At long last, we have finally gotten a look at HBO's upcoming adaptation of the Watchmen comics. Though the series won't debut until this fall, the first trailer has arrived for Watchmen, giving a peek into the world the series will be set in.
While the trailer is brief, it sets up a story that seems to be set after the events of the Watchmen graphic novel. Based on what little we see, a group clearly inspired by masked vigilante Rorschach are preparing to take up arms. "We are no one, we are everyone," the leader of the masked clan says. "And we are invisible."
It could certainly be the way the trailer is cut together, but it seems like this group the vigilantes are coming up against are the police. "We convinced ourselves they were gone," a senior officer played by Don Johnson tells his fellow cops, in reference to the vigilantes. "But they were just hibernating."
What remains to be seen is how the story will play out. It's possible HBO's take on Watchmen will largely tell the tale of vigilantes vs. police. However, the trailer also sees the character played by Regina King suiting up in a vigilante costume or her own, the centerpiece of which is a police badge.
The teaser also gives us the first look at Jeremy Irons as an older version of Ozymandias, the villainous figure central to the graphic novel. Additionally, yet another masked character is seen, though not identified.
Sadly, the official series description, released in conjunction with the trailer, doesn't give any more hints as to what the series is about. It reads, "Set in an alternate history where 'superheroes' are treated as outlaws, this drama series from executive producer Damon Lindelof embraces the nostalgia of the original groundbreaking graphic novel of the same name while attempting to break new ground of its own."
So you're just going to have to wait for plot details. At the very least, though, we know who will appear in Watchmen. In addition to King, Johnson, and Irons, the series stars, Jean Smart, Tim Blake Nelson, Louis Gossett Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Hong Chau, Andrew Howard, Tom Mison, Frances Fisher, Jacob Ming-Trent, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, and James Wolk.
Bandai Namco has announced Code Vein will have a network test prior to launch, which will allow people to try out the game. An exact timeframe for the test hasn't been revealed yet, but sign-ups are already live on Bandai Namco's website.
Code Vein is releasing on Xbox One, PS4, and PC, but the network test for the game is only going live on consoles. As it's a network test, the multiplayer features will be live, allowing you to play with a friend. The test only covers Chapter 1 of the game, which is Code Vein's character creator, tutorial, and first area. Chapter 1 ends with a boss fight, the reveal of Code Vein's first major NPC buddy, and the introduction of the game's hub area.
The time has come to rise again. CODE VEIN takes you on a dark journey where you'll search for memories of the past and hopefully escape this living nightmare. Follow the link for more info on how to join our #CODEVEIN Network Test: https://t.co/sxtfkYK8afpic.twitter.com/e6e0ZQ7NPA
If you want to know exactly what Chapter 1 entails, we played through it at a preview event. Our battles through the game's opening area and first boss can be seen in the video embedded above. A Souls-like game, Code Vein takes inspiration--both mechanically and thematically--from both Dark Souls and Bloodborne. However, the game does differentiate itself with its Blood Codes. These encourage you to regularly respec your character's stats and adapt your playstyle on the fly. Unfortunately, the game seems predisposed towards melee-focused builds. That said, you can specialize your character in the use of blood magic or rifles.
In Code Vein, you can equip one of eight different Blood Codes to boost your stats in different ways. Each Blood Code also allows you to equip up to eight different Gifts as well, most of which allow you to pull off a supernatural, vampiric-like ability. Specific Gifts and weapons can only be equipped with certain Blood Codes, creating many unique playstyles. The Fighter Blood Code specializes in slow but powerful melee combat, for example, while Prometheus transforms you into a fast rogue-like character who utilizes dodges and parries. Not all Blood Codes are tied to combat either. The Mercury Blood Code, for instance, is ideal for exploring the world, as it gives you balanced stats for journeying through any type of environment and extra stamina so you can quickly run everywhere.
After delaying Code Vein, Bandai Namco did not reveal a new release date for the game. Currently, Code Vein is scheduled to launch sometime in 2019.
US Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced he is introducing a bill that would potentially bar the sale of loot boxes in certain video games. If enacted, Hawley's bill, called The Protecting Children from Abusive Games Act, would ban loot boxes and "pay-to-win" microtransactions in titles targeted at or popular among minors, likening the business model to addiction.
"Social media and video games prey on user addiction, siphoning our kids' attention from the real world and extracting profits from fostering compulsive habits," Senator Hawley said in a statement. "No matter this business model's advantages to the tech industry, one thing is clear: there is no excuse for exploiting children through such practices. When a game is designed for kids, game developers shouldn't be allowed to monetize addiction. Game developers who knowingly exploit children should face legal consequences."
Hawley cites the popular mobile title Candy Crush Saga as an example, as it allows players to purchase a $150 "Luscious Bundle" to make the game easier, though it is certainly far from the only title to offer these kinds of spending options. A large number of mobile games are designed to encourage microtransactions, and many of today's most popular PC and console games, including PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, Rocket League, and Overwatch, give players the option to purchase loot boxes that contain a randomized assortment of cosmetic items.
Hawley's bill will first need to pass the Senate and then the House of Representatives before potentially becoming a law, but this isn't the first time US lawmakers have taken aim at the practice. Last February, Hawaii state representative Chris Lee put forward a bill seeking to limit the sale of video games with "gambling-like mechanisms" to people under the age of 21. Other countries have also undertaken investigations into whether or not loot boxes constituted gambling.
Follow Hawley's announcement, the Entertainment Software Association released a statement in response to the proposed legislation. "Numerous countries, including Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, determined that loot boxes do not constitute gambling. We look forward to sharing with the senator the tools and information the industry already provides that keeps the control of in-game spending in parents' hands. Parents already have the ability to limit or prohibit in-game purchases with easy to use parental controls."
Loot boxes have been a point of controversy in the industry for many years. 2017's Star Wars Battlefront II, for instance, garnered a lot of criticism and backlash for the way it initially incorporated microtransactions, effectively tying them to your progression. In response, publisher EA removed all loot boxes from the game just prior to launch, but that didn't help stem the push for anti-loot box legislation.
Thomas Was Alone and Volume developer Mike Bithell has announced his next game, and it's a "fast-paced, action-oriented" strategy game based on the John Wick movie series. John Wick Hex is coming to console as well as PC; it'll be exclusive to the Epic Games Store on PC and Mac at launch.
John Wick Hex is described as "fight-choreographed chess brought to life as a video game." The game, which was developed in cooperation with the minds behind the film series, aims to "captur[e] the series' signature gun-fu style while expanding its story universe."
Here is more from the game's official description: "Players must choose every action and attack they make, while considering their immediate cost and consequences. Every move in John Wick Hex feels like a scene from the movies, and every fight contributes to your progress on the job and requires precise strategic thinking."
Hex features an original story separate from the film series. As players progress they will unlock more weapons, as well as new suits for John Wick and more locations to explore. Regarding the gunplay, a press release mentions that players will need to strategically consider the weapon they use for the specific battle in front of them. Not only that, "ammo is finite and realistically simulated, so time your reloads and make the most of weapons you scavenge on the job," the developers say.
Regarding the art style, Hex aims to offer a "unique graphic noir art design." The game also features the voices of John Wick actors Ian McShane and Lance Reddick; more cast members will be announced later.
Check out the Hex announcement trailer embedded above to see the first gameplay and more. No release date was announced.
The announcement of Hex comes just days before the third John Wick movie, John Wick: Parabellum, comes to theatres on May 15.
By Anonymous on May 08, 2019 10:30 pm Thomas Was Alone developer Mike Bithell and the visage of Keanu Reeves come together in John Wick Hex, a tactical action game coming to PC and consoles.
