing proper remasters in the future rather than simple ports of older titles similar to the recent Mafia remaster as opposed to something like Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection. Mafia: Definitive Edition is available now for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick was quick to remind gamers during the Technology Media & Telecom Conference that Grand Theft Auto V is entering its third generation of consoles with the upcoming remaster coming to Xbox Series X and PS5. Just like other Rockstar Games that are remastered for newer platforms, this means improved technology and visuals, performance enhancements, load improvements, etc.

“I’m not sure there’ll be a bigger part of the strategy,” said Strauss Zelnick. “Remastering has always been a part of the strategy. We’ve done differently than the competition – we don’t just port titles over, we actually take the time to do the very best job we can making the title different for the new release, for the new technology that we’re launching it on.” Zelnick also went on to discuss how GTA V hasn’t remained relevant just by porting the title, with each new version bringing something new to the table and keeping it in the limelight.

During the conference, Strauss Zelnick also confirmed that Rockstar Games has nothing to share at this time in regards to Grand Theft Auto 6. Are you looking forward to more remasters from Rockstar Games? Let us know in the comments below!

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The team behind Torchlight 3, Echtra Games, is officially being acquired by mobile game powerhouse publisher Zynga. Zynga was apparently interested in Echtra Games based on the team’s pedigree in the gaming industry. Echtra Games will immediately be put to work with Zynga’s NaturalMotion on a currently unannounced cross-platform RPG. Torchlight 3 is available right now for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Echtra Games has thus far only released Torchlight 3 but apparently, that was enough to garner the attention of Zynga. The studio is currently being led by Max Schaefer who previously worked on the first two Diablo titles and every Torchlight title to date. The Torchlight series has always felt reminiscent of the Diablo series so it’s fitting that Max Schaefer will be making the transition with Echtra Games with joining Zynga.

“Max and his team at Echtra Games are responsible for some of the most legendary game properties ever created, and they are experts in the action RPG genre and cross-platform development,” said Zynga CEO Frank Gibeau. “This acquisition will be instrumental in growing our iconic licenses and brands from mobile to PCs and consoles while helping to further expand Zynga’s total addressable market.” We aren’t sure what to expect from Echtra Games and NaturalMotion’s upcoming RPG, but with the minds behind Torchlight 3 on board, it’s in good hands.

Are you looking forward to seeing what Echtra Games can do under the Zynga umbrella? Let us know in the comments below!

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Japanese gamers are already familiar with various game-themed cafes such as the Square Enix or Pokemon cafes, but Monster Hunter Rise will be getting a themed cafe. To celebrate the launch of the upcoming Nintendo Switch exclusive Monster Hunter game, Capcom will be converting its cafe into a Monster Hunter-themed cafe towards the end of the month. Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is available exclusively for Nintendo Switch right now, with Rise releasing on March 26th.

Gamers that visit the Capcom Cafe in Saitama, Japan on March 26th will be greeted by an entirely Monster Hunter-themed cafe rather than the traditional blend of various Capcom properties. With travel restrictions in place, it’s likely that only those living in Japan will be able to visit the Aeon Lake Town in Saitama location to see the themed set-up in person. These changes to the Capcom Cafe will run from March 26th until April 22nd.

Alongside Capcom’s announcement of the Monster Hunter Rise Cafe was an image that included NPCs from Monster Hunter Rise. The characters are shown munching on some popular Japanese snacks like rice balls and cakes. The characters are encompassed by various creatures from the Monster Hunter universe, suggesting that themed-food and themed-decorations will both be main staples of the freshly changed Capcom Cafe.

Are you looking forward to seeing what the Monster Hunter Rise Cafe has to offer? What other Capcom franchise deserves the same treatment? Let us know in the comments below!

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Comcast has officially released a report about internet usage during the pandemic, and numbers are obviously up. Traffic has increased 32% since the pandemic began, while 71% of the figure is video streaming alone. Gaming downloads rose by 20-80% over the recent months, showing a notable increase in gaming during the pandemic as well. Online games like Fortnite have been bridging the gap between platforms through crossplay during the pandemic and it’s available for free on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Mac, PC, and Android.

