The Last of Us show runner Craig Mazin has plenty of announcements to make about the upcoming second season, and one of it includes the casting of the character Abigail “Abby” Anderson.

Abby is an important character in the games and will potentially receive a lot of screen time should she make her debut in The Last of Us season two. In the games, Abby is a playable dual protagonist and is a member of the Fireflies broken by tragedy. She makes it her mission to avenge her father’s death and along the way, rediscovers purpose in her life.

Casting Abby is a big deal for fans and according to Mazin, it’s a big deal for him too.

In an interview with THR, the showrunner teased that they may have found their Abby.

“Maybe,” Mazin said with a laugh when asked if he knows who will play Abby in the series. “Look, Abby was the first role that we wanted to tackle. We’ve got a pretty good track record of making major cast announcements and people going, ‘Really?’ which will probably continue. So people may disagree, but I think we got it right so far and the audience seems to feel we got it right and the Academy seems to feel we got it right.”

Given the ongoing strikes, Mazin can’t make any major announcements, but the showrunner asserts that things were going smoothly before plans were put on pause.

The Last of Us has garnered huge critical acclaim, with lead actors Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey earning Emmy nominations for their performances as Joel and Ellie. The cast is expected to grow with the upcoming season, but production can only take place once the strikes end.

“The strike stopped us in our tracks. Things were in process,” said Mazin.

While we wait, we do know that season two will adapt at least part of 2020’s The Last of Us Part II as lead star Pascal preps for the worst.

A'bidah Zaid

Don’t judge a book by its cover, for behind all this makeup, is a geek just like you. To simply put it, superheroes, Star Wars, Harry Potter and all things gore and creepy makes this girly girl swoon.

The post HBO ‘The Last of Us’ Season 2 Might Have Found Its Abby appeared first on Geek Culture.

With the Assassin’s Creed franchise going back to its roots with the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Mirage, which arrives a week earlier than initially planned on 5 October, there is perhaps no better time to celebrate the franchise. At the heart of the new adventure is the street thief, Isu reincarnate, and Hidden One known as Basim, and you can invite the assassin into your home with the new PureArts Animus Basim 1/4 statue.

Appearing as a stranger from the Holy Land in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and returning as the playable main character in Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the PureArts Animus Basim 1/4 Scale Statue captures Basim in 9^th Century Baghdad. Basim crouches in a classic assassin’s landing in front of a hyper-detailed golden-age Islamic architecture base complete with Muqarnas and a dome made of colourful tiles. LEDs throughout the statue light up PureArts’ signature Animus effect.

The PureArts Animus Basim 1/4 Scale Statue comes with two interchangeable base tops, allowing you to choose the height of your statue. The PureArts Exclusive Edition, limited to only 250 units and available only on the official website, includes a metal wearable replica of Basim’s ring.

The key details are as follows:

• MSRP: US$899.00
• Hyperdetailed sculpt with stunning clothing textures and details
• LED Animus Effect
• Two interchangeable base tops
• Exclusive Item: Wearable metal replica

Be sure to make some room to display this exciting new PureArts piece, as the Animus Basim 1/4 Scale Statue has dimensions of 43 by 34 by 78cm, and weighs in at a considerable 10kg. Fans who pre-order the piece can expect to bolster their collection in the first quarter of 2024.

In addition to Basim, there are also many other Assassin’s Creed statues produced by PureArts, including one for Connor Kenway, Bayek, Kassandra, Eivor, Edward Kenway, Ezio Auditore, Altair, and even a diorama featuring the latter two.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Prepare For ‘Assassin’s Creed Mirage’ With PureArts’ 1/4 Scale Animus Basim Statue appeared first on Geek Culture.

Metal fans will be excited to know that Wargaming has teamed up with iconic metal band Megadeth to roll out a music in-game event, dubbed Metal Fest. The latest collaboration brings the thunderous power of metal to all four of its games: World of Tanks Modern Armor, World of Tanks Blitz, World of Warships, and World of Warships Legends.

Kicking off on 28 August, the Metal Fest will feature an exclusive voicer over by Dave Mustaine, the frontman of Megadeth, James Lomenzo, Dirk Verbeuren, Kiko Loureiro, and an array of Megadeth-branded in-game items such as tanks and warships, in-game missions and quests, integrated songs and more.

“This is the first time our images have been immortalized in video games! Moreover, our mascot has unleashed its own roaring voice, adding even more metal mayhem to the games. We’ve laid down over 350 mind-melting voice lines, and players will feel the thunder as we command during the battles. We have tanks, we have warships, and we are ready for Wargaming Metal Fest!”

Dave Mustaine, the frontman of Megadeth.

More details of the collaboration and their respective durations across Wargaming’s titles are as follows:

World of Tanks Modern Armor

29 August – 25 September 2023

By completing Challenges, players will unlock various Megadeth-themed rewards. Two new tanks inspired by the albums “Peace Sells…but Who’s Buying?” and “The Sick, The Dying… and the Dead!” will make their debut in the Store. Vic Rattlehead will appear as an exclusive 3D Commander, while Dave Mustaine, James Lomenzo, Dirk Verbeuren, and Kiko Loureiro will be added as 2D Commanders, all with their own unique voiceovers. Tankers will enjoy two Megadeth songs (“Soldier On!” and “Peace Sells”) in the garage if they own the Megadeth tanks, fueling the adrenaline of the battles with pure rock power.

World of Tanks Blitz

29 August – 3 September 2023

World of Tanks Blitz players can join in the action with a dedicated Megadeth quest, offering exclusive prizes such as static and animated camos inspired by various Megadeth album covers, a unique tank skin inspired by “Peace Sells…but Who’s Buying?” album for the Chieftain Mk. 6, avatars and collectible items. An exact replica of Dave Mustaine’s guitar will create a special atmosphere in the hangar, as players dive into the thrilling metal-infused battles.