Fortnite Season 8 is just about over, which means developer Epic Game will soon begin the transition to Season 9. If you've been here for previous seasonal shifts, you'll know that it's an exciting time. Not only does a new season usher in changes to the island map where the action takes place, but there's a fresh Battle Pass that comes replete with new cosmetic items and skins (some of which we've already gotten a glimpse at) to work toward unlocking.
Below you'll find a comprehensive guide on what we know about Fortnite Season 9 thus far. When the new season becomes available, we'll have plenty of new articles on what's new, galleries where you'll be able to see every new item Epic has added to the Battle Pass, and guides for the first batch of Season 9's weekly challenges, so make sure to check back regularly for updates.
Epic Games posted a teaser for Fortnite Season 9 on Twitter and confirmed that it will begin on PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch, and mobile on Thursday, May 9. We also know have an exact time for when downtime begins. We don't know how long the process will take, but you can expect the game to come back online with new content within a few hours:
Season 9 Downtime:
1 AM PT
4 AM ET
9 AM BST
6 PM AET
Season 9 Teasers And Skins
The first teaser tweet reads, "The Future is Unknown," indicating that the theme for Season 9 may be futuristic. The accompanying image of what looks like a demonic android ninja skin certainly lends weight to this idea.
Since the initial Twitter tease, Epic has released more teaser images. The second, showed that these teasers seem to be forming a word. The first teaser had the letter "N" in it, while the second had an "E." This time around, however, the accompanying text reads, "The future is bright." There's also a little peek at another new skin. You can take a look at the second teaser tweet below.
On May 8, the third teaser arrived. "The future is Tilted," reads the message. Again, there's an up-close shot of a new character skin. Thus far, the teasers seem to be spelling "NEO," though it's unclear if that's the clue in its entirety or whether there's more to come. Epic could be spelling out "NEON," which would make sense given the vivid colours used in the teaser images. Either way, we'll find out soon enough.
One of the major changes happening for Fortnite Season 9 has actually already happened. Recently an in-game event called "The Unvaulting." During this, players gathered around Loot Lake and then jumped into the mysterious vault at its center. While in there, they freed the Tommy Gun and made it available in the game. However, when players were returned to the island, the volcano that appeared for Season 8 erupted, spewing lava and firing rocks across the island. As part of this, Tilted Towers was destroyed, and this is interesting because the third teaser tweet Epic posted says, "The future is Tilted."
Sadly, The Unvaulting event had some issues and some players that were in-game hoping to see it were instead left out. In response, Epic Games has offered players the chance to rewatch it. Additionally, those that were affected by the bug are being gifted the Arcana Glider. Anyone that already purchased the Arcana Glider using V-Bucks will be refunded the 1200 V-Bucks they spent on it, although Epic has noted it's encountered some issues with this process that it's still ironing out.
The Xbox One has been around since 2013, which is, scarily, six years ago. With console cycles typically lasting between five and seven years, that means we should be due a new Xbox pretty soon. However, there's the complicating factor that this generation included mid-cycle upgrades, the PS4 Pro and the Xbox One X.
Regardless, we know Microsoft is working on the next Xbox console, and there've been a fair few reports surrounding what to expect. Without further ado, let's dig into everything we know about the next Xbox.
Microsoft might not have unveiled its new Xbox just yet, but it is definitely working on it. The company confirmed as such during E3 last year. In fact, it could even be multiple consoles on the way. Xbox boss Phil Spencer said in June 2018 that Microsoft is "deep into architecting the next Xbox consoles where we will once again deliver on our commitment to set the benchmark for console gaming."
Of course, the pluralizing of 'console' could mean Spencer was referring in part to the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, which was announced just recently. However, the latter half of his quote--about setting the benchmark for console gaming--surely refers to a new generation, where it sounds as if Microsoft wants to come out swinging with the most powerful console available, just as it did with the Xbox One X.