Comcast’s recent report noted that peak traffic increased during the pandemic by 32% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Entertainment dominated the majority of internet traffic as a whole, with 71% of Comcast’s network was video streaming alone. Twitch and other services continue to offer consumers a community to feel a part of during this divisive time. Online gaming and downloads accounted for a mere 10% of the internet traffic in 2020, while Comcast notes that they saw a 20-80% increase in gaming downloads which shows how many more gamers there are today than the beginning of 2020.

Ironically, Comcast invested $15 billion in network improvements between 2017 and 2020 which ensured a spike in internet usage during the global pandemic. While Comcast is the only option in certain areas, the company has also introduced data caps in order to limit internet usage in some homes. While many people are speaking against internet monopolization, it looks like internet usage has been a key aspect of life during a pandemic.

Did your internet usage spike during the pandemic or have you looked to other forms of entertainment and communication during these turbulent times? Let us know in the comments below!

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Twitch streamer MarleyThirteen and 149 of his followers recently dropped in a match of Call of Duty: Warzone with a ceasefire. The players all teamed up to relocate the vehicles scattered around the map to a centralized location, Promenade East, in an effort to explode them all at the same time using cluster strikes. After several failed attempts, the first successful attempt caused the Warzone server to crash. Call of Duty: Warzone is available right now for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.

While it’s no shock to see streamers team up with their followers, it’s rare that they get up to server-crashing shenanigans. Upon exploding every vehicle in Verdansk, the Call of Duty: Warzone server crashed which was likely due to the graphical requirements of rendering every explosion in one location at the same time overwhelming the server.

MarleyThirteen and his followers have been trying to mess with the Call of Duty: Warzone servers in various ways lately from giving one player all of the cash in Verdansk and calling in 100 loadouts to varying degrees of success. While they didn’t find success with these attempts at messing with Warzone’s server, it looks like the centralized car explosion accomplished the mission.

“Could we cause a rift in the servers by blowing up every vehicle on the map at once? Well, you better believe we could,” said MarleyThirteen. Are you surprised that car explosions crashed the Call of Duty: Warzone server? Let us know in the comments below!

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Grand Theft Auto RP servers are among the reason GTA V continues to be such a beast in 2021, but it got too real for a Twitch streamer known as Chance “Sodapoppin” Morris. Sodapopping plays a variety of titles including World of Warcraft and Sea of Thieves, but it looks like GTA RP has become too much like real work for the streamer to continue playing. GTA V is available right now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Sodapoppin recently announced his departure from GTA RP servers and that he would retire his longtime character, Kevin Whipaloo. Apparently working in GTA Online RP servers is becoming a bit too much like working in real life for Sodapoppin’s liking which sparked his departure. Working in GTA RP is starting to cut into the fun he was having in the game, causing him to quit. While there are jobs in RP games, it’s always important that gamers balance work and life as usual.

“It was an actual job. It was brutal. It was ‘manager this, manager that,’ f****n employee this, cop problem that,” said Sodapoppin on a recent stream. “I can think of five scenarios I actually got to do whatever I felt like, and that was going on the alien hunt and the couple of times I got to go to the police station. But the only reason I got to go to the police station was because I told my managers, ‘Hey, handle it. Handle the shop while I’m gone.’”

Are you a GTA RP player or is it too much like real life for you too? Let us know in the comments below!

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Reliable Fortnite leaker HypeX has officially confirmed the ongoing existence of NPCs as Season 5: Zero Point flips over to Season 6 in the middle of the month. NPCs will apparently have new features added to them as the map continues to evolve, with players being able to sell loot to NPCs in exchange for gold bars which could be spent on upgrading weapons, purchasing mythics, etc. Fortnite is available for free right now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Android, Mac, and PC.