World of Warships PC

28 August- 13 September 2023

World of Warships players will be engaged in special missions to obtain exclusive captains. Dave Mustaine will be immortalized as a ship commander with his original voiceover. Vic Rattlehead will also join the fray, issuing orders with a menacing voice. As a final reward, a powerful “Death Ray Patch” will be granted, marking the conquerors of the seas with true metal prestige.

Additionally, two special bundles will also be available for ship commanders. Players who obtained “Megadeth: Set the Seas Afire” Bundle will also get a ferocious “Rattlehead” cruiser ship inspired by the “Rust in Peace” album cover as a bonus. When playing this ship, you will hear the famous “Tornado of Souls” song from the same album, making battles even more intense.

World of Warships Legends

28 August – 2 October 2023

In World of Warships Legends, players will be rewarded with the “Rattlehead” cruiser. While using it, the captains can also embrace both Dave and Vic guises as their rewards. Moreover, players can also get a themed patch and flag featuring the band’s logo and Vic’s head, displaying their loyalty to the metal legends.

Destro

When it comes to providing the right hardware at the right price, Destro is the man of the hour. Just don’t count of him keeping his deals exclusive to just one party. If you have coin, Destro has the wares.

The post Megadeth Unleashes Metal Fury At Wargaming Metal Fest appeared first on Geek Culture.

In a market full of fellow Metroidvania games, it can be hard to stand out and catch the attention of a well-served audience. However, Team17 and The Game Kitchen definitely did that with 2019’s Blasphemous, with its bloody and gruesome religious iconography making a deep impression. With Blasphemous 2, the Penitent One is back, and refines some of the sinful edges for a more complete experience.

Picking up where things left off from the first game and the Wounds of Eventide DLC, it is not exactly necessary for players to have played the first game to enjoy this sequel. That is because the storytelling in Blasphemous 2 remains cryptic as ever, with convoluted dialogue and writing meant to transport would-be adventurers to a strange new land outside of Cvstodia.

All you need to know is the return of The Miracle and the birth of a new miracle child is upon us, and judging from previous encounters, that is never good news. The endless cycle of life, death, and resurrection continues, and with the Penitent One, it is time to choose your penance.

Thankfully, it is the gameplay of Blasphemous 2 that will keep everyone coming back for more, with combat and exploration being the core pillars of this adventure. Naturally, the genre’s staple offering of sprawling areas to explore and secrets to find is here to be found, with plenty of eerie and foreboding environments awaiting players to step foot into. 

The Gothic motif remains strong throughout, as enemies, environmental hazards, and the generally otherworldly atmosphere combine effectively to heighten the senses. How players want to tackle the starting portions of this Metroidvania is entirely up to them, as no place is really safe when it comes to the monsters that stand in the way.

It is certainly a pleasure to see how the developers have built on the original and ensured that no biome essentially feels the same. Creatures of all manner roam the lands, each bringing a unique threat to the table while the locations themselves are treats for the eyes, all the while amping up the religious terror that undeniably builds up in the dark corner.

Secrets and precious items are often tantalisingly out of reach, reminding players of the need to return once they have obtained more skills in which to gain mastery over the various platforming obstacles in Blasphemous 2. 

From summoning platforms with the help of ringing bells to learning how to double jump and air dash, there is always an incentive to revisit previously explored areas with new skills in tow to seek out new discoveries. The timed sections are perhaps the highlight, forcing players to switch between tools quickly in order to overcome the puzzle successfully, and are excellent examples of breaking up the monotony that tends to crop up for such games.

Of course, being able to explore freely is contingent on clearing areas of enemies, and that’s where Blasphemous 2’s blend of challenging and varied foes comes into play. There are hordes of monstrous enemies that populate each area, and learning the ins and outs of each opponent is the only way to survive. 

With both ranged and melee-type enemies to look out for, players will have to take into account spacing, making it possible for precise parries and dodges to avoid damage and counterattack. The former retains the satisfying element of time slowing down for a window of bloody retaliation, while the latter provides players with a boost of speed to escape precarious situations. Every once in a while, stunning the enemy allows for brutal executions to be carried out, further rewarding players for their combat mastery. 

The Penitent One can also call on powerful Prayers to even the odds, spells that utilise Fervour which can be gained from being aggressive against your foes. This will be familiar to veterans coming back for the sequel, but there is a marked improvement in the speed at which these spells are executed, making them much more useful against more relentless foes. It never gets old blasting fools with a faceful of lightning or poisonous miasma should they get too close.

And just when you think you have it all figured out, Blasphemous 2 throws its roster of great boss fights into the mix, bouts that demand players’ full attention when it comes to all things related to combat. Various fresh mechanics emerge for many of the boss battles, and beyond the dodging and parrying, the added surprises are a delight to partake in, even if it means a gruesome death during the initial learning phases. 

There are straight-up clashes of weaponry, battles that weave in platforming, and magical duels that prioritise timing and spacing. Overall, there was always something distinctive about each boss fight that made them feel like a proper test of your mettle, tough opponents that up the ante without being unfair. It also helps that each of them continues the series’ commitment to creep the player out with their designs and lessen the inevitable frustration that arises from constant retries.

To help players be more competent, Blasphemous 2 features three unique weapons to wield. After making the initial choice, the other two have to be found in the world to add to the arsenal. The balanced sword does a great job for both power and speed; the giant flail-like weapon is all about overwhelming power, while the twin blades are all about speed over everything else. 

