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Get an RTX 3060 Ti and Ryzen 5600X mini PC for £1099 - Eurogamer.net

Get an RTX 3060 Ti and Ryzen 5600X PC for £1099 with Scan and Nvidia - a great value build with two of the hottest components right now.

With Ryzen 5000 processors and RTX 30-series graphics cards extremely hard to come by right now, thanks to minimal supply and an incredible amount of demand, turning to a pre-built PC is becoming one of the only ways to get your hands on the latest hardware at a (somewhat) reasonable price. After all, retailers make money on each component, so selling a whole PC provides better margins than selling a single CPU or GPU. One option from Scan and Nvidia is a small form factor (SFF) gaming PC currently retailing for £1099, which includes an RTX 3060 Ti graphics card and an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor. That spec should provide very competitive frame-rates at 1080p and 1440p, so it could be worth considering if you're interested in making a substantial upgrade over your existing gaming PC or if you're getting into PC gaming for the first time. Behind the headlining CPU and GPU, the rest of the specs are reasonable too. 16GB of dual-channel 3200MHz DDR4 RAM is the current price/performance sweet spot, especially for AMD Ryzen processors, and a 1TB Intel 665p NVMe SSD should provide a good amount of fast storage. The motherboard is one of the most full-featured and best-reviewed A520 board on the market, the AsRock A520M ITX, so you get compatibility with new Ryzen processors, Wi-Fi and RAM overclocking. The only thing you're really missing out on here with the budget A520 chipset compared to more expensive B550 and X570 is PCIe 4.0 support, which only makes a fractional difference to graphics performance and game load times right now.

Mass Effect 2 writer discusses impact of Fox News on game's LGBTQ+ romances - Eurogamer.net

Mass Effect 2's LGBTQ+ relationships suffered as a result of Fox News' infamous and high profile segment on the brief sex scene included in Mass Effect 1. That's according to Mass Effect 2 writer Brian Kindregan, who told TheGamer, the controversy had contributed to the curtailing of pansexual romance possibilities for his foul-mouthed but kind-hearted character Jack. Back in 2007, bullshit broadcaster Fox News took aim at the first Mass Effect for its 30-second romance scene where you are able to see blue alien Liara's buttocks. In an awful and ill-informed discussion segment, the network suggested this optional coda to the near-60-hour game was potentially dangerous to its audience and that copies of the game should not be allowed into family homes. If you want to watch all of that, here it is, including a valiant attempt at a defence of the game from a fresh-faced Geoff Keighley: When it came to Mass Effect 2, development of which was already underway when this Fox News skit blew up, Kindregan says BioWare bosses felt pressured not to risk another controversy - however ridiculous it may have been. "I was trying to chart out the arc of [Jack's] romance, which for much of the development - it was actually very late that it became a male/female-only romance," Kindregan told TheGamer. "She was essentially pansexual for most of the development of that romance. "Mass Effect had been pretty heavily and really unfairly criticised in the US by Fox News, which at the time... maybe more people in the world thought that there was a connection between reality and what gets discussed on Fox News. The development team of Mass Effect 2 was a pretty progressive, open-minded team, but I think there was a concern at pretty high levels that if [the first] Mass Effect, which only had one gay relationship, Liara - which on paper was technically not a gay relationship because she was from a mono-gendered species - I think there was a concern that if that had drawn fire, that Mass Effect 2 had to be a little bit careful." When Mass Effect 2 was eventually released, Jack was only romanceable by a male Shepard. Still, if you spend time getting to know her, she'll tell you about past relationships, boyfriends, girlfriends and a thrupple - a three-person couple. "She says there was a guy and a woman she was running with that invited her into their robberies and into their bed," recalled. "She definitely references those things. That was explicitly to start sending the message that yes, this is a character who is pansexual. In the eleventh hour revision of cleaning that up, she'd already been partially recorded with voiceover. Not all of that could be changed. "I've worked with lesbian developers who have come up to me and said like, 'Why is Jack not into me?'" Kindregan says. "And I have to say 'I'm so sorry, it's partially my fault.' But I still stand by the thing of keeping her with a more varied background. Maybe someday Jack will be portrayed as pan." As well as cutting down Mass Effect 2's non-straight romances, it's notable that none of the game's romance scenes include any kind of nudity. The closest the game gets is in showing male Shepard's romance with Miranda, where the latter is briefly shown in her bra. While the first Mass Effect featured one ostensibly non-straight romance option (female Shepard and Liara), Mass Effect 2's bigger cast offers no full non-straight romance for female Shepard and no gay options for male Shepard at all. (It's still possible to spend a night off-screen with Kelly Chambers as female Shepard, where intimacy is implied, and female Shepard can sleep with Morinth if you recruit her, though this also results in an instant game over as she will kill you during sex. Neither of these unlock the game's romance achievement, available to the many straight romance options.) BioWare finally introduced an array of non-straight romance options in Mass Effect 3, with multiple gay and bisexual characters among that game's crew. These included the series' first gay male relationship choices and the first characters established canonically as gay and lesbian, rather than as a choice for both male and female Shepard. But, even then, nudity was left out - and it has only been used sparingly in BioWare games since. Buy Mass Effect 2 from Amazon[?]