While HypeX originally expected the new leaked features to be added to NPCs during Season 5: Zero Point, it looks like the change will be happening next season. The current season of Fortnite comes to a close on March 15th, with an expected event having to live up to the high standards set by the recent Marvel season ending with Galactus trying to destroy the Zero Point at the centre of the map.

Alongside the HypeX Fortnite leak was a money bags icon that is expected to be a new option when talking to Fortnite NPCs. “When you sell an expensive item the NPC is supposed to do the “Make It Rain” emote.. I have no idea if they scrapped this idea or if its gonna have limits though… Also, the prices for selling loot to NPCs are the same prices as weapon upgrades.”

Are you excited for Fortnite: Zero Point to come to a close or will you miss Season 5? Let us know in the comments below!

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The Pokémon Company recently confirmed the upcoming remaster of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl during a Pokémon presents and it has the community divided. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl sparked some controversy with fans who didn’t play the originals but fans from the DS era were familiar with the chibi approach to the graphic design. Pokémon Sword & Shield are available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch right now, while Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are coming later this year.

Pokémon Diamond and Pearl are not being made by Game Freak, but instead, it’s being developed by ILCA, with the original director Junichi Masuda overseeing production. YouTube channel GameXplain quickly produced a side-by-side comparison between the original Pokémon Diamond and Pearl games and Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. This visual comparison showed any doubters of the upcoming remakes that the original art design is carrying forward to the Nintendo Switch rather than ILCA adopting an entirely new style, the Let’s Go style, etc.

While Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl turned off a lot of new fans of Pokémon with its small characters reminiscent of the recent remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, it looks like the team is remaining true to the original design. When shown side-by-side, the footage of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl does a great job of showing the similarities and the differences between new and old.

Are you looking forward to the release of Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl? Let us know in the comments below!

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During a recent Twitch live stream, famous hip hop artist Snoop Dogg was playing a game of Madden 21 when the opposing team earned a questionable touchdown, causing Snoop to ragequit. In a matter of 15 minutes into his stream, Snoop Dogg cussed loudly while fidgeting with his setup before leaving the stream going for several hours while he took a walk. Madden 21 is available right now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, and PC.

Most people who know or have heard of Snoop Dogg know that the gentleman has a calm demeanour about him in most scenarios, but it looks like Madden 21 really grinds his gears. As a streamer, Snoop typically keeps things chill, entitling most of his streams with “Sit Back, Relax, and Chill its a vibe in here,” but it doesn’t seem like he was really vibing that much during the stream where he ragequit Madden 21.

Upon leaving his stream, Snoop Dogg kept it live for seven hours where viewers could watch his chair while listening to some chill soul music in the background. People have been quick to point out the irony in a chill gamer like Snoop becoming enraged, but we all have frustrating gaming moments and one of his is clearly when a play doesn’t go down the way it should have in Madden 21.

Are you surprised that Snoop Dogg ragequit Madden 21? What game has made you ragequit recently? Let us know in the comments below!

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During a recent Twitch stream, popular streamer Symfuhny was chatting with his duo partner in Call of Duty: Warzone when viewers noticed a big slip-up. When discussing going for a hike, Symfuhny said what many interpreted to be the N-word, but several streamers are leaping to his defense because of his speech impediment. Call of Duty: Warzone is available for free right now Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Since being banned from Twitch for blurting out the N-word, Symfuhny issued an apology where he admits what the words he said sounded like and what it seemed like, but he assures all of his fans, family friends, etc. that the N-word has no place in his vocabulary and he knows how harmful and hurtful it is. Popular Twitch streamer xQc was quick to defend Symfuhny as he also struggles with speaking English at times and is known for blurting out words that don’t necessarily make sense in the context they’re being used.

“Even though we heard it, he didn’t say it,” said the well-known streamer Myth. “Symfuhny has the words, behaviour, and patterns of a twelve-year-old child. The kid’s awkward, scrawny, weak, bad at FPS games, and then on top of that, he doesn’t know how to speak proper English… if Symfuhny by rare chance did slip I would be the first person to be having a conversation with Symfuhny about why he cannot use that word.”