In addition to their usefulness in solving environmental puzzles, valuable points accrued from vanquishing foes can be used to upgrade their effectiveness even further. Unlocking new skills and combos can make all the difference when fighting the denizens of this land, and the customisation options offer a good degree of depth for those willing to invest the time and effort. Combine them with the right Prayers, and you can become a true killing machine set to save the world from even more sin.

Blasphemous 2 goes one step further in terms of customisation with the new Altarpieces mechanic, where players can boost their abilities in combat using differing combinations of carved statues. These can be bought at merchants, found in the wild, or come as rewards for completing quests. Together with the Rosary Beads, which offer other stat buffs and perks, there is plenty of help for those worried about the challenges ahead.

The presence of a large cast of NPCs can help flesh out the world even more, that is, if you choose to engage with them via quests shrouded in mysteries. Locating key items is only the first step; figuring out who requires them is the more difficult part. From fetching items to locating hidden, veiled figures needing saving, these distractions never veer too far from the core tenets of the game, and it is most certainly worthwhile to do your part whenever you can to benefit. After all, everyone can always use more healing vials whose potency can be further enhanced. 

It is clear to see that Blasphemous 2 is an excellent sequel which addresses many of the issues that plagued the debut game. The combat retains its tactical and methodical nature but amps it up with improved mechanics and the breadth of customisation available to players. Similarly, exploration is even more enjoyable this time around, with environmental puzzles doing their part. Combine all of that with the stunning pixel art visuals, and you have a great time ahead of you, even if the storytelling can be a tad ostentatious.

Blasphemous 2 launches on 24 August.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Geek Review: Blasphemous 2 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Call of Duty enthusiasts are buzzing with excitement as evidence from an official phone line, established by Infinity Ward and Activision, suggests that Modern Warfare 3 will feature Zombies mode and reintroduce iconic maps from Modern Warfare 2, such as Terminal, Afghan, Highrise, and Rust.

Previously, Infinity Ward had concentrated on the Spec Ops mode for PvE, with zombies being exclusive to Treyarch’s Black Ops series. However, as distinctions between Call of Duty sub-brands blur, fans expect a Zombies mode that leans into traditional round-based gameplay.

When fans messaged the phone number (highlighted during the Modern Warfare 3 reveal trailer) with names of original Modern Warfare 2 maps, the number responded with respective map icons. Map names from other Call of Duty games received either no response or an ‘End Transmission’ message. Texting “zombies” yielded a link to an audio file with zombie sounds, reinforcing the notion of the mode’s inclusion.

YouTuber MrDalekJD further fueled speculation by showcasing a zombie emoji reply upon messaging the term “zombies” to the said number. This development is significant as Modern Warfare 3 will be the first in the series to adopt zombies.

As anticipation builds, fans are especially keen to see how Zombies mode will be integrated into Modern Warfare 3, with hopes high for a return to the classic round-based zombies gameplay giving us a good chew on nostalgia.

Modern Warfare 3 is also set to reintroduce other beloved features, including Call of Duty’s classic minimap and slide cancelling, along with the return of the notorious antagonist, Makarov.

With an in-Warzone reveal event slated for Thursday, 17 August 2023, further confirmations on these details are eagerly anticipated. The game itself is set for release on 10 November 2023, marking a date that fans are sure to have circled on their calendars.

Natalie

Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing Genshin Impact, cosplaying, or daydreaming of Henry Cavill.

The post Zombies And Classic MW2 Maps Invade ‘Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3’ appeared first on Geek Culture.

When it comes to gaming on the go, the mobile phone market has seen serious competition from the more traditional players in the industry. The Nintendo Switch has long been the leader in hybrid gaming, the Steam Deck has its community of invested players as well, and new upstart ROG Ally is steadily progressing. Now, a new competitor is stepping into the fray, with leaked images of the Lenovo Legion Go pointing to a largely familiar form factor.

As shared by Windows Report, the PC gaming handheld looks an awfully lot like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck had a baby, and it is a heavyweight one. The detachable controllers take obvious inspiration, with the kickstand going the same route as well. The eight-inch screen will likely produce nice, crisp images while playing games too.

On the right controller appears to be a touchpad, together with a hidden wheel. What purpose that will serve is a question for another time, and with the detachable controllers, it is likely the Lenovo Legion Go will have a touchscreen.

The larger footprint of the device could do wonders for its battery life compared to the competition, but that will ultimately come down to the software that it can support. Those air vents on the back will also go a long way in keeping the device cool for those long gaming marathons.

According to the report, the Lenovo Legion Go will run Windows 11, which could mean that all of your games playable on the OS can be brought out on the go as well.

At first glance, it seems like this new device is making sure not to repeat the mistakes of others, which can only be a good thing. How it will perform will be the barometer of success, and hopefully, Lenovo will have more to say in the coming weeks.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Nintendo Switch As A PC? Lenovo Legion Go Handheld Answers The Call appeared first on Geek Culture.

Revealed back in June of 2022, the sci-fi shooter known as HYENAS was revealed to the world, teasing a colourful venture of stealing priceless pop culture loot in space. Now, Sega and Creative Assembly are getting ready to share more, starting with the first-ever gameplay trailer for HYENAS.

The hero-based multiplayer extraction shooter is more than just about getting out alive; it pits five teams of three against each other, all while being pestered by AI security teams known as the MURFS. Get on board those vibrant and expansive Plunderships, grab the loot, and then get out.

There are firefights happening while floating in zero gravity, foam guns are used generously, and the action will come thick and fast. The various characters will have unique weaponry as well, together with abilities that can turn the tide. Whether that will be a fun experience when players get their hands on it remains to be seen, but so far, everything looks good for the multiplayer shooter.