Microsoft announces Xbox Live Gold price hike - Eurogamer.net

UPDATE: A Microsoft representative has confirmed to Eurogamer the UK Xbox Live Gold price hike: One month goes up from £6.99 to £7.99. Three months goes up from £17.99 to £21.99. And six months goes up from £29.99 to £42.99. This means 12 months of Xbox Live Gold now costs £86. It was £49.99. Eurogamer Next-Gen News Cast - Why we're so excited for Resident Evil: Village and its very tall lady. ORIGINAL STORY: Microsoft has announced a price hike for Xbox Live Gold. The price of a one-month Gold membership is increasing by $1, and the price of a three-month membership is increasing by $5 "or the equivalent amount in your local market". Microsoft has yet to publish the changes in pounds. We've asked for clarification. This means the new pricing will be one month for $10.99, three months for $29.99, and six months for $59.99. That means a year of Xbox Live Gold in the US is now $120. Messages warning of the price hike are being sent out to subscribers now, and Microsoft promised it won't adjust the pricing until at least 45 days after you receive these messages. If you're an existing 12-month or six-month Xbox Live Gold member, there is no change, and if you renew your membership, it will renew at the current price. "Periodically, we assess the value and pricing of our services to reflect changes in regional marketplaces and to continue to invest in the Xbox community," Microsoft said. "We'll be making price adjustments for Xbox Live Gold in select markets. In many markets, the price of Xbox Live Gold has not changed for years and in some markets, it hasn't changed for over 10 years." Xbox Live Gold subscriptions last got a price hike in the UK back in May 2019, when a 12-month subscription was raised from £39.99 to £49.99, while monthly subscriptions increased from £5.99 to £6.99. Three-month subscriptions also got a price hike, from £14.99 to £17.99, but a six-month membership stayed the same at £29.99. At the time, Microsoft said it made the change "to ensure gamers have consistent pricing for Xbox Live Gold across Europe" following changes made in the region in 2016. Perhaps mindful of questions over the value of an Xbox Live Gold subscription, which is required to play Xbox console games online, Microsoft announced a strong lineup of free games due to be released in February. February's titles include Gears 5, Resident Evil, and Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (the latter two of which are well-timed, given recent eye-catching announcements). Here's the list:

• Gears 5: 1-28 Feb
• Resident Evil: 1-28 Feb
• Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition 16 Feb to 15 Mar
• Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb: 1-15 Feb
• Lost Planet 2: 16-28 Feb

Frogwares shares more on investigatory adventure Sherlock Holmes Chapter One - Eurogamer.net

