Koch Media France reveals upcoming Utawarerumono Zan localization by NIS America

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Koch Media France reveals upcoming Utawarerumono Zan localization by NIS America

It looks like the Utawarerumono spinoff will also see a localization.

source /news/8402-koch-media-france-reveals-upcoming-utawarerumono-zan-localization-by-nis-america

PS4’s PSN Name Change Feature Can Cause Issues With These Games

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PlayStation fans can rejoice, as the much-requested PSN ID change feature is finally coming to PS4 this week. Changing your PSN ID will be free for the first time; each subsequent change will cost $10 / £8, while PS Plus subscribers get a reduction to $5 / £4. The news is good, but there’s a catch: not every PS4 game might not play nicely with your new ID, and in some cases the problems could be significant.

As stated on the PlayStation Blog, “As a result of the preview program, we’ve found an instance where a game did not fully support the feature.” Sid Shuman, PlayStation’s director of social media, clarified that any game published on or after April 1, 2018 should support the feature. However, not every game has been tested with the feature implemented.

Sony has provided a tentative list of games that could present issues for those who change their PSN IDs. Sony says a “large majority of most actively played PS4 games support the feature,” and while you can rollback the change, you’ll want to be aware of the potential for issues.

There are two ways to change your PSN ID: on the PS4 itself or via a web browser. Once you’ve done so, be mindful when jumping into the games below, which are separated into those that have been found to have issues and those with “critical issues.”

Games With Issues Identified

Changing your PSN ID may cause the previous ID to remain visible or disappear entirely, user accounts to unlink, and settings to return to default in these games. Sony suggests that signing out and signing back in should resolve these non-critical issues.

  • Absolver: Downfall
  • Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
  • Big City Stories
  • Bloodborne
  • Call of Duty: Ghosts
  • Crossout
  • Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
  • Dark Souls III
  • Dragon Quest Builders
  • FIFA 17 Standard Edition
  • Gauntlet: Slayer Edition
  • God Eater 2 Rage Burst
  • Grand Theft Auto V
  • Gundam Versus
  • Guns Up!
  • Injustice 2 – Standard Edition
  • Killzone Shadow Fall
  • Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite
  • MLB The Show 17
  • Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
  • Naruto Shippuden: Storm Trilogy
  • Naruto Storm: Road to Boruto Expansion
  • NBA 2K19
  • PlayStation VR Worlds
  • Rock Band 4
  • Rocksmith 2014 Edition – Remastered
  • The Last of Us Remastered
  • Titanfall 2
  • Trackmania Turbo
  • Trove
  • Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
  • UNO
  • Warframe
  • WipEout Omega Collection

Games With Critical Issues

Changing your PSN ID may cause you to lose progress and/or in-game currency in these games. Additionally, some parts of the game may function properly. Sony doesn’t recommend changing your ID if you want to keep entitlements and Trophies as it’s “possible to incur permanent game errors or data loss.”

  • Disc Jam
  • Everybody’s Golf
  • Just Dance 2017
  • LittleBigPlanet 3
  • MLB 14 The Show
  • MLB The Show 16
  • MLB® The Show 15
  • ONRUSH
  • The Golf Club 2
  • Worms Battlegrounds

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4s-psn-name-change-feature-can-cause-issues-with/1100-6466161/

New Destiny 2 Limited-Time Event, The Revelry, Coming Soon

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Bungie has announced the next event for Destiny 2 is called The Revelry. The spring-themed event will begin on April 16 and continue until May 6, adding content and a new Exotic weapon to the game. A new trailer detailing the event has also been released. It can be viewed below.

The Revelry grants access to a new area called Verdant Forest, which–like Festival of the Lost’s Haunted Forest–adds objective-based fights that you need to clear in order to face off against an onslaught of bosses. Although Verdant Forest can be tackled alone, Bungie advises to fight “with a team.”

During the event, you’ll also be given a Reveler’s Tonic. The tonic can be filled with Reveler’s Essence by killing the Verdant Forest’s bosses or clearing certain side quests. Once filled, the tonic can be used to reduce the cooldown on grenades, melee attacks, or class abilities. The potency of the tonic can be increased as well, by equipping pieces of The Revelry’s new Inaugural Revelry or Vernal Growth armor sets. The effects of these armor pieces and the your tonic will apply in all game modes except for Private Matches during the entirety of The Revelry event.