To truly understand what’s going on and whether it is a good fit when it comes to gameplay, HYENAS will be holding another closed beta in the coming months, with those interested free to register their interest. Those heading up to Cologne, Germany, for Gamescom 2023 can also get down to the Sega booth to get some hands-on time.

No release date has been set yet for the shooter, but it is likely to be a 2023 release.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Howl In Zero-G As Hero-Based Multiplayer Shooter ‘HYENAS’ Drops Gameplay Trailer appeared first on Geek Culture.

Get ready to unleash your inner geek when Singapore Comic Con (SGCC) returns this December!

From 9 to 10 December 2023, SGCC turns the Sands Expo and Convention Center into a geeky playground for fans of comics, games, anime, cosplay and more. Spanning across five halls (level 1 and basement 2), fans can look forward to a lineup of incredible guests, exciting exhibitors, exclusive merchandise and captivating programming fit for geeks of any age.

SGCC will be bringing guests from across the globe to this island-city we call home and will see exciting performances brought to the Main Stage including an orchestra, cosplay competition and a certain blue dog (psst.. we think it’s Bluey!).

Some popular exhibitors guests can look forward to include MightyJaxx, Bandai, Infinity Studio, Gamersaurus Rex and more. Table-top gaming makes a comeback too and invites veteran card slingers and noobs alike to take part in Dungeons & Dragons adventures, miniature painting and tournaments.

Meanwhile, aspiring creators can gain more inspiration at the W.I.P Programme Gallery where talks will be held by industry professionals.

Tickets this year start from S$35 and can be purchased from Klook starting 18 August, 12pm SGT. Frank by OCBC card members can purchase early access tickets from today and enjoy 10% off ticket price when they use the code FRANK10OFFEA for early access or FRANK10OFF for all the ticket bundles. Kids under 12 enter free. Each paying adult can be accompanied by a maximum of 2 children under 12.

All tickets purchased before 31 August are automatically entered into the SGCC 2023 lucky draw where you can stand a chance to win prizes from LEGO x The Brick Shop, Simply Toys, Sabermach, Advance Approach and OSIM.

The full list of prizes include:

For more, check out Singapore Comic Con 2023’s official website.

A'bidah Zaid

Don’t judge a book by its cover, for behind all this makeup, is a geek just like you. To simply put it, superheroes, Star Wars, Harry Potter and all things gore and creepy makes this girly girl swoon.

The post Singapore Comic Con 2023 (SGCC) Returns In December, Tickets From S$35 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Just mere months after opening up the vast region of Sumeru, the world of Genshin Impact is set to welcome yet another new setting – and underwater, to boot. But Fontaine isn’t the only thing to look forward to in the 4.0 patch, with the highly-anticipated Lyney making his debut as the region’s first limited 5-star playable character.

First revealed in 2020 alongside his sister Lynette in Genshin Impact’s Tevyat Chapter Storyline Preview: Travail, players have waited three long years to finally obtain the charming magician as a playable character.

The fanbase has been beyond excited with the release of his official demo and trailer, even with aggressive comments on his design from a small fraction of the Korean fandom. These comments on Twitter show just how hyped the fanbase has been for his arrival, further heightened with Genshin Impact’s callback to his original preview on Travail.

As the Pyro character unveils the tricks in his hat to entice players to spend all their primogems on him, here’s our ultimate guide to building Lyney. 

Ultimate Guide to Building Lyney

Lyney is a Pyro Bow character mainly scaling off attack (ATK), relying on Charged Attacks (CA) to maximise his damage potential. He benefits and strengthens a team that comprises mainly Pyro characters (mono-Pyro), with his ideal role as an on-field DPS character. More about his rotations further down the guide – first, a look at his talents.

Talent Breakdown

Aside from his magically designed normal attack (NA) animations, his NA and plunging attacks are similar to other bow users. But, his charged attack comes with a special quirk: different effects occur based on the time spent on charging the shot in aim mode. Level 1 is a normal Pyro-charged attack, while Level 2 fires a Prop Arrow dealing Pyro damage, and summoning a Grin-Malkin Hat on hit.

Prop Arrow

• Above 60% HP:
  • Consumes 20% of his max HP for 1 Prop Surplus stack (up to 5 stacks). 
  • After 30 seconds out of combat, this effect is removed. 
  • Lyney’s HP cannot drop beyond 60% of his max HP.

Every 6 seconds, Prop Arrow drops a Spiritbreath Thorn (49.6% damage at Skill Level 10), dealing Pneuma-aligned Pyro damage.

Pneuma is a new mechanic for Fontaine characters that is used to unlock Ousia-affiliated puzzles in Fontaine.

Grin-Malkin Hat

Grin-Malkin Hat inherits a portion of Lyney’s max HP and taunts nearby opponents. Only 1 Hat can be on-field.

When destroyed or its duration expires, it fires a Pyrotechnic Strike (381.6% damage at Skill Level 10) at 1 nearby opponent, dealing Pyro damage.

Skill (E): Bewildering Lights

With a 15-second cooldown, Bewildering Lights allows Lyney to clear all existing Prop Surplus stacks and deals area-of-effect (AoE) Pyro damage to opponents in front of him. It regenerates Lyney’s HP based on his max HP (20% per stack at SL10), with any Grin-Malkin Hat on-field exploding and dealing AoE Pyro damage. The damage is equal to a Pyrotechnic Strike, and is considered Charged Attack damage.

Elemental Burst (Q) — Wondrous Trick: Miracle Parade

Lyney turns into his cute Grim-Malkin Cat (not Hat!) that scampers around fast! It has a 15 second cooldown, and deals one instance of Pyro damage to each opponent when close to enemies. After 3 seconds, Lyney dismisses this state and ignites Explosive Fireworks (deals AoE Pyro damage, 745.2% damage at SL10), summons 1 Grin-Malkin Hat, and gains 1 Prop Surplus stack. This cat can be actively cancelled.