Frogwares is currently beavering away on Sherlock Holmes Chapter One - the latest entry in its well-regarded deduction-focussed adventure series - and as it works toward a PlayStation, Xbox, and PC launch later this year, the developer has shed a little more light on what's in store. Sherlock Holmes Chapter One, as we learned when it was announced last year, serves as a prequel to Frogwares' earlier Sherlock Holmes games, rewinding the clock to Holme's days as a fresh-faced, 21-year-old in order to chart the events that would lead him to a life of sleuthing. Chapter One marks a deliberate shift away from the fog-shrouded London streets of previous games, with its third-person, open-world investigatory action taking place on a sunny, Mediterranean-inspired island - riddled with class divides and corruption - as Sherlock, with the help of best friend Jonathan, investigates the death of his mother. That's what we already knew, but now Frogwares has shared more details in a newly released fan Q&A video. Here, the developer confirms Chapter One will feature five main quests, all of which are connected to a single overarching story. The core investigation is driven by the death of Sherlock's mother, but Frogwares says Holme's eagerness to prove his credentials as a real detective means he'll take on unrelated cases - AKA side quests - along the way. Some side quests will focus on Holmes and Jonathan's past, for instance, while others revolve around the people on the island, and Frogwares says there'll be 30+ (some said to be as substantial as their main quest counterparts) in the final game. These additional quests will start to become available once Chapter One's opening quest is complete, at which point players are able to explore the open-world island and uncover new mysteries at their leisure. Frogwares also confirms there are multiple endings and quest outcomes depending on players' deductive and moral choices, as was the case in its previous Sherlock Holmes games (you'll be able to accuse the wrong person depending on how you piece together clues, for instance), and the developer anticipates it'll take around 12-15 hours to complete the main storyline, and around 40 hours to see everything in the game. Chapter One marks a shift away from the gloom of Victorian London. As for the kind of investigatory tricks Sherlock will have at his disposal this time around, Frogwares has confirmed disguises will be making a return, and players can buy and don new outfits (including hats, glasses, even facial hair, wrinkles, and bruises) to gain the trust of different social groups, access closed off areas, or simply to satisfy their fashion whims. These customisation options will also extend to Sherlock's mansion residence on the island, with players able to deck out its rooms using furniture they've either bought from vendors or earned as rewards. Additionally, Frogwares has reiterated that combat will play a role in the game "where it makes sense for the story". Although Frogwares says it's not quite ready to show off gameplay just yet as "a lot of things are still being worked on", there are a few additional details - including some audio snippets of Sherlock and Jonathan's voice work - in its new developer video. Sherlock Holmes Chapter One is currently expected to launch on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S later this year.

Hitman 3 importing levels and progression explained: How to import Hitman 1 and 2 levels into Hitman 3 - Eurogamer.net

How to import levels from the first two Hitman games into Hitman 3, as well as carrying over your progression, explained.

Hitman 3 continues Hitman 2's feature of importing levels from previous entries in the series - allowing you to have access to every area in the Hitman trilogy in one package. This is, of course, provided you have owned previous games on that family of platforms - and though physical and digital purchases have different steps, the general process is the same. Progression and unlocks from Hitman 2 can also be carried over into Hitman 3, which is a higher recommended step to take before you first start the game, otherwise any new progress you make will be replaced. (UPDATE 3:20pm UK time: The website needed to carry progress between games is currently struggling with demand, with the studio saying on Twitter they are "hard at work" getting things back online. For now, IO recommends checking its Twitter account and not their website for updates on when things are back up. Until then, you can read the steps required on this page to know what's involved.) If you are reading this ahead of the Hitman 3 release time, now is a good time to get downloading Hitman 2 to ensure levels from that game and the original Hitman will carry over. On this page: 17 Ways To Die In Dubai - NEW HITMAN 3 GAMEPLAY AND EXECUTIONS! How to import Hitman levels into Hitman 3 As with Hitman 2, it's possible to import levels from previous entries into Hitman 3, so you can access every stage from the original Hitman, Hitman 2 and Hitman 3 in a single game, even across console generations. Developer IO makes this possible by turning these respective sets of levels available as DLC, with each game or expansion having an 'Access Pass'. If you have purchased a previous Hitman game or DLC, then access to the respective Access Pass for that game will be open to you. If you don't - say if you are a newcomer to the Hitman series with this third instillment - then you can purchase them from the store. Previous Hitman levels are available as three Access Packs for Hitman 1, Hitman 2, and Hitman 2 Gold (also known as the Hitman 2 expansion). That is the basics of how it works - of course, between digital and physical versions as well as various editions over the years, the process can get a bit complicated of how to import everything over. The main things to note are:

• If you are importing levels from the original Hitman either digitally or on disc, make sure you have imported them into Hitman 2, unlocking the 'Legacy Edition' in that game, first. This will then unlock the Legacy Edition in the store for that platform in Hitman 3 also. (The official website has more on this exact process.)
• If you only owned the main Legacy Edition of Hitman 1 (i.e. the original season) and not the GOTY Legacy Edition (which added Patient Zero and some additional suits) you will automatically be upgraded to that latter GOTY edition in Hitman 3.
• If you are importing levels from Hitman 2 digitally, the Access Pass will be available in Hitman 3 straight away.
• If you are importing levels from Hitman 2 on a disc, IO says you need to redeem the Access Pass within Hitman 2 before it will be available in Hitman 3*. Meanwhile, Xbox owners might also need to own a digital version of Hitman 3 or the Hitman 2 Free Starter Pack before this will can be redeemed in Hitman 2's store.
• Hitman 2 Gold Edition and the Hitman 2 expansion will work the same way, again depending on your physical or digital purchase.

• Finally, note importing levels and purchases can only be performed for that console family - PlayStation to PlayStation, Xbox to Xbox, PC to PC - and will work across console generations (so PS4 to PS5, Xbox One to Xbox Series). The exception at launch is PC and the Epic Games Store, though there is the promise that purchases on different PC stores will be honoured in time. Until then, all purchases of Hitman 3 within the first 10 days on the Epic Games Store will have access to the original Hitman 1 Legacy Edition for free.

• Hitman 2 profile rank
• Location mastery XP and unlocks from any levels played in Hitman 2
• Completed challenges and unlocks from levels played in Hitman 2
• Any Elusive Target suits and rewards from Hitman 2

• Save files
• Rewards from Hitman 1's Game of the Year Escalations
• Access to the ICA Electrocution Phone item (which is not available in Hitman 3)

Among Us devs explain why updates are "taking so long" - Eurogamer.net

The story of Among Us really is the stuff of fairytales: originally released back in 2018 by a dev team of three, last year it suddenly became one of the most popular titles in the world after several high-profile streamers began to play it. In a year of lockdowns, Among Us appealed to many as a way to entertain themselves on video calls, and even some American politicians got in on the action. But this massive spike in players brought challenges - a wave of cheaters being one of them - and developer Innersloth had to make some serious changes to the way it worked. In a new blog post, the dev team has addressed why some features are taking longer to implement than some expected. "Among Us gained incredible traction pretty late into 2020 that we weren't expecting, and that meant a lot of change for us," Innersloth explained. "...Not only did we need to switch back to working on Among Us after thinking it was done, but we also needed to set ourselves up more sustainably to work on the game. We had to spend two months just restructuring, figuring out new processes, and getting external partners to help us manage on board." Let's Play Among Us - Costume Edition, featuring Outside Xbox and Dicebreaker Innersloth noted it had to streamline to work long-term and allow for an increase in team size, which meant a lot of behind-the-scenes work and "time away from the game". On top of that, bringing the game to new platforms like Nintendo Switch and Xbox required additional support. The work being done now, however, should ease development in future. As for those who suggested simply hiring more people to speed things up, Innersloth explained it wasn't that straightforward. Rushing to hire people could be financially damaging, Innersloth said, while onboarding newcomers is also a time-consuming process. "We never expected all of this to happen (thank you!!!), so we're taking it slow and steady to make sure we can keep sending good things your way," Innersloth added. "Thank you so much for the patience as you wait for the next big update! We want to do more for you to show you how grateful we are, but without sacrificing on the quality and values we had before this blew up." The blog post promised a new 2021 roadmap would be unveiled in the coming weeks, while new map The Airship is also due to arrive in early 2021. I'm glad this one's about to get off the ground.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning hits Nintendo Switch in March - Eurogamer.net

Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning launches on Nintendo Switch on 16th March 2021. This release includes the main game plus three DLCs: The Teeth of Naros, Legend of Dead Kel, and Weapons and Armor bundles. The Nintendo Switch announcement trailer is below: Publisher THQ Nordic said it plans to release brand new Kingdoms of Amalur expansion Fatesworn later this year. Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning is a remaster of the original action RPG developed by Big Huge Games and 38 Studios. That game launched on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012, published by EA. 38 Studios subsequently filed for bankruptcy, and in 2018 THQ Nordic picked up the rights to the series, releasing the remaster on PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in September 2020.