Reports from Thurrott suggest the new Xbox consoles are being developed under the umbrella codename Scarlett. Two consoles are in the works, say the reports: one is a high-power machine codenamed Anaconda that will be approximately the same price as the PS5, while the other is a budget-orientated machine known as Lockhart. The latter is potentially a streaming-centric device that does not boast much processing power itself; rather, it will ostensibly utilize Microsoft's nascent xCloud technology to play games via the cloud.
When is the new Xbox's release date likely to be?
Microsoft hasn't spoken about its timeline for the new Xbox consoles' release date(s). However, the consoles are not expected to launch until Fall 2020. For comparison's sake, we don't precisely know when the PS5 will launch either, but in May 2018 the then-head of PlayStation, John Kodera, said that the PS5 was "three years" away. However, plans change, and it's also possible Kodera was merely trying to keep a lid on the rumors that were flying around at the time which were saying the PS5 would be released as soon as 2019.
What about E3 2019?
Of course, E3 2019 is just around the corner, so can we expect to hear more about the new Xbox consoles at the convention? The answer, according to a report from Jeux Video, is yes. The site states Microsoft plans to reveal its new Xbox consoles during its E3 2019 press conference. Of course, this is all conjecture for now, but Xbox boss Phil Spencer has stated the company intends to be "as big at E3" as it's ever been.
Do we know the new Xbox console specs and price?
Unlike Sony, Microsoft has so far kept quiet about the internal specifications of its new consoles. However, all the reports point to both Anaconda and Lockhart ditching hard drives in favor of the quicker solid state storage option--a move the PS5 is also making. Of course, if those reports are proven accurate and Lockhart is essentially a streaming box, it's likely the console will eschew a disc drive and state-of-the-art specs, relying instead on Microsoft's xCloud streaming service for its playing power. Jeux Video has reported the following specs for the two Scarlett consoles:
Xbox Lockhart
Xbox Anaconda
CPU
Custom eight core
Custom eight core
GPU
Custom NAVI 4+ teraflops
Custom NAVI 12+ teraflops
RAM
12 GB, GDDR6
16 GB, GDDR6
Storage
1 TB SSD, 1 + GB / s
1 TB SSD, 1 + GB / s
The site also reports the Anaconda price will be around $500, which is the same price the Xbox One X launched with in 2017. Unverified rumors from Reddit place Lockhart, meanwhile, at around $250, which would put it at the same price point as the newly-launched Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, which also forgoes a disc drive. These are yet to be substantiated by any reputable source, however.
Sony has announced another State of Play livestream event this week, with a few announcements planned. The brief presentation will only last about 10 minutes, and that time will give more details on the PS4 remake of MediEvil and an unannounced new game. You can watch it right here as it happens.
This is the second State of Play, and Sony's approach to these announcement streams has been very similar to Nintendo Direct presentations. The first State of Play in March was a good deal longer, and included announcements or new glimpses of eight games. That included several PSVR reveals, including the announcement of Iron Man VR and No Man Sky's upcoming VR update.
Sony State of Play Stream Start Times
3 PM PT
6 PM ET
11 PM BST
8 AM (Friday, May 10) AEST
In giving word about this presentation, Sony also took a moment to announce something that won't be shown. It won't house any new information about the next PlayStation--presumably to be named the PlayStation 5.
These individual State of Play streams may be where we hear most of Sony's announcements this year, as the company has dropped out of E3. SIE Worldwide Studios head Shawn Layden explained that the company feels the event hasn't necessarily kept up with the changing needs of the industry.
Though it won't be at E3, though, it has already started sharing its plans for the next generation, making it the first company to the starting gate. Those plans include backwards compatibility with PS4 games and a re-commitment to support PSVR. Read up on everything we know about PS5.
By Anonymous on May 08, 2019 08:30 pm Tony Stark's story arc in Avengers: Endgame was the perfect pay off to over 10 years of Iron Man stories since the first Iron Man was released in 2008. Chris goes back through a decade of Tony's storylines to explain why.