With the majority of his damage stemming from charged attacks, it is recommended to give priority to his Normal Attack talent level as his charged attacks scale from this talent. His Skill and Ultimate, meanwhile, can be levelled according to your needs – if you want his Ultimate to charge faster, focus on his Ultimate talent; if not, focus on levelling his Skill talent.

Passives

Constellation Overview

Ascension and Talent Materials

With a new region comes more farming for all the new specialities and talent books. For Lyney, his new local speciality ascension material is the Rainbow Rose, found mainly in the Beryl Region. It can also be found outside the Court of Fontaine, around Marcotte Station, and near the Fountain of Lucine.

The flower map pins contain the rough location of the Rainbow Roses.

His required boss material is the Emperor’s Resolution, dropped by the new boss Emperor of Fire and Iron. Players will have to dive underwater to locate the boss, just outside of the Belleau Region.

For his talent upgrades, he requires the Equity talent books, obtainable every Monday, Thursday and Sunday in Fontaine’s talent book domain Rhyming Rhythm. Players will have to dive underwater and locate the domain near Salacia Plains.

Below is a brief breakdown of the other materials required.

Best Weapons

The best 5-star but premium choice will be his best-in-slot (BiS) 5-star bow, The First Great Magic. Tailor-made for his kit, it gives CRIT DMG%, increases CA damage and ATK% with every Pyro unit in the team. As discussed above, these stats directly increase his damage-dealing prowess and works well with his passives.

Other premium 5-star bow choices include Aqua Simulacra, Thundering Pulse, and Skyward Harp. Their passives don’t work well with his kit, but the CRIT DMG% secondary stat of these 5-star bows is too hard to ignore.

The best 4-star weapon choice will be Song of Stillness, forgeable when Fontaine is released. Its secondary stat ATK% works well with him, and its passive allows for a sizable damage increase (16% at weapon refinement 1) when Lyney is healed. Since Lyney needs a healer to maximise his Prop Surplus damage, this bow works best amongst all 4-star weapons.

The next best 4-star weapon is Prototype Crescent, another forgeable bow. Its secondary stat is also ATK%, but players need to hit an enemy’s weak point with CAs to make full use of the bow’s passive.

Best Artifact Sets And Substats

4-piece Marechausse Hunter

Fontaine’s new artifact set available in Fontaine’s new artifact domain, Denouement of Sin. The 2-piece bonus increases his CA damage by 15 percent, while the 4-piece bonus increases his CRIT Rate by 12 percent for 5 seconds (up to 3 stacks) when his HP increases or decreases.

As Lyney will mainly be using CAs and needs a healer for his fullest damage potential, this artifact set further stretches that damage window.

4-piece Vermillion Hereafter

This set requires players to constantly start with Lyney’s burst when he is on field, and use his CAs, to fully utilise this artifact set. Its 2-piece bonus helps in increasing his ATK%. The 4-piece bonus only increases ATK by 16 percent after using an Elemental Burst, with an additional 10 percent ATK when he loses HP (up to 4 stacks).

2-piece Marechausse Hunter / 2-piece Crimson Witch of Flames / 2-piece ATK+18% sets

2-piece Crimson Witch of Flames increases Lyney’s Pyro damage bonus, and the other artifacts will contribute to his CA and damage output.

Substats

As Lyney scales off ATK%, players should aim to get an ATK% Sands, Pyro damage Goblet and CRIT DMG or CRIT Rate Circlet.

As for substats, players should prioritise CRIT Rate or CRIT DMG, followed by ATK%, then Flat ATK. ER% (Energy Recharge) will be a good additional substat if you need to continually use his Elemental Burst.

Recommended Playstyle

The ideal rotation for Lyney will be 3 to 4 CAs, followed by his Elemental Burst, but cancelled early by Elemental Skill, before swapping to another character. His Elemental Burst does not give as much damage as his Elemental Skill or CAs.

However, if Lyney is using the 4-piece Vermillion Hereafter set, his ideal rotation will be to use his Elemental Burst first, cancel it early with his Elemental Skill, followed by 3-4 CAs, before swapping to another character.

Recommended Team Compositions

Lyney best runs on a mono-Pyro team with a healer, an offensive character that increases his damage output, and a shielder that allows his CAs to remain uninterrupted by enemy attacks.

Hence, his best teammate is Bennett, who provides healing and an ATK% boost with his Elemental Burst while being a Pyro character. With the healing required by Lyney, it is best for Bennett to run HP% artifacts to increase his healing output. The quick cooldown of Bennett’s Elemental Skill also helps with ER to upkeep the Elemental Bursts of characters in the team. 

Lyney’s options for shielders include Zhongli and C4 Yanfei. Zhongli provides a 20 percent Elemental Resistance (RES) decrease in enemies, and his shield is able to hold up for the 15-second cooldown of Lyney’s Elemental Burst and Elemental Skill. Meanwhile, C4 Yanfei provides a shield after using her Elemental Burst and is able to contribute to Lyney’s output by being a Pyro character. 

For offensive support characters, it is recommended to use Anemo crowd-control characters equipped with the 4-piece Viridescent Venerer artifact set, such as Kazuha, Venti or Sucrose, to optimise the AoE of Lyney’s CAs. Kazuha is an especially powerful option, given that his kit will increase Lyney’s personal damage. 4-piece Viridescent Venerer will decrease the RES of opponents to the element infused in Swirl.