Apex Legends' new hero is "blow-up-first ask-questions-later kinda guy" Fuse - Eurogamer.net

Apex Legends' eighth season, titled Mayhem, is right around the corner, and ahead of its planned 2nd February kick-off, developer Respawn Entertainment has introduce the free-to-play shooter's newest hero, Fuse. Fuse - described as a "blow-up-first ask-questions-later kinda guy" on the Apex Legends website - will be the 16th hero to join the game since its launch almost two years ago now, and his official unveiling arrives in the form of a new Stories from the Outlands video. It's a whistle stop animated tour of Fuse's chaotic life - from childhood to present - detailing his adventures with an unnamed partner-in-crime on the planet Salvo, his eventual crowning as Bonecage Champion, and the events that led to tthe Aussie demolitions expert losing his arm. Apex Legends: Stories from the Outlands - "Good as Gold". That origin story is all we have to go on at the moment, and Respawn is yet offer official word on how Fuse will play as a character. As noted by Polygon, however, data miners have previously uncovered evidence that Fuse can use his mechanical arm to toss grenades and has access to an ultimate known as The Motherlode, which sees the massive cannon on his back come into play. Expect plenty more details of Apex Legends' eighth season - which also brings a new lever-action rifle known as The 30-30 Repeater, a new Battle Pass, and a new Ranked Season - as its 2nd February launch on PS4, Xbox One, and PC approaches.

Tomonobu Itagaki says he's established new studio Itagaki Games - Eurogamer.net

Tomonobu Itagaki has established a new video game studio, he's said. Tomonobu Itagaki. Image credit Facebook. In a post on Facebook, the famed Japanese developer said he recently founded Itagaki Games. This is not Tecmo, nor is it Valhalla, Itagaki said. Itagaki, of Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden fame, revealed the news as part of a self-published Q&A interview between himself and Bloomberg that didn't make the cut for a January article on the original Xbox. Itagaki has a long history of working with Microsoft. While at Tecmo, Itagaki directed OG Xbox launch title Dead or Alive 3, 2003 OG Xbox exclusive Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball, and 2004 Xbox exclusive Ninja Gaiden. A reworded version of the latter, Ninja Gaiden Black, came out exclusively on the Xbox in 2005. Eurogamer Next-Gen News Cast - the Star Wars games we'd love to see next Itagaki then directed 2005 Xbox 360 exclusive Dead or Alive 4, 2006 Xbox 360 exclusive Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, and 2008 Xbox 360 exclusive Ninja Gaiden 2. After Itagaki left Tecmo in 2008 he founded Valhalla Game Studios and, in 2015, released the poorly-received Devil's Third for the Wii U. Itagaki said he's spent the past four years teaching, "but now I feel like I want to make a game again and just established a company for that purpose." Itagaki was asked how he'd react if Microsoft expressed interest in buying this new studio. "I know Microsoft is still aggressive," he replied. "If they reach out to me, it will be an honour for me." Buy Devil's Third from Amazon[?]

Capcom announces Resident Evil showcase for next week - Eurogamer.net

Capcom has announced a Resident Evil showcase set for 10pm UK time on 21st January 2021. Don?t miss the Resident Evil Showcase on January 21st at 10pm GMT/ 11pm CET! Join Brittney Brombacher ( @BlondeNerd ) on a guided tour of Resident Evil Village, including a new trailer, first-ever gameplay, and lots more Resident Evil news! pic.twitter.com/BSNiFPpkbV — Capcom Europe (@CapcomEurope) January 14, 2021 This content is hosted on an external platform, which will only display it if you accept targeting cookies. Please enable cookies to view.Manage cookie settings During the show we'll get our first look at gameplay of Resident Evil Village, "and lots more Resident Evil news". Perhaps that suggests we'll see announcements around other new upcoming Resident Evil games, and maybe a release date for Village. Resident Evil Village is a direct follow-up to the superb Resident Evil 7, and is due out on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X at some point in 2021.