You will also be able to exchange the Reveler’s Essence you collect for limited-time rewards, “including world drops, Enhancement Cores, and ornaments for the Inaugural Revelry helmet.” The latter will grow in size by equipping more pieces of the Inaugural Revelry or Vernal Growth armor sets. Essence can also be exchanged for a new Exotic kinetic fusion rifle called Arbalest. Bungie describes the firearm as “the first weapon of its kind,” and “does extra damage against enemy shields.”

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During The Revelry, drop rates for Bright Engrams will be doubled, and players at max level will earn one every time they level up. Limited-time Revelry Engrams will be available as well, the images of which are posted above.

Destiny 2 is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. The game’s latest patch sees the return of the quest that allows you to unlock the Exotic arc machine gun Thunderlord, in case you missed out during the Festival of the Lost.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-destiny-2-limited-time-event-the-revelry-comin/1100-6466159/

PS4: How To Change Your PSN ID

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It’s been a long time coming, but Sony is finally rolling out the much-requested PSN ID change feature this week. From April 10 (April 11 in Europe), PS4 users will have the option to change their PSN IDs as many times as they’d like either through the console itself or a web browser. Here’s how the process works.

The first time you change your PSN ID will be free, but each subsequent change will carry a $10 / £8 fee. If you have a PlayStation Plus subscription, you’ll pay half that, so each change will cost you $5 / £4. As previously mentioned, there are no limits to the number of times you can change your PSN ID, and you can always revert back to any previous ID at no charge by contacting PlayStation support.

To change your PSN ID through your PS4, first go to the Settings tab and select Account Management. From there, choose Account Information, then Profile, and finally Online ID. Input the PSN ID you’d like to use and follow the on-screen prompts to finish the process. To change your ID through a web browser, first log in to your PSN account, then select PSN Profile. Click the Edit button next to your PSN ID and you’ll be able to change it. Follow the remaining prompts to complete the change.

As previously noted, you’ll only be able to change your PSN ID either through a PS4 console or a browser; you can’t do so on PS3 or Vita. Moreover, child accounts cannot change their ID. If you do change yours, you’ll have the option to display your old ID next to your new one on your profile for up to 30 days to help your friends notice the change. You can read more about the process on the PlayStation Blog.

Another caveat to keep in mind is that not all PS4 games will support ID changes. While any title published on or after April 1, 2018 should display your new ID in-game, Sony says it discovered one instance “where a [recent] game did not fully support the feature.” A small handful of games also have “critical issues” that may potentially result in the loss of game progress and other data if you do change your ID. You can see the full list of games that support PSN ID changes here.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-how-to-change-your-psn-id/1100-6466157/

Sekiro For $48, Kingdom Hearts 3 For $32, And More Game Deals For PS4, Xbox One, PC

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For a limited time, you can get some pretty sweet discounts on select video games and accessories at Newegg, which is offering a 20% off promo code now through tomorrow, April 11 or until supplies run out. The promo code to use is EMCTYUT27.

This promotion includes some of this year’s biggest releases, like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which is discounted to $48 with the promo code; The Division 2, also available for $48; Kingdom Hearts 3, which is marked down to $38; and Devil May Cry 5‘s Deluxe edition, which is down to $56 for Xbox One. Notably, you can grab two of 2018’s best games for remarkably cheap: God of War for $32 and Red Dead Redemption 2 for $30, both on PS4.

There’s also a small selection of consoles and accessories on sale, including the PlayStation Classic for just $32 (as a reminder, it launched at $100 in December), a few PSVR bundles, gaming headsets, and wireless controllers.

Shop Newegg’s 20% off sale on select games »

Check out some of our picks below–the price listed reflects the discount using promo code EMCTYUT27.

Games:

  • Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown — $48 (PS4, Xbox One)
  • Anthem — $48 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
  • Devil May Cry 5 – Deluxe Edition — $56 (Xbox One)
  • God of War — $32 (PS4)
  • Kingdom Hearts 3 — $32 (PS4, Xbox One)
  • Kingdom Hearts: The Story So Far — $32 (PS4)
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man — $32 (PS4)
  • Metro Exodus – Day One Edition — $32 (PS4, Xbox One)
  • Red Dead Redemption 2 — $30 (PS4) $48 (Xbox One)
  • Resident Evil 2 — $48 (PS4)
  • Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice — $48 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
  • Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 — $48 (PS4, Xbox One)

Consoles and accessories:

While game deals are on your mind, be sure to check out the massive sales going on at GameStop and Target right now too. At Target, it’s buy one, get one 50% off on select video games through Saturday, which is a great option if you’re planning to buy multiple games anyway. GameStop’s sale runs until April 20 and features huge markdowns on critically acclaimed games for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, as well as deals on consoles, accessories, toys, and collectibles.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sekiro-for-48-kingdom-hearts-3-for-32-and-more-gam/1100-6466154/

Fortnite 8.30 Patch Notes: Reboot Vans, Buccaneer’s Bounty Event, And More

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Epic Games has rolled out another new update for its hit battle royale title, Fortnite. Following a round of downtime on Wednesday morning, patch 8.30 is now live across PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile. As the developer details in the update’s patch notes, this week’s biggest additions are a new limited-time event called Buccaneer’s Bounty and the recently announced Reboot Vans.