The Genshin Impact fanbase has long awaited Lyney since he first started charming the hearts of players in 2020. Built as a strong on-field DPS, players who obtain him can further upgrade the damage of their teams and find more play styles that enrich their gameplay experience.

Sprinkled with a touch of Lyney’s magic, the gorgeous look on his animations and skills demonstrates the game’s improvement with each new patch.

For Lyney to magically appear in the accounts of players worldwide, the primogems of players will also have to magically disappear into Fontaine’s first character banner, just like the card magic by the sleight of his hands in his character demo. The character is now available in-game, with Zhongli and Childe returning for Phase 2 of Version 4.0’s limited character banner.

Kaylyn Lim

Kaylyn is usually geeking out over gacha games or the latest updates in a manga, and can talk all day about them. She’s also an avid collector, and really needs more space to store her game merchandise, utaite CDs and manga books.

The post ‘Genshin Impact’ Lyney Guide: Best Build, Weapons, Artifacts, Materials appeared first on Geek Culture.

Thirty years after it made its football debut, EA Sports FC is set to launch its first game to millions of football fans around the world.

The name might be different, but make no mistake, EA Sports FC 24 is very much the next instalment in the iconic FIFA football game series from publisher EA, except that with the end of the licensing agreement, the 30-year-old video game franchise now has a new name.

Otherwise, everything that fans know and love about the popular football game that lets players create their own teams with well-known footballers, remains the same, including the retention of licences of more than 19,000 players across over 700 teams, now playing in over 100 stadiums over 30 football leagues. 

And this new chapter in the series has been several years coming, says Sam Rivera, Senior Producer of EA Sports FC 24 from Sydney, Australia, where throngs of football-mad media and content creators, including Geek Culture, are gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art to learn more of the future of video game football.

“This is a very big year that we’ve been planning for multiple years,” teased Rivera.The location is fitting as, at the moment, both Australia and New Zealand are currently co-hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but instead of being out at the stadiums, all eyes are towards a new coming of the biggest football video game franchise, with EA Sports unveiling more details about EA Sports FC 24 and EA Sports FC Mobile.

EA Sports FC 24

With millions of players jumping into the annualised franchise for some virtual footy every single week, a name change doesn’t seem to have any impact on player expectations, which means that EA Sports can either take things easy or launch a new chapter with more offerings for fans. 

“We started 30 years ago; however, why I’m saying that this year is very special is because we’re adding those three pieces of technology with volumetric capture, and then PlayStyles informed by Opta, which is another piece we’re very proud of, and the enhanced Frostbite engine altogether, makes a better game,” said Rivera. 

“This is not something that happens every year,”

Rather than feel down and disappointed at losing what is ostensibly the biggest name in the sport, this fresh start means that EA Sports FC can forge new partnerships with more freedom, including with brands like Nike, without crossing swords with the international football governing body. The commitment of the different leagues around the world is already in place, making sure players don’t just get to see the likes of the Premier League and La Liga superstars in action, but also all the accompanying tactical setups of the various coaches and managers.

While complaints about the minimal changes between each yearly entry are well-founded, the team is keen to continue iterating for marginal gains, just like at the highest levels of the sport. 

The implementation of PlayStyles, the X-factor that separates the elite from the rest of the pack, in EA Sports FC 24 is one such move. In total, 34 unique PlayStyles will be part of the meta when the game launches, and trying to nail them down has required plenty of hard work that will likely pay off when fans get their hands on their favourite teams.

“It’s literally a lot of discussion between the production team, the design team, the engineering team, and trying to analyse the pro players, what mechanics they’re using, what’s important for the game. There are a lot of discussions around what’s important that we don’t really have in terms of attributes, and then we basically expand on those we see; that’s how we came up with the five different categories with defending, goalkeeper, passing, shooting, and ball control,” shared Rivera.

There is no doubt worries about potential balancing issues, but the producer was quick to reassure us that while automation is part of the process in determining PlayStyles for players, the feedback of the community will be important as well, making sure features like this are “noticeable and usable, but not overpowered.” 

Expect to see plenty of tuning in time to come after the launch on 29 September, but the base enjoyment remains. The game is still the best option for many players out there, and EA Sports’ dominance on this front is all but assured, judging from the cries of joy and anguish at the event.

EA Sports FC Mobile

As for the mobile cousin of the mainline game set to launch on 26 September, EA Sports FC Mobile will cater to another group of players and feature intuitive gameplay controls that will introduce a new level of immersion, without necessarily taking away the spotlight for its more popular counterpart.

Think of it as the chasing pack behind the biggest clubs, who reap the benefits of learning from what the best of the best can do, but at the same time, finding its own way of entertaining players with a bespoke experience.

“It’s not about just copying or taking any feature of our big brother. It’s identifying which features make sense for the mobile platform,” explained Timo Mueller, Gameplay Producer, with conviction.

Taking a parallel approach, the mobile experience will see the addition of True Player Personality, which brings the most recognisable players to life on the go. The Elite Shooting System is a revamped one that rewards smart shooting decisions, and with the Power Shot, players will have more weapons available to get on the scoresheet.

“A good example is the elite shooting system. That puts a lot more focus on the use of skill. And yes, we are bridging the gap, and I think our game is maturing.”

Similarly, Knock On Dribble will give pacy attackers more licence to beat their men, while Hard Tackles will give the defence more opportunities to snatch back possession and ensure the attacking team has no chance to recover. All of these new features will complement the dynamic game speed of EA Sports FC Mobile, giving players more time to enjoy themselves and the action. It might not be as polished as the console versions, but this is what is going to work for the mobile players, another example of EA Sports’ commitment to catering to as large an audience as possible. 