New Pokémon Snap releases in April, with over 200 creatures to film - Eurogamer.net

New Pokémon Snap includes more than 200 Pokémon species when it arrives for Nintendo Switch on 30th April. Today's release date came alongside a new teaser for the on-rails photography sequel, and details that it would be set in a new region of the Pokémon world named Lental. This area is looked after by Professor Mirror, who will judge all your snaps. The trailer showed some of the species to expect, with a mix of old favourites and newer creatures from across the series, alongside a broad range of environments. There's some kind of story element to the game as well, as certain Pokémon are illuminated with a glowing effect known as the Illumina phenomenon. Your pics will help investigate. The original Pokémon Snap became a cult classic on N64, loved by fans for its relaxing gameplay and ability to see Pokémon chilling in their natural environments. Over two decades later, this follow-up arrives during the Pokémon franchise's 25th anniversary year - for which it has big plans that include Katy Perry.

CD Projekt co-founder addresses botched Cyberpunk 2077 console release in new video - Eurogamer.net

CD Projekt co-founder Marcin Iwiński has addressed the events leading up to the disastrous launch of Cyberpunk 2077 last year in an attempt to explain how the game's widely lambasted Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions were released in such a poor state. "Based on [our] legacy of genuine and honest communication", says Iwiński in a new video," you've trusted us and pre-ordered our game, and despite good reviews on PC, the console version of Cyberpunk 2077 did not meet the quality standard we wanted it to meet. I, and the entire leadership team, are deeply sorry for this and this video is me publicly owning up to this." According to Iwiński, problems with the console release stemmed from Cyperpunk's "huge" scope - specifically the "multitude of custom objects, interacting systems, and mechanics" all condensed into a single big city and "in a relatively loading-free environment". Cyberpunk 2077 - Our Commitment to Quality. Iwiński says getting all that to run on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One would have been enough of a challenge, "but we made it even more difficult for ourselves by wanting to make the game look epic on PCs and then adjusting it to consoles - especially old gens". Despite the significant hardware gap, the studio believed "things did not look super difficult at first", but Iwiński concedes "time has proven that we've underestimated the task". That proof, of course, came on launch day, when considerable criticism was immediately levied at Cyberpunk's prominent bugs and awful performance, particularly on base consoles. However, Iwiński insists the studio's testing "did not show a big part of the issues you experienced", and that the developer saw "significant improvements each and every day" as it got closer to release and "really believed we'd deliver in the final day zero update". Iwiński also addresses the studio's decision to withhold console review code from publications until mere days before launch, saying that while the PC version was in good shape well in advance of release day, CD Projekt was "fighting for quality on old-gen consoles till the very last moment and every extra day of us working on the day zero update brought visible improvement", meaning console code was sent out "later than we originally planned". Cyperpunk 2077's revised roadmap. Iwiński notes that CD Projekt's "incredibly hard working and talented" development team should not be blamed for Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous console launch. "Myself and the board are the final decision makers," he stresses, "and it was our call to release the game. Although, believe me, we never ever intended for anything like this to happen. I assure you that we will do our best to regain your trust". To that end, Iwiński takes a few moments to detail the studio's future plans for Cyberpunk 2077 on console and PC, beginning with variably sized patches - intended to fix bugs and improve the experience across all platforms - "on a regular basis". The first of these is due in approximately 10 days, with another more significant patch to following in the coming weeks. CD Projekt's long-term plans for supporting the game have not change, says Iwiński, but some of Cyperpunk 2077's more notable post-launch content has now been delayed. Free DLC updates, originally planned to arrive shortly after release, now won't land until after critical problem areas have been addressed, with more information expected "in the coming months". As for the highly anticipated next-gen console update, that's now due to launch in the second half of the year, and a revised roadmap can be found in CD Projekt's accompanying blog post. "We are treating this entire situation very seriously," concludes Iwiński, "and are working hard to make it right".