Similar to the respawn stations found in EA’s rival battle royale game, Apex Legends, Reboot Vans allow you to revive fallen teammates during a match. To use them, you’ll need an ally’s Reboot Card, which is dropped upon their elimination. Once a card has been collected, any member of the squad can bring it to the Reboot Van and respawn them, regardless of who actually picked it up. The vans can’t be found in Solo matches, large-scale LTMs, or any mode that already has respawns enabled.

The other big draw this week is the aforementioned Buccaneer’s Bounty event, which runs until April 15. Throughout the event, Epic will feature a different limited-time mode to play every day. Treasure maps will also spawn a bit more frequently during matches, and there will be daily Buccaneer’s Bounty challenges to complete and rewards to unlock for all players–no Battle Pass necessary.

Also new following the update is the Fly Explosives LTM, which Epic says “combines the explosive fun of the High Explosives LTM with the Jetpack.” In this mode, the only weapons you’ll be able to find are explosives, and Jetpacks will occasionally spawn as Floor Loot. Beyond that, Epic has made numerous bug fixes and UI tweaks. You can read a portion of the patch notes for Battle Royale mode below; the full patch notes can be found on Epic’s website.

Week 7’s challenges are slated to arrive on Thursday, April 11, bringing players another step closer to unlock Season 8’s Legendary Ruin skin. If you still have any outstanding challenges you need to complete in the meantime, you can find tips and guides for this season’s trickier tasks in our full Season 8 challenges roundup.

Fortnite: Battle Royale Update 8.30 Patch Notes

Limited-Time Mode: Fly Explosives

Summary

This mode combines the explosive fun of the High Explosives LTM with the Jetpack. Take to the skies and blast everyone else back to the lobby!

Mode Details

  • Only explosive weapons can be found in this mode.
  • Floor Loot spawners will occasionally spawn Jetpacks.
    • Jetpacks are only available in this mode in Battle Royale.
  • Reduced storm wait times.
  • Rocket Ammunition capped at 120.

Weapons + Items

  • Reboot Van / Cards
    • Reboot Vans have now been added to the map at all major POIs.
    • When squad members are eliminated they now drop their Reboot Card, which can be collected by other squad members.
      • Reboot Vans / Cards are disabled in Solos, Big Team Limited Time Modes, and any modes with respawns enabled.
      • Reboot Cards remain in the world for 90s after they’ve been dropped.
      • Pickup Interaction time: 0.5 seconds.
    • Bringing Reboot Cards to Reboot Vans will bring each squad member whose card has been collected back into battle.
      • Collected Reboot Cards can be turned in by any squad member regardless of which member picked up the Card.
      • Interaction time: 10 seconds.
      • A Reboot Van goes on cooldown and cannot be activated again for 120 seconds after it’s used.
    • Rebooted squad members return with:
      • 100 Health
      • 1 Common Pistol
      • 36 Light Ammo
      • 100 Wood
  • Infantry Rifle
    • Damage decreased from 40/42 to 38/40.
    • Fall-off damage at maximum range increased from 26/28 to 32/34.
  • Poison Dart Trap damage ticks will no longer cause the camera to shake repeatedly.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue that occasionally prevented weapon fire from queuing for shotguns after switching weapons without re-pressing the fire key.
  • Fixed an issue where if a Clinger is attached to a player and they entered a Baller that it wouldn’t deal damage.
  • Fixed sniper rifles playing fire animations twice per shot from the point of view of other players.
  • Fixed grenade projectile trajectories lagging behind slightly when moving and rotating.
  • Fixed Traps not activating if a player blocks line of sight with a structure but then the structure is destroyed.
  • Fixed Balloon sound effects occasionally playing when entering a vehicle without Balloons active.
  • Fixed an issue with single shot weapons not reloading properly while in targeting mode.
  • Fixed Peppers not granting movement speed while walking.
  • Fixed Minigun Rev Up/Down sound effects persisting after boosting on a Driftboard.
  • Fixed an issue with Ziplines after using a Launch Pad that could cause the player to jump higher.
  • Fixed an issue with players getting knocked backward when firing the Pirate Cannon upwards.
  • Fixed Pirate Cannons getting stuck in an indefinite horizontal rotation.
  • Fixed an issue with Boom Bow not showing up with the Visualize Sound Effects option.
  • Fixed an issue with vehicles shot by Boom Bow not playing hit notification sound effects.
  • Fixed an issue with the Boom Bow having longer than expected projectile trail effects.
  • Fixed an issue with Boom Bow projectile effects occasionally flying through enemies.
  • Fixed a spelling error in the elimination feed with Boom Bow.