And with so many possible devices to play on, the team is working hard behind the scenes to ensure parity across the board. We were told that assistance options can be tweaked to find the perfect playing experience, there is wider button spacing will help with customisation, and more options will be coming in the future as well.

With the console, PC, and mobile markets locked down, and having built up a strong following over the decades, the EA Sports FC brand looks to go from strength to strength, even without the notable FIFA branding. It remains to be seen just how the players will take to the different experiences, but the new technology and innovations put in place are setting this juggernaut of video game football for success, and that’s how the team likes it.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Immersion & Innovation Lead ‘EA Sports FC’ Domination Of Console, PC & Mobile Markets appeared first on Geek Culture.

After entertaining players seeking a co-op experience that had nothing to do with cooking and everything to do with moving in 2020, SMG Studio and Team17 are back with Moving Out 2, once again tasking players to test their patience with their partners through a gauntlet of increasingly ridiculous situations where furniture needs to be moved. As the dust settles, what remains is a wonderful sequel that refreshes the formula and delivers even more co-op fun and madness, albeit with some bumps on the road.

As an expert F.A.R.T., a Furniture Arrangement Relocation Technician that is, players will embark on a multiversal journey into various scenarios that require good planning and coordinated manoeuvres to overcome. Expect plenty of strange and interesting cargo to be part of the furniture, so to speak, during this adventure.

The main gist of the gameplay remains a familiar affair, with the objective of moving objects to a target location, the overall directive in every level. Whether that actually happens depends on the folks at the controls of an expanded cast of colourful and wacky characters. Needless to say, Moving Out 2 isn’t afraid to show off its loud and vibrant personality and embrace the simple joy of utter chaos.

Once you are warmed up with the starting levels and have come to grips with the straightforward controls, then the game starts opening up to more wrenches in the works as part of the four realms in the game. Trying to squeeze large couches through a tight corridor is but the tip of the iceberg, especially when there are other transportation methods to consider.

Bouncing objects off environmental aids like a giant umbrella can save plenty of time, and so is destroying obstacles standing in your way using a wrecking ball. Moving Out 2 does a great job of throwing something new into the mix every once in a while, to keep things chugging along so that players will always have something to look forward to and experiment with. 

These new innovations are complemented by more well-thought-out level designs, which force players to up their communication and observational skills. Trying to figure out teleportation portals can be hard on your own; throw in more people, and it becomes complete mayhem. SMG Studio has seen fit to include a healthy variety of additional elements in various levels that require more coordination to get past, and that is always a good thing for a co-op game like this one.

Not all of them are hits, however, with some being more trouble than they are worth in terms of the gameplay experience. It never feels fun to constantly chase after livestock to put them into a pen, or have clouds that obscure vision constantly regenerating after being vacuumed. Even if the game tends to move past these things quickly, the present predicament can prove to be frustrating enough already at times.

Moving Out 2 has also made sure that there are occasions where you are moving in instead, a twist on the formula that was eventually added to the first game. Turning things around and asking players to palace furniture in the right spot is a delightful spin, and the ways levels more intricately cater to this style is another plus.

With over 50 levels to show off your skills and many secrets to find, such as more characters and costume options, Moving Out 2 has much to offer for co-op partners. The inclusion, for the first time ever, of online multiplayer makes it even more of a no-brainer for friends and family looking for a good time. That is, if you can oversee some of its potential problems.

The aforementioned level elements are one area of concern, and so is the way Moving Out 2 handles side objectives this time around as well. Gone are the good old days of notifications that denote the completion of enigmatic goals, making it much harder to check everything off a level’s list. More egregiously, you only get credit for completing the tasks if you manage to meet the main requirements of the level, another departure from the first game. The additional time required can be put to better use.

Also, for those hoping that Moving Out 2 will involve a more engaging story, that is most certainly not the case, with gameplay being king once again. It won’t affect many players, for sure, but it is something to note for those making a decision. The same applies to the wonky physics, which is admittedly part of the fun, but there are instances of randomly dropping items that feel unintentional. This is a quirk that needs to be recognised. 

Even if you end up playing solo, the many ways in which Moving Out 2 has improved the original formula and amped up the fun factor will undoubtedly push players to find co-op partners to partake in the chaos. A healthy variety of creative levels, level elements, and charming character personalities all contribute to a party waiting to happen, and that’s saying plenty when it comes to the thankless task of moving furniture.

Moving Out 2 is available on the PSN Store for S$42.29.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post Geek Review: Moving Out 2 appeared first on Geek Culture.

Gaming on Netflix used to be a small piece of the puzzle limited to small screens on mobile phones to capture the attention of audiences. This time, the streamer has set its sights on bringing gamers to another level of visual fidelity, testing their game streaming service on TVs and PCs.

Accessing the new Netflix beta feature is fairly simple. All users need to do is scan a QR code using the Netflix beta app and they will gain access to a separate Game Controller application. Only two games can be played using this feature so far: the critically-acclaimed adventure Oxenfree and a new title called Molehew’s Mining Adventure, an arcade game where you mine gems.

Although players are currently unable to tap into Netflix’s substantial game library using this feature, the success of the test may mean that subscribers will get to play other prominent titles like Into the Breach and Valiant Hearts: Coming Home through their TV screens in the future.

Don’t get too excited right now, though. According to Netflix’s Vice President for Games Mike Verdu, the first public tests will only be made available to subscribers in Canada and the UK, and are only accessible to select TVs, connected TV devices, and on Netflix’s website. Access to stream games on PCs and Mac devices will be made available in the near future with keyboard and mouse support.

If you’re living in Canada or the UK and possess any of the following devices with a Netflix account, you’ll be able to enjoy their first cloud-gaming test: Amazon Fire TV streaming media player, Chromecast with Google TV, LG TVs, Nvidia Shield TV, Roku devices and TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, or Walmart Onn.