Ubisoft appears to be preparing for a big Ghost Recon reveal, with a world premiere event being streamed on Thursday, May 9. If you want to see what's next, you can watch it all go down right here.
The event teaser was light on details, but it doesn't appear to be tied to Ghost Recon Wildlands. That game launched in 2017, and it has been supported with a steady stream of downloadable content and live events ever since. In fact, Wildlands just received another dose of content last week. The distinction from Wildlands suggests the event will focus on something new for the Ghost Recon series, possibly a full sequel.
The timing of this event is conspicuously close to E3, where Ubisoft has a press conference scheduled for Monday, June 10. Scheduling a reveal event now could either set the stage for a more in-depth look at E3, or just give the company more time to focus on other parts of its lineup.
Wildlands received a mixed reception at launch but has fostered a devoted following through continued support. Ubisoft has shifted toward long-term support for many of its games, including multiplayer titles like Rainbow Six Siege and For Honor along with single-player games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
"As only the second open world game in the Clancyverse, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is a middlingly safe tactical shooter and a slightly wasted opportunity given the ambitious scope of its seemingly boundless map," Miguel Concepcion wrote in GameSpot's review. "While its main strength is its mission diversity, it doesn't take long to lose the motivation after reaching El Sueno's doorstep. Even with a foursome of highly trained friends, Wildlands eventually reveals its diminishing returns. The feeling of positive immediacy and dopamine hits begin to wane sooner than you expected from a game with such a large and diverse world."
There's something about playing a real-life killer that is a magnet for actors when they want to be taken seriously. Charlize Theron's Oscar-winning portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in the 2002 movie Monster elevated her to the ranks of Hollywood's most in-demand stars, while Steve Carell went from lovable comedian to intense character actor when he took on the role of sociopathic John du Pont in Foxcatcher. Now, Zac Efron is the latest star to attempt to shed his former teen idol image, by playing Ted Bundy, one of America's most notorious serial killers.
While Theron famously underwent a physical transformation to play Wuornos, Efron was cast for his looks. Bundy was known for being a smart, handsome, charismatic mass murderer whose trials were attended by college girls eager to get close to him, and Efron's casting makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, his compelling performance is stranded in a movie that makes some serious missteps in its attempts to present a new spin on the serial killer film.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile takes its title from the description leveled at Bundy by the judge in his 1979 sentencing. It's a provocative title and suggests a dark plunge into the depraved mind of a relentless kidnapper, rapist, necrophile, and killer who admitted to murdering 30 women between 1974 and 1978, but whose victim count could potentially be far higher. Director Joe Berlinger wanted to do something different, though. His movie focuses less on the crimes itself, and more on the cult of personality around Bundy, and most specifically his relationship with two women in his life--long-time girlfriend Elizabeth Kendall (Lily Collins), and Carole Ann Boone (Kaya Scodelario), the woman he married while awaiting trial.
The film has a flashback structure, starting with Kendall visiting him on death row, and then moving back to the start of their relationship. Bundy was first arrested in 1974 from an anonymous tip-off, and the bulk of the film sees him either on bail or in jail, awaiting trial. Throughout this time Kendall stands by him, refusing to believe the terrible crimes that Bundy has been accused of and that he consistently denies, despite the evidence and trail of victims strewn across several states. As their relationship slowly breaks down, old flame Boone re-enters his life.
It would be a mistake to think that a serial killer movie has to wallow in violent imagery to be effective. The decision to not show any of Bundy's murders--with the exception of one brief moment toward the end--was a very deliberate one, and it could be argued that, like Kendall and Boone, as an audience we are removed from the true horror of his crimes. The difference is that we know what Bundy did, but Efron's easy charm and the movie's insistence on almost never portraying him in a negative light ultimately cheapens the subject matter and lessens the dramatic impact.