Gameplay

  • Buccaneer’s Bounty Event
    • A different Limited Time Mode rotates in every day from April 10 – April 15.
    • Drop in and Complete free Challenges to earn in-game rewards.
    • Increased the spawn rate of Treasure Maps for the duration of this event:
      • Floor Loot: Increased availability from .25% to .5%
      • Chests: Increased availability from 1.55% to 3.05%
  • All aspect ratios will have the same vertical FOV on Mac and PC.
    • In the near future, ultrawide monitors will be limited to 16:9 in competitive game modes.
  • Added separate controller sensitivities for building and editing structures.
  • The Glider Redeploy item is now sorted to the right along with other consumables when “Auto sort consumables to the right” is enabled.
  • Added ability to cycle hotbar items while gliding.
  • Hit markers are now server authoritative.
    • We’ve heard the feedback that hit markers are sometimes seen for shots but don’t apply damage, so we’re going to delay showing them until the server has confirmed the hit.
  • Fixed sniper damage not causing damaged players to play a reaction animation.
  • Adjusted how Storm damage is applied so that players entering the Storm will have a set amount of time before damage is applied.
    • The initial instance of damage will start 1 second after entering the Storm.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue where players would incorrectly edit structure behind them when backed up close to a player built wall.
  • Players dropping in warm-up will not award eliminations if another player caused them to receive fall damage.
  • Fixed Traps being hidden underneath certain floor pieces that don’t completely align with the grid.

Performance

  • Various level streaming performance optimizations for Switch and Xbox One to reduce cases where players see blurry buildings.
  • Improved texture streaming performance and memory overhead on Switch.
  • Improved performance for Traps.
  • Improved performance of the Challenges UI.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a source of hitches due to spawning weapon drops.
  • Fixed a source of hitches due to replay recording.
  • Implemented a fix that should resolve cases of invisible characters after skydiving.

Audio

  • New separate in-air audio tell for enemies.
    • More of an “incoming” audio tell that should give more awareness when an enemy drops in on you from above.
  • Reduced volume of building audio loops while being structures are being built.
    • This sound is now ducked by enemy footsteps and gunfire.
    • Prevents unnecessary noise when lots of buildings are placed in quick succession.
  • Slightly increased the volume of footsteps below the player.
  • Increased volume of the landing sounds of enemy footsteps.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed a bug where all offscreen enemy footsteps and weapon switches/reloads would be silent when more than 5 players were nearby.
  • Fixed a bug where the Boom Bow wasn’t playing the correct vehicle damage notification sound.

UI

  • Vehicle controls can now be hidden in the HUD Options.
  • Added minimum and maximum values to the in-game FPS overlay and added the option to “Show FPS” on all supported platforms.
  • Push To Talk
    • Enabling the menu option for consoles
    • Defaulting the option to Off for consoles.
  • Wraps can now be applied to most types of weapons, everything that doesn’t fit elsewhere is now covered by a catch-all “Misc.” slot in the locker.
  • The health bar for vehicles has been adjusted to now display health values of vehicles.

Bug Fixes

  • Fixed an issue with the friend list was always displaying a notification symbol in the frontend.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/fortnite-830-patch-notes-reboot-vans-buccaneers-bo/1100-6466152/

Here’s How Fortnite’s Reboot Vans Differ From Respawns In Apex Legends

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Fortnite and its latest big-name competitor, Apex Legends, are locked in something of a duel for battle royale supremacy. Apex roared onto the scene with features like a robust “ping” communication system. Fortnite answered back by rolling out a system of its own. Apex launched a subscription-like battle pass that’s pretty much exactly like Fortnite’s monetization model. And now Fortnite’s latest update has patched in another signature Apex idea: the Respawn Beacon that allows you to revive dead teammates in the middle of a battle.