Do you think Symfuhny should’ve been banned on Twitch for what he said or do you understand where he’s coming from? Let us know in the comments below!

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While gamers on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S will be aware of the improved load times on the new platforms, it looks like a Grand Theft Auto Online modder has improved the load times by 70% on PC. The modder known as Tostercx found that the normal load sequence for GTA Online runs a new check every time it finds an entry in the 10MB JSON file, resulting in nearly 2 billion checks in the time it takes to load normally. GTA V is available right now for last-gen consoles, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Tostercx’s recent GTA Online mod is more of a proof of concept than anything else and the modder doesn’t recommend the mod for casual use. Gamers on new consoles can expect faster load times, but it looks like even PC players could improve their performance with this mod. With nearly 2 billion checks performed in the current load times for GTA Online, it would be interesting to see how much Rockstar Games could reduce the wait time.

GTA Online fans have been wary of the long load times since the game first released way back in 2013, but it looks like Tostercx’s mod could help inspired Rockstar Games to revisit the wait times moving forward. GTA Online has grown over the years, becoming one of the biggest online experiences to date, but the load times haven’t been reduced much from one generation to another until the Xbox Series X/S and PS5. Considering a modder was able to reduce the load times, it’s likely that Rockstar will eventually find a way to as well.

Will you be trying out this GTA Online mod or are you hoping for Rockstar Games to reduce load times through an official update? Let us know in the comments below!

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Several streamers are upset with the recent launch of Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2, with Dr. Disrespect and NICKMERCS among the voices raging against the machine. Both of these streamers are historically big fans of Warzone despite stream snipers and cheaters, but it looks like the second season has rubbed them the wrong way. Call of Duty: Warzone is available for free right now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Out of the countless content creators complaining about the release of Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2, there seems to be an understanding that the weapons are still improperly balanced. When it launched, the MAC-10 and the DMR were the definitive powerhouse weapons that made or broke a match for you, while today it seems like the Kilo is among the most coveted weapons in the popular battle royale game.

When Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2 first dropped, NICKMERCS’ stream was full of profanity and sarcasm, while TimtheTatman continues to have issues with the perks available in the battle royale. The new season changed up Warzone’s map a little bit, but Dr. Disrespect has gone on record saying that Activision and Treyarch shouldn’t have hyped it up as much as they did considering how it released. Dr. Disrespect also raged about the rooftop ziplines in a recent stream, though these have always been problematic.

Are you digging Call of Duty: Warzone Season 2 or are you with the streamers about its quality? Let us know in the comments below!

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Electronic Arts has officially allocated Criterion Games to help EA DICE on the Battlefield franchise. While the upkeep on Battlefield V has slowed down in recent months, it looks like Criterion Games and EA DICE are working on an upcoming unannounced Battlefield title. EA chief studios officer Laura Miele has confirmed that this Battlefield title is coming this Fall, but we have yet to see it. Battlefield V is available right now for PS4, Xbox One, PC, and through the extensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate lineup through EA Play.

The next Need for Speed and Battlefield games were expected to release by March 2022, but this shift in direction will leave Need for Speed in the dust as Battlefield is prioritized. This shift in focus was sparked by working from home due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, allowing both teams to come together to finish the upcoming Battlefield to presumably ensure quality.

Criterion Games only took over the development of the Need for Speed franchise in 2020 after a few lacklustre releases from Ghost Games. Upon the completion of the upcoming Battlefield title, it’s expected that Criterion will return to Need for Speed in order to still reach a 2022 release. Electronic Arts has been doing a broader restructure on top of the shift in focus towards Battlefield, with multiple plans being abandoned. Support for Anthem was canceled, while Dragon Age’s multiplayer components have apparently been axed as well.

Are you glad that EA is supporting the upcoming Battlefield so much? What do you expect from the next Need for Speed? Let us know in the comments below!

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