Much of the film is spent with Bundy proclaiming his innocence while getting moved from state to state, jailhouse to courthouse, and occasionally planning an escape. It simply doesn't make for very interesting viewing, and little effort is spent to get inside Bundy's head. The movie is not a thriller, as the outcome is well known, but neither is it a horror movie or effective psychological drama; instead we're left with a recreation of already well-documented events (Bundy's trial was the first televised in the US) and a very shallow portrayal of real-life characters. No time is spent on the victims of his crimes either, and after a while it's easy to forget that this is a movie about a serial killer at all.
In their attempts to desensationalize the material, Berlinger and screenwriter Michael Werwie omit some of the more interesting aspects of Bundy's life. Bundy made two separate escapes--once from a courthouse, after which he nearly died after spending six days in the mountains of Colorado, the other from jail in a meticulously planned escape--but both are dealt with very quickly before he's back in prison. The other curious aspect is that Bundy--a law student before his arrest--represented himself in court. But again, while we see Bundy doing this, it bears no resemblance to the manic figure he actually was while appearing in court, and little time is spent on the insane media circus that built up around his appearances. Any of these aspects could've made for a more interesting movie than the one we're ultimately presented with.
Despite the often underwritten characters, the performances are good. Even though she is sidelined in the movie's last third, Collins evokes sympathy as Kendall, who utterly falls under Bundy's manipulative spell, while Scodelario cuts a tragic figure as Boone, who marries him as he awaits sentencing. Even the smaller roles are filled with famous faces--John Malkovich, Haley Joel Osment, and Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons all appear at various stages (as does Metallica's James Hetfield in a fleeting cameo).
Berlinger is best known for his documentary work, including the brilliant, devastating Paradise Lost movies. He had already tackled Bundy in the Netflix true crime series The Bundy Tapes, and while this series is not his best work, it does offer more insight than the movie version. In a way, Bundy is a hard subject to understand--he only confessed to his killings at the end of his life, and much of what is known about him has already been documented various times over the years. But given Berlinger's familiarity with the subject, it's disappointing that Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile avoids exploring the true horror of his crimes, while offering little else in its place.
By Anonymous on May 08, 2019 07:30 pm Bandai Namco's Code Vein utilizes Souls-like, stamina-focused combat and mixes in vampiric superpowers. The action-RPG is scheduled to come to Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2019.
By Anonymous on May 08, 2019 07:30 pm In the anime Souls-like Code Vein, you play as one of the Revenant, a vampiric outcast that battles against both monsters and their own bloodlust.
Originally scheduled for September 2018, Bandai Namco delayed Code Vein to "ensure that the final product delivers on the expectations set amongst media and fans." After playing through a gameplay demo at a preview event, we asked Code Vein producer Keita Iizuka what Bandai Namco has spent the past few months changing to deliver on these expectations ahead of the game's new scheduled release in 2019.
"After the dev team really came together and discussed--we felt that the appeal of Code Vein and what was really good about Code Vein was just not there, not enough," Iizuka said. "So we really wanted to brush up those elements so that the users can really get immersed and really feel what's so good and unique about the aspects of Code Vein a lot deeper, a lot stronger. So that's why we took some extra time to deliver."
In Code Vein, you play as a Revenant, a chosen undead born into a world defined by blood. Revenants defend themselves from the Lost, the husk-like remnants of Revenants who lost sight of who they were and succumbed to their bloodlust. In order to survive, you arm yourself with powerful weapons and supernatural Gifts--the latter of which allows you to harness the blood you take from enemies to perform spell-like attacks. Combat is entirely stamina-focused, limiting how often you can attack, defend, parry, and dodge.
Code Vein is--both thematically and mechanically--very similar to From Software's Soulsborne games. Where Code Vein aims to differentiate itself is in its Blood Codes and buddy system.