In Fortnite, these new respawn items are called Reboot Vans, and they’re scattered around the map in certain team-based game modes. Both Reboot Vans and Respawn Beacons offer one game-changing ability: if a member of your squad is eliminated from a match (rather than just taking enough damage to be “knocked down,” at which point a teammate can revive them), you have a chance to save them if you’re quick and daring. In both games, your dead teammate drops an item–in Apex, it’s their banner card; in Fortnite, their reboot card.

You’ve got 90 seconds to collect that card in both games. Once you have it, take it to either a Respawn Beacon or Reboot Van, and you can give your dead teammate a second chance at life. They come back to the game in pretty rough shape, but having your full squad back is a huge step toward recovering from a lost fight and being the last team standing.

The similarities between the two systems don’t end there. In Apex Legends, a person on your squad needs to physically visit the death box of your dead teammate in order to collect their banner, but once it’s been collected, either of the remaining two squadmates can activate the Respawn Beacon. That means that one person can go running for the beacon while the other person goes to recover the card, drastically shortening the time it takes to bring your third squadmate back. You don’t have to physically carry the card itself back to the Respawn Beacon. Fortnite’s Reboot Vans work the same way; once one teammate has the card, it’s available to any teammate to use at the Reboot Van.

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In both games, you’re also pretty vulnerable while saving someone’s life. It takes time to activate both a Respawn Beacon and a Reboot Van, although in Fortnite, the danger is a lot less than in Apex. In the latter game, the beacon summons a new drop ship to bring your teammate back to the battlefield, which is highly visible to everybody around and requires your dead squaddie to jump from the ship back to the ground. They’re vulnerable that whole time, and the arrival of the ship is effectively a giant “come kill me” sign to other teams. Meanwhile, in Fortnite, the player is reconstituted right on the Reboot Van, and there’s seemingly a lot less visual flare to alert other players of what’s going on.

The other major difference between the systems is how often you can use them. There are a limited number of Respawn Beacons on the Apex Legends map, and they’re single-use–so once any player uses a beacon to respawn a teammate, that beacon no longer works for anyone else. Reboot Vans are a lot more forgiving; use one, and it becomes unavailable for 120 seconds before recharging. You can’t revive your whole squad immediately at a Reboot Van, but you could potentially hang out near one to get multiple players back in the middle of match, if you can stay alive that long.

The last big difference between Respawn Beacons and Reboot Vans is what happens to the player revived. In Apex Legends, you get a second chance at life, but it’s a pretty big bummer: Any loot you found along the way before you were killed is gone, unless your teammates grabbed it and brought it back for you. When you respawn, you return to the game with nothing, which means that you’re highly vulnerable until you’re able to loot new weapons and armor to protect yourself with. Using a Respawn Beacon helps you get your team up to full strength, but you still have to work very hard to deal with the disadvantage of having lost a member of your team.

Fortnite’s respawns are a bit more forgiving. Return from a Reboot Van and you won’t be completely empty-handed. You’ll reenter the match with 100 health, a Common Pistol with 36 rounds, and 100 wood to let you build. You won’t be too formidable right after a respawn, but you’ll at least be able to fight if you have to.

There are some slight differences, but both mechanics are close to identical. That means the strategies for using them are pretty much the same: Coordinate with your teammates on revives, avoid leaving yourself too vulnerable while respawning, and help your newly revived teammate get some weapons together so they can survive fighting the next group of enemies who show up.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/heres-how-fortnites-reboot-vans-differ-from-respaw/1100-6466155/

Target Is Running A Buy One, Get One 50% Off Sale On Newly Released Games

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Target is the latest retailer to launch a huge sale on AAA game titles recently, and this time, the deal is simple: buy one, get 50% off any game title, including newly released games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, The Division 2, and Devil May Cry 5. The deal encompasses hundreds of PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch games, and as with most BOGO deals, the 50% off price slash will apply to the cheapest game, so choose wisely. The discount will then be applied at checkout.

This BOGO deal puts many games at their cheapest price ever, such as Resident Evil 2, which is listed for $55 and would drop to $27.50; Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, which is still $60 and would drop to $30; and God of War, which is listed for $30 and would drop to just $15, a killer price for one of 2018’s best games.

The deal also applies to select puzzles, party games, and children’s games, which are great options if you’re shopping for any little ones this Easter.