Amidst the battle among streaming giants, it seems like Netflix still has a lot going for them. Despite their crackdown on password sharing, users are still willing to use the streaming service for their entertainment needs. With the advent of Netflix’s games streaming on television and computers, the number of subscribers will surely grow.

Joey Leong

Crack open a cold one with Joey, because the moment you approach him, he will start talking about film and video games for days. He spends his waking moments during the weekends meditating on how the latest movie he’s watched or game he’s played has impacted his worldview.

The post Netflix Testing Games Streaming On TV And PCs appeared first on Geek Culture.

Even with the success of recent Pokémon projects, it doesn’t mean that everything is rosy over at The Pokémon Company. With Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launching to mixed reception about the technical side of things, including glitches, bugs, and other gameplay issues, there is a need for management to reflect on things, and that appears to be just what is happening.

In an interview with ComicBook.com at the Pokémon World Championships, COO Takato Utsunomiya shared that the company is more than aware of the need to prevent such quality issues in the future, starting with tweaking the release cadence.

“I think, in general, if you look at the past, the path we’ve taken up until now has been this constant release, always regularly releasing products on a fairly fixed kind of a cadence, you might say,” Utsunomiya explained.

“Always having these products able to be introduced and new experiences for our customers, and that’s how we’ve operated up until now. I think we’re still operating in that way, but there’s more and more conversations, as the development environments change, about how we can continue to do this, while making sure that we’re ensuring really quality products are also being introduced.”

In recent years, The Pokémon Company has committed to pushing out games regularly, starting with 2018’s Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go Eevee!, 2019’s Pokémon Sword and Shield, and 2022’s Pokémon Legends: Arceus. Quality standards have not exactly been consistent, and many worry about the conditions of the developers that are leading these projects.

Work continues on the Expansion Pass for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, with The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk set to arrive in September and Winter 2023 respectively. If there are any changes planned, they will likely only happen once these few releases are out of the way for The Pokémon Company.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post The Pokémon Company Relooking Constant Releases Amidst Quality Issues appeared first on Geek Culture.

The past will once again intertwine with the present when the second expansion, The Indigo Disk, comes to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. A new trailer for the upcoming DLC revealed a host of starter Pokémon that are returning to the fray, and it spells excitement for longtime fans.

Dating all the way back to Gen 1, the list includes Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle; Cyndaquil, Chikorita, and Totodile (Gen 2); Torchic, Treecko, and Mudkip (Gen 3); Chimchar, Turtwig, and Piplup (Gen 4); Tepig, Snivy, and Oshawott (Gen 5), Fennekin, Chespin, and Froakie (Gen 6); Litten, Rowlet, and Popplio (Gen 7), and lastly, Scorbunny, Grookey, and Sobble (Gen 8). According to the trailer, these classic critters will show up “in spades”, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to catch ’em all.

It’s unclear whether Eevee and Pikachu, who have starred in Pokémon Yellow and Pokémon Let’s Go! respectively, are set to appear. Likewise, there’s no word on whether Scarlet and Violet‘s starters Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly are joining the party.

Apart from the starter additions, the trailer also gave a glimpse of some new moves like Psychic Noise (deals damage and prevents target from healing) and Upper Hand, which allows the player’s Pokémon to strike before their opponent’s priority move.

Raging Bolt, the Electric/Dragon Paradox version of Raikou revealed its Thunderclap move, while Iron Crown – the Steel/Psychic Paradox version of Cobalion – showed off Tachyon Cutter, a move guaranteed to hit twice in a row. Rounding out the preview is a new Tera Type that appears to combine all other types, but not much else is known about it.

This new trailer comes after the most recent Pokémon Presents showcase focusing on The Teal Mask, the first part of the Hidden Treasure of Area Zero expansion. Part 2 takes the form of The Indigo Disk, and it’s coming to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet in Winter 2023 after Part 1’s release on 13 September.

Si Jia

Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.

The post ‘Pókemon Scarlet And Violet’ Brings Back All Past Starters With ‘Indigo Disk’ DLC appeared first on Geek Culture.

If the initial announcement of the video game adaptation of the beloved 2020 comic series, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, got you excited, here’s more news to keep the hype going. THQ Nordic has officially revealed that The Last Ronin game will be headed up by Black Forest Games.

For those unfamiliar with the studio, they are best known for the recent remakes of both Destroy All Humans! and Destroy All Humans! 2. Whether that will bring comfort or caution remains to be seen, but at least now that the information is out there, the community can make their voices heard by the right people working on The Last Ronin.

Considering the fact that the two more recent projects took a more slapstick approach to the gameplay experience, it will be a departure for the studio to take on this new project. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin is undoubtedly one of the darker takes in the franchise’s history, which could also explain its popularity among readers.

Set in a less-than-ideal future, the story sees the heroes in a half shell reduced to one last member due to the nefarious machinations of the Foot Clan. Now, this lone survivor has to embark on a revenge mission to avenge his brothers and bring down the evil behind it all, the grandson of Shredder.

The video game will definitely help to engender even more interest in the comic series, with a sequel for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin currently being in development as well. This was revealed at last month’s San Diego Comic-Con, with the first issue slated for release on 13 December.

No release date has yet been set for The Last Ronin video game, but it will be launching on the likes of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Jake Su

Jake is a full-time trophy hunter and achievement gatherer on consoles, and part-time Steam Sale victim. He has a thing for Batman and awesome statues, and running out of space for both. Send help.

The post ‘Destroy All Humans!’ Studio Developing ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin’ Video Game appeared first on Geek Culture.