Blood Codes are items that change the stats of your character, allowing you to more easily wield specific weapons and equip certain Gifts. The melee-focused Fighter Blood Code, for example, raises your strength and dexterity stats--allowing you to more easily wield massive two-handed swords and axes. As a Fighter, you're able to equip Gifts that unlock slow, but devastating close-range attacks, and also buff your overall damage output. If brute force isn't working, you can switch to the spell casting-focused Caster Blood Code, parry-focused Prometheus Blood Code, or long-range Hunter Blood Code before jumping back into the fray. There are eight Blood Codes in total in Code Vein, and each allows you to equip up to eight Gifts at once for a variety of playstyles.
"This aspect of being able to freely create your playstyle and the flexibility of playstyles--this is something that was already in the works since the initial stages, but we wanted to focus on that aspect--to enhance it and brush it up a lot--so that the player can have more freedom and flexibility in how they play the game," Iizuka said.
"We really wanted to expand the Gift variations and how you develop [your Revenant]," he continued. "[For example], there's a Gift called Phantom Assault where you can vanish and instantly appear right where the enemy is and dish out your attack. So that's one aspect of it, and we have other Gifts that you can sort of build around that as well. And so, I think that's one of the ways we sort of added to the game to make it more [complete]."
Being able to completely respec your character into a brand-new class within seconds--as opposed to travelling to a certain location and paying an NPC to do it like in Dark Souls--is an intriguing concept, but it was difficult to discern how such a strategy works in practice based on Code Vein's opening hour. We started out with three Blood Codes (Fighter, Ranger, and Caster) and a few of their respective Gifts unlocked, but there weren't enough different enemy types to fight or weapons to find to take full advantage of what makes each Code unique. The opening area hides mostly swords and axes--implying melee builds are the way to go--so there doesn't seem to be any point in investing in the Ranger and Caster Blood Codes early on. Perhaps later areas offer more reason to switch to bayonet rifles and blood magic, though it remains to be seen.
Code Vein's other major feature, its buddy system, hasn't seen much change since the game's delay. In Code Vein, you meet other Revenants who each have their own questlines and stories. You can choose who joins you in combat, and they'll help you fight and revive you if you happen to fall in the midst of a challenging battle. Bandai Namco designed the buddy system in order to make Code Vein's difficult Souls-like combat more accessible for players new to these types of games.
"So the core concept of [Code Vein] is all about dying and trying again, kind of like [Dark Souls] and [Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice]," Iizuka said. "With that sort of difficulty level set, you have that sense of achievement, that sense of accomplishment when you finally beat that stage or beat that level. So that's something we do value in this game, and that's why we set the difficulty at where it is. However, the development staff really focused on how to motivate the player once they've failed, whether on a boss or stage. So, maybe you die once, and then we want the player to think 'Maybe if I did this again, I could do it better next time around.' So that's where we put the most effort and focus in development, and one of the ways that we motivate the player to [immediately] retry a stage is the buddy system."
One other player can join you and your NPC partner as well, though Code Vein is an entirely supportive experience. There are no PvP aspects "at this time," Iizuka said.
Code Vein's buddy system certainly makes things easier, but never to the point where the game felt actually easy. The game's opening area is comprised of large open rooms connected by winding hallways and staircases, most of which have blind corners. So it was nice to have someone walk with you who points out hidden items you missed, warns of potential ambushes, and can take some of the heat off you when you need to heal. Being able to sacrifice your own health for each other is also a fun risk vs. reward mechanic, especially when you both can choose to lose almost all your health to bring the other one back to life. It's easier to explore and try out new weapons knowing that one of you dying doesn't necessarily mean the end and getting kicked back to the last checkpoint. Through the buddy system, death changes from a punishment into a learning experience.
In terms of a new release date, Code Vein's fate is still a bit up in the air. However, the game remains scheduled for this year. "We are focusing on development for PS4, Steam, and Xbox One," Iizuka said. "But as far as the possibility of porting to Switch or [the Epic Games Store], there might be a possibility down the line. We can't really say for sure at this point."