This offer is valid through April 13, so only a few days are left to take advantage of these deals. Meanwhile, GameStop’s massive spring sale is also going on, with huge discounts on not only PS4, Xbox One, and Switch games, but also consoles, accessories, toys, and collectibles. Some special trade-in offers are also available. Note that many of the game deals overlap between Target and GameStop’s sales, so consider checking out both sales to find the best deals for you.

Shop Target’s Buy One, Get One 50% Off Game Deals »

See more of the games available as part of the sale below, including their current list price, and browse the full collection of deals at Target.

PS4:

Switch:

Xbox One:

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/target-is-running-a-buy-one-get-one-50-off-sale-on/1100-6466151/

Sea Of Thieves’ Huge Anniversary Update Could Give The Game The New Life It Needs

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When Sea of Thieves launched in March 2018, many people believed it was an enjoyable, beautiful experience that was just lacking some direction and was perhaps a little thin in the content department. I was one of those people: I found Sea of Thieves an exhilarating experience with friends and a peaceful one alone, but I often found myself with too little meaningful content to engage with.

Developer Rare has repeatedly updated the pirate game since launch, and it is now on the cusp of introducing a significant update that injects much-needed variety into the game. On April 30 the game will be patched with the Anniversary update, which includes a new narrative-driven questline called Tall Tales: Shores of Gold and an entirely new PvP mode named The Arena, all for free.

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The Arena is a competitive mode for five teams of four set in smaller, distinct areas. At the beginning of each 24-minute match, every team receives the same set of treasure maps. You must proceed to one of the X marks in order to retrieve chests, which can then be cashed in for Silver at a number of special ships.

Of course, other teams are competing for the same chests and cashing-in points, so you might find you run into some resistance on your travels. Killing other players or sinking their ships nets you a small amount of Silver, and respawns are active. Particular to The Arena is a new damage model for ships, which can now have their wheel, masts, and anchor destroyed–though these can be repaired with wood in the same way you would fix a hull.

Arena matches are frantic but fun, and Rare says they’re designed to satisfy players who don’t necessarily have time to dive into a whole run of classic Sea of Thieves–which is now being dubbed Adventure Mode. But more importantly, they unite players around a single, clear objective, providing more direction for those solo queuing or those lacking a microphone. This solves the issue Sea of Thieves always had where players would be pulling in different directions, shooting for different targets–even if they were part of the same team. You’d have one player wanting to complete a Merchants’ Alliance quest, another wanting to ambush other teams’ ship, and another simply jumping up and down and spinning on the spot. The Arena’s obvious objectives and condensed map do a lot to rid the game of these issues, since any individual not paying attention and working with their team will quickly find themselves sleeping with the fishes.

The Arena also has the potential to rid Adventure Mode of griefers and people who are of a more combative persuasion. I prefer my Sea of Thieves journeys to be relaxing, which made it irritating when another player–friend or foe–decided to engage in combat. If people who prefer to fight are busy in The Arena, hopefully the rest of the game world will become a more peaceful proposition. Or maybe I’m placing too much faith in the troublemaking scallywags.

Tall Tales, meanwhile, is a new questline for people who wanted more direction in Sea of Thieves’ classic Adventure Mode. It’s set in the game’s usual shared world–which will also gain a new island that Rare says is its biggest yet–and will see you complete a number of puzzles and riddles in the search for treasure. The mode includes new enemy types, items enchanted with new abilities, and a new faction named the Hunters’ Call who’ll buy fish and meat off you after you utilize new fishing and cooking mechanics. While those new mechanics are a little basic, they add a nice bit of flavor to otherwise plain sailing–unless you burn your fish, that is.

While Tall Tales: Shores of Gold is only a subtle change from the vanilla Sea of Thieves experience, the greater purpose it gives, the greater narrative strands it provides, and the more tangible targets it teases help motivate you to continue venturing out into the seas. You’re not simply completing quests in order to unlock more quests of a similar nature; there are more interesting activities to complete, such as escaping a locked room filling with water, and a more defined goal on the horizon in the questline’s next riddle. More important than the objectives and new mechanics, however, is the distinct feeling these new missions provide: it feels like you’re actually on a guided adventure, rather than just going from point A to point B. New voice lines–spoken for the first time by actual voice actors, rather than studio staff as was the case previously–are a large reason for this new flavor.

Nine tales make up the Shores of Gold expansion, but Rare says it will continue to support Sea of Thieves with more content in a similar vein going forward, and if things carry on improving along these lines, I’ll be diving back into Rare’s oceans for many months to come.

from GameSpot – Game News https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sea-of-thieves-huge-anniversary-update-could-give-/1100-6466127/