News:: Watch Dogs 2 PC edition launch deals at 20% off

Hey, good news everyone. It looks like the delay did the trick because by all accounts thus far, the Watch Dogs 2 PC port has been well received. This might be one of those special Ubisoft moments that you should shed a tear for. At least it's not another Assassin's Creed Unity situation.

The early-bird reception is looking good, with users at mostly positive reviews. Delaying the game two weeks from the console version's release is shaping up to be the right move.

Discounts are possible on the PC version at launch via Green Man Gaming. There you'll find the Standard, Deluxe, and Gold editions all with a price cut. These are, of course, Uplay keys.

Watch Dogs 2 PC deals

• Watch_Dogs 2 (Uplay) — $47.99  (list price $60)
• Watch_Dogs 2 Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $55.99  (list price $70)
• Watch_Dogs 2 Gold Edition (Uplay) — $79.99  (list price $100)

Pre-order deals are not included because you know... the game is now released.

The discount may seem kind of meh if you've been paying attention in the past few days as Watch Dogs 2 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One dropped as low as $39.99. If you're looking for a similar level of discount, check back in early 2017.

Yeah that's right sucka, 2017 is just around the corner.

On an end-of-the-year side note, Don't forget Ubisoft is giving away PC games during its 30th anniversary celebration. On December 7, everyone can get a free copy of Assassin's Creed III. Nice.

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News:: Glove skins come to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

When I think of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (and, at this point, Valve more generally as well), I think of monetized items. You too? Well, here's another! Valve has introduced cosmetic glove skins as well as Steam Group Lobbies, a way to group up and play with friends, in a recent update.

All told, there are 24 glove skins to acquire, and they're available in Glove Cases as rarities. In other words, best of luck getting the one you want (much less any at all) without it being a hassle.

Similar to the paid, limited-use sprays, I think folks wanted this as a cosmetic option, just not implemented in this way. And for those players who don't want glove skins at all and are hoping to ignore this stuff, the wait continues for more meaningful updates and events in CS:GO.

Brothers In Arms [Counter-Strike]

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News:: Overwatch's new map Oasis is a fun addition

If you play Overwatch on PC, you may want to update the Public Test Realm (PTR) and load it up. Blizzard's unveiled a new set of control point maps for their popular first-person shooter, and it looks like it'll be heading to console versions and the live game alongside the recent Symmetra changes. Although it was a little difficult to get a game going due to some technical problems with the PTR, I spent a little while trying out the new levels.

The new set of maps are called Oasis, and they take place in a high-tech Egyptian setting. It sort of reminded me of the African areas in Halo 2 and ODST. That feeling was amplified when I found a large jump pad that allows access to some higher levels of the map in the Hotel district.

The most immediately apparent change comes with one of the new environmental hazards. On the Hotel map, the open side of the level is surrounded by a busy hovercar freeway. You can walk onto the freeway, but if you're hit by one of the cars speeding by on their way to the city, your character will ragdoll and you'll get a free trip to the respawn room. Of course, characters who can push other heroes around like Pharah and Lúcio can use this to their advantage if a fight breaks out near the freeway. There's a large health pack near the control point on this map, and sadistically, collecting it requires you to wander perilously close to the traffic.

The maps are largely symmetrical, as all King of the Hill maps have been so far in Overwatch. The spawn rooms are quite a bit different this time, though. You might start in an underground library surrounded by scanbots examining artifacts and old tomes, and it appears that the artifacts change from game to game. Other parts of the level will start you in a hotel lobby, a coffee shop complete with floating robot butlers (whose heads sound like the bells in Dorado when you punch them), or a boatyard preparing for a leisurely cruise down the Nile. None of these has as many physics objects as the Hanamura Arcade, but they all beat waiting for a match to start in the dropships found in Nepal and Lijiang Tower.

The rest of the levels don't have any new features like the Hotel map does, though they're all extremely pretty. Some of the level geometry is different than on previous control points, and that'll make for some interesting changes to play. For example, the Garden level has an archway partially covering the control point, and the Hotel level has a small building with two entrances where ambush characters should be able to hide in wait. The Archives level has a pit in the center concealing a large health pack, but jumping down means you might have some difficulty getting back into the fray. 

Overwatch's developers have indicated that the new maps should be available when the game's December patch goes live on all versions. I'm looking forward to it, though possibly not as much as this guy.