Rainbow Six Siege has long had a problem with team-killing, but developer Ubisoft has a new solution going live soon to help alleviate the issue. Reverse friendly fire, as it's called, has been in testing for a while and arrives on public PS4, Xbox One, and PC servers on May 8.
Essentially, the system is designed to punish griefers by dealing the damage to them, rather than the poor teammate being hit. Offenders will get a brief grace period--accidents happen, after all--after which any further damage dealt will be reversed, meaning the innocent player receives no damage and the guilty party will be injured themselves.
The system applies to all primary and secondary weapons, as well as direct hits from most unique Operator gadgets. Some explosive items are exempt--some by design, and some because of a bug Ubisoft says it will fix in a future update.
The developer says the method as it stands "is not our final version of the system," which will continue to be tweaked according to data and player feedback. It has already announced changes to the system coming during Siege's Year 4, Season 2: "We will introduce situations where the system will activate for the whole squad," the company said. "How gadgets will react and behave under Reverse Friendly Fire will also be fine-tuned." Read the full patch notes for reverse friendly fire's current iteration below, via Ubisoft.
Rainbow Six Siege Reverse Friendly Fire Update
When a player abuses the friendly fire mechanic to grief their teammates, this system is activated. We believe that this first version will be a positive step forward in our fight against team killing while maintaining the same intensity and high stakes gameplay that is core to the Rainbow Six Siege experience.
The Y4S1 release of RFF is not our final version of the system. Future iterations and improvements will continue based off data and player feedback.
Community feedback so far has been invaluable and allowed us to make early iterations to the system. For example, RFF can now activate based on total friendly damage. In these cases, there is no validation screen for the offending player's teammates. We are also striving to make it clearer how operators and gadgets will react to this system. We have consolidated some guidelines below for your reference.
Effect Of Reverse Friendly Fire
On Weapons And Thrown Objects
Impacts:
Primary/secondary weapons
Direct hits from thrown unique gadgets
Exothermic-S Torch (Maverick)
SK 4-12 (Buck)
Mounted LMG (Tachanka; regardless of who's using the turret)
M120 CREM (Ash) when the breaching round directly hits someone
KS79 Lifeline (Zofia)
Airjab Launcher (Nomad)
Pest Launcher (Mozzie)
Before RFF activation:
Can cause damage to teammates
Will count towards activating RFF
After RFF activation:
Teammates will not receive damage
Will reverse damage dealt
On Explosives
Impacts:
Generic gadgets (frag grenade, C4, breach charge) that results in an explosion*
Gas Grenade (Smoke)
TAC MKO asphyxiating bolts (Capitão)
M120 CREM (Ash) when the breaching round explodes
Cluster Charge (Fuze)
*Explosive gadgets that do not do damage (i.e. stun grenades, Ying's Candela) will not be affected by RFF in any way
Before RFF activation:
Can cause damage to teammates
Will count towards activating RFF
After RFF activation:
Can cause damage to teammates
Does not reverse damage dealt*
*Explosives currently will continue to damage teammates even under RFF. This is not intended and will be fixed in Season 2.
Exceptions*:
Claymore
Entry Denial Device (Kapkan)
X-Kairos pellets (Hibana)
Exothermic Charge (Thermite)
*These explosives do not trigger RFF. While under RFF, these also do not reverse damage dealt and can continue to damage teammates. This can change in the future with feedback and further game design considerations.
On Drones And Operator Cameras
Impacts:
Evil Eye (Maestro)
Shock Drone (Twitch and Mozzie)
Before RFF activation:
Can cause damage to teammates
Will count towards activating RFF
After RFF activation:
Teammates will not receive damage
Will reverse damage dealt (onto the drone/camera)
More To Come
Further changes for Reverse Friendly Fire will come during Year 4 Season 2. We will introduce situations where the system will activate for the whole squad. How gadgets will react and behave under Reverse Friendly Fire will also be fine-tuned based on data and feedback. We look forward to sharing future developments with you.
We welcome any additional feedback on the Rainbow Six subreddit!
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