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News:: Gone Home is everything I need to be happy right now

Last week, I went home. I flew back to my hometown for American Thanksgiving, the penultimate holiday worth celebrating. Between work, school, and the time-change, I was practically operating on a 12-hour difference. I split my time between cleaning out the respective attics of two separate houses and just Generally Poking Around. I found my grandfather's lone porn mag, circa 2004. I found three sealed Lord of the Rings Blu-rays and some rare toys I forgot I owned. And I found my mom's day planner from her teenage years, illuminating a lot about how she became the person I know. While my family slept, I poked around. More often than not, I exclusively uncovered mundanities that supported larger narratives. For example, the increased amount of frozen food in the house indicated a higher level of stress; nobody has any time to cook. 

Oh boy, this sure is a roundabout way of saying that I have a newfound affection for Gone Home, huh? Sure, I liked the game when it first came out, as you might expect from Mike Cosimano: snooping's #1 fan. Gone Home is essentially Audio Logs: The Video Game, where the player spends their time piecing together multiple emotionally satisfying character-driven stories through ambient storytelling (the kind I so often crave).

That hasn't changed since I first played the game back in August 2013 (!!!) during my college freshman orientation. Now, as the second worst year of my life and a banner year for death, hatred, and general disaster crawls to the finish line, I keep thinking about Gone Home, and how it's served as a 90-minute oasis; a very particular kind of salve for my wounds.

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News:: Run!

Col Price is an artist from the UK who has worked on series like Wipeout, Battlefield, Motorstorm and Driveclub.

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News:: From Gold Farming To Gamergate, The Gaming Ties Of Donald Trump's White House

Donald Trump’s cabinet is coming together, and it’s become impossible to ignore some real and direct connections to the world of video games, largely centering on his controversial picks for chief strategist, Steve Bannon, and national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

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News:: 2nd Annual Unofficial Destructoid Christmas Card

[Tired of getting those weird holiday cards from your incarcerated uncle, Jerry, that he stuffs with crude drawings made with the end of a toothbrush handle and shoe polish? Let MeanderBot send you a Christmas card you can actually be proud of! Last year's card is still proudly brandished on my fridge. Join the club! - weslikestacos]

[Update: Straight from the man himself!

Cost
Since I have to order in sets of 25, and I'll certainly have extras, I'm not going to require payment for a premium card. Instead, I'll just ask for a donation of $1-2.

Deadline
I'm ordering the cards December 1st-ish. I'll require sign ups by then to guarantee a card.  But, as I said, I'll certainly have extras, so I'll take sign ups up until the 10th so long as I have extras.

International shipping
I'm willing to look into it, as I'm anticipating shipping to be about $2. So I'll give it a shot, but I reserve the right to not do it due to actual cost and number of international shippees, unless they're willing to donate a few bucks.]

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News:: The Pokémon constant: Someone will always beat it with Magikarp

Worthless. Pathetic. Horribly Weak. Virtually useless. This is how Pokémon games' in-game encyclopaedias describe Magikarp, a hapless fish-creature that is widely regarded as the "worst" monster in the game series' ever-growing list of fighting creatures. It only has three attacks, and one of them literally does nothing. So, naturally, someone beat Pokémon Sun And Moon using nothing but the worthless flounder. Because why not?

Via: Kotaku

Source: Rocket News

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News:: Ubisoft's pledging cross-platform support for all its multiplayer VR games

Virtual reality is a gaming technology that's very much still in its comparative infancy. There's amazing potential for immersive multiplayer experiences, but they're hamstrung by a small install base. The problem is compounded when you consider that users are divided across three platforms. Ubisoft is taking steps to solve that latter issue.

Ubisoft announced this week that it's making all of its multiplayer VR titles compatible with cross-platform play. Moving forward, players on PSVR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive will be able to play Ubisoft's multiplayer games together. The initiative kicked off today as cross-play was enabled for Eagle Flight. The next games to receive the same support will be Werewolves Within and Star Trek: Bridge Crew.

Ubisoft offered the following quote from Red Storm creative director David Votypka: "Our games feature strong multiplayer experiences, so letting friends play together regardless of which headset they own will enhance the social nature of our games and let them be played the way we envisioned."

It sounds like the same empty, vapid marketing-speak we always hear, but there's sincerity behind this one. The nature of early adoption means that relatively few people have access to virtual reality. Breaking down barriers like this is borderline necessary to succeed. It's the rare business move that benefits both the publisher and the consumer.

Of course, Ubisoft isn't the first to take this approach. CCP made EVE: Valkyrie cross-platform from the very beginning. Ubisoft is, however, the first major publisher to make this a company-wide policy. For the good health of virtual reality, it'd be nice to see other publishers follow in Ubisoft's footsteps.

Ubisoft's VR Lineup to Support Cross-platform Play [UbiBlog]

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News:: The Crew's police-chase expansion Calling All Units is out today

It feels as if the second expansion for The Crew has appeared out of nowhere, and I say that as someone who is very fond of the open-road, multiplayer-centric racing game. Calling All Units releases today on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One for $25, and you'll need the base game in order to play it. Hope you managed to snag a free or otherwise heavily-discounted copy somewhere along the way!

The basic premise is a familiar but appealing one for the genre: street races and police chases. That style of "cops and robbers" gameplay will come about through new story missions as well as faction-specific roles for players to take on while roaming the open world. Street racers are meant to pick up and deliver crates to win "car fragments" (unlocks), while cops are tasked with running them down for an arrest. Both have specialized abilities at their disposal, like speed hacks, EMPs, and flashbangs.

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News:: Tickets just went on sale for One Piece Film Gold’s North America run.

Tickets just went on sale for One Piece Film Gold’s North America run. Theaters around the United States and Canada will show the high-grossing anime movie between January 10th and 17th, the One Piece Podcast reports.

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News:: Watch Dogs 2 Runs Just Fine On PC

The first Watch Dogs game was a mess on PC. The sequel, thankfully, is not.

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News:: PlayStation's Communities app helps you find teammates faster

PlayStation's official mobile app has been live since 2013, letting players glance at their friends list, keep up with console news and buy new games on the fly. Then Sony released another companion app last December dedicated to messaging within the PlayStation Network. Today, iOS and Android users get a third: Communities, which will let players join groups with similar interests and game preferences.

Source: PlayStation blog

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News:: Peep two hours of the English version of Persona 5

Look, I know it's not exactly the consolation you're after considering that Persona 5 just got delayed almost two months. It's a bummer for sure. Maybe, hopefully, absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

But, Persona 5 doesn't need to be completely absent. Take, for instance, this two hour video of the English version. You can watch this, get some Persona 5, and possibly sate your appetite for that extra seven week wait. Probably not, but maybe!

At least Morgana's here and if anything can cheer you up, it's Morgana because Morgana is goddamn adorable.

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News:: Deadspin What Is The Grossest Thing You’ve Ever Eaten Off A Child’s Plate?

Deadspin What Is The Grossest Thing You’ve Ever Eaten Off A Child’s Plate? | The Slot Melania Trump Threatens to Sue Over Barron Trump Video Made by Autistic Young Man | Gizmodo Reddit Is Tearing Itself Apart | The Concourse Who Lost The White House? |

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News:: Overwatch Outfits, As Reviewed By People Who Know Fashion

Overwatch is a cavalcade of character design. It’s almost — dare I say it — fashionable. But what do I know? I’m a 35 year-old games journalist. I own roughly 25 white t-shirts. Five don’t have stains. Yet. My solution: create a panel and ask the experts.

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News:: Try Titanfall 2's multiplayer for free this week

There's a lot of pleasant fuss surrounding Titanfall 2. In a season of very good shooters, it might be the best shooter. It's great that Respawn seems to have found the right tweaks to the formula to keep this from falling flat like the original Titanfall did; it's not so great that, reportedly, Titanfall 2 isn't selling very well.

EA is trying to make up some lost ground by giving prospective buyers a taste of the product. There will be a free multiplayer trial on PC, PS4, and Xbox One beginning on December 2. EA Access subscribers on PC and Xbox One will get the trial on November 30. As stated in the announcement post, it's a "full offering including all maps, modes, weapons and more." EA also notes that any progress earned in the trial will carry over if the player decides to purchase the game.

Since this is a full, unrestricted look at multiplayer, the trial will also include Titanfall 2's first DLC. Angel City's Most Wanted releases on December 3, and features the Angel City map from the original Titanfall. A video for this is embedded above. This add-on, like all Titanfall 2 add-ons, will be free of charge.

What we don't know about this promotion is when it will end, just that it's a "limited time." Don't let that deter you, though. Make the most of it and rodeo some robots while the gettin' is good.

Titanfall 2 Free Multiplayer Trial [Titanfall]

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News:: Sex Game’s Safe For Work Mode Dresses Characters In Christmas Sweaters

Ladykiller in a Bind is full of sex. Naughty, dirty sex. It’s a fun visual novel that let me explore BDSM and consent. For those of you feeling a little timid, the game’s new update adds a few features to keep things PG-13.

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News:: Titanfall 2 is having a free multiplayer weekend to celebrate its first DLC map

Titanfall 2 was put in a rough spot, launching squarely between Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

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News:: Someone Leaked Final Fantasy XV's Ending Six Months Ago

Back in May, an anonymous poster on 4chan wrote up a bunch of plot points that he said were story spoilers for Final Fantasy XV. Nobody believed him. Well, about that... (Don’t stress: We’ll keep the spoilers out of this article.)

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News:: 31 Years Later, Brazil Is Still a Horrifying Vision of the Ever-Encroaching Future

Terry Gilliam’s classic dystopian satire has only gotten more relevant since it came out. Brazil finds its humor in bleak places, mapping out an alternate reality where oppressive state-implemented paranoia makes everyone scared of each other.

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News:: Pokemon Sun and Moon's first global mission wants 100 million 'mon caught by December 13

Want to earn a quick 1,000 Festival Coins in Pokemon Sun & Moon? All you have to do is catch 100 million Pokemon

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News:: Darksiders Warmastered Edition is a free upgrade on PC

Admittedly, I just wanted to write a blurb about Darksiders Warmastered Edition's launch on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One to rekindle the life-affirming goof that is #darksiders2. Someone had to!

But there's another, arguably better reason to cover this news: the 4K, 60 frames-per-second remaster is a free upgrade for PC players. Don't you love when they do that? The offer is valid on Steam and GOG.com, where Darksiders is only $4 until December 2, 2016 (it's also on sale at the Humble Store).

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News:: Steins;Gate 0 is a Dark Time Travel Tale

Steins;Gate is an amazingly well-written time travel adventure. It is also one of the best visual novels ever made. New adventure Steins;Gate 0 lives up to the original in nearly every possible way.

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News:: What games would you like to see get an anime adaptation?

In recent years I played Persona 3 and Persona 4 and loved them, but I have yet to see their anime adaptations. I hear great things about them (aside from the Golden series) but just need the time to sit down and check them out. Likewise, Ace Attorney has an anime based on the first two games in the series and I want to get to that at some point given how engrossing those stories are. 

Final Fantasy XV has the Brotherhood anime which takes place before the main game, and Final Fantasy VII: Last Order was set during certain flashback events featured in that title. I've yet to get started on all the FFXV business, but I enjoyed Last Order back in the day.

The big hitters are Pokémon and Yo-kai Watch, the latter more so in Japan, whose anime have taken on their own unique characters and stories based on the lore and premise of the games they are based on. If your favorite game got the anime treatment, would you prefer it to be a unique story based in universe like Pokémon, a prequel or sequel, a side-story of events that happen off-screen during the game, or a retelling of the game's story beat-for-beat?

AnimeAnime surveyed 1475 Japanese gamers on what games or series they'd like to see get an anime adaptation. The top 10 results are thus:

1. Kingdom Hearts
2. The Legend of Zelda
3. Steins;Gate 0
4. Ib
5. Metal Gear Solid
6. Chrono Trigger
7. Final Fantasy X
8. Okami
9. Final Fantasy VI
10. Ai☆Chu

What's that? The American-made The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. Super Show! exist? Well excuse me princess, but do you still consider it "anime" if it's not made in Japan? The Japanese do, where the word "anime" refers to any form of animated show or movie whether its 2D, 3D, Japanese, American, French, North Korean, or what have you. 

There was a Japanese-made Mario anime film titled Super Mario Bros.: The Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach! which you can watch the entirety of on YouTube, and Sonic has gotten a number of shows from both America and Japan. Sonic Boom is doing surprisingly well and you may be shocked by its quality given the lackluster performance of its video game titles. However, considering how laugh-out-loud bad those Mario and Zelda shows were (not to mention the Super Mario Bros. movie) I don't think Nintendo is eager to try again anytime soon.

Looking at Ib reminds me of Yume Nikki, an older horror indie game. There's a manga but taking an animated ride through that hell might be the most mind-bending experience since Serial Experiments Lain.

"What games do you want to see animated?" Survery. Kingdom Hearts is No. 1 [AnimeAnime]

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News:: Sandbox building game Lego Worlds headed to PS4, Xbox One

An official Lego take on the formula popularized by Minecraft seemed like a good idea last year when TT Games debuted Lego Worlds on Steam Early Access, and it still does today.

The open-world building and exploration game hasn't had its full PC release yet, despite an initial estimate that the Early Access period would wrap in 2016, but it's happening relatively soon. Lego Worlds will see a final release on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on February 21, 2017.

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News:: Traffic Can Kill You In Overwatch's New Map

Overwatch’s upcoming map, Oasis, will crush you. Literally—there’s traffic.

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